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SEAL influencer David Goggins, 51, in Air Force special ops training
Goggins, who retired from active duty in the Navy SEALs in 2016, has reenlisted and is now assigned to the Special Warfare Training Wing.
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.
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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.
Pentagon reportedly sending more warships and Marines to Middle East
The USS Tripoli, USS New Orleans, USS San Diego and the embarked 31st MEU are reportedly heading to the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury.
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.
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.
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Flashpoints
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.
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.
In other news
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.
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?
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Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
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Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
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Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
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?
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How one GI’s sacrifice helped pave the Army’s way to Aachen, Germany
Jack Pendleton sacrificed all to eliminate a critically placed German machine gun nest.
By Jon Guttman
A look into the remarkable life of Tuskegee Airman Harry Stewart
Harry Stewart got all three of his aerial victories on one sortie.
By Jon Guttman
DOD issues new rules limiting care, enlistment for transgender troops
Secretary Hegseth issued a memo to block transgender people from enlisting and cut off gender-related medical care for those who already serve.
Congress starts work this week on annual defense authorization bill
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Feb. 11, 2025.
Kroger rejoins military families’ Tricare retail pharmacy network
Tricare beneficiaries will now have access to 2,200 Kroger pharmacies across 35 states.
By Karen Jowers
Medal of Honor recipient faced down 100 enemy troops to cover his men
Three officers were wounded trying to silence the enemy machine gun. Robert Craig would be the fourth to try.
By Jon Guttman