Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Report: Ravil Maganov, chairman of Russia’s Lukoil and war critic, dies after hospital window fall
Lukoil Chairman Ravil Maganov died Thursday after falling from a hospital window in Moscow, according to media reports, immediately sparking speculation about whether his death may be linked to the oil and gas giant's public criticism earlier this year of Russia's war in Ukraine. Published September 1, 2022
Iran tries, fails to seize U.S. vessel in Persian Gulf in latest confrontation between two nations
U.S. forces late Monday night foiled an Iranian attempt to capture an uncrewed American vessel sailing the Persian Gulf, Pentagon officials said. Published August 30, 2022
Chaos and deadly clashes in Baghdad as cleric al-Sadr leaves Iraqi politics
Iraq descended deeper into chaos Monday after influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced his "definitive retirement" from politics, sparking deadly clashes at Baghdad's presidential palace and potentially opening the door for Iran-backed militia groups to emerge from the turmoil with more power. Published August 29, 2022
Former top general in the Middle East says Biden told that Afghanistan would fall if U.S. pulled out
America's former top general in the Middle East said Sunday he advised President Biden against withdrawing all U.S. troops from Afghanistan last summer, and he said that the Pentagon made clear to the White House that a full withdrawal would almost surely lead to a rapid Taliban takeover of the country. Published August 28, 2022
China tensions surge again as U.S. warships sail through Taiwan Strait after Pelosi visit to island
Two American warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday for the first time since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial trip to Taiwan earlier this month, sparking an angry warning from the Chinese military and further ratcheting up tensions between Washington and Beijing. Published August 28, 2022
Syrian strikes, U.S. casualties complicate Biden’s delicate diplomacy with Tehran
U.S. forces launched a series of deadly counterstrikes Thursday against Iran-backed militias inside Syria, the latest move in an escalating battle between the two sides that is casting a dark shadow over the Biden administration's push for a new nuclear deal with Tehran. Published August 25, 2022
Pentagon: Iran-backed militants attack U.S. base in Syria
Iran-backed militants launched a rocket attack on two U.S. military installations in northeast Syria late Wednesday, injuring three American service members, Pentagon officials said. Published August 24, 2022
Against the odds, Biden inches closer to nuclear deal with Iran
The Biden administration on Wednesday inched closer to restarting a controversial nuclear deal with Iran, brushing aside stark warnings from key American ally Israel and sidestepping mounting evidence that Tehran and its proxies have not moderated their behavior on other fronts and remain intent on targeting U.S. troops, officials, allies and interests. Published August 24, 2022
Majority of Americans say U.S. should back Ukraine until all Russian troops withdraw, poll shows
A majority of Americans say the U.S. should keep providing weapons and other support to Ukraine until all Russian troops withdraw from the country, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Wednesday. Published August 24, 2022
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Six lessons learned after six months of war
Russian President Vladimir Putin's momentous decision to invade Ukraine has taken turns that few predicted, from Moscow's stunning military missteps in the early days of the conflict to the rapid expansion of NATO and the massive disruptions to global food and fuel supplies. Published August 23, 2022
Iran signals objection to ‘final’ nuclear deal text; state media predicts attacks on Trump, Pompeo
Iran signaled Monday that it still has objections to the West's "final" proposal to restore the Obama-era nuclear deal, while officials in Tehran justified the weekend stabbing of author Salman Rushdie and Iranian state-controlled media warned that former President Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo could soon face similar violent attacks. Published August 15, 2022
Pompeo: U.S. must act to stop Iranian ‘hit squads’ on American soil
The Biden administration must take seriously the threat from Iranian "hit squads" intent on killing U.S. officials on American soil, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, days after revelations that an Iranian paramilitary tried to carry out an assassination plot against him. Published August 15, 2022
U.S. says Bolton murder plot not enough to call off talks for new nuclear deal with Iran
The State Department on Thursday stood behind the effort to strike a new pact with Tehran to limit the country's nuclear weapons program, with a top diplomatic spokesperson telling reporters that Washington is prepared to "immediately" implement an agreement if Iran drops several of its demands. Published August 11, 2022
Taliban’s Afghanistan goes back to the future one year after U.S. leaves
Al Qaeda's top leader was hiding out inside the country with no apparent fear of arrest. Women and religious minorities face systematic oppression, international aid groups say, as the government rolls back basic human rights and steadily imposes a media blackout to cover it up. Published August 10, 2022
Pelosi coy on high-stakes Taiwan visit as Asia trip begins
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left for Asia on Sunday as a heated debate raged back home over her potential visit by her congressional delegation to Taiwan, a move that Beijing has warned against but one that some U.S. officials say would demonstrate American strength amid China's attempted intimidation of the island democracy. Published July 31, 2022
Drone strike injures 6 at Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters
An apparent drone attack hit Russia's Black Sea Fleet headquarters Sunday, injuring at least six people and interrupting celebrations marking Russia's major Navy Day holiday. Published July 31, 2022
Space, gas and food: Russia unleashes full weight of leverage as it pressures West, escalates war
Moscow is attempting to unleash its leverage from space and global energy markets in a revamped effort to break Western solidarity and punish the United States and Europe for militarily supporting Ukraine during the more than five months since the Russian invasion. Published July 26, 2022
An unlikely ally gives Putin’s Ukraine sovereignty grab a boost
The war in Ukraine may be drawing two of America's biggest adversaries closer together. Published July 22, 2022
Army to shift $1 billion to recruiting, retention efforts; rely more on reserves as ranks shrink
The Army will shift about $1 billion to recruiting programs and will rely more heavily on reserve units as its ranks dwindle and the service struggles to attract new soldiers, Army officials said in a memo this week that described a high-stakes "war for talent" that confronts America's armed forces and comes at a crucial moment for U.S. national security. Published July 21, 2022
Despite bravado, Russia seen ‘weakened’ by costs of Ukraine campaign
Russia has struggled to meet any of its top strategic goals in the nearly five-month invasion of Ukraine. But the U.S. and its NATO allies may be on the verge of meeting one of theirs. Published July 18, 2022
