Leon Panetta

Yemeni families sue US over 'unlawful deaths' from drone strike

The families of two Yemeni men killed in 2012 have sued the United States, alleging they were innocent bystanders hit by missiles from a US drone strike and calling for an acknowledgement of their "unlawful deaths."

US program to capture and kill insurgents can backfire, says leaked CIA report

The US government's program to capture and kill insurgent leaders can backfire, a leaked CIA report said.

US: Michele Flournoy to become first woman defence secretary?

Flournoy heads a short list of candidates to direct the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and help Afghanistan fight the Taliban insurgency.

US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel to step down

Hagel is the first senior Obama adviser to leave the administration following the sweeping losses for Obama's party in the midterm elections.

Kayani asked Obama to announce Osama's killing: Panetta

The then Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani asked the US to inform the world about the killing of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in a covert raid by American forces in an effort to prevent domestic backlash, according to former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

US can't dictate, but must engage the world: Def Secy Hagel

US can't dictate the world, but engage the international community in a wisely manner, new US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said today, adding that the country not only needs to renew its old alliances but also build new ones.

Hagel has enough votes to be next US defense secretary

Chuck Hagel secured the necessary votes for the US Senate to confirm him to be the next defense secretary barring any new, damaging information, after a longtime senator said he would support him, paving the way for a vote next week that will end the bitter fight over President Barack Obama's Cabinet choice.

Leon Panetta to testify on US Consulate attack in Benghazi

In the attack, the US Ambassador to Libya and three other American nationals were killed.

'US mulls moving into North Africa to go after al Qaeda'

The US was anticipating that it might have to move into North Africa to go after al Qaeda in the region as the Obama administration wants to make sure the global terror network has no place to hide, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Monday.

Drone strike decisions don't come lightly, says Panetta

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says decisions to strike potential terrorist targets with unmanned drones don't "come lightly."