Flashpoints

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


  • Iran breaches key uranium enrichment limit in nuclear deal
    Iran breaches key uranium enrichment limit in nuclear deal

    Iran on Monday began enriching uranium to 4.5%, just breaking the limit set by its nuclear deal with world powers, while it is still seeking a way for Europe to help it bypass U.S. sanctions amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

  • US envoy hails latest talks with Taliban as the best ever
    US envoy hails latest talks with Taliban as the best ever

    The U.S. peace envoy to Afghanistan said Saturday that for the first time he can report “substantive” progress on all four issues key to a peace agreement in the country’s 17-year war, calling the latest round of talks with the Taliban the “most productive” so far.

  • Iraqi forces begin operation against ISIS along Syrian border
    Iraqi forces begin operation against ISIS along Syrian border

    Iraq’s security and paramilitary forces began Sunday a military operation along the border with Syria aimed at clearing the area of Islamic State group militants, the military said in a statement.

  • Iran raises uranium enrichment beyond nuclear deal limits
    Iran raises uranium enrichment beyond nuclear deal limits

    Iran increased its uranium enrichment Sunday beyond the limit allowed by its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, inching its program closer toward weapons-grade levels while calling for a diplomatic solution to a crisis heightening tensions with the U.S.

  • NSA mystery case reaches the end, with many unanswered questions
    NSA mystery case reaches the end, with many unanswered questions

    A Navy veteran, Harold Martin was a contractor for the National Security Agency. His arrest followed news of a devastating disclosure of government hacking tools by a mysterious internet group calling itself the Shadow Brokers.

  • Rouhani: Iran will enrich uranium to ‘any amount we want’
    Rouhani: Iran will enrich uranium to ‘any amount we want’

    The comments by President Hassan Rouhani come as tensions remain high between Iran and the U.S. over the 2015 nuclear deal, which President Donald Trump pulled America from over a year ago.

  • All-Afghan peace summit set for July, but on Taliban terms
    All-Afghan peace summit set for July, but on Taliban terms

    A surprise announcement by President Donald Trump seemed to accelerate the expected time frame for U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan ahead of an all-Afghan peace summit planned for July 7-8 in Qatar. The gathering apparently will be held on Taliban terms as there will be no official Afghan government representation.

  • South Korea’s Moon calls Trump-Kim summit end of hostility
    South Korea’s Moon calls Trump-Kim summit end of hostility

    South Korea’s president on Tuesday called a recent U.S.-North Korean summit at the Korean border an end of mutual hostility between the countries, despite skepticism by many experts that it’s was a just made-for-TV moment that lacked any substance.

  • Sea Breeze exercise underway in the Black Sea with Ukraine, NATO allies
    Sea Breeze exercise underway in the Black Sea with Ukraine, NATO allies

    About 3,000 troops from 19 countries are taking part in military drills in the Black Sea, an exercise that has raised concerns in Russia.

  • Iraq moves to limit influence of Iran-backed militias
    Iraq moves to limit influence of Iran-backed militias

    Iraq’s government moved Monday night to control powerful Iran-backed militias in the country, placing them under the full command of the Iraqi armed forces.