Ukraine’s Defense Council says preparations are under way to retake the rebel-controlled eastern city of Donetsk — the last stronghold of heavily armed pro-Russian separatists seeking autonomy from Kyiv. Defense spokesman Andriy Lysenko did not provide details. But he said the military has opened humanitarian corridors for city residents to flee the planned offensive, and […]
The first of the up to 300 military advisers President Barack Obama committed to help Iraq counter a Sunni militant surge have begun their assessment mission. Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters two special operations teams started their work on Tuesday. “We have begun to deploy initial assessment teams. Two special operations teams […]
Twelve Ukrainian troops were killed when separatists shot down a Ukrainian military helicopter, only one person survived the crash. Among those killed was General Serhiy Kulchytskiy of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. Kulchytskiy is a former member of the Russian military and in charge of training for the Ukrainian National Guard. The helicopter was taken down […]
In the White House Rose Garden on Tuesday, President Obama announced the plan to draw down the military forces in Afghanistan to 9,800 from its current level of 32,000 by the beginning of 2015. The president continued saying, “By the end of 2015 we will have reduced that presence by roughly half, and will have consolidated our […]