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The Gusinsky’s Revenge, Part 2: The Deus ex machina


Selected Posts: Gusinsky, Lesin, and the FBI: The Goose and his Revenge: The Investigation in tweets 

November 15, 2025

The Gusinsky’s Revenge

Part 2   |   Part 1

The Investigation in tweets

 

The Deus ex machina

Gusinsky and Lesin – GS

Vladimir Gusinsky and Mikhail Lesin were two influential Russian media figures involved in the post-Soviet media landscape. Gusinsky, a prominent media mogul and founder of the NTV television network, had a contentious relationship with the Kremlin and ultimately fled Russia. Lesin, a former press minister and media advisor to the Kremlin, was instrumental in shaping the state-controlled media and played a key role in developing the industry. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

 

Here’s a breakdown of their roles and interactions:

 

Vladimir Gusinsky: [1, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16]
  • Media Mogul: Gusinsky was a highly successful businessman who founded NTV, the first major independent television network in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
  • Controversial Figure:His media outlets were critical of the government, leading to ongoing conflict with the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin.
  • Fled Russia: After facing criminal charges and pressure from the government, Gusinsky was forced to flee Russia in 2000.
  • Later Life: He continued to be involved in media, though his influence in Russia diminished.
Mikhail Lesin: [1, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24]
  • Government Official and Advisor:Lesin served as Russia’s Minister of Press, Television, and Radio, and later as an advisor to President Putin.
  • Shaped State Media: He played a significant role in establishing and controlling state-aligned media, often working to consolidate power and promote the Kremlin’s agenda.
  • Controversial Figure: Like Gusinsky, Lesin was a complex and controversial figure, with critics accusing him of suppressing media freedom.
  • Mysterious Death: Lesin died in 2015 under circumstances that remain debated, with some sources attributing his death to natural causes and others suggesting foul play.
Key Interaction: [1, 25]
  • Gusinsky and Lesin’s paths crossed when Lesin was in a position of power within the government and Gusinsky was a target. Lesin was instrumental in the crackdown on independent media, including NTV, and ultimately contributed to the decline of Gusinsky’s media empire.
In essence, Gusinsky represented the struggle for independent media in Russia, while Lesin represented the state’s efforts to control the narrative. [1, 26, 27, 28]



AI responses may include mistakes.


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Featured Posts The News And Times Blog

AI Review: How to measure the efficiency of the Intelligence Agencies? How will the Trump’s cuts affect the CIA?


How to measure the efficiency of the Intelligence Agencies? How will the Trump’s cuts affect the CIA? “In conclusion, while a simple “efficiency score” for an intelligence agency is unrealistic, a comprehensive and thoughtful evaluation framework that considers outcomes, processes, and perceptions, while acknowledging the inherent challenges, can provide valuable insights into how effectively these vital organizations are operating and where improvements can be made.”

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How to measure the efficiency of the Intelligence Agencies?

Gemini 

Measuring the efficiency of intelligence agencies is a complex endeavor, fraught with unique challenges not typically encountered when evaluating other government organizations or private sector entities. Due to the clandestine nature of their work, the sensitivity of their information, and the long-term and often indirect impact of their efforts, traditional metrics of efficiency, such as cost-benefit analyses or direct output measurements, often fall short.

However, a more nuanced approach can be taken by considering a range of factors and indicators, both qualitative and quantitative:

1. Outcome-Based Measures (Effectiveness leading to Efficiency):

  • Prevention of Threats: Arguably the most critical measure. How effective is the agency in preventing terrorist attacks, cyber intrusions, espionage, and other threats to national security? This is difficult to quantify directly but can be assessed through:
    • Number of disrupted plots or attacks: While a significant indicator, it doesn’t capture the full scope of deterrence.
    • Reduced impact of successful attacks: Were the consequences mitigated due to timely warnings or intelligence-led responses?
    • Expert assessments and after-action reviews: Qualitative analyses of how intelligence contributed to averting or minimizing harm.
  • Strategic Warning: How timely and accurate is the intelligence provided to policymakers regarding emerging threats and crises?
    • Accuracy of forecasts and assessments: Evaluating historical intelligence products against actual events.
    • Timeliness of dissemination: Was the information available when needed for decision-making?
    • Impact on policy decisions: Did the intelligence inform and improve the quality of national security strategies?
  • Support to Operations: How effectively does intelligence support military, law enforcement, and diplomatic efforts?
    • Actionable intelligence provided: Did the intelligence lead to successful operations or outcomes?
    • Relevance and accuracy of targeting data: In military contexts, this is a critical measure.
    • Situational awareness enhancement: Did intelligence improve the understanding of the operational environment?

2. Process-Oriented Measures (How efficiently are tasks performed?):

  • Timeliness of Production and Dissemination: How quickly is raw intelligence processed, analyzed, and delivered to the relevant consumers?
    • Mean time to produce finished intelligence products.
    • Speed of dissemination through appropriate channels.
  • Resource Management: How efficiently are financial, human, and technological resources utilized?
    • Cost-effectiveness of collection platforms and operations.
    • Personnel productivity and workload management.
    • Minimization of redundancies and overlaps within and between agencies.
  • Information Management: How effectively is intelligence data stored, retrieved, and shared (appropriately)?
    • Efficiency of data processing and analysis tools.
    • Accessibility of relevant information to authorized users.
    • Security and integrity of data holdings.
  • Accuracy and Reliability: What is the track record of the agency in producing accurate and reliable intelligence?
    • Low rate of errors or retractions.
    • High confidence levels in assessments, clearly communicated.
    • Effective validation and vetting processes for sources and information.

3. Trust and Perception-Based Measures:

  • Public Trust and Confidence: While difficult to directly link to efficiency, public trust can impact an agency’s legitimacy and effectiveness in the long run.
    • Surveys of public opinion (though these can be influenced by many factors).
    • Media coverage and public discourse surrounding the agency.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Feedback from policymakers, military commanders, and other intelligence consumers regarding the utility and quality of intelligence products and services.
    • Formal feedback mechanisms and surveys.
    • Informal communication and engagement.
  • Adherence to Legal and Ethical Standards: Efficient intelligence gathering should not come at the expense of legality and ethics.
    • Number of legal challenges or violations.
    • Oversight body reports and findings.
    • Internal compliance mechanisms and audits.

Challenges in Measuring Efficiency:

  • Secrecy and Classification: The very nature of intelligence work limits transparency and the ability to use open-source data for evaluation.
  • Long-Term Impact: The benefits of intelligence work, such as preventing a future attack, are often intangible and difficult to attribute directly.
  • Complexity of Threats: The evolving nature of threats requires constant adaptation, making it hard to establish consistent benchmarks.
  • Attribution Issues: It can be challenging to definitively prove that an intelligence action directly led to a specific outcome.
  • Politicization: Intelligence assessments can sometimes be influenced by political considerations, complicating objective evaluation.
  • Lack of Standardized Metrics: There is no universally agreed-upon framework for measuring intelligence efficiency across different agencies and countries.

Moving Forward:

Measuring intelligence agency efficiency requires a multi-faceted approach that combines quantitative data where possible with qualitative assessments and expert judgment. Emphasis should be placed on:

  • Developing clear objectives and priorities: This provides a basis for evaluating whether the agency is achieving its intended goals.
  • Establishing robust oversight mechanisms: Independent bodies can provide objective evaluations and identify areas for improvement.
  • Promoting a culture of evaluation: Encouraging internal assessments and lessons learned.
  • Investing in data analytics and technology: To better track processes and outcomes while respecting security constraints.
  • Fostering dialogue between intelligence professionals, policymakers, and oversight bodies: To develop more effective and relevant measures of efficiency.

In conclusion, while a simple “efficiency score” for an intelligence agency is unrealistic, a comprehensive and thoughtful evaluation framework that considers outcomes, processes, and perceptions, while acknowledging the inherent challenges, can provide valuable insights into how effectively these vital organizations are operating and where improvements can be made.

https://g.co/gemini/share/68a03c21bfc6

Intelligence and Counterintelligence – AI Review

https://www.google.com/collections/s/list/nxTRV_7dRICjjI8L5Iuw3A/If3OWsa6Qb8

Measuring the efficiency of intelligence agency AI systems requires a multi-faceted approach, encompassing quantitative performance metrics, qualitative assessments, and ethical considerations. Key areas to focus on include system performance and outcomes, risk management, ethical implications, social impact, and organizational readiness and adoption. [1, 2]
Key Metrics and Considerations: [3, 3]
  • System Performance and Outcomes: [3, 3]
    • Accuracy: How often the AI system’s predictions match actual outcomes. [3, 3]
    • Speed and Latency: How quickly the AI system can process information and generate results. [4, 4]
    • Efficiency and Scalability: How efficiently the AI system utilizes resources (time, space, energy) and how well it handles increasing workloads. [5, 5, 6, 7]
    • Task Completion Time: How long it takes for the AI to complete assigned tasks. [8, 8]
    • User Satisfaction: How effectively the AI system assists users in their work. [9, 9]
    • Uptime and Error Rate: How consistently the AI system is available and how often it produces errors. [10, 10]
  • Risk Management: [11, 11]
    • Data Privacy and Security: How well the AI system protects sensitive data and prevents unauthorized access. [11, 11, 12, 13, 14]
    • Compliance: Adherence to relevant regulations and ethical guidelines. [1, 1, 15, 16]
  • Ethical Implications: [11, 11, 17, 17]
    • Bias Detection and Mitigation: Identifying and addressing any biases in the AI system’s training data and algorithms. [11, 11, 17, 17, 18]
    • Explainability and Interpretability: Understanding how the AI system arrives at its conclusions and ensuring transparency. [11, 11, 19, 20, 21]
  • Social Impact: [11, 11]
    • Impact on Human Workforce: Assessing how the AI system affects the roles and responsibilities of intelligence personnel. [11, 11, 22]
    • Bias in Algorithms: Ensuring that AI systems do not perpetuate or amplify existing societal biases. [11, 11, 23]
  • Organizational Readiness and Adoption: [1, 1]
    • Training and Support: Providing adequate training and support for personnel to effectively use the AI system. [1, 1, 24, 25]
    • Organizational Culture: Ensuring that the organization is receptive to and able to integrate AI into its workflow. [1, 1, 26, 27]
Beyond the Metrics: [11, 11]
  • Human Oversight: Maintaining human oversight of the AI system to ensure accuracy, fairness, and accountability. [11, 11, 28, 29, 30, 31]
  • Continuous Monitoring and Improvement: Regularly evaluating the AI system’s performance and making adjustments as needed. [1, 1, 32]
  • Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Fostering collaboration between intelligence agencies, researchers, and policymakers to develop best practices for using AI in intelligence. [11, 11, 33, 34]
Generative AI is experimental.
AI Review: How to measure the efficiency of the Intelligence Agencies?
Measuring the efficiency of intelligence agencies is a complex endeavor, as their work often involves secrecy and long-term impacts that are difficult to quantify

. 

Here’s a breakdown of how one might approach measuring their efficiency, with a focus on challenges and potential metrics:
Challenges:
  • Secrecy and Sensitivity: Many operations and results are classified, making public or independent assessment difficult.
  • Attribution and Causality: It can be challenging to directly link specific intelligence activities to positive outcomes or to determine if a particular event would have unfolded differently without the agency’s involvement.
  • Defining Success: What constitutes “success” for an intelligence agency can be multifaceted and subjective, ranging from preventing terrorist attacks to informing policy decisions.
  • Long-Term Impacts: The impact of intelligence work may not be immediately apparent and can unfold over years or decades. 
Potential Metrics & Evaluation Areas:
  • Timeliness and Accuracy of Intelligence:
    • How quickly and reliably does the agency deliver actionable intelligence to decision-makers?
    • How accurate are the agency’s predictions and assessments of threats and opportunities?
  • Effectiveness in Achieving Objectives:
    • Has the agency successfully disrupted terrorist plots, countered foreign espionage, or supported military operations?
    • How effectively does the agency contribute to achieving national security goals as defined in strategic documents like the National Security Strategy?
  • Efficiency of Operations and Resource Utilization:
    • How cost-effective are the agency’s intelligence gathering methods and analysis processes?
    • Are there areas where duplication or inefficiency can be addressed?
  • Responsiveness to Policy Needs:
    • How effectively does the agency anticipate and respond to the evolving intelligence needs of policymakers?
    • Is the agency’s intelligence product tailored to the specific requirements of different customers (e.g., policymakers, military leaders)?
  • Adaptability and Innovation:
    • How effectively does the agency adapt to emerging threats and technological advancements (e.g., AI, cyber)?
    • Does the agency foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in its methods and technologies?
  • Compliance and Oversight:
    • Does the agency operate within the bounds of the law and respect civil liberties?
    • How effectively are oversight mechanisms (e.g., legislative committees, inspectors general) functioning? 
Methods for Evaluation:
  • Independent Reviews: Commissions or panels of experts could conduct periodic reviews, accessing classified information and interviewing agency personnel.
  • Performance Audits: Inspectors General within the agencies or parent organizations can assess operational efficiency and compliance.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: Soliciting feedback from policymakers and other users of intelligence products can provide insights into the agency’s effectiveness and responsiveness.
  • Comparative Analysis: Benchmarking the performance of intelligence agencies against those of other countries (where possible) can offer insights into best practices and areas for improvement. 
Important Considerations:
  • Balancing Security and Transparency: Any evaluation framework must carefully balance the need for accountability and transparency with the need to protect sensitive information and sources.
  • Avoiding Unrealistic Expectations: Intelligence agencies operate in a complex and uncertain environment, and not all threats can be anticipated or prevented.
  • Qualitative Insights: Metrics should be complemented by qualitative assessments that consider the broader context and the agency’s contribution to national security. 
AI Mode is experimental and can make mistakes. Learn more

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OSINT

OSN – Observer Security Network: 🔴 ISRAELI GROUND INCURSION REPORTED IN QUNEITRA 🇸🇾 ISRAELI FORCES executed a tactical raid in RASM AL-AJRAF, southern SYRIA. The operation involved house-to-house searches, signaling elevated border tensions near the GOLAN HEIGHTS. 🛰️🪖 #SYRIA #OSINT


🔴 ISRAELI GROUND INCURSION REPORTED IN QUNEITRA 🇸🇾

ISRAELI FORCES executed a tactical raid in RASM AL-AJRAF, southern SYRIA. The operation involved house-to-house searches, signaling elevated border tensions near the GOLAN HEIGHTS. 🛰️🪖

#SYRIA  #OSINT


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OSINT

ORACLE World Risk Intelligence: Iran’s linkage of the Strait of Hormuz reopening to regional peace efforts is significant. Monitoring continues as developments in the Middle East may influence regional stability. #AIAnalysis #OSINT #Ukraine #Russia #NATO #Taiwan #China #SouthChinaSea #Iran #Israel #MiddleEast


Iran’s linkage of the Strait of Hormuz reopening to regional peace efforts is significant. Monitoring continues as developments in the Middle East may influence regional stability.
  #AIAnalysis  #OSINT  #Ukraine  #Russia  #NATO  #Taiwan  #China  #SouthChinaSea  #Iran  #Israel  #MiddleEast

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OSINT

Divinmentis: A Russian serviceman was killed and his wife injured when their car exploded in St. Petersburg’s Pushkinsky district, investigators say. His identity and rank were not released. No perpetrator has been identified. #Russia #Ukraine #OSINT


A Russian serviceman was killed and his wife injured when their car exploded in St. Petersburg’s Pushkinsky district, investigators say. His identity and rank were not released. No perpetrator has been identified.  #Russia  #Ukraine  #OSINT

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OSINT

War Watch Intel: 📡 HOURLY UPDATE Multiple US Air Force spy and command-and-control jets airborne over the continental US alongside refueling tankers and a surveillance drone, following five coded radio broadcasts… War Watch Intel — Live 24/7 on #OSINT #WarWatchIntel


📡 HOURLY UPDATE
Multiple US Air Force spy and command-and-control jets airborne over the continental US alongside refueling tankers and a surveillance drone, following five coded radio broadcasts…
War Watch Intel — Live 24/7 on  https://t.co/jaoFM9iUNz
#OSINT  #WarWatchIntel

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Security and Intelligence

MORE: Iran is facing an acute fuel crisis, which has been exacerbated by the US naval blockade. 🧵(1/3) The lack of trade during the war has also led to shortages in foreign currency and basic goods, causing hyperinflation, all of which have reduced Iranians’ purchasing power and deteriorated Iran’s economic conditions.


MORE: Iran is facing an acute fuel crisis, which has been exacerbated by the US naval blockade. 🧵(1/3)

The lack of trade during the war has also led to shortages in foreign currency and basic goods, causing hyperinflation, all of which have reduced Iranians’ purchasing power and deteriorated Iran’s economic conditions.Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar)NEW: The Iranian officials currently dominating regime decision-making appear to retain their anti-concessions stance vis-à-vis the United States despite compounding US economic pressure and a worsening domestic fuel crisis. Western media has recently reported long lines at gas stations and gas station closures as a result of fuel shortages across Iran.

Other Key Takeaways:

Key decision-makers in Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s inner circle continue to threaten to respond to US economic pressure and do not appear to have softened their position on core regime demands.

Some senior Pezeshkian administration officials are trying to downplay the situation and reassure the public, likely to try to mitigate the risk of social unrest during this economic crisis.

The Iranian regime appears to be considering several courses of action to address the fuel crisis, including potentially raising gasoline prices. Raising fuel prices has previously caused widespread protests in Iran.

Some peripheral elements of the Iranian regime are more openly advocating for the development of nuclear weapons.

These parliamentarians and commentators’ support for nuclear weapons development reflects a public debate over how Iran should restore deterrence after the recent US-Israel-Iran War, similar to debates that followed the June 2025 Israel-Iran War.

The recent public discussions about nuclear weapons among peripheral elements of the regime may reflect decreased control over the information space by the Supreme Leader, as opposed to an actual increase in discussions about nuclear weapons.—  https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2093119689475965327


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Security and Intelligence

I love these posts.


I love these posts.Josh Barzon (@JoshuaBarzon)You could move to New York City.

Rent an 852-square-foot apartment for $5,503 a month.

Blow $500 on three “first dates” a week and somehow remain single for six years.

Finally meet someone you like, then discover they’re “not really looking for anything serious right now.”

Get a master’s degree so you can qualify for an internship.

Apply to 147 jobs, get 93 automated rejections, and finally find an “entry-level” position requiring five years of experience.

Eventually land a six-figure job and still need a roommate to make rent.

Pay federal income tax, New York State income tax, AND New York City income tax because apparently living there is a three-level subscription.

Learn that a “quiet neighborhood” means the sirens only come by every 20 minutes.

Pay $27 every day for a sandwich (no sides) because the place has exposed brick and a handwritten menu.

Take the subway to work every morning and develop the useful skill of pretending not to notice absolutely anything happening around you.

Spend 45 minutes traveling three miles.

Carry your groceries home six blocks because parking near your apartment is more of a philosophical concept than an actual possibility.

Have “owning a washer and dryer” become one of your primary measures of generational wealth.

Walk past a mountain of trash bags on your way to a restaurant with a Michelin star.

Tell your friends back home you don’t need a car while spending $46 on an Uber because the subway is delayed again.

Go to Central Park when you want to remember what trees look like.

Spend your twenties telling everyone you could NEVER live anywhere else.

Then one day you visit your cousin in Iowa.

He has a house with four bedrooms, a garage, a yard, two cars, four kids, and somehow pays less than you do for the apartment where your refrigerator touches your couch.

But hey.

The NYC bagels are incredible.—  https://x.com/JoshuaBarzon/status/2089347718632124918


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Security and Intelligence

MORE: The nature of the Russian threat that the US is reportedly attempting to deter in 2026 is significantly different from the threat of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late 2021. 🧵(1/3) ISW has collected no specific indicators that Russia is preparing to conduct a large-scale invasion of the Baltic states, and ISW has observed no evidence of a similar large-scale buildup in the Russian border area with the Baltic states. Estonian and Latvian officials noted that their assessment of Russian threats has not changed, suggesting that Baltic states have also not observed a buildup of Russian forces on their borders. Russia could, however, conduct strikes against targets in Baltic s


MORE: The nature of the Russian threat that the US is reportedly attempting to deter in 2026 is significantly different from the threat of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late 2021. 🧵(1/3)

ISW has collected no specific indicators that Russia is preparing to conduct a large-scale invasion of the Baltic states, and ISW has observed no evidence of a similar large-scale buildup in the Russian border area with the Baltic states.

Estonian and Latvian officials noted that their assessment of Russian threats has not changed, suggesting that Baltic states have also not observed a buildup of Russian forces on their borders.

Russia could, however, conduct strikes against targets in Baltic states or a limited land incursion with a small force. This sort of attack would not necessarily require a large, visible military buildup and so would not generate the type of indicators that analysts observed in 2021. It remains unclear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed or approved that Russian forces conduct any operations, but Ratcliffe’s visit is noteworthy and itself suggests that the US has indications that Russia is preparing for an act of aggression sooner than simply within “the next few years.”Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar)NEW: US Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow suggests that Russia may be preparing to conduct an act of aggression against a NATO member in the relatively near term to invalidate NATO’s Article 5. A near-term Russian attack is highly unlikely to involve a full-scale conventional invasion of a NATO state.

The nature of the Russian threat that the US is reportedly attempting to deter in 2026 is significantly different from the threat of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late 2021.

The Kremlin continues to deflect Western concerns and deny any intention of conducting aggression against NATO, but these statements are part of a larger effort to create ambiguity and to degrade the alliance’s resolve to counter Russian threats.

Baltic state officials and government-affiliated analysts emphasized that NATO should take the Russian threat seriously but that their immediate threat assessment has not changed.

Russia may conduct air, missile, or drone strikes or a limited incursion against one or more Baltic states to test and seek to break NATO’s resolve to invoke and respond under Article 5.

Several unidentified drones entered Moldovan airspace on the night of August 26 to 27, demonstrating that the Kremlin continues to accept the risk that Russia’s war against Ukraine can cause damage to other states, including Moldova and NATO states bordering Ukraine.

Other Key Takeaways ⬇️—  https://x.com/TheStudyofWar/status/2093145004189347850


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OSINT

Ukrainian attack drones struck Russia’s Engels airbase this morning, home to the Russian Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet. At least one fire could be seen in the vicinity of the flight line.


Ukrainian attack drones struck Russia’s Engels airbase this morning, home to the Russian Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet.

At least one fire could be seen in the vicinity of the flight line.
Video
 


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Security and Intelligence

Ukrainian attack drones struck Russia’s Engels airbase this morning, home to the Russian Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet. At least one fire could be seen in the vicinity of the flight line.


Ukrainian attack drones struck Russia’s Engels airbase this morning, home to the Russian Air Force’s strategic bomber fleet.

At least one fire could be seen in the vicinity of the flight line.
Video
 


Categories
OSINT

OSN – Observer Security Network: 🚨 SYRIA STABILITY SHIFT UK BACKS SDF DISSOLUTION 🇬🇧🇸🇾 The UK formally supports the end of the SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES as SYRIA enters a new political transition phase under the interim government agreement. Significant regional power shift. 🗺️📉 #SYRIA #OSINT


🚨 SYRIA STABILITY SHIFT UK BACKS SDF DISSOLUTION 🇬🇧🇸🇾

The UK formally supports the end of the SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC FORCES as SYRIA enters a new political transition phase under the interim government agreement. Significant regional power shift. 🗺️📉

#SYRIA  #OSINT