Flashpoints

Feds drop charges against Afghan soldier seeking asylum in US

After months of publicity and a bipartisan congressional effort to request a pardon from the president, Abdul Wasi Safi could be set free.

4 days ago

In reversal, US poised to approve Abrams tanks for Ukraine

However, it could take months or years for their delivery.

4 days ago

Sami-ullah Safi holds photographs of his brother, Abdul Wasi Safi, as he talks about his brother's journey to the U.S. during an interview Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Houston.

Afghan soldier seeking asylum in US remains jailed after border arrest

Abdul Wasi Safi, a former officer in the Afghan National Security Forces, was arrested at the U.S. southern border after fleeing the Taliban.

Former Navy SEAL, listed as a deserter, dies fighting in Ukraine

Daniel W. Swift was reportedly involved in an operation in Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, when he was killed.

8 days ago

Treasury designates Wagner Group a transnational criminal organization

The U.S. believes the Russian private military company has 50,000 personnel fighting in Ukraine, including 10,000 contractors and 40,000 convicts.

8 days ago

A destroyed Russian tank covered by snow stands in a forest in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023.

The West doubles down on aiding Ukraine with heavy weapons

Plans to send yet heavier equipment designed to win maneuver battles are expected to come to a head.

10 days ago

In this image provided by the U.S. Army, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley meets with U.S. Army leaders responsible for the collective training of Ukrainians at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Grafenwoehr, Germany, on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023.

US, Ukraine top military chiefs meet in person for first time

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met Tuesday with Ukraine’s chief military officer at an undisclosed location in Poland.

11 days ago

Emergency workers clear the rubble after a Russian rocket hit a multistory building leaving many people under debris in the southeastern city of Dnipro, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023.

Ukraine building suffers deadliest civilian attack in months

Rescue workers in Ukraine are scrambling to pull survivors from an apartment building hit by a Russian missile in the southeastern city of Dnipro.

13 days ago

House GOP demands State Dept turn over thousands of Afghanistan memos

Republicans say the information is needed right away in their investigations into missteps leading up to the U.S. military withdrawal from that country.

2 weeks ago

Ukrainian servicemen fire a 120mm mortar towards Russian positions at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.

Battle rages in Ukraine town; Russian military sees shakeup

Ukraine says its forces are holding out against a Russian onslaught in one of the fiercest and bloodiest recent ground battles of the nearly 11-month war.

2 weeks ago

Residents wearing face masks wait to cross a traffic intersection near a large screen promoting the Chinese People's Liberation Army Airforce, in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The Chinese military held large-scale joint combat strike drills starting Sunday, sending war planes and navy vessels toward Taiwan, both the Chinese and Taiwanese defense ministries said.

China holds large-scale joint strike drills aimed at Taiwan

The exercises coincided with the visit of a group of German lawmakers who landed in Taiwan on Monday morning.

3 weeks ago

A cupola lies on the ground in front of the Orthodox Church which was destroyed by Russian forces in the recently retaken village of Bogorodychne, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2022.

Ukraine praises US military aid as cease-fire said to falter

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Bradley armored vehicles included in the latest U.S. aid package are “exactly what is needed” for Ukrainian troops.

3 weeks ago

US to send Ukraine largest package yet, worth $3.75 billion

The newest U.S. aid package for Ukraine includes Bradley vehicles and $907 million in foreign military financing.

3 weeks ago

A U.S. military vehicle on a patrol in the countryside near the town of Qamishli, Syria, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022.

Rockets hit US base in eastern Syria, no casualties reported

The U.S. military says two rockets struck a base housing American troops in eastern Syria without causing any casualties or material losses.

3 weeks ago

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, attends a ceremony of donating 600mm super-large multiple launch rocket system at a garden of the Workers' Party of Korea headquarters in Pyongyang, North Korea Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022.

South Korea, US in talks on management of nukes

South Korea has confirmed that Seoul and Washington are discussing its involvement in U.S. nuclear asset management.

4 weeks ago

‘Dangerously’ close: Video shows Chinese jet buzzing US spy plane

The U.S. military said this incident “reflects a concerning trend of unsafe and dangerous intercept practices" by China.

4 weeks ago

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a plenary meeting of the Workers’ Party of Korea at the party headquarters in Pyongyang, North Korea Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.

North Korean leader lays out key goals to boost military power

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presented new plans to further bolster his military power next year at a meeting of the nation's political officials.

4 weeks ago

Smoke billows after Russian attacks in the outskirts of Bakhmut, Ukraine, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022.

Ukraine must demilitarize, Russian foreign minister says

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Ukraine must meet Moscow’s demand for “demilitarization” and the removal of the military threat to Russia.

5 weeks ago

In this undated file photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location.

China sends 71 planes, 7 ships toward Taiwan in 24 hours

The increased military activity came after China expressed anger at Taiwan-related provisions in a U.S. annual defense spending bill.

5 weeks ago

US aid to Ukraine an ‘investment’ in global security, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a wartime visit to Washington and delivered an address to Congress on Wednesday evening.

5 weeks ago

Flashpoints

The latest news from Air Force Times about global conflict, terrorism and U.S. military affairs

After months of publicity and a bipartisan congressional effort to request a pardon from the president, Abdul Wasi Safi could be set free.

However, it could take months or years for their delivery.

Abdul Wasi Safi, a former officer in the Afghan National Security Forces, was arrested at the U.S. southern border after fleeing the Taliban.

Daniel W. Swift was reportedly involved in an operation in Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, when he was killed.

The U.S. believes the Russian private military company has 50,000 personnel fighting in Ukraine, including 10,000 contractors and 40,000 convicts.

Plans to send yet heavier equipment designed to win maneuver battles are expected to come to a head.

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met Tuesday with Ukraine’s chief military officer at an undisclosed location in Poland.

Rescue workers in Ukraine are scrambling to pull survivors from an apartment building hit by a Russian missile in the southeastern city of Dnipro.

Republicans say the information is needed right away in their investigations into missteps leading up to the U.S. military withdrawal from that country.

Ukraine says its forces are holding out against a Russian onslaught in one of the fiercest and bloodiest recent ground battles of the nearly 11-month war.

The exercises coincided with the visit of a group of German lawmakers who landed in Taiwan on Monday morning.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Bradley armored vehicles included in the latest U.S. aid package are “exactly what is needed” for Ukrainian troops.

The newest U.S. aid package for Ukraine includes Bradley vehicles and $907 million in foreign military financing.

The U.S. military says two rockets struck a base housing American troops in eastern Syria without causing any casualties or material losses.

South Korea has confirmed that Seoul and Washington are discussing its involvement in U.S. nuclear asset management.

The U.S. military said this incident “reflects a concerning trend of unsafe and dangerous intercept practices" by China.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presented new plans to further bolster his military power next year at a meeting of the nation's political officials.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned Ukraine must meet Moscow’s demand for “demilitarization” and the removal of the military threat to Russia.

The increased military activity came after China expressed anger at Taiwan-related provisions in a U.S. annual defense spending bill.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a wartime visit to Washington and delivered an address to Congress on Wednesday evening.