It's Wednesday, the 11th of November. Now, if you're in the U.S., it's Veterans Day, and a very big thank you to all of those who have served and who are currently serving. Welcome to the president's daily brief, I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Alright, let's get briefed. First up, Iran appears to be hitting back after a series of American strikes, targeting an island belonging to Oman as the battle for control of the straight-of-war moves continues. As an aside, Iran's top security official stated on Iranian television that there are no negotiations taking place between the U.S. and Iran. And we'll have the details. Later in the show, the war against the Houthis threatens to expand, with Syria reportedly preparing to deploy fighters to Saudi Arabia as tensions along the Yemeni border intensify. Plus, Russia and Ukraine return to the negotiating table for the first time in nine months, with American officials reporting progress after nearly four hours of peace talks in Abu Dhabi. And in today's back of the brief, British counterterrorism police arrest a U.S. Army soldier suspected of helping Russian intelligence as investigators examine a potential insider threat to American national security. But first, today's PDB spotlight. Nearly nine months after the U.S. launched its military campaign against Iran, the conflict appears to be settling into a dangerous new phase. American and Iranian forces are now engaged in a sustained low-intensity confrontation around the straight-of-war moves, with limited but fairly frequent military strikes, attacks on commercial shipping and continued efforts by both sides to control the waterway. And now, Iran appears to be hitting back, following a series of American strikes on Iranian territory. According to the Wall Street Journal, Iranian state media reported Tuesday that Tehran had attacked Dittamar Island, that's a small uninhabited island belonging to Oman. The island is located in the straight-of-war moves, and contains a lighthouse and navigation equipment used to guide commercial vessels through the waterway. Now, Iran claimed the facilities were being used to support oil smuggling, and Omani official confirmed an explosion on the island, although the extent of the damage remains unclear. The reported attack follows a series of American strikes against Iranian military positions on Keshmer Island, which we've been tracking here on the PDB. As we reported yesterday, American forces conducted additional attacks over the weekend against Iranian military infrastructure on the island, including air defense systems. Keshmer's Iran's largest island, and it occupies a strategically important position along the straight. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, maintains missile and drone facilities there on the island, along with naval infrastructure, used to threaten vessels moving through the waterway. American officials have characterized their strikes as limited defensive operations, rather than a return to the large-scale bombing campaign conducted earlier in the war. The objective, according to those officials, is to prevent Iranian forces from threatening American aircraft and commercial shipping. Now, the journal's latest reporting suggests that these encounters are becoming part of an increasingly familiar pattern. The US strikes Iranian military positions, Tehran continues threatening shipping, and challenging American control of the waterway, and both sides maintain pressure without necessarily launching a broader military offensive. There's no confirmation that the reported attack on OMON was direct retaliation for the Keshmer strikes, but the timing illustrates how easily this continuing confrontation could spread beyond American and Iranian targets, and the fighting is not limited to military installations. Commercial vessels have repeatedly come under attack in recent weeks, with October reportedly recording the highest number of attacks on shipping since the conflict began. And you may be asking, how go the supposed negotiations or indirect discussions between the US and Iran? Well, President Trump indicated that there was some progress in that regard, implying that, with negotiations at least progressing, he wasn't inclined to start another major military effort. Now, according to Iran's top security official, Mosin Orozai, there are no negotiations taking place. Now, he stated that to an Iranian broadcaster, so his comments may be designed to show regime strength to the Iranian population, but the reality is that Iran continues to demand that the US agree to several conditions that the regime laid out all the way back in June, before they'll agree to fully reopen the strait and engage in negotiations. The regime's current strategy appears similar to the way that it approached the US midterm elections. Then they dragged out any possible negotiations under the assumption that the Republicans would suffer a defeat at the hands of angry voters. Now, they likely plan on dragging out negotiations under the assumption that, when Democrats take control in Washington, they'll be able to extract more concessions. All right, coming up next, Syria prepares to enter the fight against the khutis and Russia and Ukraine resume peace talks for the first time in nine months. I'll be right back. Hey, Mike Baker here, with a word about your briefs. Now, I don't mean the President's daily briefs, I mean your underwear. Look, we've all dealt with underwear that constantly needs adjusting during a busy day or workout, you know what I'm talking about, the awkward tug. Now, that's why I want to tell you about a great company out there called Sheath, and why making the switch to Sheath makes all the difference. What sets Sheath apart is their dual-pouch innovation, which keeps your bait and tackle separated to eliminate sticking or chafing and constant distractions. Seriously, nobody wants sticking or chafing. Made from alter-soft, breathable bamboo and cotton, they offer a lightweight luxury feel, whether traveling or hitting the gym. Designed by an active duty soldier and recommended by urologists, Sheath is built for real performance. Now, not to get personal, but I'm here to tell you that Sheath underwear are the most comfortable underwear you're going to find. After trying Sheath, I am completely sold. Trust me, your daily routine will thank you. Feel it to believe it. Go to Sheath.com/PDB and use code PDB for 20% off. And Sheath even offers a first pair guarantee. Come on, so if it's not for you, you get your money back. But honestly, once you try these, there's no going back. That's Sheath. Let me spell that for you. S-H-E-A-T-H, just like it sounds. Sheath.com/PDB and use the code PDB for 20% off. Sheath, the underwear of legends. And me, of course, thanks to Sheath for sponsoring this episode. Welcome back to the PDB. Saudi Arabia is looking to Syria for help confronting the Khutis. Three officials familiar with the plans told the Associated Press that Damascus is preparing to send approximately 600 special forces fighters to Saudi Arabia. One Syrian official said they could arrive within the coming week. Saudi authorities specifically requested Syrian nationals, the official said, rather than foreign fighters who traveled to Syria during its Civil War to join rebel factions. The proposed deployment will give Saudi Arabia access to Syrian troops with years of combat experience from their country's Civil War. A Syrian military delegation, led by the commander of the country's 82nd Division, recently spent two weeks in Saudi Arabia. Another Syrian official said 36 officers visited a joint command and operations center in Jeddah, where Saudi and Yemeni officials briefed them on the battle fronts and potential areas of operation. Officials say the fighters are being prepared for positions along Saudi Arabia's border, with the possibility of joining operations against the Iran-backed Khutis. For Riyadh, the deployment would add to a military effort that relied heavily on air power, missile defenses, and support for Yemeni government troops. The Kingdom does have sophisticated American-made fighter jets and air defense systems, but those capabilities have not delivered a decisive defeat of the Khutis. The fighting we've been tracking here on the PDB helps explain why Saudi Arabia is seeking that support now. On Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition said that its air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile and a cruise missile headed toward Riyadh. It also reported shooting down another ballistic missile over the Kingdom's southern region and a drone over the oil-rich east. Civil defense authorities issued emergency warnings in the capital and in the southern cities of Abha and Khamis Masha'it. Those alerts were later lifted after officials said the threats had passed. However, the Khutis claimed a different outcome. Their military spokesmen said the rebels had struck King Khalid, international airport in Riyadh, and then oil facility hundreds of miles east. Those claims have not been independently confirmed. One of the most consequential threats now involves the Kingdom's east-west pipeline. That pipeline carries crude from Saudi Arabia's eastern oil-producing regions to the red seaport of Yanbu. With the wider war involving Iran still disrupting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, the pipelines become a critical alternative route for Saudi exports. Riyadh has been moving approximately 4 million barrels a day.
through that route, equivalent to roughly 4% of global oil supply. Now at the Saudi state media reported Monday that an attack on the pipeline in the Medina region caused a limited fire, but authorities said operations were not affected. On Tuesday, the Khutis claimed they had attacked the pipeline in Riyadh province. They denied attacking it in the Medina region, disputing the Saudi account of the earlier incident. Now Syria has largely stayed out of the wider regional war since the U.S. and Israel began military operations against Iran in February. President Ahmed Al-Sharab has been reluctant to commit a country still recovering from more than a decade of civil war to another conflict. Al-Sharab previously rejected proposals from President Trump to intervene against the Iran-backed Hasbola militant group in neighboring Lebanon, arguing that in Syria needed to concentrate on reconstruction. Saudi Arabia presents a different incentive, different motivation. During Syria's civil war, Riyadh provided financial assistance to rebel groups fighting Bashar al-Assad's government. Since Assad's fall, the Kingdom has helped Syria rebuild its relationships with other Arab countries and promised financial support for reconstruction. Sending troops would give Damascus a way to support a government that it relies on for reconstruction funding and diplomatic backing. However, joining operations against the Houthis could also expose Damascus to retaliation from Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq that maintained ties with the rebels. Turning now to the war in Ukraine, four hours of U.S. mediated talks ended with encouraging words from both Washington and Kiev. What's not clear is Russia's intentions with these talks and whether they have any interest in backing off their long-standing, maximalist demands. The delegations met Tuesday in Abu Dhabi and are scheduled to return today. This was their first direct trilateral meeting since February. Now looking back, three earlier rounds produced no breakthrough, so there is some history behind the cautious pessimism surrounding the current series of discussions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the discussions "very productive," but he also made clear that an agreement isn't just around the corner, "There's a lot of work to be done. It's not like something that's on the verge of being solved in the next 24 hours." Ukrainian President Zelensky sounded encouraged as well. He described the session as "constructive and quite substantive." Now, neither Rubio nor Zelensky were actually at the negotiating table. Rubio was speaking from Paris and Zelensky from Copenhagen, while their delegations handled the negotiations. For Washington, that meant President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Whitkoff, because, well, apparently, the U.S. only has two on-voice. Rushtet Moumurov led Ukraine's delegation, while Vladimir Medinsky, a longtime aide to Russian President Putin, headed Russia's team. As for what they discussed, Zelensky said much of the meeting, said they're not bringing people home. Prisoners of war, Ukrainian civilians held by Russia and children taken from Ukraine. The delegations also discussed security guarantees. A senior Ukrainian official said they explored a large-scale prisoner swap, that's something the two countries have done several times before, with details to be discussed in the coming days. That offers a possible opening, but no new exchange has been announced. Getting an agreement on the wider war, though, means confronting the demands that Moscow is still putting forward. Starting with territory, Putin has long wanted Ukrainian troops to withdraw from the Netsk, Luhansk, Zaporitsia and Krasnoy. Four regions that Russia doesn't actually completely control. Putin is demanding that Ukraine, essentially, hand over territory, currently under Ukrainian, not Russian control. Moscow also wants Ukraine to give up its ambition to join NATO and accept strict limits on its military size and capabilities. Ukraine has obviously consistently rejected those demands. Luhansk's position is that Ukraine needs both the ability to defend itself and credible Western security guarantees in order to prevent Russia from invading again. Even getting to a limited settlement here presents another disagreement. When to actually stop the fighting, Kiev wants an immediate ceasefire, followed by negotiations on a broader agreement. Putin wants that comprehensive agreement first. He argues that a pause would give Ukrainian forces time to regroup and replenish their weapons. That's the impasse of Washington has long been trying to work through. Kushner said there were "some good ideas on how to bridge the differences." The administration is also looking beyond Ukraine itself toward a broader European security agreement. Trump said last week that it would "involve more than Ukraine." Kushner said a lasting settlement would "require Russia and European partners to engage directly." Moscow welcomes that approach, that by itself should have you worried. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called it sensible to establish a future European security framework "and only then resolve the war in Ukraine." Meanwhile, these discussions have not stopped the attacks. Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 162 drones in a ballistic missile overnight Tuesday. Russia, for its part, claimed it intercepted 155 drones across eight Russian regions and occupied Crimea. As the delegation's return Wednesday, there's still no announced ceasefire or agreement on territory and security guarantees. And so, Putin's war drags on. All right, coming up at the back of the brief, then American soldier with access to sensitive military information is arrested in Britain, accused of potentially betraying his country to Russian intelligence. More on that when we come back. Hey, Mike Baker here. It's an incredible site that I use all the time. It delivers iconic legendary food from top restaurants and bakeries across the country right to your doorstep. It's that simple. And, with thanksgiving and the holidays right around the corner, Gold Belly completely takes the stress out of hosting. You can skip spending all day stuck in the kitchen and instead treat yourself and all your guests to unforgettable crowd-pleasing meals sent directly to your home. I've ordered everything from Joe's Kansas City ribs to McCloon's lobster rolls to Inaigardin's cupcakes and a variety of other great foods and everything arrived super fast, perfectly packed and absolutely fresh. Plus, it's a great way to pre-order holiday guests for family and friends anywhere nationwide. Like Magnolia, bakeries, banana pudding, that stuff is amazing. So if you're looking for that perfect holiday gift or you want to impress your friends and family with an epic thanksgiving, go to goldbelly.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code PDB. That's goldbelly.com code PDB for 20% off your first order. Hey, Mike Baker here with a message for dog lovers everywhere. Now, I want to tell you about Sundays for dogs. It's a company producing seriously top quality food for your dogs. Sundays uses real human grade meat with no fillers or synthetic additives. Veterinarian Tori Waxman developed Sundays for dogs because well because she wanted pet food that she could really stand behind. Recipes contain 80% plus on natural meat, gently air-dried, never high heat processed. There's no chemicals, just simple nutrition. It's effortless. No fridge, no freezer, no mess, just scoop and serve. You get the quality of home-cooked meals with the ease of kibble. Over 100,000 dogs are now eating Sundays with folks routinely noticing shinier coats, better digestion and more energy. Make the switch to Sundays. Go right now to sundaysfordogs.com/PDB and get 30% off your first order or you can just use code PDB at checkout. That's 30% off your first order at sundaysfordogs.com/PDB or use the code PDB at checkout. In today's back of the brief, an American soldier has been arrested in Britain on suspicion of helping Russian intelligence. British counterterrorism police say the 41-year-old serviceman was taken into custody Tuesday near Gloucester and Western England, following an investigation conducted with American authorities, the FBI and the U.S. military. He's suspected of violating two provisions of Britain's National Security Act. In concerns obtaining or disclosing protected information, the other involves assisting a foreign intelligence service. And a British authorities have made clear which foreign country is involved. That would be Russia. I'm shocked. Officers also search two locations in the surrounding Gloucester area. The suspect remains in custody in London. The investigation involves Britain's domestic security service, MI5, along with military counterintelligence personnel on both sides of the Atlantic. And American officials are treating the allegations as a serious potential security breach. Brigadier General Sean Stinchin, who commands army counterintelligence, called the case a reminder that insider threats are real and persistent. Now they haven't identified the soldier, disclosed as rank or assignment, or explained what information he allegedly accessed. And they haven't said whether anything actually made its way into Russian hands. But FBI Director Cash Patel called the allegations a matter of serious concern for the U.S. and its allies. He warned that the bureau would not tolerate anyone who violates their oath and endagers American security.
Well, that just makes sense. Yeah, we're not going to tolerate that. We're not putting up with that. Patel also offered a striking figure. He says the FBI has made 167 counterintelligence and espionage arrests over just the past 21 months. And that's an increase of 53% over the previous period. Now the location of the arrest might sound familiar. Gloucestershire is home to RAF Fairford. That's the British base where the US recently withdrew bombers amid reports of a suspected Iranian threat. While they have not provided much in the way of detail yet, police do state that this Russian espionage investigation is not connected to other ongoing cases. And that, my friends, is the president's daily brief for Wednesday, the 11th of November. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at
[email protected]. And of course, if you've gotten ad-free PDB on your Christmas wish list, well, we can make that happen. Just become a premium member of the president's daily brief by visiting PDBpremium.com. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool. (upbeat music) [BLANK_AUDIO]
PodcastTranscript AI