Latest news with #U.S.Navy
Mint
an hour ago
- Politics
- Mint
US races to defend Israel as it burns through missile interceptors
The U.S. is racing to reinforce Israel's defenses, sending more warships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles to the region as Iranian attacks drain Israel's stocks of interceptors. An additional U.S. Navy destroyer arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on Friday, joining three others in the area and two in the Red Sea. The ships are operating close enough to Israel to be able to intercept missiles fired by Iran, a defense official said. Most of the U.S.'s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers are armed with a range of interceptors, known as SM-2, SM-3 and SM-6, that can shoot down ballistic missiles and other aerial threats. SM-3s, first used in combat last year to counter an Iranian attack, are designed to intercept missiles above the atmosphere in the middle of their flight paths. The U.S. has also replenished stocks of ground-based interceptors for the Thaad antimissile system it set up in Israel last year. Formally known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, the system is operated by the U.S. Army and designed to intercept missiles inside or outside the atmosphere during their final phase of flight, known as the terminal phase. The surge of seaborne and ground-based missile defenses underscores the concerns about Israel's dwindling supplies of the armaments. Israel risks exhausting its supply of high-end Arrow 3 interceptors in the coming weeks if its conflict with Iran isn't resolved and Tehran continues to launch volleys of missiles, a U.S. official said. Israel uses several different systems to provide a multilayered defense of the country. The well-known Iron Dome works on shorter-range rockets and drones. David's Sling intercepts missiles, planes and drones at a greater distance. The Arrow 3 is the crown jewel, designed to intercept missiles above the Earth's atmosphere. It can neutralize threats before they cross into Israeli airspace and give other systems time to act if the first shot misses. 'Without Arrow 3, it's problematic," said Timur Kadyshev, a researcher at the University of Hamburg who has studied the Arrow system. 'You have less time to shoot down an incoming missile because you're shooting them only in the terminal phase." Israel Aerospace Industries, the company that makes Arrow interceptors, didn't respond to requests for comment. Israel's armed forces also declined to comment on interceptor stockpiles, but said they are ready to handle any scenario. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview Thursday with Israel's public broadcaster Kan, declined to answer whether Israel was running out of Arrow 3 interceptors. 'I would always like more and more," Netanyahu said. He estimated that Israel has destroyed around half of Iran's missile launchers since the current conflict began, thereby diminishing the threat posed by Iran's missile arsenal. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Trump had approved attack plans for Iran, but was holding off on giving the final order to see if Tehran would abandon its nuclear program through diplomacy. The waiting period will keep the onus on Israel to continue the fight even as its ability to defend against missile attacks runs down. 'There's no time to lose, and two weeks is a very long time," said Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Israel is using its control of the skies over western Iran to take out more missiles before they are launched. Its air superiority could also force Iran to fire from farther away, which means using liquid-fueled missiles that take more time to get ready, making them more vulnerable to attack. Still, Tehran has continued to fire volleys of missiles at Israeli population centers. If Iran keeps up its attacks, Israel in the coming days might be forced to make difficult decisions about husbanding its resources and giving priority to which missiles to intercept, Kadyshev said. The U.S. is facing its own concerns about supplies of interceptors. Supplies diverted to the conflict in the Middle East are coming at the expense of those available in the event of a bigger conflict with China. 'We are concerned for the number remaining for the high-end fight," said a U.S. officer who has operated in the Middle East. 'SM-3s will start running low at this pace of operations, cutting into reserves for the next kinetic engagement." The U.S. might also face tough decisions about how many interceptors to exhaust if the fighting drags on. It rushed missile defenses to its Persian Gulf partners after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel kicked off what would become more than a year and a half of war. Those defenses are politically and militarily important. Gulf countries have pressed the U.S. to take a more active role in their defense, and Iran has threatened to hit American bases in the Gulf and elsewhere in the region if the U.S. joins Israel in the attack. Israel's conflict with Iran is costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars a day, according to early estimates, a price tag that could constrain Israel's ability to conduct a lengthy war. The biggest single cost is the interceptors, which can run up tabs of tens of millions to even $200 million a day.
Wall Street Journal
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
U.S. Races to Defend Israel as It Burns Through Missile Interceptors
The U.S. is racing to reinforce Israel's defenses, sending more warships capable of shooting down ballistic missiles to the region as Iranian attacks drain Israel's stocks of interceptors. An additional U.S. Navy destroyer arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on Friday, joining three others in the area and two in the Red Sea. The ships are operating close enough to Israel to be able to intercept missiles fired by Iran, a defense official said.
UPI
11 hours ago
- Politics
- UPI
On This Day, June 20: Arctic Circle reaches record-setting 100 degrees
1 of 5 | On June 20, 2020, the town of Verkhoyansk, Russia, reached a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic Circle. File Photo by Anatoli Zhdanov/UPI | License Photo On this date in history: In 1893, a jury in Fall River, Mass., acquitted Lizzie Borden in the ax murders of her father and stepmother. In 1898, the U.S. Navy seized Guam, the largest of the Mariana Islands in the Pacific, during the Spanish-American War. The people of Guam were granted U.S. citizenship in 1950. In 1900, in response to widespread foreign encroachment upon China's national affairs, Chinese nationalists launched the so-called Boxer Rebellion in Beijing. In 1945, Secretary of State Edward Stettinius, Jr. approved the resettlement of Wernher von Braun and his team of Nazi rocket scientists to the United States. Von Braun would go on to lead the U.S. space program. File Photo courtesy of NASA In 1963, the United States and Soviet Union agreed to establish a hot line communications link between Washington and Moscow. In 1967, the American Independent Party was formed to back George Wallace of Alabama for president. In 1977, oil began to flow through the $7.7 billion, 789-mile Trans-Alaska Pipeline. In 1988, armed forces commander Lt. Gen. Henri Namphy declared himself leader of Haiti in a military coup overthrowing President Leslie Manigat. In 1991, the German Parliament voted to move its capital from Bonn to Berlin. In 2004, Pakistan and India reached agreement on banning nuclear testing. In 2009, insurgents, striking in a series of attacks as U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq as planned, set off a truck bomb near a Shiite mosque in northern Iraq, killing 82 people and injuring 250. In 2010, Juan Manuel Santos easily defeated former Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus to become Colombia's president. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI In 2020, the town of Verkhoyansk, Russia, reached a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic Circle. In 2023, Romanian authorities charged self-styled lifestyle coach and social media personality Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, with rape and human trafficking. As of 2025, the brothers were expected to stand trial on the charges. File Photo by Robert Ghement/EPA-EFE
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Body found in Virginia identified as missing US Navy sailor, officials say
A body found in a wooded area of Virginia has been identified as a U.S. Navy sailor who's been missing for nearly two weeks, federal investigators said. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service found the body of Seaman Angelina Resendiz on June 9 in Norfolk, officials said in a June 10 news release. A Navy sailor, who was not named, was taken into pretrial confinement in connection with Resendiz's death with charges pending, according to the release. 'NCIS remains committed to uncovering the facts surrounding the tragic death of Seaman Resendiz to ensure accountability and justice,' officials said. Additional information was not made available. The investigation is ongoing, officials said. The 21-year-old sailor was last seen at 10 a.m. May 29 at her barracks in Norfolk, according to the Virginia State Police. 'The family of Seaman Angelina Resendiz is heartbroken and deeply concerned over her sudden and unexplained disappearance,' KMK Productions, a public relations firm representing the family, said in a June 9 post on Instagram. Resendiz's family asked for 'the assistance of the United States government, Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine, the Hampton Roads congressional delegation, home congressman Vicente Gonzalez, and President Donald J. Trump to address the systemic issues that allowed her to vanish,' according to a June 10 statement shared with McClatchy News by the firm.. 'Angelina was a kind and compassionate young woman who brought light into our lives,' the statement said.
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Brownstone Consulting Firm Expands Its Services, Bringing Its Cybersecurity Expertise to Europe and Africa
Brownstone Consulting Firm (BCF), a service-disabled veteran-owned cybersecurity and program support enterprise, announced its international expansion into Europe and Africa. Founded and led by decorated U.S. Navy veteran Cordell Robinson, BCF's global push aims to meet the increasing cybersecurity demands of rapidly developing economies while investing in long-term digital resilience and workforce education. With a foundation built on military-grade discipline, technical rigor, and visionary leadership, BCF delivers tailored cybersecurity services to both public and private sector clients. The firm specializes in AI governance, GDPR and HIPAA compliance, risk and vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, patch management, and cybersecurity training, among other offerings. Through this expansion, BCF seeks to strengthen digital infrastructure in emerging markets, particularly those on the brink of becoming global economic powerhouses. BCF's African outreach is more than just a business strategy; it's deeply personal. Robinson, whose Shaping Futures Foundation operates an orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania, has spent years immersed in local communities across the continent. "For me, this expansion is about transferring, yes, technology services, but also knowledge," Robinson added. "It's about empowering others to protect their digital ecosystems, educate new cyber professionals, and support their nations' growth sustainably." Brownstone Consulting Firm At its core, Brownstone Consulting Firm is driven by a clear mission: providing confidence in a world of cyber risk. At a time when cyberspace powers the backbones of governments, healthcare systems, financial institutions, and businesses of every size, BCF believes in one central ethos: cybersecurity is a true necessity. The company sets itself apart through its relentless focus on enterprise resilience. Whether addressing malicious cyberattacks or accidental breaches, BCF's methodology is grounded in repeatable, scalable processes that translate seamlessly from technical teams to boardrooms. "We believe in hardening digital infrastructure to be resistant to disruption and cyber threats," Robinson explained. "That means setting the right standards, creating practical policies, and constantly adapting to a rapidly evolving threat landscape." BCF's leadership, drawn from veterans, technologists, legal experts, and intelligence professionals, brings a multidisciplinary approach to every engagement. From FISMA and SOX compliance to the latest in AI-driven analysis, BCF carefully anticipates and solves cybersecurity challenges. Robinson, who holds many degrees, including in computer science, electrical engineering, and law, says the timing is ideal for global expansion. "The economic and digital development across Europe and Africa presents an incredible opportunity," said Robinson. "We're seeing rapid growth in infrastructure, digital finance, healthcare systems, and tech startups; true entrepreneurial talent, vision, and ambition. They deserve cybersecurity infrastructure that matches that energy." In Europe, BCF is offering GDPR-focused assessments and governance models tailored to the evolving regulatory environment. In Africa, BCF will primarily operate remotely in its early stages, leveraging local partnerships and digital platforms while maintaining a strong on-the-ground presence through its foundation's education efforts. These education efforts will include a cutting-edge training program, providing a pathway for African cybersecurity professionals to compete globally. Part of what makes BCF a leader in its space is its commitment to innovation. As AI continues to redefine the cybersecurity landscape, Robinson and his team are actively developing ethical AI tools that enhance the expertise of cyber professionals. "AI is not here to do the job for cybersecurity professionals," Robinson said affirmatively. "It's here to support them, to make their work more efficient, more accurate, and more strategic. We're building tools that can enhance vulnerability detection, simulate attacks, and assess readiness without compromising ethical standards." BCF's forward-thinking approach aims to ensure that cybersecurity professionals in all markets can leverage cutting-edge tools without being left behind.
