Fox-news/politics/defense/conflicts

• Trump calls for $1.5T defense budget to build ‘dream military’ - Trump proposes massive $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027, a 50% increase he claims tariff revenues will fund for his ambitious 'Dream Military.'
• Seven US service members injured in Venezuela raid to capture Maduro, official says - Seven U.S. service members injured during alleged Venezuela operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, with five service members returned to duty.
• Putin residence attack video slammed as US officials say Ukraine did not target leader - Defense experts question Russia's drone attack claims against President Vladimir Putin's residence as Moscow provides conflicting accounts of intercepted Ukrainian drones.
• North Korea fires cruise missiles as Kim underscores nuclear ambitions - Kim Jong Un pledges 'unlimited' nuclear development as North Korea test-fires new cruise missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads in war preparations.
• China surrounds Taiwan with warships, fighter jets in largest military drills on record - China launches largest military drills ever around Taiwan as war tensions spike following record $11.1 billion U.S. arms sale to the island nation.
• From Syria to Somalia, US troops remain deployed this holiday season under missions that never formally ended - U.S. troops remain deployed in Syria, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen under war authorities, conducting raids and airstrikes in conflicts most Americans forgot.
• China warns of rising war risk after historic US arms sale to Taiwan - China warns massive $11.1 billion U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan could spark war, calling the island a 'powder keg' amid rising tensions.
• SOUTHCOM says 8 narco-terrorists killed in latest Eastern Pacific lethal kinetic strikes - A Defense Department unit says U.S. forces struck three terrorist-operated vessels on narco routes in the Eastern Pacific, killing eight suspected narco-terrorists.
• China’s missile surge puts every US base in the Pacific at risk — and officials say the window to respond is c - China's massive missile force threatens U.S. Pacific bases as both nations race to build long-range weapons. Experts analyze the strategic competition.
• US set to seize tens of millions in Venezuelan oil after tanker interception, White House says - White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirms U.S. plans to seize oil from Venezuelan tanker captured off Venezuela's coast on Wednesday.