The President's Daily Brief - PDB Afternoon Bulletin | April 9th, 2024: Israel Threatens Strikes On Iran's Nuclear Facilities & FBI Thwarts ISIS Plot

Episode Date: April 9, 2024

In this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin:     Israeli leaders are warning that they are prepared to strike at Iran’s nuclear facilities and other key infrastructure inside the country, although it appears the Islamic regime is backing down from threats of a direct retaliation for a deadly Israeli airstrike last week on an Iranian consulate in Syria. In a stark reminder of the ever-present threats facing the homeland, an 18-year-old from Idaho was recently arrested for plotting a massacre of churchgoers in the name of ISIS. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The PDB Afternoon Bulletin.  Email: [e-mail] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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It's Tuesday, 9 April. Welcome to the PDB afternoon bulletin. I'm Mike Baker. your eyes and ears on the world stage. Let's get briefed. First, Israeli leaders are warning that they are prepared to strike at Iran's nuclear facilities and other key infrastructure inside the country, although it appears the Islamic regime is backing down from threats of a direct retaliation for a deadly Israeli air strike last week on an Iranian consulate in Syria. That strike took out several IRGC commanders responsible for working with trading and supplying their proxy Hezbollah.

Also, in a stark reminder of the ever-present threats facing the homeland, an 18-year-old from Idaho, of all places, was recently arrested for plotting a massacre of churchgoers in the name of ISIS. But first, our afternoon spotlight. Israel remains on edge as they await an expected retaliation from Iran over a suspected Israeli air strike in Syria last Monday that killed several high-ranking IRGC officials and leveled part of the regime's consulate in Damascus. Israel has been preparing since last week, boosting aerial defenses and calling up reservists, and we're now learning that their military

has also been conducting secret air force drills in recent days, simulating strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and other key infrastructure. Citing unnamed Western security officials, the London-based outlet Elav News said that Israel has signaled to the Iranian regime that it will begin launching strikes against targets inside the country if the Islamic regime mounts a direct attack on Israel. The alleged warning came just a day after Israeli defense minister Yov Galant said his country had completed their preparations for an Iranian retaliation and that they were prepared for any potential scenario. That same day, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, reiterated Iranian threats against Israel, warning, quote,

the embassies of the Zionist regime are no longer safe, end quote. Despite the saber-rattling by the Iranian regime, it does appear that they may be rethinking possible retaliation. Unnamed U.S. intelligence sources, who spoke with CNN Monday evening, concluded that Iran is unlikely to attack Israel directly, fearing reprisals from both the U.S. and Israel. Instead, they predict Iran will once again respond through their regional proxy groups on a smaller scale. After all, that is why Iran built their network of proxy groups. Essentially, it's a thin veil of deniability that they can hide behind. The intelligence assessment contradicts at least some reports from both Israeli and American

officials last week that a direct Iranian response was inevitable. Still, Israel remains at the highest alert and is expecting to come under attack at some point, particularly from Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is reportedly preparing for potential missile and drone attack. though these have, frankly, occurred regularly since the war broke out, and officials are confident that their air defense systems can handle that threat. Last Thursday, Israel moved to indefinitely halt leave for all combat units and began scrambling GPS services across their major cities, guarding against the risk of guided missile attacks. Israel has also withdrawn a number of its

ambassadors and temporarily closed some 28 embassies around the world, fearing Iranian reprisals may target Israeli diplomatic facilities and officials. Now, obviously, Israel is not the only country, potentially, in the Iranian regime's sights. U.S. forces have also been put on high alert, given Iran's rhetoric, holding the U.S. responsible for Israel's airstrikes in Syria. Coming up after the break, I'll have the disturbing story of a self-radicalized young man from Idaho, who was recently arrested for plotting an ISIS-inspired massacre of churchgoers in his community. I'll be right back. How many discounts does USAA auto insurance offer?

Too many to say here. Multi-vehicle discount. Safe driver discount. New vehicle discount. Storage discount. How many discounts will you stack up? Tap the banner or visit usa.com slash auto discounts. Restrictions apply. Welcome back to the afternoon bulletin. I want to turn now to a story that hits close to home, specifically my home here in the great state of Idaho.

And it's a story that should serve as a reminder of the ever-present danger of lone wolf terror attacks, and the still very present threat of terrorism. Over the weekend, federal authorities apprehended a young man just 18 years old, on suspicion of conspiring to launch an assault on at least one Christian church in the city of Cordelaine. Now, that's a very picturesque town in the northern part of the state. It's an area more known for outdoor pursuits and a relatively conservative population than for radical Islam. Anyway, the individual is accused of pledging his allegiance to ISIS and plotting violence in the name of the extremist group. Following an investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, the JTTF, the Department of Justice has charged suspect Alexander Scott Mercurio of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

According to the DOJ, Mercurio planned to kill churchgoers with an arsenal that included firearms, knives, and incendiations. of ISIS. Investigators believe that the young man's plans to carry out this plot intensified after the recent attack in Russia, where ISIS K massacred over 140 people at a music venue in suburban Moscow. Attorney General Merrick Garland remarked on the situation highlighting the danger averted thanks to the FBI's intervention. He emphasized that the defendant had formally pledged loyalty to ISIS and was captured before he could put his plans into action. According to an affidavit from an FBI task force officer, Mercurio was busted when he engaged with an agent, overtly expressing his support for terrorist activities, with specific regard to ISIS. His intended day of attack was pinpointed to precede the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The FBI subsequently searched Mercurio's residence and uncovered a collection of potentially lethal items stored in a toolbox and an assortment of firearms found in his father's possession. Details from court documents paint a rather disturbing picture of Mercurio's alleged plan. The suspect, quote, stated he intended to incapacitate his father with a pipe, handcuff him, and use the firearms locked in the closet to carry out his attacks. The suspect is now in custody and awaiting a preliminary court hearing. If convicted, he could be looking at up to two decades in federal prison. Needless to say, but I guess I'll say it anyway, this case serves as a reminder that the threat of terrorism is still very real. As a nation, the U.S. is fatigued from two plus decades of the war on terror,

and certainly 9-11 seems like ancient history to many people, but the various terrorist groups still operating and their recruits and followers. Well, they are not fatigued. Resurging groups, such as ISIS-K, remain motivated and intent on expanding their reach. Now, it's a very good thing that, while for much of the population, the focus and concern over terrorism, has faded, it remains very much front and center for local, state, and federal law enforcement and the intelligence community. And that, my friends, is the PDB afternoon bulletin for Tuesday, 9 April. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb at thefirsttv.com. And be sure to check out our new premium membership at pdb premium.com. It's reportedly,

by just about everyone who reports on these sort of things, the best value in ad-free news anywhere in podcast land. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back tomorrow. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. Wireless can feel like a world of traps, but not with visible. It's one-line wireless with unlimited data and hotspot, powered by Verizon for $25 a month, taxes and fees included. Plus, for a limited time, new members pay just $20 a month for one year on the visible plan, using the code fresh start. Refresh your wireless with Visible. Tap the banner to switch today. Terms apply, limited time offer subject to change. See Visible.com for plan features and network management details.