Brad Cooper

April 10, 2026 | Cameron McMillan, Ryan Brobst, Bradley Bowman

How to assess America’s 40 days of war against Iran

Washington and Tehran are both arguing that they were victorious after 40 days of fighting. A detailed analysis, however, suggests a more nuanced picture in which American forces degraded Iran’s core...

March 27, 2026 | RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Richard Goldberg, Max Meizlish, Joe Dougherty

The Strait of Hormuz: The Military, Energy, and Economic Challenges

March 27, 2026 | Janatan Sayeh |

US-Israeli strikes continue as talks over Strait of Hormuz stall and Iran intensifies internal crackdown

The US and Israel continued strikes across Iran over the last week, including precision hits on military sites, industrial facilities, and urban areas, alongside applying pressure on Tehran over the Strait...

March 26, 2026 | Janatan Sayeh, Aaron Goren

Iran’s New Security Chief Marches to the Same Tune as His Predecessors

Regime officials in Tehran are playing musical chairs with vacant positions. Israel’s elimination of Ali Larijani on March 16 has left Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) in the hands of...

March 25, 2026 | Janatan Sayeh |

Tehran Regime Marks Persian New Year With Public Hangings

Iranians’ greatest fear is not the bombs exploding around them, but the hangman’s noose wielded by their own rulers. Not content with the mass slaughter of some 40,000 unarmed Iranians during the...

March 20, 2026 | Ryan Brobst, Bradley Bowman

This missile just proved itself in Iran. The US needs more, ASAP

Despite its advantages, the Precision Strike Missile has so far been procured in relatively small quantities.

March 19, 2026 | Cameron McMillan, Bradley Bowman

Operational gains against Iran continue, but threats to US forces persist

The United States, along with its Israeli partners, continues to make considerable progress toward its military objectives of removing Iran’s primary military means to threaten the region in the third...

March 18, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

10 major Iranian naval targets struck in Operation Epic Fury

Head of US Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper said on March 16 that the United States has destroyed over 100 Iranian naval vessels. President Trump identified crippling the...

March 6, 2026 | Justin Leopold-Cohen, Ryan Brobst

Similarities and differences in US and Israeli targets and objectives in Iran campaign

The US and Israel have cooperated to achieve impressive operational successes against Iran, but a mutually shared definition of victory remains elusive. This inconsistency and lack of clarity could undermine...

March 5, 2026 | Aaron Goren |

Israel Did Not Drag the US Into War

“If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” President Donald Trump exclaimed to a journalist on March 3. He was answering a question posed by ABC News Senior Political Correspondent...

March 4, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Israel conducts 1,600 strikes on Iran in 4 days of war, weathers Iranian missile and drones

Israel has carried out 1,600 “strike sorties” against Iran since the joint US-Israeli military operation began on the morning of February 28, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on March...

March 4, 2026 | Cameron McMillan, Ryan Brobst, Bradley Bowman

Why Iran’s ballistic missile launches are declining

Since the United States and Israel initiated large-scale combat operations against Iran on February 28, Tehran has lashed out at its neighbors with hundreds of missiles and drones. Despite the...

February 18, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

Syrian government and SDF continue transition, US strikes Islamic State and withdraws from Tanf

The Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued transitioning control of portions of Syria as US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had carried out strikes on the Islamic...

February 12, 2026 | |

Syrian Troops Take Over Key Syria Base After U.S. Withdrawal

Latest Developments Al-Tanf Withdrawal: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on February 12 that U.S. forces had completed the “orderly withdrawal” from the al-Tanf base in northeastern Syria....

February 12, 2026 | David Daoud |

U.S. Engagement With Lebanon Should Hinge on Dismantling of Hezbollah

Some senior U.S. officials believe showering the Lebanese government with praise will hasten disarming Hezbollah. In a statement issued on February 9, U.S. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper lauded...

February 6, 2026 | |

U.S. and Iran Hold Indirect Talks in Oman

Deliberations in Muscat: Delegations from the United States and Iran convened in the Omani capital of Muscat on February 6 for indirect talks addressing the tensions sparked by...

February 4, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

After Damascus-SDF deal, Syrian security forces deploy in northeastern Syria

Syrian government forces began deploying to cities in northeastern Syria after an agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the interim government on January 30. Syrian...

January 21, 2026 | Seth J. Frantzman |

US withdraws from Iraqi airbase, transfers Islamic State detainees from Syria to Iraq

US forces left Iraq’s Ain al Assad Airbase in Iraq’s Al Anbar Governorate, according to Iraq’s Defense Ministry, CNN reported on January 19. The redeployment of forces away from the large...

January 16, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces withdraw from Aleppo province after clashes with Syrian government

In the wake of intense fighting between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government forces, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi ordered the withdrawal of his personnel from contested areas...

January 16, 2026 | |

Damascus Poised To Attack Kurdish-Held Towns in Northern Syria

Syrian Troops Ready Offensive on Kurdish-Held Areas: Syrian government troops are preparing to launch an offensive against Kurdish-held towns in the north and east of the country...