Yesterday’s abrupt retirement announcement by Gen. Chris Donahue, the Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and NATO’s Allied Land Command, was made at the request of the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, people familiar with the matter tell The Wall Street Journal.

Prior to this announcement, many believed Donahue was on a fast track to become Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, having led the Army’s Delta Force commandos in Iraq and Syria when it took the fight to Islamic State militants and was the “last man out” when the troops he commanded at the 82nd Airborne Division were called in to secure the 2021 evacuation of U.S. personnel and Afghan allies from Kabul, Afghanistan.

General Donahue’s removal is said to be part of an ongoing push by Hegseth to put his imprint on the military’s leadership, while squeezing out officers with track records of battlefield valor and command experience in favor of less accomplished political loyalists, officers that fully support both himself and President Trump.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has said that the Iranians have communicated to the U.S. that they will not charge tolls or fees for safe commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. This comes following the Omani announcement that the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) current transit framework, known as the Traffic Separation Scheme, is no longer viable. Per the Omani release, which we will cover in more detail in coming posts, they will work with the IMO to guide ships through the strait using an amended route framework.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has said that he will not sign the new housing bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, due to the current Congressional logjam on the Save America Act. Per President Trump, his signing of the housing is contingent on the Save America Act passing.

As U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon talks in Washington, D.C. are actively in session, reports indicate that Israel has conducted a strike in Southern Lebanon, as reports also come in of additional Israeli drone activity over the capital Beirut.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has finished the UAE-leg of his Middle East diplomatic tour and has set out for Kuwait. He is also set to visit Bahrain during his trip.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has finished the UAE-leg of his Middle East diplomatic tour and has set out for Kuwait. He is also set to visit Bahrain during his trip.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has finished the UAE-leg of his Middle East diplomatic tour and has set out for Kuwait. He is also set to visit Bahrain during his trip.

Speaking to press in Kuwait, when asked about Israeli willingness to allow the Lebanese Armed Forces to administer key contested areas, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that work is being made to establish a “pilot zone” framework. Per Secretary Rubio, the Lebanese Army would incrementally begin taking over these zones one by one in a staggered approach to taking over administrative control over key areas in Southern Lebanon.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper is set to visit Israel tomorrow, against the backdrop of ramped-up U.S.-brokered Israel-Lebanon negotiations.

Additionally, Admiral Cooper’s visit also comes after CENTCOM proposed a deconfliction framework to monitor and report ceasefire violations paired with increased interoperability with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Northern Venezuela earlier, causing numerous building collapses and extensive damage, including in the capital of Caracas. More to come.

Extensive damage seen in Caracas, Venezuela, following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake to the east of the capital.

A fire aboard the freedom variant of the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS-17) sent six sailors to the hospital while pierside at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, FL earlier today. All personnel were treated and released. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Top Republicans appeared skeptical Wednesday of the Pentagon’s record-breaking budget request, despite their desire to increase defense spending and a personal plea from Secretary Pete Hegseth, who is calling for a $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2026, combining $350 billion in reconciliation funds with a $1.1 trillion base defense budget, an increase of 42%.

Members of the Republican Study Committee - the House conservative caucus that includes some of President Trump’s fiercest advocates on Capitol Hill - expressed concerns after a meeting this week with Defense Secretary Hegseth, according to POLITICO. “I get the need, but what are the pay-fors?” said Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas). “That’s my big question in all of this.”

Passengers panic and run for cover at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela, as the terminal shakes and power flickers, resulting from a massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Caracas.

Accord to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) the massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Venezuela was felt by millions and across a wide range of Venezuelan territory. Projected injuries and deaths are in the thousands, per USGS updates. Landslides have also been triggered by the earthquake.

Severe disruptions and damage has now been reported at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Venezuela, following a 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

Utter devastation seen across the Northern Venezuelan coastal city of La Guaira, following tonight’s pair of major earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude with an epicenter just to the west of Caracas.

Search-and-rescue operations are fully underway across the Venezuelan capital of Caracas, with dozens of collapsed buildings from tonight’s twin earthquakes being reported throughout the city and across areas of Northern Venezuela.

Iran’s IRGC-N has rejected the Omani-International Maritime Organization transit framework announced earlier. Per the release, in what is seemingly a veiled threat to resume the targeting of commercial shipping and/or limit mine clearance efforts, the IRGC-N said “The proposed route is unacceptable and poses serious safety risks.”