The targeted countries host sprawling American military bases and thousands of personnel at a time when the United States is waging war against Iran.

© Arash Khamooshi/Polaris for The New York Times

Commanders do not usually speak publicly about future operations to avoid jeopardizing the mission’s success.

© Doug Mills/The New York Times

Oman’s military has rescued dozens more Indian seafarers from the stricken ships, which the U.S. military said violated its blockade.

© Reuters

Parallels between the two wars abound, from the grinding nature of the fighting to the way new technologies reshaped warfare.

© Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

David Rush, the C.I.A. employee, worked on a highly classified China spying program with Stephen A. Feinberg, the Pentagon’s second-ranking official.

© Eric Lee/The New York Times