One of the U.S. Soldiers with the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (1ABCT), 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Stewart, Georgia, that were killed last week in a training incident at the Pabradė Training Ground in eastern Lithuania, has been identified as 25-year-old Sergeant Edvin Franco. A GoFundMe has been set up for the family of Sgt. Franco, who leaves behind his wife Georgia and their 6-month-old son; as well as another soldier that was also killed as a result of the incident in Lithuania.

In addition to the GoFundMe established for the families of two of the four U.S. Soldiers killed in the incident last Tuesday at the Pabradė Training Ground in eastern Lithuania; Andrius Tapinas, a Lithuanian journalist known for hosting the “Freedom Chain” during the 2020 Belarusian Protests, has also begun raising money for the families of the soldiers, so far having raised 70k through his TV program and YouTube.

In a post earlier by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, he claims that the Iranian-backed Houthis have been “decimated” by the ongoing strike campaign over the last few weeks, adding that, “Their capabilities that threaten Shipping and the Region are rapidly being destroyed. Our attacks will continue until they are no longer a threat to Freedom of Navigation.” President Trump then further threatens the Houthis and Iran, stating that unless the attacks against U.S. ships stop, “the real pain is yet to come.”

The Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group in western Yemen is claiming to have downed their 17th U.S. Air Force MQ-9 “Reaper” surveillance and attack drone tonight over the Ma’rib Governorate, using a surface-to-air missile.

Military transport aircraft with the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC), most originally coming from Osan Air Base in South Korea, are continuing to arrive today in the Middle East, this includes a C-5M “Super Galaxy” currently crossing Turkey. Over two dozens flights originating from Osan have arrived at Isa Air Base in Bahrain, as well as other U.S. and allied air bases in the region over the last week, believed to likely be carrying air-defense systems, such as the U.S. Army’s MIM-104 “Patriot” surface-to-air missile system and/or the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system.

According to a senior Iranian official who spoke recently with The Telegraph, top military commanders in Iran’s Armed Forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are being urged to prepare a “preemptive strike” using long-range ballistic missiles against the U.S-U.K. joint base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, in an attempt to deter U.S. President Donald J. Trump from ordering major strikes against Iran.

This follows the arrival of 6-9 B-2 “Spirit” Long-Range Strategic Stealth Bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia last week, a little more than 2,000 miles from Iran. Another Iranian official further added to the claims of a possible preemptive strike against the island, “Some are suggesting that missiles be fired towards the island, not with the intent to hit anything, but to fall into the water to send a clear message to the Americans that we are serious.”

According to i24NEWS, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait have secretly told Tehran that they will not allow the United States to use their air bases to launch or support military strikes against targets in Iran.

Tomahawk Land-Attack Missiles (TLAMs) being launched against military and infrastructure targets of the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group in western Yemen, by the Arleigh Burke-Class Guided-Missile Destroyer, USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), while she flies her Battle Flag in the Red Sea.

F/A-18E/F “Super Hornets” with Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) launch from the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in the Red Sea, for continued strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist group in Yemen.

China yesterday began one of its largest military exercises yet around Taiwan, with the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command deploying Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Rocket Forces to “encircle” and “blockade” areas of the island from multiple directions; in what will likely be the first of many such exercises in the next few years, leading up to an eventual invasion of Taiwan. The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reports that upwards of 19 Chinese naval vessels, including the Shandong Carrier Strike Group were detected operating around the island, with several entering Taiwan’s Response Zone.

The Taiwanese Kee Lung-Class Destroyers, ROCS Su Ao (DDG-1802) and ROCS Tso Ying (DDG-1803); as well as the Cheng Kung-Class Frigate, ROCS Tian Dan (PFG2-1110); and the Chi Yang-Class Frigate, ROCS Yi Yang (FFG-939), monitor ships of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), including the Shandong Carrier Strike Group, during the ongoing military exercise surrounding Taiwan.