'The process could have been handled so differently,' senior officer says of State Department's costly delay in setting up ad hoc structure to withdraw US allies to safety

In series of mistakes, US said to have exaggerated military's numbers, introduced high-tech methods and systems beyond troops' capabilities, ignored high defection rate

Deputy assistant secretary of defense appeared to say drones that hit Mercer Street were launched from wartorn country, but later clarification says this was not the case

Incident takes place just steps from US defense headquarters; train ordered to bypass terminal, public asked to avoid area

Two-time Pentagon chief had a storied career in government under four presidents, but his vision of a modern US military was unraveled by the long and costly war in the Middle East

As Gaza region heats up again, defense secretary tells Senate hearing that details of Israeli request to restock air defense system still being worked out

Officials don't rule out sightings were other countries' new technologies; White House press secretary: 'We take reports of incursions into our airspace very seriously'

State Department warns of conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as ethnic riots inside Israel; Pentagon pulls out personnel from region

A day after tense encounter saw Revolutionary Guard speedboats harass US Navy vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Iran lashes 'provocative and aimless' warning shots by US forces

In second such incident in two weeks, 13 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy boats approach seven US vessels at high speeds, closing within 150 yards before US fires