U.S. military

U.S. deploys aircraft carrier to waters off South America in major military escalation

By Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press

The U.S. military is sending an aircraft carrier to the waters off South America, the Pentagon announced Friday, in the latest escalation of military firepower in a region where the Trump administration has unleashed more rapid strikes in recent days against boats it accuses…

A timeline of U.S. military strikes on boats off South America and what Congress has said

By Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press

In less than two months, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth say the U.S. military has killed at least 37 people in nine strikes against drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

U.S. strikes 8th and 9th alleged drug-carrying boats, this time in the Pacific, Hegseth says

By Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press

The strikes represent an expansion of the military's targeting area as well as a shift to the waters off South America where much of the cocaine from the world’s largest producers is smuggled.

Trump directs Pentagon to use ‘all available funds’ to pay troops despite shutdown

By Darlene Superville, Associated Press

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has directed the Defense Department to use “all available funds” to ensure U.S. troops are paid Wednesday despite the government shutdown, a short-term fix that will not apply to the hundreds of thousands of federal workers…

U.S. sending troops to Israel to help support and monitor Gaza ceasefire deal, officials say

By Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press

The United States is sending about 200 troops to Israel to help support and monitor the ceasefire deal in Gaza as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private sector players, U.S. officials said Thursday.

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from deploying National Guard in Portland

By Claire Rush, Rebecca Boone, Associated Press

A federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from deploying the National Guard in Portland, ruling Saturday in a lawsuit brought by the state and city.

WATCH: U.S. military in the Caribbean an ‘illegal’ threat, Venezuela tells UN General Assembly

By Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin, Regina Garcia Cano, Associated Press

President Donald Trump has dispatched a fleet of American warships into the waters off Venezuela, bragged about fatal strikes on alleged drug boats and claimed Venezuela will pay an “incalculable” price if it won't accept more people deported from the U.S.

U.S. carried out 3rd fatal strike on alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, Trump says

By Aamer Madhani, Associated Press

President Donald Trump said Friday the U.S. military has carried out its third fatal strike against an alleged drug smuggling vessel this month. The strikes follow a buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean.

White House says Trump will seek ‘Department of War’ rebrand for Pentagon

By Konstantin Toropin, Chris Megerian, Associated Press

President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order Friday to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War, his latest effort to project an image of toughness for America's military.

DHS asks military base near Chicago for immigration enforcement support

By John O'Connor, Sophia Tareen, Associated Press

The Trump administration asked a military base outside of Chicago for support on immigration operations this week, offering a clue of what an expanded law enforcement crackdown might look like in the nation's third-largest city.