A Syrian security guard who attacked and killed three U.S. citizens in Syria had joined the internal security forces two months earlier, a Syrian official said. stripes.com/theaters/middl…

A joint U.S.-Philippine delegation surveyed a new Luzon Strait military base near Taiwan last week to assess its potential for joint defense operations. My latest with Naval News covers the strategic implications of the visit for the region. 1/3 navalnews.com/naval-news/202…

Iowa National Guard member killed in Syria ‘loved what he was doing,’ father says stripes.com/branches/army/…

The U.S. military said that it attacked three boats accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing a total of eight people. stripes.com/theaters/us/20…

Police have revealed, the father and son gunmen responsible for killing 15 people at Bondi Beach visited the country that has pumped out generations of foreign militants, from jihadist adventurers in Afghanistan to the Indonesian Bali bombers and the Islamic State wannabes that

A mass shooting in which 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach was “a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State,” Australia’s federal police commissioner said. stripes.com/theaters/asia_…

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni opened its gates to the people of Japan on Dec. 6 for its annual tree lighting event featuring lights, music and hot chocolate. (Video by Janiqua Robinson /Stars and Stripes)

Bear necessity: Japanese governor says military help was only option amid fatal attacks stripes.com/theaters/asia_…

#ARCHIVES: A sailor moves bombs off the coast of Vietnam, 1966 📍Somewhere off the coast of Vietnam A member of the USS Kitty Hawk’s ordnance crew moves bombs to planeside off the coast of Vietnam in April, 1966. stripes.com/history/archiv…

WATCH: The men and women that keep Navy fighters, tiltrotors and helicopters flying from the aircraft carrier USS George Washington returned home to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, on Dec. 11 after six months at sea. 📽️: Janiqua Robinson & AKIFUMI ISHIKAWA Read more about

President Donald Trump said he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, in a move that seemed designed to put a tighter chokehold on the South American country’s economy. stripes.com/theaters/us/20…

“Let me take a moment to send the love and prayers [of] our entire nation to the people of Australia... All nations must stand together against the evil forces of radical Islamic terrorism.” President Donald J. Trump

WATCH | Navy families in Japan kicked off the holiday season with tree lighting celebrations at Ikego Housing Detachment on Dec. 4 and Yokosuka Naval Base on Dec. 5. (Video by Akifumi Ishikawa, Alex Wilson and Jonathan Baez/Stars and Stripes)

New Zealand honors airman for saving American troops injured in Micronesia crash stripes.com/theaters/asia_…

Australia New Years Eve fireworks event cancelled amid terror fears gbnews.com/news/world/aus…

Hegseth to overhaul chaplain corps, toss ‘unacceptable and unserious’ Army spiritual fitness guide stripes.com/branches/army/…

Former personnel dismissed for COVID vaccine refusal may get discharge upgrades, Pentagon says stripes.com/theaters/us/20…

World-renowned MIT nuclear researcher was assassinated in his home in targeted attack by Iranian operative, Israel says trib.al/Em95rlI

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