Ground operation targeting Hezbollah widens a regional war and threatens to strain Israel’s military resources
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is sending an amphibious assault ship, the USS Tripoli, and its Marine expeditionary unit to the Middle East, a senior U.S. official confirmed to Axios on Friday. Why it matters: The deployment will add thousands of Marines, several warships, and F-35 fighter jets to support those already in the region, the U.S. official said. The U.S. official said U.S. Central Command asked for the new force in order to have more options for military operations against Iran. The Marine expeditionary unit will be able to conduct ground operations if ordered. The U.S. official declined to comment on that possibility. Driving the news: The Marine expeditionary force is moving into the region as Iran continues to target traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, driving up global oil, shipping and insurance prices. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that U.S. Navy escorts for commercial ships in the Strait could begin "soon." Bessent said the disruptions have already cost the U.S. $11 billion.Sources with knowledge said that before such escorts would begin, the U.S. military is planning potential operations for taking out land-based anti-ship missiles that the Iranians have deployed in the Strait area. 13 U.S. military members have died in the conflict as of Friday, following the crash of a refueling tanker aircraft in Iraq. What they're saying: "We're on plan to defeat, destroy, disable all of their meaningful military capabilities at a pace the world has never seen before," Hegseth insisted in a news conference Friday. "But it's not just that Iran doesn't have a functioning Air Force, or that their entire Navy is at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, or their missile force is shrinking daily.""They also don't have the ability to build more. That's the most important component I'd like to emphasize today," he said.Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Dan Caine said that U.S. Central Command will continue to "destroy the Iranian Navy to ensure freedom of navi
The volatility in energy markets because of the war in Iran could not come at a better time for President Vladimir V. Putin
Violence erupts in several states after one of the most powerful cartel leaders in Mexico is killed in army operation
The results could inject some stability into the country’s turbulent politics
DUBAI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Students held protests at several Iranian universities at the start of a new semester on Saturday, some clashing with pro-government groups, according to local news agencies and posts on social media. The protests coincided with ceremonies traditionally held after 40 days to mourn those killed by security forces during last month's anti-government demonstrations, which saw thousands lose their lives in the worst domestic unrest since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution
The allegation comes as the White House pushes Beijing to agree to new nuclear talks after the New Start arms-control deal expired this week
Yoon Suk Yeol's conviction marks a historic turning point for South Korea's democracy, after months of tension and unprecedentedly large protests
A law passed under U.S. pressure promises reconciliation but offers exclusions that raise doubts about how many prisoners will be freed
According to media reports, US President Donald Trump is weighing initial limited strikes to force Iran into a nuclear deal. Speaking with FRANCE 24's Sharon Gaffney, Barbara Slavin, Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Centre, says that it's unikely the US will manage to overthrow the Iranian government with airstrikes and may result "in a more militaristic and repressive government, if that's even possible"
An early departure by the head of the European Central Bank would give French President Emmanuel Macron a say in filling one of Europe’s most powerful jobs
Rights groups condemned the 78-year-old's 20-year prison term, calling it 'effectively a death sentence' and a grave injustice. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump have called for Lai's release