Global
Cross-regional, system-level stories that span multiple theaters, alliances, and strategic domains.
692 Dispatches
America Isn't Ready for the Drone Warfare Era
Advanced militaries from Israel to the Gulf are burning through interceptors against cheap drones while Ukraine quietly becomes the world's counter-drone superpower.
Iran Strikes the UAE and US Warships as the Hormuz Blockade Bites
Iran fires missiles at the UAE and US warships over the Hormuz blockade, Hezbollah refuses to disarm, and the US pulls 5,000 troops from Germany.
Mogadishu Rising: Somalia's New Alliances and the Proxy War Taking Shape
Somalia's federal government is consolidating power through new foreign alliances, drawing the Horn of Africa into a fast-heating regional proxy conflict.
Syria Is Breaking Apart: What the US Withdrawal Really Left Behind
After Washington's exit, two stories of Syria compete. One sees a country turning a corner under Ahmed al-Sharaa; the other sees a state collapsing in slow motion.
Could JNIM Build a Caliphate in West Africa? Inside the Sahel's Most Formidable Jihadist Group
JNIM is the Sahel's dominant jihadist group, controlling more territory than ever. We examine whether it could declare a caliphate in West Africa.
Russia Is Failing in Africa: How the Sahel Project Unravelled
Russia's Africa Corps was sold to the Sahel's juntas as the cure for jihadist violence. After Kidal fell and Mali burned, the project is unravelling.
The Interceptor Gap: How America's Missile Defenses Ran Dry
A few weeks of war with Iran burned through interceptors faster than the global production base can replace in years, exposing a hollowed-out supply chain.
Is Mali About to Collapse? The Coordinated Offensive That Shook Bamako
A multi-city insurgent offensive killed Mali's defense minister and forced Russian forces to retreat, raising the question of whether the junta can survive.
Two Months In, Everyone Is Running Out of Time
Iran, Lebanon, and Israel are each cornered two months into the war. As economic pressure bites and talks stall, the question is who cracks first.
Iran's Hidden Power Struggle: Who Really Runs Tehran After the War
How assassinations gutted Iran's leadership, handing the IRGC unprecedented power and turning US ceasefire talks into a battle between hardliners and a fractured regime.
Caught Between Two Fires: The Collapse of the Russian Soldier's War in 2026
In spring 2026, Russian front-line troops face AI drones from Ukraine and a command that sells them out. A look at a war machine grinding down its own.
Pakistan's Forever War with Afghanistan Settles Into a Grinding Stalemate
Two months into Pakistan's air war on the Afghan Taliban, the bombing has produced no concessions, drones keep crossing the border, and Islamabad's recovery is unraveling.