Visual Investigations reporter for NYT. Let's chat: riley.mellen@nytimes.com, Signal, DMs, etc.https://bsky.app/profile/rileymellen.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/rileymellen.bsky.social/post/3lsjywxmx3k2wNew: The US military has quietly been building a big logistics base in the Saudi desert, 20 miles from the Red Sea. It’s got living quarters, munitions storage, an entrance checkpoint and quite a bit of ongoing construction. Gift link and 🧵 below: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/world/middleeast/camp-yanbu-us-saudi-arabia-iran.html?unlocked_article_code=1.R08._Y5V.crsRtsRZvN2N&smid=url-share26 Jun 2025 20:51 +0000at://did:plc:ofajfjsx7mfduufd6cp7ffbe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsjywxmx3k2whttps://bsky.app/profile/rileymellen.bsky.social/post/3lhh2ndydqc2uWe used radio traffic, flight data and leaked footage of an air traffic control radar screen to build a timeline of the moments before an American Airlines flight and a US Army helicopter collided over DC. With Robin Stein, Dmitriy Khavin, and @ajcardia.bsky.social https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000009963447/dc-plane-crash-investigation.html05 Feb 2025 17:06 +0000at://did:plc:ofajfjsx7mfduufd6cp7ffbe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhh2ndydqc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/rileymellen.bsky.social/post/3ldpdhhx5ok2sWe took a long, hard look at the objects seen in the night skies over New Jersey. They're...pretty much always planes. 🛸🛸🛸 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/video/new-jersey-drones-planes-videos.html?unlocked_article_code=1.i04.zvI1.SWNr4OYUcEmI&smid=url-share20 Dec 2024 02:25 +0000at://did:plc:ofajfjsx7mfduufd6cp7ffbe/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldpdhhx5ok2shttps://bsky.app/profile/rileymellen.bsky.social/post/3ld2phktsek2tSome observations on recent changes (or lack thereof) at the Syrian port of Tartus with @trbrtc.bsky.social 🧵: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/world/middleeast/russia-syria-assad.html?smid=url-share11 Dec 2024 21:33 +0000at://did:plc:ofajfjsx7mfduufd6cp7ffbe/app.bsky.feed.post/3ld2phktsek2thttps://bsky.app/profile/rileymellen.bsky.social/post/3lctf5aepts2sWe verified a series of fires and explosions at Syrian government and military facilities in and near Damascus today. Israeli officials said the IDF had been striking across Syria to destroy weapons that could fall into the wrong hands. With @devonlum.bsky.social https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/08/world/syria-war-damascus/explosions-and-fires-erupted-around-damascus-on-sunday?smid=url-share08 Dec 2024 23:40 +0000at://did:plc:ofajfjsx7mfduufd6cp7ffbe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lctf5aepts2shttps://bsky.app/profile/rileymellen.bsky.social/post/3lcdi6laqkc2hThe Israeli military is expanding and fortifying the areas they control in central Gaza, signaling they may be there for the long haul. New story out now from Aaron Boxerman, @aric.bsky.social, Patrick Kingsley, and @ajcardia.bsky.social. Gift link: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-bases-netzarim.html?unlocked_article_code=1.eU4.Ezv7.5Do1cezGwIQm&smid=url-share02 Dec 2024 15:52 +0000at://did:plc:ofajfjsx7mfduufd6cp7ffbe/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcdi6laqkc2h