Latest news with #militaryLeadership
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hegseth faces more grilling from Congress as Iran-Israel conflict escalates
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is returning to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for the last in a series of often combative hearings before lawmakers, who have pressed him on everything from a ban on transgender troops to his use of a Signal chat to share sensitive military plans. The questions — which also have touched on his firings of top military leaders and even some of his inner circle of advisers — may be dominated by the escalation of airstrikes between Iran and Israel that threaten a potentially devastating regional war. But he is still expected to face sharp questions about his chaotic tenure, his opposition to women in combat jobs and efforts to shift funding from troop housing to border security. The U.S. has shifted significant numbers of refueling tanker and fighter aircraft to position them to be able to respond if needed to the conflict, such as possible evacuations or airstrikes. Hegseth said this week that was done to protect U.S. personnel and airbases. 'We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal. And we certainly hope that's what happens here," he told Fox News Channel. 'And America first means we're going to defend American personnel and American interests.' Hegseth's testimony last week in three congressional hearings also was taken over by events, with the Trump administration dispatching the National Guard and 700 active-duty Marines to the protests in Los Angeles against California Gov. Gavin Newsom's wishes. It came just ahead of a massive military parade to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, which coincided with President Donald Trump's birthday. In the previous hearings — where Hegseth was appearing to discuss the Pentagon's spending plan — lawmakers made it clear they are unhappy that Hegseth has not provided full details on the administration's first proposed defense budget. Trump has said it would total $1 trillion, a significant increase over the current spending level of more than $800 billion. Hegseth, who is appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, has spent vast amounts of time during his first months in office promoting the social changes he's making at the Pentagon. He's been far less visible in the administration's more critical international security crises and negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Iran. For example, Hegseth directed the renaming of a Navy ship that had honored Harvey Milk, a slain gay rights activist who served as a sailor during the Korean War. He also has touted other moves to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and said a ban on transgender troops in the military was a way to regain the 'warrior ethos.' It will be Hegseth's first time before some senators since he squeaked through his Senate confirmation with a tie-breaking vote. It was the closest vote of any Trump Cabinet member. While he has talked a lot about making the military more lethal, it was his use of the unclassified, unsecured Signal messaging app that quickly caught public attention. Set up by then-national security adviser Mike Waltz, a group chat that included Hegseth and other senior administration leaders was used to share information about upcoming military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chat came to light because the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to it. Waltz took responsibility for the gaffe, but Hegseth was roundly criticized for sharing details about the military strikes in that chat and in another one that included his wife and brother. The Pentagon's watchdog is looking into Hegseth's use of Signal and expected to issue a report soon.
Associated Press
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Hegseth faces more grilling from Congress as Iran-Israel conflict escalates
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is returning to Capitol Hill on Wednesday for the last in a series of often combative hearings before lawmakers, who have pressed him on everything from a ban on transgender troops to his use of a Signal chat to share sensitive military plans. The questions — which also have touched on his firings of top military leaders and even some of his inner circle of advisers — may be dominated by the escalation of airstrikes between Iran and Israel that threaten a potentially devastating regional war. But he is still expected to face sharp questions about his chaotic tenure, his opposition to women in combat jobs and efforts to shift funding from troop housing to border security. The U.S. has shifted significant numbers of refueling tanker and fighter aircraft to position them to be able to respond if needed to the conflict, such as possible evacuations or airstrikes. Hegseth said this week that was done to protect U.S. personnel and airbases. 'We are postured defensively in the region to be strong in pursuit of a peace deal. And we certainly hope that's what happens here,' he told Fox News Channel. 'And America first means we're going to defend American personnel and American interests.' Hegseth's testimony last week in three congressional hearings also was taken over by events, with the Trump administration dispatching the National Guard and 700 active-duty Marines to the protests in Los Angeles against California Gov. Gavin Newsom's wishes. It came just ahead of a massive military parade to celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, which coincided with President Donald Trump's birthday. In the previous hearings — where Hegseth was appearing to discuss the Pentagon's spending plan — lawmakers made it clear they are unhappy that Hegseth has not provided full details on the administration's first proposed defense budget. Trump has said it would total $1 trillion, a significant increase over the current spending level of more than $800 billion. Hegseth, who is appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, has spent vast amounts of time during his first months in office promoting the social changes he's making at the Pentagon. He's been far less visible in the administration's more critical international security crises and negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Iran. For example, Hegseth directed the renaming of a Navy ship that had honored Harvey Milk, a slain gay rights activist who served as a sailor during the Korean War. He also has touted other moves to eradicate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and said a ban on transgender troops in the military was a way to regain the 'warrior ethos.' It will be Hegseth's first time before some senators since he squeaked through his Senate confirmation with a tie-breaking vote. It was the closest vote of any Trump Cabinet member. While he has talked a lot about making the military more lethal, it was his use of the unclassified, unsecured Signal messaging app that quickly caught public attention. Set up by then-national security adviser Mike Waltz, a group chat that included Hegseth and other senior administration leaders was used to share information about upcoming military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. The chat came to light because the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to it. Waltz took responsibility for the gaffe, but Hegseth was roundly criticized for sharing details about the military strikes in that chat and in another one that included his wife and brother. The Pentagon's watchdog is looking into Hegseth's use of Signal and expected to issue a report soon.
Wall Street Journal
14-06-2025
- Wall Street Journal
Israeli Strikes Sow Fear and Anxiety in Tehran
For two nights, people in Tehran have been shaken from their sleep by the sounds of explosions, as Israel targeted the country's nuclear facilities and top military leadership. A 42-year-old woman in Tehran said one of the worst things about the attacks is that they usually come without warning. No air-raid sirens sound before the strikes. 'We just find ourselves in an attack,' she said.
Al Bawaba
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Putin dismisses Head of Ground Forces ahead of Istanbul peace talks with Ukraine
ALBAWABA- Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the head of the Russian Ground Forces, General Oleg Salyukov, just hours before the start of renewed peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkish and Russian media reported Thursday. Also Read Trump concludes Gulf tour with $1.4 trillion UAE investment deal A presidential decree issued Thursday evening confirmed Salyukov's removal. No official reason was provided, and the Kremlin has not yet named a successor. The timing of the move, however, has raised questions, as it comes amid sensitive diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. General Salyukov had led the Russian Ground Forces since 2014 and was considered a central figure in Russia's military operations in eastern Ukraine and Syria. His dismissal signals a potential shift in Russia's military leadership strategy ahead of the expected peace negotiations. The dismissal coincides with preparations for peace talks in Turkey, which are being closely watched by international observers. On Wednesday night, President Putin held a closed-door meeting with senior officials to finalize Russia's approach to the negotiations. The Kremlin confirmed that a high-level delegation, including a presidential adviser, deputy ministers from the foreign and defense ministries, and intelligence officials, has been dispatched to Istanbul. On his part, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced earlier: "We hosted the President of Ukraine, Mr. Zelensky, and his delegation at our presidential complex and discussed efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian war through a just peace." However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, commenting on the negotiations, stated: 'We must take the first step, otherwise, the war will continue for many years.' Head of the Russian delegation, Vladimir Medinsky, described the talks as a "continuation of the peace process that Ukraine suspended in 2022." Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of top-level diplomacy, calling a potential meeting between President Trump and President Putin "essential" for advancing any meaningful resolution to the war.
