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Ben Wolfgang

Ben Wolfgang

bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com

Ben Wolfgang is a National Security Correspondent for The Washington Times. His reporting is regularly featured in the daily Threat Status newsletter.
Previously, he covered energy and the environment, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016, and also spent two years as a White House correspondent during the Obama administration.
Before coming to The Times in 2011, Ben worked as political reporter at The Republican-Herald in Pottsville, Pa.
He can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Ben Wolfgang

Vice President Mike Pence speaks following a tour on the USNS Comfort, Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Miami. The hospital ship is scheduled to embark on a five-month medical assistance mission to Latin America and the Caribbean, including several countries struggling to absorb migrants from crisis-wracked Venezuela. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Mike Pence, John Bolton issue Iran a warning after Trump calls of airstrikes

Top White House officials on Sunday warned that Iran should not mistake U.S. discretion for weakness after President Trump called off airstrikes last week in retaliation for Tehran's downing of an American drone, and officials confirmed over the weekend that the Pentagon already struck back with cyberattacks on Iranian military systems.

June 23, 2019
In this May 11, 2017 file photo, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Cotton's office says he's focused is on serving the people of Arkansas in the Senate. That's after reports that he might be picked to run the CIA in a major shake-up of President Donald Trump's national security team. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Tom Cotton: Iran may escalate, attack U.S. ships, planes

Iran's next step may be to attack a manned U.S. plane or American ships in the Middle East, Sen. Tom Cotton warned Sunday, urging the Trump administration to send a strong message to Tehran or risk further escalation.

June 23, 2019
President Donald Trump, with first lady Melania Trump, gives a thumbs up as the walk to Air Force One, as they depart Sunday, June 2, 2019, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Trump is going to London, France and Ireland. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

U.S. cyberattack strikes Iran military computers

The U.S. launched a sweeping cyberattack against the Iranian military last week in direct response to Iran's downing of an American surveillance drone, U.S. officials told the Associated Press over the weekend, confirming that President Trump personally approved the retaliatory measures.

June 23, 2019
President Donald Trump gives thumbs up to the media as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau departs the White House, Thursday, June 20, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Iran attack on U.S. drone creates ‘defining moment’ for Donald Trump

President Trump convened a classified national security briefing for congressional leaders Thursday under pressure to respond to Iran's unprovoked shoot-down of a U.S. Navy drone, an attack that the president downplayed as an unintentional mistake by a "foolish" rogue Iranian military official.

June 20, 2019
Brian Hook, U.S. special representative for Iran, pauses in front of a Surface to Air Missile (Sayyad 2C) at the Iranian Materiel Display (IMD) at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) ** FILE **

Brian Hook, Iran adviser: U.S. still committed to diplomacy

A key Trump administration policy adviser on Iran said Wednesday that the White House remains committed to pursuing diplomacy with Tehran, despite claims by Democrats that the president is on a dangerous path toward an ill-advised and illegal war with the Islamic republic.

June 19, 2019
Secretary of the Army Mark Esper speaks to soldiers and family members in Ft. Bragg, N.C., Monday, April 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) ** FILE **

Mark Esper tapped to replace Patrick Shanahan at Pentagon

President Trump on Tuesday tapped Army Secretary Mark T. Esper to lead the Pentagon at least temporarily after acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan abruptly withdrew his name from consideration to be the next permanent chief, saying the confirmation process is proving too difficult for his family.

June 18, 2019
FILE - In this April 9, 2018, file photo, Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, right, listen as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, in Washington. A U.S. administration official says that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will leave his post Jan. 1, 2019, as Trump is expected to name Shanahan as acting secretary. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Patrick Shanahan out as Pentagon chief nominee

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has withdrawn his name from consideration to be the next permanent Pentagon chief, President Trump said Tuesday, with Army Secretary Mark Esper in line to step in as a temporary replacement.

June 18, 2019
This image released by the U.S. Department of Defense on Monday, June 17, 2019, and taken from a U.S. Navy helicopter, shows what the Navy says are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy removing an unexploded limpet mine from the M/T Kokuka Courageous. (U.S. Department of Defense via AP)

Limpet mines eyed in Iran attacks on tankers, U.S. officials say

The limpet mine has become Iran's weapon of choice as it ramps up a bombing campaign on oil tankers in the region, according to U.S. officials, wary that further attacks using the small magnetic bombs stuck to hulls of ships may be on the horizon.

June 17, 2019
FILE - In this Jan. 13, 2015 file photo, released by the Iranian President's Office, President Hassan Rouhani visits the Bushehr nuclear power plant just outside of Bushehr, Iran. On Monday, June 17, 2019, Iran said it will break the uranium stockpile limit set by Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in the next 10 days. (AP Photo/Iranian Presidency Office, Mohammad Berno, File)

Iran nuclear breakout closer as Trump deploys more troops

The Pentagon will deploy another 1,000 troops to the Middle East to counter an emboldened Iran -- an announcement that came after Tehran threatened that it is now just 10 days away from surpassing international limits on its enriched uranium stockpile and could soon ramp up nuclear production to near weapons-grade levels.

June 17, 2019
This May 2018 image made available by Marine Traffic shows the MT Front Altair in Antwerp, Belgium. Two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz were reportedly attacked on Thursday June 13, 2019. International Tanker Management, which operates the MT Front Altair, said an explosion caused fire aboard but that the incident is still being investigated. (Patrick Vereecke/Marine Traffic via AP)

Tankers targeted near Strait of Hormuz amid Iran-U.S. tensions

Two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz were reportedly attacked on Thursday, an assault that left one ablaze and adrift as sailors were evacuated from both vessels and the U.S. Navy rushed to assist amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.

June 13, 2019