United States Defense and Military Forces – Page 16 – War Watch

International Trade and World Market | 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 Navy | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

A Weakened Iran Hits Back by Strangling the Vital Strait of Hormuz
ByAnton Troianovski, Peter Eavis, Julian E. Barnes and Greg Jaffe March 12, 2026March 12, 2026

The threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are complicating President Trump’s calculations about how and when to end the war.

Read More A Weakened Iran Hits Back by Strangling the Vital Strait of Hormuz
Freight (Cargo) | Houthis | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kuwait | live-detached | Maritime Accidents and Safety | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Persian Gulf | Persian Gulf War | Phillips, Stephen (Journalist) | Red Sea | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | United Arab Emirates | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Navy | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Iran’s Naval Mines: A History of Threats to Persian Gulf Shipping
ByFrancesca Regalado March 12, 2026March 13, 2026

The United States said this week that it had attacked 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. In the 1980s, Iranian mines damaged oil tankers and a U.S. Navy warship.

Read More Iran’s Naval Mines: A History of Threats to Persian Gulf Shipping
Defense Department | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Iraq War (2003-11) | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

How Hegseth Came to See Moral Purpose in War as Weakness
ByGreg Jaffe March 12, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bellicose and vengeful rhetoric describing the military’s war in Iran grew out of his experience in Iraq.

Read More How Hegseth Came to See Moral Purpose in War as Weakness
Defense Department | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Maduro, Nicolas | Putin, Vladimir V | Russia | Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) | State Department | Trump, Donald J | Ukraine | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | US-Venezuela Conflict (2025- ) | Venezuela | Zelensky, Volodymyr

Strong or Weak? How Trump Picks His Battles.
ByErica L. Green March 11, 2026

Despite his tough talk, President Trump has consistently made allowances for countries he sees as powerful or dominant.

Read More Strong or Weak? How Trump Picks His Battles.
Defense Intelligence Agency | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Military Bases and Installations | National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency | Shajarah Tayyebeh (Minab, Iran) | 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)

U.S. at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says
ByJulian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt, Tyler Pager, Malachy Browne and Helene Cooper March 11, 2026March 12, 2026

Outdated targeting data may have resulted in a mistaken missile strike, according to the ongoing military investigation, which undercuts President Trump’s assertion that Iran could be to blame.

Read More U.S. at Fault in Strike on School in Iran, Preliminary Inquiry Says
Bessent, Scott | Defense Department | Hegseth, Pete | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Leavitt, Karoline | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) | Rubio, Marco | Ships and Shipping | State Department | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Economy | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | Vance, J D | War and Armed Conflicts | Wright, Chris (1965- )

How Trump and His Advisers Miscalculated Iran’s Response to War
ByMark Mazzetti, Tyler Pager and Edward Wong March 11, 2026March 11, 2026

In the lead-up to the U.S.-Israeli attack, President Trump downplayed the risks to the energy markets as a short-term concern that should not overshadow the mission to decapitate the Iranian regime.

Read More How Trump and His Advisers Miscalculated Iran’s Response to War
Democratic Party | Hegseth, Pete | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Republican Party | Rubio, Marco | Senate | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Democrats Demand Hegseth and Rubio Testify on Iran War
ByMegan Mineiro and Robert Jimison March 10, 2026March 11, 2026

Senate Democratic leaders called on President Trump to dispatch the senior cabinet officials to make the case to Congress and the American public for the war in Iran.

Read More Democrats Demand Hegseth and Rubio Testify on Iran War
Caine, John Daniel (1968- ) | Defense Department | Drones (Pilotless Planes) | Hegseth, Pete | International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel War (2025- ) | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Joint Chiefs of Staff | Middle East | Military Bases and Installations | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | 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

Iranian Military Shows It Knows How to Adapt, U.S. Officials Say
ByHelene Cooper and Eric Schmitt March 10, 2026March 10, 2026

Iran appears to be targeting what it views as American vulnerabilities, including air defenses meant to guard troops and assets in the region.

Read More Iranian Military Shows It Knows How to Adapt, U.S. Officials Say
Civilian Casualties | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Trump Tries to Sidestep Blame for Any Civilian Deaths in Iran
ByLuke Broadwater March 10, 2026March 10, 2026

The president and the Pentagon have cast blame on Iran for the mounting toll. More than 1,800 people have died in the war, including many civilians.

Read More Trump Tries to Sidestep Blame for Any Civilian Deaths in Iran
Embargoes and Sanctions | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

U.S. Showers Iran With Bombs in Most Intense Strikes of the War, Pentagon Says
ByEric Schmitt and Thomas Fuller March 10, 2026March 11, 2026

Iranians cowered under the barrage as Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, said the U.S. aimed to wipe out Iran’s capacity to obtain nuclear weapons “forever.”

Read More U.S. Showers Iran With Bombs in Most Intense Strikes of the War, Pentagon Says