Washington DC

03 Jan 2019; MEMO: The United States (US) State Department yesterday issued a statement, calling on its citizens to avoid travelling to Iraq.

“All Americans in Iraq are at high risk of violence and kidnapping,” the foreign office said.

WASHINGTON, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iran Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, who died in Baghdad “in a decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad,” the Pentagon said.

“General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American
diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General
Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more,” the Department of Defense said.

ANKARA, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey’s parliament has approved the deployment of troops to Libya aimed at shoring up the UN-backed government in Tripoli, sparking a blunt warning from US President Donald Trump against any “foreign interference” in the war-torn country.

Libya has been beset by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with rival administrations in the east and the west vying for power.

WASHINGTON, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) – U.S. Secretary of Defence, Mark Esper, said on Tuesday that, the United States will deploy about 750 troops immediately, to the Middle East, a move taken hours after demonstrators stormed the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

“Approximately 750 Soldiers will be deployed to the region immediately, and additional forces from the IRF are prepared to be deployed over the next several days,” said the Pentagon chief, in a series of tweets on Tuesday evening.

The IRF refers to the Immediate Response Force of the 82nd Airborne Division.

WASHINGTON, Dec 31 (NNN-YONHAP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday he hopes North Korea will choose peace over war after the regime threatened to reveal a “new strategic weapon.”

Pompeo made the comment to Fox News shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivered the threat amid stalled denuclearization talks with Washington.

WASHINGTON, Dept 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US accused Iraqi authorities of having failed to “protect” American interests, the day after deadly American air strikes against a pro-Iran group sparked anger.

At least 25 fighters were killed in Sunday night’s attacks, which were in retaliation for the death last week of a US civilian contractor.

WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States would demonstrate disappointment and take action if North Korea takes another approach over the nuclear issue, a senior aide to U.S. President Donald Trump said.

In an Sunday interview with ABC News, Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien warned of “additional pressure” on North Korea while refusing to speculating on future developments on the issue.

Washington, Dec 21 (AFP/PTI) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday described as "shameful" Russia and China blocking a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended for a year cross-border humanitarian aid to four million Syrians.

"The Russian Federation's and China's veto yesterday of a Security Council resolution that allows for humanitarian aid to reach millions of Syrians is shameful," Pompeo said in a statement.

"To Russia and China, who have chosen to make a political statement by opposing this resolution, you have blood on your hands.

(Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has invited British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to visit him in the White House in the new year, British media reported on Sunday.

Trump’s invitation was made after the British prime minister’s election win this month, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. Britain wants to strike a new trade deal with the United States after it leaves the European Union at the end of January.

Washington, Dec 21 (AFP/PTI) The United States has met a mounting 21st century strategic challenge from Russia and China with the creation of a full-fledged US Space Force within the Department of Defense.

Acting on an ambition by President Donald Trump that had met resistance at first, the White House signalled its determination to not cede superiority in a Star Wars-like future of killer satellites and satellite-killer weapons.