Latest news with #Humvees
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Inside Israel's buffer zone in Syria
The Merkava main battle tank is parked as discreetly as possible behind the makeshift antenatal clinic, but its enormous turret still pokes out. Batal Ali, 25, does not seem fazed, however. Her mind is elsewhere. Nine months into her fourth pregnancy she has just been informed that the level of amniotic fluid around the baby is dangerously low. 'She needs to have a C-section and we're just working out which hospital to evacuate her to – probably Haifa,' says the chief physician. If this conversation were taking place just two miles to the west it would be unremarkable. But we are standing in Syria, part of Israel's controversial 150 square mile 'buffer zone' along its north-eastern border, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) seized in December 2024 after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. To critics it was a cynical land grab, nothing short of an invasion. According to the Israelis, however, it is a vital defensive measure to safeguard their communities in the Golan Heights from marauding jihadis and ultimately to prevent another Oct 7-style massacre. Nine forward operating bases have now been built across the dramatic countryside between Mount Hermon and the Jordanian border. Machine gun-mounted Humvees bearing the flag of the front-line Golani Brigade, and more ponderous armoured personnel carriers, churn up the roads in clouds of dust while sentries watch from the hilltops. The soldiers are fully armed and body armoured at all times. In the words of one Israeli military official from the 210th Division, the communities here are 'fragmented, suspicious'. Tension radiates out of the hills. The official says that Hezbollah elements have been detected in the region. There are also Isis supporters in the more southern section of the border zone, he claims. Although he concedes that the IDF has detected no active plots for an incursion into the Israel-controlled Golan Heights, he says hatred of the Jewish state constitutes a perpetual threat. 'There are streams that run underground,' he says. 'It's not happening yet but it will happen.' Alongside the military presence, the Israelis are providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian border communities – those who will accept it at least. By and large these are the Druze, the minority Arab sect of Islamic origin with strong links to Israel thanks to the roughly 150,000 who live there. The liberation of Syria from Assad's tyranny has been a troubling time for many of them, with reports of sectarian clashes and massacres at the hands of the Sunni majority. The new IDF field clinic near the village of Hader is, in part, designed to give the Druze access to advanced healthcare now that the road to Damascus, less than 40 miles away, is so dangerous for them. 'I would rather go to Haifa for the birth than take my chances going to Damascus,' says Batal, who is now sitting in the waiting room, a large khaki tent, with her husband. 'It isn't safe for us.' She is one of about 40 patients who will visit the clinic that day, a collection of temporary metal cabins and army tents in the lee of Mount Hermon that has been open now for nearly a month. There, the team can carry out essential diagnostic work, such as Batal's ultrasound, along with blood tests and X-rays. 'Anyone with an immediate threat to life we evacuate [to Israel],' says the chief physician, an IDF colonel who cannot be named. 'We're trying not to replace the local doctors in the villages, that's a key humanitarian principle. But we'll tell them that, for example, on Thursday we'll have an orthopaedic clinic, on Monday we have our Obgyn specialist [obstetrician-gynaecologist], so they can tell their patients when to come.' Judging by the men's exuberant moustaches, distinctive dark clothes and short-sided white and light-blue hats, all the dozen or so patients waiting are Druze. The official confirms that the Sunni villages, by and large, want nothing to do with the Israelis, although the clinic will treat anyone who turns up. At first patients were presenting with war injuries, some months old, that had been left untreated. Now it's more likely to be everyday complaints. Once seen, each patient is handed a detailed discharge form written in Hebrew and English. In the past, this would have been a highly dangerous practice. During the early years of the Syrian civil war, when the IDF provided some medical care in this border region, they went to vast lengths to do so in secret, cutting the labels out of clothes they gave patients, aware that anyone known to have received Israeli help would be in grave danger. 'It's different now,' says the chief physician. 'Everyone knows we're here and we're helping them.' As well as assisting a community to which Israel has traditionally felt a strong sense of responsibility, the clinic at Hader serves their agenda by reminding the world of the sectarianism and continued violence east of the border, justifying their military takeover of the region and their wider scepticism of the new regime. Since Ahmed Al-Sharaa, a former jihadi with previous links to both al-Qaeda and Islamic State, swept to power in December 2024, Israel has been reminding anyone who will listen that you can't trust a 'terrorist in a suit'. They have continued their campaign of air strikes against former regime facilities and heavy weapons that could be used against Israel, and even bombed near the presidential palace recently as a 'warning' to the new leader not to allow attacks on the Druze. However, it is an argument they appear to be losing, as demonstrated by Donald Trump's decision in May to lift all sanctions to give Syria 'a chance of greatness'. Indeed, rather than fretting about his terrorist past, much more of a neo-conservative preoccupation than a Maga concern, Mr Trump praised Al-Sharaa as an 'attractive, tough guy'. There have even been suggestions of a Trump Tower in Damascus. On Thursday, the US's newly appointed envoy for Syria was in the capital as the Stars and Stripes were raised over the ambassador's residence for the first time since 2012. Meanwhile, seemingly ignored by its closest ally in Washington, Israel digs in, literally. It is digging a vast anti-tank defensive ditch along the border, with 30km now completed and another 30 to go. 'Mortal danger. Active military zone,' reads the sign on the border fence, topped with coils of vicious-looking barbed wire. That more or less sums up Israel's attitude to Syria at the moment, despite the great wave of hope across the Middle East unleashed by the fall of Assad. The day before The Telegraph visited, troops stationed on the Israel-occupied Golan side of the border conducted an exercise to see how fast they could reach certain Syrian villages in an emergency. And they say that while they have had some success in persuading villagers in the border zone to give up their weapons, few communities trust the situation enough to hand over all their guns. 'We don't want to occupy, we don't want to kill,' the official said. 'We just want to protect the border and protect our people.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Marines sticking with JLTV after Army cancels future vehicle buys
The Marines are sticking with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, even as costs may rise following the Army's decision to halt the program. The joint program office for the Army and Marine Corps first picked Oshkosh Defense to build the JLTV in August 2015, and in 2023 awarded a follow-on contract to AM General, according to a Congressional Research Services report released Monday. 'The Marine Corps is fully committed to the JLTV program. It is our workhorse on the ground tactical vehicle fleet,' Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith said in a House Appropriations subcommittee on defense hearing May 14. 'It's a little bit too early to assess the impact of the Army stopping their version of the program, but per-unit costs are clearly going to go up … when the orders go down.' The JLTV was originally intended to replace the Marine Corps' and Army's light tactical vehicle fleets, which consist mostly of Humvees. The initial low-rate production contract awarded to Oshkosh Defense was valued at $6.7 billion for the first 16,901 vehicles, according to the CRS report. A follow-on contract valued at another $8 billion awarded to AM General would have built another 30,000 JLTVs and 10,000 trailers for the vehicles. Smith anticipates the unit cost to rise because of the Army decision, and the Corps is 'still assessing the full impact of the Army's abrupt exit from the joint program.' 'That's going to negatively impact the Marine Corps' ability to fulfill its ground tactical vehicle mobility strategy, which has me concerned,' Smith said. The Marine Corps relies on the JLTV for its ROGUE-Fires and Marine Air Defense Integration System, or MADIS. The ROGUE-Fires system uses a remotely operated JLTV without a cab to fire the Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System. The MADIS is a counter-drone weapon also mounted on the JLTV. 'At this time, AM General has [a] backlog for deliveries of vehicles through 2027 and AM General remains committed to meeting our contractual delivery requirements,' AM General said in a statement May 2 in response to the Army's decision to divest. 'As we work to understand the significance of the DoD's recent communications, we will continue to operate our HUMVEE and JLTV A2 assembly lines and our Aftermarket Fulfillment facility as normal to meet our contractual requirements and serve the Warfighter.' The vehicle, available in two- and four-seat versions, can be transported by various aircraft, including rotary wing, according to the CRS report. Instead of acquiring more JLTVs, the Army plans to fulfill some of its mobility requirements with the Infantry Squad Vehicle, a much smaller, scaled-down all-terrain vehicle. An Army Transformation Initiative memo published May 1 noted the service would divest the vehicle over time. So far, the service has acquired 20,000 vehicles. The Army began fielding the JLTV in 2019, the same year the Marine Corps began receiving its first vehicles. House Appropriations subcommittee member Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., said she was 'dismayed' to learn the Army did not communicate its intentions to the Marine Corps before making the divestiture decision. 'That is beyond disappointing. Joint means joint. That's what the 'J' stands for. Joint decisions should be informed together as part of joint programs if they need to change,' McCollum said. Speaking to reporters in Tennessee on May 14, Army Vice Chief Gen. James Mingus said the Army purchased its last tranche of JLTVs in January, according to Breaking Defense. 'We will do no future procurement buys for the JLTV, for the Army, but the Marine Corps, [Foreign Military Sales] partners [can],' Mingus said. 'We think that we have enough, they [USMC and foreign customers] can continue to do that. But for us, inside of our armor and heavy and Stryker formations, we have enough JLTVs. We've bought enough already.'
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Soldiers Will Stay in Federal Buildings During Army Parade on Trump's Birthday
Thousands of soldiers coming to Washington, D.C., next month will be housed in government buildings in the city as part of an unusual military parade, an idea originally floated by President Donald Trump during his first term in office. The June 14 military parade, which coincides with Trump's 79th birthday, will include about 6,600 soldiers as well as tanks, armored personnel carriers and aircraft on top of other festivities throughout the week in celebration of the Army's 250th birthday, according to the service. Roughly 150 vehicles, including Strykers, M1 Abrams tanks and Humvees, along with 50 aircraft, will take part. The soldiers will come from all 10 of the Army's active-duty divisions located across the country, and most will be housed in the General Services Administration and Agriculture Department buildings in the city, The Washington Post reported. All told, the festivities could cost between $25 million and $45 million, Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro said. Read Next: Military Families Could Go Hungry Due to Food Assistance Cuts in GOP's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Celebratory events will start at the beginning of the week and will conclude with the parade, fireworks and a fitness competition, Castro said. During his first term, Trump asked the Pentagon to plan a military parade with the armed forces that never came to fruition. Such parades have been rare in modern American history. In 1991, the country held a Gulf War victory celebration in Washington, D.C., that included a parade with troops, tanks and military aircraft flyovers. Trump's earlier attempt at holding a military parade on Veterans Day during his first term ultimately was abandoned in 2018 due to a cost estimated at $92 million, with Trump claiming D.C. was requesting too much money for the event. "When asked to give us a price for holding a great celebratory military parade, they wanted a number so ridiculously high that I canceled it. Never let someone hold you up!" Trump posted on social media at the time, according to The Associated Press. The upcoming celebration has drawn consternation from local D.C. officials anticipating damage to roads from the tanks, which can weigh more than 60 tons, and at least one organization submitted a permit application to the National Park Service to protest it, according to The Washington Post. Daniel Gleick, a spokesperson for the D.C. mayor's office, told that it did not have any additional comment regarding cleanup or repair concerns, but referred the publication to a February comment from Mayor Muriel Bowser in which she said "if military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads." Reuters reported Thursday that the up-to-$45 million price tag for the events did not include repairs or trash cleanup. The Associated Press reported Friday that the Army will install metal plates on roads to reduce damage from 25 M1 Abrams tanks expected to traverse the nearly 3-mile route from the Pentagon, over the Arlington Memorial Bridge and ending near 15th Street. Units will fund travel for soldiers and vehicle transportation, which will be done by rail, and aircraft will fly in, according to the Army. Roughly 6,600 soldiers will travel to D.C. for the events, according to Castro. She said that "the duration will vary," regarding how long soldiers will be housed in government facilities. The mayor's office referred to the U.S. Secret Service for questions regarding security during the events, but that agency did not respond by publication. Past events such as Trump's inaugurations in 2017 and January have caused protests in D.C., and public demonstrations have sprung up around the country during the first months of his second term. "The Army takes the safety and physical well-being of our soldiers, families and all those who will be celebrating [the] Army's 250th birthday in Washington, D.C., seriously," Castro said when asked about protests. "We are coordinating with local law enforcement, U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Secret Service to ensure appropriate security measures are taken, and those in attendance can safely celebrate." Related: Trump Administration Is Having Early Talks to Hold a Military Parade in Nation's Capital on June 14
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texarkana urges Congress to support Red River Army Depot with newly passed resolution
TEXARKANA, Tx. (KTAL/KMSS) – The City of Texarkana isn't staying quiet when it comes to protecting one of the region's most vital resources. City leaders voted to back the Red River Army Depot (RRAD), and now they're calling on Congress and the Department of Defense to do the same. The city took to Facebook to announce it had unanimously passed a resolution urging Congress and the Department of Defense to protect and support Red River Army Depot. RRAD is a U.S. Army logistics and maintenance facility located near Texarkana. It plays a key role in the repair, remanufacturing, and overhaul of military vehicles and equipment, primarily tactical wheeled vehicles like Humvees, Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, and more. According to the city, loss or reduction of RRAD's operations would weaken military readiness and have a catastrophic impact on the community members who rely on it. 'Loss or reduction of RRAD's operations would weaken military readiness and have a devastating impact on thousands of employees, families, and businesses who rely on its continued success throughout the Four States Region.' A report from the Texas Comptroller's Office highlights the importance of RRAD to the area, estimating the depot brings in a staggering $1.6 billion in annual economic impact and supports jobs across Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma City of Texarkana, Texas Mayor Bob Bruggeman emphasizes that preserving RRAD means supporting the community, the economy, and the men and women who protect the nation. For more information, contact Communications Manager Brooke Stone at (903) 798-3901 or Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
American Military News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- American Military News
Video: Trump confirms ‘big, beautiful' military parade in DC
President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that his administration is planning to host a 'big, beautiful' military parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14 in honor of Flag Day. The president defended the cost of the military parade, which could be as high as $45 million, as 'peanuts' compared to the value of celebrating America's military. During a Sunday interview on NBC News' 'Meet the Press,' the president told NBC moderator Kristen Welker that while his birthday 'happens to be on Flag Day,' he views the D.C. military parade as a celebration of Flag Day. 'I view it for Flag Day, not necessarily my birthday,' Trump said. 'Somebody put it together. But no, I think we're going to do something on June 14 maybe or somewhere around there. But I think June 14. It's a very important day.' The Flag Day military parade in D.C. is also expected to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. NBC News reported that U.S. defense officials told the outlet that the military parade could cost as much as $45 million and that U.S. Army units are expected to cover the cost of the celebration. READ MORE: Trump planning DC military parade for Army's 250th anniversary: Report 'We're going to have a big, beautiful parade,' Trump told Welker during Sunday's interview. Asked if it would be a 'military parade,' Trump said, 'Yeah, sure. We're going to celebrate our military. We have the greatest military in the world.' In response to Welker asking what the 'price tag' would be for the military parade, the president said, 'Peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' 'We have the greatest missiles in the world,' Trump added. 'We have the greatest submarines in the world. We have the greatest army tanks in the world. We have the greatest weapons in the world. And we're going to celebrate it.' .@POTUS: 'We're going to have a big beautiful parade… We're going to celebrate our military.' Welker: 'What's the price tag?'@POTUS: 'Peanuts compared to the value of doing it.' — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 4, 2025 According to NBC News, a U.S. Army spokesman confirmed that the Trump administration's military parade is expected to include roughly 6,600 soldiers. Defense officials with knowledge of the military parade planning explained that the parade is also expected to include over 50 aircraft and roughly 150 military vehicles, such as tanks, Humvees, and military trucks. During Trump's interview with NBC News, the president also indicated that he plans to host other events this year to celebrate America's military. 'We had more to do with winning World War II than any other nation,' Trump said. 'Why don't we have a Victory Day? So we're going to have a Victory Day for World War I and for World War II.' 'I think you can have two days,' Trump added. 'This doesn't mean we're going to go and not work and have a national holiday and all of that, because we don't have many of those days left.'
