🔥 Raids on Shifa Hospital

Good Morning. Israeli airstrikes targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, killing eight, including an IRGC commander.

The strikes, intensifying regional tensions amid the Gaza conflict, mark the fifth in eight days in Syria.

Israel, increasing attacks on Iran-linked groups, has not commented.

THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT

Israel Wraps Up Raids on Shifa Hospital; UN Council Prepares To Meet on Israel Strike

Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital has been raided for the second time since the Israel-Hamas War began on October 7, 2023. As Israel concluded operations, the structure that was once a hospital now reportedly sits in a blackened pile of ruins, charred and reduced to rubble from a battle that lasted two weeks.

Accounts Vary: Reports from the Associated Press highlighted a variation between the IDF’s account of the raids and the accounts of local witnesses. Disinformation continues to be a major challenge of the urban warfront in Gaza, as operations have seen civilian casualties reach mass numbers.

Gaza civilians and World Health Organization operatives say that the operation killed “dozens” of civilians.

Israel says that the Shifa raid known as “Operation Local Surgery” ended without civilian casualties.

Rather, Israel says forces eliminated 200 militants, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari told the press on Monday, April 1.

UN Council To Meet on Israel Strike in Iran: The United Nations prepares to hold a meeting of its Security Council on April 2, which the state media of Russia says the Kremlin requested, to discuss the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which Iran says killed many of its top commanders.

As war continues to wage between Israel and Hamas, Middle East tensions continue to pull in global players with vested interests.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY & DIPLOMACY

Counterterrorism

• ISIS-K, the extremist group responsible for the deaths of over 140 people in Moscow on March 22, aims to attack the United States but lacks the means, according to U.S. officials. Retired General Mark Quantock highlighted the U.S.'s robust security against such threats.

• Israeli security forces arrested Zebah Abdel Salem Haniyeh, the sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, in Tel Sheva on charges of affiliating with Hamas and engaging in incitement and terror support, according to Israeli media and a police statement on Monday.

Military & Defense

• The Pentagon confirmed on Monday, April 1, that a senior Defense Department official experienced symptoms of "Havana syndrome" at the 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

• The 22nd Chinese Peacekeeping Construction Engineering Company to the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) conducted a comprehensive nighttime security and defense drill from March 27-29.

• A fire erupted at the Uralmash defense facility in Yekaterinburg, Russia, with state media reporting the incident on Monday. The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed to Interfax that the fire spanned an area of 4,000 square meters, later expanding to 4,500 square meters but was contained.

• A heated information battle spikes anew between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as both sides accuse each other of spreading disinformation and escalating conflict.

• South Korea has established a Defense AI Center, marking a significant move towards integrating artificial intelligence into its defense strategy.

Cybersecurity

• AT&T has disclosed that sensitive data of approximately 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former customers was found on the dark web, revealing a significant data breach involving Social Security numbers and passcodes. The origin of the leaked data, whether from AT&T or a vendor, is currently unclear, prompting an ongoing investigation by the Dallas-based telecommunications company.

• The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced a significant policy reform on Wednesday, issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking that mandates critical infrastructure organizations to report cybersecurity incidents. This initiative aims to enhance the federal government's understanding of breaches impacting key sectors like water and power utilities.

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Last week, the High Court in the United Kingdom delayed a decision on Julian Assange's potential appeal against extradition to the U.S. on charges of espionage and computer crime, extending the pause until May 20, 2024. This delay allows the U.S. government time to provide additional "assurances" regarding Assange's prosecution.

• In December 2017, Russia's Federal Security Service announced it had prevented an Islamic State attack in St. Petersburg, crediting a tip from the United States, which led to a public thank you from President Vladimir Putin to then-U.S. President Donald Trump. This rare instance of intelligence cooperation included a notable visit by directors of Russia's main intelligence agencies to Washington.

• The German Foreign Ministry has issued a warning to tourists visiting Russia, advising them against engaging in dates with individuals met through apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble due to the risk of espionage.

Transnational Organized Crime

• Just two days after the assassination of Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco in 2018, her widow met with Rivaldo Barbosa, the chief of the state's civil police, who promised to seek justice for Franco's murder. Contrary to these assurances, Barbosa was arrested over six years later, on March 24, by the Federal Police for allegedly having a role in orchestrating Franco's killing and for taking bribes to hinder the investigation he was supposed to lead.

• Sweden, historically seen as a beacon of safety, is grappling with a surge in organized crime, evidenced by building bombings and minors as young as 14 being engaged in hitman activities, transforming it into one of Europe's most violent countries.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Aprille Ericsson has made history as the first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology, sworn in by Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu at the Pentagon. With a distinguished career spanning over 30 years at NASA, Ericsson's latest role will have her at the helm of spearheading defense advancements through science and technology. Her appointment underscores the Pentagon's commitment to fostering innovation and addressing national security challenges through emerging technologies.

Defense and Space Exploration Trailblazer: Ericsson's journey to the Department of Defense (DOD) from NASA, where she recently managed the new business portfolio for the Goddard Space Flight Center's Instrument Systems and Technology Division, reflects her profound impact on both Space exploration and defense technologies. In her new position as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology (ASD S&T), she will manage a wide array of science and technology portfolios aimed at achieving breakthrough defense capabilities, aligning with the Pentagon's prioritization of critical emerging technologies for national security.

Breaking New Grounds: The Brooklyn native is no stranger to pioneering achievements. Ericsson's historic milestones include becoming the first African-American woman to obtain a PhD in mechanical engineering from Howard University and the first African-American woman to earn a PhD in engineering at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center..

In other news…

🧬 Outgoing Chairman Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and the top Democrat, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., of the House committee focused on China, have requested Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to brief Congress on whether certain Chinese biotechnology firms should be included on a civil-military fusion list. The request comes as Gallagher announces his resignation from Congress and aims to ensure that the Pentagon's mandatory assessments of these firms, including those operating within the U.S., are shared with lawmakers.

🧪 South Korea’s Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, and Shin Won-sik, Minister of National Defense, signed a business agreement to strengthen cooperation in the field of defense science and technology at the Daejeon Institute of Defense Science and Technology (ADD), The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on April 1. The two ministries have been cooperating in individual fields such as research and development and human resources development, but this is the first time they are promoting cooperation in all areas of defense, science and technology.

DEALS & FUNDING

In an unexpected turn within the stock market, an older stock has outperformed tech giants such as Amazon with a 117% increase since 2019, according to a report by Benzinga. This revelation comes alongside advice from the CNBC Investing Club’s “Morning Meeting” with Jim Cramer, who discussed the performances of specific stocks and the general uptrend in the U.S. stock market.

Stock Market Overview

The U.S. stock market experienced a robust week, as reported by CNBC, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all posting notable weekly gains. This positive trend was attributed to the Federal Reserve's indication of three anticipated interest rate cuts within the year. However, Jim Cramer advised investors to concentrate on companies' quarterly earnings rather than speculate on the timing of these rate cuts.

Focus on Individual Stocks

Jim Cramer highlighted the situation of Palo Alto Networks, which, despite the market's overall positive performance, saw a slight decline of about 2% year-to-date. This drop was considered an overreaction, especially when contrasted with the S&P 500’s gain of 10%. Cramer's analysis suggests a cautious approach to investing, emphasizing the importance of fundamental analysis over market speculation.

In other news…

🛬  The Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, has been awarded an additional $36.5 million in federal Defense funding, bringing the total federal investment to nearly $100 million since 2020.

💰️ The White House's fiscal 2024 budget proposal includes funding for the Army to initiate multi-year procurement contracts for munitions, notably the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement.

🚀 The Biden administration is reportedly on the verge of approving a significant sale of up to 50 F-15 fighter jets to Israel, potentially exceeding $18 billion, marking the largest U.S. foreign military sale to Israel since the conflict with Hamas began on October 7.