The blood-and-soil extremists have donors, institutions, administration ties—and plenty of friends in MAGA.

The Defense Department "was not expecting it," a congressional aide said.

German defence minister responds to US president’s announcement that 5,000 US troops will leave bases in Germany Hello and welcome to our live coverage of events in the Middle East. The German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, said that it was “foreseeable” that the US would withdraw troops from Europe, after the Pentagon announced it would pull thousands of American soldiers from Germany. Trump said he is “not satisfied” with a new proposal from Iran on ending the war, as peace talks remain stalled despite a weeks-long ceasefire. Iran delivered the proposal text to mediator Pakistan on Thursday evening, Iranian state news agency Irna reported, without detailing its contents. The US state department said it was approving military sales totalling more than $8.6bn to Middle Eastern allies Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. It came as Washington warned European allies including the UK, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia to expect long delivery delays for US weapons as it scrambles to replenish stockpiles depleted by the Iran war, according to a report in the Fianancial Times citing multiple sources. In Lebanon, 12 people were killed in Israeli strikes in the south, Lebanon’s health ministry said, including in the town of Habboush, where the Israeli army had issued an evacuation order despite the continuing ceasefire. Israeli warplanes “launched a series of heavy strikes … less than an hour after” the warning, the state-run National News Agency said. The US Treasury Office warned that any shipping companies that paid tolls to Iran for passage through the strait of Hormuz, including charitable donations to organisations such as the Iranian Red Crescent Society, would risk punitive sanctions. Tehran has proposed charging fees on vessels passing through the strait, as part of a deal to end the war. Trump wrote to US lawmakers on Friday declaring hostilities with Iran “terminated”, despite no change in the US military posture, as he faces continuing pressure at home to seek congressional authorisation for the war. The state department’s announcement on Friday included approving military sales to Qatar of Patriot air and missile defence replenishment services costing $4.01bn and of advanced precision kill weapon systems (APKWS) costing $992.4m. They also included approval of the sale to Kuwait of an integrated battle command system costing $2.5bn and to Israel of APKWS costing $992.4m. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei urged his people to wage economic battle and “disappoint” its enemies, as the war and years of sanctions take a toll. In a written statement he also said “the owners of damaged businesses should avoid, as much as possible, layoffs and separation of their workforce”. Continue reading...

When President Bush invaded Iraq, evangelical leaders argued the war was justified morally. When Trump went to war with Iran, evangelical leaders simply cheered.

On the escalating logic of American action in the Middle East.

Two of the personnel are reportedly in serious condition.

And Why His “Anonymous Christianity” Might Be the Only True Christianity at the Moment

"It’s just going to cause hurt and pain and I don’t want to do that," said one lawmaker.

The Trump administration continues its illegal boat-bombing campaign in Latin America, despite criticism.

YouTube video by The Daily Show

Six airmen were killed when a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed during ongoing combat operations against Iran.

The USS Tripoli, USS New Orleans, USS San Diego and the embarked 31st MEU are reportedly heading to the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury.

A fundraising email distributed by a Trump-linked political action committee featured a photo of a dignified transfer of a U.S. soldier killed in Kuwait.

The president and his advisers are in the grip of “victory disease.”

Keeping up with Mr. ‘I Have the Best Words’ as he twists the English language.

The figure omitted a range of war-related expenses and is likely to rise.

“The incident was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” the release said, adding that rescue efforts are ongoing.