Taliban assassinations of Afghan pilots detailed by Reuters this month mark another "worrisome development" for the Afghan Air Force as it reels from a surge in fighting, a US government watchdog said in a report released on Thursday (July 29).

Taliban assassinations of Afghan pilots 'worrisome,' US government watchdog says

Amid escalation in Taliban's offensive in Afghanistan, US Marine General Kenneth McKenzie has said that the "United States is prepared to continue this heightened level of support in the coming weeks if the Taliban continue their attacks".

US general vows airstrikes to support Afghan troops amid Taliban offensive

A US warship may have brought down two Iranian drones during a stand-off in the Gulf last week, the commander of American forces in the region said on Tuesday. "We are confident we brought down one drone, we may have brought down a second," US Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie told CBS news in an interview aboard the USS Boxer, the vessel at the center of the incident.

US may have downed two Iranian drones last week: General

The US has stationed two fleets in the Western Pacific with South China becoming a major flashpoint between China and the US.

South China Sea row: US has lots of experience in 'taking down small islands' in Western Pacific, says US general