1. Drone Attacks on U.S. Bases in Middle East Intensify Amid Regional Tensions Recent days have seen an escalation in drone attacks on U.S. military installations in Iraq and Syria, with militant groups across the region increasing hostilities. The attacks, including those at al-Asad Air Base and al-Tanf garrison, are heightening concerns of a broader regional conflict related to the ongoing war in Israel​.
  2. U.S. Military Academy Ends Minority-focused Clubs The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has discontinued a number of cadet clubs focused on ethnicity, gender, race, and sexuality, aligning with broader military policy changes​.
  3. Naval Drills Near Philippines Prompt Complaints from China The United States and its allies have been conducting naval drills around the Philippines, which has led to official complaints from Beijing amid heightened military tensions in the region​.
  4. U.S. and Philippine Forces Conduct Joint Patrol Over Disputed South China Sea In a show of military cooperation, U.S. and Philippine fighter jets jointly patrolled the contested Scarborough Shoal, marking the first such operation since the Trump administration took office​.
  5. Pentagon Rethinks Trump’s Proposal to Use Troops in Gaza The Pentagon has been caught off guard by a proposal from President Trump to potentially use U.S. troops to seize Gaza, which has necessitated rapid strategic reassessments​.
  6. Veterans of Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Receive Presidential Pardons Approximately 230 individuals with military backgrounds, previously charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, have been granted clemency by President Trump​

These briefs highlight the dynamic and evolving role of the U.S. military in both domestic and international contexts.