Today's Defense Pulse
U.S. Treasury expands sanctions on Iran-linked shipping network
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced a new sanctions round targeting a global network of shipping firms, tanker operators and intermediaries tied to Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical trades. Entities in Hong Kong, the UAE, India, Qatar, Singapore, China, Liberia and the Marshall Islands were added to the Specially Designated Nationals list.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Disciplined Growth Acquisition Corp raises $150M in IPO
ICE Paid the Salaries of This Town’s Entire Police Force
Carroll, New Hampshire, a town of 820 residents, received a $122,515 wire transfer from the Department of Homeland Security after its police force joined the 287(g) Task Force Model. The agreement obligates the town’s four full‑time officers to assist ICE in immigration enforcement in exchange for salary coverage and additional incentives. Nationwide, 920 law‑enforcement agencies have signed similar agreements, receiving equipment, vehicle funding and overtime bonuses. The contracts also contain confidentiality clauses that shift record‑keeping responsibilities to federal FOIA processes, limiting public access.
In 7 Months, 90% of Americans Will Vote on Easily Hackable Machines That Leave No Evidence of Tampering
In January 2024, Princeton researcher J. Alex Halderman demonstrated in federal court that a Dominion voting machine could be hijacked using a ballpoint pen, a $20 card reader and a $30 homemade smart card, exposing a vulnerability that leaves no...
Exein Unveils Next-Generation Runtime Security to Protect the AI-Native World
Exein introduced Photon, a kernel‑level runtime security platform that blocks malicious code before it executes, targeting AI‑native environments such as IoT, edge, and autonomous systems. By moving protection from user‑space detection to pre‑emptive kernel enforcement, Photon eliminates attack windows and...
Singapore Says Involvement in Israeli Military-Linked Groups ‘Not Acceptable’
Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence warned that participation in Israeli military‑linked organisations such as Sar‑El is now unacceptable and could trigger legal action. The warning follows the resurfacing of a 2018‑19 blog that encouraged Singaporeans to...
Japanese ‘Soldier’ Forces Way Into Chinese Embassy in Tokyo
A Japanese individual, falsely claiming to be an active Self‑Defence Forces officer, illegally forced entry into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo. The person admitted the illegal act and threatened to kill Chinese diplomatic staff in the name of a self‑styled...
USS Gerald R. Ford Pulls Into Souda Bay for Repairs After Red Sea Fire
The nuclear‑powered USS Gerald R. Ford arrived at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay on March 23, 2026, for assessment, repairs, and resupply after a fire broke out in its main laundry while operating in the Red Sea. The blaze, deemed non‑combat related, was quickly contained,...
Starmer Insists No Delays to Type 83 Destroyer
Prime Minister Keir Starmer told MPs he will not allow any delays to the UK’s future Type 83 destroyer programme, stressing the need for steady naval procurement. He linked the project to Scotland’s shipbuilding sector, citing a newly secured Norwegian frigate...
Review: Shadow Cell by Andrew Bustamante and Jihi Bustamante
The review of "Shadow Cell" examines how CIA operatives Andrew and Jihi Bustamante introduced two major reforms: cell networks and people networks. By borrowing Al‑Qaeda’s decentralized cell structure, the agency aimed to cut red tape and limit mole damage. The...
VIDEO: Israel Hit by Missiles, Vows to Continue Strikes Until US and Iran Reach Deal
Iranian missiles struck multiple sites in central Israel on March 23, injuring six people, while Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to keep hitting Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon until a U.S.-Iran agreement meets Israeli interests. President Donald Trump announced...
The Baltic Sea and New Strategy
The Baltic Sea has shifted from a quiet commercial corridor to a hotspot for hybrid threats, as Russian vessels increasingly operate near critical energy and communication infrastructure. Underwater sabotage incidents—targeting cables like Estlink 2 and C‑Lion 1—demonstrate the vulnerability of dense subsea...
Rules Are Right
Lord Hermer KC, the UK attorney general, used a Manchester lecture to argue that Britain’s national interest is best served by upholding international law amid escalating US and Israeli military actions against Iran. He warned that a "might is right"...
The Insurance Weapon: How Commercial Risk Logic Became an Irregular Warfare Tool at Hormuz
In late February 2026, coordinated U.S.–Israeli airstrikes triggered a rapid insurance‑driven shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. War‑risk premiums surged fivefold, Lloyd’s Joint War Committee reclassified the entire Arabian Gulf as a conflict zone, and major insurers withdrew affordable coverage,...
March to the Sound of the Guns: Organizational Integration for Strategic Competition
The U.S. Army recognizes a doctrinal gap in integrating information operations into strategic competition and proposes a new organizational model that mirrors close‑air‑support (CAS) structures. By embedding information‑warfare professionals within State Department regional bureaus and key embassies, the Army aims...
‘Operation Hidden Hand’: Iran-Russia Military Axis Comes Into View
U.S. officials say Russia is supplying Iran with satellite‑derived targeting data, sharpening Tehran’s strikes on American forces and regional infrastructure. The cooperation extends to a joint Shahed‑139 drone plant in Yelabuga capable of churning out roughly 5,500 drones each month,...
HUMAN AGENCY IN THE AGE OF AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS
In this episode of A Better Peace, host Dr. Tom Spahr interviews Army War College faculty Lt. Col. Blair Wilcox and Col. Chase Metcalf about their research on the interaction between human commanders and artificial intelligence in military operations. Drawing...
Will Iran Turn to Terrorism?
Operation Epic Fury has prompted Tehran to openly threaten terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies, citing the recent killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as justification. Iran’s Qods Force and proxy networks have accelerated recruitment of criminal groups and sleeper...
Secret EU Files at Risk of AfD Leaks to Kremlin, Diplomats Warn
EU diplomats warn that Germany's far‑right AfD party can access EuDoX, a databank containing thousands of confidential EU documents, raising fears of leaks to Moscow and Beijing. The system, used by all German MPs, stores roughly 25,000 low‑level classified files...
Thanks For The Memory
President Donald Trump postponed a threatened strike on Iran, prompting a brief market rally, but analysts quickly shifted focus to the memory‑chip sector. AI‑driven demand for high‑bandwidth memory (HBM) and advanced DRAM has turned the traditionally cyclical memory market into...
Strava Data Leak Reveals French Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle's Location
A French naval officer uploaded a 35‑minute run on the deck of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to Strava, unintentionally broadcasting the ship's location in the eastern Mediterranean. The incident spotlights how public fitness tracking can compromise military security...
Israeli Strikes Hit Beirut’s South, Capture Two Hezbollah Fighters Amid Iran-Israel War
Israel launched airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, killing at least one civilian and capturing two Hezbollah operatives. The attacks, part of a broader Iran‑Israel war, have heightened regional tensions and sparked concerns in emerging‑market capital flows.
UAE Urges Global Working Session to Secure Energy Chokepoints
UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber urged multinational corporations and governments to convene an international working session on the resilience of the global energy system, citing Iran’s recent attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure and the...
Colombia’s C‑130 Crash Leaves Up to 80 Soldiers Dead, Raising Safety Concerns
A Colombian Air Force C‑130 Hercules went down moments after take‑off from Puerto Leguizamo, killing as many as 80 soldiers out of the 125 personnel on board. The disaster, the deadliest single‑incident loss for Colombia’s armed forces in years, has...
Pentagon Shifts Press Operations to External Annex After Judge Blocks Media Restrictions
Following a federal judge’s ruling that the Pentagon’s restrictive media policy violated press freedoms, the Defense Department announced it will move journalists to an external annex on Pentagon grounds and issue new credentials. The decision marks a major shift in...
Pakistan’s Saudi Defence Pact Faces Its First Wartime Test — and the Stakes Go Far Beyond Iran
The six‑month‑old Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is now being tested as the Iran war intensifies. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar publicly invoked the pact, and Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Riyadh to coordinate a joint...
Google Launches Threat Disruption Unit, Stops Short of Calling It ‘Offensive’
Google has unveiled a new Threat Disruption Unit that operates defensively, targeting the infrastructure hackers rely on rather than conducting offensive hacks. The unit will leverage Google’s visibility into global internet services to obtain court orders, expose malicious actors, and...
More Launches, More Cyber Threats: Space Force Stands Up Units to Defend Ranges
The U.S. Space Force activated the 630th Cyberspace Squadron at Vandenberg Space Force Base on March 10 to protect launch‑range networks from cyber intrusions. This follows the September reassignment of the 645th Cyberspace Squadron to Space Launch Delta 45 at...
Forge Photonics Signs Navigation Systems Deal with Mission Systems for Subsea Drones
Canberra‑based Forge Photonics has inked a deal with Sydney defence firm Mission Systems to equip its undersea drones with fibre‑optic gyroscope navigation modules. The technology, spun out of Australian National University research on gravitational‑wave detection, delivers GPS‑free, low‑detectability positioning using...
Testing Shows Progress on Key Air Force Missiles and Bombs
The Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation released its 2025 annual report, highlighting progress on four Air Force munitions programs. The GBU‑57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, after successful combat drops on Iranian nuclear sites, was removed from DOT&E oversight and...
Iran’s Fragmented Leadership Clouds US Negotiation Prospects
Important nuance before assuming the stage is set for US-Iran negotiations: ❓ How unified is Iran’s top leadership at present — across the legislative branch, the military (especially the IRGC), and the religious establishment? ❓ Does Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hold...
Stepping on a WWII Landmine: What Happens?
#HowThingsWork? World War II Landmine. If you had stepped on one this is what would have happened. #WarTech #History https://t.co/M6vv22Mf7e
Colombia's C‑130 Hercules Crash Kills at Least 80, Military Says
Colombia's Defense Ministry confirmed that a C‑130 Hercules transport plane crashed on take‑off from Puerto Leguizamo on March 23, killing at least 80 of the 125 troops and crew on board. The disaster comes as the south‑border region sees heightened...
Trump Claims Joint Control of Hormuz with Iran
This would be an important dynamic, if it were to continue and GROW in size. AND, if the US were to acquiesce to this new arrangement. Then again, President Trump did say that the "me and the ayatollah will jointly"...
Respect Analytic Tradecraft Over Censorship Claims
This is being framed as censorship but it’s actually just prosaic advice for language relating to photo-interpretation. We just accused CENTCOM of PAC’ing a Bahraini neighborhood, but one still needs to respect analytic tradecraft.
Less Than 1% of Public Bomb Shelters in Israel Are in Palestinian Communities
A recent analysis reveals that fewer than 1% of Israel’s public bomb shelters are situated in Palestinian‑majority neighborhoods, underscoring a stark safety gap. A survey by the Israel Democracy Institute shows 92.5% of Jewish Israelis support the recent strike on...
Trump's Transactional View Ignores Iran's Revolutionary Reality
Trump is treating Iran like a transactional adversary when it's a revolutionary state, says @ksadjadpour After three weeks of bombing, there is no real path to normalization The best case is a return to a Cold War #Iran #Trump #Hormuz #KarimSadjadpour #Geopolitics...
Trump Blocks Homeland Security Funding, Triggers Shutdown
Trump blocked the bipartisan deal to fund all of Homeland Security except ICE. This is Trump’s shutdown. https://t.co/MxVPDtgIwz
Over 11,000 Munitions in 16 Days of the Iran War: ‘Command of the Reload’ Governs Endurance
In the first 16 days of the Iran conflict, coalition forces have expended 11,294 advanced munitions, costing roughly $26 billion. The rapid consumption has sharply depleted high‑end interceptors, long‑range strike missiles and sensor‑command assets, leaving critical stockpiles vulnerable. Industrial bottlenecks—particularly in...
Pentagon Tightens Control Over Stars and Stripes, Faces Legal Challenge
More DoD media manipulation. Watch for a decision this on the NYT press pass case. Hope for an order to vacant the DoD rules: Pentagon tightens controls over Stars and Stripes after calling it “woke” : NPR https://t.co/xb0UyBKuPb
Pentagon Shifts Media to Annex After Court Loss
This administration has never met a law that it didn’t feel comfortable grabbing by the genitalia with the greatest lack of respect. Pentagon moves media to external ‘annex’ after press policy court defeat - The Washington Post https://t.co/4hTc1vE9mD
Administration Releases Cyber Strategy, Executive Order on Cybercrime and Fraud
The administration released a National Cyber Strategy aimed at keeping the United States unrivaled in cyberspace, outlining six policy pillars that stress AI deployment and reduced regulation. An accompanying Executive Order directs agencies to develop plans for dismantling transnational cybercrime...
Gen. Mattis Warns Iran Could Tax Strait Traffic
GEN. MATTIS: “.. Iran right now, if we declared victory, they would now say they own the strait. .. You’d see a tax for every ship that goes through. .. We’re in a tough spot, ladies and gentlemen. .. I...
Trump Calms Markets, Buys Time, Pursues Diplomacy and Military Options
Lux's @brett_mcgurk current POV: (1) we're only halfway thru stated plan of 4-6 weeks (2) Occam's razor: Trump is calming markets + buying time. He will give diplomacy serious try, while advancing US military + creating more options, and continuing non-power...
The Strait of Hormuz Problem: What ‘Securing’ the Waterway Actually Requires
Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz by using missile and drone attacks that have slashed commercial traffic by roughly 90%, while still allowing a limited flow of Iranian‑flagged vessels and a few Greek‑linked tankers. The United States has...
US‑Israel Neutralize 70% of Iran’s Missile Launchers in Three Weeks
Just over 3 weeks and the U.S.-Israel have taken out over 70% of Iran's ballistic missile launchers.
Israel Targets Iranian Regime Leaders and Security Forces
I agree, Israel is going after the Iranian regime leaders, Basij, police, security forces, checkpoints and methods the regime used to kill protesters..they are calling IRGC officers to tell them they are dead men walking…
Iran Contradicts Trump and Says No Direct Talks to End War
Iran publicly rejected the notion of direct negotiations to end the ongoing Middle East conflict, directly contradicting former President Donald Trump's earlier assertions that Tehran was engaged in peace talks. The Iranian foreign ministry emphasized that any diplomatic efforts must...
News Wrap: Senate on Track to Confirm Mullin as DHS Secretary
The U.S. Senate is poised to confirm Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the next Secretary of Homeland Security, replacing Kristi Noem who was dismissed after controversy over immigration enforcement. Mullin, a longtime ally of former President Trump’s immigration agenda, secured...
Trump Claim of Productive Talks with Iran Greeted with Skepticism
President Trump announced a five‑day postponement of planned strikes on Iranian power infrastructure, saying recent talks with Tehran were “very good and productive.” Iran’s parliament speaker rejected the claim, stating no negotiations had taken place and accusing the United States...
Ceasefire Won’t Resolve Underlying Middle East Crisis
“Ending the War Doesn’t End the Crisis”: Middle East Ceasefire Risks | A... https://t.co/bDlWKuJTVz via @YouTube
The US Has Counter-Mine Ships Homeported in the Middle East. Are They Effective?
The U.S. Navy’s Independence‑class littoral combat ships (LCS) equipped with the mine countermeasures (MCM) mission package have yet to prove operational effectiveness after replacing four Avenger‑class minesweepers in Bahrain. DOT&E reports cite low reliability of the Airborne Mine Neutralization System,...