Top 5     Iran remains in peace talks despite first US strikes since ceasefire (The Guardian) Tehran condemns "definitive violation" but announces no specific reprisals as negotiations near decisive stage.       Report: US to cut strategic bombers and warships available to NATO in a crisis (Reuters) The U.S. intends to significantly reduce military contributions available to assist European allies in a crisis, including fighter jets, warships and mid-air refueling aircraft, German news outlet Spiegel reported on Tuesday.       ‘They gave everything’: Trump salutes ‘guardian angels’ in Memorial Day address (Military Times) As a light rain ceased, giving way to silence, President Donald Trump approached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Monday and solemnly laid a wreath in remembrance of America’s service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. Trump — who was joined by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — then stood in salute as “Taps” echoed across the hallowed grounds.       Pentagon spars with SpaceX over Starlink price hike during Iran war (Reuters) As U.S. kamikaze drones guided by Elon Musk’s Starlink network began to make visible gains in the war against Iran, senior SpaceX officials reached a conclusion: The Pentagon should be paying more for access to their satellite Wi-Fi network.       Bill aims to make military hazing a separate criminal offense (Military Times) A lawmaker whose Marine nephew took his own life in 2011 after being hazed by unit members in Afghanistan has introduced a new bill that initiates the process for making hazing a dedicated offense under military law.   US Strikes in Caribbean and Eastern Pacific     A list of US military strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels (Military Times) Since early September 2025, the U.S. military has conducted strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean in support of what the Pentagon has called continued counternarcotics efforts.   Operation Timeline     The human impact of policy changes at the DOD and VA (The War Horse) An ongoing timeline of the Trump administration’s actions focusing on the military and veterans.   Congress & Politics     Join the Abraham Accords? US allies scoff at Trump’s demand. (Politico) President Donald Trump’s demand that more Muslim-majority countries join the Abraham Accords and recognize Israel as part of efforts to end the Iran war is being met by officials in such countries with laughter, dismissal and, often, silence.       US lawmakers weigh aviation fuel cost increase from Iran war in fiscal 2027 defense hearing (Military Times) After the nationwide average of fuel prices increased significantly due to the war in Iran, U.S. lawmakers are grappling with its effects on aviation fuel ahead of approval for fiscal year 2027’s National Defense Authorization Act request.   Your Military     A mix of veterans and newcomers will represent the United States at the World Cup (NPR) Some veterans from the last World Cup — like forward Christian Pulisic and midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams — made the team. The roster includes 13 newcomers as well.       The Pentagon wants to improve medical care for wounded military dogs (Military Times) With a flurry of new research projects, the Pentagon is exploring multiple ways of improving medical care for wounded military dogs.   Army     1 dead, 2 injured in Memorial Day weekend shooting on Fort Hood (Stars and Stripes) One person was killed and two others were injured in a shooting at a Memorial Day weekend gathering at a recreation area on Fort Hood, officials at the Texas Army installation said.       Green Berets tested glider drones for supply drops during a massive special operations exercise (Task & Purpose) Special operations units might rely on uncrewed glider drones to get resupplied in the near future. At the very least, the concept was put to the test during the largest special operations training exercise in Europe this month.   Navy     2 crew members safe after Navy trainer jet crashes in Mississippi (Stars and Stripes) Two crew members are safe after ejecting from a U.S. Navy T-45C Goshawk trainer jet that crashed Tuesday on private farmland in Noxubee County, Miss., the Navy said in a statement.   Veterans     Sapper-turned-influencer charged for bomb-making tutorials (Military Times) A former U.S. Army combat engineer turned gun influencer was arrested for distributing videos that provided step-by-step instructions on making explosives.   Defense Industry     DARPA launches search for robot medics to treat battlefield casualties (Defense News) In situations where battlefield medical care becomes overwhelmed during heavy combat, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is looking toward a future in which robot medics tend to casualties.       USSF gives SpaceX $2.29 billion for ‘backbone’ of new data network (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Space Systems Command has awarded a massive $2.29 billion contract to SpaceX for the “backbone” of its new Space Data Network, a constellation of satellites in low-Earth orbit that will provide connectivity for the entire joint force.       Australia starts ‘high-risk’ life extension of its submarine fleet (Defense News) The Australian government this month announced the beginning of a long-delayed life-extension program for six diesel-electric Collins-class submarines, an effort that government auditors immediately flagged as a high-risk affair.       India boosts drone warfare capability with compact missile (Defense News) India has completed final developmental trials of a new precision guided missile that can be launched from drones to engage both ground and aerial targets.   Israel-Gaza-Lebanon-Syria     Israeli troops push further into Lebanon in war with Hezbollah (Bloomberg) Israel’s military said its ground forces are moving further into Lebanon, in what could signal an expanded presence in the south of the country as part of the ongoing war with Iran-backed Hezbollah.   International     US launches ‘self-defense’ strikes against Iran amid ongoing ceasefire (Military Times) The U.S. military on Monday conducted “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, U.S. Central Command said, to prevent Iranian hostilities toward U.S. troops.       Iran’s Khamenei says no going back for Middle East rocked by war (Bloomberg) Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said US military bases in the Middle East will no longer be safe after the war, declaring victory and a new regional order even as talks to end the conflict continued.       North Korea fired projectiles, including short-range ballistic missile, Seoul says (Reuters) North Korea fired several projectiles, including at least one short-range ballistic missile, toward waters off the country's west coast on Tuesday, South ?Korea's military said.   Military Culture & History     81 years after Iwo, these Marines reunited on Memorial Day — and instantly started trash talking (Military Times) Despite 81 years since the island of Iwo Jima was declared secure — and several years since these two Marines last saw one another — the first thing out of their mouths wasn’t sentimental, it was trash talk.   Video     Check out a mechanical rig to see and shoot around corners (Defense News) Check out innovative USV models from SOF Week 2026.       Senior enlisted leaders talk improvements for troops, families | MOAA (Defense News) The Military Officers Association of America recently gathered senior enlisted leaders for a forum on enhancing opportunities for service members and spouses.       Check out a mechanical rig to see and shoot around corners (Defense News) Want to look over and around walls to find an enemy and even take a shot if needed? The CornerShot seen at Modern Day Marine provides a way.       200 miles on a fan-powered wing? (Defense News) Triton Systems displayed a wing system it says can carry a trooper with a full kit up to 200 miles for special operations and other missions.       VA Loan Basics Explained — Money Minute (Defense News) Jeanette Mack from Navy Federal Credit Union is here to explain some of the benefits of using a VA loan to buy your new house.       New tech at Modern Day Marine 2026 | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 5.26.26 (Defense News) A fan-powered wing that can take troops 200 miles and a system for shooting around corners were on display at the Modern Day Marine 2026.   Commentary & Analysis     AI, autonomous weapons, and the Pentagon’s $55 billion bet on future war (The Cipher Brief) “The [Defense] Department is requesting a massive increase for DAWG. For those in the audience that may not know, DAWG is the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group [tasked with rapidly developing, testing, and fielding large numbers of un-crewed systems and drones] and it's going from the $225 million [in fiscal year 2026] up to the $55 billion for fiscal year 2027. And at the same time, we're integrating the AI-driven [Artificial Intelligence-driven] targeting with those autonomous munitions at a pace that DoD directive 3000.09 was not designed to contemplate.”       The US military lacks an ethics doctrine. Combat effectiveness suffers (War on the Rocks) In 2004, I was a boot (translation: brand new) first lieutenant in 1st Battalion, 7th Marines at a retransmission site in the middle of nowhere, al-Qa’im, Iraq. I heard a sudden explosion and small-arms fire two kilometers away. The battalion radio net burst with chatter, with someone saying there were three casualties: two urgent surgicals (send help quickly!) and one routine (no rush to provide aid). Someone in the operating center asked about the status of the routine casualty, and the radio crackled with the kind of transmission that changes everything. “It’s Whiskey Six, he’s KIA [killed in action].”