Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Taliban reject Trump’s idea of American return to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan
Taliban officials on Friday seemingly rejected the idea that American troops could return to Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base, a key military facility and regional hub for U.S. troops for nearly two decades but one that was given up during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Published September 19, 2025
Taiwanese delegation calls for formal intelligence-sharing pact between island democracy, U.S.
A delegation of Taiwanese officials and civic leaders is calling for a new intelligence-sharing pact among the U.S., Japan and their own island democracy -- an alliance that the Taiwanese say would help counter the Chinese Communist Party's designs on the Pacific and beyond. Published September 17, 2025
U.S. strikes second boat Trump says was carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing 3 ‘narcoterrorists’
U.S. forces on Monday struck another boat carrying drugs from Venezuela, President Trump said, killing three "narcoterrorists" transporting the narcotics through international waters. Published September 15, 2025
‘Collision course’: At Norfolk base, NATO eyes the threat of Russian attacks against North America
Top NATO military leaders fear that Russia is on "a collision course with the rules-based international system" that the transatlantic alliance has helped uphold for 75 years, and they say much of Moscow's military might remains intact despite its ongoing, grueling war with Ukraine. Published September 15, 2025
Air Force moves into next phase of B-21 bomber testing
A second B-21 Raider test aircraft arrived at Edwards Air Force Base in California on Thursday, military officials said, as the Pentagon moves quickly with its testing of the advanced nuclear-capable bombers. Published September 12, 2025
Video shows U.S. Hellfire missile bouncing off UFO near Yemen, congressman says
Video footage taken by U.S. drones off the coast of Yemen last October seems to show a Hellfire missile bouncing off an unidentified flying object and the mysterious craft continuing on its path seemingly unaffected by the strike, according to Rep. Eric Burlison. Published September 10, 2025
Trump on Russian drones shot down over Poland: ‘Here we go!’
President Trump offered his first reaction Wednesday to reports of Russian drones violating Polish airspace, questioning why it was happening. Published September 10, 2025
Poland shoots down Russian drones in its airspace; EU leaders say incursion appears ‘intentional’
Poland shot down Russian drones that violated the country's airspace early Wednesday, Polish and NATO officials said, in what some European leaders cast as an "intentional" escalation by Moscow. Published September 10, 2025
Army awards $195 million contract as competition for augmented reality headset heats up
The Army late last week awarded a $195 million contract to the startup firm Rivet to build an artificial intelligence-powered, augmented-reality headset that proponents say will give soldiers vastly improved capabilities on the battlefield. Published September 8, 2025
In $9.8 billion deal, Army awards Lockheed Martin record-setting Patriot missile contract
Defense firm Lockheed Martin this week announced a record-setting deal to provide nearly 2,000 Patriot air and missile defense interceptors and associated hardware to the Army. Published September 5, 2025
Peace deal Trump’s best bet for ending Russia-Ukraine war, U.S. ambassador to NATO says
Neither Russia nor Ukraine is scoring significant wins on the battlefield and the war between those two countries, now well into its fourth year, will only end at the negotiating table, said U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker. Published September 4, 2025
Worse than Chernobyl? Russia-Ukraine war sparks fear of nuclear power plant catastrophe
It's a theoretical worst-case scenario, but one that feels uncomfortably close to becoming reality. Published September 1, 2025
Production underway for Army’s second wave of short-range reconnaissance drones
The Army this week said production is underway on the second wave of short-range reconnaissance drones for its soldiers as the service, and the military as a whole, begin to equip warfighters with small, unmanned vehicles at the tactical level. Published August 28, 2025
Iran: IAEA inspectors to return after Supreme National Security Council approval
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday that there must be "no exemption or exception" with the access his inspectors have to key Iranian nuclear facilities, including those bombed by U.S. warplanes in June. Published August 27, 2025
Defense Innovation Unit’s chief out in latest Pentagon shuffle
The head of the Defense Innovation Unit reportedly resigned this week, marking another change in a Pentagon leadership post. Published August 27, 2025
Deep divisions over future of Ukraine’s Donbas stand in the way of Trump’s peace deal
The Kremlin made clear Sunday that Ukraine has a right to exist, but only if it agrees to "let people go" from the country's Donbas region, which Russia wants as part of any peace deal. Published August 24, 2025
Vance: U.S. still ‘has a lot of cards left to play’ to put pressure on Russia
Vice President J.D. Vance said Sunday the Trump administration still "has a lot of cards left to play" to pressure Moscow into a peace deal with Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia's lucrative oil industry still remain on the table. Published August 24, 2025
Trump praises Ukraine’s ‘unbreakable spirit’ and ‘courage’ in letter to President Zelenskyy
President Trump praised Ukraine's "unbreakable spirit" and "courage" in a letter marking the 34th anniversary of the Eastern European country's independence. Published August 24, 2025
Pentagon creates medal to honor troops serving on southern border
The Pentagon has created a new medal to recognize U.S. service members deployed to the country's border with Mexico, military officials said Saturday. Published August 24, 2025
Hegseth fires head of Defense Intelligence Agency after leaked Iran damage assessment
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who led the Defense Intelligence Agency, after that agency produced a controversial report -- which was leaked to the press -- assessing that U.S. airstrikes in June didn't completely destroy Iran's nuclear program. Published August 22, 2025
