Good Morning. 

Russia has begun negotiations to supply North Korea with MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets, a South Korean special forces commander revealed the defense minister ordered troops to storm parliament and block lawmakers from ending martial law, FBI and CISA officials advised Americans to switch to encrypted messaging apps amid major telecom breaches, four Taiwanese soldiers - three from the presidential guard - were indicted for selling classified information to China, and a Haitian gang leader killed 110 elderly residents in Cite Soleil, accusing them of practicing witchcraft.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

The 11-Day Blitz That Ended Assad's 50-Year Dynasty in Syria

• Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after his regime collapsed in just 11 days, as rebels led by Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group rapidly captured major cities including Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and finally Damascus.

• Assad's downfall was precipitated by the weakening of his key allies - Russia being distracted by the Ukraine war, Iran becoming entangled in regional conflicts following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, and Hezbollah being severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes.

• In Assad's final hours as Syria's leader, he found himself abandoned by his military, which had been hollowed out by years of corruption and defections, and by his foreign allies who either couldn't or wouldn't come to his aid, leading to a swift rebel victory that ended 50 years of Assad family rule.

Counterterrorism

• Russia has entered talks to provide North Korea with MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets after receiving 12,000 troops. ➚

• Australian police reclassified a Melbourne synagogue arson as terrorism, straining relations between Australia and Israel. ➚

• Biden administration focuses on preventing ISIS resurgence in Syria while avoiding direct military involvement in conflict. ➚

Military & Defense

• A special forces commander claims he was ordered by South Korea's defense minister to storm parliament and block lawmakers from voting to end martial law. ➚

• Trump called for immediate Ukraine-Russia peace talks after meeting Zelenskiy in Paris at Notre-Dame's reopening. ➚

• Massive protests continue in Georgia after government suspended EU talks, with journalists reporting violent attacks during coverage. ➚

• Turkish-backed forces attacked Kurdish-held town of Manbij following Assad's fall, prompting fierce clashes in northern Syria. ➚

• The US announced a $988 million military aid package for Ukraine, focusing on HIMARS ammunition and drones. ➚

Cybersecurity

• FBI and CISA officials urge Americans to use encrypted messaging apps as China-linked hackers compromised major US telecoms. ➚

• Federal investigators probe violent online groups using cybercrime tactics to target and harm minors through extortion. ➚

• T-Mobile claims it blocked an attempted network breach by China-backed Salt Typhoon group targeting US telecoms. ➚

• UK supermarket Morrisons restores warehouse operations after ransomware attack on supplier Blue Yonder disrupted logistics. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• Four Taiwanese soldiers, including three from presidential security unit, charged with selling military secrets to China for $8,000-$20,000. ➚

• FBI warns of ongoing Chinese hacking campaign targeting US telecom networks, recommends encrypted messaging between Apple and Android. ➚

• Hungary's intelligence agency allegedly spied on EU anti-fraud investigators, following officials and hacking their devices. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• A Haitian gang leader massacred 110 elderly residents in Cite Soleil after blaming them for witchcraft. ➚

• Disappearances in Mexico's Sinaloa state double as rival cartel factions battle following arrest of leader El Mayo Zambada. ➚

• Russian security forces arrest Colombian cartel members and seize $55 million of cocaine bound for European markets. ➚

• Colombian police capture "The Doll," a 22-year-old alleged hitwoman accused of coordinating assassinations for drug gang. ➚

• Kenyan-led forces in Haiti face daily gun battles with gangs that control 85% of Port-au-Prince. ➚

The America Builds podcast sits at the nexus of national security, technology, and venture capital. Hosts Will Allen and Hayley Menser interview the brilliant operators and investors pushing the boundaries of frontier technology.