Middle East Archives

Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) transits the South China Sea, June 8, 2026. Boxer, flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is underway with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eliora Sims)

The Treaty

Iran’s Foreign Minister Says It Plainly: Control of Hormuz ‘Will No Longer Be the Same.’ There’s the Toll

A White House official now puts the odds at "80 to 85 percent" — up from 75. But Washington and Tehran are still describing...

Jack Buckby3 days ago

A Louisiana Air National Guard F-15C Eagle streaks above the Ohio River during the Thunder Over Louisville air show in Louisville, Ky., April 18, 2026. More than a dozen military aircraft performed during the show, including four Kentucky Air National Guard C-130J Super Hercules from the Louisville-based 123rd Airlift Wing and two UH-60 Black Hawks from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Frankfort-based 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

America Can Take Kharg Island. The Problem Is What Happens to the Oil the Next Morning

The Venezuela playbook worked: seize the oil, become the seller. Kharg Island breaks it on one fact — Iran's crude has a single serious...

Andrew Latham4 days ago

Donald Trump In New York City White House Photo

Dollars and Sense

Oil Spiked Hard the Day the Iran War Began. It Has Drifted Back Down — for Reasons That Cannot Last

"It's over for Iran," the White House declares — a claim nobody can verify. What's verifiable: the calm rests on three draining cushions —...

Caleb Larson4 days ago

Dollars and Sense

Officials Warned Parts of Tehran — a City of Ten Million — Might Need Evacuating. The Iran War Isn’t the Reason

Before the bombs, officials were already warning that parts of Tehran — ten million people — might someday need evacuating. The reservoirs hit 12...

Isaac Seitz4 days ago

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., Friday, March 14, 2025. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Hours Before the Next Strikes on Iran, One Trump Announcement at 1:28 PM Today Changed Everything

The morning brought a vow to turn the region into "hell" and a formal Iranian decree closing Hormuz to every ship on Earth. The...

Jack Buckby5 days ago

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Wash. (Aug. 14, 2003) -- Illustration of USS Ohio (SSGN 726) which is undergoing a conversion from a Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) to a Guided Missile Submarine (SSGN) designation. Ohio has been out of service since Oct. 29, 2002 for conversion to SSGN at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Four Ohio-class strategic missile submarines, USS Ohio (SSBN 726), USS Michigan (SSBN 727) USS Florida (SSBN 728), and USS Georgia (SSBN 729) have been selected for transformation into a new platform, designated SSGN. The SSGNs will have the capability to support and launch up to 154 Tomahawk missiles, a significant increase in capacity compared to other platforms. The 22 missile tubes also will provide the capability to carry other payloads, such as unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Special Forces equipment. This new platform will also have the capability to carry and support more than 66 Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land) and insert them clandestinely into potential conflict areas. U.S. Navy illustration. (RELEASED)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Iran Can Count America’s Missiles Too — and It May Be Goading Washington Into Burning Through Them

Forty-nine more Tomahawks just flew at Iran — from a stockpile that may hold only a thousand truly free for this fight once the...

Brent M. Eastwood5 days ago

The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) sails in the Philippine Sea Aug. 26, 2018 during a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force. PASSEX enabled the Wasp ARG and the JMSDF a chance to practice communications and maneuvering procedures. The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group is currently operating in the region to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force for any type of contingency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor King)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

One 8-Mile Island Pumps 90% of Iran’s Oil — and It’s Now the Most Valuable Target in the Persian Gulf

After Iranian forces downed a U.S. Army Apache on June 8, the ceasefire is unraveling — and the U.S. has three ways to respond....

Rebecca Grant6 days ago

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 16, 2016) Sailors assigned to the Grim Reapers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101, the Navy’s F-35C Fleet replacement squadron, pose on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during an aerial photo exercise. VFA-101 aircraft and pilots are conducting initial qualifications aboard George Washington in the Atlantic Ocean. The F-35C is expected to be Fleet operational in 2018. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Krystofer Belknap)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

America and Iran Just Spent a Night Striking Each Other. The Targets They Didn’t Hit Tell the Real Story

America And Iran Just Traded Strikes Over The Apache Helicopter. What Happens Now Decides The War: The retaliation everyone saw coming arrived on schedule,...

Harry J. Kazianis6 days ago

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Israel Has Had Four Chances to Stop This War and Walk Away. It Turned Down Every One

Most commentary from Washington this month treats the Lebanon problem as a matter of persuasion. Lean on Israel hard enough, dangle a broad enough...

Andrew Latham6 days ago

National Security Journal

All posts tagged "Middle East"

The Treaty

Iran’s Foreign Minister Says It Plainly: Control of Hormuz ‘Will No Longer Be the Same.’ There’s the Toll

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

America Can Take Kharg Island. The Problem Is What Happens to the Oil the Next Morning

Dollars and Sense

Oil Spiked Hard the Day the Iran War Began. It Has Drifted Back Down — for Reasons That Cannot Last

Dollars and Sense

Officials Warned Parts of Tehran — a City of Ten Million — Might Need Evacuating. The Iran War Isn’t the Reason

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Hours Before the Next Strikes on Iran, One Trump Announcement at 1:28 PM Today Changed Everything

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Iran Can Count America’s Missiles Too — and It May Be Goading Washington Into Burning Through Them

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

One 8-Mile Island Pumps 90% of Iran’s Oil — and It’s Now the Most Valuable Target in the Persian Gulf

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

America and Iran Just Spent a Night Striking Each Other. The Targets They Didn’t Hit Tell the Real Story

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Israel Has Had Four Chances to Stop This War and Walk Away. It Turned Down Every One

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