Middle East

Air Force revives a deployment concept used for the GWOT—with a few twists

Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0 is the latest move away from Biden-era attempts to orient the force toward China.

  • Thomas Novelly

The D Brief: Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’; Russian hybrid warfare; More Ukraine talks; Combat fitness, reimagined; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson

Bombing Iran would shore up its regime

External attacks stir up nationalism and redirect public anger outward, a “rally-around-the-flag” effect long documented by political scientists.

  • Rosemary Kelanic

The D Brief: Europe reinforces Greenland; Senate fails to limit Venezuela action; Navy’s next ships; The cost of ‘DoW’; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

CNO cautions against extending carrier’s deployment for Iran ops

Adm. Daryl Caudle said he is already concerned about Ford’s extra time in SOUTHCOM.

  • Meghann Myers

The D Brief: US bombs ISIS in Syria; Iranian protests swell; Execs rebuff oil plan; Meet the Army’s dronemakers; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

The D Brief: US hits 70 ISIS targets; Another tanker seized; Army seeks common C-UAS controller; More firms cleared for Golden Dome work; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

To foster Middle East peace and prosperity, help Kurdistan fend off extremists

Two steps are urgently needed, says the regional government’s U.S. envoy.

  • Treefa Aziz

Ukraine is helping the US catch up with modern warfare—for now

Observers say broader cooperation could help both sides, if the Trump administration allows it.

  • Patrick Tucker

Hegseth broke rules, DODIG concludes, even though he said Yemen strike details were ‘safe to declassify’

Inspector general’s Signalgate report arrives two months after SecDef alleged the office had been “weaponized.”

  • Meghann Myers

The D Brief: Hegseth cites ‘fog of war’; USAF axes China-focused reforms; CENTCOM’s new attack-drone unit; Firms qualify for Golden Dome work; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

The US needs more than troops at a Syrian airbase to constrain ISIS, Iran

Continued support for the SDF, plus more burden-sharing, is necessary to protect U.S. interests.

  • Thomas Bergeson and Jonah Brody
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The D Brief: Commandant’s ARG/MEU push; Army acquisition reform; B-21, ICBM projects; ‘DoW’ price tag; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

The D Brief: Shutdown nears end; Allies limit intel-sharing over boat strikes; Price tag for US occupations; Marines want multiple prototypes; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

The D Brief: A narrower natsec focus; ‘Pigpen-like mess’ at DOD; DC Guard deployment extended; Shutdown sets record; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Thomas Novelly and Bradley Peniston

The D Brief: Hurricane evacuation; B-1s off Venezuela; DOD civs fret amid shutdown; Plutonium for sale; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

Now is not the time for new US commitments to the Middle East

President Trump should follow his instincts and tell the Gulf states to take on more of their own security burden.

  • Will Walldorf

The D Brief: Gaza ceasefire; Chicago deployment on hold; Qataris in Idaho; AUSA news; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
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Future of the Army

US to build facility for Qatari F-15s in Idaho; details remain unclear

The project, which appears to flow from the terms of the jets' 2017 sale, drew criticism and questions.

  • Thomas Novelly

Hamas has run out of options

The group's survival now rests on accepting Trump’s plan and political reform.

  • Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation

The D Brief: War on leaks; IGs, targeted; Guard-deployment sitrep; The next geoint hub?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston