Tag: Pentagon

US confirms N. Korea launched missile over Japan

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Pentagon confirmed that North Korea has launched a missile over Japan, in a major escalation by Pyongyang amid tensions over its weapons ambitions. The missile was launched “within the last 90 minutes,” Colonel Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said around 2200 GMT Monday (6:30 am Tuesday in Pyongyang). “We assess North Korea conducted a missile launch within the last 90 minutes. We can confirm that the missile launched by […]

US stocks rise as North Korea anxiety eases; Pentagon chief says US favors diplomatic solution

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Wall Street stocks finished solidly higher Monday, joining most global equity markets that gained on easing concerns about North Korea. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal that the United States favors a diplomatic solution to the stand-off with Pyongyang, especially with help from China, though they stressed diplomacy is “backed by military options.”   Investors […]

Pentagon may boost support to PHL counterterrorism ops: official

The United States is weighing additional support to the Philippine military as it fights an Islamist insurgency in the south, a US defense official said Tuesday. Discussions are “pretty advanced” and would see the US provide increased surveillance drone capabilities and training for local forces, the official told AFP on condition on anonymity. “Those (drones) are there for ISR and support,” the official said, using an abbreviation for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Philippine President Rodrigo […]

US detects signs of new N. Korea missile test

by Thomas Watkins Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Pentagon has picked up signs that North Korea is prepping for another missile test, a United States defense official said Tuesday, as the US cited progress in pushing China to impose tough new United Nations sanctions. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official told AFP that if the test goes ahead, it would “probably” occur on July 27, which is the 64th anniversary […]

US to test anti-missile system in Alaska

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States military is preparing to conduct another test of a missile-intercept system in Alaska, the Pentagon said Monday, amid continued tensions with North Korea over its ballistic missile program. Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said a routine test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system had been scheduled to go ahead “soon.” “These tests are done as a routine measure to make sure that the […]

US has no proof IS leader Baghdadi is dead: Mattis

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Friday he cannot confirm whether or not Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead, after reports from Syria that the jihadist leader had been killed. “If we knew, we would tell you — right now, I can’t confirm or deny it,” Mattis said. “Our approach is we assume he’s alive until it’s proven otherwise, and right now I can’t prove it otherwise.” The Britain-based […]

US Defense Secretary hits China’s militarization, excessive maritime claims in South China Sea

United States Defense Secretary and Pentagon chief Jim Mattis on Saturday criticized China’s actions in the South China Sea, particularly its construction activities and excessive maritime claims, saying Beijing showed “contempt” for other nations’ interests. “The scope and effect of China’s construction activities in the South China Sea differ from those of other countries in several key ways,” Mattis told the Shangri-La regional defense summit in Singapore. “This includes the nature of its militarization… China’s […]

Pentagon chief says ‘no doubt’ Syria behind chemical attack

by Thomas WATKINS Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Monday there is “no doubt” the Syrian regime was behind last week’s deadly chemical strike, while US officials accused Moscow of waging a misinformation campaign around the attack. The charge that Russia is obfuscating who is responsible for the horrific events of April 4 when at least 87 civilians were killed in a rebel-held town came just as US […]

FBI releases 9/11 Pentagon photos

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Never-seen photographs from the September 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation this week show the massive devastation that faced first responders. Twenty-seven pictures from that day depict the crushed walls, blazing fires and eviscerated interiors of the seat of the United States Department of Defense. The American Airlines jet that struck the Pentagon was one of four airliners hijacked by Al-Qaeda teams and […]

US Navy secretary nominee withdraws: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Philip Bilden has withdrawn his nomination as secretary of the US Navy, the Pentagon said Sunday, the latest in a series of nominees to remove their names from consideration to serve under President Donald Trump. “This was a personal decision driven by privacy concerns and significant challenges he faced in separating himself from his business interests,” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said in a statement, adding that he would soon suggest […]

European partners look to Pentagon chief for reassurance

  MUNICH, Germany (AFP) — Jittery European partners looking for reassurance from a member of US President Donald Trump’s new administration might have found it Friday in the form of Defense Secretary James Mattis. Allies are deeply troubled after Trump’s campaign rhetoric questioned long-established alliances, and they worry about a simmering scandal over possible ties between the White House and Moscow. Mattis, a former four-star Marine general whom Trump coaxed from retirement to run the […]

US and Russia agree to boost military communications: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US and Russian militaries agreed to “enhance communications” after a meeting between their top commanders in Azerbaijan on Thursday, the Pentagon said. Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Joe Dunford and his Russian counterpart Valery Gerasimov discussed military relations between the two countries as well as security in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere during their meeting in the capital Baku. The two sides “have undertaken efforts […]