President Trump over the weekend considered ordering a strike against the Houthis in Yemen before deciding to hold off for now, two U.S. officials said. Why it matters: Trump was caught between wanting to help his friend and ally, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and avoiding getting entangled on a new front in the Middle East. Catch up quick: Ten days ago, bin Salman (MBS) called Trump twice on the same day, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint. - Trump rejected the request and agreed only to help the Saudis with intelligence and targeting data. - U.S. officials said at the time they wouldn't take military action as long as the Houthis did not…
President Trump over the weekend considered ordering a strike against the Houthis in Yemen before deciding to hold off for now, two U.S. officials said. Why it matters: Trump was caught between wanting to help his friend and ally, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and avoiding getting entangled on a new front in the Middle East. Catch up quick: Ten days ago, bin Salman (MBS) called Trump twice on the same day, urging him to launch strikes against the Houthis as the Iran-backed group closed in on a vital Red Sea chokepoint. - Trump rejected the request and agreed only to help the Saudis with intelligence and targeting data. - U.S. officials said at the time they wouldn't take military action as long as the Houthis did not…Open
President Trump is once again threatening to seize Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub and a high-value target in the months-long war. The big picture: Attacks on the small island's oil infrastructure — or a full-blown takeover — could choke Iran's revenue, but there's no guarantee the stark escalation would persuade Iran to accept Trump's terms . Driving the news: Trump wrote in a Thursday morning Truth Social post that "[a]t some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points." By the numbers: Kharg sits some 15 miles off Iran's coast in the Persian Gulf and handles roughly 90% of its crude exports. - Oil exports are Iran's lifeline . By squeezing the Strait of…
President Trump is once again threatening to seize Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub and a high-value target in the months-long war. The big picture: Attacks on the small island's oil infrastructure — or a full-blown takeover — could choke Iran's revenue, but there's no guarantee the stark escalation would persuade Iran to accept Trump's terms . Driving the news: Trump wrote in a Thursday morning Truth Social post that "[a]t some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points." By the numbers: Kharg sits some 15 miles off Iran's coast in the Persian Gulf and handles roughly 90% of its crude exports. - Oil exports are Iran's lifeline . By squeezing the Strait of…Open
The crew of a U.S. Apache attack helicopter shot down by Iran was rescued by a drone-boat known as Corsair. Why it matters: It was a first-of-its-kind operation, with incredibly high stakes. - It also offers a glimpse at future warfare, in which humans and smart, militarized machinery operate alongside one another. Driving the news: A spokesperson for Central Command, which oversees American military action across the greater Middle East , told Axios the Corsair "picked up" the crew and "transported them to another location on the water," where they were then "hoisted up to a helicopter." - Both crew members are in stable condition. - President Trump blamed Iran for shooting down the AH-64 Apache, which is made by Boeing, and vowed a…
The crew of a U.S. Apache attack helicopter shot down by Iran was rescued by a drone-boat known as Corsair. Why it matters: It was a first-of-its-kind operation, with incredibly high stakes. - It also offers a glimpse at future warfare, in which humans and smart, militarized machinery operate alongside one another. Driving the news: A spokesperson for Central Command, which oversees American military action across the greater Middle East , told Axios the Corsair "picked up" the crew and "transported them to another location on the water," where they were then "hoisted up to a helicopter." - Both crew members are in stable condition. - President Trump blamed Iran for shooting down the AH-64 Apache, which is made by Boeing, and vowed a…Open
A military analyst identified markings consistent with a squadron based at R.A.F. Lakenheath, one of two British bases that host the largest U.S. fighter jet operation in Europe.
President Trump said the U.S. military conducted a massive strike on Kharg Island in Iran - the center of the country's oil exports. Why it matters: The strategic Island hosts Iran key oil export facilities. 80-90 percent of Iranian oil is exported from the Island. - The White House has been considering a ground operation to take over the island as one of many options presented by the Pentagon ahead of the war with Iran. - The strike was a "shot across the bow" by Trump to signal to the Iranians they should stop closing the Strait of Hormuz which has dramatically disrupted the global oil market. - Trump made clear in a post on Truth Social that the oil facilities on the island were not targeted this time, but warned they will be if…
President Trump said the U.S. military conducted a massive strike on Kharg Island in Iran - the center of the country's oil exports. Why it matters: The strategic Island hosts Iran key oil export facilities. 80-90 percent of Iranian oil is exported from the Island. - The White House has been considering a ground operation to take over the island as one of many options presented by the Pentagon ahead of the war with Iran. - The strike was a "shot across the bow" by Trump to signal to the Iranians they should stop closing the Strait of Hormuz which has dramatically disrupted the global oil market. - Trump made clear in a post on Truth Social that the oil facilities on the island were not targeted this time, but warned they will be if…Open
The U.S. Central Command confirmed that at least four of six crew members on the KC-135 aircraft were dead, after the refueling plane went down in western Iraq on Thursday.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed that at least four of six crew members on the KC-135 aircraft were dead, after the refueling plane went down in western Iraq on Thursday.Open
America’s Kurdish allies oversaw two dozen sites holding thousands of members of the terrorist group and their families. Their withdrawal has left the system in chaos.