The Pentagon said that there had been no change so far in Joe Biden's plan to meet the evacuation deadline for Afghanistan by the end of the month and that the pace of evacuations is picking up in Kabul.

Pentagon says no change in timeline of Afghan withdrawal

A total of 7,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the start of evacuation operations on August 14 and over 5,200 US troops are in Kabul, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

Cumulatively, the number of people moved out of Afghanistan is somewhere near 12,000.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on Sunday. Their sudden victory, which comes as the US withdraws from the country following a 20-year-war, has sparked chaos at Kabul's airport, from where America and allied nations are trying to safely evacuate thousands of citizens and allies.

"The US military footprint and Kabul now has more than 5,200 total troops on the ground. Kabul airport remains secure and open for flight operations. There are now multiple gates that have access for entry into the airfield, which will help expedite processing in a safe and orderly manner," said Major General Hank Taylor, Commanding General of the Army Operational Test Command.

Major General Taylor, who has been given the responsibility to airlift US citizens from Afghanistan amid the Taliban crisis, said in the past 24 hours, 13 C-17s arrived with additional troops and equipment, and 12 C-17 military planes departed. These flights, containing more than 2,000 passengers, left Kabul and arrived at designated safe havens and staging areas in the CENTCOM area of operation, he said.

"Since the start of evacuation operations on August 14, we have airlifted approximately 7,000 total evacuees. This increase is reflective of both a ramp up of aircraft and airlift capability, faster processing of evacuees, and greater information and fidelity in reporting, Taylor told reporters at a Pentagon news conference.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-facebook-twitter-and-linkedin-secure-users-accounts-amid-taliban-takeover-407020">Also read |&nbsp;Live: Afghanistan crisis-Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn secure users' accounts amid Taliban takeover</a>

The US, he said, is ready to increase throughput and have scheduled aircraft departures accordingly.

"We intend to maximise each plane's capacity. We're prioritising people above all else. And we're focused on doing this as safely as possible with absolute urgency, he said.

At a separate news conference, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that there are 6,000 people at the airport right now who've been fully processed by a consular team and will soon board planes.

"Overnight, we significantly expanded how many American citizens locally employed staff, SIV applicants, and other vulnerable Afghans who are eligible for departure, and we offered to consider transit to the airport.

We're aware of congestion around the airport. We are working closely with the Department of Defense to facilitate safe and orderly access for consular processing on the airport compound, he said.

Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke with the G7 foreign ministers and the high representative of the European Union to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, he said.

"All leaders underscored the imperative of safe passage for those who wish to leave Afghanistan and the need for an inclusive political resolution that protects the fundamental human rights of all Afghans, Price said.

He said the leaders agreed that the international community's relationship with the Taliban will depend on their actions and not their words.

"Blinken and the G7 foreign ministers also exchanged views on counterterrorism, humanitarian efforts, refugee migration, and they agreed to remain in close contact on all fronts going forward. Secretary Blinken thanked his foreign counterparts for their steadfast commitment to supporting the Afghan people," Price said.

A total of 7,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the start of evacuation operations on August 14 and over 5,200 US troops are in Kabul, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

A total of 7,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan since the start of evacuation operations on August 14 and over 5,200 US troops are in Kabul, the Pentagon said on Thursday. Cumulatively, the number of people moved out of Afghanistan is somewhere near 12,000. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on Sunday. Their sudden victory, which comes as the US withdraws from the country following a 20-year-war, has sparked chaos at Kabul's airport, from where America and allied nations are trying to safely evacuate thousands of citizens and allies. "The US military footprint and Kabul now has more than 5,200 total troops on the ground. Kabul airport remains secure and open for flight operations. There are now multiple gates that have access for entry into the airfield, which will help expedite processing in a safe and orderly manner," said Major General Hank Taylor, Commanding General of the Army Operational Test Command. Major General Taylor, who has been given the responsibility to airlift US citizens from Afghanistan amid the Taliban crisis, said in the past 24 hours, 13 C-17s arrived with additional troops and equipment, and 12 C-17 military planes departed. These flights, containing more than 2,000 passengers, left Kabul and arrived at designated safe havens and staging areas in the CENTCOM area of operation, he said. "Since the start of evacuation operations on August 14, we have airlifted approximately 7,000 total evacuees. This increase is reflective of both a ramp up of aircraft and airlift capability, faster processing of evacuees, and greater information and fidelity in reporting, Taylor told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. Also read | Live: Afghanistan crisis-Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn secure users' accounts amid Taliban takeover The US, he said, is ready to increase throughput and have scheduled aircraft departures accordingly. "We intend to maximise each plane's capacity. We're prioritising people above all else. And we're focused on doing this as safely as possible with absolute urgency, he said. At a separate news conference, State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that there are 6,000 people at the airport right now who've been fully processed by a consular team and will soon board planes. "Overnight, we significantly expanded how many American citizens locally employed staff, SIV applicants, and other vulnerable Afghans who are eligible for departure, and we offered to consider transit to the airport. We're aware of congestion around the airport. We are working closely with the Department of Defense to facilitate safe and orderly access for consular processing on the airport compound, he said. Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke with the G7 foreign ministers and the high representative of the European Union to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, he said. "All leaders underscored the imperative of safe passage for those who wish to leave Afghanistan and the need for an inclusive political resolution that protects the fundamental human rights of all Afghans, Price said. He said the leaders agreed that the international community's relationship with the Taliban will depend on their actions and not their words. "Blinken and the G7 foreign ministers also exchanged views on counterterrorism, humanitarian efforts, refugee migration, and they agreed to remain in close contact on all fronts going forward. Secretary Blinken thanked his foreign counterparts for their steadfast commitment to supporting the Afghan people," Price said.

7,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan since August 14: Pentagon

The chaos and utter collapse of Afghan government power in Afghanistan has strongly drawn attention to the way US fought its longest war and the apparent speedy exit that was followed by rapid gains by Taliban. The insurgent group entered Kabul on Sunday. It was believed that the national capital would hold on against Taliban for weeks but the matter came to a head in mere days and hours.

The rapid deterioration of Afghan situation has not only damaged US President's political stature but has also raised questions at US policies. The war against Taliban appears long lost an analysis has begun as to where things went wrong.

Where did Pentagon go wrong?

<h2>Wrong equipments in hands of not competent enough soldiers</h2>

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After toppling the Taliban in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks in 2001, the US started building an Afghan army in its own image. USD 83 billion were spent to set up and arm the Afghan army

However, the US model meant huge dependence on air support and high-tech communication network. Such an approach was less likely to be effective in a country where only 30 per cent of population has access to reliable electricity supply.

Airplanes, helicopters, drones, armored vehicles, night-vision goggles: the United States spared no expense in equipping the Afghan army. It recently even provided the Afghans with the latest Black Hawk attack helicopters.&nbsp;

However, many Afghans who were part of the army were illiterate young men and the infrastructure in the country could not support the cutting edge military tech that was being used.

<h2>Pull out of US military contractors</h2>

<img alt="Afghanistan" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e2be3964-36b1-40b0-9beb-5203253926dc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_6U5BK.jpg" />

In addition to the pullout of US troops, it was also decided to withdraw US contractors who played a key role in supporting US logistics.

"We built an air force that depended on contractors for maintenance and then pulled the contractors," Ronald Neumann, a former US ambassador to Kabul under President George W. Bush, told NPR public radio

<h2>Unpaid and unfed</h2>

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Worse, the salaries of the Afghan army had been paid for years by the Pentagon. But from the moment the American army announced its planned withdrawal in April, responsibility for those payments fell on the Kabul government.

Numerous Afghan soldiers have complained on social media that they not only have not been paid in months, in many instances their units were no longer receiving food or supplies -- not even ammunition.

The rapid US withdrawal provided a final blow.

"We profoundly shocked the Afghan army and morale by pulling out and pulling our air cover," said Neumann.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/live-afghanistan-crisis-taliban-has-broken-shackles-of-slavery-says-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-405858">CLICK HERE to see LIVE updates on Afghan crisis</a>

<h2>Overestmation of Afghan army capabilities</h2>

Capabilities of the Afghan army were seriously overestimated, according to John Sopko, the US special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR).

Each time he tried to evaluate the Afghan army, he said, "the US military changed the goalposts, and made it easier to show success. And then finally, when they couldn't even do that, they classified the assessment tool. 
"So they knew how bad the Afghan military was."

His office's latest report to Congress, filed last week, said that "advanced weapons systems, vehicles and logistics used by Western militaries were beyond the capabilities of the largely illiterate and uneducated Afghan force."

<h2>Exaggerated numbers</h2>

Pentagon repeatedly stressed on what it said was numerical advantage of the Afghan forces -- supposedly with 300,000 men in the army and the police -- over the Taliban, estimated to number some 70,000.

But those army numbers were greatly inflated, according to the Combating Terrorism Center at the prestigious US Military Academy at West Point, New York.&nbsp;

As of July 2020, by its own estimate, the 300,000 included only 185,000 army troops or special operations forces under Defense Ministry control, with police and other security personnel making up the rest.&nbsp;

And barely 60 percent of the Afghan army troops were trained fighters, the West Point analysts said.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-an-air-of-despair-surrounding-the-end-of-20-year-war-405996">Afghanistan: An air of despair surrounding the end of 20-year war</a>

A more accurate estimate of the army's fighting strength -- once the 8,000 air force personnel are taken out of the equation -- is 96,000, they concluded.&nbsp;

The SIGAR report said desertions have always been a problem for the Afghan army.

It found that in 2020, the Afghan army had to replace 25 percent of its force each year -- largely because of desertions -- and that American soldiers working with the Afghans came to see this rate as "normal."

<h2>Unkept and half-hearted promises</h2>

In spite of USA's repeated assurances of support after the pullout, it was never explained how this would be done logistically.

In May, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke of helping Afghan air force through an approach he called "over the horizon" logistics.

That vague concept implied the use of virtual training sessions with video conferencing on the Zoom platform -- an approach that seems illusory given the need for the Afghans to have computers or smartphones with well-functioning wi-fi connections.

All these factors and more culminated into what is decisively appearing to be a Taliban victory in Afghanistan.

It is often said that keeping Kabul is tougher than winning it. But the Taliban appear to currently have a firm grip on power.

(With inputs from agencies)

The chaos and utter collapse of Afghan government power in Afghanistan has strongly drawn attention to the way US fought its longest war and the apparent speedy exit that was followed by rapid gains by Taliban.

The chaos and utter collapse of Afghan government power in Afghanistan has strongly drawn attention to the way US fought its longest war and the apparent speedy exit that was followed by rapid gains by Taliban. The insurgent group entered Kabul on Sunday. It was believed that the national capital would hold on against Taliban for weeks but the matter came to a head in mere days and hours. The rapid deterioration of Afghan situation has not only damaged US President's political stature but has also raised questions at US policies. The war against Taliban appears long lost an analysis has begun as to where things went wrong. Where did Pentagon go wrong? Wrong equipments in hands of not competent enough soldiers After toppling the Taliban in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks in 2001, the US started building an Afghan army in its own image. USD 83 billion were spent to set up and arm the Afghan army However, the US model meant huge dependence on air support and high-tech communication network. Such an approach was less likely to be effective in a country where only 30 per cent of population has access to reliable electricity supply. Airplanes, helicopters, drones, armored vehicles, night-vision goggles: the United States spared no expense in equipping the Afghan army. It recently even provided the Afghans with the latest Black Hawk attack helicopters. However, many Afghans who were part of the army were illiterate young men and the infrastructure in the country could not support the cutting edge military tech that was being used. Pull out of US military contractors In addition to the pullout of US troops, it was also decided to withdraw US contractors who played a key role in supporting US logistics. "We built an air force that depended on contractors for maintenance and then pulled the contractors," Ronald Neumann, a former US ambassador to Kabul under President George W. Bush, told NPR public radio Unpaid and unfed Worse, the salaries of the Afghan army had been paid for years by the Pentagon. But from the moment the American army announced its planned withdrawal in April, responsibility for those payments fell on the Kabul government. Numerous Afghan soldiers have complained on social media that they not only have not been paid in months, in many instances their units were no longer receiving food or supplies -- not even ammunition. The rapid US withdrawal provided a final blow. "We profoundly shocked the Afghan army and morale by pulling out and pulling our air cover," said Neumann. CLICK HERE to see LIVE updates on Afghan crisis Overestmation of Afghan army capabilities Capabilities of the Afghan army were seriously overestimated, according to John Sopko, the US special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR). Each time he tried to evaluate the Afghan army, he said, "the US military changed the goalposts, and made it easier to show success. And then finally, when they couldn't even do that, they classified the assessment tool. "So they knew how bad the Afghan military was." His office's latest report to Congress, filed last week, said that "advanced weapons systems, vehicles and logistics used by Western militaries were beyond the capabilities of the largely illiterate and uneducated Afghan force." Exaggerated numbers Pentagon repeatedly stressed on what it said was numerical advantage of the Afghan forces -- supposedly with 300,000 men in the army and the police -- over the Taliban, estimated to number some 70,000. But those army numbers were greatly inflated, according to the Combating Terrorism Center at the prestigious US Military Academy at West Point, New York. As of July 2020, by its own estimate, the 300,000 included only 185,000 army troops or special operations forces under Defense Ministry control, with police and other security personnel making up the rest. And barely 60 percent of the Afghan army troops were trained fighters, the West Point analysts said. Also Read: Afghanistan: An air of despair surrounding the end of 20-year war A more accurate estimate of the army's fighting strength -- once the 8,000 air force personnel are taken out of the equation -- is 96,000, they concluded. The SIGAR report said desertions have always been a problem for the Afghan army. It found that in 2020, the Afghan army had to replace 25 percent of its force each year -- largely because of desertions -- and that American soldiers working with the Afghans came to see this rate as "normal." Unkept and half-hearted promises In spite of USA's repeated assurances of support after the pullout, it was never explained how this would be done logistically. In May, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke of helping Afghan air force through an approach he called "over the horizon" logistics. That vague concept implied the use of virtual training sessions with video conferencing on the Zoom platform -- an approach that seems illusory given the need for the Afghans to have computers or smartphones with well-functioning wi-fi connections. All these factors and more culminated into what is decisively appearing to be a Taliban victory in Afghanistan. It is often said that keeping Kabul is tougher than winning it. But the Taliban appear to currently have a firm grip on power. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan: Where did US go wrong in fight against Taliban?

The&nbsp;Pentagon has said that the US&nbsp;State Department approved the potential sale of 40 155mm M109A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer artillery systems to Taiwan in a deal valued at up to $750 million.

This comes after a series of arms sales last year that included drones and coastal missile defenses meant to upgrade the island's capabilities and discourage a Chinese invasion.

The Biden administration has approved other direct commercial sales of arms to Taiwan since taking office.

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The&nbsp;Pentagon said that the&nbsp;package would include the howitzers, 1,698 precision guidance kits for munitions, spares, training, ground stations, and upgrades for Taiwan's previous generation of howitzers.

Congress was&nbsp;notified by the&nbsp;Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency&nbsp;of the possible sale on Wednesday.

Taiwan's defense ministry expressed "sincere gratitude" to the US&nbsp;government in a statement on Thursday, saying the sales would help its ground forces increase their "capacity for speedy reaction and fire support".

The ministry called the continuous&nbsp;arms support by the United States a "basis for maintaining regional stability."

Like most nations, the US&nbsp;has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is required by law to provide the Chinese-claimed island with the means to defend itself and is its most important international backer, to Beijing's anger.

Beijing claims&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;and has been ramping up pressure, including with a record 28 aircraft incursions reported Tuesday, months after it clamped down on freedoms in Hong Kong.

Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.

The Pentagon said BAE Systems Plc was the prime contractor for the weapons.

The&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;Relations Act, passed by Congress when the United States shifted recognition, requires the United States to provide Taipei with&nbsp;weapons&nbsp;for its self-defense.

Biden has moved ahead with former president Donald Trump's more outspoken approach on&nbsp;Taiwan, including pushing for its inclusion in international bodies.

The Biden administration said Thursday it was resuming trade talks with&nbsp;Taiwan&nbsp;that had been on hiatus since Barack Obama's administration.

The Senate last week separately passed a major package on investment in innovation whose provisions include lifting a ban on displays of&nbsp;Taiwan's flag and the wearing of Taiwanese uniforms during meetings in Washington.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Pentagon has said that the US State Department approved the potential sale of 40 155mm M109A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer artillery systems to Taiwan in a deal valued at up to $750 million.

The Pentagon has said that the US State Department approved the potential sale of 40 155mm M109A6 Medium Self-Propelled Howitzer artillery systems to Taiwan in a deal valued at up to $750 million. This comes after a series of arms sales last year that included drones and coastal missile defenses meant to upgrade the island's capabilities and discourage a Chinese invasion. The Biden administration has approved other direct commercial sales of arms to Taiwan since taking office. The Pentagon said that the package would include the howitzers, 1,698 precision guidance kits for munitions, spares, training, ground stations, and upgrades for Taiwan's previous generation of howitzers. Congress was notified by the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the possible sale on Wednesday. Taiwan's defense ministry expressed "sincere gratitude" to the US government in a statement on Thursday, saying the sales would help its ground forces increase their "capacity for speedy reaction and fire support". The ministry called the continuous arms support by the United States a "basis for maintaining regional stability." Like most nations, the US has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is required by law to provide the Chinese-claimed island with the means to defend itself and is its most important international backer, to Beijing's anger. Beijing claims Taiwan and has been ramping up pressure, including with a record 28 aircraft incursions reported Tuesday, months after it clamped down on freedoms in Hong Kong. Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded. The Pentagon said BAE Systems Plc was the prime contractor for the weapons. The Taiwan Relations Act, passed by Congress when the United States shifted recognition, requires the United States to provide Taipei with weapons for its self-defense. Biden has moved ahead with former president Donald Trump's more outspoken approach on Taiwan, including pushing for its inclusion in international bodies. The Biden administration said Thursday it was resuming trade talks with Taiwan that had been on hiatus since Barack Obama's administration. The Senate last week separately passed a major package on investment in innovation whose provisions include lifting a ban on displays of Taiwan's flag and the wearing of Taiwanese uniforms during meetings in Washington. (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon says US has approved potential sales of howitzers to Taiwan

The FBI identified Wednesday the attacker who killed a police officer on a bus platform at the&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;and forced the US Defense Department into lockdown, but gave no motive for the attack.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said 27-year-old Georgia native Austin William Lanz got off a bus on Tuesday morning and "immediately, without provocation" stabbed&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;Force Protection Agency officer George Gonzalez with a knife,&nbsp;just yards from entrance of the highly secure military headquarters.

"A struggle ensued, in which the subject mortally wounded Officer Gonzalez and then shot himself with the officer's service weapon," the FBI said in a statement.

Other officers then got involved, and Lanz died at the scene, the FBI said. It did not say if the officers also shot Lanz, but witnesses said there was a volley of gunfire in the incident.

Gonzalez was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.

A bystander was also injured but taken to hospital with minor injuries and later released, the FBI said.

No motive was suggested for the attack. Lanz, of Acworth, Georgia, had a long list of arrests according to local Georgia news reports citing court records.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-says-us-has-approved-potential-sales-of-howitzers-to-taiwan-402976">Also read |&nbsp;Pentagon says US has approved potential sales of howitzers to Taiwan</a>

He had been charged with attacking a police officer, making terroristic threats and burglary, among other offenses.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he was out on bail and had been ordered by a judge to be evaluated for mental health and substance abuse.

The attack forced a full lockdown of the&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;and its thousands of workers for 90 minutes.

Gonzalez was mourned by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who was not in the building at the time of the attack.

"This fallen officer died in the line of duty, helping protect the tens of thousands of people who work in -- and who visit -- the&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;on a daily basis," Austin said in a statement.

"He and his fellow officers are members of the&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;family, and known to us all as professional, skilled and brave."

The FBI identified Wednesday the attacker who killed a police officer on a bus platform at the Pentagon and forced the US Defense Department into lockdown, but gave no motive for the attack.

The FBI identified Wednesday the attacker who killed a police officer on a bus platform at the Pentagon and forced the US Defense Department into lockdown, but gave no motive for the attack. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said 27-year-old Georgia native Austin William Lanz got off a bus on Tuesday morning and "immediately, without provocation" stabbed Pentagon Force Protection Agency officer George Gonzalez with a knife, just yards from entrance of the highly secure military headquarters. "A struggle ensued, in which the subject mortally wounded Officer Gonzalez and then shot himself with the officer's service weapon," the FBI said in a statement. Other officers then got involved, and Lanz died at the scene, the FBI said. It did not say if the officers also shot Lanz, but witnesses said there was a volley of gunfire in the incident. Gonzalez was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. A bystander was also injured but taken to hospital with minor injuries and later released, the FBI said. No motive was suggested for the attack. Lanz, of Acworth, Georgia, had a long list of arrests according to local Georgia news reports citing court records. Also read | Pentagon says US has approved potential sales of howitzers to Taiwan He had been charged with attacking a police officer, making terroristic threats and burglary, among other offenses. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, he was out on bail and had been ordered by a judge to be evaluated for mental health and substance abuse. The attack forced a full lockdown of the Pentagon and its thousands of workers for 90 minutes. Gonzalez was mourned by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who was not in the building at the time of the attack. "This fallen officer died in the line of duty, helping protect the tens of thousands of people who work in -- and who visit -- the Pentagon on a daily basis," Austin said in a statement. "He and his fellow officers are members of the Pentagon family, and known to us all as professional, skilled and brave."

Pentagon attacker identified, motive remains unclear

In an incident of violence outside world’s one of the safest places, a Pentagon police officer died after being stabbed on Tuesday. &nbsp;

The violence occurred at a transit station outside Pentagon, which lies on the outskirts of Washington DC. In the incident, security agencies also shot a suspect, who died at the scene, said officials.&nbsp;

The US military headquarters, Pentagon, was placed on a temporary lockdown after gunshots were fired near the building’s entrance. The lockdown was lifted later.&nbsp;

On the condition of anonymity, some officials told Associated Press, a Pentagon police officer, who was stabbed, died. &nbsp;

Although it is still unclear that the shooting and the stabbing of the officer are interlinked or not, more information about the incident may come in after Pentagon holds a news conference. &nbsp;

According to the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, the violence happened on a Metro bus platform, which is a part of the Pentagon transit center.&nbsp;

It is very close to Pentagon building, which is in Arlington County, Virginia.&nbsp;

Multiple gunshots were heard near the building and police were heard yelling 'shooter'. The facility was on lockdown due to 'police activity', said a Pentagon announcement. &nbsp;

The Pentagon authorities are yet to provide more details or the sequence of events.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

In an incident of violence outside world’s one of the safest places, a Pentagon police officer died after being stabbed on Tuesday. The violence occurred at a transit station outside Pentagon, which lies on the outskirts of Washington DC.

In an incident of violence outside world’s one of the safest places, a Pentagon police officer died after being stabbed on Tuesday. The violence occurred at a transit station outside Pentagon, which lies on the outskirts of Washington DC. In the incident, security agencies also shot a suspect, who died at the scene, said officials. The US military headquarters, Pentagon, was placed on a temporary lockdown after gunshots were fired near the building’s entrance. The lockdown was lifted later. On the condition of anonymity, some officials told Associated Press, a Pentagon police officer, who was stabbed, died. Although it is still unclear that the shooting and the stabbing of the officer are interlinked or not, more information about the incident may come in after Pentagon holds a news conference. According to the Pentagon Force Protection Agency, the violence happened on a Metro bus platform, which is a part of the Pentagon transit center. It is very close to Pentagon building, which is in Arlington County, Virginia. Multiple gunshots were heard near the building and police were heard yelling 'shooter'. The facility was on lockdown due to 'police activity', said a Pentagon announcement. The Pentagon authorities are yet to provide more details or the sequence of events. (With inputs from agencies)

Officer dead in violence outside Pentagon, say US officials 

The Pentagon reopened on Tuesday afternoon, about an hour and a half after it was put on lockdown after a "shooting incident" near the Metro bus stop.

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency, which is responsible for security in and around the Defense Department building, tweeted, "The Pentagon has lifted the lockdown and has reopened."&nbsp;

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The Pentagon has lifted the lock down and has reopened. Corridor 2 and the Metro entrance remains closed. Corridor 3 is open for pedestrian traffic.
— Pentagon Force Protection Agency (Official) (@PFPAOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PFPAOfficial/status/1422591425401835524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The agency added that the Metro entrance remains closed. 
 
Because of the police action, Pentagon employees got an electronic warning on their computers, and an overhead broadcast was made asking all Pentagon personnel to stay inside and not wander outside.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Pentagon reopened on Tuesday afternoon, about an hour and a half after it was put on lockdown after a "shooting incident" near the Metro bus stop. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency, which is responsible for security in and around the Defense Department building, tweeted, "The Pentagon has lifted the lockdown and has reopened.

The Pentagon reopened on Tuesday afternoon, about an hour and a half after it was put on lockdown after a "shooting incident" near the Metro bus stop. The Pentagon Force Protection Agency, which is responsible for security in and around the Defense Department building, tweeted, "The Pentagon has lifted the lockdown and has reopened." The Pentagon has lifted the lock down and has reopened. Corridor 2 and the Metro entrance remains closed. Corridor 3 is open for pedestrian traffic. — Pentagon Force Protection Agency (Official) (@PFPAOfficial) August 3, 2021 × The agency added that the Metro entrance remains closed. Because of the police action, Pentagon employees got an electronic warning on their computers, and an overhead broadcast was made asking all Pentagon personnel to stay inside and not wander outside. (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon entered lockdown due to 'shooting', reopens after gunman shot by police

US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday that the Afghan security forces' first job was to make sure they could slow the Taliban's momentum before attempting to retake territory, as Afghan forces plan to consolidate forces around strategically important parts of the country. 
 
Reuters reported that Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure. 
 
"They are consolidating their forces around the key population centers," Austin told reporters during a visit to Alaska. 
 
"In terms of whether or not it will stop the Taliban, I think the first thing to do is to make sure that they can slow the momentum," Austin said, speaking as the US&nbsp;military is set to end its mission in Afghanistan on August&nbsp;31, on orders from President Joe Biden. 
 
Austin added that he believed the Afghans had the capability and the capacity to make progress, but "we'll see what happens." 
 
The politically perilous strategy appears to be a military necessity as over-stretched Afghan troops try to prevent the loss of provincial capitals, which could deeply fracture the country. 
 
Taliban insurgents are gaining control of more and more territory, which the Pentagon estimated on Wednesday now extends to over half of half Afghanistan's district centers. The Taliban are also putting pressure on the outskirts of half of the provincial capitals, trying to isolate them. 
 
The Taliban's swift territorial gains are rattling Afghans just as the United States withdraws from a war that succeeded in punishing al Qaeda following its September&nbsp;11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington but failed to deliver anything close to peace for Afghanistan. 
 
The United States has continued to carry out air strikes to support Afghan government forces that have been under pressure from the Taliban as US-led foreign forces carry out the final stages of their withdrawal from the country. 
 
Biden has promised to provide financial assistance to Afghan forces and to redouble diplomatic efforts to revive stalled peace talks. 
 
Biden on Friday authorized up to $100 million from an emergency fund to meet "unexpected urgent" refugee needs stemming from the situation in Afghanistan, including for Afghan special immigration visa applicants. 
 
For years, the US&nbsp;military has been trying to get Afghan troops off of far-flung checkpoints - static positions that can easily be overrun by Taliban forces.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday that the Afghan security forces' first job was to make sure they could slow the Taliban's momentum before attempting to retake territory, as Afghan forces plan to consolidate forces around strategically important parts of the country.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday that the Afghan security forces' first job was to make sure they could slow the Taliban's momentum before attempting to retake territory, as Afghan forces plan to consolidate forces around strategically important parts of the country. Reuters reported that Afghanistan's military is overhauling its war strategy against the Taliban to concentrate forces around the most critical areas like Kabul and other cities, border crossings and vital infrastructure. "They are consolidating their forces around the key population centers," Austin told reporters during a visit to Alaska. "In terms of whether or not it will stop the Taliban, I think the first thing to do is to make sure that they can slow the momentum," Austin said, speaking as the US military is set to end its mission in Afghanistan on August 31, on orders from President Joe Biden. Austin added that he believed the Afghans had the capability and the capacity to make progress, but "we'll see what happens." The politically perilous strategy appears to be a military necessity as over-stretched Afghan troops try to prevent the loss of provincial capitals, which could deeply fracture the country. Taliban insurgents are gaining control of more and more territory, which the Pentagon estimated on Wednesday now extends to over half of half Afghanistan's district centers. The Taliban are also putting pressure on the outskirts of half of the provincial capitals, trying to isolate them. The Taliban's swift territorial gains are rattling Afghans just as the United States withdraws from a war that succeeded in punishing al Qaeda following its September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington but failed to deliver anything close to peace for Afghanistan. The United States has continued to carry out air strikes to support Afghan government forces that have been under pressure from the Taliban as US-led foreign forces carry out the final stages of their withdrawal from the country. Biden has promised to provide financial assistance to Afghan forces and to redouble diplomatic efforts to revive stalled peace talks. Biden on Friday authorized up to $100 million from an emergency fund to meet "unexpected urgent" refugee needs stemming from the situation in Afghanistan, including for Afghan special immigration visa applicants. For years, the US military has been trying to get Afghan troops off of far-flung checkpoints - static positions that can easily be overrun by Taliban forces.

First task for Afghan forces is to slow Taliban's momentum: Lloyd Austin

The&nbsp;Pentagon's watchdog said on Tuesday it would evaluate the safety protocols surrounding the president's "nuclear football" - containing codes needed for a strike - after one such briefcase nearly came within range of rioters storming the Capitol on Jan. 6.

In a brief notice, the Inspector General's office said it would evaluate the extent to which&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;officials could detect and respond if the Presidential Emergency Satchel were "lost, stolen or compromised."

"We may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds," it said.

One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said concerns surrounding the Jan. 6 siege helped trigger the evaluation. On that date, Vice President Mike Pence was at the US&nbsp;Capitol, accompanied by a military aide carrying a backup nuclear football when the building was stormed by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

The satchel holds the codes the president would use to authenticate an order to launch nuclear missiles should he or she not be at the White House.

Security footage made public during Trump's subsequent impeachment trial showed Pence and the military aide - who had the satchel - being ushered to safety as protesters got closer to their location.

"At no point was it ever compromised," said a source familiar with the situation.

Even if rioters had taken possession of the satchel, any nuclear strike order would still have needed to be confirmed and processed by the military.

But January&nbsp;6 was just one of several times during Trump's presidency that the security of the nuclear football came into question.

In November 2017, when Trump was in Beijing having lunch with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a Chinese security official got into a tussle in another room with the US&nbsp;military aide carrying the briefcase.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-anybody-is-lying-here-it-is-you-fauci-and-paul-clash-on-coronavirus-origins-399370">Also read |&nbsp;‘If anybody is lying here, it is you’: Fauci and Paul clash on coronavirus origins</a>

Then-White House chief of staff John Kelly, a tall, imposing retired general, intervened and got into a physical altercation with the Chinese official to ensure the nuclear football did not get away from the military aide, a former senior Trump administration official said.

When a senior US&nbsp;official spoke to Chinese officials about the incident at the scene, the Chinese wanted to extend an apology to Kelly over the episode. But Kelly refused to accept the apology, the official said.

"Tell them they can come apologise to me in Washington," Kelly said, according to the official.

On January&nbsp;20 of this year, Trump insisted on leaving Washington before the inauguration of Democrat Joe Biden, meaning a live football would have to go with him to be on hand until Biden was sworn in.

Trump was accompanied by a military aide carrying a nuclear football.

The Pentagon's watchdog said on Tuesday it would evaluate the safety protocols surrounding the president's "nuclear football" - containing codes needed for a strike - after one such briefcase nearly came within range of rioters storming the Capitol on Jan.

The Pentagon's watchdog said on Tuesday it would evaluate the safety protocols surrounding the president's "nuclear football" - containing codes needed for a strike - after one such briefcase nearly came within range of rioters storming the Capitol on Jan. 6. In a brief notice, the Inspector General's office said it would evaluate the extent to which Pentagon officials could detect and respond if the Presidential Emergency Satchel were "lost, stolen or compromised." "We may revise the objective as the evaluation proceeds," it said. One US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said concerns surrounding the Jan. 6 siege helped trigger the evaluation. On that date, Vice President Mike Pence was at the US Capitol, accompanied by a military aide carrying a backup nuclear football when the building was stormed by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. The satchel holds the codes the president would use to authenticate an order to launch nuclear missiles should he or she not be at the White House. Security footage made public during Trump's subsequent impeachment trial showed Pence and the military aide - who had the satchel - being ushered to safety as protesters got closer to their location. "At no point was it ever compromised," said a source familiar with the situation. Even if rioters had taken possession of the satchel, any nuclear strike order would still have needed to be confirmed and processed by the military. But January 6 was just one of several times during Trump's presidency that the security of the nuclear football came into question. In November 2017, when Trump was in Beijing having lunch with Chinese President Xi Jinping, a Chinese security official got into a tussle in another room with the US military aide carrying the briefcase. Also read | ‘If anybody is lying here, it is you’: Fauci and Paul clash on coronavirus origins Then-White House chief of staff John Kelly, a tall, imposing retired general, intervened and got into a physical altercation with the Chinese official to ensure the nuclear football did not get away from the military aide, a former senior Trump administration official said. When a senior US official spoke to Chinese officials about the incident at the scene, the Chinese wanted to extend an apology to Kelly over the episode. But Kelly refused to accept the apology, the official said. "Tell them they can come apologise to me in Washington," Kelly said, according to the official. On January 20 of this year, Trump insisted on leaving Washington before the inauguration of Democrat Joe Biden, meaning a live football would have to go with him to be on hand until Biden was sworn in. Trump was accompanied by a military aide carrying a nuclear football.

Pentagon watchdog: Evaluate safety protocols surrounding the president's 'nuclear football'

According to the Pentagon, the US military has withdrawn more than 90% of its troops and equipment from Afghanistan. The United States has officially handed over seven facilities to the Afghan military.

US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan is more than 90% complete says Pentagon

United States: Maintain over-the-horizon capability

The Pentagon said Tuesday it has scrapped a massive $10 billion cloud computing contract, sidestepping a bitter dispute between Amazon and Microsoft over allegations of political bias that swayed the bidding.

Microsoft had beaten favourite Amazon in November 2019, for the contract, called the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure Cloud, or JEDI, which is part of a broad modernisation of the Pentagon's information&nbsp;technology&nbsp;systems.

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Officials said that instead of going forward with the deal in the face of litigation, the government would start over with the aim of getting the most up-to-date technology.

"JEDI, conceived with noble intent, was developed at a time when the department's needs were different," Defense Department spokesman John Sherman said during a press briefing.

"Now, we want to leverage multiple cloud environments."

Sherman equated arming US "war fighters" with cutting-edge, 21st century cloud computing capabilities to providing top armor or weaponry, saying the technology landscape has shifted since the JEDI contract was stalled by litigation.

A statement said the Pentagon would seek proposals from Amazon and Microsoft on a new contract, noting that the two vendors appear at the moment to be the only cloud service providers capable of meeting the department's requirements.

The 10-year JEDI program was designed see all military branches sharing information in a cloud-based system boosted by artificial intelligence.&nbsp;

Amazon alleged it was shut out of the deal because of what it called Trump's vendetta against the company and its chief executive Jeff Bezos.&nbsp;

Sherman maintained that it was urgent to move ahead and that "the overriding factor is not what may have happened in previous administrations; what was said or not said, the litigation."

Amazon had been considered the lead contender to provide technology for JEDI, with Amazon Web Services dominating the cloud computing arena and the company already providing classified servers for other government agencies including the CIA.

Amazon argued in court documents that the Pentagon's choice of Microsoft was mystifying if not for Trump's repeated "expressed determination to, in the words of the president himself, 'screw Amazon.'"

US defense officials will reach out to Amazon and Microsoft to solicit bids for parts of the new cloud contract, which Sherman said will have an overall value in the billions, without specifying an amount.

"We understand and agree with the DoD's decision," Amazon said in response to an AFP inquiry.

"Unfortunately, the (JEDI) contract award was not based on the merits of the proposals and instead was the result of outside influence that has no place in government procurement."

Microsoft president of US regulated industries Toni Townes-Whitley said in a post that the technology giant "respects and accepts" the decision.

"The DoD faced a difficult choice: Continue with what could be a years-long litigation battle or find another path forward," Townes-Whitley said in a post.

"What matters now is the way forward."

The defense department move "ends a multi-year soap opera that has put the JEDI deal on pause," according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.

"For Microsoft this went from a lottery deal to a court nightmare with Amazon and others," Ives said.

"The cloud shift is not slowing down so the Pentagon had to make this move."

Amazon shares climbed nearly 5 percent in trading that followed the announcement, which comes as the head of the internet giant's cloud unit took over the role of chief executive from founder Jeff Bezos.

Defense officials planned to also reach out to Google, Oracle, IBM and other computing titans to assess whether they are will and able to enter the bidding for some of the jobs.

The department aimed to begin awarding contracts early next year with a hope of having systems starting to deploy by 2025.

Microsoft will be able to submit a bill to the government for terminating the JEDI contract, the amount of which has not been determined, according to Sherman.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Pentagon said Tuesday it has scrapped a massive $10 billion cloud computing contract, sidestepping a bitter dispute between Amazon and Microsoft over allegations of political bias that swayed the bidding.

The Pentagon said Tuesday it has scrapped a massive $10 billion cloud computing contract, sidestepping a bitter dispute between Amazon and Microsoft over allegations of political bias that swayed the bidding. Microsoft had beaten favourite Amazon in November 2019, for the contract, called the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure Cloud, or JEDI, which is part of a broad modernisation of the Pentagon's information technology systems. Officials said that instead of going forward with the deal in the face of litigation, the government would start over with the aim of getting the most up-to-date technology. "JEDI, conceived with noble intent, was developed at a time when the department's needs were different," Defense Department spokesman John Sherman said during a press briefing. "Now, we want to leverage multiple cloud environments." Sherman equated arming US "war fighters" with cutting-edge, 21st century cloud computing capabilities to providing top armor or weaponry, saying the technology landscape has shifted since the JEDI contract was stalled by litigation. A statement said the Pentagon would seek proposals from Amazon and Microsoft on a new contract, noting that the two vendors appear at the moment to be the only cloud service providers capable of meeting the department's requirements. The 10-year JEDI program was designed see all military branches sharing information in a cloud-based system boosted by artificial intelligence. Amazon alleged it was shut out of the deal because of what it called Trump's vendetta against the company and its chief executive Jeff Bezos. Sherman maintained that it was urgent to move ahead and that "the overriding factor is not what may have happened in previous administrations; what was said or not said, the litigation." Amazon had been considered the lead contender to provide technology for JEDI, with Amazon Web Services dominating the cloud computing arena and the company already providing classified servers for other government agencies including the CIA. Amazon argued in court documents that the Pentagon's choice of Microsoft was mystifying if not for Trump's repeated "expressed determination to, in the words of the president himself, 'screw Amazon.'" US defense officials will reach out to Amazon and Microsoft to solicit bids for parts of the new cloud contract, which Sherman said will have an overall value in the billions, without specifying an amount. "We understand and agree with the DoD's decision," Amazon said in response to an AFP inquiry. "Unfortunately, the (JEDI) contract award was not based on the merits of the proposals and instead was the result of outside influence that has no place in government procurement." Microsoft president of US regulated industries Toni Townes-Whitley said in a post that the technology giant "respects and accepts" the decision. "The DoD faced a difficult choice: Continue with what could be a years-long litigation battle or find another path forward," Townes-Whitley said in a post. "What matters now is the way forward." The defense department move "ends a multi-year soap opera that has put the JEDI deal on pause," according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives. "For Microsoft this went from a lottery deal to a court nightmare with Amazon and others," Ives said. "The cloud shift is not slowing down so the Pentagon had to make this move." Amazon shares climbed nearly 5 percent in trading that followed the announcement, which comes as the head of the internet giant's cloud unit took over the role of chief executive from founder Jeff Bezos. Defense officials planned to also reach out to Google, Oracle, IBM and other computing titans to assess whether they are will and able to enter the bidding for some of the jobs. The department aimed to begin awarding contracts early next year with a hope of having systems starting to deploy by 2025. Microsoft will be able to submit a bill to the government for terminating the JEDI contract, the amount of which has not been determined, according to Sherman. (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon scraps $10 billlion 'Jedi' cloud contract amid Amazon-Microsoft dispute

After US fighter aircraft reportedly hit <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/five-militia-fighters-killed-in-us-strikes-near-syria-iraq-border-394374">Iran-backed</a> militia outposts along the Syrian-Iraqi border, Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi hit out, asserting that it was "a blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi national security".

At least seven fighters were killed in overnight attacks carried out by the US military which was described by Pentagon as a "retaliatory" strike.

Watch:

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According to the US military, three targets were hit by US fighters which included two in Syria and one in Iraq which were allegedly used as installations to launch unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks against US personnel in Iraq.

US defence spokesman John Kirby said Kataeb and Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada the two Iraqi outfits which reportedly has close ties with Iran were attacked by US fighter planes.

The attacks were given the green signal by President Joe Biden which was the second time the new administration has allowed since taking over in January this year.

"Given the ongoing series of attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting US interests in Iraq, the president directed further military action to disrupt and deter such attacks," Kirby said.

Kirby added that the US strikes targeted operational and weapons storage facilities in Syria and Iraq.

In February, the US had struck eastern Syria in which at least 20 fighters were reportedly killed. The strikes come even as Iran and Western officials continue their dialogue to operationalise the 2015 nuclear deal after the previous Trump administration had walked from the deal citing violations by Iran and had imposed harsh sanctions against the country.

President Biden is set to meet President of Israel Reuven Rivlin in the White House today. The Israeli government had stated that it would oppose any deal between the Western power and Iran over the nuclear deal.

(With inputs from Agencies)

After US fighter aircraft reportedly hit Iran-backed militia outposts along the Syrian-Iraqi border, Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi hit out, asserting that it was "a blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi national security".

After US fighter aircraft reportedly hit Iran-backed militia outposts along the Syrian-Iraqi border, Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi hit out, asserting that it was "a blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty and Iraqi national security". At least seven fighters were killed in overnight attacks carried out by the US military which was described by Pentagon as a "retaliatory" strike. Watch: According to the US military, three targets were hit by US fighters which included two in Syria and one in Iraq which were allegedly used as installations to launch unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks against US personnel in Iraq. US defence spokesman John Kirby said Kataeb and Kataeb Sayyid al-Shuhada the two Iraqi outfits which reportedly has close ties with Iran were attacked by US fighter planes. The attacks were given the green signal by President Joe Biden which was the second time the new administration has allowed since taking over in January this year. "Given the ongoing series of attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting US interests in Iraq, the president directed further military action to disrupt and deter such attacks," Kirby said. Kirby added that the US strikes targeted operational and weapons storage facilities in Syria and Iraq. In February, the US had struck eastern Syria in which at least 20 fighters were reportedly killed. The strikes come even as Iran and Western officials continue their dialogue to operationalise the 2015 nuclear deal after the previous Trump administration had walked from the deal citing violations by Iran and had imposed harsh sanctions against the country. President Biden is set to meet President of Israel Reuven Rivlin in the White House today. The Israeli government had stated that it would oppose any deal between the Western power and Iran over the nuclear deal. (With inputs from Agencies)

US air strikes a violation of sovereignty: Iraq prime minister

The US State Department has approved the sale of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-finalizes-purchase-of-66-f-16-fighter-jets-in-biggest-arms-deal-with-us-321434">&nbsp;F-16 fighter</a> jets to the Philippines.

According to the Pentagon, the Philippines will also receive Sidewinder and Harpoon missiles. The deal is reportedly worth $2.9 billion, which includes a dozen F-16 aircraft

The Pentagon said the Philippines had requested for Lockheed Martin's 10 F-16C Block 70/72 aircraft and two F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft.

Watch:

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The timeline of the deal hasn't been specified yet. The Pentagon said it had informed Congress on the possible sale of two missile packages to the Philippines.

The Harpoon Air-Launched Block II Missiles is being made by Boeing.&nbsp;

The defence department said the sale will "support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner" and also improve the "Philippines’ capability to meet current and future threats".

There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale, the defence department said.

The Philippines had earlier suspended the move to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which was set to expire in August.

(With input from Agencies)

The US State Department has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. According to the Pentagon, the Philippines will also receive Sidewinder and Harpoon missiles.

The US State Department has approved the sale of F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. According to the Pentagon, the Philippines will also receive Sidewinder and Harpoon missiles. The deal is reportedly worth $2.9 billion, which includes a dozen F-16 aircraft The Pentagon said the Philippines had requested for Lockheed Martin's 10 F-16C Block 70/72 aircraft and two F-16D Block 70/72 aircraft. Watch: The timeline of the deal hasn't been specified yet. The Pentagon said it had informed Congress on the possible sale of two missile packages to the Philippines. The Harpoon Air-Launched Block II Missiles is being made by Boeing. The defence department said the sale will "support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner" and also improve the "Philippines’ capability to meet current and future threats". There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale, the defence department said. The Philippines had earlier suspended the move to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which was set to expire in August. (With input from Agencies)

US to sell F-16 fighter jets, missiles to Philippines

The Pentagon said on Monday that it would complete its full withdrawal by September 11, but the pace of the pullout could be slowed given the Taliban's gains.

US watching Taliban gains as it leaves Afghanistan

At least 1,900 American military guns have been stolen from high-security installations in the last decade. Reports say the Pentagon has consistently downplayed and covered up these AWOL guns. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: America's stolen military guns

The&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;said Friday it was cutting the number of troops and air defence units deployed to the Middle East, confirming a Wall Street Journal report that eight Patriot batteries were being moved out from the region.

The move comes as President Joe Biden's administration seeks to ease tensions with Iran after they heated up in 2019 and saw a strong escalation in the US military presence across the region.

The Wall Street Journal said the Patriot anti-missile batteries were being removed from Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and that a separate anti-missile system, called THAAD, was being transferred from Saudi Arabia as well.

Each battery requires hundreds of troops and civilians to operate and support them.

Pentagon&nbsp;spokesperson Commander Jessica McNulty said that some of the units were being redeployed to other countries and some were returning to the United States for maintenance.

She would not say where the redeployed units were being moved to.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-under-us-sanctions-set-to-take-over-iran-presidency-392512">Also Read |&nbsp;Judge under US sanctions set to take over Iran presidency</a>

"This decision was made in close coordination with host nations and with a clear eye on preserving our ability to meet our security commitments," she said in an email.

"We maintain a robust force posture in the region appropriate to the threat and are comfortable that these changes do not negatively impact our national security interests," McNulty said.

"We also retain the flexibility to rapidly flow forces back into the Middle East as conditions warrant."

The US military is rapidly adjusting its global footprint as it pulls out of Afghanistan entirely and sees a greater threat from China in the Asia-Pacific region.

The&nbsp;Pentagon&nbsp;also slashed its troop presence in Iraq last year to 2,500, supporting Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State group.

Iran is still viewed as a major threat across the Middle East, but the Biden administration is in negotiations to restore the agreement on Tehran halting its nuclear development program, which would also see some sanctions on the country lifted.

"The Defense Department maintains tens of thousands of forces in the Middle East, representing some of our most advanced air power and maritime capabilities, in support of US national interests and our regional partnerships," McNulty said.

The Pentagon said Friday it was cutting the number of troops and air defence units deployed to the Middle East, confirming a Wall Street Journal report that eight Patriot batteries were being moved out from the region.

The Pentagon said Friday it was cutting the number of troops and air defence units deployed to the Middle East, confirming a Wall Street Journal report that eight Patriot batteries were being moved out from the region. The move comes as President Joe Biden's administration seeks to ease tensions with Iran after they heated up in 2019 and saw a strong escalation in the US military presence across the region. The Wall Street Journal said the Patriot anti-missile batteries were being removed from Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and that a separate anti-missile system, called THAAD, was being transferred from Saudi Arabia as well. Each battery requires hundreds of troops and civilians to operate and support them. Pentagon spokesperson Commander Jessica McNulty said that some of the units were being redeployed to other countries and some were returning to the United States for maintenance. She would not say where the redeployed units were being moved to. Also Read | Judge under US sanctions set to take over Iran presidency "This decision was made in close coordination with host nations and with a clear eye on preserving our ability to meet our security commitments," she said in an email. "We maintain a robust force posture in the region appropriate to the threat and are comfortable that these changes do not negatively impact our national security interests," McNulty said. "We also retain the flexibility to rapidly flow forces back into the Middle East as conditions warrant." The US military is rapidly adjusting its global footprint as it pulls out of Afghanistan entirely and sees a greater threat from China in the Asia-Pacific region. The Pentagon also slashed its troop presence in Iraq last year to 2,500, supporting Iraqi forces in their fight against the Islamic State group. Iran is still viewed as a major threat across the Middle East, but the Biden administration is in negotiations to restore the agreement on Tehran halting its nuclear development program, which would also see some sanctions on the country lifted. "The Defense Department maintains tens of thousands of forces in the Middle East, representing some of our most advanced air power and maritime capabilities, in support of US national interests and our regional partnerships," McNulty said.

US cutting forces, missile batteries in Middle East

Top Pentagon leaders said that international terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda could pose a threat to the US homeland from Afghanistan within two years.

Pentagon: Terrorists could pose a threat to US in two years from Afghanistan

Are we alone in this universe? Are extraterrestrial beings visiting us in UFOs? NASA is investigating. Pentagon is set to release a report. How close are we to finding an answer?

Gravitas Plus: UFOs, Aliens & Science

The Pentagon announced on Friday a new package of $150 million in military assistance for Ukraine that will include counter-artillery radar, electronic warfare equipment and counter-drone technology, bolstering Kyiv amid elevated tensions with Moscow. 
 
Although the funds were already committed by Congress, the Defense Department's announcement details specifically how the US&nbsp;military will allocate assistance earmarked for Ukraine before the end of the US&nbsp;government's fiscal year in September. 
 
The latest tranche of assistance will come in addition to the $125 million that the Pentagon announced on March 1, which included armed Mark VI patrol boats. 
 
Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and backed a pro-Russian separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine that triggered a conflict that has killed over 14,000 people. 
 
Tensions have flared again in recent months after the two countries traded blame for a surge in fighting in Ukraine's Donbass, and Russia, in what it called a defensive exercise, massed troops on its border with Ukraine and in Crimea. 
 
US&nbsp;President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday that he will stand up for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity ahead of a summit between Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Geneva on June 16. 
 
The Pentagon said the US&nbsp;security assistance included capabilities 'to enhance the lethality, command and control and situational awareness of Ukraine's forces'. 
 
It would provide counter-artillery radars, counter-drone systems, secure communications gear, electronic warfare and military medical evacuation equipment. The United States would also provide training and equipment to improve the operational safety and capacity of Ukrainian Air Force bases, it said. 
 
The US&nbsp;assistance followed certification by the Pentagon that Ukraine 'made sufficient progress on defence reforms this year',&nbsp;as required by US&nbsp;law. 
 
When he was the US&nbsp;president, Donald Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House of Representatives in 2019 after accusing him of using US&nbsp;aid as leverage to try to force Kyiv into smearing Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The Republican-led Senate later acquitted Trump. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The Pentagon announced on Friday a new package of $150 million in military assistance for Ukraine that will include counter-artillery radar, electronic warfare equipment and counter-drone technology, bolstering Kyiv amid elevated tensions with Moscow.

The Pentagon announced on Friday a new package of $150 million in military assistance for Ukraine that will include counter-artillery radar, electronic warfare equipment and counter-drone technology, bolstering Kyiv amid elevated tensions with Moscow. Although the funds were already committed by Congress, the Defense Department's announcement details specifically how the US military will allocate assistance earmarked for Ukraine before the end of the US government's fiscal year in September. The latest tranche of assistance will come in addition to the $125 million that the Pentagon announced on March 1, which included armed Mark VI patrol boats. Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and backed a pro-Russian separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine that triggered a conflict that has killed over 14,000 people. Tensions have flared again in recent months after the two countries traded blame for a surge in fighting in Ukraine's Donbass, and Russia, in what it called a defensive exercise, massed troops on its border with Ukraine and in Crimea. US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday that he will stand up for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity ahead of a summit between Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Geneva on June 16. The Pentagon said the US security assistance included capabilities 'to enhance the lethality, command and control and situational awareness of Ukraine's forces'. It would provide counter-artillery radars, counter-drone systems, secure communications gear, electronic warfare and military medical evacuation equipment. The United States would also provide training and equipment to improve the operational safety and capacity of Ukrainian Air Force bases, it said. The US assistance followed certification by the Pentagon that Ukraine 'made sufficient progress on defence reforms this year', as required by US law. When he was the US president, Donald Trump was impeached by the Democratic-led House of Representatives in 2019 after accusing him of using US aid as leverage to try to force Kyiv into smearing Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The Republican-led Senate later acquitted Trump. (With inputs from agencies)

Eying Russia, Pentagon to send Ukraine counter-drone, electronic warfare equipment

According to Pentagon, the US pullout from Afghanistan is 50% complete, as it approaches its September 11 deadline to remove troops, which marks 20-year anniversary of the Al-Qaeda attacks.

Pentagon: US troops pullout from Afghanistan is 50% complete

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the Pentagon on Wednesday to sharpen its focus on China, which the United States has tagged as its top strategic rival.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed the Pentagon on Wednesday to sharpen its focus on China, which the United States has tagged as its top strategic rival. "Now, it is up to the Department to get to work," Austin said after issuing an internal directive to the giant Pentagon bureaucracy. The directive, details of which are classified, comes after an assessment by a task force established by the new Biden administration in February to study the Defense Department's strategy towards China. "The initiatives I am putting forward today are nested inside the larger US government approach to China and will help inform the development of the National Defense Strategy we are working on," Austin said. A senior defense official said the task force had identified a "'say-do gap between the stated prioritization of China and what we saw in a number of areas related to attention and resources and processes." Also Read | Attack in Afghanistan kills 10 from charity that clears land mines "The directive today is really about ensuring that the department lives up to that prioritization," the official said. Austin said the directive will "improve the Department's ability to revitalize our network of allies and partners, bolster deterrence, and accelerate the development of new operational concepts, emerging capabilities, future force posture, and a modernized civilian and military workforce." Pentagon operations over the past two decades have been focused largely on dealing with jihadist militants in the Middle East and not a modern army such as that of China. The Pentagon's 2018 National Defense Strategy identified China as a major strategic competitor but the task force found that not much had been done to meet the challenges posed by Beijing. The US military is currently seeking to expand its presence in the Pacific at a time when China has been increasingly belligerent towards Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory. The United States maintains a significant presence in the Middle East, even as it has begun the withdrawal of its remaining 2,500 US troops in Afghanistan. To ensure that his directive is followed, Austin will be personally responsible for the implementation of the classified recommendations of the task force.

US defence chief urges Pentagon to sharpen focus on China

Are Pakistan & US friends or enemies? What is their relationship status? 3 developments tell why Washington can neither ignore Islamabad nor fully embrace it. Palki Sharma explains.

Gravitas: Are Pak & US friends or enemies?

According to a Pentagon official, Pakistan has allowed the US military to use its airspace and given ground access so that it can support its presence in Afghanistan. He also said that Pakistan has played an important role in Afghanistan and they have supported the Afghan peace process.

Pakistan to continue giving air, ground access to US says Pentagon

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