


New Orleans attack suspect identified as Army vet ‘inspired by ISIS’
The man who reportedly drove a truck into a crowd of New Year's revelers in New Orleans, killing 15, has been identified as a U.S. Army veteran.

Pentagon & Congress
Biden announces nearly $2.5 billion in military aid for Ukraine
Biden's administration is working quickly to spend all the money it has available to assist Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Russian air defenses may have downed Azerbaijani plane: U.S. official
Moscow officials have not addressed statements from aviation experts who blamed the crash on Russian air defenses responding to a Ukrainian attack.

China unveils amphibious assault ship that can launch fighter jets
The Sichuan is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult that will allow fighter jets to launch directly off its deck.

Rollback of DOD anti-extremism efforts coming in 2025, experts predict
The piecemeal progress of extremism-prevention efforts during the past four years is more than can be expected out of the Pentagon in 2025, experts said.

North Korean troops killed fighting against Ukraine, Pentagon confirms
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency claimed Monday that around 30 North Korean troops were killed or wounded while fighting alongside Russian troops.

Veteran who stormed the Capitol tried to join Russian Army, feds say
Army veteran Kevin Loftus was sentenced to six months in prison for violating the terms of his probation for storming the U.S. Capitol four years ago.

US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan
U.S. officials are also continuing their search for Austin Tice, an American journalist and Marine Corps vet who disappeared 12 years ago near Damascus.

Kurdish forces in Syria accidentally shot down US Reaper drone
The U.S. recovered parts of the downed Reaper and destroyed the rest.

Trump says he’ll begin Jan. 6 pardons ‘the first hour’ in office
Trump said he would look at each individual case, rather than issue a blanket pardon for all Jan. 6 defendants.

US will send Ukraine $725M in counter-drone tech, anti-personnel mines
President Biden has pledged to spend all of the military assistance funds Congress approved earlier this year for Ukraine before his administration ends.

Chinese warplanes track US Navy aircraft through the Taiwan Strait
A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flew through the strait’s international space “in accordance with international law," the Navy said.

Advocates fear dismantling of DOD’s extremism prevention, DEI programs
Trump’s choice for defense secretary said DEI programs eroded the military's values and described anti-extremism policies as a "purge."

Veterans involved in Jan. 6 riot expect Trump to keep pardon promise
Some Jan. 6 defendants, including veterans, are asking the courts to delay their cases as they wait for President-Elect Trump to grant them pardons.

Pentagon announces new batch of drones for Replicator program
The announcement marks the most specific details the Defense Department has released about its secretive, fast-track drone effort.

Militants attacked US positions across Middle East over the weekend
No U.S. injuries were reported, according to the Pentagon.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim shooting down US Reaper drone
The incident is potentially the latest downing of a U.S. spy drone as the militants continue their attacks on the Red Sea corridor.
