Aug 15 WATCH: Pentagon holds news briefing as lawmakers ask leaders to keep military out of election politics By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. CQ Brown, lawmakers asked the defense leaders to reaffirm that U.S. law prohibits forces from being used for civilian law enforcement and that they should not carry out unlawful orders. Continue reading
Aug 08 WATCH: Pentagon holds briefing as U.S. F-22s arrive in Middle East amid heightened tensions By Associated Press On Monday, several U.S. personnel were injured in a suspected rocket attack at a military base in Iraq, in what has been a recent uptick in strikes on American forces by Iranian-backed militias. Continue reading
Aug 06 WATCH: Blinken and Austin hold news briefing as Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new leader By Bassem Mroue, Associated Press In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sinwar “has been and remains the primary decider when it comes to concluding the cease-fire.”… Continue reading
Aug 02 Defense Secretary overrides plea agreement for 9/11 defendants, reinstates as death penalty cases By Ellen Knickmeyer, Associated Press The move comes two days after the military commission at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, announced it had reached plea deals with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two accused accomplices in the attacks. Continue reading
Jun 25 WATCH: U.S. ‘urgently seeking’ diplomatic agreement to prevent Israel-Hezbollah escalation, Austin says By Associated Press “Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war, with terrible consequences for the Middle East, and so diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. Continue reading
Jun 25 WATCH: Aid for Gaza brought by sea is piling up on beach, Pentagon says By Associated Press More than 6,800 metric tons, or 15 million pounds, of food and aid has flowed through the U.S. military-built pier in Gaza. However, the U.S. says very little of it has left the storage area and is stacking up on… Continue reading
Jun 05 WATCH: Pentagon holds news briefing following meeting between Austin and Cambodian officials By News Desk and Associated Press Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Cambodian officials to discuss strengthening defense ties and resuming joint military exercises. Continue reading
Jun 04 U.S. defense secretary meets Cambodian officials to push for stronger ties with Chinese ally By Sopheng Cheang, Associated Press U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with Cambodian officials to discuss strengthening defense ties, including through a resumption of military training exchanges, de-mining training, and Cambodian participation in U.S. military education programs. Continue reading
May 25 Watch 1:56 News Wrap: New Israeli attacks reportedly kill more than 40 Palestinians across Gaza In our news wrap Saturday, Israel pressed ahead with its assault on Rafah despite international criticism, a Russian strike on a residential area of Kharkiv killed at least two people, Secretary of Defense Austin resumed his duties after undergoing a… Continue watching
May 24 Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to undergo procedure at Walter Reed, will transfer power to deputy By Tara Copp, Associated Press The Pentagon says the procedure is elective and minimally invasive, "is not related to his cancer diagnosis and has had no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis."… Continue reading