Recent articles
September 2, 2026
U.S. strikes Iran tankers under new "tanker for tanker" policy
The U.S. military attacked two Iranian government tankers as part of the round of strikes that took place on Tuesday, U.S. officials said. Why it matters: This is the first time the U.S. military h...
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September 1, 2026
U.S. military conducting fresh strikes in the Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military is conducting strikes on Iranian targets in the area of the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday. Why it matters: The attacks are part of a plan President Trump and...
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September 1, 2026
Why Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned
Two key reasons led to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's resignation, announced Monday: the feeling that his modernization initiatives were being blocked, and the chaos created by Defense Secretary Pet...
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August 31, 2026
Trump weighing limited strikes against Iran to curb Hormuz attacks
President Trump and his senior aides have been considering waging limited strikes in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran from reconstituting its radar and missile capabilities to attack ships, acc...
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August 30, 2026
U.S. strikes Iran to prevent Hormuz mine threat
The U.S. military struck Iranian military targets to prevent the deployment of sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. official said. Why it matters: This is the first known U.S. strike in Iran s...
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August 29, 2026
CIA director Ratcliffe floated Trump-Putin-Zelensky summit during Moscow visit, sources say
CIA Director John Ratcliffe proposed a trilateral meeting between President Trump, Russian President Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky during his covert trip to Moscow earlier this week in an ...
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August 28, 2026
"That sucker is open": U.S. gains the upper hand in the battle for Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz has been Iran's most powerful card since the start of the war in late February. But over the past two months, U.S. officials say the American military has steadily eroded Iran'...
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August 27, 2026
Trump to Axios: I'm not worried Russia will attack NATO
President Trump told Axios in a phone interview on Thursday that he isn't concerned that Russia will attack NATO countries. Why it matters: European leaders have grown extremely concerned and warne...
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August 25, 2026
Rubio tells allies U.S. shifting from strikes to sanctions on Iran
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told several of his foreign counterparts in recent days that "for the time being" the U.S. is not expected to initiate new strikes against Iran, according to a U....
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August 25, 2026
Trump: Mines fully removed from Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. Navy has cleared all mines from the main shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump said on Tuesday. Why it matters: The clearing, part of a low-key operation the last several ...
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August 25, 2026
CIA director Ratcliffe visits Moscow
CIA director John Ratcliffe is visiting Moscow on Tuesday for talks with Russian officials, two U.S. officials said. Why it matters: This is Ratcliffe's first trip to Moscow since he took office an...
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August 24, 2026
Bessent unveils sanctions designed to cripple Iran
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday that the U.S. will impose punishing sanctions on countries and entities that do business with Iran — an attempt to bring the country to heel abs...
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August 23, 2026
Scoop: Syria and Israel move to defuse tensions after airbase bombing
High-level Israeli and Syrian officials met Sunday in an effort to lower the temperature between the countries after a recent airbase bombing, according to two sources with knowledge of the matter....
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August 19, 2026
Syrian foreign minister to Axios: Israeli bombing of airbase was unjustified
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani told Axios Wednesday that he made clear to Israel his government wasn't working with Turkey to amass a military presence at a Syrian airbase — but Israel w...
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August 19, 2026
U.S. conducting stealth operation to transport oil through Hormuz
The U.S. military has quietly established a shipping corridor in and out of the Strait of Hormuz to transport millions of barrels of oil each day — a notable success even as the broader war remains...
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August 18, 2026
Israel defends strike on Syria as U.S. frustration with Bibi grows
Israel told the Trump administration its recent attack on a Syrian airbase was aimed at preventing a Turkish military buildup in the area, U.S. and Israeli officials said. Why it matters: The unusu...
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August 18, 2026
UN inspectors visit undeclared Syrian nuclear sites for first time
UN inspectors this week visited several undeclared Assad-era Syrian nuclear sites for the first time — including some used to store nuclear material. Why it matters: The inspections by Internationa...
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August 17, 2026
Kushner urges Netanyahu to test Hamas disarmament in Gaza
President Trump adviser Jared Kushner told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that the U.S. wants Israel to take "small steps" in Gaza to test whether Hamas' commitment to start di...
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August 16, 2026
Kushner meets Hamas leaders to push Gaza demilitarization
President Trump's envoy Jared Kushner met Hamas leaders in Egypt on Sunday to press them to carry out their commitment to disarm, according to two sources familiar with the meeting. Why it matters:...
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August 16, 2026
Scoop: Inside Trump's secret backchannel to Iran's Revolutionary Guard
In mid-May, U.S. negotiators trying to reach a deal with Iran to end the war ran into a problem: They couldn't tell if the people across the table actually spoke for the country's powerful Islamic ...
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August 14, 2026
Scoop: Key W.H. national security aide Andy Baker is departing
White House deputy national security adviser Andy Baker is leaving the administration in the coming weeks.Why it matters: Baker, who also served as national security advisor to Vice President Vance...
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August 14, 2026
Trump stops short of endorsing Bibi as his campaign falters
When Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump met in the Oval Office two weeks ago, the president asked the Israeli prime minister how he was doing in the polls ahead of an Oct. 27 election.Netanyahu pa...
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August 13, 2026
Kushner plans to visit Israel next week for Gaza talks
Jared Kushner, President Trump's envoy and son-in-law, is planning to visit Israel next week for talks on the situation in Gaza, according to five sources with knowledge of the plan.Why it matters:...
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August 10, 2026
Scoop: U.S. brokers secret deal on clandestine Syrian nuclear site
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will soon remove nuclear material stored at a clandestine site in Syria after the Trump administration reached understandings with Syria and Israel, ac...
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August 9, 2026
Trump to Axios: "We are low keying it" with Iran
President Trump signaled on Sunday that he's prepared to allow economic pressure on Iran to mount — as opposed to ordering a new military offensive — even as the country continues to defy the U.S.W...
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August 5, 2026
U.S. nears Hormuz deal, aiming for Wednesday announcement
The U.S., Iran and Oman are closing in on an interim agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the U.S. aiming for a Wednesday announcement, according to two regional sources and a U.S. offici...
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August 1, 2026
Scoop: Saudi crown prince raises concerns over Trump's plans for massive Iran strikes
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to President Trump on Saturday and expressed concern over his plans for massive new strikes against Iran, according to two U.S. officials and a third so...
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July 31, 2026
Trump considering strikes on Iranian energy targets within days
President Trump is seriously considering launching attacks against energy targets in Iran in the next few days, but hasn't given final orders to do it, a U.S. official told Axios on Friday.Why it m...
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July 30, 2026
U.S. sees progress toward deal to disarm Hamas, rebuild Gaza
The White House and President Trump's Board of Peace believe Hamas could sign an agreement in the coming days to begin disarming and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, four sources familiar with the ma...
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July 30, 2026
Netanyahu confronts Vance over his criticism of Israeli government
Vice President Vance and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a "direct" conversation about their differences in a one-on-one meeting in Washington on Tuesday evening, Israeli and U.S. of...
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