Defense Secretary

Withdrawal of US forces in Syria likely to start in 'weeks' - US general

US Army General Joseph Votel, head of the US Central Command, cautioned that the exact timing would depend on the situation in Syria.

Pentagon sending another 3,750 troops to Southwest border

The latest additions will bring the total number of active-duty troops on the US border to 4,350.

Treating Iraq as a colony doesn’t make you relevant, Trump

Trump has undermined what's left of Iraq's sovereignty, but are those who cry wolf over it any different?

Taliban dismiss Afghanistan's peace talks offer

The Taliban in Afghanistan refused to hold formal talks with the Western-backed Afghan government during peace talks planned to take place in Saudi Arabia next month.

Trump takes parting shot at Mattis and his view of US allies

Despite the falling out, the Pentagon says that outgoing Defense Secretary Mattis authorised Trump's withdrawal of US forces from Syria, one of the decisions that helped trigger his resignation.

US delegation to visit Turkey to discuss withdrawal - Turkish presidency

Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin says a US military delegation is visiting Turkey to discuss US President Donald Trump's announcement of plans to withdraw roughly 2,000 US troops from Syria.

Trump names Patrick Shanahan as acting defence secretary

The move comes three days after Jim Mattis resigned over Trump's less interventionist policy in the Middle East.

Pentagon chief Mattis resigns over differences with Trump

Jim Mattis departure had been anticipated after President Donald Trump announced that he was withdrawing US troops from Syria despite opposition from Washington's allies and top US military officials.

Pompeo, Mattis warn against break in US-Saudi ties amid Khashoggi outrage

Senior officials of US President Trump's cabinet appeared before Senate ahead of a planned vote on reducing military assistance to Riyadh, blamed for high civilian death rates in Yemen and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Afghan government rejects Blackwater proposals to privatise war

Erik Prince, a former US Navy SEAL whose sister Betsy De Vos serves as Education Secretary in the Trump administration, has been lobbying officials about his proposal to privatise parts of US military operations in Afghanistan for more than a year.

Trump sets goal to create US military Space Force by 2020

US Vice President Mike Pence, in a Pentagon address, described the Space Force as "an idea whose time has come."

Mattis reaffirms alliance with Japan, eases worries on NK talks

US Defence Secretary James Mattis met with his Japanese counterpart in Tokyo and reassured the US's commitment to the countries' partnership as well as the US goal of ending North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.