This week, we mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Throughout our history, one facet has remained constant: the resolve of the American warfighter. From Lexington and Concord to Fallujah, Americans have fought with all the strength God gave them to protect this country and its people from those who wish us harm.
Those challenges have only grown more complex. The Founders could not have imagined that some of our closest allies were once our adversaries, or that the gravest threats to our way of life would come from forces they never conceived of. Near-peer adversaries like China test us every day, seeking to divide Americans from within, manufacturing the chemical precursors used to produce fentanyl, stealing our innovation, and running influence campaigns built to turn Americans against one another. Countering them takes more than technology or policy. It takes the strength of the Americans in uniform, the ones willing to give their last breath so that others may live.
Supporting those soldiers requires real investment and hard conversations. The all-volunteer force is exactly that: all volunteer. Sustaining it is not just a matter of operations or munitions depth. People are America’s greatest military advantage: the enlisted warfighter sleeping in the dirt, the noncommissioned officer corps that sets us apart from every other military on earth, and the officers entrusted with making decisions that affect the lives of our service members and their families.
America could not have reached its 250th year without service and sacrifice. Generations of Americans built and defended the foundation of freedom we stand on today, and the threats to that freedom are not going away.
Honoring that legacy means supporting our servicemen in every way we can. In Congress, that means robustly funding the Department of War, scrapping outdated policies that hinder the warfighter, and ensuring our forces have the tools not just to fight a war, but to win it. No American soldier, sailor, airman, guardian, or marine should ever meet an enemy on equal footing. A fair fight is a policy failure. Matching an adversary&#8217;s capabilities is not victory. The advantage should always be ours.
That means passing a robust National Defense Authorization Act and my <a href="https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-van-epps-kiggans-tokuda-introduce-legislation-to-double-gold-star-family-bridge-payment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HONOR Gold Star Families Act</a>, which increases the death gratuity for the families of those who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation — and the core components of which have been included in the NDAA as an <a href="https://vanepps.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-armed-services-committee-advances-rep-van-epps-gold-star-families-act-in-fy27-ndaa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">amendment</a>.
It also means rebuilding America&#8217;s defense industrial base and moving toward defense spending equal to 5% of GDP. It also means expecting our NATO allies to meet the same standard — a commitment reinforced under President Donald Trump&#8217;s leadership. Above all, it means remaining relentless in our support for the men and women who defend this country every hour of every day.
So, this week, take a moment to remember what 250 years of this experiment has cost and that someone is still making sure there is a 251st. Congress owes them more than gratitude. We owe them the decisive edge they need to win.
Matt Van Epps is a former Army officer and the representative for Tennessee&#8217;s 7th congressional district.

250 Years Of Freedom, Carried By Those Who Serve

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U.S. Military

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

Military

News

President Donald Trump shared previously unreported details about a downed U.S. Army Apache helicopter on Wednesday, including how the two pilots survived after an Iranian drone lodged in between them as they were flying.
Trump described the incident and rescue mission in an exclusive call with Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst. The U.S. Army Apache helicopter was shot down earlier this week when, according to the president, an Iranian drone struck the helicopter but failed to detonate, lodging itself between the two pilots as they flew at low altitude.
Flying a gunship with a live, burning drone embedded in the cockpit, the pilots faced the possibility of explosion at any moment. Trump said the cockpit filled with heat and fire before the crew managed to ditch the aircraft into the sea. The two pilots were subsequently rescued — in what Trump described as the first-ever rescue of its kind — by an unmanned sea drone.
After the Iranian drone attack, Trump warned Wednesday that he is nearing a decision to order strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges, signaling a sharp escalation in the ongoing military confrontation with Tehran amid stalled nuclear negotiations.
The revelation comes amid a broader military campaign against Iran. Overnight Tuesday, U.S. fighter jets struck Iranian radar systems and air defense sites in response to what the administration characterized as ceasefire violations. Iran had reportedly attempted to rebuild its defensive capabilities during a pause in hostilities, an effort Trump said was explicitly prohibited. The overnight strikes were described as highly effective: even the partial reconstruction Iran managed represented &#8220;just a few percentages&#8221; of its original capacity, and Trump said U.S. forces destroyed roughly 55% of even that rebuilt capability.
Iran also fired missiles at U.S. forces stationed in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan — attacks that Trump suggested could prompt further American military action. When Yingst asked about a possible response, Trump said, &#8220;I may keep going.&#8221; In a post on Truth Social Wednesday morning, the president pointedly declared, &#8220;The bully of the Middle East is DEAD.&#8221;
The president&#8217;s most pointed remarks concerned the state of nuclear negotiations. Trump said Iran has been &#8220;tapping the United States along&#8221; in talks, and that he is now seriously considering strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges to increase pressure. He said Iran &#8220;had a chance to sign a deal and survive,&#8221; a phrase widely interpreted as a direct warning that the window for a diplomatic resolution may be closing.
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BREAKING: President Trump exclusively tells <a href="https://x.com/TreyYingst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TreyYingst</a> that the U.S. is getting close to ordering new strikes against Iranian power plants and bridges in response to “tapping the United States along” when it comes to drawn out negotiations.
The U.S. launched overnight strikes… <a href="https://t.co/Eh3zZBWh7q">pic.twitter.com/Eh3zZBWh7q</a>
&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2064674387941314810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
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The dual-track pressure — military strikes coupled with explicit threats of further escalation — marks a significant hardening of the U.S. posture. Whether Tehran responds at the negotiating table or with additional military action is now the central question as the confrontation enters a potentially decisive phase.

POLAND-NATO-DEFENCE-DRILL

The Heart-Stopping Scene Inside U.S. Chopper Cockpit Revealed After Iran Drone Strike

Donald Trump

Drones

Iran

The widow of the late American hero Chris Kyle ripped into Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner for disparaging her dead husband. 
Taya Kyle told Fox News on Sunday that Platner was &#8220;cowardly&#8221; for lying about her late husband, and accused the Democrat of using a &#8220;cheap political trick&#8221; to distract from Platner&#8217;s controversies. 
In a resurfaced podcast episode, Platner in 2024 suggested Kyle, the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history, intentionally killed civilians to inflate his sniper kill count. Kyle was murdered in 2013 by a veteran suffering from PTSD he was trying to help.
&#8220;To me, nothing says, &#8216;I want attention&#8217; more than disparaging a national hero who&#8217;s also dead,&#8221; Taya <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6396510537112">said</a>. &#8220;It&#8217;s transparent, it&#8217;s cowardly, it&#8217;s lowbrow to lie about somebody else, and it distracts from &#8230; I think some things that he has said.&#8221;
&#8220;It&#8217;s this cheap political trick to say, &#8216;Ya know, I haven&#8217;t done a whole lot, so let me attach my name to somebody who&#8217;s beloved, and if nothing else, I&#8217;ll get out in the news,'&#8221; the widow continued. &#8220;And that&#8217;s working for him to get that notoriety. But to me, it shows a total inability to lead with character. So for me, he would be out of the running immediately.&#8221;
Platner&#8217;s comments have hurt the Kyle family, Taya said. &#8220;My kids are 21 and 20 — they&#8217;re grown adults, and I wish I could tell you that it doesn&#8217;t hurt, but it does.&#8221;
Taya added that it&#8217;s &#8220;obvious&#8221; to her family that Platner did not know her late husband, yet still made his disparaging remarks. &#8220;I can&#8217;t imagine anyone voting for someone like that,&#8221; she said.
Robert O&#8217;Neill, the Navy SEAL credited with killing Osama bin Laden, recently sounded off on Platner&#8217;s comments, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/navy-seal-killed-bin-laden-rips-platner-barbaric-post-trashing-soldier-fire-line">calling</a> the candidate jealous.
&#8220;That would just stem from jealousy, maybe because Chris Kyle&#8217;s name became famous for a whole bunch of confirmed kills,&#8221; O’Neill said. &#8220;The jealousy is there. I&#8217;ve seen the jealousy too, but professional jealousy, stuff like this is really, really rare between veterans.&#8221;
Platner is also taking heat over <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/purple-heart-hero-mocked-by-graham-platner-has-one-question-for-dems?author=Jordan+Schroeder&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Hotwire&amp;rowType=Four+Column+Grid&amp;title=Purple+Heart+Hero+Mocked+By+Graham+Platner+Has+One+Question+For+Dems">resurfaced Reddit comments</a> showing the candidate mocking Purple Heart recipient Ted Daniels and saying he “didn’t deserve to live” following a brutal firefight in Afghanistan.
Daniels recently told the New York Post he wants liberal lawmakers like Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chuck Schumer, Bernie Sanders, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to explain to his children why they are backing a candidate who mocked the possibility of their father being killed in combat.
Additionally, Platner has been criticized for resurfaced images allegedly showing the Democrat with a Nazi-linked tattoo.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/purple-heart-hero-mocked-by-graham-platner-has-one-question-for-dems?author=Jordan+Schroeder&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=3&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Hotwire&amp;rowType=Four+Column+Grid&amp;title=Purple+Heart+Hero+Mocked+By+Graham+Platner+Has+One+Question+For+Dems">Purple Heart Hero Mocked By Graham Platner Has One Question For Dems</a>

Graham Platner. Taya Kyle

‘American Sniper’ Widow Torches Graham Platner For Smearing Late Husband

2026 Midterms

graham platner

Maine

Senate

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Before the engines roared at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, the world’s largest single-day sporting event pulled off the ultimate tribute to America’s fighting forces: total, spine-tingling silence.
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Nearly 400,000 fans packed into the Brickyard for the 110th running of &#8220;The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,&#8221; but before the green flag waved, the massive crowd went completely silent as the somber, 24-note melody of &#8220;Taps&#8221; echoed across the track in honor of America&#8217;s fallen service members.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) couldn&#8217;t help but marvel at the powerful moment, taking to X to declare it the highlight of his holiday weekend.
&#8220;Our country never takes for granted the profound sacrifices that have been made in the defense of freedom,&#8221; Johnson wrote.
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Our best moment of the Indy 500 yesterday was when nearly 400,000 Americans at the world’s largest single-day sporting event went completely silent for the playing of Taps. 
Our country never takes for granted the profound sacrifices that have been made in the defense of… <a href="https://t.co/HZWUdhRavP">pic.twitter.com/HZWUdhRavP</a>
&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/2058894443877486622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
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For more than 75 years, &#8220;Taps&#8221; has been the emotional cornerstone of the Indy 500’s pre-race pageantry. Played by a lone bugler and accompanied by a military rifle volley, it’s the ultimate &#8220;calm before the storm.&#8221;
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But this hauntingly beautiful tune wasn&#8217;t born in a cozy studio. It was forged in the bloody trenches of the Civil War.
In July 1862, Union General Daniel Butterfield decided the Army’s standard &#8220;Lights Out&#8221; call was way too harsh for exhausted soldiers who had just survived horrific combat. Lacking any musical training, Butterfield hummed a new melody to his brigade bugler, Oliver Wilcox Norton, who scratched out the notes on the back of an envelope.
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The battlefield lullaby quickly morphed into a funeral farewell. During that same campaign, Captain John C. Tidball used the new tune to bury a soldier, fearing that a traditional three-gun salute would tip off nearby Confederate troops. By 1891, the U.S. Army made the 24-note salute mandatory for all military funerals, locking it into American history forever.
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Sunday’s race needed that peaceful moment, because what followed was absolute, unadulterated chaos in a finish worthy of Indy history.
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In a late restart on the final lap, David Malukas snatched the lead, seemingly destined for his first Indy 500 win. But Felix Rosenqvist had other plans. In a gutsy, high-octane move right after the final turn, Rosenqvist roared into the outside lane, passing Malukas with just feet to spare.
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When the smoke cleared, Rosenqvist snagged the checkered flag by a razor-thin 0.0233 seconds—the absolute closest finish in Indy 500 history.
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FELIX ROSENQVIST WINS THE CLOSEST FINISH IN INDY 500 HISTORY! <a href="https://t.co/BBGobsgX3I">pic.twitter.com/BBGobsgX3I</a>
&mdash; INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndyCarOnFOX/status/2058643153901568467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
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From a breathtaking moment of silence honoring America&#8217;s bravest, straight to a historic fraction-of-a-second photo finish— an American Memorial Day weekend.
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The 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500

400K Indy 500 Fans Fall Silent For ‘Taps’ Before Record-Breaking Finish

Indianapolis 500

Memorial Day

Silence

The Pentagon released new UFO footage on Friday that includes dozens of videos as part of a scheduled declassification. 
Friday’s release marked the <a href="https://www.war.gov/UFO/">second tranche</a> of records that Trump ordered declassified in his push for transparency on U.S. government information regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). 
One of the new videos shows a U.S. fighter jet shooting down a UAP over Lake Huron in February 2023. The U.S. military shot down the object shortly after a Chinese spy balloon crossed over the entire continental United States in an embarrassing moment for former President Joe Biden.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Pentagon releases wild footage of fighter jet taking down UFO" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LMJNBqPH0hI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
At the time, then-NORAD Commander Gen. Glen VanHerck <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-military-shot-unidentified-object-lake-huron-rcna70289">said</a> officials did not know how the object was able to &#8220;stay aloft&#8221; over Lake Huron.
&#8220;We’re calling them objects, not balloons, for a reason,&#8221; he said.
Other videos released on Friday show aerial views of UFOs in the atmosphere, including two strange objects near a U.S. submarine and another object near Columbus, Ohio. 
<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/TBXZaDdFKLUW02AoZqnibQjDBu67wWMrg?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=b8052a61-cfb8-4447-afd0-ffda2804c650&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=UFO%20Columbus%2C%20Ohio&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Fa8ede0eb-f4d6-4801-b336-09da937e9065.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
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<div style="max-width: 728px; margin: 0 auto;"><iframe style="aspect-ratio: 9/16; max-width: 220px; display: flex; justify-content: center; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/BIbZHbi00q7WTOCbcqm02vZuOQge016M7It?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=d6757644-8bd8-4bb4-8ad9-a7f9a708a0ce&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=2026-05-22%3A%20UFO%20near%20Columbus%2C%20OH&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2F8bcab609-6d64-42a3-8971-fb5874cf5702.png&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div>
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is overseeing the process of finding, reviewing, identifying, and publicly releasing unresolved UAP-related records that are in the federal government’s possession. Releasing the files is a difficult process as it requires cross-agency coordination and reviewing tens of millions of records with many existing only on paper from decades ago. Due to the quantity of records under review, the White House developed a plan to release records in phases.
The Department of War said it remains unable to make a &#8220;definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena” due to not having sufficient data. The department added that it welcomes private-sector analysis, information, and expertise to help identify objects released. Along with a desire for private sector analysis, President Trump <a href="https://www.war.gov/UFO/">said</a> the files were declassified based on &#8220;tremendous public interest.&#8221;

Pentagon Releases Wild Footage Of Fighter Jet Taking Down UFO

Pentagon

Trump Administration

Top defense officials and bipartisan lawmakers are sounding the alarm over what they characterize as a severe financial shortfall for America’s elite military units, warning that the current funding model severely hinders the armed forces&#8217; ability to adapt to modern combat realities.
The Pentagon’s proposed spending plan allocates $18.4 billion to Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year, Inside Defense <a href="https://insidedefense.com/story-of-the-week/227357">reported</a>. While a substantial figure, data published by the Global SOF Foundation reveals this constitutes a mere 1.2% of the overall $1.5 trillion defense request.
Critics point out that this is part of a decade-long stagnation. In 2019, elite units commanded 2% of the total defense budget. When accounting for economic inflation, the financial resources available to these units have plummeted by 14% over the last several years. Conversely, deployment demands from regional commanders have spiked threefold, leading to approximately 70 denied requests for elite assistance last year alone due to scarce assets.
During recent legislative hearings, lawmakers pressed leadership to rectify this imbalance. Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) pointed to recent successful missions, such as the winter apprehension of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as proof of the high returns on investing in specialized units. In response, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth conceded that the current financial blueprint is insufficient. Hegseth disclosed that he has requested the Pentagon&#8217;s financial chief to redirect additional funds toward elite units via an upcoming emergency spending bill aimed at financing operations in Iran.
&#8220;Whether it&#8217;s a supplemental or this budget, I fully agree and I think we need to invest more,” Hegseth said.
Beyond general funding shortages, military commanders testified that the cumbersome federal procurement cycle leaves American forces vulnerable. Major General Peter Huntley noted that introducing just three automated drone programs took nearly a decade to fully integrate. Air Force Lieutenant General Michael Conley elaborated that the current blueprint requires planning years in advance, meaning immediate integration of cutting-edge technology relies on shifting already spoken-for cash.
This slow-moving apparatus is particularly dangerous given the current geopolitical landscape. Ongoing friction in Iran and Eastern Europe demonstrates how quickly enemies leverage inexpensive, mass-produced commercial technology against U.S. troops. To combat this, Army Lieutenant General Lawrence Ferguson asserted that maintaining an edge requires urgent, flexible investments in cyber warfare, space systems, and anti-drone defenses.
To bridge this technological gap before equipment becomes obsolete, commanders are exploring cheaper, modular strike platforms and repurposing existing assets, such as modifying transport aircraft to deploy mid-range missiles.
These persistent logistical and financial hurdles are set to take center stage in Tampa, Florida, where defense officials and private sector tech leaders will meet this week to chart a path forward.

U.S. Special Operations Command Hosts Biennial Hostage Rescue Demonstration In Tampa

Buying The Best: Lawmakers, Defense Chiefs Rally To Supercharge America’s Elite Forces

Funding

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President Donald Trump announced early Saturday morning that American forces had eliminated a top ISIS official in Africa, a major blow to the radical Islamic terror group.
&#8220;Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission to eliminate the most active terrorist in the world from the battlefield,&#8221; Trump wrote on Truth Social. &#8220;Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing.&#8221;
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<a href="https://t.co/qco7EDL923">pic.twitter.com/qco7EDL923</a>
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/2055491592107049334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans,&#8221; Trump added. &#8220;With his removal, ISIS’s global operation is greatly diminished.&#8221;
The United States <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/06/16/2023-12870/designation-of-abdallah-makki-muslih-al-rufayi-and-abu-bakr-ibn-muhammad-ibn-ali-al-mainuki-as">named</a> Minuki a &#8220;specially designated global terrorist&#8221; in 2023. A Nigerian native, the Nigerian government says he was likely recently elevated to the number two leadership spot in ISIS. According to U.S. Africa Command, Minuki &#8220;provided strategic guidance to the ISIS global network on media and financial operations as well as the development and manufacturing of weapons, explosives, and drones.&#8221;
&#8220;Al-Minuki was the most active terrorist in the world and has a significant history of involvement in planning attacks and directing hostage taking,&#8221; AFRICOM added.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed the raid in a post on X.
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Overnight, Nigeria and the United States recorded a significant example of effective collaboration in the fight against terrorism.
Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States, conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a…
— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@officialABAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/officialABAT/status/2055542303721132368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,&#8221; Tinubu wrote. &#8220;I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort.&#8221;
AFRICOM said other ISIS leaders were <a href="https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/36568">killed</a> in the raid, while no American troops were harmed.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Last night&#8217;s operation targeted a significant presence of ISIS fighters in Northeastern Nigeria eliminating multiple high value individuals including Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. <a href="https://t.co/lNj4AMSITH">pic.twitter.com/lNj4AMSITH</a>
— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAfricaCommand/status/2055614134851424487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2026</a></blockquote>
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“This operation underscores the exceptional value of the U.S.-Nigeria partnership and was made possible through the cooperation and coordination of our forces in recent months,&#8221; Air Force General Dagvin Anderson, commander of U.S. Africa Command, said in a statement. &#8220;Make no mistake, our two nations will relentlessly pursue and neutralize terrorist threats and are committed to protecting our people and interests.”
Nigeria has battled a rise in radical Islamic terrorism in recent years, with groups like ISIS and Boko Haram targeting the country&#8217;s Christian population in particular. Boko Haram <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dozens-killed-in-christian-communities-in-lead-up-to-easter?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dozens+Feared+Dead+After+Christians+Targeted+In+Holy+Week+Massacre">killed</a> as many as 27 Nigerian Christians during Holy Week this year.

Kashmiri Protesters hold ISIS flags while making gestures

Trump Reveals Strike On ‘The Most Active Terrorist In The World’

ISIS

Nigeria

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Two United States service members are missing in Morocco after a massive war games exercise involving multiple nations.
The United States Africa Command (<a href="https://www.africom.mil/pressrelease/36450/search-and-rescue-ongoing-at-african-lion-2026">AFRICOM</a>) released a statement indicating that the two had gone missing somewhere near the Cap Draa Training Area — which lies just under 20 miles from the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Tan Tan. AFRICOM did not reveal which branch of service was involved.
&#8220;Two U.S. service members participating in African Lion 2026 were reported missing near the Cap Draa Training Area, near the city of Tan Tan, Morocco, May 2, 2026,&#8221; the command posted via X.
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Two U.S. service members participating in African Lion 2026 were reported missing near the Cap Draa Training Area, near the city of Tan Tan, Morocco, May 2, 2026.<a href="https://t.co/7zxpKQRHfB">https://t.co/7zxpKQRHfB</a>
— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAfricaCommand/status/2050898946659094702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;U.S., Moroccan and other assets from African Lion immediately initiated coordinated search and rescue operations, including ground, air, and maritime assets,&#8221; the linked statement continued. &#8220;The incident remains under investigation and the search is on-going. Our focus is on the service members involved and their families.&#8221;
&#8220;Additional information will be provided as it becomes available,&#8221; the command promised, but no other details were given as to what may have been then nature of the &#8220;incident.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/daily-wire-explains-the-world-ep-8">RELATED: The Race To Rescue</a>
The war games exercise, referred to as African Lion, includes more than 7,000 troops from at least 30 nations, and was set to conclude in early May. The exercise was to play out across the four African nations of Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia.
The annual war games exercise — which was first launched in 2004 — includes American service members from the United States Marine Corps, Air Force, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard — and is touted as a chance to bring together senior leadership from several allied nations in cooperation and strategic development.

U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion At MCAS Miramar

U.S. Troops Missing After ‘War Games’ Exercise, Massive Manhunt Underway

Africa

The Daily Wire dives into the incredible details of one of America’s most daring rescue missions in a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/daily-wire-explains-the-world-ep-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mini documentary</a> that hit the platform on Thursday.
Just over a month after the United States launched its massive military operation against Iran, a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down by Iranian forces on April 3, sending the fighter jet’s two crew members directly into enemy territory.
It marked the first time in more than 20 years that a U.S. warplane was lost to enemy fire, but President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth had a bigger problem: finding the missing Americans and bringing them home.
The jet’s pilot was rescued by U.S. forces within hours, but the weapons system officer, a colonel who ejected from the jet, vanished in some of the most remote and treacherous terrain on earth.
Back in Washington, U.S. officials quickly drew up a daring plan to rescue the colonel before Iranian forces could capture him. American officials knew the stakes. Either an American soldier would fall into the hands of a terrorist regime, die of dehydration, or the U.S. military would go into hostile territory and get him.
The next 48 hours would prove to be one of the greatest success stories in American military history, a rescue that President Donald Trump called an “Easter miracle.”
The Daily Wire’s “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/daily-wire-explains-the-world-ep-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Race To Rescue</a>” provides a detailed account of the incredible mission to find the missing U.S. colonel and bring him home. “The Race To Rescue” is now available exclusively for DailyWire+ members.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/daily-wire-explains-the-world-ep-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WATCH: THE RACE TO RESCUE</a>
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The Race To Rescue

How The U.S. Pulled Off One Of The Greatest Rescue Missions In Military History

Daily Wire

Pete Hegseth

Special Reporting

U.S. authorities arrested a Chinese national at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City earlier this month who is accused of traveling to Nebraska and taking pictures of military aircraft near Offutt Air Force Base.
Tianrui Liang also allegedly planned to travel to Oklahoma to photograph more military aircraft at Tinker Air Force Base, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/chinese-national-arrested-jfk-after-allegedly-photographing-us-military-aircraft-nebraska-base?lid=zeskeho3ui7f">reported</a>. The 21-year-old Chinese national is charged with violating U.S. law prohibiting people from photographing or sketching defense installations, according to court documents.
Authorities were first alerted to suspicious activity near Offutt Air Force Base after a person witnessed &#8220;a male holding a camera with a telescopic lens&#8221; near the military installation, according to an FBI affidavit.
Offutt Air Force Base is one of the most sensitive military installations in the United States and is the home of U.S. Strategic Command, which is <a href="https://www.stratcom.mil/About/#:~:text=Air%20Force%20Global%20Strike%20Command,United%20States%20and%20Combatant%20Commanders.">responsible</a> for nuclear defense and global strike operations. The base also hosts some of the U.S. military&#8217;s most powerful reconnaissance aircraft, including the E-4B &#8220;Nightwatch,&#8221; or &#8220;doomsday plane,&#8221; which is designed for military leaders or the president to use in the case of a nuclear war.
Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City is home to the Air Force Sustainment Center, which focuses on maintaining the Air Force&#8217;s &#8220;Weapons System Readiness.&#8221;
Liang was charged in Nebraska on April 3 and was arrested at JFK International Airport four days later. Liang was taken into custody just before he boarded a plane for Frankfurt, Germany, after which he planned to fly to Glasgow, Scotland, according to court documents. The Chinese national was in the United States on a non-immigrant B1/B2 visa, which authorizes temporary travel to America for foreign tourists or people on business trips or visiting family.
Liang told authorities at the airport that he had been previously questioned by law enforcement over the allegations, according to court documents.
Multiple Chinese nationals have been arrested in recent years for taking pictures near U.S. military bases. In August 2023, five Chinese nationals who were former students at the University of Michigan were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/5-chinese-nationals-accused-of-photographing-michigan-military-facility">caught</a> taking pictures of military equipment during joint training exercises between the National Guard and the Taiwanese military at Camp Grayling in northern Michigan, according to authorities.
Last December, a Chinese national was arrested for taking videos of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. He also took numerous photos of military equipment and the base&#8217;s perimeter fencing, <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/chinese-national-charged-unlawfully-photographing-air-force-base-and-vital-military">according</a> to the Justice Department.

Chinese man photography

A Chinese Man Was Just Caught Photographing The U.S. Military’s ‘Doomsday’ Plane

China

Communist China

Crime

Espionage

Nebraska

Oklahoma

U.S.

U.S. Air Force

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine offered a moving testimonial to the members of the American Navy on Thursday, declaring, “Far and away, the most important thing — important weapon — on board these ships is the American sailor.”
Speaking at a press briefing alongside Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM’s Brad Cooper, Caine began, “I want to talk briefly today about the men and women enforcing the blockade, America&#8217;s sailors and Marines, particularly our destroyer and surface forces. When we talk about an American destroyer, it&#8217;s important that you and the American people understand their capabilities.”
“An Arleigh Burke class destroyer is the backbone of the United States Navy surface fleet,” he continued. “Over 500 feet long, they displace 9,000 tons and it is the sports car of the United States Navy. From the keel to the mast, they stand nearly 10 stories tall, and their four gas turbine engines can drive the ship at 30-plus knots. These ships are armed to the teeth with surface-to-air missiles, land attack cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, anti-submarine rockets, torpedoes, five-inch naval guns, multiple electronic warfare systems. Embarked helicopters extend the reach and capability of each and every one of these destroyers.”
Then he turned to the American warriors: “But far and away, the most important thing — important weapon — on board these ships is the American sailor. Over 300 warfighters are the heart and soul of these warships. At sea sometimes for months, and these ships, out in the CENTCOM AOR, have been out there for months. They operate around the clock in a constant state of readiness delivering for our joint force.”
“It&#8217;s hot in the engine room,” he explained. “The engineering team keeps the lights on and the ship powered and able to respond to the orders from the bridge. On that bridge, our sailors maintain a constant watch, maneuvering the ship tactically and safely through all congested water space — and there is a lot out there. It is like driving a sports car through a supermarket parking lot on a payday weekend with thousands of kids in that parking lot as you attempt to maneuver through there to get to that ship that would attempt to run that blockade.”
“Down in the Combat Information Center, the CIC, the Tactical Warfare Center of the ship, that is where the decisions are made,” he said. “As threats appear, these young sailors are making real-time decisions on how to identify these threats and handle them, and they always deliver. These ships are run by the youngest sailors in our surface warfare Navy. The helmsman, the sailor on the watch at the bridge, is normally just between 18 to 19 years old, and they are trusted to drive this warship through that supermarket parking lot without hitting anything. The conning officer, an equally young commissioned officer who&#8217;s normally just a few years out of college, is the one who is giving that young helmsman the orders on where to take that American warship to execute the mission that the secretary and the president has given us.”
He concluded, “These are incredibly well-trained sailors. They are led by incredible leaders, salty, experienced leaders and trusted with deep responsibility. And I&#8217;m so humbled and proud of America&#8217;s Navy. These sailors choose to take the road less traveled to go into the historic surface navy and they deliver every single day.”
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WATCH: The Curtain Is Pulled Back On Who’s Making Life Or Death Decisions On Front Lines

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