southfront--2020-06-02--Conflict In Afghanistan. Structured Analysis, Forecast And Settlement Scenarios

The conflict in Afghanistan spans over decades of history .
The region itself is the scene of geopolitical confrontation for at least several centuries .
In the last 50 years , there were four main stages of the international conflict in Afghanistan : • The Afghan conflict 1979-1989 – a military conflict on the territory of Afghanistan between government forces ( supported by a limited contingent of Soviet troops ) and armed groups of Afghan mujahideen , that were receiving political , financial , material and military support from the leading NATO member states , China and the conservative Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1989 – 2001 .
This is an ongoing conflict of intra-Afghan forces supported by foreign powers .
This period can be divided into three parts .
• The Afghanistan War 2001-2014 .
This is a military conflict between the US-led military coalition ( International Security Assistance Force ; ISAF ) and the Taliban movement , which previously controlled most of Afghanistan .
The Northern Alliance and then the US-controlled Kabul government supported actions of the ISAF .
In fact , the US intervention in Afghanistan with the occupation of a large part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the pretext of “ the fight against terrorism ” .
• The Afghanistan War 2015 – present time .
This is an armed conflict between the Kabul government , the United States and NATO forces on the one side , and the Taliban and militants from various radical groups on the other side .
It entered into an acute phase immediately after the withdrawal of the main contingent of NATO troops from Afghanistan .
Click to see the full-size image • The Kabul-based government .
It is led by President Ashraf Ghani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pashtun population living in big cities , a part of the forces of the former Northern Alliance , ( for example forces and political influence of an ethnic Uzbek , General Abdul Rashid Do ‘ stum ) and ethnic and religious minorities .
However , the corner stone of the Kabul influence is the support that it receives from the United States and other Western countries .
Kabul represents the conditionally “ liberal ” part of the Afghan society and has no real support and popularity among the general population .
• Hezb-e-Islami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader of mujahideens , Gulbuddin Hekmatyar .
The party ’ s strategy is the Islamic revolution .
The ideology is close to that of the Muslim Brotherhood .
The party relies on the support of part of the rural Pashtun population and has close ties with Pakistan .
Currently , it is not carrying out open hostilities against the central government .
The population of Kabul has an extremely negatively position towards the party .
• The Taliban movement .
As of May 2020 , it seems to have the greatest support among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support rests in large shares of the Pashtun population .
It has a branched structure and a very strong military organization .
It is actively fighting against foreign invaders and the Kabul government .
• The Haqqani network .
This group is based at the border with Pakistan and is involved in an active armed struggle .
It has contacts and coordinates its efforts with the Taliban and even foreign terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed , Lashkar-e-Taiba , the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan .
Additionally , the Haqqani network allegedly has organizational and ideological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khorasan Province .
ISIS cells in Afghanistan have been increasing their activity .
Their popularity among the poorest part of the population is growing .
• Al-Qaeda .
Groups linked with al-Qaeda are a separate factor of instability .
In the last year , they have established close ties radicals in Syria ’ s Idlib and Turkic radical organizations in the Central Asian region .
• Local field commanders of the “ North ” .
First of all , these are Tajik and Turkmen field commanders .
Most of them support one or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnic communities and local armed groups .
External forces pursuing an active policy in the region : • The United States and NATO member states provide a coordinated policy led by Washington .
In the current conditions , it makes sense to view separately the activity of the United Kingdom , which largely pursues the policy of the US democratic establishment .
• The People ’ s Republic of China traditionally follows two vectors : economic and political .
In the field of security and the fight against terrorism , the position of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collective Security Treaty Organization member states .
• The Russian Federation and Kazakhstan , and even more broadly the CSTO , seek to ensure stability of the region , promoting the concept of the Eurasian unity .
• Pakistan traditional supports the main Pashtun population of Afghanistan and has a supportive attitude towards the Taliban .
Some Pakistani elites support the expansion of ISIS in Afghanistan .
An example is the support provided to the Haqqani network .
• Saudi Arabia supports forces ideologically close to al-Qaeda as a tool of its influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports forces ideologically close to ISIS .
It is an opponent of Saudi Arabia ’ s influence .
• Turkey support the Turkic population of Afghanistan , pro-Turkish groups and promotes the neo-Ottoman agenda in the region .
• International terrorist organizations as independent actors in the region .
• January 27 – The United States achieved a progress in peace negotiations with the Taliban .
These were confirmed by the both sides : U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Zabiullah Mujahid , a spokesman for the Taliban .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sharobak base killing at least 25 persons .
The Taliban claims that about 400 US and Afghan troops were killed .
• August 24 – The Taliban and the United States reached an agreement on the schedule of the foreign troop withdrawal from Afghanistan .
• October 25 – At least 100 Taliban fighters were killed in a special operation in the province of Baghlan .
Government forces retook Dahana i Ghuri District , which was in the hands of the Taliban for almost 3 years .
• February 29 – The Taliban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal in the Qatari capital , Doha .
Under the agreement , the United States and NATO will fully withdraw their forces from Afghanistan in 14 months after signing the agreement .
The Taliban , on its side , must stop attacks on the territory of Afghanistan .
• March 2 – The Taliban announced the resumption of operations against the Kabul government .
3 people died and 11 others were injured in an explosion in the east of the country .
• March 11 – The United Kingdom decided to withdraw 330 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 12 – 24 people were killed and 16 others were injured in an attack of gunmen on a hospital in Kabul .
An explosion erupted during the funeral of a police head killing 32 people and injuring 103 others .
President Ashraf Ghani ordered to resume operations against the Taliban in response to regular attacks .
In order to demonstrate possible effective directions for resolving the conflict in Afghanistan , it is advisable to divide the main actors into groups with a similar nature of interests .
There are four such groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member states .
This group of actors is not interested in stabilizing Afghanistan as an independent state .
They do not have economic interests in Afghanistan , in general , and there is no positive motivation for their activities in the region .
They see Afghanistan as a point of instability and a bridgehead of destructive impact on Russia and China .
• The diametrically opposed motives are guided by China , Russia and the countries adjacent to Afghanistan ( primarily the CSTO countries and Iran ) .
For this group of actors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key factor of national security .
Even Pakistan , whose elites are not homogeneous , generally supports the positivist agenda for Afghanistan .
These states also have economic interests in Afghanistan .
A separate problem is the fight against drug trafficking .
Consequently , this group of actors seek to improve the socio-economic situation in Afghanistan .
• The third group of actors includes traditional Islamic extra-regional states , pursuing their own , often narrow interests and those regimes that consider Afghanistan as a springboard for implementation or an element of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Qatar , the UAE , Turkey .
• International terrorist organizations centered around two constructs : ISIS and Al-Qaeda .
These forces consider Afghanistan as a base and a springboard for extending their activities to the Central Asia and the Middle East region , and then Russia , China , India , etc .
The interests of the various groups operating in Afghanistan , the current situation and the history of the conflict demonstrate that it is difficult , but not impossible , to stabilize the political situation in the region .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scenarios A ) or B ) , or various configurations between A ) and B ) : A ) through the process of integrated following through on aspirations and interests : 1. the bulk of the population ; B ) in the event of a significant transformation of ideology , military , economic , political potential : 1. the bulk of the population ; For example , stabilization of the political situation in Afghanistan is possible under the following actions and conditions : • The legalization of the political wing of the Taliban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of Taliban functionaries in the general Afghan authorities , primarily in the justice system and the government ; • Softening the position of the Taliban towards national and religious minorities of Afghanistan ; • Inclusion in the hierarchy of power and legitimization of the regional leaders of the Taliban through the recognition of the rights of the heads of provinces and regions in those areas that are already under the control of the movement ; • The withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan .
This could happen , for example , due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential and/or a change in the geopolitical balance of power .
• Creation and implementation of a program of foreign economic assistance to Afghanistan with an emphasis on a direct financing of infrastructure projects through the creation of a special international fund .
The actual volume of the program should be in an amount of no less than $ 25 billion .
The term would be 5 years .
The signatories of the fund should include China , the United States , Russia , Iran , Turkey , Kazakhstan , Pakistan , Germany @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also participate , under the conditions of an altered geopolitical situation and if the US foregoes its strategy of spreading “ controlled chaos ” in the region .
• Granting autonomy rights to the regions of compact residence of national and religious minorities ( in one way or another ) .
The main factor would be their right to form the local judicial system and security forces , or to appoint their own leadership .
• Connecting the expanded security forces of Afghanistan to the procedures for ensuring security and the fight against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the CSTO and SCO .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Caliphate In Miniature : Rift Between Turkey And Al-Qaeda In Idlib

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Section 1
The conflict in Afghanistan spans over decades of history. The region itself is the scene of geopolitical confrontation for at least several centuries.
In the last 50 years, there were four main stages of the international conflict in Afghanistan:
The Afghan conflict 1979-1989 – a military conflict on the territory of Afghanistan between government forces (supported by a limited contingent of Soviet troops) and armed groups of Afghan mujahideen, that were receiving political, financial, material and military support from the leading NATO member states, China and the conservative Islamic world. The Civil War of 1989 – 2001. This is an ongoing conflict of intra-Afghan forces supported by foreign powers. This period can be divided into three parts. The Afghanistan War 2001-2014. This is a military conflict between the US-led military coalition (International Security Assistance Force; ISAF) and the Taliban movement, which previously controlled most of Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance and then the US-controlled Kabul government supported actions of the ISAF. In fact, the US intervention in Afghanistan with the occupation of a large part of the country’s territory took place under the pretext of “the fight against terrorism”. The Afghanistan War 2015 – present time. This is an armed conflict between the Kabul government, the United States and NATO forces on the one side, and the Taliban and militants from various radical groups on the other side. It entered into an acute phase immediately after the withdrawal of the main contingent of NATO troops from Afghanistan.
Click to see the full-size image
Section 2
Intra-Afghan factions:
The Kabul-based government. It is led by President Ashraf Ghani and relies on a part of the Pashtun population living in big cities, a part of the forces of the former Northern Alliance, (for example forces and political influence of an ethnic Uzbek, General Abdul Rashid Do‘stum) and ethnic and religious minorities. However, the corner stone of the Kabul influence is the support that it receives from the United States and other Western countries. Kabul represents the conditionally “liberal” part of the Afghan society and has no real support and popularity among the general population. Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin. Its head is the former leader of mujahideens, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The party’s strategy is the Islamic revolution. The ideology is close to that of the Muslim Brotherhood. The party relies on the support of part of the rural Pashtun population and has close ties with Pakistan. Currently, it is not carrying out open hostilities against the central government. The population of Kabul has an extremely negatively position towards the party. The Taliban movement. As of May 2020, it seems to have the greatest support among the population of the country. Its support rests in large shares of the Pashtun population. It has a branched structure and a very strong military organization. It is actively fighting against foreign invaders and the Kabul government. The Haqqani network. This group is based at the border with Pakistan and is involved in an active armed struggle. It has contacts and coordinates its efforts with the Taliban and even foreign terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Additionally, the Haqqani network allegedly has organizational and ideological links with ISIS> ISIS – Khorasan Province. ISIS cells in Afghanistan have been increasing their activity. Their popularity among the poorest part of the population is growing. Al-Qaeda. Groups linked with al-Qaeda are a separate factor of instability. In the last year, they have established close ties radicals in Syria’s Idlib and Turkic radical organizations in the Central Asian region. Local field commanders of the “North”. First of all, these are Tajik and Turkmen field commanders. Most of them support one or another radical organization. They rely on ethnic communities and local armed groups.
Section 3
External forces pursuing an active policy in the region:
The United States and NATO member states provide a coordinated policy led by Washington. In the current conditions, it makes sense to view separately the activity of the United Kingdom, which largely pursues the policy of the US democratic establishment. The People’s Republic of China traditionally follows two vectors: economic and political. In the field of security and the fight against terrorism, the position of China coincides with the interests of the Collective Security Treaty Organization member states. The Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, and even more broadly the CSTO, seek to ensure stability of the region, promoting the concept of the Eurasian unity. Pakistan traditional supports the main Pashtun population of Afghanistan and has a supportive attitude towards the Taliban. Some Pakistani elites support the expansion of ISIS in Afghanistan. An example is the support provided to the Haqqani network. Saudi Arabia supports forces ideologically close to al-Qaeda as a tool of its influence in the Islamic world. Qatar supports forces ideologically close to ISIS. It is an opponent of Saudi Arabia’s influence. Turkey support the Turkic population of Afghanistan, pro-Turkish groups and promotes the neo-Ottoman agenda in the region. International terrorist organizations as independent actors in the region.
Section 4
Key developments of 2019:
January 27 – The United States achieved a progress in peace negotiations with the Taliban. These were confirmed by the both sides: U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Zabiullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban.
March 2 – The Taliban stormed the Sharobak base killing at least 25 persons. The Taliban claims that about 400 US and Afghan troops were killed.
March 30 – The Taliban seized a district in northeastern Afghanistan. 14 people died.
August 24 – The Taliban and the United States reached an agreement on the schedule of the foreign troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
October 25 – At least 100 Taliban fighters were killed in a special operation in the province of Baghlan. Government forces retook Dahana i Ghuri District, which was in the hands of the Taliban for almost 3 years.
Key developments of 2020:
February 29 – The Taliban and the United States signed a peace deal in the Qatari capital, Doha. Under the agreement, the United States and NATO will fully withdraw their forces from Afghanistan in 14 months after signing the agreement. The Taliban, on its side, must stop attacks on the territory of Afghanistan.
March 2 – The Taliban announced the resumption of operations against the Kabul government. 3 people died and 11 others were injured in an explosion in the east of the country.
March 11 – The United Kingdom decided to withdraw 330 personnel from Afghanistan by mid-July.
May 12 – 24 people were killed and 16 others were injured in an attack of gunmen on a hospital in Kabul. An explosion erupted during the funeral of a police head killing 32 people and injuring 103 others. President Ashraf Ghani ordered to resume operations against the Taliban in response to regular attacks.
Section 5
In order to demonstrate possible effective directions for resolving the conflict in Afghanistan, it is advisable to divide the main actors into groups with a similar nature of interests.
There are four such groups:
The United States and NATO member states. This group of actors is not interested in stabilizing Afghanistan as an independent state. They do not have economic interests in Afghanistan, in general, and there is no positive motivation for their activities in the region. They see Afghanistan as a point of instability and a bridgehead of destructive impact on Russia and China. The diametrically opposed motives are guided by China, Russia and the countries adjacent to Afghanistan (primarily the CSTO countries and Iran). For this group of actors, the stability of the region is a key factor of national security. Even Pakistan, whose elites are not homogeneous, generally supports the positivist agenda for Afghanistan. These states also have economic interests in Afghanistan. A separate problem is the fight against drug trafficking. Consequently, this group of actors seek to improve the socio-economic situation in Afghanistan. The third group of actors includes traditional Islamic extra-regional states, pursuing their own, often narrow interests and those regimes that consider Afghanistan as a springboard for implementation or an element of their geopolitical constructs. These are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Turkey. International terrorist organizations centered around two constructs: ISIS and Al-Qaeda. These forces consider Afghanistan as a base and a springboard for extending their activities to the Central Asia and the Middle East region, and then Russia, China, India, etc.
Section 6
The interests of the various groups operating in Afghanistan, the current situation and the history of the conflict demonstrate that it is difficult, but not impossible, to stabilize the political situation in the region.
Peaceful settlement can be achieved by implementing scenarios A) or B), or various configurations between A) and B):
A) through the process of integrated following through on aspirations and interests:
1. the bulk of the population;
2. The key domestic political forces;
3. The key external actors.
B) in the event of a significant transformation of ideology, military, economic, political potential:
1. the bulk of the population;
2. key domestic political forces;
3. The key external actors.
For example, stabilization of the political situation in Afghanistan is possible under the following actions and conditions:
The legalization of the political wing of the Taliban;
The involvement of a significant number of Taliban functionaries in the general Afghan authorities, primarily in the justice system and the government;
Softening the position of the Taliban towards national and religious minorities of Afghanistan;
Inclusion in the hierarchy of power and legitimization of the regional leaders of the Taliban through the recognition of the rights of the heads of provinces and regions in those areas that are already under the control of the movement;
The withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. This could happen, for example, due to a decrease of the US economic potential and/or a change in the geopolitical balance of power.
Creation and implementation of a program of foreign economic assistance to Afghanistan with an emphasis on a direct financing of infrastructure projects through the creation of a special international fund. The actual volume of the program should be in an amount of no less than $25 billion. The term would be 5 years. The signatories of the fund should include China, the United States, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Germany, France. Other Western States could also participate, under the conditions of an altered geopolitical situation and if the US foregoes its strategy of spreading “controlled chaos” in the region.
Granting autonomy rights to the regions of compact residence of national and religious minorities (in one way or another). The main factor would be their right to form the local judicial system and security forces, or to appoint their own leadership.
Connecting the expanded security forces of Afghanistan to the procedures for ensuring security and the fight against terrorism and extremism in the appropriate formats of the CSTO and SCO.
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southfront--2020-06-02--Syrian Air Force Received Batch Of MiG-29 Jets From Russia

Russia has intensified its military involvement in the Syrian conflict .
On May 30 , Syrian state media announced that it had received a batch of MiG-29 multirole fighters from Russia .
Damascus did not provide details regarding the number of the received jets , but said that they are entering service with the Syrian Air Force on June 1 .
They are set to conduct regular patrols in Syrian airspace .
Prior to the delivery , the Syrian Air Force had at least 20 MiG-29 jets .
Moscow is also working to expand its military infrastructure .
On May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a directive tasking the Defense Ministry , in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry , with holding negotiations with Syria on transferring more real estate and water territory to the Russian military ’ s possession .
Russia currently has two permanent military bases in the war-torn country — the Hmeimim air base in Latakia province and a naval facility at the port of Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea .
The intensification of Russian support to the Damascus government comes as Turkey continues its military buildup in northwestern Syria .
On May 30 , May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army deployed additional troops and equipment , including at least four M110 self-propelled howitzers , in Greater Idlib .
The configuration of Turkish military positions and Ankara ’ s attitude towards Damascus demonstrate that Turkey is not going to use these force against Idlib terrorists .
Rather , these reinforcements are needed to secure their safety in the event of any advance by the Syrian Army .
On May 30 , pro-government sources even claimed that Turkish artillery carried out several strikes on positions of the Syrian Army near Urem al-Kubra .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrians created additional fortifications at their positions in Saraqib and Ma ` arat al-Nu ` man as well as the Zawiya Mountain .
Pro-militant sources also claim that the army from time to time conducts limited precision strikes on militant positions along the contact line in southern Idlib .
On top of this , late on May 31 , an unidentified unmanned combat aerial vehicle delivered a series of airstrikes on militants ’ positions on the al-Zawiya Mountian .
At least 3 militants were reportedly killed .
The material damage remains unclear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Syrian Army vehicle with an IED and then shelled it near al-Sukhna .
3 soldiers were allegedly killed .
The anti-ISIS raid that came in response to the attack led to no results .
On the next day , reports appeared that an officer and a soldier were killed in two separate ISIS attacks in the provinces of Homs and Deir Ezzor .
Over the past weeks , government forces have contributed notable efforts to hunt down ISIS cells hiding in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert .
Despite this , the terrorist threat @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Russia has intensified its military involvement in the Syrian conflict.
On May 30, Syrian state media announced that it had received a batch of MiG-29 multirole fighters from Russia. Damascus did not provide details regarding the number of the received jets, but said that they are entering service with the Syrian Air Force on June 1. They are set to conduct regular patrols in Syrian airspace. Prior to the delivery, the Syrian Air Force had at least 20 MiG-29 jets.
Moscow is also working to expand its military infrastructure. On May 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a directive tasking the Defense Ministry, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, with holding negotiations with Syria on transferring more real estate and water territory to the Russian military’s possession. Russia currently has two permanent military bases in the war-torn country — the Hmeimim air base in Latakia province and a naval facility at the port of Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea.
The intensification of Russian support to the Damascus government comes as Turkey continues its military buildup in northwestern Syria. On May 30, May 31 and June 1, the Turkish Army deployed additional troops and equipment, including at least four M110 self-propelled howitzers, in Greater Idlib.
The configuration of Turkish military positions and Ankara’s attitude towards Damascus demonstrate that Turkey is not going to use these force against Idlib terrorists.
Rather, these reinforcements are needed to secure their safety in the event of any advance by the Syrian Army. On May 30, pro-government sources even claimed that Turkish artillery carried out several strikes on positions of the Syrian Army near Urem al-Kubra.
In response to the Turkish posture, the Syrians created additional fortifications at their positions in Saraqib and Ma`arat al-Nu`man as well as the Zawiya Mountain. Pro-militant sources also claim that the army from time to time conducts limited precision strikes on militant positions along the contact line in southern Idlib.
On top of this, late on May 31, an unidentified unmanned combat aerial vehicle delivered a series of airstrikes on militants’ positions on the al-Zawiya Mountian. At least 3 militants were reportedly killed. The material damage remains unclear.
On May 30, ISIS cells targeted a Syrian Army vehicle with an IED and then shelled it near al-Sukhna. 3 soldiers were allegedly killed. The anti-ISIS raid that came in response to the attack led to no results. On the next day, reports appeared that an officer and a soldier were killed in two separate ISIS attacks in the provinces of Homs and Deir Ezzor. Over the past weeks, government forces have contributed notable efforts to hunt down ISIS cells hiding in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert. Despite this, the terrorist threat still remains high in the area.
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southfront--2020-06-02--MICA Short-To-Medium Range Air-To-Air And Surface-To-Air Missile (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The MICA is an anti-air multi-target , all weather , fire-and-forget short and medium-range @ @ @ @ @ MBDA .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Russia Launches Its First Aframax Tanker “ @ @ @ @ @ Shipyard

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The MICA is an anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile system developed by the MBDA.
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southfront--2020-06-02--Syrians Blocked Another US Military Convoy In Hasakah Province (Video)

Still this is very important .
The US are still occupying the north , as the Turks are .
And @ @ @ @ @ there for Israel , they wont leave anytime soon .
There has been a low @ @ @ @ @ and the US in the north of some kind ; Diplomatic ( talking and dealings @ @ @ @ @ ) , and now increasingly of this kind .
Only with those efforts is a @ @ @ @ @ to leave , even though it will still only happen if the US are forced @ @ @ @ @ and revolt in the US , if the Kurds and Tribes move totally over to @ @ @ @ @ means .

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On June 2, pro-government locals and the Syrian Army intercepted and blocked another US military convoy near the town of Abu Rasin in the province of al-Hasakah. According to Syria’s SANA, the convoy which consisted of 8 vehicles, was moving from Dardara to Abu Rasin. It was stopped and forced to return to the permanent US positions in northeastern Syria.
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southfront--2020-06-02--Death Toll Grows As Result Of Protests In United States As More And More Cities Are Put Under Curfew

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed with Governor Andrew Cuomo to implement a curfew on Monday from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m .
In the face of the unrest , the Mayor and Governor of New York announced in a statement that the police will double their presence on the streets to help prevent violence , damage and looting .
About a thousand protesters protested peacefully Monday afternoon in Times Square , applauding and shouting “ George Floyd , George Floyd ” and “ Black Lives Matter ” in front of policemen wearing riot uniforms .
De Blasio is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter Chiara , 25 , participated in a protest over Floyd ’ s death on Saturday and was detained by police , who released her the same day .
The mayor told reporters that he was ‘ proud ’ of her .
Mayor de Blasio said he spoke to police chief Dermot Shea about incidents of oppression and excessive violence against protesters .
For example , a police van was filmed as it launched into a group of protesters , and the case is under investigation .
“ We agree on the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least two people have died in Iowa and one more in Kentucky during the sixth night of racial unrest in the United States , where more than 40 cities were under curfew .
Davenport ( Iowa ) Police Chief Paul Sikorski has said that authorities received reports last night of a disturbance at the North Park shopping centre involving hundreds of vehicles and ‘ vandals ’ .
Sikorski has pointed out that before dawn on Monday , the Police responded to dozens of incidents in the city in which there were gunshots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Two people have died in different parts of the city and authorities are investigating cases such as homicides , the official added .
In Kentucky , police are investigating the death of a person during a shooting on Sunday as police officers and National Guard officers dispersed a crowd from a parking lot during protests for the death of George Floyd , as announced on Monday by the state governor , Andy Beshear .
Local Police Chief Steve Conrad has stated that “ officers and soldiers started cleaning the parking lot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both members of the Police and the National Guard returned fire and one person was killed .
According to Conrad , several people are being questioned and videos of the scene are being analysed .
Protests over Floyd ’ s death have merged with demands for justice in Kentucky over the March death of Breonna Taylor , a 26-year-old black woman who was shot by Louisville police officers in her apartment while they were carrying out a warrantless raid during a drug investigation .
Several law enforcement officers were shot Monday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nation in the wake of George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis .
Four officers in St. Louis were hit with gunfire during overnight protests , and an officer shot in Las Vegas was in critical condition Tuesday morning , officials said .
Two New York law enforcement officers were in stable condition after being struck by a vehicle during a Monday night protest , authorities said .
The officers – one from the Buffalo Police Department , the other from New York State Police – were taken to Erie County Medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vehicle barreling through officers , accelerating through an intersection after several officers apparently tackled a person on the street and handcuffed him .
In addition to the numerous deaths that have occurred , at least 4,400 people have been arrested for such offenses as stealing , blocking highways and breaking curfew , according to a count compiled by The Associated Press .
However , in some places , police tried to calm tensions by kneeling in solidarity with demonstrators .
LINK According to CNN ’ s count , a total of 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total of the United States , have mobilized the National Guard to suppress protests and riots against racial discrimination by the police .
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New York Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed with Governor Andrew Cuomo to implement a curfew on Monday from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
In the face of the unrest, the Mayor and Governor of New York announced in a statement that the police will double their presence on the streets to help prevent violence, damage and looting.
About a thousand protesters protested peacefully Monday afternoon in Times Square, applauding and shouting “George Floyd, George Floyd” and “Black Lives Matter” in front of policemen wearing riot uniforms.
“The demonstrations that we have seen have been generally peaceful. We cannot let violence undermine the message of this moment. It is too important and the message must be heard,” said the mayor.
De Blasio is married to an Afro-descendant woman and his daughter Chiara, 25, participated in a protest over Floyd’s death on Saturday and was detained by police, who released her the same day. The mayor told reporters that he was ‘proud’ of her.
Mayor de Blasio said he spoke to police chief Dermot Shea about incidents of oppression and excessive violence against protesters. For example, a police van was filmed as it launched into a group of protesters, and the case is under investigation. “We agree on the need for rapid action,” he said
At least two people have died in Iowa and one more in Kentucky during the sixth night of racial unrest in the United States, where more than 40 cities were under curfew.
Davenport (Iowa) Police Chief Paul Sikorski has said that authorities received reports last night of a disturbance at the North Park shopping centre involving hundreds of vehicles and ‘vandals’.
Sikorski has pointed out that before dawn on Monday, the Police responded to dozens of incidents in the city in which there were gunshots, adding that there were four wounded.
Two people have died in different parts of the city and authorities are investigating cases such as homicides, the official added.
In Kentucky, police are investigating the death of a person during a shooting on Sunday as police officers and National Guard officers dispersed a crowd from a parking lot during protests for the death of George Floyd, as announced on Monday by the state governor, Andy Beshear.
Local Police Chief Steve Conrad has stated that “officers and soldiers started cleaning the parking lot and at one point someone shot at them. Both members of the Police and the National Guard returned fire and one person was killed. According to Conrad, several people are being questioned and videos of the scene are being analysed.
Protests over Floyd’s death have merged with demands for justice in Kentucky over the March death of Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who was shot by Louisville police officers in her apartment while they were carrying out a warrantless raid during a drug investigation.
Several law enforcement officers were shot Monday night and Tuesday morning as protests continued across the nation in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. Four officers in St. Louis were hit with gunfire during overnight protests, and an officer shot in Las Vegas was in critical condition Tuesday morning, officials said.
Two New York law enforcement officers were in stable condition after being struck by a vehicle during a Monday night protest, authorities said. The officers – one from the Buffalo Police Department, the other from New York State Police – were taken to Erie County Medical Center. Video of the incident shows a vehicle barreling through officers, accelerating through an intersection after several officers apparently tackled a person on the street and handcuffed him.
In addition to the numerous deaths that have occurred, at least 4,400 people have been arrested for such offenses as stealing, blocking highways and breaking curfew, according to a count compiled by The Associated Press.
However, in some places, police tried to calm tensions by kneeling in solidarity with demonstrators. LINK According to CNN’s count, a total of 26 states, more than half of the total of the United States, have mobilized the National Guard to suppress protests and riots against racial discrimination by the police.
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southfront--2020-06-02--X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The X-61A Gremlins is a unmanned air vehicle , which is being developed by @ @ @ @ @ the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA ) Gremlins programme .
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The X-61A Gremlins is a unmanned air vehicle, which is being developed by the Dynetics Gremlins team for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Gremlins programme.
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southfront--2020-06-02--2020: The Year The Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Went To “Check On The Troops” In D.C. Streets

It ’ s the topper to an already insane year full of multiple ‘ apocalyptic scenarios ’ and we ’ re merely halfway through .
It wasn ’ t just Army blackhawks swooping down on protests in D.C. last night , but in an unprecedented moment both the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense appeared on city streets to “ check on the troops ” .
An estimated 1,200 to 1,700 DC National Guard were called up over the weekend and deployed to D.C. streets , more easily done in the federal district given it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are already directly under the federal chain of command .
Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley was in a sense on “ the battlefield ” inspecting the “ battle lines ” after Trump designated him “ in charge ” of the protest response .
Kelley Vlahos at described that Congressional hawks have turned their penchant for military intervention abroad right back onto American streets , a frighteningly easy and natural transition for them : Earlier , Secretary of Defense Mark Esper called it “ dominating the battlespace.
” Senator Tom Cotton , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in a Tweet , that “ if necessary , the 10th Mountain , 82nd Airborne , 1st Cav , 3rd Infantry—whatever it takes to restore order .
No quarter for insurrectionists , anarchists , rioters , and looters.
” Later Esper and General Milley were seen walking the streets , giving interviews , shaking hands with police .
Milley , donned in his fatigues , told reporters he was “ checking ” to see how well the deployed D.C. National Guard were doing and said “ everyone has the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indeed signs were everywhere that the federal government is now treating civilian streets as actually a battlespace .
It was a ‘ photo op ’ moment akin to generals and the occasional Congressman visiting the streets of Baghdad or Kabul in prior years to show “ all is fine ” .
Of course , it ’ s not the first time federal troops are policing inside domestic cities .
Here ’ s a timeline of the 12 instances presidents used federal troops on domestic soil .
But no less than the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defense making the rounds on city streets is a rare one , unmatched in recent US history .
It ’ s a Hollywood script come to real life , if one recalls especially the 1998 movie : Vlahos at continues on the deeper , long-term implications : It also sends a message , I ’ m afraid , that we suddenly have an occupying army .
This tends to rub some Americans the wrong way .
It ’ s kind of in our DNA .
We have accepted , for good or bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from time to time but also , that it has often , like President Hoover calling on Gen. MacArthur to bulldoze the World War I Bonus Army marchers , pitted the Army against its own citizens .
Only halfway through 2020 , and the Pentagon is deployed to city streets .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
It’s the topper to an already insane year full of multiple ‘apocalyptic scenarios’ and we’re merely halfway through.
It wasn’t just Army blackhawks swooping down on protests in D.C. last night, but in an unprecedented moment both the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defense appeared on city streets to “check on the troops”.
An estimated 1,200 to 1,700 DC National Guard were called up over the weekend and deployed to D.C. streets, more easily done in the federal district given it’s not a state and they are already directly under the federal chain of command. Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Mark Milley was in a sense on “the battlefield” inspecting the “battle lines” after Trump designated him “in charge” of the protest response.
Kelley Vlahos at The American Conservative described that Congressional hawks have turned their penchant for military intervention abroad right back onto American streets, a frighteningly easy and natural transition for them:
Earlier, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper called it “dominating the battlespace.” Senator Tom Cotton, a combat veteran and hawk of first order, said in a Tweet, that “if necessary, the 10th Mountain, 82nd Airborne, 1st Cav, 3rd Infantry—whatever it takes to restore order. No quarter for insurrectionists, anarchists, rioters, and looters.” Later Esper and General Milley were seen walking the streets, giving interviews, shaking hands with police. Milley, donned in his fatigues, told reporters he was “checking” to see how well the deployed D.C. National Guard were doing and said “everyone has the right to protest …. But protest peacefully.”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs assessing the military presence. @ABC7News pic.twitter.com/BXW4EuS0nF — Tim Barber (@ABC7TimBarber) June 2, 2020
Indeed signs were everywhere that the federal government is now treating civilian streets as actually a battlespace.
Army blackhawks are conducting “show of force” passes on protestors. One flyover snapped a tree that nearly hit several people. pic.twitter.com/Z8UnQOypYy — Thomas Gibbons-Neff (@Tmgneff) June 2, 2020
It was a ‘photo op’ moment akin to generals and the occasional Congressman visiting the streets of Baghdad or Kabul in prior years to show “all is fine”.
Of course, it’s not the first time federal troops are policing inside domestic cities. Here’s a timeline of the 12 instances presidents used federal troops on domestic soil.
Things are getting worse across the city. An Army Blackhawk helicopter used a "show of force" maneuver in Chinatown. It's a practice used in war zones to scare away insurgents pic.twitter.com/lsxySbQpwe — Arjun Sethi (@arjunsethi81) June 2, 2020
But no less than the nation’s top general and the Secretary of Defense making the rounds on city streets is a rare one, unmatched in recent US history.
It’s a Hollywood script come to real life, if one recalls especially the 1998 movie The Siege:
Vlahos at The American Conservative continues on the deeper, long-term implications:
It also sends a message, I’m afraid, that we suddenly have an occupying army. This tends to rub some Americans the wrong way. It’s kind of in our DNA. We have accepted, for good or bad, that the laws allow this incursion from time to time but also, that it has often, like President Hoover calling on Gen. MacArthur to bulldoze the World War I Bonus Army marchers, pitted the Army against its own citizens.
Only halfway through 2020, and the Pentagon is deployed to city streets.
* * *
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southfront--2020-06-02--Norwegian Port In Tromso To Host NATO Nuclear Submarines

A municipal port in Norway has been ordered to receive nuclear-powered submarines from NATO after the only naval base in the area was sold and decommissioned – but local politicians and environmental activists are against the plan .
When the Olavsvern base in Tromso was sold to private investors in 2009 , pressure mounted from NATO to find an alternative point of arrival for reactor-driven vessels , other than Haakonsvern in Bergen , which is currently the only approved port in the country .
Now it appears a “ temporary solution ” to the problem has been found at Grotsund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Armed Forces have been told to prepare for the arrival of US submarines , Klassekampen reported .
Military spokesman Brynjar Stordal told the newspaper that the forces had been given “ political instructions ” to prepare for the reception and that they are working in collaboration with the municipality .
“ We don ’ t meddle with the politics , ” Stordal told the newspaper .
Tromso has been strong-armed into accepting the nuclear subs , believes Frode Pleym , leader of Greenpeace Norway : “ This is about the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say no to the US.
” Pleym further noted that the residents of Tromso have appealed for Norway to sign onto the UN nuclear ban and is against hosting both nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered vessels .
LINK A U.S. Navy submarine ’ s port call to Tromsø in 2016 caused considerable controversy at the time .
It was the first allied nuclear powered submarine to sail to port in northern Norway since October 2007 when the last nuclear powered vessel made port call to Olavsvern .
Jens Ingvald Olsen ( The Red Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no deals should be made with American authorities on visiting nuclear submarines : “ First of all there is a risk of nuclear accidents , and we don ’ t have the emergency preparedness to handle such incident .
Secondly , regular visits by American submarines will make Tromsø a Russian bomb target.
” The nuclear powered submarine visited Tromsø ’ s municipal harbour in Grøtsund just outside the town .
Nils Bøhmer , of the Bellona Foundation , stated of the event : He suggested that Norway ’ s defence establishment should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in Ramfjord 20 kilometres south of Tromsø .
The base has tunnels with access from the seaside where both British and American nuclear powered attack submarines could make port calls during the Cold War .
However , the facility was privatized several years ago ( at a staggering financial loss for Norwegians ) – built with a price tag of NOK 4 billion ( €432 million ) , the naval base was sold to a group of private investors in 2013 for NOK 38 million ( €4,1 million ) … LINK Allied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sailing inside Norwegian waters , surfacing for crew-exchange or other purposes ; either to port or inshore waters along the coast .
In 2017 activity increased sharply with more than 40 voyages requiring permission in and out of Norwegian coastal waters .
“ 3 to 4 per month , ” says Navy Captain Per-Thomas Bøe with the Ministry of Defense in Oslo when asked by Barents Observer about the 2017 numbers of allied nuclear powered submarines .
Not all port-calls actually mean the vessel goes to port .
Often , especially in northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a fjord and is met by another vessel that brings crewmembers to a nearby port .
Since the early 1960s and throughout the Cold War , Norway ’ s policy was not to allow for allied warships to make port calls east of 24 degrees in peacetime .
That is harbours in Finnmark on the Barents Sea coast .
LINK A stronger NATO presence in Arctic waters will bring more similar port calls in the years to come .
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A municipal port in Norway has been ordered to receive nuclear-powered submarines from NATO after the only naval base in the area was sold and decommissioned – but local politicians and environmental activists are against the plan.
When the Olavsvern base in Tromso was sold to private investors in 2009, pressure mounted from NATO to find an alternative point of arrival for reactor-driven vessels, other than Haakonsvern in Bergen, which is currently the only approved port in the country.
Now it appears a “temporary solution” to the problem has been found at Grotsund in Tromso, where the country’s Armed Forces have been told to prepare for the arrival of US submarines, Klassekampen reported.
Military spokesman Brynjar Stordal told the newspaper that the forces had been given “political instructions” to prepare for the reception and that they are working in collaboration with the municipality. “We don’t meddle with the politics,” Stordal told the newspaper.
Local politician and chairman of the board of Tromso Harbor company Jarle Heitmann said having the submarines dock there is “not a good solution” and that people would “rather not see the port used for this purpose.”
Tromso has been strong-armed into accepting the nuclear subs, believes Frode Pleym, leader of Greenpeace Norway: “This is about the fact that the government and parliament do not dare to say no to the US.” Pleym further noted that the residents of Tromso have appealed for Norway to sign onto the UN nuclear ban and is against hosting both nuclear-armed and nuclear-powered vessels. LINK
A U.S. Navy submarine’s port call to Tromsø in 2016 caused considerable controversy at the time. It was the first allied nuclear powered submarine to sail to port in northern Norway since October 2007 when the last nuclear powered vessel made port call to Olavsvern.
Jens Ingvald Olsen (The Red Party) in the City Council argued that no deals should be made with American authorities on visiting nuclear submarines: “First of all there is a risk of nuclear accidents, and we don’t have the emergency preparedness to handle such incident. Secondly, regular visits by American submarines will make Tromsø a Russian bomb target.”
The nuclear powered submarine visited Tromsø’s municipal harbour in Grøtsund just outside the town. Nils Bøhmer, of the Bellona Foundation, stated of the event:
“Regular visits by nuclear powered submarines should take place at ports further away from densely populated areas like the town of Tromsø. Possible releases of radioactivity could easily affect many people before counter measures and emergency response plans are triggered.”
He suggested that Norway’s defence establishment should rent back its former naval base Olavsvern, in Ramfjord 20 kilometres south of Tromsø. The base has tunnels with access from the seaside where both British and American nuclear powered attack submarines could make port calls during the Cold War. However, the facility was privatized several years ago (at a staggering financial loss for Norwegians) – built with a price tag of NOK 4 billion (€432 million), the naval base was sold to a group of private investors in 2013 for NOK 38 million (€4,1 million)… LINK
Allied nuclear powered submarines are much more frequently sailing inside Norwegian waters, surfacing for crew-exchange or other purposes; either to port or inshore waters along the coast.
In 2017 activity increased sharply with more than 40 voyages requiring permission in and out of Norwegian coastal waters.
“3 to 4 per month,” says Navy Captain Per-Thomas Bøe with the Ministry of Defense in Oslo when asked by Barents Observer about the 2017 numbers of allied nuclear powered submarines.
“The majority were in the north, three times more,” Bøe says about the geographical areas of allied nuclear-powered submarines. Typically, an American submarine on mission in the Norwegian Sea would not want to sail all way south to Haakonsvern (near Bergen) or to a naval base in the United Kingdom to put on shore a crew member or pick up some new devises or supply. Surfacing near the area where the cat-and-mouse hunt with the Russians takes place saves time.
Not all port-calls actually mean the vessel goes to port. Often, especially in northern Norway, a submarine typically surfaces inshore in a fjord and is met by another vessel that brings crewmembers to a nearby port. Since the early 1960s and throughout the Cold War, Norway’s policy was not to allow for allied warships to make port calls east of 24 degrees in peacetime. That is harbours in Finnmark on the Barents Sea coast. LINK
A stronger NATO presence in Arctic waters will bring more similar port calls in the years to come.
“Contrary to the historical traditions of neighbourly relations and cooperation in the Arctic, Oslo continues to escalate tension and increase the risk of military action. This will not be left without a response,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters in 2019.
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southfront--2020-06-02--Battle For Tripoli Airport 2.0

Battle For Tripoli Airport 2.0

A new round of intense fighting has broken out between the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) and Turkish-backed forces near Tripoli .
During the past few days , fighters from the Government of National Accord ( GNA ) and Syrian militants supported by the Turkish military carried out several attacks on Tripoli ’ s Airport attempting to capture it from the LNA .
At one point , Turkish-led forces even entered the territory of the airport but failed to secure their gains and were forced to retreat .
The key facility south of Tripoli remained in the hands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clashes , the GNA captured a T-72 battle tank , destroyed at least 2 LNA vehicles and lost about a dozen fighters .
Seeking to compensate this military setback , pro-Turkish sources published photos of what they described as a list of Russian mercenaries written in Russian captured south of Tripoli .
However , the list appeared to be only Arab names roughly translated into Russian .
Pro-LNA sources say that the GNA and its backers are pushing the propaganda about the supposedly major involvement of Russian military contractors in the conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the fact that Turkey deployed about 10,000 Syrian militants to support the GNA .
Recently , Turkey even started supplying its Syrian proxies and GNA fighters with M60 battle tanks .
In response to these attacks , the LNA Air Force intensified airstrikes on positions of Turkish-backed forces near Gharyan , Al-Aziziyah , Ayn Zarah and Misrata .
Pro-LNA sources also claimed that at least 3 Turkish-supplied unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down over Bani Waled and another near Tripoli Airport .
At the same time , LNA units captured from Turkish-backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gharyan .
According to reports , the LNA is planning to develop the advance in the direction of Kikla in order to secure a link with its forces deployed southwest of Tripoli .
Another priority target is Gharyan itself .
If the LNA is able to retake it from the GNA , it will be able to stabilize the frontline after the recent setbacks in the battle against Turkish-backed forces and relaunch the advance on Tripoli .
On the other hand , if the GNA keeps Gharyan in its hands , it will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Tripoli Airport and expand a buffer zone around the city of Tripoli .

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A new round of intense fighting has broken out between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and Turkish-backed forces near Tripoli.
During the past few days, fighters from the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Syrian militants supported by the Turkish military carried out several attacks on Tripoli’s Airport attempting to capture it from the LNA. At one point, Turkish-led forces even entered the territory of the airport but failed to secure their gains and were forced to retreat. The key facility south of Tripoli remained in the hands of LNA troops. As a result of the clashes, the GNA captured a T-72 battle tank, destroyed at least 2 LNA vehicles and lost about a dozen fighters.
Seeking to compensate this military setback, pro-Turkish sources published photos of what they described as a list of Russian mercenaries written in Russian captured south of Tripoli. However, the list appeared to be only Arab names roughly translated into Russian.
Pro-LNA sources say that the GNA and its backers are pushing the propaganda about the supposedly major involvement of Russian military contractors in the conflict to draw the audience’s attention from the fact that Turkey deployed about 10,000 Syrian militants to support the GNA. Recently, Turkey even started supplying its Syrian proxies and GNA fighters with M60 battle tanks.
In response to these attacks, the LNA Air Force intensified airstrikes on positions of Turkish-backed forces near Gharyan, Al-Aziziyah, Ayn Zarah and Misrata. Pro-LNA sources also claimed that at least 3 Turkish-supplied unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down over Bani Waled and another near Tripoli Airport.
At the same time, LNA units captured from Turkish-backed forces the village of Al-Asaba south of Gharyan. According to reports, the LNA is planning to develop the advance in the direction of Kikla in order to secure a link with its forces deployed southwest of Tripoli. Another priority target is Gharyan itself. If the LNA is able to retake it from the GNA, it will be able to stabilize the frontline after the recent setbacks in the battle against Turkish-backed forces and relaunch the advance on Tripoli. On the other hand, if the GNA keeps Gharyan in its hands, it will be able to continue pressuring LNA units at the Tripoli Airport and expand a buffer zone around the city of Tripoli.
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southfront--2020-06-02--Iranian Foreign Minister Adapts Pompeo’s Statement To Comment On Protests In US

As protests continue to rage across the United States , Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif adapted an earlier statement of @ @ @ @ @ to comment on them .
Meanwhile , US President Donald Trump promotes own point of @ @ @ @ @ : MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Four Police Officers Shot In St. Louis Protests @ @ @ @ @ Bible Photo-Op • Who Trained The Increasingly Brutal U.S. Police ?
It Was Israel

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As protests continue to rage across the United States, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif adapted an earlier statement of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to comment on them.
Some don't think #BlackLivesMatter. To those of us who do: it is long overdue for the entire world to wage war against racism. Time for a #WorldAgainstRacism. pic.twitter.com/06p1LmmwgF — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) May 30, 2020
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump promotes own point of view on the recent developments:
D.C. had no problems last night. Many arrests. Great job done by all. Overwhelming force. Domination. Likewise, Minneapolis was great (thank you President Trump!). — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2020
NYC, CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD. The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart. Act fast! Don’t make the same horrible and deadly mistake you made with the Nursing Homes!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2020
Yesterday was a bad day for the Cuomo Brothers. New York was lost to the looters, thugs, Radical Left, and all others forms of Lowlife & Scum. The Governor refuses to accept my offer of a dominating National Guard. NYC was ripped to pieces. Likewise, Fredo’s ratings are down 50%! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2020
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southfront--2020-06-02--Main Directorate Of Counterintelligence Of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

The charter of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly on September 6th , 1982 , does not mention this department .
However , Article 8 of the Iranian Ministry of Information Law adopted by the Parliament on August 18 , 1983 states that “ the protection of information in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is vested in a separate organization subordinate to the Central Staff of the Guards Corps ” .
Nevertheless , looking into the orders on the appointment of the head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC shows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the head of Iran on the proposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC .
The removal of the head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is also coordinated with the Supreme Leader of Iran .
The appointment and removal of other personnel of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is carried out by order of the Head of the Main Directorate with the consent of the plenipotentiary representative of the Head of Iran in the IRGC .
The Main Counter-Intelligence Directorate of the IRGC was established in 1983 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Iran , performs tasks to counteract the activities of foreign intelligence not only in relation to organizations and military units of the IRGC , but also other state structures and components of the Iranian Armed Forces .
In addition , the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is entrusted with the following tasks : counteraction and suppression of activities within the organization , incompatible with the IRGC policy ; preventing the spread of classified information beyond the IRGC ; monitoring the activities of commanders , personnel and civilian personnel of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with foreign intelligence agents and services , as well as their recruitment to their cause .
From the point of view of organizing counterintelligence activities in Iran , the Main Counterintelligence Directorate of the IRGC is in a leadership position in regards to the organization for other counterintelligence structures .
In particular , the leadership of the Basij Counterintelligence Directorate hosts a permanent representative of the IRGC Counterintelligence Directorate , and all information about the activities of the Basij Counterintelligence Directorate is sent to the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the Islamic Revolutionary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRGC ’ s Counterintelligence Directorate , oversees the activities of the counter-intelligence department of the Supreme Commander and the apparatus of plenipotentiaries of the Iranian Supreme leader .
The Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC has the exclusive right to control and verify the activities of the economic organization of the IRGC “ Karargah-e Sazandehi-e Hatam al-Ambiya ” .
No other state control or audit service has the right to monitor and demand a report on the activities of this organization .
Karargakh-e-Sazandehi-e Hatam al-Ambiya is the key economic agent of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of international economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran , Karargah-e-Sazandehi-e Hatam al-Ambiya was able to take the place of foreign companies that left the country in large oil and gas projects .
This period allowed Karargakh-e-Sazandehi-e Hatam al-Ambiya to become a giant economic holding , Iran ’ s largest and most important economic company .
Specialists for the Main Counterintelligence Directorate of the IRGC are trained at the Hadi Institute at the Imam Hossein University , which educates students in its security and counterintelligence departments at a level equivalent to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Security ” and “ National Security ” .
The structure of the institute has one research center and six educational research groups .
The scientific journal of the institute is the journal Pozhuheshi-ye hefazati wa amniyati ( Problems of protection and security ) .
Thus , the IRGC Main Counterintelligence Directorate is one of Iran ’ s most influential special services , both organizationally and politically , and in terms of available resources .
Currently , the head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is Brigadier General of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surname fully coincide with the name and surname of the deputy head of the Main Security Directorate of the IRGC , Brigadier General of the IRGC Mohammad Hassan Kazemi .
This causes frequent confusion , even among Iranian media correspondents .
Heads of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC at different periods of its existence were : • Ali Saidi from 1983 to 1987 and from 1989 to 1993 ; • Mohammad Kazemi from 2009 to the present .
The Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taakubi .
The complex of central buildings of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is located in Tehran on Bakery Square and Tahti Street .
This complex of buildings is also known as the “ Padgan-e kousare velayat ” .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Iran Bans Use Of Any Israeli Technology , Announces “ Virtual Embassy ” In Palestine

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The charter of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly on September 6th, 1982, does not mention this department.
HINT: The Islamic Consultative Assembly is also known as the Iranian Parliament or the Iranian Majles. This is the national legislative body of Iran.
However, Article 8 of the Iranian Ministry of Information Law adopted by the Parliament on August 18, 1983 states that “the protection of information in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is vested in a separate organization subordinate to the Central Staff of the Guards Corps”.
As per the legislation, “the head of this organization is appointed by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC with the approval of the Head of Iran – the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Nevertheless, looking into the orders on the appointment of the head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC shows that this official is appointed by decree of the head of Iran on the proposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC. The removal of the head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is also coordinated with the Supreme Leader of Iran. The appointment and removal of other personnel of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is carried out by order of the Head of the Main Directorate with the consent of the plenipotentiary representative of the Head of Iran in the IRGC.
The Main Counter-Intelligence Directorate of the IRGC was established in 1983 and, like the other counter-intelligence structures of Iran, performs tasks to counteract the activities of foreign intelligence not only in relation to organizations and military units of the IRGC, but also other state structures and components of the Iranian Armed Forces.
In addition, the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is entrusted with the following tasks: counteraction and suppression of activities within the organization, incompatible with the IRGC policy; preventing the spread of classified information beyond the IRGC; monitoring the activities of commanders, personnel and civilian personnel of the IRGC in order to prevent their connection with foreign intelligence agents and services, as well as their recruitment to their cause.
From the point of view of organizing counterintelligence activities in Iran, the Main Counterintelligence Directorate of the IRGC is in a leadership position in regards to the organization for other counterintelligence structures. In particular, the leadership of the Basij Counterintelligence Directorate hosts a permanent representative of the IRGC Counterintelligence Directorate, and all information about the activities of the Basij Counterintelligence Directorate is sent to the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. In addition, the IRGC’s Counterintelligence Directorate, oversees the activities of the counter-intelligence department of the Supreme Commander and the apparatus of plenipotentiaries of the Iranian Supreme leader.
The Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC has the exclusive right to control and verify the activities of the economic organization of the IRGC “Karargah-e Sazandehi-e Hatam al-Ambiya”. No other state control or audit service has the right to monitor and demand a report on the activities of this organization. Karargakh-e-Sazandehi-e Hatam al-Ambiya is the key economic agent of the IRGC.
In accordance with article 147 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, “the material and technical capabilities of this economic organization are used by the government to assist state structures in the production, training and self-sufficiency policies”.
During the period of intensification of international economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Karargah-e-Sazandehi-e Hatam al-Ambiya was able to take the place of foreign companies that left the country in large oil and gas projects. This period allowed Karargakh-e-Sazandehi-e Hatam al-Ambiya to become a giant economic holding, Iran’s largest and most important economic company.
Specialists for the Main Counterintelligence Directorate of the IRGC are trained at the Hadi Institute at the Imam Hossein University, which educates students in its security and counterintelligence departments at a level equivalent to a master’s degree in “Protection and Security” and “National Security”. The structure of the institute has one research center and six educational research groups. The scientific journal of the institute is the journal Pozhuheshi-ye hefazati wa amniyati (Problems of protection and security).
Thus, the IRGC Main Counterintelligence Directorate is one of Iran’s most influential special services, both organizationally and politically, and in terms of available resources.
Currently, the head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is Brigadier General of the IRGC Mohammad Kazemi.
His name and surname fully coincide with the name and surname of the deputy head of the Main Security Directorate of the IRGC, Brigadier General of the IRGC Mohammad Hassan Kazemi. This causes frequent confusion, even among Iranian media correspondents.
Heads of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC at different periods of its existence were:
Mohammad Hossein Nejat in 1983;
in 1983; Ali Saidi from 1983 to 1987 and from 1989 to 1993;
from 1983 to 1987 and from 1989 to 1993; Ahmad Wahidi from 1987 to 1989;
from 1987 to 1989; Murtaza Rezai from 1993 to 2006;
from 1993 to 2006; Golamhosein Ramzani from 2006 to 2009;
from 2006 to 2009; Mohammad Kazemi from 2009 to the present.
The Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the IRGC is Brigadier General of the IRGC Rahim Taakubi.
The complex of central buildings of the Main Directorate of Counterintelligence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is located in Tehran on Bakery Square and Tahti Street. This complex of buildings is also known as the “Padgan-e kousare velayat”.
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southfront--2020-06-02--China Warns US Resumption Of Nuclear Tests Would ‘Open Pandora’s Box’

Chinese officials have warned that a resumption of full-scale underground nuclear tests by the US would ‘ open Pandora ’ s box ’ .
US officials are debating whether to carry out the first US nuclear tests in 28 years as a way to pressure Russia and China into make a trilateral arms control deal , according to congressional aides and former officials .
They said the discussion took place at a “ deputies meeting ” of senior national security officials at the White House on 15 May , but that the proposal was shelved for the time being .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ night ( 22 May ) by the , which quoted a senior administration official as saying that a demonstration to Moscow and Beijing that the United States could carry out a “ rapid test ” could be a useful bargaining chip in achieving the administration ’ s priority on arms control – a trilateral deal with Russia and China .
Lassina Zerbo , the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation ( CTBTO ) , the international agency responsible for monitoring nuclear tests , has warned that a US return to testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present a “ grave challenge to global peace and security ” .
The US signed the CTBT in 1996 but the Senate voted against ratifying it .
The treaty has been signed and ratified by 168 states but it will not come into force until the US , China , Israel and Egypt have ratified it , and it is signed and ratified by India , Pakistan and North Korea .
Meanwhile , the US has observed a voluntary moratorium on tests , as have the UK , France , Russia and China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established to set up a network of 300 seismic , hydroacoustic , infrasound and radionuclide sensors around the world , that helped identify nuclear tests by India , Pakistan and North Korea .
The move is particularly reckless and hypocritical given the US stance on North Korea and Iran and the demands and sanctions imposed on these nations , supported by the ‘ international community ’ in the case of North Korea ( this is somewhat curious and demonstrates serious bias and/ or inconsistency in the ‘ international community ’ standards and priorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is much smaller than those of Israel , India and Pakistan , for example ) .
The idea was promptly criticized by Chinese officials , calling it a dangerous signal that would ignite a renewed arms race .
“ Defense News , an American website , reported that Drew Walter , performing the duties of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters , said on May 26 that the military had found a suitable underground testing field in Nevada where the underground nuclear tests could be restarted within months if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 , the US President Donald Trump and other senior officials publicly discussed whether to restart nuclear tests that had been suspended for nearly 30 years .
Information so far indicates that Washington hasn ’ t decided to restart the tests yet .
Still , the discussion itself sent a dangerous signal that sparked vehement responses in the international community .
At present , the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty ( CTBT ) serves as an important pillar of the international nuclear arms control system .
After the US detonated the world ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State of New Mexico in 1945 , at least eight countries have conducted about 2,000 nuclear tests , more than 1,000 of which were in the US .
In October 1999 , the UN passed the CTBT with an overwhelming vote , which was signed by five nuclear power states , including the US , that all pledged to “ suspend nuclear tests ” .
Although the treaty never took effect , the prohibition of nuclear tests has become an internationally acknowledged norm .
The US intention to restart its nuclear tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s opposition aims to cement its absolute strategic superiority in nuclear weapons .
In fact , Washington has never given up nuclear weapon development in the past decades , even though it has been advocating for the comprehensive ban on nuclear tests .
Boasting unique technological advantages and complete nuclear data , the US is fully capable of conducting nuclear weapon research through 3D simulation , which minimizes the demand for nuclear tests in a realistic environment .
That ’ s the reason why the US took the initiative to stop nuclear tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting the development of small-sized and tactical nuclear weapons in recent years .
It is even reported that the US has been developing low-yield mini nukes and attempts to use them on the battlefield .
But it hasn ’ t accumulated sufficient data in that regard , according to foreign media analysts , so nuclear tests have to be conducted to obtain and verify the data .
Drew Walter once said better physical and computer models were needed to make up for data deficiency .
As far as future development is concerned , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will propel other nuclear states to follow suit , thus triggering an unprecedented nuclear arms race .
The amount of nuclear weapons worldwide has been largely slashed after the Cold War , and none of the nuclear powers has conducted a nuclear test since the CTBT was signed , creating a relatively stable historical period for the international community .
The CTBT has become the important cornerstone of global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament .
If restarting the nuclear testing , that US would open the Pandora ’ s box , break the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dark shadow of war over the world today .
Moreover , America ’ s restart of the nuclear test will also send a shock wave to the existing international strategic landscape and nuclear security situation , with a particularly profound impact on the future US-Russia relation .
So far , Washington has backed out of a spate of important treaties on international arms control .
It even relaunched a new missile development program like Pershing II Weapon System after the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces ( INF ) Treaty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ US would have free rein to intensify its nuclear deterrence through large-scale nuclear tests , and Russia would definitely counteract against such aggressiveness by , for instance , stepping up the development and deployment of tactical nuclear weapons and resuming nuclear tests as well .
All these will considerably add to the risk of unexpected warfare between the two powers and are worth our close attention and high vigilance.
” LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC • Apocalypse soon ?
US still scrambling and surging to develop new high tech weapons systems

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Chinese officials have warned that a resumption of full-scale underground nuclear tests by the US would ‘open Pandora’s box’.
US officials are debating whether to carry out the first US nuclear tests in 28 years as a way to pressure Russia and China into make a trilateral arms control deal, according to congressional aides and former officials.
They said the discussion took place at a “deputies meeting” of senior national security officials at the White House on 15 May, but that the proposal was shelved for the time being.
“There are still some professionals in the room who told them this is a terrible idea, thank God,” a congressional aide said.
The discussion was first reported on Friday night (22 May) by the Washington Post, which quoted a senior administration official as saying that a demonstration to Moscow and Beijing that the United States could carry out a “rapid test” could be a useful bargaining chip in achieving the administration’s priority on arms control – a trilateral deal with Russia and China.
The report also quoted a senior administration official as saying the proposal was “very much an ongoing conversation”.
Lassina Zerbo, the executive secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO), the international agency responsible for monitoring nuclear tests, has warned that a US return to testing being contemplated by the Trump administration would present a “grave challenge to global peace and security”.
The US signed the CTBT in 1996 but the Senate voted against ratifying it. The treaty has been signed and ratified by 168 states but it will not come into force until the US, China, Israel and Egypt have ratified it, and it is signed and ratified by India, Pakistan and North Korea.
Meanwhile, the US has observed a voluntary moratorium on tests, as have the UK, France, Russia and China, and the CTBTO preparatory commission was established to set up a network of 300 seismic, hydroacoustic, infrasound and radionuclide sensors around the world, that helped identify nuclear tests by India, Pakistan and North Korea.
The move is particularly reckless and hypocritical given the US stance on North Korea and Iran and the demands and sanctions imposed on these nations, supported by the ‘international community’ in the case of North Korea (this is somewhat curious and demonstrates serious bias and/ or inconsistency in the ‘international community’ standards and priorities, as North Korea’s stockpile is much smaller than those of Israel, India and Pakistan, for example).
The idea was promptly criticized by Chinese officials, calling it a dangerous signal that would ignite a renewed arms race.
“Defense News, an American website, reported that Drew Walter, performing the duties of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters, said on May 26 that the military had found a suitable underground testing field in Nevada where the underground nuclear tests could be restarted within months if requested by the President. On May 15, the US President Donald Trump and other senior officials publicly discussed whether to restart nuclear tests that had been suspended for nearly 30 years. Information so far indicates that Washington hasn’t decided to restart the tests yet. Still, the discussion itself sent a dangerous signal that sparked vehement responses in the international community. At present, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) serves as an important pillar of the international nuclear arms control system. After the US detonated the world’s first atomic bomb in the Alamogordo desert of the State of New Mexico in 1945, at least eight countries have conducted about 2,000 nuclear tests, more than 1,000 of which were in the US. In October 1999, the UN passed the CTBT with an overwhelming vote, which was signed by five nuclear power states, including the US, that all pledged to “suspend nuclear tests”. Although the treaty never took effect, the prohibition of nuclear tests has become an internationally acknowledged norm. The US intention to restart its nuclear tests (against) the whole world’s opposition aims to cement its absolute strategic superiority in nuclear weapons. In fact, Washington has never given up nuclear weapon development in the past decades, even though it has been advocating for the comprehensive ban on nuclear tests. Boasting unique technological advantages and complete nuclear data, the US is fully capable of conducting nuclear weapon research through 3D simulation, which minimizes the demand for nuclear tests in a realistic environment. That’s the reason why the US took the initiative to stop nuclear tests in 1999. The US has been promoting the development of small-sized and tactical nuclear weapons in recent years. It is even reported that the US has been developing low-yield mini nukes and attempts to use them on the battlefield. But it hasn’t accumulated sufficient data in that regard, according to foreign media analysts, so nuclear tests have to be conducted to obtain and verify the data. Drew Walter once said better physical and computer models were needed to make up for data deficiency. As far as future development is concerned, once the US restarts nuclear test, it will propel other nuclear states to follow suit, thus triggering an unprecedented nuclear arms race. The amount of nuclear weapons worldwide has been largely slashed after the Cold War, and none of the nuclear powers has conducted a nuclear test since the CTBT was signed, creating a relatively stable historical period for the international community. The CTBT has become the important cornerstone of global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. If restarting the nuclear testing, that US would open the Pandora’s box, break the existing nuclear restriction regime, and cast a dark shadow of war over the world today. Moreover, America’s restart of the nuclear test will also send a shock wave to the existing international strategic landscape and nuclear security situation, with a particularly profound impact on the future US-Russia relation. So far, Washington has backed out of a spate of important treaties on international arms control. It even relaunched a new missile development program like Pershing II Weapon System after the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Once it exited the CTBT, the US would have free rein to intensify its nuclear deterrence through large-scale nuclear tests, and Russia would definitely counteract against such aggressiveness by, for instance, stepping up the development and deployment of tactical nuclear weapons and resuming nuclear tests as well. All these will considerably add to the risk of unexpected warfare between the two powers and are worth our close attention and high vigilance.” LINK
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southfront--2020-06-02--Map Comparison: Military Situation In Yemen In June 2019 And June 2020

I had to delete my comment thanks to you .
I did not see that so many thanks for the @ @ @ @ @ much for a year though in my view .

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Ansar Allah (the Houthis) continues its slow but steady advance on Saudi-backed forces in Yemen.
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