{beacon} Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  Authorities uncover more information on New Orleans attacker The driver behind a terrorist attack in New Orleans planned to use a transmitter to detonate two bombs he placed on Bourbon Street and had additional explosive devices at a rental home he set on fire. © Charlie Neibergall, Associated Press file This update, shared in a joint statement from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), offers new details about Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s movements before he killed 14 people in the New Year’s attack.   “The FBI assesses that during his attack on Bourbon Street, Jabbar intended to use a transmitter, that was found in the F150 truck, to detonate the two IEDs he placed on Bourbon Street,” the agencies said.   The agencies said they recovered bomb-making materials both at a rental house on Mandeville Street in New Orleans as well as Jabbar’s residence in Houston, Texas.   The New Orleans Fire Department also determined that Jabbar set the New Orleans rental on fire, with the department rushing to the scene a little after 5 a.m. on New Year’s Day.   “ATF has determined that Jabbar was the only person who could have had access to the residence when the fire was set,” the bureau said. “ATF also determined that Jabbar set a small fire in the hallway, and strategically placed accelerants throughout the house in his effort to destroy it and other evidence of his crime.”   That fire, however, extinguished itself before it was able to spread, enabling recovery of more evidence.   Jabbar's brother also weighed in on Friday, telling reporters there were no significant warning signs ahead of the terror attack.   “Sham believed his Islamic faith taught him that partying in places like New Orleans wasn’t righteous,” Shamsud-Din Jabbar’s younger brother Abdur Rahim Jabbar said in an interview with KPRC 2 that was published Thursday. “But he never gave any red flags leading up to this.”   Abdur Rahem Jabbar told the Houston outlet that he understands “people want answers, but we’re just as puzzled as the rest of the world.”    Shamsud-Din Jabbar was confirmed by authorities to be the person who drove a rented Ford pickup truck into a group of people Wednesday on Bourbon Street, killing at least 14 and injuring dozens more. He was killed in the aftermath by law enforcement.    Authorities said they discovered an Islamic State flag in Jabbar’s rented car and posts on social media platforms sympathizing with a transnational terrorist organization.   The Texas native served in the Army from 2007 to 2020. He also deployed to Afghanistan.    Read the full report at TheHill.com.   Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.   Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:   Biden awards Medal of Honor to 7 US Army soldiers President Biden on Friday awarded the Medal of Honor to seven U.S. Army soldiers, most of whom received it posthumously for service during the Korean War, in his last ceremony as commander in chief awarding the country’s highest military honor. 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