Us Army

New defence spending law ends Covid-19 vaccine mandate for US troops

US military forces around the world will no longer be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, after the mandate was lifted under an USD 858 billion defence spending bill passed by Congress and signed into law on Friday by President Joe Biden. The Pentagon is now likely to strongly encourage troops to get the shot, but has 30 days to work out the details for rescinding the vaccine mandate. Biden had opposed the Republican-backed provision, agreeing with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin that lifting the mandate was not in the best interests of the military, according to White House officials. But he ultimately accepted GOP demands in order to win passage of the legislation. The contentious political issue, which has divided America, forced more than 8,400 troops out of the military for refusing to obey a lawful order when they declined to get the vaccine. Thousands of others have sought religious and medical exemptions. The new law effectively ends those exemption requests, but questions

Edward Snowden: US whistleblower, now a permanent Russian citizen

Since 2013, Edward Snowden has been living in Russia to escape prosecution in the US after leaking secret files related to the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the CIA

US Army grounds entire fleet of Chinook helicopters over engine fire risk

The US Army has grounded its entire fleet of Chinook helicopters, a battlefield workhorse since the 1960s, over the risk of engine fires, a media report said Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal, which broke the story, said such an extreme step was taken out of abundance of caution. India has about 15 CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Over the past few years, they have emerged as one of the major military tools for airlift operations in places like Ladakh and Siachen glaciers to assist Indian forces deployed in these regions. India received the first batch of Chinook helicopters in February 2019. Boeing completed the delivery of 15 Chinook helicopters to the Indian Air Force in 2020. Officials told the Wall Street Journal the US Army was aware of a small number of engine fires in the helicopters, and the incidents didn't result in any injuries or deaths. "One of the officials said the fires occurred in recent days, the Journal said. "The U.S. Army Materiel Command grounded the fleet of hundr

US begins biggest military drills with South Korea since Trump-Kim summit

The US and South Korea will begin their biggest joint military exercise in about five years after a hiatus on large-scale exercises that failed to entice North Korea's Kim Jong Un

Biden awards Medal of Honor to four soldiers for Vietnam War heroism

President Joe Biden bestowed the nation's highest military honour to four Army soldiers for heroism during the Vietnam War, bravery that he said had not diminished even with the passage of time

'Very hectic,' say US troops rushing to Europe amid Russia-Ukraine war

They had barely a week to prepare getting medical screenings, ensure bills would be paid, arranging for relatives to care for children before marching with rucksacks, rifles onto a plane for Germany

India, US to begin 15-day military exercise in Alaska from Friday

India and the US will kickstart a 15-day mega military exercise in Alaska from Friday to further deepen bilateral military cooperation. The 17th edition of the exercise "Yudh Abhyas" will be conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson in Alaska from October 15 to 29, the Indian Army said on Thursday. The Indian contingent at the exercise will comprise 350 personnel of an infantry battalion group of the Indian Army. The previous edition of the exercise took place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Bikaner in February. "This exercise is another step in the growing military cooperation between the two countries. The exercise aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between two armies," the Army said. It said the exercise will focus on "combined arms manoeuvres in cold climatic conditions and is primarily aimed at sharing tactical level drills and learning best practices from each other". The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

Gen Rawat meets Gen Mark Milley, discuss ways to ensure regional security

The two leaders agreed to continued cooperation in training exercises and creating more opportunities to increase interoperability between the two militaries, Joint Staff Spokesperson said

Might of the generals: the US military has way too much money and power

The military stood up to Donald Trump. Who will now stand up to the military?

US general called up China, warned Trump might try to start a war: Book

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley told Gen. Li Zuocheng of the People's Liberation Army that the United States would not strike

'Fortress USA': How 9/11 attacks produced a military industrial juggernaut

The American state has always relied on force combined with the de-personalisation of its victims, writes Clare Corbould.

Troops deployment in Afghanistan beyond Aug 31 under discussion: Biden

US President Joe Biden said that extending the deployment of troops for the evacuation mission in Afghanistan beyond the August 31 deadline has been under discussion.

LIVE: 'Whether it's Afghanistan or India, LeT, JeM operating with impunity'

Afghanistan crisis LIVE updates: Biden administration suspends all arms sales to Afghanistan govt

LIVE: Afghanistan now emancipated, we seek no revenge, says Taliban

Afghanistan crisis LIVE updates: An IAF aircraft today left from Kabul to India carrying the Indian ambassador and other personnel as part of the emergency evacuation

US army strikes Iran-backed militia a day after IAEA snub: Report

Air strikes carried out on Iraq-Syria border, in a test for Iran's new prez

US withdrawal from Afghanistan more than half done, but questions remain

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan is more than half done, and US officials say that while it could be completed by July 4, final exit of equipment and troops more likely will be later in the summer

FMs call for 'moderate Muslim policy' in Afghan after US troops withdrawal

A report said the three countries stressed that the solution to the Afghan issue should fully reflect the principle of "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned"

China leads key Afghanistan peace talks as US soldiers withdraw

The US Central Command has said an estimated 30 to 44 per cent of American troops have been withdrawn from Afghanistan until last month

We have won the Afghanistan war and America has lost, say Taliban

China voiced concern over the US' decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by September

Joe Biden to present troop withdrawal plan from Afghanistan on Wednesday

US President Joe Biden plans to present on Wednesday the details of his plans to have all American troops out of war-torn Afghanistan by September 11 this year