Service & Sacrifice: ‘Imminent Threat’
A snapshot of the burdens brave U.S. troops and military families are shouldering around the world.
U.S. and Iraqi Army soldiers recently hold a a live-fire training exercise in Iraq.
Middle East
As Israel delivers justice to Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon, thousands of U.S. military forces are on their way to the Middle East.
In a statement, the U.S. Army announced that its 101st Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade and 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command are headed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations, which includes Iraq and Syria. They will replace soldiers who are currently fighting ISIS and other terrorist groups in the two countries, where about 3,400 combined American troops are deployed.
The announcement comes as Iraq’s prime minister is calling on all U.S. troops to leave his country. Bloomberg reports that Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani claims ISIS is “largely defeated” and that “Iraq in 2024 is not the same as Iraq of 2014.”
Fox News reports that American and Iraqi officials are negotiating a scenario that would see the U.S. military withdraw some troops a year from now and the rest in 2027. The report adds that the potential agreement is “not set in stone.”
Anywhere in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility (CENTCOM AOR), we refuel and remain ready for the fight!@usairforce @USAFCENT pic.twitter.com/LZI09dnKbz
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 15, 2024
In Yemen, Houthi terrorists shot down two U.S. military drones in less than a week.
The Associated Press reports that the first MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down on September 10 and the second on Monday of this week. The drones reportedly cost about $30 million each.
Earlier this week, the U.S. military announced that it had taken out a Houthi missile system inside Yemen. U.S. Central Command said the weapon posed a “clear and imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region.”
Please pray for the thousands of American heroes risking their lives in the Middle East.
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Europe
More than 100 U.S. Army soldiers have been moved to a remote island in western Alaska “amid a recent increase in Russian military planes and vessels approaching American territory.”
The Associated Press reports that 130 soldiers arrived on Shemya Island on September 12. “The soldiers brought two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, with them,” the AP article said.
NORAD said that starting on September 11, it detected Russian planes flying near Alaska four out of five days. Four Russian Navy vessels have also reportedly been detected in the past week.
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As bloodshed continues during the Russia-Ukraine war, thousands of American soldiers are deploying to Europe.
The Army announced that its 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division is heading to the continent to replace a departing brigade. The 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade and 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade will do the same “as part of a regular rotation of forces to support the United States’ commitment to NATO allies and partners.”
More than 100,000 American troops are currently stationed in Europe. Please pray for them and their families as well as an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Africa
The U.S. military has officially completed a full withdrawal from the African nation of Niger.
“This process began on May 19 following the mutual establishment of withdrawal conditions and continued with the withdrawal of U.S. forces and assets from Air Base 101 in Niamey on July 7, 2024, and Air Base 201 in Agadez on August 5, 2024,” U.S. Africa Command said in a statement.
The decision to withdraw was made after a military coup took place in Niger last year.
“Over the past decade, U.S. troops have trained Niger’s forces and supported partner-led counterterrorism missions against (ISIS) and al Qaeda in the region,” the statement added.
In 2017, four American service members were killed in an ambush staged by an ISIS-affiliated terrorist group. We will always remember them. Thank you to all the American heroes who fought terrorism while deployed to this dangerous and troubled nation.
Coming Home
A group of U.S. Marines recently returned to their base in North Carolina after a six-month deployment to Okinawa, Japan.
A U.S. Marine is welcomed home by his wife during a deployment homecoming ceremony at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina on September 12, 2024.
Welcome home, Marines! Thank you for serving our country overseas. Enjoy this well-deserved time with your loved ones.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is the author of the newly released I Have Your Back, Be Bold and co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on X @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.
