Tom Bowman

NPR has obtained details of the report, to be released Thursday, on the deaths of four American soldiers in Niger last October. The report identifies no single failure leading to their deaths.

Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan views a rising China and proliferating military high tech as key challenges to the long-term security of the United States.

The classified report sent to Congress, says the special forces team was retasked from a simple mission to a more dangerous one for which it was not equipped or trained — without notifying higher-ups.

The White House says President Trump still wants to pull troops from Syria as soon as possible. This follows weekend airstrikes after allegations that Syria used chemical weapons on civilians.

On Friday, President Trump authorized airstrikes on Syrian targets to retaliate after an alleged chemical weapons attack by President Bashar Assad. Pentagon officials say the attacks were "precise" and "effective."

We have the latest from the U.S. military about the airstrikes in Syria.

The U.S., France and Britain attacked Syria overnight in response to the Assad regime's alleged chemical attack.

Following President Trump's vow on Twitter to attack Syria and the five days since the alleged chemical weapons attack which prompted the move, no attack actions have been taken.

NPR Pentagon Correspondent Tom Bowman and NPR Beirut Correspondent Ruth Sherlock discuss the U.S. preparations that are underway to respond to an apparent chemical attack in Syria.

President Trump says he has a lot of military options following a suspected chemical attack in Syria. He met with top military officials on Monday to discuss how to respond to the attack.

President Trump said that his administration is making plans to send troops to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border. He also said he wants to withdraw U.S. forces from Syria.

The State Department is holding back on the money for recovery funds for Syria. It was promised by departing Secretary of State Tillerson, and was to go to areas controlled by U.S.-backed rebels.

Two people were killed and five wounded by an improvised explosive device in Syria, the U.S.-led coalition said Friday.

U.S. special forces in Africa train local forces and go after terrorists. But after four Americans died in an ISIS ambush last year, there is new scrutiny about their mission and their safety.

Reports say national security adviser H.R. McMaster may be on his way out of the White House, the latest in a long line of departures.

Reports say national security adviser H.R. McMaster may be on his way out. Also, Ian Talley of The Wall Street Journal discusses sanctions on Russia, which is holding an election Sunday.

With the State Department hollowed out, the generals have been driving North Korea policy. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has all along pushed for a diplomatic solution to the stand-off.

The commander of the U.S. Africa Military Command, or AFRICOM, Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, testified to the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, saying that the great majority of Africa's problems do not have military solutions.

Raqqa may be cleared of ISIS fighters, but hidden throughout the city are thousands of hidden bombs. U.S. special forces and Syrians are training young men to disarm them.

Up to 2,000 U.S. troops are in Syria defending Kurdish allies. The threats come from regime forces, Iran, Turkey and even Russia.