United States Defense and Military Forces – Page 8 – War Watch

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How the Cole Disaster Drove the U.S. to Develop New Warship Defenses
ByNicholas Kulish, John Ismay and Constant Méheut April 21, 2026

The Navy destroyers enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports carry weapons fielded after an American warship was attacked and nearly sunk more than 25 years ago.

Read More How the Cole Disaster Drove the U.S. to Develop New Warship Defenses
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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
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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
Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | United States Defense and Military Forces | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Strait of Hormuz Is Open During Cease-Fire in Lebanon, U.S. and Iran Say
ByPeter Eavis, Jenny Gross and Joe Rennison April 17, 2026April 17, 2026

Statements from President Trump and Iran aimed to raise confidence in the safety of the waterway, but shipping experts said risks remained.

Read More Strait of Hormuz Is Open During Cease-Fire in Lebanon, U.S. and Iran Say
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U.S. Completes Handover of Military Bases in Syria
ByRaja Abdulrahim April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

The transition signals the end of a formal U.S. military presence in Syria for the first time in more than a decade.

Read More U.S. Completes Handover of Military Bases in Syria
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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
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House Again Thwarts Challenge to Trump’s Authority to Continue Iran War
ByRobert Jimison and Megan Mineiro April 16, 2026April 16, 2026

The G.O.P. narrowly blocked a Democratic war powers resolution, but a senior Republican suggested that backing for the conflict is not open-ended and could wane as a statutory deadline approaches in weeks.

Read More House Again Thwarts Challenge to Trump’s Authority to Continue Iran War
Embargoes and Sanctions | internal-open-access-from-nl | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Persian Gulf | Ports | 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)

Iran-Linked Ships Slow or Stop as U.S. Navy Enforces Strait of Hormuz Blockade
ByJenny Gross April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

More than a dozen U.S. Navy warships are enforcing a blockade on all vessels from all nations entering or leaving coastal areas or ports in Iran.

Read More Iran-Linked Ships Slow or Stop as U.S. Navy Enforces Strait of Hormuz Blockade
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Trump’s Blockade Risks Upending an Emerging Détente With China
ByDavid E. Sanger and Tyler Pager April 15, 2026April 15, 2026

In a thinly veiled critique of the war in Iran, China’s leader said the world could not risk reverting “to the law of the jungle.”

Read More Trump’s Blockade Risks Upending an Emerging Détente With China
Freight (Cargo) | 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 | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

State of U.S. Blockade Is Unclear as Some Ships Transit Strait of Hormuz
ByJohn Yoon and Francesca Regalado April 14, 2026April 14, 2026

Ship-tracking data showed that several vessels, including some that had been docked at Iranian ports, had moved through the strait as the U.S. military began its blockade.

Read More State of U.S. Blockade Is Unclear as Some Ships Transit Strait of Hormuz