The Israeli military has said its decisions on attacks against Iran are based solely on security considerations, after reports of a feud with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Channel 12 reported the two were at odds, while CNN reported that military chief Eyal Zamir warned that strikes before the election would delay the vote. Analysts say tension between the government and the military has been common. Netanyahu has stressed the Iranian threat in the final days of the election campaign, and polling suggests Gadi Eisenkot's party could challenge his Likud for the most seats.
Pete Hegseth has ordered all Department of War personnel not to make financial transactions using nonpublic information, directly or through a third party. In a memo, he warned that betting on military matters tied to a person's job can warp judgment and create conflicts of interest. Violations could lead to administrative, disciplinary or criminal action. The warning follows suspicious bets on prediction markets, including new accounts that profited from a US-Iran ceasefire wager before it was announced. The White House has also warned staff against trading on private information.
The US Space Force has no firm plan yet for when it will set up a new military launch base. Officials say the country's existing spaceports will need to handle 700 launches a year by 2036. A third site would take pressure off Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg and reduce the risk of one disaster or attack shutting down launches. Officials are considering public, private and state land options, including leasing commercial property, but have not made a decision.
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New Zealand's military chief, Air Marshal Tony Davies, has resigned after admitting to an inappropriate relationship while serving as a unit leader. In a statement on Friday, Davies said he regretted not disclosing the relationship earlier. He did not give details of the circumstances or timing. Leadership passes to deputy chief Rear Admiral Mat Williams. Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith said the matter was an integrity issue and that Davies's position was no longer tenable. The matter has been referred to an independent inspector-general.
A fast-moving grass fire sparked by live grenade training killed at least four soldiers at a military base in western Canada, a senior defence official says. High winds drove the blaze across the Wainwright base, overwhelming dozens of soldiers. Officials say 27 people remain in hospital, several in critical condition. The soldiers were preparing to deploy to Latvia. Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered flags lowered to half-staff in honour of the victims.
Former soldier Ben Roberts Smith has told radio host Ben Fordam on 2GB that he has no regrets about his military career. Roberts Smith joined the army in 1996 and later became a member of the SASR. His father, Len Roberts Smith, once led a taskforce that found 1,723 plausible complaints of sexual abuse at the Australian Defence Force Academy. The source article defends Roberts Smith against allegations that he unlawfully killed five civilians in Afghanistan, as alleged by the Office of Special Investigator attached to the Brereton Inquiry.
Experts in Seoul say the risk of clashes between North and South Korea is growing as Pyongyang adds fortifications along their militarised border. Tensions rose after three South Korean soldiers were injured in a landmine blast inside the demilitarised zone last month. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, warned the north would show no mercy if South Korean warning shots caused harm. North Korea plans loudspeaker broadcasts along the whole border this month. South Korea says it will take proportionate measures in response.
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research will launch a new international forum on Thursday to address the military uses of artificial intelligence. Robin Geiss, the institute's head, warned that the margin for human judgment is narrowing, including in the nuclear domain. He said it is hard to judge how close machines might come to acting outside human control. The forum will bring together defence technology companies, governments, civil society and experts. A separate initiative will examine the risk of armed groups using AI for operational planning, execution and logistics.
Papua New Guinean citizens will soon be able to apply to join the Australian Defence Force under a new pilot program. Up to 100 people living in Papua New Guinea can apply from mid-November, with two cohorts of up to 50 over two years. The change followed ministerial talks in Port Moresby and comes after the Pukpuk Treaty defence alliance was signed in October 2025. Applicants must be aged 18 to 25, be students or recent graduates from selected universities, and have no current or past service in the Papua New Guinea military.
Corporal Brendan Hannam, 28, has been farewelled at a funeral service held at Robertson Barracks in Darwin. He died when a troop carrier rolled during a military training exercise at the Mount Bundey Training Area, south of Darwin. Five other men were injured. Lieutenant Colonel Ash Zimmerlie described him as having served Australia with distinction, including deployments to Afghanistan and Ukraine. Chief of Army Susan Coyle said a thorough investigation is underway, and the Supacat HMT troop carrier has been paused from use.
A new universal testosterone screening program in the military may flag a large share of Army members. Researchers estimate about 26 percent of active-duty soldiers would show results suggesting low testosterone, using the Pentagon's cutoff of 300 ng/dL. A lower CDC threshold would give an estimate of about 15 percent. Experts generally caution against universal screening, because testosterone levels vary with age, time of day, weight, illness and sleep. Low results also rose with age and body weight. Clinically significant low testosterone is rare, affecting at most 1 percent of men.
A documentary called NAZA features 24 Israeli intelligence officers and soldiers describing surveillance and targeting systems used in Gaza. Filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor gathered the interviews over three years, speaking to sources on condition of anonymity. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and won a special jury prize. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the interviewees to be prosecuted, and the Israeli Defence Forces has rejected the claims. NAZA opens in select Australian cinemas on October 15, with free online release later in November.
Representatives from the Australian Defence Force, the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch and South Burnett Regional Council met in Kingaroy to discuss a possible Freedom Of Entry celebration in late 2027. The original plan was for the Carbarlah signals unit to exercise its right of entry to Kingaroy, marking ten years since the 2017 grant. Mayor Kathy Duff wants other South Burnett towns involved. The revised proposal is a celebration at Kingaroy's Memorial Park, with buses bringing former personnel from across the region.
The US defence department plans to livestream the first military firing squad execution since 1945. Nidal Hasan is due to be shot on 3 December at Fort Hood, Texas, where he killed 13 people in 2009. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the public would be able to watch. Vice president JD Vance said he would not watch if it is streamed. Critics, including Republican and Democrat senators and the UN human rights chief, condemned the plan. Hasan was sentenced to death by a military jury in 2013.
George Dight, a builder and farmer, served as a lay reader at St George’s Anglican Church in Trentham. He walked 20km each Sunday to conduct services in Barrys Reef and Newbury. After enlisting in World War I at 43, he suffered gunshot wounds and was repatriated to Australia in 1918. A 'Welcome Home' social was held for Dight and other wounded soldiers in Trentham.
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Veterans of Australia’s Middle East deployments are invited to a three-day gathering in Bellingen to mark 25 years since the start of the Afghanistan commitment. The Bellinger River RSL Sub-Branch is hosting the event, which includes camping, shared meals, and a dawn service. The weekend is open to all veterans and their families who served in Afghanistan or Iraq, regardless of RSL membership. The event aims to provide a relaxed, informal setting for veterans to connect and commemorate their service.
The Pentagon is using a program called Tradewinds to speed up AI purchases by reviewing five-minute product videos from contractors. The initiative, managed by the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, aims to inject competition in the AI market. Accepted products gain 'post-competitive' status, allowing faster government acquisitions. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are among the participants, though they declined to comment on their involvement.
The Australian Defence Force has paused the use of a Supacat troop carrier after a fatal crash in the Northern Territory. Army Corporal Brendan Hannam died when the vehicle rolled during a training exercise at Mount Bundey, south of Darwin. Five other soldiers were injured, with two still in hospital. Chief of Army Susan Coyle confirmed the vehicle involved was a Supacat HMT, and the pause was standard practice following a fatality. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles announced investigations into the incident and other recent fatalities.
Hugh Hendry, a World War II veteran and respected community figure, received a Quilt of Valour at Korumburra RSL. The handcrafted quilt, featuring an aeroplane and poppies, honours his military service and that of his late father. Quilts of Valour president Cheryl Billing Smith presented the quilt, highlighting its symbolic elements representing family, community, and national support. Hendry, who will turn 100 on Boxing Day, expressed gratitude for the recognition. The RSL president nominated Hendry for his war service and ongoing community contributions.
Australian Army Corporal Brendan Hannam died in a troop carrier rollover at the Mount Bundey Training Area south of Darwin, injuring five other soldiers. The 28-year-old was remembered as a respected leader who served on two operational tours. Veterans say the harsh conditions at the training site are unavoidable for realistic preparation, despite the risks. The Australian Defence Force has committed to a thorough investigation.
