Top 5     Iran war has cost $38 billion, depleted two-thirds of US missile interceptors, CBO says (Military Times) The U.S. military has incurred about $38 billion in costs from combat operations against Iran through Aug. 1, while the conflict’s main opportunity cost has been the missile-defense interceptors the Pentagon has expended defending U.S. forces and allies, according to a new Congressional Budget Office analysis released today.       Study finds ‘forever chemicals’ levels higher in younger vets than general population (Military Times) U.S. veterans ages 20 to 39 had higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in their bloodstream compared with civilians of comparable age, according to a new study published Monday by Brown and Harvard researchers.       VA facilities struggle to staff mental health, nursing, safety positions, watchdog finds (Military Times) More than half of the Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers have reported severe staffing shortages for jobs such as nurses, nursing assistants and psychologists, according to a new report from the VA’s Office of Inspector General.       Iranian strikes damaged hundreds of US military buildings, dozens of aircraft (Military Times) Iranian strikes have damaged hundreds of U.S. military and diplomatic buildings, according to a new report by the Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General.       Russia and Iran deepen weapons partnership amid wars in Ukraine, Middle East (Defense News) Russia has begun sending Iran upgraded munitions, satellite imagery and targeting data used against American forces in the Middle East, part of a broader military partnership that also includes a covert program to help Tehran develop supersonic and hypersonic cruise missiles, according to intelligence assessments made public this month.   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     House passes Iran war powers resolution (The Hill) The House on Tuesday passed a Democratic-backed war powers resolution that would limit President Trump’s military actions in Iran. The lower chamber voted 220-204 to pass the resolution, sponsored by Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.). Seven Republicans voted in favor of the measure: Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Warren Davidson (Ohio), Tom Barrett (Mich.), Mariannette Miller-Meeks...       Proposed VA loan fee hike could make refinancing more expensive for some borrowers (Military Times) Veterans who refinance their homes through a VA-backed loan could face significantly higher fees under a proposal in Congress that would use changes to the home-loan program to fund a broader package of veterans benefits.       Pardon issued for sailor convicted of illegally selling machine guns (Military Times) President Trump pardoned a former sailor who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possessing and selling unregistered machine guns.   Navy     Former service members admit to dealing fentanyl that killed USS Abraham Lincoln sailor (Military Times) Two former sailors pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to selling counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to fellow sailors stationed aboard the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in 2023, which led to the death of one service member and the hospitalization of another.       USS Ronald Reagan completes maintenance, rejoins fleet (Stars and Stripes) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan has finished its 18-month maintenance at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Wash., and “returned to the fleet capable and mission-ready,” the Navy said in a statement Tuesday.   AIr Force     Tanker fleet modernization will continue for decades, US Air Force officials say (Defense News) The U.S. Air Force will recapitalize aerial refueling tanker aircraft for decades longer and build new platforms for their sustainment in the meantime, service leaders and industry partners said Tuesday.       Air Force announces new plans to take over defending its own bases from aerial attack (The War Zone) Faced with a growing threat to their bases and personnel from missiles and drones and some recent hard-learned lessons, two top Air Force officials on Monday announced plans to increase protection.       F-35 proved combat readiness during Middle East deployments, Air Force officials say (Military Times) Top Air Force officials on Monday praised the service’s next-gen fighter jet for demonstrating its ability to sustain intense combat operations during Operation Epic Fury and Operation Midnight Hammer.   Space Force     US Space Force to add 10,000 guardians in next 5 years (Military Times) The U.S. Space Force plans to add 10,000 guardians in the next five years, doubling its uniformed ranks.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     NGA official assumes top AI role at Cyber Command (Nextgov) U.S. Cyber Command, the Pentagon’s combatant command responsible for planning and conducting military cyberspace operations, has a new artificial intelligence lead, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.       Space-based ISR launches to grow fourfold in next decade, Novaspace says (Military Times) The number of satellites launched to provide militaries and defense departments with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data from space is expected to increase more than fourfold in the next decade, industry consultancy Novaspace said.   Defense Industry     Turkey certifies military training aircraft as safe, a first for local authorities (Defense News) A Turkish-made aircraft has received a Military Type Certificate guaranteeing airworthiness and safety standards, a process conducted for the first time entirely by Turkish personnel, the country’s Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) has announced.   Ukraine     Ukraine launches offensive push in north of Donetsk region, senior commander says (Reuters) Ukrainian forces have launched an offensive operation in the north of the eastern Donetsk region, the focal point of intense battles during more than four years of the war, a senior military commander said on Tuesday.       UN weighs moving Ukraine aid supplies underground after warehouse hits (Reuters) The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine said on Tuesday his organization is considering moving aid supplies underground to dodge Russian strikes, which have hit 10 of its warehouses this year, destroying millions of dollars’ worth of supplies.   International     US Marine Stand-In Forces in the Pacific worry China, report details (Defense News) Plans by the U.S. Marine Corps in recent years to reorganize itself for small-unit expeditionary warfare have drawn fire from traditionalists who worry the service’s capabilities will be gutted in the process.       Russian frigate fires flares towards Danish military helicopter (Reuters) A Russian frigate fired two flares towards a Danish military helicopter sent to photograph it in international waters off Denmark on Monday, with one narrowly missing the aircraft, the Danish military said.       North Korea says weekend missile launches were part of coordinated attack drill (Stars and Stripes) North Korea said multiple ballistic missiles it fired over the weekend were part of a coordinated attack drill involving drones and other weapons aimed at improving its ability to launch counterattacks.       Italian NATO jet downs drone in Lithuania, minister says it probably came from Russia (Reuters) An Italian NATO fighter jet shot down a drone in Lithuanian airspace on Tuesday that “most probably” came from Russia, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said.   Video     See it in person: the Air Force’s custom uniform for the upcoming game with Navy (Defense News) Check out the new Air Force uniform paying homage to the B-21 Raider, as seen at the Northrop Grumman booth at AFA’s national conference.       Geissele Automatics reveals ‘production-ready’ assault rifle for SOCOM (Defense News) Pennsylvania gun company Geissele Automatics introduces a production-ready model of its Hypervelocity Improved Capability Assault Rifle, or HICAR, to extend the life of M4 carbine rifles.       First Look: New designs for Space Force mess dress uniforms include pockets for women (Defense News) Space Force officials showed off new designs for mess dress uniforms for Guardians at a recent conference. The uniforms are still in testing before rollout.       Check out some highlights from the 2026 from Air Space and Cyber Conference (Defense News) Drones? Check. The “Rusty Dagger”? Definitely. Check out some of the autonomous systems at AFA’s 2026 national conference near Washington, D.C.   Commentary & Analysis     Hegseth made the fitness test harder for women in combat roles. Most female Marines are passing. (The War Horse) When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to Quantico, Virginia, last September, he delivered a blunt message: Things were changing fast in the newly renamed Department of War.       We are in an unpredictable war of attrition (The Cipher Brief) We are squarely in the target sights of "Unintended Consequences." What do I mean by this? Think of it as a broad spectrum of possible consequences when missiles and drones are being slung back and forth between Iran and U.S. Navy vessels and bases, and the energy and commercial facilities and ships of its Gulf allies.       Setting terms with America’s tech giants (The Cipher Brief) If China attacked Taiwan tomorrow, the question might not be which aircraft carrier sails first to the Pacific, but whether a private company will activate satellite coverage over a small island. As Ukraine does today, Taiwan could soon depend on the choices of executives running commercial networks that sustain modern life.       Who are the Houthis, the Iran-backed rebels threatening a key maritime passage? (Washington Post) The group has made sweeping gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coast after conducting a large-scale military operation aimed at controlling the Bab al-Mandab Strait.       Can America’s all-volunteer force survive the next war? (The Cipher Brief) “It made sense for the United States to transition from this mixed force of conscripts and professionals to an All-Volunteer Force. It has enabled us to develop a truly professionalized force. It's a professionalized force that's a lot smaller than what we saw during the draft era. And the implications of that is that it can detach the military from society or society's understanding of the military.”       Not the destroyer of worlds: Why compute is humanity’s most vital defense (The Cipher Brief) Eighty years ago, the architects of our first dual-use revolution whispered that they had “become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” Today, a new power commands that same existential awe.