Russian jet flies within 5 feet of U.S. Navy plane, State Department says
The United States is accusing Moscow of unsafe military practices after it says a Russian jet flew within five feet of a U.S. Navy plane over the Black Sea.
Military
Israel accuses Iran of trying to turn Syria into its base
Israel’s U.N. ambassador is accusing Iran of attempting to turn Syria into ‘the largest military base in the world’ to destabilize the region, threaten Israel and ‘terrorize the entire free world.’
Iran Threatens U.S. Navy Ships Amid Massive War Drills
Iranian military leaders claimed Monday that they threatened two American-led vessels in international waters amid a series of new war drills being carried out by the Islamic Republic, according to regional reports and U.S. military officials who confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon contact with the Iranian vessels.
Pence lands in Israel as PM stresses ‘no alternative’ to US as peace broker
US President Mike Pence arrived in Tel Aviv Sunday evening for a two-day visit to Israel amid unprecedented tensions with the Palestinians over President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last month.
Rift between U.S., Turkey widens as Ankara presses Syrian offensive
The U.S. and Turkey moved closer to an open rift Sunday, with the Trump administration expressing deep concern as Turkish ground forces crossed into northern Syria in a bid to rid the area of U.S.-backed Kurdish militias.
Reports: Israel Attacked ‘Hezbollah Arms Depot’ in Syria’s Damascus
Syrian opposition sources claimed Israeli warplanes attacked the Almas military airport near Damascus early Wednesday morning. According to reports, a Hezbollah arms depot was the target of the attack.
House passes monthlong spending bill, sends shutdown drama to the Senate
House Republicans on Thursday passed a bill to keep the federal government funded until Feb. 16, sending the legislation to a possible defeat in the Senate later tonight.
Eritrean Christian Refused to Renounce Faith Even Through 13 Years of Suffering in Prison
An Eritrean Christian has opened up about the 13 years of suffering he underwent for his faith in prison, including being punished for months at a time in a confined cell where he could not even stretch his limbs. Despite the suffering, he refused time and time again to renounce his faith.
Tillerson says US troops to stay in Syria to counter Assad and Iran
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that US troops will remain in Syria not just to fight jihadists but also to counter the power of Bashar al-Assad and his ally Iran.
Russia could gain military dominance over NATO, commander says
Growing modernization could give the Russian military dominance over NATO if the military bloc fails to adapt, the top commander said Wednesday.
Turkey’s Erdogan vows to destroy U.S.-backed ‘terror army’ in Syria
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to destroy a 30,000-man border security force in Syria, trained and equipped by Washington, characterizing it as a ‘terror army’ designed to infringe on the country’s sovereignty in the region.
Trump Says Program to Protect ‘Dreamers’ is ‘Probably Dead’
President Donald Trump said Sunday that a program that protects immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children is ‘probably dead,’ casting a cloud over already tenuous negotiations just days before a deadline on a government funding deal that Democrats have tied to immigration.
PA security forces expose Hamas’ top terror architects in West Bank
The Palestinian Authority’s security forces revealed on Wednesday the identities of senior Hamas operatives behind efforts to rehabilitate the group’s terrorist infrastructure in Judea and Samaria, chief among them Maher Obeid, the organization’s newly appointed military commander in the West Bank.
Security cabinet holds ‘extremely significant’ meetings about northern border
Israel’s security cabinet has convened several times in recent days, holding ‘extremely significant’ meetings to discuss developments on the northern border and Iran’s presence in Syria.
Battle looms for rebel-held Syrian province after IS defeat
Syrian government forces and allied militiamen are advancing on the largest remaining rebel-held territory in the country’s north, forcing thousands of civilians to flee toward the border with Turkey in freezing winter temperatures.
Trump, GOP leaders at Camp David set ambitious 2018 agenda
President Trump emerged Saturday from a meeting with Congress’ Republican leaders at Camp David and outlined an ambitious legislative agenda for 2018, including the budget, infrastructure, a border wall, immigration and beefing up the military.
Trump’s pressure on Pakistan is major test of new strategy to end war in Afghanistan
The Trump administration’s strategy for ending the war in Afghanistan and defeating terror groups in the region faces its first major test in its confrontation with Pakistan.
Pentagon: Trump agreed to delay US-South Korean exercises
In a possible opening for diplomacy, the Trump administration on Thursday agreed to delay joint military exercises with South Korea until after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
Iran protests spread, even as military declares them over
Iran’s most influential military commander on Wednesday declared the wave of anti-regime protests rocking nation as over, despite reports that demonstrators continue to fill the streets in more than a dozen cities.
Koreas set up stunning direct bilateral talks with Trump, Olympics pressures mounting
North and South Korea are suddenly on a fast track to direct bilateral talks without the United States or China — an unexpected development at a moment of heightened tensions that intelligence sources say is being driven by several factors, including Pyongyang’s desire to sidestep Trump administration-backed sanctions.