This video describes the military situation in

As our staff includes several combat rescue experienced military personnel, we at AFP were particularly interested in this story.
Ukrainian forces carried out the world’s first aerial evacuation of a wounded soldier using a heavy Gurzuf Defence hexacopter.
The soldier was rescued from the front line after mines and enemy drone activity made ground evacuation impossible.
He is now recovering.
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The Middle East is bracing itself for a new hot phase in the war with Iran as Israel and Tehran ramp up their aggressive rhetoric against each other.

The war has been relatively calm over the last few months, as the U.S. has refrained from striking Iran since late summer.

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, sits on the flightline before a munitions load at Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 8, 2026.

As the Middle East braces for a renewed hot phase in the war against Iran, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said recently that the war with Iran could last for another year, but expressed hope that a peace settlement could be reached before then.

Meanwhile, oil prices are rising to record highs as the oil industry expects renewed chaos in the region this November.

A-10 Warthog Cannon NSJ Photo. Taken at U.S. Air Force Museum on 7/19/2025.

A-10 Warthog National Security Journal Photo.

Russian strongman Vladimir Putin has notched several big wins in recent weeks, wins that seem to have come to the Kremlin at little cost.

American Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff recently called Putin a humanitarian, and the United States will, despite a raft of international sanctions on Russian energy products, allow the temporary purchase of Russian oil — putting more rubles in the Kremlin’s coffers at a crucial moment in the war.

Putin Speaking at Railway Conference Russia Government Photo.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in a video announcing the Confucius Institutes designation, posted Oct. 23, 2026. Screenshot: @SecWar video (U.S. Department of War, Public Domain)

In a video posted to social media Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon has designated Confucius Institutes – the Chinese government-backed cultural centers that once thrived on American college campuses – as a threat to national security, Reuters reported.
A few years ago Congress banned the Confucius Institutes, which Washington has long accused of being Chinese propaganda tools.

The Middle East is bracing itself for a new hot phase in the war with Iran as Israel and Tehran ramp up their aggressive rhetoric against each other.

The war has been relatively calm over the last few months, as the U.S. has refrained from striking Iran since late summer.

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, sits on the flightline before a munitions load at Kadena Air Base, Japan, July 8, 2026.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks with U.S. Marines after remarks at the Marine Corps 250th Anniversary Celebration in Arlington, Va., Oct. 10, 2025 (file photo). Photo: DoW photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Madelyn Keech (Public Domain)

Posted Zero Hedge
Military boards set up to push transgender troops out of the service are instead voting to keep many of them, the New York Times reported Friday, in a quiet break with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s ban.
Nine of the 12 service members who have come before the boards have been approved to stay, according to the Times.

The RAF battled back to lead France, but two la

Russia is one of the world’s major oil producers and, compared with other major players in the Middle East, North America, and elsewhere, is undeniably a global heavyweight.

But that position masks what could, in the long term, prove to be a significant weak spot for Russian energy exports: age.

Putin in 2025 Russian Government Photo

Putin Back in 2022 Russian Government Photo

And that seems to be a weakness Ukraine is going after with missiles and drones.

Air defense artillery soldiers who successfully engage at least five hostile targets in a combat zone could get a new skill badge, Task & Purpose has confirmed. 
Details of the new badge were included in a copy of an Army PowerPoint slide that was circulated on social media. An Army official said the information included on the slide was “pre-decisional” but confirmed that the badge was in the works. 
Based on the Army slide, soldiers would need to have five or more “successful hostile engagements in an operational environment” to earn it.

This video describes the military situation in

Even though Russian strongman Vladimir Putin says he is ready for renewed peace negotiations with Ukraine and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Kremlin launched air strikes yet again against Ukraine, hitting the Ukrainian capital city, Kyiv, yet again.

Against the backdrop of apartment buildings and homes ablaze, Washington is pushing for a resumption of peace talks, with presidential envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff leading the charge.

Vladimir Putin Russian President 2019. Image Credit: Kremlin.

Putin Back in 2020. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Gulf oil shipments and exports have returned to pre-war levels in some cases, according to the latest data, but getting the so-called “black gold” to customers remains expensive and risky.

Tankers must make short voyages to the Strait of Hormuz before passing the cargo to other ships, while traders face soaring freight rates and insurance costs.

Oil Platform. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Generic Oil Tanker Image. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Kpler’s numbers show crude and condensate exports totaled 24.

The costs of Ukraine’s campaign against Russia’s oil industry are rising for Moscow as Kyiv’s repeated attacks threaten the stability of Russia’s most lucrative sector.

After repeated attacks, the cost of repairs to its oil refineries, which typically take a few weeks to return to operation, is mounting, as Ukrainian drones continue to hit Russia’s oil infrastructure.

ATACMS Like Used in Ukraine Creative Commons

An ATACMS missile being launched from an M270 MLRS.

From eight-week patrols to deployments lasting

Iran is threatening to attack data centers, undersea internet cables, and Gulf energy installations if U.S. and Israeli strikes resume.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Iranian Supreme Council of National Security, told left-leaning outlet Drop Site News that Iran intends to do so.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh Gunderson, F-22 Demo Team commander, enters into the Raptor Slide during the Millville Airshow, Sept. 3, 2021, at Millville Army Airfield, Millville, New Jersey.

President Donald Trump appears to be losing support among the young American men who helped return him to the White House in 2024, according to new polling.

Young men, particularly those frustrated with the economy and the general hostility toward their demographic during the Joe Biden administration, were a critical part of the coalition that returned Trump to power just two years ago.

Chris Cathers looks a little nervous in the photograph, which, say the people who knew him, was not typical for the former Green Beret and veterans advocate.
Robert Vaughn met Cathers when the two were young soldiers suffering together through the Army’s Special Forces selection course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. They both became Green Berets, and through 30 years of friendship that included war and cancer, Vaughn said he never knew Cathers to be scared of much.
Cathers spent his career in Special Forces and, later, as a CIA ground officer, deploying to the post-9/11 wars.

Eight months into the conflict with Iran, the debate in Washington centers on carriers, the blockade, and whether President Trump resumes strikes after the midterms.

However, the water itself has become a casualty.

An EA-18G Growler, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, takes off from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), May 21, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)

A U.S.

Britain has opened a £60m gun barrel productio

President Donald Trump is considering several days of new U.S. attacks on Iran after the November 3 midterms.

Republicans Likely to Lose
Voters will decide every seat in the U.S. House of Representatives next month, along with one-third of Senate seats.

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress departs after being refueled by KC-135 Stratotanker over the Pacific Northwest July 18, 2024.

Polls have shown Republicans with a fairly sizeable disadvantage to Democrats on the generic congressional ballot for weeks.

Still, four pollsters who spoke to POLITICO have described what they believe is a likely, devastating defeat for Republicans on November 3.

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend a ceremony at the Pentagon in observance of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Friday, September 11, 2026. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

President Donald J.

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing for a protracted war with Iran, after initially indicating in February that the strikes would amount to a short-term conflict.

The admission came from U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, who acknowledged in a Friday interview that Washington could be stuck in a confrontation with Tehran well into 2027, with no agreement on Iran’s nuclear program or a return to normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

A B-2 Spirit soars after a refueling mission over the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, May 30, 2006.

An AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter has debuted

US President Donald J. Trump Is In Trouble When It Comes to the Economy – Americans are paying more for gasoline, and their grocery bills have risen sharply over the past year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, goods were 3.7% more expensive in September than 12 months earlier.

Gasoline alone jumped 9.1% in the same period, with many voters blaming a president who campaigned largely on an economic platform two years ago.

Social Security Check. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Social Security Check. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

An Air Force unit that trains special operations airmen suspended rappelling and ropes training after an instructor in the squadron died during a demonstration at a college football game in San Antonio, Texas, officials confirmed to Task & Purpose.
Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson, a 15-year Air Force veteran and instructor at the 6th Combat Training Squadron, fell during a rappelling demonstration before the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Oct. 17 football game against Navy at the Alamodome. Patterson fell from the stadium’s 160-foot-high rafters onto the playing field.

The Pentagon issued new guidance this week focused on implementing the Trump administration’s so-called “truth-seeking” and “ideological neutrality” principles in AI procurements.
A memorandum dated Oct.

Denmark has agreed to purchase two long-range precision missile systems for its armed forces, prompting a warning from Russia.

The Army plans to fly the Black Hawk into the 2

Iran is threatening to expand the war with the U.S. and Israel and begin launching new attacks against American military bases and economic targets throughout the Middle East.

The threats come as reports describe the Pentagon as preparing for another major offensive against Tehran, with President Donald Trump widely expected to authorize new strikes soon after the November 3 midterm elections.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) steams behind the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Persian Gulf on Jan. 31, 2006.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Iran of spreading misinformation to raise oil prices ahead of next month’s midterm elections.

Trump said the Iranian regime was “doing everything they can” to drive up oil prices, including fabricating reports regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

A 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron B-1B Lancer flies over the East China Sea May 6, 2020, during a training mission.

Despite her diminutive stature, RAF athlete Ste

The views and opinion expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities mentioned.
Every few years, orders arrive, and a military family packs up. For spouses who run their own businesses, the move costs more than boxes and a security deposit. Many of them also lose something that took years to build: the online reputation that brought in customers.
Think about the spouse who runs a pet-sitting service, a cleaning business or a portrait studio. Most new customers find a business like that on Google.

Russia’s oil titan is struggling to maintain its refineries as they continue to suffer persistent Ukrainian drone attacks, which leave some facilities forced to postpone expensive repairs.

Russian oil giant Rosneft executives privately believe that another round of attacks that damage several of its plants over the next few months would harm its business prospects, even as soaring oil prices and a new diesel deal with the United States provide some relief.

Putin Back on 2_2026 State Media Photo

Putin New Year’s Message. Image Credit: Russian Government.

The U.S. midterm elections are only ten days away.

Barring a remarkable political recovery not seen in modern history, the Republican Party is set to lose at least one chamber of Congress.

Vice President JD Vance gives remarks at a Sports Council announcement, Thursday, July 31, 2025, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. (White House Intern Photo by Julian Casciano)

According to some Democratic Party insiders, they’re confident both chambers could turn blue on Tuesday, 3rd November.

Two of Ukraine’s most prominent drone experts have warned that Russia will likely move toward a deep arsenal of new cruise missiles as part of its full-scale invasion.

Over the past 12 months, Moscow has increasingly used jet-powered Shahed drones, which have proven troublesome for Ukrainian air defenses.

MSTA-S Russian Army. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Msta-S Russian Army. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

However, two former drone advisors to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense warned of a new form of aerial assault in separate Telegram posts this week.

Trump Is Losing Texas Hispanic Voters – The news just keeps getting worse for the Republican Party, with new reporting showing President Donald Trump losing the support of Hispanic voters in Texas only two years after he made historic gains with the demographic. The news leaves Republicans even more exposed in congressional districts previously considered safe.

A White House-appointed commission of military spouses floated the idea of cutting or eliminating the tolls that some service members pay when commuting to work.
The policy was recommended at a live meeting this week with members of the White House’s Military Spouse Commission, which was established in August to explore policies that impact military families. Commission officials announced that troops at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, received a 50% reduction in toll fees, equating to $1,500 in savings each year for service members who take that route onto base.

Between purchasing real estate in Argentina, helping to run Palantir, and giving closed lectures about the rise of the Antichrist, tech mogul Peter Thiel has come out strongly against the Iran War.

This is significant because Thiel was one of Trump’s earliest and most influential supporters in Silicon Valley.

President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order on the Administration’s tariff plans at a “Make America Wealthy Again” event, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in the White House Rose Garden.

Rheinmetall has officially opened its UK Gun Hall in Telford, re-establishing the independent production of large-calibre weapons in Britain for the first time in decades.

Russia launched 21 ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s capital overnight on October 21. The strikes included three volleys of ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, overnight on Thursday, October 22, as Moscow reported that hundreds of Ukrainian drones attacked Russia’s capital, hours after new American efforts to restart peace talks.

According to Reuters, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia has launched 21 ballistic missiles at Kyiv.

Iran’s US and Israeli election strategy is ramping up in the final days.

As the Pioneer Press reported yesterday morning in its Associated Press coverage, Iranian state television claimed that seven oil tankers were struck or hit naval mines overnight in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II flies over the Gulf of America, September 16, 2025.

War again seems to be in the air in the Middle East. An explosive October 21 report from NBC News documents how, according to two unnamed US officials familiar with the matter, Washington has ordered American troops to withdraw from forward bases in Jordan, Qatar, and Kuwait.

The troop movements coincide with additional security measures at American embassies and diplomatic facilities throughout the region.

F-35 Fighters Ready. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

F-35 Near the Flag. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

For the last few months, the war in the Middle East has been in a quiet phase as the U.S. and Iran have refrained from attacking each other.

While Iran has continued attacking civilian ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. has not launched any retaliatory strikes in some time.

B-2 Bomber Sitting in Museum National Security Journal Photos. All Rights Reserved.

B-2 Stealth Bomber July 2025 National Security Journal Photo.

However, as midterm elections in November approach, there are signs that Trump and Israel may resume attacks against Tehran in early November.

On arguably the worst day in the Marine Corps’ glorious history, Steve Reuss celebrated the birth of his first child.
Reuss, who then was a master sergeant in the Corps, was in Lebanon as part of the United States Multinational Force (USMNF) to maintain peace in the country. He returned to the U.S. to be there when his wife delivered their daughter Gina. That meant Reuss was not at the Marines barracks at Beirut International Airport on October 23, 1983, when a suicide bomber drove a truck bomb into the complex.

From Duke Forrest in “M*A*S*H” to Viper in “Top Gun,” Tom Skerritt knew how to play a military role and he became known for them. After all, before breaking into Hollywood, the iconic American actor served in the Air Force. According to a statement released by his family, Skerritt died on Oct. 21, 2026 at the age of 93.
Also Read: 6 war movie legends who died in 2025
Born in Detroit, Mich., Skerritt enlisted after graduating high school in 1951.

This video describes the military situation in

This video describes the military situation in

Satellite imagery has revealed four of China’s new KJ-3000 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system at facilities operated by Xi’an Aircraft Company in Xi’an-Yanliang, confirming prior reports that the aircraft has entered serial production.