New: Army memo said Iranian intelligence was likely able to identify and track the American service members who moved to the tactical operations center in Kuwait that was struck by a drone killing six. Smaller drones were suspected of conducting aerial recon. www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-ap...

Good morning. Defense Secretary Hegseth and Adm. Brad Cooper will hold a joint press conference today at 4:30 pm EST per Defense Department announcement.

Last night, I spoke to former Army Pfc. Jeremy Watson who said this about Capt. Cody Khork: “[he] enjoyed being in the service…and was a great coach,” who taught him “Compassion, friendship, loyalty…[and] to always try to stay positive when you can.”

Perhaps some good news—just in from Ellee Watson of @cbsnews.com — As of this morning, the number of seriously wounded is down from 18 to 10 service members as they progress through medical treatment, per a US official.

This is what the tactical operations center looked like in Kuwait. You can see the T-walls around it but there's no protection from above, especially if C-RAM or C-UAS system doesn't stop incoming. Strike appeared to be dead-center from above I'm told. www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-st...

On the 6 US troops who died at Shuaiba port in Kuwait: Troops asked for more drone defeat capabilities, none came. It was recommended that the makeshift tactical operations center not be used because it was hard to defend and concentrated too many troops in one place. www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-st...

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Scoop: Jennifer Jacobs and I report that President Trump plans to honor 100-year-old veteran during State of the Union, sources say — This would mark the first time that a president has awarded the U.S. military's highest honor during a SOTU address. www.cbsnews.com/news/state-o...

Top national security officials have told Trump the military is ready for potential strikes on Iran as soon as this weekend, but the timeline for any action is likely to extend beyond Saturday or Sunday. Trump has not yet made a final decision. www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-p...

Flawless Asphalt, Empty Homes: A 300-Mile Drive Through Afghanistan www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/w...

Trump told Netanyahu he would support Israeli strikes on Iran's ballistic missile program, sources say www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-n...

CBS News matching report in The New York Times- Three U.S. officials say the USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships are expected to head from the Caribbean to the Middle East. CENTCOM will have two carriers the Ford and the Lincoln which is already there.

I met Brad Arnold of 3 Doors Down when I was 13. My Aunt was their promoter. He was kind and generous with his time. I commented that it must be awesome to have all these fans—he explained it was sometimes a burden, he never wanted them to waste their hard earned money so he had to always be on. RIP

He Was Laid Off at The Washington Post After Working There 60 Years www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/b...

Thousands Displaced for a Military Push Pakistan Said It Didn’t Order www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/w...

Democracy might die in darkness but the @washingtonpost.com is being murdered in broad daylight. For NatSec reporting, you can’t understand power by staring at press releases; you have to chase it across borders. Foreign correspondents are a bloodline for a NatSec desk

“There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time.” — 1984 (re-reading)

“We have done so much for America”: Denmark fought alongside the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now, as Trump eyes Greenland, the families of fallen soldiers have a message for him, Isaac Stanley-Becker reports: www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...

U.S. President Donald Trump calls the vessel a new class of “battleship” graced by his own name, but China just calls the U.S. Navy’s latest concept a larger and “easier target” for its growing array of anti-ship drones and missiles. www.militarytimes.com/news/pentago...

A Danish soldier gave me this patch in 2013. Denmark lost 43 in Afghanistan, one of the highest per capita death rates among troop-contributing nations, with casualties primarily from combat in Helmand (where I was) between 2002 and 2014. Now Pres. Trump won’t rule out taking Greenland by force.

Busy week in news. In case you missed it. From Olivia Gazis of CBS News - Device that may be tied to Havana Syndrome obtained by U.S. government www.cbsnews.com/news/device-...

New: President Trump briefed on U.S. military options which include cyber and psychological options for Iran, sources say www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-b...

Sen. Mark Kelly sues Hegseth to block move to cut rank and pension over illegal orders video www.cbsnews.com/news/mark-ke...

Thinking about John this morning. It’s been 13 years. I wrote this about him for The Washington Post - we served in Afghanistan together. www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpo...

U.S. forces seize 5th oil tanker linked to Venezuela www.cbsnews.com/news/us-forc...

A Chinook helicopter pilot who helped plan the operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was wounded in the leg during the pre-dawn mission via me and Jennifer Jacobs of CBS News - NY Times first reported. x.com/jimlaporta/s...

8-years ago around this time President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were publicly comparing the size of their respective nuclear arsenals in a mine is bigger than yours tit for tat. www.npr.org/sections/the...

New this morning at CBS News - U.S. carrying out operation to seize Venezuela-linked oil tanker, sources say www.cbsnews.com/news/us-oper...

#BREAKING The U.S. is carrying out an operation to seize the Venezuela-linked oil tanker formerly known as Bella-1, three U.S. officials tell @cbsnews.com - on Monday, CBS News broke the news that the U.S. was planning to seize the sanctioned oil tanker. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...

New: A Russian submarine and other naval vessels have been deployed to escort a sanctioned tanker that has historically carried Venezuelan oil, as the U.S. continues its weeks-long pursuit of the ship, two U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News. WSJ reported first. www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...

Aldrich Ames, CIA officer convicted of spying for Russia, dies at age 84 www.cbsnews.com/news/aldrich...

From Ellee Watson of @cbsnews.com - two U.S. service members are still recovering from injuries sustained during Operation Absolute Resolve. Five additional service members suffered injuries but have already returned to duty, per a Pentagon official.

From me and Ellee Watson - During the U.S. operation in Caracas, Nicolás Maduro and his wife were injured trying to escape to their safe room. U.S. forces threw flash-bangs into the area where they were found. When they were bleeding when arrested. www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...

New from me: U.S. forces plan to interdict an evading Russian-flagged oil tanker. Also, Venezuelan officials discussed placing armed military personnel on oil tankers — disguising them as civilians — as well as giving them portable Soviet-era MANPADS. www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-int...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will face administrative action

Looking forward to watching season 2 bsky.app/profile/cbsn...

#BREAKING via Jennifer Jacobs - Nicolas Maduro was captured by Delta Force, the U.S. military's top special mission unit, according to U.S. officials. Army Delta Force was also responsible for the mission that killed al-Baghdadi in 2019.

U.S. launches military strikes on Venezuela as Trump escalates pressure on Maduro regime, sources say www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...

President Trump ordered strikes on sites inside Venezuela, including military facilities, U.S. officials told CBS News, as the administration early Saturday ratcheted up its campaign against the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

#BREAKING from me and Jennifer Jacobs - additional reporting on the strikes in Venezuela.

Here’s what we know at the moment: U.S. strikes ISIS targets in Syria, after 2 soldiers and interpreter were killed last week - CBS News www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-str...

#Breaking Four U.S. officials confirm to CBS News the U.S. military began airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Central Syria on Friday. The airstrikes on ISIS targets is in response to the killing of two U.S. Army soldiers and an American civilian contractor in Syria last week.

#BREAKING - another airstrike on an alleged drug boat in U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility.

Exclusive at @cbsnews.com.web.brid.gy - The Navy quietly disciplined 18 Navy SEALs after military investigators found a private group chat that contained racist memes targeting a Black SEAL. We obtained over 500 pages of documents from FOIA. www.cbsnews.com/news/navy-se...

Total dead now stands at 95 starting from the first strike on Sept. 2, 2025.

As an award winner now award judge, I can personally vouch for this annual program which seeks to honor those who honor exceptional works that preserve Marine Corps history. The awards honor poets and screenwriters. Photographers and reporters. Authors and Artists.

#BREAKING 3 Americans were killed, 3 injured by an ISIS gunman who was engaged and killed.