Jan 31 Trump authorizes shift to wider U.S. military use of land mines By Robert Burns, Associated Press Earlier Friday, Defense Secretary Mark Esper made the case for giving military commanders the latitude to use land mines as a means to "shape the battlefield" and protect American forces. Critics of the new Trump policy call it dangerous. Continue reading
Oct 23 Watch 5:32 For northern Syrians who endured ISIS, U.S. withdrawal means a new struggle to survive More than 170,000 people have fled their homes in northern Syria since Turkey launched its offensive two weeks ago. Civilians in the area have lived through years of unrest, including revolution against the Assad regime, the battle to defeat ISIS… Continue watching
Oct 14 Watch 3:54 As U.S. departs Syria, Kurds join Assad regime to fight a NATO ally In the days since the announced withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria, the country’s map is being redrawn. Both Turkey and the Russia-backed Syrian regime made territorial advances, and U.S.-partner Syrian Democratic Forces turned to Damascus for support. As… Continue watching
Oct 08 Watch 5:32 Protesters’ rage over ‘income and bread’ challenges Iraqi government By Amna Nawaz, Layla Quran The streets of Baghdad were silent Tuesday after a week of peaceful protests -- against corruption, unemployment and lack of basic services -- turned deadly. More than 100 people were killed as Iraqi security forces and armed groups clashed with… Continue watching
Sep 12 Watch 11:23 Former top U.S. military official in Mideast on the outlook for peace in Syria The war in Syria rages on, with President Bashar al-Assad's regime continuing its onslaught of airstrikes in northwest Idlib province -- the last rebel stronghold. Stephanie Sy reports and talks to retired Gen. Joseph Votel, who until recently oversaw U.S. Continue watching
Aug 03 UN: Monthly Afghan casualties highest since 2017 By Associated Press July saw the highest number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan in a single month since 2017, the U.N. mission said Saturday. Continue reading
Apr 24 UN report: Pro-government forces kill more Afghans than insurgents By Kathy Gannon, Associated Press The UN report marks the first time in recent years that civilian deaths attributed to government forces and their allies exceeded those blamed on their enemies. Continue reading
Mar 08 How Trump changed the Obama-era rule on reporting civilian airstrike deaths By Courtney Vinopal The decision has renewed the stark debate over who dies, and how, in U.S. military action abroad. Continue reading
Dec 13 U.S. halts some arms sales to Saudi Arabia over Yemen deaths concerns By Josh Lederman, Associated Press The United States is terminating some sales of military arms to Saudi Arabia over concerns about the killing of civilians in Yemen by a Saudi-led coalition, a senior U.S. official said Tuesday, while ramping up support for Saudi's border defenses… Continue reading
Apr 02 Obama says U.S. drone strikes killed civilians ‘that shouldn’t have been’ By Associated Press When President Barack Obama was asked at a news conference about an increase in the number of people targeted in drone strikes against extremists in Libya, Syria, Somalia and elsewhere, he acknowledged civilian deaths. Continue reading