Flashpoints

Baltic states tout US-approved weapon shipments to Ukraine

The Baltic states have received approval from Washington to send American-made weaponry to Ukraine to help the country fend off a potential Russian invasion.

21 hours ago

No war yet. US, Russia to try more diplomacy amid tensions over Ukraine.

Expectations were low going in, and there was no breakthrough.

21 hours ago

News

THAAD, in first operational use, destroys midrange ballistic missile in Houthi attack

The United Arab Emirates is the first to use the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System in an attack by Houthi militants. It successfully took out a mid-range ballistic missile aimed at a civilian site in the country.

US carried out airstrikes in Syria against ISIS

The airstrikes were in response to the ISIS group unleashing its biggest attack in Syria since the fall of its “caliphate” three years ago.

22 hours ago

Top US, Russian envoys discuss Ukraine at ‘critical moment’

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lowered expectations ahead of the meeting in Geneva.

31 hours ago

Biden issues new warning to Russia over invading Ukraine

President Joe Biden said any Russian troop movements across Ukraine’s border would be an invasion and that Moscow would “pay a heavy price” for such an action.

2 days ago

Russia announces sweeping naval drills amid Ukraine tensions

Russia's Defense Ministry said the exercise will involve over 140 warships and more than 60 aircraft.

2 days ago

What are US military options to help Ukraine?

How far might the United States and its allies go to help Ukraine defend itself if the buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine’s borders leads to an invasion?

2 days ago

Satellite images show more Russian troops, equipment near Ukraine

Russian military activity has been increasing in recent weeks, with the Kremlin announcing plans to send troops to Belarus for war games.

2 days ago

Biden promises additional troops, sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine

Tensions have been growing in recent months amid a Russian troop buildup near the Ukraine border.

3 days ago

This undated file photo by Russian Defense Ministry official web site shows a Russian Iskander-K missile launched during a military exercise at a training ground at the Luzhsky Range, near St. Petersburg, Russia.

Russian attack could happen ‘any minute’ Ukraine official says

A new Russian invasion of Ukraine could take place “at any minute,” a Ukrainian military official told Military Times Wednesday morning.

3 days ago

US boosts military aid to Ukraine as Russia tensions soar

“We’re now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.

3 days ago

Blinken to meet with senior Russian as Ukraine tensions soar

The hastily arranged trip aims to show U.S. support for Ukraine and impress on Russia the need for de-escalation.

4 days ago

Russia moves more troops westward amid Ukraine tensions

Russia is sending troops from the country’s far east to Belarus for major war games, officials said Tuesday.

4 days ago

US condemns deadly Houthi drone attack on UAE oil facility near Al-Dhafra

The attack took place a short distance from Al-Dhafra Air Base, a military installation that hosts U.S. and French forces.

5 days ago

Russia denies US claim it seeks ‘false flag’ pretext to invade Ukraine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the U.S. claim about a "false flag" pretext for invasion as “total disinformation.”

5 days ago

N. Korea fires short-range missiles in 4th launch this year

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the missiles did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to its allies.

5 days ago

Russia prepping ‘false flag’ pretext for Ukraine invasion: Pentagon

Russia is also laying the groundwork through a social media disinformation campaign by framing Ukraine as an aggressor, U.S. officials say.

8 days ago

Russia demands US, NATO response next week on Ukraine

Russia demands that that NATO not expand nor deploy forces to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations.

8 days ago

N. Korea fires missiles in response to US sanctions

Hours after berating the Biden administration over sanctions, North Korea fired a new round of missiles.

8 days ago

Did the military prepare to shoot down a North Korean missile from the West Coast?

Although officials have yet to confirm a correlation, a North Korean missile launch coincided with parts of the West Coast grounding flights and clearing air space.

9 days ago

The U.S. Embassy is seen from across the Tigris River in Baghdad, Iraq Jan. 3, 2020.

Multiple rockets target US Embassy in Baghdad

At least four rockets targeted the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Thursday, two Iraqi security officials said.

9 days ago

No Ukraine breakthrough, but NATO and Russia eye more talks

The decisions came at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, the first of its kind in over two years.

10 days ago

Rat who detected land mines in Cambodia dies in retirement

Magawa detected more than 100 land mines and other explosives during his five-year career before retiring last year.

10 days ago

NATO, Russia in high-level talks as Ukraine tensions simmer

The talks come during a U.S.-led effort to prevent preparations for what Washington believes could be a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

10 days ago

North Korea claims successful test of hypersonic missile

Tuesday's launch was North Korea’s second test of its purported hypersonic missile in a week.

11 days ago

Kremlin says Russia-US talks on Ukraine offer little optimism

The negotiations were held amid soaring tensions over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine's border that has stoked fears of a possible invasion.

11 days ago

US announces $308 million in aid for Afghans as crisis grows after withdrawal

Afghanistan's long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the U.S. withdrawal.

11 days ago

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

The Baltic states have received approval from Washington to send American-made weaponry to Ukraine to help the country fend off a potential Russian invasion.

Expectations were low going in, and there was no breakthrough.

The United Arab Emirates is the first to use the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System in an attack by Houthi militants. It successfully took out a mid-range ballistic missile aimed at a civilian site in the country.

The airstrikes were in response to the ISIS group unleashing its biggest attack in Syria since the fall of its “caliphate” three years ago.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lowered expectations ahead of the meeting in Geneva.

President Joe Biden said any Russian troop movements across Ukraine’s border would be an invasion and that Moscow would “pay a heavy price” for such an action.

Russia's Defense Ministry said the exercise will involve over 140 warships and more than 60 aircraft.

How far might the United States and its allies go to help Ukraine defend itself if the buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine’s borders leads to an invasion?

Russian military activity has been increasing in recent weeks, with the Kremlin announcing plans to send troops to Belarus for war games.

Tensions have been growing in recent months amid a Russian troop buildup near the Ukraine border.

A new Russian invasion of Ukraine could take place “at any minute,” a Ukrainian military official told Military Times Wednesday morning.

“We’re now at a stage where Russia could at any point launch an attack in Ukraine,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.

The hastily arranged trip aims to show U.S. support for Ukraine and impress on Russia the need for de-escalation.

Russia is sending troops from the country’s far east to Belarus for major war games, officials said Tuesday.

The attack took place a short distance from Al-Dhafra Air Base, a military installation that hosts U.S. and French forces.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the U.S. claim about a "false flag" pretext for invasion as “total disinformation.”

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the missiles did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to its allies.

Russia is also laying the groundwork through a social media disinformation campaign by framing Ukraine as an aggressor, U.S. officials say.

Russia demands that that NATO not expand nor deploy forces to Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations.

Hours after berating the Biden administration over sanctions, North Korea fired a new round of missiles.

Although officials have yet to confirm a correlation, a North Korean missile launch coincided with parts of the West Coast grounding flights and clearing air space.

At least four rockets targeted the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Thursday, two Iraqi security officials said.

The decisions came at a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, the first of its kind in over two years.

Magawa detected more than 100 land mines and other explosives during his five-year career before retiring last year.

The talks come during a U.S.-led effort to prevent preparations for what Washington believes could be a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Tuesday's launch was North Korea’s second test of its purported hypersonic missile in a week.

The negotiations were held amid soaring tensions over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine's border that has stoked fears of a possible invasion.

Afghanistan's long-troubled economy has been in a tailspin since the U.S. withdrawal.