Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸

@CNN National Security Analyst | @SOAAorg Board | @AtlanticCouncil | Fmr: Bridgewater Associates, Pentagon, IC, U.S. Army, @NorthropGrumman | Iraq & Afghanistan

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

For the inbox folks who asked
PSYOP but not a Green Beret
Combat veteran but nothing valorous
Worked intel programs but not James Bond
Iraq X 2 (uniform & civilian)
Afghanistan X 1 (DoD civilian)
Just an average guy with cool photos

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

Iraq is a sovereign country. The mission to defeat ISIS ends at the end of September. U.S. forces are leaving. There is no reason for any foreign country to have an armed militia inside somebody else’s country. They need to be disarmed, integrated or destroyed.

[Al Jazeera Breaking News @AJENews]

BREAKING: National security adviser says Iraq will begin final push to gather militia weapons after September deadline

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/19llG6A7mc

[Al Jazeera Breaking News @AJENews]

BREAKING: National security adviser says Iraq will begin final push to gather militia weapons after September deadline

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/19llG6A7mc

[Christopher Miller @ChristopherJM]

Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv that Ukraine had requested 360 interceptor missiles to supply US-made Patriot anti-air systems for the winter, but hoped to ultimately receive 300. A shortage of one of the only weapons able to reliably shoot down Russian ballistic missiles has allowed Moscow to hit targets across the country this summer.

He said the threat of ballistic missile strikes and the funding of the war effort were the country’s two “major challenges”, adding that the defence ministry faced a $27bn deficit this year after money earmarked for the second part of the year was allocated to drone production in the first months.
@fabrice_deprez @FT

https://t.co/k6KAlMIcfd

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

As I said earlier, if the sanctions hold and the pressure builds, Iran will likely target oil and gas in the region

[محسن رضایی @ir_rezaee]

If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported٫ neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Persian Gulf. Iran will regard any country’s participation in or support for America’s economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war.

[Richard Goldberg @rich_goldberg]

Scott Bessent: An economic D-Day is coming for Iran

“At dawn begins an economic D-Day — the single greatest financial offensive ever marshalled against an adversary.” https://t.co/IvVjgtBClV

[Alex Raufoglu @ralexdc]

NEW!! Nordic and Baltic leaders vow continued military and financial support, call for stronger sanctions on Russia and urge EU to open all remaining accession clusters for Kyiv in Sept.–Oct.

They also back expanded joint production of drones, air defenses and ammunition.

👇

[Pieter Van Ostaeyen @p_vanostaeyen]

Al‑Qaida and the Islamic State are both adopting AI – but differ in how they think about the technology
https://t.co/FVqWfFBC7B

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

Iran appears to be responding to public pronouncements from the U.S. about the volume of oil that the U.S. has helped get out of the Strait of Hormuz ahead of an expected announcement tomorrow morning regarding additional sanctions meant to squeeze Iran and force negotiations

[Abas Aslani | عباس اصلانی @abasinfo]

نهاد مدیریت آبراه خلیج فارس: شناورهایی که از ترتیبات اعلام‌شده #ایران برای تردد از تنگه هرمز تخلف کنند، با جریمه، توقیف یا مصادره مواجه می‌شوند. شناورهایی که از طریق انتقال کشتی‌به‌کشتی یا ترنسشیپ با آنها همکاری کنند نیز به فهرست متخلفان افزوده خواهند شد.

[NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 @NOELreports]

❗️Zelensky says Ukraine has reached an agreement with Germany for 600 PAC-2 missiles in 2027-2028. He said PAC-2 interceptors are also capable of defeating ballistic missiles, although more missiles are required. Zelensky acknowledged a downward trend in current Patriot missile deliveries, saying this primarily depends on the US. Ukraine also expects new French air-defense radars and another system this autumn. #Ukraine

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

@RobertLusetich @CSIS I don’t know that they’re insulated for that long. I’ve been told they run into LNG problems beginning in September. Doesn’t mean they’re going to jump on the bandwagon, but I don’t know that that’s 100% accurate.

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

Sanctions package to be unveiled tomorrow
Iran feeling the economic pressure
No cracks in the security apparatus
Internal voices recognize growing problem
Secondary sanctions require cooperation, especially from China who has decried the use of them
Iran may act if sanctions hold

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

@RobertLusetich Only if it gets to the point where the oil and gas imports are really going to hurt them or hurt the Chinese economy.

[Keith Kellogg @generalkellogg]

An in-depth discussion with @ZelenskyyUa. Honored to be with Ukrainian veterans today. All veterans should be proud of their service and dedication to Nation.

[Barak Ravid @BarakRavid]

🇸🇾🇮🇱סקופ: ראש המוסד רומן גופמן נפגש היום עם שר החוץ הסורי אסעד שיבאני בנסיון לבלום את ההסלמה בין המדינות. הפרטים בכתבה שלי ב-@N12News
https://t.co/7S9tAuXz88

[Open Source Intel @Osint613]

SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi:

"Right now we are not receiving any support. Not from the US, not from France, not from Europe.

They never promised us anything beyond the fight against ISIS. So I cannot say they betrayed us.

Maybe we had hopes. But the world runs entirely on interests."

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

The Obama administration finally pushed the JCPOA through when it determined that it had reached maximum pressure and China and other swould not hold. We are in a different geopolitical environment and China has already stated it does not support the use of them as tool.

[Alex Plitsas 🇺🇸 @alexplitsas]

The Iranian and Chinese deputy foreign ministers met on August 17 as reports that China will begin to feel the LNG shortage in September approaches. China’s response to U.S. secondary sanctions will also be incredibly important to whether or not it will work.

[Dr. Dan Lomas @Sandbagger_01]

BBC News - Iran-linked hackers behind cyber attack that shut down power plant, reports say
https://t.co/siowaKchIb