The trainees were fitted last week for the uniform, which features a dark blue diagonal-button jacket, matching tie, and gray skirt or pants.
The new uniform marks a milestone for the Space Force, which has relied on Air Force dress attire since its founding in 2019. Developed over four years with input from service members, it aims to reflect the branch’s modern identity while honoring military tradition, according to Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman.
The roughly 9,400 Guardians are not yet required to wear the new attire. Mandatory wear dates will be announced later, with broad ordering available online in January and deliveries expected by June. Early recipients include recruiters, instructors, ROTC graduates, and senior leaders.
US Army Inactivates 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade Amid Shift Toward Combat Readiness
The US Army has inactivated the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), a unit that trained foreign militaries in the Middle East and Africa, as part of a larger restructuring effort to focus more on combat capabilities.
The brigade, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, held its inactivation ceremony Wednesday, marking the first SFAB to formally end its mission since the advisory program’s creation in 2017.
The Army originally established six SFABs, five active and one National Guard, to train partner forces while allowing traditional combat brigades to concentrate on warfighting. However, current budget plans support only two SFABs going forward, aligning with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to prioritize “lethality” and eliminate lower-priority missions.
An Army brigade that specializes in training foreign troops was inactivated in connection with the service’s broader transformation plans, which have implications for how it partners with militaries worldwide.https://t.co/jeaNdncGIP
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) November 28, 2025
Commanders praised the 2nd SFAB’s contributions, noting its deployments to Afghanistan and Africa.
Critics of the cuts warn that reducing such units could weaken US military partnerships abroad and diminish coalition preparedness in future conflicts.
Trinidad Prime Minister Retracts Claim About US Marines’ Departure as Military Presence Confirmed
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar reversed her earlier statement denying the presence of US Marines in the country, confirming Thursday that they remain on the island of Tobago to work on radar, runway, and road improvements at the local airport.
Persad-Bissessar said the US personnel are helping enhance radar systems used to detect drug traffickers but gave no further details.
The clarification followed her meeting with US Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine, President Donald Trump’s top military adviser, during his visit to Trinidad and Tobago. Officials did not specify whether the US radar installation was new or an upgrade.
Local authorities confirmed that a US military plane recently landed on the island for refueling.
Today, I met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, at the Diplomatic Centre, as Trinidad and Tobago reaffirmed our strong relationship with the United States as a global ally on the key priorities of regional security and stability.
I reiterated my… pic.twitter.com/hsLFvFKy3u
— Kamla Persad-Bissessar (@PM_Kamla) November 25, 2025
The development comes amid a growing US military buildup across the Caribbean, widely viewed as part of Washington’s pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The Dominican Republic this week granted the US temporary access to military and airport facilities to support counter-narcotics operations, which have killed at least 83 people since September.
Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff Resigns After Anti-Corruption Raid on His Residence
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Friday the resignation of his chief of staff and top negotiator, Andrii Yermak, after anti-corruption investigators searched Yermak’s residence inside the presidential compound in Kyiv.
The move marks a major shake-up in Ukraine’s leadership as Kyiv faces US pressure to finalize a peace deal with Russia nearly four years into the war.
Zelenskyy said the decision was part of a broader “reset” of his office to preserve national unity and prevent distractions from the country’s defense. He named new leadership for upcoming US negotiations, to be led jointly by Armed Forces Chief Andrii Hnatov, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Security Council head Rustem Umerov.
Russia is eager for Ukraine to make mistakes. We won’t make any. Our work goes on. Our struggle goes on. We have no right to fall short, no right to retreat or turn on one another. If we lose our unity, we risk losing everything – ourselves, Ukraine, and our future. We must stand… pic.twitter.com/EQ3Pu7R9Q5
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 28, 2025
Yermak, a longtime confidant of Zelenskyy, confirmed the search and said he was cooperating fully, though he has not been named a suspect. The probe comes amid a $100 million corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector that has already prompted multiple government resignations.
The development adds to political turmoil in Kyiv as Zelenskyy works to maintain Western support and navigate a growing domestic backlash over corruption.
Lithuania to Fully Fund US Troop Presence, Opens New Facilities at NATO’s Eastern Flank
Lithuania announced it will cover all costs of hosting US forces stationed in the country, including new facilities unveiled Wednesday at the Pabrade Training Area.
The upgrades, part of a nearly $300 million support package, include new barracks, a dining hall, and a fitness center designed to improve living conditions and readiness for the more than 1,000 American troops deployed along NATO’s eastern border.
Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said the investment underscores Lithuania’s commitment to US presence and collective defense in the Baltic region.
🇱🇹 is providing the best possible conditions for our allies.
🎉 A new military infrastructure has opened in Pabradė for 🇺🇸 troops – barracks, a multifunctional center, training facilities & more.
💪🏻 Another step in strengthening NATO deterrence & our strategic partnership. pic.twitter.com/sTBOeUlBL4
— Lithuanian MOD 🇱🇹 (@Lithuanian_MoD) November 26, 2025
The new complex, named the Soldier Center, honors four US soldiers killed in a March training accident.
US Army Europe and Africa commander General Christopher Donahue praised Lithuania as “a model ally” and highlighted the country’s role in NATO’s Eastern Flank Deterrence Line, which integrates early-warning systems and air defenses to counter potential Russian aggression.
The move comes amid uncertainty over future US troop levels in Eastern Europe, though current rotations in the Baltics remain unchanged and enjoy bipartisan backing in Washington.
Pope Leo XIV, Christian Leaders Mark 1,700 Years Since Council of Nicaea With Historic Prayer for Unity
Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I led a historic gathering Friday at Lake Iznik, Turkey—the site of the A.D. 325 Council of Nicaea—to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the meeting that produced the Nicene Creed.
Joined by patriarchs, bishops, and priests from Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches, they recited the creed together and prayed for Christian unity.
Pope Leo called the creed “fundamental” to the path toward full communion among Christians and urged believers to reject violence and fundamentalism in favor of dialogue and cooperation. Bartholomew said the gathering was not just a remembrance but a “living witness” to shared faith.
The prayer service, held over the ruins of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos, marked the highlight of Leo’s first papal trip.
Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea on Friday, November 28, in Iznik, the Turkish city historically known as the birthplace of the Nicene Creed (Nicaea), calling Christians to overcome “the scandal of divisions” and to renew their… pic.twitter.com/JAi8XH4085
— EWTN News (@EWTNews) November 28, 2025
The event drew a small protest from a Turkish Islamist group but proceeded peacefully under police security.
Earlier in Istanbul, Leo encouraged Turkey’s small Catholic community to draw strength from its faith and service to migrants. His visit continues with meetings at the Blue Mosque and concludes Sunday in Lebanon.
Israeli Raid in Syrian Village Kills 13 in Deadliest Attack Since 2024 Seizure
Israeli forces raided the Syrian village of Beit Jin early Friday, killing at least 13 people in the deadliest Israeli operation since it seized territory in southern Syria last year, Syrian officials said.
Syria’s government condemned the incident as a “horrific massacre,” saying women and children were among the dead. Residents described heavy fire from helicopters, drones, and machine guns that hit civilians and vehicles attempting to evacuate the wounded.
Israel said its troops were targeting Jamaa Islamiya militants accused of planning rocket and improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. The military reported six Israeli soldiers wounded and said air support was used during the firefight, which ended with several militants killed and suspects apprehended.
Here’s what happened in the town of Beit Jinn in the Damascus countryside, Syria in the last two hours:https://t.co/D4UeMwiNKa Israeli military patrol advanced into Beit Jinn. The local residents clashed with the invading forces and surrounded them, killing and wounding a… https://t.co/AdJFHGrkes pic.twitter.com/fbrAkeWYAv
— Warfare Analysis (@warfareanalysis) November 28, 2025
The raid is part of a series of Israeli operations in Syria’s south since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in 2024. Israel says its presence there is temporary and aimed at stopping militant infiltration, while Damascus calls it an occupation.
The attack comes amid escalating regional tensions, including recent Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon that killed a senior Hezbollah leader and, according to the United Nations, more than 120 civilians since last year’s ceasefire.
Lebanese Army Expands Border Operations as It Moves Into Former Hezbollah Strongholds
The Lebanese Army has significantly increased its presence along the southern border with Israel, deploying nearly 10,000 troops and establishing 200 posts south of the Litani River in areas once dominated by Hezbollah.
During a media tour Friday, journalists saw soldiers in positions previously used by the militant group, including tunnels and rocket sites now under army control.
The move follows the government’s decision in August to back a US-supported plan to disarm Hezbollah, which the group has rejected.
Lebanese army says ‘zero objections’ from residents as operations proceed south of Litani
——
The commander of the South Litani Sector in the Lebanese Army, Brigadier General Nicolas Tabet, announced that the army does not coordinate with any local party in conducting its… pic.twitter.com/0Q16MpUmgX
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) November 28, 2025
Since the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a ceasefire, the Lebanese Army has shut down 11 smuggling routes, dismantled or stored large caches of weapons, and discovered 74 tunnels and 175 rocket launchers. Brigadier General Nicolas Thabet said the Lebanese Army was committed to stabilizing the region despite “major sacrifices.”
Hezbollah maintains it no longer operates south of the Litani but refuses to disarm until Israel withdraws from territory it captured during the war.
Afghanistan Condemns Cross-Border Drone Attack Into Tajikistan That Killed Three Chinese Workers
Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry on Friday condemned a cross-border drone attack from its territory into Tajikistan that killed three Chinese workers and wounded another, expressing “deep regret” and pledging full cooperation with Tajik authorities.
Deputy spokesman Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal said the incident appeared aimed at sowing “chaos and distrust” among regional countries and vowed to assist in a joint investigation.
Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry said the attack, carried out Wednesday night, involved a drone armed with grenades and firearms launched from inside Afghanistan. It accused criminal groups operating in Afghan territory of undermining border security and urged Kabul to take stronger action to prevent future incidents.
Tajikistan condemns cross-border deadly drone attack from Afghanistan.#tajikistan #Afghanistan #afghantaliban #PakistanTV #PakistanTVGlobal pic.twitter.com/XUJIaOMux6
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) November 27, 2025
The Chinese Embassy in Tajikistan warned its nationals to avoid the Tajik-Afghan border region and advised those already there to evacuate.
The attack comes amid fragile relations between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, which have only recently begun to improve after years of tension following the Taliban’s 2021 takeover.
Death Toll in Southern Thailand Floods Climbs to 145 as Waters Recede
Officials in Thailand said Friday that at least 145 people have died from severe flooding in the country’s southern provinces, as receding waters revealed widespread devastation.
More than 1.2 million households and 3.6 million people have been affected across 12 provinces, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
Government spokesperson Siripong Angkasakulkiat said most of the fatalities occurred in Songkhla province, which recorded 110 deaths. Rescue efforts intensified as floodwaters subsided, allowing teams to reach previously inaccessible areas, particularly around Hat Yai, where more bodies were recovered.
Thailand’s Emergency Flood Operations Center reports 145 deaths from southern floods as of 28 November. Songkhla province hardest hit with 110 fatalities. The government now classifies all deaths as flood-related, without separating causes. pic.twitter.com/ozXhzzQzdz
— PR Thai Government (@prdthailand) November 28, 2025
While water levels have dropped in most areas, some remain inundated, and the Meteorological Department warned of possible thunderstorms.
Images from affected regions show destroyed infrastructure, overturned vehicles, and debris scattered across streets, underscoring the scale of the disaster.
Sources: News Agencies
Evening Brief: Guard Troops in D.C. to Patrol With Local Police, Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff Resigns, Israeli Raid in Syrian Village Kills 13
Guard joins D.C. patrols, Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff resigns, Israel raid kills 13. Here’s what’s making headlines this Friday evening.
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