Latest news with #EuropeanCommand

Trump's Pause on Ukraine Aid Hurt Its Readiness, Watchdog Finds

Bloomberg

2 days ago

Politics
Bloomberg

Trump's Pause on Ukraine Aid Hurt Its Readiness, Watchdog Finds

The Trump administration's decision to pause military aid to Ukraine earlier this year undercut the country's fighting capability and undermined its negotiating position with Russia, according to a newly disclosed assessment from the US European Command. The eight-day halt in March 'had tangible effect'on the conflict as well as 'significant residual effects on the delivery of security assistance,' including fuses for some precision-guided weapons and 155mm ammunition, according to the report led by the Pentagon's acting inspector general, Steve Stebbins.

Yemen : Houthis likely to be ‘persistent problem' for US, military official says

Yemen Online

25-06-2025

Politics
Yemen Online

Yemen : Houthis likely to be ‘persistent problem' for US, military official says

The Houthi group in Yemen will likely be a 'persistent problem' for the US in the future, a senior US military official said on Tuesday, even after Washington and the Houthis reached an agreement last month that ended a US air campaign against the Iran-backed group, which controls much of Yemen. 'The Houthis are likely to be a persistent problem… that we'll be dealing with in the future a few times again,' Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, director for operations of the Joint Staff, told lawmakers. Grynkewich has been nominated to lead the US military's European Command. Last month, US President Donald Trump announced the US would stop bombing the Houthis, who had been firing at US warships and commercial vessels off Yemen's coast since November 2023. The US military said it struck more than 1,000 targets during its operation in Yemen, known as Operation Rough Rider. The strikes, the US military said, killed 'hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders.' Rights groups voiced concerns about civilian casualties during the bombing campaign. The Houthis — whose slogan calls for 'Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews' — began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas-led massacre and hostage-taking that started the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The group, which had said it was acting in solidarity with Palestinians, stopped firing at US ships under the May 2025 agreement, though it has continued to attack Israel directly. Last week, the Houthis said they would again target US ships in the Red Sea if Washington were to become involved in Israeli attacks on Iran. However, they did not resume attacks after the US struck three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. On Monday, Trump announced an Israel-Iran ceasefire deal. The nascent truce was shaken shortly thereafter, when Iran fired at Israel and Israel threatened a heavy response, but as of Tuesday evening, it appeared to be holding.

Top US general warns Houthis will remain long-term threat despite truce

First Post

24-06-2025

Politics
First Post

Top US general warns Houthis will remain long-term threat despite truce

A senior U.S. military official warned that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement is likely to remain a recurring threat, despite a recent agreement that halted American airstrikes. The group has paused attacks on U.S. vessels but may resume if tensions in the region escalate. read more Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement will likely be a persistent problem for the U.S. in the future, a senior U.S. military official said on Tuesday, even after Washington and the Houthis reached an agreement last month that ended a U.S. air campaign against the group. 'The Houthis are likely to be a persistent problem… that we'll be dealing with in the future a few times again,' Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, director for operations of the Joint Staff, told lawmakers. Grynkewich has been nominated to lead the U.S. military's European Command. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last month, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would stop bombing the Houthis, who had been firing at U.S. warships and commercial vessels off Yemen's coast. The group, which had said it was acting in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel's military campaign in Gaza, stopped firing at U.S. ships under the agreement. Rights groups had voiced concerns about civilian casualties during the nearly two-month-old U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen. Last week, the Houthis said they would again target U.S. ships in the Red Sea if Washington became involved in Israeli attacks on Iran. Still, they have not resumed attacks after the U.S. struck three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. On Monday, Trump announced an Israel-Iran ceasefire deal.

Trump calls Germany's larger defence budget 'a positive thing'

Yahoo

05-06-2025

Business
Yahoo

Trump calls Germany's larger defence budget 'a positive thing'

US President Donald Trump on Thursday called Germany's increased defence spending "a positive thing" but expressed some reservations about a better financed German military. "I know that you're spending more money on defence now and quite a bit more money. That's a positive thing," Trump told Merz during a press briefing in the Oval Office on the occasion of Merz's inaugural visit. But Trump declined to comment on specific percentages, stating that he had not discussed this much with Merz so far. Trump did however point to historical concerns the United States has had about German rearmament, following the US victory, together with other allies, over Nazi Germany in World War II. "I'm not sure that General [Douglas] MacArthur would have said it's positive. You know, he wouldn't like it, but I sort of think it's good." The highly decorated US general commanded the South Pacific arena during World War II and was not responsible for combat operations in Europe. Still Trump said overall he considers the development to be the right one – "at least to a certain point. "There'll be a point where I'll say, Please don't arm anymore," he added, jokingly. Trump confirmed that he also intended to discuss the presence of tens of thousands of US troops in Germany with his German guest. He said this was also good for Germany's economy, as it involved well-paid soldiers. Trump added that the relationship with Germany is "very important." According to the US military's European Command (EUCOM), around 78,000 American soldiers are currently stationed in Europe, including approximately 37,000 in Germany. The number fluctuates regularly, depending on rotations and exercises in the region. Since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine, the figure has varied significantly.

Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command

Washington Post