United States Defense and Military Forces – 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
Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Defense and Military Forces | Hegseth, Pete | Hezbollah | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Joint Chiefs of Staff | Lebanon | Pakistan | Peace Process | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United Arab Emirates | United States | United States Defense and Military Forces | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump Says U.S. Pausing Efforts to Guide Ships Through Strait Blocked by Iran
ByEric Schmitt, Greg Jaffe, Leo Sands and Erica L. Green May 5, 2026May 6, 2026

President Trump said a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would “remain in full force.” The shift came after the defense secretary said U.S. efforts to free trapped vessels would continue.

Read More Trump Says U.S. Pausing Efforts to Guide Ships Through Strait Blocked by Iran
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
Defense and Military Forces | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Peace Process | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

What We Know About ‘Project Freedom’ in the Strait of Hormuz
ByAmelia Nierenberg May 5, 2026May 6, 2026

President Trump on Tuesday abruptly paused an American initiative to help guide stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

Read More What We Know About ‘Project Freedom’ in the Strait of Hormuz
Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

U.S. Shot Down Iranian Missiles and Drones Aimed at American Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Admiral Says
ByEric Schmitt May 4, 2026

An exchange of fire threatened to shatter a fragile cease-fire as President Trump seeks to break Iran’s effective blockade of the waterway.

Read More U.S. Shot Down Iranian Missiles and Drones Aimed at American Vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Admiral Says
Defense and Military Forces | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Central Command | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Strikes in U.A.E., Oman and at Sea Strain Iran Truce to the Breaking Point
ByAaron Boxerman and Sanam Mahoozi May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

The drone and missile attacks were the first of their kind since the U.S.-Iranian cease-fire began last month. They coincided with reported clashes between American and Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Read More Strikes in U.A.E., Oman and at Sea Strain Iran Truce to the Breaking Point
Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East | Ships and Shipping | 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 Says U.S. Will Help Stranded Ships Leave Strait of Hormuz
ByZolan Kanno-Youngs and David E. Sanger May 3, 2026May 4, 2026

President Trump offered few details on how the new program, which he called Project Freedom, would work, but said interference would be dealt with “forcefully.”

Read More Trump Says U.S. Will Help Stranded Ships Leave Strait of Hormuz
Democratic Party | Federal Budget (US) | Hegseth, Pete | House of Representatives | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq War (2003-11) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Moulton, Seth W | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Hegseth’s and Moulton’s Parallel Lives Collide Over Iran
ByGreg Jaffe May 2, 2026

The defense secretary and Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat, debated the Iran war through the prism of their shared experiences fighting Iraq.

Read More Hegseth’s and Moulton’s Parallel Lives Collide Over Iran
Defense and Military Forces | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Nuclear weapons | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Peace Process | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump ‘Not Satisfied’ With Iran’s Proposal on Ending War
ByYeganeh Torbati and Leily Nikounazar May 1, 2026May 2, 2026

The details of the latest plan were unclear, and President Trump did not specify his objections.

Read More Trump ‘Not Satisfied’ With Iran’s Proposal on Ending War
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