Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Pentagon: Defense chief Austin back in the hospital for ‘symptoms suggesting bladder issue’
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin returned Sunday to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for symptoms of a bladder issue less than a month after his secret stay at that hospital sparked controversy and multiple investigations for his failure to notify President Biden or his subordinates at the Pentagon. Published February 11, 2024
‘We have to win this war’: Netanyahu defends looming Rafah attack as opposition grows
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday forcefully defended his military's looming operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. Published February 11, 2024
U.S. pounds Houthi rebels in Yemen with four straight days of airstrikes
U.S. forces late Saturday capped off a four-day flurry of airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, targeting Houthi anti-ship missiles, ground vehicles, and other weapons. Published February 11, 2024
Biden faces pressure to cut funding for U.N. relief agency after Hamas data center found
President Biden faced mounting pressure to permanently end all U.S. funding for the embattled United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees after the discovery of what the Israeli military said was a Hamas data center beneath the group's headquarters in Gaza City. Published February 11, 2024
U.S. airstrike kills top commander of Iran-backed militia Kata’ib Hezbollah, Pentagon says
An American military airstrike on Wednesday killed a top commander of an Iran-backed militia umbrella group that the Biden administration says was responsible for recent attacks on U.S. troops, in the latest retaliatory operation against those behind the drone strike that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan late last month. Published February 7, 2024
Israel’s Netanyahu rejects Hamas’ cease-fire plan, pledges ‘complete victory’ in Gaza war
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, saying he would settle for nothing less than "complete victory," rejected a deal put forward by Hamas that would have freed all remaining hostages in exchange for a lengthy cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Published February 7, 2024
Lost leverage: Ex-U.S. intel chief sees few good options amid North Korea’s provocations
Hopes are fading fast to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula, according to a former U.S. intelligence chief, who warned that the increasingly provocative behavior from Pyongyang combined with the near total loss of U.S. diplomatic leverage has resulted in a uniquely dangerous moment. Published February 7, 2024
Israel vows to press ahead in Gaza as hostage talks near finish line
The Israel-Hamas war raced ahead on dual tracks Tuesday, with Israeli officials vowing to press forward with an offensive in the southern Gaza Strip near the Egyptian border even as both sides -- and the Biden administration -- tried to clinch a deal that would free all remaining hostages held by the Palestinian militants. Published February 6, 2024
U.S. military ‘cannot ensure safe passage’ for ships from Houthi attacks, intelligence firm says
U.S. and British warplanes have been regularly striking Houthi targets in Yemen for nearly a month, but that campaign still "cannot ensure safe passage" for commercial ships sailing through the Red Sea, according to a leading maritime intelligence firm. Published February 6, 2024
Most Israelis say safe return of hostages, rather than destroying Hamas, should be main goal: Poll
A majority of Israelis believe their government's main goal in the Gaza Strip should be the safe return of all hostages still held by Hamas, rather than the destruction of the Palestinian terrorist group, according to a new poll released Tuesday. Published February 6, 2024
U.S. launches airstrikes on Iranian military units, militias a week after attack killed 3 Americans
U.S. forces on Friday unleashed a wave of major retaliatory airstrikes against Iran's elite Quds Force units and Iran-backed militias across Iraq and Syria, officials said, finally firing back a week after an attack killed three American service members in Jordan. Published February 2, 2024
Biden ignored alarms about Houthis in order to pursue nuclear talks with Iran, Yemeni official says
The Biden administration and its partners in Europe ignored warnings about the growing danger posed by Houthi rebels because they were fixated on pursuing a new nuclear deal with Iran, according to a top Yemeni official. Published February 2, 2024
Japan’s dispute with church a test of liberty everywhere
The bedrock principle of religious liberty faces a historic test right now in Japan, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told an audience at a major summit in Washington this week, warning that a dangerous, communist-backed effort to punish the Unification Church could carry severe consequences for people of all faiths across the globe. Published January 31, 2024
‘Dismantlement of the government’? Israel’s Netanyahu under pressure over Hamas hostage deal
A key Israeli minister on Tuesday threatened "dismantlement of the government" if his country strikes a "reckless" deal with Hamas, underscoring the immense pressure facing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he searches for a way to bring home the roughly 130 hostages still held by the Palestinian militant group. Published January 30, 2024
The Middle East war Biden tried to avoid may be thrust upon him
President Biden insists he doesn't want a war with Iran. The reality is, America may already be in one. Published January 29, 2024
For years, Pentagon lacked a ‘coordinated approach’ to handle UFO sightings, watchdog says
The Pentagon for years has lacked a "coordinated approach" to detecting, analyzing and cataloging UFO sightings by U.S. service members, the Defense Department's top watchdog said in a key report released publicly this week, warning that the various approaches across the military may have left dangerous national security gaps. Published January 27, 2024
Houthi missile hits oil tanker in Gulf of Aden; U.S. responds with more airstrikes in Yemen
A missile fired by Iran-backed Houthis struck an oil tanker sailing in the Gulf of Aden late Friday night, U.S. officials said, and American forces quickly responded with another round of airstrikes targeting the rebel group in Yemen. Published January 27, 2024
Biden to dispatch CIA Director Burns to broker Hamas hostage deal: Report
CIA Director William Burns will soon travel to Europe to try and negotiate an extended cease-fire deal that would free the remaining hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, according to media reports, as pressure mounts on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of those prisoners who have been held for more than three months. Published January 25, 2024
U.S. military strikes Iran-backed Iraqi militias after attack that wounded American troops
U.S. forces on Tuesday struck three sites in Iraq used by Iran-backed Shiite militias, Pentagon officials said, in a move that comes just days after a militia attack on an American air base in Iraq left several U.S. personnel wounded. Published January 23, 2024
Turkey signs off on Sweden joining NATO, clearing major hurdle for Stockholm’s bid
The Turkish parliament on Tuesday approved Sweden's bid to join NATO in a major boost for the transatlantic alliance, which is now poised to gain its second new member in less than a year after Finland's accession last April. Published January 23, 2024
