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Hegseth reveals secret trip to Middle East amid escalating Iran war
Hegseth said morale is high and service members are determined to “finish the mission."
Limited missions, big risks: What a US ground fight in Iran could become
Military analysts point to several possibilities of what ground operations could entail, including coastal assaults and nuclear site raids.
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Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
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Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
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Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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Veterans
Fewer service members died by suicide in 2024 than year prior, report finds
The report on 2024 suicides found a decrease in the total force suicide rate, though active component rates have steadily increased from 2011 to 2024.
Trump says massive military complex to be built beneath White House ballroom
The new White House ballroom "essentially becomes a [shield] for what's being built under by the military," Trump said.
The ‘March of Folly’: America’s headlong lurch into Vietnam began with just 3,500 Marines
“Johnson’s idea was to fight and negotiate simultaneously. The difficulty was that the limited war aim … was unachievable by limited war," wrote Tuchman.
Pentagon reportedly preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran
The report comes as U.S. military assets — most recently the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 31st MEU — continue to flood the region.
In other news
Hegseth reportedly removes 2 Black, 2 female Army officers from 1-star promotion list
Hegset has blocked promotions of four Army officers — two Black men and two women — to the rank of brigadier general, the New York Times reported Friday.
Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video
“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” Steve Downes wrote in a post on X.
‘War Machine’ review: Finally, a training scenario with aliens
The sci-fi flick raises the premise: What if the final phase of U.S. Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?
By Clay Beyersdorfer
When veterans take the pen, war stories start to change
Hollywood has never lacked war stories. But it has often lacked veteran storytellers telling them.
How MREs inspired today’s meal-delivery industry
The MRE has to survive heat, cold, impact and time. And it has to do all of that at scale. Sound familiar?
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MORE STORIES
Senator stalls 3 ‘unfit’ officer promotions in retort to Hegseth
The senator made clear the holds were a direct response to Pete Hegseth's decision to block the promotions of two Black and two female officers.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Pentagon reportedly preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran
The report comes as U.S. military assets — most recently the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and embarked 31st MEU — continue to flood the region.
By J.D. Simkins
12 US troops wounded in Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Airbase
Two of the personnel are reportedly in serious condition.
By J.D. Simkins
Hegseth reportedly removes 2 Black, 2 female Army officers from 1-star promotion list
Hegset has blocked promotions of four Army officers — two Black men and two women — to the rank of brigadier general, the New York Times reported Friday.
By Ellen Ioanes
A war zone, minus the war: One year later, has the military really secured the US-Mexico border?
An investigation into how Trump’s emergency declaration expanded military power, blurred legal lines and helped spread the use of military-grade tech.
By Sonner Kehrt, Melissa del Bosque and David Roza, The War Horse and The Border Chronicle
US Space Command provides update on phased headquarters relocation to Alabama
The command plans to break ground on a new headquarters facility on an approximately 60-acre site near the center of Redstone Arsenal in 2027.
By Michael Scanlon
The Nationals honor baseball players turned citizen soldiers in Arlington tribute
Arlington National Cemetery placed official MLB baseballs — courtesy of the Nationals — on the gravesites of six men, all former baseball players.
US uses hundreds of Tomahawk missiles on Iran, alarming some at Pentagon
The U.S. military is burning through the precision weapons at a rate that has alarmed some Pentagon officials.
By Reuters
These 7 foreigners helped win the American Revolution
George Washington had complained vociferously about the flood of questionable foreign volunteers. These men earned his respect — and the nation's.
Feds sue towing company for allegedly illegally auctioning off troops’ cars — including many towed from base
Some of the vehicles were auctioned off in spite of being registered to on-base addresses, including barracks.
By Karen Jowers
Hegseth prays for ‘overwhelming violence’ during Pentagon Christian service
Hegseth prayed for violence against “those who deserve no mercy” and for justice to be executed "without remorse" during Wednesday’s prayer service.
Senate rejects proposal to overturn VA’s abortion ban
Senators voted 50-48, quashing an effort to overturn the VA's near-total ban on abortions and abortion counseling.
By Patricia Kime
House Armed Services Committee backs sweeping aviation safety reforms
The legislation addresses reforms put forth by federal investigators after a deadly 2025 collision between a regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter.
By Eve Sampson
59% of Americans feel US military offensive against Iran has ‘gone too far’
Most Americans think Operation Epic Fury has gone too far, a new poll found.
By Tanya Noury
Commander heading US nuclear forces sees no need for warhead tests
President Donald Trump issued a directive in October to conduct nuclear weapons tests.
By Jonathan Landay, Reuters