Threats

Defense One Radio, Ep. 142: Trouble on the Red Sea

We review how the Iran-backed Houthis are disrupting global shipping in the Red Sea, and we look back at similar dynamics near the end of the so-called tanker wars of the late 1980s.

Ideas

Red Sea protection effort faces early hurdles

Though the Pentagon says 20 nations have joined Operation Prosperity Guardian, almost half have preferred to remain unnamed.

Science & Tech

Why the Navy isn’t shooting down Houthi drones with lasers yet

A paradox is slowing the service's drive to replace expensive missiles with theoretically better energy weapons.

Ideas

How Israeli intelligence underestimated Hamas

Much of the problem stemmed from faulty threat assessments, Hamas’ improved operational security, and confirmation bias.