U.S. Marines

A US Marine F-35 crashed in California, with the pilot ejecting and being hospitalized in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident was classified as a 'Class A mishap,' the most severe category.

A F-35B Lightning II fighter jet crashed and caught fire at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, with the pilot ejecting and being recovered. Fire crews extinguished a grass fire near the wreckage, which is operated by the US Marines, the United Kingdom, and the Italian Air Force and costs $102 million each.

An F-35B assigned to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, causing a brush fire and prompting emergency response. The pilot ejected and was recovered, but the cause of the crash remains unclear. A video showed the aircraft damaged in a scorched area, with the military managing the incident.

U.S. Marines installed razor wire along sections of the U.S.-Mexico border wall in Nogales, Arizona, as part of the Trump administration’s border security efforts. The barrier aims to deter people from climbing the wall and is part of a federal operation to reinforce existing border infrastructure.

US Marines tested launching FPV drones from moving helicopters during a shipboarding exercise to scout target vessels and reduce mission risks. The experiment explored using helicopters as airborne command hubs and motherships for drones, mirroring tactics seen in Ukraine. The drones, primarily Nero Archer models, are cost-effective tools for maritime operations.

The US attacked bridges in Iran, and Iran responded by striking a power and desalination plant in Kuwait, escalating tensions by targeting infrastructure. US Marines boarded a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, while armed men seized a vessel off Yemen, disrupting Gulf energy supplies.

US Marines boarded the M/T Wen Yao in the Gulf of Oman to enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports. An expanded airstrike campaign simultaneously targeted five bridges in southern Iran.

U.S. Marines on Guam successfully tested the Medium-Range Intercept Capability (MRIC) system during Exercise Valiant Shield, marking the Corps' first medium-range air defense system since the 1990s. The MRIC bridges the gap between the Stinger and Patriot systems, enabling rapid deployment and intercepting targets up to 43 miles away. Three MRIC batteries are planned for deployment by 2028.

U.S. Marines in Okinawa received the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), enhancing their capabilities in sea denial and low-altitude air defense. The 3rd Marine Division's 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment first deployed these systems during the Balikatan 26 exercise in the Batanes Islands and Zambales.

The U.S. Marines demonstrated HIMARS mobile missile launchers at Camp Fuji in Japan as part of Pacific deterrence strategy against potential Chinese aggression toward Taiwan. The exercise showcased 'shoot-and-scoot' tactics where the truck-mounted systems fire and quickly relocate, addressing vulnerabilities exposed by recent conflicts. This shift reflects the U.S. military's emphasis on smaller, mobile units over traditional aircraft carrier-based operations.

U.S. Marines seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Arabian Sea after it failed to comply with repeated warnings, as shown in a military-released video. The incident highlights escalating tensions in the region.

U.S. Marines from the USS Tripoli seized an Iranian vessel, as reported by CENTCOM. President Donald Trump announced 'major combat operations' against Iran on Feb. 28, involving joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.