Second federal judge blocks Trump’s transgender military ban
A federal judge in Maryland issued a second order on Tuesday blocking President Trump from implementing his ban on transgender military service.
Military
Hezbollah to withdraw forces from Iraq, in wake of Islamic State’s defeat
The Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah is preparing to pull its cadre of commanders and military advisers from Iraq, with the group’s leader saying Monday it had achieved its goal of defeating the Islamic State in the Middle East country.
ISIS Militants in Philippines Targeted Christians for Worst Abuse: Report
Dozens of Christian civilians were killed while others in the community bore the brunt of the six-month conflict on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao between the country’s military and militants allied to the Islamic State group, which ended last month, according to a detailed report by Amnesty International.
IDF fires at Syrian army position in Golan
Israeli tank units in the Golan Heights fired a warning shot at a Syrian army position inside a no-man’s land along the Israeli-Syrian frontier Sunday evening.
UN envoy: Military conflict in Gaza could destroy Fatah-Hamas deal
An outbreak of violence between Israel and extremist groups in Gaza could destroy the fledgling agreement to end the 10-year rift between Fatah and Hamas, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov told The Jerusalem Post.
IDF deploys Iron Dome, raises alert amid Gaza terror threat
A number of Iron Dome missile defense batteries were deployed in central Israel on Monday, the military said, amid heightened tensions with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad since the army demolished the terrorist group’s border-crossing attack tunnel last month.
EU takes step toward joint army
The vast majority of EU states have agreed to create what some have called the nucleus of a joint army.
Iranians built new military base in Syria
Iran is building a new military facility in Syria, the BBC has reported based on a Western intelligence source.
Israel hosts its largest aerial exercise in history
The largest seen aerial exercise in Israel began on Thursday and is to continue for the next two weeks. 1,000 highly-trained fighter pilots from eight different countries opened the “Blue Flag” exercise, which includes roughly 100 of fighter jets, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is the most immense military drill to take place so far this year.
Saudi Arabia orders citizens to leave Lebanon as tensions rise
Saudi Arabia has ordered its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately, escalating a regional standoff with Iran centred on the fragile state, which it claims is being run by Tehran’s proxy, Hezbollah.
Yemen facing ‘largest famine in decades’ if blockade isn’t lifted, UN aid chief says
The Saudi-led military coalition’s blockade of Yemen could lead to ‘the largest famine the world has seen for many decades with millions of victims,’ Mark Lowcock, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, warned on Wednesday.
Palestinian terror group threatens IDF, promises war with Israel (Video)
The military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, an organization that orchestrated terrorist attacks that killed scores of Israelis over the years and has been classified by both the United States and the European Union as a terrorist entity, released on Tuesday a threatening video against the Jewish state and in particular its army.
Saudi Arabia’s push on Iran ratchets up regional tensions
Saudi Arabia is more aggressively confronting its rival Iran on multiple fronts. It’s a policy that risks sharpening several conflicts in the Middle East, even though so far it has failed to score any successes in stemming Tehran’s influence.
Trump ready to use full range of military force to stop a N. Korean attack
US President Donald said on Tuesday that the United States is prepared to use the full range of military force to stop a North Korean attack, but said he was focused on using ‘all available tools short of military action’ to prevent conflict.
Saudi Crown Prince says Iran supply of rockets is military aggression
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday that Iran’s supply of rockets to militias in Yemen is an act of ‘direct military aggression,’ Saudi state news agency SPA reported.
German army ‘plans for break up of the European Union’ in war game scenario
The German army has war-gamed the break up of the European Union in study of security crises that could face the country by 2040.
After air strike, Israeli minister warns against arms shipments to Hezbollah
A senior Israeli minister on Thursday declined to comment on reports that Israeli aircraft had struck a target in Syria the night before but repeated a threat to hit arms shipments to Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas.
Two Pastors in Burma Sentenced to Prison
Two assistant pastors arrested by the Burma (Myanmar) army last December were sentenced to prison on Friday (Oct. 27) on false charges of unlawful association, defaming the military and spying, sources said.
Israel and Syria exchange fire near Homs, Arab media claims
Israel’s air force attacked a weapons depot situated in rural areas around Hisya, south of the Syrian city of Homs, Arab media reported Wednesday night.
Trump calls for ending visa program after N.Y. attack, blasts Democrats
President Donald Trump on Wednesday seized on the deadly New York City truck attack to step up demands for stricter U.S. immigration laws, asking Congress to end a visa program that let the Uzbek suspect into the country and saying he might send him to Guantanamo Bay.