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Defense & Security

Vox’s hub for news, analysis, and opinions on defense and national security.

The latest in Defense & Security

Israel has launched a major operation in the West Bank. Here’s what to know.Israel has launched a major operation in the West Bank. Here’s what to know.
Palestine

The raids come amid escalating violence in the Palestinian territory.

By Ellen Ioanes
Zelenskyy’s new plan to end the war, explainedZelenskyy’s new plan to end the war, explained
World Politics

The plan is short on detail but aims to push Russia to negotiate.

By Ellen Ioanes
The US says an Israel-Hamas ceasefire is close. What’s really happening?The US says an Israel-Hamas ceasefire is close. What’s really happening?
World Politics

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas seems as far off as ever.

By Ellen Ioanes
Ukraine’s shock Russia incursion, explainedUkraine’s shock Russia incursion, explained
Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine’s sneak attack has Russia scrambling. What does this mean for the war?

By Ellen Ioanes
Why the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big dealWhy the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big deal
Politics

It’s the end of a drawn-out legal process, haunted by the failure of the war on terror.

By Ellen Ioanes
What the assassination attempt on President Reagan reveals about the Trump shootingWhat the assassination attempt on President Reagan reveals about the Trump shooting
Explainers

In 1981, Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. and, like Trump, survived.

By Nicole Narea
Julian Assange’s release is still a lose-lose for press freedomJulian Assange’s release is still a lose-lose for press freedom
Media

The Wikileaks founder will plead guilty to violating the Espionage Act for publishing leaks about the Iraq War.

By Ellen Ioanes
Israel isn’t ending the war in Gaza — just turning its attention to HezbollahIsrael isn’t ending the war in Gaza — just turning its attention to Hezbollah
World Politics

The next phase of Israel’s war in Gaza, explained.

By Nicole Narea
Is a ceasefire in Gaza actually close?Is a ceasefire in Gaza actually close?
World Politics

Biden has put renewed pressure on Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

By Nicole Narea
Why we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of warWhy we need a Memorial Day for civilian victims of war
Future Perfect

Non-combatants bear the brunt of modern war’s toll, but we don’t know how to memorialize them.

By Bryan Walsh
How worried should we be about Russia putting a nuke in space?How worried should we be about Russia putting a nuke in space?
World Politics

It’s not there yet — but we should be concerned.

By Joshua Keating
Biden is threatening to withhold some weapons from Israel. Is it a real shift in policy?Biden is threatening to withhold some weapons from Israel. Is it a real shift in policy?
World Politics

The US has offered unconditional military aid to Israel throughout the war in Gaza. As of this week, that might be changing.

By Nicole Narea
How today’s antiwar protests stack up against major student movements in historyHow today’s antiwar protests stack up against major student movements in history
Politics

Campus protests for Gaza may be the biggest of the 21st century.

By Nicole Narea
Israel just raised the risk of a regional warIsrael just raised the risk of a regional war
World Politics

And US troops may suffer the consequences.

By Joshua Keating
Will Israel let aid workers in Gaza do their jobs?Will Israel let aid workers in Gaza do their jobs?
World Politics

The killing of World Central Kitchen workers shows no place in Gaza is safe, even for aid groups.

By Nicole Narea
I’m an expert in the end of the world. The Oscar-winning Oppenheimer made me cry in terror.I’m an expert in the end of the world. The Oscar-winning Oppenheimer made me cry in terror.
Future Perfect

What Best Picture winner Oppenheimer gets right — and wrong — about the threat of nuclear weapons.

By Haydn Belfield
A war has never been fought in orbit. That may be about to change.
Future Perfect

How the US is preparing to fight — and win — a war in space

By Tim Fernholz
Israel’s dangerous escalation in Rafah, explainedIsrael’s dangerous escalation in Rafah, explained
World Politics

Everything is riding on what Israel does next in Rafah, Gaza.

By Nicole Narea
Welcome to the “neomedieval era”
World Politics

Nations like the US have more firepower than ever before — but they also appear weaker than ever. The upshot is a world that feels out of control.

By Joshua Keating
America is exporting more arms than ever. Here’s why.America is exporting more arms than ever. Here’s why.
World Politics

Record arms exports are a sign of America’s commitment to Europe — and its foreign policy failures during the war in Ukraine.

By Nicole Narea
The Supreme Court weighs whether to end affirmative action at West PointThe Supreme Court weighs whether to end affirmative action at West Point
Supreme Court

The guy behind the Harvard lawsuit attacking affirmative action turns his ire on the service academies.

By Ian Millhiser
America no longer has a monopoly on deadly dronesAmerica no longer has a monopoly on deadly drones
Defense & Security

The deaths of three US service members in Jordan show how a symbol of American omnipotence has become a major vulnerability.

By Joshua Keating
The war in Gaza isn’t going well for Israel, but it’s far from over for NetanyahuThe war in Gaza isn’t going well for Israel, but it’s far from over for Netanyahu
World Politics

Israelis don’t trust Netanyahu. They’re still not ready to retreat from Gaza.

By Nicole Narea
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s mysterious absence, explainedDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s mysterious absence, explained
World Politics

Why it’s a big deal that the president didn’t know his defense secretary was in the hospital for three days.

By Joshua Keating
The US may be flouting its own laws by sending unrestricted aid to IsraelThe US may be flouting its own laws by sending unrestricted aid to Israel
World Politics

US law limits aid to countries that violate human rights. Here’s why it isn’t applied to Israel.

By Nicole Narea
A timeline of Israel and Palestine’s complicated historyA timeline of Israel and Palestine’s complicated history
Everything you need to know about Israel-Palestine

To understand the Israel-Hamas war, you have to understand how we got here.

By Nicole Narea
How the US became Israel’s closest allyHow the US became Israel’s closest ally
Everything you need to know about Israel-Palestine

The US has stood with Israel throughout history. What does it mean for the Gaza war?

By Nicole Narea
How should we remember Trinity Site, where the first nuclear bomb was tested?How should we remember Trinity Site, where the first nuclear bomb was tested?
Your guide to the 2024 Oscars

Oppenheimer’s Trinity Site is where the end began.

By Bryan Walsh
It’s time for a new atomic altruismIt’s time for a new atomic altruism
Future Perfect

Philanthropies are pulling back from programs meant to address the risk of nuclear war — at precisely the wrong moment.

By Matthew Gentzel and Christian Ruhl
The far right’s war on “woke” has real-world consequences for the militaryThe far right’s war on “woke” has real-world consequences for the military
Politics

Sen. Tommy Tuberville is holding up Pentagon confirmations in a problematic protest.

By Ellen Ioanes
Why an Air Force colonel — and many other experts — are so worried about the existential risk of AIWhy an Air Force colonel — and many other experts — are so worried about the existential risk of AI
The rise of artificial intelligence, explained

Fears about our ability to control powerful AI are growing.

By Kelsey Piper
The potential fallout from drone attacks in MoscowThe potential fallout from drone attacks in Moscow
World Politics

Attacks inside Russia could shift public opinion on Putin’s war in Ukraine.

By Nicole Narea
Can a 50-year-old treaty still keep the world safe from the changing threat of bioweapons?
Future Perfect

How geopolitics and technological advances are making this a riskier world for bioweapons.

By Jen Kirby
The Supreme Court is befuddled by whether Twitter is liable for ISIS’s terrorismThe Supreme Court is befuddled by whether Twitter is liable for ISIS’s terrorism
Politics

This is what happens when important laws make no sense.

By Ian Millhiser
What’s going on with the unidentified objects that US fighter planes keep taking down?What’s going on with the unidentified objects that US fighter planes keep taking down?
World Politics

A third object in as many days was taken out Sunday afternoon in Michigan after passing over Montana.

By Ellen Ioanes
The Pelosi attack is the culmination of longtime GOP hate-mongeringThe Pelosi attack is the culmination of longtime GOP hate-mongering
Politics

For years, Republicans made Nancy Pelosi out to be a public enemy — the attack on her husband is the result.

By Nicole Narea
Inside the chaos at Washington’s most connected military tech startup
Technology

Can tech bros save the Pentagon? The messy tale of Rebellion Defense.

By Jonathan Guyer
The big-deal bills Congress needs to pass before the end of the yearThe big-deal bills Congress needs to pass before the end of the year
Explainers

Lawmakers are going down to the wire on vital government funding and defense policy bills.

By Ellen Ioanes
An atmosphere of violence: Stochastic terror in American politicsAn atmosphere of violence: Stochastic terror in American politics
Politics

Q&A with Kurt Braddock about how rhetorical strategies can lead to violence.

By Ellen Ioanes