December 7, 2013
10:59 am

US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, left, meets with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain on Friday at the Safriya Palace, Sadad, Bahrain, southwest of the capital of Manama. Secretary Hagel is visiting Bahrain during a six-day tour to the middle east. (AP Photo/Mark Wilson)

Hagel outlines new weapons sale plan for Gulf

Washington to boost defense capabilities of US-friendly states to counter Iran’s ballistic missiles, even as nuke deal inked

By Lolita C. Baldor

November 28, 2013
1:24 am

Illustrative photo of the USS Kearsarge steaming into the Gulf of Aqaba (photo credit: Official US Navy Imagery/File)

US offers to destroy Syrian chemical weapons at sea

The plan, still subject to final approval, calls for disposal to take place on an American ship in the Mediterranean

By Lolita C. Baldor and Pauline Jelinek

November 19, 2013
3:30 am

Turkish commandos stand near the Turkish-Syrian border in Akcakale, Turkey, October 2012 (photo credit: AP)

Turkey denies being soft on Islamic extremists

In Washington, Turkish FM confirms with US Defense Dept. that two US Patriot missile batteries will remain in the country

By Deb Riechmann and Lolita C. Baldor

October 12, 2013
11:43 pm

This undated file photo provided by the General Dynamics Land System shows the production of an Abrams tank in Lima, Ohio. The US decision to suspend delivery of tanks, helicopters and fighter jets to Egypt is more of a symbolic slap than a punishing wound to the military-backed government for its slow slog toward a return to democratic rule. (Photo credit: AP/General Dynamics Land System, File)

Egypt not expected to be hit hard by US aid cuts

Washington decision to suspend delivery of military hardware seen as symbolic slap to military-ruled government

By Deb Riechmann and Lolita C. Baldor

August 31, 2013
6:14 pm

Black columns of smoke rise from heavy shelling in the Jobar neighborhood in East of Damascus, Syria, Sunday, August 25, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Hassan Ammar)

How a possible US strike against Syria could unfold

Targets could include command centers, weapons caches, air defense systems… and the brigade headed by Assad’s brother allegedly responsible for chemical attack

By Lara Jakes and Lolita C. Baldor

August 29, 2013
4:19 am

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (photo credit: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristina Young/Wikimedia Commons)

US Navy beefing up presence in Persian Gulf

Officials describe the introduction of an additional aircraft carrier as prudent planning

By Lolita C. Baldor

August 23, 2013
2:51 am

Illustrative photo of President Barack Obama as he is met by the 11th Wing and Joint Base Andrews Commander Col. William Knight, as he switched from the Marine One helicopter to Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on Thursday, August 22, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

US pressed to react to violence in Syria, Egypt

Washington may freeze arms shipment to Cairo amid growing concern over violence between ousted president’s supporters, military

By Deb Riechmann and Lolita C. Baldor

July 4, 2013
12:31 am

A military helicopter files over the presidential palace as opponents of Egypt's Islamist President Mohammed Morsi celebrate, in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, July 3 (photo credit: AP/Khalil Hamra)

Egypt military assures US: no long-term takeover

Army pledges to ensure the safety of Americans; State Department says US is disappointed with Morsi’s response to opposition protesters’ demands

By Lolita C. Baldor and Matthew Lee

June 27, 2013
2:43 am

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey give a news conference at the Pentagon (photo credit: Evan Vucci/AP)

US looks to send training teams to Lebanon, Iraq

Gen. Martin Dempsey says Pentagon assisting regional partners to ensure they’re prepared to meet Syria spillover

By Lolita C. Baldor

June 15, 2013
2:41 am

Syrian rebels firing locally made shells made from gas cylinders against the Syrian forces, in Idlib province, northern Syria, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 (photo credit: (AP Photo/Edlib News Network ENN, File)

US plan to arm Syrian rebels receives cool reactions

Moscow doesn’t believe chemical weapons findings, UN chief says increasing the flow of arms to war-torn country ‘would not be helpful’

By Deb Riechmann and Lolita C. Baldor

June 1, 2013
6:27 am

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (photo credit: AP/Wong Maye-E/File)

Hagel issues stern warning to China over cyber attacks

At Singapore conference, US defense secretary says countries need to build trust to avoid military miscalculations

By Lolita C. Baldor

May 2, 2013
12:49 pm

A Syrian Army tank in the streets of Damascus, Syria, Friday, April 26, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Ugarit via AP video)

More US officials in favor of arming Syria rebels

Intelligence agencies see signs opposition forces moving away from al-Qaeda, paving the way for increased Western support

By Bradley Klapper and Lolita C. Baldor

February 13, 2013
11:06 pm

American military medals (photo credit: CC-BY-SA David C. Foster/Flickr)

Pentagon to award new medal to cyber, drone fighters

Individuals who fought but weren’t in the field will receive Distinguished Warfare Medal for ‘extraordinary achievement’

By Lolita C. Baldor

February 7, 2013
4:37 am

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman sits in the Persian Gulf on Feb. 8, 2005.(photo credit: Rome J Toledo, US Navy/Department of Defense)

Cash-strapped US military to cut Persian Gulf fleet

USS Harry S Truman will not return to Middle East, leaving only one American carrier group near the strategic Strait of Hormuz

By Lolita C. Baldor

January 30, 2013
9:02 am

Iran's Revolutionary Guard on parade (photo credit: YouTube image capture)

Iran and Hezbollah learning from terror mistakes

A new report indicates that ‘amateurish’ attacks around the world are giving way to more polished operations

By Lolita C. Baldor

Writer: Lolita C. Baldor

Hagel outlines new weapons sale plan for Gulf

Washington to boost defense capabilities of US-friendly states to counter Iran’s ballistic missiles, even as nuke deal inked

US offers to destroy Syrian chemical weapons at sea

The plan, still subject to final approval, calls for disposal to take place on an American ship in the Mediterranean

Turkey denies being soft on Islamic extremists

In Washington, Turkish FM confirms with US Defense Dept. that two US Patriot missile batteries will remain in the country

Egypt not expected to be hit hard by US aid cuts

Washington decision to suspend delivery of military hardware seen as symbolic slap to military-ruled government

How a possible US strike against Syria could unfold

Targets could include command centers, weapons caches, air defense systems… and the brigade headed by Assad’s brother allegedly responsible for chemical attack

US Navy beefing up presence in Persian Gulf

Officials describe the introduction of an additional aircraft carrier as prudent planning

US pressed to react to violence in Syria, Egypt

Washington may freeze arms shipment to Cairo amid growing concern over violence between ousted president’s supporters, military

Egypt military assures US: no long-term takeover

Army pledges to ensure the safety of Americans; State Department says US is disappointed with Morsi’s response to opposition protesters’ demands

US looks to send training teams to Lebanon, Iraq

Gen. Martin Dempsey says Pentagon assisting regional partners to ensure they’re prepared to meet Syria spillover

US plan to arm Syrian rebels receives cool reactions

Moscow doesn’t believe chemical weapons findings, UN chief says increasing the flow of arms to war-torn country ‘would not be helpful’

Hagel issues stern warning to China over cyber attacks

At Singapore conference, US defense secretary says countries need to build trust to avoid military miscalculations

More US officials in favor of arming Syria rebels

Intelligence agencies see signs opposition forces moving away from al-Qaeda, paving the way for increased Western support

Pentagon to award new medal to cyber, drone fighters

Individuals who fought but weren’t in the field will receive Distinguished Warfare Medal for ‘extraordinary achievement’

Cash-strapped US military to cut Persian Gulf fleet

USS Harry S Truman will not return to Middle East, leaving only one American carrier group near the strategic Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Hezbollah learning from terror mistakes

A new report indicates that ‘amateurish’ attacks around the world are giving way to more polished operations

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