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Trump declares 3-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Trump declares 3-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine President Trump said on Friday that Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a three-day ceasefire over the weekend, an announcement that includes a prisoner swap between the two...

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US military attacks Iran-flagged tanker attempting to breach naval blockade

The U.S. military disabled an Iranian-flagged unladen oil tanker on Wednesday morning that attempted to breach the U.S. naval blockade, as Washington and Tehran have seemingly made progress in potentially ending the conflict. U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said the tanker, M/T Hasna, transited in international waters toward an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman....

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Trump's counterterrorism strategy puts focus on left-wing 'violent secular groups'

The Trump administration’s long-awaited counterterrorism strategy will put the focus on left-wing “violent secular” groups that officials argue are responsible for most of the politically motivated assassination attempts and other violence in recent years.  The administration’s National Counterterrorism Strategy, released on Wednesday, will prioritize the “rapid” identification and neutralization of “violent secular” political groups, whose...

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Trump announces pause on Project Freedom

President Trump announced a pause on the U.S. operation Project Freedom on Tuesday evening based on a request from Pakistan and other countries but added that the U.S. Navy blockade of ships in the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place. “Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that...

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Rubio says Operation Epic Fury is over

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Rubio says Operation Epic Fury is over Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued on Tuesday that the U.S. military operation against Iran is over, distinguishing between that and the new effort by the U.S. Navy to...

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Iran ceasefire under threat as Trump's 'Project Freedom' escalates Strait of Hormuz tensions 

The fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is under threat of falling apart after President Trump declared that the U.S. would “guide” vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in an effort he called “Project Freedom,” to begin Monday. In response, Iran’s armed forces said they would not allow passage to American combat forces or...

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Iran opened fire on US warships; 6 small boats destroyed in retaliation: Centcom

Iran opened fire on U.S. warships in the Middle East on Monday and the U.S. military retaliated, destroying six Iranian small boats, according to U.S. Central Command (Centcom) leader Adm. Brad Cooper.  The U.S. military intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones as the Trump administration launched an effort to get ships through the Strait of...

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Trump orders withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany amid feud with Merz

President Trump ordered the Pentagon on Friday to withdraw about 5,000 U.S. service members from Germany amid his public feud with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.  The redeployment of troops will bring the number of service members roughly to pre-2022 levels and will affect a brigade combat team and potentially other U.S. forces already in Germany,...

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Hegseth complicates Iran war 60-day clock 

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Hegseth complicates Iran war 60-day clock Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued on Thursday that the 60-day clock for the war with Iran stopped when President Trump announced a ceasefire with Tehran. © AP The president notified...

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Trump considers reduction of US troops in Germany

Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story Trump considers reduction of US troops in Germany President Trump said on Wednesday that he is reviewing a possible reduction of U.S. troops in Germany, with the determination to be made over the “next short period...

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Six takeaways from Hegseth’s first hearing since Iran war started

House Democrats came out firing during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s first hearing since the Iran war started, peppering the Pentagon chief with questions on his characterization of the conflict and recent high-profile firings of top military officials. Their Republican counterparts were notably conflict-averse, apart from a couple of supportive comments toward Gen. Randy Goerge, the...

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