Top stories
As allies resist US call to help in Strait of Hormuz, Trump says it was a loyalty test
Trump's calls for help to other countries was a loyalty test, rather than a strategic necessity, he said. "We don't need anybody."
Army general left classified maps on a train in Poland, watchdog finds
Then-Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Aguto, now retired, was also found to have sustained a concussion following a night of drinking to intoxication.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Iran Coverage
Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
Insurance Guide
Military Times has outlined helpful information about car insurance, renters insurance, and life insurance for troops.
2025 PCS Guide
Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
2025 Benefits Guide
Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Your Army
MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa under shelter-in-place order
The home of U.S. Central Command is currently under a shelter-in-place order.
VA awarded authority to appoint legal guardians for impaired veterans
VA officials say the process will help hundreds of veterans hospitalized at VA facilities who are unable to transition to more appropriate settings.
Patriot air defense interception is costly: Here’s how it works
The system has become a key tool for protecting bases and infrastructure from aerial attacks, but at a high cost.
VA’s review of disability claims for fraud won’t include past filings, officials say
Using a Microsoft data analytics program, the VA program will use information gleaned from DBQ forms to identify patterns that could indicate fraud.
In other news
An Afghan man who worked with the US military dies in ICE custody
A cause of death is still pending from the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office. But the man's family said he was not ill.
Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video
“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” Steve Downes wrote in a post on X.
‘War Machine’ review: Finally, a training scenario with aliens
The sci-fi flick raises the premise: What if the final phase of U.S. Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?
By Clay Beyersdorfer
When veterans take the pen, war stories start to change
Hollywood has never lacked war stories. But it has often lacked veteran storytellers telling them.
How MREs inspired today’s meal-delivery industry
The MRE has to survive heat, cold, impact and time. And it has to do all of that at scale. Sound familiar?
Don't miss
VIDEOS
The impact of US interceptors on the Iran war | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 3.17.26
Since the beginning, part of the war in Iran has been a contest of Iranian missiles and drones versus U.S. interceptors. How is the matchup shaking out?
Featured Videos
Trending Now
MORE STORIES
Army general left classified maps on a train in Poland, watchdog finds
Then-Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Aguto, now retired, was also found to have sustained a concussion following a night of drinking to intoxication.
By Hope Hodge Seck
Pentagon identifies six airmen killed in KC-135 crash in Iraq
Six airmen were killed when a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed during ongoing combat operations against Iran.
By J.D. Simkins
Trump fundraising email uses photo of March 7 dignified transfer of deceased soldier
A fundraising email distributed by a Trump-linked political action committee featured a photo of a dignified transfer of a U.S. soldier killed in Kuwait.
By J.D. Simkins
US bombs key Iranian island amid oil concerns
President Trump said U.S. forces “totally obliterated" every military target on Iran's oil hub, Kharg Island.
By Tanya Noury
Marine Raider’s remains identified 80 years after being killed in action
Pfc. Norton Retzsch was first reported missing in action on July 9, 1943, during the Battle of Enogai on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands.
‘My God what have we done’: Enola Gay pilot’s combat notebook is for sale
Capt. Robert A Lewis wrote the account during and in the immediate aftermath of dropping the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.
Iran’s new supreme leader was ‘wounded and likely disfigured’ in US-Israeli strikes, Hegseth contends
Khamenei has remained out of view since his selection on Sunday by Iran’s clerical establishment.
By Tanya Noury
Army ROTC instructor killed by ex-National Guard member in campus shooting
Lt. Col. Brandon Shah enlisted in the Army in 2003, commissioned in 2007 and led the ROTC program at Old Dominion University since 2022.
By Staff and wire reports
Military hospitals, clinics resume billing civilians following 3-year pause
An estimated 137,000 civilians are expected to receive bills for medical care they received at military hospitals and clinics since 2023.
By Karen Jowers
Six US service members killed in KC-135 crash in Iraq
“All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased,” CENTCOM announced.
By J.D. Simkins
US Air Force KC-135 goes down in Iraq, CENTCOM says
“The incident was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire,” the release said, adding that rescue efforts are ongoing.
By J.D. Simkins
Old Dominion shooting suspect is ex-Army National Guard member with past terror conviction
The suspect pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.
By Jonathan Mattise, Olivia Diaz, Alanna Durkin Richer and Eric Tucker, AP
Price tag for Epic Fury tops $11 billion in first six days, Pentagon tells Congress
The figure omitted a range of war-related expenses and is likely to rise.
By Tanya Noury
Facing death 275 feet beneath the sea, this pioneering naval diver earned the Medal of Honor
For more than two hours, Frank Crilley struggled to save his entangled shipmate below the sea.
By Jon Guttman
Four Army drone systems stolen from Kentucky base
The Skydio X10D drone systems were last seen in the 326th Division Engineer Battalion at Fort Campbell on Nov. 21, 2025.
By Eve Sampson
Ukraine’s top drone units to bring frontline lessons to Washington this month
Some of Ukraine’s best-known drone military commanders and experts will be visiting Washington later this month to brief policymakers and defense leaders.
By Katie Livingstone