:

Pentagon

Helicopter Destroyed After Raid On ISIS Leader Had ‘Drivetrain Issue,’ Pentagon Says

By Matthew Beinart

Thursday, February 3rd, 2022

SHARE:

Helicopter Destroyed After Raid On ISIS Leader Had ‘Drivetrain Issue,’ Pentagon Says

Image of compound housing ISIS emir Al-Qurayshi in northwest Syria after a raid executed by U.S. forces, Feb 2, 2022. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense.

The U.S. helicopter destroyed following a Special Operations Forces raid to kill the leader of the Islamic State terrorist group on Wednesday night was experiencing a “drivetrain issue” during the infiltration phase of the operation, according to the Pentagon. John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters the mechanical issue “rendered it not usable for future flight in the operation” and Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, ordered the helicopter to be purposefully detonated and destroyed. “The…

Congress

Key Defense Committee Members Face Tight Midterm Races, Including HASC GOP’ers In Virginia

As the mid-term elections near with polls showing an increasing likelihood of a switch in majority control in the House and potentially the Senate, three Virginia Republicans on the House […]

‘Theoretical Potential’ to Achieve 1,509 Combat-Coded Fighters by 2035, USAF Says

In the latest U.S. Air Force fighter force structure report submitted to Congress, the service speaks of a “theoretical potential” to achieve a goal of 1,509 combat-coded fighters in the […]

Budget

Hegseth Pushes For Reconciliation With At Least $350 Billion For Defense ‘Regardless’ Of Midterms Outcome

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday the Trump administration plans to continue its push for at least $350 billion in defense funds via the reconciliation process “regardless of what happens […]

Congress

Bipartisan Push in Senate to Hasten Export of 155 mm, GMLRS, HIMARS for Ukraine

A small, bipartisan group of senators is backing the Fast Tracking European Investment in Ukraine’s Defense Act, S. 5175, to hasten the export of allied buys of U.S. munitions for […]