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War & Conflict Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Gen. Burhan digs in as Trump's visa-for-ceasefire scheme blows up
On the morning of September 24, Abdel Fattah Burhan should have been standing at the podium of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Instead, he was in Khartoum. The general who leads Sudan’s army and chairs its Sovereignty Council had been offered his American visa on a condition…
Goodnight Baghdad: US troops leave Iraq after 23 years
The Iraq War was already four-years-old when I walked down the ramp of a C-17 at Al Taqaddum Air Base in April 2007. The fact that I am writing these words is proof that I survived that deployment and a subsequent one to Afghanistan in 2013. In the years since, I transitioned back into civilian…
Venezuela blowback may have a long fuse. It always does.
In 1927, Augusto Cesar Sandino began an insurgent campaign against the U.S. occupation of Nicaragua. Under orders from President Calvin Coolidge, the U.S. Marines had intervened in Nicaragua to settle a civil war between a conservative government and liberal rebels. In his manifesto, Sandino…
What Boeing’s New Rendering Of Its Winning F/A-XX Fighter Tells Us
With new F/A-XX art and Boeing having now won both the USAF and Navy's next-gen fighter contracts, we can compare concepts. The post What Boeing’s New Rendering Of Its Winning F/A-XX Fighter Tells Us appeared first on TWZ.
Why the Pentagon just dropped $450M on tungsten mining
The Pentagon recently announced a $450 million investment in The Elmet Group to strengthen the U.S. supply chain for the critical mineral tungsten.
U.S.-Iran talks yield little, raising odds of renewed combat
Efforts this week by Qatari mediators to broker a diplomatic breakthrough between the U.S. and Iran have made little progress, with neither side willing to budge, according to three sources familiar with the talks. Why it matters: The stalemate bolsters the belief on both sides that a renewed…
US Navy selects Boeing to build next-generation F/A-XX fighter
Boeing has officially been selected to build the Navy’s sixth-generation carrier-based strike fighter, dubbed F/A-XX.
Navy Orders 30 Drone Ships To Finally Advance Its ‘Medium’ Uncrewed Vessel Ambitions
The Navy has taken an important step toward fielding larger USV fleets, an area where it has persistently struggled in the past. The post Navy Orders 30 Drone Ships To Finally Advance Its ‘Medium’ Uncrewed Vessel Ambitions appeared first on TWZ.
In Britain, the Terror Question Remains the Same: War or Crime?
British counterterrorism has traveled a path very different from America’s approach.
War Department Prepares to Protect Election From Foreign Interference
Every seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and a third of U.S. Senate seats, some 470 contests in all, will be decided during the U.S. midterm elections Nov. 3, and the War Department will help ensure foreign actors don't meddle in the voting.
Victor Davis Hanson: Why Is Mark Carney Preparing for an American Invasion?
Hello, this is Victor Davis Hanson for the Daily Signal. I am going to mention Canada again. I know we’re getting tired of this subject because, after all, Canada is our closest ally, closest friend, the country that is most like the United States, or so we’ve been told. But [Prime Minister] Mark…
Boeing Picked to Build Navy’s F/A-XX Carrier Fighter in Estimated $20B Deal
Boeing will build the Navy’s next-generation fighter after decades of indecision on the future of the carrier air wing, according to a Tuesday Pentagon announcement. “The contract is valued at more than $20B for the full-scale development phase. The contract procures multiple test aircraft for…
Boeing nabs $20B contract for Navy's futuristic fighter
Boeing will build the U.S. Navy's next fighter aircraft, following years of clandestine competition and multiple contracting false alarms. Why it matters: Boeing's win in the F/A-XX competition means the company's sixth-generation aircraft will succeed the Super Hornet fleet, long relied upon and…
Boeing Wins F/A-XX Next Generation Navy Stealth Fighter Contract
F/A-XX has been a very highly anticipated contract award, especially after the Pentagon previously tried to freeze the program. The post Boeing Wins F/A-XX Next Generation Navy Stealth Fighter Contract appeared first on TWZ.
Boeing wins Navy next-gen fighter F/A-XX competition
Boeing’s win gives it a monopoly on American sixth-gen fighters, following its 2025 selection to build the F-47.
Cotton presses Hegseth to review supply chains after F-35 parts ended up in China
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Cotton presses Hegseth to review supply chains after F-35 parts ended up in China Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, pressed…
3 Louisiana Shipyards to Build 30 Drone Ships in $400M Navy MUSV Deal
Three Louisiana-based shipyards will build unmanned surface vessels for the U.S. Navy following recent at-sea testing, the service announced Tuesday. The three companies – Saronic, HII and Galliano Marine Service – will each build 10 medium unmanned surface vessels, or MUSVs, at about $40 million…
3 Louisiana Shipyards to Build 30 Drone Ships in $1.2B Navy MUSV Deal
Three Louisiana-based shipyards will build unmanned surface vessels for the U.S. Navy following recent at-sea testing, the service announced Tuesday. The three companies – Saronic, HII and Galliano Marine Service – will each build 10 medium unmanned surface vessels, or MUSVs, at about $40 million…
Hegseth to slash 20% of general and admiral roles in anti-bureacracy push
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is eyeing yet another purge at the Pentagon aimed at gutting bureaucracy by slashing 20% of general and admiral roles, a department official told The Post.
What we know about RAF Fairford ‘bomb plot’
A police alert turned into a potential Iranian “bomb plot” against a British military base used by the US.
US sanctions 10 entities for allegedly supporting Iran’s military
Individuals and firms in China, Pakistan, Turkiye, Iran and Saudi Arabia sanctioned as part of a pressure campaign.
Pentagon to cut 20% of general and admiral positions by Jan. 1
The reduction would remove about 170 active-duty generals and admirals from chains of command, leaving around 680 in charge of key military organizations.
Australia makes first purchase from US drone marketplace as task force announces billions in new contracts
Australia became America’s first ally to complete a purchase on the U.S. military’s new drone marketplace website earlier this month, according to Army officials. Brent Ingraham, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, told reporters on Tuesday that Australia…
US troops fully withdraw from Baghdad base after two decades
US Army soldiers have fully withdrawn from the US base in Baghdad.
Testimony on Potential Costs of a National Missile Defense System
David E. Mosher, CBO's Director of National Security Analysis, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.
The Parade of Hormuz Horribles Fizzles Out
What else are the foreign-policy graybeards missing?
Ex-Biden aide: US pressure on Israel harmed talks with Hamas to release hostages
In new book, Brett McGurk recalls how negotiations stalled amid public US warnings to Israel against Rafah op; but Harris aide defends approach, saying it was needed to prevent civilian harm The post Ex-Biden aide: US pressure on Israel harmed talks with Hamas to release hostages appeared first on…
Mystery over UK airbase scare as police find 'quantity of petrol' but no explosives
Britain's counter-terrorism police said on Tuesday that no improvised explosive devices had been found as part of an investigation into a suspected plot targeting a British airbase used by US forces to strike Iran, deepening uncertainty over the incident a day after five UK-based suspects…
A War Rejected by the People
We are preparing to learn again that a constitutional republic and democracy cannot achieve satisfying ends in war without the consent of its true sovereign.
Navy Partially Accepts Carrier John F. Kennedy from HII Newport News Shipbuilding
The future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) achieved preliminary acceptance Tuesday, one of the last steps before the aircraft carrier formally joins the Navy fleet. JFK, the second Ford-class carrier, will be moved from HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division to the waterfront at Naval Station…
Iran Threatens Middle East Energy Infrastructure as Hormuz Standoff Deepens
Iran threatened to attack energy infrastructure across the Middle East if its security isn't guaranteed as it ratcheted up its rhetoric while waiting for the United States to officially respond to a plan Tehran says would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. While air attacks by both sides have subsided…
Hegseth to announce further reduction in senior leadership positions
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will announce plans to reduce the number of leadership positions allotted to generals and admirals by 20% during his State of the Force address on Wednesday. The services will be expected to complete the reductions by the start of 2027. Some of the positions will be…
Trump Mulls Big Russia Sanctions Relief For Prisoners, Risking Wrath Of Allies & Hawks
Trump Mulls Big Russia Sanctions Relief For Prisoners, Risking Wrath Of Allies & Hawks Diplomacy is obviously stalemated and almost non-existent when it comes to the Iran conflict and Hormuz Strait crisis, and so the White House needs some level of a 'win'. It seems President Trump continues to…
Robotics Competition Winners Advance Military Exploration of Humanoid Capabilities
The Army named five companies as winners of its xTechHumanoid competition, capping an effort to assess how emerging commercial humanoid technologies could contribute to future military operations.
U.S. targets Iran's military supply chain as diplomatic talks remain uncertain
The U.S. has targeted people and firms around the globe that it has accused of being financial facilitators or enablers of Iran's military supply chain.
Navy Identifies EA-18G Growler As Type Involved In Mishap Aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Last Night
The failure of an arresting wire is one of the worst nightmares for naval aircrew and sailors working on the flight deck. The post Navy Identifies EA-18G Growler As Type Involved In Mishap Aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Last Night appeared first on TWZ.
Army awards up to $7B in sprawling counter-drone IDIQ
The Army awarded 10 companies for a variety of counter-drone tech including sensors, effectors and C2 systems, Brent Ingraham, the head of ASA(ALT), told reporters.
Why the US and UK are speaking differently about RAF Fairford arrests
It remains unclear what happened with the arrest of five men outside a U.S. Air Force base in the United Kingdom late Saturday. We do know that there has been a terrorist plot targeting RAF Fairford since at least early September. Still, some observers have theorized that the men may have simply…
The drone war will be won on the factory floor, not just the front line
[Sponsored] From FPV drones to autonomous rotorcraft, scale and repeatability are becoming as important as innovation.
British police find no explosives in vans linked to 5 men detained near U.S.-run military base
The UK's Counter Terrorism Policing said petrol was recovered from three vans near RAF Fairford.
Trump administration ‘must be changed’: Iran’s IRGC appeals to US voters
Iran's military has issued an open letter accusing Trump of lying to US citizens about the state of the ongoing war.
The Netherlands is just a symptom of a widening global boycott against Israel
A year after the US forced a Gaza ceasefire, Israel's international standing continues to plummet. The latest European restrictions threaten to exact a heavy economic toll The post The Netherlands is just a symptom of a widening global boycott against Israel appeared first on The Times of Israel.
Full F-47 Production Line “Not Too Far Away”: USAF General
Boeing has been proceeding with a multi-billion-dollar expansion of its facilities in St. Louis as the F-47 program continues to ramp up. The post Full F-47 Production Line “Not Too Far Away”: USAF General appeared first on TWZ.
Ron Paul asks Why Is the Pentagon Hiding US Iran War Casualties?
On today’s Ron Paul Liberty Report: Here’s a shocker: There have been more American service member casualties in the Iran war AFTER President Trump announced the conclusion of Operation Epic Fury. And just over the past few days we are learning about two major recent incidents that have left an…
Cotton pushes Pentagon to investigate missing F-35 components that ended up in China
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) on Tuesday urged the Trump administration to review its military equipment shipping policy in the wake of concerns that U.S. fighter jet parts were lost in China, making him the most senior Republican so far to weigh in on the debacle. Cotton, who chairs the Senate…
Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group Deploys from San Diego
The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group quietly departed Monday from San Diego for a scheduled deployment, USNI News has learned. Big-deck amphibious warship USS Makin Island (LHD-8), the flagship of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, was sighted sailing under the Coronado Bridge on its way…
Hegseth to cut 20 percent of admirals, generals in major Pentagon overhaul
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce a 20 percent cut to slots slated for admirals and generals at the Pentagon as part of his push to overhaul the outlook of the department, two Pentagon officials confirmed to The Hill on Tuesday. The Defense secretary will publicize the reductions…
Pentagon awards Raytheon up to $20.7 billion to nearly double AMRAAM production
The Defense Department has awarded Raytheon a multiyear contract worth up to $20.7 billion to build Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles, or AMRAAMs.
USS Klakring sent to the bottom of the Atlantic in joint US-UK SINKEX
A decommissioned U.S. guided-missile frigate was sent to the bottom of the Atlantic on Sept. 25 during a joint U.S.-U.K. naval exercise.
What Will Hegseth’s “State of the Force” Reprise Reveal?
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected to convene a high-profile meeting of military personnel for a “State of the Force” address this week. Will it show the U.S. armed forces as healthy? The answer may depend on how the audience responds, regardless of what Hegseth says. How the audience…
Iran's currency hits a new record low as war erodes the country's economic stability
The Iranian economy has been under duress for years in the face of international sanctions. A U.S. naval blockade on Iranian oil and new sanctions imposed since the start of the war have sent it into freefall.
US-Iran talks in New York: What’s the latest?
Both sides remain interested in a diplomatic settlement but differ on how to achieve one.
Exclusive: Trump's push for a Ukraine energy truce runs into a Putin problem
U.S. President Donald Trump privately doubts that Russian President Vladimir Putin will agree to an energy ceasefire with Ukraine before winter, people familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent. The doubts come as Washington presses both Kyiv and Moscow to halt attacks on each other's…
US forces exiting Iraq after 2 decades, leaving opening for Iran
U.S. forces are set to depart from their last bases in Iraq by Wednesday, a move celebrated as a victory by Iran and its allies.
Russian envoy in DC for talks with US officials about Ukraine war energy cease-fire
The visit comes after Trump met with Zelensky in New York last week and urged the Ukrainian leader to enact an energy-infrastructure ceasefire.
Drone-hunting on the border, plus turmoil at an Air Force think tank
NORTHCOM is testing ways to counter drone incursions, while an Air Force institute focused on China faces questions about its future.
Pinky Promise
Pinky Promise By Molly Schwarz, cross-asset macro strategist at Rabobank Iran is feeling some of the economic pressure of Bessent’s “Operation Economic Outcast” with reports from Al-Hadath suggesting that Iran has agreed to halt uranium enrichment in exchange for the relaxing of US sanctions…
Are Houthis using new modified cruise missiles in Yemen’s war?
Experts say use of modified Iranian defence system could alter the balance in the fight for the Red Sea.
2 U.S. aviators eject landing plane on carrier off Virginia and 4 sailors hurt
Two U.S. aviators ejected as they were landing their plane on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier off Virginia and four sailors on the vessel were hurt in what the Navy called a "mishap."
DIU, Space Force team up to kick-start buys of commercial sats for monitoring GEO
Both firms are working under earlier Pentagon contracts to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operators that could also support future orbital warfare.
Oil Slides As Qatar Touts 'Talks' Again; Iran Struck Large Crude Tanker Overnight
Oil Slides As Qatar Touts 'Talks' Again; Iran Struck Large Crude Tanker Overnight Iran is said to have struck a Very Large Crude Carrier in the Strait of Hormuz late on Monday, signaling what will likely be the resumption of strikes on foreign vessels seeking to navigate the Strait of Hormuz…
Iranians stock up on food and medicine as fears of new US fighting grow
Iran is struggling with shortages as sanctions and blockade strain food and medicine supply chains.
Questions surround counterterror probe into US air base after suspects were freed on bail
The U.K.'s counterterror police have released five suspects on bail during an investigation into a suspected bomb plot targeting a U.S.-operated air force base in England
Iran threatens to attack Mideast infrastructure after Trump dismisses Hormuz proposal
Tehran awaiting 'final US response' from mediators to its demands for truce, end of blockade, and sanctions relief as preconditions for nuclear talks; Russia says Iran should stay in NPT The post Iran threatens to attack Mideast infrastructure after Trump dismisses Hormuz proposal appeared first…
India Looks to Boost Exploration as Hormuz Crisis Threatens Supply
India needs to boost domestic oil and gas exploration to enhance its energy security amid supply disruptions that drive energy prices higher, according to a senior official at state-owned exploration and production company Oil India Limited (OIL). “Disruptions to global supply chains and major…
5 Men Arrested Near UK Air Base by US Forces Released on Bail
New details are emerging about the potential terror plot targeting a US-operated military base in the U.K, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleging for the first time that a foreign government was involved. Authorities decided to release all five suspects on bail without being charged. NBC’s…
Daily Briefing Sept. 29: Board of Peace envisions transformation in Gaza, and Israel
US bureau chief Jacob Magid brings us discussions on Gaza reconstruction and de-radicalization, Norway's thoughts on Israeli settler violence, and the US response to the UK's sanctions The post Daily Briefing Sept. 29: Board of Peace envisions transformation in Gaza, and Israel appeared first on…
Iraq: US troops withdraw from their Iraqi US-led Operation Inherent Resolve mission against ISIS after 12 years
As the US completes its military withdrawal from Iraq, Baghdad declares a new era of sovereignty. But as US troops leave, questions remain over militias, foreign forces and the country's future security.
Trump Denies He Offered Sanctions Relief, As Iran Insists No Change On Enrichment Stance
Trump Denies He Offered Sanctions Relief, As Iran Insists No Change On Enrichment Stance Summary Trump by day's end denies offering Iran sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear concessions; the morning headlines triggered a sharp drop in oil prices. US-Iran talks may resume, but only indirectly…
Global trade weathers Iran, Ukraine and Trump's tariffs
Over the past six years, COVID, two wars and Donald Trump's tariffs have shaken world trade. With globalization already stalling, is this a temporary shock or the start of a great reversal?
Saudi Arabia Restarts Red Sea Crude Oil Loadings
Saudi Arabia has restarted crude oil loadings at the Yanbu port on the Red Sea after the East-West pipeline resumed partial service, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing vessel-tracking data and trade sources. Saudi Arabia shut down the East-West onshore pipeline for two weeks following drone…
Trump ‘surprised’ after Britain releases men detained near base used by U.S. forces
President Donald Trump said he was surprised after British police released on bail five men arrested in connection with a huge security operation near an air base used by the U.S.
Eight Marines Were Injured By Iranian Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Attack 2 Weeks Ago
Eight Marines Were Injured By Iranian Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Attack 2 Weeks Ago Several days ago The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon quietly added dozens to its tally of American servicemembers wounded amid the Iran war. Since March and hearkening back to the opening weeks of…
The Unhedgeable Bet: What the Future Combat Systems Can Teach Us About Acquisition
The Pentagon describes Golden Dome for America as a “system of systems,” an integrated air and missile defense architecture that combines space-based sensors, orbital interceptors, ground systems, and a command network designed to defeat any aerial attack. Eighteen months after its founding…
The Discipline of Refusal: Constitutional Concerns About Lawful Orders in the U.S. Military
Military doctrine gives officers a clear rule for manifestly unlawful orders: Refuse them. It offers no comparable rule when lawful action appears to threaten the constitutional structure the military serves. The first response is neither refusal nor resignation, but rather deliberative…
Vietnam arrests three on terrorism charges, including Norwegian and Australian citizens
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security said the three men had admitted to being members of Viet Tan, a U.S.-based pro-democracy group.
2 US Navy aviators eject while landing plane on carrier off Virginia, 4 sailors injured
Two U.S. Navy aviators ejected while landing their plane on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier off Virginia's coast