US military | Business Upturn

Iran accuses US of striking oil tankers near Hormuz, warns of ‘heavy retaliation’

Rashmi Pandey — Fri, 08 May 2026 15:20:12 +0000

Iran on Friday strongly condemned what it described as U.S. military strikes targeting two Iranian oil tankers near Bandar Jask and the Strait of Hormuz, accusing Washington of violating an existing ceasefire arrangement and escalating tensions in the Gulf region.

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the alleged attacks took place between May 7 and May 8 and also involved strikes on nearby coastal areas. Tehran claimed that U.S. forces targeted maritime and coastal infrastructure connected to Iranian operations in the strategically vital Hormuz region.

In an official statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the alleged military action as a “clear violation” of understandings aimed at reducing regional tensions. Iranian authorities further stated that the country’s armed forces responded immediately and forcefully.

Tehran claimed its retaliation delivered what it called a “heavy slap” to U.S. forces and insisted that Washington had failed to achieve its operational objectives during the confrontation.

Iranian officials did not immediately release independent evidence regarding the extent of damage to the tankers or coastal facilities. There was also no official confirmation from the United States Department of Defense or United States Central Command regarding the allegations made by Tehran.

The reported incident comes amid rapidly rising tensions surrounding maritime activity in the Gulf and increasing restrictions linked to Iranian oil exports. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes, handling a major share of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas trade.

Recent days have seen heightened military activity, shipping disruptions and escalating rhetoric between Washington and Tehran. U.S. officials have previously announced large-scale maritime enforcement measures aimed at limiting Iranian oil exports, while Iran has introduced new regulations governing vessel movement through the Strait of Hormuz.

Global energy markets and international shipping operators are closely monitoring developments due to concerns over potential supply disruptions and risks to commercial navigation in the region.

Diplomatic observers warn that any direct military confrontation near Hormuz could further destabilise Middle East security conditions and impact global energy prices.

No casualties were immediately confirmed by either side following the reported incident.

Warning issued: U.S. admiral tells Iran to stay away from military assets

Rashmi Pandey — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:28 +0000

A senior U.S. naval commander has claimed that Iranian forces attempted but failed to disrupt commercial shipping, adding that American forces destroyed six small Iranian boats involved in the incident.

According to statements reported on May 4, 2026, the U.S. admiral said the boats were intercepted while trying to interfere with maritime traffic in a key regional waterway. The vessels were subsequently engaged and destroyed by U.S. forces to prevent any disruption to commercial shipping routes.

The admiral further urged Iranian forces to “steer clear” of American military assets in the region, warning that any perceived threat would be met with a decisive response. The remarks reflect heightened tensions between the two sides amid ongoing military activity and increased security operations in strategic sea lanes.

In addition to the incident, the U.S. official stated that the current military blockade imposed on Iran is “outperforming expectations,” suggesting that pressure measures are having a significant operational impact. However, no additional details were provided regarding the scope or metrics of the blockade’s effectiveness.

There has been no immediate confirmation or response from Iranian authorities regarding the reported incident or the destruction of the boats. Independent verification of the claims has not yet been established.

The development comes at a time of escalating instability in the region, with repeated warnings, maritime incidents, and competing claims adding to uncertainty around the safety of global shipping routes.

As of now, the situation remains fluid, with further details expected as more official information becomes available.

Is maritime safety at risk in Hormuz? US navy issues advisory on possible mine threat

Rashmi Pandey — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:32:22 +0000

The United States Navy has issued an advisory to seafarers regarding potential maritime risks in parts of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the status of a possible mine threat in certain areas remains unclear.

According to the advisory, maritime operators have been cautioned that the extent and location of any underwater mine hazards are “not fully understood,” prompting authorities to recommend precautionary measures. The advisory specifically stated that avoidance of the affected areas should be considered until more clarity is obtained.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, facilitating a substantial share of global oil and energy transportation. Any threat to safe navigation in this region has significant implications for international trade and maritime security.

The US Navy’s communication is part of standard navigational safety protocols aimed at informing commercial and military vessels of potential risks in sensitive waters. The advisory underscores the importance of heightened vigilance among ship operators transiting through or near the affected zones.

At present, no detailed technical assessment of the alleged mine threat has been publicly disclosed, and the advisory does not specify confirmed incidents of mine deployment. The warning instead reflects precautionary guidance based on available information.

There has been no immediate response from regional authorities regarding the advisory, and independent confirmation of the exact nature of the threat remains limited. Maritime stakeholders, including shipping companies and naval forces, are expected to monitor the situation closely.

The development comes amid heightened attention on security conditions in the region, with the Strait of Hormuz continuing to be a focal point for global energy flows and geopolitical dynamics.

Further updates are expected as more information becomes available through official maritime and defense channels.

Trump: “USA will get all nuclear ‘dust’ from B‑2 bombers – no money will exchange hands”

Rashmi Pandey — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:03:41 +0000

Donald J. Trump on Thursday issued a statement outlining a series of claims regarding United States involvement in nuclear material handling, as well as developments related to Israel and Lebanon.

In the statement, released via his official communication platform, Trump said:

“THE U.S.A. WILL GET ALL NUCLEAR ‘DUST,’ CREATED BY OUR GREAT B2 BOMBERS – NO MONEY WILL EXCHANGE HANDS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.”

He further clarified that the arrangement mentioned is not linked to Lebanon, stating:

“THIS DEAL IS IN NO WAY SUBJECT TO LEBANON, EITHER, BUT THE USA WILL, SEPARATELY, WORK WITH LEBANON, AND DEAL WITH THE HEZBOOLAH SITUATION IN AN APPROPRIATE MANNER.”

Trump also addressed the ongoing security situation between Israel and Lebanon, asserting a halt in Israeli military actions. He stated:

“ISRAEL WILL NOT BE BOMBING LEBANON ANY LONGER. THEY ARE PROHIBITED FROM DOING SO BY THE U.S.A. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! THANK YOU! PRESIDENT DJT.”

The statement references the involvement of US military assets, including Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bombers, and suggests a role for the United States in managing nuclear-related byproducts described as “nuclear dust.” However, no further technical or official clarification has been provided through formal government channels regarding the nature of this material or the framework of the claimed arrangement.

Additionally, Trump indicated that the United States would engage separately with Lebanon to address the situation involving Hezbollah, though no operational details were disclosed.

As of now, these claims remain based on Trump’s official statement, and there has been no independent confirmation from US government authorities, Israeli officials, or Lebanese representatives regarding the directives or agreements mentioned.

Further updates are expected as official responses and clarifications emerge from relevant stakeholders.

US military claims Russian fighter jets ‘harassing’ their MQ-9 drones over Syria

Adesh Dixit — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 15:14:10 +0000

The United States Military on Saturday accused Russian forces of ‘harassing’ American drones over the Syrian territory for the third day in a row. The representative speaking on the behalf of US Military said that the encounter lasted for around 2 hours in which the Russian Fighter jets “once again harassed” three of their MQ-9 drones.

This development comes as a fresh series of conflicts between the US and Russian troops over Syria.

Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, head of U.S. Air Forces Central Command said, “Russian aircraft flew 18 unprofessional close passes that caused the MQ-9s to react to avoid unsafe situations.”

The Russian and Syrian military units were jointly engaged in a six-day training which concluded on Monday as per head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, Admiral Oleg Gurinov. He also expressed Kremlin’s apprehension regarding the drone operations conducted by US and its allies in the Syrian territory calling it “systematic breaches of established protocols”

The US military said that the first instance occurred on Wednesday morning when Russian military aircraft was seen engaging in “unsafe and unprofessional behaviour.” The American MQ-9 drones over hovering over Syrian lands against the targets of Islamic State when the Russian jets intervened the situation. The same situation was repeated on Thursday when Russian Jets flew unprofessionally against French and US drones.

US along with its key allies including France are on a global mission in defending against the Islamic State Organization which at one point of time held significant territories in Iraq and Syria and proclaimed a caliphate. despite suffering a defeat in 2017, the radical group continues to perpetrate deadly attacks on both the countries.

Grynkewich said, “We continue to encourage Russia to return to the established norms of professional Air Force so that we all can return our focus to ensuring the defeat of ISIS.”

Chinese spy balloons have targeted several countries, including India: Report

News Desk — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:31:10 +0000

Days after the US military shot down a Chinese surveillance craft that was floating over vital installations in the country, a media source claimed that China had operated a fleet of spy balloons that were aimed at numerous nations, including India and Japan. A fighter jet shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday in the Atlantic Ocean. US officials have informed their friends and allies of the balloon’s discovery, including India. A briefing on it was given to representatives from around 40 embassies on Monday by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.

According to a report from The Washington Post published on Tuesday, “the surveillance balloon effort, which has operated for several years in part out of Hainan province off the south coast of China, has gathered information on military assets in nations and areas of emerging strategic interest to China, including Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan, and the Philippines.” Interviews with multiple unnamed defence and intelligence officials served as the basis for The Post’s investigation.

These surveillance airships, which the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) air force operates in part, have reportedly been detected over five continents, according to officials, the newspaper stated.

A senior defence official was cited as saying, “These balloons are all a part of a fleet of balloons produced by the PRC (People’s Republic of China) to conduct surveillance activities, which also infringed the sovereignty of other countries.”

The daily claims that, in addition to the balloon that was monitored last week, at least four other balloons have been seen in recent years over Hawaii, Florida, Texas, and Guam. Although three of the four incidents occurred while Trump was president, Chinese surveillance airships were only recently found to be responsible, it claimed.

On Tuesday, the high-altitude surveillance balloon was recovered, as seen in a number of photos supplied by the Pentagon.

President Biden: US war in Afghanistan will end on August 31; Calls it “unwinnable war”

Aayushi Singh — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 04:32:57 +0000

On Thursday, President Joe Biden said that the military mission in Afghanistan would conclude on August 31, and said that the speed was safety as all the United States sought to end the nearly 2 decade long war.

The President in his speech said that they did not go to Afghanistan to nation build, and that the leaders of Afghan would have to come together and drive towards the future. He also amplified on the justification of his decision on ending the US military operations even when Taliban made rapid advances in significant swaths of the country. He concluded his decision saying that it was an unwinnable war and it did not have any military solution.

He mentioned that he would not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan with no expectation of achieving any different outcome, Biden also said that he only trusted the capacity of the Afghan Military to defend the government.

Jen Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, before his speech said that the Biden administration officials always anticipated an uptick in violence or greater turmoil as the US withdrawal moved forward.

She also said that prolonging the US military would have led to increase of attacks on the American troops. She said that the question he fundamentally faced was that after 20 years whether he going to commit more of the American troops to a civil war in Afghanistan.

Joe Biden said that it was highly unlikely that any one government would be taking control of Afghanistan after the US pulls out, and he urged the Afghan government to come forward with a deal with Taliban. He added that there was no mission accomplished moment as the US war came to an end, and the mission was accomplished in that they got Osama Bin Laden, however terrorism was not arising from that part of the world.

US military (Pentagon) sticks with Microsoft for $10 billion cloud contract

Muskan Jain — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 14:12:06 +0000

The US Department of Defense said Friday it is sticking with its decision to award a $10 billion cloud computing contract to Microsoft, despite Amazon’s claims that President Donald Trump improperly influenced the process. After a second look at proposals for the JEDI cloud computing contract, the Pentagon concluded a new that Microsoft is the preferred choice.

“Microsoft’s proposal continues to represent the best value to the Government,” the department said in a statement, adding it is “eager to begin delivering this capability to our men and women in uniform.” However, the contract can’t move forward yet due to a federal court’s order putting it on hold while Amazon pursues a lawsuit over how the bidding was handled, the Pentagon noted.

“We appreciate that after careful review, the DoD confirmed that we offered the right technology and the best value,” Microsoft said. “We’re ready to get to work and make sure that those who serve our country have access to this much needed technology.” The 10-year Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) program will ultimately see all military branches sharing information in a cloud-based system boosted by artificial intelligence.

Amazon has alleged it was shut out of the deal because of Trump’s vendetta against the company and its chief executive Jeff Bezos. The entrepreneur, who also owns The Washington Post, is a frequent target of the US president, who claims the newspaper is biased against him.

Amazon is seeking testimony from Trump and other top officials on the reasons for awarding the lucrative deal to Microsoft. Amazon contended in a blog post that the DoD’s re-evaluation of bids was a “do-over” to let Microsoft fix a flawed proposal so US officials could “validate a flawed, biased, and politically corrupted decision.”

“There is a recurring pattern to the way President Trump behaves when he’s called out for doing something egregious: first he denies doing it, then he looks for ways to push it off to the side, to distract attention from it and delay efforts to investigate it,” Amazon said in the post. “And then he ends up doubling down on the egregious act anyway.”

Amazon was considered the lead contender to provide technology for JEDI, with Amazon Web Services dominating the cloud computing arena and the company already providing classified servers for other government agencies including the CIA.

Amazon argued in court documents that the Pentagon’s choice of Microsoft was mystifying if not for Trump’s repeated “expressed determination to, in the words of the president himself, ‘screw Amazon.”The protest filed in the US Court of Federal Claims urges that the rival JEDI bids be re-evaluated.