Defense & Strategy
Coverage of US, allied, and adversary military capability — carrier movements, basing, weapons procurement, doctrine, and the strategic calculus that translates capability into decisions.
US intel: Iran drone lines running again six weeks into ceasefire
Four sources tell CNN that US intelligence assesses Iran has restarted drone production and retained most coastal cruise missiles during the ceasefire window.
Tehran Digs In: Iran Hardens Missile Sites as Washington Pauses
Iran is moving missiles into mountain facilities and rewriting tactics for a long war, NYT reports — a counter-signal to this week's U.S. de-escalation pivot.
US Centcom Says 78 Vessels Redirected Under Iran Blockade
CENTCOM disclosed Saturday that 78 commercial ships have been redirected and four disabled in the Strait of Hormuz blockade, as Tehran moves to assert sovereignty over the waterway.
Ford Strike Group Awarded Presidential Unit Citation for Iran War
The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group received a Presidential Unit Citation for combat operations during the Iran War, putting on the record what the Pentagon previously discussed only in pieces.
US Officials Tie Iran to Cyberattack on Fuel-Station Monitoring Systems
US officials suspect Iran-linked hackers targeted fuel-tank monitoring systems at petrol stations in several states, widening the strike-cycle conflict into critical-infrastructure cyber.
Pentagon Cancels Europe Missile Unit and Troop Deployments
The Army has reversed orders to send a long-range missile battalion to Germany and a separate troop rotation to Poland, drawing sharp questions from NATO allies and House lawmakers.
Europe-Led Coalition Builds Destroyer-Drone Force to Pry Open Hormuz
A European naval coalition is assembling destroyers and uncrewed surface vessels to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, even as Tehran reasserts control of the waterway.
CENTCOM: Iran Navy Crippled, Proxy Network Cut Off
Adm. Brad Cooper told senators Iran's navy won't recover for 5–10 years and that Tehran possessed 60%-enriched uranium before the war began.
Rubio Invokes AECA Emergency Clause for $8.6B Arms Sale to Gulf
Secretary Rubio approved $8.6B in arms transfers to Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE on May 3, using the AECA emergency clause to skip the 30-day congressional review.
CENTCOM Requests First Combat Use of Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile
U.S. Central Command has asked the Pentagon to authorize deployment of the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile against Iran — what would be the weapon system's first combat use.
USS Gerald R. Ford to leave Middle East as blockade hardens, cutting US carriers in theater from three to two
The USS Gerald R. Ford will sail home from CENTCOM in the coming days after a record 309-day deployment, dropping US carrier presence in theater from three to two as the Trump administration hardens its long-blockade posture against Iran.
What CENTCOM is, what the Fifth Fleet does, and why this matters now
US Central Command runs every American military operation from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. The Fifth Fleet is its naval arm in the Persian Gulf. Both are quietly the most consequential US military commands you've heard the least about.
What is THAAD, and why is it everywhere right now?
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense — the missile-defense system the US deploys when an ally is genuinely worried. Where THAAD batteries sit and where they move tell you what the Pentagon actually thinks about ballistic-missile risk.
What is a Carrier Strike Group, and why does its location matter so much?
Eleven carrier strike groups. About 100,000 sailors. The most expensive concentrations of military power on Earth. Here's what's actually in one and why news of where they sit moves geopolitical conversations.