US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis landed in Kabul on Friday for an unannounced visit to war-torn Afghanistan, adding his weight to a flurry of diplomatic efforts to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table. His trip comes a little more than a year after President Donald Trump unveiled a revamped strategy for Afghanistan that saw […]
Mattis
US Defense Secretary Mattis refutes claims he urged Congress to strike Syria
WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday disputed a report saying he had unsuccessfully urged President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval ahead of last week’s air strikes in Syria. Citing anonymous military and administration officials, The New York Times said Mattis had recommended Trump get approval from lawmakers before launching Friday’s cruise missile […]
Mattis warns ‘massive’ response to North Korea nuclear weapon use
US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Saturday warned North Korea of a “massive military response” to any use of nuclear weapons as tensions remain sky-high ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea. Pyongyang in recent months has sparked global alarm by conducting a sixth nuclear test and test-launching missiles capable of reaching the […]
Mattis commends Philippine’s military for Marawi liberation
US Defence Secretary James Mattis on Monday praised the Philippines for its successes in battling Islamic State supporters, as he began an Asian trip aimed at reaffirming American support for regional allies. Mattis echoed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement last week that Filipino forces had “liberated” the southern city of Marawi, after five months of […]