Latest news with #EuropeanCommand
Yemen Online
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Yemen : Houthis likely to be ‘persistent problem' for US, military official says
The Houthi group in Yemen will likely be a 'persistent problem' for the US in the future, a senior US military official said on Tuesday, even after Washington and the Houthis reached an agreement last month that ended a US air campaign against the Iran-backed group, which controls much of Yemen. 'The Houthis are likely to be a persistent problem… that we'll be dealing with in the future a few times again,' Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, director for operations of the Joint Staff, told lawmakers. Grynkewich has been nominated to lead the US military's European Command. Last month, US President Donald Trump announced the US would stop bombing the Houthis, who had been firing at US warships and commercial vessels off Yemen's coast since November 2023. The US military said it struck more than 1,000 targets during its operation in Yemen, known as Operation Rough Rider. The strikes, the US military said, killed 'hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders.' Rights groups voiced concerns about civilian casualties during the bombing campaign. The Houthis — whose slogan calls for 'Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews' — began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas-led massacre and hostage-taking that started the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The group, which had said it was acting in solidarity with Palestinians, stopped firing at US ships under the May 2025 agreement, though it has continued to attack Israel directly. Last week, the Houthis said they would again target US ships in the Red Sea if Washington were to become involved in Israeli attacks on Iran. However, they did not resume attacks after the US struck three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. On Monday, Trump announced an Israel-Iran ceasefire deal. The nascent truce was shaken shortly thereafter, when Iran fired at Israel and Israel threatened a heavy response, but as of Tuesday evening, it appeared to be holding.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
Top US general warns Houthis will remain long-term threat despite truce
A senior U.S. military official warned that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement is likely to remain a recurring threat, despite a recent agreement that halted American airstrikes. The group has paused attacks on U.S. vessels but may resume if tensions in the region escalate. read more Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement will likely be a persistent problem for the U.S. in the future, a senior U.S. military official said on Tuesday, even after Washington and the Houthis reached an agreement last month that ended a U.S. air campaign against the group. 'The Houthis are likely to be a persistent problem… that we'll be dealing with in the future a few times again,' Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, director for operations of the Joint Staff, told lawmakers. Grynkewich has been nominated to lead the U.S. military's European Command. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last month, President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would stop bombing the Houthis, who had been firing at U.S. warships and commercial vessels off Yemen's coast. The group, which had said it was acting in solidarity with Palestinians during Israel's military campaign in Gaza, stopped firing at U.S. ships under the agreement. Rights groups had voiced concerns about civilian casualties during the nearly two-month-old U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen. Last week, the Houthis said they would again target U.S. ships in the Red Sea if Washington became involved in Israeli attacks on Iran. Still, they have not resumed attacks after the U.S. struck three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. On Monday, Trump announced an Israel-Iran ceasefire deal.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump calls Germany's larger defence budget 'a positive thing'
US President Donald Trump on Thursday called Germany's increased defence spending "a positive thing" but expressed some reservations about a better financed German military. "I know that you're spending more money on defence now and quite a bit more money. That's a positive thing," Trump told Merz during a press briefing in the Oval Office on the occasion of Merz's inaugural visit. But Trump declined to comment on specific percentages, stating that he had not discussed this much with Merz so far. Trump did however point to historical concerns the United States has had about German rearmament, following the US victory, together with other allies, over Nazi Germany in World War II. "I'm not sure that General [Douglas] MacArthur would have said it's positive. You know, he wouldn't like it, but I sort of think it's good." The highly decorated US general commanded the South Pacific arena during World War II and was not responsible for combat operations in Europe. Still Trump said overall he considers the development to be the right one – "at least to a certain point. "There'll be a point where I'll say, Please don't arm anymore," he added, jokingly. Trump confirmed that he also intended to discuss the presence of tens of thousands of US troops in Germany with his German guest. He said this was also good for Germany's economy, as it involved well-paid soldiers. Trump added that the relationship with Germany is "very important." According to the US military's European Command (EUCOM), around 78,000 American soldiers are currently stationed in Europe, including approximately 37,000 in Germany. The number fluctuates regularly, depending on rotations and exercises in the region. Since the start of Russia's war against Ukraine, the figure has varied significantly.
Washington Post
05-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is tapping an Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience as a senior commander in the Middle East to be the next head of U.S. European Command. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, currently the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would also take over as the supreme allied commander, Europe, if his nomination is confirmed by the Senate. NATO's North Atlantic Council in a statement Thursday said it approved Grynkewich's nomination as SACEUR.
Associated Press
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump taps senior Air Force commander for European Command
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is tapping an Air Force fighter pilot with extensive experience as a senior commander in the Middle East to be the next head of U.S. European Command. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, currently the director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, would also take over as the supreme allied commander, Europe, if his nomination is confirmed by the Senate. NATO's North Atlantic Council in a statement Thursday said it approved Grynkewich's nomination as SACEUR. The U.S. military's presence in Europe is under scrutiny, as the Trump administration eyes cuts in the force even as the region continues to grapple with Russia's war on Ukraine and the wider effects of the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. warships have been persistently patrolling the Mediterranean Sea to be poised to support operations in support of Israel and the broader effort to secure the Red Sea corridor, where Houthi rebels have attacked commercial and military vessels. There have been ongoing discussions in the Pentagon about slashing the number of U.S. troops across Europe. The Biden administration poured an additional 20,000 U.S. forces into the region — bringing the total to about 100,000 — to help calm escalating fears among NATO allies that they could be Russia's next target. Defense leaders have said there have been no final decisions. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have both made it clear they want NATO to do more to defend its own region and that the U.S. is turning to focus more on China and America's own southern border. In his current job, Grynkewich helps to develop guidance for the combatant commands and serves as a key aide to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military operations around the world. Most recently Grynkewich served as commander of Air Forces in the Middle East, including air operations in support of the conflict in Israel, from 2022 to 2023. And prior to that he was director of operations for U.S. Central Command. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1993, has served as an instructor pilot and was a test pilot for the development of the F-16 and F-22 fighter jets. He has more then 2,300 flight hours.
