Afghan asylumseeker dies in ICE custody, US advocacy group says By Joey RouletteSun, March 15, 2026 at 6:41 PM UTC 0 FILE PHOTO: The seal of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is printed on a sign during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) twoday job fair in Texas to help fill vacancies for deportation officers and attorneys, in Arlington, Texas, U.S. August 26, 2025. REUTERS/Shelby Tauber/File Photo By Joey Roulette March 15 (Reuters) An Afghan immigrant who previously worked with the U.S.

Afghan asylum-seeker dies in ICE custody, US advocacy group says

By Joey RouletteSun, March 15, 2026 at 6:41 PM UTC

FILE PHOTO: The seal of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is printed on a sign during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) two-day job fair in Texas to help fill vacancies for deportation officers and attorneys, in Arlington, Texas, U.S. August 26, 2025. REUTERS/Shelby Tauber/File Photo

By Joey Roulette

March 15 (Reuters) - An Afghan immigrant who previously worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan and later sought asylum in the United States died this weekend in Immigration ‌and Customs Enforcement custody less than 24 hours after being detained in Texas, a U.S. ‌veteran-led advocacy group said on Sunday.

Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, who was living in a Dallas suburb with his wife and six children while his asylum case remained pending, was arrested by federal agents outside his apartment on Friday morning while taking his children to school, the group AfghanEvac's president Shawn VanDiver said in a statement. Paktyawal died of unknown causes on Saturday, VanDiver said.

Paktyawal, 41, is at least the 12th person to die in ICE detention this year under U.S. ‌President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. Last ⁠year, 31 people died after being detained by ICE, a two-decade high. ICE has played a central role in Trump's policy of mass deportations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland ⁠Security, which includes ICE, said it needs more time to respond to a Reuters request for comment.

According to VanDiver, Paktyawal's family was told that he was taken to a hospital in Dallas on the night of his arrest and was still alive the following morning, but died shortly after.

AfghanEvac called for an immediate investigation.

"It is highly unusual ‌for an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man to die less than a day after being taken into government custody," VanDiver said.

Paktyawal, a former Afghan special forces soldier who had worked alongside U.S. Army Special Forces since 2005, was evacuated from Afghanistan with his family in 2021 when the United States withdrew its forces after a war lasting two decades, VanDiver said.

Paktyawal had worked in the Dallas area at an Afghan halal market and was ‌the primary provider for his family, including an 18-month-old infant, VanDiver said. He had been living in Richardson, Texas, VanDiver said.

The number of people detained by ICE has risen to record levels during Trump's immigration crackdown. ICE had some 68,000 people in ‌custody as of early February.

More than 70,000 Afghans entered the United States under Democratic former President Joe Biden's Operation Allies Welcome initiative following the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021, according to the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. agencies under Trump have moved to terminate temporary protected status previously granted by ‌the U.S. government for humanitarian reasons to some 14,600 Afghans, opening them up to deportation.

(Reporting by Joey Roulette in Washington, additional reporting by Ryan Jones in Toronto and Ted Hesson in Washginton; Editing by Sergio Non and Will Dunham)

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Afghan asylum-seeker dies in ICE custody, US advocacy group says

Afghan asylumseeker dies in ICE custody, US advocacy group says By Joey RouletteSun, March 15, 2026 at 6:41 PM UTC 0 FILE...

Record snowfall possible from Plains to Great Lakes. See totals by address Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORKSun, March 15, 2026 at 6:09 PM UTC 0 A major winter storm is moving across the northern United States, bringing a mix of heavy snow, ice and blizzard conditions from the High Plains through the Great Lakes. Forecasters say the storm could produce record or nearrecord snowfall in parts of the Upper Midwest.

Record snowfall possible from Plains to Great Lakes. See totals by address

Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORKSun, March 15, 2026 at 6:09 PM UTC

A major winter storm is moving across the northern United States, bringing a mix of heavy snow, ice and blizzard conditions from the High Plains through the Great Lakes. Forecasters say the storm could produce record or near-record snowfall in parts of the Upper Midwest.

The hardest-hit areas are expected to include northern Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and portions of Minnesota, where snow totals could reach 2 to 4 feet in some high terrain locations. Strong winds will create widespread blizzard conditions, with near-zero visibility and dangerous travel across a large portion of the region.

Snowfall will be heaviest Sunday and Monday, with embedded bands of snow producing rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour in some areas. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds could also lead to power outages, roof collapses and long-lasting impacts on travel and daily life.

Further south, parts of the Northern High Plains and central Midwest are seeing a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Ice accumulations may make roads slick, while lighter snow totals will still cause travel difficulties and drifting snow as winds pick up.

More: Huge 'megastorm' will sweep US with dangerous weather, forecast says

Snowfall accumulation tracker map: Search by address

USA TODAY's snowfall map shows accumulation over the past 24, 48 and 72 hours, as well as seasonal totals dating back to Oct. 1. multiple times a day, the map lets you toggle between timeframes to see how snow is adding up in your area.

U.S. weather watches and warningsStay informed. Get weather alerts via text

Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at baddison@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Blizzards hit High Plains to Great Lakes. See snow totals by address

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Record snowfall possible from Plains to Great Lakes. See totals by address

Record snowfall possible from Plains to Great Lakes. See totals by address Brandi D. Addison, USA TODAY NETWORKSun, Ma...

With the US pressuring Cuba, a Castro known as 'the Crab' is making appearances. Here's why it matters Mauricio Torres, Michael Rios, CNNSun, March 15, 2026 at 3:43 PM UTC 578 Cuba's Colonel Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, grandson of Raul Castro, attends the funeral of the 32 Cuban soldiers killed during the US incursion in Venezuela at Colon cemetery in Havana on January 16, 2026.

With the US pressuring Cuba, a Castro known as 'the Crab' is making appearances. Here's why it matters

Mauricio Torres, Michael Rios, CNNSun, March 15, 2026 at 3:43 PM UTC

578

Cuba's Colonel Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, grandson of Raul Castro, attends the funeral of the 32 Cuban soldiers killed during the US incursion in Venezuela at Colon cemetery in Havana on January 16, 2026. - Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty Images

Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro, appeared for the first time alongside Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel at two public events on Friday, raising questions, according to analysts, about his role in Cuba's leadership as the island faces calls for regime change from the United States.

On Friday morning, Rodríguez Castro took part in a meeting Díaz-Canel held with leaders of the Communist Party of Cuba and the Council of Ministers. Later, he attended a press conference where Díaz-Canel addressed the island's social and economic crises and confirmed that his government had spoken with the US about the pressure Washington has maintained on Havana since the 1960s and intensified in recent months.

Rodríguez Castro's appearances came weeks after reports surfaced that he has allegedly been in talks with the US about the island's future.

According to Axios, the discussions were held with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio while bypassing official Cuban government channels.

CNN has not been able to verify this information with the US State Department or the Cuban government.

Still, some analysts and many Cubans believe Rodríguez Castro is gaining public prominence and could even assume a leadership role in the event of a change of government, as Cuba faces immense political and economic pressure from the US.

How Cuba crisis deepened

Cuba's communist government, weakened by decades of US sanctions and economic mismanagement, is facing one of its most severe crises in years, with the country edging toward a humanitarian emergency. Power outages are widespread, hospitals are cutting back on surgeries, shortages of fuel and food are worsening, while tourism declines.

The situation in Cuba deteriorated further after the January 3 US operation that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whose government had long supplied the island with heavily subsidized oil. Severing Venezuela's relationship with Cuba is part of Washington's broader strategy of toppling Havana's communist-run government. Since mid-December, Washington has blockaded Venezuela from shipping oil to Cuba, economically strangling the island.

US officials say the raid to capture Maduro also exposed Cuba's vulnerabilities, killing dozens of Cuban security personnel assigned to protect Maduro while US forces suffered no casualties.

Washington's decision to leave some of Maduro's allies in power in Venezuela, including allowing Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to be acting president, signaled that the Trump administration may be willing to strike deals with Cuban rival factions rather than seek total regime change.

US officials had already been quietly holding hush-hush meetings with Venezuelan elites before Maduro's capture and are now reportedly exploring similar contacts with influential figures in Cuba.

His grandfather's bodyguard

Rodríguez Castro, 41, is the son of one of Raúl Castro's daughters, Débora Castro Espín, and Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja, a general who headed the Business Administration Group (GAESA), a consortium of companies under military command. Rodríguez López-Calleja, who died in 2022, was one of the former president's closest confidants, the reported.

Rodríguez López-Calleja was "a man Raúl Castro trusted completely," said Sebastián Arcos, director of the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University. After Rodríguez López-Calleja's death, Arcos told CNN, his son began to climb the ranks, taking charge of his grandfather's security during his presidency, from 2008 to 2018.

"Raúl Guillermo, 'el Cangrejo' (the Crab), … became head of Raúl's personal guard, his personal security detail," Arcos said. "Eventually, he became head of what would be the Cuban equivalent of the Secret Service."

Photos from Reuters show Rodríguez Castro guarding his 94-year-old grandfather at various times, including during meetings with the late Pope Francis or high-ranking Russian officials.

Rodríguez Castro is widely known in Cuba by the nickname "Raulito," a nickname meaning "Little Raúl."

Rodríguez Castro is also a grand-nephew of Fidel Castro, who led the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and then was president of the country from 1976 to 2008. He left office due to health problems and died in 2016.

International relations expert Fausto Pretelin noted that Rodríguez Castro has no known history within the Communist Party of Cuba. Diana Correa, director of the international relations program at Tecnológico de Monterrey, believes that his appearance at Díaz-Canel's public events on Friday points to both the influence Raúl Castro continues to wield in Cuban politics and the trust the former president has in his grandson.

"What strikes me is … that it's happening publicly now, but what we should really ask ourselves – and it's very difficult to know the answer – is how long he has been acting as this channel of communication," she said.

Questions about Cuba's future

Another of the former president's closest associates, Arcos said, is his son Alejandro Castro Espín, long seen by many Cubans as a possible successor after Castro stepped down in 2018.

"They participate in all these high-level government meetings, even though neither of them holds a government position. They are Raúl Castro's eyes and ears on everything that happens at the government level. Therefore, it wouldn't be surprising if they were Raúl Castro's interlocutors in a supposed negotiation with the United States," he said.

CNN has reached out to the Cuban presidency for more information about the current roles of Rodríguez Castro and Castro Espín.

There have been multiple media reports claiming Rubio and Rodríguez Castro have spoken in secret, something neither has confirmed publicly.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Caribbean Community gathering in St. Kitts and Nevis in late February, Rubio referred to the crisis in Cuba.

"Cuba needs to change. It needs to change. And it doesn't have to change all at once. It doesn't have to change from one day to the next. Everyone is mature and realistic here," Rubio said on February 25.

"And they need to make dramatic reforms. And if they want to make those dramatic reforms that open the space for both economic and eventually political freedom for the people of Cuba, obviously the United States would love to see that," he added.

Correa emphasized that amid the crisis in Cuba, many citizens see Rodríguez Castro's increased presence as an indication that a change of government may be coming, framed within talks with the US.

"Many are saying right now that it is indeed a generational shift, taking the reins, even if it's somewhat behind the scenes, but still operational control," she said. "By having Castro negotiating, at least externally it seems they are sending the signal that the negotiation is serious because this person represents all state power," she concluded.

CNN's Jonny Hallam contributed reporting.

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With the US pressuring Cuba, a Castro known as ‘the Crab’ is making appearances. Here’s why it matters

With the US pressuring Cuba, a Castro known as 'the Crab' is making appearances. Here's why it matters Maur...

Pope escalates call for ceasefire in Iran by addressing those responsible for the war NICOLE WINFIELD Sun, March 15, 2026 at 12:31 PM UTC 274 Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV demanded a ceasefire in the Middle East on Sunday in his strongest comments to date, directly addressing the leaders who launched the war in Iran.

Pope escalates call for ceasefire in Iran by addressing those responsible for the war

NICOLE WINFIELD Sun, March 15, 2026 at 12:31 PM UTC

274

Pope Leo XIV appears at the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican where Catholic faithful and pilgrims gathered for the traditional Sunday blessing at the end of the noon Angelus prayer, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV demanded a ceasefire in the Middle East on Sunday in his strongest comments to date, directly addressing the leaders who launched the war in Iran.

"On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict," Leo said. "Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people are waiting for."

Leo didn't cite the United States or Israel by name in his comments at the end of his Sunday noon blessing. But history's first U.S. pope mentioned the attacks that targeted a school, an apparent reference to the missile strike on an elementary school in Iran in the opening days of the war that killed over 165 people, many of them children.

U.S. officials have said outdated intelligence likely led to the United States launching the strike, and that an investigation is ongoing.

The Vatican has highlighted the carnage of the Minab strike, running an aerial photo of the mass grave being dug for the young victims on the March 6 front page of its official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, under the headline "The Face of War."

Leo said he was close to the families of those who had been killed in the attacks "which have hit schools, hospitals and residential centers." He expressed particular concern about the impact of the war in Lebanon, where aid groups are warning of a humanitarian crisis.

The plight of Christian communities in southern Lebanon is of particular concern to the Vatican, since they have long represented a bulwark for Christians throughout the majority Muslim region.

For the two weeks since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war, the pope has limited his comments to muted appeals for diplomacy and dialogue in an apparent attempt to avoid pitting himself as an American political counterweight to President Donald Trump. He hasn't named the U.S. or Israel publicly, but that is also in keeping with the Vatican's tradition of diplomatic neutrality.

On Friday, for example, in a speech to priests attending a Vatican class on the sacrament of confession, Leo said the sacrament was a workshop that restores unity and peace.

"One might well ask: do those Christians who bear grave responsibility in armed conflicts have the humility and courage to make a serious examination of conscience and to go to confession?" he said.

But while Leo has sought to keep his messaging indirect and apolitical to avoid inflaming tensions, some of his U.S. cardinals and the Vatican secretary of state have not.

Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, said the war was morally unjustifiable. Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich said it was "sickening" how the White House was splicing video game imagery into its social media messaging about the war.

The Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, rejected Washington's claim of a "preventive war." But he said this week that the Holy See was regardless keeping dialogue open.

"The Holy See speaks with everyone, and when necessary we speak also with the Americans, with the Israelis and show them what to us are the solutions," he said.

___

religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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Pope escalates call for ceasefire in Iran by addressing those responsible for the war

Pope escalates call for ceasefire in Iran by addressing those responsible for the war NICOLE WINFIELD Sun, March 15, 2...

WillMiami (Ohio)make March Madness?

That's one of the key debates ahead onSelection Sunday.

Aftersuffering its first lossof the season in the MAC quarterfinals on Thursday, Miami (Ohio) is at the selection committee's mercy.

The RedHawks finished the regular season 31-0, and their record indicates they should be a shoo-in for March Madness. But that may not be the case without the MAC's automatic bid.

InUSA TODAY Sports' final bracketologyon Selection Sunday, Miami is projected as the last at-large team in the field of 68, with a trip to nearby Dayton in the First Four.

That will make for a nervy day.

OpinionDon't be fooled by Miami Ohio record. It's built on cupcakes

'Flat out wrong.'Miami Ohio AD fires back at Bruce Pearl over March Madness bid

Miami's resume and season has perplexed the hoops world as it reignites the age-old postseason debate of best vs. deserving. The discussion intensified whenformer Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said the RedHawks aren't worthyof an at-large spot.

"If we're selecting the 68 best teams, then Miami (Ohio) is going to have to win their tournament to qualify as a champion, because as an at-large, they are not one of the best teams in the country, and that's going to be a difficult choice for the committee," he said.

Miami's athletic director David Sayler wasn't too impressed with Pearl's analysis,firing back on Monday via social media.

"(You) are flat out wrong about (Miami Ohio basketball) when (you) say we would finish last in the Big East," Sayler posted. "The disrespect is awful and (you) should not be near a TV studio covering this sport when (you) show your true colors! Even slipped in a 'we' when talking aboutAuburn, nice work!"

WhilePearl and Miami (Ohio) coach Travis Steele eventually squashed their beef, it did set the discourse for why Miami should and shouldn't be in the NCAA Tournament. It could have made all of this moot by heading into Selection Sunday as the MAC tournament champions, but now its time to breakdown the RedHawks' at-large case.

Why Miami Ohio should be in NCAA Tournament

To start, Miami (Ohio) finished the regular season undefeated. It became the fifth program in the 21st century — Saint Joseph's (2004), Wichita State (2014), Kentucky (2015) and Gonzaga (2021) — to enter the conference tournament undefeated. The 31 wins are the most in Division I.

The RedHawks have the best shooting percentage at 52.6% and are ninth in 3-point percentage at 39.3%. They average 90.9 points per game, second in the country behind Alabama, an win by an average of 16 points a game, a margin that's seventh-best in Division I.

Some models back the success. Thestrength of recordis 21st in the country, and inthe RPI, the old model used to select NCAA Tournament teams before the NET rankings, the RedHawks are No. 28.

History certainly favors Miami. No team with more than 28 wins has ever missed out on March Madness since it expanded in 1985, and the NCAA Tournament selection committee never left out a team with less than four losses.

Why Miami Ohio shouldn't be in NCAA Tournament

It's the quality of resume the tournament selection primarily uses that doesn't work in Miami's favor.

While undefeated, the RedHawks are ranked No. 54 in the NET rankings, high for an at-large team. It's still possible, as San Diego State was No. 52 when it made the First Four last season.

A deeper look reveals Miami doesn't have any Quad 1 games, and just two Quad 2 victories. A majority of the wins are Quad 4 with a 15-0 record that doesn't include the three victories against non-Division I teams. It doesn't help the loss to UMass qualifies as a Quad 4 loss.

The lack of quality opponents really hurts other metrics. The strength of schedule ranks 256th and Miami has a KenPom rating of 93, surrounded by teams that are virtually out of the running for an at-large spot. In KenPom, the RedHawks have a strength of schedule ranking of 269th, and a the nonconference rating is fifth-worst in Division I.

All of the variables make for one of the most polarizing bubble contenders in recent memory. Miami deserves credit for playing its schedule perfectly and should be rewarded for the amount of wins, yet it's understandable to see why there's a chance they can end up being left out of the tournament — no matter how unfair it is.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Miami Ohio will find out NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday

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Will Miami Ohio make March Madness? Case for, against RedHawks NCAA bid

WillMiami (Ohio)make March Madness? That's one of the key debates ahead onSelection Sunday. Aftersuffer...

In 2006 Oscars Best Song Win Pulled Off an Unforgettable Upset Lucille BarillaSun, March 15, 2026 at 2:24 PM UTC 0 (Allen J&period; Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) The 2006 Oscars featured three very different Best Song nominees, and one pulled off an unforgettable, shocking win. The 78th Academy Awards highlighted the Best Song category with nominees that represented a trio of distinct musical styles. In a surprising turn, the award went to a song that defied expectations and caught audiences off guard.

In 2006 Oscars Best Song Win Pulled Off an Unforgettable Upset

Lucille BarillaSun, March 15, 2026 at 2:24 PM UTC

(Allen J&period; Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The 2006 Oscars featured three very different Best Song nominees, and one pulled off an unforgettable, shocking win.

The 78th Academy Awards highlighted the Best Song category with nominees that represented a trio of distinct musical styles. In a surprising turn, the award went to a song that defied expectations and caught audiences off guard.

Oscar-nominated songs are historically heartfelt ballads, soaring pop hits, or showstoppers from musicals. They are typically woven into their film and usually appear during the movie's big emotional moments or over the closing credits.

In 2006, nominations included Three 6 Mafia's "Hard Out Here for a Pimp" from Hustle & Flow, "In the Deep" from Crash (Kathleen York and Michael Becker), and "Travelin' Thru" from Transamerica (Dolly Parton). One song was a classic rap tune, another a ballad, and the third was a country standard.

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Queen Latifah announced the Best Song Oscar. Latifah previously received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Matron "Mama" Morton in the musical film Chicago three years prior, in 2003.

"Hard Out Here for a Pimp," Latifah began. "Now that might seem like an unusual choice for an Academy Award-nominated song, but critics also forgot 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and 'Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo.'"

She continued, "Tonight, one of these nominees joins the roll call of Best Original Song." Latifah then announced the trio of nominated tunes.

The female rap legend then revealed the winner, singing, "It's hard out here for a pimp." The song was from the soundtrack of the film Hustle & Flow, starring Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson.

RELATED: 17 Oscar Nominations and Still No Win: Hollywood's Most Nominated Songwriter

The stunning win was the second time a rap song was nominated for, and won, the coveted award. Three years prior, in 2003, Eminem won the first Academy Award by a rap artist for "Lose Yourself" from the film 8 Mile.

Following their Oscar win, Three 6 Mafia appeared on The Ellen Show. Ellen DeGeneres told Jordan Houston (Juicy J), Paul Beauregard (DJ Paul), and Cedric Coleman (Frayser Boy). "Everyone was thinking Dolly Parton was going to win. Was it a total surprise?"

The group responded, "Yes it was a total surprise. We thought we were gonna lose."

The 2006 Best Song upset has become a legendary moment in Oscars history. It shows that awards season can deliver surprises that keep fans talking for years.

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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In 2006 Oscars Best Song Win Pulled Off an Unforgettable Upset

In 2006 Oscars Best Song Win Pulled Off an Unforgettable Upset Lucille BarillaSun, March 15, 2026 at 2:24 PM UTC 0 (All...

New Photo - Will there be a War Machine sequel? Here's what the director has teased (and what Alan Ritchson t...

Cowriter and director Patrick Hughes has expressed interest in continuing the story. Will there be a War Machine sequel? Here's what the director has teased (and what Alan Ritchson thinks) Cowriter and director Patrick Hughes has expressed interest in continuing the story. By Allison DeGrushe :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/allisondegrusheEWbiophotoe5f8e89253c84b7085a43c502a3051a4.jpg) Allison DeGrushe Allison DeGrushe is a timely SEO writer at . She has been working at since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on Distractify. EW's editorial guidelines March 10, 2026 2:18 p.m.

Co-writer and director Patrick Hughes has expressed interest in continuing the story.

Will there be a War Machine sequel? Here's what the director has teased (and what Alan Ritchson thinks)

Co-writer and director Patrick Hughes has expressed interest in continuing the story.

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What is War Machine about?

(L to R) Jack Patten as 109, James Beaufort as 23, Alan Ritchson as 81, Alex King as 44, and Blake Richardson as 15 in 'War Machine'

(L to R) Jack Patten as 109, James Beaufort as 23, Alan Ritchson as 81, Alex King as 44, and Blake Richardson as 15 in 'War Machine'.

Ben King/Netflix

Two years after his brother's death, Ritchson's character enlists to join the Rangers and is assigned candidate number 81. Throughout the brutal section program, he quickly proves his exceptional skill and discipline, but he refuses to connect with his fellow recruits. And, despite his prior experience as an Army leader, 81 chooses to forgo any leadership roles.

After 81 nearly drowns during an underwater drill, the regiment leaders (played by Dennis Quaid and Esai Morales) express concern that his PTSD from losing his brother might put him at risk or affect the team. They suggest he leave the program, but he refuses, determined to make it to the end.

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As the recruits push through the toughest weeks of training, the narrative occasionally cuts to TV news reports of an asteroid entering Earth's atmosphere, leaving NASA utterly perplexed. That enigmatic celestial event later plays a pivotal role in the recruits final trial.

For their last mission, the team must take out a captured classified aircraft and extract a pilot being held prisoner. But things go off the rails when they encounter a towering machine hellbent on annihilating them all.**

What happens at the end of War Machine?

Alan Ritchson as 81 and Stephan James as 7 in 'War Machine'

Alan Ritchson as 81 and Stephan James as 7 in 'War Machine'.

Ben King/Netflix

In the epic final battle, 81 rams the machine with a bulldozer, trapping it against a rock wall. He then triggers a conveyor belt overhead to dump an avalanche of rocks onto it. With its ventilator now blocked, the machine explodes.

81 then hauls 7 (Stephan James) back to camp, only to discover that the "asteroid" has split into numerous pods. Now, the entire planet faces a full-blown invasion by machines akin to the one 81 just destroyed — and even more are on the way.

As the siege escalates, militaries around the world have mobilized under "Operation Global Shield." 81 shares crucial tactics for taking down the machines, earns his Ranger tab, and immediately jumps back into the fight.

He soon boards a helicopter to join the counterattack, and as it lifts off, a sergeant on board scans the roster of Rangers. He notices 81, who has fallen asleep after his exhausting battle.

Despite 81's heroics, the threat is far from over. Alien pods continue to ravage Earth, signaling that the machine invasion is only getting started. All the while, 81's true identity remains a mystery — no one knows his name, and the film ends without revealing it.

Will there be a War Machine sequel?

The alien machine in 'War Machine'

The alien machine in 'War Machine'.

Nothing is official yet, but both Hughes and Ritchson have expressed interest in returning for a *War Machine *sequel. Hughes told ScreenRant that he initially wrote *War Machine *as a "fully formed standalone story," but if he ever got the chance to continue it, he knows "exactly where it's going."

"It's impossible not to, as a writer, to think about," Hughes added. "I fell in love with the character of 81, and the universe of sort of everything he's going through. So look, if that call comes in, then yes, I'm ready to pull the trigger."

Ritchson echoed Hughes' excitement, claiming there are already "tons" of ideas for 81. "*War Machines* is going to be sick. The whole thing, we got a whole thing," he said.

In a separate interview with Decider, Ritchson joked that they're "ready to shoot" the sequel right now. Meanwhile, Hughes shared his vision: "For me, I wanted to tell a film that started with the micro, and ended with the macro," he said. "And I thought that was a really unique take on the genre that we were working in. Let's see what happens."

Ritchson even threw in a humorous pitch for a *War Machine *sequel, saying, "81 goes to Paris, and he stays at Le Bristol, and he gets that really lovely chicken truffle soup that they have."

Where can I watch War Machine?

Alan Ritchson as 81 and Stephan James as 7 in 'War Machine'

Alan Ritchson as 81 and Stephan James as 7 in 'War Machine'.

Ben King/Netflix

*War Machine *is now streaming on Netflix.

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