Pentagon says 'will continue to engage with our partners and allies to ensure the lasting defeat of ISIS'; NYT reports Christopher Maier forced out

Cuts, which come after shake-up at Pentagon and installation of loyalists, would be completed just five days before Biden takes office

Michele Flournoy, seen as top choice to serve as defense secretary, would be first woman to lead the department

Ezra Cohen-Watnick made headlines in 2017 for leaking intelligence to support Trump’s spurious claim

Defense secretary was critical of US president's plan over summer to use military to quash civil unrest, recently held talks with Israel over F-35 jet sales to UAE

Defense minister expected to focus on maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge in the region, as US eyes lucrative arms deals with Jerusalem's new Gulf ally

Defense minister expected to discuss maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge in the region as US eyes lucrative arms deals with Jerusalem's new Gulf ally

President's assertion contradicts Lebanese officials who called incident an accident; Pentagon has no comment

Retired general Anthony Tata, who called Obama a 'terrorist leader' and referred to the former US president as a Muslim, continues to advise the defense secretary

Despite opposition, legal experts say Trump does indeed have the authority to dispatch the army in states that are unable to put down an insurrection or are defying federal law