military forces

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1,550,500 military personnel, effective immediately. The decree replaces all previous decrees on army size and marks the seventh expansion of Russia's manpower levels since the start of the war in Ukraine. Observers note the move continues a steady pattern of force growth through presidential decrees rather than formal mobilization.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will send soldiers and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect Yanbu's critical oil-export facilities from Houthi attacks. Macron also did not rule out an additional deployment of French Air Force fighter jets, marking a significant step-up in France's military involvement in the region.

The Israeli military says it has discovered a tunnel roughly 600 meters long in Gaza, which it describes as a Hamas hideout used for militant activity. Footage circulating online shows the tunnel's interior and its subsequent demolition by Israeli forces. The find is being presented by the IDF as part of its ongoing campaign to dismantle underground infrastructure in the territory.

A possible terror attack at a U.K. air base used by American forces is raising security concerns, according to reporting by The New York Times. The incident has drawn attention to the vulnerability of joint U.S.-U.K. military installations and prompted questions about protective measures at bases hosting American personnel on British soil.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says North Korea is preparing to deploy another 10,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russia. If confirmed, the deployment would significantly expand Pyongyang's involvement in the war, after earlier reports of North Korean troops aiding Russian forces. The claim has drawn attention as Ukraine presses allies for continued military support while Moscow's offensive pressures Ukrainian defences.

British authorities have released suspects who had been detained in connection with an alleged terror plot targeting a U.K. military base that hosts U.S. forces. The Wall Street Journal reported the release, which raises questions about the strength of the evidence against those arrested and the status of the ongoing investigation into the alleged plot.

British authorities are investigating whether Iran or Russia was behind a foiled attack near a military base used by United States forces in the United Kingdom. The probe examines possible state involvement in the plot, which was stopped before anyone was harmed. Officials have not detailed the nature of the attack or named any suspects, and it remains unclear what evidence prompted suspicion of foreign involvement.

Ukraine says its third-phase counteroffensive, Operation Vivaldi, has reclaimed 51 square kilometres of territory. Kyiv claims Russian forces suffered roughly 2,000 casualties, with a further 250 troops taken prisoner. The figures come from Ukrainian military sources and have not been independently verified, as the operation continues along the front.

New York Times reports a possible terror plot targeting a U.K. air base used by U.S. forces, raising fresh security concerns. Details of the alleged plot and who may be behind it have not been disclosed. The report has prompted questions about security arrangements at American military facilities in Britain.

Ukraine has launched a new military offensive, dubbed Operation Vivaldi, recapturing several towns from Russian forces, according to reports citing the operation's progress. The same reports claim around 2,000 Russian troops have been killed or put out of action in the fighting. If confirmed, the advances would mark a notable gain for Kyiv in its ongoing counteroffensive efforts, though independent verification of the figures remains limited amid the fog of war.

Vladimir Putin has ordered an increase of 15,500 active-duty troops to Russia's military, raising the total authorised force to 1.55 million personnel. The move continues a pattern of regular troop enlargements since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and analysts see it as a signal that Moscow intends to sustain a prolonged war effort despite heavy casualties.

Russia says its forces carried out strikes on Ukrainian military targets, while Ukraine reports hitting a Russian drone launch site. The duelling claims come as the war continues with both sides targeting infrastructure and military assets deep behind the front lines. Neither claim could be independently verified, and the fuller operational impact of the reported strikes remains unclear.

United States forces are preparing to withdraw from Iraq, ending a military presence of more than two decades that began with the 2003 invasion. The move marks a major shift in the American footprint in the Middle East and closes a long chapter of US involvement in Iraqi security affairs.

The United States is ending its military mission in Iraq, closing out a presence that began with the 2003 invasion and lasted more than two decades. The move marks a major shift in the American military footprint in the Middle East, following years of pressure from Iraqi political factions demanding the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces.

British authorities have released the suspects detained over an alleged plot targeting a UK military base used by American forces, while Iran has denied any involvement in the incident. The releases and Tehran's outright rejection of the accusations leave key questions about who was behind the alleged plan unanswered, and the case is drawing attention amid already heightened tensions between Western governments and Iran.

Roughly 250 Russian soldiers have surrendered to Ukrainian forces in the northern Donbas as part of what Ukrainian military commentator Yuriy Ponomarenko calls Operation Vivaldi. If confirmed, the mass capitulation would be one of the larger POW takings of the war and a sign of mounting pressure on Russian positions in the sector. The claim is circulating widely on Russian-language channels, with debate over how the surrender unfolded and what it means for the front line.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree raising the official size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, according to Russian state agency TASS. The increase continues a pattern of expansion since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and signals Moscow's intent to sustain a prolonged military campaign.

EU defence discussions in Brussels are being overshadowed by an unresolved shortfall in funding for Ukraine. As member states weigh future support, the funding gap has become a central sticking point, raising questions over how Europe will sustain military and financial aid to Kyiv and what role the bloc will play if United States backing remains uncertain.

Russian forces carried out large-scale strikes on Kyiv, with claims that the attacks killed 'NATO specialists' and destroyed Ukrainian military infrastructure. The assertion about NATO personnel has drawn attention, as it suggests direct Western involvement in the conflict. No independent confirmation of the claims is available, and such statements typically come from Russian state-aligned reporting amid ongoing escalation of long-range attacks on the Ukrainian capital.

The Israeli military says it has killed the militant responsible for abducting Noa Argamani during the Hamas-led October 7 attack, according to a report by Haaretz. Argamani became one of the most recognisable faces of the hostages taken that day and was later rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024.

Donald Trump is facing a strategic dilemma over the conflict with Iran: continuing a costly military confrontation or pursuing a withdrawal that could carry significant political costs at home. Commentators are weighing the financial burden of the war against the reputational damage a retreat could inflict, with observers questioning how the administration can extricate itself without appearing weak.

China has carried out a military exercise in the South China Sea following a confrontation at a disputed shoal. The drill comes amid ongoing tensions with neighbouring claimant states and highlights Beijing's readiness to project force in contested waters. Observers are watching whether the show of strength escalates friction over the disputed maritime territory.

British authorities have arrested five people on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack near an air base in the U.K. that is used by U.S. forces. Details about the suspects, the base, and the alleged target have not been released as investigations continue. The arrests highlight ongoing security concerns around sites with American military personnel in Britain.

Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that its forces carried out overnight drone strikes on Ukrainian logistics centres, port and transport infrastructure, communications facilities, and vessels. Moscow claims the targets supported Ukrainian military operations, though the full extent of damage and any casualties has not been independently confirmed.

President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian forces neutralized more than 10,600 Russian military personnel at the front over the past week. He made the claim in one of his regular addresses on the course of the war. If accurate, the figure would point to continued heavy fighting and high Russian casualty rates along the front line, though independent verification of wartime casualty claims from either side is difficult.

British police are investigating a suspected terrorist plot near a military base used by U.S. forces in the United Kingdom. Details of the alleged plot, including any suspects or arrests, have not been widely reported. The case has drawn international attention given the site's connection to American military personnel and ongoing security concerns in Britain.