Browsing Tag

military

Ugandan Military Chief Seeks $1 Billion for Somalia Mission, Turkish Bride

KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s military chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has set off another round of diplomatic unease, this time by calling for $1 billion in compensation for Uganda’s mission in Somalia while also saying he wants to marry the “most beautiful woman” in Turkey. The commander of Uganda’s armed forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni made the remarks in a series of striking statements that once again highlighted his flair for provocation. Kainerugaba said marrying a Turkish national was a personal requirement,…

Somalia: President Defends Uganda’s Military Role Amid Turkish Influence Tensions

MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday moved to underscore Uganda’s deep and costly military involvement in Somalia, stressing that Kampala has continued to bankroll troop deployments beyond the African Union mandate and has absorbed heavy losses in hardware without compensation. The president’s remarks offered a diplomatic rebuttal to recent pointed comments from Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has drawn attention for his criticism of foreign influence in the Horn of…

Iran warns of “firm response” to military transit through Strait of Hormuz

Iran warns of 'firm response' to military transit through Strait of Hormuz TEHRAN - Iran said any military vessel attempting to move through the Strait of Hormuz would meet a "firm and decisive response," in a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. The IRGC said it exercises "full and intelligent control" over the strategic waterway, adding that passage is allowed only for non-military ships and only under defined regulations. It also rejected reports that US vessels had crossed the strait,…

U.S. Military Intensifies Airstrikes Against ISIS and al-Qaida-Linked Militants in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia — The United States has stepped up its air campaign in Somalia at a striking pace, carrying out nearly 50 strikes in just the first three months of 2026, according to U.S. Africa Command, a sign of expanding pressure on militant groups in the Horn of Africa. In its latest statement, AFRICOM said the most recent strike hit Al-Shabaab fighters roughly 80 miles northwest of Kismayo, pushing the year’s total to 49 airstrikes. The command said the operations were carried out in close coordination with the…

Russian military plane crash in Crimea kills 29, defense ministry says

A Russian An-26 military transport plane slammed into a cliff in Crimea, killing all 29 people on board, with a possible technical malfunction emerging as the likely cause, according to Russia’s ⁠defence ministry as cited by news agencies. TASS news agency, quoting the ministry, said contact with the aircraft was lost at about 6pm local time (4pm Irish time) while it was carrying out a planned flight over Crimea. Russia annexed the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Crimea is marked by sweeping mountain ranges that descend…

Report: US military assets worth billions damaged or lost in Iran war

Iclal TuranSaturday March 28, 2026 US military hardware worth billions of dollars has been damaged or destroyed since the US-Israeli war on Iran began, with Iranian missile and drone attacks responsible for much of the destruction, according to a Wall Street Journal report published Friday. In the opening three weeks of fighting, losses are estimated at between $1.4 billion and $2.9 billion, Elaine McCusker, a former Pentagon budget official now with the American Enterprise Institute, told the newspaper. Among the incidents…

Somali forces kill 42+ al-Shabaab militants, including two ringleaders, in operations

Mohamed DhaysaneSaturday March 28, 2026 Somali forces, backed by international partners, carried out coordinated strikes on Thursday that killed more than 42 al-Shabaab fighters, including two senior figures, while leaving several others injured across operations in Middle Juba and Lower Shabelle, officials said. In one of the joint actions, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said it killed Abdihamid Ali Abdullahi Macalin, an al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab commander responsible for handling international…

Ugandan Military Court Charges Three UPDF Officers Over Aircraft Loss in Somalia

Saturday March 28, 2026 Mogadishu (AX) - Three senior officers of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) will face a Ugandan military court after prosecutors alleged misconduct connected to the disappearance of a military aircraft during operations in Somalia, according to officials. The General Court Martial at Makindye, Kampala, on Tuesday formally charged Col. George Buga Andruca, Maj. Benjamin Kashumbusha, and Lt. Henry Gygenda with one count of wrongful acts tied to the loss of an aircraft. Each of the officers entered…

Military Activity in the Irish AOR in Southern Lebanon

Irish peacekeepers are still deployed in southern Lebanon, even as Israel steps up operations and signals an intention to seize control of territory aimed at establishing what it calls a buffer zone. In recent days, Israeli actions have included strikes on bridges, ground operations and evacuation orders—developments taking place inside the UN-monitored area where Irish troops are stationed. The Defence Forces said Irish UN peacekeepers remain in place as Israel implements plans to take the area through military force.…