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
Rosatom Confirms Bushehr Nuclear Plant Undamaged as Russia Evacuates 94 People
Rosatom confirmed that Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, operated by Russia, sustained no damage during the recent US‑Israeli military operation. The Russian state nuclear corporation evacuated 94 family members of its staff via Azerbaijan and Armenia after the Russian embassy ordered its citizens to leave Iran. Only essential personnel remain on site, and President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the plant’s status. Rosatom warned that targeting nuclear facilities is unacceptable and poses suicidal risks.
Iraqi Shi'ite Militia Group Declares All US Bases ‘Legitimate Targets’
Iraqi Shi'ite militia Saraya Awliya al‑Dam announced all U.S. military bases are legitimate targets. The group, aligned with Iran, said its fighters are ready to fire at any American installation in Iraq and beyond. The declaration follows recent Iranian strikes,...
General’s Anger Reveals Army’s Logistical Limits, No Invasion Fleet
Major General is just pissed off because he knows the Army is taking a back seat. You may “know more about war than Donald Trump” but you also know the Army can’t invade a nation of that size without a large...
US Confirms First Combat Use of LUCAS One-Way Attack Drone in Iran Strikes
U.S. Central Command confirmed that the LUCAS one‑way attack drone was employed for the first time in combat during Saturday’s airstrikes on Iran under Operation Epic Fury. The low‑cost autonomous kamikaze, reverse‑engineered from the Iranian Shahed‑136, struck IRGC command and...
European Defence Ministers Plot Further Russian Oil Disruption
European defence ministers convened in Krakow to discuss escalating measures against Russian seaborne oil exports. France seized the 115,600‑dwt aframax tanker Grinch, carrying 730,000 barrels of crude, and released it after the shipowner paid a €3 million fine. Ministers aim to...
OpenAI Surpasses 900M Weekly Users, Secures Landmark Funding, and Finalizes Pentagon AI Agreement
OpenAI reported that ChatGPT now serves 900 million weekly active users, including 50 million paying subscribers, adding 100 million users since October 2025. The company closed a historic $110 billion private funding round led by Amazon, with Nvidia and SoftBank contributing $30 billion each, valuing...
Rocket Lab Completes Another HASTE Suborbital Mission
Rocket Lab completed its seventh HASTE suborbital mission, repurposing the first stage of an Electron rocket to launch an Australian Hypersonix test vehicle from Wallops Island. The flight marks the company’s second Department of Defense hypersonic test in three months...
Anthropic Refuses Pentagon Demands as Federal Ban Imposed and AI Industry Leaders Weigh In
Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei publicly refused a Pentagon request for unrestricted military access to the company's AI models. President Donald Trump subsequently ordered all federal agencies to cease using Anthropic products and the Defense Department labeled the firm a supply‑chain...
Iranian Missiles Shake Gulf Cities After US, Israeli Strikes on Iran
Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain in retaliation for recent U.S. and Israeli strikes. All four Gulf states’ air defenses intercepted most of the projectiles, though debris caused at least one...
Bolton Says US Strikes on Iran 'Justifiable and Necessary'
Former national security adviser John Bolton defended President Trump’s pre‑emptive strikes on Iran, calling the operation "justifiable and necessary" and a pivotal moment of his presidency. Trump announced the attacks on X, asserting they were needed to eliminate an imminent...
Israel Receives Dozens of Military Vehicles in New Supply Delivery
Israel’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that a cargo ship unloaded dozens of Humvees, trucks and other military gear at Haifa Port, bolstering IDF operations under Operation Roaring Lion. The delivery is part of a broader logistics campaign that has moved more than...
Explainer: Washington Declares Maritime War on Beijing
The White House unveiled a Maritime Action Plan aimed at confronting Beijing’s dominance in global shipbuilding. The strategy calls for a massive increase in U.S. shipyard capacity, leveraging $30 billion in federal funding and new partnerships with allies such as Japan...
Iran's Future Hinges on Strike Severity and Regime Damage
Lots of scenarios on polymarket on how today’s developments in Iran will play out.. How this unfolds will depend on the extent, intensity, and longevity of US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and, crucially, the damage inflicted not just on physical...
The Busiest International Airport in the World Remains Indefinitely Shut Down Amidst Continuing Iranian Missile Attacks
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest airport handling roughly 261,000 passengers daily, remains shut indefinitely as Iran’s missile and drone attacks force airspace closures across the Middle East. Emirates has halted all flights to and from Dubai with no...
A Proxy Without a Purpose: Hizballah and the Iran Crisis
The United States and Israel’s escalating attacks on Iran have revived questions about Hezbollah’s strategic value as Tehran’s premier proxy. After a costly 2024 war with Israel, Hezbollah’s long‑range strike capability and leadership have been severely degraded, while the Lebanese...
This Is the System That Intercepted Iran’s Missiles Over the UAE
Iran launched ballistic missiles at Gulf targets after joint Israeli‑U.S. strikes, and the United Arab Emirates’ air‑defense network successfully intercepted several projectiles using THAAD and Patriot systems. The missiles were destroyed before reaching their intended sites, but debris from one...
Before Trump Bombing, Oman FM Called US-Iran Deal ‘Within Reach’
Hours before President Donald Trump announced air strikes on Iran, Oman's foreign minister Badr Albusaidi appeared on CBS's Face the Nation and declared a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal within reach. He said Iran had pledged zero stockpiling of weapons‑grade material and...
Fireboats Essential when Naval Base Water Infrastructure Fails
The problem with fighting fires on naval bases after an attack is the same power-plants, fuel and pumping facilities targeted also supply firefighting water. And even if the water mains survive fighting fires on multiple fronts consumes more water than any...
El Al Israel Airlines Breaks Shabbat Tradition To Evacuate Airplanes Out of Tel Aviv As Iranian Missile Strikes Continue
El Al Israel Airlines broke its Shabbat grounding policy on Saturday to launch an emergency evacuation of its fleet from Ben Gurion Airport amid ongoing Iranian missile strikes across the region. Twelve aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners and a 737...
Trump’s Iran Threats Spark Retaliation, Oil Surge, Prolonged Conflict
Trump communicates intention of full destruction of Iran leadership and military while calling for regime change. Iran hits all of its neighboring countries who were likely on the more apprehensive side of US taking action in the first place and...
Kuwait Defends Ali Al Salem Air Base From Missile Strike
Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence announced that its air‑defence forces successfully intercepted multiple ballistic missiles aimed at Ali Al Salem Air Base, with debris falling nearby but no casualties reported. The engagement demonstrates Kuwait’s active missile‑defence posture and its layered systems...
Competing with Dick Bong to Be WWII’s Top Ace This Pilot Met a Fateful End
Maj. Thomas B. McGuire Jr. became the United States’ second‑ranking WWII fighter ace, tallying 38 aerial victories before his fatal crash on 7 January 1945 while attempting to rescue a fellow pilot. His rivalry with fellow ace Maj. Richard I. Bong, who...
Iran Targets U.S. Naval Base Radar with Shahed Drone
Iran deployed a Shahed‑type one‑way attack drone that struck a radar installation at the U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain, a key logistics hub for the Fifth Fleet. Video evidence shows the low‑altitude UAV impacting the radar, though U.S. officials have...
Critical Minerals Need Reliable Financing Frameworks
The article argues that the rapid expansion of critical mineral supply chains is being hampered by inconsistent financing structures. It highlights China’s strategic advantage, where processing capacity is tightly coupled with manufacturing demand and backed by patient, large‑scale capital. The...
Reforming Army Processes for Continuous Transformation
The Modern War Institute argues that the Army’s traditional staff education, epitomized by a multihour “How the Army Runs” course and a 500‑page manual, no longer equips officers for modern conflict. It calls for a shift toward continuous transformation, embedding...
UAE Warns Iran over Missile Attacks on Gulf States
The United Arab Emirates condemned recent Iranian missile launches after debris from an intercepted projectile killed a Pakistani civilian. The UAE warned Tehran that continued strikes could bring “grave consequences” and called for restraint and diplomatic de‑escalation. Iranian officials say...
Digest of Recent Articles on Just Security (Feb. 23-27, 2026)
Just Security’s weekly digest (Feb. 23‑27, 2026) aggregates more than a dozen expert pieces on international law, security, and U.S. policy. Highlights include a two‑part analysis of a lawful peace for Ukraine, a court‑focused critique of ICE and CBP actions, an updated...
Who Is the Kimwolf Botmaster “Dort”?
KrebsOnSecurity identified the individual behind the Kimwolf botnet as a teenager from Canada using the handle "Dort" and aliases like CPacket and M1CE. Public OSINT links the persona to a GitHub account, multiple cyber‑crime forum registrations, and a history of...
Iran’s Missile Reach Limited by Rebuilt Stockpiles
Iran’s initial response was fast: SRBMs hit US bases in the Gulf. Strikes on far bases like Jordan require MRBMs — as do strikes on Israel. Further retaliation and scale of damage hinge on stockpile depth: what was rebuilt after...
Golden Age for the German Arms Industry
Germany’s defence budget has surged to about €100 billion for 2025, roughly double the 2021 level, and the majority of the €170 billion spent between 2020‑2025 has gone to domestic firms. Domestic procurement now accounts for €109 bn, while arms exports have risen...
Iran ’S Internet Near-Totally Blacked Out Amid US, Israeli Strikes
Iran experienced a near‑total internet blackout on Feb. 28, 2026, as U.S. and Israeli strikes hit the country. Network monitoring by NetBlocks showed national connectivity dropping to roughly 4% of normal levels, while Cloudflare reported traffic falling to effectively zero...
F‑15C Launches with AIM‑7s, Likely Counter‑drone Sortie
Video shows F-15C Bazs taking off on a sortie for today's operation. It is armed with AIM-7 Sparrows, not uncommon for IAFs F-15A-Ds. Still, a bit odd for the general mission. It also does not have external tanks. Possibly on...
Major Explosions Rock Riyadh: Saudi Tourism, Air Travel & Regional Conflict Impact
Massive explosions rattled Riyadh, prompting immediate safety alerts and disrupting air traffic at King Khalid International Airport. Authorities have not confirmed causes or casualty numbers, but flights face delays and possible rerouting amid heightened regional tension. Western governments issued travel...
Ukraine Backs Iranian People's Freedom, Condemns Tehran's Russia Alliance
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of 🇺🇦 reaffirms the consistent position of our state: we support the Iranian people and their legitimate aspiration to live in security, freedom, and prosperity. The Iranian regime, which for decades has oppressed its own people,...
Strait of Hormuz Status Threatens Shipping and Consumers
Is the Strait of Hormuz Open? ▶️Danger to Shipping ▶️US and UK Waring ▶️Impact for Consumers ▶️Other Factors Impacting Global Tanker Market ▶️Is US Sealift & Afloat Prepositioning Moving? Video: https://t.co/SgdGJdWaSD https://t.co/Cvj3mRaiq7
Houthis Vow to Resume Attacks Following Iranian Strikes
Following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced they will resume attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, ending a four‑month lull. BIMCO warns that ships linked to US or Israeli interests face heightened risk, though...
Iranian Drone Strike Hits Near Dubai's Burj Khalifa, Evacuations Ordered
Following the US-Israeli attack on Iran, an Iranian counter-attack launched a drone strike close to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. The Burj Khalifa has been evacuated. https://t.co/zrHYb8kfrf
CENTCOM Confirms LUCAS Drone Used in Iran Attack
CENTCOM confirms use of LUCAS drone in Iran attack. You can learn about these weapons in a story from back in December by me and @FranticGoat
U.S. Forces Repel Hundreds of Iranian Missiles, No Casualties
U.S. officials: "Following the initial wave of U.S. and partner strikes, CENTCOM forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks. There have been no reports of U.S. casualties or combat-related injuries."
Israel Launches Historic Massive Joint Airstrike on Iran
"This is the largest strike sortie in the history of the Israeli Air Force, executed after close planning with high-quality intelligence, synchronizing hundreds of aircraft simultaneously," ... and synchronized with U.S. airstrikes ... historic joint military operation.
US and Israel Launch Assault on Iran
American and Israeli military forces have launched a broad spectrum military assault against the the state of Iran with the intent of defending its military and overthrowing its government. Here's where we stand. #iran #war #geopolitics https://t.co/coZbHlYFIc
Starlink's $1B Ukraine Deal Sparks Renewed Debate
Seems like we had this debate before re Starlink and Ukraine...so how does it play into the DoW's ~$1B per year contract with Starlink? https://t.co/vRYy6SwnTe
Navy Admits Limited Gulf Protection; 21M Barrels at Risk
US Navy says it can't protect all merchant ships in Persian Gulf. Oil majors just suspended shipments through Hormuz, 21M barrels/day at risk. Maritime risk. https://t.co/TylGxcJUhz
Insights on Iran's Missile Depth and Upcoming Retaliation
Follow @business live blog to keep up with latest on Iran -- including my thoughts on Iran's missile depth and the next wave of retaliatory attacks: https://t.co/Qj6mQWHfhF https://t.co/47cxeZWgl3
Iran's S‑300s Lack Radars, Rendering Them Ineffective
A few weeks ago @sam_lair noticed that Iran was deploying S-300s with no radars. A SAM with no radar is useless unless you can network data — and we know Iran doesn’t do that either.
Shipping Risk Soars as 750 Vessels Trapped in Hormuz
Shipping security risk increases dramatically in Persian Gulf Over 750 commercial vessels reported to be inside the Strait of Hormuz as the US and Israel attack Iran https://t.co/Z0VKTvJgQ8
New IRGC Commander Killed in Israeli Strike
Significant if true. IRGC commander was new to the job since Israel killed the last one during the 12 day war.
Iran Bans Hormuz Traffic, yet Tankers Still Sail
Iran is sending out warnings on VHF announcing the banning of all ships from the Strait of Hormuz. However, traffic is still moving. What's Going on with Shipping will be monitoring traffic through the Strait. https://t.co/0rPIFY825Q
US Tomahawk Depletion Threatens Future China Conflict Readiness
US destroyers launched Tomahawks at Iranian targets, but here’s the problem: America doesn’t have unlimited TLAMs. The Trump admin burned through big numbers in earlier strikes on Iran, Houthis, and Nigeria without replenishing stockpiles. TLAMs would be vital in a...
Military Barred From Top Defense Think Tanks, Limiting Expertise
Deeply disappointing to see that many of our top defense-related think tanks are now off-limits to our military’s officers. I would never have gotten to where I am as a China analyst without my time as a military fellow at @cnasdc,...