Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare forced the cancellation of a training session after he refused to leave the pitch.
BBC Sport has been told the 25-year-old Nigeria international sat down and demanded the club let him move to Fiorentina.
Wolves have rejected a bid from the Serie A side, having accepted an offer from Turkish club Trabzonspor.
Arokodare’s actions led to new boss Cesar Peixoto terminating the session on Monday.
The striker was not involved in Wednesday’s friendly at Maidenhead United as Wolves continue their pre-season plans.
On social media on Wednesday evening, Arokodare wrote: “Throughout my career, I have always taken great pride in conducting myself professionally and maintaining the highest training standards.
“My commitment has always been to prepare myself as well as possible so that I can contribute to my team-mates and the club whenever I am called upon.
“I remain under contract with Wolves, and my only intention is to fulfil my responsibilities professionally by training, doing my job, and contributing to the team in accordance with that contract.”
The latest incident is another flashpoint in the forward’s career at Molineux after he was disciplined in April following a confrontation with young forward Mateus Mane.
Arokodare signed for £24m from Genk last summer but scored just three league goals as Wolves finished bottom of the Premier League and were relegated.
And the incident presents an early challenge for Peixoto just weeks into his reign after he replaced Rob Edwards in a surprise move last month.
The 46-year-old, capped once by Portugal in his playing career, moved from Gil Vicente and will be aiming to return Wolves to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Tropical Storm Bertha was moving a little south of west over southeastern Louisiana as of Wednesday evening. Image courtesy of NOAA.
July 22 (UPI) — Tropical Storm Bertha moved somewhat westward over southeast Louisiana on Wednesday evening, hours after it made landfall over the state.
The center of the storm was about 40 miles southwest of New Orleans and about 165 miles east-southeast of Lake Charles, La., the National Hurricane Center said in its 7 p.m. CDT update. The storm was traveling west at 7 mph and had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph, marking no change in strength or direction.
There was a tropical storm warning in effect from the Alabama/Florida line west to Cameron, La., metropolitan New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. A tropical storm watch was in place from west of Cameron, La., to Sargent, Texas and Lake Maurepas.
The NHC said a faster westward or west-southwestward track is expected for Bertha over the next day or so.
“On the forecast track, the center of Bertha will move near or along the Louisiana and upper Texas coasts through Thursday, and then move farther inland into Texas Thursday night,” the NHC said.
Little change in strength in the storm is expected over the next day or so. Bertha is expected to maintain tropical storm intensity until it reaches the upper Texas coast on Thursday. It’s expected to dissipate inland over Texas by Thursday night or Friday.
Bertha, which formed Monday night, is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals through Thursday along the central Gulf Coast from western Florida into southern Louisiana. This could produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas, the NHC said.
Surf conditions caused by Bertha will continue spreading west along the northern Gulf Coast, with swells likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
A Ukrainian F-16 has shot down a Russian fighter jet for the first time, according to the highest-ranking U.S. military officer. This engagement would represent a significant development in the air war over Ukraine and a notable addition to the air-to-air tally for the Ukrainian F-16s, which already includes “more than a thousand” drones and cruise missile ‘kills.’ It would also be a remarkable addition to the F-16 story, with the jet, which was built to shoot down Soviet combat aircraft, downing a Russian-flown fighter over Europe more than half a century after it first flew.
Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, publicly confirmed the milestone during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C.
LIVE: Hegseth, Caine and others testify on supplemental funding request
He told lawmakers:
“I want to highlight the incredible work that the Ukraine industrial base is doing as they scale their air-to-air capabilities,” Caine said. “It ranges from their surface-to-air capabilities to their air-to-air capabilities.”
After being asked by Senator Richard Durbin about the potential impact of a three-year halt in funding for Ukrainian air defenses, Caine added:
“I’ll note that recently we had the first air-to-air kill where a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian fighter. So I think their ability to scale their layered air defense has come a long, long way over the past couple of years with the help and assistance of many.”
No further details were provided, leaving unanswered questions about when and where the engagement occurred, the identity of the Russian aircraft, the weapon employed, and the evidence that led U.S. officials to conclude the kill had taken place.
Air-to-air with two Ukrainian F-16s. The nearest jet carries a wingtip AMRAAM missile. Ukrainian Air Force screencap
Nevertheless, it marks the first time a senior U.S. military official has publicly stated that a Ukrainian F-16 has destroyed a crewed Russian combat aircraft in air-to-air combat.
The engagement referenced by Caine may have been the July 8 shootdown of a Russian Su-35S multirole fighter. Ukrainian military officials announced the destruction of the aircraft at the time, while pro-Kremlin Russian military bloggers also acknowledged the loss, claiming the pilot survived and returned safely to base.
⚡️ CONFIRMED! On July 8, 2026, a Russian Su-35 multi-role fighter was shot down on the eastern sector!
A Telegram channel affiliated with the Ukrainian Air Force, Sunflower, claimed the Russian was “the very same experienced enemy pilot who had been causing us a lot of trouble in this area.”
Earlier speculation suggested the Su-35S may instead have been destroyed by a Patriot surface-to-air missile after being lured into range by one or more Ukrainian F-16s. No evidence was presented to substantiate that theory.
Images of two Russian fighters and three Russian helicopters emblazoned on the side of a Patriot battery. Ukrainian Air Force screencap
Regardless of the precise circumstances, destroying a Su-35S would represent a notable achievement given the aircraft’s superior long-range air combat capabilities.
The Su-35S is among Russia’s most capable fighters and has long been regarded by Ukrainian pilots as one of their most dangerous opponents.
At the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the late Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum pilot Andrii Pilshchykov, better known by his callsign “Juice,” described the Su-35S as the greatest airborne threat because of its powerful radar and R-77-1 active radar-guided air-to-air missiles. The upgraded R-77-1 reportedly has a range of around 68 miles, improved resistance to electronic countermeasures, and a true fire-and-forget capability—something Ukraine’s Soviet-era fighters lacked.
The Su-35S later gained an even more formidable weapon: the R-37M very-long-range air-to-air missile. Introduced into combat during the summer of 2022, the missile reportedly has a range of up to 124 miles, allowing Russian fighters to threaten Ukrainian aircraft while remaining deep inside Russian-controlled airspace. That range likely refers to only larger, less agile aircraft targets and is very much a “sales brochure figure,” with all the caveats that entails. Nevertheless, Pilshchykov bluntly described the weapon as “fucking dangerous.”
A Russian Aerospace Forces Su-35S fires an R-37M missile during a weapons test. Russian Ministry of Defense screencap
The longest-range modern air-to-air missile available to Ukrainian F-16s is the AIM-120C-8 version of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). An active-radar-guided air-to-air missile is something that Ukraine long campaigned for. Pilshchykov told TWZ back in 2022: “The lack of fire-and-forget missiles is the greatest problem for us.”
As we have discussed in the past, while official performance figures are classified, the AIM-120C-8 is generally assumed to be able to hit targets at a distance of between 75 and 100 miles. Of course, in practical applications, a whole range of factors impacts any missile’s reach, above all, the energy and altitude state of the launching aircraft and the target.
The wreckage of a Ukrainian AIM-120C-8 missile, apparently found in the aftermath of a Russian air attack on Dnipro. via Dnipro Main News/Telegram
Combined with the Su-35S’s sophisticated electronic warfare systems and Russia’s numerical advantage, these technical capabilities have allowed Russian fighters to operate with relative confidence. In 2022, Pilshchykov recalled occasions when as many as two dozen Su-35s patrolled along the Russian side of the border, waiting for opportunities to engage Ukrainian aircraft.
Based on available reports, Russia was initially satisfied with the results of its R-37M tactics, which relied heavily on surprise. Fighters launched air-to-air missiles at moments the target did not expect, after first employing diversionary and deception measures to mask the attack. However, increased Ukrainian aircraft losses forced Kyiv to develop new tactics to counter the threat.
According to Russian accounts, Ukraine’s tactical changes were enabled by NATO intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets, which provided Ukrainian forces with near-real-time information on Russian fighter activity and detected long-range missile launches. Armed with this warning, Ukrainian pilots reportedly had sufficient time to execute defensive maneuvers, combining aggressive evasive flying with electronic jamming to break the missile’s lock and reduce the likelihood of a successful kill.
Several stills from a newly released Russian MoD video showing one or more VKS Su-35S multirole fighters departing on, conducting, and returning from a combined CAP/SEAD mission. The loadout shown here can often be seen in such videos: one Kh-31PM ARM, one R-37M long-range AAM… pic.twitter.com/KmPvdr1HKV
Whether or not these tactics helped the F-16 score a famous air-to-air kill is unclear, but they reflect the cat-and-mouse nature of the air war in Ukraine.
Certainly, the Su-35S is far from immune to Ukrainian air defenses.
According to the Oryx open-source tracking group, nine Su-35s have been destroyed in the war. The figure could be higher since Oryx only tabulates losses for which it has visual confirmation.
There have also been close calls.
Russian accounts describe a Su-35S flown by Colonel M. Stefanov landing at an airfield, where, during a post-flight inspection, maintainers counted 28 holes in the fuselage.
A Russian Su-35S, photographed from a British RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft over the Black Sea in April 2026. It is armed with R-73/74, R-37M, and R-77-1 air-to-air missiles, and a Kh-31 anti-radiation missile. Crown Copyright
If Caine’s statement reflects U.S. intelligence assessments — as seems likely — it suggests Ukraine is becoming increasingly proficient at integrating its Western-supplied F-16s with its broader, layered air defense network. At the same time, Russia has never enjoyed air supremacy over Ukraine, its aircraft even being at risk in some of the areas on its side of the front lines and even in Russia itself.
Even so, this should not be viewed as a turning point in the air war. Russia still fields significantly larger numbers of combat aircraft, retains extensive long-range surface-to-air missile coverage, and continues to pose a serious threat to Ukrainian aviation.
One successful engagement, even against one of Russia’s premier fighters, does not fundamentally alter the balance of air power. It does, however, demonstrate that Ukraine’s expanding fleet of Western fighters, integrated air defenses, and increasingly experienced air defenders of all kinds continue to raise the risks faced by the Russian Aerospace Forces.
12 teams of pastry chefs were whittled down to the final three, with the final airing on Wednesday, July 22.
Hosts Ellie Taylor and Liam Charles and judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden had taken the teams through technical challenges, showpieces and epic patisserie tests before the final task.
In the grand final, the remaining teams had 12 hours to complete a masquerade-themed challenge, with one pair eliminated halfway through.
The final two raced to finish desserts, building monumental showpieces out of sugar, chocolate sculptures and making a total of 200 creations across five desserts per team.
Edwardian Hotels’ Ashish and Loki were up against The Stafford London’s Aubin and Avneet, before the winners were officially crowned.
Ahead of announcing the winners, presenter Ellie admitted how difficult the decision had been for the judges.
She shared: “This has been quite possibly the closest final in the history of Bake Off: The Professionals, but after much deliberation, Benoit and Cherish have made their decision.”
She announced Ashish and Loki the winners, with the pair celebrating with their family and friends at the banquet.
“Can’t believe it,” Loki said, as Ashish added: “The emotions came out in that moment.”
Despite their defeat, Aubin and Avneet praised: “Honestly, Ashish and Loki they nailed it.”
Judge Benoit added: “Every year I’m amazed that we find pastry chefs of this calibre.”
“They’ve both worked so hard, they’re so determined, passionate and most of all, very resilient, it’s incredible,” Cherish agreed.
Channel 4 had previously teased: “In a completely new challenge for the spectacular final, the remaining teams are throwing every ounce of passion, skill and patisserie prowess into one monumental twelve-hour Masquerade Ball Banquet-themed challenge – where only absolute brilliance will be enough to claim this title.
“Judges Cherish and Benoit demand the teams hit the ground running in the longest challenge ever set, as they produce two desserts for a brutal halfway judging.
“After six relentless hours, one team will be sent home on the spot – leaving just two to go head-to-head for the coveted trophy as they work to complete a further three desserts and their banquets, producing five desserts in total…45 of each… over 200 stunning creations in total.”
Bake Off: The Professionals is available to watch on Channel 4.
The provided text details the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av, specifically focusing on its observance on July 22, 2026. This day is characterized by fasting and mourning to commemorate the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, along with other historical catastrophes. Religious regulations for the period include limiting celebrations and refraining from activities like listening to music or eating meat during the days leading up to the fast. Additionally, the source provides a snapshot of global news from that date, including updates on international conflicts, sports scandals, and current economic exchange rates. Overall, the digest serves as a guide to a major religious observance …
Two Sacramento judges Friday ordered changes in the wording of ballot measures that would move California to an open primary system, change car insurance rate structures and charge lobbyists to fund campaigns for secretary of state candidates.
The changes resolved disputes over what is supposed to be neutral wording of the titles and summaries of the measures as well as the text of arguments to be published in the voter’s manual for the June 8 election. Monday is the deadline for getting the final versions to the printer.
On Proposition 14, the open primary measure, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other supporters said they beat back an effort by union officials and lawmakers to undermine the proposal that would allow Californians to vote in state primaries regardless of candidates’ or voters’ party affiliations.
The measure also would advance the top two vote-getters in each contest instead of the winner from each party. It would not apply to presidential elections.
Legislators grudgingly put the measure on the ballot as part of a budget deal last year. They had directed their attorneys not to fight the challenge by the California School Employees Assn., a major donor to many Democrats, to strip statements that the measure would encourage more voter participation and “reform” the election process.
The governor and state Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) intervened to stave off the changes. Superior Court Judge Allen Sumner ruled Friday that voters should see the measure very much as it was originally written. Sumner made minor changes to the wording regarding potential costs related to an open primary and made clear that voters would not have to state a party preference.
“I’m glad this sneaky attempt to derail the open primary failed,” Maldonado said.
Leaders of the Democrat-controlled Legislature said their attempt at a settlement was merely intended to fix flawed ballot language in danger of being stricken by a higher court.
“We’re pleased with the process and the clarity it provided,” said Shannon Murphy, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles).
Sumner also resolved disputes over the wording of Proposition 17. Backers of the measure, which would allow insurers to offer a continuous-coverage discount to new customers, were fighting even the official description written by Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown’s office.
Supporters of the measure, which was proposed by and is being bankrolled by Mercury Insurance, wanted to strike the phrase added by Brown that the measure “will allow insurance companies to increase the cost of insurance to drivers who do not have a history of continuous insurance coverage.”
“All Proposition 17 does is allow people to take it with them when they move to a new insurance company and get the lower rate,” argued Richard Martland, an attorney for the supporters.
But Consumer Watchdog founder Harvey Rosenfield said the measure is a thinly disguised attempt by Mercury to be allowed to charge higher rates for those it doesn’t want to insure. Rosenfield’s attorney, Fredric Woocher, said the proposition is being misleadingly cast as an opportunity for drivers to retain their loyalty discounts even if they switch insurers.
“You can’t take it with you,” Woocher said. “You are taking away the one thing that makes persistency persistent. It would be like taking a good student discount and extending it to people who fail.”
Sumner declined to change the official wording of the ballot summary and rejected most calls to alter the arguments. Such “political speech” is protected by the 1st Amendment, the judge said. He revised only the wording on the possible effects for some military personnel and a potential maximum surcharge.
In the challenge to Proposition 15, which would change the financing for future secretary of state races, Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette’s changes met with supporters’ approval, said campaign chairman Trent Lange.
The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., which opposes the measure, had filed a lawsuit arguing that the ballot summary and title were inaccurate. The group wanted the title changed from “California Fair Elections Act” to “Public Financing of Campaigns.”
The judge rejected the proposed change, though he did add a line indicating that the measure repeals the state’s existing ban on public funding of campaigns.
Anthony Joshua says he is not ready for the loss of his two close friends and team members to “sink in yet” as he prepares for his first fight since their death.
Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele died when the vehicle they were travelling in, alongside heavyweight boxer Joshua and another passenger, collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos, Nigeria, on 29 December 2025.
Joshua, who sustained minor injuries, is set to return to the ring against heavyweight Kristian Prenga on Saturday for his first contest since knocking out American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul 10 days before the crash.
The 36-year-old told BBC Sport: “It’s tough, every time I think about it, it hurts.
“Even talking about it now… pictures… it hurts but I keep my mind occupied you know.
“If I stop, you let it sink in and I’m not ready for it to sink in yet.”
Ghami was Joshua’s full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach and worked with him for more than 10 years.
Hours before the crash, Joshua posted a video on Instagram of him playing table tennis with his long-time friend Ayodele, a personal trainer.
Prenga will be Joshua’s first competitive fight since his knockout loss to IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.
The former world champion admitted to feeling a “little bit nervous” before his return.
“It’s competition at the highest level,” he added.
“I want to perform for my team, I want to make them proud and make myself proud.
“It’s a balance of nerves but I understand what my job is. [I have] a lot of understanding and clarity on what I have to do.”
July 22 (UPI) — The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to pass a bill that adds new limits on congressional stock trading, though it does not quite enact a complete ban.
House Republicans also attached a section requiring people to provide photo identification in order to vote, a provision from the controversial SAVE America Act, The Hill reported.
Lawmakers voted 232-198 to pass the bill, which would still need to pass the Senate. Thirteen Democrats joined Republicans in voting for it.
The bill would restrict active members of Congress, their spouses and any dependent children from buying new stocks of any publicly traded company. It would allow them to keep stocks they already own. Lawmakers would also have to file a public notice with the House clerk at least seven days before they sell a stock.
Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisc., chairman of the House Administration Committee, led the bill and said it is “critical to restoring public trust in this institution.”
“I believe it is time we just stop allowing members to buy new stock,” he said. “Doing so removes the appearance of impropriety altogether.”
Many Democrats said the bill doesn’t go far enough — it doesn’t apply to the executive branch — and opposed the addition of changes to voting measures.
“House Republicans are pushing (a) voter suppression bill that will upend mail-in voting and throw the elections into chaos, and are trying to trick members into supporting it by linking it to a partial stock trading ban that falls short of the full congressional stock trading ban the American people want,” Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., told CNN.
Magaziner previously co-led a stalled bipartisan bill to ban stock trading.
If lawmakers violate the new rules, they would have to pay a fee of $2,000 or 10% of the value of the transaction, whichever is greater, and forfeit any profit.
“The Yemeni armed forces have carried out a significant military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers that violated the ban imposed by the armed forces in the Red Sea,” the Houthis claimed on Telegram. “The operation involved a number of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. Thanks to God’s help, the strikes were accurate and caused a large fire on both vessels.”
بيان القوات المسلحة اليمنية بشأن استهداف سفينتين نفطيتين سعوديتين خالفتا قرار الحظر في البحر الأحمر ما أدى إلى نشوب حريق كبير فيهما، واجبار 10 سفن على التراجع والعودة – 22 يوليو 2026م pic.twitter.com/S5ijNZYaV7
TWZ cannot independently verify the Houthi claim. However, in a post on X, UKMTO stated that a master of an oil tanker “reports being struck by an unknown projectile which has caused a fire onboard that the crew are currently fighting.”
The incident took place 70NM southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, the organization added. “There are no reported casualties and no environmental impact. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”
The increasing tensions on the BAM come as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iranian bridges and power plants each time Iran hits a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which has been a major flashpoint of tit-for-tat exchanges of fire. Trump also threatened that he will retaliate for the deaths of three U.S. Army soldiers during a July 17 attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (MSAB) in Jordan. He made those statements at a dignified transfer ceremony for the soldiers, plus one killed in Iraq, at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware today.
The incident in the Red Sea took place a day after the U.S. Navy warned that the Houthis had moved weapons near the BAM.
“Recent Houthi statements indicated a readiness to target shipping (specifically Saudi-affiliated) if directed,” the Navy’s Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) warned on Tuesday. “According to regional reporting, Iran has instructed the Houthis to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route should the United States strike Iranian power infrastructure.”
“Sources close to the group stated that the Houthis have completed preparations to attack shipping, including the deployment of missiles and drones positioned near Bab al-Mandeb.”
The Houthis have also “told shipping companies not to load or discharge cargo at Saudi Arabian ports or they may be targeted, according to an email the group sent to companies,” Reuters reported.
The Houthis are gearing up for potential anti ship missile launches, releasing footage that appears to show their Asef anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) as they continue to threaten commercial shipping linked to Saudi Arabia.
As we have frequently detailed, a Houthi blockade of the BAM threatens to add further pressure on oil exports from the Middle East, already drastically affected by the Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. Saudi Arabia has diverted millions of barrels of oil per day through pipelines to its Yanbu port on the Red Sea in an effort to minimize the energy shortages due to the hostilities in the Persian Gulf. This also raised the specter of the U.S. having to get as involved as it did during the previous Houthi campaign against shipping that ended last September, which could pull resources away from Iranian-focused operations.
Before the attack claim, global trade intelligence firm Kpler pointed out on X that while traffic continues through both straits, “operational confidence remains under pressure.”
“Traffic declined sharply across both chokepoints on 21 July, with Strait of Hormuz crossings down 31% day-on-day to nine vessels and Bab al-Mandeb down 34% to 29 amid a worsening security backdrop,” Kpler added. “Four confirmed vessel U-turns near the Gulf of Aden suggest operators are becoming more cautious following Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping. At the same time, confirmed maritime attacks continue around the Strait of Hormuz, reinforcing concerns that uncertainty across both regional chokepoints could reshape routing decisions, increase freight costs and sustain higher geopolitical risk premiums for energy markets.”
Dual chokepoint risks deepen
Shipping continues through both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el Mandeb, but operational confidence remains under pressure. Traffic declined sharply across both chokepoints on 21 July, with Strait of Hormuz crossings down 31% day-on-day to nine… pic.twitter.com/D7dmCRffcv
As noted earlier in this piece, Trump visited Dover Air Force Base to take part in the dignified transfer ceremony honoring Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Hawaii, Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Texas, Sgt. Angel Rampersad, 28, of New York and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of North Carolina.
Today, we honor four American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation.
May God hold them in His eternal embrace and comfort their grieving families, and may God forever… pic.twitter.com/P5NA59ltAU
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 22, 2026
Feehan, Gonzales and Rampersad were killed during the July 17 Iranian barrage of MSAB. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) previously announced Rampersad as missing, but her status was updated to a Duty Status–Whereabouts Unknown and she is believed to be deceased.
Swinton was killed during a controlled detonation of a downed One-Way Unmanned Aerial System on July 19, 2026, at Erbil Air Base, Iraq.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 22, 2026
Speaking to reporters, Trump said his administration would share the results of the investigation into the MSAB attack and vowed that Iran would “pay a big price.”
Those comments followed an earlier statement the president posted on Truth Social vowing to target key infrastructure sites each time Iran strikes a ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT, including those located next to, or in, the Capital City of Tehran,” Trump proclaimed.
Not surprisingly, Iranian officials reacted to Trump’s comments by issuing their own threats in response.
“Iran will retaliate against regional infrastructure and energy facilities with American interests if the United States strikes any Iranian bridge or power plant, responding directly to a new threat from US President Donald Trump,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-connected Tasnim news agency stated on X.
A military source said Iran will retaliate against regional infrastructure and energy facilities with American interests if the United States struck any Iranian bridge or power plant, responding directly to a new threat from US President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/a8MIFqxktx
Earlier on Wednesday, Jordanian officials said the country was once again targeted by Iran.
“An official military source at the General Command of the Jordanian Armed Forces—Arab Army stated that air defense systems detected six missiles coming from Iranian territory targeting the Kingdom’s territory today, and engaged them immediately upon their entry into Jordanian airspace,” the Jordanian military stated on X. “Air defenses intercepted and shot down four missiles, while the other two fell in two remote, uninhabited areas, without causing any casualties or material damage.”
“The Kingdom’s airspace is under continuous operational monitoring, and the Armed Forces will deal with any aerial threat targeting Jordanian territory according to the applicable rules of engagement, in a manner that ensures the protection of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and the safety of its citizens,” officials added.
The situation in Jordan is so intense that the U.S. Embassy in Amman issued a security alert.
“President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the Department of State have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens,” the embassy cautioned on X. “We remind U.S. citizens that Iran has attacked civilian and critical infrastructure across the Middle East, including hotels, airports, diplomatic facilities, and other civilian locations.”
Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Jordan July 22
President Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, and the Department of State have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens. We remind U.S. citizens that Iran has attacked civilian and critical infrastructure… pic.twitter.com/UOihlptEwp
— U.S. Embassy Amman (@USEmbassyJordan) July 22, 2026
Over the course of the past 12 days, Iran has lobbed missiles and drones at several Arab nations, taking particular aim at U.S. military installations.
Satellite imagery continues to emerge on social media purporting to show damage at these bases. The images below claim to show a 117-FPS radar at Al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait destroyed by an Iranian barrage. While the image clearly shows what appears to be a radome destroyed, TWZ cannot independently verify the date, location or provenance of the imagery. CENTCOM, which does not talk about battle damage, declined comment.
Imagery has also emerged purporting to show that U.S. Air Force aerial refueling tankers and other aircraft have evacuated Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American base in the region. Again, we cannot confirm the details and CENTCOM, which also does not typically talk about the movements of assets, declined comment.
However, Axios reported last week that the Trump administration “notified Israel it is sending dozens more refueling planes to the country ahead of a potential expansion of military operations against Iran.”
“Israeli officials say the U.S. wants to send several dozen more refueling planes in the coming days, bringing the number of planes to the same level it had at the beginning of the war,” Axios added. “Israeli officials say the U.S. military prefers operating the refueling planes from Ben Gurion Airport, because other air bases in the region are more exposed to Iranian attacks and less safe for U.S. planes. At the moment, the Iranians are still deterred from launching attacks on Israel, because it will likely trigger a massive retaliation.”
The U.S. still sits ready to conduct long-range bomber strikes from bases in the U.S. and the U.K.
There were recent unconfirmed claims by open-source trackers that B-1B Lancer bombers out of RAF Fairford in England took part in yesterday’s attacks on Iran. Again, we cannot verify that and CENTCOM declined comment.
Overnight, B-1B “Lancer” bombers flying from RAF Fairford (EGVA) conducted strikes in Iran as the US ramps up operations again. Although 2 bombers launched, it appears it was pre-planned that only 1 of them would… pic.twitter.com/Q7Ic3Ahqk3
However, Israel’s KAN news outlet claimed that “Israel has been informed by the United States that it intends to escalate attacks on Iran in the coming days and to carry out attacks using heavy bombers for the first time in the current escalation.”
In addition, other U.S. Air Force assets – including EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare jets – appear headed to the region, according to online flight trackers. While we don’t know for sure these jets will actually head to the Middle East, it could be another sign of the U.S. bolstering assets ahead of an increase in intensity of attacks, which have been largely focused over the past 12 days on Iranian coastal targets.
Amid these rising tensions with Iran, the Houthis have now apparently raised the stakes and it will be absolutely critical to keep the BAM open as the world already sits on the razor’s edge of a full-on energy crisis.
UPDATE: 7:17 PM EDT –
CENTCOM announced a new round of attacks on Iran.
“At 5:30 p.m. ET today, U.S. forces began launching more strikes against Iranian military targets at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” the command stated on X. “The mission will continue to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters.”
At 5:30 p.m. ET today, U.S. forces began launching more strikes against Iranian military targets at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The mission will continue to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters.
A police drama that has gripped viewers is returning for a new series on the BBC
The BBC has shared an update on Blue Lights(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Two Cities Television/Matthias Clamer)
The BBC has shared a first look at the new series of a police drama fans have called “the best cop show”.
Belfast-set Blue Lights has become a huge success since it started in 2023, with viewers gripped by its first three series.
It is now set to return for a fourth run, and the broadcaster has given fans a peek at what’s to come in images showing Siân Brooke, Martin McCann, Katherine Devlin and Nathan Braniff back in uniform.
The series, which follows officers at the fictional Blackthorn police station in Belfast, will also see the return of Game of Thrones’ Richard Dormer.
He played Gerry Cliff in series one, and will be back alongside Hannah McClean as solicitor Jen Robinson and Jonathan Harden as disgraced former Inspector, Jonty, in an episode “that will answer important questions from the past”.
The new images come weeks after the BBC shared an exclusive clip from the new season.
The brief look at series four showed Constable Shane Bradley (Frank Blake) pulling over elderly driver David (Trevor Gill) and his passenger, Imelda (Rosamund Monteith), to quiz him about whether he had been drinking.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the new episodes, after declaring the first three series of Blue Lights were “excellent” and “outstanding”.
One posted a comment on IMDb.com saying the show was “entertainment at its best”, while another remarked: “As an ex-cop, I’m so sick of US made cookie cutter police shows. Blue Lights in my opinion is bang on what it’s like to be cop.”
“Brilliant acting, directing, production – award winning drama all round,” said someone else. “Absolutely outstanding British drama. It’s poignant, emotional, engaging. The cast are brilliant. Best show I’ve watched in a long time.”
“If you haven’t watched Blue Lights yet, you’re missing out on one of the best shows in years,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “This is a must watch show, one of the best of the 2020s and will one day be a classic,” they continued.
“Watched this whole thing in like a week, it is fantastic,” said someone else, as another wrote on Reddit that it was “a masterpiece of a show”.
“This is probably the best cop show since Southland and Bosch,” another viewer commented.
Blue Lights will be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this autumn.
“Alphabet revenue grew 24% year-over-year” (CEO & Director Sundar Pichai). “We saw 17% revenue growth in Search and Other and YouTube ads grew 13%. Cloud revenue grew 82%… and Cloud backlog grew to $514 billion.”
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Lieutenant José Quiñones Gonzales was a Peruvian pilot during the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War. On July 23rd 1941, his plane, a North American NA-50 fighter, was hit while performing a low-level attack on an Ecuadorian border post on the banks of the Zarumilla River.
According to Peruvian accounts, instead of parachuting to safety, Quiñones chose to make the supreme sacrifice by crashing his damaged aircraft onto the Ecuadorian position, rendering the battery out of action.
Quiñones was promoted posthumously to the rank of Air Force Captain and was declared a national hero by law on May 10th 1966.
WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday passed a defense policy bill that incorporates President Trump’s request for a historic $1.15 trillion in spending for national security and would designate the Department of Defense as the Department of War.
It also would provide for a pay raise next year ranging from 5% to 7% for service members, depending upon their rank.
The National Defense Authorization Act is generally one of the more bipartisan bills that Congress takes up on an annual basis. That’s not the case this year. The vote was 216-212.
Democrats took issue with steep spending increases for the Pentagon as Republicans attempted to cut numerous non-defense programs through other bills. They also opposed some of the conservative social policy riders that were included.
For example, the bill includes a prohibition on gender-related medical care under the military health program known as TRICARE. It also eases hurdles for service members to carry a privately owned firearm on base, following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s lead on the issue.
Republican leaders’ decision to attach Trump’s elections overhaul bill to the defense bill upon its passing also amplified the partisan divide. Speaker Mike Johnson is working to accommodate Republican lawmakers who are angry that the Senate won’t pass the SAVE America Act and are insisting that it be included in must-pass bills until the Senate relents.
House bill tests a normally bipartisan process
Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he knows there were areas of disagreement, but emphasized that Wednesday’s vote was a step in a long process. He promised to work in a bipartisan manner on a final product that can pass both chambers and be signed into law.
Rogers said the United States needs to reverse decades of underinvestment and neglect in the nation’s armed forces and defense industrial base.
“This bill will do that and much more,” he said. “It will build the ready, capable and lethal fighting force we need to deter China and other adversaries.”
Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking Democratic lawmaker on the Armed Services Committee, said the defense spending the administration has asked for this year is approaching $1.6 trillion including separate efforts to pay for the war in Iran and boost weapons stockpiles.
“The American people are struggling to pay their bills and we’re going to put $1.6 trillion into the defense budget. It’s not a reasonable thing to ask,” Smith said.
Smith also expressed concern about the war with Iran and that in supporting the defense bill, lawmakers are “de facto supporting this war with no end in sight.”
“We are in an incredibly, incredibly dangerous time,” Smith said. “I want to maintain the bipartisan nature of this bill. I do. And I know that the chairman does. But if we’re going to do this, we’re going to need some Republicans to stand up to the president of the United States and say, ‘No. No, we’re not going to get you $1.6 trillion. No, we’re not just going to give you a blank check for a war that is totally out of control.‘”
White House backs parts of the legislation
The spending increases authorized in the bill would not take effect until Congress follows up with a separate defense appropriations bill. The Senate has not yet approved its version of the defense measure. It’s possible a final product won’t be ready until after the midterm elections.
The White House applauded the spending levels authorized in the House bill and the Department of War designation that it says recognizes the “willingness to fight and win wars on behalf of our nation.”
The president issued an executive order last year renaming the Defense Department, but it’s up to Congress to make the change official. The Congressional Budget Office has projected that the renaming could cost taxpayers as much as $125 million.
The White House’s statement also said that the administration has a number of concerns with certain provisions in the bill and would work with Congress before a final bill is presented to the president. Among those concerns was a section of the bill it said would limit or undermine the president’s ability to name military installations and property.
In 2023, during a national reckoning on issues of race in America, seven Army bases’ names were changed because they honored Confederate leaders. Last year, those bases reverted to their original names, but with different namesakes who share Confederate surnames. The Army found other service members with the same last names to honor.
Liverpool are confident of signing Bradley Barcola, Alex Scott favours a move to Arsenal, Bruno Fernandes is ready to commit his future to Manchester United.
Liverpool are confident they can beat Arsenal and Bayern Munich to the signature of Paris St-Germain forward Bradley Barcola, after the 23-year-old impressed with four goal contributions at the World Cup with France this summer. (Sun), external
Arsenal are edging the battle with Manchester United for sought-after Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, 22 – but the England Under-21 international has concerns around how much game time he would get at the Emirates. (Mirror), external
Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, 31, has decided to commit his future to Manchester United, with talks around a new deal ongoing. (Express), external
Besiktas are trying to sign English midfielder Joe Willock, 26, who is in the final year of his contract at Newcastle and will not be offered a new deal. (Telegraph), external
Arsenal are not ruling out the sale of their captain Martin Odegaard, and will listen to offers for the 27-year-old Norway midfielder. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester United are exploring a move for Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, 23, who missed out on a place in France’s World Cup squad this summer. (Nicolo Schira), external
Roma have asked about the availability of Chelsea centre-back Axel Disasi, 28 – and the Blues have set an asking price of around £17m for the Frenchman. (Footmercato – in French), external
Claimed attacks come days after Houthis announced naval embargo on Saudi vessels.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis have claimed an attack on two Saudi oil tankers transiting through the Red Sea.
“We targeted two Saudi oil tankers, named ENCELA and LAYLIA, for their violation of the blockade decision issued by the armed forces,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Wednesday.
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Saree added that the attacks were carried out, “using a number of ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones”, and led to fires on the ships.
The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, had also forced “nearly ten ships… to abandon their routes, and turn back”, Saree said.
Saudi Arabia has not commented on the claims, but the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre said it had received reports that a tanker has been struck.
“The master of a tanker reports being struck by an unknown projectile which has caused a fire onboard that the crew are currently fighting,” UKMTO, which monitors shipping in the region, said.
Yemen’s Houthi group, which has fought the Yemeni government and a Saudi-led coalition that backs it for more than a decade, imposed a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20. That followed some of the worst violence Yemen has seen for four years, after the Yemeni government bombed the Houthi-controlled Sanaa airport to stop an Iranian plane from landing.
The Houthis said the declaration of the maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia was “based on the equation of ‘an eye for an eye’ and affirmed “the right of our great people to respond to the blockade with a blockade”.
The group, which seized Sanaa in 2014, accused Saudi leaders of imposing “an unjust and oppressive siege” for nearly 12 years, “plundering our resources and imposing a comprehensive blockade on our ports and airports by land, sea, and air”.
“The Saudis feel that they can instigate a popular uprising against the Houthis using these economic strangulation methods,” Hussain al-Bukhaiti, a journalist based in Sanaa told Al Jazeera.
Riyadh has rejected claims that it was imposing a siege on the Yemeni people, and the group’s critics point out that they have rejected a proposal from Jordan to resume flights between Amman and Sanaa.
“The ultimate goal for Ansar Allah’s naval blockade against the Saudis, is to force Riyadh to lift its embargo on the ports and airports controlled by the Houthis,” al-Bukhaiti said.
Amid the disruption in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz due to the US-Israel war on Iran, Saudi Arabia has been attempting to facilitate oil flow through alternative routes through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. But that route is now under threat from the Houthis.
The Houthis disrupted global commerce when they began attacking ships around the Bab al-Mandeb after the launch of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. The attacks ended with the announcement of a “ceasefire” in Gaza in October 2025.
“The people who are questioning if the Houthis can successfully do a blockade against the Saudis should remember, how successfully the Houthis closed access to the Red Sea for the Israeli ports, which in fact resulted in the closure of Eilat port in southern Israel,” said al-Bukhaiti. “Eventually the Americans had to do a deal with the Houthis, with mediation from Oman,” he added, referring to a May 2025 agreement.
The Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, including for oil exports.
Between Yemen to the northeast and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa to the southwest, the strait is just 29km (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound vessels using the Suez Canal.
In 2024, about 4.1 billion barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products passed through the strait – about 5 percent of the global total.
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed since Israel and the US launched their war on Iran in late February, shutting down Bab al-Mandeb as well could block 25 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie‘s youngest daughter, Vivienne, is seeking to drop “Pitt” from her name, according to People.
The 18-year-old filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court to remove her father’s surname from her legal name, Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt. The reason for her request was listed as “personal.”
The request is a common theme among the Jolie-Pitt siblings since the couple’s marriage was formally dissolved in 2019 and divorce became finalized in 2024 after a long legal battle.
In August 2024, the court granted Shiloh’s request to drop the surname. Zahara and Maddox have both asked for the same, but their petitions are pending hearings.
Before her request, Vivienne had already informally dropped the last name. In May 2024, the youngest of six was credited as “Vivienne Jolie” on the Playbill for “The Outsiders,” a play she co-produced with her mom.
The couple wed on Aug. 14, 2014, nine years after they met while filming their movie “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Jolie filed for divorce in September 2016 after the couple allegedly had a physical altercation aboard a private plane, which also involved several of their children.
The Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services and the FBI investigated the alleged physical altercation between Pitt and his son Maddox. No charges were filed against Pitt.
The court has scheduled a hearing for Vivienne’s request for Nov. 2.
U.S. wheat futures closed above $7 per bushel Wednesday for the first time since late 2023, driven by surging tensions in the Black Sea and hot weather in crop-growing areas around the world, including the U.S. Plains and Western Europe.
Trump-endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton formally launched his general election campaign Wednesday by pitching himself to California’s abundance of anti-Trump voters.
In a speech, Hilton said Democrats had “abandoned” working-class and Latino communities and crushed small businesses. He criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom for leading the state into decline, pointing to low literacy rates and slow responses to crises such as the Boyle Heights warehouse fire.
Hilton, a British-born conservative political commentator and former Fox News host, faces an uphill battle in California, a Democratic stronghold. In June, Hilton clinched second place in California’s gubernatorial primary behind veteran Democratic politician Xavier Becerra.
In an effort to persuade voters who are dissatisfied with the status quo, Hilton bought a full-page ad in the Wednesday editions of the Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle.
The ad read, “Can you be anti-Trump and still vote for me?,” followed by a checklist readers could use to “test” if they shared common ground with Hilton.
“I can’t stand Trump, but I’m not happy with the way things have been run in California lately,” reads one line in the ad.
“I want to fight climate change, but $6.00 gas is crazy!” reads another.
At a news conference Wednesday, Hilton said the ad is aimed at voters who “know that we need change in California.”
Trump’s unpopularity in the state “doesn’t matter because we’re not talking about national policies here,” he said. “This is about what we can do in our state to make life better for Californians.”
Hilton then framed himself as a “pragmatic, problem-solving change-maker” focused on affordability, promising to lower gas prices, electricity costs and taxes and the cost of homes.
“We may not agree about national politics, but I think we can agree that we need change in California, and I’m going to bring that change,” he said.
The news conference, which marked the formal launch of Hilton’s general election campaign, took place at a Boyle Heights auto body shop across the street from the Lineage cold storage facility that was destroyed by a fire last month.
The location was chosen because it is a “symbol of Democrat failure,” Hilton said. The nauseating stench of rotting food filled the surrounding neighborhood. Swarms of flies buzzed about, occasionally landing on top of Hilton’s head.
Hilton said he’s not expecting Trump to campaign on his behalf in California. But, he added, “I’m proud to be endorsed by the president and I think it’s a very good thing to have a governor who has a good relationship with the federal administration.”
No Republican has been elected to a statewide office since 2006. A poll by the Public Policy Institute of California published earlier this month showed Becerra with support from 61% of likely voters, compared with 36% for Hilton.
Hilton insists his campaign is different from previous Republican bids.
“We’ve got to the point in California where people are looking for a positive alternative,” Hilton told The Times. “We’re going to be fighting very hard … already in the last year and a half I’ve fought a campaign like no one’s seen in California for 20 years. I’ve been to nearly every single county in our state.”
It just adds to what will be an especially special Games for Marshall, who is joined in the bowls team by his niece Beth Riva.
“It’s a bit nerve-wracking really,” 59-year-old Marshall told BBC Scotland. “It’s not very often I get a bit emotional, but I certainly had a tear in my eye when I came out the lift this morning and all the athletes were there. It’s just a huge honour.”
Resplendent in full kilt on a sweltering day, and proprietorially clutching the flagstick like a child would a favourite toy, the East Lothian bowler was in his element when talking about the news on Wednesday.
Marshall conceded he would have to let it go for the evening before having it returned before the big show.
But he might have to battle with Adlington for first shot of it when that time comes. “And I’d win that fight,” joked the 39-year-old heavyweight.
Adlington, who won judo gold in 2014 and 2022 and is looking to end her career by completing the treble, revealed the two of them have known the news for a few weeks but had been sworn to secrecy.
“That’s been really hard,” she told BBC Sport Scotland. “I was told I could tell my nearest and dearest but for everyone else it will be a massive surprise.
“I’m just so excited. I was so nervous when I woke up this morning, and I think I’ll be even more nervous tomorrow. I might not even sleep tonight but if it’s even half as good as it was in 2014, it will be amazing.”
For decades, neo-Nazis and far-right extremists flocked to the Austrian home where Adolf Hitler was born to glorify the Nazi leader. Now, the building has been transformed into a police station following a $22.8-million renovation.
Despite its primary mission set, air-to-ground capabilities are inherently a part of the F-15EX’s design. The Eagle II is a member of the extended F-15E Strike Eagle family, having been derived from the F-15QA developed for Qatar.
Last week, the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing shared that one of its F-15EXs had dropped training bombs for the first time ever during a trip to Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho back in May. The 142nd, based in Portland, Oregon, is currently the Air Force’s only operational unit flying the Eagle II.
A stock picture of one of the 142nd Wing’s F-15EX Eagle IIs. USAF
“The crew dropped a total of 24 BDU-50s and 12 BDU-56s over 10 missions with zero safety incidences and satisfactory scores,” according to an official release. “These ‘bombs’ were loaded onto the F-15 EXs and dropped in the Mountain Home firing range complex.”
The BDU-50/B and BDU-56/B are inert training bombs with the same shape and weight as live 500-pound-class Mk 82-series and 2,000-pound-class Mk 84-series bombs, respectively. In U.S. service today, bombs in the extended Mk 82 and Mk 84 families are far more commonly employed in combination with Paveway laser guidance or Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) GPS-assisted guidance kits.
The BDU-50s and BDU-56s are still useful tools for training more general ‘dumb bombing’ skill sets for aircrew and for handling of air-to-ground weapons on the ground. This includes things like going through the procedures for targeting and safe release from an aircraft, as well as loading and unloading the bombs from planes.
A stock picture of a pair of BDU-50/Bs on a dolly about to be loaded onto an F-15E Strike Eagle during training. USAF
Basics are especially important for the members of the 142nd, which previously flew F-15C Eagles with no operational air-to-ground capability. It’s also worth noting here that the F-15C was a single-seat type, while the F-15EX is a two-seater. However, the Air Force’s plan, at least initially, has been for a single pilot to fly the Eagle II, something we will come back to later on.
The 142nd does have some personnel with air-to-ground mission experience from prior assignments, but this is still a new mission set for the unit as a whole, which requires new training regimens.
Three pilots from the 142nd “attended a 9-month training course to understand the science behind dropping bombs and the tactics involved. They were tasked with creating a program to train the rest of the wing’s pilots on the basics so they could make the first steps to be able to drop munitions,” according to the official release. Earlier this year, weapons loaders from the Wing also “traveled to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. where they worked with F-15 E-models assigned to the 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron to become certified on loading bombs.”
The Air Force’s Test and Evaluation community has already been validating the F-15EX’s air-to-ground capabilities. This testing is now extending overseas. Earlier this month, the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron brought an Eagle II from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to Kadena Air Base in Japan to support a munitions load training event. An F-15E Strike Eagle also took part in that training. Pictures the Air Force released on Monday show that live GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb IIs (SDB IIs), also known as StormBreakers, were among the munitions that ground personnel at Kadena practiced loading onto the jets.
GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb IIs sit on a dolly in front of an F-15EX from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron during a training event at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on July 8, 2026. USAFAirmen assigned to the 67th Fighter Generation Squadron prepare to load GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb IIs onto an F-15EX Eagle II assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, on July 8, 2026. USAF
The Air Force has previously announced plans to stand up National Guard F-15EX squadrons in California, Louisiana, and Michigan. The service’s proposed budget for the 2027 Fiscal Year outlines plans to dramatically expand the total size of the Eagle II force, which could lead to a dozen squadrons or more flying the jets in the end, as you can read more about here. How this might change the Air Force’s plans for employing the jets remains to be seen.
In its 2027 Fiscal Year budget request, the Air Force continued to stress that “the F-15EX aircraft will be used predominantly in defensive and offensive counter-air missions at both Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Combat Command (ACC) operational squadrons.” However, it did also note that the “F-15EX will perform the Homeland Defense mission and provide Combatant Commanders (CCDR) with strike packages capable of operating in Highly Contested Environments (HCE).”
As TWZ has been reporting for years, it has been more or less clear from the start that the F-15EXs would eventually take on more of a multi-role mission after entering service, despite the emphasis on the air-to-air role. This has also raised the possibility that Eagle IIs could be flown with Weapon System Officers (WSO), another pilot with multi-role skills, or a mission specialist, in their backseats, just like their F-15E cousins.
A stock picture of an F-15E Strike Eagle with a pilot in the front seat and a WSO in the rear. USAF
“We currently don’t have conformal fuel tanks [CFTs] for it [the F-15EX], but there is a plan to get us conformal fuel tanks. And then when we do, we can start talking about putting all kinds of air-to-ground capabilities into the airplane, potentially putting WSOs or other experts in the backseat as well to have us do any number of multi-role capabilities that it’s just physically not possible to in the C model,” now-retired Col. Michael Kosderka, then commander of the 142nd, told TWZ in an interview back in 2024. “So the X has tremendous growth capability. It’s really exciting.”
The F-15EX is capable of being fitted with the same CFTs as the F-15E, which give the aircraft more hardpoints for stores on top of providing extra fuel. The current status of the plan to get CFTs for the Eagle IIs assigned to the 142nd is unclear. The initial pair of jets for the Wing were delivered without them. The picture released of the F-15EX at Mountain Home for the air-to-ground training in May, seen at the top of this story, shows that jet, at least, still lacks them. The default configuration for Eagle II test jets includes the CFTs, as seen below.
An F-15EX assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron with CFTs fitted. USAF
“Basically, what it’s going to do is turn a wing with a primary mission that is on life support, frankly, into something that has America’s newest fighter, and we’re going to be relevant with that airplane for decades to come,” Kosderka added at that time.
“Gen. Kelly made it very clear in his public address here that the F-15EX is going to have an inherent capability that we need to put to work from day one, to include limited air-to-ground capability,” Lt. Col. Robert Waller, then commander of the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, also told TWZ in a separate interview in 2024. Waller was referring to now-retired Gen. Mark “Grace” Kelly, who was head of Air Combat Command at the time.
Air-to-air missions still look set to be the dominant task for the F-15EX fleet, at least in the near term, but work is being done now to ensure the jets can also take on air-to-ground missions if the call comes.
