Middle East

The brave men and women of the U.S. military continue to defend themselves and other countries from the ongoing threat posed by Iran-backed terrorists.

On Tuesday, American fighter jets and a U.S. Navy warship “shot down five Iranian-backed Houthi one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the Red Sea,” according to U.S. Central Command.

The U.S. military added that the UAVs originated “from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and to the U.S. Navy and coalition ships in the region.”

On Monday, American forces “destroyed three unmanned surface vessels (USV), two mobile anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM), and a one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in self-defense,” according to CENTCOM. Those weapons also came from Yemen, according to the U.S. military.

While Yemen is currently the epicenter of the threat, U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, Syria and Jordan have also been attacked well over 100 times since mid-October. As airstrikes and other U.S. military operations continue in the Middle East, please ask God to shield our nation’s warriors from further death or injury. Regardless of the mission, The Stream calls upon all Americans to firmly and enthusiastically support our troops and their families.

Europe

A “critical” U.S. Army unit had its deployment to Europe extended this week amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

The 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment will remain in Poland for another three months. The Texas-based unit’s primary role is defending Polish territory using Patriot missiles in the event of a foreign attack.

“This deployment has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life,” said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Julia Cooke. “I have learned so much about myself and my teammates.”

No matter how rewarding, any deployment extension is hard on brave U.S. troops and their loved ones back home. Please keep these selfless service members and military families in your prayers as they continue to answer their country’s call to preserve all of our freedom and security.

Rest in Peace

It was a somber scene earlier this week in northern Michigan, where one of the five Marines killed in a February 6 helicopter crash returned home.

As seen in the photo embedded below, mourners lined local streets to pay tribute to U.S. Marine Capt. Miguel Nava, who was 28 years old when his CH-53E Super Stallion went down in southern California. The tragic crash is under investigation.

Patriots line the streets to honor U.S. Marine Capt. Miguel Nava, who died in a Feb. 6 helicopter crash in California. His body arrived Monday afternoon at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids and will be escorted to Traverse City. @WOODTV pic.twitter.com/1kLKREfqXn

— John Hogan (@JohnHoganWOOD) February 26, 2024

“Bill Schwalm, an Air Force veteran, traveled to Grand Rapids all the way from Saginaw to welcome Nava back home,” MLive.com’s Melissa Frick reported. “Schwalm said he felt called to come and show support to Nava’s family, while also paying respect to the fallen Marine.”

“You just can’t explain to people your feelings,” the Vietnam veteran said, as quoted by MLive.com. “They say that you’re brothers, but it’s more than that.”

As these fallen Marines return to their respective hometowns to be laid to rest, please keep all five families in your prayers, as well as their friends and fellow Marines. May God comfort all who mourn the loss of these five extraordinary young men.

Coming Home

More than 100 Rhode Island Army National Guard recently returned to their home state after finishing a ten-month peacekeeping mission to Kosovo.

A Rhode Island Army National Guard soldier is greeted by his family after a deployment to Kosovo on February 17, 2024, at Quonset Air National Guard Base in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

Welcome home, warriors! Thank you for your service and enjoy some well-deserved time off with your loved ones.

Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is the author of the forthcoming I Have Your Back, the recently released 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.