Ukrainian President Zelensky met CIA Director John Ratcliffe at Shannon Airport in Ireland while both their planes refueled, sources told Reuters. Neither side has revealed what was discussed. The meeting comes just weeks after Ratcliffe's unannounced August 25 trip to Moscow, where he reportedly met senior Russian intelligence officials and shared a bleak assessment of Russia's war position, urging a deal before things worsen. Zelensky was en route to New York for the UN General Assembly, where he's set to meet President Trump.


Report: Zelensky meets CIA chief Ratcliffe at Shannon airport, weeks after his secret Moscow trip

25 years ago, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial jets and crashed them into New York's World Trade Centre and other key locations, killing nearly three thousand people.But what if I told you that the U.S. president was warned of this scenario three years prior to the 9/11 terror attack?As Americans paid their respects to the victims of this dastardly terror attack on its 25th anniversary, CIA released 71 declassified daily presidential briefs from 1998 to 2001 related to 9/11, in an act of transparency.During this period, Bill Clinton and George Bush served as the presidents of America.Now, these documents are believed to contain secretive intelligence analysis.Back in March 1998, CIA highlighted in its brief that al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and other leaders had called for attacks against Americans and their allies anywhere in the world.Three months later, the intelligence agency noted that bin Laden was talking about bringing the war home to America.This is not all.In September 1998, the then president Bill Clinton was briefed of a possible attempt by al-Qaeda terrorists to fly an explosive-packed airplane into a U.S. city.A few months later, CIA also warned him that al-Qaeda was preparing for aircraft hijacking, and a few operatives had even evaded security checks at an unidentified New York airport.This has raised fresh questions on whether successive U.S. presidents could have done more to avert 9/11 in wake of so many intelligence inputs.But this is not the first time the American government's failures regarding 9/11 have been flagged.In 2004, an official report looking into the events leading to this terror attack observed that U.S. leaders did not understand the gravity of threat from bin Laden and al-Qaeda.It also pinpointed the failure of the intelligence community to analyse the phenomenon of transnational terrorism due to reduced budgets and bureaucratic rivalries.The report also criticised laxity in airport security which helped the hijackers.Crucially, it stressed that protecting borders was not deemed to be a national security issue before 9/11.While Osama bin Laden was eventually killed in an operation by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan's Abbottabad in May 2011, ten years after 9/11, al-Qaeda and its offshoots remain a potent threat globally even as of today.

Declassified CIA briefs reveal warnings to Bill Clinton about al-Qaeda attacks, aircraft hijacking and a possible attack on a US city years before 9/11.

25 years ago, al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial jets and crashed them into New York's World Trade Centre and other key locations, killing nearly three thousand people. But what if I told you that the U.S. president was warned of this scenario three years prior to the 9/11 terror attack? As Americans paid their respects to the victims of this dastardly terror attack on its 25th anniversary, CIA released 71 declassified daily presidential briefs from 1998 to 2001 related to 9/11, in an act of transparency. During this period, Bill Clinton and George Bush served as the presidents of America. Now, these documents are believed to contain secretive intelligence analysis. Back in March 1998, CIA highlighted in its brief that al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden and other leaders had called for attacks against Americans and their allies anywhere in the world. Three months later, the intelligence agency noted that bin Laden was talking about bringing the war home to America. This is not all. In September 1998, the then president Bill Clinton was briefed of a possible attempt by al-Qaeda terrorists to fly an explosive-packed airplane into a U.S. city. A few months later, CIA also warned him that al-Qaeda was preparing for aircraft hijacking, and a few operatives had even evaded security checks at an unidentified New York airport. This has raised fresh questions on whether successive U.S. presidents could have done more to avert 9/11 in wake of so many intelligence inputs. But this is not the first time the American government's failures regarding 9/11 have been flagged. In 2004, an official report looking into the events leading to this terror attack observed that U.S. leaders did not understand the gravity of threat from bin Laden and al-Qaeda. It also pinpointed the failure of the intelligence community to analyse the phenomenon of transnational terrorism due to reduced budgets and bureaucratic rivalries. The report also criticised laxity in airport security which helped the hijackers. Crucially, it stressed that protecting borders was not deemed to be a national security issue before 9/11. While Osama bin Laden was eventually killed in an operation by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan's Abbottabad in May 2011, ten years after 9/11, al-Qaeda and its offshoots remain a potent threat globally even as of today.

Declassified CIA briefs reveal warnings to Bill Clinton about al-Qaeda attacks, aircraft hijacking and a possible attack on a US city years before 9/11.

Gravitas | CIA warned of 'explosive airplane' threat three years before 9/11

Newly declassified documents show that three years before 9/11, US intelligence officials were discussing the possibility that al-Qaeda "may fly an explosive airplane into a US city".


CIA warned of 'explosive airplane' threat three years before 9/11

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has reportedly travelled to Moscow for meetings, in what is believed to be his first known trip to Russia since taking charge of the agency. U.S. media reports say Ratcliffe travelled via Latvia aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, which landed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. The CIA, Pentagon and Kremlin have not publicly confirmed the purpose of the visit. The trip comes as U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace efforts remain stalled and tensions over Iran add another layer to Washington-Moscow relations.

US-Russia: Trump downplays CIA director's Moscow visit 

After months of confrontation with Iran, signs are emerging that Washington may be exploring a diplomatic off-ramp. Reports suggest the U.S. is considering forms of sanctions relief linked to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while American diplomatic personnel are gradually returning to parts of the Middle East. At the same time, reports of CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Moscow have fueled speculation about behind-the-scenes diplomacy involving Russia and Iran.

US-Iran war: Report suggests US offers sanctions relief to Iran to reopen Hormuz

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has reportedly travelled to Moscow for meetings, in what is believed to be his first known trip to Russia since taking charge of the agency. U.S. media reports say Ratcliffe travelled via Latvia aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, which landed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. The CIA, Pentagon and Kremlin have not publicly confirmed the purpose of the visit. The trip comes as U.S.-brokered Russia-Ukraine peace efforts remain stalled and tensions over Iran add another layer to Washington-Moscow relations.


CIA chief John Ratcliffe in Russia: Agenda remains unclear

A dramatic new report reveals Trump secretly swapped planes during last month's NATO summit in Turkey, sneaking out via a catering truck onto a military jet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stayed behind on the "decoy" Air Force One, unaware to press and staff. The move followed intelligence, sourced from Israel, warning of a possible Iranian missile threat. But CIA analysts reportedly had "low confidence" in the intelligence, and Rubio himself was said to be skeptical, choosing to fly on the plane Iran would have targeted anyway.


Trump's secret plane swap: Did Trump rely on Israel intel instead of CIA? 

Trump's secret plane swap: CIA had 'low confidence' in Israeli-sourced Iran threat 

#Gravitas The search for Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has turned into a quest for the CIA and Mossad, where technology is falling short, and human intelligence is now taking centre stage.   

CIA & Mossad Try to Trace Mojtaba Khamenei Using Human Intel  | GRAVITAS 

Reports suggesting a possible Russian role in helping Iran identify targets linked to CIA facilities in the Gulf are drawing attention in Washington. According to emerging claims, U.S. investigators are examining whether intelligence support or targeting information may have played a role in recent attacks. The allegations remain under scrutiny, but the development has added a new dimension to the already tense geopolitical confrontation involving the United States, Iran and Russia.


 US-Iran War | Report: Russian tech powering Iranian advanced drone technology

US-Iran War | Report: Russia provided targeting, tech support to Iran

Did Russia help Iran target CIA sites? US probe examines explosive allegations 

A newly highlighted declassified CIA document has shed light on a Cold War-era training programme that explored the limits of human performance. The research examined whether the brain could be trained to unlock extraordinary physical capabilities and improve endurance under extreme conditions. Decades later, the findings continue to spark curiosity about the connection between mental focus, physical performance, and human potential.

CIA files reveal 'secret' of body supercharge

#Gravitas An Indian-origin businessman is accused of pretending to be a CIA officer to help push through defence deals worth billions of dollars in Indonesia. 


Indian-origin man poses as 'CIA agent' to secure defence deals

The US Senate is about to pass a bill that legally mandates unprecedented, permanent integration between the US and Israeli defence, intelligence, and military-technological ecosystems. Section 622 of the intelligence authorisation bill titled “United States-Israel Intelligence Sharing Enhancement” does not necessarily join CIA and Mossad, but it requires the President to “expand and enhance intelligence sharing with the Government of Israel” on every topic of interest especially West Asia. This integration is driven primarily by Section 224 of the House version of the 2027 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), known as the "United States-Israel Defence Technology Cooperation Initiative. The proposal comes as Israel witnesses a plummeting support within the United States, specifically around military aid to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister has claimed that it would be fine to phase out the military aid. Washington provides Israel with about $3.8bn a year in military assistance. The 10-year agreement runs through 2028.<h2>Structural shifts in the US-Israel intelligence and military relationships</h2>If passed, then the US-Israel relationship, which is one of the closest partnerships in the world and is centred around defence aid by the US to Israel, will move towards network integration and data fusion between the two nations. The US will be required to appoint an “executive agent”: a single official to coordinate military cooperation between the US and Israel. Instead, the CIA and Mossad, sharing curated intelligence reports on a case-by-case basis, will interlink their digital infrastructure. This dedicated official will be solely responsible for synchronising, testing, and managing joint US-Israel defence research, development, and data sharing. This change essentially bypasses any political or diplomatic channel and intertwines the two nations in an institutional and bureaucratic framework.Former US intelligence official claims that what Congress is trying to do now is find different ways of entrenching the relationship so deeply in America’s own defence industrial base that it’s impossible to root it out. Section 224 of the National Defence Authorisation Act would mandate Israeli defence technologies into the core US military supply chain and vice versa. This implies that cutting-edge spyware, data analytics, from artificial intelligence to drones and cyber-operations, will be jointly operated, giving both nations incredible leverage over each other.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-birthday-gift-for-trump-us-iran-deal-friday-israel-jeopardises-agreement-1781502735540">No birthday gift for Trump: US-Iran MoU to be signed on Friday as Israel tries to jeopardise agreement</a><h2>US-Israel friction in the intelligence networks</h2>The US-Israel intelligence relationship is witnessing growing friction in recent times, driven by growing mutual threat assessment. The Defence Intelligence Agency last month elevated its counterintelligence threat level for Israel to "critical"—its highest internal classification. According to reports from NBC and the NYT, Israeli intelligence services have intensified surveillance efforts aimed at top-tier American policymakers- Steve Witkoff, US chief negotiator and special envoy; Elbridge Colby, Pentagon policy chief; Michael DiMino, Senior Middle East policy official. The Israeli Embassy in Washington vehemently denied the reports, calling the espionage allegations "completely false." The case of US Navy analyst Jonathan Pollard, whose conviction for spying for Israel in 1985 remains a historic blueprint for the friction between the two nations. He was given a hero's welcome in Israel. Eventhough both sides on the surface deny spying reports, there has been historical evidence of aggressive clandestine operations on American soil. Many analysts note that the leaks of increasing counter-intelligence threat levels coincide with the discussion around Section 224 of the National Defence Authorisation Act and Section 622 of the Intelligence Authorisation Bill. &nbsp;

New US congressional proposals could permanently integrate American and Israeli intelligence and defence networks. The move comes amid renewed scrutiny over espionage allegations and growing tensions within intelligence circles.

The US Senate is about to pass a bill that legally mandates unprecedented, permanent integration between the US and Israeli defence, intelligence, and military-technological ecosystems. Section 622 of the intelligence authorisation bill titled “United States-Israel Intelligence Sharing Enhancement” does not necessarily join CIA and Mossad, but it requires the President to “expand and enhance intelligence sharing with the Government of Israel” on every topic of interest especially West Asia. This integration is driven primarily by Section 224 of the House version of the 2027 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), known as the "United States-Israel Defence Technology Cooperation Initiative. The proposal comes as Israel witnesses a plummeting support within the United States, specifically around military aid to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister has claimed that it would be fine to phase out the military aid. Washington provides Israel with about $3.8bn a year in military assistance. The 10-year agreement runs through 2028. Structural shifts in the US-Israel intelligence and military relationships If passed, then the US-Israel relationship, which is one of the closest partnerships in the world and is centred around defence aid by the US to Israel, will move towards network integration and data fusion between the two nations. The US will be required to appoint an “executive agent”: a single official to coordinate military cooperation between the US and Israel. Instead, the CIA and Mossad, sharing curated intelligence reports on a case-by-case basis, will interlink their digital infrastructure. This dedicated official will be solely responsible for synchronising, testing, and managing joint US-Israel defence research, development, and data sharing. This change essentially bypasses any political or diplomatic channel and intertwines the two nations in an institutional and bureaucratic framework. Former US intelligence official claims that what Congress is trying to do now is find different ways of entrenching the relationship so deeply in America’s own defence industrial base that it’s impossible to root it out. Section 224 of the National Defence Authorisation Act would mandate Israeli defence technologies into the core US military supply chain and vice versa. This implies that cutting-edge spyware, data analytics, from artificial intelligence to drones and cyber-operations, will be jointly operated, giving both nations incredible leverage over each other. Also Read: No birthday gift for Trump: US-Iran MoU to be signed on Friday as Israel tries to jeopardise agreement US-Israel friction in the intelligence networks The US-Israel intelligence relationship is witnessing growing friction in recent times, driven by growing mutual threat assessment. The Defence Intelligence Agency last month elevated its counterintelligence threat level for Israel to "critical"—its highest internal classification. According to reports from NBC and the NYT, Israeli intelligence services have intensified surveillance efforts aimed at top-tier American policymakers- Steve Witkoff, US chief negotiator and special envoy; Elbridge Colby, Pentagon policy chief; Michael DiMino, Senior Middle East policy official. The Israeli Embassy in Washington vehemently denied the reports, calling the espionage allegations "completely false." The case of US Navy analyst Jonathan Pollard, whose conviction for spying for Israel in 1985 remains a historic blueprint for the friction between the two nations. He was given a hero's welcome in Israel. Eventhough both sides on the surface deny spying reports, there has been historical evidence of aggressive clandestine operations on American soil. Many analysts note that the leaks of increasing counter-intelligence threat levels coincide with the discussion around Section 224 of the National Defence Authorisation Act and Section 622 of the Intelligence Authorisation Bill.

New US congressional proposals could permanently integrate American and Israeli intelligence and defence networks. The move comes amid renewed scrutiny over espionage allegations and growing tensions within intelligence circles.

How Washington plans to embed Israel into America's defence and intelligence ecosystem

A major dispute has reportedly erupted inside the U.S. intelligence community, with the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence at odds over intelligence-sharing, access to classified information and control of key national security assessments. Reports suggest the CIA has reduced participation in some intelligence reports, including assessments related to the Iran conflict

CIA Limits Iran Intel Amid Turf War Among U.s. Spy Agencies

#Gravitas A report by Drop Site details the plot hatched by American CIA and Pakistani military to oust the now-jailed Imran Khan because he did not 'tow' Washington's line.


Leaked Cable Exposes Pakistan-US Hand In Imran's Ouster

US elite forces prepare for hostile extractions through brutal SERE and CSAR training. By mastering wilderness survival, mock interrogations, high-altitude parachuting, and thermal evasion, these operators ensure downed pilots return home safely.


US elite forces prepare for hostile extractions through brutal SERE and CSAR training. By mastering wilderness survival, mock interrogations, high-altitude parachuting, and thermal evasion, these operators ensure downed pilots return home safely.

‘24-month training programme’: How elite intelligence units at the CIA train for operations like pilot rescue in Iran

To rescue a downed F-15E airman trapped deep inside Iranian territory, the CIA orchestrated a massive psychological warfare campaign. By executing phantom extractions and deploying a 155-aircraft decoy armada, US intelligence blinded Iran's Revolutionary Guard to save the stranded colonel.

To rescue a downed F-15E airman trapped deep inside Iranian territory, the CIA orchestrated a massive psychological warfare campaign. By executing phantom extractions and deploying a 155-aircraft decoy armada, US intelligence blinded Iran's Revolutionary Guard to save the stranded colonel.

‘Phantom extractions’: How the CIA blinded Iran’s Revolutionary Guard

The CIA has built an advanced AI chatbot to simulate conversations with virtual versions of foreign leaders. By training models on classified intelligence, analysts can test hypothetical crises and predict adversarial behaviour before acting.


The CIA has built an advanced AI chatbot to simulate conversations with virtual versions of foreign leaders. By training models on classified intelligence, analysts can test hypothetical crises and predict adversarial behaviour before acting.

Is the CIA using AI to predict world leaders’ next moves?

The CIA used 'Ghost Murmur' to track an F-15 pilot's heartbeat in Iran from 40 miles away. Alongside Jetson lasers, predictive AI, and Smart Dust, these five futuristic technologies prove that evading US intelligence is biologically impossible.


The CIA used 'Ghost Murmur' to track an F-15 pilot's heartbeat in Iran from 40 miles away. Alongside Jetson lasers, predictive AI, and Smart Dust, these five futuristic technologies prove that evading US intelligence is biologically impossible.

Can AI detect heartbeats from the sky? Top 5 insane futuristic technologies of the CIA

The CIA used a masterclass in military deception to rescue a downed F-15E crew in Iran. By spreading false extraction reports, seizing a secret Isfahan airstrip, and deploying a lethal Reaper drone shield, US forces saved the isolated airmen.


The CIA used a masterclass in military deception to rescue a downed F-15E crew in Iran. By spreading false extraction reports, seizing a secret Isfahan airstrip, and deploying a lethal Reaper drone shield, US forces saved the isolated airmen.

‘The invisible extraction’: What were the top deception tactics that shielded a US pilot rescue

A new report suggests that the rescue of a downed U.S. airman in Iran during the ongoing US-Iran conflict may have been significantly aided by ideal environmental conditions that enhanced the effectiveness of a classified CIA surveillance tool. The secret system, reportedly capable of detecting faint biometric signals such as a human heartbeat, helped pinpoint the airman’s location in remote terrain.


US-Iran War | Report: Airman's Rescue Aided from Ideal Conditions for CIA Tool

The Central Intelligence Agency reportedly deployed a classified technology known as “Ghost Murmur” during a high-risk rescue mission in Iran.

According to reports, the tool uses advanced sensors and AI to detect the unique electromagnetic signature of a human heartbeat, allowing operatives to locate a downed American airman hidden in difficult terrain.

This marked the first known operational use of the technology, highlighting a major leap in surveillance and battlefield rescue capabilities. However, details remain limited due to the classified nature of the system.

The Secret CIA Tool Used To Find The Downed Airman In Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the White House Briefing Room about the weekend military operations to rescue U.S. military personnel in Iran, and the deadline he has set to clear the Strait of Hormuz.
Donald Trump, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, is holding a news conference on the rescue of an F-15E crew member whose jet was downed over Iran.

Trump Holds News Conference a Day Before Iran Ultimatum Ends

US Secretary of War Hegseth Hails Airmen Rescue Mission in Iran

An Iranian drone attack on the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia last month caused significantly more damage than previously acknowledged by authorities in the Kingdom and also struck a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facility within the compound, according to a latest report by The Wall Street Journal, citing current and former American officials.


How Iran Hit CIA Station Inside US Embassy in Saudi Arabia

Iran Hit CIA Station Inside US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Reports: More Damage Than Disclosed

Reports from U.S. and international media indicate that the CIA is working to arm Iranian Kurdish forces with the aim of sparking an uprising against Tehran’s regime as part of the broader Iran conflict. Multiple sources say discussions are underway between U.S. officials and Kurdish leaders in Iraq about providing military support to opposition groups near the Iran border, with Iranian Kurdish fighters expected to play a role in potential ground operations.


US-Iran War: CIA Reportedly Plans to Use Kurds For Regime Change in Iran

The US Central Intelligence Agency has issued a Farsi language recruitment post on social media platforms X, Instagram, and YouTube on Tuesday, urging Iranian to offer civilian and military intelligence. This is the latest in a series of posts made in several languages, ranging from Farsi, Korean, Russian and Mandarin, to recruit individuals from Iran, Korea, Russia and China and offering secure ways to contact the CIA.This comes amid US President Donald Trump's mulling over an attack on Iran if the US-Iran talks on Thursday fail to reach a deal. The US has already assembled its largest military force across Europe and the Mediterranean. In his first State of the Union speech on Tuesday, February 24, Trump said he would not allow Iran, the biggest sponsor of terror in the world, to possess nuclear weapons.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-sotu-2026-record-speech-omits-china-1772024620902">Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address skips China, first time since 2005</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">سلام. سازمان اطلاعات مرکزی (CIA) صدای شما را می‌شنود و می‌خواهد به شما کمک کند. در ادامه، راهنمایی لازم در مورد چگونگی برقراری تماس مجازی امن با ما ارائه شده است. <a href="https://t.co/Dfq4zomz1n">pic.twitter.com/Dfq4zomz1n</a>&mdash; CIA (@CIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CIA/status/2026315891055436079?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The message from the CIA reads, “Hello. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) can hear your voice and wants to help you. Below is the necessary guidance on how to securely contact us virtually.”&nbsp;The post accompanies a video detailing a few steps, such as using a disposable device, a VPN to circumvent internet restrictions, using private web browsers, and deleting their internet history to cover their tracks. It also advised that users should use a trusted Virtual Private Network "not headquartered in Russia, Iran or China," or the Tor Network, which encrypts data and hides the user's IP address. Users who contact the agency were asked to share their locations, names, job titles and "access to information or skills of interest to our agency." &nbsp;The post on X has been viewed 3.4 million times, as of Wednesday morning.However, the agency has not shared details about the new tips or sources that resulted from earlier recruitment videos. Director Ratcliffe suggests that the posts are having an impact. But from outside, it appears the intelligence agency is out of its depth and running a digital campaign for intelligence. This leaves them vulnerable to being entangled in counter-intelligence traps. Since the US has no embassy in Iran, it doesn't have the diplomatic cover for vetting sources in person. It has to rely on local sources such as the Kurdish organisation, as they are the most critical partner for human intelligence. Iran has started to monitor the US-Kurdish relations, and its agency is making it difficult for the CIA to have ground sources to stir up the unrest.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The CIA releases a Farsi-language recruitment video urging Iranians to share intelligence online as President Donald Trump weighs action if US-Iran talks fail.

The US Central Intelligence Agency has issued a Farsi language recruitment post on social media platforms X, Instagram, and YouTube on Tuesday, urging Iranian to offer civilian and military intelligence. This is the latest in a series of posts made in several languages, ranging from Farsi, Korean, Russian and Mandarin, to recruit individuals from Iran, Korea, Russia and China and offering secure ways to contact the CIA. This comes amid US President Donald Trump's mulling over an attack on Iran if the US-Iran talks on Thursday fail to reach a deal. The US has already assembled its largest military force across Europe and the Mediterranean. In his first State of the Union speech on Tuesday, February 24, Trump said he would not allow Iran, the biggest sponsor of terror in the world, to possess nuclear weapons. Also Read: Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address skips China, first time since 2005