September 14, 2016
8:37 am

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands at a press conference in Geneva on September 9, 2016, where they announced a new plan for a ceasefire in the Syrian civil war and the foundation of a peace process. (AFP/Kevin Lamarque/Pool)

US weighs up risks of Syria deal with Russians

Pentagon skeptical about military cooperation, worrying about responsibility if US-approved Russian airstrikes kill civilians

By Lolita C. Baldor

August 11, 2016
12:37 pm

Illustrative photo of jihadists fighting with the Islamic State. (AP/Raqqa Media Center of the Islamic State group, File)

US: IS ‘in retreat on all fronts,’ down to 15,000 fighters

American general says 45,000 jihadists pulled from battlefields, but warns a defeated Islamic State will still carry out ‘horrific attacks’

By Lolita C. Baldor

July 9, 2016
8:02 pm

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg attends a joint press conference during the second day of a NATO Summit in Warsaw, Poland on July 9, 2016. (AFP/Wojtek Radwanski)

NATO boosts support for countries battling Islamic extremism

Allaince’s allies in Mideast, North Africa to launch new naval mission in Mediterranean, use surveillance planes

By Lolita C. Baldor and John-Thor Dahlburg

June 25, 2016
8:28 pm

This photo released by the Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, shows detention of American Navy sailors by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the Persian Gulf, Iran. (Sepahnews via AP)

2nd US Navy officer fired over Iran’s detention of 10 sailors

US continues to reprimand soliders for January incident in which American ship drifted into Iranian territorial waters in Persian Gulf

By Lolita C. Baldor

May 13, 2016
2:30 am

US Navy officer fired over Iran’s detention of 10 sailors

In statement, military says Cmdr. Eric Rasch’s lack of oversight, complacency led to embarrassing capture by Iranian forces

By Lolita C. Baldor

May 9, 2016
11:43 pm

Undated file image posted on a militant website on January 14, 2014, shows Islamic State fighters marching in Raqqa, Syria. (AP/Militant Website)

US: Islamic State leader killed in Iraq’s Anbar province

Abu Wahib, 3 others die in American airstrike; IS commander had been mocked last year for looking like shawarma

By Lolita C. Baldor and Times of Israel staff

April 19, 2016
12:53 pm

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrives Monday, April 18, 2016, in Baghdad and is greeted by Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, top US Commander for the fight against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. (AP Photo/Lolita C. Baldor)

US to deploy more forces to back Iraq’s anti-Islamic State war

Increase in troops is latest American effort to help Baghdad retake key northern city of Mosul from jihadist group

By Lolita C. Baldor

April 8, 2016
10:21 am

This undated image made from a video released by Islamic State militants on April 19, 2015, appears to show the killing of a group of captured Ethiopian Christians in Libya. (Militant video via AP)

US commander: Islamic State has 6,000 fighters in Libya

David Rodriguez says terror group has doubled number of recruits, making it largest affiliate outside Iraq and Syria

By Lolita C. Baldor

March 26, 2016
1:05 am

American soldiers at a base complex in Iraq, December 29, 2014 (AFP/ALI AL-SAADI)

US moving to increase troops in Iraq to fight IS

Defense Secretary Carter says elimination of group’s top members is hampering its ability to attack West, but it’s not broken

By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns

February 4, 2016
11:32 pm

Illustrative photo of Islamic State militants, with an IS fighter waving the group flag in Fallujah, Iraq, west of Baghdad, June 28, 2015. (Militant website of IS, via AP)

Islamic State numbers go down in Iraq, Syria; up in Libya

US official says 19,000-25,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria, compared to earlier estimate of 20,000-30,000

By Lolita C. Baldor

January 20, 2016
10:29 pm

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter (L) shakes hands with French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian after addressing a joint press conference following a working meeting on the battle against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, on January 20, 2016 at the Defense Ministry in Paris. (AFP PHOTO/ALAIN JOCARD)

US, allies agree to intensify fight against Islamic State

Carter says there is broad agreement on coordinated plan to battle IS, retake key cities under group’s control

By Lolita C. Baldor

January 15, 2016
12:43 am

US defense chief: Sailors made navigational error in Iran

Human error, coupled with ensuing engine trouble, led to capture by Revolutionary Guards in Iranian waters

By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns

January 12, 2016
11:32 pm

Illustrative photo of a US warship as it crosses the Gulf of Aden (photo credit: Kristopher Wilson/US Navy/Wikimedia Commons/File)

Iran seizes two US Navy boats, 10 crew

Pentagon says Tehran promising sailors, vessels will be returned promptly; Iran news agency says they were trespassing

By Lolita C. Baldor

December 17, 2015
1:03 am

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter addresses American troops at the Incirlik Air Base near Adana, Turkey, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015. (AP Photo)

Carter in Iraq to seek new ways to battle Islamic State

Efforts to ramp up anti-jihadist fight hampered in part by Iraqi sensitivities over greater US military presence

By Lolita C. Baldor

December 4, 2015
12:11 am

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter speaks at a news conference at the Pentagon, September 30, 2015. (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Pentagon chief to military: Open all combat jobs to women

Ash Carter’s order gives female candidates access to most demanding jobs; armed forces have 30 days to plan historic changes

By Lolita C. Baldor

Writer: Lolita C. Baldor

US weighs up risks of Syria deal with Russians

Pentagon skeptical about military cooperation, worrying about responsibility if US-approved Russian airstrikes kill civilians

US: IS ‘in retreat on all fronts,’ down to 15,000 fighters

American general says 45,000 jihadists pulled from battlefields, but warns a defeated Islamic State will still carry out ‘horrific attacks’

NATO boosts support for countries battling Islamic extremism

Allaince’s allies in Mideast, North Africa to launch new naval mission in Mediterranean, use surveillance planes

2nd US Navy officer fired over Iran’s detention of 10 sailors

US continues to reprimand soliders for January incident in which American ship drifted into Iranian territorial waters in Persian Gulf

US Navy officer fired over Iran’s detention of 10 sailors

In statement, military says Cmdr. Eric Rasch’s lack of oversight, complacency led to embarrassing capture by Iranian forces

US: Islamic State leader killed in Iraq’s Anbar province

Abu Wahib, 3 others die in American airstrike; IS commander had been mocked last year for looking like shawarma

US to deploy more forces to back Iraq’s anti-Islamic State war

Increase in troops is latest American effort to help Baghdad retake key northern city of Mosul from jihadist group

US commander: Islamic State has 6,000 fighters in Libya

David Rodriguez says terror group has doubled number of recruits, making it largest affiliate outside Iraq and Syria

US moving to increase troops in Iraq to fight IS

Defense Secretary Carter says elimination of group’s top members is hampering its ability to attack West, but it’s not broken

Islamic State numbers go down in Iraq, Syria; up in Libya

US official says 19,000-25,000 fighters in Iraq and Syria, compared to earlier estimate of 20,000-30,000

US, allies agree to intensify fight against Islamic State

Carter says there is broad agreement on coordinated plan to battle IS, retake key cities under group’s control

US defense chief: Sailors made navigational error in Iran

Human error, coupled with ensuing engine trouble, led to capture by Revolutionary Guards in Iranian waters

Iran seizes two US Navy boats, 10 crew

Pentagon says Tehran promising sailors, vessels will be returned promptly; Iran news agency says they were trespassing

Carter in Iraq to seek new ways to battle Islamic State

Efforts to ramp up anti-jihadist fight hampered in part by Iraqi sensitivities over greater US military presence

Pentagon chief to military: Open all combat jobs to women

Ash Carter’s order gives female candidates access to most demanding jobs; armed forces have 30 days to plan historic changes

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