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Real-time aggregation — ISW • Bellingcat • The Warzone • War on the Rocks • Reuters • Google News

Updated: May 06, 2026 • 16:45 UTC  •  199 articles

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The Warzone 3h ago

Coast Guard Creates Its Own Special Operations Command

The Coast Guard is putting all of its specialized forces under a single headquarters as demand for their services is at an all-time high. The post Coast Guard Creates Its Own Special Operations Command appeared first on The War Zone .

War on the Rocks 9h ago

The Cop on the Corner Is Our First Line of Defense: Local Police and the Surveillance Detection Gap

Just before midnight on Nov. 24, 2025, New Castle County police officers conducting a routine property check in Wilmington’s Canby Park spotted a white Toyota Tacoma parked after hours. What initially appeared to be a standard traffic stop uncovered a detailed terror plot. The suspect — a University of Delaware student — was found in possession of a converted machine gun, more than 100 rounds of a

War on the Rocks 9h ago

Between Intent and Capability: Assessing the Lack of Iranian Attacks on the U.S. Homeland

Three days into the Iran war, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the quiet part out loud: The Revolutionary Guard’s Qods Force has long carried out plots around the world and now intended to deploy those capabilities against the U.S. homeland. The United States, a Qods Force statement carried on Iranian television warned, “will no longer be safe” as the Qods Force targets Americans with

War on the Rocks 21h ago

How the War with Iran Is Shaping U.S.-Chinese Competition

The war with Iran has once again raised questions about Washington’s ability to prioritize its interests in East Asia and particularly to manage intensifying competition with Beijing. Furthermore, the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have presented American and Chinese leaders with new challenges and potential opportunities, as they respond to the war’s global impacts. We asked five exp

War on the Rocks 1d ago

Acquisition Reform Needs Its Own Wargame

One number buried in the Pentagon’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request reveals a decade of acquisition decisions in a data point: The U.S. Navy is requesting 785 Tomahawk cruise missiles. In 2025, Congress funded 55. That 1,200 percent jump is the cost of choices never stress-tested against the scenario unfolding today — a sustained air campaign against Iran while China watches the magazine drain.As

War on the Rocks 1d ago

Practice Makes Deterrence: India’s Next Nuclear Challenge at Sea

When India’s third ballistic missile-carrying, nuclear-powered submarine — the INS Aridhaman — entered service on April 3, 2026, it marked a milestone decades in the making.With three boomers, India can now reliably always maintain at least one on deterrent patrol, thus completing the sea leg of its nuclear deterrent. Earlier, India successfully tested the capability to deploy multiple independent

War on the Rocks 1d ago

Abandoned and Ungoverned: Lebanon’s Palestinian and Syrian Populations and the Emerging Radicalization Landscape

Inside Lebanon, the conditions for the next extremist uprising are quietly taking root.In the summer of 2007, the Lebanese Armed Forces fought Fatah al-Islam for three months inside Nahr al-Bared, a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon. Fatah al-Islam was a Salafi-jihadist group that exploited the camp’s power vacuum to establish a strong recruitment base, drawing recruits from Palestinian

The Warzone 1d ago

Israel’s First KC-46 Tanker Is Now Flying

The first new tanker is set to arrive in Israel in around a month and will help relieve pressure on the IAF's tiny and very old KC-707 tanker force. The post Israel’s First KC-46 Tanker Is Now Flying appeared first on The War Zone .

War on the Rocks 2d ago

Looking at Europe With a Sharper Eye

Welcome to The Ukraine Compass, a weekly digest of Ukrainian commentary and analysis from across the political spectrum only for War on the Rocks members. Each Monday, we bring you a curated selection of articles from Ukrainian media offering insight into how Ukrainians themselves debate the issues shaping their country.American coverage often narrows the view to the battlefield — these pieces wid

War on the Rocks 2d ago

Cheap Missiles, Not Drones, Will Win the Next Air War

After four years of watching the war in Ukraine, NATO defense decision-makers are finally beginning to pour money into drones. The Iran conflict has drawn further attention to these investments. The assumption is that unmanned aerial systems will ensure a long-term advantage in conflicts requiring ground operations and infrastructure defense.But the battlefield in Ukraine is already pointing towar

War on the Rocks 2d ago

The Illusion of Sovereignty: How International Law and Big Tech are Eroding the State

Caught between two hammers — international law and technological dependence on the private sector — modern state sovereignty is in crisis. When a state attempts to act decisively against an adversary operating below the threshold of armed attack, it risks not only diplomatic sanctions and international condemnation but the loss of access to critical digital infrastructure owned by private corporat

War on the Rocks 2d ago

Why Kim Jong Un Won’t Pick Up the Phone and What to Do About It

Every American administration pledges to learn from the past when devising a strategy for contending with nuclear North Korea. And yet, few portfolios are so paralyzed by path dependency and resistance to learning. But now, confronted with the inescapable prospect that the legacy approach is actually creating risk rather than reducing it, the time has come to learn and pivot.The Trump administrati

The Warzone 2d ago

Where Are The Carriers As Of May 3, 2026: Ford Finally Heads Home

Two carrier strike groups remain in the Middle East as President Trump announces Project Freedom to get trapped ships out of the Persian Gulf. The post Where Are The Carriers As Of May 3, 2026: Ford Finally Heads Home appeared first on The War Zone .

The Warzone 2d ago

Israel To Buy Extra F-15IA And F-35I Squadrons

After years of high-tempo operations in the Middle East, Israel has locked in plans to further expand its airpower with new F-15IA and F-35I fighters. The post Israel To Buy Extra F-15IA And F-35I Squadrons appeared first on The War Zone .

The Warzone 2d ago

Could The X-BAT Stealth Fighter Drone Change The Air Combat Game?

We talk with Armor Harris, the chief designer of X-BAT, about its GE engine, thrust-vectoring controls, Hivemind AI 'pilot' and forthcoming flight-test plans. The post Could The X-BAT Stealth Fighter Drone Change The Air Combat Game? appeared first on The War Zone .

The Warzone 4d ago

New Nuclear Bunker Buster Bomb Plans Revealed (Updated)

There has been talk for decades about a true successor to the specialized deep bunker-busting B61-11 nuclear bomb. The post New Nuclear Bunker Buster Bomb Plans Revealed (Updated) appeared first on The War Zone .

War on the Rocks 5d ago

Modern Combat Requires Warrior Medics Modeled After Machaon

Modern peer combat has blown apart the myth of protected combat medical units. On the battlefields of Ukraine, scores of medical personnel, shielded in theory by both international law and historic norms, now lie dead. To survive in this environment while rescuing others, medics ranging from junior enlisted caregivers to senior physicians need tactical experience under fire. Skipping this training

War on the Rocks 5d ago

Why Lebanon Is Nonnegotiable for Iran

As American and Iranian diplomats gathered in early April in Islamabad for Pakistan‑mediated ceasefire talks to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and its regional allies, including Hizballah, a sticking point emerged: whether the ceasefire was to include Lebanon. The United States and Israel initially rejected the notion that Lebanon had been part of the agreement, with President Donald Trump ref

War on the Rocks 5d ago

Economic Fury and Claims of Victory

Welcome to The Adversarial. Every other week, we’ll provide you with expert analysis on America’s greatest challengers: China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and jihadists. Read more below.***IranThree weeks since a ceasefire took effect, the United States and Iran have shifted from open hostilities to unsuccessful negotiations to economic brinksmanship. The Trump administration has been squeezing Teh

War on the Rocks 6d ago

What a Post-Orbán Hungary Means for Hungarians and Europe

Hungary has turned the page. After 16 years of rule by Viktor Orbán, opposition leader Péter Magyar has emerged as the winner by a landslide. Ryan is joined by Sándor Ésik, the lawyer and writer behind the Hungarian Muse, to understand how Orbán built his “soft-authoritarian” system, how it failed to stave off Magyar’s challenge, and what comes next. Of course, Orbán was anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russia

War on the Rocks 6d ago

Correcting Course in the Indo‑Pacific

Last month, President Donald Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for a visit that captured both the promise and the shortcomings of America’s Indo‑Pacific strategy.In some ways, the meeting was a success: It produced a few commercial deals, reaffirmed the strength of the bilateral relationship, and — most importantly — demonstrated a visibly warm personal rapport between the two le

War on the Rocks 6d ago

Rethinking Corporate Risk and Alignment in an Era of Economic Statecraft

Editor’s note: This article is the eighth in an 11-part series examining how the United States should organize, lead, and integrate economic statecraft into strategy, defense practice, and the broader national security ecosystem. This special series is brought to you by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and War on the Rocks. Prior installments can be found at the War by Other Ledgers page.I

War on the Rocks 6d ago

The Trump Administration Hasn’t Forgotten America’s Backyard

On Jan. 3, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and they are now imprisoned in the United States. That operation followed a buildup of U.S. military assets in the Caribbean and the launching of strikes against boats allegedly trafficking drugs. The latest National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy emphasize the importance of the Western Hemisphere to

War on the Rocks 6d ago

Human Geography: The Strategic Edge in a Complex World

In 2024, Judd Devermont wrote, “Human Geography Is Mission-Critical,” where he argued that the United States should focus on behaviors and attitudes informed by human geography to craft better strategy. Two years later, we asked Judd to revisit his arguments. Image: Samuel Lamptey via Wikimedia CommonsIn your 2024 article, you argued that the United States needed to focus its attention on behavior

War on the Rocks 7d ago

Aligning the U.S. and Canadian Defense Industrial Bases

The United States and Canada are both racing to rebuild their defense industrial bases, recognizing that future conflicts will be determined not only by military capability, but by the ability to produce at scale. But they cannot succeed alone — and importantly, they do not need to start from scratch.After decades of reliance on globalized supply chains for everything from consumer products to cri

War on the Rocks 7d ago

Western Withdrawal, Jihadist Expansion: How the Sahel Became Ground Zero for Global Terrorism

On April 25, armed groups launched near-simultaneous attacks against military installations and key strategic sites across Mali. Claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, a jihadist group, and conducted in coordination with Tuareg separatist forces from the Front de libération de l’Azawad, the attacks targeted multiple nodes across the country’s security architecture simultaneously, from th

Bellingcat 12d ago

“Make Iran Ungovernable” – Tracking Efforts To Destroy Iran’s Police Infrastructure

Bellingcat has identified at least 80 police stations or infrastructure related to law enforcement agencies and the Basij paramilitary group that has been damaged or destroyed in the first three weeks of the United States and Israel’s war against Iran. Experts told Bellingcat that both countries aim to degrade the Iranian regime’s “repressive capacity”. Combined, […] The post “Make Iran Ungovernab

Bellingcat 16d ago

Mining China’s ‘Little Red Book’ for Open Source Gold

The challenges of conducting open-source research in China are well-documented. Consistently named one of the most digitally oppressive countries in the world, China blocks some of the world’s largest social media platforms, such as Facebook, Google, and YouTube. Those that are still accessible are mostly Chinese-owned, strictly regulated and monitored in real time by AI […] The post Mining China’

Bellingcat 19d ago

Painkiller Pipeline: 300 Million Tapentadol Pills Sent from India to West Africa

This article is the result of a collaboration with Indian media outlet Newslaundry. You can find Newslaundry’s editorially independent coverage here. Indian companies have shipped more than 320 million synthetic opioid pills to West Africa – where they have not been approved by regulators – over the past three years, a Bellingcat investigation has found. […] The post Painkiller Pipeline: 300 Milli

Bellingcat 27d ago

‘Snoopy’, ‘Adolf’ and ‘Password’: The Hungarian Government Passwords Exposed Online

Almost 800 Hungarian government email addresses and associated passwords are circulating online, revealing basic vulnerabilities in the security protocols of ministries involved in classified and sensitive work. A Bellingcat analysis of breach data shows that 12 out of the government’s 13 ministries have been affected, which in some cases have exposed the confidential information of […] The post ‘

Bellingcat 29d ago

When Satellite Imagery Goes Dark: New Tool Shows Damage in Iran and the Gulf

Access to open source visuals of the current Iran conflict, which has spread to many parts of the Middle East, continues to be sporadic. Videos and photos from within Iran trickle out on social media as the Iranian internet blackout hinders the flow of digital communication.  In past conflicts, satellite imagery has provided a vital […] The post When Satellite Imagery Goes Dark: New Tool Shows Dam

Bellingcat 34d ago

The War You’re Not Allowed to See: How the UAE Rewrites the Story of Iranian Strikes

Bellingcat has identified several high-profile incidents where authorities in the United Arab Emirates have downplayed damage, mischaracterised interceptions and in some instances not acknowledged successful Iranian drone strikes on the country. A review of official statements shows that the public account does not always align with what can be observed through open sources. This comes […] The pos

Bellingcat 35d ago

Croatia’s Football Team Signed Deal With Gambling Sponsor Whose Rep Used Fake Name

This article is the result of a collaboration with Josimar. You can find Josimar’s corresponding piece here. A European academic used a false name to represent an opaque Asian-facing bookmaker that is sponsoring Croatia’s national football team in the run up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Croatia’s national governing body of football, the Croatian […] The post Croatia’s Football Team Signed Deal With

Bellingcat 36d ago

How India’s Ruling Party is Using AI to Boost Hate Speech in States Near Bangladesh

The video posted by a state branch of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) showed Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shooting an image of two men in Muslim skull caps. “Foreigner-free Assam”, read one caption across the video. “Why did you not go to Pakistan?” said another.  One of the men in the photo […] The post How India’s Ruling Party is Using AI to Boost Hate Speech in States Ne

Bellingcat 39d ago

Two Waves of Bombing: New Videos Reveal Further Details About Iran School Strike

Bellingcat has geolocated and verified two new videos showing the deadly strikes that hit an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) compound as well as an adjacent school in the city of Minab in late February. The new videos were released by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and show multiple missiles hitting the complex.  One of […] The post Two Waves of Bombing: New Videos Reveal Further Deta