The D Brief: Russia’s new tactics; Ukraine hits St. Petersburg; Boeing strike looms; M-10 aftermath; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson, Bradley Peniston and Audrey Decker
• July 28, 2025

The D Brief: DOD civilians, on the move; Ukraine-strike details; Trump’s nuke offer to Iran; Syria’s jihadis, in uniform?; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• June 3, 2025

The D Brief: ‘Full-blown meltdown’; Syrian drawdown; Russia’s Easter attacks; NDU resignation-in-protest; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• April 21, 2025

The D Brief: Allies mull nukes; Syrian breakthrough?; Base-refineries proposal; Judge demands DOGE records; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• March 11, 2025

The D Brief: DOD firings on hold, for now; Acquisition-policy shift; More US-Russia talks; Air Force One, accelerating?; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• February 21, 2025

The D Brief: Congress, DOGE seek DOD cuts; US, Russia warm ties in talks; US drones over Mexico; Nuke-stockpile workers fired, rehired; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson, Bradley Peniston and Meghann Myers
• February 18, 2025

The D Brief: Anti-ISIS ops continue; How sanctioned oil flows; DOD red-teams AI; Protecting undersea cables; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• January 7, 2025

The D Brief: Navy jet downed by US cruiser; Tech titans push tieup; Trump’s latest DOD picks; More Taiwan aid; And a bit more.

• Bradley Peniston, Audrey Decker and Ben Watson
• December 23, 2024

Assad’s fall lays the ground for wider peace—if the US can seize the moment

A key will be reshaping the role of the Kurdish militants in Syria.

• James Jeffrey
• December 20, 2024

The D Brief: Troops’ pay in jeopardy; CENTCOM’s Syria surge; Army to cut 5% of generals; USAF may trim F-35 buy; And a bit more.

• Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson
• December 20, 2024

US force in Syria is larger than previously known, Pentagon says

Military operations against ISIS are increasing, along with diplomatic outreach to the new government.

• Patrick Tucker
• December 19, 2024

The D Brief: Russian general slain in Moscow; Ukraine engages N. Korean troops; China’s wartime lessons; First Okinawa Marines move to Guam; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• December 17, 2024

The D Brief: Israel pounds Syrian military sites; Taiwan gets tanks; Will AI firms eat the Pentagon?; One dead on Fort Eisenhower; and just a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• December 16, 2024

The D Brief: Israel strikes Syrian targets; Chinese warships surge near Taiwan; Trump Org’s new Saudi deal; Austin’s defense diplomacy; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• December 10, 2024

Will Assad’s defeat be Putin’s Waterloo?

The narrative of Russia's ascendancy in 2024 is beginning to look like more fiction than fact.

• John R. Deni
• December 9, 2024

The D Brief: What’s next for Syria?; Defense-policy bill unveiled; New counter-UAV strategy; Some GOPers unsold on Hegseth; And a bit more.

• Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
• December 9, 2024

US strikes ISIS in Syria as Assad regime falls

“The future here will be written by Syrians,” a White House official told reporters.

• Patrick Tucker
• December 8, 2024