Defense Department – War Watch

Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Defense Department | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Rubio, Marco | Ships and Shipping | State Department | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump and Rubio Insist Iran War Is Over, Even as Missiles Fly During Cease-Fire
ByDavid E. Sanger May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

The White House is turning to rhetorical leaps as President Trump tries to put the biggest political crisis of his presidency behind him.

Read More Trump and Rubio Insist Iran War Is Over, Even as Missiles Fly During Cease-Fire
Defense Department | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

The Cheap Guided Rockets U.S. Forces Use Against Iranian Drones
ByJohn Ismay May 5, 2026

Called the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, it adds laser guidance to a weapon first used in the Korean War.

Read More The Cheap Guided Rockets U.S. Forces Use Against Iranian Drones
Arms trade | Defense Contracts | Defense Department | Federal Budget (US) | Hegseth, Pete | House Committee on Armed Services | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Lockheed Martin Corporation | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Production | Senate Committee on Armed Services | Shortages | Stockpiling | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump’s Plans to Boost Weapons Production Might Not Deliver for Years
ByHelene Cooper and Eric Schmitt April 30, 2026May 1, 2026

While the defense industry has announced plans to make more munitions, much of that expanded production will not quickly kick in.

Read More Trump’s Plans to Boost Weapons Production Might Not Deliver for Years
Budgets and Budgeting | Defense Department | Hegseth, Pete | House Committee on Armed Services | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) | United States Defense and Military Forces | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

Takeaways From Hegseth’s Testimony on Iran War and His Tenure
ByJohn Ismay and Megan Mineiro April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

It was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s first public appearance before Congress since Operation Epic Fury began in late February.

Read More Takeaways From Hegseth’s Testimony on Iran War and His Tenure
Defense Department | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Far East, South and Southeast Asia and Pacific Areas | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Military Aircraft | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Stockpiling | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Iran War Has Drained U.S. Supplies of Critical, Costly Weapons
ByEric Schmitt and Jonathan Swan April 23, 2026April 24, 2026

The Pentagon’s rush to rearm its Mideast forces makes it less ready to confront potential adversaries like Russia and China, administration and congressional officials say.

Read More Iran War Has Drained U.S. Supplies of Critical, Costly Weapons
Defense Department | Freight (Cargo) | Indian Ocean | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Oceans and Seas | Ships and Shipping | United States | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Navy | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

U.S. Forces Board a 2nd Tanker They Say Is Carrying Oil From Iran
ByEric Schmitt April 23, 2026

It was the second such action this week, as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Tehran.

Read More U.S. Forces Board a 2nd Tanker They Say Is Carrying Oil From Iran
Bay of Bengal | Defense Department | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Navy | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

U.S. Military Stops and Boards M/T Tifani, Tanker Carrying Iranian Oil, Pentagon Says
ByEric Schmitt April 21, 2026April 22, 2026

The seizure was the latest U.S. effort to squeeze Iran’s oil-reliant economy, and came days after the Navy boarded an Iranian cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz.

Read More U.S. Military Stops and Boards M/T Tifani, Tanker Carrying Iranian Oil, Pentagon Says
Defense Department | Gulf of Oman | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Ports | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Navy | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

The Touska, the Iranian-Flagged Ship Seized by U.S. Forces, Was Under Sanctions
ByEric Schmitt April 20, 2026April 20, 2026

Marines are searching thousands of containers aboard the Touska, an Iranian cargo ship that the Navy disabled and seized on Sunday.

Read More The Touska, the Iranian-Flagged Ship Seized by U.S. Forces, Was Under Sanctions
Civilian Casualties | Defense Department | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Senate | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | Van Hollen, Christopher Jr | Warren, Elizabeth

Democratic Senators Fault Hegseth’s Leadership on Iran
ByJohn Ismay April 20, 2026

In a letter, the 11 senators questioned the defense secretary’s decision to gut programs intended to protect civilians and said his orders endangered U.S. troops.

Read More Democratic Senators Fault Hegseth’s Leadership on Iran
Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Defense Department | Gulf of Oman | Hegseth, Pete | Infrastructure (Public Works) | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Central Command | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Navy | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War Crimes, Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity

Hegseth Again Threatens Attacks on Iran’s Civilian Infrastructure
ByJohn Ismay April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

The U.S. blockade of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz would last “for as long as it takes,” the defense secretary said.

Read More Hegseth Again Threatens Attacks on Iran’s Civilian Infrastructure