southfront--2020-09-19--Senior Commanders In Russian-Backed 5th Corps Survived Assassination Attempt In Daraa

Late on September 17 , two senior commanders of the Russian-backed “ 8th Brigade , ” a unit of the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) 5th Corps dedicated for former rebels , survived an assassination attempt in Daraa .
An improvised explosive device targeted a vehicle carrying the two commanders , “ Ali Ahmed al-Sabah al-Miqdad ” and “ Qassem al-Sabah al-Miqdad , ” near Busra Citadel in the eastern Daraa countryside .
The two commanders survived the attack .
However , they were both wounded .
According to the Horan Free League , Ali is the Deputy-Commander of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cousin , is the Financial Director of the unit .
The assassination attempt took place a few hours after a meeting between Ali , Qassem and a senior Russian officer in Busra Citadel .
Issues related to the reconciliation process were reportedly discussed .
The 8th Brigade was established after the 2018 Daraa reconciliation agreement .
The unit , which is reportedly receiving support from Russia , engaged in several operations against ISIS under the command of the SAA .
This was not the first attack on the 8th Brigade in Daraa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bus carrying personnel of the unit .
Dozens were killed or injured .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Four Murdered In Cold Blood By ISIS Wives In Al-Hawl Camp

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Late on September 17, two senior commanders of the Russian-backed “8th Brigade,” a unit of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) 5th Corps dedicated for former rebels, survived an assassination attempt in Daraa.
An improvised explosive device targeted a vehicle carrying the two commanders, “Ali Ahmed al-Sabah al-Miqdad” and “Qassem al-Sabah al-Miqdad,” near Busra Citadel in the eastern Daraa countryside. The two commanders survived the attack. However, they were both wounded.
According to the Horan Free League, Ali is the Deputy-Commander of the 8th Brigade while Qassem, his cousin, is the Financial Director of the unit.
The assassination attempt took place a few hours after a meeting between Ali, Qassem and a senior Russian officer in Busra Citadel. Issues related to the reconciliation process were reportedly discussed.
The 8th Brigade was established after the 2018 Daraa reconciliation agreement. The unit, which is reportedly receiving support from Russia, engaged in several operations against ISIS under the command of the SAA.
This was not the first attack on the 8th Brigade in Daraa. Last June, a large explosion targeted a bus carrying personnel of the unit. Dozens were killed or injured.
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southfront--2020-09-19--ISIS Killed Dozens Of Al-Qaeda Fighters In Mali (Photos, Video 18+)

On September 18 , ISIS ’ news agency , Amaq , shared footage of a recent attack by the group on al-Qaeda members in Mali .
The attack , which took place on August 2 , targeted several hideouts of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb ( AQIM ) in the area of Tlatayt to the west of the town of Ménaka in the southeastern part of Mali .
The new footage revealed that ISIS attack took al-Qaeda members by surprise .
Dozens of terrorists were killed or injured in the battle .
Photos shared by Amaq show the dead bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed in the battle .
Many of them were shot in the back .
The conflict between ISIS and AQIM in West Africa heated up in the last few months .
In a recent audio message , ISIS spokesman Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi said that al-Qaeda in Mali , Niger , Burkina Faso and Algeria had shown “ desire ” to negotiate with governments in the region .
The ongoing war between Jihadists in Mali , which will not likely end soon , is playing in favor of government forces and the French military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2013 .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Overview Of The Post-Coup Political And Military Situation In Mali • Two French Soldiers Killed During Anti-Terrorist Operation In Mali

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On September 18, ISIS’ news agency, Amaq, shared footage of a recent attack by the group on al-Qaeda members in Mali.
The attack, which took place on August 2, targeted several hideouts of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in the area of Tlatayt to the west of the town of Ménaka in the southeastern part of Mali.
The new footage revealed that ISIS attack took al-Qaeda members by surprise. Dozens of terrorists were killed or injured in the battle.
Photos shared by Amaq show the dead bodies of eight AQIM terrorists, who were killed in the battle. Many of them were shot in the back.
The conflict between ISIS and AQIM in West Africa heated up in the last few months. In a recent audio message, ISIS spokesman Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi said that al-Qaeda in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Algeria had shown “desire” to negotiate with governments in the region.
The ongoing war between Jihadists in Mali, which will not likely end soon, is playing in favor of government forces and the French military, that intervened in the country in 2013.
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southfront--2020-09-19--The South African Beast: Denel’s AH-2 Rooivalk Attack Helicopter

The Denel ( then Atlas ) AH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter is a project indigenous to South Africa , and is one of the most successful combat helicopters available .
At the time of its development , the Rooivalk was heralded as one of the top performers in existence and even widely regarded to become the best attack helicopter ever made .
The project was a result of South Africa ’ s need to field a capable attack helicopter .
South Africa has shown a great capacity to develop their own weapon systems due to an international arms embargo that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company Atlas ( before renaming to Denel ) had two models prior to the AH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter .
The XH-1 was based highly on the French-made Aerospatiale Alouette III system , though hardly a dedicated attack helicopter platform and still utilizing 1960 ’ s technology .
The second model came in the form of two converted XTP-1 Beta gunships in the form of Aerospatiale SA 330 Pumas , and they were simply test beds .
Building upon information gained from both test types , designs were being drawn up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the initial flyable XH-2 Rooivalk getting airborne by early 1990 .
Although it looks like an entirely new machine , the Rooivalk is based on the South African Oryx utility helicopter , which in turn is a reverse-engineered and upgraded version of the French Aerospatiale Puma .
The Rooivalk uses essentially the same engines and main rotor , but both are slightly upgraded .
The Rooivalk can reach a top speed of 309 km/h and therefore a bit faster than the Apache .
The South African air force has ordered an initial 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operational helicopters .
This gunship helicopter is armed with a nose-mounted ARMSCOR 20 mm cannon .
It can carry up to 16 indigenous ZT-6 Mokopa ( similar to the US Hellfire missile ) .
The Mokopa is a very potent anti-tank guided missiles in the world and has a range of 10 km .
Alternatively , the Rooivalk can carry smaller US TOW anti-tank guided missiles .
To attack ground targets unguided 70 mm rockets may be used .
Their launchers can hold 36 or 72 rockets each .
The Rooivalk can also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a range of 6 km .
In addition to these weapons the Rooivalk is equipped with a gas operated 20 mm caliber M-2 cannon with 700 rounds of ammunition , fixed under the nose .
This cannon fires at a rate of 740 rounds per minute and is used against light armored troops and other enemy helicopters , Rooivalk ’ s most likely targets .
The stepped tandem cockpits for the pilot and co-pilot/gunner ( rear and front respectively ) have dual controls , as well as three LCD displays .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There is no head-up display , but symbology is displayed on the helmet visor in full color .
A gyro-stabilized turret at the nose contains an automatic target detection and tracking system which incorporates a laser rangefinder , forward-looking infra-red and TV camera , and the two crewmen each have a helmet-mounted sight system .
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The Denel (then Atlas) AH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter is a project indigenous to South Africa, and is one of the most successful combat helicopters available.
At the time of its development, the Rooivalk was heralded as one of the top performers in existence and even widely regarded to become the best attack helicopter ever made.
The project was a result of South Africa’s need to field a capable attack helicopter.
South Africa has shown a great capacity to develop their own weapon systems due to an international arms embargo that was in effect during the 1970s and -80s.
The company Atlas (before renaming to Denel) had two models prior to the AH-2 Rooivalk attack helicopter.
The XH-1 was based highly on the French-made Aerospatiale Alouette III system, though hardly a dedicated attack helicopter platform and still utilizing 1960’s technology.
The second model came in the form of two converted XTP-1 Beta gunships in the form of Aerospatiale SA 330 Pumas, and they were simply test beds.
Building upon information gained from both test types, designs were being drawn up for the Rooivalk as early as 1984 with the initial flyable XH-2 Rooivalk getting airborne by early 1990.
Although it looks like an entirely new machine, the Rooivalk is based on the South African Oryx utility helicopter, which in turn is a reverse-engineered and upgraded version of the French Aerospatiale Puma.
The Rooivalk uses essentially the same engines and main rotor, but both are slightly upgraded.
The Rooivalk can reach a top speed of 309 km/h and therefore a bit faster than the Apache.
The South African air force has ordered an initial 16 examples as four operational evaluation and 12 operational helicopters.
Standard production Rooivalk helicopters feature improved IR exhaust suppressors and enlarged sonson cheeks housing avionics and ammunition.
This gunship helicopter is armed with a nose-mounted ARMSCOR 20 mm cannon. It can carry up to 16 indigenous ZT-6 Mokopa (similar to the US Hellfire missile).
The Mokopa is a very potent anti-tank guided missiles in the world and has a range of 10 km. Alternatively, the Rooivalk can carry smaller US TOW anti-tank guided missiles.
To attack ground targets unguided 70 mm rockets may be used. Their launchers can hold 36 or 72 rockets each.
The Rooivalk can also fight other helicopters using heat-seeking Mistral missiles with a range of 6 km.
In addition to these weapons the Rooivalk is equipped with a gas operated 20 mm caliber M-2 cannon with 700 rounds of ammunition, fixed under the nose. This cannon fires at a rate of 740 rounds per minute and is used against light armored troops and other enemy helicopters, Rooivalk’s most likely targets.
The stepped tandem cockpits for the pilot and co-pilot/gunner (rear and front respectively) have dual controls, as well as three LCD displays. The third one is used for threat warning.
There is no head-up display, but symbology is displayed on the helmet visor in full color.
A gyro-stabilized turret at the nose contains an automatic target detection and tracking system which incorporates a laser rangefinder, forward-looking infra-red and TV camera, and the two crewmen each have a helmet-mounted sight system.
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southfront--2020-09-19--LNA Announced Conditional Lifting Of Libya Oil Blockade

Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar , Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) , announced on September 18 a conditional lifting of a blockade on the country ’ s oilfields and ports .
The LNA shut down the country ’ s oilfields and ports last January to pressure the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord ( GNA ) .
The government was accused of mismanaging oil revenues .
In a televised speech , Marshal Haftar said the LNA had put all “ military and political considerations ” aside to respond to the “ deterioration of living conditions ” in Libya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ General Command revealed in an official statement that the decision to lift the blockade was the result of inter-Libyan dialogue .
According to the LNA ’ s statement , the revenue from oil exports will be distributed in a fair manner between the eastern and western regions of the country .
A committee to resolve all related issues will be also formed .
Head of the Oil Facilities Guard in the LNA , Maj. Gen. Naji al-Maghribi , ordered all oil facilities and ports to resume work on September 19 in line with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on oil production led to serious economic losses in Libya .
The country has been in chaos since the 2011 NATO intervention , which overthrew the regime of al-Ghaddafi .
The warring sides in Libya appear to be closer than ever to a political settlement .
The army is not the only side that is making concussions .
Earlier this week , GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj announced that he would leave his post by the end of October .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Libya ’ s GNA PM Fayes Al-Sarraj Announces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • U.S. To Declare Russian “ Jetfall ” In Libya

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Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), announced on September 18 a conditional lifting of a blockade on the country’s oilfields and ports.
The LNA shut down the country’s oilfields and ports last January to pressure the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). The government was accused of mismanaging oil revenues.
In a televised speech, Marshal Haftar said the LNA had put all “military and political considerations” aside to respond to the “deterioration of living conditions” in Libya.
“We have decided to resume oil production and export on condition of a fair distribution of revenues so it won’t be used to support terrorism,” the Libyan leader said.
Later, the LNA’s General Command revealed in an official statement that the decision to lift the blockade was the result of inter-Libyan dialogue.
According to the LNA’s statement, the revenue from oil exports will be distributed in a fair manner between the eastern and western regions of the country. A committee to resolve all related issues will be also formed.
Head of the Oil Facilities Guard in the LNA, Maj. Gen. Naji al-Maghribi, ordered all oil facilities and ports to resume work on September 19 in line with the General Command decision.
The blockade on oil production led to serious economic losses in Libya. The country has been in chaos since the 2011 NATO intervention, which overthrew the regime of al-Ghaddafi.
The warring sides in Libya appear to be closer than ever to a political settlement. The army is not the only side that is making concussions. Earlier this week, GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj announced that he would leave his post by the end of October.
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southfront--2020-09-19--36 Syrian Soldiers, ISIS Terrorists Killed In Central Syria Clashes: Monitoring Group

A fierce battle between the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) and ISIS terrorists is taking place in the central region , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on September 19 .
According to the UK-based monitoring group , heavy clashes are taking place in the Aleppo-Hama-Raqqa triangle , north of the Homs desert .
Hundreds of the terrorist group ’ s fighters and commander are taking shelter there .
Warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces are reportedly supporting Syrian troops in the central region with close air support .
The SAA deployed large reinforcements in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elite units on Greater Idlib frontlines were moved to the region to confront ISIS cells .
ISIS terrorists launched dozens of attacks on government forces in eastern Homs , eastern Hama , southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor over the last few months .
A day earlier , the bodies of six service members who were slaughtered by the terrorists were found in Deir Ezzor .
The SAA and its allies appear to be determined to contain ISIS ’ growing presence in the central region .
This will require immense effort .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commander Of Russian-Backed 5th Corps Survived Assassination Attempt In Daraa

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A fierce battle between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and ISIS terrorists is taking place in the central region, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on September 19.
According to the UK-based monitoring group, heavy clashes are taking place in the Aleppo-Hama-Raqqa triangle, north of the Homs desert. Hundreds of the terrorist group’s fighters and commander are taking shelter there.
Warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces are reportedly supporting Syrian troops in the central region with close air support.
“Sixteen personnel of regime forces were killed in the past hours and days, while 20 members of the organization [ISIS] were killed by Russian airstrikes and clashes,” the SOHR said in its report.
The SAA deployed large reinforcements in the central region recently. Some of the elite units on Greater Idlib frontlines were moved to the region to confront ISIS cells.
ISIS terrorists launched dozens of attacks on government forces in eastern Homs, eastern Hama, southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor over the last few months. A day earlier, the bodies of six service members who were slaughtered by the terrorists were found in Deir Ezzor.
The SAA and its allies appear to be determined to contain ISIS’ growing presence in the central region. This will require immense effort.
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southfront--2020-09-19--Military Situation In Iraq On September 19, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • A big explosion @ @ @ @ @ in Speicher military base .
According to Salahaddin Operations Command , it was caused by @ @ @ @ @ • An explosive device detonated near the police checkpoint in the city of Kirkuk .
@ @ @ @ @ • According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense , two Turkish soldiers were killed in @ @ @ @ @ fighters on a Turkish military base in Kurdistan region ; • Turkish artillery and warplanes @ @ @ @ @ north of Duhuk province .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • ISIS Shared Photos Of @ @ @ @ @ In Kirkuk

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
A big explosion occurred at PMU weapons depot in Speicher military base. According to Salahaddin Operations Command, it was caused by poor storage of IEDs;
An explosive device detonated near the police checkpoint in the city of Kirkuk. No casualties were reporte;
According to the Turkish Ministry of Defense, two Turkish soldiers were killed in attack carried out by PKK fighters on a Turkish military base in Kurdistan region;
Turkish artillery and warplanes bombarded several areas in the north of Duhuk province.
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southfront--2020-09-19--Large Convoy Of Russian Military Supplies Entered Syria’s Al-Qamishli Airport

On September 19 , Russian forces deployed more reinforcements in al-Qamishli Airport in the northeastern region of Syria .
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) , a Russian convoy carrying supplies , weapons and equipment arrived in the airport , which is controlled by Syrian government forces .
The Russian Military Police maintains a post inside the airport , where an air-defense system and several helicopters are deployed .
On September 10 , 50 trucks loaded with supplies entered al-Qamishli airport .
On September 13 , another supply convoy , carrying pre-building cabins and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several sources claimed that Russia was planning to establish a base in al-Qamishli Airport , similar to that in Hmeimim on the Syrian coast .
The recent wave of reinforcements indicates that Russian forces are indeed preparing to expand their presence in the airport .
The growing Russian military presence in northeastern Syria is provoking the U.S .
The U.S.-led coalition is now reinforcing its forces in the region .
In its most recent step , the coalition deployed more troops along with infantry fighting vehicles there .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Survived Assassination Attempt In Daraa

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On September 19, Russian forces deployed more reinforcements in al-Qamishli Airport in the northeastern region of Syria.
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Russian convoy carrying supplies, weapons and equipment arrived in the airport, which is controlled by Syrian government forces.
“The SOHR monitored a Russian convoy consisting of dozens of trucks loaded with ammunition, weapons, and logistical equipment coming from the M4 international road and heading towards al-Qamishli Airport,” the monitoring group said in its report.
The Russian Military Police maintains a post inside the airport, where an air-defense system and several helicopters are deployed.
On September 10, 50 trucks loaded with supplies entered al-Qamishli airport. On September 13, another supply convoy, carrying pre-building cabins and logistics, arrived.
Last year, several sources claimed that Russia was planning to establish a base in al-Qamishli Airport, similar to that in Hmeimim on the Syrian coast. The recent wave of reinforcements indicates that Russian forces are indeed preparing to expand their presence in the airport.
The growing Russian military presence in northeastern Syria is provoking the U.S. The U.S.-led coalition is now reinforcing its forces in the region. In its most recent step, the coalition deployed more troops along with infantry fighting vehicles there.
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southfront--2020-09-19--ISIS Shared Photos Of Recent Attack On Iraqi Troops In Kirkuk

On September 18 , ISIS ’ news agency , Amaq , shared several photos of a recent attack on Iraqi troops in the northern province of Kirkuk .
The attack , which took place in the district of Rashad on September 17 , targeted a pick-up of the Popular Mobilization Units ( PMU ) .
ISIS terrorists struck the vehicle with an improvised explosive device .
The terrorists then shot and killed all the fighters who were aboard the vehicle .
Amaq ’ s photos show the bodies of three PMU fighters who were killed in the attack .
One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault rifle that was seized by the terrorists .
ISIS terrorists are highly active in Kirkuk .
Earlier this month , the U.S.-led coalition and the Iraqi Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes on the group ’ s hideouts in different parts of the province .
Human losses were reported .
Despite the airstrikes and the repeated combing operations by Iraqi government forces , ISIS is stepping up its attacks in Kirkuk .
The western province of al-Anbar is also experiencing more attacks by the terrorist group .
MORE ON THIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5th Corps Survived Assassination Attempt In Daraa

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On September 18, ISIS’ news agency, Amaq, shared several photos of a recent attack on Iraqi troops in the northern province of Kirkuk.
The attack, which took place in the district of Rashad on September 17, targeted a pick-up of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). ISIS terrorists struck the vehicle with an improvised explosive device. The terrorists then shot and killed all the fighters who were aboard the vehicle.
Amaq’s photos show the bodies of three PMU fighters who were killed in the attack. One of the photos also shows an AK-type assault rifle that was seized by the terrorists.
ISIS terrorists are highly active in Kirkuk. Earlier this month, the U.S.-led coalition and the Iraqi Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes on the group’s hideouts in different parts of the province. Human losses were reported.
Despite the airstrikes and the repeated combing operations by Iraqi government forces, ISIS is stepping up its attacks in Kirkuk. The western province of al-Anbar is also experiencing more attacks by the terrorist group.
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southfront--2020-09-19--Your Support Is Vital To Keep SouthFront Alive!

The year of 2020 has been marked by a number of negative tendencies and crises .
This includes the global economic crisis , the COVID-19 outbreak , the increase of chances of a US-Iranian war in the Middle East and further .
These developments are accompanied by the increasing censorship against independent media organizations and activists .
Euro-Atlantic structures have been contributing extensive efforts to silence independent points of view .
SouthFront is one of the targets of this campaign .
The pressure faced by our team is unprecedented .
Despite this , our team is not going to surrender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survived in the previous months and even was able to keep most of its coverage ( including text analyses , exclusive videos , maps and infographics ) .
Nonetheless , the situation remains critical .
Since September 1 , we ’ ve collected 2088 USD .
This is about 42 % of the monthly budget needed to continue SouthFront work and further .
Unlike propaganda structures funded by the Euro-Atlantic establishment , SouthFront operates thanks to the audience ’ s donations .
We will not be able to survive without your help .
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DEAR FRIENDS,
The year of 2020 has been marked by a number of negative tendencies and crises. This includes the global economic crisis, the COVID-19 outbreak, the increase of chances of a US-Iranian war in the Middle East and further.
These developments are accompanied by the increasing censorship against independent media organizations and activists. Euro-Atlantic structures have been contributing extensive efforts to silence independent points of view. SouthFront is one of the targets of this campaign. The pressure faced by our team is unprecedented.
Despite this, our team is not going to surrender. Thanks to your support, SouthFront survived in the previous months and even was able to keep most of its coverage (including text analyses, exclusive videos, maps and infographics). Nonetheless, the situation remains critical.
Since September 1, we’ve collected 2088 USD. This is about 42% of the monthly budget needed to continue SouthFront work and further.
Unlike propaganda structures funded by the Euro-Atlantic establishment, SouthFront operates thanks to the audience’s donations. We will not be able to survive without your help.
SUPPORT SOUTHFRONT WORK:
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southfront--2020-09-20--Newly-Deployed U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicles Began Operations In Northeastern Syria (Photos)

The U.S. military ’ s M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles ( IFVs ) which were recently deployed in northwestern Syria have begun conducting operations .
On September 20 , the U.S.-led coalition released photos of the recently deployed IFVs moving in the region , where they will be used to guard important oil fields and production facilities .
The deployment of the M2A2 Bradleys was announced earlier this week .
The IFVs arrived in Jabal Ghul airstrip in the western al-Hasakah countryside on September 19 .
U.S. forces will likely use the Bradleys to confront Russian troops in northeastern Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two sides in the last few months .
In one of the most recent incidents , seven U.S. service members were injured when a heavy Russian armored vehicle hit their light vehicle .
The M2A2 Bradley is armed with a 25 mm chain gun , a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a dual TOW anti-tank guided missile launcher .
This makes the IFV the heaviest weapon deployed by the U.S. in northeastern Syria .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Leaflets Calling For An Uprising Against U.S .
Forces Surfaced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Russian Warplanes Rain Hell On Greater Idlib : 30 Airstrikes Hit Militant Positions In Few Hours ( Videos , Photos )

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The U.S. military’s M2A2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) which have been recently deployed in northwestern Syria began conducting operations.
On September 20, the U.S.-led coalition released photos of the recently deployed IFVs moving in the region, where they will be used to guard important oil fields and production facilities.
“Bradley Fighting Vehicles provide the rapid flexibility needed to protect critical petroleum resources. The Coalition continues to work alongside the SDF in their long term commitment to defeat ISIS in northeastern Syria,” the coalition said on Twitter.
Bradley Fighting Vehicles provide the rapid flexibility needed to protect critical petroleum resources. The @Coalition continues to work alongside the SDF in their long term commitment to #defeatdaesh in NE Syria. pic.twitter.com/E7Nt62iGn3 — Inherent Resolve (@CJTFOIR) September 20, 2020
The deployment of the M2A2 Bradleys was announced earlier this week. The IFVs arrived in Jabal Ghul airstrip in the western al-Hasakah countryside on September 19.
geolocation of US Army Bradley IFV https://t.co/WDuv9Z8OOF deployed to the airstrip on Jabal Ghul, Hasaka province https://t.co/TwQKTGdPSL pic.twitter.com/rJgzc8JOI2 — Samir (@obretix) September 19, 2020
U.S. forces will likely use this Bradleys to confront Russian troops in northeastern Syria. The region experienced several confrontations between the two sides in the last few months.
In one of the most recent incidents, seven U.S. service members were injured when a heavy Russian armored vehicle hit their light vehicle.
The M2A2 Bradley is armed with a 25 mm chain gun, a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a dual TOW anti-tank guided missile launcher. This makes the IFV the heaviest weapon deployed by the U.S. in northeastern Syria.
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southfront--2020-09-20--US Air Force Claims It Is Conducting Tests Of Prototype Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter

US Air Force acquisitions director Will Roper revealed earlier this week that the service has built a full-scale prototype aircraft that is already undergoing flight testing under the highly classified Next-Generation Air Dominance ( NGAD ) program , a development that could have major implications for existing plans for the future force structure as well as the five-year budget plan beginning in 2022 .
Media portal breaking defense.com reported that the announcement of the existence of the new aircraft caught reporters and experts by surprise .
According to a report by Breakingdefense.com : “ This certainly helps explain where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harrison , director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) , said in an email .
“ One of the things we noted in our recent budget analysis is that the program was already at a burn rate of around $ 1B per year , even though the acquisition strategy had not been finalized.
” After announcing the existence of the new aircraft , Roper declined to discuss details of the results of the plane ’ s flight tests or the projects overall development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the annual Air Force Association conference .
“ All I can say is that the NGAD test flights have been amazing — records have been broken , ” he said .
“ But I ’ ve been impressed by how well the digital technology truly transitions to the real world.
” He added : “ A lot of the mission systems that we require for Next-Generation Air Dominance have been flown on test articles , so they are coming along very well , and digital engineering seems to accelerate everything.
” Roper stated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and commissioning of the new aircraft are yet to be decided , including fundamental funding decisions as the air force tries to balance current capabilities against future objectives and determine the future structure of its fleet of fighter jets .
Although the acquisition strategy for NGAD is finished , it has not yet been approved by senior Air Force or Pentagon officials .
Commenting on the news , Harrison said : “ The key questions the Air Force will need to answer for Congress are what capabilities does this fighter have that aren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ F-35 , how many will it need , how much will it cost , and what is it willing to give up to pay for this ( i.e .
the opportunity cost ) .
” A major element of the NGAD strategy is based on digital engineering and the Digital Century Series concept whereby new iterations of aircraft , based largely on updated software for mission systems , are fielded every five to 10 years .
NGAD is one of three big-ticket Air Force acquisition efforts that have incorporated digital design , development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capabilities and reduce costs .
The other two are the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent and the T-7A Red Hawk trainer , the latter of which built two identical prototypes based on digital designs .
A document describing the strategy argues that “ applying digital engineering and management would drop the cost of a notional fighter aircraft by 10 percent over a 30-year life cycle acquisition , with savings spread across production , research , development , test and evaluation ( RTD & E ) and operations and sustainment ( O & S ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been pivotal to the adoption of the new strategy .
While aerospace engineers have used computers for decades for the designing of aircraft , only recently have weapons companies developed 3D-modeling tools that can model an entire life cycle — design , production and sustainment — with a high level of accuracy and fidelity .
The process allows companies to map out an aircraft in extreme detail and model how a production line would work using different levels of manning as well as how maintenance staff would carry out repairs .
Although it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be released as to the performance and capabilities of new military aircraft , the circumstances surrounding the announcement suggest the possibility that may be largely part of an effort to persuade the US Congress to approve additional funding .
The House Armed Services Committee had previously recommended cutting funding for the NGAD program in the fiscal 2020 budget request , from $ 1 billion to $ 500 million .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Apocalypse soon ?
US still scrambling and surging to develop new high tech weapons systems • US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against China

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US Air Force acquisitions director Will Roper revealed earlier this week that the service has built a full-scale prototype aircraft that is already undergoing flight testing under the highly classified Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, a development that could have major implications for existing plans for the future force structure as well as the five-year budget plan beginning in 2022.
Media portal breaking defense.com reported that the announcement of the existence of the new aircraft caught reporters and experts by surprise.
According to a report by Breakingdefense.com:
“This certainly helps explain where the NGAD funding was going,” Todd Harrison, director of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said in an email. “One of the things we noted in our recent budget analysis is that the program was already at a burn rate of around $1B per year, even though the acquisition strategy had not been finalized.” After announcing the existence of the new aircraft, Roper declined to discuss details of the results of the plane’s flight tests or the projects overall development goals when he met with reporters at the annual Air Force Association conference. “All I can say is that the NGAD test flights have been amazing — records have been broken,” he said. “But I’ve been impressed by how well the digital technology truly transitions to the real world.” He added: “A lot of the mission systems that we require for Next-Generation Air Dominance have been flown on test articles, so they are coming along very well, and digital engineering seems to accelerate everything.”
Roper stated that many issues related to the development and commissioning of the new aircraft are yet to be decided, including fundamental funding decisions as the air force tries to balance current capabilities against future objectives and determine the future structure of its fleet of fighter jets.
Although the acquisition strategy for NGAD is finished, it has not yet been approved by senior Air Force or Pentagon officials.
Commenting on the news, Harrison said: “The key questions the Air Force will need to answer for Congress are what capabilities does this fighter have that aren’t resident in the F-22 and F-35, how many will it need, how much will it cost, and what is it willing to give up to pay for this (i.e. the opportunity cost).”
A major element of the NGAD strategy is based on digital engineering and the Digital Century Series concept whereby new iterations of aircraft, based largely on updated software for mission systems, are fielded every five to 10 years.
NGAD is one of three big-ticket Air Force acquisition efforts that have incorporated digital design, development, engineering and testing to rapidly upgrade capabilities and reduce costs. The other two are the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent and the T-7A Red Hawk trainer, the latter of which built two identical prototypes based on digital designs.
A document describing the strategy argues that “applying digital engineering and management would drop the cost of a notional fighter aircraft by 10 percent over a 30-year life cycle acquisition, with savings spread across production, research, development, test and evaluation (RTD&E) and operations and sustainment (O&S).”
Advances in digital engineering have been pivotal to the adoption of the new strategy. While aerospace engineers have used computers for decades for the designing of aircraft, only recently have weapons companies developed 3D-modeling tools that can model an entire life cycle — design, production and sustainment — with a high level of accuracy and fidelity. The process allows companies to map out an aircraft in extreme detail and model how a production line would work using different levels of manning as well as how maintenance staff would carry out repairs.
Although it is common for very few details to be released as to the performance and capabilities of new military aircraft, the circumstances surrounding the announcement suggest the possibility that may be largely part of an effort to persuade the US Congress to approve additional funding. The House Armed Services Committee had previously recommended cutting funding for the NGAD program in the fiscal 2020 budget request, from $1 billion to $500 million. LINK
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southfront--2020-09-20--Leaflets Calling For An Uprising Against U.S. Forces Surfaced in SDF -Held Deir Ezzor (Photos)

On September 20 , anti-U.S. leaflets were found in the town of Abu Hamam in the southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor , which is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) .
The leaflets , which distributed in the town by unknown individuals in the early morning , called on the locals to start an uprising against U.S. forces .
U.S. forces were described in the leaflets as greedy occupiers .
The forces were also accused of killing children , women and elderlies as well as of bombing the region to achieve their goals and satisfy their greed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision … Can they [ U.S. forces ] provide us the humanitarian aid we need ?
… They only help who accepts to be their slave … We are masters , sons of masters … Come on … Let ’ s rise up against the obnoxious Americans and those helping them , ” the leaflet reads .
Kurdish sources claimed that the Damascus government and its intelligence were behind the leaflet .
However , this has not been verified , yet .
In the last few months , southeastern Deir Ezzor locals clashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasions .
The Kurdish-led group was accused of orchestrating attacks on Arab tribal leaders in the region .
Local Arabs may have been behind the leaflets .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Russian Warplanes Rain Hell On Greater Idlib : 30 Airstrikes Hit Militant Positions In Few Hours ( Videos , Photos )

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On September 20, anti-U.S. leaflets were found in the town of Abu Hamam in the southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, which is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The leaflets, which were distributed in the town by unknown individuals in the early morning, called on the locals to start an uprising against U.S. forces.
منشورات من اعوان النظام والمليشيات الايرانية في غرب الفرات تدعو الاهالي للانتفاض ضد الامريكان في شرق الفرات تم رميها امام بلدية ابو حمام شرق دير الزور صباح اليوم. #باز_نيوز pic.twitter.com/DnjdIHVTMK — وكالة BAZ الاخبارية (@baznewz) September 20, 2020
U.S. forces were described in the leaflets as greedy occupiers. They were also accused of killing children, women and elderlies as well as of bombing the region to achieve their goals and satisfy their greed.
“Think and make the right decision … Can they [U.S. forces] provide us the humanitarian aid we need? … They only help who accepts to be their slave … We are masters, sons of masters … Come on … Let’s rise up against the obnoxious Americans and those helping them,” the leaflet reads.
Kurdish sources claimed that the Damascus government and its intelligence were behind the leaflets distribution. However, this has not been verified, yet.
In the last few months, southeastern Deir Ezzor locals clashed with the SDF on a number of occasions. The Kurdish-led group was accused of orchestrating attacks on Arab tribal leaders in the region. Local Arabs may have been behind the leaflets.
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southfront--2020-09-20--Russian Warplanes Rain Hell On Greater Idlib: 30 Airstrikes Hit Militant Positions In Few Hours (Vid

Russian Warplanes Rain Hell On Greater Idlib: 30 Airstrikes Hit Militant Positions In Few Hours (Videos, Photos)

On September 20 , warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out 28 airstrikes on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib .
The Russian airstrikes targeted the following areas : • The town of Arab Said in the western countryside of Idlib ; • The town of Batitiyah in the northern countryside of Idlib .
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , the targeted areas host several training camps and headquarters of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) and other jihadi groups .
Photos released by opposition activists revealed that the heavy airstrikes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fighter bombers .
The airstrikes were likely a response to recent provocations by the HTS-led al-Faith al-Mubeen Operations Room .
A day earlier , the operations room shelled Syrian Arab Army positions in the southern part of the al-Zawya Mount , the town of Hizareen and Ma ` arat al-Nu ` man city .
The ceasefire in Greater Idlib , which was put in place on March 5 , appears to be on the brink of collapse .
The last round of Russian-Turkish talks on the region saw a serious disagreement between the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ :

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On September 20, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out 28 airstrikes on the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
The Russian airstrikes targeted the following areas:
The western outskirts of Idlib’s city center;
The town of Arab Said in the western countryside of Idlib;
The town of Batitiyah in the northern countryside of Idlib.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the targeted areas host several training camps and headquarters of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other jihadi groups.
Photos released by opposition activists revealed that the heavy airstrikes were carried out by Su-34s and Su-24s fighter bombers.
Russian Air Force Su-34 and Su-24M attack aircraft were spotted overhead during today’s air strikes in Idlib. 410/https://t.co/vr7sYpgyX5 pic.twitter.com/QM2qmxu9ww — Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 20, 2020
The airstrikes were likely a response to recent provocations by the HTS-led al-Faith al-Mubeen Operations Room. A day earlier, the operations room shelled Syrian Arab Army positions in the southern part of the al-Zawya Mount, the town of Hizareen and Ma`arat al-Nu`man city.
The ceasefire agreement in Greater Idlib, which was signed on March 5, appears to be on the brink of collapse. The last round of Russian-Turkish talks on the region saw a serious disagreement between the two sides.
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southfront--2020-09-20--10 Days Until End Of September

10 Days Until End Of September

The year of 2020 has been marked by a number of negative tendencies and crises .
This includes the global economic crisis , the COVID-19 outbreak , the increase of chances of a US-Iranian war in the Middle East and further .
These developments are accompanied by the increasing censorship against independent media organizations and activists .
Euro-Atlantic structures have been contributing extensive efforts to silence independent points of view .
SouthFront is one of the targets of this campaign .
The pressure faced by our team is unprecedented .
Despite this , our team is not going to surrender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ survived in the previous months and even was able to keep most of its coverage ( including text analyses , exclusive videos , maps and infographics ) .
Nonetheless , the situation remains critical .
Since September 1 , we ’ ve collected 2108 USD .
This is about 42 % of the monthly budget needed to continue SouthFront work and further .
Unlike propaganda structures funded by the Euro-Atlantic establishment , SouthFront operates thanks to the audience ’ s donations .
We will not be able to survive without your help .
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DEAR FRIENDS,
The year of 2020 has been marked by a number of negative tendencies and crises. This includes the global economic crisis, the COVID-19 outbreak, the increase of chances of a US-Iranian war in the Middle East and further.
These developments are accompanied by the increasing censorship against independent media organizations and activists. Euro-Atlantic structures have been contributing extensive efforts to silence independent points of view. SouthFront is one of the targets of this campaign. The pressure faced by our team is unprecedented.
Despite this, our team is not going to surrender. Thanks to your support, SouthFront survived in the previous months and even was able to keep most of its coverage (including text analyses, exclusive videos, maps and infographics). Nonetheless, the situation remains critical.
Since September 1, we’ve collected 2108 USD. This is about 42% of the monthly budget needed to continue SouthFront work and further.
Unlike propaganda structures funded by the Euro-Atlantic establishment, SouthFront operates thanks to the audience’s donations. We will not be able to survive without your help.
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SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence Team
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southfront--2020-09-20--Assange’s Ninth Day at the Old Bailey: Torture Testimonies, Offers of Pardon and Truth Telling

The extradition trial of Julian Assange at the Old Bailey moved into a higher gear today .
Testimonies spanned the importance of classified information in war journalism , the teasing offer of a pardon for Assange by US President Donald Trump , torture inflicted by the US Central Intelligence Agency , the chilling effect of indictments under the Extradition Act and the legacy of the Collateral Murder video .
Investigative journalist Nicky Hager did some dusting and sprucing of the image of Assange via testimony given on videolink : not the “ difficult , awful ” individual discussed in standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a figure “ devoted ” to “ trying to make the world a better place in an era when there is declining freedom of information in most of the world.
” Hager found Assange “ thoughtful , humorous and energetic.
” In his written testimony , Hager speaks to the role of journalism – the sort that matters , in any case – and war .
“ It is in general impossible to research and write about war to a useful standard without access to sources that the authorities concerned regard as sensitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more so with the subject of war crimes.
” Classified information , notably in war , “ is essential to allow journalism to perform its roles of informing the public , enabling democratic decision making and deterring wrongdoing.
” Hager managed to crowbar in a contemporary parallel on the importance of releasing the Collateral Murder , depicting the criminal slayings of civilians and journalists in New Baghdad .
The exposure of the incident , and the language used by the helicopter crew ( “ Look at those dead bastards ” ) contributed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of state power ” in much the same way the video of George Floyd ’ s killing by Minneapolis police did to current debate .
The prosecution was in no mood for this more nuanced Assange , sensitive to caution and discretion .
For them , he remains a cold , calculating figure of dangerous idiosyncrasies , who endangered the lives of individuals by publishing unredacted documents .
Hager had understood that WikiLeaks only released the documents once the cables had already found their way onto platforms such as Cryptome , courtesy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unencrypted file in a book by journalists David Leigh an Luke Harding .
“ WikiLeaks made strenuous efforts to keep it secret , and it was released everywhere first.
” James Lewis QC for the prosecution suggested a corrective : that 154,000 US cables marked “ simply protect ” had already been published a week earlier .
Hager answered that this account was disputed .
In any case , the nine months between initial publication and the public availability of the unredacted material gave US authorities ample time to protect sources and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been named.
” The precautionary measures “ taken by Julian Assange at the beginning help explain why there was not wholesale damage from those unredacted documents finding their way out.
” The second instalment of the day ’ s proceedings brought the Trump administration to the fore , notably for the inescapable implication that this entire show is unmistakably and insolubly political .
The defence returned to a statement by Jennifer Robinson , Assange ’ s ever committed legal advisor , which had already been aired in extradition proceedings held on February 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting between ex-congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Trump associate Charles Johnson with Assange and Robinson in August 2017 at the Ecuadorean embassy in London .
The theme : a potential pardon for Assange , with a distinct , thorny catch .
As Robinson ’ s statement , discussed by Edward Fitzgerald QC at the Woolwich Crown Court in February recalled , “ the proposal put forward by Congressman Rohrabacher was that Mr Assange identify the source of the 2016 election publications in return for some kind of pardon , assurance or agreement which would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indictment and extradition.
” In Robinson ’ s testimony , Rohrabacher made his embassy visit with Trump ’ s executive blessing .
Upon his return to Washington , a presidential audience would be granted .
The congressman wished “ to resolve the ongoing speculation about Russian involvement ” in the publication of the Democratic National Committee disclosures by WikiLeaks in 2016 .
Such speculation was proving “ damaging to US-Russian relations , that it was reviving old Cold War politics , and it would be in the best interest of the US if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way of doing so would be Assange ’ s yielding of relevant information about the source behind the DNC leaks , something of “ interest , value and assistance to the President.
” Assange was not forthcoming , preferring to push Rohrabacher to lobby Trump about the First Amendment implications of any indictment against the publisher .
With the duo leaving empty-handed , the suggestion by the defence is credible : the prospects of an indictment , considered unlikely during the Obama administration , had hardened .
Prosecutor Lewis was blandly dismissive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not accept the truth of what was said by others.
” The prosecutors had already made efforts to frustrate the insertion of Khaled el-Masri ’ s account into proceedings , a telling point given his experiences of torture at the hands of the CIA in 2004 .
There was squabbling on the issue whether he be heard live by video or to have his statement read out in court .
“ We see no utility whatsoever in having Mr el-Masri in court , ” put the prosecution .
This prompted an intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept you censoring a torture victim ’ s statement to this court.
” The prosecution relented to a reading of a summary , with the understanding that it did not stipulate that el-Masri had ever been tortured by the US government .
This was rich , and unpalatable stuff .
El-Masri , a German citizen , had been kidnapped at the Macedonian border , detained and kept incommunicado for 23 days in 2004 .
It took the European Court of Human Rights in 2012 to confirm the CIA ’ s handiwork in torturing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicit and not investigating the case .
There had been no warrant for his arrest ; his transfer to the US authorities amounted to “ an extra-judicial transfer of persons from one jurisdiction or State to another , for the purposes of detention and interrogation outside the normal legal system , where there was a real risk of torture of cruel , inhuman or degrading treatment.
” At Skopje Airport , el-Masri “ was severely beaten by several disguised men dressed in black ” , subsequently “ stripped and sodomised with an object.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ record here my belief that without dedicated and brave exposure of the state secrets in question what happened to me would never have been acknowledged and understood.
” His “ exposure of what happened was necessary not just for myself but for law and justice worldwide .
My story here is not yet concluded.
” His statement also notes the broader , international dimension of collusion , a point reiterated in court by defence attorney Mark Summers QC .
Only with the publication of the cables by WikiLeaks , notes el-Masri , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken pace beyond Macedonia ’ s collusion with the US.
” This included the ineffectual issuing of warrants for thirteen CIA operatives issued by a German state prosecutor .
In February 2007 , the German Deputy Security Adviser , Rolf Nikel , was warned by the deputy chief of mission to Germany that “ the issuance of international arrest warrants would have a negative impact on our bilateral relationship .
He reminded Nikel of the repercussions to US-Italian bilateral relations in the wake of a similar move by Italian authorities last year.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of the WikiLeaks disclosures in exposing it , have already been noted in the testimony and statement of John Goetz , who worked for between 2010 and 2011 .
The published cables supplied “ an explanation about why there were so many difficulties during the investigation.
” It was “ only when reading the diplomatic cables that we saw the role the US government was playing behind the scene.
” Impediments continued to be put upon a fair and just resolution of the case , including threats by the US Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases before the International Criminal Court .
El-Masri remains imperilled .
Carey Shenkman , First Amendment specialist and historian of the Espionage Act of 1917 , duly resumed his testimony on the implications of his illuminating , and unsettling overview of the Act ’ s application .
The prosecution , this time steered by Clair Dobbin , continued to rely upon rulings on the Act suggesting that prosecuting journalists was permissible .
Challenges about its reach had been made and failed .
The jurisprudence on the statute had , over the years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that such cases were marked by the punishment of government sources and insiders , not media representatives .
Suggesting that the jurisprudence on the Act had been “ refined ” was also a point of demurral , given that “ national defence information ” had been broadened to include anything government deems sensitive .
He also took issue with Dobbin ’ s view that prosecutors that shown considered “ restraint ” when using the Act .
The very fact that an indictment had been issued under its provisions against a journalist , whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ significant chilling effect ” , applicable , potentially , to all those reading or retweeting defence information .
The final part of the day ’ s proceedings was given over to the witness statement of former Reuters Baghdad bureau chief , Dean Yates .
His subject of torment : the killing of two of his colleagues , Namir Noor-Eldeen and Saeed Chmagh , among other civilians , by the crew of the Apache helicopter depicted in the video Collateral Murder .
Their deaths spurred Yates to identify the chain of events .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ request ; it was rejected .
He was shown select portions of the video by the US military , an act of wilful omission .
From the depths of deep confusion he blamed Namir “ thinking that the helicopter fired because he had made himself look suspicious and it just erased from my memory the fact that the order to open fire had already been given.
” Assange had sniffed out that the rules of engagement had not been complied with .
Trauma followed .
Feelings of failure in not adequately protecting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the powerful effect of Collateral Murder , the shame it caused the US military , “ fully aware that experts believe the shooting of the van was a potential war crime.
” Without the role played by Chelsea Manning and Assange , “ Namir and Saeed would have remained forgotten statistics in a war that killed countless human beings , possibly hundreds of thousands of civilians.
” The act of disclosing the grisly encounter of July 12 , 2007 was “ 100 percent an act of truth-telling , exposing to the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was and how the US military behaved and lied.
” Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures at RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Assange ’ s Eighth Day at the Old Bailey : Software Redactions , the Iraq Logs and the Extradition Act • Assange ’ s Seventh Day at the Old Bailey : Diligent Redactions and Avoiding Harm • Assange ’ s Sixth Day at the Old Bailey : US Prison Conditions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day at the Old Bailey : COVID in the Courtroom • Assange ’ s Third Day at the Old Bailey : Bias , Politics and Wars on Journalism • Assange ’ s Second Day at the Old Bailey : Torture , Drone Strikes and Journalism

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
September 18. Central Criminal Court, London.
The extradition trial of Julian Assange at the Old Bailey moved into a higher gear today. Testimonies spanned the importance of classified information in war journalism, the teasing offer of a pardon for Assange by US President Donald Trump, torture inflicted by the US Central Intelligence Agency, the chilling effect of indictments under the Extradition Act and the legacy of the Collateral Murder video.
Hager, war and journalism
Investigative journalist Nicky Hager did some dusting and sprucing of the image of Assange via testimony given on videolink: not the “difficult, awful” individual discussed in standard media outlets, he asserted, but a figure “devoted” to “trying to make the world a better place in an era when there is declining freedom of information in most of the world.” Hager found Assange “thoughtful, humorous and energetic.”
In his written testimony, Hager speaks to the role of journalism – the sort that matters, in any case – and war. “It is in general impossible to research and write about war to a useful standard without access to sources that the authorities concerned regard as sensitive and out of bounds – and all the more so with the subject of war crimes.” Classified information, notably in war, “is essential to allow journalism to perform its roles of informing the public, enabling democratic decision making and deterring wrongdoing.”
Hager managed to crowbar in a contemporary parallel on the importance of releasing the Collateral Murder, depicting the criminal slayings of civilians and journalists in New Baghdad. The exposure of the incident, and the language used by the helicopter crew (“Look at those dead bastards”) contributed to “world opinion about the misuse of state power” in much the same way the video of George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police did to current debate.
The prosecution was in no mood for this more nuanced Assange, sensitive to caution and discretion. For them, he remains a cold, calculating figure of dangerous idiosyncrasies, who endangered the lives of individuals by publishing unredacted documents. Hager had understood that WikiLeaks only released the documents once the cables had already found their way onto platforms such as Cryptome, courtesy of the publication of the password to an unencrypted file in a book by Guardian journalists David Leigh an Luke Harding. “WikiLeaks made strenuous efforts to keep it secret, and it was released everywhere first.”
James Lewis QC for the prosecution suggested a corrective: that 154,000 US cables marked “simply protect” had already been published a week earlier. Hager answered that this account was disputed. In any case, the nine months between initial publication and the public availability of the unredacted material gave US authorities ample time to protect sources and “warn any informants who could’ve been named.” The precautionary measures “taken by Julian Assange at the beginning help explain why there was not wholesale damage from those unredacted documents finding their way out.”
Robinson, Trump offers and pardons
The second instalment of the day’s proceedings brought the Trump administration to the fore, notably for the inescapable implication that this entire show is unmistakably and insolubly political. The defence returned to a statement by Jennifer Robinson, Assange’s ever committed legal advisor, which had already been aired in extradition proceedings held on February 24, 2020. It covered a purported meeting between ex-congressman Dana Rohrabacher and Trump associate Charles Johnson with Assange and Robinson in August 2017 at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. The theme: a potential pardon for Assange, with a distinct, thorny catch.
As Robinson’s statement, discussed by Edward Fitzgerald QC at the Woolwich Crown Court in February recalled, “the proposal put forward by Congressman Rohrabacher was that Mr Assange identify the source of the 2016 election publications in return for some kind of pardon, assurance or agreement which would benefit President Trump politically and prevent US indictment and extradition.”
In Robinson’s testimony, Rohrabacher made his embassy visit with Trump’s executive blessing. Upon his return to Washington, a presidential audience would be granted. The congressman wished “to resolve the ongoing speculation about Russian involvement” in the publication of the Democratic National Committee disclosures by WikiLeaks in 2016. Such speculation was proving “damaging to US-Russian relations, that it was reviving old Cold War politics, and it would be in the best interest of the US if the matter could be resolved.” One way of doing so would be Assange’s yielding of relevant information about the source behind the DNC leaks, something of “interest, value and assistance to the President.”
Assange was not forthcoming, preferring to push Rohrabacher to lobby Trump about the First Amendment implications of any indictment against the publisher. With the duo leaving empty-handed, the suggestion by the defence is credible: the prospects of an indictment, considered unlikely during the Obama administration, had hardened. Prosecutor Lewis was blandly dismissive of the entire episode. “We obviously do not accept the truth of what was said by others.”
El-Masri and Torture
The prosecutors had already made efforts to frustrate the insertion of Khaled el-Masri’s account into proceedings, a telling point given his experiences of torture at the hands of the CIA in 2004. There was squabbling on the issue whether he be heard live by video or to have his statement read out in court. “We see no utility whatsoever in having Mr el-Masri in court,” put the prosecution. This prompted an intervention from Assange: “I will not accept you censoring a torture victim’s statement to this court.”
The prosecution relented to a reading of a summary, with the understanding that it did not stipulate that el-Masri had ever been tortured by the US government. This was rich, and unpalatable stuff. El-Masri, a German citizen, had been kidnapped at the Macedonian border, detained and kept incommunicado for 23 days in 2004. It took the European Court of Human Rights in 2012 to confirm the CIA’s handiwork in torturing el-Masri, holding Macedonia responsible for being complicit and not investigating the case. There had been no warrant for his arrest; his transfer to the US authorities amounted to “an extra-judicial transfer of persons from one jurisdiction or State to another, for the purposes of detention and interrogation outside the normal legal system, where there was a real risk of torture of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.” At Skopje Airport, el-Masri “was severely beaten by several disguised men dressed in black”, subsequently “stripped and sodomised with an object.”
As el-Masri stated, “I record here my belief that without dedicated and brave exposure of the state secrets in question what happened to me would never have been acknowledged and understood.” His “exposure of what happened was necessary not just for myself but for law and justice worldwide. My story here is not yet concluded.”
His statement also notes the broader, international dimension of collusion, a point reiterated in court by defence attorney Mark Summers QC. Only with the publication of the cables by WikiLeaks, notes el-Masri, “did it become clear what pressures had taken pace beyond Macedonia’s collusion with the US.” This included the ineffectual issuing of warrants for thirteen CIA operatives issued by a German state prosecutor. In February 2007, the German Deputy Security Adviser, Rolf Nikel, was warned by the deputy chief of mission to Germany that “the issuance of international arrest warrants would have a negative impact on our bilateral relationship. He reminded Nikel of the repercussions to US-Italian bilateral relations in the wake of a similar move by Italian authorities last year.”
El-Masri’s treatment, and the importance of the WikiLeaks disclosures in exposing it, have already been noted in the testimony and statement of John Goetz, who worked for Der Spiegel between 2010 and 2011. The published cables supplied “an explanation about why there were so many difficulties during the investigation.” It was “only when reading the diplomatic cables that we saw the role the US government was playing behind the scene.” Impediments continued to be put upon a fair and just resolution of the case, including threats by the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to sanction those bringing cases before the International Criminal Court. El-Masri remains imperilled.
Carey Shenkman and the Espionage Act
Carey Shenkman, First Amendment specialist and historian of the Espionage Act of 1917, duly resumed his testimony on the implications of his illuminating, and unsettling overview of the Act’s application. The prosecution, this time steered by Clair Dobbin, continued to rely upon rulings on the Act suggesting that prosecuting journalists was permissible. Challenges about its reach had been made and failed. The jurisprudence on the statute had, over the years, been refined.
Shenkman reminded the prosecution that such cases were marked by the punishment of government sources and insiders, not media representatives. Suggesting that the jurisprudence on the Act had been “refined” was also a point of demurral, given that “national defence information” had been broadened to include anything government deems sensitive. He also took issue with Dobbin’s view that prosecutors that shown considered “restraint” when using the Act. The very fact that an indictment had been issued under its provisions against a journalist, whatever its prospects of success, instilled a “significant chilling effect”, applicable, potentially, to all those reading or retweeting defence information.
Yates, trauma and Collateral Murder
The final part of the day’s proceedings was given over to the witness statement of former Reuters Baghdad bureau chief, Dean Yates. His subject of torment: the killing of two of his colleagues, Namir Noor-Eldeen and Saeed Chmagh, among other civilians, by the crew of the Apache helicopter depicted in the video Collateral Murder. Their deaths spurred Yates to identify the chain of events. He submitted a Freedom of Information Act request; it was rejected. He was shown select portions of the video by the US military, an act of wilful omission. From the depths of deep confusion he blamed Namir “thinking that the helicopter fired because he had made himself look suspicious and it just erased from my memory the fact that the order to open fire had already been given.” Assange had sniffed out that the rules of engagement had not been complied with.
Trauma followed. Feelings of failure in not adequately protecting his staff. Crushing shame. Yates opined about the powerful effect of Collateral Murder, the shame it caused the US military, “fully aware that experts believe the shooting of the van was a potential war crime.” Without the role played by Chelsea Manning and Assange, “Namir and Saeed would have remained forgotten statistics in a war that killed countless human beings, possibly hundreds of thousands of civilians.” The act of disclosing the grisly encounter of July 12, 2007 was “100 percent an act of truth-telling, exposing to the world what the war in Iraq in fact was and how the US military behaved and lied.”
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-09-20--National Security And Defense Council Of Ukraine Vows To Fight Organizations Seeking To De-Escalate

National Security And Defense Council Of Ukraine Vows To Fight Organizations Seeking To De-Escalate Conflict In Donbass

Now , the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine claims that religious processions are “ an effective tool of the Russian hybrid war ” and threatened organizers of forums for peace with a criminal liability for such actions .
In a statement of the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said on September 20 that this is due to the increased activity of some “ religious structures ” ahead of the local elections .
“ One of the effective tools of the Russian hybrid war against Ukraine is the use of religious structures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ , ’ round tables ’ , ‘ international forums ’ , ‘ processions of the cross ’ , Danilov said .
“ The purpose of such events is to promote the ideas of the so-called ‘ Russian world ’ , to justify Russian aggression against Ukraine , to promote anti-Ukrainian theses of Russian propaganda.
” According to him , it was “ such a long-term activity of the special services of the Russian Federation ” that led to the “ occupation ” of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church ( Moscow Patriarchate ) decided to hold the peacemaking forum “ People of the World ” .
The organizing committee of the forum , which will be held on September 21 in the Svyatogorsk Lavra , includes famous Ukrainians who support the peacemaking initiatives of the Church .
The purpose of the forum is to develop an action program to put an end to the ongoing conflict and restore peaceful life in eastern Ukraine .
However , such actions are seem by the current political regime in Kiev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , the Ukrainian authorities and security services prefer to promote the policy of ethnic and religious hatred as well as sabotage the real implementation of any peace initiatives ( not only the Minsk agreements , but also local political actions aimed at the de-escalation of tensions ) .
To justify this approach , the Kiev government continues accusing any force seeking to support the peaceful solution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine of being ‘ Russian agents ’ and participants in the ‘ hybrid war against Ukraine ’ .
MORE ON THE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paradrop In Ukraine , In Sign Of “ Solidarity ” • House Of Ukrainian Activist ’ s Parents Burned Down .
But Nobody Cares Because He ’ s On The Wrong Side Of “ Democracy ”

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Now, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine claims that religious processions are “an effective tool of the Russian hybrid war” and threatened organizers of forums for peace with a criminal liability for such actions.
In a statement of the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said on September 20 that this is due to the increased activity of some “religious structures” ahead of the local elections.
“One of the effective tools of the Russian hybrid war against Ukraine is the use of religious structures in the format of holding ‘conferences’, ’round tables’, ‘international forums’, ‘processions of the cross’, Danilov said. “The purpose of such events is to promote the ideas of the so-called ‘Russian world’, to justify Russian aggression against Ukraine, to promote anti-Ukrainian theses of Russian propaganda.”
According to him, it was “such a long-term activity of the special services of the Russian Federation” that led to the “occupation” of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
On August 17 the Holy Synod of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) decided to hold the peacemaking forum “People of the World”. The organizing committee of the forum, which will be held on September 21 in the Svyatogorsk Lavra, includes famous Ukrainians who support the peacemaking initiatives of the Church. The purpose of the forum is to develop an action program to put an end to the ongoing conflict and restore peaceful life in eastern Ukraine.
However, such actions are seem by the current political regime in Kiev as a threat to its power. Instead, the Ukrainian authorities and security services prefer to promote the policy of ethnic and religious hatred as well as sabotage the real implementation of any peace initiatives (not only the Minsk agreements, but also local political actions aimed at the de-escalation of tensions). To justify this approach, the Kiev government continues accusing any force seeking to support the peaceful solution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine of being ‘Russian agents’ and participants in the ‘hybrid war against Ukraine’.
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southfront--2020-09-20--Bell’s 505 Jet Ranger X Light Helicopter

In 2014 , Bell Helicopter unveiled the 505 Jet Ranger X light helicopter .
It is a single-engine , turbine helicopter .
Its first flight happened later in 2014 .
The US manufacturer managed to deliver units of the helicopter to its customers in a little over two-and-a-half years , having shipped the first example of the short-light-single in March 2017 and reached the 100-unit mark in June 2018 .
The Bell 505 is a “ clean sheet ” design , but uses some dynamic components , such as the rotor system of the Bell 206L-4 .
The 505 is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ composite materials and is the first SLS helicopter to incorporate a fully integrated glass cockpit , in its case the Garmin G1000H .
It is powered by a new Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual channel full-authority digital engine control .
The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X has a maximum speed of 125 knots , a travel range of 333 nautical miles at 4,000 feet , and a service ceiling of 18,610 at 1,670 kg .
It has a maximum takeoff and landing weight of 2,030 kg and a maximum payload of 680 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designed to meet a wide variety of missions with its fully flat floor , increased cabin volume and clam shell doors .
The above-mentioned Garmin G1000H Integrated Avionics Suite provides pilots critical flight information at a glance to maximize situational awareness .
It has no weaponry on board , as it is a light transport helicopter , which can be used to either deploy small teams or deliver small shipments of weapons or ammunition if used in a combat scenario .
They , however , appear to be predominantly used for coastal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the like ) operations .
The unveiling of the helicopter itself was no shock , since Bell had announced its intention to create such a light helicopter for a while .
The 505 Jet Ranger X is a sort of successor of the 206B JetRanger , which was a very successful model , taken out of production back in 2009 .
There is also a bigger version of the older JetRanger – the LongRanger .
Although the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X pulls from the heritage of the JetRanger , the commonalities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rotor and drive systems are identical to those of the 206L4 LongRanger , with millions of flight hours on record .
The rotor system is a high inertia rotor , which allows for better autorotation capabilities enabling smoother landings in case of an engine failure .
In total , as of 2019 , approximately 200 units have been built , the majority of which are operated by the US , but a handful of countries such as Canada , Brazil , Japan and South Africa operate a few .
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In 2014, Bell Helicopter unveiled the 505 Jet Ranger X light helicopter. It is a single-engine, turbine helicopter.
Its first flight happened later in 2014.
The US manufacturer managed to deliver units of the helicopter to its customers in a little over two-and-a-half years, having shipped the first example of the short-light-single in March 2017 and reached the 100-unit mark in June 2018.
The Bell 505 is a “clean sheet” design, but uses some dynamic components, such as the rotor system of the Bell 206L-4.
The Jet Ranger X is a five-seat, two-blade, short light single (SLS) helicopter.
The 505 is manufactured with a mixture of metal and composite materials and is the first SLS helicopter to incorporate a fully integrated glass cockpit, in its case the Garmin G1000H.
It is powered by a new Turbomeca Arrius 2R engine with dual channel full-authority digital engine control.
The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X has a maximum speed of 125 knots, a travel range of 333 nautical miles at 4,000 feet, and a service ceiling of 18,610 at 1,670 kg. It has a maximum takeoff and landing weight of 2,030 kg and a maximum payload of 680 kg.
The Jet Ranger X is designed to meet a wide variety of missions with its fully flat floor, increased cabin volume and clam shell doors.
The above-mentioned Garmin G1000H Integrated Avionics Suite provides pilots critical flight information at a glance to maximize situational awareness.
It has no weaponry on board, as it is a light transport helicopter, which can be used to either deploy small teams or deliver small shipments of weapons or ammunition if used in a combat scenario.
They, however, appear to be predominantly used for coastal and border protection and more internal (police or the like) operations.
The unveiling of the helicopter itself was no shock, since Bell had announced its intention to create such a light helicopter for a while.
The 505 Jet Ranger X is a sort of successor of the 206B JetRanger, which was a very successful model, taken out of production back in 2009. There is also a bigger version of the older JetRanger – the LongRanger.
Although the Bell 505 Jet Ranger X pulls from the heritage of the JetRanger, the commonalities between the models are few.
The rotor and drive systems are identical to those of the 206L4 LongRanger, with millions of flight hours on record.
The rotor system is a high inertia rotor, which allows for better autorotation capabilities enabling smoother landings in case of an engine failure.
In total, as of 2019, approximately 200 units have been built, the majority of which are operated by the US, but a handful of countries such as Canada, Brazil, Japan and South Africa operate a few.
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southfront--2020-09-20--Rockets Struck US military Base In Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province

At least 6 rockets were launched the US military airfield in the district of Daman of the Afghan province of @ @ @ @ @ According to local sources , the rocket strike did not result in any casualties or @ @ @ @ @ the rockets missed their targets .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Afghan Air Force @ @ @ @ @ ( Video , Photos )

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At least 6 rockets were launched at the US military airfield in the district of Daman of the Afghan province of Kandahar on September 20.
According to local sources, the rocket strike did not result in any casualties or significant damage because most of the rockets missed their targets.
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