military

Trump claims Khamenei killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes as Iran fires missiles and drones across Gulf; Tehran denies WASHINGTON and ABU DHABI — President Donald Trump said U.S.-Israeli airstrikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and vowed operations would continue, even as Tehran denied the claim and launched waves of missiles and drones that hit targets across the Gulf, killing at least two people in Abu Dhabi and injuring dozens in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. Trump, monitoring the operation…

At least 15 people were killed when a Bolivian military C-130 Hercules cargo plane carrying banknotes crashed while landing near La Paz, prompting police to use tear gas to push back crowds grabbing scattered cash and leading authorities to burn the money at the scene. The aircraft veered off the runway at El Alto International Airport and careened onto a nearby avenue, smashing into cars and damaging trucks, according to local media footage. Twisted metal and torn fuselage parts littered the roadway as bystanders rushed…

Trump weighs strikes on Iran as Vance rules out long Middle East war WASHINGTON — Vice President J.D. Vance said Thursday that while the White House is considering targeted military strikes in Iran — focused on nuclear facilities and long-range missile sites — President Donald J. Trump and senior officials still prefer a diplomatic path to ease tensions. In an interview with The Washington Post, Vance stressed that even if the administration authorizes limited action, the United States will not be drawn into an open-ended…

Mexico’s most wanted drug lord, Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, was killed in a military raid on the Pacific coast, triggering sweeping retaliation by his cartel across multiple states and prompting urgent travel warnings from the United States and Canada. Oseguera, 60, the elusive leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, or CJNG, died in custody after being wounded in a special forces operation in the town of Tampalpa in Jalisco state, Mexico’s Defense Ministry said. His body was flown to Mexico City under heavy National…

Monday, February 23, 2026 HARGEISA, North Western State of Somalia (AX) — North Western State of Somalia said it is prepared to grant the United States exclusive access to mineral resources and potentially host U.S. military bases, sharpening its bid for international recognition three decades after declaring independence from Somalia. In comments published Saturday by Agence France-Presse, North Western State of Somalia’s Minister of the Presidency, Khadar Hussein Abdi, said the territory is open to exclusive agreements…

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator said he expects to finalize a draft counterproposal within days after talks with the United States this week, even as President Donald Trump said he is considering limited military strikes if Tehran fails to accept a deal within 10 to 15 days. Two U.S. officials told Reuters that military planning on Iran has reached an advanced stage, with options that include targeting specific individuals and, if ordered by Trump, exploring steps toward leadership change in Tehran. The high-stakes…

Trump says he is considering limited strike on Iran as talks crawl toward draft deal US President Donald Trump said he is weighing a limited military strike on Iran, escalating pressure on Tehran even as Iranian officials claimed a draft agreement with Washington to curb its nuclear program could be ready within days. Trump has repeatedly warned that “bad things” would happen if Iran does not strike a deal within a deadline he first set at 10 days and later extended to 15. Asked by a reporter whether he was contemplating a…

U.S. threats against Iran intensified after a second round of indirect nuclear talks ended without a breakthrough, as Tehran and Moscow announced joint naval drills in the Sea of Oman aimed at deterring any “unilateral action” and safeguarding maritime traffic. The twin moves underscored a rapid military buildup around the Strait of Hormuz and raised fears of a wider regional conflict. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that “Iran would be very wise to make a deal” with President Donald Trump,…

Saudi Arabia’s quiet power play in Somalia’s new military pact Somalia and Saudi Arabia have signed a defense cooperation agreement in Riyadh, a move that folds one of the Horn of Africa’s most fragile states deeper into an increasingly crowded contest for Red Sea influence. The memorandum of understanding, announced by Somalia’s defense minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, on X, comes weeks after Israel said it would recognize North Western State of Somalia — the northern, breakaway region of Somalia — as an independent state, a…

Somalia’s military court executes two men convicted in Mogadishu killings and bomb attacks MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s military court on Monday executed two men convicted of murder and bomb attacks in the capital after what officials described as the completion of all legal proceedings and procedural reviews. The men were identified by court officials as Hassan Ali Iftin Buule, known as “Gacmey,” and Hassan Ali Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed. The court said both were charged with security-related crimes tied to attacks in…