Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
F/A-18 overboard: Navy crew loses control of fighter during tow, aircraft plunges into Red Sea
A Navy fighter jet was lost in the Red Sea on Monday after going overboard during an apparent mishap aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, Navy officials said. Published April 28, 2025
U.S. has struck more than 800 Houthi targets in Yemen in the past six weeks, Pentagon says
The Pentagon said the U.S. has struck more than 800 Houthi rebel targets over the past six weeks, even as questions swirled Monday about the effectiveness of the Trump administration's military campaign in Yemen. Published April 28, 2025
‘Alarm bells should be going off’: Will the U.S. allow Iran to keep its nuclear program?
"Expert-level" technical talks on a new U.S.-Iran nuclear deal could signal that the Trump administration is willing to move away from its position that Tehran must give up all uranium enrichment capabilities and could allow Tehran to keep its nuclear program operating in some form, some specialists warn. Published April 23, 2025
Ukraine, Russia accuse each other of breaking Easter ceasefire
Ukraine and Russia each accused the other Sunday of breaking a truce, with dozens of reported attacks across Ukraine amid dwindling hopes that the nations can ever agree to a lasting ceasefire. Published April 20, 2025
‘Unconscionable’: Former top aides to Defense Secretary Hegseth blast Pentagon leaks investigation
Three former key Defense Department advisers said they have had their character "slandered" amid an ongoing internal Pentagon investigation into leaks of sensitive information. Published April 20, 2025
U.S., Iran say ‘progress’ made in nuclear talks
U.S. and Iranian officials said they made progress Saturday in the second round of talks between the countries, which are aiming to secure a deal to limit Tehran's nuclear program. Published April 19, 2025
U.S., Iran at odds ahead of nuclear talks: Tehran says uranium enrichment is ‘non-negotiable’
There are clear divisions between the U.S. and Iran ahead of high-stakes nuclear negotiations this weekend. Published April 16, 2025
Top U.S., Iranian officials meet face-to-face; talks to continue next week
Top U.S. and Iranian officials opened a new round of talks Saturday aimed at striking a deal to limit Tehran's nuclear program. Published April 12, 2025
What’s on and what’s off the table in U.S. nuclear talks with Iran?
The Trump administration will enter direct nuclear negotiations with Iran this weekend with a seemingly endless list of high-stakes questions in play: For starters, will the U.S. push for the full dismantlement of Iran's plutonium production and uranium enrichment programs, or accept something short of that? Published April 9, 2025
Iranian president demands ‘equal footing’ with U.S. in any negotiations
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said over the weekend that his country is open to dialogue with the U.S. but only if the two nations are on an "equal footing." Published April 6, 2025
Trump shares video of suspected U.S. strike on Houthis as Pentagon promises ‘24/7’ attacks
Another round of suspected U.S. airstrikes struck Yemen's Houthis over the weekend while President Trump shared dramatic video footage that appeared to show dozens of Houthi fighters killed by the American attack. Published April 6, 2025
Trump weighs an economic assault on the ‘one big, juicy target left’ in Russia: Its oil
The U.S. is weighing an all-out economic assault on the lifeblood of Russia's economy, its energy exports, in what analysts say would be a dramatic, potentially high-risk move to influence the Kremlin's decision-making and force an end to its war in Ukraine. Published April 2, 2025
U.S. sends carrier strike group, bombers to Mideast amid growing campaign against Yemen’s Houthis
The Pentagon late Tuesday said it is sending another carrier strike group and additional air assets to the Middle East, moves that come amid the U.S. military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen and strong warnings from the Trump administration to the Houthis' chief patron, Iran. Published April 2, 2025
‘We don’t have the leverage’: U.S. options limited as adversaries expand their nuclear arsenals
China, Russia and North Korea are building up their nuclear arsenals at a frightening pace to intimidate Washington. At the same time, America has little diplomatic leverage to strike new, traditional arms control deals to limit that nuclear expansion. Published April 1, 2025
Former head of U.S. Army Pacific says Chinese military’s ‘false optimism’ is highly dangerous
The former commander of U.S. Army Pacific says he thinks that China's attitude toward America and its military has taken a dangerous turn, one that could inadvertently spark a global war. Published March 28, 2025
Tech transforms how Army builds, fixes weapons of war
Army leaders say rapid technological advances are poised to eliminate some of the massive logistical hurdles confronting a U.S. military operating thousands of miles from American shores. Published March 27, 2025
Army wants machines, not soldiers, to make first contact with the enemy
The Army plans to field its first "human-machine integrated formation platoons" by 2027, a transformational shift that the Pentagon says will allow robots to make first contact with the enemy on the battlefield. Published March 25, 2025
A deal or a war? On Iran, Trump’s moment of truth is arriving
It's a question that's been at the heart of America's Middle East policy for the past two decades: How far is the U.S. willing to go to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb? Over the next few weeks, President Trump could provide the answer. Published March 21, 2025
Key GOP lawmakers ‘very concerned’ about possible changes to Pentagon combatant commands
The top Republicans on the Senate and House Armed Services committees said Wednesday night they are "very concerned" about reports the Pentagon is weighing major changes to the military's combatant command structure. Published March 19, 2025
French MEP says U.S. should give back the Statue of Liberty
America has chosen to side with "tyrants" and should return the Statue of Liberty to France, a French member of the European Parliament said Sunday. Published March 17, 2025
