Flashpoints - Military News and World News

White House says Russia sanctions still under consideration

The White House scrambled Monday to walk back U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s weekend announcement that new economic sanctions against Russia are imminent, but stressed the penalties are still being considered.

By: Matthew Lee, The Associated Press and Zeke Miller, The Associated Press 6 days ago

Chemical weapons team kept from alleged attack site in Syria

Independent investigators were prevented by Syrian and Russian authorities Monday from reaching the scene of an alleged chemical attack near the Syrian capital, an official said, days after the U.S., France and Britain bombarded sites they said were linked to Syria’s chemical weapons program.

By: Sarah El Deeb, The Associated Press and Nataliya Vasilyeva, The Associated Press 6 days ago

Analysis: Trump finds leaving Syria tougher than he thought

In heated exchanges with his national security team in recent weeks, President Donald Trump repeatedly made clear he saw little incentive for the United States to be involved in Syria’s intractable civil war.

By: Julie Pace, The Associated Press April 15

Western airstrikes unlikely to impact Assad’s war machine

The Western airstrikes targeting suspected Syrian chemical weapons facilities might have rained down punishment from the sky, but they will not fundamentally degrade a war machine whose main bases, weaponry and personnel remain in place.

By: Zeina Karam, The Associated Press April 15

In run-up to missile strike, an orderly, chaotic White House

For the second time in his presidency, President Donald Trump stared, horrified at pictures of children killed in a chemical attack in Syria.

By: Catherine Lucey, The Associated Press and Jill Colvin, The Associated Press April 15

In Peru for summit, Pence offers support for Syrian strike

Thousands of miles from home, Vice President Mike Pence was thrust into a new, more immediate, role on the world stage Saturday: explaining President Donald Trump’s military strike in Syria to a summit of Latin America leaders.

By: Ken Thomas, The Associated Press April 15

US to hit Russia with new sanctions for aiding Syria’s Assad

President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his use of the phrase “Mission Accomplished” to describe a U.S.-led missile attack on Syria’s chemical weapons program, even as his aides stressed continuing U.S. troop involvement and plans for new economic sanctions against Russia for enabling the government of Bashar Assad.

By: Hope Yen, The Associated Press and Robert Burns, The Associated Press April 15

Syrians gather in capital in defiance after airstrikes

Hundreds of Syrians gathered at landmark squares in the Syrian capital Saturday, honking their car horns, flashing victory signs and waving Syrian flags in scenes of defiance that followed unprecedented joint airstrikes by the United States, France and Britain.

By: Bassem Mroue, The Associated Press and Bassam Hatoum, The Associated Press and Albert Aji, The Associated Press April 14

Scenes from the airstrikes on Syria, and the aftermath

What happened during and after the United States on Friday night launched a retaliatory strike against Syria for its use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians?

By: Ken Chamberlain April 14

Coalition launched 105 weapons against Syria, with none intercepted, DoD says

On Saturday morning, Pentagon officials gave details on airstrikes on Syrian chemical weapons sites launched Friday by the United States, United Kingdom and France.

By: Aaron Mehta and Tara Copp April 14

US strikes three Syrian sites in response for chemical attack

The strikes were in retaliation for suspected chemical attacks by the Assad regime against a rebel-held Syrian town.

By: Tara Copp April 13

US strikes on Syria pose risk of conflict with Russia

President Donald Trump was sending mixed messages on whether to launch missile strikes on Syria amid growing concerns about risking a conflict with Russia.

By: Kyle Rempfer April 12

Trump: Syria attack ‘very soon or not so soon at all!’

President Donald Trump said Thursday that an attack on Syria could take place “very soon or not so soon at all,” arguing he had never signaled the timing of retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack that he had suggested was imminent a day earlier.

By: Robert Burns and Catherine Lucey, The Associated Press April 12

US military opens annual counterterrorism training in Niger

Six months after the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Niger led to questions about the military’s presence in the West African nation, the U.S. special operations command in Africa on Wednesday opened its annual counterterror exercise in the face of a growing extremist threat.

By: Carley Petesch, The Associated Press April 11

Trump says ‘missiles coming’ against Syria, ‘new and smart’

Defying Russian warnings against U.S. military strikes in Syria, President Donald Trump said Wednesday that missiles “will be coming” in response to Syria’s suspected chemical attack that killed at least 40 people.

By: Robert Burns and Josh Lederman, The Associated Press and Catherine Lucey, The Associated Press April 11

The sneaky ways China and Russia could threaten US satellites

Kinetic attacks in space are still possible, but nations are looking more towards electronic warfare and cyber attacks, a report has concluded.

By: Aaron Mehta and Mike Gruss April 10

Reports of US destroyer being harassed by Russian jets in Syrian waters are false, US Navy says

An Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer has departed Cyprus and was reported by some news outlets to be pushing to Syria as Russian fighters buzzed its deck.

By: Kyle Rempfer April 10

Syrian forces on high alert as chemical weapons watchdog to send inspectors

The international chemical weapons watchdog said Tuesday it will send a fact-finding mission to the Syrian town where a suspected gas attack took place over the weekend, after receiving a request from the Syrian government and its Russian backers to investigate the allegations.

By: Bassem Mroue, The Associated Press April 10

Trump and allies mull possible joint response in Syria

Trump administration officials consulted with global allies Tuesday on a possible joint military response to Syria’s alleged poison gas attack, as President Donald Trump canceled a foreign trip in order to manage a crisis that is testing his vow to stand up to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

By: Robert Burns and Josh Lederman, The Associated Press April 10

US carrier Roosevelt displays capabilities in disputed South China Sea

Recent U.S. deployments of aircraft carriers, backed by destroyers, to the disputed waters for freedom of navigation challenges to Beijing’s territorial claims are reassuring allies but also prompting concerns with China’s own show of force in the busy waterway.

By: Jim Gomez, The Associated Press April 10