Defense Department – War Watch

al-Shara, Ahmed (Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) (1982- ) | Defense Department | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Palmyra (Syria) | Politics and Government | Syria | Syrian Democratic Forces | Terrorism | United States | United States Defense and Military Forces

Deadly Attack on U.S. Troops Poses Growing Challenge for Syria’s Leader
ByAbdi Latif Dahir December 14, 2025December 15, 2025

The attack further complicates President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s efforts to unify the country and rebuild relationships with the international community, analysts say.

Read More Deadly Attack on U.S. Troops Poses Growing Challenge for Syria’s Leader
Assad, Bashar al- | Defense Department | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Palmyra (Syria) | Politics and Government | Syria | United States | United States Defense and Military Forces

3 Americans Killed in ISIS Attack in Syria, Trump Says, Vowing to Retaliate
ByAbdi Latif Dahir and Christina Goldbaum December 13, 2025December 14, 2025

Two soldiers and a civilian interpreter were killed while supporting counterterror operations, the Pentagon said. They are the first U.S. casualties in Syria since the fall of the dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Read More 3 Americans Killed in ISIS Attack in Syria, Trump Says, Vowing to Retaliate
Bondi, Pamela J | Defense Department | Embargoes and Sanctions | Federal Bureau of Investigation | Homeland Security Department | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Maduro, Nicolas | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Petroleos de Venezuela SA | Ships and Shipping | Smuggling | United States Coast Guard | United States International Relations | Venezuela

What to Know About Trump’s Seizure of an Oil Tanker Near Venezuela
ByEdward Wong and Nicholas Nehamas December 11, 2025December 13, 2025

The tanker was headed eastward and had recently carried Iranian oil. The seizure is an escalation in President Trump’s military pressure campaign against Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro.

Read More What to Know About Trump’s Seizure of an Oil Tanker Near Venezuela
Assassinations and Attempted Assassinations | Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Co | Defense and Military Forces | Defense Department | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Khashoggi, Jamal | Middle East | Military Aircraft | Mohammed bin Salman (1985- ) | Royal Families | Saudi Arabia | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government

Here’s the latest.
ByKatie Rogers November 18, 2025November 19, 2025

The president is offering the crown prince fighter jets, a nuclear agreement and other deals as part of his efforts to collect investment and push forward on Middle East peace.

Read More Here’s the latest.
Assassinations and Attempted Assassinations | Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Co | Defense and Military Forces | Defense Department | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Khashoggi, Jamal | Middle East | Military Aircraft | Mohammed bin Salman (1985- ) | Royal Families | Saudi Arabia | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government

Here’s the latest.
ByKatie Rogers November 18, 2025November 18, 2025

The president is offering the crown prince fighter jets, a nuclear agreement and other deals as part of his efforts to collect investment and push forward on Middle East peace.

Read More Here’s the latest.
Biden, Joseph R Jr | Defense and Military Forces | Defense Department | Defense Intelligence Agency | Hegseth, Pete | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel-Gaza War (2023- ) | Israel–Iran War | Khaled bin Salman, Prince of Saudi Arabia | Military Aircraft | Mohammed bin Salman (1985- ) | Saudi Arabia | Trump, Donald J | United Arab Emirates | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government

U.S. Officials Raise Concerns About Saudi Arabia’s Bid for F-35 Jets
ByEdward Wong and Eric Schmitt November 13, 2025

A Pentagon intelligence report says China could try to acquire advanced F-35 technology in Saudi Arabia if the Trump administration sells jets to the kingdom.

Read More U.S. Officials Raise Concerns About Saudi Arabia’s Bid for F-35 Jets
Caribbean Area | Defense Department | Grenell, Richard | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Maduro, Nicolas | Qatar | Rubio, Marco | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | Venezuela

Qatar Pushes U.S.-Venezuela Diplomacy as Trump Focuses on Military Action
ByEdward Wong, Eric Schmitt and Julie Turkewitz October 8, 2025

The Pentagon has deployed 10,000 U.S. troops to the region, most of them to bases in Puerto Rico, a senior military official said.

Read More Qatar Pushes U.S.-Venezuela Diplomacy as Trump Focuses on Military Action
Central Intelligence Agency | Defense Department | Defense Intelligence Agency | Fordo (Iran) | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Isfahan (Iran) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Natanz (Iran) | Nuclear weapons | Stockpiling | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | Uranium

Iran’s Fordo Nuclear Site Was Badly Damaged by U.S. Strikes, New Assessment Finds
ByJulian E. Barnes, David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt July 17, 2025

A clearer picture begins to emerge of what the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites achieved.

Read More Iran’s Fordo Nuclear Site Was Badly Damaged by U.S. Strikes, New Assessment Finds
Central Intelligence Agency | Defense Department | Defense Intelligence Agency | Fordo (Iran) | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Isfahan (Iran) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Natanz (Iran) | Nuclear weapons | Stockpiling | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | Uranium

Iran’s Fordo Nuclear Site Was Badly Damaged by U.S. Strikes, New Assessment Finds
ByJulian E. Barnes, David E. Sanger and Eric Schmitt July 17, 2025

A clearer picture begins to emerge of what the Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites achieved.

Read More Iran’s Fordo Nuclear Site Was Badly Damaged by U.S. Strikes, New Assessment Finds
Bombs and Explosives | Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Defense and Military Forces | Defense Department | Fordo (Iran) | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Isfahan (Iran) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Joint Chiefs of Staff | Military Aircraft | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Natanz (Iran) | Nuclear weapons | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government

Pentagon Details Multipronged Attack on Iranian Nuclear Sites
ByHelene Cooper and John Ismay June 22, 2025

B-2 stealth bombers, fighter aircraft and submarine-launched cruise missiles struck Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan during “Operation Midnight Hammer.”

Read More Pentagon Details Multipronged Attack on Iranian Nuclear Sites