southfront--2020-08-19--In Mysterious Incident US Military Lost Two MQ-9 Reapers Over Idlib

The shaky stability established in Syria after the end of the Turkish attack on the Syrian Army in Idlib in February and March of 2020 has collapsed .
Just a day after the confrontation between the US military and the Syrian Army in the province of al-Hasakah , US troops deployed at the Koniko gas fields on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River came under rocket attack .
According to local sources , at least 3 unguided rockets fell near US positions .
Nonetheless , the attack led to no casualties .
A few hours earlier , two combat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idlib .
Just ahead of the incident , pro-militant sources claimed that they had shot down 2 Russian drones in the area .
Nonetheless , photos and videos from the ground immediately revealed that at least one of the crashed drones was an MQ-9 Reaper .
Later , US media citing defense officials reported that the US lost two MQ-9 Reapers in a midair collision over Idlib .
Many Syrian sources immediately linked the incident with the use of electronic warfare systems on US combat drones in the area .
On the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and two service members were injured after an improvised explosive device hit their convoy near the Al-Taim oil field , about 15 km outside the city of Deir Ezzor .
The killed major-general was identified as Vyacheslav Gladkih .
He served as Deputy Commander of the 36th Combined-Arms Army .
In Syria , he was serving as an adviser to the Syrian Arab Army .
Recently , ISIS significantly increased the number of attacks on Syrian pro-government forces in the provinces of Homs and Deir Ezzor .
The terrorist group is especially active @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayadin .
It could be suggested that the group of Russian advisers was there to discuss the current situation in the area with its Syrian counterparts .
On August 19 , local sources reported the simultaneous increase of military activity in the provinces of Idlib , Hasakah and Deir Ezzor .
In Idlib , 3 Turkish military convoys crossed the border and moved towards the contact line between militants and the Syrian Army south of the M4 highway .
Just recently , a joint Turkish-Russian patrol came under attack there , but Ankara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiding there at any cost .
In al-Hasakah , the Syrian Army is reinforcing it ’ s positions near Tell Tamr and in the countryside of al-Qamishli .
In the provinces of Deir Ezzor , the Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces conducted several raids near the cities of Deir Ezzor and al-Mayadin .
The recent series of ISIS attacks on positions of pro-government forces , including the death of a Russian major-general , will likely lead to a larger united effort of Syrian and Russian forces to track and eliminate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desert .
The conflict in Syria seems to have all chances to once again enter a hot phase with the provinces of al-Hasakah and Idlib being the main points of possible confrontation of foreign forces deployed in the country .
At the same time , the ISIS threat in the central Syrian desert also remains an important destabilizing factor .

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The shaky stability established in Syria after the end of the Turkish attack on the Syrian Army in Idlib in February and March of 2020 has collapsed.
Just a day after the confrontation between the US military and the Syrian Army in the province of al-Hasakah, US troops deployed at the Koniko gas fields on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River came under rocket attack. According to local sources, at least 3 unguided rockets fell near US positions. Nonetheless, the attack led to no casualties.
A few hours earlier, two combat drones of the US military crashed in Idlib. Just ahead of the incident, pro-militant sources claimed that they had shot down 2 Russian drones in the area. Nonetheless, photos and videos from the ground immediately revealed that at least one of the crashed drones was an MQ-9 Reaper. Later, US media citing defense officials reported that the US lost two MQ-9 Reapers in a midair collision over Idlib. Many Syrian sources immediately linked the incident with the use of electronic warfare systems on US combat drones in the area.
On the same day, a Russian major-general was killed and two service members were injured after an improvised explosive device hit their convoy near the Al-Taim oil field, about 15 km outside the city of Deir Ezzor. The killed major-general was identified as Vyacheslav Gladkih. He served as Deputy Commander of the 36th Combined-Arms Army. In Syria, he was serving as an adviser to the Syrian Arab Army.
Recently, ISIS significantly increased the number of attacks on Syrian pro-government forces in the provinces of Homs and Deir Ezzor. The terrorist group is especially active near the cities of Deir Ezzor and Mayadin. It could be suggested that the group of Russian advisers was there to discuss the current situation in the area with its Syrian counterparts.
On August 19, local sources reported the simultaneous increase of military activity in the provinces of Idlib, Hasakah and Deir Ezzor. In Idlib, 3 Turkish military convoys crossed the border and moved towards the contact line between militants and the Syrian Army south of the M4 highway. Just recently, a joint Turkish-Russian patrol came under attack there, but Ankara is still set to protect al-Qaeda terrorists hiding there at any cost. In al-Hasakah, the Syrian Army is reinforcing it’s positions near Tell Tamr and in the countryside of al-Qamishli. In the provinces of Deir Ezzor, the Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces conducted several raids near the cities of Deir Ezzor and al-Mayadin. The recent series of ISIS attacks on positions of pro-government forces, including the death of a Russian major-general, will likely lead to a larger united effort of Syrian and Russian forces to track and eliminate the ISIS cells that still hide in the desert.
The conflict in Syria seems to have all chances to once again enter a hot phase with the provinces of al-Hasakah and Idlib being the main points of possible confrontation of foreign forces deployed in the country. At the same time, the ISIS threat in the central Syrian desert also remains an important destabilizing factor.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Russia And Syria Agreed To Expand Hmeimim Air Base

Syria had agreed to transfer additional land and water area to expand Russia ’ s Khmeimim Air Base , the Russian news agency Interfax reported .
The new agreement was published on the official Russian portal of legal information on August 19 .
The protocol was signed on July 21 in Damascus and on July 30 in Moscow .
The new areas , which cover 8 hectares and include several buildings , will be used to expand Hmeimim Air Base for the entire duration of the agreement on the deployment of the Russian air group in Syria .
Last May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defense and foreign ministries to hold talks with Syria to get more facilities and maritime access in Syria .
Besides Hmeimim Air Base , Russia maintains a Naval Base in the port of Tartus city .
Syria hosts other smaller Russian fortified positions , including an air-defense facility in western Hama , where an S-400 system is deployed .
The expansion of Hmeimim Air Base will reinforce Russian military presence in Syria on the long term .
Russia ’ s support has allowed Syrian government forces to re-impose control of vast parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THIS TOPIC : • Syrian Pro-Government Group Claimed Responsibility For Rocket Attack On U.S .
Troops In Deir Ezzor

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Syria had agreed to transfer additional land and water area to expand Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base, the Russian news agency Interfax reported.
The new agreement was published on the official Russian portal of legal information on August 19. The protocol was signed on July 21 in Damascus and on July 30 in Moscow.
“The Syrian Arab Republic agrees to the transfer to the Russian Federation a land plot and water area in the province of Lattakia in order to create and locate a medical health and rehabilitation center for the Russian aviation group,” the agreement reads.
The new areas, which cover 8 hectares and include several buildings, will be used to expand Hmeimim Air Base for the entire duration of the agreement on the deployment of the Russian air group in Syria.
Last May, President Vladimir Putin has ordered the defense and foreign ministries to hold talks with Syria to get more facilities and maritime access in Syria.
Besides Hmeimim Air Base, Russia maintains a Naval Base in the port of Tartus city. Syria hosts other smaller Russian fortified positions, including an air-defense facility in western Hama, where an S-400 system is deployed.
The expansion of Hmeimim Air Base will reinforce Russian military presence in Syria on the long term. Russia’s support has allowed Syrian government forces to re-impose control of vast parts of the country since 2015.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Reactions To The Verdict Of The ‘Special Tribunal For Lebanon’

The tribunal says it has not been able to establish any direct evidence or link between a 2005 blast in Beirut that killed Lebanon ’ s former prime minister Rafiq Hariri and the leadership of the Hezbollah resistance movement or the Syrian government .
Opinions on the verdict predictably follow ideological lines .
Iran-based Press TV reported that the tribunal exonerated the leadership of Syria and Hezbollah : “ The so-called Special Tribunal for Lebanon ( SDL ) read out a summary of the 2,600-page verdict at The Hague on Tuesday after trying for 15 years and spending some $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the explosion and the Lebanese resistance movement or Damascus.
” “ There is no evidence that the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariri ’ s murder and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement , ” said Judge David Re .
The report notes that Lebanon ’ s daily ran the headline , “ International Justice Defeats Intimidation ” before the tribunal ’ s decision was announced , referring to efforts by groups within and outside the country to implicate Hezbollah and the Syrian government in the crime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and independence of the court — has denied any link to or interest in the atrocity .
Moreover , the resistance movement has condemned the tribunal for serving as an opportunity for Tel Aviv to achieve objectives in Lebanon that it has not been able to achieve by other means .
Hezbollah ’ s Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that he was not concerned about the proceedings , and that if any members of the resistance movement were claimed to be guilty , Hezbollah would stand by their innocence .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ did not stop short of echoing those who have been trying to make the unfounded allegations against the resistance group and Damascus ” , referring to an obtuse declaration by Judge David Re that : “ The trial chamber is of the view that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr. Hariri and his political allies.
” Observers said the latter part of the verdict showed that the countries that forced the United Nations Security Council into forming the tribunal in the first place — based on unproven hypotheses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in violation of Lebanon ’ s sovereignty — were still influencing the verdicts that it issues .
The report than notes that Israel ’ s Channel 1 has alleged an association between four people with alleged links to Hezbollah and the 2005 explosion , and that the tribunal investigated the allegations and eventually convicted one of the four people accused , subsequently identified as ‘ the main defendant ’ .
The report said that of the four people accused , lawyers appointed by the tribunal declared there was no physical evidence linking them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be acquitted .
LINK Under the headline ‘ Hariri accepts verdict in father ’ s case , wants ‘ just punishment ’ , Qatar-based leads with the assertion : ‘ Special Tribunal for Lebanon finds Hezbollah member guilty of assassinating ex-PM Rafik Hariri in 2005 bomb blast ’ The report notes that former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said his family accepted the ‘ United Nations-backed ’ tribunal ’ s verdict in the case of his father ’ s assassination .
The international court , located near The Hague , Netherlands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivated “ act of terrorism designed to cause fear in the Lebanese population ” .
After the decision was announced Hariri stated .
“ I think that today the court has shown high credibility , showing that this court is not politicised.
” Hariri further said his father was assassinated “ because he was against the policy of the regime in Syria and he wanted to take this regime out of Lebanon ” .
… The four members of Hezbollah were accused of organising and carrying out the attack , although the Iran-backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any involvement .
Hariri said those who assassinated his father aimed to “ change the face of Lebanon and its system and its civilised identity ” and said there will be “ no compromise ” on this matter .
LINK The Jerusalem Post featured a report by Reuters on the matter .
The report notes : Some Lebanese , including victims waiting 15 years for justice , voiced disbelief at the verdict that acquitted three other Hezbollah members and found no evidence of the involvement of the leadership of Hezbollah or the Syrian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the network ( of culprits ) expanding , it is now one superman who has done all of that ?
” said Sanaa al Sheikh , who was wounded in the Feb. 14 , 2005 bomb blast on Beirut ’ s waterfront that killed Hariri .
She added that she had never expected an outcome like this .
There was only silence from Hezbollah , which denies any involvement in the bomb attack that also killed 21 other people .
Fireworks were briefly heard in Hezbollah ’ s stronghold in Beirut ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The former prime minister ’ s son , Saad al-Hariri , ‘ also a former premier ’ , spoke outside the tribunal in The Hague : The report then notes that the sentencing of Salim Jamil Ayyash , who was tried in absentia and convicted of having played a central role in the execution of the attack , will be carried out later , and concludes with a final accusation and implicit threat : “ We tell everybody : nobody expect any more sacrifices from us .
We have sacrificed what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should make sacrifices today , ” Saad al-Hariri said .
“ It has become clear that the executing network is from within ( Hezbollah ’ s ) ranks .
They think that justice will not reach them and that the punishment will not be served on them .
I repeat : we will not rest until punishment is served.
” LINK Now that the billion dollar tribunal has concluded without really concluding anything , each party has been able to draw its own conclusions consistent with what they already suspected or knew .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Lebanon , and one of supreme importance for the future of what remains of the State , will be the investigation of the blast at the port in Beirut .
No matter what the final verdict is , it is also destined to be manipulated and politicized beyond recognition by many or all of the parties involved or implicated .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Evolution of US Israel relations during Trump presidency

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The tribunal says it has not been able to establish any direct evidence or link between a 2005 blast in Beirut that killed Lebanon’s former prime minister Rafiq Hariri and the leadership of the Hezbollah resistance movement or the Syrian government. Opinions on the verdict predictably follow ideological lines.
Iran-based Press TV reported that the tribunal exonerated the leadership of Syria and Hezbollah:
“The so-called Special Tribunal for Lebanon (SDL) read out a summary of the 2,600-page verdict at The Hague on Tuesday after trying for 15 years and spending some $1 billion to prove allegations of association between the explosion and the Lebanese resistance movement or Damascus.” “There is no evidence that the Hezbollah leadership had any involvement in Mr. Hariri’s murder and there is no direct evidence of Syrian involvement,” said Judge David Re.
The report notes that Lebanon’s an-Nahar daily ran the headline, “International Justice Defeats Intimidation” before the tribunal’s decision was announced, referring to efforts by groups within and outside the country to implicate Hezbollah and the Syrian government in the crime.
Hezbollah — which has rejected the jurisdiction and independence of the court — has denied any link to or interest in the atrocity. Moreover, the resistance movement has condemned the tribunal for serving as an opportunity for Tel Aviv to achieve objectives in Lebanon that it has not been able to achieve by other means.
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Friday that he was not concerned about the proceedings, and that if any members of the resistance movement were claimed to be guilty, Hezbollah would stand by their innocence.
The report by Press TV then argues that the tribunal “did not stop short of echoing those who have been trying to make the unfounded allegations against the resistance group and Damascus”, referring to an obtuse declaration by Judge David Re that: “The trial chamber is of the view that Syria and Hezbollah may have had motives to eliminate Mr. Hariri and his political allies.” Observers said the latter part of the verdict showed that the countries that forced the United Nations Security Council into forming the tribunal in the first place — based on unproven hypotheses, without any legal basis, and in violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty — were still influencing the verdicts that it issues.
The report than notes that Israel’s Channel 1 has alleged an association between four people with alleged links to Hezbollah and the 2005 explosion, and that the tribunal investigated the allegations and eventually convicted one of the four people accused, subsequently identified as ‘the main defendant’.
The report said that of the four people accused, lawyers appointed by the tribunal declared there was no physical evidence linking them to the crime and that they had to be acquitted. LINK
Under the headline ‘Hariri accepts verdict in father’s case, wants ‘just punishment’, Qatar-based Al Jazeera leads with the assertion: ‘Special Tribunal for Lebanon finds Hezbollah member guilty of assassinating ex-PM Rafik Hariri in 2005 bomb blast’
The report notes that former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said his family accepted the ‘United Nations-backed’ tribunal’s verdict in the case of his father’s assassination.
“The Special Tribunal for Lebanon on Tuesday found Salim Ayyash, a member of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, guilty of assassinating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri along with 21 others in a massive bomb blast in Beirut. Three other Hezbollah suspects were cleared.”
The international court, located near The Hague, Netherlands, decided that the attack was a politically motivated “act of terrorism designed to cause fear in the Lebanese population”.
After the decision was announced Hariri stated.
“I think that today the court has shown high credibility, showing that this court is not politicised.” Hariri further said his father was assassinated “because he was against the policy of the regime in Syria and he wanted to take this regime out of Lebanon”. … The four members of Hezbollah were accused of organising and carrying out the attack, although the Iran-backed group was not formally charged and denied any involvement. Hariri said those who assassinated his father aimed to “change the face of Lebanon and its system and its civilised identity” and said there will be “no compromise” on this matter. LINK
The Jerusalem Post featured a report by Reuters on the matter. The report notes:
Some Lebanese, including victims waiting 15 years for justice, voiced disbelief at the verdict that acquitted three other Hezbollah members and found no evidence of the involvement of the leadership of Hezbollah or the Syrian government. I am shocked. Instead of the network (of culprits) expanding, it is now one superman who has done all of that?” said Sanaa al Sheikh, who was wounded in the Feb. 14, 2005 bomb blast on Beirut’s waterfront that killed Hariri. She added that she had never expected an outcome like this. There was only silence from Hezbollah, which denies any involvement in the bomb attack that also killed 21 other people. Fireworks were briefly heard in Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut’s Shi’ite Muslim southern suburbs.
The former prime minister’s son, Saad al-Hariri, ‘also a former premier’, spoke outside the tribunal in The Hague:
“(For) the first time in Lebanon’s history of many political assassinations, the Lebanese find out the truth,” Hariri said. “The importance of this historic moment is the message for those that committed this terrorist crime and those who planned it: that the age of using crimes for political aims with impunity and without paying any cost is over.”
The report then notes that the sentencing of Salim Jamil Ayyash, who was tried in absentia and convicted of having played a central role in the execution of the attack, will be carried out later, and concludes with a final accusation and implicit threat:
“We tell everybody: nobody expect any more sacrifices from us. We have sacrificed what is dearest to us…Hezbollah is the one that should make sacrifices today,” Saad al-Hariri said. “It has become clear that the executing network is from within (Hezbollah’s) ranks. They think that justice will not reach them and that the punishment will not be served on them. I repeat: we will not rest until punishment is served.” LINK
Now that the billion dollar tribunal has concluded without really concluding anything, each party has been able to draw its own conclusions consistent with what they already suspected or knew.
The next major judicial and forensic challenge for Lebanon, and one of supreme importance for the future of what remains of the State, will be the investigation of the blast at the port in Beirut. No matter what the final verdict is, it is also destined to be manipulated and politicized beyond recognition by many or all of the parties involved or implicated.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Syrian Pro-Government Group Claimed Responsibility For Rocket Attack On U.S. Troops In Deir Ezzor

A Syrian pro-government group known as the Popular Resistance in the Eastern Region ( PR-ER ) has claimed responsibility for the recent rocket attack on U.S. troops in Deir Ezzor .
Three small Katyusha rockets landed in the vicinity of the CONICO gas plant , where U.S. forces maintain a base , in the late hours of August 18 .
The U.S. military confirmed the incident without reporting any losses .
The PR-ER said in a statement that the rocket strike was response to an earlier attack by U.S. forces at a Syrian Arab Army checkpoint near the village of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The U.S. attack left a Syrian service member , Malik Muhammad al-Muhaimid , dead and injured at least two others .
The PR-ER was established more than two years ago with the aim of fighting U.S. forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria .
The group has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks on U.S. troops since its formation .
The Syrian intelligence is reportedly behind the Popular Resistance .
President Bashar al-Assad recently vowed to support those willing to fight U.S. occupation in northeastern Syria .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region .
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A Syrian pro-government group known as the Popular Resistance in the Eastern Region (PR-ER) has claimed responsibility for the recent rocket attack on U.S. troops in Deir Ezzor.
Three small Katyusha rockets landed in the vicinity of the CONICO gas plant, where U.S. forces maintain a base, in the late hours of August 18. The U.S. military confirmed the incident without reporting any losses.
The PR-ER said in a statement that the rocket strike was response to an earlier attack by U.S. forces at a Syrian Arab Army checkpoint near the village of Tal al-Dhahab in the northern al-Hasakah countryside.
The U.S. attack left a Syrian service member, Malik Muhammad al-Muhaimid, dead and injured at least two others.
“We promise you, what’s coming is greater … A land you entered alive, we promise you will only leave in pieces,” the PR-ER said in its statement.
The PR-ER was established more than two years ago with the aim of fighting U.S. forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria. The group has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks on U.S. troops since its formation.
The Syrian intelligence is reportedly behind the Popular Resistance. President Bashar al-Assad recently vowed to support those willing to fight U.S. occupation in northeastern Syria. This will likely lead to more tensions in the region.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Military Situation In Syria On August 19, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria : • SAA artillery shelled @ @ @ @ @ the villages of Maarat al-Sin and Kafr Uwaid ; • Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the @ @ @ @ @ one solider in a roadside IED blast in Deir Ezzor ; • The pro-government forces @ @ @ @ @ coalition convoy near the al-Omar oil field ; • An explosion at the checkpoint in @ @ @ @ @ one Turkish-backed militant ; • Several unguided rockets hit the US positions near the Coniko @ @ @ @ @ were reported ; • Two U.S. drones collided and crashed over the town of Kafr @ @ @ @ @ were US MQ-9 Reaper combat drones , shot down by Turkey .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the villages of Maarat al-Sin and Kafr Uwaid;
Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the death of a General and one solider in a roadside IED blast in Deir Ezzor;
The pro-government forces fired several rounds at US coalition convoy near the al-Omar oil field;
An explosion at the checkpoint in Ras al-Ain killed at least one Turkish-backed militant;
Several unguided rockets hit the US positions near the Coniko gas field. No casualties were reported;
Two U.S. drones collided and crashed over the town of Kafr Takharim. Allegedly, they were US MQ-9 Reaper combat drones, shot down by Turkey.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Unidentified Gunmen Blew Up Turkistan Terrorists Communications Towers In Syria’s Greater Idlib (Vid

Unidentified Gunmen Blew Up Turkistan Terrorists Communications Towers In Syria’s Greater Idlib (Video)

On August 19 , unidentified gunmen destroyed communication towers used by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Turkistan Islamic Party ( TIP ) in the western part of Greater Idlib in northwestern Syria , according to the Jesr Press .
The gunmen apparently planted explosive devices inside the towers , which are located in the vicinity of the town of Ras Elhisn , right on Turkey ’ s border .
A short video shared by Jesr Press shows smoke rising from one of the targeted towers .
A total of three towers can be seen in the video .
The TIP , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupying many areas in northwestern Idlib , northern Lattakia and northwestern Hama .
The terrorist group is one of few close allies of Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) No side has claimed responsibility for the attack on the TIP ’ s towers , so far .
From its side , the group is yet to make any accusations .
The attack may have been carried out by opponents of the TIP .
The group reportedly supported HTS in many stand-offs with Turkish-backed militants and other jihadi groups in Greater Idlib @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gained many enemies .
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On August 19, unidentified gunmen destroyed communication towers used by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) in the western part of Greater Idlib in northwestern Syria, according to the Jesr Press.
The gunmen apparently planted explosive devices inside the towers, which are located in the vicinity of the town of Ras Elhisn, right on Turkey’s border.
A short video shared by Jesr Press shows smoke rising from one of the targeted towers. A total of three towers can be seen in the video.
The TIP, which has more than 3,000 Uyghurs fighters, is occupying many areas in northwestern Idlib, northern Lattakia and northwestern Hama. The terrorist group is one of few close allies of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
No side has claimed responsibility for the attack on the TIP’s towers, so far. From its side, the group is yet to make any accusations.
The attack may have been carried out by opponents of the TIP. The group reportedly supported HTS in many stand-offs with Turkish-backed militants and other jihadi groups in Greater Idlib. Due to this, the group gained many enemies.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Mysterious Group Threatens Syrian, Russian, Iranian and Kurdish Forces In Deir Ezzor

A mysterious group , named the “ Gathering of Rebels in the Land of Deir Ezzor ” ( GRLD ) , has threatened Syrian , Russian , Iranian and Kurdish forces in the eastern governorate with a wave of attacks .
In a statement released on August 18 , the group called on locals to stay away from military positions and installations in Deir Ezzor .
The group also declared a “ military zone ” in the following areas : • The cities of Deir Ezzor , al-Mayadin and al-Bukamal .
• The towns of Abu Hamam , al-Tayyana , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ekedat , al-Hisan , al-Kasrah and al-Shaddadi .
The GRLD , which appeared for the first time last year , claimed responsibility for the August 18 attack on Russian troops in Deir Ezzor .
A Russian major-general was killed and two service members were injured in the attack .
The group identifies itself as a unit of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army ( SNA ) .
This was , however , denied by the SNA .
In its statement , the ministry accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) of creating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to discredit the SNA and to promote its own interests in Deir Ezzor .
The GRLD indeed appears to be nothing more than a propaganda stunt .
The SDF may be behind this .
However , there is no evidence to back this accusation .
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A mysterious group, named the “Gathering of Rebels in the Land of Deir Ezzor” (GRLD), has threatened Syrian, Russian, Iranian and Kurdish forces in the eastern governorate with a wave of attacks.
In a statement released on August 18, the group called on locals to stay away from military positions and installations in Deir Ezzor.
The group also declared a “military zone” in the following areas:
The cities of Deir Ezzor, al-Mayadin and al-Bukamal.
The towns of Abu Hamam, al-Tayyana, al-Asharah, al-Suwar, al-Shheell, Jadeed Ekedat, al-Hisan, al-Kasrah and al-Shaddadi.
The al-Khurafi and Abu Khashab highways.
The GRLD, which appeared for the first time last year, claimed responsibility for the August 18 attack on Russian troops in Deir Ezzor. A Russian major-general was killed and two service members were injured in the attack.
The group identifies itself as a unit of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). This was, however, denied by the SNA.
“The Ministry of Defense in the Syrian Interim Government denies that the alleged formation of the GRLD is affiliated with the SNA,” the ministry said in a statement.
In its statement, the ministry accused the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of creating the GRLD and other fictional groups in order to discredit the SNA and to promote its own interests in Deir Ezzor.
The GRLD indeed appears to be nothing more than a propaganda stunt. The SDF may be behind this. However, there is no evidence to back this accusation.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Military Situation In Egypt’s North Sinai On August 19, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Egypt ’ s North Sinai : @ @ @ @ @ by an IED west of Bir al-Abd ; • On Ausgut 18 , ISIS claimed @ @ @ @ @ the Rabiah area ; MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Egyptian Parliament Approves Maritime Agreement @ @ @ @ @ US Step Up Diplomatic Efforts In Libya • ISIS Released Photos Of U.S.-Made Drone That @ @ @ @ @ Sinai ( Photos )

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Egypt’s North Sinai:
ISIS exploded a Dome by an IED west of Bir al-Abd;
On Ausgut 18, ISIS claimed clashes with Egyptian army in the Rabiah area;
On August 15, ISIS claimed sniper attack targeting a checkpoint near Rafah.
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southfront--2020-08-19--ISIS Attacked Syrian Military Contractors Linked With Russian Forces In Southern Raqqa (Photos)

ISIS announced on August 19 that its cells had attacked Syrian military contractors working with Russian forces in the southern Raqqa countryside .
The terrorist group ’ s news agency , Amaq , said the attack had taken place near the town of Resafa .
At least two contractors were killed .
The agency shared photos of the victims , confirming its claims .
This was the second attack by ISIS on the southern Raqqa countryside this month .
Last week , the group captured then executed a civilian man near Resafa for being a member of the Ismaili minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the southern countryside of Raqqa from the Homs desert , which has become a stronghold for the group .
In the last few months , the terrorist group launched dozens of attacks from the Homs desert on government forces in eastern Homs , southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor .
The Syrian military and its allies are yet to take decisive action against ISIS terrorists in the Homs desert .
The terrorists ’ threat is growing .
According to recent reports , the terrorists are receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters in al-Tanaf in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON THIS TOPIC : • Former Syrian Rebel Commander Linked To Iran Survived Assassination Attempt In Daraa

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ISIS announced on August 19 that its cells had attacked Syrian military contractors working with Russian forces in the southern Raqqa countryside.
The terrorist group’s news agency, Amaq, said the attack had taken place near the town of Resafa. At least two contractors were killed. The agency shared photos of the victims, confirming its claims.
This was the second attack by ISIS on the southern Raqqa countryside this month. Last week, the group captured then executed a civilian man near Resafa for being a member of the Ismaili minority.
ISIS terrorists are apparently sneaking to the southern countryside of Raqqa from the Homs desert, which has become a stronghold for the group.
In the last few months, the terrorist group launched dozens of attacks from the Homs desert on government forces in eastern Homs, southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor.
The Syrian military and its allies are yet to take decisive action against ISIS terrorists in the Homs desert. The terrorists’ threat is growing. According to recent reports, the terrorists are receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters in al-Tanaf in Syria’s southeastern region.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Watch: Tesla Wrecking Violently In Parking Lot After Reported Sudden Acceleration, Brake Failure

Stunning security video has emerged of what appears to be a Tesla Model 3 flying into a parking lot at @ @ @ @ @ or 60 miles per hour and crashing into several parked cars , before what appears @ @ @ @ @ mid-air .
The video surfaced on Weibo and shows about 15 seconds of security footage @ @ @ @ @ a lowered parking lot gate at a breathtaking rate of speed before wrecking violently .
@ @ @ @ @ the driver – who had 10 years experience in driving – was rescued for 7 @ @ @ @ @ had to receive a blood transfusion as a result of their injuries .
The poster @ @ @ @ @ wrote ( translated ) : “ I said before there will definitely be similar things @ @ @ @ @ now the sales volume is up , the base will be bigger !
There are @ @ @ @ @ !
” You can watch the video here :

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Stunning security video has emerged of what appears to be a Tesla Model 3 flying into a parking lot at what appears to be at least 50 or 60 miles per hour and crashing into several parked cars, before what appears to be flipping over in mid-air.
The video surfaced on Weibo and shows about 15 seconds of security footage where a vehicle flies through a lowered parking lot gate at a breathtaking rate of speed before wrecking violently.
“The car lost control, suddenly accelerated, failed to brake, and crashed,” a translated version of the Weibo post says.
It goes on to say the driver – who had 10 years experience in driving – was rescued for 7 hours after the crash and had to receive a blood transfusion as a result of their injuries.
“Autopilot was not turned on and the brakes were stepped on,” a translated version of the post claims.
The poster on the Weibo board also wrote (translated):
“I said before there will definitely be similar things in the future. Because now the sales volume is up, the base will be bigger! There are exactly the same accidents abroad!”
You can watch the video here:
China Tesla M3 owner reports sudden acceleration and brake failure in this accident caught on tape. This is at least the second incident this year where a $TSLA M3 made viral news in China due to alleged brake failure. pic.twitter.com/XSr8dHQxfA — Stultus (@StultusVox) August 19, 2020
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southfront--2020-08-19--Military Situation In Iraq On August 19, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • Rocket attack was @ @ @ @ @ complex , near Baghdad airport ; • ISOF killed 10 ISIS terrorists and destroyed 9 @ @ @ @ @ in the Makhmour area ; • PMU forces carried out a security operation against ISIS @ @ @ @ @ Mosul area ; • PMU forces carried out a security operation against ISIS southwest of @ @ @ @ @ TOPIC :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
Rocket attack was reported on the Victory base complex, near Baghdad airport;
ISOF killed 10 ISIS terrorists and destroyed 9 caves during the latest operation in the Makhmour area;
PMU forces carried out a security operation against ISIS in the south of the Mosul area;
PMU forces carried out a security operation against ISIS southwest of Kirkuk.
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southfront--2020-08-19--Former Syrian Rebel Commander Linked To Iran Survived Assassination Attempt In Daraa

On August 18 , an assassination attempt targeted a former Syrian rebel commander in the eastern countryside of Daraa .
The commander , Hassan Mansour al-Roudan , was reportedly shot by unidentified gunmen in the eastern outskirts of the town of Buser al Harir .
Al-Roudan sustained serious wounds .
However , he is recovering now .
Al-Roudan , originally from the town of al-Musikah in northern Daraa , was a senior commander of the Tribes Army , that was one of the largest anti-government factions in the governorate .
The commander joined the reconciliation process in 2018 .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading an armed group that operates in Daraa under the commander of Iranian forces .
Al-Roudan was reportedly linked with Iranian forces before the 2018 reconciliation agreement .
In 2015 , he handed over the bodies of a number of Iranian and Afghan fighters who were killed in a failed attack in Daraa .
This was the second attempt on al-Roudan ’ s life .
In November of 2019 , he was shot near the town of Izraa in northern Daraa .
ISIS claimed responsibility for the new attempt on al-Roudan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more active in the northern and eastern parts of Daraa .
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On August 18, an assassination attempt targeted a former Syrian rebel commander in the eastern countryside of Daraa.
The commander, Hassan Mansour al-Roudan, was reportedly shot by unidentified gunmen in the eastern outskirts of the town of Buser al Harir. Al-Roudan sustained serious wounds. However, he is recovering now.
Al-Roudan, originally from the town of al-Musikah in northern Daraa, was a senior commander of the Tribes Army, that was one of the largest anti-government factions in the governorate. The commander joined the reconciliation process in 2018.
According to the sources, al-Roudan is now leading an armed group that operates in Daraa under the commander of Iranian forces.
Al-Roudan was reportedly linked with Iranian forces before the 2018 reconciliation agreement. In 2015, he handed over the bodies of a number of Iranian and Afghan fighters who were killed in a failed attack in Daraa.
This was the second attempt on al-Roudan’s life. In November of 2019, he was shot near the town of Izraa in northern Daraa.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the new attempt on al-Roudan’s life. The terrorist group is becoming more active in the northern and eastern parts of Daraa.
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southfront--2020-08-19--US-Rooted ‘Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church’ Expectedly Declares Support To Pro-Western Oppo

US-Rooted ‘Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church’ Expectedly Declares Support To Pro-Western Opposition

Now , the Belarusian opposition has not only the formal leader that fled to Lithuania , but also own US-rooted Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church ( BAOC ) that supports forces that seek to overthrow the political regime of President Alexander Lukashenko .
The BAOC made an official statement in support of the opposition on August 15 appealing to the ‘ international community ’ that united against Lukashenko .
The BAOC is an unrecognized pseudo-religious body in the Eastern Orthodox tradition created in the second part of the 2000s .
It paints itself as an ‘ independent ’ Belarusian Orthodox church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is located in New York .
It , among other pseudo-cuhrch organizations led by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople , supported the creation of the ‘ independent ’ Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018 .
As it ’ s expected the both Ukrainian and Belarusian ‘ independent ’ churches are created thanks to the direct foreign support and act like political tools of their pro-neo-liberal sponsors .
At the same time , the cases of Ukraine and Belarus are an interesting demonstration how the religious questions become a part of the wider political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON THE TOPIC :

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Now, the Belarusian opposition has not only the formal leader that fled to Lithuania, but also own US-rooted Belarusian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (BAOC) that supports forces that seek to overthrow the political regime of President Alexander Lukashenko.
The BAOC made an official statement in support of the opposition on August 15 appealing to the ‘international community’ that united against Lukashenko. The BAOC is an unrecognized pseudo-religious body in the Eastern Orthodox tradition created in the second part of the 2000s. It paints itself as an ‘independent’ Belarusian Orthodox church. The main HQ of the BAOC is located in New York. It, among other pseudo-cuhrch organizations led by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, supported the creation of the ‘independent’ Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2018. As it’s expected the both Ukrainian and Belarusian ‘independent’ churches are created thanks to the direct foreign support and act like political tools of their pro-neo-liberal sponsors.
At the same time, the cases of Ukraine and Belarus are an interesting demonstration how the religious questions become a part of the wider political manipulation campaigns in Eastern Europe.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Another Country, Same People: Supporters Of 2014 Coup In Ukraine Are Now With Belarusian Opposition

More and more well-known agents of the neo-liberal Western agenda appear to be involved in regime-change efforts in Belarus .
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya appears to be receiving more welcome help in her fight against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko .
A photograph was published of her , together with Bernard-Henri Lévy .
He is , among many other things , famous for his assistance in Kiev during the Euromaidan in February 2014 .
He was actively promoting the events .
In February 2015 , he performed his play Hotel Europa at the Kiev opera house on the first anniversary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pro-Russian government of Victor Yanukovich .
He is a well-known agent of “ Western-assisted ” regime change , with proven success in Ukraine .
He made a few calls to counter “ Russian aggression ” – such as to suspend any European participation in the Sochi games back in Winter 2014 .
“ There is still time , but very quickly , to threaten Yanukovych with sanctions which the European Union holds ready , but without resolving to apply them .
There is still time , if the anti-riot soldiery does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family from entering the territory of all the countries of the European Union .
There is still time , if an end to the violence is not immediately decreed , to make it known loud and clear , by naming them , to the few oligarchs who control this murderous regime that their assets will be frozen without delay .
And there is still time , finally , to convince the French Olympic Committee , Jean-Claude Killy and all the French athletes present in Sochi to go on strike for the Games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Maidan , ” Lévy said in his emotion-filled address .
Then a few years passed after the ‘ successful ” Maidan and in January 2019 the fight for Europe needed to begin once again .
He is supported by a group of ‘ European patriots ’ who attempt to enforce the European idea even on those who don ’ t specifically wish to follow it .
Of course , the evil masses that plan to cause this “ looming catastrophe.
” This was prior to the European Parliamentary elections in May 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the horizon .
It wasn ’ t entirely avoided , since many nationalists won , but it turned out it didn ’ t matter .
“ This is the noxious climate in which Europe ’ s parliamentary elections will take place in May .
Unless something changes ; unless something comes along to turn back the rising , swelling , insistent tide ; unless a new spirit of resistance emerges , these elections promise to be the most calamitous that we have known .
They will give a victory to the wreckers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ legacy of Erasmus , Dante , Goethe and Comenius there will be only ignominious defeat .
A politics of disdain for intelligence and culture will have triumphed .
There will be explosions of xenophobia and antisemitism .
Disaster will have befallen us.
” Now it is likely that another emotion-filled call to action will be released by Lévy , attempting to urge the Belarusian people and others to counter the “ Russian aggressor ” and the nationalists , and become a part of the big , happy , Trans-Atlantic family .
Lévy is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other liberal elites , on Mikhail Khodorkovsky ’ s call for Russia to stop its political repressions inside and outside of the country .
It was published almost a year ago .
Since Russia , according to them suffered from chronic repression , and no actual political opposition , this was a threat not only to Russia , but to every democracy around the world .
“ It is obvious that such actions are dangerous not only for the inhabitants of Russia , but also for the whole world .
We call on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights to take immediate action to stop the lawlessness perpetrated by President Putin ’ s regime .
His actions are unacceptable , and his connivance or manifestation of weakness in relation to this regime poses a threat to democracy around the world .
In particular , we must take an uncompromising position in relation to those residents of democratic states who are helping President Putin and his accomplices to launder the capital stolen from Russia .
Bankers , lobbyists , politicians and consultants must acknowledge that any help given to these officials and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is often paid for with money of criminal origin ) .
” Additionally , Ukrainian ‘ public organizations ’ , media outlets and even top officils , which are integrated in the political system created in the post-coup Ukraine , actively support the Belarusian opposition .
The role of Euro-Atlantic forces , including the US and the EU , that were the main backers of the coup in Ukraine , is also not even a secret .
And if it seemed that Alexander Lukashenko was losing the propaganda war so far , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stages and are about to ramp up .
In another piece of propaganda , from state-funded Voice of America , a producer of Belarusian TV channel ‘ Belarus-3 ’ claimed that all employees who are dissatisfied with the elections on August 9th are being added to a “ black list ” and will be replaced by Russian journalists .
The director of the Belarusian state television channel said she and other striking workers were not allowed to continue their work .
In a video posted on the Belarusian news site TUT.BY the journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state television and radio channel Belarus-3 .
She said that the security guard did not let her into the building of the TV company , saying that she was “ blacklisted ” .
Martynovskaya suggested that the “ black list ” includes people who expressed dissatisfaction with the recent elections .
The director of “ Belarus-3 ” stated that Belarusian journalists who went on strike or quit to express their opposition to Lukashenko were replaced by Russian teams .
Meanwhile , Protests calling for Belarus ’ leader Alexander Lukashenko to step @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minsk continued .
For the first time in a week riot police reappeared on the streets as authorities seemed to take steps to regain momentum against the protests .
It came on the same day as Lukashenko ordered police to clear the streets .
There was no violence , simply police blockades .
Meanwhile , despite the attempts by Tikhanovskaya to gain momentum from abroad , as well as foreign players such as Poland attempting to lead the protests , the opposition appears to be struggling .
A number of workers who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear leaders for the protests was stopping many from joining them .
Tikhanovskaya , who was a stay-at-home mother until a few months ago , ran against Lukashenko after her husband , a popular blogger , was jailed and prevented from being a candidate .
Although she has attracted a huge backing , many people said they see her as essentially a figurehead and she is currently not in Belarus , having left for neighboring Lithuania last week under threat from authorities .
Tikhanovskaya ’ s campaign has formed a “ coordination council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a handover of power .
The council , which includes the Nobel Prize laureate Svetlana Alexievich , held its first session on August 19th , and published a resolution calling for the government to cease violence , release political prisoners and hold new free and fair elections .
Lukashenko denounced the opposition as part of a foreign attempt to overthrow him and simply made a series of orders telling the security forces and the military to guard against unrest .
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More and more well-known agents of the neo-liberal Western agenda appear to be involved in regime-change efforts in Belarus.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya appears to be receiving more welcome help in her fight against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. A photograph was published of her, together with Bernard-Henri Lévy. He is, among many other things, famous for his assistance in Kiev during the Euromaidan in February 2014.
He was actively promoting the events.
In February 2015, he performed his play Hotel Europa at the Kiev opera house on the first anniversary of the Euromaidan’s toppling of the pro-Russian government of Victor Yanukovich.
He is a well-known agent of “Western-assisted” regime change, with proven success in Ukraine.
He made a few calls to counter “Russian aggression” – such as to suspend any European participation in the Sochi games back in Winter 2014.
“There is still time, but very quickly, to threaten Yanukovych with sanctions which the European Union holds ready, but without resolving to apply them. There is still time, if the anti-riot soldiery does not back down, to ban Yanukovych and his family from entering the territory of all the countries of the European Union. There is still time, if an end to the violence is not immediately decreed, to make it known loud and clear, by naming them, to the few oligarchs who control this murderous regime that their assets will be frozen without delay. And there is still time, finally, to convince the French Olympic Committee, Jean-Claude Killy and all the French athletes present in Sochi to go on strike for the Games as long as blood will flow on the Maidan,” Lévy said in his emotion-filled address.
Then a few years passed after the ‘successful” Maidan and in January 2019 the fight for Europe needed to begin once again.
“Europe is being attacked by false prophets who are drunk on resentment, and delirious at their opportunity to seize the limelight. It has been abandoned by the two great allies who in the previous century twice saved it from suicide; one across the Channel and the other across the Atlantic. The continent is vulnerable to the increasingly brazen meddling by the occupant of the Kremlin. Europe as an idea is falling apart before our eyes,” his new address read back then.
He is supported by a group of ‘European patriots’ who attempt to enforce the European idea even on those who don’t specifically wish to follow it.
These include: Vassilis Alexakis (Athens), Svetlana Alexievich (Minsk), Anne Applebaum (Warsaw), Jens Christian Grøndahl (Copenhagen), David Grossman (Jerusalem), Ágnes Heller (Budapest), Ismaïl Kadaré (Tirana), György Konrád (Debrecen), António Lobo Antunes (Lisbon), Claudio Magris (Trieste), Ian McEwan (London), Adam Michnik (Warsaw), Herta Müller (Berlin), Ludmila Oulitskaïa (Moscow), Rob Riemen (Amsterdam), Fernando Savater (San Sebastián), Roberto Saviano (Naples), Eugenio Scalfari (Rome), Simon Schama (London), Peter Schneider (Berlin), Abdulah Sidran (Sarajevo), Leïla Slimani (Paris), Colm Tóibín (Dublin), Mario Vargas Llosa (Madrid), Adam Zagajewski (Cracow).
Of course, the evil masses that plan to cause this “looming catastrophe.”
“In response to the nationalist and identitarian onslaught, we must rediscover the spirit of activism or accept that resentment and hatred will surround and submerge us. Urgently, we need to sound the alarm against these arsonists of soul and spirit who, from Paris to Rome, with stops along the way in Barcelona, Budapest, Dresden, Vienna and Warsaw, want to make a bonfire of our freedoms.”
This was prior to the European Parliamentary elections in May 2019, when the crisis was looming over the horizon. It wasn’t entirely avoided, since many nationalists won, but it turned out it didn’t matter.
“This is the noxious climate in which Europe’s parliamentary elections will take place in May. Unless something changes; unless something comes along to turn back the rising, swelling, insistent tide; unless a new spirit of resistance emerges, these elections promise to be the most calamitous that we have known. They will give a victory to the wreckers. For those who still believe in the legacy of Erasmus, Dante, Goethe and Comenius there will be only ignominious defeat. A politics of disdain for intelligence and culture will have triumphed. There will be explosions of xenophobia and antisemitism. Disaster will have befallen us.”
Now it is likely that another emotion-filled call to action will be released by Lévy, attempting to urge the Belarusian people and others to counter the “Russian aggressor” and the nationalists, and become a part of the big, happy, Trans-Atlantic family.
Lévy is also one of the signatories, among other liberal elites, on Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s call for Russia to stop its political repressions inside and outside of the country.
It was published almost a year ago. Since Russia, according to them suffered from chronic repression, and no actual political opposition, this was a threat not only to Russia, but to every democracy around the world.
“It is obvious that such actions are dangerous not only for the inhabitants of Russia, but also for the whole world. We call on everyone who cares about democracy and human rights to take immediate action to stop the lawlessness perpetrated by President Putin’s regime. His actions are unacceptable, and his connivance or manifestation of weakness in relation to this regime poses a threat to democracy around the world. In particular, we must take an uncompromising position in relation to those residents of democratic states who are helping President Putin and his accomplices to launder the capital stolen from Russia. Bankers, lobbyists, politicians and consultants must acknowledge that any help given to these officials and their accomplices is a clear crime (and is often paid for with money of criminal origin).”
Additionally, Ukrainian ‘public organizations’, media outlets and even top officils, which are integrated in the political system created in the post-coup Ukraine, actively support the Belarusian opposition. The role of Euro-Atlantic forces, including the US and the EU, that were the main backers of the coup in Ukraine, is also not even a secret.
And if it seemed that Alexander Lukashenko was losing the propaganda war so far, things are obviously still in their initial stages and are about to ramp up.
In another piece of propaganda, from state-funded Voice of America, a producer of Belarusian TV channel ‘Belarus-3’ claimed that all employees who are dissatisfied with the elections on August 9th are being added to a “black list” and will be replaced by Russian journalists.
The director of the Belarusian state television channel said she and other striking workers were not allowed to continue their work.
In a video posted on the Belarusian news site TUT.BY the journalist introduces herself as Alena Martinovskaya, director of the state television and radio channel Belarus-3. She said that the security guard did not let her into the building of the TV company, saying that she was “blacklisted”.
Martynovskaya suggested that the “black list” includes people who expressed dissatisfaction with the recent elections.
The director of “Belarus-3” stated that Belarusian journalists who went on strike or quit to express their opposition to Lukashenko were replaced by Russian teams.
“Two planes of employees from Russia arrived and they perform our functions for a very large amount,” Martinovskaya said.
Meanwhile, Protests calling for Belarus’ leader Alexander Lukashenko to step down took place again in the capital Minsk continued.
For the first time in a week riot police reappeared on the streets as authorities seemed to take steps to regain momentum against the protests.
It came on the same day as Lukashenko ordered police to clear the streets. There was no violence, simply police blockades.
“There should no longer be any disorder in Minsk of any kind,” Lukashenko said in a meeting with senior officials, as reported by state news agency Belta. “People are tired. People demand peace and quiet.”
Meanwhile, despite the attempts by Tikhanovskaya to gain momentum from abroad, as well as foreign players such as Poland attempting to lead the protests, the opposition appears to be struggling.
A number of workers who were striking said they thought the lack of clear leaders for the protests was stopping many from joining them.
Tikhanovskaya, who was a stay-at-home mother until a few months ago, ran against Lukashenko after her husband, a popular blogger, was jailed and prevented from being a candidate.
Although she has attracted a huge backing, many people said they see her as essentially a figurehead and she is currently not in Belarus, having left for neighboring Lithuania last week under threat from authorities.
Tikhanovskaya’s campaign has formed a “coordination council” meant to hold negotiations with Lukashenko on a handover of power. The council, which includes the Nobel Prize laureate Svetlana Alexievich, held its first session on August 19th, and published a resolution calling for the government to cease violence, release political prisoners and hold new free and fair elections.
Lukashenko denounced the opposition as part of a foreign attempt to overthrow him and simply made a series of orders telling the security forces and the military to guard against unrest.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Several Civilians Killed, Injured In New Explosion In Turkish-Occupied Areas In Northern Raqqa

On August 20 , a fairly large explosion rocked the town of Suluk in the Turkish-occupied part of the northern Raqqa countryside .
According to local sources , the explosion was caused by a booby-trapped car that blew up near the entrance of the town ’ s main market .
The explosion killed a civilian and injured many others , including a woman .
After the explosion , the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army ( SNA ) deployed reinforcements in Suluk and closed the town ’ s entrances .
Two days ago , a similar explosion targeted a checkpoint of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lives of four Turkish-backed militants .
A number of civilians were also injured .
Kurdish forces in northeast Syria remain the main suspect in these attacks .
However , ISIS terrorists , who are present in the region , may be also responsible .
The Turkish military and the SNA occupied a large part of northern Raqqa last year after a battle with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces .
Since then , a state of lawlessness has been prevailing over the occupied part .
Turkey is not taking serious measures to secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syria .
Several opposition activists believe that Turkish-backed militants are facilitating some of the attacks on these areas in exchange for money .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Iraqi Kata ’ ib Hezbollah Is Reinforcing Its Positions In Syria ’ s Deir Ezzor : Monitoring Group

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On August 20, a large explosion rocked the town of Suluk in the Turkish-occupied part of the northern Raqqah countryside.
According to local sources, the explosion was caused by a booby-trapped car that blew up near the entrance of the town’s main market. The explosion killed a civilian and injured many others, including one woman.
After the explosion, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) deployed reinforcements in Suluk and closed the town’s entrances.
Two days ago, a similar explosion targeted a checkpoint of the SNA near Suluk. The explosion claimed the lives of four Turkish-backed militants. A number of civilians were also injured.
Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria remain the main suspect in these attacks. However, ISIS terrorists, who are present in the region, may be also responsible.
The Turkish military and the SNA occupied a large part of northern Raqqah last year after a battle with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. Since then, a state of lawlessness has been prevailing over the occupied part.
Turkey is not taking necessary measures to secure the areas occupied by its forces in Syria. Several opposition activists believe that Turkish-backed militants are facilitating some of the attacks on these areas in exchange for money.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Terror On Germany’s Autobahn As Islamic ‘Radicalized Refugee’ Goes On Vehicle Ramming Spree

On Tuesday there were reports of a strange series of severe crashes on the Berlin autobahn which left multiple people severely injured .
While wrecks on the high speed federally controlled highway are not unheard of , it ’ s extremely rare to have a series of wrecks on the same day on the same stretch of autobahn , the famous no speed limit network of roadways which Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer last year called “ the safest in the world ” .
Thus when an accelerating car careened into several motorcycles during the Tuesday evening rush hour , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ramming attacks .
And now law enforcement officials say it increasingly appears part of a premeditated Islamic terror attack .
“ According to the current state of investigation , these were targeted attacks , especially on motorcyclists , with sometimes serious consequences , ” the Berlin prosecutor ’ s office said in a statement .
An office spokesman later told reporters that a 30-year-old Iraqi man was suspected of “ in effect hunting down motorcyclists ” .
“ Because of the circumstances we don ’ t see this as a random accident , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steltner said .
“ Latest indications point to an Islamist-motivated attack.
” There were three separate crashes on the A100 near the center of the city , with the suspect claiming to be armed with some kind of weapon or explosive , as the BBC reports : Three people were seriously injured when the suspect ’ s car collided with motorbikes and cars on the A100 motorway shortly before 19:00 ( 17:00 GMT ) on Tuesday evening .
Witnesses said the 30-year-old Iraqi suspect claimed to have a “ dangerous object ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man only identified in media reports as Sarmad A may have announced his terror intentions on Facebook shortly before he began mowing down motorcyclists .
Some of the victims have reportedly sustained life-threatening injuries in what by all indicators was a premeditated attack : After the crashes , the man was said to have placed a metal box on the road .
According to sources quoted by the Tagesspiegel website , he shouted “ Allahu Akbar ” ( God is greatest ) and “ Nobody come closer or else you ’ ll die.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ A , the suspect lives in refugee accommodation and reports suggest he may have been radicalised there .
He is expected to face three charges of attempted murder .
Before the attack , the suspect posted pictures of his car on Facebook , along with religious phrases .
Recall that Berlin was scene of a prior horrific vehicle attack by an Islamic terrorist in 2016 , when a man stole a large truck and plowed it into crowds at a popular Christmas market , which tragically left 12 dead and many injured .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
On Tuesday there were reports of a strange series of severe crashes on the Berlin autobahn which left multiple people severely injured. While wrecks on the high speed federally controlled highway are not unheard of, it’s extremely rare to have a series of wrecks on the same day on the same stretch of autobahn, the famous no speed limit network of roadways which Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer last year called “the safest in the world”.
Thus when an accelerating car careened into several motorcycles during the Tuesday evening rush hour, police immediately began investigating them as vehicle ramming attacks. And now law enforcement officials say it increasingly appears part of a premeditated Islamic terror attack.
“According to the current state of investigation, these were targeted attacks, especially on motorcyclists, with sometimes serious consequences,” the Berlin prosecutor’s office said in a statement. An office spokesman later told reporters that a 30-year-old Iraqi man was suspected of “in effect hunting down motorcyclists”.
“Because of the circumstances we don’t see this as a random accident,” prosecutor’s office spokesman Martin Steltner said. “Latest indications point to an Islamist-motivated attack.”
There were three separate crashes on the A100 near the center of the city, with the suspect claiming to be armed with some kind of weapon or explosive, as the BBC reports:
Three people were seriously injured when the suspect’s car collided with motorbikes and cars on the A100 motorway shortly before 19:00 (17:00 GMT) on Tuesday evening. Witnesses said the 30-year-old Iraqi suspect claimed to have a “dangerous object” in a box of ammunition.
The Iraqi man only identified in media reports as Sarmad A may have announced his terror intentions on Facebook shortly before he began mowing down motorcyclists.
Via Daily Mail/Facebook image: Sarmad A, a 30-year-old Iraqi refugee, posted this image of himself on Facebook alongside a car that was later used in a terror attack on Berlin – in which he talked of being a ‘martyr’.
Some of the victims have reportedly sustained life-threatening injuries in what by all indicators was a premeditated attack:
After the crashes, the man was said to have placed a metal box on the road. According to sources quoted by the Tagesspiegel website, he shouted “Allahu Akbar” (God is greatest) and “Nobody come closer or else you’ll die.” Named by German media as Samrad A, the suspect lives in refugee accommodation and reports suggest he may have been radicalised there. He is expected to face three charges of attempted murder. Before the attack, the suspect posted pictures of his car on Facebook, along with religious phrases.
Recall that Berlin was scene of a prior horrific vehicle attack by an Islamic terrorist in 2016, when a man stole a large truck and plowed it into crowds at a popular Christmas market, which tragically left 12 dead and many injured.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Iraqi Kata’ib Hezbollah Is Reinforcing Its Positions In Syria’s Deir Ezzor: Monitoring Group

Kata ’ ib Hezbollah ( KH ) is reinforcing its military positions in the southern countryside of Syria ’ s Deir Ezzor , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on August 20 .
According to the London-based monitoring group , KH fighters are currently building fortifications around their positions in the outskirt of the city of al-Mayadin .
These new defensive measures came after a series of attacks by ISIS terrorists on the southern and western Deir Ezzor countryside .
On August 15 , ISIS cells ambushed fighters of Liwa al-Quds and the Syrian Arab Army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least one pro-government fighter was killed .
Three days later , a Russian convoy was attacked in southern Deir Ezzor .
A Russian major-general was killed and two service members were injured .
ISIS was reportedly behind the attack .
ISIS terrorists are launching attacks on western and southern Deir Ezzor from their hideouts in the Homs desert , which lays in the central region .
The defensive measures being taken by KH will likely help secure al-Mayadin .
Nevertheless , much more is needed to be done in order to eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • In Mysterious Incident US Military Lost Two MQ-9 Reapers Over Idlib

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Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) was reinforcing its military positions in the southern countryside of Syria’s Deir Ezzor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on August 20.
According to the London-based monitoring group, KH fighters are currently building fortifications around their positions in the outskirts of the city of al-Mayadin.
“They [HA fighters] have raised dirt barriers, and placed cement roadblocks near their deployment points in the region’s desert,” the SOHR’s report reads.
These new defensive measures came after a series of attacks by ISIS terrorists on the southern and western Deir Ezzor countryside.
On August 15, ISIS cells ambushed fighters of Liwa al-Quds and the Syrian Arab Army 4th Division in western Deir Ezzor. At least one pro-government fighter was killed. Three days later, a Russian convoy was attacked in southern Deir Ezzor. A Russian major-general was killed and two service members were injured. ISIS was reportedly behind the attack.
ISIS terrorists are launching attacks on western and southern Deir Ezzor from their hideouts in the Homs desert, which lays in the central region.
The defensive measures taken by KH will likely help secure al-Mayadin. Nevertheless, much more is needed to be done in order to eliminate ISIS threat.
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southfront--2020-08-20--“Influence And Outreach”: The UK’s Evolving PsyOps Capability

The UK traditionally acts in the international arena as a permanent ally of the United States , supporting practically all military-political initiatives of Washington , including those that provoke a negative reaction from other NATO member countries .
The various departments of the British Armed Forces together with the US military , took part in combat and special operations in the territories of the former Yugoslavia , Afghanistan , Iraq , Syria and other countries .
Of specific interest are the state and capabilities of the forces and means of conducting psychological operations ( PsyOps ) , which it conducts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its “ borders.
” The majority of these operations are assigned to and carried out by 15 ( United Kingdom ) Psychological Operations Group .
It was a tri-service or “ purple ” , military unit formerly parented by 1 Military Intelligence Brigade but from April 2014 , part of the Security Assistance Group within the British Army ’ s Force Troops Command .
Since April 2015 , it has been subsumed into 77th Brigade within Force Troops Command .
The 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group ’ s history is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the 1991 Gulf War when the success of US military psychological operations convinced the Ministry of Defence that the UK required a similar capability .
Initially , it was composed of just a single desk officer with the intention that it would be augmented by additional personnel when required .
As such , the group was referred to in military terminology as a ‘ shadow ’ unit .
Because it was called a “ shadow ” group , there were , and still are , various conspiracies hat ‘ shadow ’ was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and members of the group have been targeted in media .
Since 1991 , the group expanded significantly in size to meet operational requirements and participated in every major UK military operation since that period .
The Black and White Association ( formerly club ) is the regimental association for the group .
Leading members of the Black and White Association include Colonel Colin Mason ( retired ) , Tony Rowlands ( former Foreign Office official ) , Commander Steve Tatham RN , [ 10 ] and the UK ’ s former two-star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , now a Fellow in Information Operations at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and generally considered the most senior serving psyops officer in British defense .
In October 2012 , the group was awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace for its “ valuable contribution to humanitarian activities by establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants of any community at home or overseas.
” The awarding ceremony included the following citation : As of information from 2014 , 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group had over 150 personnel under its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armed Forces and 75 from the Reserves .
The Group supported deployed commanders in the provision of psychological operations in operational and tactical environments .
In March 2015 , the 77th Brigade was created , to which the 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group was subordinated to .
The brigade specializes in “ psychological operations and use of social media to engage in unconventional warfare in the information age.
” A clarification of what 77th Brigade is was given by former Minister of State for the Armed Forces , Mark Francios said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Penny Morduant also provided some insight : In November 2018 , Wired visited its offices , and it described one of the key rooms as : The 77th ’ s slogan is : “ Behavioural change is our USP [ unique selling point ] ” .
Reports at that point claimed that the 77th includes 200 regular and 270 reserve personnel .
This includes the 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group .
The brigade has four divisions .
Its Digital Operations ( Web Ops ) Team , for example : While those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brigade was formed from the Military Stabilisation and Support Group , Media Operations Group , 15 Psychological Operations Group and the Security Capacity Building team .
Currently , the 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group doesn ’ t officially exist , it simply turned into the 77th Brigade with additional staff , funding and capabilities .
The 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group was headed by Steve Tatham , who went on to head the Defence division of SCL , the now defunct parent of data miner Cambridge Analytica .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , past the 77th Brigade evidently works closely with the Integrity Initiative , which SouthFront has looked into at length .
In an internal handbook Integrity Initiative recommends to its members that : And on November 27yh , 2018 , in answer to a Written Question , Sir Alan Duncan confirmed : The personnel of 77th Brigade is not that of your typical military unit .
Soldiers in the 77th Brigade , which was formed in 2015 , are based in Berkshire and spend their time producing video and audio content , using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different messages , and creating “ attitude and sentiment awareness ” from large sets of social media data One of their most infamous members is Gordon MacMillan , a Senior Twitter executive .
Hejoined the social media company ’ s UK office in 2013 , and has for several years also served with the 77th Brigade , a unit formed in 2015 to develop “ non-lethal ” ways of waging war .
The 77th Brigade uses social media platforms such as Twitter , Instagram and Facebook , as well as podcasts , data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the head of the UK military , General Nick Carter , describes as “ information warfare ” .
Carter says the 77th Brigade is giving the British military “ the capability to compete in the war of narratives at the tactical level ” and to shape perceptions of conflict .
Some soldiers who have served with the unit say they have been engaged in operations intended to change the behaviour of target audiences .
What exactly MacMillan is doing with the unit is difficult to determine , however : he has declined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as has Twitter and the UK ’ s Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) .
Twitter would say only that “ we actively encourage all our employees to pursue external interests ” .
The MoD said that the 77th Brigade had no relationship with Twitter , other than using it for communication .
The current training regime of the soldiers is unclear .
Back in 2008 , an annual report by 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group showed that there was a “ robust training ” going on for all incoming troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This involved internal , as well as external trainings .
Currently , much of the 77th Brigade ’ s focus falls down on influencing audiences , so most of it happens online , primarily over social media .
When it comes to operations , it carries out various ones .
Mostly it counters alleged “ Russian disinformation ” in media and social media , mostly by providing its own , counter-disinformation presented as fact .
In April 2020 , Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter revealed that 77 Brigade is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus .
In this case it was needed for the 77th Brigade to counter the top 5 myths allegedly propagated by Russia relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and NATO .
Earlier , even before becoming part of the 77th Brigade , the 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group took part in several operations .
Examples given in the 2008 Annual report include “ Operation Telic ” and “ Operation Herrick.
” • Operation Telic ( Op TELIC ) was the codename under which all of the United Kingdom ’ s military operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011 .
• Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the War in Afghanistan were conducted from 2002 to the end of combat operations in 2014 .
It consisted of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force ( ISAF ) , and support to the American-led Operation Enduring Freedom ( OEF ) .
Since 2003 , Operation Herrick has increased in size and breadth to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Afghanistan .
Allegedly no more work is being done by British soldiers of any sort in Afghanistan .
Some other operations that PsyOps have been used , even before 15 ( UK ) Psychological Operations Group and the 77th Brigade even existed also include : In general , these are the more significant revealed operations that the British PsyOps forces have taken part in .
In recent years , the focus has been shifted online , and it is much less “ hands on ” than in the past .
The cyber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battlefields of the 21st century , and the UK plans to be well-prepared for it .
In early 2019 , £22 million was announced for Cyber Centres Across UK , and they would work and be established with assistance from the 77th Brigade .
In its current form , British PsyOps are almost entirely focused online , with very much activity going outside of their offices , however , that doesn ’ t mean the investments and the ends towards which they ’ re being used are insignificant and should be disregarded .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ assume that every psychological , or even purely military , operation aimed at enemies of the US , or NATO as a whole , would involve some sort of British involvement , very likely with PsyOps operations , alongside any conventional participation .
According to some experts , PSYOP units the United Kingdom and Poland are currently deeply involved in regime-change efforts in Belarus .
For example , the Polish Telegram channel NEXTA is the media pillar of pro-Western nationalist agenda of protests .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Blight and Revelation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Polish Psychological Operations Unit On Guard Of ‘ Democracy ’ In Belarus

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The UK traditionally acts in the international arena as a permanent ally of the United States, supporting practically all military-political initiatives of Washington, including those that provoke a negative reaction from other NATO member countries.
The various departments of the British Armed Forces together with the US military, took part in combat and special operations in the territories of the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other countries.
Of specific interest are the state and capabilities of the forces and means of conducting psychological operations (PsyOps), which it conducts around the Commonwealth, but also outside of its “borders.”
The majority of these operations are assigned to and carried out by 15 (United Kingdom) Psychological Operations Group. It was a tri-service or “purple”, military unit formerly parented by 1 Military Intelligence Brigade but from April 2014, part of the Security Assistance Group within the British Army’s Force Troops Command.
Since April 2015, it has been subsumed into 77th Brigade within Force Troops Command.
The 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group’s history is relatively short. It was established immediately after the 1991 Gulf War when the success of US military psychological operations convinced the Ministry of Defence that the UK required a similar capability. Initially, it was composed of just a single desk officer with the intention that it would be augmented by additional personnel when required. As such, the group was referred to in military terminology as a ‘shadow’ unit.
Because it was called a “shadow” group, there were, and still are, various conspiracies hat ‘shadow’ was a covert code name for the group and members of the group have been targeted in media.
Since 1991, the group expanded significantly in size to meet operational requirements and participated in every major UK military operation since that period. The Black and White Association (formerly club) is the regimental association for the group.
Leading members of the Black and White Association include Colonel Colin Mason (retired), Tony Rowlands (former Foreign Office official), Commander Steve Tatham RN,[10] and the UK’s former two-star Director of Defence Communications, Stephen Jolly, now a Fellow in Information Operations at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and generally considered the most senior serving psyops officer in British defense.
In October 2012, the group was awarded the Firmin Sword of Peace for its “valuable contribution to humanitarian activities by establishing good and friendly relations with the inhabitants of any community at home or overseas.”
The awarding ceremony included the following citation:
“A small team from 15 POG has been continuously deployed to Helmand for six years. Working predominantly with the Afghan civilian population, it has sought to inform, reassure, educate and through the promotion of free and unbiased discussion persuade Afghans that their futures are best served not with the Taliban, nor with ISAF, but with themselves and their elected government. The unit runs a network of radio stations employing local Afghans as DJs, broadcasting music, poetry, debate programmes and even a Helmandi soap opera, as well as producing graphical posters and leaflets to communicate in an area where literacy rates are only around 20%. Recent projects include information campaigns to prevent children picking up spent ordnance they find, disseminating information from farming and veterinary workshops using their radio stations, and promoting debate on political issues of the day.”
As of information from 2014, 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group had over 150 personnel under its command, approximately 75 from the regular Armed Forces and 75 from the Reserves. The Group supported deployed commanders in the provision of psychological operations in operational and tactical environments.
In March 2015, the 77th Brigade was created, to which the 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group was subordinated to.
The brigade specializes in “psychological operations and use of social media to engage in unconventional warfare in the information age.”
A clarification of what 77th Brigade is was given by former Minister of State for the Armed Forces, Mark Francios said the following:
“77th Brigade is the new name for the Security Assistance Group. Its continuing role includes: Providing support, in conjunction with other Government agencies, to efforts to build stability overseas and to wider defence diplomacy and overseas engagement; Leading on Special Influence Methods, including providing information on activities, key leader engagement, operations security and media engagement; Military capacity-building at various stages in the cycle of conflict, through mentoring, support and training, including providing training support to Force Elements to enable delivery of security assistance tasks. There will be 440 military posts in 77th Brigade.”
British member of Parliament Penny Morduant also provided some insight:
“Doctrine provides the philosophy and enduring principles by which military forces guide their actions. 77th Brigade uses a combination of NATO and UK doctrine including for Civil Military Cooperation, Security, Stabilisation, Information and Media Operations, as well as Peace Support and Humanitarian Assistance. The doctrine applied by 77th Brigade has been developed through collaboration with NATO allies, within the UK military and with other Government Departments. It will also have called on the experience and expertise of other nations and academia. The doctrine is dynamic, being constantly tested against experience, and crafted for a contemporary environment, and will therefore continue to develop as new or anticipated challenges appear.”
In November 2018, Wired visited its offices, and it described one of the key rooms as:
“focused on understanding audiences: the makeup, demographics and habits of the people they wanted to reach. Another was more analytical, focusing on creating “attitude and sentiment awareness” from large sets of social media data.”
The 77th’s slogan is: “Behavioural change is our USP [unique selling point]”. Reports at that point claimed that the 77th includes 200 regular and 270 reserve personnel. This includes the 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group.
The brigade has four divisions. Its Digital Operations (Web Ops) Team, for example:
“collects information and understands audience sentiment in the virtual domain. Within the extant OSINT [open source intelligence] policy framework, they may engage with audiences in order to influence perceptions to support operational outcomes.”
While those in its Content Team:
“design and create video, audio, print and digital products that aim to influence behaviours for both an Army and external audience. Additionally, they advise on campaign strategy and propose innovative behavioural change methods.”
The Task Group:
“provides the deployable framework to deliver Information Activity and Outreach (IA&O) either independently, or in support of a composite force package.”
Finally, the Outreach Group:
“provides planning support to military commanders, their staff and Defense Attaché & Loan Service (DALS) personnel to enable them to deliver Outreach across the spectrum of military tasks and operational phases.”
The 77th Brigade was formed from the Military Stabilisation and Support Group, Media Operations Group, 15 Psychological Operations Group and the Security Capacity Building team.
Currently, the 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group doesn’t officially exist, it simply turned into the 77th Brigade with additional staff, funding and capabilities.
The 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group was headed by Steve Tatham, who went on to head the Defence division of SCL, the now defunct parent of data miner Cambridge Analytica.
In a blast from the, relatively recent, past the 77th Brigade evidently works closely with the Integrity Initiative, which SouthFront has looked into at length.
In an internal handbook Integrity Initiative recommends to its members that:
“if asked about our funding, be very clear: the Integrity Initiative is funded by the Institute for Statecraft. The IfS gets its funding from multiple sources to ensure its independence. These include: private individuals; charitable foundations; international organisations (EU, NATO); UK Govt (FCO, MOD).”
And on November 27yh, 2018, in answer to a Written Question, Sir Alan Duncan confirmed:
“In financial year 2017/18, the FCO funded the Institute for Statecraft’s Integrity Initiative £296,500. This financial year, the FCO is funding a further £1,961,000. Both have been funded through grant agreements.”
The personnel of 77th Brigade is not that of your typical military unit.
Soldiers in the 77th Brigade, which was formed in 2015, are based in Berkshire and spend their time producing video and audio content, using data to understand how the public receives different messages, and creating “attitude and sentiment awareness” from large sets of social media data
One of their most infamous members is Gordon MacMillan, a Senior Twitter executive. Hejoined the social media company’s UK office in 2013, and has for several years also served with the 77th Brigade, a unit formed in 2015 to develop “non-lethal” ways of waging war.
The 77th Brigade uses social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as podcasts, data analysis and audience research to conduct what the head of the UK military, General Nick Carter, describes as “information warfare”.
Carter says the 77th Brigade is giving the British military “the capability to compete in the war of narratives at the tactical level” and to shape perceptions of conflict. Some soldiers who have served with the unit say they have been engaged in operations intended to change the behaviour of target audiences.
What exactly MacMillan is doing with the unit is difficult to determine, however: he has declined to answer any questions about his role, as has Twitter and the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Twitter would say only that “we actively encourage all our employees to pursue external interests”. The MoD said that the 77th Brigade had no relationship with Twitter, other than using it for communication.
The current training regime of the soldiers is unclear. Back in 2008, an annual report by 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group showed that there was a “robust training” going on for all incoming troops, and current ones as well.
This involved internal, as well as external trainings.
Currently, much of the 77th Brigade’s focus falls down on influencing audiences, so most of it happens online, primarily over social media.
When it comes to operations, it carries out various ones. Mostly it counters alleged “Russian disinformation” in media and social media, mostly by providing its own, counter-disinformation presented as fact.
In April 2020, Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter revealed that 77 Brigade is involved in countering misinformation online relating to Coronavirus.
“And of course we’ve provided an Aviation Task Force that’s been able to support the communities from Scotland down to the Channel Islands, in Northern Ireland, and from Wales to the east coast of England. We’ve been involved in helping the Foreign Office with repatriations and supporting our overseas territories, where we have security advisory teams deployed now in several of them, and of course we’ve deployed ships, HMS Argus, to do just that. And we’ve been involved with the Cabinet Office Rapid Response Unit, with our 77 Brigade helping to quash rumors from misinformation, but also to counter disinformation.”
In this case it was needed for the 77th Brigade to counter the top 5 myths allegedly propagated by Russia relating to the COVID-19 pandemic and NATO.
Earlier, even before becoming part of the 77th Brigade, the 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group took part in several operations.
Examples given in the 2008 Annual report include “Operation Telic” and “Operation Herrick.”
Operation Telic (Op TELIC) was the codename under which all of the United Kingdom’s military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011.
was the codename under which all of the United Kingdom’s military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011. Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the War in Afghanistan were conducted from 2002 to the end of combat operations in 2014. It consisted of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and support to the American-led Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Since 2003, Operation Herrick has increased in size and breadth to match ISAF’s growing geographical intervention in Afghanistan. Allegedly no more work is being done by British soldiers of any sort in Afghanistan.
Some other operations that PsyOps have been used, even before 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group and the 77th Brigade even existed also include:
In general, these are the more significant revealed operations that the British PsyOps forces have taken part in. In recent years, the focus has been shifted online, and it is much less “hands on” than in the past.
The cyber sphere has become one of the key battlefields of the 21st century, and the UK plans to be well-prepared for it.
In early 2019, £22 million was announced for Cyber Centres Across UK, and they would work and be established with assistance from the 77th Brigade.
“These new cyber centres will allow the Army and Defence to transform the way we use data, at speed, so that we can compete with our adversaries in a way fit for the 21st Century. Combining artificial intelligence with our military analysts will help us better understand threats and exploit opportunities, in turn enabling us to get the truth out much more rapidly, quashing the noise of disinformation from our enemies.”
In its current form, British PsyOps are almost entirely focused online, with very much activity going outside of their offices, however, that doesn’t mean the investments and the ends towards which they’re being used are insignificant and should be disregarded. It is, however, safe to assume that every psychological, or even purely military, operation aimed at enemies of the US, or NATO as a whole, would involve some sort of British involvement, very likely with PsyOps operations, alongside any conventional participation. According to some experts, PSYOP units the United Kingdom and Poland are currently deeply involved in regime-change efforts in Belarus. For example, the Polish Telegram channel NEXTA is the media pillar of pro-Western nationalist agenda of protests.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Military Situation In Northwestern Syria On August 20, 2020 (Map Update)

Iran on Thursday unveiled two new types of long-range missiles on the occasion of national Defense Industry Day .
The @ @ @ @ @ after former IRGC Quds Force Commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis , @ @ @ @ @ s Popular Mobilization Units ( PMU ) anti-terror group , were unveiled on Thursday during @ @ @ @ @ Iranian President Hassan Rouhani .
The first ballistic missile dubbed “ Martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani @ @ @ @ @ to 1,400 kilometers , while the second one dubbed “ Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis ” @ @ @ @ @ a range of 1,000 kilometers .

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A brief overview of the recent developments in northwestern Syria:
Syrian Arab Army (SAA) artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the village of Zayzun;
SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the village of Muazirah;
SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the village of Harbanush;
Turkish artillery shelled SAA positions north of Maarat al-Numan;
According to local sources, 7 military convoys of the Turkish Armed Forces entered Idlib through Kafr Lusin border crossing.
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