Jim Michaels
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 - 07:11
The U.S. Air Force is increasing airdrops of weapons, ammunition and other equipment to a growing number of opposition forces closing in on Raqqa, the Islamic State’s de facto capital in Syria.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 06:36
The Pentagon says it is encouraged by progress Libyan militias are making in driving the Islamic State from its stronghold in the oil-rich country, but is not offering new military assistance for a unity government that still lacks allegiance from some of the militias.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - 06:29
The White House has boosted aid for Ukrainian forces battling Russian-backed separatists but limits training to mainly defensive tactics, triggering criticism the policy is too cautious to blunt President Vladimir Putin's aggressive moves in the region.
Thursday, October 29, 2015 - 06:14
The Pentagon is considering plans that would place U.S. advisers closer to ground combat in Iraq and Syria in a move that could amount to a major escalation in its war against the Islamic State, a senior defense official told USA Today.
Monday, July 20, 2015 - 05:32
An Iraqi military operation to retake the key Sunni city of Ramadi from Islamic State militants is gaining momentum, the top U.S. military officer said Saturday. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said his senior field commanders here do not require additional U.S. forces or the need to deploy advisers in the field with Iraq's combat forces for the offensive to succeed.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 - 08:12
More than a decade of war and billions in U.S. funds to build up an Afghan military force have failed to defeat a Taliban insurgency that remains a threat across the country.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015 - 08:09
The rout of Iraq's military in Ramadi exposes the limits of the White House plan to rebuild Iraq's armed forces with a small number of U.S. advisers who are barred from the field of combat. Ramadi is the latest setback for Iraq's armed forces against the Islamic State, which overran much of the country last year and mounted several offensives more recently.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015 - 07:09
The defeat of Islamic State forces in the Syrian city of Kobani may be difficult to replicate quickly in other parts of Syria and Iraq, where ground forces are too weak to repel the militants.
Monday, December 1, 2014 - 06:31
In a concerted effort to avoid combat, U.S. advisers in Iraq are pioneering new techniques for calling in airstrikes against Islamic State militants.
The procedures allow U.S. pilots to bomb targets without the need for U.S. advisers on the ground to work alongside Iraqi forces.
Friday, July 18, 2014 - 06:49
The amount the Pentagon spent on training Mexico's armed forces, though small, increased to more than $15 million last year, up from about $3 million in 2009, according to U.S. Northern Command.