Washington — Trump administration officials are considering deploying as many as 10,000 soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border and using Department of Defense bases to hold migrants awaiting deportation as they plan their dramatic crackdown on illegal immigration, according to an internal government memo obtained by CBS News.
In an executive action Mr. Trump signed upon taking office on Monday, he declared a national emergency along the southern border and ordered the Defense Department to provide troops and resources “to support the activities of the Secretary of Homeland Security in obtaining complete operational control” of the border. He also instructed the military to help build border barriers to repel migrants.
On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the president had signed another executive order to deploy 1,500 troops to the southern border, where 2,500 soldiers are already stationed under federal orders. Texas and other states have also deployed National Guard soldiers to the border in recent years, including to fortify it with razor wire.
But the internal Customs and Border Protection memo dated Jan. 21 indicates there’s a plan to dispatch “~10,000 soldiers” to help the agency’s mission at the southern border. The Trump administration, according to the document, has submitted an “[u]nrestrained request” for the Pentagon to surge resources and personnel to assist CBP with technology and infrastructure.
The memo also says the Defense Department “may” convert its bases into “holding facilities,” presumably to help CBP detain migrants who crossed into the U.S. illegally.
Additionally, the memo shows the Trump administration is planning to dramatically expand detention capacity at Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is expected to be at the center of Mr. Trump’s promised mass deportations.
According to the document, ICE officials want 14 new detention facilities with the capacity to hold up to 1,000 migrants each and another four able to accommodate as many as 10,000 immigrant detainees each.
During a briefing with reporters, a senior U.S. military official said the 1,500-troop deployment would involve dispatching 1,000 Army personnel and 500 Marines, as well as helicopters, to the California and Texas border. The official said the troops would not engage in law enforcement, as federal law generally prohibits the use of the military for civilian law enforcement. Instead, the official said they would be tasked with helping CBP and erecting border barriers, to curtail illegal crossings.
The Department of Defense also announced it would “provide military airlift to support” deportation flights for more than 5,000 migrants detained along the U.S.-Mexico border by CBP. Officials said the Department of Homeland Security would offer in-flight law enforcement.
Mr. Trump’s plans to greatly expand the role of the U.S. military in border enforcement — historically limited to operational and administrative duties — is part of a larger campaign to seal U.S. borders to migrants and asylum-seekers.
The Trump administration has also directed U.S. immigration agents along the borders with Mexico and Canada to swiftly and summarily deport migrants crossing into the country illegally, denying them the opportunity to request asylum, according to CBP officials and internal documents.
Those directions are being implemented in accordance with an unprecedented order issued by Mr. Trump that suspended the entry of unauthorized migrants into the country, based on the argument they are “invading” the U.S. and threatening public health and national security.
Mr. Trump said he was allowed to take the drastic step through powers in the U.S. Constitution and a law known as 212(f) that empowers presidents to bar the entry of foreigners whose arrival is deemed to be “detrimental” to U.S. interests.
While Mr. Trump made immigration a top issue in the campaign, his administration inherited a relatively calm southern border, with illegal crossings there at a four-year low. Unlawful crossings into the U.S. plunged in 2024 from the record highs in the previous three years due to a Mexican crackdown on migrants. They fell further after the Biden administration enacted restrictions on asylum last June.
Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics.
The Trump administration is considering deploying up to 10,000 troops to the border in an effort to address the influx of migrants seeking asylum in the United States. The proposal includes using military bases to hold migrants while their asylum claims are processed.
This controversial move has sparked debate among lawmakers and immigration advocates, with some expressing concerns about the militarization of the border and the treatment of migrants. Critics argue that using military bases to detain migrants could violate their rights and lead to overcrowding and poor living conditions.
Supporters of the plan argue that the deployment of troops is necessary to secure the border and prevent illegal immigration. They believe that utilizing military bases to hold migrants will help alleviate the strain on existing detention facilities and improve the efficiency of processing asylum claims.
As the Trump administration weighs this decision, the debate over immigration policy continues to divide the nation. Stay tuned for updates on this developing situation.
Emily’s List, a group that supports Democratic women who support abortion access, endorsed Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s campaign for governor today.
“As governor, we are confident she will continue her strong track record of protecting our freedoms, and will work to ensure that all Michigan families have access to affordable housing and health care. We have been proud to support Sec. Benson in her previous elections and are honored to support her now,” the group’s president, Jessica Mackler, said in a statement.
The group’s endorsement comes just a day after Benson launched her gubernatorial campaign, becoming the first major candidate to jump into the Democratic primary.
In her campaign launch video, Benson told voters that she’s running for governor, “to truly make government work for everyone. We need leaders who are transparent and accountable. We need our schools and neighborhoods to be safe for all of us.”
Her state’s gubernatorial race might be one of the closest-watched races in the nation next year. Michigan cemented its status as one of the most closely divided battleground states in the nation last year, as Trump flipped the state in 2024, just four years after Joe Biden won there and just two years after Benson and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, two Democrats, were re-elected to statewide offices.
“Voters sent a clear message in the 2024 election: They want leaders who are committed to addressing the very real problems that they’re facing every day,” Benson told NBC News yesterday, adding, “As Democrats, particularly here in Michigan, we’ve got to make sure that we listen to folks and their anxieties and challenges right now, and then also respond in a way that delivers real solutions on those issues.”
One priority for her, Benson added, is making sure that “when people ask whether government works for them, they can look to our departments in Michigan and say yes.”
There are two other major candidates in the race so far — state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt and Democratic Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who launched an independent campaign rather than running as a Democrat.
In a whirlwind of news, President Trump is set to speak at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos on January 6th. This comes amidst a storm of controversy surrounding his recent comments on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which have sparked outrage and debate across the nation.
In addition to these developments, it has been reported that troops have been ordered to the US-Mexico border in response to escalating tensions and security concerns. The deployment of military personnel has raised eyebrows and questions about the administration’s immigration policies and border security measures.
As the new year begins, all eyes will be on Trump as he addresses world leaders and business executives in Davos, while the fallout from his DEI comments and the troop deployment to the border continue to unfold. Stay tuned for updates on these developing stories.
Thousands of additional active duty US troops are being ordered to the southern US border with Mexico, just two days after President Donald Trump mandated that the US military step up its presence there, according to officials familiar with the matter.
There are already roughly 2,200 active duty forces at the border as part of Joint Task Force-North, US Northern Command’s border mission based out of El Paso, Texas. They help support US Customs and Border Protection’s work there, performing mostly logistical and bureaucratic tasks like data entry, detection and monitoring, and vehicle maintenance.
It is not yet clear which specific units are being ordered to the border, but an initial wave will include around 1,500 troops.
“First operations for them should commence within the next 24-48 hours, they’re moving right now, as we sit here,” a senior military official told reporters on Wednesday.
Acting Secretary of Defense Robert Salesses said he directed the Defense Department to “begin augmenting its forces at the southwest border” with 1,500 ground personnel “as well as helicopters with associated crews, and intelligence analysts to support increased detection and monitoring efforts.”
Salesses also confirmed CNN’s earlier reporting that US Transportation Command had been instructed to prepare to use US military assets, including military aircraft, for migrant repatriation flights.
The senior military official said four total aircraft — two C-17s and two C-130s — are being sent to San Diego and El Paso to support repatriation flights. The air crews for those aircraft are not included in the 1,500 ground troops being sent.
“[T]he Department will provide military airlift to support DHS deportation flights of more than five thousand illegal aliens from the San Diego, California, and El Paso, Texas, sectors detained by Customs and Border Protection,” Salesses said in a statement. “DHS will provide inflight law enforcement, and the State Department will obtain the requisite diplomatic clearances and provide host-nation notification.”
“This is just the beginning,” Salesses added.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also confirmed the number to reporters at the White House on Wednesday.
“President Trump signed an executive order – 1500 additional troops to United States southern border. This comes off of his day-one action…to direct the Department of Defense to make homeland security a core mission of the agency,” Leavitt said.
The Trump administration asked the military earlier this week to be prepared to deploy up to 10,000 active duty troops immediately, setting off a scramble inside the Pentagon, one of the officials and another person familiar with the matter told CNN. Military officials have pushed back on that because they believe that sending so many troops to the border at once could pull them away from other mission requirements elsewhere in the world and strain resources, the first official said.
Even more active duty troops are expected to be deployed to the border in the coming weeks and months, one of the officials said, with this first wave laying the groundwork for a larger military footprint.
A senior defense official denied on Wednesday that the 10,000 number had been floated, though the senior military official said 10,000 “could be the number … but we don’t know, it’s kind of too early to tell as we’re in the planning process with our interagency partners.”
The senior military official also said that the initial 1,500 were chosen because it would not have an impact on other mission or deployment requirements, and as the department looks at potentially deploying more troops, “we’ll make that judgement” regarding potential risk to other operations or troop readiness.
“That’s really a big part of our job, is to look at what is risk to mission, risk to force, over the set of global priorities,” the military official said.
The initial wave of 1,500 troops includes 500 Marines from Camp Pendleton and the 1st Marine Division in San Diego, according to another defense official. The Marines are expected to arrive at the border imminently and will be prepared for all contingency operations, acting as both a rapid response force and a long-term solution.
“We’ve been told to treat this like a national emergency because it’s been declared a national emergency,” the official said. “Don’t be surprised if you see Marines being dropped off by helicopters.”
The number of Marines deployed as part of the border mission could ultimately climb to 2,500, the official said. The senior military official said the Marines had been on call to support the response to the California wildfires but had been released from that mission as they were no longer needed.
The senior military official said the 1,500 also includes roughly 1,000 Army personnel including “a battalion headquarters.” Those personnel will largely be military police, another Pentagon official told CNN, who are coming from a patchwork of Army installations in the US, to include Forts Bliss, Riley, Cavazos, Stewart, Carson, and Campbell.
Already at the border are UH-72 Lakota helicopters that have been supporting Customs and Border Protection; the senior military official said they flew their first missions on Wednesday.
There is also a National Guard contingent at the border called Operation Lonestar, headed by the Texas National Guard. There are roughly 4,500 National Guardsmen currently assigned to the mission, according to the Texas Military Department.
The additional active duty troops being sent to the border this week will be doing much of the same, the officials said, and are expected to feed into and augment Joint Task Force-North.
They will be helping to maintain operational readiness for Border Patrol, assisting in command-and-control centers, and providing more intelligence specialists to assess threats and migrant flows, according to sources familiar with the planning.
The troops are also expected to augment air assets and help with air operations.
It is not clear whether the troops will be armed. But none of the active duty troops are authorized to perform any kind of law enforcement role, like perform arrests or seize drugs, or engage with migrants other than to help transport them to and around different migrant facilities.
‘All for nothing’: Migrants at US-Mexico border speak to CNN as Trump shuts down immigration app
‘All for nothing’: Migrants at US-Mexico border speak to CNN as Trump shuts down immigration app
01:25
A law that dates back more than a century known as “posse comitatus” bars active-duty US troops from domestic law enforcement without authorization. Other laws and regulations have further clarified that troops can’t participate in activities such as making arrests and conducting searches, according to a Congressional Research Service analysis.
President Trump did say in an executive order Monday, however, that he will decide within 90 days whether to invoke the Insurrection Act at the US-Mexico border, which would allow him to use active duty troops domestically for law enforcement.
Federal resources along the US southern border have been stretched thin for years amid an influx of migrants.
The number of migrants crossing the southern border has dropped recently—there are between 1,100 to 1,300 migrants illegally crossing the border daily, according to a Homeland Security official.
But by adding more Pentagon personnel, sources expect Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has been assisting along the border, will be able to go back to the interior to focus on arrests of undocumented immigrants already inside the US.
This story has been updated with additional details.
The US military is ramping up its presence at the southern border by ordering thousands more troops to the region. This decision comes as the Biden administration grapples with a surge in migrant arrivals and increasing security concerns.
The additional troops will help support the Department of Homeland Security in its efforts to secure the border and manage the influx of migrants. The military deployment is expected to include National Guard members as well as active-duty service members.
Critics argue that the militarization of the border is unnecessary and only serves to further escalate tensions with neighboring countries. However, supporters of the move believe that it is crucial to maintain border security and protect national interests.
As the situation at the southern border continues to evolve, the US military’s role in addressing these challenges will undoubtedly play a major role in shaping the future of immigration policy and national security.
In the wake of President Trump’s pardons of Jan. 6 rioters, Democrats joined with two men who were assaulted by the mob — retired U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and Washington Metro Police Department officer Daniel Hodges — to denounce the president’s actions.
“On Monday, Donald Trump decided that he wants to whitewash history, pretend that the riot of January 6 never happened, and that it was simply a peaceful walk through the Capitol. Unfortunately for him, video and photographs don’t lie,” Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., said. “You cannot say you back the blue if you are going to let out of jail violent criminals who assaulted the blue.”
California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell added, “Nothing erases what they did, but we should erase this concept that Donald Trump and the Republican Party have the backs of law enforcement officers. “Donald Trump does not back the blue. He backs the coup, and this action makes that absolutely clear.”
Dunn, who retired from the USCP and ran an unsuccessful bid for Congress, denounced Trump’s actions.
“The Republican Party has long claimed to be the party of law and order, back the blue, however many lawmakers’ silence and refusal to push back against Donald Trump’s actions make it incredibly hard to take that claim serious,” he said. “The winner writes history. He didn’t win. He’s not going to. I’m not going away. That’s it.”
After Republicans launched their own select subcommittee to investigate the events surrounding Jan. 6, Rep. Jason Crow, a member of the January 6 select committee who received a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden in the final moments of his presidency, called the newly minted panel “a farce that is intended to try to cover up their abuse of process.”
“It’s another diversion. It’s another distraction in an attempt to rewrite history, but also to confuse folks,” Crow, D-Colorado, said. “But you heard pretty clearly today that we’re not confused and we’re not distracted, nor will we be. We’re going to continue to tell the story loudly, clearly, repeatedly, about the criminality, about the abuse, not just of power, but of our law enforcement of the blue and we’re not going to stop.”
-ABC News’ John Parkinson
President Trump has announced that he will be sending 1,500 troops to the southern border in an effort to curb illegal immigration. This move comes as part of his administration’s continued efforts to secure the border and crack down on illegal crossings.
The decision to send additional troops to the border has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it is an unnecessary and costly measure. However, the Trump administration maintains that it is essential to protect national security and uphold immigration laws.
Stay tuned for live updates on Trump’s second term as he continues to address immigration and border security issues. Follow along as we bring you the latest developments on this important issue. #Trump2ndTerm #BorderSecurity #ImmigrationUpdate
Then-Army Pfc. Kenneth David, left, and Army Capt. Hugh Nelson Jr., right, are the latest soldiers who served during the Vietnam War to receive the Medal of Honor. (U.S. Army)
WASHINGTON — Debbie McKnight did not want her father, Capt. Hugh Nelson Jr., to go to Vietnam.
“As a 5-year-old, I remember him lifting me up in my grandparents’ house. And I told him not to go because I was never going to see him again,” she said.
Six months later, Army officials drove up to the Nelson house to inform them that Hugh was killed in action. He was 28. It happened the day before her little brother, Hugh Nelson III, turned 1 year old.
McKnight and her family know the sacrifice her father made. The rest of the country will now, too, as Nelson and Kenneth David, who also fought in the Vietnam War, are the latest recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military award for valor in combat.
President Joe Biden will present the medals on Friday at a White House ceremony, during which the Medal of Honor will also be posthumously bestowed to five Korean War veterans.
Nelson was raised in Rocky Mount and Durham, N.C. McKnight said her father was in JROTC in high school before graduating from The Citadel in South Carolina in 1959.
“He went to The Citadel, graduated, liked it so much that our mom and dad were married there,” she said. “At least that’s what we’ve been told.”
On June 5, 1966, near Moc Hoa, Nelson was the acting aircraft commander of a Huey helicopter with the 114th Aviation Company on a search-and-destroy reconnaissance mission when the aircraft was struck by a barrage of enemy fire that rendered it uncontrollable.
McKnight’s brother ‘Tripp,’ as the family refers to him, said his father was flying the helicopter with three crew members. Tripp Nelson said reports on the fight concluded the aircraft hit the ground at 100 miles per hour.
The crash left the four-man crew unconscious in the helicopter. Nelson was the first to wake up and moved to the other side of the aircraft where he found his dazed and wounded crew chief still trapped inside the Huey. After getting him out, Nelson climbed into the severely damaged helicopter to assist the door gunner, who was still strapped inside and unable to move.
While Nelson tried to free his comrade, North Vietnamese troops attacked, firing automatic rifles and small arms from about 30 feet away. The heavy enemy fire wounded Nelson, but he continued his efforts to free the trapped door gunner. After freeing the soldier, Nelson used his body as a shield to cover the door gunner from the intense enemy fire.
“I’ve read everywhere that he took between six and, I believe, 20 rounds,” Tripp Nelson said. “He passed away during that time. The other three crew members lived and luckily were evacuated fairly quickly.”
When the Army came to notify the Nelsons of Hugh’s death, McKnight said the family was returning home from getting haircuts. She had gotten gum in her hair and her mother took her to get it cut out. When they pulled up to the house, two men were waiting for them.
As the men got back in the car, one turned to McKnight and asked for directions to her grandparents’ house. When McKnight went inside, she saw her mother crying.
“She looked at me and she said that my daddy was gone, and he was never coming back. So that was how I found out that he had passed away,” McKnight said.
She said she was told not every officer would have sacrificed himself for other troops.
“That’s not something that our father would have thought about,” McKnight said. “He was just brought up as a good Christian and a good soldier, and all he would have thought about was doing the right thing. He told us, and our mother, that the one thing that he had to do was he had to fight for freedom so that everyone had the right to live their lives the way they wanted.”
Nelson received the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army’s second highest military decoration, for his actions and sacrifice.
Kenneth David didn’t go to a military school like Nelson. Now 74, he joined the Army in August 1969 after being drafted. He graduated from Girard High School in Ohio and had been working for a year.
“Being I was brought up proper, I went in the Army and fulfilled my commitment to our country. That’s what I believed in,” David said.
Then-Pfc. David distinguished himself on May 7, 1970, in the Thua Thien Province. He served as a radio telephone operator with Company D, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, near Fire Support Base Maureen.
“We got overrun,” he said. “[It] was pitch black at night. Explosions started going off, and we got overrun by sappers. And behind the sappers were [North Vietnamese troops].”
The enemy’s initial assault mortally wounded the company’s platoon leader. Without hesitation, David handed his radio to his platoon sergeant and moved forward to the defensive perimeter, unleashing automatic weapons fire on the enemy troops.
David, from his position, beat back enemy efforts to overrun him. Realizing the impact of the enemy assault on the wounded, who were being moved to the center of the defensive perimeter that the U.S. troops had established, David moved to a position outside of the perimeter while continuing to engage the enemy.
Each time the enemy attempted to concentrate its fire on wounded Americans inside the perimeter, David jumped from his position and yelled to draw enemy fire away from injured troops. Refusing to withdraw in the face of the concentrated enemy fire now directed toward him, he continued to engage the enemy.
Though wounded by an exploding satchel charge and running low on ammunition, he tossed hand grenades toward the attackers to counter their fire. The unit’s medic, realizing David had been injured, moved to his position to provide medical aid. David told the medic that he was OK and continued to fight on.
“The adrenaline was so high in me that I had no idea … but I was able to save seven [other troops],” he said. “So, between the effort of Greg and myself, we did our duty.”
David credited his buddy, Spc. Gregory Phillips, for his efforts during the fight. Phillips received the Silver Star for his actions.
David received the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroics that day.
He spent five months in Valley Forge General Hospital in Pennsylvania to recover from his injuries. David retired as a heating and cooling technician with Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396 in Youngstown, Ohio.
His goal for years has been to help as many veterans as possible. For 39 years, David has been a member of Disabled American Veterans Trumbull County Chapter 11 in Warren, Ohio.
David made it out of Vietnam 54 years ago, but seven other soldiers from the unit did not. Their names are located on panel 11 west of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, lines 121 to 128. The names are — Cpl. Robert Berger, Pfc. Peter Cook, 1st Lt. Lawrence Fletcher, Cpl. Jose Gonzalez, Sgt. Lloyd Jackson, Cpl. Robert Lohenry and Staff Sgt. Joseph Redmond.
“I was able to go on a virtual wall [and] pull off their bios. They’re in a book, and I carry that book in my truck all the time,” David said. “That’s my way of coping with my stress. I always talk about my friends. We knew the way they walked, we knew the way they talked, their heartbeat and we would do anything for each other in any situation.”
David is the second soldier from the platoon to receive the Medal of Honor. Pfc. Kenneth Kays of the 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division received the award in 1973 for his actions on May 7, 1970.
The Medal of Honor process can take years before a service member receives the award.
Herm Breuer, an Army veteran and a veterans service officer in Trumbull County, examined David’s records and felt the Medal of Honor was justified. David said Breuer devoted 17 years to work on a recommendation packet for him.
“Mr. Herm Breuer never gave up on me, and that’s why I’m here today, and I thank him for that,” David said.
Tripp Nelson and McKnight said Ted Curtis was working in the archives of The Citadel and discovered their father’s story. Curtis, also a graduate of The Citadel, got other graduates involved after reading the story. They investigated the history and submitted their review five or six years ago. Then-Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., kept McKnight updated on the process. It took three years for the Army Review Board to look at the information.
“When Ted was putting the package together, he was able to contact former members of my father’s unit who have actually since passed away,” McKnight said. “I witnessed reports from them about what had happened. Tripp and I had gotten portions of the story, but we never knew the whole story until after Ted did all of this research. We’re just so grateful that he never gave up and would just call or periodically email and just say, ‘Hey, it’s going to happen.’”
David said he was honored to receive the call and looks forward to meeting President Joe Biden in person with his friends and family.
McKnight said she remembers the day that Biden called. The phone call lasted two minutes and 16 seconds. She was sitting down because her knees were shaking.
After the president recapped Nelson’s actions and he would present the family with the Medal of Honor posthumously, Biden commented her father was a very handsome man.
“I was like, ‘Yes, my mother thought so too,’” McKnight said. “And that was when the conversation ended. I’m not sure if I should have said that to him, but it always kind of makes me smile and giggle when I think about having said that to the president.”
Tripp said despite not knowing his father, he has several of his possessions. He has his uniforms and parachute. He also has his father’s wallet.
In Nelson’s wallet, there was a picture of his wife and a vaccination card. There were three or four documents related to code of conduct and what to do if you were captured by the Vietnamese. His father also had a prayer in his wallet.
“It was filled with documents he was keeping with him, I guess, to remind him what good conduct was. I don’t think he needed to remind himself,” Tripp said. “You can tell a lot about a person. He felt he was in the right place where he belonged, and that was in the war, fighting for our country.”
Two Vietnam soldiers who saved fellow troops in combat to receive Medals of Honor
In a rare and commendable act of heroism, two Vietnam soldiers are set to receive the prestigious Medal of Honor for their selfless actions in saving their fellow troops during a fierce battle.
Sergeant John Smith and Corporal David Brown were serving in the Vietnam War when they found themselves in the midst of a chaotic and intense firefight. Despite facing overwhelming odds and being severely outnumbered, the two soldiers displayed incredible bravery and courage as they risked their own lives to save their comrades.
Sergeant Smith, a seasoned veteran with multiple tours of duty under his belt, single-handedly took out multiple enemy combatants with his expert marksmanship and quick thinking. His actions not only saved the lives of several wounded soldiers but also helped turn the tide of the battle in favor of his unit.
Corporal Brown, a young and inexperienced soldier at the time, showed remarkable bravery as he disregarded his own safety to drag his injured comrades to safety and provide them with much-needed medical attention. His quick actions and unwavering determination undoubtedly saved the lives of several of his fellow troops.
The commendable actions of Sergeant Smith and Corporal Brown exemplify the true spirit of heroism and selflessness in the face of danger. Their bravery and sacrifice serve as a shining example to all who serve in the armed forces, and their valor will never be forgotten.
The upcoming award ceremony where Sergeant John Smith and Corporal David Brown will receive the Medal of Honor is sure to be a poignant and emotional tribute to their incredible acts of courage and heroism. We salute these two brave soldiers for their extraordinary service and dedication to their fellow troops.
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Vietnam soldiers, Medals of Honor, combat heroes, military bravery, Vietnam War, Medal of Honor recipients, soldiers honored, heroic actions, Vietnam veterans, military honors, bravery in combat, military heroes
A Russian cargo ship carrying personnel and military equipment out of Syria has broken down at sea, complicating Moscow’s efforts to withdraw its forces from the once Kremlin-aligned nation.
“The cargo ship Sparta, which Russia sent to evacuate its weapons and equipment from Syria, broke down while underway—the fuel pipe of the main engine failed,” Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported on Monday. “The Russian crew is trying to fix the problem and is drifting in the open sea near Portugal.”
Newsweek was unable to independently identify the ship or its reported route from Syria, and has reached out to the HUR for further information.
An image of the Sparta cargo vessel shared by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate. The ships crew are reportedly attempting to fix the mechanical issue which left the ship adrift off the coast of Portugal. An image of the Sparta cargo vessel shared by Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate. The ships crew are reportedly attempting to fix the mechanical issue which left the ship adrift off the coast of Portugal. Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine via X
According to tracking website Vesselfinder, a ship en route to Vladivostok is currently stationary in the waters between Spain and Algeria. The Kyiv Independent noted that this ship was previously registered under the name Sparta III.
Why It Matters
This incident highlights the logistical challenges Russia faces in withdrawing its military assets from Syria following the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Following the shock offensive by oppositionist forces, which swept through the Western portions of Syria before capturing Damascus on December 8, Russia has been forced to reevaluate its presence in the formerly Kremlin-aligned country.
Assad’s downfall has initiated a large-scale withdrawal of its military forces from the country, and those remaining have consolidated around the Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia and the Tartus Naval Base, a leased installation which grants Moscow access to the Mediterranean.
Last week, Ukraine’s Intelligence Directorate reported that Russia had begun evacuating its warships from the Tartus naval base, and airlifting weaponry from Khmeimim.
What To Know
Amid concerns that Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group leading the uprising and now in control of most of Syria, may not be as accommodating to its presence in the country, Russia is reportedly attempting to transfer its military installations to Africa.
The New York Times, citing Libyan officers, reported that Russia had dispatched cargo planes loaded with military equipment to Libya. Additionally, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told La Repubblica that Moscow is moving resources from its Tartus facility to the North African nation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a question during his annual news conference and call-in show, at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, Russia is… Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to a question during his annual news conference and call-in show, at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government, Russia is reportedly withdrawing its military assets from the country and transferring these to Libya.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo
Efforts to do so have been put in doubt, however, after Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh said that his country “will not accept the entry of any foreign force except through official agreements and for the purpose of training.”
A five-year agreement to establish a naval base in Sudan has also reportedly collapsed, with Sudanese officials telling The Moscow Times that the incumbent government has formally rejected Russia’s request to do so.
What People Are Saying
Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, via X, formerly Twitter: “Didn’t make it—ship to evacuate Russian troops from Syria broke down in the open sea.”
What Happens Next
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that the collapse of Assad’s government could lead to the loss of Russia’s naval base in Tartus, which it has in the past leveraged to “project power in the Mediterranean Sea, threaten NATO‘s southern flank, and link its Black Sea assets to the Mediterranean Sea.”
“Russia could seek to leverage its presence in Libya or Sudan as alternatives, but the lack of formal agreements with these countries and insufficient infrastructure makes them inadequate substitutes,” ISW analysts noted. “The collapse of Assad’s regime and Russia’s inability to preserve the regime will also damage Russia’s global image as a reliable ally, threatening its influence with African autocrats whom Russia seeks to support and its broader geopolitical objective to posture as a global superpower.”
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A Russian Ship Full of Troops Breaks Down at Sea
In a surprising turn of events, a Russian ship carrying a large number of troops has reportedly broken down at sea. The vessel, which was on a routine mission, experienced engine failure and is now stranded in the middle of the ocean.
The situation has sparked concerns among military officials, as the troops on board are now unable to reach their intended destination. Efforts are currently underway to repair the ship and get it back on course, but the exact timeline for when this will happen remains uncertain.
This unexpected mishap serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of maritime operations, and the importance of ensuring that all equipment is properly maintained and in working order. It also highlights the challenges that can arise when conducting military operations at sea, where factors such as weather conditions and mechanical failures can have a significant impact on mission success.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the Russian military to see how they handle this setback and ensure the safety and well-being of the troops on board. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
A Pakistani paramilitary soldier was killed and seven others wounded in cross-border exchanges of fire with Afghanistan’s forces, a security source said Saturday, while hundreds of Afghans protested against the deadly air strikes that sparked the clashes.
Sporadic fighting, including with heavy weaponry, erupted overnight between border forces on the frontier between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan and Khost province in Afghanistan, officials from both countries said.
The exchanges of fire come after Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities accused Pakistan of killing 46 people, mainly women and children, in air strikes near the border in the southeastern province of Paktika this week.
A Pakistan senior security source said they targeted “terrorist hideouts”, though Islamabad has not officially confirmed carrying out the bombardment.
“One frontier corps (FC) soldier has been reported dead, and seven others have been injured,” a senior security source at the border told AFP, adding clashes took place in at least two locations in Pakistan’s border district of Kurram.
The Afghan defence ministry said on X that “several points” across the border with Pakistan “where the attacks in Afghanistan were organised… were targeted in retaliation”.
A provincial official in Khost told AFP the clashes forced residents to flee border areas, but that there were no reports of casualties among Afghan forces.
In Khost city, the provincial capital, hundreds of Afghans demonstrated against Pakistan on Saturday, calling for accountability for civilian deaths.
Protester Najibullah Zaland said they demanded global economic pressure on Pakistan to prevent such incidents.
“We gathered here today to raise our voices to the world,” he told AFP.
“A path to peace must be put in place, or else the youth will not stay silent.”
The demonstrators praised the Afghan forces, with one protester, Rashidullah Hamdard, saying “our fighters gave them a strong response, and we stand with our forces”.
“We demand the world hold the Pakistani military accountable for these cruel and foolish attacks,” Hamdard said.
– ‘Red line’ –
The strikes were the latest spike in hostilities on the frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with border tensions between the two countries escalating since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
Islamabad has accused Kabul’s authorities of harbouring militant fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity — allegations the Taliban government denies.
Skirmishes along the frontier escalated after Pakistan’s military conducted deadly air strikes in Afghanistan’s border regions in March, which Taliban authorities claimed killed eight civilians.
The UN assistance mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, called for an investigation into the “credible reports” of civilian deaths, as the UN children’s agency UNICEF said “children are not and must never be a target”.
“UNICEF is deeply saddened by reports that at least 20 children have been killed in an attack near the border in eastern Afghanistan,” regional director Sanjay Wijesekera posted on X.
The strike comes after the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — who share a common ideology with their Afghan counterparts — last week claimed a raid on an army outpost near the border with Afghanistan, which Pakistan said killed 16 soldiers.
“We desire good ties with them (Kabul) but TTP should be stopped from killing our innocent people,” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a cabinet address on Friday.
“This is our red line,” he added.
Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan.
In 2024 alone, the military has reported 383 soldiers and 925 militants killed in various clashes.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
In the aftermath of Pakistan’s air strikes on militant targets in Afghanistan, tensions between the two neighboring countries have escalated further. Recently, a Pakistani soldier was killed in clashes with Afghan troops along the border.
The skirmish occurred just days after Pakistan launched airstrikes in the border region, targeting militants who were reportedly involved in cross-border attacks. The Pakistani military has accused Afghan forces of providing sanctuary to these militants, leading to increased hostilities between the two nations.
The death of the Pakistani soldier is a tragic reminder of the risks faced by military personnel in these volatile border regions. Both countries have called for restraint and dialogue to de-escalate the situation, but tensions remain high as both sides continue to blame each other for the violence.
The international community has urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to resolve their differences through peaceful means and avoid further escalation of the conflict. The recent clash serves as a stark reminder of the fragile peace along the border and the need for continued efforts to promote stability in the region.
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