Americas
(Josephine Walker – Axios) President Trump will host Latin American leaders Saturday at the first Shield of the Americas Summit with ex-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the helm. Why it matters: While modern U.S. presidents have typically shied away from exerting American influence over the Western hemisphere, the summit underscores Trump’s willingness to reassert American control under his so-called “Donroe Doctrine.”. Driving the news: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will join Trump in Doral, Florida Saturday. – What is the Shield of the Americas Summit, which Kristi Noem will be heading
Anthropic – Pentagon
(Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. – Breaking Defense) The official designation of Anthropic as a “supply chain risk,” delivered to the company Wednesday, imposed much milder penalties on the AI giant than Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth originally threatened, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said Thursday on the company’s website. After Anthropic’s refusal to accept new contract language allowing “all lawful use” of its Claude chatbot by the military, Hegseth declared on Feb. 27 that “no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic.”. That same day, President Donald Trump declared that all federal agencies, not just the Defense Department, would “IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology,” albeit over “a Six Month phase out period.” – Anthropic CEO says Pentagon ban less harsh than Hegseth had threatened – Breaking Defense
Canada
(Nadine Yousif – BBC) Prime Minister Mark Carney is facing criticism at home as he tries to strike a balance on the US-Israeli military action in Iran, as Canada scrambles to get its citizens out of the region and faces the risk of being dragged into a widening conflict. Carney expressed strong support for the initial strikes when they launched a week ago, arguing for the value of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and its regime “from further threatening international peace and security”. Days later, he said it was a position he took “with regret” because the strikes appeared “inconsistent with international law”. – Canada’s Mark Carney tries to strike a balance on Iran
Germany
(Tim Martin – Breaking Defense) Outside snipers roamed the rooftop but inside the prestigious, if dated, halls of Hotel Bayerischer Hof, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz delivered typically frank oratory, reaching 15 years back in history to explain his vision for rebuilding the country’s armed forces. It was in 2011, Merz said, that Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski issued the following “clear warning with respect to Germany”: “I fear German power less than German inaction.”. Most, if not all of the audience gathered for the Munich Security Conference in mid-February would have been familiar with the phrase. But as Europe begins to come to terms with deteriorating transatlantic relations with the US, Merz seized the moment to lay down a marker: Germany will step into the breach. “As I have often said, and reiterate here, we will make the Bundeswehr the strongest conventional army in Europe as soon as possible — an army that can resist if it has to,” he remarked. – ‘New status quo’: Germany reaches for European conventional military dominance – Breaking Defense
Iran and beyond
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Israel’s military said more than 80 fighter jets completed a wave of strikes on Iranian military sites, missile launchers and other targets in Tehran and central Iran on Saturday. – Israel says over 80 fighter jets struck Tehran, central Iran
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said Saturday they were waiting for US forces to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway where traffic remains strangled as the regional war rages. – IRGC says ‘waiting’ for US forces at Strait of Hormuz
(Emma Burrows – Defense News) An American anti-drone system proven to work against Russian drones in Ukraine will soon be sent to the Middle East to bolster U.S. defenses against Iranian drones, two U.S. officials told The Associated Press on Friday. While the U.S. has used Patriot and THAAD missile systems to take down Iranian missiles successfully, there are limited effective anti-drone defenses now in the Middle East, according to a U.S. defense official, one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters. – US to send anti-drone system to Mideast after successful use in Ukraine, officials say
(Tanya Noury – Defense News) Trump administration officials conceded during a private briefing on Capitol Hill this week that Iran’s Shahed-136 drone is proving more disruptive on the battlefield than the Pentagon had anticipated, two people familiar with the matter told Military Times. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine led the group of senior military leaders who warned lawmakers that gaps in counter-drone technology could leave U.S. forces and assets increasingly vulnerable. – Pentagon acknowledges tough quest to counter Iranian drones
(Daniel Bush, Olivia Ireland – BBC) US President Donald Trump has demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender” as the American and Israeli military continued to launch strikes. Trump said the US and allies would make Iran “economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before” after it picked “acceptable” new leadership. With the war close to entering a second week, it remains unclear who will lead Iran after the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a week ago, or on what terms the US would end its offensive against Tehran, which has triggered region-wide retaliatory strikes. Speaking on Friday, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the administration expected military operations to last four to six weeks. – Trump demands ‘unconditional surrender’ amid Iran-Russia talks
(Mike Yeo – Breaking Defense) The sinking of the Iranian navy frigate IRIS Dena by a US submarine off the coast of Sri Lanka has sparked controversy in the Indo-Pacific, as Australia and India grapple with the impacts of the attack that have dragged both countries into the fallout. AUKUS ally Australia has confirmed that three Australian sailors were on board the nuclear-powered attack submarine when it struck the Iranian frigate, though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied that they took part in the action. The attack left 148 of the IRIS Dena crew dead or missing. “I can confirm also, though, that no Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran,” Albanese said in a television interview. “These are long-standing third country arrangements that have been in place for a long period of time, and what they do is ensure that Australian Defence Force personnel, where they’re embedded in third countries’ defence assets, they act in accordance with Australian law, with Australian policy, and that, of course, is taking place across the board.” – US sinking of Iranian navy ship stirs controversy in Australia, India – Breaking Defense
(Soutik Biswas – BBC) On 17 February, the Indian Navy posted a cheerful message on X. “Welcome!” it wrote, greeting the Iranian warship Iris Dena as it steamed into the port of Visakhapatnam to join an international naval gathering. Photographs showed sailors in crisp whites and a grey frigate gliding in the sea harbour on a clear day. The hashtags spoke of “Bridges of Friendship” and “United Through Oceans”. Two weeks later the ship, carrying 130 sailors, lay at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. It had been torpedoed by a US submarine off Sri Lanka’s southern coast on 4 March. Commissioned in 2021, the Dena was a relatively new vessel – a Moudge-class frigate of Iran’s Southern Fleet, which patrols the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. According to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the vessel “thought it was safe in international waters” but instead “died a quiet death”. Rescue teams from Sri Lanka have recovered at least 87 bodies. Only 32 sailors survived. The sinking marks a dramatic widening of the war between America, Israel and Iran. And, though it occurred in international waters of the Indian Ocean and outside India’s jurisdiction, it is an awkward moment for Delhi. “The war has come to our doorsteps. That is not a good thing,” says retired Vice Admiral Arun Kumar Singh. For some strategists, the episode carries broader implications for India’s regional standing. Indian strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney wrote on X that the US torpedoing of the Iranian warship in India’s “maritime neighbourhood” was “more than a battlefield episode” – calling it a “strategic embarrassment” for Delhi. – IRIS Dena: The final voyage of the Iranian warship sunk by the US
(BBC) A huge US bomber capable of carrying 24 cruises missiles has landed in the UK. The 146ft (44.5m) B-1 Lancer arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer granted the US permission to use British military bases but only for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites. Western officials said earlier this week that the UK was ready to accept the bombers and expected them to arrive within the next few days. – US-Israel war with Iran: B-1 Lancer bomber lands at RAF Fairford
(Thomas Copeland – BBC Verify) An unprecedented wave of AI-generated misinformation about the US-Israel war with Iran is being monetised by online creators with growing access to generative AI technology, experts have told BBC Verify. Our analysis has found numerous examples of AI-generated videos and fabricated satellite imagery being used to make false and misleading claims about the conflict which have collectively amassed hundreds of millions of views online. “The scale is truly alarming and this war has made it impossible to ignore now,” says Timothy Graham, a digital media expert at the Queensland University of Technology. “What used to require professional video production can now be done in minutes with AI tools. The barrier to creating convincing synthetic conflict footage has essentially collapsed,” he says. – AI-generated Iran war videos surge as creators use new tech to cash in
(UN News) The escalating war in the Middle East has heightened growing concerns about further civilian suffering and displacement in the region and far beyond, UN agencies said on Friday. Seven days since Israeli and US bombing in Iran prompted ongoing counter-strikes across the Middle East, humanitarians confirmed massive upheaval in Lebanon, with hundreds of shelters now full, as whole suburbs of Beirut have emptied. “Israel’s military ground incursions into southern Lebanon, blanket displacement orders for the population in Beirut’s southern suburbs, the Bekka region and the full area to the south of the Latani River, and its continued airstrikes on different parts of the country are bringing more misery, more suffering to an already weary civilian population,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR. – On day seven of Middle East war, no let-up in suffering | UN News
(Alex Raufoglu – RFE/RL) US officials on March 6 told RFE/RL that Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack US troops and military assets in the Middle East, confirming a Washington Post report that suggested Moscow is playing a substantial if indirect part in the widening regional conflict. The alleged cooperation comes at a very delicate time for US-Russian relations, with the nuclear-armed rivals at odds over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and Washington’s efforts to end that war running up against the Kremlin’s refusal, so far, to make concessions on territory and other issues. The Post report, which cited three officials familiar with the intelligence, says Moscow has provided Tehran with the locations of US military assets — including warships and aircraft — since the conflict began on February 28 with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran. One told the newspaper it appeared to be “a pretty comprehensive effort” by Moscow. – US Officials Confirm Russia Providing Targeting Intelligence To Iran In Middle East War
(RFE/RL) White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says the United States is looking at potential candidates to lead Iran after President Donald Trump pushed Tehran to cease its resistance. “I know there are a number of people that our intelligence agencies and the United States government are looking at, but I won’t go any further than that,” Leavitt told reporters at the White House on March 6, as the conflict was about to enter its second week. – White House Says US Looking At Potential Candidates To Lead Iran
(Sonya Bandouil – The Kyiv Independent) U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on March 6 that Washington is considering lifting some sanctions on Russian oil to address a global supply shortage linked to recent military operations in Iran. Speaking on The Kudlow Report, Bessent said the Treasury Department is weighing whether easing restrictions could bring large volumes of oil currently stuck at sea back onto global markets. “There are hundreds of millions of barrels of oil in the water that are sanctioned, and, in essence, by lifting the sanctions, the Treasury Department can create supply” Bessent said. – US considering lifting sanctions on Russian oil to ease global shortage, Treasury chief says
(Barak Ravid, Marc Caputo – Axios) Iraq’s Kurds are caught in a three-way vice in the cross-border Iran War. They think President Trump’s messaging isn’t clear about regime change next door in Iran. They’re under pressure to open the border from Iranian Kurds, who want to fight the regime. And Tehran’s military Friday threatened the Iraqi Kurds if they allow those Iranian Kurds to plan an attack. Why it matters: The Iranian warning —the first of its kind issued to Iraq’s Kurds across the border— threatens to widen the war. Iraqi Kurds want to avoid that. “The Kurds must not be the tip of the spear in this conflict,” a senior Iraqi Kurdish government official told Axios. – Under threat, Iraqi Kurds resist pressure to join Iran war
Russia – Ukraine
(Vitaly Shevchenko – BBC) Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has developed into a high-tech conflict. Swarms of spy and killer drones have set the skies of Ukraine abuzz, and uncrewed boats have crippled the Russian navy in the Black Sea. Now, Ukraine has embarked on a massive programme to deploy armed robots on the ground. Uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), or ground robot systems as they are known in Ukrainian military parlance, have already proven their worth. – Armed robots take to the battlefield in Ukraine war
Switzerland
(Tim Martin – Breaking Defense) Switzerland has decided to cut its F-35A fifth generation fighter jet order by around six aircraft, down to a fleet of 30 units, following a contract dispute over increased pricing with the US government. “For fiscal reasons, the [Swiss] Federal Council will not request an additional appropriation to reach the originally planned number of 36 aircraft,” said Bern in a statement, adding that an additional 1.1 billion CHF ($1.4 billion) would be needed to fund such a procurement. The Council, which is sticking to an original F-35 budget of 6 billion CHF, has instead requested parliament to approve an extra 394 million CHF to bridge increased costs related to inflation and raw materials. – Swiss cutting F-35 order by six, facing up to five year Patriot delay – Breaking Defense
US
(Zita Ballinger Fletcher – Defense News) The Pentagon’s counter-drone task force, Joint Interagency Task Force 401, is set to test a high-energy laser system against drones at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico over the weekend. “By working hand-in-hand with the [Federal Aviation Administration] and our interagency partners, we are ensuring that these cutting-edge capabilities are safe, effective, and ready to protect Americans from emerging drone threats,” U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of the JIATF-401, stated in a release. “Our measure of success is to quickly deliver state-of-the-art C-UAS capability to the warfighter, and this test furthers that mission.” – Pentagon task force to conduct laser test against drones
(Michael Scanlon – Defense News) Air Force Global Strike Command conducted an operational test launch Tuesday of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with two test reentry vehicles. Designated GT 255, the launch was scheduled years in advance and was not in response to current world events, according to an official AFGSC release. – Air Force test launches Minuteman III with multiple reentry vehicles
(Valerie Insinna – Breaking Defense) Six top defense contractors have agreed to quadruple production of what President Donald Trump has termed “Exquisite Class Weaponry” following a meeting at the White House on munitions production. “We just concluded a very good meeting with the largest U.S. Defense Manufacturing Companies where we discussed Production and Production Schedules,” Trump said in a post this afternoon on Truth Social. “They have agreed to quadruple Production of the ‘Exquisite Class’ Weaponry in that we want to reach, as rapidly as possible, the highest levels of quantity. Expansion began three months prior to the meeting, and Plants and Production of many of these Weapons are already under way,” he said. – Defense companies to quadruple production of ‘exquisite’ weapons: Trump – Breaking Defense
(BBC) Newly released body camera footage shows the chaotic moments leading up to the fatal shooting of a US citizen by an immigration officer in Texas last year, which only recently came to light. Gunfire rings out in the nighttime footage when Ruben Ray Martinez, 23, pulls his car forwards as law enforcement try to stop him on 15 March 2025 in the beach community of South Padre Island. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not publicly disclose an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer killed Martinez until the detail emerged in media last month. DHS have said Martinez “accelerated forward” and “intentionally ran over” an agent, causing another agent to fire “defensive shots”. – Ruben Ray Martinez: Footage shows US citizen shot by ICE agent in Texas traffic stop
