southfront--2020-09-08--India Test Fires ‘NextGen Hypersonic Weapon’ As Border Tensions With China Surge

With a military standoff between India and China intensifying , the Indian military has decided to increase geopolitical instabilities in the region , on Monday , as it test-fired a new class of ultra-modern weapons that can travel at hypersonic speeds .
The Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) , an agency under the Indian Ministry of Defence , tasked with weapon development , released a statement Monday announcing it “ successfully flight tested ” a domestic hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle ( HSTDV ) for the first-time .
Defense minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the “ successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the advanced engine technology as a scramjet propulsion system .
Singh said the vehicle hit speeds in excess of Mach 6 ( 4,600 mph ) .
“ The cruise vehicle separated from the launch vehicle and the air intake opened as planned .
The hypersonic combustion sustained and the cruise vehicle continued on its desired flight path at a velocity of six times the speed of sound or nearly 2 km/second for more than 20 seconds , ” the DRDO statement read .
India ’ s first test of the HSTDV ended in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test of the hypersonic vehicle is an important milestone for India as it now joins the US , Russia , and China in the hypersonic club .
“ This has been some time in the making and the challenge now is to make a time-bound transition to the prototype testing phase .
China is quite ahead in hypersonics and India can not afford to lag behind , ” Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur ( Retired ) , additional director general , Centre for Air Power Studies , said .
The timing of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locked in a monthslong military standoff along the Line of Actual Control , a 2,175 mile disputed border between both countries , that stretches from the Ladakh region in the north to the Indian state of Sikkim .
In the event of an unintentional war along the heavily disputed border , and China already developing hypersonic weapons and deploying stealth fighter jets , India is now playing catch up as it must modernize it forces as a hot conflict may be inevitable .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
With a military standoff between India and China intensifying, the Indian military has decided to increase geopolitical instabilities in the region, on Monday, as it test-fired a new class of ultra-modern weapons that can travel at hypersonic speeds.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), an agency under the Indian Ministry of Defence, tasked with weapon development, released a statement Monday announcing it “successfully flight tested” a domestic hypersonic technology demonstrator vehicle (HSTDV) for the first-time.
DRDO with this mission, has demonstrated capabilities for highly complex technology that will serve as the building block for NextGen Hypersonic vehicles in partnership with industry. — DRDO (@DRDO_India) September 7, 2020
Defense minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the “successful” launch of the HSTDV, describing the advanced engine technology as a scramjet propulsion system. Singh said the vehicle hit speeds in excess of Mach 6 (4,600 mph).
Here’s a video of the HSTDV launch.
Successful flight test of Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV) from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Launch Complex at Wheeler Island off the cost of Odisha today. pic.twitter.com/7SstcyLQVo — रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) September 7, 2020
“The cruise vehicle separated from the launch vehicle and the air intake opened as planned. The hypersonic combustion sustained and the cruise vehicle continued on its desired flight path at a velocity of six times the speed of sound or nearly 2 km/second for more than 20 seconds,” the DRDO statement read. India’s first test of the HSTDV ended in failure in June 2019.
The successful test of the hypersonic vehicle is an important milestone for India as it now joins the US, Russia, and China in the hypersonic club.
“This has been some time in the making and the challenge now is to make a time-bound transition to the prototype testing phase. China is quite ahead in hypersonics and India cannot afford to lag behind,” Air Vice Marshal Manmohan Bahadur (Retired), additional director general, Centre for Air Power Studies, said.
The timing of the launch comes as India and China are locked in a monthslong military standoff along the Line of Actual Control, a 2,175 mile disputed border between both countries, that stretches from the Ladakh region in the north to the Indian state of Sikkim.
In the event of an unintentional war along the heavily disputed border, and China already developing hypersonic weapons and deploying stealth fighter jets, India is now playing catch up as it must modernize it forces as a hot conflict may be inevitable.
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southfront--2020-09-08--New White House Policy Directive Directs Satellite Producers And Operators To Upgrade Cyber-Security

New White House Policy Directive Directs Satellite Producers And Operators To Upgrade Cyber-Security Systems

A White House policy directive released on Friday directs satellite makers and operators to harden their spacecraft against hackers and hijackers , and coordinate their activities to make sure everyone is working in accordance with the same objectives and procedures .
Defenseone.com reports that the new ‘ Space Policy-Directive 5 ’ urges manufacturers to design their hardware and software so that operators can monitor and adapt to “ activities that could manipulate , deny , degrade , disrupt , destroy , surveil , or eavesdrop on space system operations.
” They should also have plans and tools in place to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hacked , or hijacked .
The directive urges satellite makers and operators to also better manage the security of ground stations and address “ supply chain risks that affect cybersecurity of space systems.
” It calls on satellite makers to better collaborate and “ share threat , warning , and incident information within the space industry.
” The national security community has become increasingly focused on threats to U.S. satellites over the last several years , as Chinese space activity has grown , Russia has taken some provocative manoeuvres in space , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space-based projectile , and India tested an anti-satellite rocket .
A 2019 Defense Intelligence Agency report said that China and Russia are “ developing jamming and cyberspace capabilities , directed energy weapons , on-orbit capabilities , and ground-based anti-satellite missiles that can achieve a range of reversible to nonreversible effects.
” But the threat of malicious cyber activity against space communications , whether targeted at satellites or the ground software and hardware , is among the most severe potential threats .
In March , the Center for Strategic International Studies , or CSIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to US and allied satellites .
“ Cyberattacks can be used to monitor data traffic patterns ( i.e.
, which users are communicating ) , to monitor the data itself , or to insert false or corrupted data in the system , ” the CSIS report said .
The White House announcement is a step forward , said one of the report ’ s authors , Todd Harrison , director of defense budget analysis and senior fellow in the International Security Program at CSIS .
“ While many commercial firms already do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harrison said , “ it is good governance to put these things down in policy and it sets the right example for other nations to follow .
Part of being a leader in space is leading by example when it comes to best practices in commercial space operations .
It is also important for national security because the military relies on many commercial space systems to augment its own capabilities in areas like communications and imagery.
” Brian Weeden , technical advisor for the Secure World Foundation , said that the memo was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process that had been going on for some time .
“ Cybersecurity has been a low-key but growing issue in the space world… Satellite operators ( both governments and companies ) are very reluctant to talk openly about any attacks they ’ ve experienced , but satellites are essentially computers in space connected to more computers on the ground and as such are vulnerable to many of the same cyber attacks we see in other sectors .
“ The directive follows other initiatives aimed at closing the gap that has opened over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advanced intercontinental ballistic missile technology and hypersonic weapons systems and China ’ s apparently advanced anti-satellite capabilities .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Apocalypse soon ?
US still scrambling and surging to develop new high tech weapons systems

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A White House policy directive released on Friday directs satellite makers and operators to harden their spacecraft against hackers and hijackers, and coordinate their activities to make sure everyone is working in accordance with the same objectives and procedures.
Defenseone.com reports that the new ‘Space Policy-Directive 5’ urges manufacturers to design their hardware and software so that operators can monitor and adapt to “activities that could manipulate, deny, degrade, disrupt, destroy, surveil, or eavesdrop on space system operations.”
They should also have plans and tools in place to recapture control of satellites that get jammed, hacked, or hijacked.
The directive urges satellite makers and operators to also better manage the security of ground stations and address “supply chain risks that affect cybersecurity of space systems.” It calls on satellite makers to better collaborate and “share threat, warning, and incident information within the space industry.”
The national security community has become increasingly focused on threats to U.S. satellites over the last several years, as Chinese space activity has grown, Russia has taken some provocative manoeuvres in space, such as the recent test of a space-based projectile, and India tested an anti-satellite rocket.
A 2019 Defense Intelligence Agency report said that China and Russia are “developing jamming and cyberspace capabilities, directed energy weapons, on-orbit capabilities, and ground-based anti-satellite missiles that can achieve a range of reversible to nonreversible effects.” But the threat of malicious cyber activity against space communications, whether targeted at satellites or the ground software and hardware, is among the most severe potential threats. In March, the Center for Strategic International Studies, or CSIS, documented growing cyber and physical threats to US and allied satellites. “Cyberattacks can be used to monitor data traffic patterns (i.e., which users are communicating), to monitor the data itself, or to insert false or corrupted data in the system,” the CSIS report said. The White House announcement is a step forward, said one of the report’s authors, Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis and senior fellow in the International Security Program at CSIS. “While many commercial firms already do the things outlined” in the directive, Harrison said, “it is good governance to put these things down in policy and it sets the right example for other nations to follow. Part of being a leader in space is leading by example when it comes to best practices in commercial space operations. It is also important for national security because the military relies on many commercial space systems to augment its own capabilities in areas like communications and imagery.”
Brian Weeden, technical advisor for the Secure World Foundation, said that the memo was expected and was the result of a process that had been going on for some time. “Cybersecurity has been a low-key but growing issue in the space world… Satellite operators (both governments and companies) are very reluctant to talk openly about any attacks they’ve experienced, but satellites are essentially computers in space connected to more computers on the ground and as such are vulnerable to many of the same cyber attacks we see in other sectors. “
The directive follows other initiatives aimed at closing the gap that has opened over the last decade between Russia’s most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile technology and hypersonic weapons systems and China’s apparently advanced anti-satellite capabilities.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Poland Takes Centre Stage In ‘New Cold War’ Strategy

The decision of the Trump administration announced on 15 August that it is deploying another 1,000 troops to Poland pursuant to a new defence cooperation agreement signed on the anniversary of the victory of Poland in the Polish-Soviet war of 1920 reflects the US intention to locate a string of strategic offensive and defensive military infrastructure along Russia ’ s western border , from Norway in the far north to the Black Sea countries in the south .
The establishment and steady expansion of major military bases and logistics and operations hubs located along Russia ’ s western border is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strike exercises and drills involving bombers and submarines operating alone or jointly with other NATO countries or non-NATO partners such as Ukraine .
In an analysis of the broader geopolitical context of the move , Covert Action Magazine notes that the 1,000 military personnel to be deployed to Poland will be added to the 4,500 that were previously deployed by President Barack Obama following the 2014 Western-backed coup d ’ état in Ukraine and the Russian reunification with Crimea .
As part of the defence cooperation agreement , Poland has agreed to host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s V Corps headquarters , which the Polish foreign minister called “ the most important U.S. command centre on NATO ’ s eastern flank.
” The most recent events are a part of the strategic shift of successive US administrations moving the core military installations and activities of NATO from Paris and Bonn – what Donald Rumsfeld referred to as ‘ old Europe ’ – to the East , in accordance with a broader plan to forge alliances with and gain military control over as many of the countries of the former Soviet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eastern Europe as well as in Central Asia .
Both the Obama and Trump administrations have poured weapons into Eastern Europe , accompanied by the establishment of forward-deployed US troops and military installations and integrated with ongoing programs of military training and military exercises .
The shift of US military hardware and activities eastwards is part of an attempt to resurrect the Intermarium—a geopolitical concept originating in the post-World War I era that envisages an alliance of countries reaching from the Baltic Sea over the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Germany and Russia .
The term Intermarium was used by former United States Army Europe ( USAREUR ) commander General Ben Hodges to describe the US strategy for Central and Eastern Europe , before being revived on a much broader scale by the ruling Polish Party of Law and Justice as well as by Ukrainian far-right movements in the wake of the 2014 coup in Ukraine .
In 2019 , the US Army began rotational deployment of an armoured brigade combat team to Poland while the Pentagon prepositioned equipment for an MQ-9 Reaper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Poland signed a $ 4.75 billion deal to purchase US Patriot missile defence systems from Raytheon , the largest arms procurement deal in Polish history .
At the signing ceremony , Polish President Andrzej Duda stated that the historic moment was “ Poland ’ s introduction into a whole new world of state-of-the art technology , modern weaponry and defensive means.
” Russia responded to the Patriot deal by upgrading its own nuclear arsenal and shifting strategic assets westwards , including the deployment of Iskander short-range nuclear capable missiles in Kaliningrad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lithuania .
One of the features of the first Cold War was the US alliance with conservative and extreme right-wing factions , including those with Nazi collaborationist ties .
The new Cold War , unfortunately , is shaping up to be little different , as the US is again forming alliances with far right governments and political factions in the region against Russia .
Polish President Andrzej Duda is a leader of the right-wing Law and Justice Party , which has been criticized for tightening government control over the media and promoting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Duda has also been accused of promoting a right-wing revisionism surrounding World War II .
In 2018 , Duda signed a law playing down the Polish role in the Nazi Holocaust , banning people from accusing Poland of Holocaust atrocities committed by the Nazis and from referring to concentration camps as ‘ Polish death camps ’ .
The Duda administration has made a point of glorifying Polish resistance to the Nazis , but has underplayed Polish crimes like at Jedwabne in July 1941 , where Poles rounded up and killed their Jewish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ atrocity committed on July 10 , 1941 , during the German occupation of Poland in World War II .
Described as a massacre or a pogrom by postwar historians , it resulted in the death of at least 340 Polish Jews of all ages , locked in a barn which was later set on fire .
A group of 23 Polish males was involved , after being summoned in Jedwabne by a German paramilitary group known as the Ordnungspolizei .
Duda has also promoted stringent anti-communism campaign whose supporters have demolished numerous Soviet-era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while Nazi collaborators are presented as ‘ patriots ’ and ‘ heroes ’ .
Duda in fact signed a law banning all references to communism .
Given this position , it is no surprise that Poland has been active in the movement to oust Alexander Lukashenko following contested elections in Belarus .
Polish and Western media have been strongly promoting and supporting pro-Western opposition figures , hoping to capitalize on the political and social turmoil in the country to install a pro-West , anti-Russia transition regime .
Nexta Live , an online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protests in Belarus , operates out of Poland .
A Polish Special Forces unit that specializes in psychological operations has been involved in coordinating what some analysts are referring to as the ‘ Belomaidan protests ’ in Bydgoszez , whose supporters endorsed the Intermarium , or alliance of Eastern European countries against Russia .
When the BBC interviewed a photo-journalist who had been arrested by Lukashenko ’ s police , he happened to be a Pole with a neo-Nazi background .
The bottom line is that the US military alliance with Poland is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-wing regime which is also seeking to encourage and intensify hostile attitudes and actions against Russia .
LINK To the far north , Norway has also been increasingly incorporated into the string of geostrategic military infrastructure and operations stretching along Russia ’ s western frontier since around 2016 , serving as an operational base for much more frequent visits by US strategic nuclear submarines , substantially increasing the number of US troops and hardware stationed there , and participating much more actively in US-led NATO war games .
To the south , Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in NATO aerial and naval war games around the Black Sea as well as opening its airspace to US/ NATO long-range strategic bombers in joint military drills together with most of the other Black Sea nations , some of which also host US missile defence installations .
The US has operated an Aegis Ashore missile interception system in Romania since 2016 .
LINK To the extent that US-led NATO forces continue their concentration on Russia ’ s borders , the NATO countries can expect Russia to deploy more of its forces in positions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European countries perceived as threats , and the US can expect more large-scale Russian military exercises and manoeuvres involving strategic strike forces close to Alaska such as those that were held last month .
Given the corresponding US military encirclement of China , China may be encouraged to participate in such military activities in the future .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • US strategic bombers trained for strikes on Russia • US plan to establish Asia-Pacific NATO-type formal alliance against China

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The decision of the Trump administration announced on 15 August that it is deploying another 1,000 troops to Poland pursuant to a new defence cooperation agreement signed on the anniversary of the victory of Poland in the Polish-Soviet war of 1920 reflects the US intention to locate a string of strategic offensive and defensive military infrastructure along Russia’s western border, from Norway in the far north to the Black Sea countries in the south.
The establishment and steady expansion of major military bases and logistics and operations hubs located along Russia’s western border is accompanies by an increase in strategic long-range strike exercises and drills involving bombers and submarines operating alone or jointly with other NATO countries or non-NATO partners such as Ukraine.
In an analysis of the broader geopolitical context of the move, Covert Action Magazine notes that the 1,000 military personnel to be deployed to Poland will be added to the 4,500 that were previously deployed by President Barack Obama following the 2014 Western-backed coup d’état in Ukraine and the Russian reunification with Crimea.
As part of the defence cooperation agreement, Poland has agreed to host forward elements of the U.S. Army’s V Corps headquarters, which the Polish foreign minister called “the most important U.S. command centre on NATO’s eastern flank.”
The most recent events are a part of the strategic shift of successive US administrations moving the core military installations and activities of NATO from Paris and Bonn – what Donald Rumsfeld referred to as ‘old Europe’ – to the East, in accordance with a broader plan to forge alliances with and gain military control over as many of the countries of the former Soviet Union as possible, in Central and Eastern Europe as well as in Central Asia.
Both the Obama and Trump administrations have poured weapons into Eastern Europe, accompanied by the establishment of forward-deployed US troops and military installations and integrated with ongoing programs of military training and military exercises.
The shift of US military hardware and activities eastwards is part of an attempt to resurrect the Intermarium—a geopolitical concept originating in the post-World War I era that envisages an alliance of countries reaching from the Baltic Sea over the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea that would serve as an alternative power bloc between Germany and Russia.
The term Intermarium was used by former United States Army Europe (USAREUR) commander General Ben Hodges to describe the US strategy for Central and Eastern Europe, before being revived on a much broader scale by the ruling Polish Party of Law and Justice as well as by Ukrainian far-right movements in the wake of the 2014 coup in Ukraine.
In 2019, the US Army began rotational deployment of an armoured brigade combat team to Poland while the Pentagon prepositioned equipment for an MQ-9 Reaper drone squadron there.
In March 2018, Poland signed a $4.75 billion deal to purchase US Patriot missile defence systems from Raytheon, the largest arms procurement deal in Polish history.
At the signing ceremony, Polish President Andrzej Duda stated that the historic moment was “Poland’s introduction into a whole new world of state-of-the art technology, modern weaponry and defensive means.”
Russia responded to the Patriot deal by upgrading its own nuclear arsenal and shifting strategic assets westwards, including the deployment of Iskander short-range nuclear capable missiles in Kaliningrad, a 5,800-square-mile Russian exclave wedged between Poland and Lithuania.
One of the features of the first Cold War was the US alliance with conservative and extreme right-wing factions, including those with Nazi collaborationist ties. The new Cold War, unfortunately, is shaping up to be little different, as the US is again forming alliances with far right governments and political factions in the region against Russia.
Polish President Andrzej Duda is a leader of the right-wing Law and Justice Party, which has been criticized for tightening government control over the media and promoting the repression of political opponents and critics.
Duda has also been accused of promoting a right-wing revisionism surrounding World War II. In 2018, Duda signed a law playing down the Polish role in the Nazi Holocaust, banning people from accusing Poland of Holocaust atrocities committed by the Nazis and from referring to concentration camps as ‘Polish death camps’.
The Duda administration has made a point of glorifying Polish resistance to the Nazis, but has underplayed Polish crimes like at Jedwabne in July 1941, where Poles rounded up and killed their Jewish neighbours.
The Jedwabne pogrom was an atrocity committed on July 10, 1941, during the German occupation of Poland in World War II. Described as a massacre or a pogrom by postwar historians, it resulted in the death of at least 340 Polish Jews of all ages, locked in a barn which was later set on fire. A group of 23 Polish males was involved, after being summoned in Jedwabne by a German paramilitary group known as the Ordnungspolizei.
Duda has also promoted stringent anti-communism campaign whose supporters have demolished numerous Soviet-era monuments dedicated to the heroic Red Army, while Nazi collaborators are presented as ‘patriots’ and ‘heroes’. Duda in fact signed a law banning all references to communism.
Given this position, it is no surprise that Poland has been active in the movement to oust Alexander Lukashenko following contested elections in Belarus. Polish and Western media have been strongly promoting and supporting pro-Western opposition figures, hoping to capitalize on the political and social turmoil in the country to install a pro-West, anti-Russia transition regime. Nexta Live, an online television station presenting minute-by-minute updates on the protests in Belarus, operates out of Poland.
A Polish Special Forces unit that specializes in psychological operations has been involved in coordinating what some analysts are referring to as the ‘Belomaidan protests’ in Bydgoszez, whose supporters endorsed the Intermarium, or alliance of Eastern European countries against Russia.
When the BBC interviewed a photo-journalist who had been arrested by Lukashenko’s police, he happened to be a Pole with a neo-Nazi background.
The bottom line is that the US military alliance with Poland is helping to prop up an increasingly authoritarian right-wing regime which is also seeking to encourage and intensify hostile attitudes and actions against Russia. LINK
To the far north, Norway has also been increasingly incorporated into the string of geostrategic military infrastructure and operations stretching along Russia’s western frontier since around 2016, serving as an operational base for much more frequent visits by US strategic nuclear submarines, substantially increasing the number of US troops and hardware stationed there, and participating much more actively in US-led NATO war games.
To the south, Ukraine has also substantially increased its active participation in NATO aerial and naval war games around the Black Sea as well as opening its airspace to US/ NATO long-range strategic bombers in joint military drills together with most of the other Black Sea nations, some of which also host US missile defence installations. The US has operated an Aegis Ashore missile interception system in Romania since 2016. LINK
To the extent that US-led NATO forces continue their concentration on Russia’s borders, the NATO countries can expect Russia to deploy more of its forces in positions where they can launch rapid attacks against European countries perceived as threats, and the US can expect more large-scale Russian military exercises and manoeuvres involving strategic strike forces close to Alaska such as those that were held last month. Given the corresponding US military encirclement of China, China may be encouraged to participate in such military activities in the future.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Su-35S Multirole Fighter Aircraft (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The Su-35S is a single-seat , twin-engine , supermaneuverable aircraft , designed by the @ @ @ @ @ by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant .
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The Su-35S is a single-seat, twin-engine, supermaneuverable aircraft, designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Turkish Military Strikes Syrian Army, Suffers First Casualties Since March

Syrian-Turkish tensions have ramped up in the region of Greater Idlib over the past few days .
On September 5 , heavy clashes between Syrian troops and Turkish-backed militants broke out near the town of Fleifel and Saraqib in southeastern Idlib , near the town of al-Enkawi in northwestern Hama and Kafr Taal in western Aleppo .
According to pro-militant sources , at least 5 Syrian Army troops were killed in injured in the confrontation .
They claim that it is the Damascus government that violated the ceasefire triggering the confrontation .
At the same time , Syrian sources say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armed Forces conducted several artillery strikes on Syrian Army positions near the town of Saraqib .
A day later , on September 6 , the Turkish military once again shelled Syrian troops near Saraqib , and near Kafr Nabl .
The impact of the strikes remain unclear .
Nonetheless , pro-government sources did not report any casualties .
In response to the attack , Syrian forces launched a series of strikes on positions of the Turkish-backed terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near the towns Fatterah , Sufuhon , Kafar Aweed and Kinsafra in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de-escalation zone .
Meanwhile , unidentified gunmen attacked a checkpoint of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near the town of Kafar Takharim reportedly killing and injuring several terrorists .
After the attack , Hayat Tahrir al-Sham security forces arrested five militants of a small local armed faction called the Hananu Brigade .
The terrorist group suspected that these fighters were behind the attack , but this turned out to be untrue .
The detained militants were released within a few hours .
The real identity of the attackers remains unclear .
On September 7 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish soldier had died from wounds received in an attack in southern Idlib .
The attack by unidentified militants took place near Ariha .
Syrian troops refrain from striking positions of the Turkish military , likely trying to avoid further escalation and demonstrate that the ceasefire regime still exists at least formally .
Nevertheless , the current situation , when Turkish forces attack the Syrian Army with impunity under the cover of the ceasefire , can not last long and will likely inevitably lead to an escalation if the Erdogan regime does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forces have intensified strikes on identified ISIS targets in the central Syrian desert , according to reports by pro-militant sources .
Despite the recently concluded operation of the Syrian Army and the Russian military in the desert that allegedly resulted in the elimination of over 300 ISIS members , ISIS continues its attacks .
The most recent attacks took place in western Deir Ezzor , south of Mayadin , in the area between the town of Hamimah and the T3 station and near Itriyah .
Therefore , Russia , Syria and Iran continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 5 , the Syrian Military Intelligence Directorate , the National Defense Forces and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps detained 5 ISIS members wearing Iranian military uniforms and driving a vehicle with pro-Iranian slogans in Mayadin .
On September 7 , local sources revealed that the Syrian Army with support of the Russian Aerospace Forces has launched a new security operation covering eastern Homs , eastern Hama , southern Aleppo and southern Raqqa .
According to reports , up to 25 ISIS terrorists were already neutralized in these areas .
Some sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to neutralize the ISIS threat in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert before the start of any new open confrontation with Turkey .
If the new Turkish-Syrian conflict starts before this , ISIS terrorists will become an even more serious security problem for government forces .

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Syrian-Turkish tensions have ramped up in the region of Greater Idlib over the past few days.
On September 5, heavy clashes between Syrian troops and Turkish-backed militants broke out near the town of Fleifel and Saraqib in southeastern Idlib, near the town of al-Enkawi in northwestern Hama and Kafr Taal in western Aleppo. According to pro-militant sources, at least 5 Syrian Army troops were killed in injured in the confrontation. They claim that it is the Damascus government that violated the ceasefire triggering the confrontation. At the same time, Syrian sources say that the clashes started after the Turkish Armed Forces conducted several artillery strikes on Syrian Army positions near the town of Saraqib.
A day later, on September 6, the Turkish military once again shelled Syrian troops near Saraqib, and near Kafr Nabl. The impact of the strikes remain unclear. Nonetheless, pro-government sources did not report any casualties. In response to the attack, Syrian forces launched a series of strikes on positions of the Turkish-backed terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near the towns Fatterah, Sufuhon, Kafar Aweed and Kinsafra in the southern part of the so-called Idlib de-escalation zone.
Meanwhile, unidentified gunmen attacked a checkpoint of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near the town of Kafar Takharim reportedly killing and injuring several terrorists. After the attack, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham security forces arrested five militants of a small local armed faction called the Hananu Brigade. The terrorist group suspected that these fighters were behind the attack, but this turned out to be untrue. The detained militants were released within a few hours. The real identity of the attackers remains unclear.
On September 7, the Turkish Defense Ministry said that a Turkish soldier had died from wounds received in an attack in southern Idlib. The attack by unidentified militants took place near Ariha. Syrian troops refrain from striking positions of the Turkish military, likely trying to avoid further escalation and demonstrate that the ceasefire regime still exists at least formally.
Nevertheless, the current situation, when Turkish forces attack the Syrian Army with impunity under the cover of the ceasefire, cannot last long and will likely inevitably lead to an escalation if the Erdogan regime does not change its behavior.
The Russian Aerospace Forces have intensified strikes on identified ISIS targets in the central Syrian desert, according to reports by pro-militant sources. Despite the recently concluded operation of the Syrian Army and the Russian military in the desert that allegedly resulted in the elimination of over 300 ISIS members, ISIS continues its attacks. The most recent attacks took place in western Deir Ezzor, south of Mayadin, in the area between the town of Hamimah and the T3 station and near Itriyah. Therefore, Russia, Syria and Iran continue their joint effort against ISIS.
On September 5, the Syrian Military Intelligence Directorate, the National Defense Forces and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps detained 5 ISIS members wearing Iranian military uniforms and driving a vehicle with pro-Iranian slogans in Mayadin.
On September 7, local sources revealed that the Syrian Army with support of the Russian Aerospace Forces has launched a new security operation covering eastern Homs, eastern Hama, southern Aleppo and southern Raqqa. According to reports, up to 25 ISIS terrorists were already neutralized in these areas.
Some sources claim that the Damascus government is eager to neutralize the ISIS threat in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert before the start of any new open confrontation with Turkey. If the new Turkish-Syrian conflict starts before this, ISIS terrorists will become an even more serious security problem for government forces.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Military Situation In Iraq On September 7, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • ISIS attacked Iraqi @ @ @ @ @ Ruz area in Diyalah province ; • 3 rockets landed on the military section of @ @ @ @ @ According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense , 16 Kurdish militia members were neutralized within @ @ @ @ @ and Iraq ; • The Popular Mobilization Units ( PMU ) repelled an ISIS attack @ @ @ @ @ area .
1 soldier was reportedly killed .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
ISIS attacked Iraqi Army positions in the Balad Ruz area in Diyalah province;
3 rockets landed on the military section of Baghdad International Airport;
According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, 16 Kurdish militia members were neutralized within 24 hours in northern Syria and Iraq;
The Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) repelled an ISIS attack north of Khanaqin in Qulawi area. 1 soldier was reportedly killed.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Turkey Demolished Greek Orthodox Church Known As “Hagia Sophia of Bursa”

On September 2 , Turkish authorities demolished a historic Greek Orthodox church in the region of Bursa , north-western Turkey .
The Georgios Greek Orthodox Church was known as the “ Hagia Sophia ” of Bursa .
It was destroyed amid the pretext that it supposedly poses a safety hazard .
This happened seven years after the regional Directorate General of Pious Foundations took over the building from Bursa ’ s Nilüfer municipality and spent about two million Turkish lira to restore the building , according to reports from the news website The report says that the building was referred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to its use as both a church and a mosque in the past .
Actions of the Turkish government go amid the silence from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople , Bartholomew I .
The political games of the Ecumenical Patriarch not only led to the decrease of the popularity and influence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate , but also undermined positions of the Orthodox Curch in the region in general .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • The Political And Religious Games Of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew • Outgoing Gov ’ t Attacking Churches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Serbian Church Believes • European Churches Attempt To “ Get With The Times ” To Stop Losing Believers • The New Status Of Constantinople ’ s Hagia Sophia

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On September 2, Turkish authorities demolished a historic Greek Orthodox church in the region of Bursa, north-western Turkey.
The Georgios Greek Orthodox Church was known as the “Hagia Sophia” of Bursa. It was destroyed amid the pretext that it supposedly poses a safety hazard. This happened seven years after the regional Directorate General of Pious Foundations took over the building from Bursa’s Nilüfer municipality and spent about two million Turkish lira to restore the building, according to reports from the news website Duvar.
The report says that the building was referred to as the Hagia Sophia of Bursa due to its use as both a church and a mosque in the past.
Actions of the Turkish government go amid the silence from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I. The political games of the Ecumenical Patriarch not only led to the decrease of the popularity and influence of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but also undermined positions of the Orthodox Curch in the region in general.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Pledged What? Serbian President Reacts To News That His Country Will Move Embassy To Jerusale

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo ’ s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti met with US President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss normalizing their economic relations , two decades after a devastating conflict between them ended with a NATO bombing campaign against Serbia .
In a move that seemed to catch the Serbian president by surprise , Trump announced that as part of the agreement Serbia will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem next July .
Israel and Kosovo will establish diplomatic relations with each other , while Serbia will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talks in Washington .
In a related development , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’ s press office announced the country ’ s recognition of Kosovo late last week , making Israel the 98th UN member state to recognize the former Serbian province .
Kosovo , in turn , will recognize Israel , becoming one of only a handful of Muslim-majority countries to do so .
Last month , Trump mediated a deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that saw the UAE drop its decades-long boycott against Israel in exchange for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settlements in the Palestinian West Bank .
LINK Aleksandar Vucic ’ s reaction when Donald Trump declared that Belgrade will move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem next July made some people wonder if the announcement was a surprise to the Serbian leader .
Vucic visited Washington this week to sign a US-brokered deal with Avdullah Hoti , prime minister of the breakaway Serbian region of Kosovo .
Kosovo ’ s autonomous legislature declared independence from Serbia in 2008 in a move that split the international community .
Among the permanent members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Kingdom and the US recognize the majority-Muslim region ’ s independence , while China and Russia do not .
The agreement was touted as a great diplomatic success for Washington .
Among other things , Kosovo , a Muslim-majority entity , agreed to recognize Israel while Serbia agreed to move its embassy to Jerusalem .
Trump twittered later in the day : The Serbian president ’ s reaction to the announcement , however , made some commenters wonder whether he knew the details of the document that he had signed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Serbian government , Vucic looked sideways at his host , then flicked through the pages of the agreement apparently searching for the part where he had promised to move the Serbian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem .
Adding to the confusion , Trump mistakenly confused the identity of his two guests and called Hoti the “ president of Kosovo.
” The Trump administration first announced plans to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and move its embassy accordingly in 2017 .
The US and Israel have been trying hard to induce or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever since .
Among the small number of countries that are following the move are Guatemala , Honduras and Malawi .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Modern Iraq as battleground of geopolitical standoff in Middle East

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti met with US President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss normalizing their economic relations, two decades after a devastating conflict between them ended with a NATO bombing campaign against Serbia. In a move that seemed to catch the Serbian president by surprise, Trump announced that as part of the agreement Serbia will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem next July.
Israel and Kosovo will establish diplomatic relations with each other, while Serbia will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Both moves were announced during US-backed talks in Washington. In a related development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s press office announced the country’s recognition of Kosovo late last week, making Israel the 98th UN member state to recognize the former Serbian province. Kosovo, in turn, will recognize Israel, becoming one of only a handful of Muslim-majority countries to do so.
Last month, Trump mediated a deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates that saw the UAE drop its decades-long boycott against Israel in exchange for a halt on the construction of Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank. LINK
Aleksandar Vucic’s reaction when Donald Trump declared that Belgrade will move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem next July made some people wonder if the announcement was a surprise to the Serbian leader.
Vucic visited Washington this week to sign a US-brokered deal with Avdullah Hoti, prime minister of the breakaway Serbian region of Kosovo.
Kosovo’s autonomous legislature declared independence from Serbia in 2008 in a move that split the international community. Among the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, France, the United Kingdom and the US recognize the majority-Muslim region’s independence, while China and Russia do not.
The agreement was touted as a great diplomatic success for Washington. Among other things, Kosovo, a Muslim-majority entity, agreed to recognize Israel while Serbia agreed to move its embassy to Jerusalem. Trump twittered later in the day:
“Another great day for peace with Middle East – Muslim-majority Kosovo and Israel have agreed to normalize ties and establish diplomatic relations. Well-done! More Islamic and Arab nations will follow soon!”
The Serbian president’s reaction to the announcement, however, made some commenters wonder whether he knew the details of the document that he had signed. As Trump praised the pledge made by the Serbian government, Vucic looked sideways at his host, then flicked through the pages of the agreement apparently searching for the part where he had promised to move the Serbian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Footage that certainly makes it appear that Vucic did not realize he had agreed to moving the Serbian embassy to Jerusalem — or at least not by July, Trump states. Comedy of errors. pic.twitter.com/0QlzmYM3GY — Jasmin Mujanović (@JasminMuj) September 5, 2020
Adding to the confusion, Trump mistakenly confused the identity of his two guests and called Hoti the “president of Kosovo.”
The Trump administration first announced plans to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and move its embassy accordingly in 2017. The US and Israel have been trying hard to induce or pressure other countries to do the same ever since. Among the small number of countries that are following the move are Guatemala, Honduras and Malawi. LINK
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southfront--2020-09-08--Turkish-backed Militants Shelled Syrian Army Troops Near Maarat al-Numan (Map Update)

On September 7 , members of the Turkish-backed terrorist group , Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , shelled positions of the Syrian @ @ @ @ @ Maarat al-Numan in southern Idlib .
In respnse , the Syrian Army struck several terrorist @ @ @ @ @ .
The September 7 strike followed a series of incident between Turkish-led forces and the @ @ @ @ @ during the past few days .
Apparently , Turkish proxies and their masters in Ankara @ @ @ @ @ Turkish policy of support to terrorist groups reguarly leads to casualties among Turkish forces themselves @ @ @ @ @ , the Turkish military revealed that its soldier died from wounds received in southern Idlib @ @ @ @ @ , unknown gunment shelled Turkish forces near the town of Ariha wounding two soldiers .
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On September 7, members of the Turkish-backed terrorist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, shelled positions of the Syrian Army near the city of Maarat al-Numan in southern Idlib. In respnse, the Syrian Army struck several terrorist positions near the contact line.
The September 7 strike followed a series of incident between Turkish-led forces and the Syrian Army in the area during the past few days. Apparently, Turkish proxies and their masters in Ankara are not happy that the Turkish policy of support to terrorist groups reguarly leads to casualties among Turkish forces themselves.
A few hours ago, the Turkish military revealed that its soldier died from wounds received in southern Idlib recently. On September 6, unknown gunment shelled Turkish forces near the town of Ariha wounding two soldiers. One of them died.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Iranian Officials Claim They Have Identified Perpetrators Of Natanz Sabotage Attack

A spokesman for the Iran ’ s Atomic Energy Organization of Iran ( AEOI ) has stated that the country ’ s security forces have identified the perpetrators of an act of sabotage at Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran in July .
The agency ’ s spokesman announced that while the details of the act of sabotage are still being investigated , the security forces have identified the material authors of the operation .
“ It is for the security organizations to painstakingly investigate [ the incident ] and they are expected to give their final view in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as we know , they have detected the agents [ who committed the act of sabotage ] as well as the motive , methods and manner of the sabotage , ” Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Sunday .
Shortly after the incident SNSC Spokesman Keyvan Khosravi said experts from different sectors started investigating “ different hypotheses ” about the Natanz incident immediately after its occurrence , and have determined its main cause .
Iran ’ s Supreme National Security Council ( SNSC ) said later that the “ main cause ” of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be announced at an appropriate time .
In the latest official comments on the incident , Kamalvindi stated that the saboteurs sought to disrupt the uranium enrichment process at the Natanz facility , but claimed that they were not successful in this respect , repeating earlier claims that the act of sabotage caused no casualties and failed to stop enrichment work at the facility .
The AEOI has decided to build another shed at the nuclear facility to replace the damaged structure .
The AEOI spokesman likened the current conditions facing the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ saying , “ We might suffer a loss in this scene , but it only makes us more motivated for defence and work.
” Elsewhere in his remarks , Kamalvandi said the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA ) is under heavy political pressure and its Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has also confirmed this , but that he promised to act in a professional way .
The IAEA ’ s chief visited Tehran on August 24 and 25 where he met with senior Iranian officials , which led to the issuance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperation and building more confidence .
The AEOI spokesman said of the visit and agreements reached : “ The Islamic Republic of Iran has nothing to conceal .
So , it allowed the IAEA to have access to demanded sites , because further prolongation of this issue and not giving the agency the permission [ to visit those sites ] would have only benefited the US.
” At the end of the two-day trip by the IAEA chief , Iran and the UN agency issued a joint statement on agreements and the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After intensive bilateral consultations , Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement on the resolution of the safeguards implementation issues specified by the IAEA , in good faith .
In this regard , Iran is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA and facilitating the IAEA verification activities to resolve these issues .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • US on again off again partial troop withdrawal from Iraq on again • Iraq as battleground of geopolitical standoff in Middle East

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A spokesman for the Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) has stated that the country’s security forces have identified the perpetrators of an act of sabotage at Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran in July.
The agency’s spokesman announced that while the details of the act of sabotage are still being investigated, the security forces have identified the material authors of the operation.
“It is for the security organizations to painstakingly investigate [the incident] and they are expected to give their final view in this regard. Their investigations are underway and as far as we know, they have detected the agents [who committed the act of sabotage] as well as the motive, methods and manner of the sabotage,” Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Sunday.
Shortly after the incident SNSC Spokesman Keyvan Khosravi said experts from different sectors started investigating “different hypotheses” about the Natanz incident immediately after its occurrence, and have determined its main cause.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) said later that the “main cause” of the incident had been determined and would be announced at an appropriate time.
In the latest official comments on the incident, Kamalvindi stated that the saboteurs sought to disrupt the uranium enrichment process at the Natanz facility, but claimed that they were not successful in this respect, repeating earlier claims that the act of sabotage caused no casualties and failed to stop enrichment work at the facility. The AEOI has decided to build another shed at the nuclear facility to replace the damaged structure. The AEOI spokesman likened the current conditions facing the country to a ‘scene of war,’ saying, “We might suffer a loss in this scene, but it only makes us more motivated for defence and work.”
Elsewhere in his remarks, Kamalvandi said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is under heavy political pressure and its Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi has also confirmed this, but that he promised to act in a professional way.
The IAEA’s chief visited Tehran on August 24 and 25 where he met with senior Iranian officials, which led to the issuance of a joint statement aimed at strengthening cooperation and building more confidence.
The AEOI spokesman said of the visit and agreements reached: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has nothing to conceal. So, it allowed the IAEA to have access to demanded sites, because further prolongation of this issue and not giving the agency the permission [to visit those sites] would have only benefited the US.”
At the end of the two-day trip by the IAEA chief, Iran and the UN agency issued a joint statement on agreements and the results of high-level talks between the two sides.
After intensive bilateral consultations, Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement on the resolution of the safeguards implementation issues specified by the IAEA, in good faith. In this regard, Iran is voluntarily providing the IAEA with access to the two locations specified by the IAEA and facilitating the IAEA verification activities to resolve these issues. LINK
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southfront--2020-09-08--Vaccine Nationalism, Big Promises and Warped Speed

From sneering dismissiveness of the coronavirus as nothing more than a common cold to a grand promise to find a vaccine , President Donald Trump is all promises .
“ We remain on track to deliver a vaccine before the end of the year and maybe even before November 1st , ” he told a White House news conference on September 4 .
“ We think we can probably have it sometime during the month of October.
” Operation Warp Speed , he tried convincing the press corps , was doing what it was required to do .
He had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ great guy ” .
He was expecting “ the results of its trial very , very shortly – next month – but very shortly.
” To Pfizer ’ s efforts could be added those of Johnson & Johnson ( “ also doing very well ” ) and Moderna .
“ We have some really great companies .
They ’ re all doing very well.
” Even within go-it-alone USA , mistrust reigns on when a working vaccine will be ready .
An election is in the offing , and any proximity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miraculous discoveries will be seen as smelly .
Democratic Vice Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris , beating the electoral drum , sees some votes in telling citizenry of the republic that Trump can not be trusted about anything to do with the vaccine .
He will put the toes of public officials against the fire ; he will marginalise and sack critics .
“ If past is prologue , ” she told CNN ’ s State of the Union , “ they will not , they ’ ll be muzzled , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suggest that no country , or corporation , should be entirely trusted in this endeavour .
The process of finding a vaccine is so intermingled with promises of a speedy discoveries and rapid manufacture , it has left even the most ardent vaccinators worried .
The scientists have been told to work miracles in the laboratory ; pharmaceutical giants are being told to be generous , yet continue to sign agreements with governments that will enable them to charge handsomely when the time comes .
As Adam Kamradt-Scott , a student of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ commercial-in-confidence agreements are usually signed in secret , often with different prices being charged to different governments depending on whether they are the first customer or 30th and their ability to pay.
” The number of candidate vaccines is growing : some 160 at the moment , 31 or so having entered human clinical trials .
Negotiating barriers are being treated as minor obstacles to be danced around with lithe finesse .
The urgency is such that even Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken of one of his daughters taking “ part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ V vaccine .
The World Health Organization has been attempting to quash any ideas of needless haste , stressing the values of thoroughness and safety .
Chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan is trying to be resolute in that regard .
“ No vaccine is going to be mass-deployed until regulators are confident , governments are confident , and the WHO is confident it has met the minimum standards of safety.
” All vaccine candidates would , she claims , have to “ go through the Phase III trials.
” The Director-General of the World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also preaching against the temptations of vaccine nationalism .
“ Vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic.
” He has urged countries to join the COVAX global vaccine allocation plan , and announced on Friday that 78 high-income states had put their names to a collective now numbering 170 .
Run by the WHO and the Gavi vaccine alliance , the object is the equitable distribution of vaccination shots , when the time comes .
There is much trumpeting about the merits of COVAX , much of it from the collective itself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Berkley , is calling the collaboration unique , the 170 countries comprising 70 percent of the globe ’ s population .
It “ has the world ’ s largest and most diverse portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines , and as such represents the world ’ s best hope of bringing the acute phase of this pandemic to a swift end.
” Joining the group will mean that “ both self-financing countries and funded countries will gain access to this portfolio of vaccines , as and when they prove to be both safe and effective.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit the sharper effects of vaccine nationalism , though they are by no means assured of success .
The Open COVID Pledge , comprising a number “ of scientists , lawyers , entrepreneurs and individuals working to promote the removal of obstacles involving intellectual property in the fight against COVID-19 ” is one such enterprise .
Creative Commons has been given the task of steering the pledge through such difficult waters .
“ We believe this initiative , ” claims the OCP , “ will have a profound impact beyond the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such matters .
The COVAX effort has not done away with the problems of vaccine bilateralism , which remain pressing .
Paul Hudson , CEO of Sanofi , sees the US “ right to the largest pre-order ” of the first vaccine as manifest destiny .
Adar Poonawalla , chief executive of the Serum Institute of India , which by volume is the largest maker of vaccines , is also clear that “ the vaccine , at least initially , would have to go to our countrymen before it goes abroad.
” Countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are looking out for their own .
The outcome , as things , stand , promises to be traditional in geopolitics and health .
Old divisions and inequalities will be reasserted with marked savagery .
The rich and affluent will get first dibs and first jabs ; the impoverished will have to wait their turn .
And the virus will continue to do its work .
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures at RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
From sneering dismissiveness of the coronavirus as nothing more than a common cold to a grand promise to find a vaccine, President Donald Trump is all promises. “We remain on track to deliver a vaccine before the end of the year and maybe even before November 1st,” he told a White House news conference on September 4. “We think we can probably have it sometime during the month of October.”
Operation Warp Speed, he tried convincing the press corps, was doing what it was required to do. He had spoken to the head of Pfizer – “great guy”. He was expecting “the results of its trial very, very shortly – next month – but very shortly.” To Pfizer’s efforts could be added those of Johnson & Johnson (“also doing very well”) and Moderna. “We have some really great companies. They’re all doing very well.”
Even within go-it-alone USA, mistrust reigns on when a working vaccine will be ready. An election is in the offing, and any proximity to the date of November in terms of miraculous discoveries will be seen as smelly. Democratic Vice Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, beating the electoral drum, sees some votes in telling citizenry of the republic that Trump cannot be trusted about anything to do with the vaccine. He will put the toes of public officials against the fire; he will marginalise and sack critics. “If past is prologue,” she told CNN’s State of the Union, “they will not, they’ll be muzzled, they’ll be sidelined.”
There is also much to suggest that no country, or corporation, should be entirely trusted in this endeavour. The process of finding a vaccine is so intermingled with promises of a speedy discoveries and rapid manufacture, it has left even the most ardent vaccinators worried. The scientists have been told to work miracles in the laboratory; pharmaceutical giants are being told to be generous, yet continue to sign agreements with governments that will enable them to charge handsomely when the time comes. As Adam Kamradt-Scott, a student of global health security relevantly notes, such “commercial-in-confidence agreements are usually signed in secret, often with different prices being charged to different governments depending on whether they are the first customer or 30th and their ability to pay.”
The number of candidate vaccines is growing: some 160 at the moment, 31 or so having entered human clinical trials. Negotiating barriers are being treated as minor obstacles to be danced around with lithe finesse. The urgency is such that even Russian President Vladimir Putin has spoken of one of his daughters taking “part in the experiment” of the Sputnik V vaccine.
The World Health Organization has been attempting to quash any ideas of needless haste, stressing the values of thoroughness and safety. Chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan is trying to be resolute in that regard. “No vaccine is going to be mass-deployed until regulators are confident, governments are confident, and the WHO is confident it has met the minimum standards of safety.” All vaccine candidates would, she claims, have to “go through the Phase III trials.”
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is also preaching against the temptations of vaccine nationalism. “Vaccine nationalism will prolong the pandemic.” He has urged countries to join the COVAX global vaccine allocation plan, and announced on Friday that 78 high-income states had put their names to a collective now numbering 170. Run by the WHO and the Gavi vaccine alliance, the object is the equitable distribution of vaccination shots, when the time comes.
There is much trumpeting about the merits of COVAX, much of it from the collective itself. The Gavi vaccine alliance CEO, Seth Berkley, is calling the collaboration unique, the 170 countries comprising 70 percent of the globe’s population. It “has the world’s largest and most diverse portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines, and as such represents the world’s best hope of bringing the acute phase of this pandemic to a swift end.” Joining the group will mean that “both self-financing countries and funded countries will gain access to this portfolio of vaccines, as and when they prove to be both safe and effective.”
There are a few efforts seeking to limit the sharper effects of vaccine nationalism, though they are by no means assured of success. The Open COVID Pledge, comprising a number “of scientists, lawyers, entrepreneurs and individuals working to promote the removal of obstacles involving intellectual property in the fight against COVID-19” is one such enterprise. Creative Commons has been given the task of steering the pledge through such difficult waters. “We believe this initiative,” claims the OCP, “will have a profound impact beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.” Good to be optimistic in such matters.
The COVAX effort has not done away with the problems of vaccine bilateralism, which remain pressing. Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi, sees the US “right to the largest pre-order” of the first vaccine as manifest destiny. Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute of India, which by volume is the largest maker of vaccines, is also clear that “the vaccine, at least initially, would have to go to our countrymen before it goes abroad.” Countries who have the cash and the means are looking out for their own.
The outcome, as things, stand, promises to be traditional in geopolitics and health. Old divisions and inequalities will be reasserted with marked savagery. The rich and affluent will get first dibs and first jabs; the impoverished will have to wait their turn. And the virus will continue to do its work.
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-09-08--Preparing For War: Iran Aims To Develop More Powerful Cruise Missiles

Iran is undertaking extensive steps to upgrade its defensive and offensive capabilities .
Iran ’ s Defence Minister Amir Hatami has revealed that one of the main objectives of his country ’ s domestic military industry is to increase the effective range of its air-launched cruise missiles .
At the moment , most of Iran ’ s missiles have a range of just over 1,000 kilometres , with ground-launched cruise missiles having an effective range of up to 1,400 kilometres .
However , the air-launched missiles so far failed to hit targets more than 1,000 kilometres away .
The Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by boosting the engine output capacity .
At the same time , the defence minister stated that Iran does not seek to increase the range of any of its cruise missiles , whether air- , ground- or sea-launched , beyond 2,000 kilometres , as the country has no need for very long-range weapons .
Hatami noted that domestic military companies currently satisfy 90 % of Tehran ’ s defence needs , and said that after the UN lifts the embargo against Iran on conventional weapons sales the Islamic Republic will consider the possibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procure and sell weapons .
The lifting of the embargo is set to happen under the conditions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) , signed in 2015 .
The lifting of the embargo but is strongly opposed by the US , which tried to block the move in the UN Security Council , however it was unsuccessful .
Other signatories to the nuclear deal in the Security Council turned down the US initiative , citing the US ’ withdrawal from the accord in 2018 .
The Trump administration then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , even if its European partners and other parties to the nuclear deal do not support them .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • US on again off again partial troop withdrawal from Iraq on again ?
• Iraq as battleground of geopolitical standoff in Middle East

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Iran is undertaking extensive steps to upgrade its defensive and offensive capabilities. Iran’s Defence Minister Amir Hatami has revealed that one of the main objectives of his country’s domestic military industry is to increase the effective range of its air-launched cruise missiles.
At the moment, most of Iran’s missiles have a range of just over 1,000 kilometres, with ground-launched cruise missiles having an effective range of up to 1,400 kilometres. However, the air-launched missiles so far failed to hit targets more than 1,000 kilometres away.
The Islamic Republic now aims to extend their range by boosting the engine output capacity. At the same time, the defence minister stated that Iran does not seek to increase the range of any of its cruise missiles, whether air-, ground- or sea-launched, beyond 2,000 kilometres, as the country has no need for very long-range weapons.
Hatami noted that domestic military companies currently satisfy 90% of Tehran’s defence needs, and said that after the UN lifts the embargo against Iran on conventional weapons sales the Islamic Republic will consider the possibilities to start working with foreign countries to procure and sell weapons.
The lifting of the embargo is set to happen under the conditions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed in 2015. The lifting of the embargo but is strongly opposed by the US, which tried to block the move in the UN Security Council, however it was unsuccessful.
Other signatories to the nuclear deal in the Security Council turned down the US initiative, citing the US’ withdrawal from the accord in 2018. The Trump administration then vowed to impose unilateral sanctions against Iran, even if its European partners and other parties to the nuclear deal do not support them. LINK
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southfront--2020-09-08--Mi-38T Multi-Mission Military Helicopter (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The Mi-38 is a transport helicopter designed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and produced @ @ @ @ @ The Mi-38T is a military variant produced for the Russian Armed Forces .
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The Mi-38 is a transport helicopter designed by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and produced by Kazan Helicopter Plant. The Mi-38T is a military variant produced for the Russian Armed Forces.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Resistance To Occupation? US- And Turkish-Backed Forces Suffer Casualties In Northeastern Syria

Several members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and Turkish-backed militant groups were killed or injured in a series of attacks by unknown gunment in the Syrian provinces of Homs and Raqqa .
According to Syrian state media , gunmen riding a motorcycle shelled a position of Turkish-backed forces in the vicinity of al-Zibakiya village in the northern part of Raqqa province .
At least one Turkish-backed militant was reportedly killed .
In a separate development at least one SDF member was killed by unknown persons near the farms ’ roundabout in Raqqa city , and another one was injured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darnaj and al-Tayyana towns in eastern Deir Ezzor .
Pro-SDF sources often blame attacks on their forces in northeastern Syria on ISIS and Turkish proxies , while Turkey prefers to blame the SDF , the Kuridsh People ’ s Protection Units ( YPG ; the main group in the SDF ) and the Kurdistan Workers Party ( PKK ; linked with the YPG ) .
On the other hand , the attention of Syrian state media to these attacks may indicate that Damascus would like to paint them as a kind of local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON THE TOPIC :

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Several members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and Turkish-backed militant groups were killed or injured in a series of attacks by unknown gunmen in the Syrian provinces of Homs and Raqqa.
According to Syrian state media, gunmen riding a motorcycle shelled a position of Turkish-backed forces in the vicinity of al-Zibakiya village in the northern part of Raqqa province. At least one Turkish-backed militant was reportedly killed.
In a separate development at least one SDF member was killed by unknown persons near the farms’ roundabout in Raqqa city, and another one was injured in an attack on the road between Darnaj and al-Tayyana towns in eastern Deir Ezzor.
Pro-SDF sources often blame attacks on their forces in northeastern Syria on ISIS and Turkish proxies, while Turkey prefers to blame the SDF, the Kuridsh People’s Protection Units (YPG; the main group in the SDF) and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK; linked with the YPG).
On the other hand, the attention of Syrian state media to these attacks may indicate that Damascus would like to paint them as a kind of local resistance to the occupation forces.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Iran Seeks Revenge For Sabotage Attack On Natanz Nuclear Plant

Iran has identified the perpetrators of an act of sabotage at Natanz nuclear facility in the central part of the country in July , according to a spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran .
Behrouz Kamalvandi said that while the details of the act of sabotage are still being investigated , the security forces “ have detected the agents [ who committed the act of sabotage ] as well as the motive , methods and manner of the sabotage.
” According to the Iranian side , the saboteurs sought to disrupt the uranium enrichment process at the Natanz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this respect .
The act of sabotage reportedly caused no casualties and failed to stop the enrichment work at the facility .
The AEOI spokesman likened the current conditions facing the country to the battleground adding that security forces allegedly “ succeeded in confronting a large number of cyber attacks on its nuclear facilities.
” The AEOI for the first time described the July 2 incident at the Natanz nuclear facility as a sabotage attack on July 23 , and since then pro-Iranian sources have repeatedly vowed to take revenge for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defence Minister Amir Hatami announced that the country is working to expand its missile capabilities even further .
In particular , the military is working on air-launched cruise missiles that would be able to hit targets in the range of up to 1,400km .
These statements cause expected concern in Israel , the United States and Saudi Arabia , as the main geopolitical opponents of Iran in the region .
They also claim that Teheran has been ramping up its proxy efforts against the Saudi-Israeli-US block in Yemen , Iraq , Syria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loud claims by Iranian officials and state-linked media , Iran is in fact not interested in an open military confrontation with the US-Israeli alliance .
Therefore , it is logical that the Iranian response to the Natanz attack will likely be asymmetric .
The recently increased IED attacks on US convoys and rocket strikes on US-affiliated facilities in Iraq could be a part of this campaign .
At the same time , Israel has been actively strengthening security measures on the contact lines with Lebanon and Syria , and continues its low intensity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Syria .
Iran can not leave attacks on its nuclear infrastructure unanswered .
Nonetheless , if the Iranian asymmetric response appears to be too successful , Israel and its allies in any case will blame Iran , even if they have no smoking gun evidence .
Therefore , the confrontation will escalate even further .

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Iran has identified the perpetrators of an act of sabotage at Natanz nuclear facility in the central part of the country in July, according to a spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Behrouz Kamalvandi said that while the details of the act of sabotage are still being investigated, the security forces “have detected the agents [who committed the act of sabotage] as well as the motive, methods and manner of the sabotage.”
According to the Iranian side, the saboteurs sought to disrupt the uranium enrichment process at the Natanz facility, but they were not successful in this respect. The act of sabotage reportedly caused no casualties and failed to stop the enrichment work at the facility. The AEOI spokesman likened the current conditions facing the country to the battleground adding that security forces allegedly “succeeded in confronting a large number of cyber attacks on its nuclear facilities.”
The AEOI for the first time described the July 2 incident at the Natanz nuclear facility as a sabotage attack on July 23, and since then pro-Iranian sources have repeatedly vowed to take revenge for the attack.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Defence Minister Amir Hatami announced that the country is working to expand its missile capabilities even further. In particular, the military is working on air-launched cruise missiles that would be able to hit targets in the range of up to 1,400km.
These statements cause expected concern in Israel, the United States and Saudi Arabia, as the main geopolitical opponents of Iran in the region. They also claim that Teheran has been ramping up its proxy efforts against the Saudi-Israeli-US block in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
Despite loud claims by Iranian officials and state-linked media, Iran is in fact not interested in an open military confrontation with the US-Israeli alliance. Therefore, it is logical that the Iranian response to the Natanz attack will likely be asymmetric. The recently increased IED attacks on US convoys and rocket strikes on US-affiliated facilities in Iraq could be a part of this campaign.
At the same time, Israel has been actively strengthening security measures on the contact lines with Lebanon and Syria, and continues its low intensity bombing campaign against ‘Iranian-linked targets’ in Syria.
Iran cannot leave attacks on its nuclear infrastructure unanswered. Nonetheless, if the Iranian asymmetric response appears to be too successful, Israel and its allies in any case will blame Iran, even if they have no smoking gun evidence. Therefore, the confrontation will escalate even further.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Military Situation In Somalia On September 8, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Somalia : • Somaliland Electoral Commission @ @ @ @ @ ( Kulmiye , Waddani , Ucid ) agreed to hold the elections within nine months @ @ @ @ @ US , Kenyan and Somali troops with a car bomb in the village of Jana @ @ @ @ @ of Somali Special Forces and wounding 1 US military service member ; • According to @ @ @ @ @ military conducted an airstrike killing an al-Shabaab member in the vicinity of Kurtun Warey .
@ @ @ @ @ • At Least 17 Killed In Somalia In Suicide Attack By Al-Shabab Militants • More @ @ @ @ @ Operations In Africa

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Somalia:
Somaliland Electoral Commission and the three political parties ( Kulmiye, Waddani, Ucid) agreed to hold the elections within nine months;
Al-Shabab group targeted US, Kenyan and Somali troops with a car bomb in the village of Jana Abdalle, killing 2 members of Somali Special Forces and wounding 1 US military service member;
According to U.S. AFRICOM, the US military conducted an airstrike killing an al-Shabaab member in the vicinity of Kurtun Warey.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Turkish-backed Forces Captured Mi-8 Helicopter Of Libyan National Army (Photos, Map)

Forces of the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord ( GNA ) captured a Mi-8 helicopter of the Libyan National Army @ @ @ @ @ helicopter landcrashed near the village of Abugrein , in the western countryside of Sirte , @ @ @ @ @ LNA service members .
This Mi-8 became the second LNA helicopter that was captured by @ @ @ @ @ technical malfunction .
The previous one , a Mi-17 , crash landed and was abandoned @ @ @ @ @ Sirte in August .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Hundreds Of Syrian Militants Arrived @ @ @ @ @ Declared Ceasefire

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Forces of the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) captured a Mi-8 helicopter of the Libyan National Army (LNA). The helicopter crash landed near the village of Abugrein, in the western countryside of Sirte, and then was abandoned by LNA service members.
This Mi-8 became the second LNA helicopter that was captured by the GNA due to a technical malfunction. The previous one, a Mi-17, crash landed and was abandoned by LNA forces west of Sirte in August.
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southfront--2020-09-08--US-backed Forces Detained 7 ISIS Members In Syria’s Deir Ezzor Province

Units of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) have detained 7 alleged ISIS members in the Syrian province @ @ @ @ @ terrorists were reportedly detained during a raid in the village of Ash-Shahil , on the @ @ @ @ @ .
The SDF seized a number of weapons on the site of the operation .
@ @ @ @ @ of the SDF in the town of Jadid Akidat came under fire from light and @ @ @ @ @ did not identify the attackers , but the attack was likely conducted by the ISIS @ @ @ @ @ .
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Units of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have detained 7 alleged ISIS members in the Syrian province of Deir Ezzor. The terrorists were reportedly detained during a raid in the village of Ash-Shahil, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. The SDF seized a number of weapons on the site of the operation.
Seveeral hour slater, positions of the SDF in the town of Jadid Akidat came under fire from light and medium weapons. The SDF did not identify the attackers, but the attack was likely conducted by the ISIS cells operating in the area.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Military Situation In Iraq On September 8, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • 2 ISIS leaders @ @ @ @ @ operation south of Kirkuk ; • ISIS claimed responsibility for an IED attack on policemen @ @ @ @ @ killing 4 and wounding 3 others ; • An IED attack targeted a US coalition @ @ @ @ @ , north of Baghdad ; • Rocket attacks on the Taji base were reported ; @ @ @ @ @ PKK positions near the city of Dohuk .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
2 ISIS leaders were killed during a security operation south of Kirkuk;
Iraqi security forces confiscated 30 weapons during raids in Maysan Governorate;
ISIS claimed responsibility for an IED attack on policemen in Fallujah province, allegedly killing 4 and wounding 3 others;
An IED attack targeted a US coalition military convoy on Taji road, north of Baghdad;
Rocket attacks on the Taji base were reported;
Iraqi warplanes targeted ISIS hideouts in the Makhmour area;
Turkish warplanes targeted alleged PKK positions near the city of Dohuk.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Video Of Russian-Speaking Pilot Waiting Evacuation Helicopter Sparks Wave Of Turkish Twitter Victori

Video Of Russian-Speaking Pilot Waiting Evacuation Helicopter Sparks Wave Of Turkish Twitter Victories

Pro-Turkish sources are celebrating another Twitter victory .
Now , they claim that their forces had shot down a fighter jet with a Russian pilot in Libya .
The story started on September 8 morning when a Russian pro-government military blog ‘ Fighter Bomber ’ ( mostly known for military-related trolling and jokes ) released a video recorded by a Russian-speaking person ( supposedly pilot ) .
He claims that his aircraft was shot down and he was waiting for an evacuation helicopter in some desert area .
The blog provided no details regarding where and when the video was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the following : “ Today , I ejected 45km from the airfield .
I was shot down in 70 ( km from the airfield ) … so , 10 candies… But it ’ s good that a crash-position indicator works… A radio set works… I ’ m waiting a helicopter… for an hour… it flew around me… I do not know when it returs… No vehicles with enemies… I will retreat to the valley… leave the parachute on ground… This is the valley .
The airfield is in this direction , about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slammed at rocks .
The jet , it fell in around 200-300m .
There is a smoke .
I ejected on the height of about 700m .
That ’ s all , they found me !
Thank you guys !
A Mi-8 will come and take me .
These can not land here .
Expectedly , such a video sparked a fire in social media with multiple sources claiming that it was allegedly filmed in Libya .
This was neither denied or confirmed by the blog directly .
However , its editors claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As to the video itself and actions of the alleged pilot on it , the situation looks pretty strange .
First of all , if the jet was really shot down in combat conditions and the pilot ejected , the decision to film a video that may fall into the hands of the potential enemy is quite puzzling .
The behavior of the pilot that makes such a decision raises the questions about the real purpose of the move .
In real conditions , the pilot would likely try to retreat from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the crash-position indicator to allow the rescue force to find him .
Another factor is that despite the claims of the ‘ pilot ’ , no smoke can be really seen in the video .
On top of this , the pilot does not wear a flight suit .
This also looks strange .
According to Russian sources , the video may have been recorded during some evacuation training .
This could explain the strange behavior of the ‘ pilot ’ and the entire situation .
The ‘ pilot ’ felt no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough time to record a ‘ fun video ’ that was later used to gain views by the military blog .
If this is true , this will be a visual demonstration of how the neglection to operational security ( even during some drills ) may lead to the ‘ unexpected ’ informational impact .
In any case , Turkish sources and fan boys of the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord ( based in Libya ’ s Tripoli ) have been celebrating another Twitter victory today .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After The GNA Declared Ceasefire

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UPDATE (9.09.2020): The military blog that released the video about the Russian-speaking ‘pilot’ after the supposed crash of his aircraft updated the video title saying that it was a kind of training (as SF wrote in the article below).
Meanwhile, Russia’s news website Sovetov.su wrote in its article that the author of the video allegedly contacted its editorial staff. According to this report, the video was filmed in Syria during an evacuation training.
***
Pro-Turkish sources are celebrating another Twitter victory. Now, they claim that their forces had shot down a fighter jet with a Russian pilot in Libya.
The story started on September 7 when a Russian pro-government military blog ‘Fighter Bomber’ (mostly known for military-related trolling and jokes) released a video recorded by a Russian-speaking person (supposedly pilot). He claims that his aircraft was shot down and he was waiting for an evacuation helicopter in some desert area. The blog provided no details regarding where and when the video was filmed.
The person on the video says the following:
“Today, I ejected 45km from the airfield. I was shot down in 70 (km from the airfield)… Safe and sound… laid parachute and waiting for rescuers… just bashed against rocks… so, 10 candies… But it’s good that a crash-position indicator works… A radio set works… I’m waiting a helicopter… for an hour… it flew around me… I do not know when it returs… No vehicles with enemies… I will retreat to the valley… leave the parachute on ground… What done is done… This is the valley. The airfield is in this direction, about 45km. Rocks are everywhere. I slammed at rocks. The jet, it fell in around 200-300m. There is a smoke. I ejected on the height of about 700m. That’s all, they found me! Thank you guys! Thank you. That’s all. I’m happy. I’m happy. A Mi-8 will come and take me. These cannot land here. Thank you guys.”
Expectedly, such a video sparked a fire in social media with multiple sources claiming that it was allegedly filmed in Libya. This was neither denied or confirmed by the blog directly. However, its editors claimed that all versions are ‘wrong’.
As to the video itself and actions of the alleged pilot on it, the situation looks pretty strange. First of all, if the jet was really shot down in combat conditions and the pilot ejected, the decision to film a video that may fall into the hands of the potential enemy is quite puzzling. The behavior of the pilot that makes such a decision raises the questions about the real purpose of the move. In real conditions, the pilot would likely try to retreat from the crash site as much as possible taking the crash-position indicator to allow the rescue force to find him. Another factor is that despite the claims of the ‘pilot’, no smoke can be really seen in the video. On top of this, the pilot does not wear a flight suit. This also looks strange.
According to Russian sources, the video may have been recorded during some evacuation training. This could explain the strange behavior of the ‘pilot’ and the entire situation. The ‘pilot’ felt no real danger to his life and had enough time to record a ‘fun video’ that was later used to gain views by the military blog. If this is true, this will be a visual demonstration of how the neglection to operational security (even during some drills) may lead to the ‘unexpected’ informational impact.
In any case, Turkish sources and fan boys of the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (based in Libya’s Tripoli) have been celebrating another Twitter victory today.
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southfront--2020-09-08--Military Situation In Syria On September 8, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the rencet developments in Syria : • Turkish army and @ @ @ @ @ in the villages of Meranaz and Malikiyah ; • SAA artillery shelled the Turkish-backed militants @ @ @ @ @ of Kansafra and Deir Sonbol ; • Russia ’ s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited @ @ @ @ @ since 2012 .
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A brief overview of the rencet developments in Syria:
Turkish army and militants artillery shelled SDF positions in the villages of Meranaz and Malikiyah;
SAA artillery shelled the Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the villages of Kansafra and Deir Sonbol;
Pro-government forces allegedly targeted Conoko gas facility with several mortar rounds;
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Damascus for the first time since 2012.
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southfront--2020-09-09--Mysterious Group Claims It Captured Israeli Mossad Agents (Video)

A mysterious group calling itself the “ Freedom Movement ” has announced the capture of two officers of the Israeli national intelligence agency , Mossad .
In an official statement , first posted on a Facebook page called “ Palestinian Top Secrets ” on the 5th of September , the group claimed that the officers were captured while carrying out “ cross-border security missions.
” The group shared a video of the alleged Israeli officers in captivity .
One of the officers identified himself in Hebrew as “ David Ben-Rose.
” He supposedly worked undercover for the Mossad as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter that Ben-Rose ’ s Hebrew was not perfect , which indicates that he is not a native Israeli .
The Mossad is well-known for recruiting foreigners for cross-border operations .
The second Israeli officer was not identified in the video , which also including a sing of a possible third officer that was captured by the group .
Israel has not commented on the group ’ s claims , thus far .
In most cases , Tel Aviv go public with incidents involving its citizens or service members .
The Israeli silence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing Israeli citizens and the inability to verify the identity of the men in the video indicate that the Freedom Movement may be nothing but a hoax meant to attract media attention .
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A mysterious group calling itself the “Freedom Movement” has announced the capture of two officers of the Israeli national intelligence agency, Mossad.
In an official statement, first posted on a Facebook page called “Palestinian Top Secrets” on September 5, the group claimed that the officers were captured while carrying out “cross-border security missions.”
The group shared a video of the alleged Israeli officers in captivity. One of the officers identified himself in Hebrew as “David Ben-Rose.” He supposedly worked undercover for the Mossad as a petrochemicals scientist.
Many Israelis noted on Twitter that Ben-Rose’s Hebrew was not pure enough, indicating that he is not a native Israeli. The Mossad is well-known for recruiting foreigners for cross-border operations.
The second Israeli officer was not identified in the video, as well as a possible third officer that was captured by the group.
“We are fighting against racism and extremism,” the Freedom Movement said in its official statement.
Israel has not commented in the group’s claims, thus far. In most cases, Tel Aviv go public with incidents involving its citizens or service members.
The Israeli silence, the lack of any reports of missing Israeli citizens and the inability to verify the identity of the men on the video indicate that the Freedom Movement claims may be nothing but a hoax aimed at attracting media attention.
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southfront--2020-09-09--Turkish General Died In Syria’s Idlib From ‘Heart Attack’

The Turkish Defense Minister reported on September 9 that General Sezgin Erdogan had died in the Syrian province of Idlib @ @ @ @ @ the death is a ‘ heart attack ’ .
According to the Turkish state media @ @ @ @ @ in the combat zone and was evacuated to a hospital .
However , he died @ @ @ @ @ His body is currently in the Turkish province of Hatay .
The announcement came just @ @ @ @ @ Syrian Army and the Turkish Armed Forces exchanged strikes in southern Idlib .
Pro-Turkish sources @ @ @ @ @ pretty active in arguing that these developments and the death of the general from the @ @ @ @ @ not linked .
The reason of such activity remains unclear .
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The Turkish Defense Minister reported on September 9 that General Sezgin Erdogan had died in the Syrian province of Idlib. The official cause of the death is a ‘heart attack’.
According to the Turkish state media, the general felt bad in the combat zone and was evacuated to a hospital. However, he died despite efforts of doctors. His body is currently in the Turkish province of Hatay.
The announcement came just a few days after the Syrian Army and the Turkish Armed Forces exchanged strikes in southern Idlib. Pro-Turkish sources in social media are currently pretty active in arguing that these developments and the death of the general from the ‘heart attack’ are not linked. The reason of such activity remains unclear.
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southfront--2020-09-09--Military Situation In Syria On September 9, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria : • Two SDF members @ @ @ @ @ by unknown gunmen targeting a military vehicle in the town of Al-Jardhi in the eastern @ @ @ @ @ • Russian forces sent weapons and logistical supply to their military bases in northeastern Syria @ @ @ @ @ Tensions between locals and Turkish forces were reported in the village of Salihiyah in Deir @ @ @ @ @ men attacked the SDF patrol in the town of Akidat , killing 4 SDF members @ @ @ @ @ :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
Two SDF members were wounded in an attack by unknown gunmen targeting a military vehicle in the town of Al-Jardhi in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor;
Russian forces sent weapons and logistical supply to their military bases in northeastern Syria via Qamishli airport;
Syrian Arab Army (SAA) artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the Ziyarah area;
SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the Kabani area;
Tensions between locals and Turkish forces were reported in the village of Salihiyah in Deir Ezzor governorate;
Unidentified men attacked the SDF patrol in the town of Akidat, killing 4 SDF members.
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