Flashpoints

The latest news from Marine Corps Times about global conflict, terrorism and U.S. military affairs

China appears to wind down military drills near Taiwan

China reaffirmed its threat to use military force to bring self-governing Taiwan under its control, amid threatening Chinese military exercises.

29 hours ago

Ukraine says 9 Russian warplanes destroyed in Crimea blasts

Russia denied any aircraft were damaged in Tuesday’s blasts — or that any attack took place.

32 hours ago

News

Austin pledges military training, support for Baltics

Austin is the first U.S. defense secretary to visit Latvia in nearly three decades, underscoring the increased importance of the Baltic nations.

Taiwan's military conducts artillery live-fire drills at Fangshan township in Pingtung, southern Taiwan

China drills show ambitions beyond island, Taiwan warns

The warning came as Taipei conducted its own exercises Tuesday to underscore it’s ready to defend itself.

2 days ago

China extends threatening military exercises around Taiwan

China said it is extending threatening military exercises surrounding Taiwan that have disrupted shipping and air traffic and substantially raised concerns.

3 days ago

A man uses a magnifying glass to read a newspaper headline reporting on Chinese People's Liberation Army conducting military exercises, at a stand in Beijing.

China continues 4th day of military drills around Taiwan

Taiwan said it continued to detect Chinese aircraft, ships and drones simulating attacks on the island.

4 days ago

D.C. National Guard Guardsmen stand outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 7, 2021, in Washington.

Pentagon denies DC request for National Guard migrant help

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin declined to provide Guard personnel and the use of the D.C. Armory to assist with the reception of migrants into the city.

6 days ago

China halts climate, military ties over Pelosi Taiwan visit

China on Friday said it is canceling or suspending dialogue with the United States on a range of issues from climate change to military relations and anti-drug efforts.

6 days ago

China conducts ‘precision missile strikes’ in Taiwan Strait for military exercise

China says it conducted "precision missile strikes" in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday as part of military exercises.

7 days ago

A look at the ‘knife bomb’ that may have killed al-Qaida leader

U.S. officials haven't publicly said what weapon was used, but experts said a likely option was the highly secretive Hellfire R9X — know by various nicknames, like the “knife bomb."

8 days ago

US, Indonesian soldiers hold drills on Sumatra amid China concerns

More than 5,000 soldiers from the U.S., Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Singapore were participating in this year’s exercises, making them the largest since the drills were established in 2009.

8 days ago

Taliban under scrutiny as US kills al-Qaida leader in Kabul

“The Taliban were aware of his presence in Kabul, and if they were not aware of it, they need to explain their position,” said one Pakistani intelligence official

9 days ago

China conducts military exercise opposite Taiwan

China said it was conducting military exercises Saturday off its coast opposite Taiwan.

11 days ago

American veterans captured in Ukraine sent to prison, family says

Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh are believed to be the first Americans captured while fighting against Russian forces.

11 days ago

Kim threatens to use nukes amid tensions with US, South Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea.

2 weeks ago

US rocket system enables Ukraine to strike key supply bridge

Ukrainian forces used U.S.-supplied HIMARS multiple rocket launchers to target the bridge,

2 weeks ago

US military making plans in case Pelosi travels to Taiwan

U.S. officials say they have little fear that China would attack Nancy Pelosi’s plane if she flies to Taiwan.

2 weeks ago

China’s growing influence in US ‘neighborhood’ worries SOUTHCOM boss

This isn’t the first time SOUTHCOM has voiced concerns over China’s presence in the neighborhood.

2 weeks ago

2 Americans, including a veteran, killed while fighting in Ukraine

They were killed in a Russian ambush in the Donbas region alongside two other foreign fighters, according to a Ukrainian commander.

2 weeks ago

Taiwan holds drills amid Pelosi visit concern, China tension

There was no direct link between China's threats and Taiwan's civil defense drills.

2 weeks ago

Remains of World War 2 Marine to be buried in Nashville

Marine Corps Reserve Cpl. William R. Ragsdale, 23, was wounded in action in Saipan, 1944.

3 weeks ago

US destroyer sails past Chinese-held South China Sea islands

China’s Southern Theater Command tracked the vessel’s movements and ordered it to leave the area.

4 weeks ago

UK soldiers killed dozens of Afghan detainees, report says

A BBC investigation alleged British special forces killed dozens of detainees in suspicious circumstances during counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan.

4 weeks ago

Pentagon: US killed ISIS leader in Syria in drone strike

The U.S. carried out the strike outside Jindaris, a town in northwest Syria close to the Turkish border.

4 weeks ago

Iran to deliver armed drones to Russia, White House says

The White House says it believes Russia is turning to Iran to provide it with “hundreds” of unmanned aerial vehicles for use in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

4 weeks ago

NKorea likely fired artillery rounds amid US-SKorea drills

Last week, six U.S. F-35 aircraft arrived in South Korea for their first temporary deployment in South Korea in about four and a half years for joint training.

4 weeks ago

Retired Army general suspended after tweet critical of Jill Biden

An Army spokeswoman says an inquiry has been called for retired Lt. Gen. Gary Volesky, but provides no details.

5 weeks ago

Biden trip promotes budding Arab-Israeli security ties

Israeli-Arab security overtures have grown since the Pentagon switched coordination with Israel from U.S. European Command to Central Command last year.

5 weeks ago