11 h. ago Body of Thai hostage has been retrieved in Gaza, Israel defence minister says

The statement comes after the bodies of two other hostages were found this week

Politics

12 h. ago Body of Thai hostage retrieved from Gaza, says Israeli defence minister

Nattapong Pinta had been seized in the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attack and killed, according to Israeli militaryThe Israeli military has retrieved the body of Thai hostage, Nattapong Pinta, who had been held in Gaza since Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023, according to defence minister, Israel Katz. .Pinta’s body was held by a Palestinian militant group called the Mujahideen Brigades, and was retrieved from the area of Rafah in southern Gaza, Katz said. His family in Thailand has been notified. Continue reading...

Politics

55 h. ago US warns Starmer it is 'important' UK hits new Nato target for spending 3.5% of GDP on defence as Labour struggles to balance the books

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered the message as he met ministers from the military alliance in Brussels.

Events

55 h. ago Military investigates death of 'warm' and 'compassionate' RAF dog handler after she suffered 'serious injuries' in van collision

The Ministry of Defence is investigating the death of a 'warm' and 'compassionate' RAF Police dog handler alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and police.

Events

59 h. ago A 'nightmare double war' against Russia and China faces the West within two years as Putin challenges NATO and Beijing eyes Taiwan invasion, military chiefs fear

General Sir Patrick Sanders, the former head of the British army, revealed the Ministry of Defence has drawn up plans to respond to wars on two fronts.

Events

3 d. ago Fin removed from submarine as disposal reaches ‘significant marker’

It is hoped that by dismantling the Swiftsure, a blueprint for future decommissioned submarines can be created.

Politics

3 d. ago Israel attacks Syrian targets after projectiles launched toward its territory

Israel’s defence minister says he holds Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa responsible for the two projectile launchesIsrael hit southern Syria with a series of strikes overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday, saying it had targeted weapons belonging to Syrian authorities after the launch of projectiles towards its territoryIsrael launched the two attacks after reporting projectiles had been fired from Syria on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the two projectiles. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Starmer chooses RAF chief Sir Richard Knighton to lead armed forces

Prime minister is understood to have made chief of the defence staff appointment amid what has been billed as the most transformative period for the MoD in decades

Events

4 d. ago UK cities '90 minutes from being destroyed by missiles' warns former Army chief

The Ministry of Defence has been urged to adopt cutting-edge technology such as AI, robots, and lasers in order to stay ahead and avoid suffering the fate of Ukraine's towns and cities

Events

4 d. ago UK's threats from FOUR countries amid fears of nuclear and biological warfare

The UK faces multiple threats as the world becomes increasingly unstable with Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordering a review to enhance the country's defence capabilities, setting it on the path of war readiness

Events

5 d. ago The cost of deterring Russian aggression is high – but the cost of war is higher still

Editorial: As the prime minister unveils his defence review, he must draw focus to the historic argument that it is not in the British national interest for the continent of Europe to be dominated by a hostile power

Events

5 d. ago UK issued ominous warning of 'enemies at our door' as PM unveils major defence plan

The Prime Minister said the long-awaited strategic defence review would make the UK 'safer and stronger, a battle-ready, armour-clad nation' amid Russian threats

Events

5 d. ago Watch: Furious Lindsay Hoyle scolds Keir Starmer over defence review ‘leaks’

Sir Lindsay Hoyle accused the government of committing a “blatant breach” of the ministerial code over how it released details of a major defence review on Monday, 2 June.

Politics

5 d. ago Strategic Defence Review: The key points of plan to create '10 times more lethal' British Army

Key points at a glance as Prime Minister and Defence Secretary unveil plan to keep Britain safe against rise in foreign threats

Politics

5 d. ago Strategic defence review live: Details of Starmer’s military plan revealed as Army to be ‘10 times more lethal’

But prime minister fails to make firm commitment to 3 per cent defence spending target

Events

5 d. ago Ukraine proposes next round of talks before end of June as Russia rejects unconditional ceasefire – Russia

Ukrainian defence minister says they have proposed meeting from 20-30 June while Moscow says it has offered ‘two-three’ day partial ceasefireRuth Michaelson is reporting from Istanbul and will be providing updates on the talks. Here is some colour from outside Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace:A fleet of black sedans arrived outside the Çırağan Palace in Istanbul, signalling the arrival of some of the negotiations teams. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Voices: That’s fighting talk, prime minister – but can you deliver?

In the face of Russian aggression, Keir Starmer says he must ready the country for war, by increasing military spending and building a platoon of nuclear submarines – but, as Mark Almond cautions, perhaps the only thing the Ministry of Defence can be guaranteed to produce on time are defence reviews

Politics

5 d. ago UK must change approach to defence in an insecure world, Starmer warns

The Prime Minister could not say when his aim of raising defence spending to 3% of the UK’s economic output would be realised.

Events

5 d. ago Starmer defends not putting date on 3% defence spending target as UK to announce plans to build new submarines – politics live

Prime minister to launch strategic defence review in Glasgow this morningHere is the clip of Keir Starmer in his Today programme interview refusing to say when the government will raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.In an interview with the Times published on Saturday John Healey, the defence secretary, said that he had “no doubt” that Britain would reach the 3% target by 2034 – ie, before the end of the next parliament. Yesterday he described this as an “ambition”. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Russia launches deadly attacks across Ukraine before Istanbul talks with Kyiv – Russia

Russian shelling and air attacks kill five near Zaporizhzhia before second round of peace talks in IstanbulUkraine and Russia both launched large-scale drone barrages overnight.The Russian defence ministry said its air defence units had “intercepted and destroyed” 162 Ukrainian drones. Continue reading...

Events