Exactly -- there will be outrageous claims without little support, but the goal is clearly intimidation (with Patel seeking to score some points with Trump)

One Question Looming Over Israel-Hamas Truce Deal—Why Now? https://t.co/4AJo7YmhdJ

"For too long, the United States and Europe have turned a blind eye to Russia's "ghost fleet" of oil tankers, relying on often late and feckless sanctions to counter Moscow’s illicit economic lifeline," writes @BenjamJensen. Read more:

I put together a post on "Islamic State-Related Arrests In the U.S. In 2024" to hopefully provide some context and show that the New Orleans attack fits with a higher attack plot tempo we saw in 2024 vs. 2023 and with a broader ex-ops picture globally.

🧵SYRIA: Sharaa Arabiya interview • News it’s granted to Arabiya • Longest interview yet: Elections cud take 4 yrs,constitution 3 yrs • HTS to dissolve at nat’l conference • Israel was going to enter Syria • Flatters Saudi🇸🇦 • Syrian victory one for Arab Gulf vs Iran 1/3

"US foreign policy in the region could change on a dime... #Trump has already stated the US should have “nothing to do” with #Syria’s future. But to do nothing would give #ISIS a chance to surge once again." My latest in @nytimes: https://t.co/qyvI5yHndy

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s drone unit, the Al-Shaheen Brigade, helped carry the Syrian opposition to Damascus. Reuben Dass assesses their capabilities in the Foreign Policy Essay.

Excellent analysis (and no, I'm not biased):

My thoughts in the stunning developments in #Syria:

@UN Ahrar al-Sham was the 1st such group to embrace the 'green' revolutionary flag, to adopt nationalist rhetoric, and to publicly critique the influence of 'external' (jihadist) actors. Criticism from Nusra, then #JFS-#HTS was swift -- but it's the model that #HTS has embraced.

Having worked on #Syria full-time since the crisis began nearly 14yrs ago, there really is no understating how remarkable the losses imposed on #Assad's regime have been over the past week. A large reason for this lies with #HTS — a 🧵:

Russia Plotted to Put Incendiary Devices on Cargo Planes, Officials Say

My thoughts on the killing of Sinwar:

My thoughts on lessons from the 2006 war:

A compact summary in @TheAtlantic of the arguments @PhillipsPOBrien and I have put forth in our recently released @CSIS report on why so much of the analysis of the Russian and Ukrainian militaries before the war was badly off.

Another sad milestone: 12 years since Austin Tice was abducted in Syria.

My thoughts on the challenges for Israel in a conflict with Hezbollah:

"The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Ziyad al-Nakhalah, was staying next door," Bomb Smuggled Into Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed Hamas Leader

Pretty amazing tradecraft: Bomb Smuggled Into Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed Hamas Leader

My thoughts with @SethGJones: A Hezbollah War Would Be Israel’s Biggest Challenge in Decades - The militant group is experienced, well-armed, and prepared.