News

President Trump Goes Full Alpha on Netanyahu: “You’re F**king Crazy” and Forces De-Escalation [WATCH]
News

President Trump Goes Full Alpha on Netanyahu: “You’re F**king Crazy” and Forces De-Escalation [WATCH]

/

President Donald Trump reportedly engaged in a heated phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the White House worked to preserve a fragile ceasefire in Lebanon amid renewed regional tensions involving Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, and U.S. forces, as reported by Zero Hedge.

According to an Axios report cited Monday, Trump expressed frustration with Israeli military actions and urged Netanyahu not to expand operations into Beirut. The report, citing unnamed U.S. officials and sources briefed on the conversation, claimed Trump delivered unusually blunt remarks during the exchange.

One U.S. official told Axios that Trump warned Netanyahu that further military action against Lebanon’s capital could further isolate Israel internationally.

Trump Orders Federal Agencies To Buy American And Stop Foreign Waiver Abuse

According to the report, Trump told Netanyahu, “You’re fucking crazy,” and later added, “I’m saving your ass.”

Axios also reported that Trump referenced Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial and told the Israeli leader, “You’re fucking crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

Another source briefed on the call told Axios that Trump was “pissed” and at one point asked Netanyahu, “What the fuck are you doing?”

The same report claimed Trump ultimately “steamrolled” Netanyahu during the conversation. According to a U.S. official cited by Axios, Netanyahu responded by saying, “OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of.”

The reported exchange came as Trump announced progress toward a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Following a series of phone calls with regional leaders, Trump said the “shooting will stop” in Lebanon.

The Lebanese presidency later announced that Hezbollah had agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal calling for a mutual cessation of attacks across Lebanese territory.

Despite the announcement, reports of continued fighting surfaced Monday. Sirens sounded in the Israeli border community of Metula following what was described as an apparent Hezbollah rocket attack. The incident occurred after Trump publicly declared that Hezbollah would halt attacks as part of the ceasefire arrangement.

Meanwhile, tensions involving Iran continued to complicate diplomatic efforts.

Iranian state media reported that Tehran had halted exchanges and communications with the United States in protest over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon. Iranian officials argued that any broader agreement involving the United States must include a resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Iranian negotiators accused the United States of violating ceasefire understandings by maintaining a naval blockade and supporting Israeli military actions.

Iranian Parliament Speaker and negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X that “the naval blockade and escalation of war crimes in Lebanon” were “clear evidence of US noncompliance with the ceasefire.”

Despite Iranian statements suggesting talks had stopped, Trump disputed reports that negotiations had ended.

Speaking to NBC News, Trump said, “I think we’ve been talking too much if you want to know the truth, going silent would be very good.”

He added, “We’ll keep the blockade.”

“I think I can wait as long as they want. They’re losing a fortune,” Trump said.

In comments to CNBC, Trump also dismissed concerns about the status of negotiations.

“I don’t care if they’re over, honestly.”

“I really don’t care,” he added.

Trump further predicted oil prices would decline despite concerns surrounding Iran’s threats regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

“I think the oil will be dropping like a rock in the very near, you know, the very near distance,” he said.

The situation remained volatile throughout Monday. U.S. Central Command confirmed that American forces intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting U.S. personnel in Kuwait. CENTCOM said no American service members were injured.

The United States also confirmed recent strikes on Iranian radar and command-and-control facilities after Iran allegedly shot down a U.S. drone over the weekend.

As diplomatic negotiations continued, Trump projected confidence about the outcome. In a Truth Social post, he wrote, “Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end – It always does!”

The Lebanon ceasefire, ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations, and broader regional security situation remain under close scrutiny as officials attempt to prevent the conflict from expanding further across the Middle East.

Hegseth Sounds Alarm Over China’s Aggression, Demands Allies Step Up Their Game
News

Hegseth Sounds Alarm Over China’s Aggression, Demands Allies Step Up Their Game

/

War Secretary Pete Hegseth made it crystal clear in Singapore: China’s military surge is not something to shrug off, and America’s allies across Asia need to stop relying on Washington’s wallet and start investing in their own defense.

Standing before an audience of international defense leaders at the Shangri-La Dialogue—the top Asian security summit—Hegseth didn’t mince words. He said the world’s “rightful alarm” over China’s expanding military footprint is entirely justified.

Beijing’s buildup, he warned, aimed to tilt the regional balance of power toward a single dominating force: the Chinese Communist Party.

Hegseth spoke with the kind of clarity and conviction that’s become his signature under President Trump’s leadership.

“A Pacific dominated by any hegemon would unravel the regional balance of power,” Hegseth asserted, leaving no doubt which hegemon he was referring to. “No state, including China, can impose its will on the region.”

For decades, too many nations expected the United States to foot the bill for their security. Hegseth was blunt that those days are over.

He backed Trump’s insistence that America’s wealthier partners shoulder more of their own defense burdens. The War Secretary called on allies to push defense spending to 3.5% of GDP while the U.S. pours $1.5 trillion into maintaining its edge.

“Less Shangri-La, more ships, more subs,” Hegseth quipped, highlighting that endless conferences don’t stop aggression—military strength does.

China Bets on AI as U.S. Military Edge Grows, Yet Beijing Moves Cautiously

It was a wake-up call to those who still think talking circles replace putting steel in the sea.

Hegseth stressed that stability requires resolve, not rhetoric.

“What allies want, and what the United States delivers, is strength that is disciplined, resolve that is steady, and leadership confident enough to carry a big stick,” he said, echoing a distinctly Rooseveltian tone that resonated deeply among the allied representatives.

Interestingly, Hegseth kept the door open for measured cooperation with Beijing, noting that U.S.-China military communication has improved under Trump’s pragmatic diplomacy.

“We are meeting more frequently with our Chinese counterparts,” he said, emphasizing that open channels don’t mean soft policies—they mean managing risks from a position of strength.

Chinese delegate Zhou Bo, a retired People’s Liberation Army colonel, admitted relations had “improved,” attributing it to President Trump’s recent visit to China.

U.S. Commander Says China’s Bullying in South China Sea Has Failed, Allies Poised to Bolster Deterrence
190116-N-ES994-0043 BEIJING (Jan. 14, 2019) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson visits the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) (PLA(N)) headquarters in Beijing. Richardson is on a three-day visit to Beijing and Nanjing to continue the ongoing dialog between the two heads of navy and encourage professional interactions at sea, specifically addressing risk reduction and operational safety measures to prevent unwanted and unnecessary escalation. (U.S. Navy Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Elliott Fabrizio/Released)

That acknowledgment alone was a diplomatic victory in a region wary of China’s growing influence.

Still, Hegseth refused to indulge any illusions. Beijing skipped the summit for a second year running, continuing its habit of avoiding open forums where its intentions might be challenged.

Last year, Chinese officials accused Hegseth of being “vilifying.” This year, they got a sober reality check wrapped in calm authority.

On the issue of burden-sharing, Hegseth reaffirmed Trump’s long-held position: “The era of the United States subsidizing the defense of wealthy nations is over. We need partners, not protectorates.”

That line drew applause from U.S. allies who’ve recognized the need to invest more seriously in their own security.

He praised nations stepping up: South Korea boosting readiness against northern aggression, Australia committing to regional security, and Japan rebuilding its military posture.

“Tokyo and Washington must each pull our weight,” he said, highlighting Japan’s recent defense modernization as a model for others in the Indo-Pacific.

China, Iran and Russia Hold Joint Naval Drills in Mideast

Pivoting briefly to the Middle East, Hegseth dismissed claims that America’s attention was drifting away from the Indo-Pacific toward Iran. He reaffirmed U.S. capability to handle both theaters simultaneously.

“If necessary, we are more than capable of resuming strikes,” he said, making clear that American deterrence remains as sharp as ever.

When asked about Taiwan—the flashpoint China hates being reminded of—Hegseth remained tight-lipped but confident. The island awaits an arms package rumored to be worth $14 billion, but final approval, he said, rests with President Trump.

“Those decisions will depend on the president and the nature of that relationship,” Hegseth told reporters, signaling continuity in U.S. policy despite renewed engagement with Beijing.

Trump himself, back in Washington, continues his doctrine of peace through strength—demanding allies contribute to their own security and enemies think twice before challenging American power.

Hegseth’s message in Singapore carried that same spirit across the Pacific: strength is shared, but leadership must be earned.

For decades, the U.S. carried the burden of safeguarding free nations. Now, under Trump and Hegseth, America’s allies are being invited—not begged—to stand tall beside her.

The message couldn’t be clearer: China’s challenge will be met not with appeasement, but with power, partnership, and purpose.

Atlanta Senior Citizen Stabbed in Horrific Train Attack, Police Arrest Suspect [WATCH]
News

Atlanta Senior Citizen Stabbed in Horrific Train Attack, Police Arrest Suspect [WATCH]

/

A 66-year-old Atlanta woman died Saturday after she was attacked aboard a MARTA train in what transit police described as a random act of violence, as reported by Fox News.

The victim was identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office as Margaret Swan. MARTA Police Chief Scott Kreher said Swan was attacked while the train was traveling between the Lakewood-Fort McPherson and Oakland City stations.

John Elijah Matthews, 25, has been charged with murder and malice in Swan’s death.

“This appears to be a senseless act of violence, and our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones and those who witnessed this horrific incident,” MARTA said in a statement.

According to a warrant obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta, Swan was sitting alone on the train when Matthews allegedly approached her. CCTV footage reportedly showed Swan alone in the train car at 11:21 a.m. Saturday. Just before 11:25 a.m., Matthews was seen on board and walking toward the side of the train where Swan was seated.

The warrant said that 19 seconds later, Matthews “is seen walking up to (Swan) and standing just to her right.”

Several seconds after that, authorities said Matthews allegedly took out a knife, opened it, and cut Swan in the throat. 11Alive reported that Swan was stabbed 18 to 20 times during the unprovoked attack.

The warrant said Swan screamed for help during the attack as the stabbing continued. Surveillance video then reportedly showed the suspect “throwing [Swan] to the floor and standing near her until the train arrived at the Oakland City Station,” less than two minutes later.

When the train reached Oakland City Station, Matthews allegedly exited the train with the knife still in his hand as officers rushed to the scene. He was arrested shortly after and charged.

Emergency medical workers attempted life-saving measures, but Swan died at the scene.

The case has added to concerns among Atlanta train riders about public transit safety. FOX 5 reported that another man was stabbed multiple times last week at the Georgia State MARTA station.

The fatal attack on Swan occurred aboard public transportation as the train approached Oakland City Station. MARTA police said the attack appeared random, and authorities have not reported any prior connection between Swan and Matthews.

Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for additional information.

Matthews remains charged in connection with Swan’s death as the case proceeds.

U.S. Court Halts War Department from Removing Transgender Troops, But Ban Still Stands
News

U.S. Court Halts War Department from Removing Transgender Troops, But Ban Still Stands

/

A divided federal appeals court has handed down a split decision on President Trump’s common-sense military policy regarding transgender service, allowing the ban on new enlistments to remain in place while temporarily shielding current transgender troops from expulsion as a lawsuit continues.

In a 2-1 ruling, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals declared that while the War Department, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, may enforce standards for enlistment that exclude those identifying as transgender, it cannot yet push out existing service members already in uniform.

The ruling effectively leaves the Trump administration’s enlistment ban in place, reaffirming that military readiness—not political activism—determines who qualifies to serve.

The court majority, led by Obama-appointed Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins, called the administration’s military policy “unlawfully motivated by the bare desire to harm a politically unpopular group.”

That’s quite a stretch, considering the long-standing authority of the War Department to set the physical and mental standards needed to maintain America’s fighting force.

Wilkins admitted, however, that “it appears to us to be a much greater hardship to end a military career than to delay the start of one,” signaling that current transgender troops may remain pending resolution of the case.

Judge Justin Walker, appointed by President Trump, stepped in with a pointed dissent that hit at the core of the issue.

“Courts have neither the expertise nor the authority to decide whether the military can exclude the plaintiffs from its ranks,” he wrote, taking aim at the judicial micromanagement that has interfered with national security decisions for years. Walker’s blunt assessment reflected what countless Americans already believe: that the courtroom is not the place to run the U.S. military.

Trump Seizes Moment as US and Israel Escalate Iran Campaign

Jennifer Levi of the left-wing group GLAD Law, representing the plaintiffs, praised the ruling as a win for transgender rights.

Levi claimed the decision “confirms that the Trump Administration has no legitimate basis to discharge transgender service members who have met every demanding standard.”

Of course, what Levi neglected to mention is that the military’s job is not to affirm identity politics—it’s to win wars, something Secretary Hegseth and the current War Department have made clear from day one.

The Pentagon, or as it’s properly called under the revived Department of War designation, did not immediately comment on the ruling.

But inside military circles, there’s little doubt that the leadership remains committed to restoring discipline and cohesion to America’s ranks after years of social experimentation.

The 2025 policy came in response to a January executive order from President Trump reiterating that adopting a transgender identity “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle.”

U.S. Court Halts War Department from Removing Transgender Troops, But Ban Still Stands

Secretary Hegseth moved quickly to implement the directive, making clear that military service is a privilege rooted in performance, not in identity politics pushed by the cultural left.

Critics have predictably painted the policy as discriminatory, but the administration has framed it as a necessary return to readiness standards that prioritize combat effectiveness, morale, and cost efficiency. Years of gender-based experimentation had diverted focus and resources away from training and mission capability—something the War Department has worked hard to correct since Trump’s return to office.

Advocates for transgender troops argue that there may be as many as 15,000 transgender individuals serving among the 1.3 million active-duty personnel. However, internal War Department figures say that the number is likely far lower.

Even so, the administration’s policy isn’t about headcounts—it’s about ensuring the standards of America’s armed forces remain rooted in realism, not ideology.

The Supreme Court in May 2025 already allowed the policy to move forward amid litigation, lifting a temporary block from a federal judge in Washington State.

The high court offered no written reasoning, though Judge Wilkins speculated that it might have acted on a technical procedural matter.

Regardless, that earlier decision laid the groundwork for what the Trump administration views as a necessary reaffirmation of command authority.

Trump Signals Bold Move as U.S. Deploys Thousands to the Middle East

While left-leaning activists are cheering the partial block, the White House remains confident that the broader case will uphold the president’s constitutional authority to determine military eligibility standards.

The War Department under Secretary Hegseth continues to argue that national defense—not gender ideology—must drive policy decisions.

At the same time, conservatives view this ruling as yet another example of federal judges overstepping their bounds at the expense of common sense.

Military command decisions should be left to generals and warfighters, not judicial panels looking for political validation. There’s a simple truth driving this debate: America’s enemies don’t care about pronouns, and neither should its warriors.

For now, the ban on new transgender enlistments stands firm—a reflection of President Trump’s clear vision of a disciplined, mission-ready force.

Whether the courts finally respect that authority or continue down the path of social-engineered activism remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Trump administration and War Secretary Pete Hegseth are not backing down when it comes to restoring America’s military might.

ICE Demands Newsom End Sanctuary Law After Illegal Alien Kills Infant, Mother, and Grandmother [WATCH]
News

ICE Demands Newsom End Sanctuary Law After Illegal Alien Kills Infant, Mother, and Grandmother [WATCH]

/

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are urging California Gov. Gavin Newsom to end the state’s sanctuary policy after an illegal immigrant from Mexico was charged in connection with the deaths of an infant, the child’s mother, and the child’s grandmother in Modesto, as reported by Breitbart.

Joaquin Escoto Vazquez, 28, was arrested by the Modesto Police Department and charged with homicide and cruelty toward a child. Authorities say the victims were the infant, 23-year-old Fabiola Gonzalez-Nunez, and 54-year-old Maria Sylvia Nunez-Villalobos.

According to police, officers responded to a residence in Modesto and found the three victims with fatal injuries. Gonzalez-Nunez and Nunez-Villalobos were pronounced dead at the scene. The infant was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

Vazquez was not at the residence when officers arrived, according to the report. He was later arrested by Modesto police.

ICE officials told Breitbart News that Vazquez had previously been arrested four times for drunk driving in California. His most recent drunk driving arrest came in June 2025, when ICE agents lodged a detainer against him with the San Joaquin County Jail.

Federal immigration officials said California’s sanctuary state policy resulted in that detainer being ignored. Vazquez was later released back into the community.

ICE has since placed another detainer on Vazquez with the Stanislaus County Jail. The agency is asking jail officials to notify federal immigration authorities if he is released at any point.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Lauren Bis said California officials should cooperate with ICE to prevent criminal illegal immigrants from being released from local custody.

“This monster’s heinous crime could have been prevented if sanctuary politicians in California simply cooperated with ICE law enforcement,” Bis said.

“This criminal illegal alien from Mexico is now charged with homicide and cruelty toward a child after the fatal stabbings of a baby, the baby’s mother, and the baby’s grandmother,” she said. “… Governor Gavin Newsom and his fellow sanctuary politicians must stop putting lives at risk by releasing criminals from jails into California communities to create more victims.”

ICE officials said Vazquez first illegally crossed the southern border into California in 2018. He was deported during President Donald Trump’s first administration. At a later date, officials said, Vazquez illegally crossed the border again as an unknown getaway.

The case has renewed attention on California’s sanctuary policies, which restrict cooperation between state and local authorities and federal immigration enforcement.

ICE officials argue that those policies prevent agents from taking custody of criminal illegal immigrants after local arrests, even when federal detainers have been filed. Supporters of sanctuary rules have defended them for years as limits on state involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

In this case, federal officials say the June 2025 detainer should have allowed ICE to take custody of Vazquez after his latest drunk driving arrest. Instead, according to ICE, he was released before the Modesto case.

Vazquez remains in local custody as the homicide and child cruelty charges proceed.

Air Force Clears T-38 Talon for Flight After Crash Probe Grounds Fleet
News

Air Force Clears T-38 Talon for Flight After Crash Probe Grounds Fleet

/

The U.S. Air Force’s T-38 Talon trainers are back in the air after a brief grounding, wrapping up just over a week of operational pause following a training accident that sent one of the jets down in rural Alabama.

The return to flight marks a fast turnaround by the service as investigators continue to sift through the cause of the mishap.

The incident took place on May 12 when a T-38 Talon II from Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi went down in Lamar County, Alabama.

The crash prompted a May 19 decision to temporarily halt all T-38 flying operations across the force until safety teams could complete a thorough inspection.

The fleetwide pause was a standard safety measure but also a reminder of how high the Air Force’s bar for flight safety remains. By last Friday, the service announced that the halt had been lifted and that planes would return to duty in the days ahead.

Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and Air Force Global Strike Command were all affected by the pause.

According to the Air Force’s statement, engineers and maintenance specialists have developed and validated a detailed inspection process for every aircraft before it returns to flight.

That extra scrutiny, the service said, ensures “a safe and thorough return to flight” while the ongoing investigation continues to determine the root cause of the crash.

Air Force Clears T-38 Talon for Flight After Crash Probe Grounds Fleet
A formation of T-38 Talons flies over Sacramento, Calif., July 27, 2022.

The Safety Investigation Board remains at work, examining flight data, maintenance records, and component performance.

Though officials haven’t disclosed technical details, they insist that every T-38 that takes off again has passed multiple layers of scrutiny from engineering, maintenance, and operational safety experts.

While a pause in training operations could normally slow down pilot production, the Air Force avoided major setbacks by ramping up simulator time. The affected aircrews turned to simulators to sharpen skills, meet proficiency standards, and maintain familiarity with flight procedures.

According to the Air Force, those additional simulator sessions have helped “mitigate impacts to operations, training, and readiness.”

A spokesperson for Air Education and Training Command confirmed that while the cause of the crash remains unknown, critical investigative and analytical steps have been taken.

“The operational pause allowed time for continued investigation, engineering assessment, and coordination with safety, maintenance, and program office experts,” the spokesperson told Military Times.

It’s worth noting that the T-38, though a workhorse of America’s training fleet since the early 1960s, is now an older platform approaching its seventh decade of service. Still, it continues to play a central role in producing the next generation of fighter and bomber pilots.

The fleet’s age only reinforces the importance of meticulous inspections and a robust maintenance culture—something the Air Force has doubled down on.

Air Force Clears T-38 Talon for Flight After Crash Probe Grounds Fleet
Two T-38 Talons fly in formation over Eastern Shore, Virginia, after participating in a RED AIR mission, on Dec. 7, 2017. (Carlin Leslie/U.S. Air Force)

The Talon’s history is a proud one. Generations of Air Force aviators have earned their wings in its cockpit, and even as the branch prepares to transition to the next-generation T-7A Red Hawk, the T-38 remains crucial.

Many in the Air Force see its longevity as a testament to good maintenance practices and disciplined flight safety—hallmarks of U.S. air superiority.

The Air Force’s calm, methodical approach to restoring operations stands in contrast to how Washington bureaucracies often respond to crisis—showing exactly what real leadership looks like in uniform. Rather than panic or foot-drag, the service acted swiftly, investigated thoroughly, and resumed mission-critical training with confidence.

That’s the kind of readiness and efficiency Secretary of War Pete Hegseth continues to champion across the War Department: bold accountability matched with action.

For an Air Force now operating in an increasingly contested world environment, the ability to return assets to service quickly and safely is not a luxury—it’s a matter of national strength.

Operational pauses like this one remind America’s adversaries that safety doesn’t mean softness; it means precision, discipline, and unwavering commitment to readiness.

The ongoing investigation will eventually determine what caused the Alabama crash, but the Air Force’s response already underscores a clear message: America’s air power keeps flying, no matter the challenge.

The Talon is back, the training pipeline is humming, and the mission continues.

U.S. Military is Looking for ‘Cultural Advisors’ in Somalia as Regional Threats Surge
News

U.S. Military is Looking for ‘Cultural Advisors’ in Somalia as Regional Threats Surge

/

The U.S. military is seeking cultural and political advisors to bolster operations in Somalia, a clear signal that Washington is trying to re-anchor its presence in a region increasingly defined by instability, extremism, and dwindling intelligence visibility.

According to a federal notice posted in late May, the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Somalia (JSOTF-SOM) is hiring three contractors who will advise troops on Somali politics, tribal dynamics, and cultural customs.

It’s a targeted effort to bridge the growing intelligence and cultural gap that has widened during years of U.S. drawdowns across Africa.

The advisors will not be ordinary contractors. They’ll need Top Secret clearances, and their mission will stretch beyond Mogadishu’s fortified compound into austere environments across Somalia, Djibouti, and Kenya.

Those posting for the job are warned of personal risk, yet the implication is obvious—America is plugging serious intelligence holes that emerged after a decade of strategic neglect.

The move comes as the War Department continues to recalibrate its approach to African operations following years of troop reductions. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has seen its footprint slashed by nearly 75% over the past decade.

Gen. Dagvin Anderson, who commands the effort, bluntly described the result before Congress as “an intelligence black hole.”

That’s not hyperbole. Fewer boots on the ground combined with reduced local coordination have created blind spots across the continent.

Anderson’s testimony warned that terrorist groups like ISIS and al Shabab still possess both intent and capability to target American interests abroad—and potentially at home.

U.S. Forces Capture ISIS-Somalia Finance Chief in Puntland Raid

President Donald Trump, not one to play defense when it comes to national security, recently confirmed ordering the strike that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, ISIS’s second-in-command, in the Lake Chad Basin earlier this year.

The operation reinforced Trump’s no-nonsense approach to counterterrorism—seek, strike, and eliminate threats wherever they hide.

While the Lake Chad operation occurred far from Somalia’s limits, the mission highlighted a broader truth: Africa remains a live front in the global war on terror.

Somalia, in particular, continues to serve as a breeding ground for extremism with both ISIS and the al-Qaeda-linked al Shabab group vying for control.

The Africa Center for Strategic Studies has repeatedly flagged the region as one of the world’s most dangerous for insurgent activity.

In 2025 alone, U.S. forces carried out 124 strikes inside Somalia targeting militants, a staggering jump from just 10 the previous year. Even with fewer troops in the field, Washington’s airpower has surged, signaling that the U.S. is far from retreating.

If anything, this combination of kinetic force and cultural intelligence gathering suggests a more surgical, data-driven strategy emerging under a refocus on combat effectiveness.

U.S. Forces Capture ISIS-Somalia Finance Chief in Puntland Raid

These newly sought-after advisors aren’t meant to teach American soldiers about Somali folklore. Their real purpose is far more tactical—decode the alliances, tribal rivalries, and political undercurrents that extremists exploit to hide and recruit. Every successful special operations campaign depends not just on ordinance, but on understanding.

Knowing which tribes support who, which local governments command legitimacy, and which cultural lines can be crossed—or must never be—can mean the difference between operational success and disaster.

As U.S. forces adapt to leaner conditions in Africa, the importance of these advisors cannot be overstated. With intelligence shortfalls threatening to blind frontline operators, the Pentagon’s decision to re-engage locally, however modestly, could reenergize coordination with African partners and deter renewed terrorist momentum.

Critics may argue that American involvement in Somalia hasn’t yielded much in two decades.

That misses the point. Counterterrorism is not a one-and-done affair; it’s a sustained act of vigilance. The alternative—abandoning key ground to al Shabab and ISIS—isn’t containment, it’s surrender.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has long warned that disengagement from hot zones like the Horn of Africa only emboldens America’s enemies and undermines hard-won security gains.

Contractors heading into this mission have a tough job ahead. They’ll be called upon to navigate complex cultural landscapes for operators conducting precision raids, intelligence gathering, and local outreach.

Their work will underpin future operations in East Africa and could determine how effectively U.S. command reestablishes situational awareness on the continent.

U.S. Strikes in Somalia Persist, Matching Last Year’s Pace
U.S. forces host a land navigation course with the Danab Brigade in Somalia, May 18, 2021. Special Operations Command Africa remains engaged with partner forces in Somalia in order to promote safety and stability across the Horn of Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Zoe Russell)

The new advisory program begins this September, symbolizing more than a hiring effort. It’s a strategic correction—a recognition that America must not only strike hard but also understand deeply. In a world of asymmetric threats, both guns and brains are needed to win.

For now, Somalia remains both a proving ground and a warning. The U.S. military’s hunt for cultural advisors is not just about diplomacy—it’s about survival in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

U.S. Forces Blast Defiant Cargo Ship with Hellfire Missile After Ignoring Blockade Orders
News

U.S. Forces Blast Defiant Cargo Ship with Hellfire Missile After Ignoring Blockade Orders

/

An American aircraft fired a precision Hellfire missile on Friday, slamming into the engine room of a cargo ship that tried to defy the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

The strike disabled the vessel instantly, sending a crystal-clear message that the United States will not tolerate violations of its maritime control zone.

According to U.S. Central Command, the Gambia-flagged M/V Lian Star ignored more than twenty warnings before the aircraft engaged.

The ship was attempting to sneak through the Gulf of Oman toward an Iranian port, a direct breach of the U.S.-enforced blockade. CENTCOM later confirmed the operation, specifying that the vessel was immobilized and is no longer advancing toward Iran.

This marks the fifth time since early April that U.S. forces have fired directly on a ship to disable it.

The blockade around the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial global energy artery — has been at the heart of the tense standoff between Washington and Tehran. Both nations have been enforcing competing blockades, making the narrow strait a geopolitical powder keg.

Marine tracking satellites had monitored the Lian Star for days.

The ship, which initially departed from Karachi, Pakistan en route to Iraq, reportedly attempted a diversion toward Iran. CENTCOM officials decided to take decisive action when it became clear the ship intended to break through.

The Hellfire strike into the engine room was described as “measured” and “precise,” meant to cripple the vessel without sinking it.

US Forces Blast Defiant Cargo Ship With Hellfire Missile After Ignoring Blockade Orders
An AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile launches from the surface-to-surface missile module aboard the Littoral Combat Ship USS Montgomery in the Pacific Ocean, May, 12, 2022. The exercise was the first proof of concept launch of the Longbow Hellfire missile against land-based target.

The Pentagon did not release the names of the warships or aircraft involved. The cargo vessel remains adrift in the Gulf of Oman, awaiting recovery or boarding teams. As of Saturday evening, U.S. officials had no confirmation of injuries among the crew.

The strike was part of a larger campaign of enforcement that has already disabled five vessels and redirected 116 since April.

In a statement, CENTCOM emphasized that multiple warnings went ignored before the strike, underscoring U.S. patience throughout the incident.

“The ship was given every opportunity to comply,” said a senior military officer. “This was about maintaining lawful control of international waters under blockade conditions — not escalation.”

While large-scale combat between the U.S. and Iran has paused since April’s ceasefire, smaller flare-ups continue to erupt almost weekly. These range from intercepted Iranian drone flights to tit-for-tat missile incidents.

The Strait of Hormuz has become the flashpoint in a broader chess match involving energy flow, regional influence, and U.S. power projection.

Hormuz Strait Exposes the Limits of Air Denial in Open Shipping

President Donald Trump’s leadership continues to send a clear message: America will defend its interests with strength and precision. On Friday, he hinted that the blockade “will now be lifted,” signaling that Washington may be willing to ease restrictions if Iran steps back from provocations. For now, CENTCOM says operations remain ongoing until ordered otherwise by the White House.

Despite this, Iran’s regime continues to act recklessly. Bloomberg reported that an Iranian missile strike on Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait wounded five people, including American service members.

Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted the missile before impact, yet debris still caused minor injuries. U.S. forces responded earlier this week with strikes on targets near Bandar Abbas, hitting facilities linked to Iranian missile operations.

Since early spring, CENTCOM has focused on balancing controlled pressure against Iran’s aggressive proxies while avoiding full-scale escalation.

Each strike, boarding, or blockade enforcement reflects that strategy — containment without chaos. The Hellfire strike on Friday fits exactly within that doctrine of firm deterrence.

US Forces Blast Defiant Cargo Ship With Hellfire Missile After Ignoring Blockade Orders
A Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter shoots an AGM-114N Hellfire missile during Exercise Baltic Operations in the Baltic Sea, June 14, 2019. The annual maritime-focused exercise enhances flexibility and interoperability among allied and partner nations.

America’s continued naval dominance in the Gulf is not just about oil or shipping lanes.

It’s about maintaining order against a regime that thrives on chaos. The mullahs in Tehran have long tried to exploit every perceived opening to move weapons, fuel, and hostages across international waters.

But this administration — led by Trump and backed by War Secretary Pete Hegseth — has made clear that the days of looking the other way are over.

The message heard worldwide after Friday’s missile strike is unmistakable: defy American warnings, and you’ll face consequences. No apologies, no lengthy “diplomatic consultations,” just precision force delivered at the exact moment necessary.

With both the United States and Iran negotiating around a fragile ceasefire, these incidents continue to test just how far each side is willing to go. For the Trump administration, enforcement comes before appeasement, and the U.S. Navy will maintain that posture until Tehran learns the meaning of compliance.

Reports of Vessels Hit as Iran Declares Hormuz Closed Again, Escalating Gulf Tensions

The Strait of Hormuz may be 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, but in terms of world power, it’s the most heavily policed stretch of water on Earth. American resolve — backed by firepower — ensures that freedom of navigation doesn’t bend to rogue states or blockade breakers.

At this stage, the Lian Star may be nothing more than a drifting reminder of what happens when a vessel challenges U.S. might.

The blockade still stands, U.S. control remains intact, and the next blockade violator will face the same fate.

EPA Chief Zeldin Uncovers Massive Obama-Biden Green Energy Kickback Scheme [WATCH]
News

EPA Chief Zeldin Uncovers Massive Obama-Biden Green Energy Kickback Scheme [WATCH]

/

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said he has made several criminal referrals after reviewing billions of dollars in Biden-era green energy grants that he alleges were routed through politically connected nonprofit groups, as reported by Just The News.

Zeldin discussed the referrals during an interview on Monday on the “John Solomon Reports” podcast, where he said his agency has canceled or stopped about $29 billion in EPA grants.

The figure includes a $2 billion grant to Power Forward Communities, a nonprofit tied to longtime Georgia Democratic election activist and failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

“It’s about self-dealing,” Zeldin told Just the News.

Zeldin said the EPA has referred several transactions to the agency’s inspector general and the Justice Department for possible prosecution or additional investigation.

“Those referrals have been made,” Zeldin said.

The EPA chief said the concerns involve pass-through organizations connected to former Obama and Biden administration officials, Democratic donors, former Cabinet members, and other high-ranking administration officials.

“As you look through all of these pass-through entities, you’re seeing so many connections to former Obama and Biden administration officials and Democratic donors, people who were former Cabinet members, other high-ranking administration officials,” Zeldin said.

Zeldin said some of the allegations trace back to funding included in the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed when Democrats controlled Congress and the White House. He specifically pointed to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

“They included all of this funding in this so-called Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. And then they would work with these different agencies of the Biden administration to get it out to their unqualified friends. The whole thing just feels criminal,” Zeldin said. “[…] This is clearly something that falls into the category of blatant waste and abuse.”

One of the grants Zeldin has repeatedly highlighted is the Biden administration’s $2 billion award to Power Forward Communities. The money was awarded in 2024 to support “residential decarbonization,” including replacing gas furnaces and other appliances with electric alternatives.

Abrams reportedly “played a pivotal role” in establishing the group, according to Fox News. The grant later drew scrutiny after Power Forward Communities was reported to have only $100 the year before the award.

The Trump administration’s EPA announced in February 2025 that it was taking steps to recover the money as part of a broader effort to claw back funds pushed out during the closing period of the Biden administration.

Abrams, who worked for Vitalizing De Soto, a group tied to Power Forward, has denied wrongdoing. She said the grant was intended to help homeowners purchase eco-friendly appliances.

“Based on that program, a coalition of organizations – famous organizations – came together and said to the EPA, ‘if we can do this here, we can do this for millions more Americans,’” Abrams said in a 2025 MSNBC interview. “Let us invest the money of America in lowering the cost for Americans.”

Judicial Watch has sued to obtain more information about the grant.

“As the Biden administration was collapsing in 2024, it lawlessly rushed out billions in cash to left-wing interest groups in a way that encouraged fraud and abuse. The Trump EPA team should disclose and expose every single document about this massive Biden corruption scandal,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement.

Zeldin’s review began in spring 2025, when the EPA said the Biden administration had moved $20 billion from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund into an account at Citibank in New York, with eight nonprofits given authority to spend the money.

The EPA asked its inspector general to investigate several transactions. According to the agency, those included former Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Director Jahi Wise, who “personally oversaw” a $5 billion grant to his previous employer; the $2 billion grant to Power Forward Communities; and a $20 million award to Young, Gifted & Green, whose CEO applied for funding while serving on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

The $20 billion has been canceled, but the matter remains tied up in federal court. No major criminal prosecutions have been brought against grant recipients so far.

The EPA has said career agency officials raised concerns during the application review process about sending billions of taxpayer dollars to groups with limited financial background and political ties.

“Comments from the panel of government career staffers during the application review process highlighted concerns over handing billions of American tax dollars to these groups in addition to the lack of financial background to handle such large sums of money,” the agency wrote.

A federal judge initially blocked Zeldin’s efforts and allowed the groups to access the money. A three-judge appeals panel later sided with the EPA. The full D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is reviewing the case, which could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Zeldin said he expects that after the litigation concludes, most of the $29 billion in grants flagged and blocked by the EPA will be returned to the Treasury.

“We’re not taking money from left-wing NGOs to give them to right-wing NGOs,” Zeldin said. “This is about getting that money back to the taxpayer. This is about making sure that the money coming through an agency like EPA doesn’t have any amount of waste and abuse, that there’s a zero tolerance for it.”

James Talarico Scrambles to Rewrite ‘God Is Nonbinary’ Gaffe, Points Finger at Ken Paxton [WATCH]
News

James Talarico Scrambles to Rewrite ‘God Is Nonbinary’ Gaffe, Points Finger at Ken Paxton [WATCH]

/

Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico is attempting to put distance between himself and several controversial comments from his past as he campaigns against Attorney General Ken Paxton in the 2026 U.S. Senate race, as reported by The Blaze.

One statement in particular has become a focal point of criticism from Republicans and conservative commentators after resurfacing during the campaign.

During a 2021 Texas House floor and committee debate involving transgender-related issues, Talarico made comments about God and gender that continue to draw attention years later.

“God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is nonbinary,” Talarico said at the time.

He continued by citing scripture while discussing transgender-identifying children.

“In Genesis 1:26, God speaks of God’s self in the plural, saying, ‘Let us make human beings in our image to be like us.’ That’s the infinite multitude of God. The masculine, the feminine, and everything in between,” Talarico said.

“Trans children are God’s children made in God’s own image. There’s nothing wrong with them. Nothing at all. They are perfect. They are beautiful, and they are sacred.”

The remarks have repeatedly resurfaced during the Senate campaign, with Paxton and other Republicans pointing to them as evidence of what they describe as Talarico’s views on gender and religion.

As the general election campaign has intensified, Talarico has offered a different explanation of the comments.

During a recent interview with CBS News correspondent Ed O’Keefe, Talarico acknowledged the statement generated controversy and said he intended to attract attention with the remark.

“I was being intentionally provocative with that statement. But what it means is that God can’t be defined by human categories. The apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians says that in Christ there is neither male nor female,” Talarico said.

He also accused Paxton of using the comments for political purposes, saying the attorney general was “intentionally clipping [his] cringey comments to distract from his career of corruption.”

Talarico made similar comments during an interview with CNN anchor Jake Tapper.

“I understand that that comment is a little provocative. I said it on the House floor when the extremists in the Republican legislature were picking on school kids who were different. But I don’t think it’s controversial theologically. Most Christians would acknowledge that God is beyond gender,” he said.

The issue became a topic of discussion on BlazeTV’s “Pat Gray Unleashed,” where host Pat Gray and his panel criticized Talarico’s explanation and his attempt to shift blame to Paxton.

Co-host Keith Malinak questioned Talarico’s defense of the comments.

“Oh, so it’s Ken Paxton’s fault that you’re twisting the word of God?” Malinak said, later describing Talarico as “insufferable.”

The discussion also expanded to broader debates surrounding women’s sports and policies involving transgender-identifying athletes.

Gray argued that athletic competition should be organized according to biological sex and suggested alternative approaches for transgender-identifying athletes.

“If they want to play sports, let’s come up with a way to let them engage in sports. Like with their own biological gender, they could compete, or we create a separate category for trans people,” Gray said.

“But you don’t stick them against the females. It doesn’t make any sense.”

The controversy comes as the Texas Senate race continues to draw national attention, with Republicans highlighting Talarico’s previous statements while the Democratic nominee seeks to explain comments that have become a recurring issue on the campaign trail.


Scroll to Top