The President's Daily Brief - September 13th, 2024: Iran Outsourcing Assassinations, Israeli Commandos Raid Secret Iranian Missile Facility, & North Korea's Nuclear Expansion

Episode Date: September 13, 2024

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief:     Iran is reportedly outsourcing their assassination and abduction operations to international criminal organizations, including the Hells Angels gang, narco-traffickers, and the Russian mafia. An elite Israel Defense Forces unit recently conducted a rare ground raid in Syria, destroying an underground precision missile factory linked to Iran and Hezbollah. An update out of Ukraine, where Russian artillery shelling killed three Red Cross workers on Thursday. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization warns that Ukraine could face a major humanitarian crisis as they stare down their third winter of war. In our 'Back of the Brief' segment, after a lull in activity, North Korea is once again engaging in provocative ballistic missile launches, while dictator Kim Jong Un vows to “exponentially” increase the hermit kingdom’s arsenal of nuclear weapons. 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 President's Daily Brief.     Email: [e-mail] ☕ Blackout Coffee: https://www.blackoutcoffee.com/PDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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It's Friday, 13th September. Oh, well, would you look at that? It's Friday the 13th. It's a good thing I'm not superstitious. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right. Let's get briefed. Well, start things off with Iran. As reports emerge that the mullahs have outsourced their assassination and abduction operations to international criminal organizations, including the Hell's Angels, narco-traffickers, and the Russian mafia? Well, that's quite a combination. Although, to be fair, I can't see them all hanging out at a party with the mullahs making small talk. But as the old saying goes, assassinations and abduction operations make for strange bedfellows. And that makes for a strange

visual. Later in the brief, we'll turn to Syria, where an elite Israeli defense forces unit recently conducted a rare ground raid in that country, destroying an underground missile factory linked to Iran and Hezbollah. Well, aren't they all? Plus, an update out of Ukraine, where Russian artillery shelling killed three red crossworkers on Thursday. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization warns that Ukraine could face a major humanitarian crisis as they make their way towards their third winter of war. And in today's back of the brief, After a lull in activity, North Korea is once again engaging in provocative ballistic missile launches, while Little Rocket Man vows to exponentially increase the Hermit Kingdom's arsenal of nuclear weapons.

But first, today's PDB spotlight. It appears that the Mullahs of Iran are getting creative in their efforts to silence critics of the Islamic regime abroad while attempting to obscure their repressive activities, turning to high-person. profile international criminal organizations to carry out their dirty work. An exclusive report from the Washington Post on Thursday revealed that in recent years, Iran has outsourced multiple assassination and abduction plots to violent criminal groups from Europe to South America, including the Hells Angels Biker Gang, a Russian organized crime network known as the, quote, thieves in law, and a global heroin distribution syndicate run by an

Iranian narco-trafficker. Historically, Iran has relied on their own operatives to target dissidents and others perceived as enemies of the state. But leaders in Tehran have had to pivot as their operatives face increased scrutiny from Western intelligence agencies. Now, by outsourcing these efforts, Iran seeks to shield itself from direct blame and make it harder for intelligence services to piece together their various schemes. It also lets them tap into existing criminal networks in the West, helping the regime expedite their operations, and that's according to the London-based publication Iran International. Indeed, the reliance on criminal syndicates has helped Iran carry out these plots without much scrutiny. The Washington Post report points to the case of an exiled

Iranian journalist working for Iran International who was ambushed at nearly fatally stabbed outside his home in London in March of 2003 by three men with no obvious ties to the Islamic regime. An investigation found that the three attackers were Eastern European criminals hired by Tehran. Largely due to their innocuous background, the men were able to pass through security at London's Heathrow Airport, track the victim for days, and then flee the country within hours after the attack. Matt Jukes, head of counterterrorism policing for the UK, told the Washington Post, quote, we're not dealing with the usual suspect. What we've got is a hostile state actor that sees the battlefield as being without borders,

and individuals in London are as legitimate as targets as if they were in Iran, end quote. Sounds like somebody's been reading Putin's playbook. In an example from the U.S., an Iranian-American journalist was targeted by a gunman near his home in Brooklyn, New York, in July of 2022. The gunman, who was arrested for a traffic violation before he could carry out the killing, was part of an international Russian organized crime group called Thieves in Law, hired by the Iranian regime. And then there's the case of a former Iranian military officer living in Maryland in the U.S.,

who was targeted for murder by the regime in 2021 for speaking out against the repressive government's record on human rights. An Iranian heroine kingpin allegedly orchestrated the plot, hiring Canadian members of the Hells Angels biker gang to assemble a team of gunmen, it's getting very complicated, to drive to the former officer's residence in Maryland. The gang members were reportedly told to make the assassination extremely grisly, though authorities arrested the men before the plot could be carried out. The Iranian heroine kingpin, who's described by the post as a Pablo Escobar-type character, has reportedly played a central role in facilitating Iran's assassination operations,

working as a sort of go-between for the regime and international criminal groups. His organization is linked to multiple killings and kidnappings, including the abduction and murder of an Iranian-Swedish political activist in 2020. As regular listeners of the PDB are aware, Iran also continues to actively target former President Donald Trump and members of his past administration over the killing of Iranian military commander Kassem Soleimani back in 2020. News broke in July that the U.S. is tracking an Iranian assassination plot against Trump and the U.S. government has been providing round-the-clock security for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and Trump's former Special Envoy for Iran, Brian Hook.

Now we know of at least one case regarding Bolton and Pompeo, where authorities disrupted an active plot to assassinate both men. Matt Jukes, from the UK, who also serves as Assistant Commissioner for Special Operations with Scotland Yard, warned the Washington Post, quote, we're seeing a major escalation in lethal plotting, end quote. All right, coming up after the break, we'll turn to Syria, where an elite Israeli defense forces unit conducted a rare ground raid, destroying an underground precision missile factory linked to Iran and Hezbollah.

Plus, an update out of Ukraine where Russian artillery shelling killed three Red Cross workers on Thursday, prompting accusations, of course, of war crime. I'll have those stories when we come back. This is Euphoria Calvin Klein, the new elixir collection, featuring three perfume intense scents, inspired by a unique orchid accord, paired with vanilla, each with its own distinct attitude, each with its own universe, bold elixir, sensual, woody, addictive, magnetic elixir, sweet and romantic like a lingering touch, solar elixir, a radiant expression of joy, ultra-concentrated for amplified impact and lasting power. Find your

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Now, the underground facility was allegedly part of a joint effort between the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, and Hezbollah, to produce more advanced rockets. The raid on Sunday carried out by one of Israel's top elite special forces units, followed reportedly years of planning. Israeli officials considered similar operations twice before, but postponed them due to extreme risk. This time, the mission in the Maziaf area, near the Lebanese border, received the green light. The Israeli military briefed the Biden administration in advance, and while the White House did not object, it remains publicly silent. Combat helicopters reportedly hovered over the IRGC facility as Israeli special forces repelled down, Ropes, three sources with knowledge of the operation confirmed Axios that the unit removed

documents and machinery essential for Iran and Hezbollah's missile production before planting explosives to destroy the underground site. On Wednesday, the opposition's Syria TV network, based in Turkey, reported that three Syrians were killed during the raid, and two to four Iranians were captured. Although no Iranian or Hezbollah personnel were confirmed among the casualties, the fate of those captured remains unclear. In addition to the IRGC precision missile factory, reports suggest that Israel's special forces also hit a nearby Russian communication center. The ground operation was preceded by a series of airstrikes that targeted roads and military installations leading

to the underground facility. The airstrikes killed at least 16 people and wounded 43 others. According to local Syrian media, air strikes also hit the scientific studies and Research Center, which has long been associated with the manufacture of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and Iranian forces. Reports from the opposition Syria TV network and Middle East researcher Eva Kuluriotis suggests that the airstrikes served as a diversion for the Israeli ground operation, effectively preventing Syrian reinforcements from reaching the area and ensuring the success of the mission. Now, Syrian state media and Iran's foreign ministry, well, they condemned the airstrikes. That's a surprise. Syrian state media described the airstrikes

as, quote, blatant aggression, while Iran's foreign ministry labeled the attack, quote, criminal. The Israeli government has remained notably silent, refraining from claiming responsibility. In the aftermath of the raid, questions remain about how Hezbollah and Iran will respond, particularly given the reported damage to their missile production capabilities. All right. Shifting now to Ukraine. Russian shelling on third. killed three international committee of the Red Cross workers and injured two others in the frontline Donetsk region. The workers were delivering humanitarian aid to residents when the attack occurred. Ukrainian President Zelensky condemned the strike on social media, calling it another, quote,

Russian war crime. The attack occurred in the village of Viro Lubivka, which has regularly faced heavy bombardment from Russian shelling and air strikes. According to the regional governor, the Red Cross workers were delivering fuel burquettes to help residents prepare for their third winter of this war when the attack occurred. Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office announced an investigation into the attack citing violations of international law concerning the protection of aid workers and civilians in conflict zones. The Red Cross emphasized that its teams are regularly present in conflict zones like Denedsk with vehicles clearly marked by the Red Cross emblem.

That's a globally relevant. recognized symbol, of course, of humanitarian assistance. Russia consistently denies targeting civilians or humanitarian infrastructure. While humanitarian workers continue to suffer from direct attacks, Ukraine faces broader challenges as it braces for a harsh winter. Hans-Ekluga, the World Health Organization's regional director for Europe, has warned this winter could be Ukraine's most brutal yet. He cited Russian attacks that have devastated energy infrastructure, leaving many areas without reliable power. The WHO is taking several steps to strengthen Ukraine's health care system as winter approaches. One major initiative includes installing 15 heating units in hospitals most at

risk of further attack, ensuring that medical services can continue during the freezing winter months. In partnership with Western governments, the WHO is also racing to provide hospitals with generators, crucial for preventing a collapse in health care services this winter. Work on these initiatives is already underway in Kharkiv, and that's Ukraine's second largest city, which has been a frequent target of Russian forces. During winter preparations, Russian missile strikes persist. Zelenzki confirmed via social media on Thursday that a missile fired from a Russian military jet struck a cargo ship, carrying wheat to Egypt in the Black Sea. While the damage wasn't detailed, it could mark the first direct attack on a civilian vessel since Kyiv opened a new maritime export route

this last year. Ukraine's military reported that the ship had been hit in Romania's exclusive economic zone outside of Ukraine's grain corridor, but did not reveal the flag that it was sailing under. We should note, an attack in Romania's exclusive economic zone doesn't constitute an attack on Romanian territory, as international law distinguishes between territorial waters and economic zones. In the latter, a country controls activities like oil drilling, but not military operations. So far, there's been no comment from NATO or confirmation from Russia on the incident. All right, coming up in today's back of the brief, North Korea is once again engaging in provocative ballistic missile launches and escalating their nuclear threats. You can always,

always count on Kim Jong-un to throw his teddy out of his crib when he's not getting enough attention. I'll be right back. Padiday presents. In the red corner, the undisputed, undefeated weed whacker guys. Champion of hurling grass and pollen everywhere. And in the blue corner, the challenger, extra strength, Hannity. Eye drops and work all day to prevent the release of histamines that cause itchy allergy eyes. And the winner by knockout is Padaday.

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after a brief lull in activity, North Korea is back to playing their usual war games, firing multiple short-range ballistic missiles off their East Coast on Thursday. Representatives of the South Korean and Japanese militaries said that at least two of the ballistic missiles traveled some 220 miles before plunging into the Sea of Japan, though they did not specify how many missiles were fired in total. It was the first such launch in more than two months, which South Korean officials called an unlawful and destabilizing act, and that's according to our report from NBC News. It follows a test launch by the regime in early July of

a new tactical ballistic missile capable of carrying a four and a half ton super large warhead. Now, I don't know if that's the actual technical term I should be using super large. It also follows a rather embarrassing moment for Kim that came in late June when a hypersonic missile they were testing ended in an unexpected mid-air explosion off the country's east coast, and frankly nobody likes a premature detonation. After the latest test, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a statement condemning the missile launch as a, quote, clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. United States Indo-Pacific Command also rebuked Kim's regime for violating UN Security Council resolutions,

barring North Korea from using ballistic missiles and developing nuclear weapons. But to be fair, flagrantly violating UN resolutions is kind of, uh, little rocket man's signature move. The tests come just a few days after Kim vowed to expand the country's nuclear weapons program to produce exponentially more warheads and delivery platforms, including ones that could target the U.S. mainland. During a speech marking the 76th founding anniversary of his government on Monday, Kim lashed out at what he called the, quote, reckless expansion of a U.S.-led regional military block. Kim is especially heated about an agreement signed by the U.S.

and South Korea in July to integrate U.S. nuclear weapons into their regional defensive strategy. Ironically, the U.S. only expanded its joint operations with South Korea after the past year of provocations from North Korea. But I honestly don't think the North Korean leader is going to realize that in some fanciful moment of introspection. Regarding North Korea's arsenal, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has previously estimated that North Korea likely has around 50 nuclear weapons of various sizes and enough enriched uranium to build approximately another 90.

Huh, well, that's a cheery note to end on. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Friday, 13 September. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at pdb at thefirsttv.com. And remember, according to the calendar, it's Friday. And Fridays mean new episodes of the PDB Situation Report.

That's our extended weekend show. A fresh show airs tonight at 10 p.m. on the first TV. And of course on our YouTube channel, at President's Daily Brief, as well as all the podcast platforms where you get your podcast stuff. We've got terrific guests this weekend, as usual. Now, gather the kids around the old Philco or the wireless or the laptop and tune in. I'm Mike Baker. I'll be back later today with the PDB.

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