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by Thomas Watkins © Agence France-Presse UNITED STATES (AFP) — President Donald Trump’s administration has made clear it sees Moscow as complicit in the latest suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria, but Pentagon planners are taking pains to avoid hitting Russian military assets. A clash — intentional or otherwise — between the West and Russia in Syria could have disastrous consequences that could quickly flip the seven-year-old conflict in a new and dangerous direction. […]
UNITED STATES (AFP) — A quick series of US, French and British air strikes in Syria were designed to send a “clear message” to President Bashar al-Assad and stop his chemical weapons program, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday. The Pentagon chief stressed the strikes were carefully calibrated to provide a strong response to a suspected chemical attack, but avoid pulling the West into Syria’s civil war. “The targets tonight again were specifically […]
by Dave Clark © Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that “missiles will be coming” in response to an alleged chemical attack in Syria, as the UN chief urged world powers to stop a face-off with Russia from spiraling out of control. With punitive US military action seemingly imminent, Russia scrambled to deflect blame from its ally Bashar al-Assad and, according to a monitor group, Syrian forces evacuated key […]
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — The United States and South Korea kicked off a low-key joint military drill Sunday as a diplomatic thaw over North Korea gathered pace. Tension on the flashpoint peninsula have showed signs of easing in recent months after the isolated, nuclear-armed North proposed summits with the South and their “imperialist enemy” the US. The annual Foal Eagle drill — a series of field training exercises involving some 11,500 American and 290,000 […]
HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — The US delivered six patrol boats and equipment worth a combined $20 million to Vietnam, the US embassy in Hanoi said Thursday, as the former foes boost ties amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea. Hanoi and Washington have improved defense links in recent years as they seek to counter Beijing’s growing might in the disputed and resource-rich waterway. The US Coast Guard gave its Vietnamese counterpart six fast-response Metal […]
by Anuj Chopra with Jamil Nasser in Sanaa Agence France Presse RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia on Monday threatened retaliation against arch-foe Iran, accusing the Shiite power of being behind a barrage of Yemeni rebel missile attacks on the kingdom. Saudi forces said they intercepted seven missiles on Sunday, including over the capital Riyadh, in a deadly escalation that coincided with the third anniversary of the coalition’s intervention […]
by Sylvie Lanteaume Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US military has for years enjoyed a broad technological edge over its adversaries, dominating foes with superior communications and cyber capabilities. Now, thanks to rapid advances by Russia and China, the gap has shrunk, and the Pentagon is looking at how a future conflict with a “near-peer” competitor might play out. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson recently warned that both Russia and […]
BEIJING, China (AFP) — A day after he won the mandate to rule for life, President Xi Jinping called on China’s military to follow the country’s newly-amended constitution in which his political thought is now enshrined. “The whole army must strengthen its constitutional awareness, promote the constitutional spirit and be a loyal admirer, conscientious follower and staunch defender of the constitution,” Xi told military officials on Monday. China’s rubber-stamp parliament on Sunday endorsed Xi’s move […]
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China announced on Monday an 8.1 percent defense budget increase for 2018, giving the world’s largest armed forces a boost after spending slowed in the previous two years. Beijing will spend 1.11 trillion yuan ($175 billion) on its military, according to a budget report presented before the opening session of the annual National People’s Congress, according to the official Xinhua news agency. The outlay compares with a seven percent increase last […]
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AFP) — Saudi King Salman has sacked the military chief of staff and a host of other top commanders, state media said Monday, in a major shake-up of the defense establishment. The monarch also replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defenses, as well as senior officials at the interior ministry, in a series of late-night royal decrees. No official reason was given for the sweeping overhaul, but it comes […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Artificial intelligence and its impact on weapons of the future has made US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis doubt his own theories on warfare. A question on the subject prompted the retired Marine general to give an impromptu seminar on his theory of war Saturday to reporters returning with him from a week-long tour of Europe. Recalling his own writings, he differentiated between the essential nature of war, which is unchanging […]
By Mar Gabriel Eagle News Service The Armed Forces of the Philippines clarified on Thursday that the 16 helicopters the government was slated to buy from Canada would not be used to attack communist rebels. “We are not buying an offensive aircraft. You must understand that these are utility helicopters not attack helicopters,” Major General Restituto Padilla, AFP deputy chief of staff for plans, said in a text message. He said the Bell 412 helicopters […]
