NEW | #Khamenei briefly lost control of his audience during a speech to #Basij students on April 18, indicating the degree to which dissatisfaction has spread among parts of the Iranian regime’s most loyal factions. New update from CTP & @TheStudyofWar: criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-… /5
Strike activity among #Iranian petrochemical, copper, and steel industry workers increased significantly between April 22 and 24 in response to worsening economic conditions. 2/5
At least 14 protests occurred in 13 cities across 12 provinces on April 24. 3/5
CTP recorded at least three reported poisonings in three cities in three provinces on April 24. CTP did not record reported poisonings on April 22-23. 4/5
#Ukrainian forces have made marginal gains south of #Kreminna as of April 24. 2/5
#Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks along the #Avdiivka-Donetsk City line on April 24. The #Ukrainian General Staff reported on April 23 and 24 that Russian forces did not conduct any ground attacks in western #Donetsk Oblast. 3/5
ISW is publishing a special edition campaign assessment outlining the Russian order of battle in Ukraine, assessing the offensive and defensive capabilities of certain Russian forces, and discussing factors that may complicate Russian defensive operations. criticalthreats.org/analysis/russi…twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Russian forces in Ukraine are operating in decentralized and largely degraded formations throughout the theater, and the current pattern of deployment suggests that most available units are already online and engaged in either offensive or defensive operations.
Russia has committed elements of previously damaged Western Military District (WMD) formations to the Kupyansk area.
NEW | Russian milbloggers have provided enough geolocated footage and textual reports to confirm that #Ukrainian forces have established positions in east (left) bank #Kherson Oblast as of April 22. Read today's update from CTP and @TheStudyofWar: criticalthreats.org/analysis/russi… (1/5)
Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line and near Siversk. (2/5)
Russian forces continued to advance around #Bakhmut on April 22, although Russian forces have not completed a turning movement around the city. (3/5)
The #Iranian regime is preparing to deploy its security services to deter and likely crack down on the planned demonstrations during the upcoming Iranian holidays. Read today's update from @TheStudyofWar and CTP: criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-…
Student poisonings occurred on March 11, 12, and 13 in Iranian provinces that saw significant protest activity during the #MahsaAmini protest movement. #مسمومیت_دانش_آموزان
Iranian public figures continue to suggest that the regime or regime-adjacent actors are in some way responsible for the poisoning campaign primarily targeting schoolgirls in recent months.
It seeks to persuade the Taiwanese people and the international community to accept unification peacefully. It seeks to coerce such acceptance through forceful means short of war. And it is preparing to compel unification through direct military action.
#China wins — and #Taiwan and the West lose — if #Beijing arrives in #Taipei by any one of these roads. The U.S. and its partners must block all three.
“China’s persuasion and coercion campaigns target the will of Taiwan, the United States, and America’s allies to defend the island.” Read the new report from @AEI and @TheStudyofWar: criticalthreats.org/analysis/china… (1/4)
“US policy risks making a grave error by seeing China’s expanding military operations around Taiwan only through the prism of preparations for an invasion.” (2/4)
"The narrow focus on the threat of Chinese invasion...marginalizes an alternative compellence strategy that would flow far more naturally from China’s persuasion and coercion efforts—a strategy of isolation." (3/4)