United States

US says reduced presence of staffers not deemed essential in Middle East as tensions rise

The United States is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest, the State Department and military announced Wednesday.

Pentagon says US to cut military aid to Ukraine

Washington will reduce funding allocated for military assistance to Ukraine in its upcoming defense budget, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated in a congressional hearing.

US travel ban barring citizens from 12 countries, including Iran, goes into effect

President Donald Trump’s new travel ban on citizens from a dozen countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, went into effect at 12 a.m. on Monday, more than eight years after his first such ban sparked chaos, confusion, and months of legal battles

US on track for biggest nuclear weapons spending hike since Cold War: Report

"The White House has proposed a spending increase on nuclear bomb development not seen since the Cold War, the Los Alamos Study Group says in a report.

Trump signs travel ban targeting 12 countries, including Iran

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday inked a proclamation banning travel into the United States for individuals from a dozen countries, citing national security concerns.

Pentagon chief to skip Ukraine meeting at NATO headquarters

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend a meeting of 50 defense ministers at NATO headquarters in Brussels that has been critical to coordinating military aid for Ukraine, marking the first time in three years a Pentagon chief has skipped the event.

Trump admin. lifts first sanctions on Syria

The administration of United States President Donald Trump took its first concrete action to deliver sanctions relief for Syria, following a surprise policy pivot earlier this month.

US not ruling out reopening embassy in Damascus

The US Secretary of State indicated on Tuesday that the reopening of the US embassy in Damascus is possible if interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa can quell security concerns stemming from armed factions not aligned with his government.

Trump’s announcement about Syria surprised US officials: Reuters

When US President Donald Trump announced in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday that he would lift all sanctions on Syria, the decision, which will boost a country devastated by 13 years of war, took many in the region by surprise. It also caught some in his own administration off guard.

Trump meets Syrian president, calls on him to establish ties with Israel

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syria's president Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and urged him to normalise ties with longtime foe Israel, after a surprise Washington's announcement that it would lift all sanctions on Damascus.

US spent $1bn bombing Yemen’s Hothis but failed to gain air superiority: NYT

US President Donald Trump’s administration declared a ceasefire in Yemen last week due to burning through expensive munitions while failing to establish air superiority over the Houthis, according to the New York Times.

Trump secures $600 billion Saudi investment pledge on Persian Gulf tour

President Donald Trump secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to invest in the United States after Riyadh accorded him a gala welcome at the start of a tour of Persian Gulf states.

Trump receives royal Saudi welcome from MbS in Riyadh

US President Donald Trump received a royal Saudi welcome Tuesday as he arrived in the capital, Riyadh, descending Air Force One on purple-carpeted steps to a greeting from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

White House notifies US Congress of $1.45bn in proposed arms sales to UAE

The US State Department notified Congress on Monday of two proposed weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates totaling an estimated $1.45 billion as President Donald Trump embarked on a four-day Middle East tour.

Saudi civil nuclear talks delinked from Israel recognition under Trump: Reuters

The United States is no longer demanding Saudi Arabia normalise ties with Israel as a condition for progress on civil nuclear cooperation talks, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East.

Yemen’s Houthis say attacks on Israel not in US ceasefire accord in ‘any way’

A ceasefire agreement between Yemen’s Houthis and the United States does not include any military operations against Israel, the group’s chief negotiator has announced.

US loses another military aircraft off Yemen: CNN

The US Navy has lost another military aircraft in the Red Sea, marking the second incident involving an F/A-18 Super Hornet from the USS Harry S. Truman in just over a week, and the third such loss since Washington intensified operations against Houthi fighters in Yemen.

US’ Gaza pier injured far more troops than previously known: Report

More than 60 service members were injured as a part of former President Joe Biden's floating aid pier in the Gaza Strip, a Pentagon Inspector General report published on Tuesday disclosed, a number significantly higher than had been previously disclosed.

Trump says he had a productive phone call with Erdogan

U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation on Monday that both leaders described as "very productive" and said they discussed everything from how to end Russia's war in Ukraine to Syria and the Gaza war.

Iran refutes allegations of role in Yemen’s military operations against Israel

Iran has firmly denounced recent accusations by United States and Israeli officials about its involvement in Yemeni military operations, calling them “baseless” and “misleading.”

Trump could skip NATO upcoming summit over tensions with Europe: Spiegel

United States President Donald Trump could snub NATO’s upcoming summit unless European member states commit to significantly higher defense spending, Der Spiegel has reported.

US approves $3.5 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia of AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related support for $3.5 billion, the Pentagon announced in a statement on Friday.

US seeking to eliminate security office coordinating with Palestinian Authority: Report

The administration of President Donald Trump plans to eliminate the position of US security coordinator for the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to several media reports.

US jet rolls off aircraft carrier as ship reportedly swerves Houthi fire: Report

US sailors had to leap for their lives when a warplane fell off a navy aircraft carrier that was reportedly making evasive maneuvers to avoid Houthi militant fire in the Red Sea.

Syria’s FM meets US officials in New York: Reuters

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with senior U.S. State Department officials on Tuesday in New York, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Damascus seeks a clear roadmap from Washington on how to secure permanent sanctions relief.

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