Threats

US has turned back 13 ships in blockade of Iran, Joint Chiefs chairman says

SecDef Hegseth disputes Tehran’s claims to have closed the Strait of Hormuz, despite lingering mines.

Ideas

Unheeded lessons from the US warship nearly sunk by an Iranian mine

A strangely amnesiac effect seems to surround the threat of underwater weapons that wait.

Ideas

4 ways the war in Iran has weakened the US in the great power game

Trump further strains U.S. alliances while enabling China and Russia to advance regional influence.

Ideas

How would the US Navy counter Iran's mines?

The remaining Avenger minehunters are in Japan, while Pentagon testing has revealed problems with the LCS.

Threats

Trump vows to find ‘leaker’ who publicized search for second downed airman in Iran

Asked whether the war in Iran is winding down or ramping up, the president said, “I don’t know.”

Threats

The US has declared ‘space superiority’ over Iran. What does that mean?

Iran’s nascent space program was destroyed. It's still using other nations' space intel.

Threats

Once again, Trump declines to describe desired end-state to his Iran war

In a primetime address, the president doesn’t list military objectives or what the U.S. wants from Tehran.

Policy

Last 24 hours saw ‘lowest number’ of Iranian missile and drone attacks, Hegseth says

The defense secretary and joint chiefs chairman declined to answer what troop deployments mean for ground invasion.

Defense Systems

What the Claude AI chatbot really does for CENTCOM

It's part of a much larger system—and the latest instance of tech that makes war run dangerously quickly.

Threats

Iran is adopting Russian drone tactics, Ukrainian troops say

“Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia—that's all one war,” visiting military delegation tells D.C. audience.

Ideas

Iran war shows the strategic limits of tactical strikes

A complex web of economic and geopolitical consequences are keeping victory out of reach. 

Policy

Trump claims ‘good and productive’ talks with Iran, which denies negotiating

President says Hormuz would be under "joint control," removing uranium would be "very easy."

Defense Systems

KC-135 crash in Iraq spurs calls for communications upgrades

Almost half of the Air Force's oldest tanker fleet lacks real-time battlefield connectivity systems.