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Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Acting Navy secretary says Iran 'blew the hell out of' US base in BahrainThe acting U.S. Navy secretary Hung Cao said that the Iranian military severely damaged a major Navy installation in Bahrain, acknowledging the extent of damage sustained by the base during the conflict. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images “They blew the hell out of Bahrain,” Cao said in an interview with The Epoch Times, which was published Thursday, referring to the Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NASB), which serves as the headquarters for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. Fifth Fleet. The base has been heavily targeted by Iran after the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against the Islamic Republic in late February. The Navy has relied on NASB as its main logistics hub in the Middle East. Cao said the Navy is weighing what to do with NASB, including whether to repair the base. “I have a task force that’s looking at that," he told the news outlet. In late August, the Navy's top officer said it would be a while before the service branch would return to the base, including to retrieve the personal goods from sailors. “We’re not getting back in there anytime soon,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle said during a town hall on Aug. 31. “I just want to be completely honest with that.” Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Filip Timotija — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: 9/11 attacks among ‘most important historic events’ in US adults’ lifetimes: Poll Nearly half of American adults consider the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks among the “most important historic events” in their lifetimes, a new poll found. In an Ipsos survey published Tuesday, 47 percent of respondents listed 9/11 when asked to identify up to five of the most significant historic events they had lived through. Other top responses to the question included the COVID-19 pandemic, mentioned by 31 percent of those polled, … Full Story Trump says ‘no damage’ to US war planes from Iran attack President Trump on Thursday denied reports that Iranian forces damaged U.S. war planes during a raid on an air base in Jordan. “Nope,” the president said when NewsNation’s Robert Sherman asked whether there is “any truth” to the reports. “None whatsoever. No damage. No nothing,” Trump told Sherman over the phone. CBS News, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter, reported Thursday that Iranian strikes damaged multiple … Full Story US military takes lighter touch toward new targets in boat strike campaign A year into its deadly sea-based campaign to stamp out “narco-trafficking,” the U.S. military is zeroing in on a new target — “floating refueling stations” — and taking a more human approach to sinking the vessels. Since last September, U.S. forces have carried out more than 60 lethal drug boat strikes and have killed more than 200 “narco-terrorists” on both ends of South America. In six instances of going … Full Story Iran is producing ballistic missiles again: Report Iran has resumed production of ballistic missiles, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, contradicting the Trump administration’s claims that Tehran’s military capabilities have been destroyed in the months-long conflict with the U.S. Iran has assembled new missiles using existing components in more limited quantities than before the war in several underground sites, including the Khojir missile facility in … Full Story In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Trump faces blowback with $5,000 dividend promise President Trump’s pledge to distribute $5,000 to every U.S. adult if Republicans win the midterms is drawing backlash from Republicans and Democrats as the president’s allies are forced to explain and defend the proposition. Full Story On Tap Tomorrow Events in and around the defense world: The Arms Control Association will hold a briefing tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. ET on "Mitigating the Risks of AI Integration in Nuclear Weapons Operations." The Middle East Institute will hold a discussion tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET on "A New Front Opens: The Houthis and the Widening Middle East War." The Brookings Institution will hold an event starting 1 p.m. ET tomorrow on "The 9/11 terrorist attacks at 25: Assessing the legacy, addressing the future." What We’re Reading News we’ve flagged from other outlets: Multiple U.S. military aircraft damaged in Iranian strikes on military base in Jordan, sources say, CBS News reports. Dems plot to take on Hegseth if they win in November, Politico reports. Cyber Command turns to veteran of intelligence agencies for top AI role, The Record reports. EXCLUSIVE: US expands intel, targeting support for Saudi campaign against Iranian ally, CNN reports. CIA officer’s arrest with 303 gold bars thrusts the Pentagon’s No. 2 into an unwelcome spotlight, NBC News reports. Trump Is Preparing for a Long War, The Atlantic reports.Behind the Scenes, Vance Gathered Unvarnished Views of the Iran War, The New York Times reports. Trending Today Two key stories on The Hill right now: 5 things to know about Trump’s $5K dividend pledge President Trump pledged Wednesday to dole out $5,000 dividends to U.S. adults only if Republicans keep their control of Congress after the fall midterm … Read more Fox News’s Baier presses Vance on Trump’s $5K dividend promise Fox News anchor Bret Baier pressed Vice President Vance on President Trump’s pledge to give Americans $5,000 if Republicans keep control of Congress … Read more Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: The man who forced Congress to care for 9/11 survivorsIn Ukraine, Putin is running out of time and options We are sliding toward war — and not the one we’re already in You’re all caught up. Check out The Hill's Defense page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view all our topical emails here 📩 Privacy Policy | Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe 400 N. Capitol St. NW Suite 950, Washington, DC 20001Copyright © 1998 - 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. [sailthru_widget name="Sailthru Widget Block" sailthru_list="Defense and National Security" title="Defense & National Security"]document fetched 2026-09-11 02:59 · canonical https://thehill.com/newsletters/defense-national-security/6083326-acting-navy-secretary-says-iran-blew-the-hell-out-of-us-base-in-bahrain