southfront--2020-08-01--Lukashenko’s Gambit “Pays Off”: Restrictions On Border Between Russia And Belarus Likely Remain In F

Lukashenko’s Gambit “Pays Off”: Restrictions On Border Between Russia And Belarus Likely Remain In Force

Russia may postpone the lifting of coronavirus restrictions on the border with Belarus due to the incident with the detention of its citizens in Minsk .
This was reported by Izvestia , citing its own anonymous sources in the Russian parliament .
Prior to the detention of the 33 Russian citizens , it was planned to open the borders in August .
Until now , there is not even a clear understanding of what 33 Russians are accused of , the Russian Federation Council stressed .
If the case goes to court , Moscow will consider the possibility of requesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Federation Council said .
However , experts interviewed by Izvestia believe that it may not come to this – there is a chance that the countries will agree on the return of Russian citizens through diplomatic channels .
Essentially , Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko ’ s anti-Russian policy is giving its first result – complicating the reopening of borders , complicating the passage of tourists , and more .
In order to minimize losses and prevent a deepening of the crisis in relations with Moscow , the Belarusian leadership should take a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special services to Minsk , said Vladimir Yevseev , a political scientist , head of a department at the Institute of CIS Countries .
“ It is necessary that the Belarusian side cites the information it has , without distorting the facts that exist , so that both countries make an objective decision .
If something happened , it needs to be investigated together , and if it is a mistake , the tension should be released .
The easiest way to do this is through the extradition of those detained in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained .
Currently , the main argument that Belarus has that these individuals were orchestrating some sort of internal strife in the country , or a possibly coup , is that they are giving contradicting reports of where they are going .
According to him , the group was organized and governed by military standards .
In WhatsApp , a personnel management group was created with the 33 detainees as members .
“ All detainees were interrogated with the participation of lawyers .
Their testimonies are inconsistent about the purposes of staying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Out of the 33 , 11 people intended to fly to Venezuela , 15 were to go to Turkey , 2 to Cuba , 1 to Syria .
One did not even know where he was going .
Three refused to testify .
It seems doubtful that it is possible to fly to countries of different continents in one regular plane , ” said the representative of the Investigative Committee .
Earlier , Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said that the detained Russians were on their way to Turkey in transit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their flight they stayed and settled in the Belorusochka sanatorium near Minsk .
Essentially , the evidence that they were organizing some sort of operation in Belarus is that they gave contradicting reports of where each of them was going .
A group of mercenaries , being deployed to different countries , is of course not surprising at all .
It is , however , quite surprising that an organized group , sent to possibly overturn a government doesn ’ t have an uniform alibi to cover its movements .
MORE ON THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of ‘ Russian Mercenaries ’ Planning To ‘ Destabilize Belarus ’

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Russia may postpone the lifting of coronavirus restrictions on the border with Belarus due to the incident with the detention of its citizens in Minsk. This was reported by Izvestia, citing its own anonymous sources in the Russian parliament.
Prior to the detention of the 33 Russian citizens, it was planned to open the borders in August.
Until now, there is not even a clear understanding of what 33 Russians are accused of, the Russian Federation Council stressed.
If the case goes to court, Moscow will consider the possibility of requesting the extradition of the Russian citizens, the Federation Council said.
However, experts interviewed by Izvestia believe that it may not come to this – there is a chance that the countries will agree on the return of Russian citizens through diplomatic channels.
Essentially, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s anti-Russian policy is giving its first result – complicating the reopening of borders, complicating the passage of tourists, and more.
In order to minimize losses and prevent a deepening of the crisis in relations with Moscow, the Belarusian leadership should take a break and invite representatives of the Russian special services to Minsk, said Vladimir Yevseev, a political scientist, head of a department at the Institute of CIS Countries.
“It is necessary that the Belarusian side cites the information it has, without distorting the facts that exist, so that both countries make an objective decision. If something happened, it needs to be investigated together, and if it is a mistake, the tension should be released. The easiest way to do this is through the extradition of those detained in the Russian Federation,” – the expert explained.
Currently, the main argument that Belarus has that these individuals were orchestrating some sort of internal strife in the country, or a possibly coup, is that they are giving contradicting reports of where they are going.
“It is obvious that in an organized preparation for committing a crime, attackers prepare an alibi for themselves. A similar situation took place with the detention of 33 citizens of the Russian Federation, who had tickets to fly to Istanbul on July 25th. However, as the investigation found out, they did not intend to fly there,” the head of the investigative group Alexander Agafonov said.
According to him, the group was organized and governed by military standards. In WhatsApp, a personnel management group was created with the 33 detainees as members.
“All detainees were interrogated with the participation of lawyers. Their testimonies are inconsistent about the purposes of staying in Belarus, they allegedly contradict each other. Out of the 33, 11 people intended to fly to Venezuela, 15 were to go to Turkey, 2 to Cuba, 1 to Syria. One did not even know where he was going. Three refused to testify. It seems doubtful that it is possible to fly to countries of different continents in one regular plane,” said the representative of the Investigative Committee.
Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev said that the detained Russians were on their way to Turkey in transit, but because of a delay in their flight they stayed and settled in the Belorusochka sanatorium near Minsk.
Essentially, the evidence that they were organizing some sort of operation in Belarus is that they gave contradicting reports of where each of them was going.
A group of mercenaries, being deployed to different countries, is of course not surprising at all.
It is, however, quite surprising that an organized group, sent to possibly overturn a government doesn’t have an uniform alibi to cover its movements.
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southfront--2020-08-01--Syrian Militants Clash With Each Other On Border With Turkey

Late on July 31 , heavy clashes broke out between militants from the town of Mayer and others from the Al Baggara tribe near the town of al-Salameh in northern Aleppo .
The town is located right on the border line with Turkey .
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , the clashes lasted until the early morning hours of August 1 .
The clashes reached a large refugee camp near al-Salameh .
The clashes led to a state of panic among civilians in al-Salameh , especially in the nearby refugee camp .
The Turkish military , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and inside Syria ’ s territory , didn ’ t intervene .
The exact cause of the clashes is yet to be revealed .
Usually , disputes over criminal activities , such as smuggling , are behind such incidents .
Several rounds of infighting took place in Turkish-occupied areas in north and northeast Syria in the last few months .
Many people were killed or injured .
Turkey doesn ’ t intervene to stop these clashes , likely to maintain good relations with all of its proxies .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish-Backed Militants Completed Training In Syria ’ s Greater Idlib

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Late on July 31, heavy clashes broke out between militants from the town of Mayer and others from the Al Baggara tribe near the town of al-Salameh in northern Aleppo. The town is located right on the border line with Turkey.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the clashes lasted until the early morning hours of August 1. The clashes reached a large refugee camp near al-Salameh.
“Ambulances rushed to the clashes scene to transport wounded from both sides,” the monitoring group said in a report.
The clashes led to a state of panic among civilians in al-Salameh, especially in the nearby refugee camp. The Turkish military, which is present on the border line and inside Syria’s territory, didn’t intervene.
The exact cause of the clashes is yet to be revealed. Usually, disputes over criminal activities, such as smuggling, are behind such incidents.
Several rounds of infighting took place in Turkish-occupied areas in north and northeast Syria in the last few months. Many people were killed or injured. Turkey doesn’t intervene to stop these clashes, likely to maintain good relations with all of its proxies.
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southfront--2020-08-01--Egypt Receives First Batch Of Russian Su-35 Air-Superiority Fighters Despite Threat Of US Sanctions

The Egyptian army is to receive its first batch of Sukhoi Su-35 air-superiority fighters , judging by photographs that were captured of the Russian jets presumably en route to Egypt .
Five of the Sukhoi Su-35 Flankers , which are now owned by the Egyptian Air Force , were seen headed to Egypt .
They are given numbers between 9210 and 9214 , according to the RT ’ s Arabic-language news site .
The entire deal , signed in 2019 , was for the purchase of upwards of 20 Su-35 air-superiority fighter jets , with a cost of $ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US is objected to Cairo ’ s purchase of Russian hardware , and these was the usual threat of sanctions .
Just after the deal was signed , US officials were cited saying that “ the United States could impose sanctions on Egypt and block it from future military sales if it goes ahead with a purchase of Russian warplanes.
” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned Egypt against concluding the purchase of Russia ’ s Sukhoi Su-35 .
In November 2019 , US Assistant Secretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper told reporters at the Dubai Airshow that was held in November 2019 : “ It puts them [ Egypt ] at risk of sanctions and it puts them at risk of loss of future acquisitions .
It ’ s not a new thing .
Cairo is clearly aware of this .
It ’ s not new news.
” The planes are being delivered , and whether sanctions will actually be imposed is yet to be seen .
It is interesting that Egypt is neglecting the US ’ calls , since it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US , after Israel .
Washington has provided billions in economic and military aid to Egypt over the past years , including its F-16 fighters .
Back in May 2020 , the US State Department announced that it had approved a $ 2.3 billion military sales deal for Egypt , which includes delivery of equipment to upgrade 43 advanced Apache attack helicopters .
Cairo has long tried to diversify its arms sources for national security purposes , reaching out to countries like Germany , France , China and Spain , an indication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia .
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The Egyptian army is to receive its first batch of Sukhoi Su-35 air-superiority fighters, judging by photographs that were captured of the Russian jets presumably en route to Egypt.
Five of the Sukhoi Su-35 Flankers, which are now owned by the Egyptian Air Force, were seen headed to Egypt. They are given numbers between 9210 and 9214, according to the RT’s Arabic-language news site.
The entire deal, signed in 2019, was for the purchase of upwards of 20 Su-35 air-superiority fighter jets, with a cost of $2 billion.
As has become customary, the US is objected to Cairo’s purchase of Russian hardware, and these was the usual threat of sanctions.
Just after the deal was signed, US officials were cited saying that “the United States could impose sanctions on Egypt and block it from future military sales if it goes ahead with a purchase of Russian warplanes.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper warned Egypt against concluding the purchase of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35.
In November 2019, US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper told reporters at the Dubai Airshow that was held in November 2019: “It puts them [Egypt] at risk of sanctions and it puts them at risk of loss of future acquisitions. It’s not a new thing. Cairo is clearly aware of this. It’s not new news.”
The planes are being delivered, and whether sanctions will actually be imposed is yet to be seen.
It is interesting that Egypt is neglecting the US’ calls, since it is the biggest beneficiary of foreign military from the US, after Israel.
Washington has provided billions in economic and military aid to Egypt over the past years, including its F-16 fighters.
Back in May 2020, the US State Department announced that it had approved a $2.3 billion military sales deal for Egypt, which includes delivery of equipment to upgrade 43 advanced Apache attack helicopters.
Cairo has long tried to diversify its arms sources for national security purposes, reaching out to countries like Germany, France, China and Spain, an indication that it is not solely looking to Russia.
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southfront--2020-08-01--Russian Su-27 Fighter Jets Intercept U.S. Spy Aircraft Over Black Sea 5 Times In 8 Days

On July 31st , the Russian defense ministry said it had sent an Su-27 fighter jet to intercept a U.S. surveillance plane over the Black Sea .
The US aircraft changed its course away from the Russian border .
According to the military , on July 31 , an air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation was discovered over the neutral waters of the Black Sea , and a Su-27 was raised from the air defense duty of the Southern Military District to intercept it .
This is the fifth such case in the last eight days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23rd , 24th , 27th and 30th .
In particular , on July 30th , the Russian Su-27 from the air defense unit of the Southern Military District also took to the air to intercept the US Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft and the US Navy P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft over the Black Sea .
The Russian National Defense Management Center noted that the entire flight of the Russian Su-27 aircraft took place in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace .
There were no clashes of any sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all of the US aircraft returned to their host bases .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Russia Scrambles 2 Fighter Jets to Intercept US Spy Plane Over Sea of Japan ( Video )

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On July 31st, the Russian defense ministry said it had sent an Su-27 fighter jet to intercept a U.S. surveillance plane over the Black Sea.
The US aircraft changed its course away from the Russian border.
According to the military, on July 31, an air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation was discovered over the neutral waters of the Black Sea, and a Su-27 was raised from the air defense duty of the Southern Military District to intercept it.
“The crew of the Russian fighter approached a safe distance to the aerial object and identified it as the EP-3E US Navy radio-technical reconnaissance aircraft,” the command noted.
This is the fifth such case in the last eight days, the previous ones happened on July 23rd, 24th, 27th and 30th.
In particular, on July 30th, the Russian Su-27 from the air defense unit of the Southern Military District also took to the air to intercept the US Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft and the US Navy P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft over the Black Sea.
A video was released showing the interception.
The Russian National Defense Management Center noted that the entire flight of the Russian Su-27 aircraft took place in accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.
“The US reconnaissance aircraft have not violated the state border of the Russian Federation,” the Center added.
There were no clashes of any sort, and as soon as being intercepted all of the US aircraft returned to their host bases.
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southfront--2020-08-01--Chinese Warships Get New Generators To Power Railguns, Electromagnetic Catapults

China ’ s People ’ s Liberation Army Navy ( PLAN ) has begun installing new turbo power generators on its warships .
With four times the capacity of existing power plants , the new generators will enable new technologies , such as electromagnetic catapults and railguns , to be deployed as well .
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation ’ s ( CSSC ) 704 Research Institute has announced that its 20-megawatt power generators have entered service , the Global Times reported .
That ’ s enough electricity to supply a city of 15,000 inhabitants .
No information was provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or which ships they have been installed on .
The vastly increased power output could be used by a number of new technologies Beijing has been developing for its warships .
Li Jie , a naval expert in Beijing , told the South China Morning Post the more powerful generators “ will mean all these high-energy-consuming systems can operate.
” China has been testing naval uses of a railgun since at least 2017 , a weapon which uses electromagnets to accelerate a metal projectile to extremely high speeds .
Rather than relying on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact produces sufficient energy to destroy the target , which is why railguns are called “ kinetic energy weapons.
” While the details on China ’ s railgun weapon are not public , the US Navy ’ s experimental railgun has a power demand of some 25 megawatts , according to the Wall Street Journal .
The US Navy ’ s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are only capable of a maximum power output of 7.5 megawatts using three 2.5-megawatt generators .
However , the Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers can produce over 70 megawatts of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deployment of a railgun or laser weapon .
The Global Times noted the turbo generators make it possible to use advanced integrated electric propulsion ( IEP ) technology , which would effectively make the ships hybrid gas-electric vehicles .
The Zumwalt uses such a design , as do the British Royal Navy ’ s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier and the cruise liner RMS Queen Mary II .
China ’ s Type 002 aircraft carrier will have an electromagnetic aircraft launch system ( EMALS ) for fixed-wing aircraft , which will also require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Global Times report also noted that the new technology could be used for China ’ s 10,000 ton-class Type 055 destroyer , and that China ’ s new generation submarine could technically also use the new generator unit .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • US Secretary of State dedicates major address to China-baiting

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China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has begun installing new turbo power generators on its warships. With four times the capacity of existing power plants, the new generators will enable new technologies, such as electromagnetic catapults and railguns, to be deployed as well.
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s (CSSC) 704 Research Institute has announced that its 20-megawatt power generators have entered service, the Global Times reported. That’s enough electricity to supply a city of 15,000 inhabitants. No information was provided regarding the purpose of the new generators or which ships they have been installed on.
The vastly increased power output could be used by a number of new technologies Beijing has been developing for its warships. Li Jie, a naval expert in Beijing, told the South China Morning Post the more powerful generators “will mean all these high-energy-consuming systems can operate.”
China has been testing naval uses of a railgun since at least 2017, a weapon which uses electromagnets to accelerate a metal projectile to extremely high speeds. Rather than relying on explosives, the sheer force of the impact produces sufficient energy to destroy the target, which is why railguns are called “kinetic energy weapons.”
While the details on China’s railgun weapon are not public, the US Navy’s experimental railgun has a power demand of some 25 megawatts, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are only capable of a maximum power output of 7.5 megawatts using three 2.5-megawatt generators. However, the Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers can produce over 70 megawatts of power, making it a suitable platform for the deployment of a railgun or laser weapon.
The Global Times noted the turbo generators make it possible to use advanced integrated electric propulsion (IEP) technology, which would effectively make the ships hybrid gas-electric vehicles. The Zumwalt uses such a design, as do the British Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier and the cruise liner RMS Queen Mary II.
China’s Type 002 aircraft carrier will have an electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) for fixed-wing aircraft, which will also require an enormous power output. LINK
The Global Times report also noted that the new technology could be used for China’s 10,000 ton-class Type 055 destroyer, and that China’s new generation submarine could technically also use the new generator unit.
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southfront--2020-08-01--Reports Claim Turkey Plans To Establish A Military Base In Oman

Social media platforms in the Gulf region have been speculating about reports that Turkey intends to establish a military base in the Sultanate of Oman .
If confirmed , the military base would substantially increase Turkey ’ s ability to participate directly and directly in the conflict in Yemen as well as posing a potential threat to its rivals the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia .
The flurry of speculation started when Turkish politician Ibrahim Kargul , who is close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , claimed that Turkey had concluded an agreement with the Sultanate to establish a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hakan confirmed on his Twitter account that Turkey is preparing to sign a military treaty with the Sultanate of Oman .
He pointed out that no political or military meetings between the two countries have taken place over the last few days , except for a meeting of the Secretary General of Oman ’ s Foreign Ministry and the Assistant Foreign Minister of Turkey who held discussions on economic , social and cultural matters .
However , the Omani journalist and international affairs expert , Salem Al-Jahoury , considers that the claims regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Buraimi , and the controversy they have caused , are intended to harm relations between Oman and its neighbours within the Gulf Cooperation Council .
Al-Jhouri said that the claims were inaccurate and contained contradictory information , as Al-Buraimi is a desert region where a naval base could not be established .
He also noted that it was said at the beginning that there will be one base , then it was said that two bases will be established .
The speculation follows the news late last week that Turkey and Niger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including the areas of delivery of goods , financial aid , military training , and youth and sports .
Cavusoglu commented of his talks with Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou on boosting relations between the two countries that they also evaluated the prospects for bilateral cooperation against terrorism and how Africa in general and Niger and the Sahel region in particular have been affected .
Apart from providing a potential alternative bridgehead , logistical base and transport hub for Turkey ’ s military operations in Libya , the Military Training Cooperation Agreement signed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curb France ’ s influence and oppose the French military ’ s efforts in Africa ’ s Sahel region given that country ’ s vocal criticism of Turkey ’ s in and around the eastern Mediterranean and shows of support for Greece and Egypt in recent times .
Turkey is unlikely to miss an opportunity to disrupt and if possible undermine French interests in the region in retaliation .
An analysis by the Ahval portal comments with respect to Turkey ’ s growing foreign military presence and activities : Levent Özgül , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkey has “ formal expeditionary bases ” in Qatar , Somalia , northern Cyprus and Sudan along with “ informal activities in Tripoli , Libya ” where Turkey supports and arms the Government of National Accord ( GNA ) against the UAE-backed Libyan National Army ( LNA ) .
“ The Qatar , Somalia and Sudan deployments and Libyan efforts are all against Saudi Arabia and the UAE , ” Özgül told Ahval .
Turkey has had a military base in Qatar for several years now , giving its troops a foothold in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emiratis spearheaded a major blockade against Qatar in the summer of 2017 , Turkey bolstered its troop presence there in a clear show of support for its ally .
In Somalia , Turkey established a large military base in the capital Mogadishu to train Somali soldiers .
It costs an estimated $ 50 million and can train about 1,500 Somali soldiers at a time to help Mogadishu combat the Al-Shabaab group .
Özgül said Cyprus was “ the hottest spot ” where Turkey has military forces .
Turkey maintains approximately 30,000 troops in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cyprus and there have been reports that it is also contemplating building a naval base there .
LINK However , a major obstacle Turkey faces in maintaining its overseas bases is accessibility since the Red Sea and Gulf could easily be closed by Egypt , Saudi Arabia and the UAE .
Hence , although the continued expansion of Turkey ’ s foreign military activities increases Turkey ’ s scope for possible actions against its rivals , it also increases its vulnerability to countermeasures as many of the military bases and contingents have extended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack , a risk that will increase dramatically if Turkey attempts to utilize these forces in provocative military operations .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Ripple effects Greece and Turkey open new northern front on Libyan conflict • Turkey is increasing its involvement in Yemen conflict-reports

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Social media platforms in the Gulf region have been speculating about reports that Turkey intends to establish a military base in the Sultanate of Oman. If confirmed, the military base would substantially increase Turkey’s ability to participate directly and directly in the conflict in Yemen as well as posing a potential threat to its rivals the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The flurry of speculation started when Turkish politician Ibrahim Kargul, who is close to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, claimed that Turkey had concluded an agreement with the Sultanate to establish a military base.
Kargul stated in comments posted on Twitter: “Erdogan succeeded in his geopolitical mentality to tighten his control of the region by dominating the Red Sea through the military base in Somalia, and on the Gulf through the base that he agreed with the Omani authorities to establish in the Sultanate, after establishing Turkish military base in Qatar.”
Turkish military expert Akar Hakan confirmed on his Twitter account that Turkey is preparing to sign a military treaty with the Sultanate of Oman.
He pointed out that no political or military meetings between the two countries have taken place over the last few days, except for a meeting of the Secretary General of Oman’s Foreign Ministry and the Assistant Foreign Minister of Turkey who held discussions on economic, social and cultural matters.
Akar Hakan continued: “But this does not negate the existence of military cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and Turkey,” noting that “the issue of establishing a Turkish base in the Sultanate of Oman has been raised for a year or two, and there are reports that Turkey has applied to establish a base near the Yemen border, but there is no Something formal about that.”
However, the Omani journalist and international affairs expert, Salem Al-Jahoury, considers that the claims regarding the establishment of a Turkish military base in Buraimi, and the controversy they have caused, are intended to harm relations between Oman and its neighbours within the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Al-Jhouri said that the claims were inaccurate and contained contradictory information, as Al-Buraimi is a desert region where a naval base could not be established. He also noted that it was said at the beginning that there will be one base, then it was said that two bases will be established.
Al-Jhouri emphasized that “nothing official has been issued by the Omani government regarding the establishment of a Turkish base in Buraimi,” but he pointed out at the same time that “Oman has military cooperation with some countries in the world, including Turkey.” LINK
The speculation follows the news late last week that Turkey and Niger have signed several protocols and agreements, including the areas of delivery of goods, financial aid, military training, and youth and sports.
Cavusoglu commented of his talks with Nigerien President Issoufou Mahamadou on boosting relations between the two countries that they also evaluated the prospects for bilateral cooperation against terrorism and how Africa in general and Niger and the Sahel region in particular have been affected.
Apart from providing a potential alternative bridgehead, logistical base and transport hub for Turkey’s military operations in Libya, the Military Training Cooperation Agreement signed with Niger could also serve as a means to curb France’s influence and oppose the French military’s efforts in Africa’s Sahel region given that country’s vocal criticism of Turkey’s in and around the eastern Mediterranean and shows of support for Greece and Egypt in recent times. Turkey is unlikely to miss an opportunity to disrupt and if possible undermine French interests in the region in retaliation.
An analysis by the Ahval portal comments with respect to Turkey’s growing foreign military presence and activities:
Levent Özgül, a Turkish defence analyst, noted that Turkey has “formal expeditionary bases” in Qatar, Somalia, northern Cyprus and Sudan along with “informal activities in Tripoli, Libya” where Turkey supports and arms the Government of National Accord (GNA) against the UAE-backed Libyan National Army (LNA). “The Qatar, Somalia and Sudan deployments and Libyan efforts are all against Saudi Arabia and the UAE,” Özgül told Ahval. Turkey has had a military base in Qatar for several years now, giving its troops a foothold in the Gulf. When the Saudis and Emiratis spearheaded a major blockade against Qatar in the summer of 2017, Turkey bolstered its troop presence there in a clear show of support for its ally. In Somalia, Turkey established a large military base in the capital Mogadishu to train Somali soldiers. It costs an estimated $50 million and can train about 1,500 Somali soldiers at a time to help Mogadishu combat the Al-Shabaab group. Özgül said Cyprus was “the hottest spot” where Turkey has military forces. Turkey maintains approximately 30,000 troops in the internationally unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and there have been reports that it is also contemplating building a naval base there. LINK
However, a major obstacle Turkey faces in maintaining its overseas bases is accessibility since the Red Sea and Gulf could easily be closed by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Hence, although the continued expansion of Turkey’s foreign military activities increases Turkey’s scope for possible actions against its rivals, it also increases its vulnerability to countermeasures as many of the military bases and contingents have extended supply lines and are exposed to possible attack, a risk that will increase dramatically if Turkey attempts to utilize these forces in provocative military operations.
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southfront--2020-08-01--U.S. Citizen Standing Trial For Blasphemy In Pakistan, Shot And Killed By Teenager

On July 29th , a man was shot , and killed , while standing trial for blasphemy in a Pakistan court .
The man , a member of the Ahmadi minority Muslim sect turned out to be a US citizen , the US State Department said .
Tahir Ahmed Naseem , 57 , allegedly proclaimed prophethood in 2018 and was fatally shot by a teenager who reportedly justified his action as a defense of Islam .
Indian media lost no time in jumping on the band wagon , reporting that “ Pakistan has a new national hero ” – Khalid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Pakistan ’ s youth.
” In a video posted on Facebook , the teenager claimed the Prophet Muhammad “ came to me in my dream and told me … to finish [ Naseem ] .
” The US State Department issued a statement urging for justice against Khalid Khan .
The entire statement can be read below .
The US also used the chance to urge Pakistan to reform its internal laws since the blasphemy laws were “ often abused ” : “ We are shocked , saddened , and outraged that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inside a Pakistani courtroom .
Mr. Naseem had been lured to Pakistan from his home in Illinois by individuals who then used Pakistan ’ s blasphemy laws to entrap him .
The U.S. Government has been providing consular assistance to Mr. Naseem and his family since his detention in 2018 and has called the attention of senior Pakistani officials to his case to prevent the type of shameful tragedy that eventually occurred .
We grieve with the family of Mr. Naseem .
We urge Pakistan to immediately reform its often-abused blasphemy laws and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuses to occur , and to ensure that the suspect is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
” Tahir Ahmed Naseem , apparently , was an innocent victim , both to the killing and to the blasphemy trial against him .
He was “ lured to Pakistan ” from his Illinois home by people who ” then used Pakistan ’ s blasphemy laws to entrap him ” , the statement said .
Pakistani officials said Naseem was charged with blasphemy after he declared himself a prophet .
As Naseem ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young man in the room pulled out a handgun and shot him in the head , officials and witnesses said .
According to a spokesperson for Peshawar police , the alleged killer told Naseem that he was an “ enemy of religion ” and deserved to be killed before opening fire .
In support of Khan , thousands rallied in Peshawar , carrying signs praising the man for the killing , calling for his immediate release from jail and saying he killed Naseem because the government was too slow in prosecuting blasphemy cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the blasphemy laws in Pakistan , but nobody has actually been executed , so the prisoners are sitting in prison on death row .
In 2010 , Christian mother-of-five Asia Bibi was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death .
The following year , the governor of Punjab province , Salman Taseer , was shot dead by his own bodyguard for voicing support for Bibi and for condemning the country ’ s stringent blasphemy laws .
His killer , Mumtaz Qadri , immediately surrendered to police and was later executed .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Security Forces Detain 2 Militants , Kill 3 Others In Jammu And Kashmir • Pakistan : Seven Soldiers Killed In Two Separate Attacks In Baluchistan

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On July 29th, a man was shot, and killed, while standing trial for blasphemy in a Pakistan court.
The man, a member of the Ahmadi minority Muslim sect turned out to be a US citizen, the US State Department said.
Tahir Ahmed Naseem, 57, allegedly proclaimed prophethood in 2018 and was fatally shot by a teenager who reportedly justified his action as a defense of Islam.
Indian media lost no time in jumping on the band wagon, reporting that “Pakistan has a new national hero” – Khalid Khan, the new “role model for Pakistan’s youth.”
In a video posted on Facebook, the teenager claimed the Prophet Muhammad “came to me in my dream and told me … to finish [Naseem].”
The US State Department issued a statement urging for justice against Khalid Khan.
The entire statement can be read below. The US also used the chance to urge Pakistan to reform its internal laws since the blasphemy laws were “often abused”:
“We are shocked, saddened, and outraged that American citizen Tahir Naseem was killed yesterday inside a Pakistani courtroom. Mr. Naseem had been lured to Pakistan from his home in Illinois by individuals who then used Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to entrap him. The U.S. Government has been providing consular assistance to Mr. Naseem and his family since his detention in 2018 and has called the attention of senior Pakistani officials to his case to prevent the type of shameful tragedy that eventually occurred. We grieve with the family of Mr. Naseem. We urge Pakistan to immediately reform its often-abused blasphemy laws and its court system, which allow such abuses to occur, and to ensure that the suspect is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Tahir Ahmed Naseem, apparently, was an innocent victim, both to the killing and to the blasphemy trial against him.
He was “lured to Pakistan” from his Illinois home by people who ”then used Pakistan’s blasphemy laws to entrap him”, the statement said.
Pakistani officials said Naseem was charged with blasphemy after he declared himself a prophet.
As Naseem’s arraignment began before the judge, a young man in the room pulled out a handgun and shot him in the head, officials and witnesses said.
Khalid Khan was arrested.
According to a spokesperson for Peshawar police, the alleged killer told Naseem that he was an “enemy of religion” and deserved to be killed before opening fire.
In support of Khan, thousands rallied in Peshawar, carrying signs praising the man for the killing, calling for his immediate release from jail and saying he killed Naseem because the government was too slow in prosecuting blasphemy cases.
Many have been sentenced to death under the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, but nobody has actually been executed, so the prisoners are sitting in prison on death row.
In 2010, Christian mother-of-five Asia Bibi was convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to death. The following year, the governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was shot dead by his own bodyguard for voicing support for Bibi and for condemning the country’s stringent blasphemy laws.
His killer, Mumtaz Qadri, immediately surrendered to police and was later executed. He became a martyr to many hardline Islamists.
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southfront--2020-08-01--Iranian Hackers Claim Cyber-Attack On Israeli Infrastructure

The covert cyber war that has been raging between Iran and Israel for years may be shifting to open battles testing the offensive and defensive capabilities of the belligerents following the announcement by an Iranian group of hackers early on Friday that they launched a series of cyber-attacks on Israel ’ s rail infrastructure on July 14 .
In the latest development , a group that goes by the name Cyber Avengers claimed in a statement that it targeted more than 150 industrial servers of Israel ’ s railways earlier this month , affecting operations at 28 train and subway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Telegram channels that some media reports have associated with Iran ’ s revolutionary guards ( IRGC ) .
According to the statement , a “ major cyber operation ” was launched on July 14 at 1.20am ( 2050GMT ) , the same time that the airstrikes were launched that killed Iranian military commander General Qassem Soleimani in early January .
The cyber operation continued for 10 days , ending July 24 .
The group further declared that the “ worst is yet to come , ” suggesting that the cyber warfare between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The group also released a map of Israel ’ s rail network identifying the 28 stations that were targeted , including the major transport hubs of Jerusalem , Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion .
More than six days after the operation ended , the group claimed that operations at the stations targeted by the cyber-attack were still being adversely affected owing to “ severe damage to equipment and infrastructure.
” The aim of the operation , the anonymous group said , was to “ show that we can plan the collision of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Earlier this month the same group claimed responsibility for massive power outages in Israel .
The claim could not be substantiated , according to cyber experts .
Previously , a barrage of cyber-attacks on Israel ’ s water infrastructure had been linked to cyber groups operating in Iran , even though both sides have refused to officially confirm or deny the reports .
The attacks occurred in April and affected a number of wastewater treatment plants , pumping stations and sewage water units throughout Israel .
The attacks , according to cyber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the computer software of water pumps after routing through servers to hide the source of attacks .
In May , a bustling port in southern Iran was hit by a cyber-attack , affecting traffic around the port for days .
The attack was blamed by officials on “ foreign hackers , ” without providing further details .
Most recently , throughout June and July there have been a series of mysterious fires and explosions at around a dozen military and industrial installations in Iran , in one case claiming 19 victims at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incidents have raised the suspicion of a campaign of sabotage being conducted by foreign groups , either directly or through providing logistical and technical support to internal dissidents .
Iran ’ s government has dismissed the speculation , at the same time declaring that if evidence is found that proves foreign involvement the country will retaliate accordingly .
The incident at the Natanz nuclear plant earlier this month has been particularly curious .
Iran ’ s top security body said it determined the “ cause ” but refused to divulge details for “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by an anonymous group , many believe , is part of the ongoing cyber war between the two long-time adversaries .
Hussain Estahdadi , Iranian journalist and cyber warfare analyst , in a post on Twitter said Israel has been “ bluffing about its cyber security capabilities for the past decade.
” “ How on earth could they not realize only a single one of these cyber-attacks on their railway system.
” LINK While nothing can be taken for granted in the deluge of claims and counter-claims and confirm nothing deny nothing statements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warfare between Israel and Iran , it appears that they may be moving towards an open test of strength and capabilities in the cyber domain .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Explosion at Iranian military site known for nuclear testing-official version is gas explosion • No sympathy for the devil ?
Iranian media speculates about cause of fire on US warship

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The covert cyber war that has been raging between Iran and Israel for years may be shifting to open battles testing the offensive and defensive capabilities of the belligerents following the announcement by an Iranian group of hackers early on Friday that they launched a series of cyber-attacks on Israel’s rail infrastructure on July 14.
In the latest development, a group that goes by the name Cyber Avengers claimed in a statement that it targeted more than 150 industrial servers of Israel’s railways earlier this month, affecting operations at 28 train and subway stations. The statement was published by Telegram channels that some media reports have associated with Iran’s revolutionary guards (IRGC).
According to the statement, a “major cyber operation” was launched on July 14 at 1.20am (2050GMT), the same time that the airstrikes were launched that killed Iranian military commander General Qassem Soleimani in early January. The cyber operation continued for 10 days, ending July 24. The group further declared that the “worst is yet to come,” suggesting that the cyber warfare between the two countries is likely to escalate. The group also released a map of Israel’s rail network identifying the 28 stations that were targeted, including the major transport hubs of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University and Ben Gurion. More than six days after the operation ended, the group claimed that operations at the stations targeted by the cyber-attack were still being adversely affected owing to “severe damage to equipment and infrastructure.” The aim of the operation, the anonymous group said, was to “show that we can plan the collision of tens of trains if we so wish.”
Earlier this month the same group claimed responsibility for massive power outages in Israel. The claim could not be substantiated, according to cyber experts.
Previously, a barrage of cyber-attacks on Israel’s water infrastructure had been linked to cyber groups operating in Iran, even though both sides have refused to officially confirm or deny the reports. The attacks occurred in April and affected a number of wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and sewage water units throughout Israel.
The attacks, according to cyber experts, were carried out by hacking into the computer software of water pumps after routing through servers to hide the source of attacks.
In May, a bustling port in southern Iran was hit by a cyber-attack, affecting traffic around the port for days. The attack was blamed by officials on “foreign hackers,” without providing further details.
Most recently, throughout June and July there have been a series of mysterious fires and explosions at around a dozen military and industrial installations in Iran, in one case claiming 19 victims at a health clinic in Teheran. The incidents have raised the suspicion of a campaign of sabotage being conducted by foreign groups, either directly or through providing logistical and technical support to internal dissidents. Iran’s government has dismissed the speculation, at the same time declaring that if evidence is found that proves foreign involvement the country will retaliate accordingly.
The incident at the Natanz nuclear plant earlier this month has been particularly curious. Iran’s top security body said it determined the “cause” but refused to divulge details for “security reasons.” The latest cyber operation by an anonymous group, many believe, is part of the ongoing cyber war between the two long-time adversaries. Hussain Estahdadi, Iranian journalist and cyber warfare analyst, in a post on Twitter said Israel has been “bluffing about its cyber security capabilities for the past decade.” “How on earth could they not realize only a single one of these cyber-attacks on their railway system.” LINK
While nothing can be taken for granted in the deluge of claims and counter-claims and confirm nothing deny nothing statements that characterize the permanent state of psychological warfare between Israel and Iran, it appears that they may be moving towards an open test of strength and capabilities in the cyber domain.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-08-01--17 Year Old Tampa Teen Among 3 People Charged With 30 Counts For Recent Twitter Hack

Update 7/31/2020 1520ET : The Department of Justice has also noted that 2 additional individuals have been charged , including a 19 year old from the UK and a 22 year old from Orlando , Florida , according to Bloomberg : Before Democrats even had time to blame the Twitter hack on Russians and meddling in the upcoming election , a 17 year old from Tampa has stolen their thunder .
The teenager , 17-year-old Graham Clark , is being hailed as the “ mastermind ” behind the hack that rocked Twitter weeks ago , when major celebrity accounts like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then used to request Bitcoin from their followers .
Unfortunately for Democrats , Clark ’ s name doesn ’ t even Russian .
Regardless , Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren filed 30 felony charges against Clark this week for “ scamming people across America ” in connection with the hack , according to NBC Tampa .
Clark is facing “ one count of organized fraud , 17 counts of communications fraud , one count of fraudulent use of personal information with over $ 100,000 or 30 or more victims , 10 counts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one count of access to computer or electronic device without authority.
” He was booked into jail at about 6:30am Friday morning .
The state attorney ’ s office said : “ As a cryptocurrency , Bitcoin is difficult to track and recover if stolen in a scam .
These crimes were perpetrated using the names of famous people and celebrities , but they ’ re not the primary victims here .
This ‘ Bit-Con ’ was designed to steal money from regular Americans from all over the country , including here in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right here in our backyard , and we will not stand for that.
” Clark was found after a “ complex nationwide ” investigation .
Warren concluded : “ I want to congratulate our federal law enforcement partners – the US Attorney ’ s Office for the Northern District of California , the FBI , the IRS , and the Secret Service – as well as the Florida Department of Law enforcement .
They worked quickly to investigate and identify the perpetrator of a sophisticated and extensive fraud.
” “ This defendant lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed the crime here , ” Warren stated .
You can watch the state attorney general ’ s press conference here : Recall , just moments ago we noted that Twitter had blamed the hack on “ spear-phishing ” , which is a targeted attack to trick people into simply handing out their passwords .
Twitter staff were targeted through their phones , according to a new report from the BBC .
The attacks then allowed hackers the ability to Tweet from celebrity Twitter accounts .
Twitter has said it was “ taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could improve its permissions and processes .
“ The attack on July 15 , 2020 , targeted a small number of employees through a phone spear phishing attack .
This attack relied on a significant and concerted attempt to mislead certain employees and exploit human vulnerabilities to gain access to our internal systems , ” Twitter wrote on Wednesday .
We had also reported about two weeks ago that the FBI had launched an official inquiry into the massive security breach .
For the full details on the hack , you can read @ @ @ @ @ @

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Update 7/31/2020 1520ET: The Department of Justice has also noted that 2 additional individuals have been charged, including a 19 year old from the UK and a 22 year old from Orlando, Florida, according to Bloomberg:
*DOJ: THREE CHARGED FOR ALLEGED ROLES IN TWITTER HACK
*DOJ: 19-YEAR-OLD FROM UK, 22-YEAR-OLD FROM ORLANDO CHARGED
*DOJ: 3RD INDIVIDUAL IS JUVENILE WHO WON’T BE FURTHER IDENTIFIED
—
Before Democrats even had time to blame the Twitter hack on Russians and meddling in the upcoming election, a 17 year old from Tampa has stolen their thunder.
The teenager, 17-year-old Graham Clark, is being hailed as the “mastermind” behind the hack that rocked Twitter weeks ago, when major celebrity accounts like Bill Gates and Barack Obama were hacked and then used to request Bitcoin from their followers.
Unfortunately for Democrats, Clark’s name doesn’t even sound Russian.
Regardless, Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren filed 30 felony charges against Clark this week for “scamming people across America” in connection with the hack, according to NBC Tampa.
Clark is facing “one count of organized fraud, 17 counts of communications fraud, one count of fraudulent use of personal information with over $100,000 or 30 or more victims, 10 counts of fraudulent use of personal information and one count of access to computer or electronic device without authority.”
He was booked into jail at about 6:30am Friday morning. The state attorney’s office said: “As a cryptocurrency, Bitcoin is difficult to track and recover if stolen in a scam. These crimes were perpetrated using the names of famous people and celebrities, but they’re not the primary victims here. This ‘Bit-Con’ was designed to steal money from regular Americans from all over the country, including here in Florida. This massive fraud was orchestrated right here in our backyard, and we will not stand for that.”
Clark was found after a “complex nationwide” investigation. Warren concluded: “I want to congratulate our federal law enforcement partners – the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, the FBI, the IRS, and the Secret Service – as well as the Florida Department of Law enforcement. They worked quickly to investigate and identify the perpetrator of a sophisticated and extensive fraud.”
“This defendant lives here in Tampa” and “he committed the crime here,” Warren stated. You can watch the state attorney general’s press conference here:
Recall, just moments ago we noted that Twitter had blamed the hack on “spear-phishing”, which is a targeted attack to trick people into simply handing out their passwords.
Twitter staff were targeted through their phones, according to a new report from the BBC. The attacks then allowed hackers the ability to Tweet from celebrity Twitter accounts. Twitter has said it was “taking a hard look” at how it could improve its permissions and processes.
“The attack on July 15, 2020, targeted a small number of employees through a phone spear phishing attack. This attack relied on a significant and concerted attempt to mislead certain employees and exploit human vulnerabilities to gain access to our internal systems,” Twitter wrote on Wednesday.
We had also reported about two weeks ago that the FBI had launched an official inquiry into the massive security breach. For the full details on the hack, you can read our report on it here.
We only have one question left: where is the more than $100,000 in Bitcoin he received?We would guess probably in his Robinhood account, invested in Tesla call options.
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