PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Iran’s other would-be WMD program lies in ruins following strikes by Israel and the U.S. Its chemical and biological weapons research facilities have been hit relentlessly without much fanfare, according to satellite imagery and analysis of images shared on social media.
Most were hit in conjunction with strikes on nuclear-related targets. Among key sites destroyed are those of the Iranian Ministry of Defense, Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and hybrid civilian-military entities.
While Washington has warned that Tehran has long dabbled in research regarding these weapons of mass destruction, there has not been talk of any significant arsenal, stockpile or deployment capability for these tools in decades.
Instead, since the early 2000s, the State Department and CIA have softened the language to say that Iran “maintains the capability to produce CW agents.”
Others have cited intelligence assessments from the mid-2000s that suggested Iran had maintained an undeclared stockpile of chemical weapons.
At minimum, Iranian chemical and biological programs were likely intended to maintain a “threshold capability” similar to its pre-war nuclear stance: having dual-use industries and research so that if Iran made the decision to manufacture the weapons, the breakout time would be relatively short.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of the top defense news of the last couple of days from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:
NATIONAL SECURITY
What we know about the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran.
DEFENSE POLITICS
US POWER OVERSEAS
U.S. Marines deepen ties in Philippines as rotations continue. New rotations suggest the force may be maintaining more continuous presence.
IRAN CAMPAIGN
On Friday, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, call sign Dude 44, was downed over southwestern Iran. Both crew members ejected, landing miles apart behind enemy lines. What followed was what Trump called “one of the largest, most complex, most harrowing combat search-and-rescue missions ever attempted by the military.”
Trump threatened to take out Iran in “one night” if no deal before deadline.
Mapping strikes across the Middle East.
Where are Iran’s power plants that Trump has threatened to destroy?
Iranian intelligence chief killed in overnight attack.
The latest blows to Iran’s leadership.
U.S. has used scores of weapons to hit thousands of targets in 38 days of war with Iran. More than 13,000 targets hit and 155 warships damaged or sunk since attacks began Feb. 28.
CENTCOM commander says ‘hundreds’ of U.S. one-way attack drones are involved in Iran war.
WAR’S REGIONAL/GLOBAL IMPACT
CHINA THREAT
Outpaced by U.S., China’s military places selective bets on AI. Chinese navy is enhancing its guided-missile frigate, Qinzhou, with AI algorithm designed to illuminate blind spots during air defense engagements.
Closing the air and missile defense gap in Indo-Pacific. During last summer’s 12-day war against Iran, U.S. military supported Israeli air and missile defenses by using its regionally deployed air and missile defense assets to intercept Iranian missiles and drones. In that time, U.S. expended 100 to 150 upper-tier, terminal-phase missile interceptors – approx. 25% of its total stockpile — or 150% of prior annual global production. This current war against Iran has depleted U.S. air defense weapons stockpiles further.
The hidden system secretly turning ‘civilian’ Chinese tech companies into military suppliers. Chinese Communist Party approaches U.S. firms through channels that require no direct order, no classified contract, and no corporate consent. Understanding how that system works, and why current U.S. policy does not, is most urgent analytical gap in U.S. response to Chinese military-civil fusion.
RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR
Russia supplies Iran with cyber support, spy imagery to hone attacks. Russian satellites have made dozens of detailed imagery surveys of military facilities and critical sites across Middle East to help Iran strike U.S. forces and other targets, says Ukrainian intelligence.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
SPACE THREATS
Space Force resets modernization plan for its aging satellite control network. After canceling program to modernize network of antennas that track and manage Pentagon and other U.S. government satellites, the service is seeking industry input on what existing infrastructure might be available to meet that need.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
US MILITARY
Air Force wants new, affordable, air-launched standoff cruise missile ready to field in 2033.
END of PDB
FOR MORE DETAILED, UNCENSORED, INTELLIGENCE, AND ANALYSIS FROM PAUL CRESPO, SUBSCRIBE TO HIS SUBSTACK.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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That list of wants from Iran is a joke. Go back and put them back to the rocks and sticks stage then tell them that their wish list is just too funny to discuss.
Regarding China and Russia, show them how far behind they are and make sure that big business is not selling our secrets to them. Often it is the enemy within that we must watch out for.