southfront--2020-05-19--Philip M. Giraldi: “News Stories Avoid Naming Israel”

Written by Philip M. Giraldi ; Originally appeared at The Unz Review There are two stories that seem to have been under-reported in the past couple of weeks .
The first involves Michael Flynn ’ s dealings with the Russian United Nations Ambassador Sergey Kislyak .
And the second describes yet another bit of espionage conducted by a foreign country directed against the United States .
Both stories involve the State of Israel .
The bigger story is , of course , the dismissal by Attorney General William Barr of the criminal charges against former National Security Advisor General Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigators .
The curious aspect of the story as it is being related by the mainstream media is that it repeatedly refers to Flynn as having unauthorized contacts with the Russian Ambassador and then having lied about it .
The implication is that there was something decidedly shady about Flynn talking to the Russians and that the Russians were up to something .
In reality , the part left out of the story is that the phone call to Kislyak on December 22 , 2016 , was made by Flynn at the direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been approached by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .
Netanyahu had learned that the Obama Administrating was going to abstain on a United Nations vote condemning the Israeli settlements policy , meaning that for the first time in years a U.N. resolution critical of Israel would pass without drawing a U.S. veto .
Kushner , acting for Netanyahu , asked Flynn to contact each delegate from the various countries on the Security Council to delay or kill the resolution .
Flynn agreed to do so , which included a call to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not agree to veto Security Council Resolution 2334 , which passed unanimously on December 23rd .
In taking the phone calls from a soon-to-be senior American official who would within weeks be part of a new administration in Washington , the Russians did nothing wrong , but the media is acting like there was some kind of Kremlin conspiracy seeking to undermine U.S. democracy .
It would not be inappropriate to have some conversations with an incoming government team and Kislyak also did nothing that might be regarded as particularly responsive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Flynn ’ s request .
The phone call made at the request of Israel was neither benign or ethical as the Barack Administration was still in power and managing the nation ’ s foreign policy .
At the time , son-in-law Jared Kushner was Trump ’ s point man on the Middle East .
He and his family have extensive ties both to Israel and to Netanyahu personally , to include Netanyahu ’ s staying at the Kushner family home in New York .
The Kushner Family Foundation has funded some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of conservative political groups in that country .
Jared has served as a director of that foundation and it is reported that he failed to disclose the relationship when he filled out his background investigation sheet for a security clearance .
All of which suggests that if you are looking for possible foreign government collusion with the incoming Trumpsters , look no further .
And it should be observed that the Israelis were not exactly shy about their disapproval of Obama and their willingness to express their views to the incoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disagreeing over an aspect of foreign policy as he was actively trying to clandestinely subvert and reverse a decision made by his own legally constituted government .
His closeness to Netanyahu made him , in intelligence terms , a quite likely Israeli government agent of influence , even if he didn ’ t quite see himself that way .
Kushner ’ s actions , as well as those of Flynn , would most certainly have been covered by the Logan Act of 1799 , which bars private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also could be construed as a “ conspiracy against the United States.
” But in spite of all that the investigation went after Flynn instead of Kushner .
As Kushner is Jewish and certainly could be accused of dual loyalty , that part of the story obviously makes many in the U.S .
Establishment and media uncomfortable , so it was and continues to be both ignored and expunged from the record as quickly as possible .
The second story , which has basically been made to disappear , relates to spying by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The revelation that Israel was again using its telecommunications skills to spy on foreigners came from an Oakland California federal court lawsuit initiated by Facebook ( FB ) against the Israeli surveillance technology company NSO Group .
FB claimed that NSO has been using servers located in the United States to infect with spyware hundreds of smartphones being used by attorneys , journalists , human rights activists , critics of Israel and even of government officials .
NSO allegedly used WhatsApp , a messaging app owned by FB , to hack into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enable the company to monitor what was going on with the devices .
It did so by employing networks of remote servers located in California to enter the accounts .
NSO has inevitably claimed that they do indeed provide spyware , but that it is sold to clients who themselves operate it with the “ advice and technical support to assist customers in setting up ” but it also promotes its products as being “ used to stop terrorism , curb violent crime , and save lives.
” It also asserts that its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phone numbers .
Facebook , which did its own extensive research into NSO activity , alleges that NSO rented a Los Angeles-based server from a U.S. company called QuadraNet that it then used to launch 720 hacks on smartphones and other devices .
It further claims in the court filing that the company reverse-engineering WhatsApp , using an program that it developed to access WhatsApp ’ s servers and deploy “ its spyware against approximately 1,400 targets ” before “ …covertly transmit [ ting ] malicious code through WhatsApp servers and inject [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the knowledge of the owners.
” The filing goes on to assert that the “ Defendants had no authority to access WhatsApp ’ s servers with an imposter program , manipulate network settings , and commandeer the servers to attack WhatsApp users .
That invasion of WhatsApp ’ s servers and users ’ devices constitutes unlawful computer hacking.
” NSO , which is largely staffed by former ( sic ) Israeli intelligence officers , had previously been in the news for its proprietary spyware known as Pegasus , which “ can gather information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , access its camera , microphone and internal hard drive , and covertly record emails , phone calls and text messages.
” Pegasus was reportedly used in the killing of Saudi dissident journalist Adnan Kashoggi in Istanbul last year and it has more recently been suggested as a resource for tracking coronavirus distance violators .
Outside experts have accused the company of selling its technology and expertise to countries that have used it to spy on dissidents , journalists and other critics .
Israel routinely exploits the access provided by its telecommunications industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those companies operate .
The companies themselves report regularly back to Mossad contacts and the technology they provide routinely has a “ backdoor ” for secretly accessing the information accessible through the software .
In fact , Israel conducts espionage and influence operations both directly and through proxies against the United States more aggressively than any other “ friendly ” country , which once upon a time included being able to tap into the “ secure ” White House phones used by Bill Clinton to speak with Monica Lewinsky .
Last September , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technical surveillance devices by Israel in Washington D.C. was clearly intended to target cellphone communications to and from the Trump White House .
As the president frequently chats with top aides and friends on non-secure phones , the operation sought to pick up conversations involving Trump with the expectation that the security-averse president would say things off the record that might be considered top secret .
A report detailed how “ miniature surveillance devices ” referred to as “ Stingrays ” were used to imitate regular cell phone towers to fool phones being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locations and identities .
According to the article , the devices are referred to by technicians as “ international mobile subscriber identity-catchers or IMSI-catchers , they also can capture the contents of calls and data use.
” Over one year ago , government security agencies discovered the electronic footprints that indicated the presence of the surveillance devices near the White House .
Forensic analysis involved dismantling the devices to let them “ tell you a little about their history , where the parts and pieces come from , how old are they , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will help get you to what the origins are.
” One source observed afterwards that “ It was pretty clear that the Israelis were responsible.
” So two significant stories currently making the rounds have been bowdlerized and disappeared to make the Israeli role in manipulating and spying against the United States go away .
They are only two of many stories framed by a Zionist dominated media to control the narrative in a way favorable to the Jewish state .
One would think that having a president of the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is saying a great deal in and of itself , would be enough , but unfortunately when dealing with folks like Benjamin Netanyahu there can never be any restraint when dealing with the “ useful idiots ” in Washington .
Philip M. Giraldi , Ph.D. , is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest , a 501 ( c ) 3 tax deductible educational foundation ( Federal ID Number # 52-1739023 ) that seeks a more interests-based U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East .
Website is address is P.O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its email is inform @ cnionline.org .

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Written by Philip M. Giraldi; Originally appeared at The Unz Review
There are two stories that seem to have been under-reported in the past couple of weeks. The first involves Michael Flynn’s dealings with the Russian United Nations Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. And the second describes yet another bit of espionage conducted by a foreign country directed against the United States. Both stories involve the State of Israel.
The bigger story is, of course, the dismissal by Attorney General William Barr of the criminal charges against former National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn based on malfeasance by the FBI investigators. The curious aspect of the story as it is being related by the mainstream media is that it repeatedly refers to Flynn as having unauthorized contacts with the Russian Ambassador and then having lied about it. The implication is that there was something decidedly shady about Flynn talking to the Russians and that the Russians were up to something.
In reality, the part left out of the story is that the phone call to Kislyak on December 22, 2016, was made by Flynn at the direction of Jared Kushner, who in turn had been approached by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu had learned that the Obama Administrating was going to abstain on a United Nations vote condemning the Israeli settlements policy, meaning that for the first time in years a U.N. resolution critical of Israel would pass without drawing a U.S. veto. Kushner, acting for Netanyahu, asked Flynn to contact each delegate from the various countries on the Security Council to delay or kill the resolution. Flynn agreed to do so, which included a call to the Russians. Kislyak took the call but did not agree to veto Security Council Resolution 2334, which passed unanimously on December 23rd.
In taking the phone calls from a soon-to-be senior American official who would within weeks be part of a new administration in Washington, the Russians did nothing wrong, but the media is acting like there was some kind of Kremlin conspiracy seeking to undermine U.S. democracy. It would not be inappropriate to have some conversations with an incoming government team and Kislyak also did nothing that might be regarded as particularly responsive to Team Trump overtures since he voted contrary to Flynn’s request.
The phone call made at the request of Israel was neither benign or ethical as the Barack Administration was still in power and managing the nation’s foreign policy. At the time, son-in-law Jared Kushner was Trump’s point man on the Middle East. He and his family have extensive ties both to Israel and to Netanyahu personally, to include Netanyahu’s staying at the Kushner family home in New York. The Kushner Family Foundation has funded some of Israel’s illegal settlements and also a number of conservative political groups in that country. Jared has served as a director of that foundation and it is reported that he failed to disclose the relationship when he filled out his background investigation sheet for a security clearance. All of which suggests that if you are looking for possible foreign government collusion with the incoming Trumpsters, look no further.
And it should be observed that the Israelis were not exactly shy about their disapproval of Obama and their willingness to express their views to the incoming Trump. Kushner went far beyond merely disagreeing over an aspect of foreign policy as he was actively trying to clandestinely subvert and reverse a decision made by his own legally constituted government. His closeness to Netanyahu made him, in intelligence terms, a quite likely Israeli government agent of influence, even if he didn’t quite see himself that way.
Kushner’s actions, as well as those of Flynn, would most certainly have been covered by the Logan Act of 1799, which bars private citizens from negotiating with foreign governments on behalf of the United States and also could be construed as a “conspiracy against the United States.” But in spite of all that the investigation went after Flynn instead of Kushner. As Kushner is Jewish and certainly could be accused of dual loyalty in extremis, that part of the story obviously makes many in the U.S. Establishment and media uncomfortable, so it was and continues to be both ignored and expunged from the record as quickly as possible.
The second story, which has basically been made to disappear, relates to spying by Israel against critics in the United States. The revelation that Israel was again using its telecommunications skills to spy on foreigners came from an Oakland California federal court lawsuit initiated by Facebook (FB) against the Israeli surveillance technology company NSO Group. FB claimed that NSO has been using servers located in the United States to infect with spyware hundreds of smartphones being used by attorneys, journalists, human rights activists, critics of Israel and even of government officials. NSO allegedly used WhatsApp, a messaging app owned by FB, to hack into the phones and install malware that would enable the company to monitor what was going on with the devices. It did so by employing networks of remote servers located in California to enter the accounts.
NSO has inevitably claimed that they do indeed provide spyware, but that it is sold to clients who themselves operate it with the “advice and technical support to assist customers in setting up” but it also promotes its products as being “used to stop terrorism, curb violent crime, and save lives.” It also asserts that its software cannot be used against U.S. phone numbers.
Facebook, which did its own extensive research into NSO activity, alleges that NSO rented a Los Angeles-based server from a U.S. company called QuadraNet that it then used to launch 720 hacks on smartphones and other devices. It further claims in the court filing that the company reverse-engineering WhatsApp, using an program that it developed to access WhatsApp’s servers and deploy “its spyware against approximately 1,400 targets” before “…covertly transmit[ting] malicious code through WhatsApp servers and inject[ing]” spyware into telephones without the knowledge of the owners.”
The filing goes on to assert that the “Defendants had no authority to access WhatsApp’s servers with an imposter program, manipulate network settings, and commandeer the servers to attack WhatsApp users. That invasion of WhatsApp’s servers and users’ devices constitutes unlawful computer hacking.”
NSO, which is largely staffed by former (sic) Israeli intelligence officers, had previously been in the news for its proprietary spyware known as Pegasus, which “can gather information about a mobile phone’s location, access its camera, microphone and internal hard drive, and covertly record emails, phone calls and text messages.” Pegasus was reportedly used in the killing of Saudi dissident journalist Adnan Kashoggi in Istanbul last year and it has more recently been suggested as a resource for tracking coronavirus distance violators. Outside experts have accused the company of selling its technology and expertise to countries that have used it to spy on dissidents, journalists and other critics.
Israel routinely exploits the access provided by its telecommunications industry to spy on the host countries where those companies operate. The companies themselves report regularly back to Mossad contacts and the technology they provide routinely has a “backdoor” for secretly accessing the information accessible through the software. In fact, Israel conducts espionage and influence operations both directly and through proxies against the United States more aggressively than any other “friendly” country, which once upon a time included being able to tap into the “secure” White House phones used by Bill Clinton to speak with Monica Lewinsky.
Last September, it was revealed that the placement of technical surveillance devices by Israel in Washington D.C. was clearly intended to target cellphone communications to and from the Trump White House. As the president frequently chats with top aides and friends on non-secure phones, the operation sought to pick up conversations involving Trump with the expectation that the security-averse president would say things off the record that might be considered top secret.
A Politico report detailed how “miniature surveillance devices” referred to as “Stingrays” were used to imitate regular cell phone towers to fool phones being used nearby into providing information on their locations and identities. According to the article, the devices are referred to by technicians as “international mobile subscriber identity-catchers or IMSI-catchers, they also can capture the contents of calls and data use.”
Over one year ago, government security agencies discovered the electronic footprints that indicated the presence of the surveillance devices near the White House. Forensic analysis involved dismantling the devices to let them “tell you a little about their history, where the parts and pieces come from, how old are they, who had access to them, and that will help get you to what the origins are.” One source observed afterwards that “It was pretty clear that the Israelis were responsible.”
So two significant stories currently making the rounds have been bowdlerized and disappeared to make the Israeli role in manipulating and spying against the United States go away. They are only two of many stories framed by a Zionist dominated media to control the narrative in a way favorable to the Jewish state. One would think that having a president of the United States who is the most pro-Israel ever, which is saying a great deal in and of itself, would be enough, but unfortunately when dealing with folks like Benjamin Netanyahu there can never be any restraint when dealing with the “useful idiots” in Washington.
Philip M. Giraldi, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a 501(c)3 tax deductible educational foundation (Federal ID Number #52-1739023) that seeks a more interests-based U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Website is https://councilforthenationalinterest.org, address is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is inform@cnionline.org.
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southfront--2020-05-19--Wing Loong II Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (Infographics)

But somehow you have this magic crystal ball that tell you this is occurring on a daily basis , or @ @ @ @ @ the batsh*t crazy Falun Gong .
My guess it ’ s the later and not @ @ @ @ @ you avoided the F35 comment I made .
Sometimes silence is louder than words .
@ @

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The Chengdu Wing Loong II is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in the People’s Republic of China. It’s designed to be used as a surveillance and aerial reconnaissance and precision strike platform. The combat drone has a long range strike capability thanks to a satellite link.
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southfront--2020-05-19--Sudan Seeks Tripartite Agreement That Includes Egypt Prior To Concluding Agreement With Ethiopia On

Sudan Seeks Tripartite Agreement That Includes Egypt Prior To Concluding Agreement With Ethiopia On Controversial Dam Project

A Sudanese ministerial delegation was in Ethiopia yesterday to discuss the ‘ Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam ’ as well as border security issues between the neighbouring countries .
The Sudanese delegation was headed by Cabinet Affairs Minister Omer Monis and took part in two days of high-level political consultations held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa .
The status of the attendees clearly demonstrated the importance of the project to both countries .
The project is also being closely followed at the highest levels of government in Egypt .
The meeting was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Omer Monis on behalf of Sudan .
The Sudanese delegation also included Foreign Minister Asma Abdalla , Omer Gamar Eldin ( State Minister for Foreign Affairs ) and the head of the intelligence service , Jamal Abdel Majid .
According to a partial deal reached in Washington , the $ 4 billion dam will be filled in stages during the wet season ( due to begin in July ) .
However , the three parties have not yet reached agreement on many technical and legal aspects of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data exchange , dam safety , and environmental and social impacts .
While the Ethiopian government considers that the unresolved issues are of secondary importance and can be addressed in the future , this opinion is not shared by their counterparts in Sudan and Egypt .
During a phone call with the Ethiopian prime minister on 12 May , Sudan ’ s Prime Minister , Abdallah Hamdok , insisted on the need to strike a tripartite deal prior to commencing the crucial stage of diverting water to begin filling the dam .
Egypt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UN Security Council concerning the Ethiopian government ’ s intentions , and can be expected to react strongly if an agreement is not reached prior to the commencement of the next stage of the project .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • ISIS Killed Two Troops , Seized Their Vehicle In Mozambique ( Photo )

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A Sudanese ministerial delegation was in Ethiopia yesterday to discuss the ‘Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam’ as well as border security issues between the neighbouring countries. The Sudanese delegation was headed by Cabinet Affairs Minister Omer Monis and took part in two days of high-level political consultations held in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. The status of the attendees clearly demonstrated the importance of the project to both countries. The project is also being closely followed at the highest levels of government in Egypt.
The meeting was attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and co-chaired by Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Omer Monis on behalf of Sudan. The Sudanese delegation also included Foreign Minister Asma Abdalla, Omer Gamar Eldin (State Minister for Foreign Affairs) and the head of the intelligence service, Jamal Abdel Majid.
According to a partial deal reached in Washington, the $4 billion dam will be filled in stages during the wet season (due to begin in July). However, the three parties have not yet reached agreement on many technical and legal aspects of the project such as the coordination mechanism, data exchange, dam safety, and environmental and social impacts.
While the Ethiopian government considers that the unresolved issues are of secondary importance and can be addressed in the future, this opinion is not shared by their counterparts in Sudan and Egypt. During a phone call with the Ethiopian prime minister on 12 May, Sudan’s Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok, insisted on the need to strike a tripartite deal prior to commencing the crucial stage of diverting water to begin filling the dam.
Egypt has already lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council concerning the Ethiopian government’s intentions, and can be expected to react strongly if an agreement is not reached prior to the commencement of the next stage of the project.
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southfront--2020-05-19--Israeli PM Netanyahu Keeps Up Pressure For Immediate West Bank Annexation

On the occasion of the swearing in of the new government on Sunday , Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his intention to annex the West Bank .
Israel ’ s belligerent attitude keeps adding to existing tensions in the region , encouraged by the unconditional support it receives from the occupants of the US White House and Congress , notable recent examples including Israel ’ s declared intention to permanently annex the Syrian Golan Heights , complete impunity for Israel ’ s regular missile attacks against targets in Syria and massive and selective bombardments of the inhabitants of Gaza , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Jerusalem .
The new ‘ unity government ’ , formed after protracted negotiations with his political rival former army chief Benny Gantz , was sworn in after receiving a formal vote of confidence from the Knesset ( Israel ’ s national parliament ) , ending almost a year and a half of political stalemate and paralysis .
Although the power sharing agreement stipulates that each party will appoint a similar number of ministers and they will have a mutual veto power over most major decisions , it appears that Netanyahu got the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be prime minister for the first 18 months .
Will Gantz get the opportunity to take over the prime ministership in 18 months ?
A lot can happen in that time… Netanyahu lost no time in signalling his determination to continue pushing Israel ’ s territorial claims well beyond the internationally-defined borders .
He was quoted in a report by the Asharq Al-Awsat news agency as declaring during the parliamentary session that his government should apply Israeli sovereignty over the illegal West Bank settlements inhabited by around 400,000 Israelis in the occupied Palestinian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems far removed from reality , a point that was made clear by King Abdullah II of Jordan just days earlier in an interview with German news outlet , during which he stated that any attempt to annex parts of the West Bank “ will lead to a massive conflict with Jordan.
” The official website of the King ’ s Royal Hashemite Court elaborated on this point on Friday : Asked about the impact of Israel potentially moving forward with the annexation of parts of the West Bank , the King said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Jordan .
He reaffirmed Jordan ’ s position that “ the two-state solution is the only way for us to be able to move forward , ” and urged all countries in the region to focus on collective efforts to fight coronavirus instead of provoking more conflict .
King Abdullah II further stated : “ Leaders who advocate a one-state solution do not understand what that would mean .
What would happen if the Palestinian National Authority collapsed ?
There would be more chaos and extremism in the region .
”

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On the occasion of the swearing in of the new government on Sunday, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his intention to annex the West Bank. Israel’s belligerent attitude keeps adding to existing tensions in the region, encouraged by the unconditional support it receives from the occupants of the US White House and Congress, notable recent examples including Israel’s declared intention to permanently annex the Syrian Golan Heights, complete impunity for Israel’s regular missile attacks against targets in Syria and massive and selective bombardments of the inhabitants of Gaza, and the transfer of the US Embassy to Jerusalem.
The new ‘unity government’, formed after protracted negotiations with his political rival former army chief Benny Gantz, was sworn in after receiving a formal vote of confidence from the Knesset (Israel’s national parliament), ending almost a year and a half of political stalemate and paralysis. Although the power sharing agreement stipulates that each party will appoint a similar number of ministers and they will have a mutual veto power over most major decisions, it appears that Netanyahu got the best of the deal as he will be prime minister for the first 18 months. Will Gantz get the opportunity to take over the prime ministership in 18 months? A lot can happen in that time…
Netanyahu lost no time in signalling his determination to continue pushing Israel’s territorial claims well beyond the internationally-defined borders. He was quoted in a report by the Asharq Al-Awsat news agency as declaring during the parliamentary session that his government should apply Israeli sovereignty over the illegal West Bank settlements inhabited by around 400,000 Israelis in the occupied Palestinian territory, saying:
“It’s time to apply the Israeli law and write another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism.” He was quoted as claiming that the annexation “won’t distance us from peace, it will bring us closer.”
The latter statement seems far removed from reality, a point that was made clear by King Abdullah II of Jordan just days earlier in an interview with German news outlet Der Speigel, during which he stated that any attempt to annex parts of the West Bank “will lead to a massive conflict with Jordan.”
The official website of the King’s Royal Hashemite Court elaborated on this point on Friday:
Asked about the impact of Israel potentially moving forward with the annexation of parts of the West Bank, the King said it could lead to a massive conflict with Jordan.
“I don’t want to make threats and create an atmosphere of loggerheads, but we are considering all options. We agree with many countries in Europe and the international community that the law of strength should not apply in the Middle East,” His Majesty added.
He reaffirmed Jordan’s position that “the two-state solution is the only way for us to be able to move forward,” and urged all countries in the region to focus on collective efforts to fight coronavirus instead of provoking more conflict.
King Abdullah II further stated: “Leaders who advocate a one-state solution do not understand what that would mean. What would happen if the Palestinian National Authority collapsed? There would be more chaos and extremism in the region.”
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southfront--2020-05-19--Russia Is Testing Unmanned Regime Of Its Su-57 Fifth-Generation Fighter

Are you saying that the SU57 is not a 5th Gen strike fighter ?
The Russians are incrementalists .
In @ @ @ @ @ read authors scoff , ‘ nothing new in Su57 , all of the electronics are @ @ @ @ @ which is true and that ’ s the point .
In the US we have @ @ @ @ @ , bulk buying which I do not believe has served us well with the F35 @ @ @ @ @ ‘ this is flawed but upgrades to follow ’ , upgrades are expensive .
Russia @ @ @ @ @ production until everything is ready to go .
Regarding unmanned mode , well , the @ @ @ @ @ this is probably part of incremental development for something else based on the frame or @ @ @ @ @ Su57 ( see I got back on point ) .

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Russia is testing an unmanned regime of its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet, Russia’s state-run news agency RIA Novisti rported on May 16 citing a source in the military industrial complex.
“An unmanned mode is being developed on the basis of the T-50 flying laboratory. The pilot is in the cockpit during the flight, but only controls the performance of all functions,” the source said. The T-50 is a designation of the Su-57 prototype created for testing and development purposes.
The first large-scale deliveries of the Su-57 fighter jet to the Russian Aerospace Forces is starting in 2020. Russia’s Sukhoi Aircraft Company signed a contract with the Defense Ministry at the Army-2019 international arms show for the delivery of 76 Su-57 multirole fighters for the Russian forces.
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southfront--2020-05-19--In Videos: Houthi Forces Hunt Down Saudi-Backed Fighters In Yemen

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southfront--2020-05-19--Turkish ‘Neo-Ottoman’ Project Shifts Focus From Syria To Libya

Main playlist with id 1936 does not exist !
This week , massive Turkish military support has finally allowed the Government of National Accord to achieve some breakthrough in the battle against the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) .
On May 18 , GNA forces and members of Turkish-backed militant groups from Syria supported by Turkish special forces and unmanned combat aerial vehicles captured the Watiya Air Base in the northwestern part of the country .
LNA troops urgently retreated from it after several days of clashes in the nearby area .
They left behind a UAE-supplied Pantsir-S1 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of ammunition .
The LNA defense at the air base was undermined by a week-long bombardment campaign by artillery and combat drones of Turkish-backed forces .
Additionally , pro-Turkish sources claimed that drone strikes destroyed another Pantsir-S1 air defense system near Sirte and even a Russian-made Krasukha mobile electronic warfare system .
According to Turkish reports , all this equipment is being supplied to the Libyan Army by the UAE .
Turkish sources regularly report about successful drone strikes on Libyan convoys with dozens of battle tanks .
Some of these ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trucks filled with water-melons .
In any case , the months of Turkish military efforts , thousands of deployed Syrian militants and hundreds of armoured vehicles supplied to the GNA finally payed off .
The Watiya Air Base was an operational base of the LNA used for the advance on the GNA-controlled city of Tripoli .
If the LNA does not take back the airbase in the near future , its entire flank southwest of Tripoli may collapse .
It will also loose all chances to encircle the city .
According to pro-Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish-led advance on LNA positions will be Tarhuna .
Earlier this year , Turkish-backed forces already failed to capture the town .
Therefore , they seek to take a revanche .
This will lead to a further escalation of the situation in northern Libya and force the UAE and Egypt , the main backers of the LNA , to increase their support to the army .
The UAE-Egypt bloc could bank on at least limited diplomatic support from Russia .
Until now , Moscow has preferred to avoid direct involvement in the conflict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Russian and Turkish interests .
Russian private military contractors that operate in Libya represent the economic interests of some Russian elite groups rather than the foreign policy interests of the Russian state .
Additionally , Turkey , which is supported by Qatar and some NATO member states , has already announced its plans to begin oil and gas exploration off Libya ’ s coast .
Ankara has ceased to hide the true intentions and goals of its military operation in Libya .
Thus , the internal political conflict turned into an open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources of Libya .
The interesting fact is that the increasing military activity of Turkey in Libya goes amid the decrease of such actions in Syria .
Thousands of Turkish proxies have been sent from Syria to Libya .
This limits Ankara ’ s freedom of operations in the main Syrian hot point – Greater Idlib .
In these conditions , Turkish statements about some mysterious battle against terrorism in Idlib look especially questionable .
Indeed , in the current conditions , Ankara will be forced to cooperate with Idlib terrorists , first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to maintain its influence in this part of Syria .
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham plan to create a local quasi-state in the controlled territory and expand its own financial base by tightening the grip on the economic and social life in the region will gain additional momentum .
As to the Turkish government , it seems that in the current difficult economic conditions President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to exchange his “ Neo-Ottoman ” foreign policy project for expanding in some not so rich regions of Syria for quite tangible additional income @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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This week, massive Turkish military support has finally allowed the Government of National Accord to achieve some breakthrough in the battle against the Libyan National Army (LNA).
On May 18, GNA forces and members of Turkish-backed militant groups from Syria supported by Turkish special forces and unmanned combat aerial vehicles captured the Watiya Air Base in the northwestern part of the country. LNA troops urgently retreated from it after several days of clashes in the nearby area. They left behind a UAE-supplied Pantsir-S1, an Mi-35 military helicopter and a notable amount of ammunition. The LNA defense at the air base was undermined by a week-long bombardment campaign by artillery and combat drones of Turkish-backed forces.
Additionally, pro-Turkish sources claimed that drone strikes destroyed another Pantsir-S1 air defense system near Sirte and even a Russian-made Krasukha mobile electronic warfare system. According to Turkish reports, all this equipment is being supplied to the Libyan Army by the UAE. Turkish sources regularly report about successful drone strikes on Libyan convoys with dozens of battle tanks. Some of these ‘military convoys’ later appeared to be trucks filled with water-melons.
In any case, the months of Turkish military efforts, thousands of deployed Syrian militants and hundreds of armoured vehicles supplied to the GNA finally payed off. The Watiya Air Base was an operational base of the LNA used for the advance on the GNA-controlled city of Tripoli. If the LNA does not take back the airbase in the near future, its entire flank southwest of Tripoli may collapse. It will also loose all chances to encircle the city. According to pro-Turkish sources, the next target of the Turkish-led advance on LNA positions will be Tarhuna. Earlier this year, Turkish-backed forces already failed to capture the town. Therefore, they seek to take a revanche.
This will lead to a further escalation of the situation in northern Libya and force the UAE and Egypt, the main backers of the LNA, to increase their support to the army. The UAE-Egypt bloc could bank on at least limited diplomatic support from Russia. Until now, Moscow has preferred to avoid direct involvement in the conflict because it may damage the delicate balance of Russian and Turkish interests. Russian private military contractors that operate in Libya represent the economic interests of some Russian elite groups rather than the foreign policy interests of the Russian state.
Additionally, Turkey, which is supported by Qatar and some NATO member states, has already announced its plans to begin oil and gas exploration off Libya’s coast. Ankara has ceased to hide the true intentions and goals of its military operation in Libya. Thus, the internal political conflict turned into an open confrontation of external actors for the natural resources of Libya.
The interesting fact is that the increasing military activity of Turkey in Libya goes amid the decrease of such actions in Syria. Thousands of Turkish proxies have been sent from Syria to Libya. This limits Ankara’s freedom of operations in the main Syrian hot point – Greater Idlib. In these conditions, Turkish statements about some mysterious battle against terrorism in Idlib look especially questionable. Indeed, in the current conditions, Ankara will be forced to cooperate with Idlib terrorists, first of all al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham even closer to maintain its influence in this part of Syria. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham plan to create a local quasi-state in the controlled territory and expand its own financial base by tightening the grip on the economic and social life in the region will gain additional momentum.
As to the Turkish government, it seems that in the current difficult economic conditions President Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to exchange his “Neo-Ottoman” foreign policy project for expanding in some not so rich regions of Syria for quite tangible additional income from the energy business in Libya.
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southfront--2020-05-19--Turkish Troops Clashed With Turkish-backed Militants In Raqqa Killing At Least One Of Them

Turkish troops and fiighters of the Turkish-backed militant groups Jaysh al-Sharqiya clashed at a checkpoint in Suluk , the province @ @ @ @ @ reports , militants opened a fire at Turkish troops , when they were stopped at @ @ @ @ @ them were killed by the retaliatory fire .
The militants were neutralized .
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Turkish troops and fighters of the Turkish-backed militant groups Jaysh al-Sharqiya clashed at a checkpoint in Suluk, the province of Raqqah.
According to reports, militants opened a fire at Turkish troops, when they were stopped at the checkpoint. One of them were killed by the retaliatory fire. The militants were neutralized.
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southfront--2020-05-19--US Space Force Successfully Launches Mysterious New ‘Space Plane’

The newly created US Space Force successfully launched a X-37B space plane ( also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle ) from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Sunday , the vehicle ’ s sixth mission into space .
The vehicle ’ s official purpose is to conduct orbital spaceflight missions in order to investigate reusable space technologies .
Its previous mission , launched in September 2017 , was in space for 780 days and landed at NASA ’ s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on 27 October 2019 .
The US reportedly possesses two X-37B vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following the construction of one X-37A ) and are derived from Boeing ’ s X-40 .
The X-37 project was initiated by NASA in 1999 before being transferred to the US Department of Defense in 2004 .
It is an unmanned spacecraft that has a vertical take-off ( carried by a launch vehicle ) and lands like a conventional aircraft .
The vehicle ’ s first flight took place on 7 April 2006 .
The X-37B space craft was launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket .
Few details have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A report by the Defense News website reported that in a meeting with a small group of reporters prior to the launch , Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond stated : “ We ’ ve learned a lot from the X-37 .
One of the things that we ’ ve learned is the value of reusability , and I think as a Space Force there ’ s a couple things that we ’ re really going to value , and reusability is one of those and autonomy is another one.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were broadcast live , the broadcast was terminated after the separation of the first stage .
United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno stated : “ It ’ s a classified mission , and what is classified about it is the details of the vehicle itself , the mission it will do on orbit and where it will do that .
Therefore we have to stop the live broadcast so that we do not make it easy for adversaries to figure those things out by having that much data about the flight and deployment.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Verge provided some more details .
According to the report : “ The Air Force claims that the experiments and technology that the X-37B carries “ enables the US to more efficiently and effectively develop space capabilities necessary to maintain superiority in the space domain.
” This mission will have even more experiments than usual , thanks to the addition of a new service module — a cylindrical structure attached to the bottom of the spaceplane that will be packed with technology to be tested on orbit .
“ This will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service module to host experiments , ” Randy Walden , director and program executive officer for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office , said in a statement .
“ The incorporation of a service module on this mission enables us to continue to expand the capabilities of the spacecraft and host more experiments than any of the previous missions.
” Other details provided include that the X-37B will carry a small FalconSat-8 satellite developed by the US Air Force Academy which in turn contains five experimental payloads .
The vehicle will also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NASA and the US Naval Academy , whose objectives are stated to include researching the effects of radiation on seeds and transforming solar power into radio frequencies that could be transmitted to the Earth ’ s surface .
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The newly created US Space Force successfully launched a X-37B space plane (also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle) from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Sunday, the vehicle’s sixth mission into space. The vehicle’s official purpose is to conduct orbital spaceflight missions in order to investigate reusable space technologies. Its previous mission, launched in September 2017, was in space for 780 days and landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on 27 October 2019.
Barbara Barrett, secretary of the US Air Force, announced the liftoff on her Twitter page, calling the mission “a prime example of government-industry partnerships enhancing National Security Space.”
The US reportedly possesses two X-37B vehicles, which are made by Boeing (following the construction of one X-37A) and are derived from Boeing’s X-40. The X-37 project was initiated by NASA in 1999 before being transferred to the US Department of Defense in 2004. It is an unmanned spacecraft that has a vertical take-off (carried by a launch vehicle) and lands like a conventional aircraft. The vehicle’s first flight took place on 7 April 2006.
The X-37B space craft was launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Few details have been revealed about the craft’s mission. A report by the Defense News website reported that in a meeting with a small group of reporters prior to the launch, Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond stated: “We’ve learned a lot from the X-37. One of the things that we’ve learned is the value of reusability, and I think as a Space Force there’s a couple things that we’re really going to value, and reusability is one of those and autonomy is another one.”
Although the early stages of the launch were broadcast live, the broadcast was terminated after the separation of the first stage. United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno stated:
“It’s a classified mission, and what is classified about it is the details of the vehicle itself, the mission it will do on orbit and where it will do that. Therefore we have to stop the live broadcast so that we do not make it easy for adversaries to figure those things out by having that much data about the flight and deployment.”
A report by Loren Grush for The Verge provided some more details. According to the report:
“The Air Force claims that the experiments and technology that the X-37B carries “enables the US to more efficiently and effectively develop space capabilities necessary to maintain superiority in the space domain.” This mission will have even more experiments than usual, thanks to the addition of a new service module — a cylindrical structure attached to the bottom of the spaceplane that will be packed with technology to be tested on orbit. “This will be the first X-37B mission to use a service module to host experiments,” Randy Walden, director and program executive officer for the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, said in a statement. “The incorporation of a service module on this mission enables us to continue to expand the capabilities of the spacecraft and host more experiments than any of the previous missions.”
Other details provided include that the X-37B will carry a small FalconSat-8 satellite developed by the US Air Force Academy which in turn contains five experimental payloads. The vehicle will also be used to conduct experiments on behalf of NASA and the US Naval Academy, whose objectives are stated to include researching the effects of radiation on seeds and transforming solar power into radio frequencies that could be transmitted to the Earth’s surface.
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southfront--2020-05-19--MIlitary Situation In Northwestern Libya On May 19, 2020 (Map Update)

The Turkish-backed Government of National Accord ( GNA ) has announced that its forces have captured the strategically important Watiya Air Base from the Libyan National Army .
The operation follows the announcement by Khalifa Haftar , commander of the Libyan National Army , in late April that he was terminating the UN-brokered political agreement with the Government of National Accord , claiming that his forces have a ‘ popular mandate ’ to rule the country .
Although the agreement was intended to bring the two main belligerent groups together in a unity government , both sides frequently accused the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostilities continued .
The capture of the air base , located approximately 140 kilometres southwest of Tripoli , constitutes a major victory for the GNA forces , which have received a substantial boost in materials , troops and morale due to the increasing support it has received from Turkey over the last few months .
While many regional powers , as well as numerous NATO countries and Russia , are widely considered to be directly and/ or indirectly supporting one side or the other in violation of a UN arms embargo , Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared its direct support for one of the belligerent parties and active participation in the conflict .
Turkey signed a bilateral agreement with the GNA in November of 2019 in defiance of the UN embargo , and in return was granted access to gas fields in the Mediterranean ( a move that received an angry response from Greece in particular , which also claims sovereignty over the area affected ) .
Turkey initially limited its support to weapons supplies and sending some advisors and technical experts , however more recently it has officially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the transfer of up to several thousand militias from the battlefields of northern Syria .
The increasing participation of a foreign power in the conflict in Libya has inevitably brought other foreign powers to increase their involvement , aggravating the situation as developments in the country become enmeshed in broader regional and international disputes and rivalries for influence , resources and power .
It appears that Turkey can rely on the support of Qatar due to their close bilateral relationship ( particularly the crucial support Turkey provided when Saudi Arabia and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qatar ) , as well as the support of several NATO countries ( at least unofficially ) .
Not surprisingly , the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have denounced Turkey ’ s increased participation in the Libyan conflict and have in turn increased their support to the Libyan National Army , which also receives support from Egypt and possibly also indirectly from Russia , with numerous reports of Russian mercenaries ( contractors of the company Wagner Group ) present in the country .
A report filed earlier by the Libyan Observor quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also refers to a news report from Turkey concerning weapons shipments from the UAE : “ A company from the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) has purchased six helicopters and two boats to raid ships off Libya in a move to support Khalifa Haftar in his ongoing war on Tripoli , a UN panel report revealed , according to Anadolu Agency .
According to confidential letters by a Panel of Experts , under the Security Council ’ s Libya Sanctions Committee , the sale of at least $ 18 million in military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was founded by Fulcrum Holding in the UAE.
” The shipment is reported to have included three Puma helicopters made in South Africa , and three French-built SA 341 attack helicopters purchased from Gabon .
The international entanglements are described in report by Deutsche Welle , commenting on the German government ’ s acknowledgement of weapons exports to several countries involved in the Libyan conflict despite the UN arms embargo .
In this respect the report states that although Germany officially supports the arms embargo : “ Since hosting a Libya summit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has approved arms exports worth €331 million ( $ 358 million ) to countries accused of supporting warring parties in the country , according a report from the German Economy Ministry seen by news agency DPA .
Between January 20 and May 3 , Germany approved €308.2 million in arms destined for Egypt alone , the ministry said .
The information was provided in response to a request from Germany ’ s leftist die Linke party .
The German government also approved €15.1 million in arms exports for Turkey and €7.7 million for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , DPA reported .
Turkey supports the Government of National Accord ( GNA ) , which is backed by the UN , while Russia , Egypt , and the UAE support rival forces led by Khalifa Haftar… Egypt , Turkey , Russia , and the UAE were among the signatories .
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres later accused these four countries of breaching the embargo and continuing to provide arms for the conflict .
‘ I am deeply frustrated with what ’ s happening in Libya , ’ Guterres said at a press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to interfere in the Libyan process and they committed not to send weapons or participate in any way in the fighting .
The truth is that the Security Council ( arms ) embargo remains violated.
’ ” While the recent military gains of the Libyan National Army achieved with Turkey ’ s assistance have improved their position considerably and could pave the way for further advances , they are also likely to provoke a response from Turkey ’ s rivals and further escalate the conflict in Libya .
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The Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) has announced that its forces have captured the strategically important Watiya Air Base from the Libyan National Army.
The operation follows the announcement by Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, in late April that he was terminating the UN-brokered political agreement with the Government of National Accord, claiming that his forces have a ‘popular mandate’ to rule the country. Although the agreement was intended to bring the two main belligerent groups together in a unity government, both sides frequently accused the other of breaching the agreement and armed hostilities continued.
The capture of the air base, located approximately 140 kilometres southwest of Tripoli, constitutes a major victory for the GNA forces, which have received a substantial boost in materials, troops and morale due to the increasing support it has received from Turkey over the last few months. While many regional powers, as well as numerous NATO countries and Russia, are widely considered to be directly and/ or indirectly supporting one side or the other in violation of a UN arms embargo, Turkey is the only country to have publicly declared its direct support for one of the belligerent parties and active participation in the conflict.
Turkey signed a bilateral agreement with the GNA in November of 2019 in defiance of the UN embargo, and in return was granted access to gas fields in the Mediterranean (a move that received an angry response from Greece in particular, which also claims sovereignty over the area affected). Turkey initially limited its support to weapons supplies and sending some advisors and technical experts, however more recently it has officially deployed some of its own troops supplemented by the transfer of up to several thousand militias from the battlefields of northern Syria.
The increasing participation of a foreign power in the conflict in Libya has inevitably brought other foreign powers to increase their involvement, aggravating the situation as developments in the country become enmeshed in broader regional and international disputes and rivalries for influence, resources and power.
It appears that Turkey can rely on the support of Qatar due to their close bilateral relationship (particularly the crucial support Turkey provided when Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced the blockade against Qatar), as well as the support of several NATO countries (at least unofficially). Not surprisingly, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have denounced Turkey’s increased participation in the Libyan conflict and have in turn increased their support to the Libyan National Army, which also receives support from Egypt and possibly also indirectly from Russia, with numerous reports of Russian mercenaries (contractors of the company Wagner Group) present in the country.
A report filed earlier by the Libyan Observor quoted officials as saying that:
“GNA forces had seized Al-Watiya and all military equipment inside it from Haftar’s forces, including a Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system that was provided by UAE to help Haftar in his war on Tripoli.”
The agency also refers to a news report from Turkey concerning weapons shipments from the UAE:
“A company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has purchased six helicopters and two boats to raid ships off Libya in a move to support Khalifa Haftar in his ongoing war on Tripoli, a UN panel report revealed, according to Anadolu Agency. According to confidential letters by a Panel of Experts, under the Security Council’s Libya Sanctions Committee, the sale of at least $18 million in military equipment was made through a Jordan-based company that was founded by Fulcrum Holding in the UAE.”
The shipment is reported to have included three Puma helicopters made in South Africa, and three French-built SA 341 attack helicopters purchased from Gabon.
The international entanglements are described in report by Deutsche Welle, commenting on the German government’s acknowledgement of weapons exports to several countries involved in the Libyan conflict despite the UN arms embargo. In this respect the report states that although Germany officially supports the arms embargo:
“Since hosting a Libya summit four months ago, the German government has approved arms exports worth €331 million ($358 million) to countries accused of supporting warring parties in the country, according a report from the German Economy Ministry seen by news agency DPA. Between January 20 and May 3, Germany approved €308.2 million in arms destined for Egypt alone, the ministry said. The information was provided in response to a request from Germany’s leftist die Linke party. The German government also approved €15.1 million in arms exports for Turkey and €7.7 million for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), DPA reported. Turkey supports the Government of National Accord (GNA), which is backed by the UN, while Russia, Egypt, and the UAE support rival forces led by Khalifa Haftar… Egypt, Turkey, Russia, and the UAE were among the signatories. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres later accused these four countries of breaching the embargo and continuing to provide arms for the conflict. ‘I am deeply frustrated with what’s happening in Libya,’ Guterres said at a press conference in February. ‘They committed not to interfere in the Libyan process and they committed not to send weapons or participate in any way in the fighting. The truth is that the Security Council (arms) embargo remains violated.’”
While the recent military gains of the Libyan National Army achieved with Turkey’s assistance have improved their position considerably and could pave the way for further advances, they are also likely to provoke a response from Turkey’s rivals and further escalate the conflict in Libya.
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southfront--2020-05-19--At Least 20 People Reported Killed In Northeastern Congo

At least 20 people were killed in Ituri province ( located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ) on the weekend according to local officials .
The attack occurred at 1am on Sunday local time .
The officials claimed that the Cooperative for the Development of Congo ( CODECO ) was responsible for the massacre , an armed group in the Ituri region whose members are mainly drawn from the Lendu ethnic group .
The Lendu are predominantly farmers , and have clashed repeatedly with the Hema community which is comprised mainly of traders and herders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder of hundreds of civilians this year .
“ The victims are of all ages , children , youths , women and old men , killed by machete , by knife or by firearm , ” Pilo Mulindro , a community leader told AFP news agency .
“ They cut with the machetes several of my compatriots , 20 have already died and more than 14 [ are ] seriously injured , ” said Solo Bukutupa , a local administrator .
“ It ’ s unbearable to see people die like that.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived at the village and the militia later opened fire on a nearby UN base , according to a UN source .
Two UN battalions are posted in the Ituri province to assist DRC armed forces , with additional support provided by Uruguayan special forces troops , the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO said in late April .
Ituri is rich in natural resources , including gold , diamonds and coltan , and was the site of some of the country ’ s worst fighting between 1999 and 2007 , after a power struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – much of it between the Hema and Lendu .
Late last year the army launched a large-scale operation against militias operating in the area , prompting a backlash by the armed groups that has mostly affected civilian populations .
The unrest has since evolved into more coordinated attacks by the Lendu community on the army and the Hema ethnic group .
According to the UNHCR , as of early May the toll so far this year was at least 274 people killed , and approximately 200,000 others have been forcibly displaced by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missions , a report published in January of this year by the UN ’ s joint Human Rights Office found that at least 701 people have been killed since December 2017 by perpetrators drawn largely from the region ’ s Lendu community .
Most of the victims were ethnic Hema .
Investigators did not find sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Lendu militias intended to destroy the Hema as an ethnic group , but said some elements of the ongoing violence could constitute genocide .
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At least 20 people were killed in Ituri province (located in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) on the weekend according to local officials. The attack occurred at 1am on Sunday local time. The officials claimed that the Cooperative for the Development of Congo (CODECO) was responsible for the massacre, an armed group in the Ituri region whose members are mainly drawn from the Lendu ethnic group.
The Lendu are predominantly farmers, and have clashed repeatedly with the Hema community which is comprised mainly of traders and herders. CODECO has been accused of the murder of hundreds of civilians this year.
“The victims are of all ages, children, youths, women and old men, killed by machete, by knife or by firearm,” Pilo Mulindro, a community leader told AFP news agency. “They cut with the machetes several of my compatriots, 20 have already died and more than 14 [are] seriously injured,” said Solo Bukutupa, a local administrator. “It’s unbearable to see people die like that.”
The attackers fled after United Nations peacekeepers arrived at the village and the militia later opened fire on a nearby UN base, according to a UN source. Two UN battalions are posted in the Ituri province to assist DRC armed forces, with additional support provided by Uruguayan special forces troops, the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO said in late April.
Ituri is rich in natural resources, including gold, diamonds and coltan, and was the site of some of the country’s worst fighting between 1999 and 2007, after a power struggle between rebel groups descended into ethnic violence – much of it between the Hema and Lendu.
Late last year the army launched a large-scale operation against militias operating in the area, prompting a backlash by the armed groups that has mostly affected civilian populations. The unrest has since evolved into more coordinated attacks by the Lendu community on the army and the Hema ethnic group. According to the UNHCR, as of early May the toll so far this year was at least 274 people killed, and approximately 200,000 others have been forcibly displaced by the violence.
Based on several fact-finding missions, a report published in January of this year by the UN’s joint Human Rights Office found that at least 701 people have been killed since December 2017 by perpetrators drawn largely from the region’s Lendu community. Most of the victims were ethnic Hema.
Investigators did not find sufficient evidence to demonstrate that Lendu militias intended to destroy the Hema as an ethnic group, but said some elements of the ongoing violence could constitute genocide.
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southfront--2020-05-19--Colombian Military Launches Major Attack Against ELN Encampment

The Colombian government has put a definitive end to the already troubled peace dialogues with the ELN ( Ejército de Liberación Nacional – National Liberation Army ) , after launching a major military operation against an ELN encampment located in the province of Bolivar ( in the north of the country ) .
Negotiations commenced in Ecuador in 2017 after a preliminary agreement was reached , and several cycles of dialogues were advanced between the Government of Juan Manuel Santos and the guerrilla group of the ELN .
As a result several unilateral ceasefires were declared by the ELN and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose purpose was to provide input for the development of protocols for participation by representatives of Colombian society .
The respective delegations were obliged to relocate to Cuba in 2018 after the president of Ecuador decided to withdraw from the country ’ s role as guarantor of the peace process .
The dialogues failed to make substantial progress and eventually stalled , though neither party declared an intention to abandon the dialogue completely .
This began to change when Iván Duque assumed power in 2018 , the new administration deciding not to reactivate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s delegation after the attack in Bogotá on the General Santander Military School in 2019 , which left 22 dead and dozens of injured .
Despite the complete breakdown in the dialogues , prior to last week ’ s bombardment neither party had launched a major offensive operation against the other for over a year .
In March of this year the ELN declared a unilateral one month ceasefire during April and called on the government to reciprocate , however the government declined .
The government also failed to respond to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with its delegation in Cuba to arrange a bilateral ceasefire .
The ELN ’ s delegation has remained in Cuba despite the breakdown in negotiations and the Duque government ’ s efforts to have them extradited to Colombia to face criminal charges in violation of the agreement pursuant to which the dialogues were organized .
According to official statements , the attack was carried out following a major joint operation in which military intelligence units located the ELN camp ( located on the border between the provinces of Antoquia and Bolivia ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bombing operation .
Special Forces troops were then deployed to secure the area .
The attack caused numerous casualties including at least two senior commanders of the ELN .
The Defence Minister , Carlos Holmes Trujillo , confirmed on Thursday afternoon ( 14 May ) that the Military Forces carried out a coordinated operation against an ELN encampment , resulting in the death of alias ‘ Mocho Tierra ’ and three of his lieutenants .
‘ Mocho Tierra ’ was considered one of the senior commanders of the ‘ Dario Ramirez Castro ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regional unit active in the provinces of Antioquia , Bolívar and Santander ) .
Two days later Trujillo clarified that five guerrillas died in the attack including alias ‘ Gallero ’ , who was a member of the National Directorate of the ELN .
According to the authorities , Gallero had been in the ELN for 33 years .
In 1997 he was part of the security team of alias ‘ Gabino ’ , a member of the ELN ’ s Central Command .
In 2004 he served as head of the ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern Bolívar , and in 2005 he was captured and sent to the San Isidro prison in Popayán .
He managed to escape in 2015 , and subsequently served as the coordinator of the ELN ’ s ‘ Darío Ramírez Castro ’ front .
The attack occurred against a backdrop of ongoing assassinations of Indigenous , rural and other community leaders , as well as of demobilized FARC members who have abided by all terms of the peace accord only to be hunted down once they demobilized , surrendered their weapons and registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and systematic nature of the assassinations was confirmed by a report released several weeks ago by Coordinación Colombia , Europa , Estados Unidos , an umbrella group for NGOs and other civil society organizations from Colombia , Europe and the US .
( The report is available HERE ) In these cases the Public Security Forces have been completely ineffective in counteracting the activities of illegal armed groups , even in zones that have been declared a high priority where the forces have a heavy presence , a point emphasized in the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great concern for this platform , that despite the early warning alerts issued by the United Nations , as well as by the Church organizations , about continued human rights violations , and the reports of confinements , restrictions on the mobility of the communities and displacements , in Carmen del Darién , Alto Baudas , Southern Córdoba , Bajo Cauca , Roberto Payán and Tumaco due to confrontations between illegal armed groups and their terrorization campaigns against local communities , it is surprising that : ‘ the authorities always seem to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the gigantic apparatus and budget destined for military intelligence , and their only response is to declare that they will visit the area to verify the complaints.
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The Colombian government has put a definitive end to the already troubled peace dialogues with the ELN (Ejército de Liberación Nacional – National Liberation Army), after launching a major military operation against an ELN encampment located in the province of Bolivar (in the north of the country).
Negotiations commenced in Ecuador in 2017 after a preliminary agreement was reached, and several cycles of dialogues were advanced between the Government of Juan Manuel Santos and the guerrilla group of the ELN. As a result several unilateral ceasefires were declared by the ELN and a series of regional roundtables were created whose purpose was to provide input for the development of protocols for participation by representatives of Colombian society. The respective delegations were obliged to relocate to Cuba in 2018 after the president of Ecuador decided to withdraw from the country’s role as guarantor of the peace process.
The dialogues failed to make substantial progress and eventually stalled, though neither party declared an intention to abandon the dialogue completely. This began to change when Iván Duque assumed power in 2018, the new administration deciding not to reactivate the dialogues and finally recalling the government’s delegation after the attack in Bogotá on the General Santander Military School in 2019, which left 22 dead and dozens of injured.
Despite the complete breakdown in the dialogues, prior to last week’s bombardment neither party had launched a major offensive operation against the other for over a year. In March of this year the ELN declared a unilateral one month ceasefire during April and called on the government to reciprocate, however the government declined. The government also failed to respond to the insurgent group’s call to meet with its delegation in Cuba to arrange a bilateral ceasefire. The ELN’s delegation has remained in Cuba despite the breakdown in negotiations and the Duque government’s efforts to have them extradited to Colombia to face criminal charges in violation of the agreement pursuant to which the dialogues were organized.
According to official statements, the attack was carried out following a major joint operation in which military intelligence units located the ELN camp (located on the border between the provinces of Antoquia and Bolivia), and the Air Force subsequently launched a bombing operation. Special Forces troops were then deployed to secure the area.
The attack caused numerous casualties including at least two senior commanders of the ELN. The Defence Minister, Carlos Holmes Trujillo, confirmed on Thursday afternoon (14 May) that the Military Forces carried out a coordinated operation against an ELN encampment, resulting in the death of alias ‘Mocho Tierra’ and three of his lieutenants. ‘Mocho Tierra’ was considered one of the senior commanders of the ‘Dario Ramirez Castro’ front of the insurgent group (a regional unit active in the provinces of Antioquia, Bolívar and Santander).
Two days later Trujillo clarified that five guerrillas died in the attack including alias ‘Gallero’, who was a member of the National Directorate of the ELN.
According to the authorities, Gallero had been in the ELN for 33 years. In 1997 he was part of the security team of alias ‘Gabino’, a member of the ELN’s Central Command. In 2004 he served as head of the ‘Martires de Santa Rosa’ front in southern Bolívar, and in 2005 he was captured and sent to the San Isidro prison in Popayán. He managed to escape in 2015, and subsequently served as the coordinator of the ELN’s ‘Darío Ramírez Castro’ front.
The attack occurred against a backdrop of ongoing assassinations of Indigenous, rural and other community leaders, as well as of demobilized FARC members who have abided by all terms of the peace accord only to be hunted down once they demobilized, surrendered their weapons and registered in the transition zones.
The frequency and systematic nature of the assassinations was confirmed by a report released several weeks ago by Coordinación Colombia, Europa, Estados Unidos, an umbrella group for NGOs and other civil society organizations from Colombia, Europe and the US. (The report is available HERE)
In these cases the Public Security Forces have been completely ineffective in counteracting the activities of illegal armed groups, even in zones that have been declared a high priority where the forces have a heavy presence, a point emphasized in the report which states:
“It is of great concern for this platform, that despite the early warning alerts issued by the United Nations, as well as by the Church organizations, about continued human rights violations, and the reports of confinements, restrictions on the mobility of the communities and displacements, in Carmen del Darién, Alto Baudas, Southern Córdoba, Bajo Cauca, Roberto Payán and Tumaco due to confrontations between illegal armed groups and their terrorization campaigns against local communities, it is surprising that: ‘the authorities always seem to be the last to know, in spite of the gigantic apparatus and budget destined for military intelligence, and their only response is to declare that they will visit the area to verify the complaints.’”
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southfront--2020-05-19--Connecting the Dots on the Assault of the Cuban Embassy

A few hours before the attack on the Cuban Embassy in Washington , a woman wearing a red raincoat , dark glasses , mask and hood , was photographing the facade of the 16th Street mansion in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood .
The security cameras recorded her in broad daylight and , despite her disguise , officials at the diplomatic headquarters recognized her perfectly .
She is the wife of an anti-Castro “ cause ” activist , Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso , who , oddly enough , happens to be the common denominator of characters and institutions related to this plot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pastor from Washington , D.C. , boasts on social networks of his close relationship with the Doral Jesus Worship Center — a church located in the epicenter of the Venezuelan and Cuban counterrevolution in Miami — and with his friends at the State Department , whose Twitter page advertises him in an interview as “ persecuted for his faith in Cuba , where he endured years of threats and arrests ” ( tweet , Jan. 16 , 2020 ) .
The name of this individual , a “ frequent participant in acts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is only a clue in the arsenal of evidence offered this Tuesday by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla , who called the shooting at the diplomatic headquarters on April 30 a “ terrorist attack ” .
The protagonist in the assault is another Cuban-born pastor , also linked to the church in Doral and to very active individuals in that congregation who , in a not very Christian way , have requested to kill Raúl Castro and President Miguel Díaz-Canel with drones .
Alexander Alazo Baró , the author of the shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patient besieged by persecution fantasies , while the Trump regime hid his file in the midst of an information blackout .
The extraordinary thing is that , except for the images taken from the embassy that were released on Tuesday , the shocking evidence has been within public reach .
It is easy to pull the strings of social networks and find the links between these gentlemen and old-school bombers under the cars , like Ramon Saul Sanchez , and also connect the dots to the most violent voices in Miami ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the White House .
Or all of them at once .
On February 1 , 2019 , Vice President Mike Pence was the keynote speaker at a “ religious celebration ” at the Doral Jesus Worship Center , attended by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis , Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott , and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart .
The meeting got considerable coverage , because at it Pence promised from the pulpit the head of Nicolas Maduro in “ a matter of days or weeks ” and Diaz-Balart , exalted that by saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the same cancer ” .
Also significant was this gathering was the first electoral event in favor of Donald Trump ’ s reelection .
The Associated Press echoed the theme of the day with Democratic representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz bluntly asserting , “ Foreign policy is domestic policy in South Florida ” .
Although Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and some of his subordinates – including those of the Organization of American State ( OAS ) – talk every other day about Cuba to torpedo Cuban medical collaboration , the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ core issues of this case , which today has a preliminary hearing in the District of Columbia court .
Bruno Rodriguez , for example , asked questions of elementary logic : What responsibility does the Doral Jesus Worship Center have ?
How can someone with mental disorders have a license to carry weapons and travel thousands of miles with an assault rifle undetected ?
What are the gunman ’ s ties to Florida ’ s anti-Cuban machinery ?
What weight does hate speech have on the plot ?
What was Lleonart ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meetings with Trump and Pompeo , doing prowling around disguised by the Cuban Embassy a few hours before the attack ?
The Cuban Foreign Minister called on the White House and the State Department to explain what they know about the links between the embassy attacker and those who are driving the violence against the island .
He demanded an answer as to what moves them not to denounce the fact , although he advanced a hypothesis : “ A government that defends as legitimate the right to punish the entire population of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does with the economic blockade , is in practice an inciter to hatred against Cuba ” .
In this attack , the only Cuban who was shot was José Martí , the metal statue that dominates the small garden of the Embassy .
But a massacre could have occurred that morning on April 30 in the large house on 16th Street in Adams-Morgan .
Ten officials were inside the building when bullets pierced the entrance door .
If someone had died , perhaps we would be at the same point with Washington reacting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by including Cuba in “ the list of countries that do not collaborate with the fight against terrorism ” ( sic ) , as happened yesterday .
Meanwhile , the Island continues to demand more coherence and less cynicism from the White House , because impunity and crime go together , they are generated , cultivated and encouraged ; they are dissimulated , reproduced , imitated , and applauded .
In analyzing Goya ’ s series of paintings entitled “ The Disasters of War , ” French historian Paul Lefort noted that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of violence , there is someone willing to overcome it .
”

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Source: Resumen Latinoamericano-Cuba, translation North America bureau
A few hours before the attack on the Cuban Embassy in Washington, a woman wearing a red raincoat, dark glasses, mask and hood, was photographing the facade of the 16th Street mansion in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood. The security cameras recorded her in broad daylight and, despite her disguise, officials at the diplomatic headquarters recognized her perfectly. She is the wife of an anti-Castro “cause” activist, Mario Félix Lleonart Barroso, who, oddly enough, happens to be the common denominator of characters and institutions related to this plot.
Lleonart Barroso, a Cuban-born Baptist pastor from Washington, D.C., boasts on social networks of his close relationship with the Doral Jesus Worship Center — a church located in the epicenter of the Venezuelan and Cuban counterrevolution in Miami — and with his friends at the State Department, whose Twitter page advertises him in an interview as “persecuted for his faith in Cuba, where he endured years of threats and arrests” (tweet, Jan. 16, 2020).
The name of this individual, a “frequent participant in acts of harassment” against Cubans in Washington, is only a clue in the arsenal of evidence offered this Tuesday by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, who called the shooting at the diplomatic headquarters on April 30 a “terrorist attack”. The protagonist in the assault is another Cuban-born pastor, also linked to the church in Doral and to very active individuals in that congregation who, in a not very Christian way, have requested to kill Raúl Castro and President Miguel Díaz-Canel with drones.
Alexander Alazo Baró, the author of the shooting, is being presented as a psychiatric patient besieged by persecution fantasies, while the Trump regime hid his file in the midst of an information blackout. The extraordinary thing is that, except for the images taken from the embassy that were released on Tuesday, the shocking evidence has been within public reach. It is easy to pull the strings of social networks and find the links between these gentlemen and old-school bombers under the cars, like Ramon Saul Sanchez, and also connect the dots to the most violent voices in Miami’s anti-Cuban, anti-Venezuelan political machine, and even the White House. Or all of them at once.
On February 1, 2019, Vice President Mike Pence was the keynote speaker at a “religious celebration” at the Doral Jesus Worship Center, attended by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart. The meeting got considerable coverage, because at it Pence promised from the pulpit the head of Nicolas Maduro in “a matter of days or weeks” and Diaz-Balart, exalted that by saying that Cuba and Venezuela were suffering from “the same cancer”. Also significant was this gathering was the first electoral event in favor of Donald Trump’s reelection. The Associated Press echoed the theme of the day with Democratic representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz bluntly asserting, “Foreign policy is domestic policy in South Florida”.
Although Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and some of his subordinates – including those of the Organization of American State (OAS) – talk every other day about Cuba to torpedo Cuban medical collaboration, the United States authorities have avoided announcing anything on the core issues of this case, which today has a preliminary hearing in the District of Columbia court.
Bruno Rodriguez, for example, asked questions of elementary logic: What responsibility does the Doral Jesus Worship Center have? How can someone with mental disorders have a license to carry weapons and travel thousands of miles with an assault rifle undetected? What are the gunman’s ties to Florida’s anti-Cuban machinery? What weight does hate speech have on the plot? What was Lleonart’s wife, a pastor who flaunts her meetings with Trump and Pompeo, doing prowling around disguised by the Cuban Embassy a few hours before the attack?
The Cuban Foreign Minister called on the White House and the State Department to explain what they know about the links between the embassy attacker and those who are driving the violence against the island. He demanded an answer as to what moves them not to denounce the fact, although he advanced a hypothesis: “A government that defends as legitimate the right to punish the entire population of a country, as the US government does with the economic blockade, is in practice an inciter to hatred against Cuba”.
In this attack, the only Cuban who was shot was José Martí, the metal statue that dominates the small garden of the Embassy. But a massacre could have occurred that morning on April 30 in the large house on 16th Street in Adams-Morgan. Ten officials were inside the building when bullets pierced the entrance door. If someone had died, perhaps we would be at the same point with Washington reacting to the aggression in its own backyard by including Cuba in “the list of countries that do not collaborate with the fight against terrorism” (sic), as happened yesterday. Meanwhile, the Island continues to demand more coherence and less cynicism from the White House, because impunity and crime go together, they are generated, cultivated and encouraged; they are dissimulated, reproduced, imitated, and applauded.
In analyzing Goya’s series of paintings entitled “The Disasters of War,” French historian Paul Lefort noted that “whenever there is a qualitative leap in the use of violence, there is someone willing to overcome it.”
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