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Welcome to S2 Underground, a freelance intelligence agency that brings real time intelligence reporting to the frontline fight against terrorism, fake news, and political tyranny around the world.Follow us on Instagram at @S2_Underground_3, on Parler at @s2underground, on Keybase under the team name of "s2underground", or send us an email at S2undergroundactual@gmail.com

S2 Actual


    • May 5, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
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    The Wire - May 5, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2026 4:43


    //The Wire//2300Z May 05, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: SHOOTING REPORTED ON NATIONAL MALL, ONE SUSPECT WOUNDED BY SECRET SERVICE. PROJECT FREEDOM OPERATION IN HORMUZ REMAINS INTENSE AS A MASS CONVOY OF CIVILIAN SHIPS STAGES TO TRANSIT STRAIT OF HORMUZ. MASS SHOOTING REPORTED IN TEXAS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Significant events continue to take place in the Strait of Hormuz, with the United States expanding efforts to force the Strait open to civilian traffic. Last night, two Destroyers, the USS TRUXTON (DDG-103) and the USS MASON (DDG-87) crossed the Strait under heavy fire by the Iranians. Similarly, a KC-135 refueling tanker was observed conducting refueling operations for aircraft supporting Project Freedom throughout the night. At some point, the KC-135 declared an emergency and broke station, though the context of this situation remains unclear.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - Yesterday afternoon, a shooting was reported in the vicinity of 15th Street and Independence Avenue. The suspect was originally identified by plain-clothes officers who saw the suspect's concealed firearm printing through his clothing. The USSS attempted to engage with the suspect, and during that approach the suspect drew his firearm and began firing at federal agents. USSS personnel returned fire, wounding the suspect. One bystander was wounded by the suspect during the engagement, though they sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Analyst Comment: The suspect has not been identified, and no further details of the suspect's intent have been provided. The USSS did make a note that the Vice President's motorcade passed through that intersection just a few minutes beforehand, and no mention was made of the suspect conducting an attack on the motorcade (despite initial reports). As a result, it's not clear as to if this was a routine crime/gang situation, or a more deliberate targeting effort. More details may come in due time, but as of now there is not enough context to determine what the intent of the engagement was.Texas: This afternoon a mass shooting was reported at a shopping center in the Carrollton Koreatown. Multiple people were wounded at the K Towne Plaza after one assailant conducted a small arms attack at a business center within the shopping center. Concerning casualties, 2x people were killed and 3x people were wounded during the attack, with the suspect fleeing on foot before being apprehended in the shopping center. The suspect has been identified as Seung Han Ho, and no information has been provided regarding a potential motive for the attack.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: As of this morning, the situation in the Middle East is still very fluid, but based on the events of the past 48 hours, a resumption of the shooting-phase of the war is increasingly more likely. In the Persian Gulf, the sudden disappearance of hundreds of vessels (or their "convergence" on one single point) on tracking maps is a classic case of both GPS jamming and AIS spoofing. Though many commentators have been hesitant to report the truth of what this is an indicator of (for OPSEC reasons), this professional courtesy is a moot point now, because SECWAR Hegseth let the cat out of the bag during a press conference this morning.When the spoofing first began en masse over such a large area late last night, this was a flashing neon sign indicating exactly one course of action...a mass convoy to surge ships out of the Gulf. This morning the Pentagon confirmed that hundreds of ships are staging in the Persian Gulf right now, with the goal of conducting a surge through the Strait. Considering the very kinetic entrance to the Gulf that was conducted by two American Destroyers, it's absolutely certain that many commercial vessels will be struck and/or sunk during this operation, but this appears t

    The Wire - May 4, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2026 9:59


    //The Wire//2300Z May 04, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: VBIED ATTACK CONDUCTED IN OREGON. NAVCENT PUBLISHES TRANSIT PLAN FOR VESSELS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ, WITH MIXED SUCCESS. IRAN CLAIMS TO TARGET US NAVY "PATROL BOAT" IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ, CENTCOM CLAIMS TO SINK 6X IRANIAN GUNBOATS IN GULF. VEHICLE RAMMING ATTACK REPORTED IN GERMANY.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Strait of Hormuz: Major developments have taken place in the Strait over the weekend. Last night, President Trump announced the creation of "Project Freedom", a plan to allegedly "guide" third-party commercial ships out of the Persian Gulf, so as to at least get non-affiliated ships out of the combat zone for humanitarian reasons. Today, the details of the plan became more clear, and it also became clear that the Iranians did not agree with this plan, nor were they notified ahead of time. Early this morning, the United States revealed that the plan was actually the publishing of an alternate traffic scheme for merchant vessels to transit the Strait using Omani territorial waters. Immediately after this plan was published, two merchant vessels made the crossing attempt, both of which were either struck with Iranian cruise missiles or drones. Later on, a third vessel was reportedly on fire in the Strait, though the cause of the fire is not yet known. Following this incident, the IRGCN released a new map of the Strait, with two no-go barriers depicted to the east and west, further stressing that the Strait is closed. At some point throughout the day, the United States has claimed that two unidentified vessels were able to make it out of the Gulf, though the names of these vessels have not been released yet.Separately, kinetic targeting between the United States and Iran appears to have resumed on the high seas. After the United States announced the implementation of Project Freedom, US Forces conducted kinetic strikes on 6x Iranian gunboats patrolling either the Strait of Hormuz, or the Persian Gulf itself.On the Iranian side, the IRGCN have claimed to have targeted what they describe as an American Patrol Boat with two cruise missiles during the earlier strikes on merchant vessels. The Iranians claim that these missiles were not targeting the vessel, but were serving as warning shots to prevent the US vessel from proceeding further.Analyst Comment: Due to the linguistic and cultural barrier, all Middle Eastern nations tend to use doctrinally incorrect terminology when referring to American warships. In this case, "patrol boat" might not refer to an actual Riverine Command Boat (RCB), but might refer to a Destroyer (DDG) or maybe a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). CENTCOM issued a carefully worded statement confirming that a ship had not been hit, but did not address the claims directly. On the other hand, the Iranians have been known to make outlandish claims regarding the targeting of American warships, so it's equally possible that the Iranians tried to sink the vessel, then claimed that the missiles were "warning shots", so as to save face from successful interceptions. However, last night the sky over Hormuz was filled with munitions, and multiple hulls are burning in the Strait as of this morning, so out of all of the prior claims made by the Iranians, this one is the most plausible situation where the Iranians might have actually come close to hitting an American vessel.United Arab Emirates: After this morning's scuffle in the Strait, four Iranian drones/cruise missiles were reported in Fujairah, as Iranian forces targeted the large oil refinery complex which has been used to circumvent the need for merchant tankers to transit the Strait. The UAE indicated that three of these munitions were intercepted, but one made it through to it's target, with several large fires being reported at the refinery this afternoon. In response to these attacks, the UAE has begun to re

    Intel Update - May 2 - Tactical Limbo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2026 17:59


    Research Notes/Bibliography can be found here: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Common Intelligence Picture: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=204a59b01f4443cd96718796fd102c00 Border Crisis Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f13eda1f301431e98a7ac0393b0e6b0 TOC Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ebe374c40c1a4231a06075155b0e8cb9/ 00:00 - Global Strategic Concerns 00:51 - Mali 02:21 - The Homefront 05:48 - The YooKay 09:55 - Tactical Limbo 16:56 - GhostNet Reports Download the GhostNet plan here! https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet The text version of the Wire can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/s2_underground And on our Wire Telegram page here: https://t.me/S2undergroundWire If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=30479515 Disclaimer: No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Without your support, I simply could not do this work at all, so to those of you who chose to support my efforts, I am eternally thankful.Odysee: https://odysee.com/@S2Underground:7 Gab: https://gab.com/S2underground Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/S2Underground BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/P2NMGFdt3gf3/ Just a few reminders for everyone who's just become aware of us, in order to keep these briefings from being several hours long, I can't cover everything. I'm probably covering 1% of the world events when we conduct these briefings, so please remember that if I left it out, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's unimportant. Also, remember that I do these briefings quite often, so I might have covered an issue previously that you might not see if you are only watching our most recent videos. I'm also doing this in my spare time, so again I fully admit that these briefings aren't even close to being perfect; I'm going for a healthy blend of speed and quality. If I were to wait and only post a brief when it's "perfect" I would never post anything at all. So expect some minor errors here and there. If there is a major error or correction that needs to be made, I will post it here in the description, and verbally address it in the next briefing. Also, thanks for reading this far. It is always surprising the number of people that don't actually read the description box to find more information. This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney. Our Reading List! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133747963-s2-actual The War Kitchen Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmtpjXT22tAWGIlg_xDDPA 

    The Wire - May 1, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2026 3:59


    //The Wire//2300Z May 01, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MASS STABBING REPORTED AT SCHOOL IN TACOMA. FUEL CRISIS DEEPENS AS WAR IN PERSIAN GULF CONTINUES. PIRACY ACTIVITY CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST. MAY DAY PROTESTS CAUSE DISRUPTIONS THROUGHOUT UNITED STATES.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Red Sea/HOA: This morning piracy activity continued, with one containership reporting a suspicious approach in the Gulf of Aden. No successful boarding was reported, however this is the first reported piracy attempt to take place in the Gulf of Aden since the war in the Persian Gulf started.-HomeFront-Washington: Yesterday afternoon a mass stabbing was reported at Foss High School in Tacoma. 6x individuals were wounded after one student conducted a stabbing attack at the school.Analyst Comment: Local authorities have been extremely tight-lipped regarding the cause of this attack. It's not clear as to if this is a standard gang-fight-turned-stabbing, or if this was a more deliberate terror attack.Washington D.C. - This afternoon the White House sent a letter to Congress stating that hostilities against Iran have "terminated" and therefore the obligations of the War Powers Resolution are not relevant to the current conflict.Analyst Comment: Regarding this Resolution, under most common interpretations of the law, a President has 60 days to either ask Congress to declare war, or request an extension of an overseas conflict. This 60-day deadline came into effect yesterday, and this afternoon the White House has taken the official position that due to the ceasefire, no Congressional action is required, even if the Strait of Hormuz is closed and no peace agreement is signed. This doesn't mean much, as hostilities can recommence at any moment, and this is mostly a way of the White House skirting Congress by arguing that if the war is paused for a period of time, the clock restarts.USA: Around the nation, various May Day protests were carried out in most major cities with varying levels of attendance. Most of the demonstrations were fairly low intensity, with the most kinetic events taking place at the New York Stock Exchange as activists attempted to rush the entrance and chain themselves to something. They did not succeed and most of the more active riots/demonstrations throughout the country resolved after a few sporadic scuffles.Analyst Comment: As of this report demonstrations are still ongoing, so more active incidents could develop as night falls. This afternoon, at least one activist has climbed the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington D.C. and set up a tent, so other similar encampment operations may be planned for the weekend in various high-profile locations around the country.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Around the world, the fuel crisis continues to compound, with costs rising substantially for some industries. Due to the rising costs of aviation fuel, Japan Airlines and Japan Transocean Air have instituted a flat-rate $350 surcharge on ALL tickets for flights from Japan to most of the the world. This measure was intended only for the month of June, but has been extended to go into effect today, for the month of May. So far, Europe has been hit the hardest by the fuel crisis, with prices and sheer availability itself being a challenge throughout the continent, which has also manifested itself even more unusually due to the lack of a centralized way to determine how much time is left before fuel runs out. Two days ago, one energy official was quoted in a Politico article, stating that by and large, Europe doesn't actually know how much time they have left, because there's no real way to know how much fuel is being stockpiled by the dozens of nations throughout the continent. Some places may run out within days, other nations and regions might never run out, it's impossible to know

    The Wire - April 30, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2026 3:58


    //The Wire//2300Z April 30, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: TERRORISM CONCERNS REMAIN IN UNITED KINGDOM. UKRAINIAN TARGETING OF RUSSIAN OIL INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES. OIL MARKET REMAINS VOLATILE AS GULF WAR REMAINS STAGNANT.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Lebanon: The ceasefire has mostly collapsed, with fighting resuming between Hezbollah and the IDF. Several FPV drone strikes have targeted Israeli armor in the border regions of Lebanon over the past few days, and Israeli forces continue to mandate the evacuation of the newly created "buffer zone" south of the Litani River.United Kingdom: Counterterrorism policing operations have continued in the wake of the Golders Green attack yesterday, with authorities confirming that the suspect who conducted the stabbing is of Somali origin. The individual has been identified as Essa Suleiman, an individual who had previously been arrested for stabbing two police officers back in 2008. After this incident, he was incarcerated and a flagged as a potential terrorist threat under the Prevent program in 2020. At some point he was released and/or escaped the mental institution he was confined to, before conducting the stabbing yesterday. This morning, the national terrorism threat level was raised to SEVERE, meaning that further terror attacks are highly likely.Russia: Ukrainian targeting efforts throughout the nation have increased over the past few weeks, as Ukrainian forces pivot to targeting Russian oil terminals and refineries. The Lukoil petroleum refinery in Perm was hit overnight, along with the Tuapse Refinery on the Black Sea coast.Analyst Comment: This pivot to targeting Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant (POL) facilities began in earnest last October, after a prolonged period of stagnation along the various front lines. As the war has been going on for a long time now, these targeting efforts received little attention outside the various communities observing the war. From Ukraine's perspective, these targeting efforts are perfectly reasonable, but for the rest of the world, the timing of this is going to cause an already tenuous oil market to increasingly be threatened. With the Middle East oil markets severely stifled by the Gulf War, the footnote that Russia is one of the largest producers of energy in the world has become a rather important detail. Russian oil refineries being blown up by the Ukrainians, while President Trump has alluded to the war continuing for some time, is almost certain to have follow-on effects which will (in the short term) drive up costs for nearly everything.-HomeFront-New York: This morning an explosion was reported at a residence in Queens. The incident began after one suspect (who has been identified as Anrup Parasram) attempted to break in to the residence, where his wife was living. A domestic disturbance developed, which involved the suspect attempting to conduct a stabbing attack. As authorities arrived on scene, the suspect barricaded himself inside the structure, before setting the house (and himself) on fire. A few moments later, the house exploded, possibly due to the suspect filling the home with natural gas. So far only minor injuries have been reported among responders, and the suspect remains "unaccounted for" per the FDNY.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Yesterday Brent crude futures briefly jumped to $120/bbl upon the news of the strategic situation regarding the war in the Middle East. In addition to the UAE announcing their departure from OPEC, diplomatic efforts to end the war are stagnant at best and President Trump has indicated that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will be in place on more of a long-term basis. Yesterday, a post was made on President Trump's Truth Social account referencing a "nonnuclear deal". Though the meaning of this is not perfectly clear (and thus can be interpreted in any numbe

    The Wire - April 29, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 4:44


    //The Wire//2300Z April 29, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: CONFLICT INTENSIFIES IN MALI. STABBING ATTACK STRIKES LONDON. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DECIDE TO LEAVE OPEC.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Yesterday the United Arab Emirates announced their intention to withdraw from OPEC, the organization of Oil Producing and Exporting Countries which are responsible for the coordination of oil production throughout the region.Analyst Comment: This is an important development that might be an early indicator of much more serious changes within the petroleum sector. Most of the major oil refineries in the UAE getting smoked by the Iranians was probably the driving factor behind this decision, or rather the last straw for the Emirates, who has been increasingly annoyed with OPEC's quota system over the years. However, since many other nations also saw catastrophic damage to their main source of national income, it is possible that a free-for-all situation might develop over time, whereby OPEC's stability is called into question. In short, the already volatile oil market is likely to stay insane for quite a while.Africa: The situation remains tense in Mali, as multiple different conflicts begin to come to a head. A few days ago, several separate attacks throughout the nation morphed into becoming a larger-scale uprising. Two groups, JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coordinated to launch major attacks throughout the country, mostly focusing on the capital of Bamako, as well as major military bases in Kati and other major cities. During the attacks, Mali's Defense Minister was killed during an alleged Vehicle-Borne IED attack on his home. Due to the deteriorating security situation, most European nations and the U.S. have recommended either leaving the country as soon as possible or sheltering in place if it's too late to leave.United Kingdom: Two incidents have taken place in Golders Green over the past 24 hours. Yesterday a suspected arson incident was reported at a memorial wall set up for Iranians killed during the war. Separately, a stabbing attack was reported this morning in the same area, which involved a man approaching a bus stop and stabbing people on the street. The man was detained by a Shomrim foot patrol in the area, and a total of two people were wounded during this attack. Hours after the incident, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) claimed credit for the attack.Separately, a large-scale police raid was conducted at Webb House in Crewe. This former orphanage had been turned into a migrant hotel, before eventually serving as the headquarters for a new religion, the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. Over 500 police officers raided the compound this morning, in conjunction with investigations which indicated that this facility was serving as a large-scale human trafficking center, as well as clearing house for slaves, who were reportedly being bought and sold at the facility.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The source material for what's going on in Mali is nearly entirely Russian, as this is Russia's expeditionary fight to protect their interests in the region. However, quite significant events are underway in the Sahel, and the fighting has been widespread over the past few days. For context, after the French and Americans began leaving Mali (or reducing their roles) Russia and China stepped in to control the power vacuum. Nevertheless, the security situation deteriorated anyway, and now al-Qaeda is roaring back to power via splinter groups which have attracted tens of thousands of fighters. The Russian Africa Corp is saying that 12,000 fighters took part in the various attacks throughout the country, but this figure cannot be verified for obvious reasons. Either way, the situation is very hot throughout Mali, and the conflict is likely to intensify if one side gets the upp

    The Wire - April 28, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2026 3:14


    //The Wire//2300Z April 28, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR IN LEBANON CONTINUES DESPITE CEASEFIRE. PIRACY ACTIVITY COMPLICATES MERCHANT TRAFFIC IN THE GULF OF ADEN, THREAT LEVEL ELEVATED. SOMALI DAYCARES RAIDED IN MINNEAPOLIS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Lebanon: The war continues as before, with Hezbollah conducting FPV drone strikes on Israeli armor, which are continuing their clearance operations in southern Lebanon.Analyst Comment: The ceasefire between these two belligerents being such a sticking point with the Iranian talks has not really resulted in a cessation of the war. At best, the Israelis have slowed down the bombing within downtown Beirut, but otherwise this war continues on.Red Sea/HOA: As the tenuous situation continues in the Persian Gulf, the Somalis have begun to increase hijacking attempts targeting commercial vessels in the vicinity of the Gulf of Aden. Last week, Somali pirates boarded and hijacked an unidentified tanker vessel, directing the vessel to Somalia's territorial waters. Overnight, another hijacking was reported as the M/V SWARD was hijacked in a similar manner, with the vessel being taken to the pirate strongholds along the eastern coast of the country. After these two hijacking incidents, another piracy attempt was reported today, to the east, farther off the coast. Separately, a local Somali fishing boat was hijacked by Somali pirates last week, and an attempted boarding was reported in the same area.Analyst Comment: Piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden has been a mainstay for decades. However, now that many shipping routes are skewed due to the Gulf War, piracy activity has increased over the past few weeks. Two successful hijackings and several other attempted hijacking operations taking place within just a few days is noteworthy, especially for the companies attempting to adjust to the radical changes to maritime shipping brought on by the war. As a result the UKMTO has elevated the threat to SUBSTANTIAL for the Somali Basin and the Somali Coast.-HomeFront-Minnesota: This morning the FBI conducted raids at several Somali daycare facilities in Minneapolis, many of which were at the center of previous fraud scandals. The Quality Learing Center was among the list of sites where evidence was collected, and around a dozen facilities in total were the target of the raids. The city of Minneapolis was not a part of the raid, and went out of their way to distance themselves from the federal investigations into these facilities.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Not many details have emerged regarding the Washington Hilton assassination attempt, beyond what was immediately published the day of the shooting. The shooter's home in Torrance, California was raided on Sunday, but no disclosures have been made regarding whether or not anything was found. One of the major intelligence gaps (at least in the public sphere) is whether or not the suspect was communicating with anyone else before the attack. Some indications are present that he was talking to family members (who knew he possessed violent intent), but it is not known if the suspect was coordinating or communicating with anyone online, specifically to plan the attack. Most of the high-profile targeting efforts observed over the past few years (not just the Trump assassination attempts, but the Kirk assassination and the sniper attacks on ICE facilities) have involved the shooters having an extensive online presence, which in most cases indicated some level of communication with others. In this case, Allen survived the attack, so his testimony is at least available, and more time will be needed to determine if anyone else was involved in the planning phases of the attack.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground

    The Wire - April 27, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2026 6:04


    //The Wire//2300Z April 27, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MORE DETAILS COME TO LIGHT REGARDING LATEST PRESIDENTIAL ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT IN WASHINGTON. IRANIAN DIPLOMATS MEET WITH RUSSIA REGARDING GULF WAR. IED ATTACKS CONTINUE IN NORTHERN IRELAND.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Russia: This morning Foreign Minister Araghchi arrived in Moscow for talks with President Putin, which are aimed at strengthening the ties between Iran and Russia during the war. This follows the United States calling off the latest round of negotiations, with no firm date for the resumption of talks with Iran.Analyst Comment: This meeting, at this moment, is a big deal. Up until this point, Russia has not actively participated in the war, beyond the fairly standard statements made urging a settlement to the conflict. Most of Russia's comments have focused on the economics of the war, and how this conflict can help them in the long term. Putin directly meeting with Araghchi is a strong diplomatic move that will both strengthen Iran's standing internationally, but also make it much harder for the United States to retain power-projection. The United States calling off negotiations, and Iranian diplomats showing up in Moscow is not an insignificant development in the world of international diplomacy.Northern Ireland: As civil unrest has been brewing for the past few months (being compounded by fuel shortages over the past few weeks), another carbombing was reported overnight outside the police station in Dunmurry, just south of Belfast. No one was injured during the attack, however a police officer was almost killed when the IED was detonated.Analyst Comment: This was a no-kidding carbomb, of the type traditional to the region. Local police state that this is possibly the work of a group calling themselves the "New IRA", which is attempting to utilize the tactics of the PIRA from the era of The Troubles. Some warning was given in advance of the detonation, as police officers were attempting to evacuate the area when the blast occurred, and the official press release by authorities stated that a delivery driver was carjacked and forced to deliver the IED to the police station. This is the second similar incident in as many months, with a nearly identical carbombing taking place in Lurgan last month.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - More details have come to light regarding the shooting at the Washington Hilton Hotel on Saturday. The shooter has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, who had released a manifesto regarding the attack, which was intended to be an assassination attempt targeting President Trump. His main attack vector took the form of rushing through a Secret Service checkpoint with a shotgun and handgun, before he was engaged. Despite initial reports, the suspect was not killed at the scene, and photos of the aftermath indicate that he might not have been hit at all. A total of 5-8 rounds were fired during the entire engagement, though who fired which rounds remains unclear. One Secret Service agent was shot in the vest at some point during the fray, allegedly by the suspect.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the wake of the attempted assassination of President Trump, many are questioning how this could have happened again. Not only was this the third attempt on President Trump's life (or the fourth attempt if we count the indictment of Asif Merchant as a proper attempt), but this is the exact same location where Ronald Reagan was also shot during his own assassination attempt in 1981. John Hinkley Jr. shot President Reagan about 30 yards from where Allen conducted his attack.In our present day, the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, most of the Cabinet, and many other high-ranking officials were in attendance, despite the palpably high threat posture that has remained constant in the wake of the

    The Wire - 0120Z April 26, 2026 - PRIORITY

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2026 1:03


    //The Wire//0120Z April 26, 2026// //PRIORITY// //BLUF: SHOOTING REPORTED AT WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT'S DINNER. ONE SHOOTER REPORTEDLY NEUTRALIZED BY SECRET SERVICE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------HomeFront-Washington D.C. - This evening shots were fired at the Washington Hilton Hotel, during the annual White House Correspondent's Dinner. Initial reports by law enforcement on scene indicated one shooter was neutralized by Secret Service agents after attempting to gain entry to the facility through the hotel lobby. President Trump and other high ranking attendees have been evacuated from the facility in accordance with protocol. The hotel remains on lockdown while a sweep of the facility is being carried out.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: As this incident is currently developing, the dynamic nature of the incident results in nothing being confirmed at the moment. The only detail that is confirmed are the many gunshots that were audible on the cameras that were covering the event. No word yet on the shooter's identity. More details to follow as the situation develops.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

    Intel Update - April 25 - Surging Again

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2026 15:28


    Research Notes/Bibliography can be found here: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Common Intelligence Picture: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=204a59b01f4443cd96718796fd102c00 Border Crisis Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f13eda1f301431e98a7ac0393b0e6b0 TOC Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ebe374c40c1a4231a06075155b0e8cb9/ 00:00 - The Shadow War 02:50 - The Surge 05:56 - Funny Money 09:06 - Not Going Back 14:08 - GhostNet Reports Download the GhostNet plan here! https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet The text version of the Wire can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/s2_underground And on our Wire Telegram page here: https://t.me/S2undergroundWire If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=30479515 Disclaimer: No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Without your support, I simply could not do this work at all, so to those of you who chose to support my efforts, I am eternally thankful. Odysee: https://odysee.com/@S2Underground:7 Gab: https://gab.com/S2underground Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/S2Underground BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/P2NMGFdt3gf3/ Just a few reminders for everyone who's just become aware of us, in order to keep these briefings from being several hours long, I can't cover everything. I'm probably covering 1% of the world events when we conduct these briefings, so please remember that if I left it out, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's unimportant. Also, remember that I do these briefings quite often, so I might have covered an issue previously that you might not see if you are only watching our most recent videos. I'm also doing this in my spare time, so again I fully admit that these briefings aren't even close to being perfect; I'm going for a healthy blend of speed and quality. If I were to wait and only post a brief when it's "perfect" I would never post anything at all. So expect some minor errors here and there. If there is a major error or correction that needs to be made, I will post it here in the description, and verbally address it in the next briefing. Also, thanks for reading this far. It is always surprising the number of people that don't actually read the description box to find more information. This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney. Our Reading List! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133747963-s2-actual The War Kitchen Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmtpjXT22tAWGIlg_xDDPA 

    The Wire - April 24, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2026 3:13


    //The Wire//2300Z April 24, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: BUILDUP OF AMERICAN FORCES IN MIDDLE EAST REACHES RECORD LEVELS. KUWAITI BORDER CHECKPOINTS HIT BY FPV DRONES. ARREST MADE REGARDING MOLOTOV ATTACK IN LOUISIANA.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Overnight Kuwaiti forces reported two FPV drone strikes on border crossing checkpoints with Iraq. No casualties were reported as a result of the attack.Analyst Comment: The statement provided by the Kuwaiti Army did not specifically disclose which border crossings were targeted, however there are only two crossing points in total: one main crossing on the northern border, and a smaller outpost on the western border. The interesting detail in the notice is the disclosure that these attacks were conducted by fiber-optically-guided FPV drones, and both of these sites were too far away from each other for these attacks to have been conducted by the same team.-HomeFront-Louisiana: This morning one individual was arrested following the firebombing of a Tesla Service Center two weeks ago. John Michael Hinkhouse was arrested for throwing a Molotov device at the entrance to the facility, which resulted in fire damaging the front of the building. Hinkhouse was located after security cameras tracked him back to his residence after the attack.Washington D.C. - Two incidents involving city busses have taken place over the past 24 hours. Yesterday, a bus caught fire in the 9th Street Tunnel, resulting in the tunnel being shut down for many hours. The cause of the fire remains unknown. This morning, two city busses collided with each other head-on in the Pentagon's south parking lot, resulting in a total of 23x people being injured.Analyst Comment: Currently there are no indications that either incident was nefarious in any way, however it's worth paying attention to during periods of heightened terrorism risk, just in case other incidents pop up later.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Concerning strategic movement in the Middle East, American cargo flights continue unabated, along with the forward deployment of even more fighter aircraft. Last night another squadron of F/A-18's arrived at Al Dhafra Airbase in the UAE, and the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77) arrived in the Indian Ocean following her long journey around Africa. Another Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB), the USS MIGUEL KIETH (ESB 5) is also projected to be approaching the operational area, after having transited the Strait of Malacca and should be arriving on station soon (though it is not clear as to if she is expected to take part in this operation).This brings a total of 3x aircraft carriers, 2x Expeditionary Sea Bases, and 1x amphibious assault ship (a total of 6 "flat tops") for whatever operations are planned. Of note, CENTCOM has provided press materials that imply that the BUSH is not replacing the LINCOLN or the damaged FORD but will serve independently as a third strike group throughout the region. This buildup has become even more substantial than the 4+ months of lead-up to this war breaking out, with even more naval assets being transferred from the Pacific to supplement the forces already in theater. As a reminder, at least one Brigade Combat Team (BCT) from the 82nd Airborne is still in the region. Considering all of these developments, the grand question remains: Does the US plan to reignite the war? This remains an unknown, and it's impossible to know what secret decisions have been made at the upper echelons of government. What is certain, is that a large-scale rearmament and resupply operation has been ongoing since the ceasefire went into effect, and enough resources are on station to conduct large scale operations if that is the chosen course of action. Not only is the war not over, but there are now vastly more resources i

    The Wire - April 23, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2026 2:35


    //The Wire//2300Z April 23, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: USA INTERCEPTS IRANIAN TANKER IN INDIAN OCEAN. CEASEFIRE IN LEBANON EXTENDED. US SECRETARY OF THE NAVY DEPARTS POSITION.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Lebanon: This afternoon President Trump stated that the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel will be extended for another three weeks, while the diplomatic efforts with the Iranians continue.Persian Gulf: Following the Iranian targeting/boarding operations yesterday, nobody has attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz. American efforts to conduct resupply and rearming operations throughout the region continue, as the Strait remains closed and no timeline for peace talks being conveyed by either side.Analyst Comment: Major shipping giants are planning for the Strait to be closed for some time. Maersk, the Danish shipping giant, stated that the Strait remains "firmly closed" due to the war. Which, although fairly obvious at this point, has been a very important realization for a major shipping company to acknowledge as the global economy begins settling in for the long haul.Indian Ocean: Overnight the Pentagon announced the maritime interdiction of the M/T MAJESTIC X off the coast of Sri Lanka, continuing the interception of Iranian-linked vessels exporting oil during the ceasefire. This vessel had been on the sanctions list for a many years, and was classified as a stateless vessel as she was using a falsified registration.-HomeFront-Louisiana: This afternoon a shooting was reported at the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge. Local authorities state that the initial investigation indicates this was a case of mutual combat between two groups, which engaged in a small arms skirmish in the food court after an argument. A total of 10x people were wounded during the attack, and as of this report a total of 3x shooters remain at large following the engagement.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In Washington, last night Secretary of the Navy John Phelan departed his position, effective immediately. His deputy, Hung Cao, has stepped in to the role while a replacement is in the works. The reason for his departure has not been confirmed by official sources yet, and officially it is not clear as to if he resigned or was fired. Media speculation and "off the record" conversations among the press pool at the Pentagon has largely theorized that he was fired due to personality clashes with SECWAR Hegseth. Whatever the true reason for this departure, the head of the Navy leaving his position with no turnover or transition process at a time when the US Navy is engaged in a kinetic war, is not a sign indicative of stability at the upper echelons of command. Especially considering the military head of the Army, Gen. George, was also fired from his job as Army Chief of Staff and forced to retire two weeks ago.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

    The Wire - April 22, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 3:17


    //The Wire//2300Z April 22, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MULTIPLE SHIPS FIRED UPON AND SEIZED BY IRAN AFTER ATTEMPTING TO TRANSIT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. GEORGIA MURDER SUSPECT FOUND DECEASED IN HIS CELL. CONGRESSWOMAN IN FLORIDA RESIGNS BEFORE EXPULSION VOTE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Overnight several containerships attempted to sneak through the Strait of Hormuz. Two vessels, the M/V MSC-FRANCESCA and the M/V EPAMINONDAS were fired upon by Iranian gunboats before being boarded and seized. Analyst Comment: A third vessel, the M/V EUPHORIA also attempted to run the gauntlet during the fray, and as of this morning appears to have actually made it through without being damaged and she is continuing to transit south.-HomeFront-Georgia: The suspect in the recent murder spree that took place in DeKalb County has been found dead in his cell in Atlanta. Olaolukitan Adon Abel was discovered unresponsive in his cell last night, before being pronounced dead shortly thereafter. No cause of death has been provided.Analyst Comment: Abel was charged with multiple counts of murder, in addition to crimes so graphic they cannot be described in mixed company, which took place during his crime spree that spread throughout the Atlanta suburbs last week.Florida: This morning, Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned, approximately 20 minutes before a vote was scheduled to be held by the House Ethics Committee regarding whether or not to recommend expelling her from Congress.Analyst Comment: McCormick is currently facing federal charges after engaging in various corruption scandals. She first gained notoriety after using stolen federal disaster funds to purchase a $109,000 ring, which she was observed wearing in her official Congressional photo. Last Christmas, she had the ring photoshopped out of the image, as a federal grand jury had indicted her on charges of stealing over $5 million of FEMA disaster funding. The grand jury agreed that this took the form of awarding COVID relief funds to her family business since 2021, which overbilled the American people for services that were never provided. Despite facing a total of 15x federal felony counts, she was still serving in Congress up until this morning.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Shortly before the ceasefire between Iran and the United States was set to expire last night, President Trump posted a statement on Truth Social indicating that the ceasefire will be extended indefinitely while waiting for the Iranians to come up with a different proposal. Throughout the region, American military cargo flights continue to take place at an increased rate. Resources are pouring into various airfields throughout the Middle East, almost at the rate observed during the rapid buildup that took place before the war.On the Iranian side, similar preparations are being made. Fresh satellite imagery from today confirms beyond all doubt that the IRCG-N retains some level of fastboat capability, as one swarm of at least 34x fastboats was observed returning to base in the image. This is the first satellite image available throughout the region for the past few days, and the wake of the fastboat swarm as captured by the Sentinel 2 satellite indicates that this IRCG-N boat swarm was returning from the minefield that was laid earlier. Though it is impossible to confirm the exact activity that was being conducted, from a planning and insurance-risk perspective, it is important to note that most of Iran's minelaying capacity is fulfilled by these exact vessels, which usually carry one or two mines each. As a result it is likely that substantial minelaying operations have been conducted over the past few days. Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://pub

    The Wire - April 21, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 3:29


    //The Wire//2300Z April 21, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: PETROLEUM REFINERIES AROUND THE WORLD CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC FIRES. US FORCES BOARD TANKER VESSEL TIED TO IRAN IN EASTERN INDIAN OCEAN. IEDS DISCOVERED BY HOMEOWNER IN COLORADO.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: This morning CENTCOM announced the boarding of the M/T TIFANI in the eastern Bay of Bengal. US forces onboard the USS JOHN L. CANLEY Expeditionary Sea Base conducted the boarding operation, with the status of the vessel remaining unknown.Analyst Comment: CENTCOM did not explicitly state whether or not the vessel was actually seized, however the vessel was observed changing course to the south after the Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) interdiction operation was conducted.-HomeFront-Colorado: Yesterday the Boulder County Sheriff's Office released details of an explosive device that was discovered in a wooded area near Ponderosa Way, in a residential area of Boulder County. A local resident found a cache of 5x pipe bombs stored in a watertight case in a wooded area of this residential dirt road. The Boulder County Regional Bomb Squad deployed to the scene and a shelter-in-place order was issued while the explosive devices were removed.Analyst Comment: It's not clear how long the cache of IEDs had been in place, as the homeowner who found the waterproof case had just closed on their home in the area, and only moved in on Sunday. The case was found after the individual had begun walking their dog through their new community, so the cache could have been in place for some time.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Around the world, a series of fires has broken out at various petroleum refineries and natural gas processing facilities. Yesterday a major fire broke out at the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery in India, one day before Prime Minister Modi himself was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting to formally open the 9 billion dollar refinery complex. On the same day, oil transportation vessels were set on fire in Myanmar (Burma), after an explosion caused a fire to spread rapidly to many small oil transportation barges that were anchored in the Chindwin River near the remote town of Homalin. Local reports state that 10x vessels were impacted or destroyed by the fire.In Russia, Ukrainian forces have sharply increased attacks on Russian oil and and gas infrastructure, with roughly 12x separate refineries being hit by approximately 17x long-range Ukrainian drone attacks over the past few weeks. Some sources claim that roughly 40% of Russia's petroleum refinement capacity has been taken offline or negatively impacted since March, due to these attacks.All of these incidents follow the previous refinery fires in Australia and in the United States, with the Viva Energy refinery and the Port Arthur Valero refinery respectively experiencing major fires that shut down operations for some time. Even China has not escaped unscathed, with a major fire being reported at a major chemical factory in the Jinan Industrial Zone two weeks ago.Though it is hard to attribute all of these mysterious infrastructure incidents to one clear origin, major fires affecting extremely large oil and petrochemical refineries at a time when a huge percentage of the global oil supply is offline is extremely poor timing (at best) or extremely suspicious (at worst). Fires at refineries are decently common, and happen in the third world even more often. However with increased focus on the international fuel crisis, these impacts to operations could not come at a worse time. Regardless of malign action or pure accident, the result is the same: Petroleum products becoming even more scarce and prices climbing higher as the end of the ceasefire looms and another potential week of market volatility remains on the horizon.

    The Wire - April 20, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 3:29


    //The Wire//2300Z April 20, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: US NAVY BEGINS TARGETING MERCHANT TRAFFIC IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ. VIOLENT CRIME CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO. PROTESTS CONTINUE IN UNITED KINGDOM.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: The situation deteriorated over the weekend, after President Trump stated that the American blockade would stay in place even after the Iranians removed theirs. In response to this, Iran closed the Strait again, and kinetically targeted two Indian vessels that were in the Strait, attempting to cross it. Yesterday, the United States kinetically struck an Iranian merchant vessel which was attempting to run the American blockade. The M/V TOUSKA was fired upon by the USS Spruance (DDG-111), which engaged the vessel with their deck gun, targeting the engine room. After the shelling, U.S. Marines from the 31st MEU boarded and seized control of the ship.United Kingdom: Protests in Epsom continue to grow despite developments in the case. Epsom police have stated they "have not found any evidence of the offence as reported but the investigation is ongoing".Analyst Comment: Some claims are being made that the crime never took place, or otherwise did not occur as initially described. Nevertheless, this doesn't seem to matter much as most of the population does not believe the authorities' story, and there has not been a clear conveying of the series of events. As a result, protests have continued throughout the area over the past few days, mostly focusing on police accountability and transparency on the crimes that are committed.Mexico: This afternoon a shooting was reported at Teotihuacán, as a man climbed one of the pyramids and began shooting at crowds of tourists. As of this report, the number of causalities has varied, with local media reporting a total of a dozen people wounded by the shooter or otherwise injured during the incident. At least one Canadian tourist was killed by the shooter, who eventually took his own life, ending the incident.-HomeFront-Louisiana: Over the weekend a mass shooting was reported after a domestic disturbance resulted in a man murdering his entire family. Local authorities state that Shamar Elkins targeted his ex-girlfriend at their residence on Harrison Street following a domestic argument. After killing her, he drove W 79th Street, where he murdered his ex's sister, and eight children, seven of which were his own. After the mass-murder, Elkins fled the scene on foot, before carjacking a vehicle and fleeing to the north. A high-speed chase ensued and the suspect eventually crashed in a residential neighborhood in Bossier City. At this location the suspect was shot by police, ending the incident.North Carolina: This morning a shooting was reported in Leinbach Park, near Jefferson Middle School in Winston-Salem. Multiple individuals were wounded during the engagement, which resulted from a planned fight which devolved into a small arms skirmish. 2x fatalities have been reported, along with several others wounded.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Statements made by President Trump over the weekend indicate that the Gulf War will probably resume once the ceasefire concludes on Wednesday evening. Major American military logistical flights have continued to intensify into the Middle East over the past few days, and as it stands the United States has not exactly been amenable to another extension of the ceasefire.. Due to the recent developments in the Strait, merchant traffic is not going to resume normalcy anytime soon, with not one, but two navies now targeting merchant shipping for running their respective blockades. The brief rhetoric a few days ago indicating the Strait opening up was only a fleeting moment, and now that peace is looking less likely, the long-term effects are going to start stack

    Intel Update - April 18 - It's Not Over Yet

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2026 15:47


    S2 Underground Nexus (Submit Tips Here): https://nexus-s2underground.hub.arcgis.com/ Research Notes/Bibliography can be found here: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Common Intelligence Picture: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=204a59b01f4443cd96718796fd102c00 Border Crisis Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f13eda1f301431e98a7ac0393b0e6b0 TOC Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ebe374c40c1a4231a06075155b0e8cb9/ 00:00 - Strategic Overview 01:28 - Strategic Movement 07:22 - Washington D.C. 09:44 - Middle East Download the GhostNet plan here! https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet The text version of the Wire can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/s2_underground And on our Wire Telegram page here: https://t.me/S2undergroundWire If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=30479515 Disclaimer: No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Without your support, I simply could not do this work at all, so to those of you who chose to support my efforts, I am eternally thankful. Odysee: https://odysee.com/@S2Underground:7 Gab: https://gab.com/S2underground Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/S2Underground BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/P2NMGFdt3gf3/ Just a few reminders for everyone who's just become aware of us, in order to keep these briefings from being several hours long, I can't cover everything. I'm probably covering 1% of the world events when we conduct these briefings, so please remember that if I left it out, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's unimportant. Also, remember that I do these briefings quite often, so I might have covered an issue previously that you might not see if you are only watching our most recent videos. I'm also doing this in my spare time, so again I fully admit that these briefings aren't even close to being perfect; I'm going for a healthy blend of speed and quality. If I were to wait and only post a brief when it's "perfect" I would never post anything at all. So expect some minor errors here and there. If there is a major error or correction that needs to be made, I will post it here in the description, and verbally address it in the next briefing. Also, thanks for reading this far. It is always surprising the number of people that don't actually read the description box to find more information. This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney. Our Reading List! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133747963-s2-actual The War Kitchen Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmtpjXT22tAWGIlg_xDDPA 

    The Wire - April 17, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2026 4:20


    //The Wire//2300Z April 17, 2026////ROUTINE////BLUF: IRANIANS CONDITIONALLY OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, SURGE OF SHIPS ATTEMPT TO DEPART THE PERSIAN GULF. CRIME WAVE STRIKES WASHINGTON DC. TERROR ATTACK SCARE STRIKES LONDON.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Significant diplomatic events have transpired throughout the day. In Lebanon, the Israelis have allegedly agreed to a ceasefire (and possibly a halt to the forward movement of their ground invasion). This is contingent on events in Iran, which allegedly announced the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz while the ceasefire is in effect. This re-opening is conditional, with the terms being no military vessels will be allowed, ships must coordinate with the Iranians, use the new Larak Island route instead of the traditional corridor, and ship's cargo must not be "linked to belligerent states".Analyst Comment: If these are truthfully the terms that will be enforced, this is no change to the preexisting situation, as all of these terms have already been in place. Statements by President Trump differ somewhat from what the Iranians have stated publicly, with the United States announcing that the Strait is fully open, free and clear....only on the Iranian side. Per the White House and CENTCOM, the American blockade will continue.United Kingdom: This morning a significant police presence was observed in Kensington Gardens in conjunction with an ongoing investigation of a security incident. Overnight, a video was posted online by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia (HAYI) in which this group claimed to have carried out a drone attack on the Israeli embassy. In the video, the assailants claimed to have infiltrated the park, and launched drones carrying radioactive material toward the embassy. Police state that some "discarded items" were recovered from the park, but authorities have not disclosed if anything harmful was found.Analyst Comment: Right now this looks to be a hoax based on statements made by authorities, who have stated that no attack was actually conducted. A cheap drone and a Tyvek suit is a very low-cost way to tie up a lot of resources and waste a lot of time, so these types of scares and incidents are extremely common during periods of heightened concern for terrorism. This group was also completely unheard of until after the war in Iran began, and it's allegedly the same group responsible for the ambulance arson attack in Golder's Green a few weeks ago.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - Due to an increase of crime throughout the city, Mayor Bowser has recommenced juvenile curfew procedures within certain districts of the city. Last night a shooting was reported in a traditionally high-crime area near the Navy Yard, which resulted in a brief manhunt for the suspect (who remains at large).-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Though the Iranians have allegedly opened up their side of the Strait of Hormuz more than it has over the past few weeks, the situation in the Middle East remains complicated. This afternoon, a substantial number of vessels were observed attempting to make a break for it while they still can, with several cargo ships attempting to transit the Strait. However, several of these ships were turned around by the Iranians, so it will probably take overnight before we can see how this all works out.As things stand right now, the rhetoric of all parties is not exactly matching the ground-truth of what is going on in the Strait, so we have to make an educated guess as to what is happening with regards to global trade. Right now, it looks like the US traded a ceasefire in Lebanon for opening the Strait for third-party nations to escape the Persian Gulf. Ships that are stuck in the Gulf can't make money elsewhere, and this agreement might be a more temporary "hostage release" situation to get these ships out of the region. The US

    The Wire - April 16, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026 3:24


    //The Wire//1900Z April 16, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR IN LEBANON INTENSIFIES AND EXPANDS NORTHWARD. PRESIDENT TRUMP VOICES SUPPORT FOR SECTION 702 RENEWAL. PROTESTS ERUPT IN U.K. FOLLOWING HIGH-PROFILE ASSAULT IN EPSOM. FORMER VIRGINIA LT. GOV. MURDERS HIS WIFE AND HIMSELF IN ANNANDALE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Lebanon: The war continues as before, with new evacuation orders being posted by the Israelis overnight. While clearance operations continue to expand south of the Litani, the new evacuation areas have expanded northward to the Zahran River.Analyst Comment: The IDF has not yet made it to the Litani from the south, but the "evacuation areas" north of the Litani are probably the advance notice of a widening of the bombing campaign. So far, most airstrikes have been centered either in downtown Beirut, as well as the area of southern Lebanon between the Litani and the Zahran. Now that the IDF has conveyed intent to conduct operations north of the Zahran, it is likely that the conflict will continue to expand. Right now, roughly one third of the land mass of Lebanon is currently in a state of open warfare, or subjected to Israeli targeting efforts.Middle East: The status of the Strait of Hormuz remains contradictory. CENTCOM stated that absolutely zero vessels have been allowed to transit the chokepoint since the blockade went into effect. However, third-party maritime companies have confirmed via satellite imagery the transit of several sanctioned vessels into the Persian Gulf, through the American blockade.Analyst Comment: These vessels transited with their AIS transponders turned off, so there's no GPS track to verify which route they took into the Gulf. Separately, Iran continues to onload crude oil to tanker vessels that are currently berthed at Kharg Island.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - In a post on Truth Social, President Trump voiced his support for the renewal of FISA Section 702, calling for an extension of this intelligence operation. In the post, President Trump stated that "I am willing to risk the giving up of my Rights and Privileges as a Citizen for our great Military and Country!".Virginia: Overnight former Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his wife were found deceased inside their home in Annandale. Local authorities state that Justin murdered his wife before taking his own life. Their two children were inside the home during the incident, and subsequently alerted authorities.Analyst Comment: Concerning motive for the murder, they were going through a divorce at the time and the court proceedings began on Tuesday morning, one day before the incident.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the United Kingdom, tensions are boiling once again. A state of unrest was reported in Epsom yesterday evening, which originated from a high-profile assault case taking place near the town square. Last weekend, one woman was raped by four males on the street outside a church on Ashley Road. Yesterday, this incident came to light among the general population, and as a result most of the ethnically British men in the town took to the streets in outrage.As with all crimes in the United Kingdom, a lot of speculation is required to fill in the gaps due to authorities almost never conveying the truth of what happened. In nearly all cases, this speculation of what actually happened turns out to be true. In this case, the police have refused to name the criminals, and rolled out in force against the protesters. Colloquially, in the U.K. this usually means that this was a migrant crime, even if no official statement is ever made confirming this. Sending in riot police is good enough confirmation for the crowd to know that they were right, and also to escalate tensions. At this point the exact technical details of the suspects don't matter too much, as many British locals have s

    The Wire - April 15, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026 4:12


    //The Wire//2300Z April 15, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING REPORTED IN TURKEY. ATTEMPTED CHILD ABDUCTION HALTED IN NEBRASKA. MAJOR FIRE REPORTED AT AUSTRALIAN REFINERY.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Turkey: Following yesterday's mass shooting at a school, another school shooting was reported in the town of Kahramanmaraş. One gunman conducted a small arms attack at Ayser Çalik Middle School this morning, which resulted in an estimated 4x fatalities and 20x others wounded.Australia: This evening a major fire was reported at the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong, Victoria. Shelter in place orders have been issued for a large portion of the city due to the smoke from the fire, and the facility burned throughout most of the day.Analyst Comment: The cause of the blaze has not yet been disclosed, however this is one of two refineries in Australia, which is now out of commission at a time when the fuel crisis is becoming a much more substantial problem.-HomeFront-Nebraska: An attempted child abduction was reported yesterday afternoon in Omaha. Local authorities responded to reports of a woman with a large kitchen knife at the Walmart on 72st Street, who had taken hostage a 3-year-old child and his guardian inside the store. Upon arriving on scene the suspect had maneuvered with the child to the parking lot, and was engaged by police, halting the attack. The suspect was killed at the scene, and the child was wounded by the attacker during the incident, but is expected to make a full recovery.Analyst Comment: The assailant has been identified as Noemi Guzman, who has a long history of similar attacks. In 2024, Guzman stabbed her own father and attempted to set him on fire, before departing the scene and breaking into a church armed with a large kitchen knife. During that incident, the Priest had to barricade himself in the Rectory while Guzman attempted to kill him. Guzman was released without bail immediately after that initial incident by Judge Russell Derr before eventually being found not guilty by reason of insanity, and subsequently released.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the Strait of Hormuz, the overall situation is confusing at best, which is largely due to the metrics and vocabulary choices used to describe what is going on. As time has gone on, this has become a major problem for understanding what is happening with global trade. For instance, the status of whether or not the Strait is open, is now a grand debate. On the one hand the White House states that the US is working to open the Strait, but on the other hand they are turning ships around who try to transit the waterway.At lower levels of governance, many American officials are stating that a few dozen ships have 'transited the Strait' since the Iranians created the new Larak Island tollbooth arrangement. However, this phrasing is misleading even though it is technically true. On any given day local traffic does transit the Strait, as it always has. Small fishing boats, dhows moving cargo from one Iranian port to another, or other smaller ships carrying cargo within the Middle East have always been allowed by the Iranians even before the ceasefire came into effect.This is how numbers get inflated (or deflated) regarding this conflict...nobody is using the same terminology and many decision-makers are talking past each other without using the same metrics. Now that the US Navy is enforcing their own blockade, another metric arrives for everyone to track, namely how many non-Iranian vessels are transiting the region, and whether or not they have cargo on board. Some empty vessels have been allowed in by the Americans, other empty vessels have been halted by either the Americans or Iranians, and some have been approved by the Iranians, only to get turned around by the Americans. A

    The Wire - April 14, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2026 3:24


    //The Wire//2300Z April 14, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MULTIPLE FATALITIES REPORTED AFTER SMALL ARMS ATTACKS IN ATLANTA. TWO CONGRESSMEN RESIGN FROM OFFICE FOLLOWING PERSONAL SCANDALS. CONTAINERSHIP STRUCK IN GULF OF OMAN. SCHOOL SHOOTING REPORTED IN TURKEY.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Gulf of Oman: One containership was targeted by Iranian forces this morning. The vessel (which has not yet been identified) was hit by two projectiles, and was assisted by the Pakistani Navy.Analyst Comment: Based on the graphic of the incident provided by the UKMTO this strike on a commercial vessel is one of the farthest conducted by Iranian forces since the war began, with this vessel being located well within the US Navy's own blockade zone. Otherwise, the subsequent daily report published after this targeting effort also confirmed that the general situation regarding commercial shipping remains the same as before, with traffic not resuming normal levels since the ceasefire began.Turkey: This morning a school shooting was reported in Sanliurfa, which resulted in 15x people being wounded. One former student began the attack by firing on the crowded school yard at the Ahmet Koyuncu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. 10x students, 4x teachers, and 1x police officer were wounded before the assailant took his own life, ending the attack. The motive for the attack is not clear, however local media reports that the attacker was a former student of the school.-HomeFront-Georgia: Yesterday a murder spree was reported in DeKalb County, which resulted in multiple fatalities. The first attack took place outside a Checkers on Wesley Chapel Road, in the eastern suburbs of Atlanta. One woman was shot and killed during the attack, which took the form of a drive-by shooting. After the first incident, the suspect maneuvered to the Cherokee Plaza north of Atlanta, where another shooting was conducted. One homeless man was critically wounded at this location. From there, the assailant fled the scene and over a period of several hours maneuvered to a residential area on Battle Forest Drive, to the west of his first murder site. At this attack site, the assailant shot and stabbed a woman while she was walking her dog in her residential neighborhood. The victim at the third location was killed during the attack. After locating the suspect via surveillance footage, the attacker was arrested during a traffic stop. Authorities have identified the suspect as Olaolukitan Adon Abel, and no further details have been provided.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In Washington, personnel shakeups and political moves are taking place. Two Congressmen have resigned from office following multiple scandals and potential expulsion votes. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) resigned from Congress following a widening scandal surrounding his affair with a staffer who ended up taking her own life in an exceptionally graphic manner after the affair was discovered. Similarly, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced that he will resign as well due to growing calls for his expulsion after a long series of similar affairs and explicit relationships with staffers.Though neither scandal is related to the other, one detail is common between the two cases...both resignations have taken place for misconduct that occurred some time ago but are only being acted upon right now. Gonzales' affair had been very public for a long time, and the death of his staffer back in September of last year brought the affair to public consciousness. Similarly, Swalwell's misconduct came to light back in 2020, when he was removed from the House Intelligence Committee following the Fang Fang incident which lead to concerns that he was openly in a relationship with a Chinese spy. However, in Swalwell's case, his resignation is not related to the earlier incidents, but rather perta

    The Wire - April 13, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2026 4:39


    //The Wire//2300Z April 13, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MAJOR ESCALATIONS REPORTED IN MIDDLE EAST AFTER PEACE TALKS FAIL. AMERICAN NAVAL BLOCKADE ANNOUNCED IN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ. TERRORIST ATTACK REPORTED IN ALGERIA DURING POPE'S VISIT.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Over the weekend, negotiations between the United States and Iran failed to produce any sort of agreement. Both parties have returned to their respective countries, and the potential for future negotiations remains unclear. Shortly after negotiations concluded, President Trump announced the implementation of a naval blockade of the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. The post specifically stated that the U.S. Navy will blockade "any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz". A few hours later, CENTCOM posted an article on the implementation of this policy, stating that "The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman".Lebanon: The war continues as Israeli forces continue their advance to the Litani River. Clearance operations have been on going in the south, with most villages within a few miles of the traditional border between Lebanon and Israel having been either bombed or bulldozed over the past few years with the goal of establishing a buffer zone.Hungary: Yesterday, the results of the general election resulted in sitting Prime Minister Viktor Orban being replaced by Peter Magyar after holding power for 16 years.Algeria: This morning two IED attacks took place in Blida, which took the form of two assailants wearing explosive belts attempting to target a crowd near the National Police Headquarters. Analyst Comment: These attacks coincided with Pope Leo XIV's visit to Algiers. Consequently, local media is speculating that these attackers were on their way to target the Pope, and got discovered, prompting their detonation. However, considering that the attackers were on foot at the time (and Blida is a long way from Algiers, where the Pope was located), a more likely theory is that this attack was targeting the police station. This theory is supported by the rather graphic video of at least one of the attacks. These types of attacks are extremely common throughout the third-world, as low-level insurgent groups sometimes prefer to conduct attacks during a high-profile visit, so as to amplify the message of their cause. In this case however, nobody survived to convey what group actually conducted the attack, so pending a group claiming credit, the overall motive for this terror attack remains unknown.Eastern Pacific: Overnight strikes on narco-vessels continued throughout the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility, with multiple airstrikes being reported in the general vicinity of the Caribbean.Analyst Comment: While attention has been diverted to the Middle East, Operation Southern Spear has been continuing, with strikes on fastboats being reported regularly this entire time. Most of the more recent strikes have been conducted not in the Caribbean specifically, but in undisclosed regions of the Pacific Ocean (probably off the coast of Ecuador, where joint American operations have been increasing over the past few weeks).-HomeFront-New York: A mass stabbing attack was reported at the Grand Central Terminal subway station on Saturday, after an assailant began attacking a crowd of people on the platform. Police officers on the platform shot and killed the assailant immediately after the attack began. Concerning casualties, 3x elderly victims were wounded during the attack and all are expected to survive. The assailant has been identified as Anthony Griffin, and a family friend stated that Griffin was known to have mental health issues and that he was known to

    Intel Update - April 11 - Dire Strait

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2026 21:17


    S2 Underground Nexus (Submit Tips Here): https://nexus-s2underground.hub.arcgis.com/ Research Notes/Bibliography can be found here: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Common Intelligence Picture: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=204a59b01f4443cd96718796fd102c00 Border Crisis Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f13eda1f301431e98a7ac0393b0e6b0 TOC Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ebe374c40c1a4231a06075155b0e8cb9/ 00:00 - Strategic Overview 01:03 - Maine 03:42 - Florida 04:11 - Ohio 05:12 - North Carolina 06:16 - Texas 07:10 - Middle East 16:40 - GhostNet Reports Download the GhostNet plan here! https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet The text version of the Wire can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/s2_underground And on our Wire Telegram page here: https://t.me/S2undergroundWire If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=30479515 Disclaimer: No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Without your support, I simply could not do this work at all, so to those of you who chose to support my efforts, I am eternally thankful. Odysee: https://odysee.com/@S2Underground:7 Gab: https://gab.com/S2underground Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/S2Underground BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/P2NMGFdt3gf3/ Just a few reminders for everyone who's just become aware of us, in order to keep these briefings from being several hours long, I can't cover everything. I'm probably covering 1% of the world events when we conduct these briefings, so please remember that if I left it out, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's unimportant. Also, remember that I do these briefings quite often, so I might have covered an issue previously that you might not see if you are only watching our most recent videos. I'm also doing this in my spare time, so again I fully admit that these briefings aren't even close to being perfect; I'm going for a healthy blend of speed and quality. If I were to wait and only post a brief when it's "perfect" I would never post anything at all. So expect some minor errors here and there. If there is a major error or correction that needs to be made, I will post it here in the description, and verbally address it in the next briefing. Also, thanks for reading this far. It is always surprising the number of people that don't actually read the description box to find more information. This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney. Our Reading List! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133747963-s2-actual The War Kitchen Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmtpjXT22tAWGIlg_xDDPA 

    The Wire - April 10, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2026 3:15


    //The Wire//2300Z April 10, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: PROTESTS IN IRELAND CONTINUE TO GROW. AMERICAN LOGISTICAL FLIGHTS CONTINUE INTO MIDDLE EAST DURING CEASEFIRE. MARITIME TRAFFIC IN PERSIAN GULF REMAINS STAGNANT.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: The ceasefire remains tenuous. Last night Kuwait reported attacks being conducted by several drones. Statements of condemnation were issued by government officials attributing the attacks to Iran, however the Iranians claim that they haven't conducted any attack. Separately, American logistical resupply efforts continue, with a notable increase in military flights moving cargo into the Middle East. Merchant traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted, with a total of 12x vessels (including local traffic) transiting the waterway since the ceasefire came into effect two days ago. This afternoon Kevin Hassett, the Director of the National Economic Council, indicated that the timeline for expecting the Strait of Hormuz to be fully opened is roughly two months.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - Last night First Lady Melania Trump hosted a surprise press conference, in which she read a statement pertaining to the Jeffrey Epstein network. She confirmed that she had once emailed Ghislaine Maxwell, but denied that a relationship existed. She also called on Congress to act regarding the Epstein investigation, specifically via the testimony of victims against Epstein's network.California: Early this morning the residence of Sam Altman (the CEO of OpenAI) was targeted by an arsonist who threw a Molotov device at the front gate of his residence. The suspect initially fled on foot but was arrested soon after the incident. The suspect has not yet been identified.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In Ireland, protests continue as before nationwide with most major roadways remaining shut down sporadically for a few hours each day due to protests. Whitegate Refinery remains a main focal point for protests which have become substantial in size. However, under the surface of the protests, tensions are bubbling and in Ireland no political issue is ever as simple as it seems at face value. One complicating factor which has contributed to the growing civil unrest has been statements made by Ireland's Deputy Police Commissioner Shawna Coxon, who has been the face of the police response to the demonstrations. Her statements themselves have been fairly standard by European standards, threatening all number of consequences for the protesters if they don't open up roadways. However, one delicate contention that isn't being conveyed by the media is not necessarily what is being said, but who is saying it. Coxon herself is not Irish...she's Canadian. Having built up a policing career in Toronto under Trudeau's government, she was instrumental in the now infamous crackdown on Canadian truckers years ago, who protested for different reasons but formed similar networks as the Irish are now forming. Now, she's the Deputy Police Commissioner for Operations in Ireland. Considering that a huge part of these protests is now becoming more of an Irish nationalism effort, what seems like a very small detail is actually becoming more important. A Canadian (who does not have an Irish accent) with a degree in mass surveillance wielding power over ethnic Irishmen is not being taken very well. As a result, what started as a small protest about taxes on agricultural diesel is becoming a much more widespread series of issues. Considering that as of this afternoon no progress has been made to address the concerns of demonstrators, this could lead to a much more substantial state of unrest over the next few days.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were use

    The Wire - April 9, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026 4:21


    //The Wire//2300Z April 9, 2026////ROUTINE////BLUF: IRAN CONFIRMS MINES LAID IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ, MERCHANT VESSELS REMAIN HESITANT TO TRANSIT STRAIT. ARMY DEPLOYED IN IRELAND TO CLEAR FUEL CRISIS PROTESTERS FROM ROADWAYS AS DEMONSTRATIONS SWEEP THE NATION.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Around the region, missile and drone attacks in GCC states have ceased, with the UAE confirming that this was the first day where no munitions were fired at them from Iran. Last night Iranian forces effectively closed the Strait again, as indicated by recordings of radio transmissions from the Iranians warning tanker crews against attempting to transit the waterway without their permission.Strait of Hormuz: This morning IRGC-N forces published a nautical chart outlining the area in the Strait where they have laid naval mines. The number of mines laid remains unknown, and this document is the first acknowledgement that minelaying operations have been carried out within the Strait.Ireland: Over the past few days, protests related to the ongoing fuel crisis have been growing. These protests have largely taken the form of farmers and delivery drivers parking their vehicles on roadways and tram lines, to block the passage of other vehicles. This morning, Prime Minister Micheál Martin confirmed that the Irish Army is being deployed throughout the nation to remove the protesters vehicles from the roadways.Analyst Comment: The fuel crisis in Ireland is a complicated endeavor and it's not entirely just about fuel costs at this point. Initially, protesters primarily have been demonstrating against rising fuel costs brought on by the war in the Middle East. A few days ago this escalated when protesters took the accelerationist approach, and blocked the entrance to Whitegate Refinery in Cork Harbor to make the price of fuel go even higher and thus make the issue everyone's problem. As a secondary result of blocking the entry/exit of vehicles from Ireland's only refinery, roughly 40% of Ireland's gasoline supply was cut off in an instant, and prices not only skyrocketed, but now the sheer supply itself is also running out. The tertiary effect of this effort has spiraled into a larger movement that is no longer solely about fuel costs, but also about general corruption and anti-government sentiments. This has in turn resulted in other protesters taking to the roadways around the country to stop traffic, and effectively compound all of the previous demonstration tactics, which has now resulted in the Army being called up to clear roadways and restore some sort of order.-HomeFront-North Carolina: Yesterday the FBI arrested one former DoD civilian employee on charges of leaking classified information to a journalist. Courtney Williams (a former employee of U.S. Special Operations Command) was arrested after allegedly conveying classified material to Seth Harp for his book about alleged drug trafficking and criminal enterprises within JSOC. Williams appeared as a named source for some of the material in the piece, which allegedly included classified material.Analyst Comments: Contradicting media reports on the topic, the press release for this arrest confirms that this has nothing to do with the current conflict in Iran. Many media sources are claiming that this individual was the person who leaked details of the F-15 which was shot down over Iran a few days ago, however this is blatantly false. The DoJ states that the leaks of classified information occurred between 2022 and 2025, and contained information that Williams had access to when she worked for a clandestine military unit between 2010 and 2016. The DoJ has not made any comment regarding any arrest made specifically in conjunction with the current war in Iran.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: At the moment, Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz. There is no US Nav

    The Wire - April 8, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 2:47


    //The Wire//2300Z April 8, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN CONTINUES. MERCHANT VESSELS HESITANT TO TRANSIT STRAIT OF HORMUZ, AT LEAST ONE VESSEL TURNED AROUND THIS AFTERNOON. CALIFORNIA ARSON SUSPECT IDENTIFIED.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Iran: Overnight several attacks were conducted between Iran and Israel, with Israeli forces continuing their attacks throughout the evening. Separately, the oil refinery on Lavan Island was struck by the UAE, in retaliation for the Iranian strikes on their oil fields yesterday.Middle East: Iranian attacks continued as before, with an observable lull (but not complete halt) to attacks being observed after the ceasefire went into effect. In Kuwait, government officials confirmed that attacks continued, with 28x drones being intercepted by air defense systems. In the UAE, authorities likewise announced the interception of 17x ballistic missiles and 35x drones.Lebanon: The war continues as before, with Israeli forces ordering the evacuation of areas north of the Litani River. Substantial airstrikes were reported throughout Beirut this afternoon as Israeli forces carry out their largest bombing campaign of the war.-HomeFront-California: The suspect in yesterday's arson attack at a warehouse in Ontario has been identified as Chamel Abdulkarim. The suspect was arrested at the scene after livestreaming himself setting fire to multiple pallets of paper products at this warehouse.Analyst Comment: In the video posted to his social media page under his real name, Abdulkarim stated that the arson was conducted in order to destroy the inventory of the company that was not paying him enough. Abdulkarim was an employee of NFI Industries, a third-party distributor for Kimberly-Clark, who owned the warehouse.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In the Strait of Hormuz, much confusion remains regarding the exact details of what the ceasefire agreement actually means. A ceasefire is temporary, not a permanent settlement to a conflict, and this ceasefire has a two week suspension time. In 13 days, the war is scheduled to resume if an agreement cannot be reached, according to the statements made by both the United States and Iran. This ceasefire is also conditional on several points (which remain unclear) and the entire agreement depends on further negotiations. Following the intensification of the conflict in Lebanon, Iran has linked their participation in the ceasefire to the fate of Lebanon (as in, the ceasefire is off if Israeli forces continue their advance in Lebanon). Concerning shipping throughout the Strait, this morning all commercial vessels transiting the Strait have continued to use the Larak Island tollbooth arrangement, and have only transited the waterway with Iranian permission. This afternoon one vessel, the M/T AUROURA attempted to transit the Strait, but turned around upon reaching the chokepoint. The reason for this turnaround is not known, however it is likely that Iranian forces are only allowing traffic through that has prior approval.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

    The Wire - April 7, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 5:17


    //The Wire//2300Z April 7, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MAJOR ATTACKS REPORTED AT SAUDI CHEMICAL FACILITIES. AMERICAN/ISRAELI FORCES TARGET SOUTH PARS FACILITY IN IRAN. TERRORIST ATTACK REPORTED IN TURKEY. PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCES TWO-WEEK CEASEFIRE IN IRAN. ARSON ATTACK REPORTED AT WAREHOUSE IN CALIFORNIA.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Iran: This morning widespread targeting of railway bridges began in earnest, along with petrochemical facilities which have been persistently struck over the past few days. This morning the South Pars Gas processing facility was struck again, resulting in large fires throughout the facility.Saudi Arabia: Last night major Iranian strikes were reported at the Jubail Industrial Complex. Several fires were reported at the refinery itself, along with chemical production facilities to the southwest of the main facility. SABIC Chemical has indefinitely shut down all 26x manufacturing facilities within this industrial city as a result of the attacks.Analyst Comment: This attack was a big deal as SABIC Chemical is a major producer of ethylene, polyethylene, caustic soda, benzene, and many other petrochemicals necessary for the production of plastics. The Jubail Industrial City complex produces roughly 7% of all of the petrochemicals on planet Earth, and the majority of this industrial zone is still on fire.Bahrain: Vehicle traffic across the King Fahd bridge was suspended due to an expected counterattack from Iran, however after a few hours the bridge was re-opened. Sporadic closures of the bridge network have been reported over the past few days, usually in conjunction with drone sightings.Strait of Hormuz: The chokepoint remains closed to American-aligned vessels, which was demonstrated overnight by two LNG carriers which attempted to make the crossing before eventually turning back.Kuwait: Sentinel satellite imagery from this morning confirmed that American bases throughout the nation have continued to be targeted, with large structures at Camp Arifjan confirmed destroyed.UAE: Fires (which are not the normally observed gas flaring operations) continue burning at several major oil refinery complexes following substantial Iranian attacks a few days ago. Buhasa Oil Refinery, Asab Degassing Station, and the Habshan Gas Processing Complex were all targeted by Iranian drones and missiles, with all of these facilities remaining offline or degraded due to damage sustained.Persian Gulf: One merchant vessel was reportedly struck with an unknown munition in the vicinity of Kish Island this afternoon.Turkey: A terror attack was reported at the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, after three gunmen conducted a small arms attack at the facility. Two police officers were wounded after the assailants initiated the attack by firing into the guard shack outside the facility. Due to the heavy police presence already on site, the attackers were neutralized quickly, with two being killed immediately and the third being severely wounded.-HomeFront-California: This morning a warehouse fire was reported at the industrial sector of Ontario in San Bernadino County. The fire rapidly became a 6-alarm structure fire as the warehouse was mostly serving as storage for paper products, which resulted in the structure being a total loss. Local authorities have stated that this fire is being considered to be an act of arson, and one person was arrested at the scene in conjunction with the investigation.North Carolina: Details have come to light regarding two separate stabbing attacks that took place in Wilmington on Sunday morning. Authorities initially responded to a street fight on North Front Street, in the vicinity of bars and pubs which are normally host to social gatherings on the weekends. Shortly after the bars began to close around 2:00am, a street fight was reported, which re

    The Wire - April 6, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2026 4:32


    //The Wire//2300Z April 6, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: RESCUE MISSION OF DOWNED AIRMAN CONDUCTED IN IRAN AS MAJOR ESCALATIONS OF THE WAR EXPECTED ON TUESDAY. UNITED AIRLINES BEGINS CANCELING FLIGHTS DUE TO EXTREMELY HIGH COSTS OF AVIATION FUEL.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Iran: A large scale rescue operation was conducted over the weekend with the goal of rescuing the Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) who ejected from the F-15 which was shot down over Isfahan on Friday. The pilot was rescued quickly that same day, however the WSO was unable to be recovered. A large-scale ad hoc bombing campaign was conducted throughout Saturday morning and afternoon, as airstrikes were used to protect the downed airman until dark. Due to how far the rescue operation had to be conducted behind the lines, two MC-130 aircraft were used to set up a makeshift Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) at a small agricultural airfield. During the operation the two MC-130's were unable to take off (some reports from local Iranians indicate it may have been due to mud or sand), and another rescue team was deployed to the same FARP to rescue the rescuers. By sunrise on Sunday morning, everyone (including the downed airman) was off the ground and back within friendly airspace. After their departure, the MC-130's were destroyed via airstrike to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands intact.Throughout the region, American bombing of targets within Iran intensified in the southwest over the weekend, as more assets were dedicated to supporting rescue operations. A handful of power plants and/or electrical substations were struck throughout Iran over the past few days as well. Iranian forces have continued to carry out attacks on American installations in Kuwait and the UAE, all of which have had some level of success.France: Counterterrorism patrols have increased following multiple arrests in Paris, which resulted from an attempted IED attack last week. Over the weekend French officials stated that at total of 4x individuals had been arrested after attempting to conduct an explosive attack at the Bank of America building in Paris back on March 28th. Initially, three of the suspects (all juveniles) were arrested either at the scene or shortly after the incident. An additional suspect (an adult) was arrested over the weekend, who has admitted to recruiting the juveniles to carry out the attack, with himself also being a middleman and someone else providing the IED to him.Analyst Comment: This attack failed due to the IED malfunctioning, and as a result the story did not get much traction in the media. The details provided by the fourth suspect reignited interest in the case, along with the strong indicator that the motive in this attack was terrorism (which came about after pro-Iranian terror groups claimed the attack). Considering the testimony from the adult who was arrested, it is very likely that this case is a continuation of the classic trend of a terrorist network being much larger than originally theorized.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - Following a series of strange and concerning posts on social media, President Trump stated that the targeting of civilian energy infrastructure in Iran will begin on Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz is not opened to the United States.USA: Around the nation, economic impacts of the war continue to be felt, as the average national gas price remains over $4.00 per gallon. Commercial airlines are also beginning to feel the impacts of the fuel crisis, with United Airlines canceling some lower-priority flights over the next few months due to the rising costs of jet fuel.Analyst Comment: For additional context, United's CEO Scott Kirby stated that if fuel prices remained as they are right now, United would need to raise prices by $11 billion. According to Kirby, this is more than double the total re

    Intel Update - April 4 - A Running Start?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2026 55:24


    JS8Call Improved (Android): https://github.com/JS8Call-improved/Android-port/releases The Lightning Press: https://www.thelightningpress.com/ S2 Underground Nexus (Submit Tips Here): https://nexus-s2underground.hub.arcgis.com/ Research Notes/Bibliography can be found here: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Common Intelligence Picture: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=204a59b01f4443cd96718796fd102c00 Border Crisis Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f13eda1f301431e98a7ac0393b0e6b0 TOC Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ebe374c40c1a4231a06075155b0e8cb9/ 00:00 - Strategic Overview 03:43 - Middle East Escalations 10:20 - Strategic Vision 15:48 - Are we Winning? 28:54 - What Next? 42:31 - A Running Start 45:43 - Homework 52:36 - GhostNet Reports Download the GhostNet plan here! https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet The text version of the Wire can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/s2_underground And on our Wire Telegram page here: https://t.me/S2undergroundWire If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=30479515 Disclaimer: No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Without your support, I simply could not do this work at all, so to those of you who chose to support my efforts, I am eternally thankful. Odysee: https://odysee.com/@S2Underground:7 Gab: https://gab.com/S2underground Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/S2Underground BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/P2NMGFdt3gf3/ Just a few reminders for everyone who's just become aware of us, in order to keep these briefings from being several hours long, I can't cover everything. I'm probably covering 1% of the world events when we conduct these briefings, so please remember that if I left it out, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's unimportant. Also, remember that I do these briefings quite often, so I might have covered an issue previously that you might not see if you are only watching our most recent videos. I'm also doing this in my spare time, so again I fully admit that these briefings aren't even close to being perfect; I'm going for a healthy blend of speed and quality. If I were to wait and only post a brief when it's "perfect" I would never post anything at all. So expect some minor errors here and there. If there is a major error or correction that needs to be made, I will post it here in the description, and verbally address it in the next briefing. Also, thanks for reading this far. It is always surprising the number of people that don't actually read the description box to find more information. This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney. Our Reading List! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133747963-s2-actual The War Kitchen Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmtpjXT22tAWGIlg_xDDPA 

    The Wire - April 3, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2026 4:00


    //The Wire//2300Z April 3, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: PERSONNEL SHAKEUPS CONTINUE AT PENTAGON. AMERICAN AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN DEEP BEHIND ENEMY LINES IN IRAN, SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS ONGOING. ANOTHER AMERICAN AIRCRAFT DOWNED IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ, PILOT RECOVERED.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: The war continues to grow in scope and severity every day. Last night Iranian forces conducted multiple strikes throughout the region, with the most significant strikes targeting the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery in Kuwait. The UAE also experienced a surge of attacks throughout the day, with a total of 47x drones and 22x missiles being engaged by Emirati air defenses.Iran: This morning a shootdown incident was reported within Khuzestan Province, after an American F-15 was successfully engaged by Iranian air defense systems. Photos of the crash site and one ACES II ejection seat recovered from the scene circulated on social media throughout the day, along with videos of American Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) teams maneuvering into the area to secure the downed pilots. As of this evening, the status of the pilot and weapons officer is not confirmed, and two HH-60W helicopters were damaged by effective ground fire during the rescue operation earlier this morning.Separately, another aircraft was reportedly shot down near the Strait of Hormuz, with locals reporting shooting down an American A-10 this afternoon. Fewer details are present regarding this incident, however mainstream media is reporting that the pilot of this aircraft was recovered successfully.In addition to the two shootdowns, two other aircraft were observed squawking emergencies on their transponders throughout the region. An F-16 along the Iraqi border and a KC-135 departing Tel Aviv both had their transponders switched to 7700 (the universal emergency mode) earlier today, though there aren't any indicators of what caused either emergency.Analyst Comment: Officially, neither shootdown within Iran has not been acknowledged yet, which is expected as rescue operations are ongoing. CENTCOM has stated that all American aircraft are accounted for, which does not address the issue as technically an aircraft that was shot down is indeed "accounted for".Strait of Hormuz: Maritime traffic is beginning to increase for non-Western-aligned vessels, which have been transiting the strait regularly through the Larak tollbooth arrangement.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - The mass firings at the Pentagon have continued, as several more military commanders were fired last night. So far, the full list of military commanders fired over the past 24 hours is as follows:General Randy George - Chief of Staff of the United States Army General David Hodne - Commanding General, U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (TRADOC) Major General William Green Jr. - Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Concerning the sweeping changes throughout the upper echelons of military leadership within the United States, differing theories are emerging regarding what is going on, all of which carry some weight. At a minimum, it would be very telling for any nation to replace high-level military leaders during a time of war. Among the services themselves, firing military leadership for a variety of reasons is fairly common, so it's not surprising that President Trump fired his Chief of the Army. It is purely the timing of all of this that is interesting.As a result of these rather interesting firings, many have been quick to attribute some sort of motive or scandal to such personnel shifts, which cannot be confirmed at this time. We don't know, what we don't know, but this many personnel shifts at the height of the most high-stakes war the US has fought in 20 years can't be ignored. We canno

    The Wire - April 2, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026 4:32


    //The Wire//2300Z April 2, 2026////ROUTINE////BLUF: COLONIAL PIPELINE SHUT DOWN BRIEFLY OVERNIGHT AFTER SUSTAINING DAMAGE IN GEORGIA. STRATEGIC BUILDUP CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST AS UNITED STATES BEGINS TARGETING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN IRAN.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: American targeting within Iran continues as Iranian forces continue to hit U.S. bases throughout the region. American bases in Kuwait have been hammered over the past few days, with ballistic missile strikes being reported at Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem Airbase. Within Iran, this morning the United States began more deliberate attacks on infrastructure which are not solely military targets. The B1 bridge west of Tehran was destroyed, which was not yet opened (it was still under construction) but would have been the largest bridge in the country and the main link between Tehran and Karaj. Analyst Comment: The Iranians are very likely to retaliate by hitting one (or several) critical bridges throughout the region, on the south side of the Persian Gulf. The King Fahd Bridge linking Bahrain with the mainland was already struck by the Iranians on the opening days of the war (when Saudi forces crossed the bridge to put down the Shia uprising/protests in Manama) so if they wanted to hit it again they've already demonstrated that they have the ability to do so.Iraq: This morning the US State Department issued another travel alert, specifically warning that attacks may escalate over the next 24-48 hours.Analyst Comment: This is probably in response to the kidnapping of American journalist Shelly Kittleson by Kataib Hezbollah two days ago (who still remains missing in Baghdad) but also the deteriorating security situation nationwide, which is being compounded by various Iraqi militia groups beginning to mobilize against American forces in the region.More strategically, the situation is Iraq has deteriorated to it's lowest point in years, and there is now a very real risk of some kind of insurgent uprising coming about, due to the opposing militant groups which have been stirred up by the situation in Iran. This will be an important situation to monitor over the next few weeks.India: Following weeks of petroleum disruptions nationwide, the first oil tanker arrived in Vadinar overnight, completing India's resumption of purchasing crude oil from Iran, which was originally halted in 2019.Analyst Comment: India had previously halted the purchase of Iranian oil due to American sanctions, but due to the war in the Middle East resulting in the US waiving oil export sanctions, India has resumed the purchase of oil from Iran. Indian media reports that the transaction was carried out in Chinese Yuan.-HomeFront-Georgia: Yesterday evening Colonial Pipeline's Line 1 was shut down after sustaining damage during drilling operations. The pipeline was shut down for several hours while repairs were conducted, and as of this morning Line 1 is fully functional.Analyst Comment: While this incident was not the result of malign action and it was resolved quickly, this was still a big deal. This is the largest gasoline pipeline network in the United States, and provides the vast majority of gasoline to the east coast. Considering the recent volatility in the oil markets, this outage occurring right before a major holiday weekend for travel was exceptionally poor timing.Washington D.C. - Several leadership changes have taken place this afternoon. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been relieved of her duties, with her Deputy Todd Blanche taking over her roles until a replacement is found. At the Pentagon, General Randy George was requested to take an early retirement, effective immediately, stepping down from his role as Army Chief of Staff.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: President Trump's address to the nation la

    The Wire - April 1, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 3:41


    //The Wire//2300Z April 1, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: STRATEGIC AIRLIFT OF AMERICAN GROUND ATTACK AIRCRAFT TO THE MIDDLE EAST CONTINUES. AUSTRALIA MOVES TO NEXT STEP OF FUEL CRISIS PLAN. IRAN CONTINUES TARGETING OF MERCHANT VESSELS IN PERSIAN GULF.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-United Kingdom: Strategic movement of US military assets continues as ground attack aircraft continue their transit to the Middle East. A total of 18x A-10C Thunderbolt II (Warthog) aircraft were observed at RAF Lakenheath on a temporary stop during movement into the CENTCOM area of responsibility. 6x more F-22 Raptor's were also observed arriving around the same time, which supplement the increase in cargo aircraft heading to the Middle East over the past few days.Middle East: Iranian attacks on commercial shipping continue, as another vessel (M/T AQUA 1) was struck by two projectiles off the coast of Qatar last night. This morning, Iranian forces hit the headquarters for Batelco in Bahrain, a major telecommunications company which hosts several Amazon Web Services (AWS) server farms at this location. Fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport were also hit again this morning, as Iranian forces continue to strike the tanks which were not destroyed in the first wave of attacks at the start of the war.Australia: Last night PM Albanese addressed the nation with regards to the growing energy crisis around the nation. Australia has transitioned into Stage 2 of their newly-announced National Fuel Security Plan, which mostly involves removing or reducing taxes on fuel as prices remain extremely high due to the tightening of availability. The next step (if so required) will involve more targeted action to conserve fuel resources.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - Tonight at 9:00pm (EST) President Trump is scheduled to address the nation with regards to the war in Iran. This follows the earlier address by PM Albanese of Australia and PM Starmer of the United Kingdom, who all have conducted addresses to their nations today, both of which focused on rising costs resulting from the war.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Within the Middle East, as the potential expansion of American combat operations looms, other indications are stacking up suggesting a more global involvement. Last night the Chechens announced that they are preparing to deploy to Iran in the event of a US invasion. While this almost certainly more of a propaganda effort than a serious endeavor, the potential involvement of mercenaries that have the backing of a superpower is still a factor for operational planning. Similarly, the Russians are claiming to have killed Anatolii Onyshchuk, one of the drone warfare advisors allegedly sent to Dubai to assist with efforts to coordinate more effective anti-drone countermeasures. Whether or not this is true is hard to verify with absolute certainty, however Ukrainian advisors have publicly been deployed to Dubai to liaise on matters of drone warfare.While these details are fairly minor, these developments highlight the fact that this war is not just a proxy war being fought by the United States...other nations are also involved as well. The Russians helping the Iranians to kill Ukrainian advisors in Dubai, while an interesting turn of events, is still an expected development that continues to stress the wide-scale nature of the wars being fought around the world. Regardless of how this war has worked out so far, the operational planning for what comes next will likely need to focus on not just the potential nuts and bolts of the Iranian defenses, but also the involvement of the rest of the world as well. Many adversaries of the United States seek to capitalize on any American mistakes in the region, and as a result everyone from armed factions in the Middle East, to Asian trade partners jaded by their treatment during the tariff

    The Wire - March 31, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 5:23


    //The Wire//2300Z March 31, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: STARLINK SATELLITE EXPERIENCES "ANOMALY" IN ORBIT. FPV DRONE ATTACKS REPORTED AT RUSSIAN BASE IN MALI. WAR IN MIDDLE EAST INTENSIFIES WITH INCREASE OF AMERICAN BOMBING AND IRANIAN DRONE ATTACKS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Several escalations occurred overnight, with substantial strikes being reported throughout the region. Satellite imagery indicates that the strikes within Iran have increased in scope, though most of the targeting efforts remain concentrated in the western part of the country. Last night American forces struck an ammo dump in Isfahan, which resulted in significant secondary explosions at the site. This strike supplements many other strikes throughout the area, which have destroyed most of the military infrastructure throughout Isfahan.In the Persian Gulf itself, Iranian targeting of merchant vessels continued overnight, as two ships reported being targeted. The M/T AL SALMI was struck by an Iranian drone, sustaining damage from the subsequent fire that broke out on board after the strike. Another unidentified vessel reported a close-call, with an unidentified munition landing in the water close to the vessel.Pacific: Yesterday the Marshall Islands declared a state of emergency for at least the next 90 days, due to fuel shortages caused by the reduction of petroleum production in the Middle East and with travel through the Strait of Hormuz being restricted. President Heine signed the declaration yesterday, and various committees have been formed to determine what steps to take as the war continues.Mali: This morning a local insurgent group posted a video claiming credit for a drone attack on a military outpost in the remote town of Anefis. The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) is a small insurgent group that has been waging war in the region for a while, with combat operations intensifying over the past few weeks.Analyst Comment: While a couple of FPV drone strikes are mostly insignificant on the battlefield, this does indicate that even in the most far-flung regions of the earth, drone warfare is becoming a concern that even large nationstates continue to struggle with. For instance, the site struck by FLA yesterday was also allegedly being used by Russian advisors, and this is the second instance in about a week of FLA militants using munitions attached to FPV drones to carry out attacks.-HomeFront-USA: Starlink announced a malfunction with one of their satellites, with the satellite experiencing some level of breakup in orbit. Satellite imagery from a craft with a higher orbit captured the satellite in orbit, which indicates it's still mostly intact even though hundreds of particles have been detected separating from this platform. The cause of the malfunction has not yet been disclosed, with this incident only being described as an "anomaly".-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Indications and warnings are growing that the intensification of the war in Iran might be what is colloquially known in the targeting world as Shaping Fires, in other words blowing up a lot of stuff in preparation for a future objective. Since the start of the war, the United States has been working through a High Payoff Target List (HPTL), which is basically a list of targets arranged by which ones should be struck first. In an air war, the targets at the top of the list are usually missile defense sites, radar arrays, or any other targets which might be more important to take out first. As time goes on, eventually lower-priority targets can be struck.However, in going through this process, the world eventually finds out what targets were on that list. And right now, a month after the war began, the targets that are being struck are probably an indicator of what is being planned for. As an example, the US complet

    The Wire - March 30, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2026 3:53


    //The Wire//2300Z March 30, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: STRATEGIC CONCERNS REMAIN AS WAR IN MIDDLE EAST HIGHLIGHTS AMERICAN VULNERABILITIES. HOUTHIS JOIN THE WAR WITH MISSILE ATTACKS ON ISRAEL.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: The situation continues to deteriorate as Iranian attacks throughout the region have become vastly more effective over the past few days. Iranian targeting of locations in Israel has continued to increase, with multiple targets being struck over the weekend. The refinery in Haifa was struck yesterday afternoon, which resulted in a fire at the facility. Separately, a factory was hit in the industrial zone in Neot Havov, which also resulted in a fire. American bases in Kuwait were also hit overnight, with Iranian missiles targeting barracks facilities.Red Sea: Over the weekend, the Houthis entered the war, firing one cruise missile toward Israel.Analyst Comment: The Houthi's have chosen a soft-start to the war, and the missile that was fired was reportedly intercepted. Nevertheless, this is an indication that another front has been opened up, and since the FORD CSG is no longer in the Red Sea (due to moving off-station for repairs), missile defense in the region is less effective at the precise moment that the Houthis are entering the war.Saudi Arabia: Following a series of Iranian airstrikes, several strategic American aircraft were destroyed at Prince Sultan Air Base. Several KC-135 refueling tankers were destroyed, along with at least one E-3 Sentry AWACS early warning aircraft. Concerning casualties, official casualty figures were classified at the beginning of the war, however the Pentagon reports approximately 10x US service members were wounded during this attack.Jerusalem: Controversy has continued throughout the Old City as Israeli forces continue to inflame tensions with Christians throughout the region. Yesterday, Israeli police disrupted Palm Sunday proceedings as Cardinal Pizzaballa of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem was prevented from attending the procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Analyst Comment: This incident was so deliberate that even Mike Huckabee spoke out against it, calling the incident "unfortunate overreach". Considering Huckabee's infamy on this issue at this point, combined with the historical record (and the biblical context), it's a helpful barometer to gauge how serious of an incident this was, which increases tensions at a time when the stakes are already quite high around the region.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The successful Iranian strike at Prince Sultan Air Base was very significant for many reasons. For one, taking out major American assets is a big deal, and the loss of EW aircraft will degrade American capabilities. The most obvious question is why these aircraft were being staged within Iranian missile range in the first place. The answer to this will be debatable: maybe military leadership knew the danger and decided that the risk was worth it, or maybe they got cocky and ignored the risk. There's no way to know right now, but it is not a great look for the US Air Force to put these airframes well within striking range of the Iranians. For context, the B-52's which are conducting bombing raids in Iran are mostly being launched all the way from England, simply due to the risk of housing them closer to the fight. However, when it comes to some aircraft, we gave the Iranians clean access to "Tanker Row", which allowed them to destroy several strategic aircraft on the ground.This small detail, while not particularly groundbreaking, also serves as a reminder for how complicated wars can be. Nothing is as simple as the textbook says it will be, and in wartime everything gets vastly more difficult. Vulnerabilities also increase because when things get complicated, the stakes are higher,

    Intel Update - March 28 - Casino of War

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2026 32:47


    S2 Underground Nexus (Submit Tips Here): https://nexus-s2underground.hub.arcgis.com/ Research Notes/Bibliography can be found here: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Common Intelligence Picture: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=204a59b01f4443cd96718796fd102c00 Border Crisis Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f13eda1f301431e98a7ac0393b0e6b0 TOC Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ebe374c40c1a4231a06075155b0e8cb9/ 00:00 - Strategic Overview 04:23 - Homeland Threats 07:54 - Diminishing Returns 13:08 - Diplomatic Front 28:31 - Closing Thoughts 30:14 - GhostNet Reports Download the GhostNet plan here! https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet The text version of the Wire can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/s2_underground And on our Wire Telegram page here: https://t.me/S2undergroundWire If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=30479515 Disclaimer: No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Without your support, I simply could not do this work at all, so to those of you who chose to support my efforts, I am eternally thankful. Odysee: https://odysee.com/@S2Underground:7 Gab: https://gab.com/S2underground Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/S2Underground BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/P2NMGFdt3gf3/ Just a few reminders for everyone who's just become aware of us, in order to keep these briefings from being several hours long, I can't cover everything. I'm probably covering 1% of the world events when we conduct these briefings, so please remember that if I left it out, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's unimportant. Also, remember that I do these briefings quite often, so I might have covered an issue previously that you might not see if you are only watching our most recent videos. I'm also doing this in my spare time, so again I fully admit that these briefings aren't even close to being perfect; I'm going for a healthy blend of speed and quality. If I were to wait and only post a brief when it's "perfect" I would never post anything at all. So expect some minor errors here and there. If there is a major error or correction that needs to be made, I will post it here in the description, and verbally address it in the next briefing. Also, thanks for reading this far. It is always surprising the number of people that don't actually read the description box to find more information. This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney. Our Reading List! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133747963-s2-actual The War Kitchen Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmtpjXT22tAWGIlg_xDDPA 

    The Wire - March 27, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2026 4:33


    //The Wire//2300Z March 27, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: GULF WAR CONTINUES AS SHIPPING COMPANIES MAKE DEALS WITH IRAN. WAR IN LEBANON REMAINS INTENSE AS IDF NEARS LITANI ON THE EASTERN FRONT. AIRSTRIKES REPORTED AT TWO IRANIAN URANIUM PRODUCTION FACILITIES.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Offensive actions and targeting efforts by all sides were temporarily degraded last night as a major storm system descended on the region. A supercell storm system similar to a cyclone descended on the UAE last night, with severe flooding and high winds being reported throughout Dubai.After the weather cleared, major Iranian targeting efforts were reported throughout the region. Port facilitates were struck in Kuwait, and a large fire was observed at the parking apron used by American aircraft at Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia, with the smoke plume being visible on Sentinel satellite imagery from this morning.Iran: This morning American/Israeli forces struck multiple nuclear production facilities. The Arak Heavy Water Facility (which was struck years ago) was struck again this morning, and the Yellowcake Refinery in Ardakan was also struck.Analyst Comment: The risk of radiological release at either facility is low, as Arak was not functional and Ardakan was not host to enriched Uranium itself. However, monitoring will continue as radioactive dust is likely to contaminate the local area to some degree, and time will tell how these threats develop as the strikes continue.Lebanon: Israeli forces continue their advance north toward the Litani River, as FPV drone attacks by Hezbollah become more significant. Two drone attacks on Israeli armored columns were reported last night, along the eastern axis of advance. Israeli forces along the eastern front have made the most progress toward the river, with IDF units being observed in the town of Taybeh this morning.Analyst Comment: Hezbollah's media group claims that a total of 21 Merkava tanks have been destroyed so far this campaign, however as always these numbers are usually overinflated. Concerning tank casualties, it's incredibly difficult to tell from a video clip if a vehicle was actually penetrated or not, and most of the clips provided by Hezbollah conveniently cut away before the tank's Trophy countermeasure system is activated. This means that counting destroyed/disabled tanks is mostly a wash. However, from the clips and reports on the ground, this is not an easy fight for the Israelis either. Anti-Tank Guided Missile attacks are a mainstay of Hezbollah, and these attacks have been effective in making the Israeli advance more costly than expected.-HomeFront-Iowa: Last night a major egg farm burned down in Corwith. The Hawkeye Pride egg production facility caught fire shortly after 6:00pm yesterday evening, which resulted in significant damage to the egg farm. Hawkeye Pride is one of the largest cage-free egg producers in the United States, and the extent of the damage to the henhouses has not yet been determined.California: Yesterday evening a blackout was reported in Orange County, mostly affecting the areas of Carlsbad and Encinitas, as well as areas south of Escondido. The cause of the electrical outage has not yet been reported, but services were mostly restored for many customers by sunrise.Florida: Following up on the recent IED threat to MacDill Air Force Base, two individuals have been identified as the culprits of the attack. Ann Mary Zheng and her brother Alen Zheng (both Chinese nationals) have been indicted on charges of emplacing the IED at the visitor's center on March 10th before it was discovered by authorities on March 16th. Mary Zheng was arrested on Wednesday after returning to the United States, while her brother remains in China.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Many nationstates have made th

    The Wire - March 26, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 2:51


    //The Wire//1800Z March 26, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: UKRAINE TARGETS RUSSIAN OIL INFRASTRUCTURE NEAR ST. PETERSBURG. QATAR SEEKS DEAL WITH IRAN TO CEASE IRANIAN ATTACKS ON QATARI OIL REFINERIES.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: The conflict continues for the main belligerents, while several GCC states seek a more neutral approach. The nation of Qatar has reportedly struck a deal with the Iranians to settle the dispute between their nations, and as a result Iranian strikes within Qatar have shifted to solely targeting American equipment and installations instead of Qatari oil infrastructure. In Kuwait, operations at the airport remain degraded as the fuel tanks that were struck yesterday continued burning overnight. Iranian strikes on Israeli infrastructure have continued, with multiple strikes being reported in Tel Aviv yesterday evening.Lebanon: Israeli forces continued their northern push along an axis of advance from the south, and from the east. Over the past three days, Israeli targeting efforts have concentrated fire on various targets south of the Litani, in preparation for the subsequent ground movements. On Tuesday, the Israeli Defense Minister openly stated the goal of invading Lebanon is to seize all of the terrain south of the Litani River. This plan has been supported by the destruction of bridges across the Litani River, which has been intensifying over the past few days.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: As the war rages in the Middle East, the conflict in Europe has seen a resurgence of offensive actions over the past few days. Last night, the M/T ALTURA was struck by a drone (likely Ukrainian) in the Black Sea shortly after departing Russia with a cargo of oil. This is the second such strike in recent weeks, which also follows multiple substantial strikes on Russian oil infrastructure over the past few days, which have substantially degraded Russia's oil export capability in the north.The oil export terminal in Ust-Luga was struck two days ago, resulting in substantial damage to Russia's main oil terminal on the Baltic Sea. Similarly, the oil terminal in Primorsk was also hit by Ukrainian drones, with both facilities remaining on fire as of this morning.Both of these attacks are significant as they are likely a strategic attempt to reduce the capabilities for Russia to capitalize on the growing energy crisis in the Middle East, linking the two conflicts at the strategic level to some degree. Growing reports are also emerging that suggest Russia may be supplying the Iranians with drones, or the components to make them. At the moment, this is just rumor that's impossible to confirm with any reliability, but it would make a lot of sense for Russia to want to turn the screws to the United States after it's become clear that it's just as hard for us to extricate ourselves from our own "special military operation" as it has been for Russia.Focusing on the more tangible aspects of the war, the targeting efforts in the Baltic are also a demonstration of why it is a very wise move to remained generally informed on wars that are being fought on the other side of the world...in the age of the drone a war being fought in Persia can threaten Scandinavia due to the nature of combatants everywhere seeking to capitalize on a conflict in a faraway land.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

    The Wire - March 25, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2026 4:55


    //The Wire//1900Z March 25, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR ESCALATES AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS ISRAEL AND IRAN BEGIN MORE ROUTINE TARGETING OF EACH OTHERS NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS. MULTIPLE FPV DRONE ATTACKS REPORTED IN BAGHDAD. US ARMY RAISES ENLISTMENT AGE TO 42 FOR NEW RECRUITS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Multiple escalations of the conflict took place overnight. Following Israeli/American bombing yesterday, Iranian forces retaliated by striking multiple US bases/positions in Kuwait. In Israel, strikes were also reported at the Orot Rabin Power Plant in Hadera, however the munition appears to have missed the generation facilities by a narrow margin. Another Iranian strike targeted fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport overnight, and similar strikes were reported in Tel Aviv which resulted in unknown damage.Iraq: Multiple significant events occurred overnight as the PMF begins more deliberate offensive operations. Yesterday morning, the United States conducted airstrikes at the personal residences of PMF leadership in Al Habbaniya. This strike killed Saad Al Baiji (an operations chief), and subsequently resulted in an intensification of targeting efforts on American positions throughout Baghdad. As a result of this targeting of PMF leadership, Iraqi Prime ​Minister ‌Mohammed ⁠Shia Al Sudani has authorized PMF militia groups to retaliate against American forces.Analyst Comment: This is a major escalation that could effectively open up another front in the war. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) are a semi-autonomous, highly-organized militia group that serves as one of Iran's major proxy groups outside their own borders. Technically, they are linked to the Iraqi government, but in practice they mostly just do what they want while being supplied by the Iranians. The official Iraqi government stating that they will let them off leash (while not entirely surprising) is in effect a return to GWOT era, but this time the Iraqi government is openly endorsing their attacks on Americans. So in effect, battle lines are being drawn and the Iraqis are now taking the side of Iran. Depending on how kinetic PMF operations become, American forces may face more contested airspace over not just Iran, but Iraq as well.Otherwise, this week has witnessed an escalation of the war as FPV drone attacks have become more commonly carried out at Camp Victory by insurgents targeting American forces. In a video released yesterday evening, one HH-60M helicopter was targeted, along with a Sentinel radar array.Analyst Comment: The success of these attacks is not known, but the Iraqi militias conducting these attacks have significantly improved their targeting efforts with lessons learned from Ukraine, or probably more accurately...Russia. One of the FPV drones recorded the other drone attacking the radar site, before flying off to find another target. However, while searching for other targets of opportunity, the idiots accidentally targeted a MEDEVAC helicopter, which is evidenced by the video being edited to blur out the giant Red Cross painted on the side of the aircraft. After reviewing the tape, the militia group probably realized that makes them look bad, so they blurred the footage themselves.Kuwait: Civil Defense authorities have begun producing informational videos for the general public, regarding what to do in the event of a nuclear incident at a power plant in a neighboring country, such as if Israeli/American forces were to target the active reactor building at Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.Analyst Comment: All eyes are on Bushehr. The Israelis dropped munitions in the parking lot a few days ago, probably as a warning, but in retaliation the Iranians hit the residential buildings housing scientists at Dimona yesterday, and this morning they hit an unknown target immediately adjacent to the Hadera plant.

    The Wire - March 24, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2026 2:43


    //The Wire//1900Z March 24, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST DESPITE ALLEGED CEASEFIRE. EXPLOSION REPORTED AT TEXAS REFINERY.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: The alleged ceasefire was broken immediately after it was announced yesterday. Israeli PM Netanyahu directly and clearly stated that regardless of the American ceasefire, the Israelis will continue targeting efforts. Which they did yesterday evening as the strikes in Tehran continued. After these targeting efforts were undertaken, Iranian forces retaliated with drone/missile attacks on Israel, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The United States likewise has not been observed to reduce targeting efforts at all, with plane spotters in England continuing to witness American B-52's constantly departing RAF Fairford with bombs slung underwing, before returning many hours later empty.Analyst Comment: This adds more weight to the theory that the "ceasefire" was probably not very serious, and possibly intended to buy time for more troop movements and resupply operations. Again, time will tell how this develops, but right now, no cessation of bombings ever went into effect.Strait of Hormuz: Traffic through the Strait has begun to trickle through in an organized manner as Iranian officials have cut deals with various nations, to allow their ships to transit the waterway. Around a dozen ships have passed through the Strait by diverting into Iranian waters, for inspection by Iranian forces in the vicinity of Larak Island. Analyst Comment: The Larak-tollbooth arrangement started coming into effect last week, and as of this morning is beginning to see more regular use. More strategically, this procedure is vastly more important than it seems as this arrangement is both granting the Iranians more international prestige, but also reducing tensions with other nations (such as China, India, and Japan), who have also been impacted by the war. Selectively allowing ships to transit narrows the scope of Iranian targeting to more directly target the United States, instead of just halting traffic to the rest of the world.-HomeFront-Texas: Yesterday afternoon a major explosion and subsequent fire was reported at the Valero Refinery in Port Arthur. Local shelter-in-place orders were issued as authorities extinguished the fire over a period of several hours. The cause of the explosion/fire has not been disclosed.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The timing of this incident is indeed quite suspicious, however at the moment there's really not enough data to make an informed call about this potentially being linked to malign action. At best, all we can do is observe that things start blowing up in the homeland when certain international tensions come to fruition. It is overwhelmingly likely that various "shadow warfare" tactics would be used by a variety of malign actors within the United States at this present time, but as with the Valero fire it will be hard to attribute these incidents to malign action beyond reasonable doubt. In any case, these incidents are a sharp reminder to stay vigilant even if we don't know exactly what happened.Analyst: S2A1 Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Disclaimer: No LLMs were used in the writing of this report. //END REPORT//

    The Wire - March 23, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2026 5:37


     //The Wire//2300Z March 23, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: PRESIDENT TRUMP ISSUES 48 HOUR ULTIMATUM FOR IRAN TO OPEN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ, BEFORE CHANGING STANCE AND IMPLEMENTING 5 DAY CEASEFIRE. MAJOR AVIATION INCIDENT REPORTED AT LAGUARDIA. MULTIPLE IEDS DISCOVERED IN MARYLAND PARK.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Over the weekend the situation deteriorated significantly, with the war heating up on many fronts. President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran for them to open the Strait of Hormuz, or else the United States will destroy their civilian power plants. This morning, President Trump stated that "productive conversations" had been conducted with Iranian officials, and that the US has emplaced a 5-day halt on the bombing campaign throughout Iran.Indian Ocean: Statements made by NATO officials have refuted the claims made by US officials regarding the alleged Iranian missile attack on Diego Garcia. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that they "cannot confirm" various details of the strike, or that the missiles were fired by Iran. This statement came two days after the Iranians denied responsibility for the attack, stating that they did not launch any missiles at Diego Garcia.Analyst Comment: Whatever the truth is, it can't be independently confirmed due to the nature of the targeting effort occurring in space, outside with realm of eyewitnesses. Either way, it must be noted for posterity that NATO has expressed uncertainty regarding what missile it might have been, and the Iranians are denying that it was them.Israel: As the war continues, Iranian forces conducted two major retaliatory strikes over the weekend. The first ballistic missile attack occurred a few miles from the Israeli Dimona nuclear facility, with the warhead landing in a heavily urbanized area near where Israeli scientists are known to live. Separately, another Iranian missile targeted the city of Arad, which resulted in a mass casualty event.Analyst Comment: The Dimona strike was significant as the munition itself appeared to have demonstrated some means of maneuverability in the terminal stages of it's flight, which allowed the warhead to evade missile defenses. If this was intentional, this is more evidence that the Iranians are shifting to their better missiles, which have more capability. Additionally, the response to these strikes signals a shift in Israeli perspective on the war. Previously, Israel has cracked down hard on all media regarding successful Iranian strikes, with footage and geolocation of any successful impacts being extremely hard to come by. With these strikes however, the media lockdown has been lifted, with PM Netanyahu himself visited both sites and conducting media briefings at the impact craters. The reasons for this change of policy are anyone's guess, but it is significant enough to be aware of.United Kingdom: Over the weekend an arson attack was reported at a Synagogue in Golder's Green, which involved unknown assailants setting multiple private ambulances on fire in the parking area adjacent to the facility.Analyst Comment: These ambulances were being parked at the Synagogue, but they actually belong to Hatzola Northwest, a private ambulance service for the local area. In any case, video surveillance of Heighfield Road is substantial and there are no less than eight high-resolution security cameras which would have caught the attackers setting these ambulances on fire, so they'll probably be caught very soon.-HomeFront-Maryland: Sunday afternoon, local authorities responded to reports of multiple suspicious packages within Fort Washington Park. U.S. Park Police responded to the reports, which resulted in the discovery of 5x Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) of pipe-bomb-type construction. The park was closed as the Prince George County Explosive Ordnance Disposal

    Intel Update - March 21 - Counting Chickens

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2026 34:38


    S2 Underground Nexus (Submit Tips Here): https://nexus-s2underground.hub.arcgis.com/ Research Notes/Bibliography can be found here: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Common Intelligence Picture: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=204a59b01f4443cd96718796fd102c00 Border Crisis Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f13eda1f301431e98a7ac0393b0e6b0 TOC Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ebe374c40c1a4231a06075155b0e8cb9/ 00:00 - Strategic Overview 02:37 - Strategic Movement 04:36 - Homeland Threats 06:20 - War Impacts to Homeland 08:24 - Tactical Situation 14:28 - They're Planning WHAT? 23:10 - Diego Garcia 28:18 - Jerusalem 30:46 - Closing Thoughts 33:19 - GhostNet Reports Download the GhostNet plan here! https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet The text version of the Wire can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/s2_underground And on our Wire Telegram page here: https://t.me/S2undergroundWire If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=30479515 Disclaimer: No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Without your support, I simply could not do this work at all, so to those of you who chose to support my efforts, I am eternally thankful. Odysee: https://odysee.com/@S2Underground:7 Gab: https://gab.com/S2underground Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/S2Underground BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/P2NMGFdt3gf3/ Just a few reminders for everyone who's just become aware of us, in order to keep these briefings from being several hours long, I can't cover everything. I'm probably covering 1% of the world events when we conduct these briefings, so please remember that if I left it out, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's unimportant. Also, remember that I do these briefings quite often, so I might have covered an issue previously that you might not see if you are only watching our most recent videos. I'm also doing this in my spare time, so again I fully admit that these briefings aren't even close to being perfect; I'm going for a healthy blend of speed and quality. If I were to wait and only post a brief when it's "perfect" I would never post anything at all. So expect some minor errors here and there. If there is a major error or correction that needs to be made, I will post it here in the description, and verbally address it in the next briefing. Also, thanks for reading this far. It is always surprising the number of people that don't actually read the description box to find more information. This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney. Our Reading List! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133747963-s2-actual The War Kitchen Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmtpjXT22tAWGIlg_xDDPA 

    The Wire - March 20, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2026 4:05


    //The Wire//2300Z March 20, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST AS CHINA BEGINS MAKING DIPLOMATIC MOVES. UNITED STATES DEPLOYS SECOND MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT TO CENTCOM.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Iranian forces successfully engaged an American F-35 aircraft during a strike mission within Iran. IRGC officials initially released footage of a missile impacting an F-35, which most people assumed was probably fake, initially. However CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins stated that one F-35 did make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, but declined to directly confirm what caused the incident.Analyst Comment: Due to the all evidence available to the public, it is almost certain that the Anti-Aircraft engagement did happen, and that the aircraft survived the encounter enough to limp back across the Gulf to friendly lines. This is also indicated by the Iranians themselves via the classic "trim the clip and replay it a million times so that the viewer can't see the aircraft managed to survive" tactic which was heavily used for this short video clip. More strategically, this is an indicator that the United States is not operating under the state of "uncontested airspace" that was advertised at the start of the war. Almost three weeks into the conflict the airspace is still very much contested, and the Iranians have some level of effective air defense that is able to actually successfully target the F-35 platform.-HomeFront-California: Yesterday the USS BOXER (LHD-4) departed port San Diego ahead of schedule for a deployment to the Middle East. The 11th MEU is embarked on this vessel, and will be the second MEU dedicated to CENTCOM, supplementing the USS TRIPOLI which will be arriving in theater soon.Analyst Comment: This is an indication and warning that a Ground Combat Element to the current war in Iran is actively being considered and planned for. At this moment it's too soon to tell if this is a serious endeavor, but it would be wise to consider that President Trump does not have a history of bluffing on military matters. So far, from Midnight Hammer to Venezuela, every threat of military use has come to fruition eventually.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: As the war rages in the Middle East, China and other nations throughout Asia have been making moves of their own. On Wednesday, Chinese officials offered to provide LNG to Taiwan if they were to consider coming under Beijing's rule. Taiwan has obviously rejected the offer, stating that they have alternative means of maintaining energy security (i.e. the United States). While China knew this offer would have been rejected, it's in line with China's policy of moving goalposts incredibly slowly over time.All of this is helpful to view in the context of this year's Annual Threat Assessment provided by the Director of National Intelligence. While focus has been on the DNI for other reasons lately, this yearly report came out a few days ago, and revealed a surprising change of mentality for China. The official stance of the DNI is that China will not attempt to militarily conquer Taiwan, and will instead attempt a more soft approach, bringing Taiwan under the fold via economic means.This puts on full display the differences of opinion within the IC on the Taiwan issue, which have been growing over the years; it has become a common theory that China would prefer to take Taiwan indirectly rather than fighting for it, due to the costliness of invading such a nation as Taiwan.Within the Intelligence Community, official assessments are often centered around who's the loudest, and not necessarily who's right. Opinions on China have largely been a knife-fight within the IC for a while now, and the DNI report might reflect a change of heart on the Taiwan issue. For years, the loudest voices

    The Wire - March 19, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 4:56


    //The Wire//2300Z March 19, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR IN MIDDLE EAST CONTINUES TO ESCALATE DAILY, AS IRANIAN TARGETING INCREASES IN SCOPE AND EFFECTIVENESS. GCC STATES VOICE GROWING CONCERNS REGARDING ATTACKS ON OIL AND GAS INFRASTRUCTURE. PENTAGON REQUESTS $200 BILLION BUDGET INCREASE TO CONTINUE WAR.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Iranian targeting efforts have continued to become more effective over the past few days. Drone and missile attacks have been increasing since the war began, with strikes being reported at most US military installations around the region daily. Oil infrastructure has also been targeted in GCC states that have been allowing American forces to launch HIMARS missiles at Iran.Iran: Within the mainland, satellite imagery from yesterday confirmed that Israeli/American forces struck a target at the Iranian Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. Imagery provided by Airbus indicates at least one impact crater roughly 350 meters from the Bushehr 1 Reactor. Shortly after the attack, Kuwaiti state media broadcast an announcement from the Kuwaiti National Guard stating that radiation levels after the strike were reported to be normal. The Qataris made similar announcements of normal radiation readings this afternoon.Israel: Within Israel, Iranian targeting remains constant as well, with drone and missile attacks being reported regularly throughout the nation. Yesterday Ben Gurion Airport was hit, with several aircraft burning on the tarmac. The port of Haifa has been hit continually since the war began, and over the past few days more footage has made it to social media depicting the damage, as another substantial missile strike took place last night.Analyst Comment: Continuing long-standing national defense policy, it is nearly impossible to determine where strikes are happening within Israel, as this information is tightly controlled by the Israeli government. Livestreaming cameras and traffic cams have been destroyed by the military throughout most of the country, so the intelligence gap of how bad things are in Tel Aviv is quite substantial at this point.Saudi Arabia: Last night, an Iranian strike was reported at the Samarra Oil Refinery complex in Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast. This strike resulted in unknown damage, but the fires started by the strike were detected via satellite.-HomeFront-Delaware - Yesterday evening President Trump attended the dignified transfer of the airmen killed in the crash of the KC-135 in western Iraq. No media was allowed to cover the event, with the White House photographer only providing a few images of the transfer.Analyst Comment: This is not the first time that media have been blocked from such an event; Dick Cheney instituted this as a blanket policy in 1991, and this became more heavily enforced starting in approximately 2003-2009, during the height of the GWOT. It is unclear as to if the White House will be re-instituting this policy, or if this was a one-time ban.Washington D.C. - This morning the Pentagon requested the approval of a $200 billion defense package to supplement the War Department's budget, for the continuation of the war in the Middle East.Analyst Comment: For perspective on how much money this is, as of right now, the United States taxpayer has sent a grand total of $175 billion in military aid to Ukraine, since the start of that war in 2022. As a result, the Pentagon casually requesting a check from the taxpayer greater than that which has been spent to date in Ukraine is going to be a hard pill to swallow.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The strike on the oil refinery in Saudi Arabia is not like the others, and this specific refinery was probably targeted for two reasons. For one, this is the facility that is the end-of-the-line for the Saudi East-West Pipeline that is helping to alle

    The Wire - March 18, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 4:03


    //The Wire//1800Z March 18, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: PRESIDENT TRUMP SUSPENDS THE JONES ACT AS PETROLEUM INDUSTRY FEELS EFFECTS OF WAR IN IRAN. CONFLICT IN MIDDLE EAST CONTINUES AS ISRAELI FORCES INCREASE TARGETING EFFORTS IN LEBANON.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Persian Gulf: The war continues as before, with multiple attacks on American military bases occurring overnight. The American Embassy in Baghdad has been persistently targeted over the past few days, with one drone strike being reported last night, which resulted in unknown damage. Other coalition positions were struck as well, with Australia reporting successful Iranian targeting efforts at Al Minhad Airbase in the UAE. No casualties were reported by the Australians regarding this attack. Within Iran, Israel/American forces struck the South Pars Natural Gas Facility, one of the largest LNG facilities in the world. Analyst Comment: Following this strike, several GCC states have condemned the action, as destroying infrastructure like this is a major escalation that indicates the nature of the war is more unrestricted, but also because the gas fields serviced by this facility are decently close to the Qatari's own gas fields.Lebanon: The war has intensified over the past few days as Hezbollah and Israeli forces have continued fighting along the main axis of advance in the east. Throughout Lebanon (to include downtown Beirut) the Israeli bombing campaign continues, with Hezbollah forces remaining effective in targeting Tel Aviv with guided rockets and cruise missiles.-HomeFront-New Mexico: Yesterday afternoon a shooting was reported at Holloman Air Force Base, which resulted in one individual being killed and one other wounded at the base shopette. No other details have been provided on this shooting, and the investigation continues.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: In Washington, several items of note have been ongoing in the political realm, while attention has been focused on Iran. As one might expect, kicking off a war in the Middle East was expected to (and did) have secondary and tertiary effects. One of the immediate effects of this war has been found in the Petroleum, Oil, and Lubricant (POL) industry, which has experienced wildly fluctuating markets since the war began. This morning the average national gas price rose to $3.84 per gallon, which prompted the White House to implement their previously discussed tactic of suspending the Jones Act as an emergency means to bring prices down in the short term.For context, the Jones Act was implemented shortly after WW1 as a national security measure, to mandate that all goods that transit between American ports, must be transported using American ships with American crews. The general idea being that in the event of war, the maritime trade industry would need to remain effective...it wouldn't be super great for war to break out, and all of the merchant ships that keep the American economy afloat, were to sail back home. The American economy could be crippled without a shot being fired, solely by private companies in the US being allowed to use cheap foreign labor that is not loyal to the United States. In 1920 when the law was passed, the thought process was that companies might take advantage of the freedoms that America provides, to the legitimate detriment of national security. As a result, the Jones Act was a law intended to (somewhat begrudgingly) meddle in the free market, with the purpose of not allowing domestic American companies to rely on logistical infrastructure that isn't American and thus would be a vulnerability in war.As of this morning President Trump suspended this law in it's entirety for the next 60 days, with the White House's logic being that removing regulations will make shipping costs go down, as the free market of ships could carry cargo, and t

    The Wire - March 17, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 3:26


    //The Wire//2300Z March 17, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: ATTACKS CONTINUE IN BAGHDAD AS FPV DRONES BEGIN MORE FREQUENT USE IN IRAQ. IED DISCOVERED AT MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE IN FLORIDA. COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER DIRECTOR RESIGNS IN PROTEST OF WAR.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Persian Gulf: Over the past few days, conflict within Baghdad has become more significant, as Iranian-backed militia groups concentrate attacks on the Green Zone. Last night the Al-Rashid Hotel was hit by an Iranian drone, and another FPV drone incident was reported as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) continue conducting reconnaissance of the American Embassy compound, which usually results in drone attacks later on that night. These attacks have continued to be a daily occurrence, with sensitive sites at the Embassy compound being struck over the past few days.-HomeFront-Florida: Yesterday one of the Entry Control Points (ECPs) at MacDill Air Force Base was shut down due to a suspicious package being discovered at the Visitor's Center. After some time, EOD personnel cleared the device, and operations returned to normal.Analyst Comment: Officially, no comment has been made on this incident beyond the brief lockdown. As suspicious package incidents are extremely common nowadays, usually nothing comes of it. However in this case, a photo of the suspicious package circulated on social media, which indicates that this was a legitimate IED and not just a lost bag. Whether or not it was actually a viable device is anyone's guess, but the photo of the alleged device indicates that the fuze was lit, only sputtering out on it's own. So clearly somebody tried to blow something up, regardless of the failure to detonate. As a result, this is another important reminder of the threats that remain constant throughout American society, as the war in the Middle East inflames tensions at home.Washington D.C. - This morning the Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, resigned from his position in protest of the continuing war in Iran, stating that he "cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: While all resignations in protest will sharply divide sentiment for and against, many arguments are being undertaken as people speak without thinking first. The fiery resignation letter is now functionally a Rorschach Test...people who make policy decisions will see what they want to see in it, and divide themselves accordingly. Disparaging comments attacking one's character that come out only after a public opinion is expressed are not the best indicator for what is really going on behind the scenes, but nevertheless that's exactly what ends up happening among those who are making decisions regarding the war. What is undeniable is that such a high-profile resignation right now is extremely important, and might be an indicator of future events.Regardless of the politics in play, (and taking personal feelings out of the situation entirely), when one of the main players in the US Intelligence Community resigns right now, at this present time, this is probably an indicator of far more serious developments coming down the pipeline. Senior resignations of this nature in any nation are quite rare, and hard-hitting resignation letters are rarer still. Nobody resigns because they think the war will be over anytime soon, and Kent (being the second-highest-ranking individual in the Intelligence Community) would have had the access to know information pertaining to future events that have not been made public. Due to this context, this could be an early indicator of what decisions have quietly been made behind closed doors, which have not yet come

    The Wire - March 16, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2026 3:21


    //The Wire//2300Z March 16, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: IRANIAN STRIKES AND AMERICAN BOMBINGS REMAIN CONSTANT AS GULF STATES MORE OPENLY CENSOR DAMAGE REPORTS.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Persian Gulf: Over the weekend Iranian strikes on Dubai have continued, with the fuel point at the airport being hit early this morning. The Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the UAE was also hit, and burned throughout the day. American positions in Baghdad have also been under constant attack over the past few days, to include the first documented operational use of an FPV drone for an attack, which was conducted at Camp Victory a few days ago by pro-Iran militias in and around the capital region. Ali Al Salem Airbase in Kuwait was hit again overnight, with the Italians reporting one of their hangars (and the MQ-9 housed within) being destroyed.-HomeFront-California: Last night a shooting was reported at a Spring Break event in Santa Monica. Two people were wounded during the shooting, both of which suffered non-life-threatening wounds. The suspect was identified as Jaysawn Williams, who was arrested after being wounded in the attack.Analyst Comment: Despite initial media reports implying terrorism, right now this shooting looks like a gang shooting, rather than a more deliberate attack. However the investigation continues, and more details are expected as victim testimony becomes more public.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The war in the Middle East has shifted into the phase where numbers alone do not accurately convey the situation. Perhaps this was never the case, however at this point, describing the number of bombs dropped and drones launched is not exactly representative of how the war is going.For example, if the reports by various nations in the Middle East are accurate (which at this point is not a guarantee) the total number of drone and missile attacks by Iran has decreased. According to the UAE (which has been caught manipulating their data), only 6 drones attacks were reported last night...but the effectiveness of these strikes has sharply increased. That "6 drone" figure might be misleading or it may be ignoring the Iranian strikes that were successful. Either way, at least two drone strikes were incredibly effective last night, with one direct hit being reported on the fuel point at the Dubai airport, and another at the Fujairah Oil complex. At the northern end of the Persian Gulf, at least the Kuwaitis are being honest about their failed interceptions, with their latest report admitting that of the four drones launched at their nation last night, they only intercepted one.Considering this development, two polar opposite analytical positions can easily be arrived at, depending on how one reads the raw data. It's possible that the Iranians are decreasing the numbers of drones launched because they are running out or American targeting has been effective. Or, one can surmise that the Iranians are now able to conserve their resources, because they now have their targets dialed in and their Command and Control (C2) systems have now recovered from the decapitation strikes that started the war.Either theory will be largely opinion based, as the intelligence gaps regarding the war are very significant at this point. In war, nothing is certain, and right now all sides are attempting to over-estimate their gains, and downplay their losses. As unfortunate as it may be to observe, in a war where the grand strategy of all belligerents is based on hubris, the scale often tips in favor of the defender, or at least the fight for the attacker becomes much harder than it otherwise would have been. This would be wise to consider as the war enters it's third week, and neither American bases in the region nor the merchant vessels in the Strait appear to be granted any reprieve anytime soon.Analyst:

    Intel Update - March 14 - Schrödinger's War

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2026 27:52


    S2 Underground Nexus (Submit Tips Here): https://nexus-s2underground.hub.arcgis.com/ Research Notes/Bibliography can be found here: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground Common Intelligence Picture: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=204a59b01f4443cd96718796fd102c00 Border Crisis Map: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=7f13eda1f301431e98a7ac0393b0e6b0 TOC Dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/ebe374c40c1a4231a06075155b0e8cb9/ 00:00 - Strategic Overview 02:21 - Homeland Threats 06:33 - The Gulf War 13:20 - Grand Strategy 19:03 - The Intel Spiral 25:15 - GhostNet Reports Download the GhostNet plan here! https://github.com/s2underground/GhostNet The text version of the Wire can be found on Twitter: https://twitter.com/s2_underground And on our Wire Telegram page here: https://t.me/S2undergroundWire If you would like to support us, we're on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=30479515 Disclaimer: No company sponsored this video. In fact, we have ZERO sponsors. We are funded 100% by you, the viewer. All of our funding comes from direct support from platforms like Patreon, or from ad revenue on YouTube. Without your support, I simply could not do this work at all, so to those of you who chose to support my efforts, I am eternally thankful. Odysee: https://odysee.com/@S2Underground:7 Gab: https://gab.com/S2underground Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/S2Underground BitChute: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/P2NMGFdt3gf3/ Just a few reminders for everyone who's just become aware of us, in order to keep these briefings from being several hours long, I can't cover everything. I'm probably covering 1% of the world events when we conduct these briefings, so please remember that if I left it out, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's unimportant. Also, remember that I do these briefings quite often, so I might have covered an issue previously that you might not see if you are only watching our most recent videos. I'm also doing this in my spare time, so again I fully admit that these briefings aren't even close to being perfect; I'm going for a healthy blend of speed and quality. If I were to wait and only post a brief when it's "perfect" I would never post anything at all. So expect some minor errors here and there. If there is a major error or correction that needs to be made, I will post it here in the description, and verbally address it in the next briefing. Also, thanks for reading this far. It is always surprising the number of people that don't actually read the description box to find more information. This content is purely educational and does not advocate for violating any laws. Do not violate any laws or regulations. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney. Our Reading List! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/133747963-s2-actual The War Kitchen Channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmtpjXT22tAWGIlg_xDDPA 

    The Wire - March 13, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2026 4:05


    //The Wire//2300Z March 13, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: TERROR ATTACKS CONTINUE IN THE AMERICAN HOMELAND. WAR CONTINUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. AMERICAN AIRCRAFT CRASHES IN IRAQ, NO SURVIVORS REPORTED.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Persian Gulf: Last night CENTCOM reported the loss of one KC-135 Stratotanker, which crashed in western Iraq. Rescue operations were conducted immediately, however all six crew members have been confirmed deceased. The incident occurred as a result of a mid-air collision, which involved another KC-135 aircraft that was also damaged.Strait of Hormuz: This morning another commercial vessel was struck while attempting to transit the Strait, which resulted in catastrophic damage to the vessel. The crew abandoned ship, and several crew members remain missing.Turkey: Another ballistic missile was intercepted overnight, as Iranian forces continue to target Incirlik Airbase. This is the third such interception since the war began.UAE: Overnight drone attacks continued to strike Dubai, with the International Financial Center being struck by a Shahed drone yesterday evening.Analyst Comment: Today was also the third day in a row that the UAE has changed their reporting criteria. Social media reports no longer list the total number of drones that impact within their country, with the daily rollup reports instead stating the number of drones and missiles that were "dealt with". Due to the video confirmation of drones impacting within Dubai overnight, these reports are now openly misleading, as the number of successful Iranian strikes remains unreported.-HomeFront-Michigan: Yesterday afternoon a vehicle ramming and small arms attack was reported at Temple Israel, one of the largest synagogues in Michigan. The attack began as a vehicle ramming attack targeting the main entrance to the facility. After the suspect breached the entrance, he exited the vehicle and was engaged by security personnel on site, who neutralized the attacker. Initial reports claim that the suspect also had explosives inside his vehicle, however authorities have not confirmed this yet as the vehicle caught fire during the incident and burned down a substantial portion of the structure, including the suspect. No one but the attacker was killed during the attack.Analyst Comment: The suspect in this case has been identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a naturalized US Citizen originally from Lebanon. Some sources claim that he conducted the attack due to to his family being killed in an Israeli airstrike on a refugee camp in Beirut yesterday, however these claims cannot be independently verified at this time. Either way, the suspect attacked the 12,000-member synagogue on a Thursday afternoon when almost no one was at the facility, which is an indicator that the terrorist did not have much time to plan the attack. More information is expected later on, as forensic analysis of the remains and vehicle debris is conducted.Virginia: Yesterday a mass shooting was reported at Old Dominion University after a terrorist entered a classroom and began targeting students. Local authorities state that a lone gunman entered an ROTC classroom at ODU shortly before 11:00am yesterday morning, first shooting the instructor, who has been identified as LTC Brandon Shah. Immediately after the first shots were fired, the cadets in the classroom mounted a counterattack, using violence of action to subdue the attacker. At some point during the attack one cadet produced a pocket knife which was subsequently utilized in stabbing the attacker to death. The assailant was found dead by police at the scene after being stabbed 22x times.Analyst Comment: The suspect in this case has been identified as Mohamad Bailor Jalloh, a naturalized US citizen from Sierra Leone and former National Guard soldier who had previously been convicted of attemp

    The Wire - March 12, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 3:47


    //The Wire//1700Z March 12, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MEDIA REPORTS MINES LAID IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ. MULTIPLE SHIPS STRUCK BY EXPLOSIVE BOATS IN PERSIAN GULF. THREATS TO AMERICAN HOMELAND REMAIN ELEVATED.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Persian Gulf: Last night two tanker vessels were struck by Iranian Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs). Two explosive-laden small boats rammed into the side of two oil tankers that were anchored outside the port of Basrah. The two vessels (the M/V ZEFYROS and M/V SAFESEA VISHNU) were conducting ship-to-ship operations near the Basra Oil Terminal when both vessels were struck by remotely-controlled explosive boats. Several hours later, a third vessel was struck by a drone in the southern Persian Gulf, off the coast of Jebel Ali.Strait of Hormuz: This morning many mainstream media sources have cited closed-source reporting claiming that Iranian forces have indeed mined the Strait. An estimated 10x mines have been laid, with some reports stating that potentially dozens of mines have been laid throughout the choke point.Analyst Comment: So far, there's not much we can do with off-the-record reports citing unknown sources. However, considering the concerns over the past few days, it's possible that the Iranians have laid a few strings of mines, even though doing so would likely harm their relationship with China. Where these mines are located, is anyone's guess. But if the Iranians can continue successful targeting efforts with remotely-piloted small boats, it would not be that much of a jump to assess that they can probably place a few mines as well.Middle East: Around the region, attacks on American installations and positions continue. Al Dhafra Airbase was struck this morning, and more substantial drone strikes were reported throughout Dubai overnight. Most of the munitions were intercepted, but the Address Creek Harbor hotel was hit by a Shahed drone early this morning. In Bahrain, hotels and other sites continue to be targeted by Iranian drones, in addition to oil infrastructure throughout the island nation which has been targeted several times since the start of this conflict.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Yesterday afternoon, multiple mainstream media outlets began broadcasting claims of an alleged plot for Iranian forces to attack the American homeland. Specifically, claims have been made that Iranian forces may attempt to launch drone attacks on California from ships off the west coast. No substantial information or context has been provided beyond that initial leak.As of right now, this is a giant game of telephone. The report probably came from the FBI, was passed to various police departments as a Law Enforcement Sensitive document, and was subsequently leaked to the media (without posting the actual source document). For context, the "Iranian drone ship off our coast" attack vector has been theory for so many years that in intel circles it's more of a thought experiment that is used to teach concepts. For many, many years, this theory has not been considered a serious threat, simply because Iranian forces do no have the naval capability to sustain combat operations off the American west coast. A subset of this thought experiment is the theory of some malign actor (in this case, the Iranians) using containerized drone launchers concealed onboard legitimate containerships, which would launch without notice. This theory is vastly more likely, and has been confirmed to not just be possible, but operationally effective, as demonstrated by Ukraine's Operation SPIDER WEB last year. However, Iran does not have the same capabilities as America-backed Ukraine, so this theory, while possible, still lies in the theoretical realm instead of a direct pending threat. Hopefully more information will come to light regarding what the threats actually

    The Wire - March 11, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 4:09


    //The Wire//2300Z March 11, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MULTIPLE SHIPS TARGETED BY IRANIANS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ. IRANIAN DRONE STRIKES REPORTED IN OMAN. POSSIBLE TERROR ATTACK OCCURS IN SWITZERLAND.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: Drone attacks throughout the Persian Gulf continue as before, with significant strikes being reported at the port city of Salalah in Oman this morning. Several drones targeted the oil storage tanks near the port, which have been burning throughout the day.Strait of Hormuz: This morning three merchant vessels were struck by Iranian munitions in the vicinity of the waterway. Two vessels were struck off the coast of Dubai and Ras al Khaymah, one of which was a containership that sustained unspecified damage. To the northeast, another vessel (the M/V MAYUREE NAREE) was struck while attempting to transit the Strait, which caused a fire that has since been extinguished. The crew of this vessel has reportedly abandoned ship in the hours after the strike, and three crew members remain missing.Analyst Comment: In addition to the threats posed by drones and missiles, concerns are growing regarding the possibility that the Strait may have been mined. President Trump indicated that the Iranians may have attempted to target vessels with naval mines over the past few days, however statements by American officials so far have have been inconclusive as to whether or not any mines have actually been laid. Due to this uncertainty, it would be wise for shipping companies to assume that at least some asymmetric naval capability exists within the Iranian Navy.Switzerland: Yesterday evening an attack was reported onboard a city bus in the town of Kerzers. One assailant set himself on fire while sitting on the bus, killing 6x people during the attack and wounding 5x others.Analyst Comment: So far, very little information has been released regarding this attack. The assailant has not been identified, and it may take some time for any potential motive to emerge. Due to the mass casualties that were caused by this incident, this incident should be considered a terror attack until more information comes to light.-HomeFront-Washington D.C. - This morning a vehicle ramming incident was reported at the White House, which involved an SUV attempting to ram through the barricades at the corner of Connecticut and H Street. No injuries were reported and the driver was arrested at the scene. No word yet on what caused the incident, or if this was a deliberate attack.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Indications and warnings are mounting that missile defenses throughout the Middle East may be dwindling. Over the past few days, civilian aircraft have been repositioned from airports around the region, and several airlines have canceled flights throughout the region, such as KLM which has halted flights to Dubai until March 28th. As airspace opens up between waves of drone attacks, many commercial and private aircraft owners are taking the opportunity to get their airframes out of harms way.As a result of these developments, many locals believe this an indicator of interceptor missiles running dry, and thus what seemed like a fairly tepid war (by comparison) might suddenly get more active if the interceptions of drones become less common. This is obviously pure speculation based on an unknown factor; the true number of air defenses any nation has is a closely guarded secret. The same theory applies around the region, from Israel to Kuwait, with nearly all nations involved heavily suppressing any social media posts referencing successful Iranian targeting efforts. Nevertheless, the truth eventually gets out and what can be observed is that the drones still fly and interceptions are not always successful. And that success rate may be decreasing, if the data provided is accurate.

    The Wire - March 10, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 4:14


    //The Wire//2300Z March 10, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: WAR CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST AS DRONE ATTACKS CONTINUE. SHIPS BEGIN ATTEMPTING TO RUN THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AMID IRANIAN TARGETING EFFORTS. US CONSULATE IN TORONTO TARGETED IN SMALL ARMS ATTACK.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: The Planet satellite imagery company has announced an extension of their holding of satellite imagery throughout the Middle East. Planet had previously instituted a 96-hour hold on all imagery of American installations in the region, for the Operational Security (OPSEC) reasons of preventing Iranians from using up-to-date satellite imagery in their targeting efforts. As of this morning, Planet has extended this delay to two weeks, with all imagery of non-Iranian terrain being withheld for 14 days from all customers.Strait of Hormuz: The Strait remains semi-officially closed, as most commercial vessels refuse to accept the risk of trying to run the gauntlet. Iranian forces continue to strike cargo vessels, but some vessels are making the attempt to transit the Strait, amid these threats. This morning, one commercial vessel was reportedly struck by a drone (or had a near-miss), highlighting the risks for commercial shipping.Analyst Comment: Interestingly enough, some vessels have pulled a Leeroy Jenkins, and plowed through the Strait over the past few days with their transponders off, hoping for the best. Other vessels have also tried the old standby trick that was discovered during the Houthi targeting in the Red Sea last year...they're changing their AIS transponder data to claim affiliation with China, in hopes of being allowed free passage. This has worked for a couple of dozen vessels so far, but the targeting of shipping in the Persian Gulf is still too random to draw a conclusion as to what's actually being targeted by the Iranians.Korean Peninsula: South Korean officials have voiced concern regarding the reallocation of American strategic resources from the region. This morning, the South Korean media group Yonhap published photos of Americans disassembling a THAAD battery, which is being relocated to the Middle East to replace at least one of the sites that was damaged/destroyed by Iranian targeting efforts.Canada: This morning an active shooter was reported at the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto. Toronto Police state that a white Honda CRV approached the facility, stopping at the main entrance. Two suspects exited the vehicle and fired shots from handguns at the Consulate, before egressing from the scene. Multiple shell casings were recovered from the shooting site, and the shooters remain at large.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: National security is of course a higher priority than providing up-to-date satellite imagery of the Middle East for the civilian world; as unfortunate as it is, censorship is a critical part of warfare and there's absolutely nothing that can be done about it. However, the timing and nature of this censorship occurring now, is quite interesting. As a reminder, the Chinese have provided extremely detailed imagery of American equipment losses since the start of the war via their own satellite networks, so the Iranians don't exactly need American satellites at all.This seemingly unimportant satellite imagery delay can also serve as an indicator for the expected timeline of the war...requesting American satellite companies to intentionally withhold their imagery from the public for two full weeks is not something that is done if the war is coming to a close. Right now, a lot of rhetoric is flying concerning the potential end of the conflict, with analysis of President Trump's remarks on the war focusing on how long the war might last, or what might happen over the next few days/weeks. At the moment, we cannot make decisions based on this rhetoric, as it changes by the hour a

    The Wire - March 9, 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 5:10


    //The Wire//2300Z March 9, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: TERROR ATTACK STRIKES NEW YORK AS PROTESTERS TARGETED WITH IEDS. AMERICAN BOMBING OF IRAN CONTINUES AS IRANIAN DRONE STRIKES REGULARLY TARGET OIL INFRASTRUCTURE IN MIDDLE EAST.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Middle East: The war continues, with both American strikes on Tehran, and Iranian strikes on Tel Aviv continuing over the weekend. The American 'Shock and Awe' campaign continues day and night, with increasingly more substantial bombings taking place over the weekend. Iranian drone attacks continue as before, with several strikes of note being carried out over the weekend. As of this morning, the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the UAE is still on fire from last night's attacks. The BAPCO refinery in Bahrain was also struck again several times over the past few days, along with the desalination plant in Ma'ameer. The fuel point at Kuwait International Airport was also struck over the weekend, as civilian flights throughout Kuwait remain grounded until further notice due to Iranian targeting efforts.Strait of Hormuz: The impacts to shipping remain constant, with one commercial vessel reporting being struck by a drone in the Saudi port of Jubail on Saturday. This morning BAPCO declared a force majeure for their contracts, indicating that they are unable to meet the obligations of their contracts, due to the war impacting operations.Turkey: This morning Turkish authorities stated that another Iranian ballistic missile had been intercepted in their airspace. The missile was reportedly shot down by a US Navy vessel stationed in the eastern Med.Norway: An explosion was reported at the US Embassy in Oslo, as an unidentified assailant placed an IED at the entrance to the facility Saturday night. Norwegian officials have stated that the incident is being investigated as a possible terror attack, and photos of the suspect have been released, as the suspect remains at large. No further details have been provided on the composition of the suspected explosive device, however the investigation is ongoing.-HomeFront-New York: On Saturday, an anti-Islam protest outside of Mayor Mamdani's residence was attacked by counter protesters, which involved terrorists attacking demonstrators with IEDs. Initially, groups of protesters were separated by the NYPD: The group protesting against Mamdani (and against Islam in general) was separated from a group of counterprotesters by pedestrian barriers as is customary for events where protesters have a high likelihood of attacking each other. In this case, two of the counterprotesters arrived with IEDs, lit their fuses, and threw them over to the main protest group, targeting the small group of about a dozen anti-Islam protesters. Both of the IEDs that were thrown failed to detonate, as the impact with the ground extinguished the lit fuses. The suspects were immediately detained at the scene, and a search of the area revealed additional IEDs located in a parked vehicle adjacent to the event. The two suspects have been identified as Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, both residents of Pennsylvania. More details are expected as the investigation continues.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: A bit of back story is needed to explain the context for how important the attack in New York City actually was. The protest that started everything was an "Americans Against Islamification" protest organized by Jake Lang, who has become infamous for going into Islamic strongholds, and holding protests that are intended to inflame tensions. This context may result in many people being tempted to roll their eyes and dismiss this attack due to the history of Lang's protests usually being rather theatrical. For instance, the day before the IED attack on his group he crashed a vigil to the Ayatollah, driving by the event in a Uhaul van with a go

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