June 16, 2017
8:28 am

US forces and Afghan security police are seen in Asad Khil near the site of a US bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, April 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

About 4,000 more US troops to be sent to Afghanistan

Deployment to be the largest since Trump assumed presidency; Pentagon says ‘no decisions have been made’

By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns

May 9, 2017
11:23 pm

A fighter from the US-backed SDF walks next to the group's flag flying in the village of Kabsh Gharbi, on the northern outskirts of Raqqa, on May 2, 2017. (AFP Photo/Ayham al-Mohammad)

Trump OKs arms for Syrian Kurds, over Turkish objections

US says decision to equip Kurdish-led SDF ‘necessary to ensure a clear victory’ over the Islamic State in Raqqa

By Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor

April 27, 2017
8:04 pm

In this photograph taken on April 11, 2017, smoke rises after an air strike by US aircraft on positions during an ongoing an operation against Islamic State (IS) in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province. (AFP PHOTO / NOORULLAH SHIRZADA)

2 US troops killed, 1 injured in eastern Afghanistan

Forces come under attack by Islamic State in same region where ‘mother of all bombs’ was dropped recently

By Lolita C. Baldor

April 7, 2017
8:30 pm

Turkish officials with chemical clothes carry an injured man on April 4, 2017 in Hatay province, near the Syrian border. (AFP/Dogan News Agency)

US probes whether Russia took part in Syria chemical attack

Military officials say drone belonging to either Moscow or Damascus was seen hovering over site after assault this week

By Julie Pace, VIVIAN SALAMA and Lolita C. Baldor

March 2, 2017
9:14 pm

A US F-15E Strike Eagle during a training run in Utah in 2010. (US Air Force)

Wave of US airstrikes target al-Qaeda in Yemen

At least seven terrorists killed in operation to degrade group’s ability to ‘coordinate external terror attacks’

By Ahmed al-Haj and Lolita C. Baldor

February 27, 2017
10:22 pm

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford greets Defense Secretary Jimn Mattis at the Pentagon, January 21, 2107. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Pentagon presenting counter-IS plan to White House

Officials say document is ‘a framework for a broader discussion’ of strategy, includes significant elements of Obama’s approach

By Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor

February 20, 2017
2:58 pm

U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, center, is greeted by U.S. Ambassador Douglas Silliman as he arrives at Baghdad International Airport on an unannounced trip Monday, Feb. 20, 2017. (Lolita Baldor/AP)

US defense secretary: No plan to seize Iraqi oil

In an apparent continuation of administraion’s clarification efforts, Mattis makes an unannounced visit to Baghdad

By Lolita C. Baldor

December 9, 2016
10:08 pm

Signs read "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) near La Defense in Paris before the nation observed a minute of silence on January 8, 2015 for the 12 victims of an attack by armed gunmen on the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris the day before. (photo credit: AFP/ERIC PIERMONT)

US airstrike kills IS terrorist linked to Charlie Hebdo attack

Officials say Boubaker el Hakim, mentor to brothers who carried out January 2015 massacre, died in Raqqa on November 26

By Lolita C. Baldor

October 26, 2016
3:06 am

This file photo taken on May 25, 2016 shows armed men in uniform identified by Syrian Democratic forces as US special operations forces riding in the back of a pickup truck in the village of Fatisah in the northern Syrian province of Raqqa. (AFP/Delil Souleiman)

US says coalition laying groundwork to retake Raqqa from IS

As jihadist group loses ground in its last Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, Western powers look to dislodge it from its Syrian capital

By Lolita C. Baldor

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

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

Writer: Lolita C. Baldor

About 4,000 more US troops to be sent to Afghanistan

Deployment to be the largest since Trump assumed presidency; Pentagon says ‘no decisions have been made’

Trump OKs arms for Syrian Kurds, over Turkish objections

US says decision to equip Kurdish-led SDF ‘necessary to ensure a clear victory’ over the Islamic State in Raqqa

2 US troops killed, 1 injured in eastern Afghanistan

Forces come under attack by Islamic State in same region where ‘mother of all bombs’ was dropped recently

US probes whether Russia took part in Syria chemical attack

Military officials say drone belonging to either Moscow or Damascus was seen hovering over site after assault this week

Wave of US airstrikes target al-Qaeda in Yemen

At least seven terrorists killed in operation to degrade group’s ability to ‘coordinate external terror attacks’

Pentagon presenting counter-IS plan to White House

Officials say document is ‘a framework for a broader discussion’ of strategy, includes significant elements of Obama’s approach

US defense secretary: No plan to seize Iraqi oil

In an apparent continuation of administraion’s clarification efforts, Mattis makes an unannounced visit to Baghdad

US airstrike kills IS terrorist linked to Charlie Hebdo attack

Officials say Boubaker el Hakim, mentor to brothers who carried out January 2015 massacre, died in Raqqa on November 26

US says coalition laying groundwork to retake Raqqa from IS

As jihadist group loses ground in its last Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, Western powers look to dislodge it from its Syrian capital

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

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