Iran's Army Deputy Chief, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, warned that Iran would prepare a "veritable hell" for US servicemen if President Donald Trump decides to launch a ground operation against Tehran. Sayyari stated that the US would not dare land its forces on Iran's coast.
A Chinese think tank, SCSPI, reported that the expansion of Philippine military bases open to US troops has been slower than anticipated. The bases, part of the EDCA agreement, are seen by China as a strategic move to counter its influence in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
US War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of US forces in Europe and criticized NATO allies for not meeting spending targets and for their response to US strikes in Iran. He stated the US would no longer pay more for NATO defense than allies.
Top White House officials reportedly debated invoking the Insurrection Act after federal agents killed two protesters in Minnesota. Concerns over political blowback and the legal scope of the act were central to the discussions, with some officials arguing against its use.
Iran urged Saudi Arabia to expel US troops, while Russia's SVR chief warned Armenia against relying solely on the West. News also covered a shelling attack off Yemen, Putin's communication with Trump, Macron's stance on French wine tariffs, US troop movements near Iran, China's automotive advancements, Trump's 'guardian of Middle East' proposal, Iran's Strait of Hormuz policy, and a potential US-Iran deal. Other reports included Israeli actions in Lebanon, Ukraine conflict updates, and Hungary's EU talks.
Eastern European states, particularly Poland and the Baltic nations, are competing to host new US military bases, seeking political insurance and protection from domestic pressure over national security and sovereignty concerns.
President Trump has informed his staff that he will not resume full-scale war with Iran unless US troops are killed, according to the Wall Street Journal. While open to enduring minor clashes, he would consider ending the ceasefire if American casualties occur.
US President Trump has privately told aides he would consider ending the ceasefire with Iran if Tehran causes the death of US soldiers, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Trump also stated that negotiations with Iran are progressing well and an agreement could be reached this weekend.
The US bombed Iranian radar and drone sites after Iran shot down a US drone. Iran then targeted US soldiers in Kuwait with missiles, which the US claims to have shot down. Ceasefire talks are ongoing amidst escalating tensions.
Russia warns against US plans to deploy 5,000 additional troops to Poland, citing increased tensions and potential military-technical responses, amid ongoing Ukraine conflict and NATO expansion disputes.
Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Dr Nicole Saphier, sells a supplement containing an ingredient banned by the US military, raising concerns from health experts about liver damage. Amazon has opened an investigation after the Guardian inquired.
Donald Trump announced plans to send 5,000 additional US troops to Poland, citing the election of President Karol Nawrocki. Poland's Foreign Ministry stated they have no details, while Polish officials expressed interest in permanent stationing and infrastructure development.
Donald Trump announced the deployment of an additional 5,000 US troops to Poland, reversing a previous Pentagon decision to delay troop rotation. The move follows the election of Polish President Karol Nawrocki and amid tense relations with European allies over the Iran war.
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday the deployment of an additional 5,000 troops to Poland, citing his relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki. This comes amid contradictory signals regarding US troop presence in Europe.
Donald Trump announced the deployment of 5,000 additional US troops to Poland, citing support for President Karol Nawrocki. This follows a canceled troop rotation and troop withdrawals from Germany amid tensions with Berlin over the US-Israeli war against Iran.
President Trump announced the US will send 5,000 additional troops to Poland, though it remains unclear if this is a resumption of a previously delayed deployment or a reallocation of troops from Germany. Trump has maintained a close relationship with Poland, contrasting with his criticism of other European nations' support for Iran.
NATO countries have been tasked by General Alexus Grynkewich to find replacements for US troops and equipment being withdrawn from Europe, according to Politico. This follows the US decision to cancel a brigade deployment to Poland and withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.
The Pentagon announced a reduction of US Army Brigade Combat Teams in Europe from three to four, returning troop levels to 2021. This move aligns with President Trump's 'America First' policy, encouraging NATO allies to assume greater responsibility for European defense.
Five NATO countries on Europe's eastern flank are seeking to host more US troops after President Trump announced a drawdown of 5,000 soldiers from Germany
When US President Donald Trump announced that 5,000 US troops would leave Germany, the immediate reading in Western capitals was political: another round in Trump’s running quarrel with European allies, triggered by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s criticism of Washington’s handling of the war with Iran. For Beijing, the more interesting reading is structural. The drawdown coincides with a period in which Foreign Minister Wang Yi has spent much of 2026 cultivating a “partners not rivals”...
The announcement of the withdrawal of thousands of US troops from Germany underlines the urgency of a pan-European defence strategyAs Donald Trump’s second term has become overshadowed by plunging poll ratings and an illegal, ill-advised war in the Middle East, European governments have regularly been singled out to bear the brunt of the US president’s growing frustration. Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to militarily back the attack on Iran led to unfavourable comparisons to both Winston Churchill and King Charles. “Unfriendly” Spain has been threatened with a trade embargo for similar reasons. Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, previously seen as a key political ally, has also been on the receiving end. “I’m shocked by her,” Mr Trump said last month. “I thought she had courage. I was wrong.”Currently it is Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who finds himself in Washington’s crosshairs. In the wake of Mr Merz’s accurate observation that the US has no convincing strategy on Iran, the Pentagon has announced the future withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from bases in Germany. Vital long-range weapons are also to be withheld as American military stockpiles are depleted by events in the Middle East. For good measure, Mr Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on European car manufacturers to 25% – a measure that would hit Germany hardest.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months, Assistant to the US Secretary of War for Public Affairs Sean Parnell said. The decision comes after Germany's reluctance to help the United States in military operations against Iran caused discontent in Washington, according to the New York Times. European leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tuss, responded that NATO disintegration continues, while Bundestag Defense Committee Chairman Thomas Rowekamp called it a 'wake-up call' but not a reason for panic.
The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next 6-12 months, a move described as punishment for Germany's reluctance to support US military operations against Iran. Russia responded by warning it will view F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as nuclear threats. The withdrawal has prompted reactions from NATO allies, with Polish PM Tusk warning of NATO disintegration and German Bundestag calling it a 'wake-up call.'
The Pentagon has ordered the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany, to be completed over the next six to twelve months. Assistant to the US Secretary of War for Public Affairs Sean Parnell announced the decision, which comes amid tensions over Germany's position on Iran and broader transatlantic disagreements. The withdrawal has been characterized by some as a punishment for Germany's reluctance to support US military operations against Iran, though the US has framed it as part of a broader reduction of troops stationed abroad.
