Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Fourth U.S. service member dies from wounds during Iran mission, Pentagon says
A service member died Monday after being wounded during the U.S. military operation against Iran, the Pentagon said, bringing the total number of American deaths so far in the campaign to four. Published March 2, 2026
Kuwait accidentally shoots down three U.S. fighter jets during Iran mission
Three American fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses in a friendly fire incident late Sunday, the Pentagon said. All six service members on the F-15E Strike Eagles ejected safely, were recovered and are in stable condition, according to U.S. Central Command. Published March 2, 2026
During Iran strikes, U.S. forces use one-way attack drones for first time in combat
American forces in the Middle East for the first time in combat used small, cheap, one-way attack drones during Saturday's strikes on Iran, the Pentagon said. Published February 28, 2026
U.S., Israel launch massive attack on Iran; Trump warns of American casualties as Tehran hits back
The U.S. and Israel launched a massive joint military attack early Saturday against Iran, as President Trump urged the Iranian people to "take over your government" and called on members of the Islamic republic's military to immediately surrender or be killed. Published February 28, 2026
Explosions reported near Riyadh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi as Iran launches major counterattack
Iran appears to have launched a major counterattack across the Middle East following a series of U.S. and Israeli strikes, with explosions reported near the Saudi capital of Riyadh, in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere in the region. Published February 28, 2026
In extraordinary move, Pentagon designates Anthropic a ‘supply chain risk’ to U.S. national security
The Pentagon is designating artificial intelligence company Anthropic a "supply chain risk" to U.S. national security, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday. Published February 27, 2026
Anthropic rejects Pentagon’s ultimatum over unlimited Claude AI use for military
Leading artificial intelligence company Anthropic rejected an ultimatum Thursday from the Trump administration to open up its AI applications to unlimited use by the U.S. military or risk losing its Pentagon contracts and potentially be labeled a "supply chain risk." Published February 26, 2026
Iran’s nuclear program appears operational, despite Trump’s assertion it was ‘obliterated’
President Trump insists Iran's nuclear program was "obliterated" by last year's U.S. airstrikes. But Steve Witkoff, Mr. Trump's special envoy, said recently the Islamic republic is about a week away from having enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear bomb. Which is it? Published February 25, 2026
Some Americans stuck as violence expands in Mexico after cartel leader killed
The U.S. provided intelligence support to the Mexican military for its operation Sunday that resulted in the death of powerful drug cartel leader Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the White House said. Published February 23, 2026
Pentagon official laments some AI companies’ reluctance to fully commit to military’s operations
It is "disheartening" that some cutting-edge tech companies seem reluctant to fully do business with the military and support all of its operations, a key Defense Department official said Tuesday amid an escalating feud between the Pentagon and Silicon Valley firm Anthropic over the reported use of the company's AI tool in recent U.S. Special Forces missions in Venezuela. Published February 17, 2026
Pentagon transports, set to test next-generation mobile nuclear reactor
The Pentagon on Sunday airlifted a next-generation mobile nuclear reactor from California to a facility in Utah, marking a key step forward in what the Trump administration has cast as a cutting-edge plan to deliver reliable energy at military facilities. Published February 15, 2026
Rubio: U.S. will defend, renew Western civilization, ready to ‘do this alone’ if Europe won’t
Key European leaders fired back Sunday after Secretary of State Marco Rubio's blistering speech over the weekend in which he directly tied the shared history and culture of Western nations to their collective security in the 21st century. Published February 15, 2026
‘They have a mystical value’: Why Iran won’t budge on its prized ballistic missiles
Reaching a deal to constrain Iran's nuclear enrichment is an uphill battle. Persuading the Islamic republic to rein in its ballistic missile program could be next to impossible, analysts say, with the weapons having achieved an almost "mystical" reputation among some Iranian military leaders who remember their key role in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s and now see them as vital to their country's survival. Published February 10, 2026
Defiant Iran says missile program nonnegotiable after meeting with U.S.
Iran's ballistic missile program was never on the table and was not up for negotiation during Friday's high-stakes meeting between Iranian and U.S. officials, the Islamic republic's chief diplomat said over the weekend. Published February 8, 2026
U.S., Russia revive high-level military communications after suspension in 2021
The U.S. and Russia have reestablished a high-level military-to-military dialogue that had been suspended since 2021, the Pentagon said Thursday. Published February 5, 2026
U.S. forces shoot down Iranian drone that ‘aggressively approached’ aircraft carrier in Arabian Sea
U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone that "aggressively approached" the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, Pentagon officials said. Published February 3, 2026
Inside the high-stakes battle over Space Force advocacy
The Air & Space Forces Association and the Space Force Association, along with their leaders, stressed they believe the organizations can work together to advance American space power. However, sources familiar with the matter described behind-the-scenes dynamics that have at times bordered on acrimony. Published February 2, 2026
Trump calls for ‘new leadership’ in Iran; Ayatollah Khamenei blames Trump for violent protests
President Trump called this weekend for "new leadership" in Iran just hours after a social media tirade by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, blaming Mr. Trump personally for violent protests across Tehran and the deaths of thousands of Iranians. Published January 18, 2026
U.S. kills al Qaeda-linked operative connected to deadly ISIS ambush in Syria, Pentagon says
U.S. forces killed a terrorist operative linked to al Qaeda who was directly connected to a December ambush that killed two American service members and a civilian interpreter in Syria, the Pentagon announced Saturday. Published January 18, 2026
Navy at an ‘inflection point,’ surface fleet more vital than ever, key GOP lawmaker says
The U.S. Navy is at an "inflection point" amid growing threats from great power rivals and terrorist groups around the world, a key Republican lawmaker said Wednesday morning, and he stressed the U.S. must maintain a strong surface fleet that includes large, small and uncrewed vessels. Published January 14, 2026
