southfront--2020-08-24--Hymn for a Broken Empire: Republican National Security Officials for Biden

If fodder is needed for the argument that a Deep State is running wild and determined to depose President Donald J. Trump , this will surely help .
In a statement by self-titled “ former Republican National Security Officials ” , a hand-on-heart allegiance is made to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
The authors are intent on moving the incumbent out of office , “ profoundly concerned about our nation ’ s security and standing in the world under the leadership of Donald Trump .
The President has demonstrated that he is dangerously unfit to serve another term.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency Gen. Michael Hayden , see Joe Biden as the better horse .
He has “ the character , experience and temperament to lead this nation.
” They might have their disagreements with him , but there would be “ the time to debate those policy differences ” .
In the immediate future , Trump had to be ushered out of office to stop his “ assault on our nation ’ s values and institutions.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ language of defending democracy , the very sort of fragile creature such individuals have not been averse to mutilating in the past .
But it is also couched in terms of cod psychology .
The term “ unfit ” is used four times .
This lack of fitness was demonstrated by bad character , corrupt behaviour , the inability to lead “ during a national crisis.
” What is particularly galling for the authors is that Trump dared interfere with the National Security Family , offices of the imperium that should run without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they term it , involved the dismissal or replacement “ often by tweet ” of “ the secretaries of State , Defense , and Homeland Security , the Attorney General , the Directors of National Intelligence and the FBI , three National Security Advisors , and other senior officials in critical national security positions ” .
The signers also take issue with the president ’ s spread of “ misinformation ” , the undermining of public health expertise , attacking officials at state and local level “ and wallowing in self-pity.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ than the health of the American people.
” Misinformation is a good point .
Trump has been exceedingly inventive to the point of fiction in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic .
He takes of the root of conspiracy .
But it is also worth noting that many of these former security officials who take issue with him were not averse to getting on the well-laden wagon of misinformation when it came to launching a war against Iraq in 2003 .
The administration of George W. Bush was stacked high with true believers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspectors .
Then Secretary of State Colin Powell , who put in an appearance at the Democratic National Convention just passed , gave a show of supreme mendacity on February 5 , 2003 before the United Nations .
“ What we ’ re giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence.
” What was solid was the premature adjudication of the matter : Saddam Hussein had to go , and fictional weapons of mass destruction would do nicely as a pretext .
The result was the commission of what is loftily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” : the crime against peace or what is sometimes , if awkwardly termed , a “ war of aggression ” .
In 2005 , criminologists Ronald Kramer , Raymond Michalowski and Dawn Rothe gazed forlornly at the US-led invasion of Iraq and concluded that it , and the subsequent occupation , violated international law .
State crimes had been committed and “ state officials responsible for the violations of law pursuant to the invasion and occupation of Iraq are guilty of war crimes.
” The signatories of this pro-Biden note also have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s compromising of the Department of Justice , his libelling of federal judges , and those who “ sought to uphold the law.
” He insulated himself from accountability , fired officials who commenced investigations or testified against him , threatened whistleblowers , promised pardons for silence “ and blocked prison time for a political crony convicted of lying on his behalf.
” Smelly stuff indeed , till you consider what took place in the Republic after September 11 , 2001 .
During those dark years under GWB , the rule of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and was barely able to walk after that .
Warrantless surveillance of US citizens was conducted with the specific purpose of avoiding the law altogether .
Torture was modish , given a shining light as a preferred method of military interrogation ; inventive apologias and seedy justifications could be found through the DOJ for it use .
The “ Bush Six ” – Alberto Gonzales , David Addington , William Haynes , John Yoo , Jay Bybee and Douglas Feith – rode high on stallions of bare legality .
The Central Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rendition Program .
Guantanamo Bay became code for human rights violations and legal purgatory .
In 2005 , Human Rights Watch suggested that the then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld , CIA Director George Tenet and Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez , formerly the chief US commander in Iraq and Gen. Geoffrey Miller , former commander of the US military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba , be investigated for allegations of torture .
In 2011 , HRW released a further report arguing for “ a broad criminal investigation into alleged crimes committed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detainees , the CIA detention program , and the rendition of detainees to torture.
” To date , these dark retainers of executive power remain free to go about their business and whitewash a sullied era .
The Obama administration ensured that no prosecutions would take place .
The vocal , boisterous defenders of a cause are bound to be those who have , along the way , fiddled and forfeited it .
Be wary , claimed E. M. Forster in “ What I Believe ” , of the cohorts overly keen on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of causes , and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend I hope I would have the guts to betray my country.
” Trump has done his immodest bit to ransack an already soiled office .
The precedent of a burgeoning imperial presidency , indifferent to caution and legality , eager to bloody the noses of adversaries , spy on citizens and evade the rule of law , was already there to emulate .
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
If fodder is needed for the argument that a Deep State is running wild and determined to depose President Donald J. Trump, this will surely help. In a statement by self-titled “former Republican National Security Officials”, a hand-on-heart allegiance is made to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The authors are intent on moving the incumbent out of office, “profoundly concerned about our nation’s security and standing in the world under the leadership of Donald Trump. The President has demonstrated that he is dangerously unfit to serve another term.”
These former security officials, who include former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency Gen. Michael Hayden, see Joe Biden as the better horse. He has “the character, experience and temperament to lead this nation.” They might have their disagreements with him, but there would be “the time to debate those policy differences”. In the immediate future, Trump had to be ushered out of office to stop his “assault on our nation’s values and institutions.”
The message is regaled in the language of defending democracy, the very sort of fragile creature such individuals have not been averse to mutilating in the past. But it is also couched in terms of cod psychology. The term “unfit” is used four times. This lack of fitness was demonstrated by bad character, corrupt behaviour, the inability to lead “during a national crisis.”
What is particularly galling for the authors is that Trump dared interfere with the National Security Family, offices of the imperium that should run without disruption and melodrama. This mismanagement, as they term it, involved the dismissal or replacement “often by tweet” of “the secretaries of State, Defense, and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Directors of National Intelligence and the FBI, three National Security Advisors, and other senior officials in critical national security positions”.
The signers also take issue with the president’s spread of “misinformation”, the undermining of public health expertise, attacking officials at state and local level “and wallowing in self-pity.” He had demonstrated greater interest in re-election “than the health of the American people.”
Misinformation is a good point. Trump has been exceedingly inventive to the point of fiction in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. He takes of the root of conspiracy. But it is also worth noting that many of these former security officials who take issue with him were not averse to getting on the well-laden wagon of misinformation when it came to launching a war against Iraq in 2003. The administration of George W. Bush was stacked high with true believers allergic to the findings of UN weapons inspectors. Then Secretary of State Colin Powell, who put in an appearance at the Democratic National Convention just passed, gave a show of supreme mendacity on February 5, 2003 before the United Nations. “What we’re giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence.” What was solid was the premature adjudication of the matter: Saddam Hussein had to go, and fictional weapons of mass destruction would do nicely as a pretext.
The result was the commission of what is loftily described as the “supreme international crime”: the crime against peace or what is sometimes, if awkwardly termed, a “war of aggression”. In 2005, criminologists Ronald Kramer, Raymond Michalowski and Dawn Rothe gazed forlornly at the US-led invasion of Iraq and concluded that it, and the subsequent occupation, violated international law. State crimes had been committed and “state officials responsible for the violations of law pursuant to the invasion and occupation of Iraq are guilty of war crimes.”
The signatories of this pro-Biden note also have their noses out of joint at Trump’s compromising of the Department of Justice, his libelling of federal judges, and those who “sought to uphold the law.” He insulated himself from accountability, fired officials who commenced investigations or testified against him, threatened whistleblowers, promised pardons for silence “and blocked prison time for a political crony convicted of lying on his behalf.”
Smelly stuff indeed, till you consider what took place in the Republic after September 11, 2001. During those dark years under GWB, the rule of law was given a right royal thrashing, and was barely able to walk after that. Warrantless surveillance of US citizens was conducted with the specific purpose of avoiding the law altogether. Torture was modish, given a shining light as a preferred method of military interrogation; inventive apologias and seedy justifications could be found through the DOJ for it use. The “Bush Six” – Alberto Gonzales, David Addington, William Haynes, John Yoo, Jay Bybee and Douglas Feith – rode high on stallions of bare legality. The Central Intelligence Agency got bold and ugly with its Rendition Program. Guantanamo Bay became code for human rights violations and legal purgatory.
In 2005, Human Rights Watch suggested that the then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, CIA Director George Tenet and Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, formerly the chief US commander in Iraq and Gen. Geoffrey Miller, former commander of the US military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, be investigated for allegations of torture. In 2011, HRW released a further report arguing for “a broad criminal investigation into alleged crimes committed in connection with the torture and ill-treatment of detainees, the CIA detention program, and the rendition of detainees to torture.” To date, these dark retainers of executive power remain free to go about their business and whitewash a sullied era. The Obama administration ensured that no prosecutions would take place.
The vocal, boisterous defenders of a cause are bound to be those who have, along the way, fiddled and forfeited it. Be wary, claimed E. M. Forster in “What I Believe”, of the cohorts overly keen on causes. “I hate the idea of causes, and if I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend I hope I would have the guts to betray my country.” Trump has done his immodest bit to ransack an already soiled office. The precedent of a burgeoning imperial presidency, indifferent to caution and legality, eager to bloody the noses of adversaries, spy on citizens and evade the rule of law, was already there to emulate.
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-08-24--Tough Guy Lukashenko Vs “Baltic Superpower”

On August 23rd , Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko began presumably cosplaying Colonel Walter E. Kurtz from Apocalypse Now ( or presumably Kurtz from the novel Heart of Darkness , depending on preference ) .
With protesters being in front of the presidential palace and calling for him to give up power and organize new elections , he arrived with the presidential helicopter .
Notably , he was wearing a bulletproof vest and had an automatic rifle in his arms .
This can be seen on the footage below : He presumably could have also had no shirt on and only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears that he has overlooked that detail .
There are several other videos of Lukashenko in the airplane , getting off it .
Also of Lukashenko ’ s son – Nikolai , who is 15 years old .
He was also given an assault rifle by his father and was wearing a bulletproof vest .
There are also security guards and soldiers protecting him .
Later on , a photograph was released of the crisis center showing Lukashenko , his son , and presumably a presidential press secretary .
Those are all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the event , as can be seen on the photograph below .
The Independence Palace in Minsk was closed off with a cordon of security personnel .
Lukashenko went to the barricades to thank the troops for protecting him .
And it would appear that not all of this is without reason .
Reportedly , the Ministry of Defense of Belarus recorded an attempt to violate Belarusian airspace from Lithuania .
This was reported in the department ’ s Telegram channel .
According to the ministry , the “ provocation ” took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the village of Volkovschina , Oshmyany region , which borders Lithuania .
As such , it appears that the Baltic states believe that Belarus under Lukashenko is so far ‘ lost ’ that it is like North Korea and needs opposition leaflets dropped from across the border .
The flight of balloons was suppressed without the use of weapons thanks to the crews of MI-24 helicopters from the air defense forces on duty , the Defense Ministry said .
And to reinforce the notion that no external pressure is being exerted on Lukashenko @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formed a human chain from Vilnius to the Belarusian border to express solidarity with protests in the neighbouring country .
The president of the “ Baltic superpower ” was present to support the expression of solidarity to the Belarusian opposition .
This also took place on August 23rd , which is the anniversary of when in 1989 over a million people formed a human chain spanning Lithuania , Latvia and Estonia to demand an end to the Soviet occupation .
An air balloon took off from Cathedral Square and take a 15-metre long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also not the actual Belarusian flag , but the white-red-white flag used by opposition .
The Freedom Way was followed by a concert and TV marathon in the courtyard of Medininkai Castle .
A fundraiser collected money for the BY Help organisation that “ has been helping injured , detained and persecuted Belarusians and their families since 2017.
” “ Freedom is not only a fundamental human right but also a nation ’ s fundamental right .
It ’ s also a daily commitment to defend it from any attempt on it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ darkness , oppression ands fear , ” said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda .
“ Thirty years ago Lithuania broke its shackles of oppression by forming the Baltic Way with its Latvian and Estonian brothers and showing the world that we are free and , first of all , free in our spirit , ” he said .
“ Today , time has come for our Belarusian brothers to say the dear word ‘ Freedom ’ .
” No foreign meddling at all .
Lukashenko and his government clearly demonstrate that they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and surrender the power to the pro-Western opposition .
Meanwhile , the political and security situation in the country has been deteriorating .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • New Mainstream : The U.S. And Co. Should Preemptively Sanction Russia In Case It Decides To “ Meddle ” In Belarus • Another Country , Same People : Supporters Of 2014 Coup In Ukraine Are Now With Belarusian Opposition

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On August 23rd, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko began presumably cosplaying Colonel Walter E. Kurtz from Apocalypse Now (or presumably Kurtz from the novel Heart of Darkness, depending on preference).
With protesters being in front of the presidential palace and calling for him to give up power and organize new elections, he arrived with the presidential helicopter.
Notably, he was wearing a bulletproof vest and had an automatic rifle in his arms. This can be seen on the footage below:
⚡ Президентский пул Лукашенко сообщает, что он прилетел во дворец, у которого собрались протестующие, ‼ с оружием в руках и в бронежилете ‼ Сейчас что-то произойдет. Веду быстрый онлайн в телеграме: https://t.co/UGM8FXelbR — подписывайтесь! pic.twitter.com/VFWvysgnTV — Алексей Новоселов (@novosyolov) August 23, 2020
He presumably could have also had no shirt on and only worn a bulletproof vest, but it appears that he has overlooked that detail.
There are several other videos of Lukashenko in the airplane, getting off it. Also of Lukashenko’s son – Nikolai, who is 15 years old.
He was also given an assault rifle by his father and was wearing a bulletproof vest.
There are also security guards and soldiers protecting him.
Later on, a photograph was released of the crisis center showing Lukashenko, his son, and presumably a presidential press secretary. Those are all of the members in the crisis center present at the event, as can be seen on the photograph below.
The Independence Palace in Minsk was closed off with a cordon of security personnel. Lukashenko went to the barricades to thank the troops for protecting him.
He thanked the security officials:
“Thank you, you are handsome!,” he said “We are with you until the end!,” they replied, in a ridiculous exchange.
And it would appear that not all of this is without reason. Reportedly, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus recorded an attempt to violate Belarusian airspace from Lithuania.
This was reported in the department’s Telegram channel.
According to the ministry, the “provocation” took place on 23rd August at 19:30 in the village of Volkovschina, Oshmyany region, which borders Lithuania.
“A probe of eight balloons with anti-state symbols was launched from the adjacent territory,” the message said.
As such, it appears that the Baltic states believe that Belarus under Lukashenko is so far ‘lost’ that it is like North Korea and needs opposition leaflets dropped from across the border.
The flight of balloons was suppressed without the use of weapons thanks to the crews of MI-24 helicopters from the air defense forces on duty, the Defense Ministry said.
And to reinforce the notion that no external pressure is being exerted on Lukashenko and his aides, approximately 50,000 people formed a human chain from Vilnius to the Belarusian border to express solidarity with protests in the neighbouring country.
The president of the “Baltic superpower” was present to support the expression of solidarity to the Belarusian opposition.
This also took place on August 23rd, which is the anniversary of when in 1989 over a million people formed a human chain spanning Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to demand an end to the Soviet occupation.
An air balloon took off from Cathedral Square and take a 15-metre long Belarusian flag into the sky. It is also not the actual Belarusian flag, but the white-red-white flag used by opposition.
The Freedom Way was followed by a concert and TV marathon in the courtyard of Medininkai Castle. A fundraiser collected money for the BY Help organisation that “has been helping injured, detained and persecuted Belarusians and their families since 2017.”
“Freedom is not only a fundamental human right but also a nation’s fundamental right. It’s also a daily commitment to defend it from any attempt on it by those who would replace freedom with darkness, oppression ands fear,” said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. “Thirty years ago Lithuania broke its shackles of oppression by forming the Baltic Way with its Latvian and Estonian brothers and showing the world that we are free and, first of all, free in our spirit,” he said. “Today, time has come for our Belarusian brothers to say the dear word ‘Freedom’.”
No foreign meddling at all.
В Литве прошла акция «Путь свободы» — живая цепь людей соединила Вильнюс с границей с Беларусью. Это сделали в знак солидарности с жителями Беларуси, которые выступают за демократические перемены.
Фото: https://t.co/carCPBBmp0 pic.twitter.com/rIAuca6Ffb — TUT.BY (@tutby) August 23, 2020
Lukashenko and his government clearly demonstrate that they are not going to submit to the foreign pressure and surrender the power to the pro-Western opposition. Meanwhile, the political and security situation in the country has been deteriorating.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-08-24--Locations Of US Carrier Strike Groups – August 24, 2020

This is the newest update of the ‘ U.S .
Carrier Strike Groups Locations Map ’ exclusive series showing the @ @ @ @ @ Strike Groups .
SouthFront : Analysis & Intelligence tracks locations of U.S. aircraft carriers using @ @ @ @ @ No classified information was used in production of the map .
Carrier strike group ( @ @ @ @ @ formation of the United States Navy .
It is centered on an aircraft carrier and @ @ @ @ @ CVW ) of 65 to 70 aircrafts .
It ’ s composed of roughly 7,500 @ @ @ @ @ , at least one cruiser , a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or @ @ @ @ @ group also , on occasion , includes submarines , attached logistics ships and a supply @ @ @ @ @ comprise a principal element of U.S. power projection over the world ’ s oceans .
@ @ @ @ @

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This is the newest update of the ‘U.S. Carrier Strike Groups Locations Map’ exclusive series showing the approximate locations of U.S. Carrier Strike Groups. SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence tracks locations of U.S. aircraft carriers using the available open-source information. No classified information was used in production of the map.
Carrier strike group (CSG) is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is centered on an aircraft carrier and a carrier air wing (CVW) of 65 to 70 aircrafts. It’s composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates. A carrier strike group also, on occasion, includes submarines, attached logistics ships and a supply ship. Carrier strike groups comprise a principal element of U.S. power projection over the world’s oceans.
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southfront--2020-08-24--7 Days Until The End Of August

7 Days Until The End Of August

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southfront--2020-08-24--Russian Diplomat Expelled From Austria, As Diplomatic Tensions Between Moscow And The EU Rise

In August 2020 , the diplomatic relations between the EU and Russia appear to be deteriorating .
Early on in the month , Slovakia expelled three Russian diplomats for “ a serious crime ” , with local media reporting a possible link to the murder of a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin in 2019 .
Tomaga also said that a visa issued by the Slovak consulate in St. Petersburg , Russia had been misappropriated , claiming that “ a serious crime ” had been committed on the territory of another NATO and EU member state .
In response , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local media , said Moscow would react to the expulsions “ in a similar way.
” According to Slovak media , the Slovak consulate in St. Petersburg issued visas last year allowing entry into the European Union of a Russian citizen later suspected of having killed Zelimkhan Khangoshvili , a Georgian of Chechen origin , in Berlin ’ s Kleiner Tiergarten park .
German police arrested a suspect shortly after the shooting , and in June this year prosecutors accused Russia of ordering the murder .
Moscow denied having any relation to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December 2019 , Germany expelled two Russian diplomats , and Russia expelled two German diplomats in response .
On August 17th , 2020 , the Charge d ’ Affaires of the Netherlands in Russia D.Bakker-Kühling was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry .
A strong protest was expressed to the Dutch side in connection with the discovery of tracking equipment in the service car of the assistant to the Russian military attaché in the Netherlands .
The Dutch diplomat was told that it is necessary to immediately take comprehensive measures to prevent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations .
Earlier , Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Dutch authorities are using Russia to create an image of an enemy instead of fighting common problems .
The diplomat spoke about the anti-espionage memo issued by the Dutch intelligence and security service .
Zakharova noted that the document contains information about the Russian and Chinese special services , allegedly operating in the country .
Finally , on August 24th , Austria has for the first time declared a Russian diplomat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has to leave Austria by September 1st .
This is the first result of a new spy hysteria , which the local authorities consider to be particularly serious .
The Russian diplomat has allegedly carried out industrial espionage in a high-tech company for years with the support of an Austrian citizen .
Austria already had controversial affairs with Russia in 2020 .
Moscow was accused of being behind an alleged massive cyber attack on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , which “ skimmed off ” its IT systems .
Then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused of spying .
Finally , the death of Mamichan U. alias Martin B. , who was was shot dead on company premises on the B7 in Gerasdorf not far from the Vienna city limits in July .
He was a very voiced critic of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov online .
Although the 43-year-old expressly refused personal protection , his apartment in Vienna-Donaustadt was observed .
His consent was not needed for him to be under surveillance , and it still didn ’ t lead to anything since he died and it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THE TOPIC : • German Uniper Warns It Might Impair Nord Stream 2 Loan If U.S. Sanctions Impede Project • Assisting ‘ Invisible Hand Of Market ’ : U.S .
Threatens German Companies Over Nord Stream 2

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In August 2020, the diplomatic relations between the EU and Russia appear to be deteriorating.
Early on in the month, Slovakia expelled three Russian diplomats for “a serious crime”, with local media reporting a possible link to the murder of a former Chechen rebel in a Berlin in 2019.
“I can confirm that a decision has been taken to expel three employees of the Russian Federation embassy in Slovakia,” Juraj Tomaga, head of the foreign ministry’s press service, told AFP. “According to information from the Slovak intelligence services, their activities were in conflict with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,” he said.
Tomaga also said that a visa issued by the Slovak consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia had been misappropriated, claiming that “a serious crime” had been committed on the territory of another NATO and EU member state.
In response, the Russian Foreign Ministry, according to local media, said Moscow would react to the expulsions “in a similar way.”
According to Slovak media, the Slovak consulate in St. Petersburg issued visas last year allowing entry into the European Union of a Russian citizen later suspected of having killed Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Georgian of Chechen origin, in Berlin’s Kleiner Tiergarten park.
German police arrested a suspect shortly after the shooting, and in June this year prosecutors accused Russia of ordering the murder.
Moscow denied having any relation to the murder. Regardless, even before that in December 2019, Germany expelled two Russian diplomats, and Russia expelled two German diplomats in response.
On August 17th, 2020, the Charge d’Affaires of the Netherlands in Russia D.Bakker-Kühling was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
A strong protest was expressed to the Dutch side in connection with the discovery of tracking equipment in the service car of the assistant to the Russian military attaché in the Netherlands.
The Dutch diplomat was told that it is necessary to immediately take comprehensive measures to prevent such incidents, which run counter to the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Dutch authorities are using Russia to create an image of an enemy instead of fighting common problems.
The diplomat spoke about the anti-espionage memo issued by the Dutch intelligence and security service. Zakharova noted that the document contains information about the Russian and Chinese special services, allegedly operating in the country.
“Spy hysteria is entering a new round,” she said.
Finally, on August 24th, Austria has for the first time declared a Russian diplomat to be a “persona non grata”. He has to leave Austria by September 1st.
This is the first result of a new spy hysteria, which the local authorities consider to be particularly serious.
The Russian diplomat has allegedly carried out industrial espionage in a high-tech company for years with the support of an Austrian citizen.
Austria already had controversial affairs with Russia in 2020.
Moscow was accused of being behind an alleged massive cyber attack on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which “skimmed off” its IT systems.
Then there was Salzburg trial of an army officer accused of spying.
Finally, the death of Mamichan U. alias Martin B., who was was shot dead on company premises on the B7 in Gerasdorf not far from the Vienna city limits in July.
He was a very voiced critic of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov online.
Although the 43-year-old expressly refused personal protection, his apartment in Vienna-Donaustadt was observed. His consent was not needed for him to be under surveillance, and it still didn’t lead to anything since he died and it is unclear who killed him.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-08-24--Russia’s Army-2020 International Event Begins, Showcasing Thousands Of Weapons And Hardware

The International Military-Technical Forum “ Army-2020 ” began on August 23rd , with an opening address by Russian President Vladimir Putin .
The event features 28,000 exhibits , dozens of delegations from 92 countries , hundreds of units of military equipment .
Representatives from Russia ’ s Rostec said that more than 70 new products would be presented at the event .
In addition to the exhibition part , there will also be competitions and war games which involved tens of thousands of troops from various countries .
The Berkuts aerobatics team were part of the opening ceremony .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaponry include some “ old ” products that are still in development and have generally undergone little change , but also some heavily improved ones .
And more had no visible changes from 2019 .
However , the T-15 Heavy Infantry Fighting vehicle was improved with a “ Kinzhal ” [ not the hypersonic missile ] defense system with a powerful 57 mm gun The cannon fires 80 rounds per minute at the target and is capable of hitting most armored targets on the battlefield , as well as enemy helicopters and attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Previously , the T-15 was demonstrated with the previous generation Baikal combat module .
The latest modifications of the T-90M and T-80BVM battle tanks were also shown to the public for the first time ever .
The T-90M one received a new turret with multilayer armor and ammunition storage outside the fighting compartment , a 125-mm 2A82-1M cannon , like the Armata , a highly automated Kalina fire control system , anti-cumulative lattice screens and a Relikt reactive armor system .
The T-80BVM is now equipped with a Sosna-U multichannel gunner ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a modified gas turbine engine and a modern ultra-shortwave radio station “ Aqueduct ” .
According to the designers , the modernization has significantly increased the combat characteristics of Russian vehicles .
This year there are several interesting debuts at Army .
For example , a new version of the Tiger off-road vehicle is a machine-gun pickup , or , as it is fashionable to say now , a “ gantruck ” .
This is an open version of an armored vehicle with brackets for small arms .
Depending on the customer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” can be equipped with diesel engines with a capacity of 215 to 300 horsepower , mechanical or automatic transmission .
One of the most important novelties of Army-2020 is the Hermes long-range guided missile system from the Instrument Design Bureau .
Designed to destroy modern and advanced tanks , lightly armored targets , engineering and fortifications at a distance of up to one hundred kilometers – both with a salvo and with single fire .
The complex is currently being tested .
This year the Army has a lot of modern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that stand out were both produced by the Kronstadt company – Orion and Helios with a wingspan of 16 and 20 meters , respectively .
“ Orion ” has completed all the tests and is ready to be put into service , “ said Maxim Gordashevsky , lead engineer at Kronstadt .
“ This is a reconnaissance and strike drone with a combat radius of 300 kilometers .
He is able to stay in the air for about a day and reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour .
The maximum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombs and guided missiles .
As for “ Helios ” , it is presented so far in the form of a model .
This is a highly specialized drone for early warning radar .
It will be able to stay in the air for up to 30 hours and transmit data on the air situation to other aircraft , as well as to ground headquarters.
” As for small arms , this year two high-profile premieres were made by the Kalashnikov concern .
The AK-19 assault rifle is a modification of the AK-12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 5.56×45 mm caliber , which is of great interest among foreign customers .
Considering the high number of foreign delegations in the Kalashnikov pavilion , the export prospects for the AK-19 are very promising .
The event is just beginning , as such there will be more videos and photographs in the upcoming days .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Russia Signs New S-400 Contract With Turkey , Prepares To Deliver First Batch To India

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The International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2020” began on August 23rd, with an opening address by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The event features 28,000 exhibits, dozens of delegations from 92 countries, hundreds of units of military equipment.
Representatives from Russia’s Rostec said that more than 70 new products would be presented at the event.
“For several years, the International Army Games have been contributing to strengthening friendly links, to open and well-wishing exchange of expertise. Military personnel from different countries compete in their skills and equipment operation, in combat prowess and military discipline; they test themselves for readiness to overcome serious ordeals and perform tasks in extreme conditions,” Putin said.
In addition to the exhibition part, there will also be competitions and war games which involved tens of thousands of troops from various countries.
The Berkuts aerobatics team were part of the opening ceremony.
Some of the featured pieces of hardware and weaponry include some “old” products that are still in development and have generally undergone little change, but also some heavily improved ones.
For instance, featured were:
T-14 Armata battle tank;
The tank support combat vehicle (BMPT);
The Kurganets-25 BMP;
And more had no visible changes from 2019.
However, the T-15 Heavy Infantry Fighting vehicle was improved with a “Kinzhal” [not the hypersonic missile] defense system with a powerful 57 mm gun
The cannon fires 80 rounds per minute at the target and is capable of hitting most armored targets on the battlefield, as well as enemy helicopters and attack aircraft at altitudes up to eight kilometers.
Previously, the T-15 was demonstrated with the previous generation Baikal combat module.
The latest modifications of the T-90M and T-80BVM battle tanks were also shown to the public for the first time ever.
The T-90M one received a new turret with multilayer armor and ammunition storage outside the fighting compartment, a 125-mm 2A82-1M cannon, like the Armata, a highly automated Kalina fire control system, anti-cumulative lattice screens and a Relikt reactive armor system.
The T-80BVM is now equipped with a Sosna-U multichannel gunner’s sight, a 2A46M-4 gun, a modified gas turbine engine and a modern ultra-shortwave radio station “Aqueduct”.
According to the designers, the modernization has significantly increased the combat characteristics of Russian vehicles.
This year there are several interesting debuts at Army. For example, a new version of the Tiger off-road vehicle is a machine-gun pickup, or, as it is fashionable to say now, a “gantruck”.
This is an open version of an armored vehicle with brackets for small arms. Depending on the customer’s wishes, the machine-gun “Tiger” can be equipped with diesel engines with a capacity of 215 to 300 horsepower, mechanical or automatic transmission.
“The vehicle was created taking into account the Syrian experience,” Sergei Suvorov, a specialist at the Military-Industrial Company, told RIA Novosti. “It is ideal for the Special Operations Forces. This buggy is designed for raids on enemy rear lines and for reconnaissance. Five machine guns, one of which is a large-caliber one. Transportable ammunition – four and a half thousand rounds. In addition, there are two Igla MANPADS and three RPG-26 grenade launchers.”
One of the most important novelties of Army-2020 is the Hermes long-range guided missile system from the Instrument Design Bureau. Designed to destroy modern and advanced tanks, lightly armored targets, engineering and fortifications at a distance of up to one hundred kilometers – both with a salvo and with single fire. The complex is currently being tested.
This year the Army has a lot of modern and promising unmanned aerial vehicles. The two that stand out were both produced by the Kronstadt company – Orion and Helios with a wingspan of 16 and 20 meters, respectively.
“Orion” has completed all the tests and is ready to be put into service, “said Maxim Gordashevsky, lead engineer at Kronstadt.
“This is a reconnaissance and strike drone with a combat radius of 300 kilometers. He is able to stay in the air for about a day and reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. The maximum combat load is 250 kilograms of guided bombs and guided missiles. As for “Helios”, it is presented so far in the form of a model. This is a highly specialized drone for early warning radar. It will be able to stay in the air for up to 30 hours and transmit data on the air situation to other aircraft, as well as to ground headquarters.”
As for small arms, this year two high-profile premieres were made by the Kalashnikov concern.
The AK-19 assault rifle is a modification of the AK-12 adopted for service under the NATO cartridge of 5.56×45 mm caliber, which is of great interest among foreign customers.
Considering the high number of foreign delegations in the Kalashnikov pavilion, the export prospects for the AK-19 are very promising.
“The second novelty is the RPL-20 light machine gun,” explains Vladimir Onokoi, a specialist from the concern. This is the first domestic 5.45 mm belt-fed machine gun. Attempts to create something like this were made back in the USSR, but they were unsuccessful. The machine gun is still in a single copy. In the future, it will be able to occupy the niche of the RPK-74 light machine gun in the army. “
The event is just beginning, as such there will be more videos and photographs in the upcoming days.
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southfront--2020-08-24--Violence And Insanity: United States Everyday Life In 2020

On August 21st , 31-year-old Trayford Pellerin , a black man , died after being shot 11 times by police officers in Lafayette , Louisiana .
Lafayette Police Department officers responded to a disturbance call , involving a man with a knife at a Shell gas station around 8 PM local time on August 21st .
When they tried to apprehend the suspect , identified as 31-year-old Trayford Pellerin , he allegedly ignored repeated orders to surrender as well as several taser shots fired at him .
He simply kept walking , with his back turned to police , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gas station ’ s store .
Around a dozen shots can be heard in the video above , sparking accusations of excessive use of force .
Authorities argued that tasers were “ ineffective ” and failed to stop the suspect , and that he was still armed when he tried to enter the store with people inside .
On August 22nd , violent protests erupted in Lafayette .
Protesters blocked traffic as they gathered on Moss Street in Lafayette near a police precinct to protest Pellerin ’ s death .
Police in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ releasing flares and smoke canisters into the crowd of protesters , KATC reported .
Afterward , Interim Lafayette Police Chief Scott Morgan said that there were two groups of protesters – those who organized an event earlier in the day and those who he said “ choose to be malicious.
” He said people blocked important roadways and started several fires in a grass area , and police observed some throwing fireworks into one of their buildings .
Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber issued a stern warning to “ out-of-town agitators , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undermine protest movements .
“ If any out-of-town agitators are watching this , if anyone ’ s planning to enhance their techniques tomorrow or the next day , we are ready for you , ” he said .
“ We are prepared .
We will not willingly give up the city .
You will have to go through every resource that I have and every resource that the police have in order to do harm to the citizens or to their property.
” “ Once again , video footage has captured a horrific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Black person who was brutally killed in front of our eyes , ” Alanah Odoms Hebert , executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana , said in a statement .
Hebert said the shooting was an “ inappropriate and excessive use of force ” by the police .
Meanwhile , the trial against Derek Chauvin , who killed George Floyd on May 25th , is about to begin .
The police ’ s version of events is that George Floyd was intoxicated in some way , and that the use of force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases such as this in the US when a police officer is accused of excessive brutality , is that the officer gets acquitted and it is done .
In other news of everyday American life , a black man from Bronx knocked the jaw out of a 17-year-old Pennsylvania park employee for asking him to wear a mask .
One of the BLM protesters hit a raccoon twice , then pulled out a baseball bat and beat him to death .
The death of the raccoon was posted on social networks and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people care about the protection of animals .
Separately , a black man shot a 5-year-old white neighbor ’ s boy for driving his bicycle onto his lawn .
The news was not discussed in the American press , and if it was mentioned , instead of a photograph of the real killer , a photograph of his father was published .
News such as this are daily , this is currently considered “ social activism ” because it is being carried out by the correct group of people , otherwise , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Netflix has took it upon itself to also promote some questionable content .
For example , the French “ coming-of-age comedy-drama film ” Cuties .
The main plot detail of the movie is pre-teenage girls twerking on camera .
This is the synopsis of the film : Another piece of content by Netflix is show AJ And the Queen , which features a 10-year-old transgender child , who fellow transgender actors joked about being a “ top ” or the person doing the penetrating in a homosexual relationship .
In the show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-year-old daughter of a drug-addicted prostitute , says she wants to be a boy “ because people leave boys alone.
” Netflix argued that the film was chosen by the fact that it received a prize at the festival Sundance , the founder of which , by coincidence , is also in prison for pedophilia .
On March 20 , 1985 , Donna Hylton and three female accomplices drugged and kidnapped 62-year-old Long Island real estate broker Thomas Vigliarolo at the behest of Louis Miranda , who thought Vigliarolo had cheated him out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in which the two allegedly sold shares in New York City condos and pocketed the money .
The kidnappers held Vigliarolo prisoner for 15–20 days .
During that time , three men and four women , including Hylton , starved , burned , beat , sexually assaulted , raped , and tortured him .
On April 5 , 1985 , with Hylton asleep in the next room , Vigliarolo died of asphyxiation .
Three days later , his body was found locked in a trunk in a Manhattan apartment .
MORE ON @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Last 72 Hours In New York As City Hits Its “ Expiration Date ”

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On August 21st, 31-year-old Trayford Pellerin, a black man, died after being shot 11 times by police officers in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Several cops surrounded a Black man and fatally shot him 10+ times tonight in Lafayette, LA! He reportedly had a knife and was walking away from police, but didn’t deserve to die — they acted as judge jury and executioner. We demand JUSTICE and ANSWERS. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/6gI3rNU4FH — Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) August 22, 2020
BLACK. LIVES. MATTER. ✊?✊?✊?✊?#TrayfordPellerin mattered! ? TONIGHT @ 5pm in Lafayette, Louisiana:
Join Lafayette NAACP & other community leaders for vigil/protest at Shell station where Trayford was murdered. Water & masks provided. @DSASWLA will be on site offering support. https://t.co/uVAUKA0xCA — Louisiana for Bernie (@LouisianaBernie) August 22, 2020
Lafayette Police Department officers responded to a disturbance call, involving a man with a knife at a Shell gas station around 8 PM local time on August 21st.
When they tried to apprehend the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Trayford Pellerin, he allegedly ignored repeated orders to surrender as well as several taser shots fired at him.
He simply kept walking, with his back turned to police, while carrying a knife and attempted to enter the gas station’s store.
Around a dozen shots can be heard in the video above, sparking accusations of excessive use of force. Authorities argued that tasers were “ineffective” and failed to stop the suspect, and that he was still armed when he tried to enter the store with people inside.
On August 22nd, violent protests erupted in Lafayette. Protesters blocked traffic as they gathered on Moss Street in Lafayette near a police precinct to protest Pellerin’s death.
Police in riot gear gave a 10-minute warning before releasing flares and smoke canisters into the crowd of protesters, KATC reported.
Afterward, Interim Lafayette Police Chief Scott Morgan said that there were two groups of protesters – those who organized an event earlier in the day and those who he said “choose to be malicious.”
He said people blocked important roadways and started several fires in a grass area, and police observed some throwing fireworks into one of their buildings.
“Our intent is not going to be to just let people disrupt our town and put our citizens and our motorists and our neighborhood in danger. We’re going to use those resources that we have and those other agencies and we’re going to enforce these laws,” he said.
Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber issued a stern warning to “out-of-town agitators,” a trope sometimes used to try to undermine protest movements.
“If any out-of-town agitators are watching this, if anyone’s planning to enhance their techniques tomorrow or the next day, we are ready for you,” he said. “We are prepared. We will not willingly give up the city. You will have to go through every resource that I have and every resource that the police have in order to do harm to the citizens or to their property.” “Once again, video footage has captured a horrific and deadly incident of police violence against a Black person who was brutally killed in front of our eyes,” Alanah Odoms Hebert, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, said in a statement.
Hebert said the shooting was an “inappropriate and excessive use of force” by the police.
“None of our communities are safe when the police can murder people with impunity or when routine encounters escalate into deadly shooting sprees,” Hebert said. “The ACLU of Louisiana will continue to demand justice for this brutal killing and push for reforms that will end the epidemic of police violence once and for all.”
Meanwhile, the trial against Derek Chauvin, who killed George Floyd on May 25th, is about to begin.
The police’s version of events is that George Floyd was intoxicated in some way, and that the use of force was needed. The general trend in cases such as this in the US when a police officer is accused of excessive brutality, is that the officer gets acquitted and it is done.
In other news of everyday American life, a black man from Bronx knocked the jaw out of a 17-year-old Pennsylvania park employee for asking him to wear a mask.
One of the BLM protesters hit a raccoon twice, then pulled out a baseball bat and beat him to death. The death of the raccoon was posted on social networks and was accompanied by an inscription that only white people care about the protection of animals.
Separately, a black man shot a 5-year-old white neighbor’s boy for driving his bicycle onto his lawn.
The news was not discussed in the American press, and if it was mentioned, instead of a photograph of the real killer, a photograph of his father was published.
News such as this are daily, this is currently considered “social activism” because it is being carried out by the correct group of people, otherwise, it would obviously be a crime.
Finally, Netflix has took it upon itself to also promote some questionable content.
For example, the French “coming-of-age comedy-drama film” Cuties. The main plot detail of the movie is pre-teenage girls twerking on camera. This is the synopsis of the film:
“Eleven-year-old immigrant girl Amy, originally hailing from Senegal, lives with her mother Mariam (Maïmouna Gueye) in one of Paris’s poorest neighbourhoods in an apartment along with her two younger brothers awaiting for her father to rejoin the family from Senegal. Things turn swiftly as Amy is fascinated by her disobedient neighbour Angelica’s twerking clique called Cuties, an adult-style dance troupe which has contrasting fortunes and characteristics to Mariam’s traditional customs, values and traditions.”
Another piece of content by Netflix is show AJ And the Queen, which features a 10-year-old transgender child, who fellow transgender actors joked about being a “top” or the person doing the penetrating in a homosexual relationship.
In the show, the child, who is the 10-year-old daughter of a drug-addicted prostitute, says she wants to be a boy “because people leave boys alone.” Netflix argued that the film was chosen by the fact that it received a prize at the festival Sundance, the founder of which, by coincidence, is also in prison for pedophilia.
Finally, the Democratic National Convention featured a convicted kidnapper and murderer – Donna Hylton.
On March 20, 1985, Donna Hylton and three female accomplices drugged and kidnapped 62-year-old Long Island real estate broker Thomas Vigliarolo at the behest of Louis Miranda, who thought Vigliarolo had cheated him out of $139,000 on a mutual con, in which the two allegedly sold shares in New York City condos and pocketed the money.
The kidnappers held Vigliarolo prisoner for 15–20 days. During that time, three men and four women, including Hylton, starved, burned, beat, sexually assaulted, raped, and tortured him. On April 5, 1985, with Hylton asleep in the next room, Vigliarolo died of asphyxiation. Three days later, his body was found locked in a trunk in a Manhattan apartment.
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southfront--2020-08-24--Gas Pipe Explosion In Syria Causes Blackout, Blamed On Terrorist Attack

In the early hours of August 23rd , an explosion took place on the Arab Gas Pipeline in Syria , which led to a blackout in Damascus and other cities and towns .
The explosion was reportedly a result of a ‘ terrorist attack ’ , according to Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ghanem .
Ikhbariya TV channel showed footage of a large fire after the explosion , which officials said occurred between the towns of Ad Dumayr and Adra , northwest of the capital of Damascus .
The channel later said the fire had been extinguished .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arab Gas Pipeline between the towns of Al-Dumayr and Adra in Damascus governorate , leading to a pressure drop and cascading shutdowns of the country ’ s power stations , according to Syria ’ s Electricity Minister , Mohammad Zuhair Kharboutli .
This is the sixth time that stretch of the gas pipeline has been hit by an explosion over the course of the Syrian conflict , Kharboutli added , refusing to speculate about possible causes of the latest blast .
The electricity minister said that power was gradually being restored to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Damascus said power had returned in the capital .
Entirely in the area of speculation , a US convoy passed into Syria on the evening of August 22nd , it came through the al-Walid border crossing from Iraq .
The aim of the deployment is unclear .
The area of the gas pipe explosion is also rather far from the al-Walid crossing .
The Arab Gas Pipeline system extends from Egypt into Jordan and Syria .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Syrian Forces Are Hunting Down ISIS Terrorists In Desert • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Syria ’ s Deir Ezzor – Report

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In the early hours of August 24rd, an explosion took place on the Arab Gas Pipeline in Syria, which led to a blackout in Damascus and other cities and towns.
The explosion was reportedly a result of a ‘terrorist attack’, according to Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ghanem.
Ikhbariya TV channel showed footage of a large fire after the explosion, which officials said occurred between the towns of Ad Dumayr and Adra, northwest of the capital of Damascus. The channel later said the fire had been extinguished.
“Assessments show that the explosion … was the result of a terrorist attack,” state news agency SANA quoted Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Ghanem as saying. He did not provide further detail.
الاخبارية السورية تنشر فيديو قريب من الانفجار الذي وقع في خط الغاز العربي بين منطقتي الضمير وعدرا بريف دمشق الشرقي
الى الان لم يتم إخماد الحريق وانقطاع الكهرباء في دمشق وريفها ومعظم المحافظات السورية مستمر
خدمات الانترنت تعمل بشكل طبيعي بردا وسلاما سوريتي ? pic.twitter.com/6dcwsPkRKP — ?? فہتہآهےآلہیہاسہمہین ?? (@raghad_star) August 24, 2020
The explosion damaged a stretch of the Arab Gas Pipeline between the towns of Al-Dumayr and Adra in Damascus governorate, leading to a pressure drop and cascading shutdowns of the country’s power stations, according to Syria’s Electricity Minister, Mohammad Zuhair Kharboutli.
This is the sixth time that stretch of the gas pipeline has been hit by an explosion over the course of the Syrian conflict, Kharboutli added, refusing to speculate about possible causes of the latest blast.
The electricity minister said that power was gradually being restored to the country’s provinces. A resident in Damascus said power had returned in the capital.
Entirely in the area of speculation, a US convoy passed into Syria on the evening of August 22nd, it came through the al-Walid border crossing from Iraq. The aim of the deployment is unclear.
#News #US occupation forces convoy crossed into #Syria last night via Al-Walid border crossing with #Iraq
convoy comprised several military vehicles and 40 trucks with military and logistical supplies headed to #Shaddadi base and other illegal military bases in #Hasakah pic.twitter.com/gnirg1UmGW — ?? NadieHarbieh ?? (@HarbiehNadie) August 23, 2020
The area of the gas pipe explosion is also rather far from the al-Walid crossing.
The Arab Gas Pipeline system extends from Egypt into Jordan and Syria.
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southfront--2020-08-24--Russia Signs New S-400 Contract With Turkey, Prepares To Deliver First Batch To India

On August 23rd , Russia signed a contract on the delivery of a second batch of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Turkey .
The two sides were currently discussing the financial terms , according to the Head of Russia ’ s state arms seller Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev .
“ The contract has been signed , ” the chief executive said , replying to the corresponding question .
The sides are now discussing “ the financial arrangement of implementing the contract , ” he specified .
The Rosoboronexport chief said that the timeframe of implementing the contract would depend “ on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the procedural issues with the financing of this project.
” The US continues to strongly oppose Turkey operating its first S-400 missile defense system .
Recently , U.S. senators proposed to legally allow the Pentagon to buy out the S-400s already supplied by Russia to Turkey in order to prevent them from being put on alert , threatened with sanctions and promised that if Turkey would continue with the purchase and operation , then Ankara ’ s bans from the F-35 fighter jet program will not be lifted , as well as receipt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In response , against the backdrop of all the threats and sanctions , Ankara went and bought another S-400 system .
This is unlikely in direct relation that Turkey wants to oppose the US , but rather , in view of the situation in Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean , where Turkey is faced with a conflict with a whole group of countries , including NATO countries , is forcing Turkey to abandon the declared line with a stake on its own weapons and urgently buy modern weapons on the side .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ regiment of Russian S-400 air defense systems in 2021 .
This was reported by “ Interfax ” , referring to the official representative of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia , Maria Vorobyova .
It is noted that in the future , an acceleration in the supply of the next batches of the systems may be discussed .
“ The timing of the contract has been discussed in detail with our Indian partners , and the delivery of the first regiment is expected by the end of 2021 .
Further acceleration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the system is technically impossible , since there are objective , technology-related stages of production , acceptance and transfer of equipment , ” she said .
As reported , the contract for the supply of S-400 to India worth $ 5.43 billion was signed in early October 2018 .
The USA is also warning India not to purchase Russian weapons , and threatening with sanctions , but so far , no concrete actions have been undertaken .
Even if they are , it is unlikely that India adheres to any calls to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TOPIC : • U.S. Congress “ Quietly ” Blocked All Arms Sales To Turkey : Defense News Report • U.S. Senate To Vote On Whether To Purchase Russia ’ s S-400 Missile Defense System From Turkey

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On August 23rd, Russia signed a contract on the delivery of a second batch of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Turkey.
The two sides were currently discussing the financial terms, according to the Head of Russia’s state arms seller Rosoboronexport Alexander Mikheyev.
“The contract has been signed,” the chief executive said, replying to the corresponding question. The sides are now discussing “the financial arrangement of implementing the contract,” he specified.
The Rosoboronexport chief said that the timeframe of implementing the contract would depend “on our partners’ readiness to finally resolve the procedural issues with the financing of this project.”
The US continues to strongly oppose Turkey operating its first S-400 missile defense system.
Recently, U.S. senators proposed to legally allow the Pentagon to buy out the S-400s already supplied by Russia to Turkey in order to prevent them from being put on alert, threatened with sanctions and promised that if Turkey would continue with the purchase and operation, then Ankara’s bans from the F-35 fighter jet program will not be lifted, as well as receipt of Patriot defense batteries would not happen.
In response, against the backdrop of all the threats and sanctions, Ankara went and bought another S-400 system.
This is unlikely in direct relation that Turkey wants to oppose the US, but rather, in view of the situation in Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey is faced with a conflict with a whole group of countries, including NATO countries, is forcing Turkey to abandon the declared line with a stake on its own weapons and urgently buy modern weapons on the side.
Separately, India will receive its first regiment of Russian S-400 air defense systems in 2021.
This was reported by “Interfax”, referring to the official representative of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia, Maria Vorobyova.
It is noted that in the future, an acceleration in the supply of the next batches of the systems may be discussed.
“The timing of the contract has been discussed in detail with our Indian partners, and the delivery of the first regiment is expected by the end of 2021. Further acceleration of the delivery of the first batch from the system is technically impossible, since there are objective, technology-related stages of production, acceptance and transfer of equipment,” she said.
As reported, the contract for the supply of S-400 to India worth $5.43 billion was signed in early October 2018.
The USA is also warning India not to purchase Russian weapons, and threatening with sanctions, but so far, no concrete actions have been undertaken. Even if they are, it is unlikely that India adheres to any calls to cancel the purchase.
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southfront--2020-08-24--Military Situation In Afghanistan On August 23, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • At least 2 @ @ @ @ @ motorcycle bomb explosion in the Bagh-e-Bala parc in Kabul city ; • An Afghan National @ @ @ @ @ were shot dead by unknown gunmen in the Kart-e-Naw area in Kabul city ; • @ @ @ @ @ killed in a roadside mine blast in the Ghazni province .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
At least 2 civilians were injured in a motorcycle bomb explosion in the Bagh-e-Bala parc in Kabul city;
An Afghan National Army colonel and his driver were shot dead by unknown gunmen in the Kart-e-Naw area in Kabul city;
Afghan security forces arrested Mullah Akhtar, a key Taliban commander in Shakar Dara, in Kabul province;
At least seven civilians were killed in a roadside mine blast in the Ghazni province.
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southfront--2020-08-24--The New Status Of Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia

The fifteen hundred year history of the Hagia Sophia has recently seen the beginning of a new era .
In the distant past the conversion of it from an Orthodox cathedral into a mosque also coincided with the beginning of a new era .
There are different views on what chronologically marks the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age , but the most convincing and more or less commonly agreed upon is the year 1453 when Constantinople fell , having been conquered by the Ottoman Turks .
The capital of the Orthodox Empire became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Conqueror .
He turned the Cathedral of the Constantinople Patriarchate into a mosque .
In 1934 , at to the command of the founder of the Turkish Republic Kemal Ataturk , the Hagia Sophia became a museum , and now by the decree of the president of Turkey Erdogan , it ’ s status was changed once more—it has turned into a mosque again .
This change was received with bitterness by the Orthodox world , Christians of different confessions , and the cultural community .
For Russian Orthodox people the Hagia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apostles Grand Prince of Rus ’ Vladimir ’ s envoys visited it and reported , “ We do not know whether we were in heaven or on Earth because there is no such sight or beauty on Earth , and we are not capable of describing it ; we only know that God dwells with people there.
” Their story about what they saw and what they experienced while being in this church served as a trigger for the prince to decide on his own baptism and the baptism of his people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adequately and soberly assess the nature and the scale of the suffered loss .
The unsurpassed creation of the great architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus was not destroyed by the presidential decree .
Sophia ’ s mosaics were saved , amongst them are the masterpieces representing the highest achievements of Christian art .
On the other hand , even when the Hagia Sophia had the status of a museum , there was still no place in it for public prayer or for the Orthodox divine services , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop Christian pilgrims from praying heartfelt or mental prayer in this shrine .
In all fairness one should remember that the Ottoman Turks were not the first ones who dared to encroach on this shrine .
In the eighth century , the church survived the onslaught of the iconoclasts , who hammered the mosaics off its walls .
At the beginning of the thirteenth century , crusaders robbed the cathedral .
In of their wild ignorance they imagined that the mosaics were made of gold and so they cut them out with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later , when the church became a mosque , the long-suffering mosaic panels that covered the walls of the temple were scraped off or plastered over .
The preserved mosaics behind the plaster were discovered during restoration work carried out in the museum period of the temple .
Despite the suffered losses , the Hagia Sophia to this day remains the greatest creation made by man—it still bears the reflection of the heavenly world , visible signs of touching Divine perfection .
The Russian artist Mikhail Nesterov visited the Hagia Sophia Temple when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greatly impressed by what he saw .
He wrote : “ The Hagia Sophia does not seem grandiose from the sea but is enormous up close .
A cluster of later added Muslim extensions distort its original form .
However , as soon as you enter the temple everything changes … almost at the very entrance … you can see almost the entire vault of the dome , which is so resembles the vault of heaven .
Its boundlessness is the boundlessness of the sky , something that of course can not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Basilica , which is so heavy and oppressive… The vastness of the dome of the Hagia Sofia , its seeming limitlessness , simply amazes.
” The bitterness felt by Christians about the Turkish president ’ s decree is natural , but the reaction of the Orthodox world at the Hagia Sophia ’ s change of status can not be the one expressed in a statement issued on this occasion by the leadership of the World Council of Churches .
The statement describes this act by Erdogan as “ a blow to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfortunate expression was chosen and what they really meant was that despite belonging to different religious communities , there is a solidarity of people in defending some common values .
The “ unification of religions ” is a harmful utopia that only people who are far from religious faith want to achieve .
But what will become of the Hagia Sophia when the implementation of the Erdogan ’ s decree will take shape ?
The Turkish side made assurances that access to the Hagia Sophia will remain open and free as it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sceptics say that this is just the beginning… But a realistic view on the situation does not give grounds ( at least in the near future ) for such fears , as having become a mosque , the temple will not be closed off from visits by “ infidels ” .
The main concern today is about the preservation of Sophia ’ s mosaics .
The traditional intolerance of Islam , as well as of Judaism , towards the sacred images in prior years went much further—as far as forbidding all figurative art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed in an inexhaustible ingenuity of creating ornamental decorations .
Modern Turkey has gone a long way from its former idiosyncrasy concerning images—for images are present in its cities and villages at every step—and perhaps there isn ’ t a city that hasn ’ t been decorated with a statue of Kemal Ataturk .
But in a mosque , just as in the old days , no sacred or other figurative images are allowed .
With the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque , of course , decisions will be made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will look like is not yet clear .
However , official assurances were made that the regime of protection of monuments as anticipated by UNESCO for the World Heritage sites ( the Hagia Sophia being recognized as one in 1985 ) will be strictly observed in the future .
This regime excludes not only the destruction of the building itself , but also any damage to the protected masterpieces of global importance .
In this respect , it would be a good outcome if the changes would be limited to the covering up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Muslim prayer .
As of today , there are no signs of the monstrous prospect of the destruction of the Sophia ’ s mosaics ; the moderate Islamism that influences modern Turkey today stands far away from the vandals of Isis , Al Qaeda or the Taliban .
There is a wise proverb—don ’ t go waving your fists after the fight .
But analyzing the causes of defeat for the sake of learning lessons for the future is always useful and appropriate .
There are at least two factors that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfortunate for us Christians .
One of them lies far from the Christian and cultural community efforts trying to prevent what has taken place .
The roots of this factor can be found inside the very Turkish society itself , or it would be more accurate to say that it is driven by how gradually , step by step , the reaction of society has changed towards the prolongation of the process of integration of Turkey into the Western European community—its integration into the EU , to be precise .
Something similar could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Protestant , but now post-Christian Western world and its relationship with other countries and the people of those countries who have sought or are still seeking to enter this “ privileged ” part of the world .
Illusory hopes give way to disappointment .
The twists and turns of this novel are well known to us Russians , as we have experienced portions of it in our own not so distant history .
An illustration of this process is the trivial image of being lured by a carrot that can not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not having a shortage of critically thinking people , is convinced of its superiority over other civilisations and of its irresistible attractiveness to the rest of the world .
But in reality , there is a limit to this attraction .
This temptation is not to everyone ’ s taste .
Had Turkey finally become a post-Muslim society , like the post-Christian West , it would have been accepted into the EU ; but this did not take place and so Turkey was not accepted .
As a result , the position of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because it received the support of Turkish people , who became disillusioned with the idea of fraternization with the West .
President ’ s Erdogan decree is a symbolic gesture addressed to the West , because in the Muslim world the West is often mistakenly associated with Christianity ; but in reality , the cradle of Christianity is not located in the West , but in the East—in Palestine .
The Hagia Sophia was under the rule of crusaders , that is , the “ West ” for just a little over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to convert the Hagia Sophia Temple into a mosque at this moment in time is a crisis of relations within the Orthodox world .
The Phanar put itself in opposition to the Russian Orthodox Church by committing an act of jurisdictional aggression .
One of the consequences of the split we are witnessing today is the changing status of the Hagia Sophia .
Had there been real solidarity in the Orthodox world , Ankara would have found it harder to brave such a step .
In fact , until recently , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the patriarchs and the episcopate of various countries autonomous Orthodox Churches , could have made appeals on behalf of three hundred million Orthodox Christians .
As a result of his actions it became impossible to preserve the canonical communication between him and the Russian Orthodox Church .
So who does he represent now ?
Turkey has at most a few thousand people belonging to the Patriarchate of Constantinople , and the voice of the Ecumenical Patriarch whose see is in Constantinople , was not heard by the state authorities of the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other truly authoritative voices of people who spoke out from abroad for the preservation of the previous status of the Hagia Sophia were ignored in Ankara under the pretext of national sovereignty .
Supporting the schism comes at a high price , and it may get higher over time .
Phanar ’ s frailty can provoke further , perhaps more tangible moves .
Should that take place , it remains to be seen whether the Constantinople Patriarchate will be protected by the powers in whose geopolitical games it participates on the territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patriarchate has plenty of its own problems .

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Via orthochristian.com,
The fifteen hundred year history of the Hagia Sophia has recently seen the beginning of a new era. In the distant past the conversion of it from an Orthodox cathedral into a mosque also coincided with the beginning of a new era. There are different views on what chronologically marks the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern Age, but the most convincing and more or less commonly agreed upon is the year 1453 when Constantinople fell, having been conquered by the Ottoman Turks. The capital of the Orthodox Empire became the residency of the Ottoman sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. He turned the Cathedral of the Constantinople Patriarchate into a mosque. In 1934, at to the command of the founder of the Turkish Republic Kemal Ataturk, the Hagia Sophia became a museum, and now by the decree of the president of Turkey Erdogan, it’s status was changed once more—it has turned into a mosque again.
This change was received with bitterness by the Orthodox world, Christians of different confessions, and the cultural community. For Russian Orthodox people the Hagia Sophia is especially dear because the equal-to-the Apostles Grand Prince of Rus’ Vladimir’s envoys visited it and reported, “We do not know whether we were in heaven or on Earth because there is no such sight or beauty on Earth, and we are not capable of describing it; we only know that God dwells with people there.” Their story about what they saw and what they experienced while being in this church served as a trigger for the prince to decide on his own baptism and the baptism of his people.
In the current situation it is necessary to adequately and soberly assess the nature and the scale of the suffered loss. The unsurpassed creation of the great architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus was not destroyed by the presidential decree. Sophia’s mosaics were saved, amongst them are the masterpieces representing the highest achievements of Christian art. On the other hand, even when the Hagia Sophia had the status of a museum, there was still no place in it for public prayer or for the Orthodox divine services, and the preceding status of a mosque did not stop Christian pilgrims from praying heartfelt or mental prayer in this shrine.
In all fairness one should remember that the Ottoman Turks were not the first ones who dared to encroach on this shrine. In the eighth century, the church survived the onslaught of the iconoclasts, who hammered the mosaics off its walls. At the beginning of the thirteenth century, crusaders robbed the cathedral. In of their wild ignorance they imagined that the mosaics were made of gold and so they cut them out with their axes. And finally, two centuries later, when the church became a mosque, the long-suffering mosaic panels that covered the walls of the temple were scraped off or plastered over. The preserved mosaics behind the plaster were discovered during restoration work carried out in the museum period of the temple.
Despite the suffered losses, the Hagia Sophia to this day remains the greatest creation made by man—it still bears the reflection of the heavenly world, visible signs of touching Divine perfection. The Russian artist Mikhail Nesterov visited the Hagia Sophia Temple when it was a mosque, and was greatly impressed by what he saw. He wrote:
“The Hagia Sophia does not seem grandiose from the sea but is enormous up close. A cluster of later added Muslim extensions distort its original form. However, as soon as you enter the temple everything changes … almost at the very entrance … you can see almost the entire vault of the dome, which is so resembles the vault of heaven. Its boundlessness is the boundlessness of the sky, something that of course cannot be said about the Roman St. Peter’s Basilica, which is so heavy and oppressive… The vastness of the dome of the Hagia Sofia, its seeming limitlessness, simply amazes.”
The bitterness felt by Christians about the Turkish president’s decree is natural, but the reaction of the Orthodox world at the Hagia Sophia’s change of status cannot be the one expressed in a statement issued on this occasion by the leadership of the World Council of Churches. The statement describes this act by Erdogan as “a blow to the unification of religions”. Perhaps an unfortunate expression was chosen and what they really meant was that despite belonging to different religious communities, there is a solidarity of people in defending some common values. The “unification of religions” is a harmful utopia that only people who are far from religious faith want to achieve.
But what will become of the Hagia Sophia when the implementation of the Erdogan’s decree will take shape? The Turkish side made assurances that access to the Hagia Sophia will remain open and free as it has been before. The pessimists and the sceptics say that this is just the beginning… But a realistic view on the situation does not give grounds (at least in the near future) for such fears, as having become a mosque, the temple will not be closed off from visits by “infidels”.
The main concern today is about the preservation of Sophia’s mosaics. The traditional intolerance of Islam, as well as of Judaism, towards the sacred images in prior years went much further—as far as forbidding all figurative art so that artistic talent could only be expressed in an inexhaustible ingenuity of creating ornamental decorations. Modern Turkey has gone a long way from its former idiosyncrasy concerning images—for images are present in its cities and villages at every step—and perhaps there isn’t a city that hasn’t been decorated with a statue of Kemal Ataturk. But in a mosque, just as in the old days, no sacred or other figurative images are allowed. With the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque, of course, decisions will be made in this regard. What these decisions will look like is not yet clear. However, official assurances were made that the regime of protection of monuments as anticipated by UNESCO for the World Heritage sites (the Hagia Sophia being recognized as one in 1985) will be strictly observed in the future. This regime excludes not only the destruction of the building itself, but also any damage to the protected masterpieces of global importance. In this respect, it would be a good outcome if the changes would be limited to the covering up of the mosaic panels for the duration of the Muslim prayer. As of today, there are no signs of the monstrous prospect of the destruction of the Sophia’s mosaics; the moderate Islamism that influences modern Turkey today stands far away from the vandals of Isis, Al Qaeda or the Taliban.
There is a wise proverb—don’t go waving your fists after the fight. But analyzing the causes of defeat for the sake of learning lessons for the future is always useful and appropriate. There are at least two factors that influenced the decision-making on this change so unfortunate for us Christians.
One of them lies far from the Christian and cultural community efforts trying to prevent what has taken place. The roots of this factor can be found inside the very Turkish society itself, or it would be more accurate to say that it is driven by how gradually, step by step, the reaction of society has changed towards the prolongation of the process of integration of Turkey into the Western European community—its integration into the EU, to be precise. Something similar could be observed in yesterday’s Catholic and Protestant, but now post-Christian Western world and its relationship with other countries and the people of those countries who have sought or are still seeking to enter this “privileged” part of the world. Illusory hopes give way to disappointment. The twists and turns of this novel are well known to us Russians, as we have experienced portions of it in our own not so distant history. An illustration of this process is the trivial image of being lured by a carrot that cannot be reached. The collective West, despite not having a shortage of critically thinking people, is convinced of its superiority over other civilisations and of its irresistible attractiveness to the rest of the world. But in reality, there is a limit to this attraction. This temptation is not to everyone’s taste. Had Turkey finally become a post-Muslim society, like the post-Christian West, it would have been accepted into the EU; but this did not take place and so Turkey was not accepted. As a result, the position of the principled opponents of Westernization was strengthened because it received the support of Turkish people, who became disillusioned with the idea of fraternization with the West. President’s Erdogan decree is a symbolic gesture addressed to the West, because in the Muslim world the West is often mistakenly associated with Christianity; but in reality, the cradle of Christianity is not located in the West, but in the East—in Palestine. The Hagia Sophia was under the rule of crusaders, that is, the “West” for just a little over a century.
Another factor which prompted the decision to convert the Hagia Sophia Temple into a mosque at this moment in time is a crisis of relations within the Orthodox world. The Phanar put itself in opposition to the Russian Orthodox Church by committing an act of jurisdictional aggression. One of the consequences of the split we are witnessing today is the changing status of the Hagia Sophia. Had there been real solidarity in the Orthodox world, Ankara would have found it harder to brave such a step. In fact, until recently, the Patriarch of Constantinople, with the consent of the patriarchs and the episcopate of various countries autonomous Orthodox Churches, could have made appeals on behalf of three hundred million Orthodox Christians. As a result of his actions it became impossible to preserve the canonical communication between him and the Russian Orthodox Church. So who does he represent now? Turkey has at most a few thousand people belonging to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the voice of the Ecumenical Patriarch whose see is in Constantinople, was not heard by the state authorities of the country that falls under his jurisdiction.
But the other truly authoritative voices of people who spoke out from abroad for the preservation of the previous status of the Hagia Sophia were ignored in Ankara under the pretext of national sovereignty. Supporting the schism comes at a high price, and it may get higher over time. Phanar’s frailty can provoke further, perhaps more tangible moves. Should that take place, it remains to be seen whether the Constantinople Patriarchate will be protected by the powers in whose geopolitical games it participates on the territory of Ukraine. But today, the Patriarchate has plenty of its own problems.
Archpriest Vladislav Tsypin
Translation by Anastasis Starukhina
Pravoslavie.ru


southfront--2020-08-24--Military Situation In Palestine On August 23, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Palestine : • Two IDF Merkava @ @ @ @ @ , near Mays Al Jabal , before retreating under smoke cover ; • Hezbollah announced @ @ @ @ @ down an Israeli drone in the Aita al-Shaab area .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Palestine:
Two IDF Merkava tanks patrolled the technical fence, near Mays Al Jabal, before retreating under smoke cover;
Hezbollah announced that its forces had shot down an Israeli drone in the Aita al-Shaab area.
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southfront--2020-08-24--Military Situation In Iraq On August 23, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • PM Al-Kadhimi arrived @ @ @ @ @ Ministers of Interior and Defense and the Head of the Counter-Terrorism Service to investigate recent @ @ @ @ @ ; • According to OIRSpox , the Kurdistan Region ’ s Counter-Terrorism Directorate arrested an @ @ @ @ @ • Turkish warplanes targeted the alleged PKK positons in the village of Kune Kotir , @ @ @ @ @ • A series of protests erupted in the northern Kurdistan region in objection to the @ @ @ @ @ salaries ; • Convoy transporting logistical supply for the U.S.-led coalition was targeted by an @ @ @ @ @ • US-led coalition troops withdraw from 8 sites at Taji base and hand it to @ @ @ @ @ THE TOPIC :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
PM Al-Kadhimi arrived in Basra accompanied by the Ministers of Interior and Defense and the Head of the Counter-Terrorism Service to investigate recent incidents in the Basra city;
According to OIRSpox, the Kurdistan Region’s Counter-Terrorism Directorate arrested an ISIS suspect in Erbil;
Turkish warplanes targeted the alleged PKK positons in the village of Kune Kotir, in the Bradost area;
A series of protests erupted in the northern Kurdistan region in objection to the bad economic situation and unpaid salaries;
Convoy transporting logistical supply for the U.S.-led coalition was targeted by an IED in Ghazaliyah area;
US-led coalition troops withdraw from 8 sites at Taji base and hand it to Iraqi army.
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southfront--2020-08-24--For First Time, Iran’s Nuclear Agency Confirms Natanz Facility Blast Was “Sabotage Operations”

For the first time , a top Iranian nuclear official has described the July 2nd fire at Natanz nuclear facility as sabotage , and not due to an accident .
“ The explosion at Natanz nuclear facility was a result of sabotage operations , ” Behrouz Kamalvandi , a spokesman for Iran ’ s Atomic Energy Organization announced Sunday .
“ Security authorities will reveal in due time the reason behind the blast , ” he added .
Recall that before and after the fire which caused severe damage , setting back the development of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ explosions and fires at various military and industrial sites across Iran , raising suspicions of a major Israeli or even US-backed covert campaign to destabilize the country ’ s defense infrastructure .
But the Natanz incident stood out as the most likely to have been the result of covert sabotage operations , with even citing intelligence sources to say it was the result of “ a powerful bomb ” : “ A member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps who was briefed on the matter also said an explosive was used , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has at the same time suggested a cyber-attack by outside entities , but has stopped short of naming the US or Israel , while also quoting Iranian leaders as saying they would retaliate if proven .
Iranian authorities have until now kept mum on their suspicions in the midst of an investiation ; however , they have assured Iran ’ s enemies on repeat occasions that retaliation is coming , possibly in the form of cyber-warfare or other sabotage against Israel or the US .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
For the first time, a top Iranian nuclear official has described the July 2nd fire at Natanz nuclear facility as sabotage, and not due to an accident.
“The explosion at Natanz nuclear facility was a result of sabotage operations,” Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization announced Sunday. “Security authorities will reveal in due time the reason behind the blast,” he added.
Badly damaged Natanz facility, via the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
Recall that before and after the fire which caused severe damage, setting back the development of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges, there was a series of ‘mystery’ explosions and fires at various military and industrial sites across Iran, raising suspicions of a major Israeli or even US-backed covert campaign to destabilize the country’s defense infrastructure.
But the Natanz incident stood out as the most likely to have been the result of covert sabotage operations, with even The New York Times citing intelligence sources to say it was the result of “a powerful bomb”:
“A Middle Eastern intelligence official with knowledge of the episode said Israel was responsible for the attack on the Natanz nuclear complex on Thursday, using a powerful bomb,” NYT wrote last month.
This satellite image from Planet Labs Inc. showing extent of damage at Natanz, which reportedly destroyed an advanced centrifuge assembly plant.
“A member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps who was briefed on the matter also said an explosive was used,” the report added.
Iranian media has at the same time suggested a cyber-attack by outside entities, but has stopped short of naming the US or Israel, while also quoting Iranian leaders as saying they would retaliate if proven.
Iranian authorities have until now kept mum on their suspicions in the midst of an investiation; however, they have assured Iran’s enemies on repeat occasions that retaliation is coming, possibly in the form of cyber-warfare or other sabotage against Israel or the US.
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southfront--2020-08-24--VAB Mark 3 Armoured Personnel Carrier (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The VAB Mark 3 is an armoured personnel carrier designed and produced by the @ @ @ @ @ Renault Trucks Defense ) .
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The VAB Mark 3 is an armoured personnel carrier designed and produced by the French Company ARQUUS (formerly Renault Trucks Defense).
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southfront--2020-08-24--Pro-Iranian Forces Attack US Convoys Withdrawing From Largest Base In Iraq

The US military has been facing increasing pressure from local resistance forces and pro-Iranian groups in Iraq .
On August 21 , an improvised explosive device ( IED ) reportedly struck a vehicle of company working with the U.S.-led coalition in Aweerij , south of the capital , Baghdad .
The vehicle was destroyed and its driver was killed .
Pro-Iranian sources even claimed that the entire supply convoy of the US-led coalition was destroyed , and three Fijian private military contractors working for the U.S. military were killed .
These claims have not been confirmed by any visual evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another IED attack hit a logistical convoy of the US-led coalition near Baghdad .
This time the incident happened in Ghazaliya , on a highway leading to the al-Shuala district .
The video from the site showed that at least one vehicle was damaged .
On August 23 , an IED explosion targeted a convoy of US forces withdrawing from Camp Taji just a few hours after the US military officially handed the military base to Iraqi government forces .
The base used to host 2,000 US troops .
Most of them are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
According to local sources , local Shiite resistance groups and Iranian-linked forces were behind these attacks .
Iran and its Iraqi allies vowed to expel US forces from Iraq after the assassination of Iranian Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and Deputy-Commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US drone strike on January 3 , 2020 .
On August 20 , Iran even unveiled two missiles with named after Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis .
The missiles were revealed on the occasion of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missile “ Martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani ” is ballistic with a range of up to 1,400 km .
The second weapon , named “ Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis , ” is a cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 km .
Iran claimed that both missiles are capable of penetrating advanced anti-missile systems .
Tehran considers its missile program to be among the cornerstones of the country ’ s defense capabilities .
On January 8 , 2020 , Iran even publicly conducted a missile strike on US military bases in Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Muhandis in Baghdad .
The naming of new Iranian missiles after these prominent commanders are likely a demonstration of the Iranian determination to continue its anti-US campaign in the region .
Therefore , the pressure on US forces in Iraq will likely further increase in the near future .

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The US military has been facing increasing pressure from local resistance forces and pro-Iranian groups in Iraq.
On August 21, an improvised explosive device (IED) reportedly struck a vehicle of company working with the U.S.-led coalition in Aweerij, south of the capital, Baghdad. The vehicle was destroyed and its driver was killed. Pro-Iranian sources even claimed that the entire supply convoy of the US-led coalition was destroyed, and three Fijian private military contractors working for the U.S. military were killed. These claims have not been confirmed by any visual evidence so far.
On August 22, another IED attack hit a logistical convoy of the US-led coalition near Baghdad. This time the incident happened in Ghazaliya, on a highway leading to the al-Shuala district. The video from the site showed that at least one vehicle was damaged.
On August 23, an IED explosion targeted a convoy of US forces withdrawing from Camp Taji just a few hours after the US military officially handed the military base to Iraqi government forces. The base used to host 2,000 US troops. Most of them are set to be withdrawn in the coming days.
According to local sources, local Shiite resistance groups and Iranian-linked forces were behind these attacks. Iran and its Iraqi allies vowed to expel US forces from Iraq after the assassination of Iranian Quds Force Commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and Deputy-Commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US drone strike on January 3, 2020.
On August 20, Iran even unveiled two missiles with named after Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The missiles were revealed on the occasion of the National Defense Industry Day. The first missile “Martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani” is ballistic with a range of up to 1,400 km. The second weapon, named “Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,” is a cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 km. Iran claimed that both missiles are capable of penetrating advanced anti-missile systems.
Tehran considers its missile program to be among the cornerstones of the country’s defense capabilities. On January 8, 2020, Iran even publicly conducted a missile strike on US military bases in Iraq retaliating for the assassination of Soleimani and al-Muhandis in Baghdad. The naming of new Iranian missiles after these prominent commanders are likely a demonstration of the Iranian determination to continue its anti-US campaign in the region. Therefore, the pressure on US forces in Iraq will likely further increase in the near future.
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