Read the latest articles from The War Zone

US and Israeli forces struck the B1 bridge connecting Tehran to western regions, hitting Iran’s highest bridge linking Tehran and Karaj, a major transport artery opened earlier this year.
Iran

Key Iranian Bridge Severed By Airstrikes (Updated)

The bridge near Tehran, a critical artery and source of pride for Iran, was taken out soon after Trump’s threat to bomb the country “back to the Stone Ages.”

A former who commando who fought in Iraq offers candid insights into the Iranian-backed militia attacks there since Epic Fury.
Iran

Iran Is Losing Its Grip On Iraqi Militias

A former tier one operator in Iraq offers candid insights into the spike in attacks against U.S. interests by Iranian-backed militias.

A photographer on a flight over Greenville, Texas, captured an especially good look at one of the U.S. Air Force's RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft with its usual paint scheme completely stripped off.
RC-135

RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Caught ‘In The Nude’ In Texas

It's not common to see America's workhorse electronic intelligence collection jet stripped of its gray-and-white paint scheme.

B-52 Epic Fury mission at night.
Iran

Trump Threatens NATO Departure, Claims Iran Wants A Ceasefire Ahead Of National Address (Updated)

Iran has pushed back on Trump’s ceasefire claim as key allies distance themselves further from Epic Fury.

The U.S. Air Force's highly secretive NT-43A radar cross-section measurement platform is supporting the launch of NASA's Artemis II space mission, and this reflects the start of an entirely new stage in the career of the notoriously shy aircraft.
Airborne Radar

Secretive 737 Radar Jet ‘RAT55’ Has Begun “The Next Phase Of Its Career”

Making a peculiar appearance supporting NASA's Artemis II launch is just the beginning of what comes next for RAT55, the world's most secretive 737.

A-4 landing
News & Features

Ian Ellis-Jones Has Touched Down At TWZ

A letter from the editor as TWZ's team and mission expands.

Operation Aspides, the European naval task force charged with protecting Red Sea shipping, is eyeing a potential Houthi resumption of hostilities in the waterway.
Iran

Amid Fears Houthis Could Close Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea Task Force Ready For Attacks

Concerns grow that the Iranian-backed rebels could close the waterway, drastically exacerbating the global oil crisis and opening a new front.

The U.S. Air Force Materiel Command’s highly secretive NT-43A has been spotted in Florida, apparently taking part in the preparations for the launch of NASA's long-delayed Artemis II lunar space mission.
NASA

World’s Most Secretive 737 Is Supporting NASA’s Historic Artemis II Launch

It is rare to see the unique NT-43A aircraft at all, let alone flying over Florida ahead of the first crewed lunar space mission in decades.

A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 6th Weapons Squadron takes flight during Red Flag-Nellis 26-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Feb. 3, 2026. Red Flag increases interoperability between partner nations and across the Joint Forces as Airman and Guardians train together in high-end, realistic scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Clevenger)
F-35

F-35 Crashes In The Nevada Test And Training Range Complex (Updated)

The aircraft went down in the range complex north of Las Vegas earlier today, with the pilot safely ejecting.

U.S. Air Force EA-37B Compass Call arrives at RAF Mildenhall on March 30, 2026.
Iran

New EA-37B Compass Call Electronic Warfare Jets Cross Atlantic, Middle East Next? (Updated)

The jets could provide CENTCOM with America's most advanced standoff jamming capability, including disrupting communications and air defenses.

Rapidly fielding more hardened shelters to better protect U.S. forces at bases in the Middle East is a top priority, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Iran

Bunkers For U.S. Bases In Middle East Now A Top Priority For Pentagon

A rush to harden bases in the Middle East should finally be a much needed wake-up call to glaring gaps globally.

A retired Air Force tanker pilot and wing commander offers insights into what it will take to fight China
KC-135

Former KC-135 Wing Commander On What It Will Take To Fuel A Fight Against China

Retired Air Force Col. Troy Pananon offers candid insights into the strain a fight with China would put on the tanker fleet.

An MQ-28A Ghost Bat loaded with an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.
MQ-28

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Gains Major European Foothold As Rheinmetall Joins Forces With Boeing

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat could be fielded by the Luftwaffe, but the door is also open to a potentially very lucrative European CCA market.

A KC-135T Stratotanker from the 171st Aerial Refueling Squadron of the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, readies to refuel an A-10C from the 107th Fighter Squadron, also from Selfridge, on an aerial refueling sortie June 27, 2023. In addition to routine aerial refueling training in all conditions, aircraft from the 127th Wing commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the first aerial refueling conducted on June 27, 1923.
Iran

Dozens Of A-10 Warthogs Appear Poised To Join Epic Fury

The deployment of additional Warthogs comes amid increasing signs a ground operation on Iranian soil could come soon.

Ukraine is experimenting with private sector air defense.
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Ukraine Using Private Air Defense Teams To Protect Industry Against Russian Drones

By mobilizing the private sector, Ukraine hopes to reduce the air defense burden on its troops while increasing coverage.

A-10 on a strafing run.
A-10

A-10 Warthogs Are Doing Bizarrely Long Strafing Runs In Iraq

A-10s making nine-second-long gun runs is absolutely not normal.

The Israeli Air Force has released a picture of F-16I Sufa fighters taking part in strikes on Iran, and the jets appear to be carrying cluster munitions.
F-16

Israeli F-16s Appear To Be Carrying Cluster Munitions

The cluster munitions likely have a very particular purpose aimed at neutering Iran's ability to launch long-range ballistic missiles.

E-3 sentry seen destroyed after Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia.
E-3

Images Show E-3 Sentry Totally Destroyed From Iranian Strike (Updated)

A loss of an E-3 is a major blow for the dwindling fleet of increasingly rickety airframes and points to other capability and defensive gaps.

Tomahawks running low in war with Iran.
Iran

U.S. Is Burning Through Tomahawk Cruise Missile Stockpile At An Alarming Rate: Report

The four-week conflict with Iran has so far consumed more than a whopping 850 Tomahawk missiles, officials have stated.

A field medical laboratory belonging to the 512th Field Hospital sits inside an old Soviet-era bunker as part of Exercise Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness (DEFENDER) 2025, Vepriai Rocket Base, Lithuania, May 12, 2025. During Swift Response, the initial phase of DEFENDER 25, the Defense Health Agency’s Force Health Protection team is providing essential support and expertise to U.S. Army medical providers assigned to the 512th Field Hospital, 519th Hospital Center, 30th Medical Brigade, and 68th Theater Medical Command. As part of DHA’s Operational Medical Systems Program Management Office, FHP works with combatant commands and regulatory experts across the globe to rapidly provide a treatment, diagnostic, or preventive medical countermeasure against high-consequence threats to the Warfighter when a Food and Drug Administration-approved product is not available. (Defense Health Agency Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week

Remember what sunlight felt like?