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Hamas Studies Gaza Ceasefire Proposal Called ‘Final’ by Trump

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Hamas Studies Gaza Ceasefire Proposal Called ‘Final’ by Trump

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (BN24) — Hamas leaders said Wednesday they were reviewing a ceasefire plan that U.S. President Donald Trump described as a “final” proposal to halt fighting in Gaza, while insisting any agreement must include an Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

Trump announced Tuesday that Israel had accepted terms necessary to finalize a 60-day ceasefire following consultations between his envoys and Israeli officials. The declaration marked Washington’s latest push to end nearly two years of conflict that has devastated Gaza and fueled tensions across the region.

“I hope it would work this time, even if for two months—it would save thousands of innocent lives,” said Kamal, a Gaza City resident. But others remained skeptical that Trump’s statements would bring lasting calm. “We hope he is serious like he was serious during the Israeli-Iranian war when he said the war should stop, and it stopped,” said Adnan Al-Assar in Khan Younis.

The proposal has added to mounting domestic pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pursue a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition remains split, with hardliners fiercely opposing any deal short of Hamas’s total defeat.

Israel’s recent strikes on nuclear sites in Iran and last month’s brief Israel-Iran air war have further weakened Hamas’s key regional backer, underscoring the changing dynamics in the Middle East. Israeli officials believe that Iran’s setbacks could accelerate efforts by other Arab governments to normalize ties with Israel.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Wednesday that Israel remained committed to trying to secure a truce and a hostage agreement. “There are some positive signs. I don’t want to say more than that right now. But our goal is to begin proximity talks as soon as possible,” Saar said during a visit to Estonia.

Roughly 50 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, with Israeli officials estimating that about 20 are still alive. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said his party would back any agreement that freed the hostages, pledging parliamentary support to prevent Netanyahu’s government from collapsing if coalition partners rebelled.

In May, Hamas requested amendments to an earlier U.S.-backed ceasefire framework. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, rejected those changes as “totally unacceptable.” The plan calls for a two-month halt to fighting, the release of half of the hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of other Palestinians, and later the release of remaining hostages as part of an agreement to end the war.

“Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Trump posted online Tuesday, without detailing those conditions.

A source familiar with Hamas deliberations said the group’s leaders would debate the plan and seek clarification from mediators before issuing a formal response.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes and ground operations continued across Gaza. Health officials reported that Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours had killed at least 139 Palestinians in northern and southern areas. Late Tuesday, the military issued new evacuation orders.

Among the dead was Marwan Al-Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, killed in an airstrike along with his wife and five children, according to medics.

The Israeli military said it had targeted a “key terrorist” from Hamas operating in Gaza City. It acknowledged reports of civilian casualties and said it regretted any harm to “uninvolved individuals,” adding that it takes steps to minimize civilian deaths.

The war erupted when Hamas fighters crossed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and seizing 251 hostages, according to Israeli counts. Gaza’s health ministry says more than 57,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in the Israeli military response, which has displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million people and created a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Reuters

Ugandan Military Helicopter Crashes at Somalia’s Mogadishu Airport, Killing 5

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Ugandan Military Helicopter Crashes at Somalia’s Mogadishu Airport, Killing 5

MOGADISHU, Somalia (BN24) — A Ugandan military helicopter deployed as part of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia crashed Wednesday at Mogadishu’s international airport, killing five of the eight people on board, officials said.

Ugandan military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye confirmed the deaths and said the three survivors suffered severe injuries and burns. He added that the impact of the crash triggered munitions stored on the aircraft to explode, destroying nearby structures and injuring three civilians in the area.

The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, said in an earlier statement that search and rescue efforts were underway to retrieve crew members and passengers from the wreckage. The helicopter crash-landed just before reaching the tarmac, AUSSOM said.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as smoke and flames billowed over the runway. “We heard the blast and saw smoke and flames over a helicopter,” said Farah Abdulle, who works at the airport. “The smoke entirely covered the helicopter.”

Somalia’s state-run SONNA news agency reported that the aircraft became engulfed in fire shortly after impact.

The helicopter was part of a Ugandan contingent contributing to AUSSOM’s mission, which has more than 11,000 personnel working alongside Somali forces to combat the al Qaeda-linked extremist group al Shabaab. The militants have waged an insurgency for nearly 20 years, aiming to topple Somalia’s internationally recognized government and impose a strict version of Islamic law.

Officials did not immediately disclose what caused the crash, and an investigation is expected.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Denied Bond While Awaiting Sentencing After Conviction on Prostitution Charges

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Denied Bond While Awaiting Sentencing After Conviction on Prostitution Charges

NEW YORK (BN24) — A federal judge denied bond Wednesday for Sean “Diddy” Combs as the music mogul awaits sentencing on prostitution-related offenses that could end his decades-long career in entertainment and send him to prison for years.

The decision to keep Combs behind bars followed a mixed verdict delivered after three days of deliberations. Jurors acquitted Combs, 55, of the most serious counts of sex trafficking and racketeering, charges that carried the possibility of life imprisonment and would have marked one of the most significant criminal convictions in the history of hip-hop.

Combs, who has been in custody since his arrest last fall, remained stoic as the judge ruled against his release. His attorneys had argued he should be allowed to await sentencing at home, noting he has already spent months in detention and posed no flight risk.

Prosecutors countered that Combs was convicted of crimes of violence and continued to represent a potential danger to the community. They urged the judge to deny bail, citing what they described as his history of coercive behavior and the risk he might intimidate witnesses.

Although Combs faces up to 10 years in prison under the law, sentencing guidelines are expected to recommend significantly less time. Defense attorneys said in court filings that he could be sentenced to as little as 21 months, with credit for time served. Prosecutors have indicated they may ask for more than five years but acknowledged they had not yet completed a full evaluation of the conviction.

The sentence will ultimately be determined by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian at a later hearing. No date has been set.

The conviction caps a dramatic fall for Combs, who built a sprawling brand as a music executive, fashion entrepreneur and reality TV figure. The prostitution charges stemmed from what prosecutors described as years of coercive sexual arrangements with women hired to participate in “freak-off” events.

Combs’ attorneys maintain he was unfairly singled out because of his wealth and fame.

7 Missing After Explosion at California Fireworks Warehouse Sets Off Massive Blaze

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7 Missing After Explosion at California Fireworks Warehouse Sets Off Massive Blaze

ESPARTO, Calif. (BN24) — Seven people were unaccounted for Wednesday after a fireworks warehouse exploded in rural Northern California, igniting a massive blaze that tore through farm fields and forced evacuations across the surrounding community, authorities said.

The blast erupted Tuesday night at a property near Esparto in Yolo County, about 40 miles northwest of Sacramento, sending a barrage of fireworks into the air before collapsing the building into a smoldering heap. Fire crews and investigators continued combing the area for clues and searching for the missing individuals, using drones to survey the charred debris and scorched fields.

It was not immediately clear whether those unaccounted for had been working inside the warehouse or living nearby. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, said teams were working closely with the property owner to track down any sign of the missing people.

Residents were urged to steer clear of the area as the fire burned through the night and into Wednesday morning. The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the site remained too dangerous to enter due to the risk of additional explosions.

“The fire will take time to cool, and once it does, explosive experts must safely enter the site to assess and secure the area,” the sheriff’s office said late Tuesday.

By dawn, the blaze had scorched nearly 80 acres of farmland. Crews managed to contain it from spreading farther, but spot fires flared repeatedly in the dry fields around the warehouse.

State and federal agencies quickly joined the response. Cal Fire said the property was owned by an active pyrotechnic license holder and emphasized that such explosions are highly unusual.

“This type of incident is very rare, as facilities like this are required to not only follow our stringent California pyrotechnic requirements, but also federal explosive storage requirements,” the agency said Wednesday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said it was closely tracking the response and had sent ground and air crews to help.

“The State Fire Marshal has sent an arson and bomb investigation team and stands ready to provide additional support as needed,” the governor’s office posted on X.

In neighboring Sutter and Yuba counties, officials began reevaluating Independence Day celebrations after fireworks stockpiled for public displays were destroyed in the explosion.

Authorities said the cause of the blast remained under investigation, and no timeline was given for when investigators would be able to safely enter the destroyed building.

Microsoft’s Largest Layoff in Years Hits Xbox, Sales and Other Divisions

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Microsoft’s Largest Layoff in Years Hits Xbox, Sales and Other Divisions

REDMOND, Wash. (BN24) — Microsoft is laying off thousands of workers in its biggest round of job cuts in more than two years, targeting roles across the company’s Xbox video game business, sales operations and other divisions as it pivots more resources into artificial intelligence.

Layoff notices began going out Wednesday, hitting about 4% of Microsoft’s workforce as measured a year ago. While the company did not confirm the total number of layoffs, that figure suggests nearly 9,100 positions could be eliminated. Among those affected are 830 workers tied to Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington, headquarters, according to state notices released Wednesday.

The company said the sweeping cuts reflect “organizational changes” needed to compete in what it described as a “dynamic marketplace.” Employees in multiple regions and teams will be impacted, part of a broader strategy to trim layers of management and reallocate investment into growth areas like AI and cloud computing.

In a memo to staff, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said the layoffs would help position Microsoft’s gaming division “for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas.” He indicated Xbox would follow the broader company initiative “in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness.”

The cuts follow a series of smaller workforce reductions earlier this year as Microsoft contends with slowing growth in some legacy segments and surging costs linked to AI infrastructure. In May, the company laid off roughly 6,000 employees — nearly 3% of its global headcount — marking what was then its largest job reduction since the pandemic. That same month, Microsoft cut nearly 2,000 workers in the Puget Sound region, most of them in software engineering and product management roles.

Just weeks ago, another 300 Redmond-based employees were let go, adding to unease among some workers about whether AI-powered tools will shrink demand for human coders. Chief Executive Satya Nadella has publicly estimated that software now writes “maybe 20, 30% of the code” for some internal Microsoft projects.

While the layoffs have spread across divisions, Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives said the latest moves appeared centered on slower-growing parts of the business, including Xbox. “They’re focused more and more on AI, cloud and next-generation Microsoft and really looking to cut costs around Xbox and some of the more legacy areas,” Ives said. “This is Nadella and team making sure that they’re keeping with efficiency and that’s the name of the game in Wall Street.”

The downsizing comes less than a year after Microsoft finalized its $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the maker of blockbuster franchises such as Call of Duty and Candy Crush. That followed a $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, as part of a years-long expansion to strengthen Xbox’s standing against competitors like Sony’s PlayStation.

But more recently, Microsoft has funneled billions into building data centers, specialized chips and other infrastructure to accelerate its AI ambitions. The company estimated those expenses would total around $80 billion in the last fiscal year, which ended Sunday.

The layoffs underscore how even the world’s most valuable tech companies are reshaping workforces to align with rapidly changing priorities. Microsoft had 228,000 full-time employees globally as of last June, but a combination of layoffs and slower hiring has already reshaped that figure heading into the new fiscal year.

AP

Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty to Killing Four University of Idaho Students in 2022 Stabbings

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Bryan Kohberger Pleads Guilty to Killing Four University of Idaho Students in 2022 Stabbings

MOSCOW, Idaho (BN24) — Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty Wednesday to murdering four University of Idaho students, ending months of anticipation over whether he would stand trial for one of the nation’s most closely watched campus killings.

Kohberger, 29, entered the plea in an Idaho courtroom, admitting to the fatal stabbings that shook the small college town of Moscow in November 2022. The agreement spares him the possibility of execution but ensures he will spend the rest of his life in prison without the chance of appeal.

His decision came just weeks before his trial was set to begin in August and followed a failed attempt by his defense team to have capital punishment removed as a sentencing option.

Under the plea deal, Kohberger will serve four consecutive life sentences. Judge John Judge scheduled sentencing for July 23. A sweeping gag order remains in effect, restricting public statements by prosecutors, defense attorneys, and investigators until after court documents are unsealed.

Prosecutors revealed that Kohberger’s phone had connected to cell towers near the victims’ rental house approximately 23 times in the months leading up to the killings, typically during overnight hours. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson said that when authorities searched Kohberger’s Pullman, Washington, apartment and office, they found them thoroughly cleaned. His vehicle was described as “pretty much disassembled internally.”

After the attack, Kohberger changed his vehicle registration to Washington State. Investigators collected DNA from trash outside his parents’ Pennsylvania home. A Q-Tip contained his father’s genetic material, providing a match to DNA recovered on a knife sheath left next to one of the victims.

“The defendant has studied crime,” Thompson said. “In fact, he did a detailed paper on crime scene processing when he was working on his Ph.D., and he had that knowledge skill set.”

Authorities have not identified a motive, and it remains unclear why Kohberger spared two surviving roommates who were inside the off-campus house when the attack occurred.

Kohberger, a former Washington State University graduate student in criminal justice, was arrested in Pennsylvania nearly seven weeks after the killings.

The plea agreement drew mixed reactions from the victims’ families. Leander James, attorney for Madison Mogen’s parents, read a statement expressing full support for the resolution.

“While we know there are some who do not support it, we ask that they respect our belief that this is the best outcome for the victims, their families, and the state of Idaho,” the statement said. “We now embark on a new path. We embark on a path of hope and healing.”

But not all relatives agreed. Kaylee Goncalves’ father, Steve Goncalves, left the courthouse visibly upset before the hearing began. In a video posted on social media, he said, “I’m just getting out of this zoo.” The Goncalves family had previously described the plea deal as unacceptable, saying they were “beyond furious at the State of Idaho.”

As Kohberger entered the courtroom, Goncalves remained outside, later telling reporters he would not return.

Sentencing in the Idaho student murders case is scheduled for next month, when the court will formally impose four life sentences, closing one of the most chilling criminal proceedings in recent state history.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Acquitted of Sex Trafficking, Convicted of Prostitution Offenses in High-Profile Federal Trial

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Acquitted of Sex Trafficking, Convicted of Prostitution Offenses in High-Profile Federal Trial

New York (BN24) – Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted Wednesday of the most severe charges — sex trafficking and racketeering — but convicted of federal prostitution-related offenses after a seven-week trial that laid bare graphic allegations about his private life and business empire.

The mixed verdict followed three days of deliberations by the jury of eight men and four women. While the decision spared the hip-hop mogul, 55, from a potential life sentence, the convictions could still carry up to a decade in prison and are expected to irreparably damage his career as a music executive, fashion entrepreneur, and media personality.

Combs showed visible relief as the acquittals were read but remained tense as he learned he had been found guilty of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. Before adjourning for a bail hearing, he knelt by his chair, his head bowed in prayer. Facing his family, he managed a soft, “I love you, baby,” and, to his mother, “I love you, Mom.”

 Throughout the proceedings, Combs’ defense argued that he was singled out because of his wealth, power, and race. His lawyers filed motions calling the prosecution an example of the Mann Act’s “troubling” legacy of targeting Black men.

Legal experts, however, noted that Combs’ celebrity status and vast resources were likely decisive in the outcome.

“I think the one area where the fame really matters, honestly, is that he was able to retain, like, a dream team of lawyers,” said attorney Dina Doll, who was not involved in the case. “A typical defendant doesn’t have that advantage.”

The Mann Act, passed in 1910 as the White-Slave Traffic Act, has a long history of being used in cases with racial undertones. Federal prosecutors also wielded it in the high-profile convictions of R. Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell, Chuck Berry, and boxer Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight champion, who was tried by an all-white jury for traveling with his white girlfriend.

 The trial featured graphic and often harrowing testimony from Combs’ former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who described years of alleged abuse. Over four days on the witness stand, she recounted how Combs coerced her into hundreds of “freak-off” sex encounters with male sex workers and assaulted her repeatedly.

Cassie’s testimony was corroborated by others, including a stripper who described Ventura leaping into his lap, trembling and pleading for help after Combs allegedly assaulted her in a New York hotel suite.

Combs’ legal team denied the allegations of violence and trafficking, arguing that the sexual relationships were consensual and that prosecutors were stretching the Mann Act to criminalize private conduct.

 Following the verdict, prosecutors immediately urged Judge Arun Subramanian to keep Combs behind bars.

“Detention is mandatory post-conviction on these charges,” prosecutors argued in a filing, citing the prostitution counts as crimes of violence. They also warned that Combs posed a danger to the women who testified and the broader community, highlighting an incident just three months before his arrest in which he allegedly assaulted a witness known as “Jane.”

Defense lawyers countered that Combs was not a flight risk and emphasized the personal toll of his incarceration, saying he had already missed milestones in his children’s lives, including his twin daughters’ high school graduation.

They requested his release on a $1 million bond signed by family members, arguing the federal sentencing guidelines suggested a prison term closer to two years than the 10-year maximum.

 Sentencing has not been scheduled. Prosecutors indicated they would seek a higher penalty due to what they called coercion and fraud underlying the prostitution convictions.

Federal sentencing expert Mitchell Epner predicted the judge might impose a sentence of 24–30 months, significantly less than the statutory maximum, and said the nine months Combs has already spent in custody could count toward time served.

 As news of the verdict spread, crowds of supporters, detractors, TikTok streamers, and traditional journalists swelled around the courthouse.

At times, the scene took on an almost carnival-like atmosphere. One woman danced in the street as a man doused her with baby oil — an apparent reference to Combs’ infamous “freak-off” parties. Police erected additional barricades to keep the crowd off the road.

Inside, Combs waited quietly for the judge’s ruling on whether he would be allowed to return home while he awaits his fate.

Dalai Lama Promises to Reincarnate, Vowing Continuity of Tibetan Spiritual Leadership

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Dalai Lama Promises to Reincarnate, Vowing Continuity of Tibetan Spiritual Leadership

DHARAMSHALA, India (BN24) — The Dalai Lama announced Wednesday he will reincarnate, pledging that the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist institution will continue after his death — a decision that defies Beijing’s insistence it alone can approve his successor.

Speaking at a ceremony marking prayer celebrations ahead of his 90th birthday, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said his reincarnation should be recognized strictly in accordance with Buddhist tradition and explicitly warned China to stay out of the process.

“The search for my successor must be carried out in accordance with past tradition,” the Dalai Lama declared in a recorded statement broadcast to thousands of Buddhist monks gathered in Dharamshala. “No one else has any authority to interfere in this matter.”

The announcement ends years of speculation that began when he previously suggested he might be the last Dalai Lama. The decision holds deep political and spiritual stakes. For millions of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama is the earthly embodiment of Chenrezig, the Buddha of compassion. For Tibetans who reject Beijing’s rule, his succession is a powerful symbol of cultural survival.

China, which has long claimed authority to name the next Dalai Lama, is expected to react sharply. Beijing has said the next incarnation must be found in Tibetan areas under its control — a move that would allow Communist officials to exert influence over the future spiritual leader.

Many observers expect rival Dalai Lamas to emerge: one chosen by Beijing, another by senior monks loyal to the current Dalai Lama.

Centuries of Tradition
 Born Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama was recognized as the reincarnation of his predecessor in 1940. He fled Tibet for India after Chinese troops crushed an uprising in Lhasa in 1959 and has lived in exile ever since.

Tibetan Buddhists believe the Dalai Lama chooses the body into which he reincarnates. This process has continued over 14 incarnations since the institution’s founding in 1587. The Dalai Lama has repeatedly said he expects his next incarnation will be born outside China.

The process, he said Wednesday, will be overseen solely by the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the nonprofit he established in 2015 to administer spiritual and institutional affairs.

An Appeal from Tibetans in Exile
 Penpa Tsering, president of the Tibetan government-in-exile, said the Dalai Lama agreed to reincarnate in response to a global outpouring of pleas from Tibetan Buddhists.

“Tibetans from all over the world made an earnest request with single-minded devotion that the position of the Dalai Lama should continue for the benefit of all sentient beings,” Tsering said at a press conference. “In response to this overwhelming supplication, His Holiness has shown infinite compassion and finally agreed to accept our appeal.”

Tsering warned China not to politicize or interfere in the reincarnation process. “We strongly condemn the People’s Republic of China’s usage of the reincarnation subject for their political gain and will never accept it,” he said.

A Process Rooted in Spiritual Signs
 Traditionally, the search for a Dalai Lama’s reincarnation begins only after the incumbent’s death. Senior lamas interpret visions and spiritual signs to guide them, a process that can take years. The child identified as the reincarnation is then carefully educated to assume leadership.

By announcing his plans now, the Dalai Lama has underlined his determination to protect the integrity of Tibetan Buddhism and resist China’s attempts to shape its future.

AP

U.S. Judge Blocks Trump From Ending Deportation Protections for Haitians

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U.S. Judge Blocks Trump From Ending Deportation Protections for Haitians

NEW YORK (BN24) — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration’s effort to prematurely end deportation protections and work permits for an estimated 521,000 Haitian immigrants living in the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security under President Donald Trump had moved in February to cancel Democratic President Joe Biden’s extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, which was set to run through February 3, 2026.

But U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan in Brooklyn ruled that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem overstepped her authority by attempting to roll back the program without completing the legally required process.

“Secretary Noem does not have statutory or inherent authority to partially vacate a country’s TPS designation,” Cogan wrote. “Plaintiffs are likely to (and, indeed, do) succeed on the merits.”

Cogan, an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush, also concluded that the interests of Haitians who rely on TPS to live and work in the U.S. “far outweigh” any potential harm to the government. He emphasized that while the administration can enforce immigration laws and eventually end TPS, it must follow the procedures and timelines set by Congress.

 Trump has made a crackdown on both legal and unauthorized immigration a cornerstone of his second White House term. Noem, a close ally, has advanced that agenda, including attempts to end TPS for roughly 350,000 Venezuelans and thousands of people from Afghanistan and Cameroon.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed the termination of TPS for Venezuelans, raising the possibility that other rollbacks could proceed.

TPS was first granted to Haitians in 2010 after the country’s catastrophic earthquake. In their lawsuit, nine Haitian TPS holders, an association of churches, and a chapter of the Service Employees International Union argued that Noem failed to assess current conditions in Haiti — including rampant gang violence and humanitarian crises — before attempting to cancel protections.

“While the fight is far from over, this is an important step,” said Manny Pastreich, president of SEIU Local 32BJ, whose members include Haitian TPS holders.

 The plaintiffs also claimed the administration’s decision was driven by racial prejudice, citing inflammatory remarks Trump has made about Haitian immigrants, including a 2024 campaign debate comment accusing Haitian newcomers in Ohio of “eating pets.”

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the administration’s actions, saying TPS was never meant to serve as “de facto asylum.” She called the ruling “a delay of justice” and vowed to appeal.

“We expect a higher court to vindicate us,” McLaughlin said.

U.S. Halts Some Weapons Shipments to Ukraine After Pentagon Review Flags Low Stockpiles

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U.S. Halts Some Weapons Shipments to Ukraine After Pentagon Review Flags Low Stockpiles

WASHINGTON (BN24) — The United States will not deliver some weapons previously pledged to Ukraine after a Pentagon review concluded that American stockpiles of key munitions have fallen to concerning levels, officials said Tuesday.

The shipments in question had been promised under the Biden administration as part of Washington’s military support for Kyiv’s war against Russia. But President Donald Trump’s administration, citing what it described as urgent national security priorities, has decided to halt the deliveries.

“This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a Department of Defense review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.

The Pentagon assessment, which has not been publicly released, found that U.S. inventories of certain weapons were too low to sustain further transfers without risking military readiness. As a result, pending shipments of those items have been paused indefinitely, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations.

The decision marks a significant shift in policy after more than two years of robust U.S. assistance. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Washington has sent more than $66 billion in weapons, ammunition, training and other support.

The specific weapons affected by the freeze were not disclosed, and officials emphasized that other aid packages remain intact. However, the move signals the Trump administration’s growing focus on refilling domestic arsenals and recalibrating security commitments abroad.

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