Exiled Iranians Aid Efforts To Circumvent Regime Blackout

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Iran’s other front: The war over the internet. Iran’s government treats free internet access as a privilege extended by the state to those willing to carry its message and withheld from everyone else.

Shortly after Israeli and U.S. strikes began, Iran’s communications infrastructure was deliberately dismantled by the government and internet traffic completely halted. Internet traffic collapsed by 98%, near-total blackout.

Official rationale was to deny adversaries targeting intelligence and blunt incoming cyberattacks. But the internet blackout did not limit the military capabilities of Iran’s adversaries much.

What it did was cut citizens off from outside world, conceal atrocities, and sever ties between Iranians inside the country and those on the outside.

However, millions of volunteers worldwide came to help users inside Iran by quietly donating their own bandwidth. Thousands of diaspora members, long before the strikes began, had already built the infrastructure to fight back.

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:    

HOMELAND DEFENSE

Pentagon, FAA sign agreement on deploying a high-energy anti-drone laser system along southern U.S. border with Mexico.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Pentagon agreed to terms with Lockheed Martin on $4.7 billion contract to accelerate production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor.

US POWER OVERSEAS

U.S. military blew up two narco-boats smuggling drugs in eastern Pacific Ocean, killing five people and leaving one survivor.

U.S. airmen at this vast hub for military operations paused this week to mark 30th anniversary of plane crash in Croatia that killed six of their own, along with a Cabinet secretary and 28 others.

IRAN CEASEFIRE

U.S. and Iran failed to reach agreement to end their war despite marathon talks on Sunday in Pakistani capital Islamabad, jeopardizing fragile ceasefire.

Israeli ambassador to U.S. points to ‘potential’ for ‘continued talks’ with Iran after VP Vance said no progress was made in recent negotiations.

IRAN CAMPAIGN

President Trump said U.S. Navy would immediately start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran failed to reach deal to end the war, jeopardizing fragile two-week ceasefire.

U.S. military will begin blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, tempering Trump’s earlier vow to entirely block the Strait of Hormuz as early reports indicated ships had stopped crossing the waterway.

U.S. blockade of Iran will be major military endeavor.

Trump posted on social media that U.S. military has started to clear Strait of Hormuz, and that all of Iran’s minelaying ships have been sunk [doubtful].

Navy to use underwater drones in coming days as part of new effort to clear Iranian mines from Strait of Hormuz.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed military capabilities and logistics of moving vessels though Strait of Hormuz when he spoke to President Donald Trump a day earlier.

CHINA THREAT

Philippines confirmed that Chinese boats last year used cyanide that threatens the Southeast Asian nation’s military outpost in disputed South China Sea, as well as safety of its soldiers.

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

Russian drone attacks persist despite Kremlin’s Easter ceasefire. Ukraine reports 469 violations of Putin’s 32-hour ceasefire, hours after deadly drone attacks on Odesa and Kherson.

More than two dozen Ukrainian defense companies traveled to Paris to meet with French counterparts, laying groundwork for co-production deals and seeking to bolster integration with European defense-industrial base.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE

Disperse to survive: Logic of French forward deterrence. French President Emmanuel Macron laid out his new doctrine of “forward deterrence” and — for the first time in history — offered to deploy French Strategic Air Forces to European countries.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Pakistani military force arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base, Saudi Arabia as part of strategic defense pact between two countries.

Nigerian officials said they attacked terrorist enclave, but locals and rights groups said airstrikes hit popular market, killing civilians.

Orbán era swept away by conservative, but pro-EU, Péter Magyar’s Hungary election landslide. Good for Ukraine. Bad for Russia.

Canada’s Carney on verge of majority government after another opposition member joins ruling Liberals. Bad for Canada.

US MILITARY

Space Force named 14 companies eligible to compete under 10-year, $1.8 billion contract vehicle to modernize service’s ability to keep tabs on objects in space.

Future soldier loadout: Smarter gear or dead weight? Tech soldiers carry will shape their performance in combat, missions, safety, and health.

Army launched new data center to support the flow of information from military’s vast troves to commanders and soldiers on battlefield.

New and not immediately recognizable launcher has emerged on Navy’s Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Carl M. Levin.

Navy will begin retiring Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Boise after repairs for the boat became too costly.

Marine Corps wants its leaders to act more quickly when service a member does not report for duty and cannot be found.

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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