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Turkey to Deploy Air Defense Systems, Drones at Syria’s T4 Base

Turkey has started taking control of Syria’s Tiyas air base, known as T4, and plans to install air defense systems there, according to sources cited by Middle East Eye and other regional outlets. The T4 base is located between Homs and Palmyra and was used by the Syrian military under former President Bashar al-Assad. Since Assad’s removal, the base has been targeted multiple times by Israeli airstrikes. (Read More)​​

China Launches Surprise Military Drills Around Taiwan as ‘Stern Warning’ Following US Defense Chief's Visit

China launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, involving coordinated efforts from naval, air, ground, and rocket forces. Beijing described the exercises as a warning to Taiwan’s government, which it accuses of being "separatists" and "parasites" pushing the democratically governed territory toward conflict. (Read More)​

Iranian Military Considers Preemptive Strike on US Base in Response to Trump's Threats

Iranian military leaders are considering a preemptive strike on the U.S.-U.K. military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, according to The Telegraph. Located about 2,400 miles south of Iran, Diego Garcia hosts U.S. strategic bombers and military aircraft. Recent reports claimed that the U.S. military is deploying a significant number of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, along with support aircraft to Diego Garcia. (Read More)​​

Australia Monitoring Chinese ‘Spy Ship’ Off South Coast

A Chinese vessel, believed to be a spy ship, is reportedly traveling along Australia’s southern coastline, closely shadowing the path of a key undersea communications cable. The ship, identified as Tan Suo Yi Hao, is being monitored by Australian defense and intelligence agencies, according to reports. (Read More)​

US Marine Corps Launches New Attack Drone Team

The United States Marine Corps has established a new unit focused on armed first-person view (FPV) drones in response to the growing use of small, armed drones on modern battlefields, the Marines announced in a press release on Monday. Maj. Gen. Anthony M. Henderson of Training Command and Brig. Gen. Simon M. Doran of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory established the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT) on January 3, 2025. (Read More)​​

US Approves $5.6 Billion F-16 Fighter Jet Sale to the Philippines Amid Escalating Tensions in South China Sea

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines, worth an estimated $5.6 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The announcement comes days after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Manila, where he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to strengthening military ties with the Philippines, particularly amid the escalating tensions in the South China Sea. (Read More)​

Waltz Used Personal Gmail for Sensitive Government Business, Report Says

U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz used his personal Gmail to conduct official business, according to The Washington Post. The report comes as the Trump administration faces fallout from a previous revelation that Waltz and senior officials—including Vice President JD Vance and several Cabinet secretaries—discussed sensitive military plans in a Signal group chat that accidentally included a journalist. (Read More)​

Hegseth Orders Review of Combat Fitness Standards to Ensure Equal Requirements for Male and Female Troops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a 60-day review of physical standards for military combat roles to ensure that women are not being granted exemptions for physically demanding jobs. In a memo signed Sunday and released Monday, Hegseth directed all military branches to review and update physical fitness standards for combat arms jobs. (Read More)​

Jalisco Cartel Lures Recruits With Fake Jobs Through Social Platforms And Kills Those Who Resist | AP News

Mexican authorities have reopened a case involving a Jalisco ranch where the CJNG cartel trained forcibly recruited individuals. Victims were lured by fake job ads, then abducted and trained under threat. Some who resisted were tortured or killed. The case resurfaced after families found evidence at the site. Three local police officers have been arrested, exposing the cartel’s use of online deception and local complicity. (Read More)​