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The CCP controls the most intimate elements of our life. Most Americans have no idea

Fri, 15 May 2026 05:00:52 -0400

Critical minerals quietly power every aspect of modern American life. As you pour your morning coffee, you are relying on copper wiring and silicon chips working behind the scenes inside your coffee maker. When you grab milk from the refrigerator, you are depending on metal components, copper wiring, and electronic controls to keep everything cold. Turn on the TV to another round of bickering politicians on cable news, and you are looking at a screen built with indium, lithium, and rare earth phosphors.

Flip off the lights, hop in your car, connect your phone to Bluetooth, and turn on your favorite podcast for the drive to work. That everyday routine depends on copper, lithium, and a whole host of other critical minerals that power batteries, speakers, navigation systems, electric motors, and modern communications technology.

These materials are so deeply embedded into our daily lives that most Americans would never think twice about them. But they should.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WORKS TO BREAK CHINA’S RARE EARTH MINERAL STRANGLEHOLD ON AFRICA

Beijing certainly has. The Chinese Communist Party has spent decades and hundreds of billions of dollars cornering the market on critical minerals, from mining to processing and refining. Today, China controls roughly 70 percent of global rare earth mining and nearly 90 percent of rare earth refining capacity, dominating the supply chains that underpin America’s economic and national security.

This is not just about what goes into your coffee maker or your iPhone. Critical minerals are essential to America’s military strength, powering everything from advanced fighter jets and missile systems to radar, satellites, and communications technology. China knows this and has demonstrated time and time again its willingness to weaponize global supply chains for geopolitical leverage.

Last year, Beijing imposed sweeping export controls on rare earth elements, disrupting global markets and sending shockwaves through defense and manufacturing supply chains. The consequences hit Americans directly. Supply disruptions drive up costs, slow manufacturing, threaten jobs, and make everything from cars to consumer electronics more expensive and harder to produce.

My home state of California’s aerospace industry offers a clear example of what is at stake. The sector supports more than 350,000 jobs and generates tens of billions of dollars in annual economic output. It is also central to America’s defense industrial base, producing advanced aircraft, satellites, and missile systems. Without reliable access to critical minerals, thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity are at risk.

President Trump and his administration understand the urgency of this challenge and are moving quickly to restore American energy and mineral dominance. Recent efforts to strengthen domestic mining and support companies like MP Materials and Lithium Americas are important steps in the right direction.

But America cannot solve this problem alone. Even with increased domestic production, global demand for critical minerals is projected to skyrocket in the coming decades. Some estimates show the world will consume as much copper over the next 25 years as humanity has in all of recorded history.

This is why we must work alongside our most trusted allies and friends to build strong, resilient supply chains away from China.

This week, my Developing Overseas Mineral Investments and New Allied Networks for Critical Energies (DOMINANCE) Act passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The DOMINANCE Act helps lock in President Trump’s critical minerals strategy and creates a coordinated approach to secure the supply chains that power our economy and national defense. This legislation strengthens America’s ability to work with allies, reduces dependence on China, and ensures the free world — not the Chinese Communist Party — controls the resources that will define the 21st century.

This is not just about energy or industrial policy. It’s not about military might or geopolitical competition, although that is certainly part of the calculus. At its core, this challenge is about protecting the American Dream, and our way of life.

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The appliances in our homes, the cars we drive, the technology we rely on each day, and the military systems that defend our nation all depend on secure critical mineral supply chains. America can either meet this moment now, or risk regretting it for the next 100 years.

I am optimistic that, under this administration and alongside our allies, America can reclaim our critical minerals supply chains and take back our energy future.

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Kid Rock fires back at media trolls over helicopter ride, warning his military mission is far from over

Thu, 14 May 2026 13:18:03 -0400

Musician Kid Rock responded to criticism of his recent flights with the U.S. military, saying his commitment to the U.S. Armed Forces is about boosting morale, not personal perks.

Rock, whose full name is Robert Ritchie, joined the "Will Cain Country" podcast to discuss the "noise" regarding his recent flights with the U.S. military and share the origin of his decades-long journey to support service members.

"It really started with the bombing of the USS Cole," Rock said. "They were playing my music when that ship got towed out of the harbor and 17 sailors lost their lives. So, we ended up playing a show in Virginia and giving all that money to those families."

The USS Cole was attacked by al Qaeda suicide bombers in 2000. Rock said his patriotism took a new form after meeting those sailors.

KID ROCK, HEGSETH DIVIDE FANS AFTER CRITICS QUESTION PATRIOTIC HELICOPTER RIDE

"That really started just a whole 'nother level of not just patriotism, but really doing my part to try and help out and go wherever the military called," he said.

Rock described his work supporting troops as some of the "toughest work" he’s ever done, but also the "most rewarding."

Last month, the artist faced criticism after he joined Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for a helicopter flight in Washington, D.C. The flight came after the U.S. Army investigated an unplanned flyover at Rock’s Nashville home in March.

KID ROCK, HEGSETH TAKE APACHE HELICOPTER RIDE NEAR WASHINGTON

While some media outlets and social media users questioned whether taxpayer dollars were being used for celebrity flights, Rock dismissed the criticism as "just noise," noting he has visited bases and flown in military aircraft for over 20 years.

"You do stuff for the military, and they want to showcase to you what they do. So, whether they're showing you their technology or letting you shoot a gun or participate in something, you know, that's kind of what you do," he said.

"I don't need to sit here and prove what I've done."

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Rock said the purpose of his recent trip with Hegseth was to film content for Memorial Day and the America 250 celebration. He also used the opportunity to announce that his "Freedom 250" tour will give away 250 free tickets per show to veterans and their families.

In a post on X, Secretary Hegseth defended the partnership, calling Rock a "patriot" and a "huge supporter of our troops."

Iran says its small subs deployed to Strait of Hormuz as expert explains threat: ‘Vulnerable to detection’

Wed, 13 May 2026 21:58:58 -0400

Iran says it has deployed small submarines to act as an "invisible guardian" of the Strait of Hormuz amid a series of rejected peace deals between Tehran and the U.S., according to reports.

The deployment claim came as analysts said that although the Iranian Ghadir-class mini-subs could threaten U.S. naval forces, the vessels’ limited range, firepower and endurance would blunt any real strategic impact.

The submarine deployment was highlighted by Bloomberg and first reported by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of Iran’s navy, said that his forces deployed its light submarine, referred to as the "dolphins of the Persian Gulf," according to the Iranian state media outlet.

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It also comes as Tehran seeks to reinforce its control over the strait, now defining it as a far larger zone, Reuters reported.

"Time would be limited, probably a couple of days at the most," defense analyst Tom Shugart told Fox News Digital about the Iranian vessel deployment.

The retired U.S. Navy submarine warfare officer also said the small diesel-electric submarines face fundamental operational constraints.

IRAN HOLDS WORLD ENERGY HOSTAGE WITH 'NIGHTMARE' STRAIT OF HORMUZ SEA MINES, FORMER CENTCOM OFFICIAL WARNS

"If they run their diesel engines to snorkel and recharge batteries, that could generate sound that could be detected," Shugart said.

"Their snorkel mast projecting from the water could be detected by radars on patrol aircraft or helicopters," Shugart added.

The submarines are said to be designed for shallow waters like the Strait of Hormuz and can operate quietly for limited periods on battery power.

"While they may be able to sit on the bottom for a while and operate somewhat quietly on their batteries for a while, they have no air-independent propulsion system (AIP) like more modern diesel-electric submarines," Shugart said before adding that they’ll, "eventually have to come up and snorkel. This will make them more vulnerable to detection and destruction."

INSIDE IRAN’S MILITARY: MISSILES, MILITIAS AND A FORCE BUILT FOR SURVIVAL

The IRGC Navy is said to be the sole operator of this class of submarine, all of which serve in the Southern Fleet.

"Any remaining Ghadirs, if they exist and are actually deployed, may be able to lay mines and may be able to threaten merchant ships," Shugart warned.

"But I don’t see them as a serious threat to U.S. Navy warships — and certainly not to U.S. submarines," he said.

"But I can say for sure that I wouldn’t want to go out on one in the current environment."

HORMUZ CHOKE POINT PERSISTS AS IRAN HALTS OIL TRAFFIC DESPITE TRUMP CEASEFIRE

The U.S. Navy confirmed May 10 that a U.S. Navy Ohio-class nuclear-armed submarine had arrived in Gibraltar.

"The port visit demonstrates U.S. capability, flexibility and continuing commitment to its NATO allies," U.S. Sixth Fleet Public Affairs said in a statement.

"Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines are undetectable launch platforms for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, providing the U.S. with its most survivable leg of the nuclear triad," it added.

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Meanwhile, Shugart’s remarks came as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, with commercial tanker traffic largely choked off amid ongoing military activity and the continued U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

The United Arab Emirates and South Korea reported new strikes on stranded vessels Wednesday, while the IRGC increased its fast-attack craft activity, according to reports.

President Donald Trump has maintained Iran’s navy is "completely obliterated."

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

JASON CHAFFETZ: America needs a drone defense plan before disaster strikes

Wed, 13 May 2026 09:00:15 -0400

In the USA there are roughly 220,000 commercial aircraft. By 2027, the FAA estimates there will be more than 2.7 million drones.

As firefighting aircraft raced to drop retardant on a raging wildfire in Utah’s Provo Canyon last summer, some flights were grounded by a new threat. Private drones, presumably trying to capture dramatic footage of the fire, forced critical support to stand down while flames advanced. This incident was no anomaly. There were hundreds of drone sightings over wildfires in 2025.

Such civilian disruptions are only the beginning. Drone warfare and prevalence has come to American soil. Cheap, loosely regulated drones have the capability to disrupt military bases, surveil the homes of Cabinet secretaries and your backyard, threaten aircraft, and even attack the president of the United States. These threats are not hypothetical. It is real, it is now, and it urgently must be addressed.

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As recently as March 2026, multiple waves of drones were detected over Barksdale Air Force Base – home of the B-52 bomber and other nuclear assets. These drones had jamming resistance technology and long-range control links. Similar probes have hit other sensitive sites.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA deserve credit for taking a critical step forward this past week. They introduced a proposed new rule to protect critical infrastructure sites, including energy facilities, water treatment plants, and more.

Despite this promising development, Congress seems to demonstrate little urgency to address the problem. Democrats have kept the Department of Homeland Security defunded for months at a time – a strategy they seem committed to repeat.

We need a unified national response that includes clearer rules, stronger funding and civil-military integration. We don’t have the luxury of moving at the speed of government where drones are concerned.

SCHUMER SEEKS LEGISLATION GIVING LOCAL OFFICIALS AUTHORITY TO ‘SWIFTLY’ RESPOND TO DRONE SIGHTINGS

Who is responsible for coordinating this defense? The Feds? The states? Who writes the rules?

If a drone is a threat, who are you supposed to call? 911? The Highway Patrol? The FAA? Is there an agency in charge? A 1-800 number? Is it the county sheriff? The rules need to be clear, coordinated, and understood. For some of us, we’d like to use a shotgun, but that is most likely not safe nor legal.

We need clear airspace rules. Who is in charge of the airspace at what height?

But we also need strong enforcement. Good guys will play by the rules. But what is the enforcement mechanism for the bad guys? Who is guarding against foreign actors heavily invested in this inexpensive technology? What is our strategy? Are we investing in the right technology? What are we going to do if critical infrastructure such as a nuclear power plant or a dam was hit by a drone swarm?

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Our airspace is going to be more heavily trafficked than ever before with legitimate drone shipments, air taxis, and emergency responders using drones to immediately respond to vehicle accidents, wildfires, and dangerous situations.

There does not seem to be sufficient coordination between civil and military authorities on this issue to keep up with the pace. There are more registered drones in this country than there are aircraft. How do you defend yourself when there are more drones than planes?

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This Fourth of July, all across the country, there will be air shows featuring hundreds if not thousands of drones in formation lighting up our skies. But I worry not everyone will use this technology simply for fun.

Let’s not wait until there’s an event with casualties before we address this critical security threat. This issue needs definition and leadership – not just from the administration, but from Congress. The imperative is way past due.

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Xi's anti-corruption crackdown sentences former Chinese defense ministers to death

Mon, 11 May 2026 17:44:16 -0400

Two former Chinese defense ministers have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for corruption, in one of the most severe punishments handed down to senior military officials in recent years.

Reuters reported that Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu received the suspended death sentences on May 7 following graft convictions by China’s military court, according to state media.

The ruling underscores the depth of President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign within the armed forces, the outlet said.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency, Wei was convicted of accepting bribes, while Li was found guilty of both accepting and offering bribes, based on court documents.

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Both men were also stripped of their political rights for life and ordered to forfeit all personal property.

Under Chinese law, a death sentence with a two-year reprieve is typically commuted to life imprisonment if the individual does not commit further crimes during the suspension period.

In this case, the penalties will be reduced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or further commutation after the reprieve period ends.

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Wei Fenghe, 72, served as China’s defense minister from 2018 to 2023, while Li Shangfu, 68, held the post for only a few months as his successor.

Both men were former state councillors and members of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), the top military leadership body chaired by Xi.

They also previously led the People’s Liberation Army’s Rocket Force, a key branch established in 2015 as part of Xi’s sweeping military reforms.

The Rocket Force oversees China’s nuclear arsenal as well as its conventional missile systems, making it one of the most strategically significant arms of the military.

The sentences signal an escalation in Xi’s campaign to root out corruption in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a drive that has targeted senior officials since he took power in 2012.

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The crackdown intensified in 2023, when investigations reached the Rocket Force and other elite units.

Both Wei and Li were expelled from the ruling Communist Party in June 2024.

Singapore-based security scholar James Char told Reuters the sentences were the harshest imposed on members of the Central Military Commission in recent history.

"That Wei and Li have been commuted to life imprisonment without parole or commutation underlines the severity of their offences," he said.

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The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), a London-based think tank, had previously warned that the ongoing purges could be weakening China’s military command structure.

The organization said the campaign may have created disruptions that could affect the readiness of the country’s rapidly modernizing armed forces.

Pentagon’s new UFO file release logs near-miss as ‘super-heated’ orbs approach US helicopter

Mon, 11 May 2026 12:47:02 -0400

A senior U.S. intelligence official described a close-range encounter with fast-moving, "super-hot" unidentified objects that came within roughly 10 feet of a helicopter during an aerial search, according to newly released Pentagon UFO files.

The account is detailed in an FBI Form 302 interview report, which documents interactions between federal agents and witnesses, and is part of a broader tranche of previously classified unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) records made public Friday as part of the Trump administration’s push to declassify government files on them.

The objects were detected as "super-hot" on infrared systems and traveled roughly 20 miles at speeds the helicopter could not match, according to the report, before abruptly changing direction and accelerating away.

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The release has drawn significant attention, as it includes previously unseen reports involving military personnel, sensor data and firsthand accounts from government officials — though many of the incidents remain unexplained.

The official was among multiple federal and state personnel involved in an aerial search after earlier sightings of unexplained lights, according to the report. The object was detected as "super-hot" on infrared systems, indicating it emitted a strong heat signature detectable by thermal imaging equipment.

The report does not offer an explanation for the source of that heat, and was observed traveling roughly 20 miles at a speed too fast for the helicopter to match.

The report does not identify the specific military facility or location of the encounter, and it is unclear from the document whether the helicopter involved was operated by U.S. military personnel or a partner agency.

The FBI summary describes a joint operation involving federal and state personnel, but does not provide additional detail about the units involved.

At one point, one of the objects reportedly came within roughly 10 feet of the helicopter before abruptly changing direction. Observers, including the intelligence official and helicopter crew, also reported the object splitting into multiple lights, followed by additional orbs appearing in sequence and forming repeated patterns across the sky.

Witnesses described groups of four or five glowing objects flaring into view and then disappearing, a cycle that continued for roughly 30 minutes.

Pilots involved in the search indicated they were recording, but many of the sightings occurred above the helicopter and outside the camera’s field of view.

The documents are part of a sweeping public release of UAP files that has drawn intense interest and skepticism.

Officials and analysts say that while some incidents were treated as credible and investigated using military assets, the material does not offer definitive explanations for what the objects are.

While many of the newly released files contain brief or heavily redacted accounts, the FBI interview stands out for its detailed timeline, multiple trained observers and the use of infrared systems, night-vision equipment and aircraft during an active search operation.

The report also includes a first-hand account from a senior intelligence official, which is uncommon among the largely anecdotal or historical records in the broader release.

Skeptics say many UAP sightings can be attributed to misidentified aircraft, drones, atmospheric phenomena or sensor artifacts, particularly in complex environments where infrared and night-vision systems can distort how objects appear.

Physicist and former director of the Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office Sean Kirkpatrick said he didn't find anything "unexpected" in the files.

"There’s nothing unexpected in their release. And without any analysis or context, [it] will only serve to fuel more speculation, conspiracy and armchair pseudoscience, particularly from the playhouse politics theater company," he said, according to the Scientific American.

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The release also comes amid growing concern inside the Pentagon over unexplained aerial activity near sensitive military installations, including suspected foreign surveillance operations and unauthorized drone incursions linked to China and Russia.

Defense officials repeatedly warned in recent years that some incidents initially categorized as UAP could ultimately involve foreign intelligence collection platforms, advanced drones or other surveillance systems operating near U.S. military sites.

The issue drew renewed attention after a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon crossed the continental United States in 2023 before being shot down by the U.S. military, exposing gaps in detection and monitoring around sensitive defense infrastructure.

Lawmakers and defense officials also have raised alarms about repeated drone incursions near military bases, training ranges and nuclear facilities, warning that some unidentified aerial activity may reflect increasingly sophisticated foreign surveillance efforts rather than extraterrestrial phenomena.

"The latest UAP videos, photos, and original source documents from across the entire United States government are all in one place — no clearance required," the White House said in a statement announcing the release.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the records had "long fueled justified speculation" and argued "it’s time the American people see it for themselves," while cautioning that many of the documents contain unresolved incidents rather than confirmed explanations.

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Other files released by the Department of War include reports of a "football-shaped" object observed over the East China Sea, erratic lights tracked over Iraq and Syria, and Apollo-era astronaut communications describing strange objects and bright fragments visible near the moon.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for more details.

Foreign black ops member reveals the secret American unit he loved working with in combat

Mon, 11 May 2026 10:11:19 -0400

Delta Force and the 22 SAS have an unbreakable bond.

The 22 SAS is the United Kingdom's Tier One counter-terrorism unit, and its ties to the Tier One units in America are legendary.

Delta Force was literally developed and designed based on the SAS. Delta Force, a shadowy Army unit, is tasked with America's most important no-fail missions.

The Unit was responsible for snatching former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro.

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SAS member shines light on close relationship with Delta Force.

Former 22 SAS commando Duncan Baillie appeared on Brent Tucker's "Tier1 Podcast" in an episode released Monday. Tucker is a former CAG operator.

The two discussed the immense respect between the units, and the trust they have between them in combat.

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"That's a funny thing, dude. No matter where you go in the world, if you land up in these random places, the first thing I always used to look for, I was like, 'Is there any Delta [guys] here?'...And then you'd find someone, and you know, take the mate thing out of it. What you also realized is that if sh-- went south when you're in this place all by yourself, you've got someone else that you can turn to and say, 'Hey, listen. Here's my number. If you need me, call me.'...That's a safety blanket that's nice to have because you know the level of training they're at. You know what they're capable of. You're like, 'Well, if we have to run and gun, we're doing it together,'" Baillie explained to Tucker.

The two also discussed how close the 22 SAS and Delta Force are "intertwined" and "always will be."

You can check out the awesome podcast below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

It really is special the kind of bond the United States and the United Kingdom share when it comes to special operations. There is no unit in the world that is a better friend and ally to Delta Force than the 22 SAS, and anyone who even suggests differently has no idea what they're talking about.

When American operators have to go do something that is incredibly dangerous, you better believe that the 22 SAS is more than willing to go with them.

Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, etc. It doesn't matter the location. The 22 SAS always answers the call when America needs them, and they have shed a lot of blood side by side with their American counterparts in combat.

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In fact, the thumbnail of the YouTube video above is of 22 SAS operator Matt Tonroe and Delta Force operator Jonathan Dunbar, who were killed on a mission together in Syria.

I have no doubt the close relationship between the two units will continue. That's great news for us, and very bad news for our enemies. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Remains recovered of US soldier who went missing in military exercises in Morocco, 2nd soldier still missing

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:53:17 -0400

The remains of a U.S. Army officer who went missing during military exercises in Morocco were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean, while the search continues for a second missing soldier, according to military officials.

The remains of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., 27, of Richmond, Virginia, were recovered Saturday, U.S. Army Europe and Africa announced Sunday. Key, a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, was one of two U.S. soldiers who reportedly fell from a cliff during an off-duty recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area on May 2.

A Moroccan military search team found Key in the water along the shoreline at about 8:55 a.m. local time Saturday, roughly one mile from where both soldiers reportedly entered the ocean, the Army said.

"Today, we mourn the loss of 1st Lt. Kendrick Key, whose remains were recovered in Morocco," Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said in a statement. "Our hearts are with his Family, friends, teammates, and all who knew and served alongside him. The 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command Family is grieving, and we will continue to support one another and 1st Lt. Key’s Family as we honor his life and service."

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Key and the second soldier were reported missing on May 2 after participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise hosted across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal.

The two were reported missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a terrain featuring mountains, desert and semi-desert plains, the Moroccan military said.

The disappearance of the two soldiers led to a search-and-rescue mission involving more than 600 personnel from the U.S., Morocco and other military partners. Ships, helicopters and drones were deployed as part of this operation.

Search efforts will continue for the second missing soldier.

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A U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the military exercises ended on Friday to provide command and control and to support the ongoing search and rescue mission.

Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, according to the Army.

His decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School the following year as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Key is survived by his parents, his sister and his brother-in-law.

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African Lion 26 is a U.S.-led exercise that began in April across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal, with more than 5,600 civilian and military personnel from more than 40 nations.

For more than 20 years, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.

In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed, and two others injured during an MV-22 Osprey crash near Cap Draa while participating in Exercise African Lion.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hegseth says Pentagon will review Mark Kelly's public statements about classified briefing amid ongoing feud

Sun, 10 May 2026 21:48:42 -0400

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Sunday suggested Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., may have violated his oath with comments he made to a news outlet following a classified briefing.

Kelly told Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation that it is "shocking how deep we have gone into these magazines" when asked if the Pentagon has updated lawmakers on the Iran war's impact on U.S. weapons stockpiles.

The senator told Brennan the Tomahawks, Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) rounds and Patriot rounds used to defend the U.S. have been hit hard, adding that it will take years to replenish those stockpiles, which could affect a hypothetical U.S. conflict with China.

In response, Hegseth questioned whether Kelly, a former Navy pilot, may have violated his oath and said the Pentagon's legal counsel will review his comments.

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"'Captain' Mark Kelly strikes again," Hegseth wrote on X.

"Now he’s blabbing on TV (falsely & dumbly) about a *CLASSIFIED* Pentagon briefing he received," he continued. "Did he violate his oath… again? @DeptofWar legal counsel will review."

The senator clapped back, saying Hegseth had revealed similar information at a recent hearing and that it was not classified.

"We had this conversation in a public hearing a week ago and you said it would take 'years' to replenish some of these stockpiles," Kelly responded on X. "That’s not classified, it’s a quote from you. This war is coming at a serious cost and you and the president still haven’t explained to the American people what the goal is."

This comes amid a months-long dispute between Hegseth and Kelly over the senator's participation in a video with some of his Democratic colleagues in Congress urging U.S. military members to ignore "illegal" orders.

The DOJ has opened an investigation into the video posted online featuring six Democratic lawmakers calling on troops and members of the intelligence community to defy illegal orders from the federal government. The lawmakers all served in the military or at intelligence agencies.

In addition to Kelly, the other lawmakers in the video were Sens. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, as well as Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire and Jason Crow of Colorado.

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"This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens," the lawmakers said in the video. "Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats coming to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad but from right here at home. Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution."

Grand jurors declined to sign off on charges against the lawmakers in February.

In November, the Pentagon launched an investigation into Kelly, pointing to a federal law that allows retired service members to be recalled to active duty on orders of the secretary for possible court-martial or other punishment.

Hegseth has censured Kelly and has attempted to retroactively demote him from his retired rank of captain over his participation in the video, which affirms that refusing unlawful orders is a standard part of military protocol.

But a federal court ruling blocked the Pentagon from demoting the lawmaker over the video. The court also found the Pentagon likely violated Kelly’s First Amendment rights, and those of "millions of military retirees," when it formally censured him on Jan. 5.

Hegseth subsequently appealed that ruling.

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Last week, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit heard oral arguments and appeared largely skeptical of Hegseth’s attempt to punish Kelly for the video.

"I will not back down from this fight," Kelly said after the hearing.

President Donald Trump had accused the lawmakers of being "traitors" who engaged in "sedition at the highest level" and "should be in jail" after the video was posted last fall. He even suggested they should be executed over the video, although he later attempted to walk that comment back.

Slotkin, who previously worked at the CIA and Pentagon, was targeted with a bomb threat just days after the clip and Trump's subsequent statements suggesting the Democrats be executed.

US military kills two alleged narco-terrorists in lethal strike on drug vessel in Eastern Pacific

Fri, 08 May 2026 21:50:45 -0400

The U.S. military carried out a lethal strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Eastern Pacific Friday, killing two alleged narco-terrorists, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).

"On May 8, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations," SOUTHCOM said in a post on X.

"Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the post continued. "Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action, and one survived the strike."

SOUTHCOM said it immediately notified the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct search-and-rescue operations for the survivor.

US MILITARY LAUNCHES DEADLY STRIKE ON DRUG-TRAFFICKING VESSEL IN THE PACIFIC, LEAVING 2 DEAD AND 1 SURVIVOR

No U.S. forces were injured, the military said.

SOUTHCOM did not immediately release additional information about those killed.

The U.S. military has carried out multiple strikes in recent months targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels as part of a broader campaign to dismantle cartel-linked trafficking operations.

US MILITARY CONDUCTS STRIKE ON ANOTHER BOAT CARRYING ALLEGED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS, KILLING 3

Friday’s strike follows similar operations earlier this week. SOUTHCOM said it targeted a vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Tuesday, killing three suspected narco-terrorists, and conducted another strike in the Caribbean on Monday, killing two suspected traffickers.

The Eastern Pacific and Caribbean remain key corridors for narcotics trafficking, with cartels often using small, fast-moving vessels to transport drugs toward the U.S. and Central America.

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SOUTHCOM is responsible for military operations in Central and South America and the Caribbean, including counter-narcotics missions aimed at disrupting drug trafficking networks that threaten U.S. interests.

Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton contributed to this report.

US kills 2 more suspected drug traffickers in boat strike

Tue, 05 May 2026 09:08:26 -0400

The U.S. military conducted a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean tied to suspected drug trafficking operations, killing two people, U.S. Southern Command said.

In a post on X, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said Joint Task Force Southern Spear carried out a "lethal kinetic strike" on May 4 at the direction of commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER DESCRIBES UNCERTAINTY AFTER 3 DEATHS AMID HANTAVIRUS PROBE

The command said intelligence assessed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and allegedly engaged in drug trafficking operations. It added that the vessel was operated by what officials described as designated terrorist organizations.

Two male suspected "narco-terrorists" were killed in the strike, and no U.S. military personnel were harmed, according to the statement.

The strike is part of an ongoing campaign targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters that has continued since early September and has killed at least 188 people in total. Other strikes have taken place in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The operations have ramped up again in recent weeks, even as the U.S. remains engaged in conflict with Iran, according to officials and prior military statements.

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U.S. officials have described the effort as part of a broader campaign against what the administration calls "narcoterrorism" in the Western Hemisphere.

US intercepts 6 ships trying to run American blockade during operation to open Strait of Hormuz

Tue, 05 May 2026 08:26:20 -0400

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth revealed Tuesday that six ships attempted to bypass the U.S. military's blockade of Iranian ports during the operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but they were all turned around.

"In fact, six ships tried to run the blockade out of Iranian ports as Project Freedom commenced, and they were all turned around," Hegseth told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump declared in a Truth Social post on Sunday that the U.S. would launch "Project Freedom" to help ships from other nations escape the Strait of Hormuz.

"To be clear, this operation is separate and distinct from Operation Epic Fury. Project Freedom is defensive in nature, focused in scope and temporary in duration, with one mission: protecting innocent commercial shipping from Iranian aggression," Hegseth said.

HEGSETH SAYS US HAS ESTABLISHED ‘RED, WHITE AND BLUE’ DOME OVER SHIPPING IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ

"Iran is the clear aggressor, harassing civilian vessels, threatening mariners from every nation indiscriminately, and weaponizing a critical chokepoint for its own financial benefit, or at least trying to," he continued. "For too long, Iran has been harassing ships, shooting at civilian tankers from all nations and trying to impose a tolling system. Iran's plan, a form of international extortion, is unacceptable. That ends with Project Freedom."

Hegseth said Tuesday that "All of these ships from all around the world want to get out of the Iranian trap that they have been stuck inside."

"As a direct gift from the United States to the world, we have established a powerful red, white and blue dome over the strait. American destroyers are on station, supported by hundreds of fighter jets, helicopters, drones and surveillance aircraft, providing 24/7 overwatch for peaceful commercial vessels. Except Iran's, of course. Which is why our ironclad blockade remains in full effect as well," Hegseth added.

TRUMP OPENS HORMUZ UNDER FIRE WITH ‘PROJECT FREEDOM’ AS IRAN WARNS OF ATTACKS

He also said, "We prefer this to be a peaceful operation, but are locked and loaded to defend our people, our ships, our aircraft, and this mission, without hesitation."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine said Tuesday that as a result of Iran's "indiscriminate" attacks across the region, there are 22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Arabian Gulf, unable to transit.

Caine said U.S. Central Command has "established an enhanced security area on the southern side of the strait that is now protected by U.S. land, naval and air assets to help defeat further Iranian aggression against commercial shipping."

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"On the surface, guided missile destroyers and other warships are detecting and defeating Iranian threats. This includes fast boats in one-way attack drones," he added. "In the air, more than 100 fighters, attack aircraft and other manned and unmanned aircraft synchronized by the 82nd Airborne Division are in the air 24 hours a day, providing defensive overwatch for the enhanced security area."

Fox News Digital's Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.

'Black Hawk Down' sniper shines light on brutal reality of violent combat

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:31:17 -0400

Former Delta Force sniper Brad Halling shined a light on the absolute brutality of the Battle of Mogadishu.

The Battle of Mogadishu began on Oct. 3, 1993, in Somalia when an American Special Operations task force conducted a capture mission against warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid's forces.

Task Force Ranger was in the country to stop a famine and genocide. The elite task force consisted of Army Rangers, Delta Force operators and a small group of Air Force and DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6) operators.

What started as a simple snatch-and-grab mission turned into a fight for survival after two helicopters were shot down. The events were made even more famous with the 1999 book "Black Hawk Down" and 2001 film of the same name.

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Battle of Mogadishu survivor recalls insane brutality of the fight

Halling was a Delta Force sniper deployed as a member of Task Force Ranger when the events unfolded. He was on the same helicopter as Medal of Honor recipients Gary Gordon (KIA) and Randy Shughart (KIA).

Gordon and Shughart famously inserted at the crash site of a downed helicopter and fought to the brutal and violent end against a horde of Somali attackers. Their teammate, who lost a leg when his helicopter was hit, remembers the carnage more than 30 years later.

Halling said the following in a video released by Black Rifle Coffee, explaining how he lost his leg and the intense violence of the combat:

"By the time that bird went down, the comms were total chaos. Everybody's world was in a window this big and it was as bad or worse than the window next to them. I look up and the door gunner, Paul Shannon, gets shot through the hands. The gun goes quiet. I got up. Helped him with his hand. I gave him my CAR-15 and I ended up on the minigun and I never got off the minigun. We could see [Mike] Durant's helicopter. There had been requests made to go in and try and assist them. Gary [Gordon] and Randy [Shughart] went there believing that they were going to be able to recover these guys and get them out. And I believed it. When they left, I didn't have any feeling that that was going to be the last time I saw them. But I will forever remember seeing them leave that aircraft. I can still picture it. I can even tell you Gary was out first and Randy got out after Gary was on the ground. What actually unfortunately happens is the crowds did realize this bird went down, but their cover was our bird. While we were over top of Gary and Randy, we got hit by that RPG. That RPG came up through the floor, went through my leg, and then up into the engine compartment. I still remember the flash being first, the heat that followed, and the immense over pressure in that bird as that round detonated. And I remember the unbelievable violence that airframe started shaking."

You can watch Halling's full comments below, and let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

It's impossible to understand what the Battle of Mogadishu was like unless you were a part of it. I've spoken with several men who were there, and while they all say "Black Hawk Down" does a nice job of capturing the chaos, a movie is still not close to the reality on the ground.

American soldiers found a city unleashed against them as they tried to secure two separate crash sites and save as many of their teammates as possible.

US DRAMATICALLY ESCALATES SOMALIA AIRSTRIKES AS TRUMP ADMIN TARGETS ISIS, AL QAEDA TERRORISTS

Impossible decisions had to be made, and the Rangers, Delta Force operators and everyone else on the ground had to do whatever was necessary to survive.

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Fractions of a second must have felt like a lifetime as enemy bullets and rockets rained down. Former Ranger and CAG operator Brad Thomas summed up the decisions that the men were faced with very well in my Instagram video below.

Be thankful such men exist and are on our side. Let me know your thoughts at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.

Trump announces 'Project Freedom,' Iran threatens attacks, Pakistan announces US release of seized cargo ship

Mon, 04 May 2026 07:28:00 -0400

As the tensions between the United States and Iran persist, including an ongoing U.S. blockade against the Islamic Republic, President Donald Trump declared in a Truth Social post that the U.S. would launch "Project Freedom" to help ships from other nations escape the Strait of Hormuz.

"Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with — They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders!" the president declared in a Sunday Truth Social post.

"This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time," he noted.

But Iran has threatened to attack.

"We have repeatedly said the security of the Strait of Hormuz is in our hands and that the safe passage of vessels needs to be coordinated with the armed forces," Iran's Ali Abdollahi declared in a statement, according to Reuters. "We warn that any foreign armed forces, especially the aggressive U.S. Army, will be attacked if they intend to approach and enter the Strait of Hormuz."

TRUMP'S IRAN CRACKDOWN 'SUFFOCATING' REGIME AS OIL WELLS COULD SHUT WITHIN DAYS, BESSENT SAYS

U.S. Central Command noted that 15,000 service members will be involved in the effort.

"U.S. military support to Project Freedom will include guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members," CENTCOM noted in a press release on Sunday.

TRUMP'S 'ECONOMIC FURY' SQUEEZES IRAN — BUT CAN TEHRAN OUTLAST THE PRESSURE?

An Iranian-flagged ship seized last month by the U.S. will be returned to its owners, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.

"As a confidence-building measure by the United States of America, twenty-two crew members held aboard the seized Iranian container ship, 'MV Touska', have been evacuated to Pakistan. The individuals, who were flown to Pakistan last night, will be handed over to the Iranian authorities today. The Iranian ship will also be backloaded to Pakistani territorial waters for return to its original owners after necessary repairs," the statement noted.

CARGO SHIP ATTACKED BY SMALL CRAFT NEAR STRAIT OF HORMUZ, UK MARITIME AGENCY SAYS

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"These returns are being coordinated in tandem with the support of both the Iranian and U.S. sides. Pakistan welcomes such confidence-building measures and will continue to facilitate dialogue and diplomacy while pursuing ongoing mediation efforts for regional peace and security," Pakistan's statement added.

Fox News' Bryan Llenas contributed to this report.

Cargo ship attacked by small craft near Strait of Hormuz, UK maritime agency says

Sun, 03 May 2026 13:58:56 -0400

A large cargo ship was attacked by multiple small craft while transiting near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, roughly 11 nautical miles west of Sirik, Iran, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.

The master of the northbound bulk carrier reported the attack to UKMTO, which said all crew members were safe and no environmental impact had been reported. Vessels in the area were advised to transit with caution and report suspicious activity while authorities investigate.

The incident occurred near one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints and comes amid heightened tensions over Iranian threats to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported that Tehran’s latest peace proposal to the U.S. says the strait should be governed and controlled by Iran.

"What is certain is that we will not step back from the Strait of Hormuz, and it will not return to its pre-war state," Ali Nikzad, deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, said Sunday.

IRAN’S REMAINING WEAPONS: HOW TEHRAN CAN STILL DISRUPT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ

The location is significant because territorial waters generally extend up to 12 nautical miles from a nation’s coastline. But under international maritime law, foreign-flagged vessels are allowed innocent passage through territorial seas so long as they are not engaging in threatening conduct, fishing or other prohibited activity.

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea says coastal states may claim a territorial sea up to 12 nautical miles, while foreign vessels are allowed "innocent passage" through those waters.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack. The vessel was not publicly identified in the initial UKMTO alert.

WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES FRESH ULTIMATUM TO IRAN

Iran has previously used fast-attack boats to harass or seize vessels in and around the strait. Sunday’s incident follows a series of maritime attacks in the region during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the U.S. and Israel, with commercial shipping repeatedly caught in the middle.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a key route for global energy shipments. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has described it as a critical oil chokepoint, and roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption moved through the strait in recent years.

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The UKMTO alert did not say whether the small craft were Iranian, and authorities were continuing to investigate.

Fox News' Bryan Llenas and Nick Kalman contributed to this report.

2 US service members missing in Morocco after multinational military exercise, search underway

Sun, 03 May 2026 08:48:09 -0400

Two U.S. service members are missing in southwestern Morocco following an annual multinational military exercise, sparking an ongoing search-and-rescue effort by U.S. and allied forces, officials said Sunday.

The incident happened on Saturday at the Cap Draa Training Area near Tan Tan, a Moroccan city about 15 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) said.

"The incident remains under investigation and the search is on-going," it said in a statement, adding that the rescue operation includes ground, air and maritime assets.

A defense official confirmed to Fox News Digital that the incident is not terror-related.

TRUMP TROOP CUTS IN EUROPE COULD BE BLOCKED BY CONGRESS -- HERE'S HOW HE MIGHT GET AROUND IT

The defense official said that the two missing service members are Army soldiers who were last seen near ocean cliffs near the Cap Draa Training Area during scheduled training. The soldiers may have fallen into the ocean, according to initial reports.

U.S. and Moroccan forces immediately launched a joint search and rescue operation when the soldiers did not return as expected, the defense official said.

The war games exercise, known as African Lion, started in April and runs across four countries, including Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal. It is scheduled to end in early May.

The exercise began in Tunisia with active-duty members of different branches of the U.S. military, including the National Guard, Army Reserve, Air Force, and the Marine Corps. More than 7,000 personnel from more than 30 nations are participating across the four host countries.

MAJOR BLOW TO PUTIN IN AFRICA AS RUSSIAN FORCES DRIVEN FROM MALI STRONGHOLD BY SEPARATISTS, JIHADISTS

African Lion is the U.S. military’s largest annual exercise in Africa, bringing together senior commanders from the United States and key regional allies. It was originally launched in 2004.

U.S. officials say the multinational drills are designed to strengthen security partnerships and sharpen troop readiness for potential global crises.

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Morocco is a major ally of the United States in a troubled region. Since 2020, military officers disillusioned with their governments’ records of stemming violence have overthrown democratically elected governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger and began distancing themselves from Western powers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Trump teases US will be 'taking over' Cuba 'almost immediately' in Florida speech

Fri, 01 May 2026 21:12:13 -0400

President Donald Trump appeared to joke during remarks at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches in Florida Friday that the U.S. would be "taking over" Cuba "almost immediately," while recognizing attendees including former Rep. Dan Mica.

"And he comes from, originally, a place called Cuba, which we will be taking over almost immediately," Trump said.

"Cuba’s got problems. We’ll finish one first. I like to finish a job."

TRUMP AIMS TO RESET WAR POWERS CLOCK WITH CONTROVERSIAL BID TO BYPASS CONGRESS

Trump then riffed on a hypothetical show of American force.

"On the way back from Iran, we’ll have one of our big — maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier — the biggest in the world," he said.

"We’ll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore, and they’ll say, ‘Thank you very much, we give up.’"

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The president did not elaborate further.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for clarification if the remarks were hypothetical or outlining policy plans.

North Korea's extreme battlefield doctrine revealed by Kim Jong Un during speech

Fri, 01 May 2026 10:07:22 -0400

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has publicly praised soldiers who killed themselves rather than be captured while fighting Ukrainian forces in Kursk region, offering the clearest confirmation yet of what officials and intelligence agencies have long described as one of Pyongyang’s most extreme battlefield policies.

In remarks published Monday by North Korean state media KCNA and first reported by Reuters, Kim honored troops who "unhesitatingly chose the path of self-destruction and suicide" rather than surrender, as he addressed Russian officials and bereaved families during a memorial ceremony for North Korean soldiers killed in combat.

"It is not only the heroes who unhesitatingly chose the path of self-destruction and suicide to defend great honor, but also those who fell while charging at the forefront of assault battles," Kim said.

The comments mark the first time Kim has directly acknowledged the lengths North Korean troops fighting for Russia have gone to in attempts to avoid capture by Ukrainian forces.

BATTERED IN UKRAINE, RUSSIA RACES TO REARM — BUT QUESTIONS LINGER OVER ITS MILITARY STRENGTH

North Korea deployed an estimated 14,000 troops to Russia’s western Kursk region to support Moscow’s war effort, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western officials cited by Reuters. Those same officials say the forces suffered staggering losses, with more than 6,000 North Korean soldiers believed killed in some of the war’s most intense fighting.

For months, intelligence reports, battlefield evidence and defector testimony have pointed to a grim directive: North Korean troops were expected to detonate grenades or otherwise take their own lives rather than risk capture.

That policy appears to have extended even to the few who survived. According to The Guardian, two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces and now held as prisoners of war in Kyiv both reportedly attempted to blow themselves up but were unable to do so because of severe injuries. One of the captured soldiers has reportedly expressed guilt over failing to carry out those orders.

NORTH KOREA VOWS 'TOUGHEST' US POLICY IN VAGUE ANNOUNCEMENT

Kim’s latest speech appears to transform those reports from battlefield allegations into publicly praised state doctrine.

"Those who writhed in frustration at failing to fulfill their duty as soldiers rather than suffering the agony of their bodies being torn apart by bullets and shells — these too can be called the party’s loyal warriors and patriots," Kim added.

The statement underscores the ideological intensity imposed on North Korean forces, whose loyalty to the regime appears to extend beyond combat to self-destruction.

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The revelation also highlights the deepening military relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow.

According to South Korean intelligence assessments, North Korea has provided not only troops but also munitions to Russia, while receiving economic aid and military technology in return.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Israel defense chief warns strikes on Iran could resume soon, signals campaign not over

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:38:45 -0400

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Thursday that Israel may soon resume military action against Iran, signaling that despite what he described as devastating setbacks to Tehran, Israel views the broader campaign as potentially unfinished.

Speaking at a ceremony promoting the incoming Israeli Air Force commander, Katz said Iran had been pushed "years backward" in the past year but suggested Israel may soon need to act again to secure long-term strategic goals.

"Iran has suffered extremely severe blows over the past year, blows that set it back years in every field," Katz said.

Still, Katz’s sharpest warning suggested that despite the current ceasefire, Israeli leaders do not see the confrontation with Iran as resolved.

ISRAELI OFFICIALS REPORTEDLY WARN IRAN'S BALLISTIC MISSILES COULD TRIGGER SOLO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST TEHRAN

Instead, his remarks mirror President Donald Trump’s insistence that pressure on Iran will continue until its capacity to rebuild is curtailed.

"The blockade stays until there’s a real deal," Trump said Thursday, according to Axios, signaling that Washington intends to maintain pressure until Iran addresses U.S. demands over its nuclear program and broader security concerns.

"We support this effort and provide the necessary backing, but it is possible that soon we will be required to act again to ensure the achievement of those goals," Katz said.

The warning came as Israel’s Defense Ministry announced a dramatic military resupply surge, with two cargo ships docking in Ashdod and Haifa and multiple transport aircraft arriving within 24 hours, carrying roughly 6,500 tons of military equipment, including thousands of air and ground munitions, military trucks and combat vehicles.

Since the start of Operation Roaring Lion military campaign against Iran, Israel says more than 115,600 tons of military equipment have arrived through 403 flights and 10 maritime shipments, underscoring what Israeli officials describe as preparations for sustained or expanded conflict.

IRAN’S NUCLEAR CAPABILITIES CRUSHED, BUT REGIME’S DESIRE FOR THE BOMB MAY PERSIST

Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror, former Israeli national security advisor, told Fox News Digital that Washington and Jerusalem are now seriously preparing for two possible paths: a prolonged blockade designed to economically exhaust Iran, or renewed military action.

"Israel and the United States are seriously preparing for two real options, and the decision, when it comes, could be made very quickly," Amidror said. "One is to continue the siege, a blockade that can slowly exhaust Iran. The other is war."

Amidror, who is currently a distinguished fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, said the extensive U.S. logistical buildup suggests Washington is preparing for either path.

"The Americans are building logistics, moving forces, and preparing very seriously," he said. "At some point, they may feel they are so ready that leadership says, ‘We are prepared, let’s go.’"

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But he emphasized that for Israel, resuming military action would likely be easier and faster.

"For Israel, it is easier," Amidror said. "We need less logistics. We are already in the region, rebuilding strength, improving intelligence and accumulating power while Iran’s capabilities are being weakened."

Iran’s U.N. mission declined to comment.

US eyes first-ever hypersonic Dark Eagle deployment as Iran pushes beyond strike range

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:54:50 -0400

The U.S. military has explored deploying its new Dark Eagle hypersonic weapon to the Middle East, according to a report, as the Army begins fielding the long-range system after years of delays.

U.S. Central Command has requested deployment of the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon, known as Dark Eagle, to the Middle East, according to a Bloomberg report citing a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

A defense official told Fox News Digital the system has reached initial operational capability, marking the first time the U.S. has a land-based hypersonic weapon available for potential use.

The request was driven in part by concerns that Iranian ballistic missile launchers have been moved beyond the range of existing U.S. systems, including the Army’s Precision Strike Missile, which can strike targets more than 300 miles away, according to the Bloomberg report.

US FALLS BEHIND IN HYPERSONIC RACE AS CHINA, RUSSIA GAIN EDGE

It reflects growing concern that existing U.S. strike capabilities may not be sufficient to reach key Iranian missile assets, while also highlighting a major milestone for the Army as it fields its first land-based hypersonic weapon. If deployed, Dark Eagle would significantly expand the U.S. military’s ability to strike distant, hard-to-reach targets with little warning, marking a shift in how the Pentagon can project power in the region.

The Army began fielding the system to one of its multidomain task forces in December 2025 following testing and live-fire exercises, according to the official, placing the weapon within specialized units designed to carry out long-range precision strikes across multiple domains.

Individual Dark Eagle missiles are estimated to cost around $15 million each, though earlier analyses have placed the cost significantly higher, while a single battery — including launchers and support equipment — is estimated at roughly $2.7 billion.

No deployment of the system to the Middle East has been publicly announced, and officials have not confirmed any request. The U.S. and Iran are still currently adhering to a ceasefire in hopes of broader negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.

Dark Eagle is designed to travel at hypersonic speeds while maneuvering in flight, allowing it to strike targets at much longer ranges — potentially exceeding 1,700 miles — and with far less warning than traditional missiles.

That combination of speed and range makes it particularly suited for targeting mobile or hardened systems, such as missile launchers, that are difficult to reach with existing weapons.

Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons can maneuver in flight, making them more difficult to track and intercept.

US GENERAL WARNS RUSSIA MAY BE DEVELOPING NUCLEAR ANTI-SATELLITE WEAPON IN ORBIT

The reported request comes as the Pentagon continues efforts to accelerate its hypersonic weapons programs amid concerns about competition with China and Russia.

The U.S. has spent years developing hypersonic weapons, though some programs have faced delays, testing constraints and shifting priorities as the Pentagon works to advance the technology.

China and Russia already have fielded hypersonic systems, underscoring the growing importance of weapons designed to travel at extreme speeds while maneuvering in flight, making them more difficult to detect and intercept.

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"Fielding and scaling hypersonic weapons is a top priority for the War Department — and we are delivering at a rapid speed," a Pentagon official told Fox News Digital. "'Scaled hypersonics' has been designated as one of the Department’s critical technology areas by Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael to focus resources on delivering cost-effective and lethal hypersonic solutions to the warfighter."

"The Department’s Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) is working to upgrade test facilities and establish new, nontraditional testing locations," the official said. "Simultaneously, the Department is placing its acquisition system on a ‘wartime footing’ to forge a robust, responsive industrial base capable of rapidly delivering these advanced technologies."

U.S. Central Command declined to comment to Fox News Digital.

Vance pushes back on report of stockpile concerns as US races to boost missile production

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:32:13 -0400

The U.S. military is racing to boost missile production after years of output that lagged behind current demand left key weapons in short supply, according to an analysis of Pentagon procurement data.

At current production rates, some of the Pentagon’s most critical munitions would take years — and in some cases decades — to replenish, exposing a gap between battlefield use and industrial capacity that cannot be quickly closed.

Major defense contractors have struck new agreements with the Pentagon and pledged to significantly increase production across several high-end munitions programs. But senior military officials warn the buildup will take time.

"I think it will take one to two years for them to scale. It won't be soon enough," Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo told lawmakers in April.

TRUMP-BACKED MILITARY RIGHT TO REPAIR PLAN STRIPPED FROM CONGRESS' FINAL DEFENSE BILL

The push comes as recent combat has drawn down U.S. stockpiles of high-end munitions, exposing a growing gap between how quickly the military can use advanced weapons and the years it takes to replace them, raising concerns about longer-term readiness.

The gap between usage and replenishment is also reportedly drawing scrutiny inside the administration.

The Atlantic reported that, in closed-door discussions, Vice President JD Vance questioned whether the Pentagon is fully accounting for how much those stockpiles were depleted during the Iran conflict, raising concerns about the availability of key munitions even as defense officials publicly insist U.S. stockpiles remain sufficient.

Vance disputed that characterization Wednesday in an interview on Fox News' "The Will Cain Show," rejecting the report’s sourcing while acknowledging concerns about military readiness.

"Of course, I’m concerned about our readiness because that’s my job to be concerned," Vance said, adding that defense leaders are "doing an amazing job."

He also dismissed the report, saying, "Don’t believe everything you read, especially in papers like The Atlantic."

Pentagon officials have pushed back on concerns.

"America’s military is the most powerful in the world and has everything it needs to execute at the time and place of the president’s choosing," spokesperson Sean Parnell previously told Fox News Digital.

"As Secretary Hegseth has highlighted numerous times, it took less than 10% of American naval power to control the traffic going in and out of the Strait of Hormuz," Parnell said.

"Since President Trump took office, we have executed multiple successful operations across combatant commands while ensuring the U.S. military possesses a deep arsenal of capabilities to protect our people and our interests. Attempts to alarm Americans over the department’s magazine depth are both ill-informed and dishonorable."

But historic Pentagon procurement data helps explain the gap.

The Navy’s Tomahawk cruise missile, for example, was procured at an average rate of about 66 missiles per year over the past seven years. At that pace, it would take roughly 12 years to meet the Navy’s goal of adding 785 more.

For the Army’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, the gap is even more stark. Procurement has averaged about 30 interceptors per year, meaning it would take nearly three decades to reach a new target of 857 additional interceptors at those rates.

Even for more widely produced systems like the Patriot PAC-3 interceptor, historical output has fallen short of current demand. The U.S. has procured roughly 212 PAC-3 MSE missiles annually on average, a pace that would take about two years to meet a new goal of 405.

Recent combat has already underscored the strain.

Pentagon acting Comptroller Jay Hurst said the conflict with Iran has cost roughly $25 billion so far.

"Most of that is munitions," he told lawmakers in recent days.

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U.S. forces used large shares of several critical munitions during the campaign, a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies found, including more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles and more than 1,000 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles. Patriot interceptor use was estimated between roughly 1,060 and 1,430 missiles, more than half of the U.S. prewar inventory.

Despite the heavy usage, analysts say the U.S. retains enough munitions to sustain current operations. The greater concern, they warn, is whether stockpiles can be rebuilt quickly enough to support a future conflict against a peer adversary.

Some production gains are already underway.

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Similar scaling efforts have been seen in other munitions programs, including artillery production, which has expanded severalfold since 2022.

Defense firms say they are already increasing output and investing heavily in expanding capacity. RTX, the parent company of Raytheon, said missile deliveries were up more than 40% year over year in the first quarter, building on production gains made in 2025. The company also said it invested $2.6 billion last year to expand manufacturing capacity and plans to continue increasing spending.

The company has said it plans to produce more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles per year, while output of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) could reach nearly 1,900 annually.

Lockheed Martin has increased production of the Patriot interceptor significantly in recent years to around 600 annually. The company recently announced plans to expand capacity to 2,000 per year.

But analysts say funding alone cannot push these plans forward.

"We have more money than we have capacity," said Mark Cancian, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It’s just time."

Missile production depends on long-lead components such as propulsion systems and guidance technology, often sourced from a limited number of suppliers, meaning new orders can take years to translate into delivered weapons.

Even under normal conditions, missile production follows a multi-year cycle. Before recent conflicts, it typically took about two years from contract award to initial delivery, with another year to complete production.

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Those timelines have since stretched as demand has outpaced capacity, Cancian said, adding that new orders today could take "four, maybe five years" to fully deliver.

Much of the Pentagon’s planned increase in munitions spending is tied up in upcoming budget negotiations, including supplemental funding and future defense appropriations, which lawmakers have yet to finalize.

Brutal CrossFit workout honoring fallen Marine draws thousands of participants across the country

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 12:32:44 -0400

What started as a way to honor one fallen Marine has turned into a nationwide tradition.

Since 2016, the annual "Manion WOD" — a brutal CrossFit-style workout in memory of 1st Lt. Travis Manion — has steadily grown, drawing more than 6,000 participants to nearly 400 gyms across the country this year alone.

The workout is seven rounds of a 400-meter run and 29 back squats. Simple, but certainly not easy. And that’s the point.

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"When people are like, ‘This is a hard workout,’ I’m like, ‘As it should be, right?’" Travis’ sister, Ryan Manion, told OutKick. "That’s the point. It should be a hard workout, because you think about the sacrifices that the men and women that have given their lives in defense of our freedoms have made for us. The least we can do is go out and challenge ourselves a little bit."

Travis Manion, a former wrestler at the United States Naval Academy, was killed by an enemy sniper in Iraq on April 29, 2007, while saving his wounded teammates. The structure of the workout itself reflects that legacy. It was built around both the date of his death and the kind of physical toughness he was known for.

"It was designed by CrossFit to be a super hard leg workout because, as a wrestler, my brother was kind of known for his leg strength," Ryan explained.

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Now a nationwide event, the Manion WOD brings together veterans, families and plenty of people with no military connection at all, too.

And for those stepping into the gym without that personal connection, Ryan hopes they walk away with shaky legs and a new perspective.

"It’s seven rounds, and you’re doing this repetitive motion of squats and running. And once you hit that fourth, fifth, sixth round, it starts to hurt a little bit," she said. "And I would say that’s the time to dig deep and think about those sacrifices and reflect on them."

This year’s workout came with an extra personal touch. Participants across the country all worked out to the same music Travis listened to during his final deployment, pulled from an iPod that was returned to his family after his death.

"He had an iPod in Iraq, and it came back in his foot locker," Ryan said.

"A few years ago, I tried to turn it on, and it didn’t work. I actually took it to a friend who owns a tech shop, and he was able to pull all the songs off of it. And I was like, ‘How cool would it be that people could do this workout and actually listen to the songs he was listening to?’"

If you’re wondering what that playlist sounds like, it’s got AC/DC, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin, Rage Against the Machine and Metallica, to name a few. And, of course, "Stranglehold" by Ted Nugent — Travis’ old wrestling walk-out song.

But beyond the reps and the music, Ryan says the real impact is something much bigger, especially for veterans and military families navigating life after service.

"When you look at the bigger issues that are facing our service members when they take off the uniform, like mental health and depression. And, unfortunately, the suicide epidemic is pretty high amongst veterans," Ryan said.

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"What is that next step they're going to take to serve outside of uniform, and what's that community that they're going to go to?"

The Travis Manion Foundation, she says, helps to bridge that gap.

"We’ve found these simple approaches to creating this community have massive effects on really serious outcomes that our service members are facing," Ryan said.

And, over the weekend, that community showed up in the simplest way possible — side by side in a gym, grinding through a workout, and remembering the ones who didn’t make it home.

Pentagon urges Congress to codify 'Department of War' name change it estimates will cost $52 million

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:04:36 -0400

The Pentagon has formally asked for congressional approval to codify its "Department of War" moniker, estimating it will cost taxpayers around $52 million.

The estimate from the Pentagon is significantly lower than what the Congressional Budget Office projected in January, when it estimated the rebranding could cost as much as $125 million if it were adopted "broadly and rapidly" throughout the department.

The Pentagon claimed the change, which includes renaming the secretary of defense to the secretary of war, would have no "significant impact" on President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 defense budget request because most implementation costs will be absorbed during the current 2026 fiscal year.

The "actual costs are being collected during implementation and will be available" once the current fiscal year’s execution of the name change is completed, according to the department.

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In its legislative proposal, the Pentagon said roughly $52 million is expected to be used, including $44.6 million for the defense agencies and the department’s field activities, $3.5 million for the military departments, $3 million for Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth's office and Washington Headquarters Services, $400,000 for the Joint Staff, Combatant Commands and National Guard Bureau.

"The revision to the designation of the Department serves as a fundamental reminder of the importance and reverence of our core mission, to fight and win wars," the proposal reads. "It serves as a strategic objective in which to measure and prioritize all activities."

The request to rebrand the department would make around 7,600 changes to federal law. The Pentagon has already changed its website and social media accounts to reflect the rebranding, and Hegseth’s nameplate on his office door already reads, "Secretary of War."

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This comes after Trump signed an executive order in the fall to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, a move that sparked criticism but that some anti-war advocates argued was more fitting for an administration they say is eager to wage war.

"The name change really does help highlight how rogue, unconstitutional, and unlawful the president’s actions are," former Rep. Justin Amash, a Republican turned Libertarian, wrote on X in September.

But some of Trump's Republican allies in Congress have signaled support for the name change, with Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introducing legislation in their respective chambers seeking to codify the rebranding.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Democrats have criticized the Pentagon's request to codify the moniker, as lawmakers begin hashing out the fiscal 2027 defense policy bill.

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"The American people can’t afford groceries, gas, or rent — and the Pentagon has ALREADY wasted $50 million on renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War. Now they want more money," Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., wrote on X.

The Department of War was established in 1789 by President George Washington. It was later replaced by the National Military Establishment in 1947, which was redesignated as the Department of Defense in 1949.

Nearly $870K in chemical spraying drones stolen from NJ company in 'nightmare scenario' heist: report

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:00:25 -0400

Nearly $870,000 worth of industrial drones capable of dispersing large amounts of liquid chemicals were stolen from a New Jersey company in what could become a "nightmare scenario," according to a new report.

Fifteen Ceres Air C31 drones were stolen from CAC International in Harrison, N.J., on March 24, according to The High Side Substack. The drones were allegedly stolen by a delivery driver who duped the company, the report said.

The New Jersey State Police recovered the drones on Monday, the agency said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"On April 27th, the New Jersey State Police Cargo Theft Unit recovered 15 stolen agricultural drones and spray systems. These drones are labeled as agricultural drones due to their specified function as registered crop dusters. The theft occurred on March 24th at CAC International, a logistics and shipping company located in Harrison, NJ. The drones were recovered at Prudent Corporation located in Dover, NJ. This is an active, ongoing investigation that Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Patrol are assisting with. No additional information is available," the New Jersey State Police wrote.

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In total, a Ceres Air C31 costs around $58,000, meaning that nearly $870,000 of equipment was allegedly stolen.

The report said that a fraudulent bill of lading was shown when picking up the drones, and CAC International allegedly considered them legitimate.

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The drones are equipped to hold and spray up to 40 gallons of liquid chemicals, reportedly causing concern inside the U.S. government.

"This was one of the most highly sophisticated thefts [the FBI] have seen in a long time, which is the main thing that has them so spooked," said an individual who was briefed on the situation, according to the report.

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Former FBI agent Steve Lazarus said the drones could be a danger to the public.

"Even common chemicals, used improperly, can be a public safety danger. Throw in the Internet recipes for biological and chemical weapons that anyone with a Tor browser has access to, and this is a potential nightmare scenario," Lazarus said in an interview with The High Side. "These aren’t hobby drones with cameras. They’re industrial sprayers designed to carry and disperse significant amounts of liquid quickly and with precision."

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"The bureau is freaked out for a good reason," Lazarus said.

The U.S. Army raised concerns in a 2020 report, stating that such chemical-spraying drones could be used in attacks.

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"Such drones are readily available and could be used as a delivery system for chemical or biological attacks," said the report.

"A UAS [chemical or biological warfare] delivery platform is a definite possibility, especially for developing nations," the report said.

Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI, Harrison Police Department, Ceres and CAC International for comment.

Major blow to Putin in Africa as Russian forces driven from Mali stronghold by separatists, jihadists

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:48:09 -0400

JOHANNESBURG: A major defeat for Russia’s mercenary Africa Corps, in a battle with jihadist and tribal militia, is being reported in Mali. Deadly attacks by al Qaeda-linked rebels and mostly-Muslim Tuareg tribesmen across cities in the West African country are continuing Monday, also with reports of senior figures in Mali’s military junta being killed or injured.

Analysts say this could be a turning point in Moscow’s influence in West Africa. Russia has been grabbing Mali’s precious minerals, including gold, in return for promising to protect the country against the rebels. Sunday, though, rebels reported that Russian mercenaries have been forced to retreat from their base in the northern city of Kidal.

"The attacks are a major blow to Russia", Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, told the Associated Press. He added, "The (Russian) mercenaries had no intelligence about the attacks and were unable to protect major cities. They have unnecessarily worsened the conflict by not distinguishing between civilians and combatants."

Video of dead soldiers who appear with their features to be Russian, and of Russian military vehicles reportedly leaving Kidal, has been seen by Fox News Digital.

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The Defense News Nigeria media site reported that Russia’s Africa Corps stated in Kidal "they were heavily outnumbered by a ratio of 6 to 1," adding "the Corps claimed that between 10,000 and 12,000 fighters were involved in yesterday’s attacks. There are 2,000 Russian mercenaries operating in Mali. The Malian government pays Wagner $10 million per month for security," according to the Nigerian publication.

A Russian blog on Telegram Monday, claiming to come from Kidal, stated "the units of the African Corps that were stationed and fought in Kidal left this settlement together with the military personnel of the Malian army. First of all, wounded servicemen and heavy equipment were evacuated. The personnel continues to carry out the assigned combat mission. The situation in the Republic of Mali remains difficult."

A spokesperson for the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front, or FLA, told the Associated Press that the Russian troops have withdrawn from the city after a "white" agreement was reached. This has not been confirmed by either Mali’s government or Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Russia's ministry of foreign affairs said on its Telegram account that "two hundred and fifty militants attacked Bamako Senou International Airport and the military base located nearby. The Malian Armed Forces repelled the attack and are currently taking further steps to eliminate the militia that may have been, reportedly, trained by Western security agencies. Russia is deeply concerned about these developments. This terrorist activity poses a direct threat to the stability of friendly Mali and could have the most serious consequences for the entire region."

Mali’s military junta, which first took power in a coup in 2020, Monday announced that both the chief of the armed forces’ general staff, Gen. Oumar Diarra, and the director of the national security agency, Gen. Modibo Koné, have been wounded in attacks.

The government confirmed earlier that Sadio Camara, said to be the second most important figure in Mali’s military junta, had been killed in the fighting. Camara was Mali’s defense minister, and is widely credited with bringing in Moscow’s mercenary Africa Corps to assist in battling the militia.

The rebels attempting to take over Mali are said to be jihadists from the Nusrat al-Islam (GSIM/JNIM) linked with the tribesmen of the FLA and other groups, including at least one linked with Islamic State. The GSIM’s declared aim is to turn Mali into an al Qaeda-linked Islamic caliphate with strict Sharia law.

"The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack in Mali," a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital Monday, adding: "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected. We stand with the Malian people and government in the face of this violence. The United States remains committed to supporting efforts to advance peace, stability, and security across Mali and the region."

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The U.S. Embassy in Mali warned Sunday on its website that "U.S. citizens should continue to shelter in place, remain alert, follow local news for updates, and avoid areas where security operations may be underway."

On Monday, multiple reports said Malian troops and Russian mercenaries have also been forced by rebels to withdraw from the northern Malian city of Tessit. At the time of publication, this had not been confirmed by the Malian government.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.