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.
Taiwan Conducts Major Military Drills as China Invasion Threat Looms
Taiwan ran annual war games simulating a Chinese assault, extended exercises to the Penghu islands, and throttled mobile internet for the first time during the drills.
Ukraine's 'Long-Range Sanctions': Inside the Drone Units Hitting Russia
Ukraine reframes its deep-strike drone program as economic warfare, hoping targeted hits on Russian industry create fear and measurable losses inside Russia.
Russia Destroys WHO Warehouse, Rejects Ukraine Ceasefire Freeze
A Russian strike destroyed a World Health Organization supply warehouse in Ukraine as Moscow formally rejected any ceasefire freeze not meeting Putin's demands.
Ukraine Drone Strike Kills 13 at Russian Oil Refinery Hub Nizhnekamsk
Ukrainian drones struck Nizhnekamsk in Russia's Tatarstan region, killing at least 13 people and wounding 39 in one of the war's deadliest attacks on Russian soil.
Russia Claims Two Villages in Eastern Ukraine as Frontline Battles Grind On
Russian forces say they seized two villages in eastern Ukraine while Kyiv reports active contact-line fighting, continuing a pattern of slow territorial attrition.
Taiwan Plans Record Defense Budget Amid Sharpening China Invasion Risk
Taiwan's government is set to submit its largest-ever defense appropriation, citing an accelerating Chinese military buildup and concerns about US weapons stockpile depth.
Zelensky: Up to 50,000 North Korean Troops Set for Russia Deployment
Zelensky says North Korea may send up to 50,000 soldiers to support Russia, the largest disclosed foreign troop commitment to Moscow since the war began.
Zelensky Says Ukrainian-Made Ballistic Missiles Will Be Ready to Strike Russia This Fall
Ukraine has developed domestically produced ballistic missiles capable of reaching Russian territory, Zelensky announced Sunday, reducing dependence on Western weapon approvals.
Taiwan's 'Hellscape' Drone Strategy: How the Island Plans to Blunt a Chinese Invasion
Taiwan is investing heavily in drone swarms and sea mines to turn any Chinese amphibious assault into a costly, contested nightmare in the Taiwan Strait.
Russia, Ukraine Exchange Overnight Strikes Leaving 7 Dead, Dozens Injured
Russia and Ukraine traded aerial attacks overnight Sunday, leaving at least seven dead and many injured, as both sides maintain sustained strike campaigns with no ceasefire in sight.
Zelensky Warns North Korea May Send 50,000 Troops to Russia
Ukrainian President Zelensky has warned that North Korea could deploy as many as 50,000 troops to support Russia, as overnight strikes killed two and wounded dozens.
China's Carrier Killers: What They Mean for a Taiwan Conflict
A new analysis warns China's expanding anti-ship missile arsenal could severely constrain U.S. naval operations in any Taiwan conflict scenario.
India Says It Will Study Mecca Pact That Strengthens Rival Pakistan
New Delhi responded cautiously to the Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan defense agreement, saying it would weigh the implications—while analysts warned the trilateral deal hands strategic weight to India's chief rival.
Houthis Hit Saudi Tanker Off Yanbu, Vow to Escalate Red Sea Campaign
Yemen's Houthis struck the Saudi oil tanker Wafa off Yanbu, the eighth Saudi vessel hit since their July 22 Bab el-Mandeb blockade, and said they will escalate attacks in the northern Red Sea.
Hormuz Announcement Slips as US and Iran Clash Over the Talks Themselves
The Strait of Hormuz deal US officials said could land this week has not materialized, and Washington and Tehran are now giving sharply conflicting accounts of whether direct talks are even happening.
Hormuz Deal Enters Final Drafting as Mine-Clearing Plan Emerges
Iran says an agreement with Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is in its final stage, with a newly reported plan to clear the median lane of mines within 30 days—still tied to the US lifting its port blockade.
Russian Barrage Kills 17 in Kyiv Region as Ukraine Hits Refineries
A two-hour Russian missile and drone barrage killed 17 and wounded 44 in the Kyiv region, Zelensky said, as Ukraine struck two major Russian oil refineries deep behind the front.
Proposed Hormuz Deal Could Give Iran Entry Control and Cargo Fees
Draft terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz would give Iran authority over inbound shipping and could impose cargo-based service fees, leaving major disputes unresolved despite claims that a deal is close.
Houthi Attack Sinks Indian-Flagged Ship as Red Sea Crisis Widens
An Indian-flagged commercial vessel sank after a Houthi attack in the Red Sea, adding another maritime flashpoint while diplomats focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Seeks Inbound Control of Hormuz Shipping in Temporary Reopening Plan
Iran is pressing for control over inbound vessel traffic and oversight of outbound movements through the Strait of Hormuz, exposing the central unresolved issue in current mediation efforts.
Qatar Reports Progress Toward U.S.-Iran Talks as Gulf Shipping Risk Persists
Qatar says mediators have made progress toward formal U.S.-Iran talks, but Tehran still disputes that negotiations have begun and another ship incident underscores the continuing danger in the Strait of Hormuz.
Russia Hits Zaporizhzhia With Eight Glide Bombs as Ukrainian Drones Kill Nine
A concentrated Russian glide-bomb attack wounded dozens in Zaporizhzhia while Ukrainian drones struck targets in southern Russia and occupied Crimea.
Gaza Strikes Continue as Disarmament Deal Stalls on Sequencing
Israeli strikes killed at least 18 Palestinians in Gaza as Israel and Hamas remained divided over whether disarmament or military withdrawal must happen first.
Trump Pauses New Iran Strike as Tehran Denies Direct Talks
President Donald Trump halted a planned attack on Iran and said negotiations were beginning, but Tehran denied that direct U.S.-Iran talks were underway.
Kyiv Strikes Three Russian Oil Refineries and Sanctioned Vessel
Ukrainian forces struck three Russian oil refineries and a sanctioned vessel Sunday, also hitting military bases and Wildberries logistics hubs on war Day 1,621.
China Conducts Military Drills Near Disputed Shoal in South China Sea
China's military conducted exercises near a contested South China Sea shoal, the latest assertion of Beijing's expansive maritime claims in the region.
Trump Backs Off Air-Defense Pledge as Russian Missiles Kill 9 in Kyiv
Russia killed at least nine people in Kyiv on Friday as President Trump retreated from a commitment to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, leaving gaps Russia quickly exploited.
Russia Strikes Kyiv Again, Killing at Least Four
Ukrainian officials confirmed at least four killed and 15 injured in Russian strikes on Kyiv Friday, as Moscow sustains its aerial campaign against the Ukrainian capital.
China Patrols Disputed South China Sea Shoal on PLA Anniversary
China deployed warships and aircraft near a disputed South China Sea shoal as Beijing marked the PLA's 99th anniversary with warnings against Taiwan independence.
Russia Pounds Kyiv With Ballistic Missiles and Drones, Killing Nine
Russia struck Kyiv with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least nine and wounding dozens in one of the deadliest attacks on the capital in recent weeks.