Overview
- Bipartisan senators pressed Elbridge Colby at a Senate Armed Services hearing, with leaders calling the 2026 National Defense Strategy flawed or already obsolete for downplaying Europe and the Middle East.
- Colby argued the doctrine aligns with ongoing operations against Iran, describing a return to burden sharing in which wealthy European allies lead conventional defense under a 'NATO 3.0' model.
- He confirmed there will be no Nuclear Posture Review and characterized Russian and North Korean nuclear forces as the primary existential threat.
- CENTCOM reported six U.S. service members killed and 18 seriously wounded in Operation Epic Fury as large‑scale strikes continue.
- Accounts of the strike rationale diverged, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Colby citing expected Israeli action and likely Iranian retaliation against U.S. forces, while President Trump said he acted to preempt an anticipated Iranian attack and suggested he may have forced Israel’s hand.