Arrests Mark Significant Takedown Within Violent Online Network Known as ‘764’

Leonidas Varagiannis, also known as War, 21, a citizen of the United States residing in Thessaloniki, Greece, and Prasan Nepal, also known as Trippy, 20, of High Point, North Carolina, are charged for their crimes operating an international child exploitation enterprise in connection with a nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) network known as 764. Nepal was arrested on April 22 in North Carolina. Varagiannis was arrested yesterday in Greece.

According to the affidavit unsealed today in the District of Columbia, 764 is a violent online network that seeks to destroy civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, which often include minors. The 764 network’s accelerationist goals include social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the U.S. Government.

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Recognizing the success the United States has had against ISIS, including its 2019 territorial defeat under President Trump, today the Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria.

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By Matthew Olay, DOD News

During a Senate Armed Services Committee posture hearing today in Washington, U.S. Forces Korea's commander testified that North Korea is continuing to develop its weapons program while growing more isolated.

Army Gen. Xavier T. Brunson told the committee that, in 2024, North Korea launched 47 ballistic missiles while focusing on advancing its cruise missile and hypersonic glide vehicle research and development programs.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an expanded partnership between the U.S. and Panama to secure the Panama Canal in order to counter "China's maligned influence" in the region.

"The era of capitulating to coercion by the communist Chinese is over," Hegseth said while delivering prepared remarks earlier in the day.

"[China's] growing and adversarial control of strategic land and critical infrastructure in this hemisphere cannot and will not stand," he added.

Hegseth, who has been in Panama City for a three-day security conference with the host nation, later made the expanded partnership announcement during a joint press conference with Panamanian Public Security Minister Frank Abrego.

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By Senior Airman Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos, 355th Wing Public Affairs

SUWON AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) -- For the first time, the 11th Air Task Force deployed to provide command and control and agile mission-generation capabilities during exercise Freedom Shield, March 10-14. Their participation tested the unit’s ability to support real-world airpower operations in a dynamic environment.

As part of the exercise, the 11th ATF alongside the 11th Combat Air Base Squadron supported the 51st Fighter Wing and the 36th Fighter Squadron’s F-16 Fighting Falcon. Their mission was twofold: to provide C2 and base operating support-integration.

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Washington, D.C. — The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) added 80 entities to the Entity List from China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Africa, Iran, Taiwan, and others for activities contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy. As part of these measures, BIS is working toward the following objectives:

• Restrict the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ability to acquire and develop high-performance and exascale computing capabilities, as well as quantum technologies, for military applications;
• Impede China’s development of its hypersonic weapons program;
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