The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 09:37

According to a recent report from the New York Times, senior U.S. officials are concerned that Israel could decide to strike Iran with little warning, with intelligence officials estimating that Israel could prepare and launch an attack on Iran in as little as seven hours, leaving little time for U.S. President Trump and other officials to talk Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu into calling it off. 

Israeli officials have signaled to their American counterparts that Netanyahu could still order a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities even if a nuclear deal is reached soon between Iran and the United States. Israel is said to already have many different plans on the shelf, including several which would not require U.S. assistance, ranging from surgical strikes to days-long bombing campaigns against Iranian facilities, including some in major cities like Tehran.

The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 08:28

The Israel Defense Force and Defense Ministry have revealed that a low-powered prototype variant of the “Iron Beam” Laser-Weapon Air Defense System has been in active service with the military since at least 2024. The system was reportedly deployed on the border between Israel and Lebanon at the height of last year’s fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, being used to successfully intercept a number of one-way attack drones launched by Hezbollah against communities in Northern Israel, with each interception only costing between $1-5, compared to the thousands for each shot of the Iron Dome. Footage of both the system and several of its interceptions have been released by the IDF, with the full-power variant of the “Iron Beam” expected to enter service later this year with the Israeli Air Defense Command.

The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 02:41

Elon Musk said he’s withdrawing from his position as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) today. While Musk was rather critical of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” it’s unlikely that this is the reason for the move as both Space X and Tesla have seen a number of woes as of late.

The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 02:26

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that an illegal immigrant, Ramon Morales-Reyes, who sent a letter threatening to shoot U.S. President Donald J. Trump in the head has been arrested. In his letter, Reyes also threatened to self-deport himself, but only after he carried out the act.

The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 02:22

According to a report from the Financial Times, the U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, under orders from the Trump administration, has sent notices to several chip design software companies based in the United States, including Cadence, Synopsys and Siemens EDA, directing them to halt any further chip design sales to corporate entities or other customers in China.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 19:19

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced today during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a new aid package to Ukraine worth roughly $5.7 billion, which would focus on the construction and development of domestic weapons manufacturing in Ukraine, specifically for long-range munitions which could strike targets hundreds of miles into Russia. The German Defense Ministry later provided more detail about the aid, saying it included cooperation in weapons construction, air-defense systems, hand-held and other weapons as well as financing of satellite communications (Starlink) in cooperation with Germany.w

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 10:30

The Israeli Air Force carried out several precision-strikes this morning against what remained of Sana’a International Airport in the Houthi-controlled capital of Western Yemen. With the Israel Defense Force (IDF) confirming that strikes targeted infrastructure at the airport as well as an aircraft used by the Houthis “to transport terrorists who advanced terror attacks on Israel.”

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 08:28

Additional footage from this morning, showing a Ukrainian long-range attack drone striking the Kronshtadt Production and Dubna Machine-Building Plant in the town of Dubna to the north of the Russian capital of Moscow.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 08:01

Aerial footage from the Israel Defense Force showing one of the aid distribution sites established within Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 05:33

Russia’s state-controlled media service, RT mocked U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s post this morning referencing Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he states that he has prevented “REALLY BAD” things from happening to Russia and that Putin is “playing with fire!” With RT stating, “Trump’s message leaves little room for misinterpretation — until he posts the opposite tomorrow morning.”

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 04:27

Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and Mossad Director David Barnea met today in Washington with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and other senior officials, discussing the ongoing efforts to reach a hostage and ceasefire deal in Gaza as well as nuclear talks with Iran.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 00:04

U.S. President Donald J. Trump is “seriously considering” lifting all Biden-era restrictions placed on the Ukrainian Armed Forces and their ability to strike at military bases and other targets deep inside Russia, using precision-guided munitions provided by and/or produced by the United States.

The Defender Dome

24 May 2025 10:18

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Long-Range Strategic Bomber assigned to Bomber Task Force Europe at Moron Air Base, Spain executed mission “MIGHTY RHINO” on Friday, May 23rd. The bomber, escorted by 8 F-16C “Fighting Falcons” with the Royal Moroccan Air Force, flew over Morocco in support of African Lion 2025, the largest annual military exercise in Africa featuring over 40 militaries from across the world, including the United States, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and United Kingdom.

The Defender Dome

24 May 2025 09:23

During a ceremony yesterday in the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at easing regulations on and expanding the construction of nuclear power plants across the United States. The three executive orders signed by the president seek to reform nuclear energy research at the Department of Energy, clear a path to allow the Energy Department to build nuclear reactors on federally-owned land, overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and expand uranium mining and enrichment by U.S-owned and operated companies, such as Constellation Energy, Oklo and General Matter, whose CEOs attended the ceremony at the White House.

The Defender Dome

24 May 2025 07:22

Significant air-defense movements are being noted across Israel, with surface-to-air missile batteries reportedly being redeployed to airbases which were previously targeted during both of last year’s large-scale ballistic missile attacks by Iran.

The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 09:25

Despite a recent phone call with U.S. President Donald J. Trump, in which he reportedly warned Netanyahu against attacking Iran during the ongoing nuclear talks mediated by Oman. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli Air Force to prepare for unilateral strikes against Iran, without the support of the United States, according to Ynet.

The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 05:18

In a major decision earlier tonight, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled in two separate cases that President Donald J. Trump does not have the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs against much of the world economy, which includes but is not limited to his “Liberation Day” tariffs announced in early April. The Court ruled that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress exclusive authority to regulate commerce with other countries that is not overridden by the president's emergency powers, invalidating with immediate effect all tariffs and executive orders regarding tariffs rooting in the IEEPA that have been issued by President Trump since January.

The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 02:33

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that the State Department, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, will work to “aggressively revoke” the visas of students from China, including those studying in critical fields and connected to the Chinese Communist Party. The State Department will also work to limit student visas for all future applicants from China and Hong Kong.

The Defender Dome

29 May 2025 02:24

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has said that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about taking unilateral action against Iran, namely strikes against their nuclear facilities. President Trump subsequently said that “It’s not a warning…I said I don’t think it’s appropriate.” This as Trump says “We’re doing very well with Iran,” as talks between the U.S. and Iran over their nuclear program continue at the technical level.

Iran has reiterated their deepening stance on enrichment as recently as today, as top Iranian decision-makers continue to vow that a deal will not be made as long as the United States’ “No Enrichment” stance remains on the table.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 20:20

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has said that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about taking unilateral action against Iran, namely strikes against their nuclear facilities. President Trump subsequently said that “It’s not a warning…I said I don’t think it’s appropriate.” This as Trump says “We’re doing very well with Iran,” as talks between the U.S. and Iran over their nuclear program continue at the technical level.

Iran has reiterated their deepening stance on enrichment as recently as today, as top Iranian decision-makers continue to vow that a deal will not be made as long as the United States’ “No Enrichment” stance remains on the table.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 18:52

While speaking earlier to reporters, U.S. President Donald J. Trump confirmed that he warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against attacking Iran during the ongoing nuclear talks, adding that he told Netanyahu a “solution” was close and that there could be a nuclear agreement signed between the U.S. and Iran within a matter of months.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 08:35

A major fire can be seen burning at the Kronshtadt Production and Dubna Machine-Building Plant in the town of Dubna to the north of Moscow, which produces both drones and cruise missiles for the Russian Armed Force, following this morning’s large-scale drone attack by Ukraine.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 08:23

Early this morning, several long-range attack drones struck the Kronshtadt Production Plant in the town of Dubna to the north of Moscow, which is operated by the Kronshtadt Group and produces both drones and cruise missiles for the Russian Armed Force; in a large-scale drone attack today by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against the Moscow Oblast of Western Russia, over 300 miles from the border with Ukraine. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, over 300 drones launched by Ukraine were downed this morning approaching Moscow.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 07:54

The Israel Defense Force announced yesterday that two of four aid distribution sites being established in the Gaza Strip are now operational, both located within Rafah in Southern Gaza, with them to be operated by the American humanitarian workers and security contractors while the IDF will provide “perimeter security” around each of the sites, to prevent attacks from terror organizations like Hamas.

Following the opening of one of the sites in Rafah yesterday, tens of thousands of desperate Palestinians overwhelmed security at the site and broke through barriers, resulting in security contractors as well as the IDF to open-fire on the crowd, with several hundred said to have been injured and/or killed in the chaos. Order has since been restored at the site, with operations expected to be more streamline on Wednesday.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 04:59

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosted Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz today at the Pentagon in Washington.

The Defender Dome

28 May 2025 01:16

The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced earlier today that the 800th cargo aircraft carrying military aid provided by the United States landed at an airbase in Israel on Tuesday. According to the Israeli MoD, since the war began in October 2023, a total of 800 planes and 140 ships have delivered more than 90,000 tons of military equipment and other assistance, including armored vehicles, munitions, ammunition, personal protection gear, and medical equipment, from the U.S. to Israel.

The Defender Dome

27 May 2025 23:42

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has announced today he will be issuing a full and unconditional pardon to both Todd and Julie Chrisley, a reality television couple known for the show “Chrisley Knows Best” who were convicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022 of conspiring to defraud several Atlanta-area community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans, as well as significant tax evasion against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The daughter of Todd and Julie, Savannah Chrisley, had been actively seeking a pardon for her parents from President Trump, who she has been a staunch supporter of for many years, with her speaking at the 2024 Republican National Convention in support of then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump.

The Defender Dome

24 May 2025 09:34

Footage showing firefighting and search-and-rescue operations within a high-rise residential building early this morning in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, following last night’s large-scale missile and drone attack by Russia.

The Defender Dome

24 May 2025 09:00

Overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force reports that Russia launched 14 short-range ballistic missiles (Iskander-M/KN-23) and over 250 one-way attack and recon drones (Shahed-type) at the capital city of Kyiv; with 6 of the ballistic missiles and 128 of the drones being downed by air-defense system, while another 117 drones were downed using electronic-warfare methods employed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Defender Dome

24 May 2025 06:39

On Friday, the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) and the remaining ships of Carrier Strike Group 8 transited westbound from the Mediterranean Sea, through the Strait of Gibraltar, into the Atlantic Ocean. The Truman will likely take a week or two to cross the Atlantic before arriving off the coast of Virginia, signaling the end of her seven-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Area-of-Responsibility, arriving at her homeport of Naval Station Norfolk in early June.