Archive › Wednesday, September 30, 2026 › War & Conflict
War & Conflict Wednesday, September 30, 2026
They aren't uniformed, but these US companies are fighting for Ukraine
This summer, Microsoft announced that “it will extend its provision of technology support to Ukraine through the end of 2027,” providing technology, cybersecurity support, and other assistance to help Ukraine maintain essential digital services during the war.” Not only U.S. weapons, but a host of…
Ukraine urges US sanctions on suppliers to Russia’s Rassvet satellite network
Kyiv fears that once Russia completes the satellite constellation, Moscow could use the network to obtain real-time information for strikes against Ukraine.
Rubio demanded Iranian delegation leave US after talks stalled: Report
Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the Iranian delegation attending the U.N. General Assembly to leave the United States immediately after peace talks to end the nearly nine-month war crumbled, according to a new report. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi…
Hegseth announces 20% cut to US military commanders
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says he’s firing 20% of the military’s generals and admirals.
Iraq celebrates Sovereignty Day as US troops complete withdrawal
Night time celebrations filled the air as Iraqis observed the start of a four-day holiday.
'Best Minds'? Hegseth Taps Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich to Lead 'Future of Warfare' Project
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that three men—none of whom have served in the military and two who make billions of dollars from it—will help lead a new Pentagon project on the “future of warfare," even as he moves to eliminate hundreds of senior armed service leadership…
Hegseth looks to remake the military, from generals to drones
Hegseth announced the creation of a new combatant command for drone warfare, a plan to build a new military base on American soil, and more in his speech.
Iran war live: Trump hints US could strike Iran, warns time coming
Trump says the US may “blow up” Iran or strike a deal, insisting the standoff will end very soon one way or the other.
DoorDash reveals launch timeframe for delivery drones in Northern California
Food delivery service users may soon have food flying, literally, to their doorstep.
Pete Hegseth boasts about reshaping military while U.S. is at war with Iran
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on what he called "PT at the Pentagon" on the day the U.S. military announced the completion of its troop pullout from Iraq. Charlie D'Agata reports.
DOD spent record fiscal 2026 funds at breakneck pace in final weeks
In the last two months of the fiscal year that ends Wednesday, the Pentagon spent tens of billions of mandatory dollars from last year’s reconciliation law, intensely accelerating spending from its unusually large overall budget for the year, congressional sources said this week. The Pentagon…
The 6 new initiatives in Hegseth's Pentagon
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story The 6 new initiatives in Hegseth's Pentagon Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday gave a wide-ranging speech to active-duty officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico…
Kanye West's sold-out Russia concerts cancelled, organizers confirm
Ye, the controversial U.S. rapper formerly known as Kanye West, had been scheduled to play two shows in St. Petersburg in October — which would have made him the biggest Western artist to perform in Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Former diplomats assess U.S. withdrawal from Iraq and region's future
U.S. forces formally withdrew from Iraq today, marking the end of a long and turbulent military presence. The withdrawal brought celebrations in the capital -- but also concern about what comes next. For insight and analysis, Geoff Bennett spoke with James Jeffrey and Feisal Istrabadi. Jeffrey was…
Hegseth announces 5 new non-Ivy League partnerships
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced new Pentagon partnerships with five non-Ivy League colleges and universities Wednesday amid his ongoing efforts to distance the military from America's most prestigious higher education institutions. “We're partnering with a new crop of premier higher ed…
Netanyahu: ‘Too early to say’ if Iran involved in flydubai attack, Israel ‘possibly’ joining probe
PM says Indian pilot, Israelis who stormed cockpit ‘managed to prevent a 9/11 disaster’ * After speaking with premier, Trump says copilot ‘was perhaps a terrorist or a whack-job’ The post Netanyahu: ‘Too early to say’ if Iran involved in flydubai attack, Israel ‘possibly’ joining probe appeared…
Hegseth Delivers 'State of the Force' Address, Outlines Series of New Initiatives
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a speech on the status of the military, during which he announced six new initiatives for the War Department.
Hegseth announces plans for new 4-star drone command, among other initiatives
Hegseth also announced a new study group led by Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich.
Musk returns to Trump world for Pentagon war study
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will lead a Pentagon study of the future of warfare dubbed "Project Meridian," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday. Why it matters: It's Musk's first official role advising the…
Pentagon to create first-ever autonomous warfare command, Hegseth reveals
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday the creation of a new four-star military command dedicated to autonomous warfare, part of a broader effort to expand the Pentagon’s use of drones, robotics, and artificial intelligence on the battlefield. The Autonomous Warfare Command, dubbed…
Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich to help Pentagon with warfare initiative, Hegseth says
Pete Hegseth, in remarks about the state of the military, announced a project led by two GOP-supporting tech executives to examine military capabilities.
Hegseth confirms the US military will cut 20% of its generals and admirals
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed that the U.S. military will cut 20% of its generals and admirals
Ukraine to present ‘wish list’ for new Russia sanctions under Graham law
Ukraine will present the Trump administration and Congress this week with a wish list of Russian companies, vessels and individuals it would like to see hit with U.S. sanctions under a new law signed by President Donald Trump this month
U.S. Forces Leave Behind a Power Vacuum in Iraq
Washington’s adversaries, including Iran and the Islamic State, are likely to take advantage of the pullout.
Andy Burnham says ‘indications’ show Iran ‘played a part’ in Fairford air base terrorism scare and defends suspects’ release on bail
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham agreed with the White House about the suspected role of Iran in a terrorism scare outside an air base in England. Five British nationals ranging in age from 23 to 25 were arrested Sunday on suspicion of a terrorist plot near the Royal Air Force Fairford Base…
Hegseth accuses media of treason in pugnacious annual address
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took aim at the U.S. media during a speech at a Marine Corps base in Virginia on Wednesday, saying: "Our so-called press makes Iranian state media look reasonable." Why it matters: Hegseth cast news outlets as a threat to U.S. troops, escalating his attacks on…
Hegseth invites governors to bid for 'next great American base'
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited governors Wednesday to bid for the “next great American” base to be built inside the country. "We're calling on every governor in the country and adjutant general, every tag across this great republic, to step up to the plate and bring us their best sales…
Live updates: Hegseth calls officer cuts 'bare minimum' in address to troops; Senate Democrats block key bills
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered his "State of the Force" address to a select group of service members on Wednesday at Quantico, Va., laying out several new initiatives. He also defended a 20 percent cut to slots slated for admirals and generals as part of his push to overhaul the outlook…
Massie wants Patel to resign over interrogation of alleged DC pipe bomber
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) is calling for the resignation of FBI Director Kash Patel after a transcript of the alleged Jan. 6 pipe bomber’s interrogation has been released. The extent of the FBI’s alleged mistreatment of Brian Cole Jr. was revealed in the defendant’s motion to suppress statements…
Why Jim Cramer isn't buying more Boeing despite its huge Navy contract win
Two main issues are holding him up.
Trump’s Horrific, Illegal Iran War Has ‘Costs Us Billions While Making Us Less Safe’
A group of experts says that President Donald Trump's illegal war with Iran, which has been massively expensive and has made Americans less safe, shows the need for a radical overhaul of US foreign policy. Scholars at the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of…
Top Shia Cleric Says US Should Compensate Iraqis As Last American Forces Leave
Top Shia Cleric Says US Should Compensate Iraqis As Last American Forces Leave Via Middle East Eye Influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has said the US should compensate Iraqis for the damage inflicted on the country, as the last American troops pull out of Iraq. In a statement on Wednesday…
F-15EX May Finally Get Missile Warning System The USAF Originally Skimped On Buying
The F-15EX is designed to host a system to optically spot incoming missiles and its omission from USAF jets has become increasingly glaring. The post F-15EX May Finally Get Missile Warning System The USAF Originally Skimped On Buying appeared first on TWZ.
WATCH: Hegseth confirms the U.S. military will cut 20% of its generals and admirals
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday that the U.S. military will cut 20% of its generals and admirals as he delivered what he is calling his "State of the Force" address.
Trump says US exit from Iraq a 'victory' for both countries
President Trump touted the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq as a win for both countries more than 20 years after the start of the Iraq War. "It's a victory for the United States, it's a victory for Iraq and a decisive victory over ISIS, which has been completely decimated,” Trump said…
Navy Awards Boeing $20 Billion Contract For Next-Generation Fighter
Navy Awards Boeing $20 Billion Contract For Next-Generation Fighter Authored by Tom Gantert via The Epoch Times, Boeing has secured a contract worth more than $20 billion to develop the U.S. Navy's next-generation carrier-based fighter. The Boeing Co. logo is displayed outside of company offices…
Government AI Models Advancing, Increasing Productivity
The War Department is working with industry partners to deploy the latest and greatest American artificial intelligence models and platforms, officials said today during GenAI.mil Excite Day at the Pentagon.
EXCLUSIVE: How the DIA measures a military’s ‘Will to Fight’
After underestimating Ukraine’s forces, the Defense Intelligence Agency adopted a new analytical framework to try and quantify the unquantifiable.
The World’s Diesel Problem Runs Deeper Than the Iran War
The nature of the shortage of diesel and jet fuel is more complex than most people realize. Based on my analysis, a shortfall has existed since at least 2020. The shortage is not simply the result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In this post, I will provide background information regarding…
'We Want to Hear From You,' Hegseth Tells Troops at Early Morning PT Session
About 600 midcareer enlisted service members and officers formed up on the Pentagon's parade field for the chance to do a morning workout with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Syria removed from US arms export ban list
US has gradually loosened restrictions placed on Syria during the Assad era to aid country's recovery from conflict.
Moscow threatens nuclear response over tiny fortress wedged between US allies as clash fears grow
Russia's nuclear threat over Kaliningrad raises alarm as experts warn the Baltic exclave is already a hub for hybrid warfare against NATO allies.
U.S. ends ISIS-fighting mission in Iraq as regional security fears mount
The last American troops assigned to fight ISIS in Iraq pulled out of the country Wednesday, ending the mission that dismantled the extremists’ self-declared caliphate but raising fears about what might fill the vacuum as the Iran war grinds on.
VIDEO: Former U.S. Frigate Sunk in Exercise with U.S., Royal Navies
The U.S. Navy and Royal Navy sunk decommissioned frigate USS Klarkring (FFG-42) earlier this month as part of a sinking exercise with Royal Navy forces. Newly commissioned Virginia-class submarine USS Massachusetts (SSN-798) dealt the final blow to Klarkring, sending it to the bottom of the…
Mediators are working to broker a US-Iran deal, but major hurdles remain
CAIRO (AP) —The indirect talks come as the conflict, which is entering its eighth month, has caused global economic damage and badly battered Iran.
Britain believes Iran was involved in incident near air base used by U.S., prime minister says
There are strong indications that Iran played a part in an incident outside a U.K. airbase that U.S. forces use to strike Iran, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said.
'Not What I Did': GOP Senator Squirms When Asked Why He Keeps Voting for Trump's Gas Price-Hiking War
An embattled incumbent Republican senator squirmed on Tuesday when confronted with his multiple votes supporting President Donald Trump's illegal war with Iran, which has driven up gas prices across the US. During a Wednesday interview with local news station WKRC, Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) was…
Gulf Exports Roar Back To Pre-War Levels, Goldman Says; Blas Sees "Trump Has Advantage" On Hormuz
Gulf Exports Roar Back To Pre-War Levels, Goldman Says; Blas Sees "Trump Has Advantage" On Hormuz The US conflict with Iran has been ongoing for seven months and will soon enter its eighth month. Diplomatic signals this week, along with another request for a US SPR dump and reports of Gulf oil…
Operation Atlantic City ushers Marines on rare trip to ... remote Arctic island
U.S. Marines participated in a NATO exercise on a remote Arctic island as the alliance increases its focus on the region amid worries about Russia.
UK says there are strong indications Iran played a part in a security incident at a US-run air base
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says the U.K. has “strong indications” that Iran played a part in an incident involving five men arrested near a U.S.-run air base in England
China opens training center with Laos, marking third overseas military base
Satellite imagery shows the new facility is built in part on a purported old US airstrip used during the Vietnam War.
Army Nears Crucial Brain Health Testing Milestone
About 97% of soldiers have used the Neurocognitive Assessment Tool, helping medical professionals combat the effects of blast overpressure and low-level blast exposure, the Army's top leader overseeing safety and occupational health said.
US Army selects five companies for PrSM development
The Army on Tuesday signed agreements with Anduril, Castelion, Lockheed Martin, Mach Industries and RTX to create advanced long-range missile prototypes.
Boeing nabs $2.4 billion deal for more F-15EX fighters
The award came on the same day that the planemaker secured a contract to build a sixth-generation fighter jet for the US Navy.
Deep-Dive Investigation Examines Minab School Bombing: ‘One of the Worst US War Crimes Since Vietnam’
Survivors, parents, and first responders provided harrowing firsthand accounts of the US bombing of an elementary school on the first day of the US-Israeli war with Iran as part of a new Drop Site News investigation demonstrating that the school had publicly operated as a civilian institution for…
Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman to undergo $5.1B mid-life overhaul
The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman is slated to undergo a $5.1 billion overhaul that will ready the vessel for the second half of its service life.
Oil Price Forecasts Jump as Hormuz Disruption Drags On
Analysts have sharply raised their 2026 oil price forecasts as hopes fade for a quick normalization of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with a new Reuters poll putting Brent crude at an average of $89.05 per barrel this year, up from $85.08 just a month ago. The September survey of 30…
'Super intelligence is a national security issue,' Jay Clayton says; dodges AI 'czar' question
A media report this week said President Donald Trump stated that Clayton, the director of national intelligence, would make a good AI czar.
John Mearsheimer on Bombing To Lose
Reprinted from John’s Substack: On 27 September 2026, I was on “Switzerland” with the host, Tom Switzer, and the distinguished author and columnist, Patrick Cockburn. We talked mainly about Iran, focusing special attention on President Trump’s promise to employ massive military force against Iran…
Hung, Drawn, And Third-Quartered: Roll On Q4
Hung, Drawn, And Third-Quartered: Roll On Q4 By Michael Every of Rabobank Today ends Q3, which has been a shocker even in a year of major market shocks. Wars dragged on and spread. Russia-Ukraine saw energy sites hit and hybrid attacks against Europe increase. Saudi Arabia, not Iran, is now under…
Iran indicates it received official US response to latest offer on ending war
Officials don't say what reply contained; FM Araghchi updates Tehran cabinet on his trip to UN General Assembly; UK monitors says three ships hit in Hormuz The post Iran indicates it received official US response to latest offer on ending war appeared first on The Times of Israel.
U.S. military says its withdrawal of troops from Iraq for Islamic State fight is complete
The U.S. military announced Wednesday that it completed the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq, ending a 12-year mission to fight the Islamic State group and prompting President Donald Trump to hail the conclusion of "a very expensive excursion into Hell."
US withdraws last remaining troops out of Iraq
“As we step back and hand full primary responsibility for Iraq’s security to the Government of Iraq and the brave people of Iraq, US and Coalition forces stationed across the region will remain ready to respond to any ISIS threats that arise,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said.
U.S. to Transfer Surveillance Aircraft to the Philippine Coast Guard
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The U.S. will transfer three King Air turboprop planes equipped for maritime domain awareness operations to the Philippine Coast Guard, the Pentagon announced Monday. Technology Service Corp. was awarded $39 million for the procurement and integration of intelligence…
Iran Warns No Energy Infrastructure Will Be Safe If It Can't Sell Oil
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…
Iraqis celebrate final US troop withdrawal as government takes charge of security
Military parades mark departure while PM says fight against terrorism continues; Washington pledges targeted training and intelligence support will continue as concerns rise over militias and Islamic State The post Iraqis celebrate final US troop withdrawal as government takes charge of security…
OPEC+ Expected to Keep Oil Production Quotas Unchanged
The key OPEC+ producers are set to leave their current crude oil output quotas unchanged for November at a meeting this weekend, anonymous sources familiar with the plans told Reuters on Wednesday. The Gulf producers in OPEC+ have been producing and exporting much lower volumes sin ce the Iran war…
UAE turns to Russian shadow airline for missions in Africa: Investigation
The company behind these planes, Aviacon Zitotrans, has been sanctioned by the United States, Canada and Ukraine for its support in Russia’s war effort.
Kremlin denies Russia has political prisoners as Trump weighs sanctions relief for releases
"We categorically deny the existence of any political prisoners and believe that framing the issue in this way is completely inappropriate," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Chaos aboard flight as hijacking fears trigger fighter jet response and more top headlines
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Everyone Got Pete Hegseth Wrong
The secretary of defense is now the most influential senior official in the Trump administration.
Encouraging Signs from the Strait of Hormuz
By some estimates, the amount of oil getting through the strait is about 80 percent of the prewar level.
US military completes withdrawal of troops from Iraq after 12-year mission
The U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Erbil Air Base, ending Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq while relocating its headquarters to Jordan.
AI Escalates Educational ‘Math Wars’
For decades, on campuses across the country, the math wars have been raging with a knockdown, drag-out brutality perhaps only rivaled by national politics. Public shouting matches, lawsuits, and character assassinations have surrounded a debate about how to teach students algebra and geometry: Do…
The 10 most vulnerable House members just over a month before Election Day
With less than five weeks to go until the midterm elections, Republicans face historical headwinds as the party in power and must also contend with high gas prices amid the ongoing Iran war. But Republican groups enjoy a clear cash advantage as the party seeks to hold on to the House, and…
Trump denies offering Iran sanctions relief; Tehran receives U.S. proposal following Qatar talks
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he had offered sanctions relief to Iran in exchange for concessions from Tehran on its nuclear program.
Foreign Investors Pull $3.2 Billion From Indian Markets as Oil Rally Returns
The renewed rally in oil prices above $100 per barrel Brent has prompted foreign investors to pull money out of India’s stock and bond markets at the highest pace since March, when the start of the Iran war and the oil supply crunch in Asia launched a massive exodus from Asian assets. Following…