NEW: The Trump administration is seeking congressional approval for nearly $6 billion in weapons for Israel including attack helicopters and military vehicles, even as Israel launched its attack in Qatar and new offensive in Gaza City: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Inside Syria's death factory: Assad's regime carried out industrial-scale torture and executions that killed tens of thousands over more than a decade. "The worst atrocity of the 21st century" in terms of government involvement. @jmalsin.bsky.social Hamza Bonduk www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Since December we have been investigating the Assad regime's killings in Saydnaya prison. Based on interviews with 21 former detainees, we show the extent of the atrocities committed in the prison, including an incident in March 2023 in which some 600 men were executed in one week:

An initial US intelligence assessment says US strikes only set back Iran's nuclear program by a few months and did not destroy underground structures at two of the sites. Our take (first reported today by CNN and NYT): www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Israeli forces intercepted a sailboat carrying activists, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, who planned to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli blockade on the enclave. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

The Trump administration has stopped financing new weapons sales to Ukraine and is considering freezing weapons shipments from U.S. stockpiles, current and former U.S. officials said // New from Nancy Youssef and me: www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

From his island prison cell near Istanbul, the PKK's leader calls on his group to disarm and disband after a 40-year war with the Turkish state. The potential consequences for the region are vast if the militant group and its affiliates heed the call: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Trump revoked the NSM-20, a little known but important Biden directive requiring key US weapons recipients to certify their compliance with international law: wapo.st/3ETH2bD

Maha Yahya argues the Middle East needs a Marshall Plan: "The World Bank and UN organizations have estimated that rebuilding the Middle East and providing enough humanitarian aid will cost between $350 and $650 billion." www.foreignaffairs.com/middle-east/...

Fascinating glimpse of what the Syrian Mukhabarat was up to as their world crumbled, by @wsj.com’s Isabel Coles, @jmalsin.bsky.social, and Asmaa al-Omar. www.wsj.com/world/middle... (Jan 29.)

Israel is seeking a second extension to the implementation of the ceasefire deal in Lebanon, creating more friction at a time when the truces in both Lebanon and Gaza are at risk: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

“U.S. intelligence agencies concluded during the final days of the Biden administration that Israel is considering significant strikes on Iranian nuclear sites this year,” report @wsj.com’s @alexward.bsky.social, Dov Lieber, and @jmalsin.bsky.social. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Israel is considering significant strikes on Iranian nuclear sites this year according to officials familiar with the intelligence. New from me and WSJ colleagues: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Importantly, Trump sent this arms sale to congress overriding a hold by Democrats in congress, breaking with the usual process for review of foreign arms sales.

The Trump administration has asked congressional leaders to approve new transfers of roughly $1 billion worth of bombs and other military hardware to Israel, according to U.S. officials familiar with the sale | New from me and Nancy Youssef: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Moscow Has $2 Billion Stuck at JPMorgan. The U.S. Isn’t Sure What to Do With It. HT @jmalsin.bsky.social www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

The U.S. isn’t sure what to do with $2 billion that Russia has stuck at JPMorgan. The money was frozen after Justice Department investigators found Russia and Turkey had used a nuclear plant to sidestep U.S. sanctions. // Our story out today: www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

"Do what is necessary:" Syrian military intelligence files tell the story of the collapse of the Assad regime as seen by its most loyal and brutal agents who documented the fall right up until the last minute: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Late on Friday afternoon, the Biden administration sent an $8 billion weapons package for Israel to congress. Biden won't be around to see it through, but Trump will. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...

Thousands upon thousands of Syrians are searching for missing loved ones after the collapse of the Assad regime opened up his prisons that were used for torture and executions // My story from yesterday: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Thousands upon thousands of Syrians are searching for clues for missing loved ones after the collapse of the Assad regime opened up his prisons that were used for torture and executions // My story from yesterday: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Story by @jmalsin.bsky.social

“In Assad’s abandoned office, his desk and floor were littered with books and papers: a history of the Russian military, a map of northeastern Syria, a biography of himself. Strips of benzodiazepine antianxiety pills were in their packaging on the desk.” www.wsj.com/world/middle...

"Strips of benzodiazepine antianxiety pills were in their packaging on the desk." @jmalsin.bsky.social www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Syrian regime says it is pulling forces from Hama as rebels enter in another dramatic advance by the opposition: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

"The regime has always been rotten and dysfunctional" Crumbling Assad government lines reveal a brittle regime increasingly dependent on Russia and Iran. Displaced Syrians make an emotional return to Aleppo: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

With Iran and Russia both under pressure, Syria's rebels decide to strike: “They have been thinking about this so much and trying to see if there’s any opening, and probing around and trying to sense for regime vulnerabilities.” www.wsj.com/world/middle...

We went to Nabatieh in southern Lebanon yesterday where we talked to civilians returning home, Hezbollah fighters leaving the front, and residents dumbfounded by the scale of the destruction: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

“It’s hard—very hard. They destroyed us, but we still claim victory.” We went to south Beirut today where the fires were still burning from last nights Israeli airstrikes after a ceasefire took effect. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

The Biden administration is moving pushing to send Israel $680 million of JDAMs and 615 small-diameter bombs. Decided before the Lebanon ceasefire. By me and Nancy Youssef: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

US, Israel, and Lebanese government announce a ceasefire that would bring relief to millions of Lebanese people and tens of thousands in northern Israel. Around 2am in Beirut and we can still hear the explosions from Israeli strikes. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Beirut: Explosions shaking the city as Israel launches a wave of airstrikes hours before the Israeli security cabinet votes on a possible ceasefire.

"We are every time moving forward with even more scars." Published today, our portrait of Beirut, a city unmoored by economic crisis, the 2020 port blast and previous conflicts and now unravelling during the war with Israel: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Beirut: Rescue workers pulling bodies from the rubble of a building in a central neighborhood of the city that was leveled by an Israeli airstrike at 4am this morning. Israel still hasn’t said what the target of the attack was.

Loud explosions shake central Beirut, followed by sirens. It’s 4am here.

Stopping everything to listen to the new Kendrick Lamar

ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant mean that even European countries that have been broadly supportive of Israel and its war in Gaza have to face diplomatic and legal reality of an Israeli leader now wanted for war crimes: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

The ICC’s warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant allege they committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, including the use of starvation as a weapon and directing attacks against civilians. www.wsj.com/world/middle...

My photography The start of the Mohamed Mahmoud Street Uprising, 19 November 2011.

WAPO: As Gaza’s hunger crisis worsens, organized gangs are stealing much of the aid Israel allows into the enclave, operating freely in areas controlled by the Israeli military, according to aid group officials, humanitarian workers, transport companies and witnesses.

The fear Israeli airstrikes is driving a wedge of suspicion through Lebanese society as some are wary of Shiites the fleeing bombing. My colleague @suneengel.bsky.social on a concerning reality of the war in Lebanon: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Israeli airstrikes are hitting deep into Lebanon, targeting single Hezbollah members among displaced families, killing scores of civilians. Such attacks have made Lebanese wary of sheltering Shias. Some say that's exactly what Israel wants. Our story: www.wsj.com/world/middle... #iran #israel

Chilling. Internal email that led to identifying Pete Hegseth as potential "Insider Threat" in National Guard.⬇️ It was clearly due to his tattoo "associated with Supremacist groups." On air, Hegseth has FALSELY claimed the reason was for a different (religious) tattoo. apnews.com/article/trum...

Bluesky power-user tip here

Justin Tucker missing two field goals is absolutely chilling. And that was the difference in PIT-BAL

Biden for the first time authorized Ukrainian forces to use Western-made long-range weapons to strike inside Russia www.wsj.com/world/europe...

NFL Bluesky suddenly feels like 2015 NFL Twitter and it is fantastic

Lebanon: Hezbollah’s main spokesman killed in Israeli strike in central Beirut, a Hezbollah official tells The Associated Press Mohammad Afif had been especially visible after Israel’s military escalation in September and following the assassination of longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Paging @drewmagary.bsky.social @davidjroth.bsky.social can you have @chrislhayes.bsky.social on as a guest on The Distraction to talk about the information environment and also football:

Trump's pick to lead U.S. spy agencies, Tulsi Gabbard, has blamed NATO for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, echoed a Kremlin claim that Ukraine hosted U.S.-funded bioweapon labs, and questioned U.S. intelligence that Bashar Assad used chemical weapons: www.wsj.com/politics/pol...