Flashpoints

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


  • US military strikes al-Qaida militants in Syria
    US military strikes al-Qaida militants in Syria

    The U.S. military says it has struck an al-Qaida leadership and training facility in northern Syria where attacks threatening Americans and others were being planned.

  • Taliban bombing in Afghan capital kills 1, wounds scores
    Taliban bombing in Afghan capital kills 1, wounds scores

    At least 26 children were among the wounded, many of whom were cut by shards of glass when the bomb shattered nearby windows, government spokesman Feroz Bashari said. He said a total of 105 people were hurt.

  • Iran breaches uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal
    Iran breaches uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal

    Iran’s foreign minister says it has surpassed the limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

  • Afghan Taliban say latest peace talks with US are ‘critical’
    Afghan Taliban say latest peace talks with US are ‘critical’

    The Taliban said Sunday that the latest round of peace talks with the United States is “critical” as the two sides “rewrite” a draft agreement in which American forces would withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for guarantees from the insurgents that they would fight terrorism.

  • DMZ, where Trump met Kim, is a vestige of Cold War
    DMZ, where Trump met Kim, is a vestige of Cold War

    The Demilitarized Zone, where President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday, may be the most heavily fortified strip of land in the world and serves as an uneasy and occasionally bloody borderline between the two Koreas.

  • Kim-Trump border meeting: History or just a photo-op?
    Kim-Trump border meeting: History or just a photo-op?

    It sure looked historic: President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un strode toward each other Sunday from opposite sides of a strip of land that marks one of the world’s most dangerous places. They shook hands and then Trump stepped over the concrete slab that marks the borderline between the Koreas, becoming…

  • Trump, making history, steps into North Korea
    Trump, making history, steps into North Korea

    What was intended to be an impromptu exchange of pleasantries turned into a 50-minute meeting, another historic first in the yearlong rapprochement between the two technically warring nations.

  • Senate fails to limit Trump war powers amid Iran tensions
    Senate fails to limit Trump war powers amid Iran tensions

    The Senate fell short Friday, in a 50-40 vote, on an amendment to a sweeping Defense bill that would require congressional support before Trump acts. It didn’t reach the 60-vote threshold needed for passage. But lawmakers said the majority showing sent a strong message that Trump cannot continue relying on the nearly two-decade-old war authorizations…

  • Suspected suicide bombings in Philippine army camp kills 7
    Suspected suicide bombings in Philippine army camp kills 7

    The military has deployed large numbers of troops to predominantly Muslim Sulu to bolster a months-long offensive against remnants of the Abu Sayyaf, which is listed by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings.

  • U.S.-led coalition: ISIS militants cleared from Syrian village in massive operation
    U.S.-led coalition: ISIS militants cleared from Syrian village in massive operation

    The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve aided approximately 1,000 Syrian Democratic Force soldiers in wiping out the Syrian town of ISIS militants on June 18, after the ISIS fighters intimidated community leaders and infiltrated the village.

  • US military strikes al-Qaida militants in Syria
    US military strikes al-Qaida militants in Syria

    The U.S. military says it has struck an al-Qaida leadership and training facility in northern Syria where attacks threatening Americans and others were being planned.

  • Taliban bombing in Afghan capital kills 1, wounds scores
    Taliban bombing in Afghan capital kills 1, wounds scores

    At least 26 children were among the wounded, many of whom were cut by shards of glass when the bomb shattered nearby windows, government spokesman Feroz Bashari said. He said a total of 105 people were hurt.

  • Iran breaches uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal
    Iran breaches uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal

    Iran’s foreign minister says it has surpassed the limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

  • Afghan Taliban say latest peace talks with US are ‘critical’
    Afghan Taliban say latest peace talks with US are ‘critical’

    The Taliban said Sunday that the latest round of peace talks with the United States is “critical” as the two sides “rewrite” a draft agreement in which American forces would withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for guarantees from the insurgents that they would fight terrorism.

  • DMZ, where Trump met Kim, is a vestige of Cold War
    DMZ, where Trump met Kim, is a vestige of Cold War

    The Demilitarized Zone, where President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday, may be the most heavily fortified strip of land in the world and serves as an uneasy and occasionally bloody borderline between the two Koreas.

  • Kim-Trump border meeting: History or just a photo-op?
    Kim-Trump border meeting: History or just a photo-op?

    It sure looked historic: President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un strode toward each other Sunday from opposite sides of a strip of land that marks one of the world’s most dangerous places. They shook hands and then Trump stepped over the concrete slab that marks the borderline between the Koreas, becoming…

  • Trump, making history, steps into North Korea
    Trump, making history, steps into North Korea

    What was intended to be an impromptu exchange of pleasantries turned into a 50-minute meeting, another historic first in the yearlong rapprochement between the two technically warring nations.

  • Senate fails to limit Trump war powers amid Iran tensions
    Senate fails to limit Trump war powers amid Iran tensions

    The Senate fell short Friday, in a 50-40 vote, on an amendment to a sweeping Defense bill that would require congressional support before Trump acts. It didn’t reach the 60-vote threshold needed for passage. But lawmakers said the majority showing sent a strong message that Trump cannot continue relying on the nearly two-decade-old war authorizations…

  • Suspected suicide bombings in Philippine army camp kills 7
    Suspected suicide bombings in Philippine army camp kills 7

    The military has deployed large numbers of troops to predominantly Muslim Sulu to bolster a months-long offensive against remnants of the Abu Sayyaf, which is listed by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings.

  • U.S.-led coalition: ISIS militants cleared from Syrian village in massive operation
    U.S.-led coalition: ISIS militants cleared from Syrian village in massive operation

    The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve aided approximately 1,000 Syrian Democratic Force soldiers in wiping out the Syrian town of ISIS militants on June 18, after the ISIS fighters intimidated community leaders and infiltrated the village.

  • US military strikes al-Qaida militants in Syria
    US military strikes al-Qaida militants in Syria

    The U.S. military says it has struck an al-Qaida leadership and training facility in northern Syria where attacks threatening Americans and others were being planned.

  • Taliban bombing in Afghan capital kills 1, wounds scores
    Taliban bombing in Afghan capital kills 1, wounds scores

    At least 26 children were among the wounded, many of whom were cut by shards of glass when the bomb shattered nearby windows, government spokesman Feroz Bashari said. He said a total of 105 people were hurt.

  • Iran breaches uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal
    Iran breaches uranium stockpile limit set by nuclear deal

    Iran’s foreign minister says it has surpassed the limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

  • Afghan Taliban say latest peace talks with US are ‘critical’
    Afghan Taliban say latest peace talks with US are ‘critical’

    The Taliban said Sunday that the latest round of peace talks with the United States is “critical” as the two sides “rewrite” a draft agreement in which American forces would withdraw from Afghanistan in exchange for guarantees from the insurgents that they would fight terrorism.

  • DMZ, where Trump met Kim, is a vestige of Cold War
    DMZ, where Trump met Kim, is a vestige of Cold War

    The Demilitarized Zone, where President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday, may be the most heavily fortified strip of land in the world and serves as an uneasy and occasionally bloody borderline between the two Koreas.

  • Kim-Trump border meeting: History or just a photo-op?
    Kim-Trump border meeting: History or just a photo-op?

    It sure looked historic: President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un strode toward each other Sunday from opposite sides of a strip of land that marks one of the world’s most dangerous places. They shook hands and then Trump stepped over the concrete slab that marks the borderline between the Koreas, becoming…

  • Trump, making history, steps into North Korea
    Trump, making history, steps into North Korea

    What was intended to be an impromptu exchange of pleasantries turned into a 50-minute meeting, another historic first in the yearlong rapprochement between the two technically warring nations.

  • Senate fails to limit Trump war powers amid Iran tensions
    Senate fails to limit Trump war powers amid Iran tensions

    The Senate fell short Friday, in a 50-40 vote, on an amendment to a sweeping Defense bill that would require congressional support before Trump acts. It didn’t reach the 60-vote threshold needed for passage. But lawmakers said the majority showing sent a strong message that Trump cannot continue relying on the nearly two-decade-old war authorizations…

  • Suspected suicide bombings in Philippine army camp kills 7
    Suspected suicide bombings in Philippine army camp kills 7

    The military has deployed large numbers of troops to predominantly Muslim Sulu to bolster a months-long offensive against remnants of the Abu Sayyaf, which is listed by the United States and the Philippines as a terrorist organization for bombings, ransom kidnappings and beheadings.

  • U.S.-led coalition: ISIS militants cleared from Syrian village in massive operation
    U.S.-led coalition: ISIS militants cleared from Syrian village in massive operation

    The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve aided approximately 1,000 Syrian Democratic Force soldiers in wiping out the Syrian town of ISIS militants on June 18, after the ISIS fighters intimidated community leaders and infiltrated the village.