I - On Defense Podcast
Probably the best defense commentary in the world. Top military and defense industry analysis in 45 minutes or less.
Episodes
Report: Bombed Syrian Air Base Was Planned Location for Turkish Air Defense System + US Adds New Sanctions Against Cuba + US to Announce "Toughest Sanctions in History" Against Iran on Monday
For review:1. The United States tightened sanctions on Cuba on Thursday, blacklisting three officials tied to a state-run organization that promotes Cuba's ties with foreign solidarity activists, along with nine state entities in the metals, mining and construction sectors.2. Israel reportedly claimed to the US that Turkey was planning to set up an air defense system on the airbase in north
Israel Confirms Attack on Syrian Air Base; Cites Violation of Security Status Quo; Syria Repeatedly Warned + President Trump Declares "Economic D-Day" Against Iran + Aircraft Carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) Arrives in CENTCOM AOR
For review:1. Israel confirmed late Tuesday that it was behind overnight strikes against a Sysrian military airport, where it claimed Turkey was planning to deploy forces.2. Turkey’s Defense Ministry denied Thursday that a Turkish military delegation had visited Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase ahead of Israeli strikes on the site this week, a day after Syria’s foreign minister had said that such a vi
President Trump Reduces Combined Military Exercise with S. Korea + Unknown Warplanes Strike Airbase in N.W. Syria; Israeli Jets Suspected + US Army Selects Hanwha to Deliver 155mm K9 Mobile Tactical Cannon Prototypes
For review:1. South Korea on Monday expressed hopes for resumption of diplomacy between the U.S. and North Korea to ease animosities on the Korean Peninsula, as President Trump reduces exercises with South Korea.2. The runway of a military airport in northwestern Syria was targeted by unidentified fighter jets overnight Monday, with Damascus blaming Israel for the airstrike and the United States d
President Trump Envoy Kushner Meets with Hamas Chief in Egypt + Report: Israel Eyes Strategic Ali Taher Ridge in Lebanon + US CENTCOM & UAE AI Task Force
For review:1. US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and top aide Jared Kushner met with Hamas chief Khalil al-Hayya in the Egyptian coastal city of El-Alamein on Sunday, an Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel.2. The White House established a secret backchannel with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to a Sunday report, which said that the United States has been informed that t
US CENTCOM Commander Meets with Saudi Arabia's Prince Mohammed bin Salman + Russia Questions US on Alleged Support to Ukraine Strikes + US Army M1E3 & XM30 Prototypes
For review:1. Russia believes the United States is deeply involved in Ukrainian attacks against it and has raised the issue with Washington, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in comments broadcast on Friday.He said that the alleged U.S. support included the supply of intelligence.2. US President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States will hit Iran hard economically, as Washington and
Report: Iranian Assassination Threat Against President Trump at Ankara NATO Summit Forced Plane Transfer + US To Withdraw Forces from Iraq by 30 Sep + Houthis Attack Commercial Vessel in Bab el-Mandeb
For review:1.Israel told the United States about the Iranian assassination threat that prompted the US Secret Service to take President Donald Trump off Air Force One and transfer to another military plane as he prepared to fly out of Turkey last month, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed US official.Later Tuesday, Trump confirmed that he had indeed been smuggled off Air Fo
President Trump: Iran Financially "in Bad Shape" + Board of Peace Mladenov Interview: Plan Not Built on Trust; Everything Will Be Verified + US Secretary of State: More Economic Pressure on Cuba
For review:1. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the administration of President Donald Trump is escalating economic pressure on Cuba with an unprecedented sanctions campaign and warned that "there are no escape valves."2. Yemen's Houthis said they attacked an oil facility Sunday in southwestern Saudi Arabia, the latest attack by the Iranian-backed rebels on the kingdom.3.
Saudi Arabia - Turkey - Pakistan Sign Joint Defense Agreement in Mecca; Agreement Defensive in Nature; Potential for Egypt to Join + USAF / USN Long-Range JDAM
For review:1. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a joint defense agreement in Mecca on Friday.The agreement is intended to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression and stipulates that an armed attack against any of the three would be regarded as an attack on all, they said in a joint statement.2. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says that the defense pact his countr
No Deal Yet on Hormuz Strait + US Triples Patriot and Quadruples THAAD Interceptor Production
For review:1. Report: Mossad chief removes 2 senior officials behind aborted Iran regime-change plan 2. Iran’s foreign ministry said Wednesday that Iran and Oman have agreed on a route for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz and are putting the final touches on arrangements for jointly managing the waterway.3. Lebanon and Israel held a fresh round of US-sponsored talks in Rome on Tuesday. This w
Iran / Oman Strait of Hormuz Plan + Gaza Board of Peace Head Meets with Israeli PM; No IDF Withdrawal Until Full Disarmament + Former AFU Chief: Ukraine Will Never Join NATO
For review:1. US President Donald Trump held a phone call earlier today with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during which the pair discussed “efforts to deescalate tensions between the US and Iran,” the latter’s office says.2. Iran and the Gulf Arab state of Oman have made progress toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a potential breakthrough that could help wind down the war in the
President Trump On Iran's Denial of Talks: "Iranian Leadership is Duplicitous" + Ukraine Armed Forces New Commander in Chief
For review:1. US President Donald Trump on Monday said that Washington and Tehran were currently engaged in talks, pushing back on Iranian claims to the contrary and accusing the Islamic Republic of being “unbelievably duplicitous.” In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump lashed out at Iran and insisted that negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz had already begun and that more w
President Trump Halts Combined US-Israel Strikes; Deal with Iran Under Mediation + Secretary of State Rubio: Diplomatic Efforts in the Coming Weeks to Restart Moscow - Kiev Negotiations + US to Transfer SAG-U Leadership
For review:1. US Sec of State Rubio raised concerns about Cuba’s ability to infiltrate and influence top-level U.S. institutions, detailing what he described as a dangerous Cuban spy network that is undermining American interests. 2. Secretary of State Rubio: Diplomatic Efforts in the Coming Weeks to Restart Moscow - Kiev Negotiations.3. The Pentagon is giving up leadership of a U.S.-led NATO com
Report: US & Israel Preparing for Combined Strikes Against Iran + Hamas and Armed Groups Reach Disarmament Agreement in Gaza + Report: Saudi Arabia Preparing for Combat with Houthis
For review:1. Saudi Arabia is gearing up for a major offensive against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, by sea and possibly including a ground operation, The Guardian reported Thursday. 2. The United States and Israel are planning what would be one of the harshest bombing campaigns to date against energy infrastructure in Iran, multiple sources told CBS News, with strikes possible throughout the
Iran's Surprise Attack on US Forces in Jordan (Tuesday) ; US Launches "Powerful" Strikes in Response + Report: Iran to Receive Shoulder-Launched AD Systems from China via Pakistan + US Begins Force Posture Review in Europe
For review:1. Iran fired multiple ballistic missiles at a U.S. base in the Middle East on Tuesday evening, in what U.S. Central Command called an attempted surprise attack.2. US Central Command announces that it has renewed airstrikes in Iran, in what it calls “a powerful response to yesterday’s attempted Iranian attacks on US forces based in the Middle East.”3. A drone hit a US-owned gas storage
US & Iran Meeting Through Mediators; Pause on Attacks Holds + Ukraine Attacks Iranian Vessel in Caspian Sea: Suspected of Carrying Military Cargo to Russia + India Tests Domestic Air Defense Interceptor
For review:1. Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Iraq reported drone attacks in their territory Monday amid a lull in US air strikes against Iran.2. US President Donald Trump said Monday that he paused military strikes on Iran to give diplomacy another chance, amid a report of “significant” progress in talks to end the war. But he added that he is prepared to authorize another major attack on the I
US & Iran Pause Attacks; President Trump Allowing Time for Negotiations + Hamas Elects New Leader + US State Department: Turkey Does Not Meet Criteria for F-35s
For review:1. The United States refrained from striking Iran overnight Friday-Saturday for the first day in two weeks.After the quiet night in Iran, there were also no reports on Saturday of attacks by Iran on its Gulf neighbors, which have been taking place daily as well.2. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the White House, the premier’s office an
US Strikes Iran for 13th Consecutive Night + President Trump Considers "Massive Attack" on Iran + Houthi Rebels Attack Saudi Arabian Tankers in Red Sea; US Says Iran Will Be Held Responsible
For review:1. Iran has reportedly rejected a ceasefire deal passed along from the United States by Iraqi mediators.According to The New York Times, citing Iranian and Iraqi officials, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi traveled to Iran today with a proposal formulated not long after he met with US President Donald Trump in the White House earlier this month.2. The US military says it completed its
US Hits Iran for 11th Consecutive Night + Lebanon's President Aoun in Washington: Ready to "End Hostilities with Israel" + Houthi Rebels Maritime Embargo of Saudi Arabia
For review:1. US Central Command (CENTCOM) says it has completed its 11th consecutive evening of air strikes against Iran to further degrade the country’s “ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz”.2. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that his country was in a “full-scale war” with the United States and that Tehran should accept the repercussions of the conflic
US Strikes Iran for 9th Consecutive Night + Lebanon's President Aoun in Washington D.C. for Official Visit
For review:1. US President Donald Trump says the latest military strikes on Iran are being carried out in honor of US servicemembers killed in recent days.The US military launched a new wave of strikes targeting Iran early on Monday, the ninth consecutive night of attacks."The strikes will continue degrading Iranian military capabilities used to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners
US Strikes Continue for Seventh Night + US Sending Additional Air Refueling Tankers to Israel + Army / Navy Hypersonic Missile Effort
For review:1. China on Thursday voiced strong opposition to any potential US military action against Cuba after reports that the Pentagon was examining contingency plans for possible operations against the island.2. The US military said it carried out the seventh night of strikes on Iran since President Donald Trump declared the temporary ceasefire agreement was "over".In a statement sha
US Continues Strikes on Iran; President Trump Considers Attacking Infrastructure + Israeli PM NetanyahuTravels to US Saturday + US Army Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher
For review:1. US Military planners have in recent weeks examined a range of options for possible action against the island, including an Army-led air assault involving thousands of U.S. soldiers to be carried out by the 101st Airborne Division, the only unit trained for such a task, according to multiple U.S. officials with knowledge of the discussions. 2. US President Trump is leaning toward furt
US Continues Strikes on Iran; President Trump Threatens to Target Pickaxe Mountain + President Trump: US to Reinstate Iran Naval Blockade + US Ambassador to UN: Cuba's Regime is a National Security Threat
For review:1. United Nations Ambassador Mike Walz on Sunday said Cuba’s regime is “a national security threat,” as the Trump administration keeps its sights on the Caribbean island nation.2. Yemen’s internationally recognized government said it struck Sanaa airport Monday, as the Houthis blamed the government’s Saudi backers for the attack, in the biggest escalation in years between authorities an
US Hits Iran with New Attacks; 3d Round of Strikes This Week + US Military Team Meets with LAF in Beirut to Plan IDF Pilot Zone Withdrawal + Germany to Procure US MRC Typhon System & Tomahawk Missiles
For review:1. The US military is carrying out a new round of strikes on Iran, the third in recent days, in response to the Revolutionary Guards’ announcement that it has attacked a vessel there and closed the waterway until further notice, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announces.2. US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he had ordered the military to be prepared to launch major strikes ag
President Trump: Talks Continue with Iran; But Ceasefire is Over + IDF Prepared for Return to War With Iran + Germany to Produce US ATACMS Missiles + UK to Procure US Precision Strike Missiles
For review:1. Iran’s slain supreme leader ayatollah Ali Khamenei was buried in the country’s holiest shrine, state media said early on Friday. The burial in Mashhad in northeast Iran follows a week of mass funeral processions, rallies and mourning.2. The United States is demanding that Iran publicly state it will stop attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and that all lanes in the strait will
Second Night of US Strikes on Iran + President Trump on MOU: "I Think It's Over" + President Trump Undecided on F-35 Program for Turkey
For review:1. The United States launched fresh strikes on Iran late Wednesday and into early Thursday morning after striking Iranian targets a day earlier in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.2. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday fumed at Iran following renewed military strikes overnight, saying he thought the US-Iran memorandum of understanding “is over,” call
President Trump Holds Calls with Russia & Ukraine Presidents + NATO Summit in Turkey + Hamas Prepares Transfer of Gaza Governance to Technocratic NCAG
For review:1. President Trump held separate calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, which is now in its fifth year. 2. Norway wants China to use its ties to the Russian leadership to help bring about a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine, also for the sake of better relations with Europe, Nor
Report: Iran's Supreme Leader Not Allowed at Father's Funeral; Assassination Concerns + Iran: Friendly Nations Get Special Treatment in Hormuz Strait + Satellite Imagery: Iran Repairing Tunnel Complex at Pickaxe Mountain; Violation of MOU
For review:1. Iran’s ambassador to China insists that new fees will be charged to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz — an idea rejected by Washington — while assuring that “friendly” nations would receive special treatment.2. Recent satellite imagery shows no signs that Iran has begun repairing key damage at its main nuclear facilities following US and Israeli strikes, though construction appea
US & Saudi Arabia Tense Relations Over Iran War + Former Iran Supreme Leader State Funeral Begins Saturday + IDF Pairs Iron Dome with Iron Beam Laser System
For review:1. US-Saudi relations have significantly deteriorated in recent months amid anger in Riyadh over Washington’s decision to launch a war against Iran that has caused massive blowback for the rest of the region, to the extent that the US is reportedly considering pulling troops from the Gulf kingdom.2. Funeral processions for Khamenei will begin on Saturday in Tehran and conclude on July 9
US Envoys Meet with Mediators in Qatar; No Direct Talks with Iran + Israeli PM in S. Lebanon; IDF to Remain in Security Zone + Armor Not Dead: Australian Army Building Heavy Armored Brigade
For review:1. Talks between Cuba and the U.S. are at a standstill, despite the island recently approving a series of free-market reforms, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez announced Tuesday.2. Attackers shot dead two members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at their home in the western city of Paveh, near the border with Iraq’s Kurdistan region, state media reported Tuesday.It was
US & Iran Halt Strait of Hormuz-Related Attacks; Agree to Discuss Tuesday in Qatar + Security Annex Allows IDF Operations Against Threats in S. Lebanon + Turkey Offers to Host Russia - Ukraine Peace Talks
For review:1. US & Iran have agreed to halt attacks on each other and to meet again on Tuesday in Doha to discuss the issues of the Strait of Hormuz.2. The Israel-Lebanon framework agreement, signed last week, explicitly preserves the Israel Defense Force’s full freedom to act against threats in the southern Lebanon security zone, an official familiar with its contents told The Times of Israel
US Strikes Iranian Missile Storage & Coastal Radar Sites; IRGC Vows Retaliation + Israel & Lebabon Establish Framework for Limited IDF Withdrawal + Small Moroccan Contingent Arrives in Israel for Gaza ISF Effort
For review:1. US Central Command (CENTCOM) says its forces conducted strikes against Iran earlier this evening in response to an attack on a commercial ship that was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.2. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it attacked US sites in the Gulf region in retaliation to American strikes in Iran, according to state television.3. The United States is considering mov
US Secretary of State: No Iran Tolls on Strait of Hormuz + Israeli Defence Minister: No IDF Withdrawal from S. Lebanon Security Zone + US Places New Sanctions on Cuban State Companies
For review:1. The U.S. government on Tuesday hit Cuban state companies with new sanctions.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions target five Cuban entities, including three linked to Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A., a business conglomerate operated by Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. 2. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington would not accept
US & Iran Start Talks in Burgenstock; Roadmap Established to Meet 60-Day Tineline + IDF Captures Hezbollah Subterranean Drone Base / Factory in S. Lebanon + Ukraine Gives Belarus Ultimatum to Remove Relay Equipment
For review:1. The United States and Iran began talks in Switzerland on Sunday after signing a preliminary agreement to end their war.American and Iranian representatives gathered alongside delegations from mediators Pakistan and Qatar at the luxury Swiss resort of Burgenstock.2. Iran and the United States agree on a roadmap toward reaching a final deal to end the war within 60 days, mediators Paki
Israel & Hezbollah Renew Uneasy Ceasefire + Report: IRGC Cells in Iraq Launched Attacks Against Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, & UAE + US Renames Combatant Command: Indo-PACOM Out; PACOM Name Restored
For review:1. A B-52 on a routine test mission crashed shortly after takeoff Monday (15 June) in Southern California, killing all eight crew members on board.2. US Army aims to release proposal requests for its heavy variant of the ISV this fall, a senior service official told lawmakers, adding that the Army is attempting to field the capability as quickly as possible. The Army is seeking vehicl
Text of MOU + US CENTCOM Lifts Blockade Entering/Exiting Iranian Ports + Pentagon to Review US Force Presence in Europe + USAF CCA Update
For review:1. Cuban lawmakers unanimously approved sweeping reforms backed by the Communist Party and former leader Raul Castro that would privatize a vast swath of the country's socialist economy in a bid to survive punishing U.S. sanctions.The measures, if implemented as passed, would represent the single largest change to Cuba's socialist model since former leader Fidel Castro'
US & Iran MOU (Reaction/Analysis) + Documents Show Hamas 07 October Attack Designed to Ruin Israel-Saudi Arabia Normaization + Somaliland President Visits Jerusalem; Opens Embassy
For review:1. Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar opened Somaliland’s embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, the eighth top-level diplomatic mission in the capital.The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, and Fiji also have embassies in Jerusalem, while other countries — including Hungary, the Czech Republic, and S
US & Iran Reach Deal; Ceasefire Extended 60 Days; Formal Signing in Switzerland Planned for Friday
For review:1. Senior Hezbollah commander Ali Mussa Daqduq, mastermind of a January 2007 attack that killed five US troops in Iraq, was killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon over the weekend, the IDF announced Sunday.2. US & Iran Reach Deal; Ceasefire Extened 60 Days; Formal Signing in Switzerland Friday.3. Ahmad Vahidi, the commander in chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Cor
President Trump Halts Strikes on Iran; "Agreement Signing To Be Announced Shortly" + US Sanctions Cuba's State-Owned Oil Company
For review:1. The U.S. imposed sanctions Thursday on Cuba’s state-owned oil company, part of a Trump administration effort to restrict fuel supplies and increase pressure on the island’s Communist government.2. US President Donald Trump called off strikes on Iran Thursday evening, claiming an agreement to end the war had been reached and would be signed shortly.He later said the document should “g
US Sends Second Round of Retaliation Strikes Against Iran for AH-64 Apache Shootdown + Iran Claims Response Strikes Against US Bases in Kuwait & Bahrain + Sec of War Visits US Troops in Guantanamo Bay
For review:1. US Defense Secretary on Wednesday said the future of Cuba is in the hands of President Trump and Havana’s leadership amid increased U.S. pressure on the communist-ruled island.“No matter what, the Department of War is going to be prepared and postured for any possible contingency,” Sec Hegseth told troops during a visit to the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.2. President D
Israel Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Beirut + Iran Responds with Ballistic Missile Attacks + Israel Retalliates With Strikes on Iranian Military Targets & Petrochemical Plant; Israeli PM Cancels Planned Massive Attack "For Now"
For review:1. Israel on Sunday carried out airstrikes in Beirut, with the military saying it targeted a Hezbollah headquarters in the group’s stronghold of Dahiyeh, a large suburb just south of the Lebanese capital.Iran threatened to retaliate, saying, “Watch the sky of the occupied territories tonight.”2. Iran fired a volley of missiles at northern Israel Sunday night, catapulting the region back
US Targets Iranian Radar Sites on Qeshm & Goruk Islands + Iran Fires Ballistic Missiles at Kuwait & Bahrain + Russian President Putin Responds to Ukraine's Direct Negotiations Letter: "I don't see any point for now"
For review:1. Raúl Castro, Cuba’s low-profile former president and revolutionary guerrilla, appeared in public for the first time since being indicted by the United States for his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft, official video released Saturday showed.2. The United States and Iran exchanged fire overnight Friday amid a fragile ceasefire as American officials stepped up p
President Trump: Iran's Enriched Uranium is "Entombed" + US Sanctions Cuban President Diaz-Canel + Ukraine President Zelenskyy Calls for Face-to-Face Negotiations in Letter to Kremlin + US Army SP Howitzer Modernization
For review:1. The United States imposed sanctions Thursday on Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel in the latest move by the Trump administration.2. A statement attributed to Iran’s supreme leader on Thursday said that the United States and Israel had been dealt a “decisive blow” in their war with the Islamic Republic, as the US sent mixed signals about whether the fighting could resume.3. US Preside
US Forces Strike Qeshm Island in Response to Iranian Attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain + Report: President Trump Asked Xi Jinping to Push Russia Back to Negotiating Table + Europe's Emerging Nuclear Umbrella - France
For review:1. Cuba on Tuesday defended a military-run conglomerate long the target of U.S. sanctions, saying the group of businesses known as GAESA has contributed to the nation's economic and social development.2. US forces successfully defeated multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, and conducted self-defense strikes on Qeshm Island in response to attempted attacks by Iran acros
President Trump: "No Hurry" to Make Deal with Iran + Report: Iranian Missile Strike on US Base in Kuwait Wounds Five Americans; Two MQ-9 Reaper Drones Destroyed or Badly Damaged + IDF Captures Beaufort Castle in S. Lebanon
For review:1. US SOUTHCOM X: SOUTHCOMCommander Gen. Francis L. Donovan (USMC) personally inspected all aspects of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s security posture, leading a comprehensive perimeter security assessment and discussing force protection, operational readiness, and measures to ensure the safety and security of service members, their families, and the joint force stationed at the install
No Final Determination on US - Iran MOU + Israel Continues Air and Ground Operations North of Litani River + US SOUTHCOM Commander Meets with Cuban Military Officials
For review:1. The head of the U.S. military's Southern Command met with top Cuban military officials Friday at the edge of the American naval base at Guantanamo Bay.2. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Friday that troops of the IDF’s 36th Division have crossed Lebanon’s Litani River. PM Netanyahu: “Our forces crossed the Litani, and they’ve advanced to the dominating terrai
New US Strikes Against Iran; Second Attack This Week + Israel Kills Newly Appointed Hamas Military Chief in Gaza City + IDF Combat Operations North of Litani River
For review:1. The Pentagon has spent months positioning the troops and weapons needed for the U.S. to launch a military attack on Cuba — all it needs is a final go-ahead from the President.2. The US military carried out new strikes overnight Wednesday-Thursday in Iran, targeting a military site that officials believed posed a threat to US forces and commercial maritime traffic in the Strait of Ho
Latest on US - Iran Negotiations and Deal + Israel Ramping Up Strikes Against Hezbollah
For review:1. Latest on US - Iran Negotiations and Deal.2. Israel Ramping Up Strikes Against Hezbollah
President Trump: Iran Deal To Be Released Soon + President Trump Announces Deployment of 5000 Troops to Poland + US Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Operating in SOUTHCOM AOR
For review:1. The U.S deployed the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its accompanying strike group into Caribbean waters this week.2. US President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the US and Iran were finalizing a deal to end the war.Iran has agreed to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of an agreement with the US to end the war, two US officials tell the New York Times.3
Secretary of State Rubio: Iran's Plan to Toll Ships in Strait "Unfeasible" + US Navy CNO: Escorting Ships in the Strait Exceeds Navy Capacity + Russia Launches Unannounced Three-Day Nuclear Exercise; 200 Missile Launchers; 140 Aircraft; 8 Nuclear Subs
For review:1. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that there were “good signs” for a deal to end the war with Iran, but that an agreement would be “unfeasible” if Tehran pursues its plan to toll ships in the Strait of Hormuz. 2. WSJ Report: Israel has created a list of all Palestinians who took part in the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks and is working to kill or arrest each one.3.
President Trump Postpones Attack on Iran + NATO Supreme Allied Commander: Expect Additional US Troop Withdrawals + Report: Cuba Has Acquired Hundreds of Military Drones
For review:1. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez insisted Cuba "poses no threat" to the United States and doesn't have "aggressive plans or intentions against any country," after Axios reported that the island nation has hundreds of military drones and has been allegedly discussing plans to strike the U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay and potentially Florida&apo
US & Israel Preparing to Renew Attacks on Iran + IDF Confirms Top Hamas Chief Killed in Gaza City Airstrike + Cuba Publishes Online Family Guide to Survive Potential Enemy Attacks
For review:1. Cuba has posted a “family guide” on provincial websites on how to survive “potential enemy attacks,” as the communist-run island reels from US pressure and energy shortages.The release of the document– comes days after the head of the CIA visited Cuba, an extraordinary step in contact between Washington and Havana. 2. The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday confirmed killing Hamas mili
CIA Director Visits Cuba + Israel Targets Top Hamas Leader in Gaza Strike; Fate Unknown; Initial Indications - Dead + US CENTCOM Commander Appears Before Senate Armed Services Committee
For review:1. CIA Director Ratcliffe met with counterparts from Cuba's Ministry of the Interior on Thursday during a high-level visit to the island nation amid "complex bilateral relations" between the long-time adversaries.2. President Donald Trump says he has not yet decided whether a major sale of US arms to Taiwan can move forward following his three-day visit to China. 3. Israe
President Trump Arrives in China + Israeli PM Visited UAE in March + Saudi Arabia Conducted Retaliation Strikes Against Iran + Russia to Deploy New Sarmat ICBM in late 2026; Reported Range of 35,000 km
For review:1. US President Donald Trump arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the Iran war, trade, and US arms sales to Taiwan. 2. If Iran does not accept US terms for a deal to end the war and address its nuclear program, the United States will “finish the job,” US President Donald Trump declared on Tuesday.3. Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with the US s
President Trump: Ceasefire With Iran "On Life Support" + Israeli PM: War "Not Over" + US Conducts Surveillance Flights Around Cuba
For review:1. US military intelligence-gathering flights are surging off the coast of Cuba, a CNN analysis of publicly available aviation data shows.Since February 4, the US Navy and Air Force have conducted at least 25 such flights using manned aircraft and drones, most of them near the country’s two biggest cities, Havana and Santiago de Cuba, and some coming within 40 miles of the coast, accord
President Trump Announces Russia - Ukraine Ceasefire & Prisoner Exchange + Report: Russia Supplying Iran With Drone Parts Using Caspian Sea + France & UK Posture Warships for Strait of Hormuz Escort Mission
For review:1. President Trump Announces Russia & Ukraine Ceasefire and Priosner Exchange.The ceasefire will begin on Saturday and run through Monday, President Trump wrote on Truth Social. "This ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prisoner swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country."2. NYT Report: Russia is sending drone components to Iran via Caspi
US CENTCOM Confirmed Self-Defense Strikes Against Iran in Strait of Hormuz + IDF Kills Hezbollah Radwan Force Commander in Beirut Strike + EU Council President Considers "Potential" Talks with Moscow
For review:1. US Secretary of State Rubio announced new sanctions Thursday on Cuba's military-industrial enterprise, its leader and a state-owned natural resources company.2. US President Donald Trump says three US Navy destroyers transited out of the Strait of Hormuz under fire, adding that the American destroyers were not damaged but “great damage was done to Iranian attackers.”3. Iranian P
President Trump: Operation Project Freedom Will Be Paused; Blockade Remains in Full Force & Effect + CENTCOM CDR: US Helicopters Sank Six Iranian Small Boats in Strait + US Army Typhon System (Tomahawk) Test Fired in Philippines Exercise
For review:1. A high-level Trump administration official informed Iran on Sunday of the impending US operation to "guide" ships through the Strait of Hormuz and warned Tehran not to interfere, according to a U.S. official and a source with knowledge.2. US President Donald Trump says the US will be pausing the operation it launched just one day earlier to assist vessels stuck in the Str
President Trump: Iran's Latest Proposal Unacceptable + President Trump: Starting Monday US Navy Will Start Guiding Ships Through Strait + Israel to Procure More F-35s & F-15s
For review:1. President Trump said the U.S. Navy will start guiding ships from foreign countries through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday and warned that if Iran tries to disrupt the process the American military will use force.2. US President Donald Trump on Sunday rejected Iran’s latest proposal to end its war with the US and Israel, calling it unacceptable.The 14-point proposal reportedly inclu
Pentagon Estimate: US Navy Blockade Has Cost Iran $4.8 Billion + Israel Provided Iron Beam Air Defense System to UAE + US Announces Withdrawal of 5000 Troops from Germany
For review:1. The White House asserts to US Congress in a letter that hostilities with Iran have “terminated” despite the continued presence of US armed forces in the region.The message from President Donald Trump effectively skirts a May 1 legal deadline to gain approval from members of Congress to continue the war with Iran. 2. Axios Report: The Pentagon estimates Iran has lost $4.8 billion in o
US CENTCOM Forces Preparing for "Short & Powerful" Wave of Strikes + IDF Destroys Two Major Hezbollah Tunnels in S. Lebanon + Australia Procures More HIMARS and Precision Strike Missiles + First Columbia-Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Delivery in 2028
For review:1. US CENTCOM Commander: CENTCOM Forces have redirected 42 x commercial vessels attemtiong to violate the Strait of Hormuz blockage.2. President Trump told Axios he's going to keep Iran under a naval blockade until the regime agrees to a deal that addresses U.S. concerns about its nuclear program.U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has prepared a plan for a "short and powerful"
US Rejects Iran Offer to Open Strait & Delay Nuclear Talks in Return for Ending War + Israel Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Beqaa Valley After Deadly FPV Attack + IDF Iron Dome System Employed in UAE
For review:1. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that a reported offer from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions is not acceptable to the United States or other countries.Secretary of State Rubio: “What they mean by opening the straits is, yes, the straits are open, as long as you coordinate with Iran, get our permission, or we’ll blow you up, and you pay us.”2. T
President Trump Cancels Envoys' Trip to Islamabad for Iran Talks + Israel & Hezobllah Continue Trading Fire Under Tenuous Ceasefire + 3 x US Aircraft Carriers Operating in CENTCOM AOR
For review:1. US President Donald Trump canceled a trip to Islamabad by two envoys to meet Iran war mediator Pakistan on Saturday after Iran’s foreign minister flew out of the Pakistani capital following talks, dealing a new setback to peace prospects.Presidnet Trump said in a social media post that he had called off the planned visit by his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner
Israel - Lebanon Ceasefire Extended Three Weeks + President Trump Orders US Navy to Shoot & Kill Any Boat Mining the Strait of Hormuz + Secretary of Navy Out; Undersecretary Assumes Role
For review:1. Iranian forces seized two container ships on Wednesday, according to global security monitors and the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They also attacked but didn’t seize a third.2. US President Donald Trump on Thursday said the US Navy would “shoot and kill” any boat mining the Strait of Hormuz.Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel was ready to renew the fi
President Trump Extends Ceasefire; US Blocklade of Strait of Hormuz Continues + Second Round of Israel & Lebanon Talks on Thursday in Washington D.C. + US Department of War Releases FY27 Defense Budget Request of $1.5 Trillion
For review:1. The Board of Peace’s lead envoy for Gaza admitted Monday that talks with Hamas on disarmament were going to take more time, even though the deadline he gave for the terror group to accept his proposal on handing over its weapons expired nine days earlier.“We’ve had some very serious discussions with Hamas over the last few weeks. They’re not easy,” Nickolay Mladenov told Reuters in a
US CENTCOM Forces Seize Iranian Vessel + IRGC Gunboats Fire on Commercial Vessels in Strait + US Aircraft Carrier Gerald R. Ford back in CENTCOM AOR
For review:1. American forces seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship after it tried to bypass a U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, President Trump said Sunday.“Guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) intercepted M/V Touska as it transited the north Arabian Sea at 17 knots en route to Bandar Abbas, Iran. American forces issued multiple warnings and informed the Iranian-flagged vessel it
10-Day Truce Between Israel & Lebanon; IDF Remains on High Alert + Report: US & Iran to Meet Sunday in Islamabad + Report: Iran Purchased Spy Satellite from China in late 2024; Employed System to Target US Military Sites
For review:1. A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to take effect at midnight Thursday-Friday after being declared hours earlier by US President Donald Trump, who also announced that he was inviting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Lebanese president for peace talks at the White House.2. The Israeli military said Friday that it remains on high alert and ready to return
US and Iran Continuing to Engage in Negotiations + Ambassadors from Israel and Lebanon Meet in Washington D.C. + US Army Names the MV-75 Cheyenne II
For review:1. Military planning for a possible Pentagon-led operation in Cuba is quietly ramping up, in case President Trump gives an order to intervene there, USA TODAY has learned.Two sources familiar with the order spoke to USA TODAY on condition of anonymity because they're not authorized to speak to media.2. US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was not considering extending
US Navy Blockades Iranian Ports + IDF Ready for Renewed Combat With Iran + IDF Ground Operation Against Hezbollah Stronghold of Bint Jbeil in S. Lebanon
For review:1. The U.S. proposed that Iran accept a 20-year moratorium on uranium enrichment during talks over the weekend, according to a U.S. official and a source with knowledge.. The Iranians countered with a shorter "single digit" period, according to the sources.2. US Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is operating off the coast of Namibia, as it sails around the Afri
US - Iran Marathon Talks Saturday; Impasse; Talks End + CENTCOM Forces Begin Clearing Strait of Hormuz; Two USN Destroyers Pass Through Strait + Report: China Preparing Portable Air Defense Systems for Shipment to Iran
For review:1. The talks in Islamabad stretched into the early hours of Sunday morning following hours of marathon negotiations, even as Iran warned that Washington was making “excessive demands” over the Strait of Hormuz that could undermine Pakistan’s peacemaking efforts.2. The US military said on Saturday that it had begun a mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz, with two US warships p
PresidentTrump: US Military to Remain in Place Around Iran Until Real Agreement Achieved + IDF's Eternal Darkness Operation Strikes 100 Hezbollah Targets in 10 Minutes + US & Iran to Meet in Islamabad on Saturday
For review:1. Items from the 10-Point Ceasefire Plan.The lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran. Continued Iranian control over the strait of Hormuz. US military withdrawal from the Middle East. An end to attacks on Iran and its allies. The release of frozen Iranian assets.A UN security council resolution making any deal binding. 2. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday night rene
US, Israel, & Iran Agree to Two-Week Ceasfire; Strait of Hormuz Reopened; Israel: Does Not Include Lebanon + Israel Has 5 Divisions Operating in Lebanon; IDF Security Zone Reaches Litani River + US Navy to Increase Tomahawk Missile Procurement by 1200%
For review:1. The White House asserts that the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran is a victory for Washington.The U.S. has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran proposed by Pakistan, President Trump said Tuesday night.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran's acceptance and said Iran would allow "safe passage" of the Strait of Hormuz dur
US F-15E Crewman Rescued by Special Operations Forces in Daring Operation + President Trump Threatens to Attack Civilian Infrastructure on Tuesday if Iran Fails to Open Strait of Hormuz + Russia & Turkey Call for Immediate Ceasefire and Peace Agreement
For review:1. US special forces conducted a daring raid deep into enemy territory to safely rescue a wounded US airman who was shot down over southwest Iran, with US President Donald Trump triumphantly declaring “WE GOT HIM,” on Sunday, ending a 36-hour race to find the aviator before he could be captured by pursuing Iranian forces. 2. In an expletive-laden post on his Truth Social account on Sund
Two US Warplanes Shot Down Over Iran; Two Crewmembers Rescued; One Missing; Search Continues + No Progress on Easter Truce Between Russia & Ukraine + FY27 Defense Budget Details
For review:1. A U.S. F-15E fighter jet was shot down over Iran on Friday, and one crew member from the plane was later rescued by American forces, U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News. The F-15E is flown by a two-member crew, and the search for the second crew member, a weapons system officer, is continuing, two U.S. officials said. An A-10 Warthog was part of the search and rescue mission when i
More A-10 Warplanes Head to Middle East + US Destroys Key Iranian Highway Bridge + UK Hosts Coalition Meeting to Open Strait of Hormuz + Report: US FY27 Defense Budget Breaks $1 Trillion
For review:1. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to step down and take immediate retirement, sources familiar with the decision told CBS News. 2. The U.S. military is poised to double its A-10 presence in the Middle East, as the close air support plane plays a key role in combating Iranian boats and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq as part of Operation E
Carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) Deploys to Middle East from Norfolk + CENTCOM Commander Meets with IDF Chief of Staff in Israel + China & Pakistan 5 Point Ceasefire Initiative + Ukraine Offer of Easter Truce with Russia
For review:1. The US Central Command confirms that CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper visited Israel this week and met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir.2. The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush deployed Tuesday and is slated to go to the Middle East along with three destroyers, two U.S. officials said. The carrier strike group consists of more than 6,000 Sailors.3. US President Donald Tr
President Trump Threatens to Destroy Iran's Electric Generating Plants and Oil Wells + PM Netanyahu: US & Israel Close to Finishing Iran's Arms Industry + Iranian Ambassador Refuses to Leave Lebanon
For review:1. Hundreds of U.S. Special Operations Forces, including Navy SEALs and Army Rangers, are now in the Middle East, as well as thousands of Marines and Army paratroopers, according to sources familiar with the deployments.The NYT first reported the forces had arrived in the region. 2. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that progress was being made in “serious discussions” with Tehra
US Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group & USMC 31st MEU Arrives CENTCOM AOR + IDF Kills Commander of IRGC-Navy; Top Nuclear Scientist + Houthis Join the War; Launch Missiles at S. Israel + All NATO Members Achieve 2% of GDP Defense Spending
For review:1. US President Trump said Friday “Cuba is next. President Trump did not specify what he planned to do with Cuba, telling the media to “disregard that statement” before repeating “Cuba’s next.”2. US Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group & USMC 31st MEU Arrives CENTCOM AOR.3. Pakistan’s prime minister said he had a “detailed” call with Iran’s president on Saturday, as foreign ministers fro
Report: US War Department Considers Additional Troops for Middle East Deployment + Secretary of State Rubio: US Can Achieve War Objectives Without Ground Troops + Israel Strikes Arak Heavy Water Reactor; Uranium Extraction Facility; Steel Factories
For review:1. Ten U.S. service members were wounded Friday in an Iranian missile strike on Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia, the Wall Street Journal reported. Friday’s strike reportedly damaged multiple U.S. refueling aircraft and involved Iranian drones.2. The Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 more ground troops to the Middle East to potentially support operations in Iran in a mov
CENTCOM CDR: US Has Struck More Than 10,000 Targets + Report: US To Deploy Forces from 82d Airborne Division + IDF Controls All Bridges Over Litani River + Lebanon Withdraws Iranian Ambassador's Credentials; Must Leave Country by 29 March
For review:1. The U.S. military is preparing to deploy at least 1,000 troops from the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East in the coming days, according to three people with knowledge of the plans.2. Chief of the US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, says the American military has struck over 10,000 targets in Iran since the start of the war, as part of which it destroyed two-thirds of the re
Report: Direct Talks Between US & Iran Could Happen This Week In Islamabad + President Trump Postpones Military Strikes on Iranian Power Plants & Infrastruture for Five-Day Period + IDF Destroys Fifth Bridge Over Litani River + FCAS & GCAP Update
For review:1. The United States is reportedly planning a weeks-long operation to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, an Israeli report claimed Sunday2. In a bombshell announcement, US President Donald Trump revealed early Monday that his administration was engaged in productive talks with Iran regarding a “complete and total resolution” of the US-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic.Trump’
