U.S. troops have begun construction of a maritime pier off the coast of Gaza that aims to speed the flow of humanitarian aid into the enclave when it becomes operational in May, the Pentagon said.

Israel-hamas war: Pentagon confirms Gaza aid pier has began, to become operational by early May

New video evidence significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations, the latest of which was released last week, into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Watch in for more details!

New evidence challenges Pentagon's account of 2021 Kabul attack

The US is going all in on AI with the Pentagon reportedly spending billions on Big Tech and Silicon Valley startups. This as the U.S. military and intelligence agencies look to deploy AI-enabled military technologies to stay ahead of the curve.

Gravitas: Pentagon’s Multibillion-dollar bet on AI | DoD spends billions on Silicon Valley startups

New evidence refutes Pentagon's account of 2021 Kabul attack

“We’re already seeing things on the battlefield begin to shift a bit in Russia’s favor. We are seeing them make incremental gains", said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Watch in for more details!

Pentagon admits Russia's battlefield gains

US&nbsp;Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday it was a moral and strategic imperative to protect Palestinian civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas and that the humanitarian catastrophe in besieged Gaza was getting worse.

Austin was speaking during a meeting with Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon as relations between US&nbsp;President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sank to a wartime low.

"In Gaza today, the number of civilian casualties is far too high and the amount of humanitarian aid is far too low," Austin said, sitting across from Gallant, a key architect of the military campaign against Hamas in response to the militants' Oct. 7 cross-border rampage that Israel says killed 1,200 people.

"Gaza is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe and the situation is getting even worse," Austin said, using some of his most forceful language so far.

The Pentagon later said Austin's discussion with Gallant was frank and direct.

The Israeli defense minister also met for a second day with US&nbsp;national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who told Gallant that Israel needs to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Gallant later held talks with CIA Director William Burns, recently returned from talks in Qatar seeking an elusive deal for Hamas' release of more than 130 hostages still held in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters, Gallant, apparently seeking to cool U.S.-Israeli tensions, said he stressed the importance of U.S. ties to his country's security and of maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region, including its air capabilities.

"We share 100% of the values and 99% of the interests with the United States," Gallant said.

Biden has come under pressure from human right groups and some fellow Democrats to condition further military aid on Netanyahu holding off on a threatened offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering. The U.S. president has resisted doing so.

<h2 data-testid="Heading">FEARS OF FAMINE</h2>

Israel has launched strikes and shelling in Gaza that have killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, according to the health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave.

"We need immediate increases in assistance to avert famine," Austin said.

A senior US&nbsp;defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said more aid was now flowing through land crossings and that about 200 trucks were crossing into Gaza daily.

Gallant's meeting with Austin took place after Netanyahu on Monday canceled a separate visit to Washington by two senior aides due to hear US&nbsp;ideas about operational alternatives in Rafah.

Netanyahu's fraught relations with Biden became even more strained over Washington's decision not to veto a UN&nbsp;Security Council resolution seeking an immediate&nbsp;ceasefire in Gaza. The United States has been working to get Netanyahu to consider other options instead of a ground invasion of Rafah, the last relatively safe haven for Palestinian civilians.

Austin said he was ready to discuss alternate approaches to targeting Hamas militants there.

The senior defense official said Austin discussed potential steps like Israel's precision targeting of Hamas fighters in the southern city on Gaza's border with Egypt.

The threat of such an offensive has increased differences between close allies the United States and Israel, and raised questions about whether the US&nbsp;might restrict military aid if Netanyahu defies Biden and presses ahead anyway.

Gallant emphasised that while he had discussed humanitarian aid, he had also made clear Israel's plan to go ahead with efforts to destroy Hamas, saying it was necessary to deter "common enemies," an apparent reference to Iran. Hamas, he said, still has five battalions operating in Rafah.

Austin said the security bond between Israel and the United States was "unshakeable". "The United States is Israel's closest friend and that won't change," he added

&nbsp;

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday it was a moral and strategic imperative to protect Palestinian civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas and that the humanitarian catastrophe in besieged Gaza was getting worse.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday it was a moral and strategic imperative to protect Palestinian civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas and that the humanitarian catastrophe in besieged Gaza was getting worse. Austin was speaking during a meeting with Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon as relations between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sank to a wartime low. "In Gaza today, the number of civilian casualties is far too high and the amount of humanitarian aid is far too low," Austin said, sitting across from Gallant, a key architect of the military campaign against Hamas in response to the militants' Oct. 7 cross-border rampage that Israel says killed 1,200 people. "Gaza is suffering a humanitarian catastrophe and the situation is getting even worse," Austin said, using some of his most forceful language so far. The Pentagon later said Austin's discussion with Gallant was frank and direct. The Israeli defense minister also met for a second day with US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who told Gallant that Israel needs to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said. Gallant later held talks with CIA Director William Burns, recently returned from talks in Qatar seeking an elusive deal for Hamas' release of more than 130 hostages still held in Gaza. Speaking to reporters, Gallant, apparently seeking to cool U.S.-Israeli tensions, said he stressed the importance of U.S. ties to his country's security and of maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region, including its air capabilities. "We share 100% of the values and 99% of the interests with the United States," Gallant said. Biden has come under pressure from human right groups and some fellow Democrats to condition further military aid on Netanyahu holding off on a threatened offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering. The U.S. president has resisted doing so. FEARS OF FAMINE Israel has launched strikes and shelling in Gaza that have killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, according to the health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave. "We need immediate increases in assistance to avert famine," Austin said. A senior US defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said more aid was now flowing through land crossings and that about 200 trucks were crossing into Gaza daily. Gallant's meeting with Austin took place after Netanyahu on Monday canceled a separate visit to Washington by two senior aides due to hear US ideas about operational alternatives in Rafah. Netanyahu's fraught relations with Biden became even more strained over Washington's decision not to veto a UN Security Council resolution seeking an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The United States has been working to get Netanyahu to consider other options instead of a ground invasion of Rafah, the last relatively safe haven for Palestinian civilians. Austin said he was ready to discuss alternate approaches to targeting Hamas militants there. The senior defense official said Austin discussed potential steps like Israel's precision targeting of Hamas fighters in the southern city on Gaza's border with Egypt. The threat of such an offensive has increased differences between close allies the United States and Israel, and raised questions about whether the US might restrict military aid if Netanyahu defies Biden and presses ahead anyway. Gallant emphasised that while he had discussed humanitarian aid, he had also made clear Israel's plan to go ahead with efforts to destroy Hamas, saying it was necessary to deter "common enemies," an apparent reference to Iran. Hamas, he said, still has five battalions operating in Rafah. Austin said the security bond between Israel and the United States was "unshakeable". "The United States is Israel's closest friend and that won't change," he added

Protecting Palestinians a moral imperative, Pentagon chief tells Israeli Defence Minister Gallant

Russia has warned the US regarding the use of SpaceX satellites are Force spying. The Elon Musk's spacecraft company recently signed a $1.8 billion defense contract with the Pentagon. Watch in for more details!

Russia: SpaceX deepens ties with US military; Russia military warns, 'could target US satellites'

Tensions are escalating in West Africa, the Pentagon is working with Niger officials to find a way for US troops to stay in the country following a weekend directive that orders the American troops to leave a key base for the US for counterterrorism operations in sub Sahara Africa. Watch to know more!

US warns Niger about ties to Russia, Iran: Pentagon

There is no proof of extraterrestrial intelligence visiting earth or of authorities concealing crashed alien spacecraft from the public, the US Department of Defense has said.

This was the conclusion of a comprehensive review by the defence department regarding US&nbsp;government's involvement with unidentified anomalous phenomena, commonly referred to as UFOs.

The review, made public on Friday (March 8), extensively analysed all official US&nbsp;investigative endeavours from 1945 onwards, scrutinising both classified and unclassified government archives.

<h2>Clear conclusions: No extraterrestrial connection</h2>

The findings were unequivocal, stating that no US&nbsp;government investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has validated any sighting of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) as representing extraterrestrial technology.

Reports of UFOs often turned out to be mundane objects or phenomena misidentified by witnesses, it said.

Although the report is now public, it is expected to face skepticism and rejection from independent investigators, former US&nbsp;personnel, and conspiracy theorists who firmly believe in government cover-ups of alien-related evidence.

The defense department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which compiled the report, directly addressed these allegations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/humans-close-to-finding-alien-ruins-everywhere-ex-us-pilot-claims-after-speaking-to-aliens-686061">Also read |&nbsp;Humans close to finding ‘alien ruins’ everywhere, ex-US pilot claims after ‘speaking’ to aliens</a>

The AARO explicitly stated that claims of the US&nbsp;government's involvement in reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology are inaccurate. The office asserted that any reports regarding specific individuals, locations, or documents related to such activities lack evidence.

Despite concerns about limited access to classified information, the AARO established a secure process to review sensitive government programs. They were granted full access to pertinent classified programs and interviewed senior-level personnel from various government agencies and contractors.

The report highlighted how popular culture has perpetuated misconceptions about alien visitations, fuelled by movies, books, and social media. It emphasised the persistent narrative of government secrecy surrounding recovered alien spacecraft, which lacks substantiation.

Investigators discovered that many individuals who claimed knowledge of alien-related activities had misinterpreted real events or sensitive government programs. Some had mistakenly attributed their observations to extraterrestrial involvement.

The report addressed several specific claims, including alleged collaborations between the CIA and a company to study alien spacecraft. It also refuted accounts of military personnel loading spacecraft onto planes and claims of alien bodies being kept by companies.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: UFO Spotted in India near airport in Imphal

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-ufo-spotted-in-india-near-airport-in-imphal-660912/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Instances of individuals misunderstanding events, such as touching a classified aircraft or witnessing military tests, were clarified in the report.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

There is no proof of extraterrestrial intelligence visiting earth or of authorities concealing crashed alien spacecraft from the public, the US Department of Defense has said.

There is no proof of extraterrestrial intelligence visiting earth or of authorities concealing crashed alien spacecraft from the public, the US Department of Defense has said. This was the conclusion of a comprehensive review by the defence department regarding US government's involvement with unidentified anomalous phenomena, commonly referred to as UFOs. The review, made public on Friday (March 8), extensively analysed all official US investigative endeavours from 1945 onwards, scrutinising both classified and unclassified government archives. Clear conclusions: No extraterrestrial connection The findings were unequivocal, stating that no US government investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has validated any sighting of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) as representing extraterrestrial technology. Reports of UFOs often turned out to be mundane objects or phenomena misidentified by witnesses, it said. Although the report is now public, it is expected to face skepticism and rejection from independent investigators, former US personnel, and conspiracy theorists who firmly believe in government cover-ups of alien-related evidence. The defense department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which compiled the report, directly addressed these allegations. Also read | Humans close to finding ‘alien ruins’ everywhere, ex-US pilot claims after ‘speaking’ to aliens The AARO explicitly stated that claims of the US government's involvement in reverse-engineering extraterrestrial technology are inaccurate. The office asserted that any reports regarding specific individuals, locations, or documents related to such activities lack evidence. Despite concerns about limited access to classified information, the AARO established a secure process to review sensitive government programs. They were granted full access to pertinent classified programs and interviewed senior-level personnel from various government agencies and contractors. The report highlighted how popular culture has perpetuated misconceptions about alien visitations, fuelled by movies, books, and social media. It emphasised the persistent narrative of government secrecy surrounding recovered alien spacecraft, which lacks substantiation. Investigators discovered that many individuals who claimed knowledge of alien-related activities had misinterpreted real events or sensitive government programs. Some had mistakenly attributed their observations to extraterrestrial involvement. The report addressed several specific claims, including alleged collaborations between the CIA and a company to study alien spacecraft. It also refuted accounts of military personnel loading spacecraft onto planes and claims of alien bodies being kept by companies. Also watch | Gravitas: UFO Spotted in India near airport in Imphal Instances of individuals misunderstanding events, such as touching a classified aircraft or witnessing military tests, were clarified in the report. (With inputs from agencies)

No alien landings, no secret spaceships: Pentagon says no evidence of extraterrestrial visits to earth

Is there life on another planet, well, this has been widely speculated and debated across the world but the Pentagon has now published a report slamming claims that they knew of alien existence.

US: Pentagon releases 63 page report on Aliens, says no evidence on extraterrestrial visits

US: Pentagon releases report on aliens, rebukes eyewitness claims made by Ex-Govt officials

US: Pentagon releases 63-page report on evidence of alien existence, report rebukes claims

Jack Teixeira, who is accused of leaking highly classified US government intelligence and other documents on social media, has pleaded guilty before a federal district court judge in Boston on Monday (Mar 4), said local media reports.&nbsp;

The news agency AFP reported that Teixeira, who was a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, has agreed to plead guilty to all six counts of willful retention and dissemination of national defence information.&nbsp;

The 22-year-old Teixeira pleaded guilty under a deal in which he accepted a roughly 16-year imprisonment in return for prosecutors dropping more serious espionage charges.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-organization-cfo-pleads-guilty-to-perjury-in-ny-civil-fraud-case-696578">Ex-Trump Organization CFO pleads guilty to perjury in NY civil fraud case</a>&nbsp;

The deal states that he will be sentenced to up to 16 years and eight months in prison, pay a $50,000 fine, and assist intelligence agents in determining the scope and impact of his revelations.&nbsp;

He was arrested in April for allegedly orchestrating the most damaging leak of US classified documents in a decade, some of which concerned the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;

He faces no espionage charges under the Espionage Act, otherwise he could have been imprisoned for life.&nbsp;

During the hearing, he was asked by the presiding judge if he had any issues with the evidence, and Teixeira responded no. He was again asked if he knew the materials were classified, and he said, "Yes, your honour."&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-presidential-polls-2024-supreme-court-allows-trump-to-remain-on-colorado-ballot-696538">US presidential polls 2024: Supreme Court allows Trump to remain on Colorado ballot</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Powerful blizzard batters California

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Teixeira was suspected of releasing the documents, some of which date as recently as early March 2023, to a private chat group on the social media platform Discord.&nbsp;Some of the files later appeared on other sites, including Twitter, 4Chan and Telegram.

When the trove of highly classified military and intelligence documents appeared online, it became an embarrassment and a headache for America as it released details of secret information linked to the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel's spy agency Mossad, South Korea, and more.&nbsp;

The documents labelled as "Secret" and "Top Secret" started circulating online in March and were on social media platforms such as Twitter, Telegram, Discord, and more. The leak was first reported by The New York Times, but there's a possibility that it could have started as early as January. There were indications that some of the documents could have been altered.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Jack Teixeira, who is accused of leaking highly classified US government intelligence and other documents on social media, has pleaded guilty before a federal district court judge in Boston on Monday (Mar 4), said local media reports.

Jack Teixeira, who is accused of leaking highly classified US government intelligence and other documents on social media, has pleaded guilty before a federal district court judge in Boston on Monday (Mar 4), said local media reports. The news agency AFP reported that Teixeira, who was a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, has agreed to plead guilty to all six counts of willful retention and dissemination of national defence information. The 22-year-old Teixeira pleaded guilty under a deal in which he accepted a roughly 16-year imprisonment in return for prosecutors dropping more serious espionage charges. Also read: Ex-Trump Organization CFO pleads guilty to perjury in NY civil fraud case The deal states that he will be sentenced to up to 16 years and eight months in prison, pay a $50,000 fine, and assist intelligence agents in determining the scope and impact of his revelations. He was arrested in April for allegedly orchestrating the most damaging leak of US classified documents in a decade, some of which concerned the war in Ukraine. He faces no espionage charges under the Espionage Act, otherwise he could have been imprisoned for life. During the hearing, he was asked by the presiding judge if he had any issues with the evidence, and Teixeira responded no. He was again asked if he knew the materials were classified, and he said, "Yes, your honour." Also read: US presidential polls 2024: Supreme Court allows Trump to remain on Colorado ballot Watch: Powerful blizzard batters California × Teixeira was suspected of releasing the documents, some of which date as recently as early March 2023, to a private chat group on the social media platform Discord. Some of the files later appeared on other sites, including Twitter, 4Chan and Telegram. When the trove of highly classified military and intelligence documents appeared online, it became an embarrassment and a headache for America as it released details of secret information linked to the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel's spy agency Mossad, South Korea, and more. The documents labelled as "Secret" and "Top Secret" started circulating online in March and were on social media platforms such as Twitter, Telegram, Discord, and more. The leak was first reported by The New York Times, but there's a possibility that it could have started as early as January. There were indications that some of the documents could have been altered. (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon documents leak accused Jack Teixeira pleads guilty, faces over 16 years’ jail

Pentagon has given a clean chit to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin over his secret hospitalisations related to his cancer diagnosis. In a three-page concluding report released on Monday (Feb 26), the Pentagon said it found no&nbsp;"indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate" by Austin or his staff.&nbsp;

The Pentagon chief had not informed the top government leaders during two separate secret hospitalisation incidents which led to a boiling controversy with opposition leaders demanding his resignation for negligence.&nbsp;

Pentagon in its report accepted that the process followed under which Austin transferred his powers to his deputy could have been improved.&nbsp;

“Although, as hindsight has shown, the process for making decisions to transfer the Secretary’s authority could and should be improved. Nothing examined during this review demonstrated any indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate,” the report added.

The assessment by the Pentagon comes a couple of weeks after Austin was once again hospitalised at the&nbsp;Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Unlike&nbsp;the previous hospitalisations that were kept secret, deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House and Congress were notified about Austin's health crisis.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-defense-secretary-lloyd-austins-secret-hospitalization-all-you-need-to-know-677912">Watch |&nbsp;US defense secretary Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization: All you need to know</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" data-gtm-yt-inspected-20="true" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-defense-secretary-lloyd-austins-secret-hospitalization-all-you-need-to-know-677912/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>What happened to Austin?</h2>

Austin had vanished from the public eye in December&nbsp;and early January this year after suffering complications from treatment for prostate cancer.

Austin kept the hospitalisations secret, with the White House, Pentagon and other important departments and people remaining oblivious that President Joe Biden's top military adviser was missing from action for an extended period.&nbsp;

Austin, 70, had undergone minor surgery on December 22 after early detection of prostate cancer in routine screening.&nbsp;

After the procedure, Austin recovered without event and returned home the next morning. However, complications soon emerged and evaluation revealed that abdominal fluid collection was impairing the function of his small intestines.

The defense secretary was hospitalised on New Year's Day (Jan 1) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to complications from an elective medical procedure.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-defense-chief-apologizes-for-concealing-hospitalization-686070">Also read |&nbsp;US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologises for secret hospitalisation: 'I did not handle this right'</a>

Surprisingly, the Pentagon did not make any official announcement until four days later while waiting to notify other top government officers about Austin's absence.&nbsp;

The US defense secretary is only below the president in the chain of command for the US military and is regarded as one of the most important cabinet members. Hence, Austin's&nbsp;prolonged absence from the office with multiple wars happening simultaneously, raised a lot of eyebrows.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon has given a clean chit to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin over his secret hospitalisations related to his cancer diagnosis. In a three-page concluding report released on Monday (Feb 26), the Pentagon said it found no "indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate" by Austin or his staff.

Pentagon has given a clean chit to US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin over his secret hospitalisations related to his cancer diagnosis. In a three-page concluding report released on Monday (Feb 26), the Pentagon said it found no "indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate" by Austin or his staff. The Pentagon chief had not informed the top government leaders during two separate secret hospitalisation incidents which led to a boiling controversy with opposition leaders demanding his resignation for negligence. Pentagon in its report accepted that the process followed under which Austin transferred his powers to his deputy could have been improved. “Although, as hindsight has shown, the process for making decisions to transfer the Secretary’s authority could and should be improved. Nothing examined during this review demonstrated any indication of ill intent or an attempt to obfuscate,” the report added. The assessment by the Pentagon comes a couple of weeks after Austin was once again hospitalised at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Unlike the previous hospitalisations that were kept secret, deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the White House and Congress were notified about Austin's health crisis. Watch | US defense secretary Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization: All you need to know What happened to Austin? Austin had vanished from the public eye in December and early January this year after suffering complications from treatment for prostate cancer. Austin kept the hospitalisations secret, with the White House, Pentagon and other important departments and people remaining oblivious that President Joe Biden's top military adviser was missing from action for an extended period. Austin, 70, had undergone minor surgery on December 22 after early detection of prostate cancer in routine screening. After the procedure, Austin recovered without event and returned home the next morning. However, complications soon emerged and evaluation revealed that abdominal fluid collection was impairing the function of his small intestines. The defense secretary was hospitalised on New Year's Day (Jan 1) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to complications from an elective medical procedure. Also read | US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologises for secret hospitalisation: 'I did not handle this right' Surprisingly, the Pentagon did not make any official announcement until four days later while waiting to notify other top government officers about Austin's absence. The US defense secretary is only below the president in the chain of command for the US military and is regarded as one of the most important cabinet members. Hence, Austin's prolonged absence from the office with multiple wars happening simultaneously, raised a lot of eyebrows. (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon gives clean chit to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on secret hospitalisations

The Pentagon has cleared US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin of wrongdoing over his failure to disclose hospital stays related to his cancer diagnosis. The Pentagon chief has apologised for not notifying government leaders about hospital stays in December and January.

US: Pentagon says Lloyd Austin showed 'no ill intent' in secret hospital stay

According to the inspector general of the Pentagon, their criminal investigators have initiated over 50 probes concerning help sent to Ukraine, some of which involve contractors, but they have not yet confirmed any of the accusations.

Pentagon in US has opened over 50 criminal probes on US aid to Ukraine

Meet the other Taylor Swift – not the global music superstar but the combatant in a psychological warfare operation to keep former US president Donald Trump from winning the 2024 elections.

Meet the other Taylor Swift – not the global music superstar but the combatant in a psychological warfare operation to keep former US president Donald Trump from winning the 2024 elections. For those unfamiliar with the increasingly bizarre alternative universe inhabited by millions of Americans whose views are shaped by the former president, social media tweets and influencers, here is a brief guide to the role supposedly played by psy-op Taylor Swift in an operation designed to culminate at next Sunday’s (Feb 11) Super Bowl in Las Vegas. The biggest event in US sports, last year’s Super Bowl had a television audience of just over 115 million. This year it may well be more because Taylor Swift is scheduled to attend to watch her boyfriend Travis Kelce play for the Kansas City Chiefs against the San Francisco 49ers. According to tweets and a video seen by hundreds of thousands, psy-ops warriors have planned to rig the game so that the Chiefs will win after a dramatic finish. To celebrate, Swift and Kelce will announce their engagement, soon followed by the celebrity couple’s endorsement of Joe Biden for another four years in the White House. Inhabitants of what has become known as Trumpworld have pointed to a variety of participants in the scheme, including the CIA and the Pentagon. Speculation on the latter was so persistent that the Pentagon felt it necessary to issue a denial through its deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh. “To set the record straight,” she told the newspaper Politico, “Taylor Swift is not part of a DOD (Department of Defense) psychological operation. Period.” Also read | Grammy Awards 2024: Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus win Best Album & Best Record; check full list of winners Conspiracy theorists distrust government and tend to interpret official government denials as a form of confirmation, so the exasperated “period” exclamation is unlikely to kill speculation of a well-planned plot. Not long after TIME magazine made Taylor Swift 2023 Person of The Year, prominent FOX News host Jesse Walters told his viewers that “it’s real. The Pentagon psy-op unit pitched NATO on turning Taylor Swift into an asset.” Also on record to fuel speculation was Vivek Ramaswamy, a presidential candidate until he dropped out of the race for the Republican party’s primary elections in mid-January. “I wonder whether there’s a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially culturally propped up couple this fall,” he said, alluding to an endorsement for Biden. Ramaswamy did not explain what he meant by “artificially propped”. Record-breaking tours, music royalties and a movie on her concerts turned Swift into a billionaire last year, Bloomberg reported. On Sunday’s Grammy Awards, she was awarded for Album of the Year, becoming the only artist to ever win that category four times. Her successes and devoted fans – she has 300 million followers on social media -- reminiscent of the Beatlemania of the late 1960 and 1970s, has done little to impress those on the far right who have pegged her as a supporter of Joe Biden and thus an enemy of Trump. The paranoia in Trumpland about a romance between a superstar singer and a football player makes some wonder about the sanity of Republicans who, as the Wall Street Journal put it in an editorial “demonise two of America’s healthier entertainments". It had a question for those fanning the conspiracy: “If they believe defeating Mr Trump is so easy that Mr Biden can do it merely by getting an endorsement from a singer who backed him in 2020, doesn’t that suggest the GOP might be making a mistake by nominating such a weak candidate?” The National Football League (NFL) has been quiet about the affair which is keeping trolls busy. But it is a reasonable bet that the NFL would not be unhappy if the number of Super Bowl viewers would be boosted by thousands of “swifties,” as the singer’s fans are called. Why the United States is such fertile ground for conspiracy theories has puzzled historians, social scientists and pundits for decades – more so since the Internet allowed for weird ideas to spread worldwide and instantly. Watch | Gravitas | Super bowl: What makes it an advertiser's dream platform? × In 1964, a ground-breaking essay, later turned into a book, by the late Columbia University historian Richard Hofstadter provided an explanation that still stands. “It is the use of paranoid modes of expression by more or less normal people that makes the phenomenon significant," he wrote in The Paranoid Style in American Politics. The “more or less normal people” he cited in a tour of conspiracy theories going back to the 18th century included Samuel Morse, the celebrated inventor of the telegraph. Morse wrote that the government of Austria had sent Jesuit missionaries to America and supplied them with ample funds with the aim of installing a scion of the House of Hapsburg as emperor of the United States. Among the most durable conspiracy tales alive in the alternative universe: The landing of American astronauts on the moon. The theory claimed it was filmed in California studios to convince the world of the USA's superiority in space. No American set foot on the moon. More recently: The January 6, 2020 assault on the Capitol in Washington to prevent the peaceful transfer of power from the loser, Donald Trump, to the winner, Joe Biden, was fostered by the FBI. According to a Washington Post/University of Maryland poll, a quarter of Americans think the FBI instigated the attack. That belief has been repeatedly denied – but in America’s alternative universe that just amounts to confirmation. Just like Taylor Swift’s secret role in undermining Trump. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl – a tale of America’s alternative universe

The Pentagon has vowed to take "all necessary actions" to defend the US troops after Iran-backed terrorists killed US soldiers and wounded several others in a drone strike on Al-Tanf, a US military site&nbsp;in Jordan on Sunday (Jan 28).

Recently discharged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made the statement and asserted that Pentagon was chalking up a plan to avenge the drone attack.&nbsp;

“The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the US and our troops,” Austin said at the Pentagon on Monday (Jan 29).

Pentagon's statement comes a day after&nbsp;US President Joe Biden also blamed Iran&nbsp;for the strike and vowed that Washington would respond.

"While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in a statement on the attack.

"We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he added.

The three US soldiers killed in the attack were also named by the Pentagon on Monday. They have been identified as&nbsp;army reservists Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett and Spc Kennedy Sanders.

Sunday's strike was the first deadly attack&nbsp;against US forces since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7 last year.&nbsp;

<h2>Iran denies involvement</h2>

Meanwhile, Iran has denied any involvement in the terror attack.&nbsp;Nasser Kanaani, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said it was a "repetition of baseless accusations" from the US side.&nbsp;

"The groups in the region do not take orders from Iran," Kanaani said. "War is not a solution. An immediate cease-fire in Gaza can lead to the return of peace."

Also watch |&nbsp;West Asia crisis: Three US soldiers killed, at least 34 injured in Jordan drone attack

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<h2>Where is Al-Tanf based?</h2>

According to reports, Al-Tanf is located in Syria on the Iraqi border and within miles of the Jordanian border.

Since 2016, the US garrison at Tanf has served as a launching point for operations against Islamic State and a training area for Syrian opposition factions fighting the terrorist group.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-us-troops-killed-in-drone-attack-on-base-in-jordan-military-684606">Also read | Biden vows to strike back after drone strike on Jordan base kills 3 US troops</a>

The drone strike took place&nbsp;at the military outpost Tower 22, which is near Al-Tanf. It is not yet known how many US troops are actually stationed on Tower 22, and it is also unclear what type of weapons are kept at the base, and what air defences are used.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Pentagon has vowed to take "all necessary actions" to defend the US troops after Iran-backed terrorists killed US soldiers and wounded several others in a drone strike on Al-Tanf, a US military site in Jordan on Sunday (Jan 28).

The Pentagon has vowed to take "all necessary actions" to defend the US troops after Iran-backed terrorists killed US soldiers and wounded several others in a drone strike on Al-Tanf, a US military site in Jordan on Sunday (Jan 28). Recently discharged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made the statement and asserted that Pentagon was chalking up a plan to avenge the drone attack. “The president and I will not tolerate attacks on US forces and we will take all necessary actions to defend the US and our troops,” Austin said at the Pentagon on Monday (Jan 29). Pentagon's statement comes a day after US President Joe Biden also blamed Iran for the strike and vowed that Washington would respond. "While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq," Biden said in a statement on the attack. "We will carry on their commitment to fight terrorism. And have no doubt -- we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing," he added. The three US soldiers killed in the attack were also named by the Pentagon on Monday. They have been identified as army reservists Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Spc Breonna Alexsondria Moffett and Spc Kennedy Sanders. Sunday's strike was the first deadly attack against US forces since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7 last year. Iran denies involvement Meanwhile, Iran has denied any involvement in the terror attack. Nasser Kanaani, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said it was a "repetition of baseless accusations" from the US side. "The groups in the region do not take orders from Iran," Kanaani said. "War is not a solution. An immediate cease-fire in Gaza can lead to the return of peace." Also watch | West Asia crisis: Three US soldiers killed, at least 34 injured in Jordan drone attack Where is Al-Tanf based? According to reports, Al-Tanf is located in Syria on the Iraqi border and within miles of the Jordanian border. Since 2016, the US garrison at Tanf has served as a launching point for operations against Islamic State and a training area for Syrian opposition factions fighting the terrorist group. Also read | Biden vows to strike back after drone strike on Jordan base kills 3 US troops The drone strike took place at the military outpost Tower 22, which is near Al-Tanf. It is not yet known how many US troops are actually stationed on Tower 22, and it is also unclear what type of weapons are kept at the base, and what air defences are used. (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon vows action after Jordan attack, releases names of 3 soldiers killed as Iran denies involvement

Pentagon’s former chief investigator of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) Sean Kirkpatrick claimed that the conspiracy theorists who have been working for and within the US government have been perpetuating myths regarding UFOs that millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent into studying a “self-licking ice cream cone”. 
 
The claims were made by Kirkpatrick in a podcast after he stepped down from the position of the first director of the defence department’s all-domain anomaly resolution office (Aaro) last month. 
 
The department was established in 2022 to collect military reports of UAP sightings and to provide more transparency regarding what information the government has. 
 
The first comprehensive historical record report of Aaro was submitted to Congress and will be published later this year, said Kirkpatrick, adding that it contains no evidence of the existence of alien life and not only any government cover-up.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/its-official-us-is-not-able-to-defend-itself-against-an-alien-invasion-684284">It’s official, US is not able to defend itself against an alien invasion: Report</a>

He added that various lawmakers happily embrace unsubstantiated stories which are circulated by “a core group of people” regarding the secret government UFO research programmes. 
 
“They’re some of the same people that have been working behind the scenes with Congress to write legislation,” said Kirkpatrick, in the podcast. 
 
“They’re the same people that worked with a US company and the US army to explore a piece of material that they claim was a UAP and really is a piece of missile casing from the 1950s. They’re the same people that have been influencing some of these whistleblowers who have come forward to say: ‘Hey, I don’t have any first-hand evidence, but all these people are telling me this',” he added. 
 
Kirkpatrick did not identify the people by name, but agreed with the observation of Bergen that “the actual conspiracy is being carried out by a group of true believers themselves to get the government involved in the business of investigating aliens”. 
 
“That is a self-licking ice cream cone, exactly. The best thing that could have happened in this job is I found the aliens, and I could have rolled them out, but there’s none. There is no evidence of extraterrestrials. There is no evidence of aliens, and there’s no evidence of the government conspiracy,” said Kirkpatrick.

<h2 lang="en-US">Lawmakers succumbed to “conspiracy-driven decision-making”: Kirkpatrick</h2>

In his resignation essay, which was published last week by Scientific American, Kirkpatrick said that the lawmakers have succumbed to “conspiracy-driven decision-making” and sensationalism in their efforts to “uncover the cover-up”.

Watch:&nbsp;NASA Chief says Aliens exist | This World

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“Worrisome is the willingness of some to make judgments and take actions on these stories without having seen or even requested supporting evidence, an omission that is all the more problematic when the claims are so extraordinary,” Kirkpatrick wrote. 
 
“Some members of Congress prefer to opine about aliens to the press rather than get an evidence-based briefing on the matter. Members have a responsibility to exhibit critical-thinking skills instead of seeking the spotlight,” he wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon’s former chief investigator of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) Sean Kirkpatrick claimed that the conspiracy theorists who have been working for and within the US government have been perpetuating myths regarding UFOs that millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent into studying a “self-licking ice cream cone”.

Pentagon’s former chief investigator of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) Sean Kirkpatrick claimed that the conspiracy theorists who have been working for and within the US government have been perpetuating myths regarding UFOs that millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent into studying a “self-licking ice cream cone”. The claims were made by Kirkpatrick in a podcast after he stepped down from the position of the first director of the defence department’s all-domain anomaly resolution office (Aaro) last month. The department was established in 2022 to collect military reports of UAP sightings and to provide more transparency regarding what information the government has. The first comprehensive historical record report of Aaro was submitted to Congress and will be published later this year, said Kirkpatrick, adding that it contains no evidence of the existence of alien life and not only any government cover-up. Also read: It’s official, US is not able to defend itself against an alien invasion: Report He added that various lawmakers happily embrace unsubstantiated stories which are circulated by “a core group of people” regarding the secret government UFO research programmes. “They’re some of the same people that have been working behind the scenes with Congress to write legislation,” said Kirkpatrick, in the podcast. “They’re the same people that worked with a US company and the US army to explore a piece of material that they claim was a UAP and really is a piece of missile casing from the 1950s. They’re the same people that have been influencing some of these whistleblowers who have come forward to say: ‘Hey, I don’t have any first-hand evidence, but all these people are telling me this',” he added. Kirkpatrick did not identify the people by name, but agreed with the observation of Bergen that “the actual conspiracy is being carried out by a group of true believers themselves to get the government involved in the business of investigating aliens”. “That is a self-licking ice cream cone, exactly. The best thing that could have happened in this job is I found the aliens, and I could have rolled them out, but there’s none. There is no evidence of extraterrestrials. There is no evidence of aliens, and there’s no evidence of the government conspiracy,” said Kirkpatrick. Lawmakers succumbed to “conspiracy-driven decision-making”: Kirkpatrick In his resignation essay, which was published last week by Scientific American, Kirkpatrick said that the lawmakers have succumbed to “conspiracy-driven decision-making” and sensationalism in their efforts to “uncover the cover-up”. Watch: NASA Chief says Aliens exist | This World “Worrisome is the willingness of some to make judgments and take actions on these stories without having seen or even requested supporting evidence, an omission that is all the more problematic when the claims are so extraordinary,” Kirkpatrick wrote. “Some members of Congress prefer to opine about aliens to the press rather than get an evidence-based briefing on the matter. Members have a responsibility to exhibit critical-thinking skills instead of seeking the spotlight,” he wrote. (With inputs from agencies)

No aliens, US govt's money spent over 'self-licking ice cream cone': Pentagon ex-UFO chief

Forget Hollywood movies, the US as of today is not able to defend itself should an alien invasion take place, according to a recent statement by the US Department of Defense (DoD). The statement was based on an analysis of the nation’s ability to respond to a threat posed by unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), formerly UFOs.

It must be noted that the Pentagon had formed the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) back in July 2022 to handle all UAP affairs. Now, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has expressed its doubts over the USA’s ability to fend off the threat of an alien invasion.

Watch:&nbsp;Bird flu detected in Antarctica | Scientists create 'identical twin' universe

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The recent observation comes in a summary of the classified report, ‘Evaluation of the DoD’s Actions Regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena’, first issued in August.

According to the statement by OIG, “DoD’s lack of a comprehensive, coordinated approach to address UAP may pose a threat to military forces and national security.” 
 
“The DoD OIG found that the DoD does not have a comprehensive, coordinated approach to address UAP,” it added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw1VXFKuClqG7hxyw9UczlUX" data-ved="2ahUKEwjGluvGwP2DAxWqb2wGHR1_Dt8QxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/aliens-kidnapped-my-mom-woman-leaves-reddit-stunned-with-otherworldly-claim-682051" jsname="YKoRaf">'Aliens kidnapped my mom,' woman leaves Reddit stunned with otherworldly claim</a>

Inspector General Robert P Storch said he was making this summary public in order to bring some transparency to the subject, otherwise shrouded in mystery.

“We are releasing this unclassified summary to be as transparent as possible with the American people about our oversight work on this important issue,” he added.

The OIG further also makes 11 recommendations to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security for issuing a policy to “integrate roles, responsibilities, requirements, and coordination procedures regarding UAP into existing intelligence, counterintelligence, and force protection policies and procedures.”

The policy is required to be formed in coordination with the Director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(With inputs from agencies)

Forget Hollywood movies, the US as of today is not able to defend itself should an alien invasion take place, according to a recent statement by the US Department of Defense (DoD).

Forget Hollywood movies, the US as of today is not able to defend itself should an alien invasion take place, according to a recent statement by the US Department of Defense (DoD). The statement was based on an analysis of the nation’s ability to respond to a threat posed by unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), formerly UFOs. It must be noted that the Pentagon had formed the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) back in July 2022 to handle all UAP affairs. Now, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) has expressed its doubts over the USA’s ability to fend off the threat of an alien invasion. Watch: Bird flu detected in Antarctica | Scientists create 'identical twin' universe × The recent observation comes in a summary of the classified report, ‘Evaluation of the DoD’s Actions Regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena’, first issued in August. According to the statement by OIG, “DoD’s lack of a comprehensive, coordinated approach to address UAP may pose a threat to military forces and national security.” “The DoD OIG found that the DoD does not have a comprehensive, coordinated approach to address UAP,” it added. Also read: 'Aliens kidnapped my mom,' woman leaves Reddit stunned with otherworldly claim Inspector General Robert P Storch said he was making this summary public in order to bring some transparency to the subject, otherwise shrouded in mystery. “We are releasing this unclassified summary to be as transparent as possible with the American people about our oversight work on this important issue,” he added. The OIG further also makes 11 recommendations to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security for issuing a policy to “integrate roles, responsibilities, requirements, and coordination procedures regarding UAP into existing intelligence, counterintelligence, and force protection policies and procedures.” The policy is required to be formed in coordination with the Director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (With inputs from agencies)

It’s official, US is not able to defend itself against an alien invasion: Report

The United States targeted sites used by Iran-backed militants in Iraq on Tuesday (Jan 23), said the Pentagon. Two people were killed and two wounded in the bombardments, said Iraqi officials.&nbsp;

The US strikes come days after a number of American military personnel were injured after a ballistic missile attack by Iran-backed militants hit Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.

<h2>US strikes in Iraq&nbsp;</h2>

The latest strikes targeted three facilities used by Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah and other Tehran-affiliated groups in Iraq, said the US officials.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;US strikes three facilities in Iraq linked to Iran-backed militia for attacks on US forces

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The strikes “are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria” by Iranian-backed militia groups, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.&nbsp;

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also released a statement saying that their forces “conducted unilateral airstrikes” targeting “KH headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack UAV capabilities.”

The strikes, according to US defence officials, were carried out at two sites in western Iraq, Al-Qa’im near the Syrian border and Jurf al-Sakhar south of Baghdad.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-and-uk-conduct-fresh-series-of-air-strikes-against-houthi-targets-in-yemen-682642">US and UK conduct fresh series of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen</a>

<h2>Iraqi official criticises US strikes</h2>

AFP report citing Iraqi sources said that the US strikes targeted Ketaib Hezbollah, a militant faction affiliated with the former Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitaries.&nbsp;

Two people were killed and two wounded in the bombardments in the al-Qaim sector, said the Iraqi interior ministry and former member of the Hashed al-Shaabi, whose fighters have been integrated into the regular army.

However, a Reuters report citing a medical source and a militant source said four people were wounded.

A senior&nbsp;Iraqi official later took to X and criticised Washington's move saying that these strikes "do not help bring calm" and called them a "flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty".&nbsp;

<h2>Biden under pressure</h2>

According to the Pentagon, US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted in more than 150 attacks since mid-October.&nbsp;

The spike in attacks against American forces in the region and Washington’s response to them also comes amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.&nbsp;

Therefore, US President Joe Biden has reportedly come under pressure to militarily respond to attacks on US forces despite political sensitivities in Baghdad. In his criticism of US' strikes in Iraq, the senior official also asked Washington to pressure Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza.&nbsp;

"The US side should pile on pressure for a halt to the (Israeli) offensive in Gaza rather than targeting and bombing the bases of an Iraqi national body," National Security Adviser Qassem al-Aaraji said in a post on X.

The CENTCOM said the Al Asad airbase which also hosts American troops came under attack by Iran-backed militia with ballistic missiles and rockets on Saturday (Jan 20) evening.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-military-personnel-injured-after-ballistic-missile-attack-by-iran-backed-militants-on-airbase-in-iraq-681950">US military personnel injured after ballistic missile attack by Iran-backed militants on airbase in Iraq</a> 
 
The attack resulted in minor injuries, but it was not immediately clear how many military personnel were wounded. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed militia group, claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack on the base.&nbsp;

“The President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend them and our interests. We do not seek to escalate conflict in the region,” said Austin.&nbsp;

He added, “We are fully prepared to take further measures to protect our people and our facilities. We call on these groups and their Iranian sponsors to immediately cease these attacks.”

The US has 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq, advising and assisting local forces to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The United States targeted sites used by Iran-backed militants in Iraq on Tuesday (Jan 23), said the Pentagon. Two people were killed and two wounded in the bombardments, said Iraqi officials.

The United States targeted sites used by Iran-backed militants in Iraq on Tuesday (Jan 23), said the Pentagon. Two people were killed and two wounded in the bombardments, said Iraqi officials. The US strikes come days after a number of American military personnel were injured after a ballistic missile attack by Iran-backed militants hit Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq. US strikes in Iraq The latest strikes targeted three facilities used by Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah and other Tehran-affiliated groups in Iraq, said the US officials. WATCH | US strikes three facilities in Iraq linked to Iran-backed militia for attacks on US forces The strikes “are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against US and coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria” by Iranian-backed militia groups, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also released a statement saying that their forces “conducted unilateral airstrikes” targeting “KH headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack UAV capabilities.” The strikes, according to US defence officials, were carried out at two sites in western Iraq, Al-Qa’im near the Syrian border and Jurf al-Sakhar south of Baghdad. ALSO READ | US and UK conduct fresh series of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen Iraqi official criticises US strikes AFP report citing Iraqi sources said that the US strikes targeted Ketaib Hezbollah, a militant faction affiliated with the former Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitaries. Two people were killed and two wounded in the bombardments in the al-Qaim sector, said the Iraqi interior ministry and former member of the Hashed al-Shaabi, whose fighters have been integrated into the regular army. However, a Reuters report citing a medical source and a militant source said four people were wounded. A senior Iraqi official later took to X and criticised Washington's move saying that these strikes "do not help bring calm" and called them a "flagrant violation of Iraq's sovereignty". Biden under pressure According to the Pentagon, US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria have been targeted in more than 150 attacks since mid-October. The spike in attacks against American forces in the region and Washington’s response to them also comes amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Therefore, US President Joe Biden has reportedly come under pressure to militarily respond to attacks on US forces despite political sensitivities in Baghdad. In his criticism of US' strikes in Iraq, the senior official also asked Washington to pressure Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza. "The US side should pile on pressure for a halt to the (Israeli) offensive in Gaza rather than targeting and bombing the bases of an Iraqi national body," National Security Adviser Qassem al-Aaraji said in a post on X. The CENTCOM said the Al Asad airbase which also hosts American troops came under attack by Iran-backed militia with ballistic missiles and rockets on Saturday (Jan 20) evening. ALSO READ | US military personnel injured after ballistic missile attack by Iran-backed militants on airbase in Iraq The attack resulted in minor injuries, but it was not immediately clear how many military personnel were wounded. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-backed militia group, claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack on the base. “The President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend them and our interests. We do not seek to escalate conflict in the region,” said Austin. He added, “We are fully prepared to take further measures to protect our people and our facilities. We call on these groups and their Iranian sponsors to immediately cease these attacks.” The US has 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq, advising and assisting local forces to prevent a resurgence of Islamic State. (With inputs from agencies)

US carries out strikes on Iranian-backed militants in Iraq; two dead

More than $1 billion in military weapons and equipment that the United States has provided Ukraine to fight invading Russian forces cannot be accounted for and is not being fully tracked, according to a Pentagon audit released Thursday.

US failed to track more than $1 billion military aid given to Ukraine, watchdog says

The Pentagon's independent inspector general will investigate US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent medical treatment and failure to report his hospitalization to the rest of the government.

US: Pentagon to probe Defence Chief Lloyd Austin's hospitalisation

The Defense Department inspector general on Thursday (Jan 11) said that it will probe the mishandling of US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’s secretive hospitalisation.

The inspector general, in a <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2024/Jan/11/2003374367/-1/-1/1/REVIEW%20OF%20SECDEF%20HOSPITALIZATION%20NOTIFICATION%20PROCEDURES%2020240110.PDF">memo</a>, said that it would examine "the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities, and actions related to the Secretary of Defense's hospitalisation."

It further said that it will "assess whether the DoD's policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership."

Austin came under fire for hiding his medical condition from the White House amid the delicate geopolitical landscape involving the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war.&nbsp;

There have been calls for his resignation from critics who say the senior government official violated the law by failing to report his hospitalisation to his bosses.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-iowa-caucuses-2024-are-important-for-us-presidential-elections-679088">Explained | Why Iowa Caucuses 2024 are important for US Presidential Elections?</a>

<h2>Austin's medical condition</h2>

The Pentagon chief was hospitalised on New Year's Day (Jan 1) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre due to complications from an elective medical procedure.

Surprisingly, the Pentagon did not make any official announcement until four days later while waiting to notify other top government officers about Austin's absence.&nbsp;

During the period, Austin was away from action, and some of his powers were transferred to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.&nbsp;

However, even she was not informed that his boss had been hospitalised until two days later.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Donald Trump calls for Lloyd Austin's removal

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&nbsp;

<h2>The protocol</h2>

His mishandling of the situation was a violation of the protocol for top-ranking cabinet officials, who reportedly have to inform well in advance of planned medical absences and identify the one who would be filling in for them.

Austin on Saturday said that he "could have done a better job" and took "full responsibility" for the secrecy over his hospitalisation.

White House officials released a statement saying that Biden still has "complete confidence" in Austin and that he would be continuing his job.

Addressing a press conference on Air Force One, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby said, "There is no plan for anything other than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Defense Department inspector general on Thursday (Jan 11) said that it will probe the mishandling of US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’s secretive hospitalisation.

The Defense Department inspector general on Thursday (Jan 11) said that it will probe the mishandling of US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin’s secretive hospitalisation. The inspector general, in a memo, said that it would examine "the roles, processes, procedures, responsibilities, and actions related to the Secretary of Defense's hospitalisation." It further said that it will "assess whether the DoD's policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership." Austin came under fire for hiding his medical condition from the White House amid the delicate geopolitical landscape involving the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war. There have been calls for his resignation from critics who say the senior government official violated the law by failing to report his hospitalisation to his bosses. Also read: Explained | Why Iowa Caucuses 2024 are important for US Presidential Elections? Austin's medical condition The Pentagon chief was hospitalised on New Year's Day (Jan 1) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre due to complications from an elective medical procedure. Surprisingly, the Pentagon did not make any official announcement until four days later while waiting to notify other top government officers about Austin's absence. During the period, Austin was away from action, and some of his powers were transferred to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. However, even she was not informed that his boss had been hospitalised until two days later. WATCH | Donald Trump calls for Lloyd Austin's removal × The protocol His mishandling of the situation was a violation of the protocol for top-ranking cabinet officials, who reportedly have to inform well in advance of planned medical absences and identify the one who would be filling in for them. Austin on Saturday said that he "could have done a better job" and took "full responsibility" for the secrecy over his hospitalisation. White House officials released a statement saying that Biden still has "complete confidence" in Austin and that he would be continuing his job. Addressing a press conference on Air Force One, National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson John Kirby said, "There is no plan for anything other than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job." (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon to probe Lloyd Austin's secretive hospitalisation

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