More satellite images have been captured showing China’s scheme to bomb American ships, planes, and potential bases by testing weaponry on exact replicas of them.
In June 2026, images taken the month prior were released to the United States, showing a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-builds-replica-u-s-destroyer-to-test-missiles-on?author=Gus+Wilson&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=30&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=China+Builds+Replica+U.S.+Destroyer+To+Test+Missiles+On">replica</a> of a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in the Taklamakan Desert that was surrounded by debris from previous missile testing. The Telegraph revealed additional <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/07/15/revealed-chinas-plan-to-bomb-us-warships/">photos</a> of the same site in a Wednesday report. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping has stated that he wants to “reunify” Taiwan and China — a plan which has broadly been interpreted as more of an annexation than a reunification — causing extreme tensions between the two. 
In preparation for the United States potentially sending naval support, China has been building and destroying replicas of American warships for years. Hidden behind mountains in a remote stretch of the desert, the site holds debris from tests dating back to 2021, along with replicas ready to serve as targets
A 23-mile railway was made to recreate how ships move across the ocean. The copies of the U.S. warships are placed onto railcars and moved across the tracks for training purposes to simulate a moving target for guns and missiles. Currently, the destroyed target on the tracks is the same one that has been publicly known for five years.
Surrounding the tracks are multiple other mock-ups of American warships, including at least two replicas of the USS Gerald R. Ford and the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that was revealed to the public last month.
In the same region of the desert, U.S. aircraft and runways were built for simulated attacks on other types of American weaponry. Craters surrounded the testing grounds. The runway has 20 planes split into two separate groups. 
The first group features two rows of F-22 model jets, four of which have already been destroyed. The second group is made up of four F-16 planes and six F-35s — the most advanced stealth aircraft in the world and currently in use by the U.S. Air Force. While the U.S. has yet to sell any of those specific models to Taiwan, it seems Xi still wants testing done on the plane.
Satellite images also uncovered a recreation of Yokosuka Naval Base, the largest American naval base, that would likely be involved in a potential conflict between Taiwan and China. The naval base, located on the eastern coast of Japan, is home to ten of the Arleigh Burke ships.
In addition to the Chinese replicating numerous targets that resemble an array of American maritime assets, they have also created Taiwanese bases and political buildings to practice tactics ahead of a potential invasion.

U.S. Navy Warship

Inside China’s Secret Plans To Bomb U.S. Warships

China

Communist China

Military

More than two decades after the United States invaded Iraq, American forces are set to complete their withdrawal from the country by September 30, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced Tuesday during an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump.
“On the 30th of September, the U.S. forces will be out of Iraq while these [U.S.] companies will be inside Iraq,” al-Zaidi said through an interpreter. “The social relations is about the economy, not about military relations.”
The announcement marks the end of a military presence that began with the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 and evolved through years of insurgency, sectarian violence, counterterrorism operations, and the fight against ISIS. More than 4,400 U.S. service members died in Iraq during the war and its aftermath.
Trump welcomed the new relationship, arguing that Iraq no longer requires a significant U.S. military presence and that the future between the two countries should instead focus on economic cooperation.
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Trump says U.S. troops are no longer needed in Iraq.
U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at about 170,000 during the Iraq War. Most forces left in 2011, though several thousand returned in 2014 to help fight ISIS.
Roughly 2,000 troops remain today. <a href="https://t.co/yDa0uMYpwf">pic.twitter.com/yDa0uMYpwf</a>
— Kassy Akiva (@KassyAkiva) <a href="https://x.com/KassyAkiva/status/2077116927277699123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“We don&#8217;t think we need the military there anymore,” Trump said. “We&#8217;re there to help them. We&#8217;re there to protect them if need be. But we don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s going to be necessary.”
The withdrawal follows a 2024 agreement that began winding down the United States-led military mission in Iraq. While most troops departed beginning in September 2025, U.S. forces remained in advisory roles and continued supporting operations against ISIS. Many of those personnel were stationed in Iraq&#8217;s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
U.S. troop levels in Iraq peaked at roughly 170,000 in 2007. Most U.S. forces left in 2011 before approximately 5,000 troops returned in 2014 to combat ISIS. Prior to the latest drawdown, about 2,500 U.S. troops remained in the country.
Trump suggested the changing security environment in the Middle East also made a continued U.S. military presence less necessary, arguing that Iran — long viewed as a major destabilizing force in the region — has been significantly weakened by recent U.S. and Israeli military operations.
Instead, Trump emphasized the opportunities Iraq’s oil sector presents for U.S. businesses and investments. 
“Iraq has tremendous potential because of their oil and because of other things, but because of their oil, and we&#8217;re going to be doing a lot of deals,” he added. “We&#8217;re going to create a lot of jobs for both countries, and we&#8217;re going to be taking out a lot of oil. A lot of oil is coming out.”
According to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-alzaidi-iraq-iran-770f66fdda96ebfa7f45f32165e2b009">The Associated Press</a>, Iraq is expected to sign an agreement with Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar&#8217;s UCC to construct a major oil pipeline connecting Basra in southern Iraq to Haditha in western Iraq and onward to Turkey&#8217;s Ceyhan port and Syria&#8217;s Baniyas port. The pipeline is projected to transport roughly 2 million barrels of oil per day.
Al-Zaidi, a 41-year-old banker and businessman from Baghdad, took office earlier this year after receiving backing from Trump, who favored him over former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a longtime Iraqi political figure accused by critics of maintaining close ties to Iran.
The visit marked al-Zaidi&#8217;s first trip to the United States. Opening the meeting, he conveyed greetings from “the oldest civilization in the world” and stressed that Iraqi security forces would be capable of defending the country after the U.S. withdrawal.
Trump repeatedly praised the Iraqi leader throughout the meeting and their “tremendous chemistry.”
“Mark my words, I knew what I was doing,” Trump said. “This man is going to be a great leader in the Middle East, beyond Iraq. His influence is going to spread all throughout the Middle East.”
In his first speech before parliament, al-Zaidi pledged to disarm militia groups operating outside Iraqi state control. 
On June 15, he and U.S. Special Envoy for Iraq Tom Barrack issued a joint statement outlining plans for the “complete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state,” later giving them until the end of September to comply.
The issue remains politically sensitive in Iraq, where some powerful factions maintain close ties to Tehran. Earlier this month, the body of Iran&#8217;s late supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was brought into Iraq during a multi-day funeral procession — a reminder of Iran&#8217;s continuing influence among segments of the Iraqi population.
At one point during the meeting, Trump referenced the 2020 U.S. strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Al-Zaidi declined to revisit the controversy.
“At that time, I wasn&#8217;t involved in politics,” he said. “Let&#8217;s talk about the future.”

IRAQ-US-MILITARY-KIRKUK

Trump Announces U.S. Forces To Withdraw From Iraq After 23 Years

Donald Trump

Iraq

After President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration spent weeks touting the Iran deal as a positive development, the agreement has rapidly collapsed.
The conflict has clearly shifted back toward direct military escalation, with the Strait of Hormuz as the focal point of the latest round of retaliatory strikes, sanctions pressure, and diplomatic collapse.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=U.S.+Launches+Strikes+Against+Iran+Over+Commercial+Shipping+Attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-33297">As previously reported</a>, President Trump declared negotiations with Iran effectively over on Wednesday as he defended overnight U.S. strikes after Tehran violated the ceasefire Tuesday by attacking three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command said that American forces launched a new round of strikes on Iran after three tankers were attacked in the waterway. According to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-says-it-has-completed-a-new-round-strikes-iran-2026-07-08/">Reuters</a>, the U.S. said it hit more than 80 Iranian targets, including air defense systems, command and control centers, radar installations, missile facilities, and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats operating in and around the strait.
Iran then attacked U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, which U.S. officials described as another violation of the MOU. In Bahrain, the reported targets included facilities associated with the U.S. Fifth Fleet, while Kuwait reported two ballistic missiles and 13 drones in its airspace. The IRGC claimed it struck 85 U.S. military facilities in the Gulf in response to U.S. strikes, according to AFP, which cited a statement carried by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB.
The latest exchange cemented the complete collapse of the memorandum of understanding, which had been intended to reduce hostilities while talks continued over Iran’s nuclear program and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Talks had already been on hold during the funeral ceremonies for the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which concluded Thursday with his burial in Mashhad. During the six-day mourning period, crowds at the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/meet-the-americans-who-went-to-iran-for-ayatollah-khameneis-funeral">funeral</a> chanted “Death to America,” called for revenge against the United States and Israel, and directed violent chants at President Trump. The funeral ceremonies coincided with a pause in negotiations as public calls for retaliation continued.
At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump sharpened his language toward Tehran. Trump said the U.S. would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=U.S.+Launches+Strikes+Against+Iran+Over+Commercial+Shipping+Attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">&#8220;probably&#8221; strike Iran</a> again Wednesday night after Tehran attacked — and he quickly made good on that threat. U.S. forces launched a second round of strikes Wednesday night, continuing into Thursday.
In the same exchange, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNzpl9IWtgM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump called Iranian leaders</a> “scum” and “sick people” and argued that, if Iran obtained a nuclear weapon, it would use it.
Trump also raised the possibility of restoring a blockade, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-drops-brutal-four-letter-label-on-iran-before-revealing-americas-next-move">saying</a> that the U.S. may move to reinstate one that would apply only to Iran. The president warned that Iran could respond to that by laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
The movements of the last several days underscore just how volatile the situation is — and how quickly diplomatic relations can unravel when the Iranian regime is involved.

MIDDLE EAST-ONGOING U.S.-ISRAEL-IRAN CONFLICT

How The Most Recent Iran Deal Fell Apart

Iran

Iran war

VIRGINIA BEACH — As part of the nation&#8217;s celebration of the U.S. military&#8217;s 250th anniversary, Vice President JD Vance praised the valor of American service members on Wednesday and pledged that the Trump administration would never send them to war without clearly explaining the mission.
Speaking at Naval Air Station Oceana on Wednesday morning, Vance joined hundreds of sailors and aviators in celebrating America&#8217;s 250th anniversary, highlighting what the White House described as its efforts to support American warfighters and veterans.
Hundreds of sailors gathered beneath massive American flags welcomed the vice president with applause as he strode into the hangar.
Vance singled out Carrier Air Wing 8, which is made up of several squadrons that included service members who took part in &#8220;Operation Epic Fury,&#8221; the administration&#8217;s war effort against Iran.
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“I think that you deserve to have a clearly defined objective, I think you deserve to have a president of the United States who believes in you and gives you the weapons to win,&#8221; the vice president told the service members on Wednesday.
&#8220;And I believe that you have a presidential leadership today that will never ask you to go to war unless he’s telling you why you&#8217;re going to war,&#8221; he added.
<div id="attachment_1127109" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/jd-vance-to-troops-you-will-always-know-why-youre-heading-to-war/vice-president-jd-vance-visits-naval-air-station-oceana-in-virginia-beach-2" rel="attachment wp-att-1127109"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1127109" class="wp-image-1127109 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2283604275-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2283604275-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2283604275-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2283604275-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/07/GettyImages-2283604275.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>US military members look on before Vice President JD Vance speaks at an event marking 250 years of the American military at Naval Air Station Oceana on July 1, 2026, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. (Photo by Ken Cedeno &#8211; Pool/Getty Images)</div>
The vice president also defended the current state of negotiations with Iran, which have started to crack in the past weeks with strikes from both sides.
&#8220;There are people in this country who want you to keep going and keep going, and attack the president of the United States for using the leverage that you gave him, to engage in negotiation,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Why do we engage in negotiation? Because of you, it&#8217;s not out of weakness, but it&#8217;s out of strength.&#8221;
Vance told the assembled troops that the military and American intelligence estimate that Iran&#8217;s nuclear program is further away from developing a nuclear bomb &#8220;than they have ever been&#8221; in the last 30 years.
&#8220;That is because of you, and because of your hard work,&#8221; he emphasized.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
NEW: <a href="https://x.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> receives a warm welcome at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/Vou67n8zRh">pic.twitter.com/Vou67n8zRh</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://x.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/2072370585334579529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
Throughout his remarks, Vance repeatedly returned to the sacrifices made by American service members, arguing that military strength gives the United States the leverage to pursue peace through negotiation.
Following his remarks, Vance took questions from reporters before boarding Air Force Two to head home.
&#8220;Right now the talks are going well,&#8221; he said of the talks taking place with Iran in Doha, &#8220;it&#8217;s still pretty early, but, talks are going well.&#8221;
The Daily Wire also pressed Vance on the recent Supreme Court rulings, asking whether he believes Justice Samuel Alito will retire, as NPR falsely reported on Tuesday.
&#8220;Justice Alito is such an amazing guy. He would be irreplaceable,” Vance told The Daily Wire. &#8220;But if he retired, that&#8217;s up to him, and we would try to do the best job in finding a proper replacement.&#8221;
Pressed to weigh in on the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding birthright citizenship and whether he’s upset with conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Vance said he thinks Barrett made a mistake.
“Well, look, do I think she made a mistake in the ruling?&#8221; he asked The Daily Wire. &#8220;I do. I don’t know how anybody can say that if a person who is an illegal alien, or a person, for example, who’s pregnant and comes to the United States on a vacation, they have a baby, and all of a sudden their entire family gets the benefits of American citizenship.&#8221;
“I don’t think that’s what the framers of the 14th Amendment had in mind,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I don’t think it’s the right case, but look, it was 5-4. Sometimes the Supreme Court makes mistakes, we’re going to try to correct that mistake, but nobody’s perfect, including the Supreme Court.&#8221;
And asked by The Daily Wire about remarks from Democrat Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said earlier this week that she would love it if Vance ran for president in 2028, the vice president responded: &#8220;I don’t think much about 2028 as you know. My attitude is: let’s do a good job now, let’s continue to try and make some wins for the American people. We can worry about the future when the future comes.&#8221;
&#8220;We got an important midterm election here,&#8221; he added.
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Vice President JD Vance Visits Naval Air Station Oceana In Virginia Beach

JD Vance To Troops: You Will Always Know Why You’re Heading To War

America 250

JD Vance

Politics

U.S. Navy

The Pentagon is reinstating the flu vaccine mandate for the Army, Navy, and Air Force following a recent outbreak.
The Army is planning to broaden the requirement to include overseas troops, first responders, prison staff, health care personnel, and child care workers, according to <a href="https://abcnews.com/Health/military-services-requiring-recruits-flu-shots-air-force/story?id=134126794">ABC News</a>. 
The mandate has been a longstanding Pentagon policy since 1945. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lifted the requirement two months ago. While he encouraged soldiers to take the vaccine, Hegseth announced, “We will not force you.” 
He previously <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/04/21/military-flu-vaccine-hegseth">characterized</a> universal shots as &#8220;absurd, overreaching mandates that only weaken our warfighting capabilities&#8221; and claimed the rollback restored &#8220;medical autonomy&#8221; to troops.
At least 222 recruits at Joint Base San Antonio have been diagnosed with influenza, with four hospitalizations. The conditions of the training base make illnesses easy to spread. Recruits routinely live and sleep in tightly packed spaces, shower together, and are subject to stress and exhaustion.
New recruit Keon McDaniel died June 16, prompting a strong public reaction. He was treated at Brooke Army Medical Center. McDaniel was in his sixth week of basic training when he died.
The cause of McDaniel’s death remains under investigation, but several critics believe it is linked to the outbreak. Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro blamed Hegseth for the outbreak and McDaniel’s death in a social media post last week.
&#8220;After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military’s flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred. It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness,&#8221; Castro posted, in part.
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After Secretary Hegseth scrapped the military’s flu vaccine mandate, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak occurred. It was a reckless decision that put troops in harm’s way and undermined our military readiness. At the Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, nearly 160… <a href="https://t.co/yvMGxcMwBr">https://t.co/yvMGxcMwBr</a>
— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) <a href="https://x.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/2067772807199535297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Some high-ranking Republicans were also critical of Hegseth for relaxing the mandate. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker publicly called Hegseth&#8217;s rollback a &#8220;mistake,&#8221; <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5841737-gop-armed-services-chair-warns-ending-mandatory-military-flu-shots-a-mistake/">stating</a> that mandatory vaccines historically created a healthier armed force.
When the outbreak began, roughly 40% of new Air Force trainees had been vaccinated at Joint Base San Antonio.
Due to the rapid nature of the situation, the Air Force requested that Hegseth bypass standard protocols for an emergency policy exemption. Hegseth granted exemptions to all military departments immediately.
This is not the first time the mandate has wavered. While first introduced in 1945, the military temporarily withdrew the requirement in 1949 because early vaccine formulas struggled to adapt to changing viral strains. It was reinstated permanently in the 1950s.

IMG_2581

Military Branches Bring Back Vaccine Mandate After Virus Outbreak On Base

Pete Hegseth

Vaccine Mandate

Satellite images revealed Wednesday morning that China has built a replica of a U.S. destroyer at a remote missile-testing location in one of its deserts.
The image captured in May 2026 that was just released depicts the structure of a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in Xinjiang in the Taklamakan Desert that will be used to test missiles. The subject looks to be an exact copy of a ship currently used in the U.S. Seventh Fleet that covers the Western Pacific and the waters surrounding Taiwan.
Co-founder of the Taiwan Defense Studies Initiative Joseph Wu first identified the structure.
Debris that appeared to be left from previous missile tests surrounded the mock ship in the desert. Given the available information, the assessment is that those replicas are being used as target practice for China&#8217;s military to test out new anti-ship weaponry.
Earlier in the month, Taiwan test-fired dozens of practice rockets from U.S.-supplied HIMARS launchers into the Taiwan Strait in a drill simulating a Chinese invasion, its first such live-fire exercise on the coast facing China.
On Wednesday, the de facto British, French, and German embassies in Taipei issued a rare joint statement voicing concern over recent Chinese coast guard patrols in the waters east of Taiwan, saying the activity threatened regional stability and freedom of navigation.
This is not the first time satellite images have surfaced showing China building replicas of U.S. ships on which to test their firepower. In 2021, the U.S. Naval Institute reported that two of the same destroyer models and an aircraft carrier were seen at a testing range in the southeastern region of the desert in Ruoqiang. 
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Recreations of U.S. airfields and Taiwanese roads have also appeared in the same deserts over the years.
While building mock-ups is a common use around the world for a country’s military, the complex relationship between the United States and China raises concerns for what the communist country may have planned. 
Neither China’s Defense Ministry nor the U.S. Department of Defense responded to Bloomberg’s request for comment.

China Builds Replica U.S. Destroyer To Test Missiles On

A United States Coast Guard helicopter on Monday carrying four crew members crashed during a training flight near Harbor Mountain in Sitka, Alaska, igniting a desperate search-and-rescue mission, the military said.
The crash, which happened at 10:07 a.m. local time, involved a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, according to the Coast Guard. 
No deaths were reported. All four crew members were transported to Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
“First responders and search and rescue assets are currently responding. The safety, well-being, and rescue of our crew members is our absolute, immediate priority,” the military <a href="https://x.com/USCGArctic/status/2069134481500602713?s=20">said in a statement.</a> 
“A formal investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances surrounding the event,” the Coast Guard said. 
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The U.S. Coast Guard is actively responding to a reported crash involving a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that occurred today in Sitka, Alaska.
First responders and search and rescue assets are currently responding. The safety, well-being, and rescue of our crew members
— USCGArctic (@USCGArctic) <a href="https://x.com/USCGArctic/status/2069134481500602713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2026</a></blockquote>
Monday’s crash comes one week after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/eight-feared-dead-after-b-52-crash-deemed-not-survivable">eight people were killed</a> Monday when a B-52 Stratofortress crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base in California during a routine test mission. 
This is a breaking story. Stay with The Daily Wire for updates.

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter

U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Crashes In Alaska

Coast Guard

News

U.S. Military

A large B-52 Stratofortress U.S. Air Force plane reportedly crashed Monday morning near Edwards Air Force Base in California. 
The crash was reported at about 11:20 a.m. local time shortly after takeoff on the Edwards airfield, <a href="https://x.com/EdwardsAFB/status/2066597970943058117?s=20">according to the military base.</a> Emergency crews responded to the scene in California’s Mojave Desert, roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles.
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Aftermath of U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base. <a href="https://t.co/eSljMYUSal">https://t.co/eSljMYUSal</a> <a href="https://t.co/l5O3sc5vjs">pic.twitter.com/l5O3sc5vjs</a>
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2066603968994644149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2026</a></blockquote>
The airfield has been closed, according to the military base, and all inbound aircraft are being diverted.
“All non-commercial visitor passes have been suspended until further notice to allow the installation to focus entirely on emergency response operations,” the base <a href="https://x.com/EdwardsAFB/status/2066612345770840297?s=20">said on X. </a>
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Credit: ALERTCalifornia / UC San Diego via Storyful
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The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions, <a href="https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104465/b-52h-stratofortress/">according to the U.S. Air Force.</a> The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. 
<a href="https://x.com/Osint613/status/2066603968994644149?s=20">Video circulating</a> on social media appears to show the charred runway following the crash. It’s unclear what caused the incident or if anybody was injured.
“Praying for the crew, the families, and the first responders at Edwards Air Force Base. God bless our service members,” House Republicans <a href="https://x.com/HouseGOP/status/2066606781367832942?s=20">wrote on X</a>, accompanying the message with an image of the American flag.
This is a breaking story. Stay with The Daily Wire for updates.

USAF Boeing B-52H Stratofortress taking-off with undercarriage retracting and trailing-edge wing flaps lowered at the 1998 Fairford Royal International Air Tattoo RIAT

B-52 Crashes Near Edwards Air Force Base

France and Germany’s $116 billion attempt to build their own fighter jet to replace their current models has officially been scrapped.
The fighter plane segment of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project created in 2017 dedicated $116 billion to build sixth-generation jets to use in battle by 2040. 
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that the project was no longer feasible after months of stalemate between Dassault Aviation and Airbus, France&#8217;s and Germany’s industry partners respectively.
“The German authorities considered that it was not possible to put further pressure on the companies concerned,” Macron’s office, the Élysée Palace, explained in a statement.
The proposed fighter planes were supposed to combine advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, enhanced stealth technology, and other upgrades to use them for future air combat.
Signs of the potential flaming out were seen earlier this year. European Union Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius admitted that the plan was a “failure” and that Europe has struggled in &#8220;multinational defense projects.&#8221;
The FCAS project failure raises multiple questions about the integrity of Europe’s national defense. Leaders in Europe believed the plan was a test if they could develop advanced technology as they promised without the help of the United States. France and Germany have recently struggled with a next-generation tank project with the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) as well.
It also underlined potential disagreements between the two governments, which have both already expressed their alternative options after the project fell through.
Merz has publicly inquired if the sixth-generation planes will even be necessary, and that their requirements for the planes were not similar to those of France’s. France, on the other hand, is actively pursuing similar blueprints.
“The French authorities will continue to encourage our companies and armed forces to explore ways and means of pursuing ambitious European projects that are consistent with our national security interests,” the Élysée Palace added in its official statement.
While Berlin is looking into possible substitutes following the collapse, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained that if FCAS were to be thought of today, it simply wouldn’t happen.
“With what we know today, we would no longer launch this project in the way it was originally set up,” Pistorius told officials.
European countries are continuing to struggle to enhance their arms without the help of America in a time when everyone else is quickly advancing.

Fa-52 Fighter Jets

Europe’s $116 Billion Fighter Jet Project Crashes And Burns

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fighter jets

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Germany

A Navy sailor admitted Monday that he strangled and killed a fellow service member before hiding her body in a suitcase and dumping it in a wooded area near Naval Station Norfolk. The guilty plea is raising questions of why military officials failed to remove him from service despite multiple prior allegations of violence against women.
Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Jeremiah Copeland pleaded guilty during a military court-martial to the unpremeditated murder of Petty Officer 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz, a 21-year-old sailor assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams.
&#8220;I killed CS3 Resendiz on May 29, 2025,&#8221; Copeland told the military judge. &#8220;I strangled her with my hands.&#8221;
Under a plea agreement accepted by the court, Copeland also pleaded guilty to aggravated assault by strangulation, indecent recording, obstruction of justice, and making a false official statement. He faces a minimum sentence of 40 years and two months in prison, a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. 
According to court proceedings, Resendiz entered Copeland&#8217;s barracks room on May 29, 2025. Copeland admitted the two were drinking alcohol when an argument began after she saw something on his phone. He told the court he strangled her on the floor of the room before hiding her body in a suitcase in his closet. 
Investigators later determined Copeland kept Resendiz&#8217;s body concealed for several days before transporting it to a wooded area roughly ten miles from the base. Her decomposing remains were discovered on June 9, 2025, nearly two weeks after she vanished. 
But even before Resendiz&#8217;s death, Copeland was already facing allegations involving other women. 
Military prosecutors had previously accused Copeland of raping a fellow sailor in November 2024 and sexually assaulting and attempting to strangle another service member months earlier. Court records also show he was facing a separate rape allegation involving a civilian woman in Norfolk just days before Resendiz disappeared.
His history reportedly stretches back even further. Before joining the Navy in 2023, a Washington state judge issued a temporary sexual assault protection order against Copeland involving an underage girl. He was also accused in a separate incident of kissing and groping another underage girl against her will. 
Resendiz&#8217;s mother, Esmeralda Castle, has repeatedly argued that Navy leadership failed to act despite numerous warning signs. 
&#8220;This situation was absolutely preventable,&#8221; Castle said before trial proceedings began.
&#8220;If they would have dealt with him when he started harming women, he would never have gotten to Angie,&#8221; she later told <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/navy-sailor-admits-killing-fellow-service-member-mother-questions-missed-warning-signs">Fox News</a>. 
Castle has been among the most vocal critics of the Navy&#8217;s response to her daughter&#8217;s disappearance. Resendiz was last seen on May 29, 2025, but a statewide missing-person alert was not issued until five days later after military officials initially classified her as absent without leave.
The delay sparked criticism from family members and comparisons to the case of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillen, whose <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/vanessa-guillen-fort-hood.html">murder</a> prompted sweeping reforms throughout the military regarding sexual harassment and assault investigations.
Friends and family described Resendiz as a bright and ambitious young sailor who hoped to build a career in military culinary arts. According to her mother, Resendiz aimed to one day join the Navy&#8217;s elite culinary competition team and cook for world leaders.
Following Monday&#8217;s plea hearing, Castle met privately with Copeland. 
&#8220;I thanked him for telling the truth,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.stripes.com/branches/navy/2026-06-08/sailor-pleads-guilty-death-angelina-resendiz-21906865.html?mc_cid=9ce47e81e4&amp;mc_eid=4c1d7240e1">said</a>. 
While Castle said hearing Copeland finally admit responsibility brought her &#8220;peace of mind,&#8221; she remains convinced the tragedy should never have happened. 
&#8220;We have statutes, and we have policies, and we have procedures that were implemented by Congress to protect service members from this type of violence,&#8221; Castle said. &#8220;And nothing&#8217;s changed.&#8221;
The military judge is expected to formally impose a sentence under the terms of the plea agreement following the conclusion of court-martial proceedings.

Volunteers place carnations at each grave at the Los Angeles National Cemetery in preparation of Memorial Day.

Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty To Murdering Fellow Service Member

Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty To Murder After Facing Multiple Rape Allegations

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U.S.

US Navy

Ousted &#8220;60 Minutes&#8221; anchor Scott Pelley teared up when he claimed during a recent interview that he had &#8220;been in combat for this country.&#8221;
Pelley was terminated &#8220;for cause&#8221; just days earlier by executive producer Nick Bilton, after blowing up at the network&#8217;s new leadership under Bari Weiss — and he got emotional when he responded to some of the comments President Donald Trump had made about him.
WATCH:
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Fired 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley on the verge of tears:
&#8220;I’ve been in combat for this country. In Afghanistan and Iraq, Kuwait. Been shot at. Spent nights in fox holes filling up with water in the desert.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/me6BJ9Eetg">pic.twitter.com/me6BJ9Eetg</a>
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) <a href="https://x.com/SteveGuest/status/2063678370521432108?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;He also said you were part go this gang of stupid crooked people that don&#8217;t care about your country,&#8221; interviewer Lulu Garcia-Navarro prompted Pelley.
&#8220;Stupid, I can take that. Stiff? Yeah, probably,&#8221; Pelley conceded, and then clearly struggled to get control of his emotions as he continued. &#8220;Don&#8217;t care about the country? I&#8217;ve never worn the uniform, but I’ve been in combat for this country. In Afghanistan and Iraq, Kuwait. Been shot at. Spent nights in fox holes filling up with water in the desert.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;m not aware that the President of the United States has ever done any of those things for his country,&#8221; Pelley continued, still choked up a bit as he added, &#8220;Please correct me if I&#8217;m wrong.&#8221;
He went on to argue that people became journalists because they &#8220;love the First Amendment&#8221; and because they truly love the United States.
&#8220;While all the other descriptions that the president used about me might be applicable, not that one,&#8221; he said, his voice breaking.
During the same interview, Pelley claimed that the firings at CBS News — his and several others — were like the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/scott-pelley-compares-cbs-ouster-to-family-being-murdered-in-over-the-top-interview">murders</a> of close friends and family members.

CBS Fall Schedule Celebration – Arrivals

Scott Pelley Takes Military Cosplay To New Level In Deluded NYT Interview

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Scott Pelley

A Gold Star wife&#8217;s simple Memorial Day request sparked an outpouring of support from Americans, including <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/tulsi-gabbard-resigns-from-trump-admin">outgoing</a> Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. 
It all started on Sunday, when Sharrell Anne Shaw posted a message on X, asking whether anyone visiting Arlington National Cemetery could stop by her late husband&#8217;s grave and share a photo. 
“This is probably a long shot, but if anybody happens to be in DC this weekend and plans on visiting Arlington, I would love to see a fresh photo of my husband’s grave in Section 60,” she wrote. 
Shaw identified her husband as Staff Sgt. Alan W. Shaw of B Co 1/12 Cav, 1st Cavalry Division, who was killed in Iraq in 2007.
The responses started flooding in, with many people promising to visit the grave or honor Shaw&#8217;s sacrifice on Memorial Day. 
Several, including Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, shared photos of themselves visiting the grave at Arlington National Cemetery.
“It was an honor to visit your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects,&#8221; Gabbard wrote. &#8220;Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones they left behind.  Thank you for your service and sacrifice.” 
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It was an honor to visit your husband’s grave today on your behalf, and to pay my respects. It was wonderful to see the beautiful flowers representing many others who did the same. Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and to the loved ones… <a href="https://t.co/GWx11xlecF">pic.twitter.com/GWx11xlecF</a>
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard/status/2058975663160226185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
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Shaw responded by thanking Gabbard for honoring her husband.
“Seeing you standing there at his grave honestly brought me to tears,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Thank you for honoring Alan, for saying his name, and for reminding me that there are still people in this country who have not forgotten the cost of freedom.”
On Monday, Shaw reflected on the viral response to the outpouring of support from everyone who honored her request.
“Last night, I made a simple request on X,” she posted. “I asked if anybody visiting Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day would stop by Alan’s grave and leave a photo for our family. What happened next honestly caught me off guard.”
“By this afternoon, dozens of Americans from all walks of life had made the walk to Section 60 to visit SSG Alan W. Shaw. Veterans. Families,” she said. “Complete strangers. People who had never met Alan, but chose to honor him anyway&#8230; For one day on social media, people put aside the constant noise and negativity and came together for something bigger than themselves. My notifications filled with photos, kind messages, prayers, and stories from people honoring not just Alan, but so many of our fallen heroes. I don’t think people fully understand what moments like this mean to Gold Star families.&#8221;
Staff Sgt. Shaw was killed in action in Iraq on February 9, 2007. 
In a separate Memorial Day post, Sharrell Shaw reflected on the holiday&#8217;s meaning for Gold Star families.
“Memorial Day will always mean more to our family than cookouts or a long weekend,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;It’s the sound of boots on concrete. The weight of a folded flag in shaking hands. Three children growing up with memories instead of a father.”
She added, “But over the years, I’ve also realized something else. The men we honor today did not give everything so America would sit in mourning forever. They believed in life. In freedom. In family. In backyard barbecues, ballgames, loud laughter, and the simple privilege of being home.”
“So yes, remember them. Speak their names. Teach your children who they were. Fly the flag. Visit the cemetery. And then live.”

Arlington National Cemetary

Tulsi Gabbard Visits Fallen Soldier’s Grave After Gold Star Wife’s Viral Request

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