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The Cipher Brief: National Security news, analysis and expert commentary.

Hezbollah’s Quiet Rebuild

Iran’s Shadowy Lifeline and the Gathering Storm on Israel’s Northern Flank

hezbollah

DEEP DIVE — Tucked deep into the cragged hills of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah, the once powerful Iranian-backed militia brought to its knees by a war [...] More

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The Open Source Report

This photo shows shows the glow from explosions above Kyis during drone and missile strikes in Kyiv on November 14, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Global Intelligence Report for Friday, November 14, 2025

U.S. Announces “Operation Southern Spear” as Forces Deploy to South America

Developing- Russia Strikes Kyiv with massive missile, drone attack

Beijing vows to strike back if Japan uses military force in Taiwan Strait

Anthropic announces AI used by Chinese hackers in autonomous attack

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Expert Insights

Cipher Brief Experts bring context to today’s global events

Q&A: Interpol’s Cybercrime Chief on How AI is Driving Borderless Cyber Threats

Dr. Neal Jetton

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — Anthropic’s announcement that Chinese state-sponsored hackers used its Claude AI technology for a largely automated cyberattack underscores how cybercriminals are becoming faster, stronger and more [...] More

Understanding the U.S. Military Mobilization in the Caribbean

Ambassador Patrick Duddy

OPINION / EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — The armada the U.S. has assembled in the Caribbean is more formidable than anything the region has seen in decades. What is going on? The administration says it is targeting drug trafficking [...] More

News & Analysis

(Original Caption) 9/5/1963-Washington, DC- Flying over the Virginia side of the Potomac River, the impressive site of the world's largest office building crops into view. The Pentagon, which covers 34 acres of land including a 5-acre pentagonal center court, houses personnel of the U.S. Department of Defense, which includes the Departments of Army, Navy and Air Force. This bird's eye view also shows part of the 67-acre parking space area.

Assessing the Pentagon’s Mission to Rebuild the ‘Arsenal of Freedom'

DEEP DIVE — The Pentagon is waging war against its own acquisition bureaucracy. In a sweeping speech on Friday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth [...] More

Opinion

Why Putin Is Losing The War In Ukraine That He Thinks He Is Winning

OPINION — The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in January 2022 is now approaching its fourth year. The cost for Ukraine has been very high, but [...] More

What’s on The Cipher Brief’s Digital Channel

Book Reviews

SIGNS OF THE TIMES: We assume the Trump administration elected to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War to send a message (not just on a whim cause it sounded tougher. Who would do that?). While the change is currently symbolic – since it would take an act of Congress to make it official – the rebranding - if fully implemented - would blow a hole in the federal budget. NBC News reports that changing the name “could cost as much as $2 billion, according to six people with knowledge of the potential cost.” Jeez, for that much money – the Pentagon could build six or seven ‘White House’ [...] More

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Events

Live Events

The Cipher Brief 2026 HONORS Awards

The Cipher Brief 2026 HONORS Awards

Join us for the third annual Cipher Brief Honors Dinner, the evening of March 13, 2026. This Black-Tie event is invite only, please apply here for a [...] More

Upcoming: 13 March, 2026

Podcasts

State Secrets


Cipher Brief CEO & Publisher Suzanne Kelly talks with two former directors of the National Security Agency and former Commanders of U.S. Cyber Command about the cyber threat from China, and just what they think Americans need to know. Retired General Tim Haugh – a new Cipher Brief Expert, spoke recently about the threat with 60 Minutes. He is now also working with investors and teaching at Yale University. And retired General Paul Nakasone is the founding director of the Institute for National Security at Vanderbilt University. Both men have a serious warning for America.

Cover Stories: Spies, Books & Entertainment


David McCloskey, former CIA Analyst turned novelist is out with his fourth book, The Persian, about an Iranian dentist who is recruited by Mossad to take on a dangerous mission inside Iran. Cover Stories Host Suzanne Kelly digs in on how McCloskey’s real-life Intelligence background fueled his latest novel, and discovers a few of McCloskey’s own secrets along the way.