southfront--2020-11-23--France To Sacrifice Its Security Amid Growing Terrorist Threat

The countries in Central and Latin America , such as Peru , Guatemala , Chile , and Brazil , face mass demonstrations against existing political regimes .
Armenian defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh region resulted in violence in Yerevan .
A wave of protests came in Georgia after the parliamentary elections .
The protests do not subside in the European region .
The situation in Belarus remains tense after the presidential elections in August 2020 .
The largest protests over the past decades took place in Poland after the introduction of a strict abortion ban .
Violent demonstrations and clashes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the introduction of new restrictive measures against the COVID pandemic .
The entrepreneurs go out on the streets of Spain , Ukraine , Italy , England , where the demonstrations often lead to clashes with law enforcement officers .
British police officers are detaining participants of protests against the government ’ s quarantine measures in Liverpool : Police actively used water cannons to disperse protesters in Berlin : Situation remains unstable in France , where , since mid-September , the “ yellow jackets ” and trade unions protested against job cuts in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flare up in Paris and other big cities .
Surprisingly , they are not related to restrictive measures or the economic consequences of the pandemic .
This time , the streets are flooded with those who disagreed with the introduction of a new draft law “ On global security ” .
The new law prohibits the distribution on social networks and in the media of any images or videos of law enforcement officers at the time they perform their duties , according to which they can be identified .
The purpose of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from threats of persecution by Islamists , radical activists , criminals etc .
Article 24 banning filming of law enforcement officials was approved by a large majority on November 20 in the first reading by the French National Assembly .
This law project provides for a fine of 45 thousand euros and a year in prison .
The day after the adoption at first reading by the Assembly of a text penalizing the malicious dissemination of images of the police officers , demonstrations took place in the center of Paris , this Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , about 1000 people attended the first protests in Paris , but even such a small rally turned into clashes with the police , who were forced to use water cannons and tear gas .
Similar demonstrations were held in other cities : Toulouse , Bordeaux , Rennes , Lille .
During the protests on November 22 , at least 23 participants were arrested .
Some people , including police officers , were injured .
At the same time , some videos demonstrate police support for the protesters .
The offiers take off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The demonstrators are ambiguous about the consequences of the adoption of such a law .
The provisions of the draft law threaten the free information of the population and the freedom of press .
Journalists do not support this law project because it prevents them from freely reporting on protests or other events where the police are involved .
Discontent with journalists in France turned into an acute phase after several journalists were detained at a demonstration on Tuesday , one of them was detained for 12 hours .
The reaction of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not long in coming .
The next day , he stated that media personnel must be accredited for each manifestation in order to be able to freely cover the event on the spot .
Later , he said that anyone can film and take photos without an accreditation , only the publication of videos and photos of law enforcement officers with captions calling for violence and hatred will be punished .
On Saturday , he wrote on his Twitter that ” It is in no way intended to accredit or authorize a journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is obviously free to do so or not.
” As journalists complain about the threat to the principle of freedom of speech , then most of the protesters fear an increase in arbitrariness of law enforcement officials .
At the same time , the threat of terrorist acts is growing , number of murders is increasing in the country , gangs and entire diasporas have got out of the control of law enforcement agencies .
This was confirmed by the fierce clashes between the Chechen and Arab diasporas in the summer of 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France is likely not to notice the existing threats and continues to persistently promote the neoliberal agenda , while sacrificing their own defenders .
Already in the summer , after the Black Lives Matter movement began in the US , France rushed to take action to prevent any kind of racism and sacrificed the safety of its own police officers .
French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that a racist had no right to wear the uniform of a policeman or gendarme .
The minister will not allow discrimination in the ranks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will result in suspension from service , investigation and punishment .
Policemen and gendarmes were prohibited from performing actions that are potentially life-threatening : no strangulation , pressure on the neck or the back of the head .
The police officer , betrayed by her own leadership , managed to bring Castaner to the resignation .
Also today , liberal-minded activists do not think about ensuring the safety of police officers , who are increasingly risking their lives to protect citizens .
The population unreasonably fears police brutality more than , for example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illustrative example for French citizens could be the Belorussian opposition , who deliberately spreads personal information of the law enforcement officers to expose them and their families to the prosecution .
Apparently , such a cruelty and impunity represent the unmitigated good of Western model for opposition activists .
The ensuing discussion in the French political establishment confirms the deep contradictions both among the country ’ s political elites and in society itself .
To all appearances , today ’ s obstacles are just another signal that France is not yet ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and remains to some extent committed to right-wing conservative values .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • French Leadership Fails To Admit It ’ s Doing Anything Wrong : A Summary • Washington And Paris Ask Russia To Clarify For Them Turkish Role In Karabakh

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Widespread protests are taking place in numerous world regions.
The countries in Central and Latin America, such as Peru, Guatemala, Chile, and Brazil, face mass demonstrations against existing political regimes.
Armenian defeat in the Nagorno-Karabakh region resulted in violence in Yerevan. A wave of protests came in Georgia after the parliamentary elections.
The protests do not subside in the European region. The situation in Belarus remains tense after the presidential elections in August 2020. The largest protests over the past decades took place in Poland after the introduction of a strict abortion ban.
Violent demonstrations and clashes with police are reported in Germany, amid the introduction of new restrictive measures against the COVID pandemic. The entrepreneurs go out on the streets of Spain, Ukraine, Italy, England, where the demonstrations often lead to clashes with law enforcement officers.
British police officers are detaining participants of protests against the government’s quarantine measures in Liverpool:
Police actively used water cannons to disperse protesters in Berlin:
Situation remains unstable in France, where, since mid-September, the “yellow jackets” and trade unions protested against job cuts in large employer companies.
Mass protests once again flare up in Paris and other big cities. Surprisingly, they are not related to restrictive measures or the economic consequences of the pandemic. This time, the streets are flooded with those who disagreed with the introduction of a new draft law “On global security”.
The new law prohibits the distribution on social networks and in the media of any images or videos of law enforcement officers at the time they perform their duties, according to which they can be identified. The purpose of the law project is to protect police officers from threats of persecution by Islamists, radical activists, criminals etc.
Article 24 banning filming of law enforcement officials was approved by a large majority on November 20 in the first reading by the French National Assembly. This law project provides for a fine of 45 thousand euros and a year in prison.
The day after the adoption at first reading by the Assembly of a text penalizing the malicious dissemination of images of the police officers, demonstrations took place in the center of Paris, this Saturday, November 21. Under the knockdown, about 1000 people attended the first protests in Paris, but even such a small rally turned into clashes with the police, who were forced to use water cannons and tear gas. Similar demonstrations were held in other cities: Toulouse, Bordeaux, Rennes, Lille.
During the protests on November 22, at least 23 participants were arrested. Some people, including police officers, were injured.
At the same time, some videos demonstrate police support for the protesters. The offiers take off their helmets and show their faces.
The demonstrators are ambiguous about the consequences of the adoption of such a law.
The provisions of the draft law threaten the free information of the population and the freedom of press. Journalists do not support this law project because it prevents them from freely reporting on protests or other events where the police are involved. Discontent with journalists in France turned into an acute phase after several journalists were detained at a demonstration on Tuesday, one of them was detained for 12 hours.
La jeune femme est palpée (chevilles) à l'abri des regards. Les policiers sont venus vers moi : "si vous ne circulez pas dans 30 secondes vous êtes interpellée, ce sont les ordres". pic.twitter.com/zJkvwodvaU — Meriem Laribi (@Meriem_Laribi) November 21, 2020
The reaction of the Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanen, was not long in coming. The next day, he stated that media personnel must be accredited for each manifestation in order to be able to freely cover the event on the spot. Later, he said that anyone can film and take photos without an accreditation, only the publication of videos and photos of law enforcement officers with captions calling for violence and hatred will be punished. On Saturday, he wrote on his Twitter that ” It is in no way intended to accredit or authorize a journalist to cover an event: each journalist is obviously free to do so or not.”
Il n’est en aucun cas prévu d’accréditer ou d’autoriser un journaliste à couvrir une manifestation : chaque journaliste est évidemment libre de le faire ou non.
Aucun changement n’a eu lieu et n’aura lieu. — Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) November 21, 2020
As journalists complain about the threat to the principle of freedom of speech, then most of the protesters fear an increase in arbitrariness of law enforcement officials.
At the same time, the threat of terrorist acts is growing, number of murders is increasing in the country, gangs and entire diasporas have got out of the control of law enforcement agencies. This was confirmed by the fierce clashes between the Chechen and Arab diasporas in the summer of 2020.
La voiture qui a foncé dans la foule à #dijon #Tchetchene pic.twitter.com/kFtvH2GQlx — Pierre Sautarel (@FrDesouche) June 14, 2020
However, the very population of France is likely not to notice the existing threats and continues to persistently promote the neoliberal agenda, while sacrificing their own defenders.
Already in the summer, after the Black Lives Matter movement began in the US, France rushed to take action to prevent any kind of racism and sacrificed the safety of its own police officers.
French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that a racist had no right to wear the uniform of a policeman or gendarme. The minister will not allow discrimination in the ranks of the law enforcement officers, any case will result in suspension from service, investigation and punishment. Policemen and gendarmes were prohibited from performing actions that are potentially life-threatening: no strangulation, pressure on the neck or the back of the head. The police officer, betrayed by her own leadership, managed to bring Castaner to the resignation.
Also today, liberal-minded activists do not think about ensuring the safety of police officers, who are increasingly risking their lives to protect citizens. The population unreasonably fears police brutality more than, for example, the growing terrorist threat.
An illustrative example for French citizens could be the Belorussian opposition, who deliberately spreads personal information of the law enforcement officers to expose them and their families to the prosecution. Apparently, such a cruelty and impunity represent the unmitigated good of Western model for opposition activists.
The ensuing discussion in the French political establishment confirms the deep contradictions both among the country’s political elites and in society itself. To all appearances, today’s obstacles are just another signal that France is not yet ready to blindly follow a neoliberal, individualistic agenda and remains to some extent committed to right-wing conservative values.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-11-23--U.S. Navy Began Fielding Submarine-Launched Unmanned Aerial Systems (SLUAS) In September 2020

The US Navy has developed and demonstrated a submarine-launched unmanned aerial system ( SLUAS ) .
It is to be used for beyond line-of-sight targeting solutions , and it was deployed in September 2020 .
Rear Adm. Dave Goggins , program executive officer for Submarines , speaking November 18th in a webinar for the annual symposium of the Naval Submarine League , said the SLUAS was “ a pretty awesome capability to provide to the fleet.
” Goggins said in a PowerPoint briefing that mid-tier acquisition authorities approved in March 2019 were used to begin the project in May 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 2020 .
Initial operational capability was achieved in September .
Only eight months after the project was started , the Navy conducted an at-sea demonstration of the SLUAS from the Los Angeles-class SSN USS Annapolis , launching them “ from periscope depth , control them out to tactically significant ranges — well beyond the line of sight , ” Goggins said .
Another demonstration was conducted against a surface ship and a land site .
So far , 21 SLUAS UAVs have been employed in demonstrations .
The Defense Innovation Unit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce cost and enhance capability , completed final flyoffs in July .
The characteristics and appearance of the SLUAS UAV are unknown , as well as its “ non-core ” parent developer and manufacturer .
In 2016 , the US Navy signed a contract with AeroVironment for the purchase of its Blackwing UAVs for deployment on submarines .
However , there was no information about the development of this program , and this could be a potentially entirely different program .
In addition , on November 3 , 2020 , the US Navy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry to create another SLUAS system – a miniature UAV capable of launching from submarines from a standard 3-inch ( 76.2 mm ) device for launching signal flares – Signal System Ejector ( SSE ) .
Such a device must be in the air for at least an hour , have a range within the radio horizon and have a secure data transmission channel .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Navy Secretary Urges Creation Of New US ‘ 1st Fleet ’ To Deter China In Indian Ocean • Navy Pushes Ahead With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia ’ In Wake Of Esper Firing

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The US Navy has developed and demonstrated a submarine-launched unmanned aerial system (SLUAS).
It is to be used for beyond line-of-sight targeting solutions, and it was deployed in September 2020.
Rear Adm. Dave Goggins, program executive officer for Submarines, speaking November 18th in a webinar for the annual symposium of the Naval Submarine League, said the SLUAS was “a pretty awesome capability to provide to the fleet.”
Goggins said in a PowerPoint briefing that mid-tier acquisition authorities approved in March 2019 were used to begin the project in May 2019.
Three demonstrations were conducted in 2019 and 2020. Initial operational capability was achieved in September.
Only eight months after the project was started, the Navy conducted an at-sea demonstration of the SLUAS from the Los Angeles-class SSN USS Annapolis, launching them “from periscope depth, control them out to tactically significant ranges — well beyond the line of sight,” Goggins said.
“By doing so she was able to target and conduct a rapid simulated torpedo attack against a participating surface ship, in case the USS Charleston, pretty much at near-maximum effective range of that torpedo, by flying that UAV to obtain a fire-point solution after gaining that initial sonar gain.”
Another demonstration was conducted against a surface ship and a land site. So far, 21 SLUAS UAVs have been employed in demonstrations.
The Defense Innovation Unit, which partnered with non-traditional industry companies to reduce cost and enhance capability, completed final flyoffs in July.
“I have five SLUAS shipsets in the fleet today and we will continue to deliver this capability,” Goggins said. “We’re really working on the evolution of that capability going forward.”
The characteristics and appearance of the SLUAS UAV are unknown, as well as its “non-core” parent developer and manufacturer.
In 2016, the US Navy signed a contract with AeroVironment for the purchase of its Blackwing UAVs for deployment on submarines.
However, there was no information about the development of this program, and this could be a potentially entirely different program.
In addition, on November 3, 2020, the US Navy issued a Request For Information to the industry to create another SLUAS system – a miniature UAV capable of launching from submarines from a standard 3-inch (76.2 mm) device for launching signal flares – Signal System Ejector (SSE). Such a device must be in the air for at least an hour, have a range within the radio horizon and have a secure data transmission channel.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-11-23--SouthFront’s Lifeline Is In Your Hands

SouthFront’s Lifeline Is In Your Hands

Thanks to your regular support , SouthFront survived in the previous months despite the large-scale censorship and pressure campaign aimed against our endeavour .
( MORE HERE ) Unfortunately , regular attacks and the increasing censorship led to particular results and damaged SouthFront .
In October and November , we were undertaking efforts to keep SouthFront alive .
This work , together with your support , allowed us to continue working even in these hard times .
But the situation is not improving and there are no indications that the pressure against SouthFront will be reduced anytime soon .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give up and continue its struggle for the freedom and justice .
However , we will not be able to do this without your continuing support .
Since November 1 , we ’ ve collected 2458 USD .
This is about 49 % 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 .
WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT , SOUTHFRONT WORK WILL NOT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PayPal , Paysafecard , Bitcoin and other options .
This systems accepts all types of cards , PayPal , Amazon Payments , bitcoin ( FAQ is under the main text , in P.S . )
You can subscribe for a monthly donation of $ 15 ( or any another amount ) OR make one time donation by clicking buttons below

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DEAR FRIENDS,
Thanks to your regular support, SouthFront survived in the previous months despite the large-scale censorship and pressure campaign aimed against our endeavour. (MORE HERE) Unfortunately, regular attacks and the increasing censorship led to particular results and damaged SouthFront.
In October and November, we were undertaking efforts to keep SouthFront alive. This work, together with your support, allowed us to continue working even in these hard times. But the situation is not improving and there are no indications that the pressure against SouthFront will be reduced anytime soon. There is no doubt that SouthFront will not give up and continue its struggle for the freedom and justice. However, we will not be able to do this without your continuing support.
THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL
Since November 1, we’ve collected 2458 USD. This is about 49% 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.
WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, SOUTHFRONT WORK WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE:
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Donate via VISA, PayPal, Paysafecard, Bitcoin and other options.
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southfront--2020-11-23--Photograph Of BMPT-72 Terminator 2 Tank Support Fighting Vehicles In Algeria

The second batch of Russian-made BMPT-72 Terminator 2 tank support fighting vehicles arrived in Algeria .
The photographs are dated @ @ @ @ @ , on November 19th , 2020 .
This was confirmed by a photograph showing a @ @ @ @ @ the type in Algeria .
This is the first image that confirm any of this @ @ @ @ @ country .
The first batch was delivered back in 2020 , and there were no @ @ @ @ @ its arrival .
The arrival of this second batch corresponds to the entry into service @ @ @ @ @ tank support fighting vehicle into the combat units of the Algerian Armed Forces .
MORE @ @ @ @ @ Algeria Received First Batch Of Terminator Vehicles From Russia

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The second batch of Russian-made BMPT-72 Terminator 2 tank support fighting vehicles arrived in Algeria.
The photographs are dated around noon, local time, on November 19th, 2020.
This was confirmed by a photograph showing a tank support fighting vehicle of the type in Algeria. This is the first image that confirm any of this hardware has arrived in the country.
The first batch was delivered back in 2020, and there were no photos, only reports of its arrival.
The arrival of this second batch corresponds to the entry into service of the BMPT-72 Terminator 2 tank support fighting vehicle into the combat units of the Algerian Armed Forces.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-11-23--Israeli PM Netanyahu And Mossad Chief Cohen Secretly Met With MBS And Pompeo In The Kingdom: Israeli

Israeli PM Netanyahu And Mossad Chief Cohen Secretly Met With MBS And Pompeo In The Kingdom: Israeli Media

According to Israeli media , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen “ secretly ” flew to Saudi Arabia and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on November 22nd .
It is not confirmed , but if it is true , and not simply a rumor would mark the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials .
This would also mean that the Trump Administration is growing desperate to guarantee even further support for Israel before the Biden administration moves to take its place in January , since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Joe Biden will be in supporting Tel ’ Aviv ’ s ambitions .
Both Israel ’ s Kan public radio and Army radio reported of the visit , and it was allegedly held in Neom on Saudi Arabia ’ s Red Sea coast .
According to Israeli daily Haaretz , aviation tracking data showed that a private jet had made a brief trip from Tel Aviv to Neom , where MBS and Pompeo had a scheduled meeting on November 22nd .
A Gulfstream IV private jet took off just after 17:40 GMT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to data from website FlightRadar24.com .
The flight traveled south along the eastern edge of the Sinai Peninsula before turning toward Neom and landing just after 18:30 GMT , according to the data .
The flight took off from Neom around 21:50 GMT and followed the same route back to Tel Aviv .
Flight-tracking websites showed that the plane was grounded for approximately two hours before it returned to Israel about half an hour past midnight .
The jet , according to Haaretz , is the same private plane Netanyahu took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Vladimir Putin .
Over the same weekend , Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said his country has “ supported normalization with Israel for a long time , but one very important thing must happen first : a permanent and full peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians ” .
During a meeting with the Saudi foreign minister in October 2020 , Pompeo had urged the Saudis to consider normalizing relations with Israel .
It is unknown if there would be a normalization deal , but if true these reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ openly willing to , possibly , work together .
As two of the key US ’ allies , it ’ s been no secret that they ’ ve cooperated together behind the scenes in the past .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Stir The Pot One Last Time ?
Trump ’ s Potential Order Of “ Farewell Strike ” On Iran • Israel Warns Of Coming War With Iran If Biden Wins As Trump Calls

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According to Israeli media, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen “secretly” flew to Saudi Arabia and met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on November 22nd.
It is not confirmed, but if it is true, and not simply a rumor would mark the first known encounter between senior Israeli and Saudi officials.
“Gantz does politics while the prime minister makes peace,” Netanyahu spokesman Topaz Luk tweeted.
This would also mean that the Trump Administration is growing desperate to guarantee even further support for Israel before the Biden administration moves to take its place in January, since it is unclear how active incoming US President Joe Biden will be in supporting Tel’Aviv’s ambitions.
Both Israel’s Kan public radio and Army radio reported of the visit, and it was allegedly held in Neom on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.
According to Israeli daily Haaretz, aviation tracking data showed that a private jet had made a brief trip from Tel Aviv to Neom, where MBS and Pompeo had a scheduled meeting on November 22nd.
A Gulfstream IV private jet took off just after 17:40 GMT from Ben-Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, according to data from website FlightRadar24.com. The flight traveled south along the eastern edge of the Sinai Peninsula before turning toward Neom and landing just after 18:30 GMT, according to the data.
The flight took off from Neom around 21:50 GMT and followed the same route back to Tel Aviv.
Flight-tracking websites showed that the plane was grounded for approximately two hours before it returned to Israel about half an hour past midnight.
The jet, according to Haaretz, is the same private plane Netanyahu took several times for his visits to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Over the same weekend, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said his country has “supported normalization with Israel for a long time, but one very important thing must happen first: a permanent and full peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians”.
During a meeting with the Saudi foreign minister in October 2020, Pompeo had urged the Saudis to consider normalizing relations with Israel.
“We hope Saudi Arabia will consider normalizing its relationships as well, and we want to thank them for the assistance they’ve had in the success of the Abraham Accords so far,” Pompeo said.
It is unknown if there would be a normalization deal, but if true these reports mean that Israel and Saudi Arabia are openly willing to, possibly, work together. As two of the key US’ allies, it’s been no secret that they’ve cooperated together behind the scenes in the past.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-11-23--Photo Of Russia’s First Ever Prototype Of S-70 Okhotnik Heavy Strike Drone, Alongside Su-57 Fighter

Photo Of Russia’s First Ever Prototype Of S-70 Okhotnik Heavy Strike Drone, Alongside Su-57 Fighter Jet Released

On November 22nd , a photograph was shared online , showing a S-70 Okhotnik-B ( Hunter-B ) , presumably the very first prototype demonstrator of the Russian heavy reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle .
The photograph was taken back in October at the 929th V.P .
Chkalov State Flight Test Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in Akhtubinsk .
It is , as can be seen , next to a Russian Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet .
After a short lull in news , back in October , the Sukhoi company posted on the public procurement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ creation of a ground control center ( NPU-70 ) to ensure the development of the S-70 Okhotnik-B strike UAV .
In accordance with the tender application , it is planned to allocate 2.25 billion rubles ( approx .
$ 30 million ) for this work by September 30th , 2025 .
The documents indicate that the NPU-70 developer must take part in the manufacture of the third and fourth prototypes of the “ Okhotnik ” .
Back then , it was confirmed that one drone has been built .
It is , almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the photo .
According to the draft contract , two prototypes of the NPU-70 for the development of the “ Okhotnik ” should be handed over to the customer in mid-2021 , the third in January 2022 .
Preliminary state testing of products is planned to be completed by the end of 2023 , and the full volume of GSE is to be completed by October 2025 , after which it is planned to start organizing mass production .
Also , the public procurement portal published data from several more tenders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense – the total cost of these works exceeds 2 billion rubles .
All contracts are due in September 2025 .
Thus , more than 4 billion rubles will be spent on the continuation of work on the creation of the heavy attack drone S-70 “ Okhotnik ” .
The S-70 Okhotnik is Russia ’ s first heavy strike drone .
On August 3rd , 2019 , it took to the skies for the first time .
According to “ Interfax-AVN ” , in August 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slyusar , said that on the instructions of the Russian Ministry of Defense , the development of the “ Okhotnik ” would be accelerated , and deliveries to the troops should begin in 2024 .
Prior to that , it was planned to start serial deliveries from 2025 .
According to Slyusar , this is “ a drone with unprecedented capabilities , the largest combat radius , the widest range of weapons , the widest range of equipment.
” Earlier , Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Okhotnik ’ s payload was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 6,000 km , and the height was 18 km .
According to open sources , its takeoff weight is 20 tons , making it the heaviest drone currently in development .
The dimensions of the “ Okhotnik ” ( length – 19 m , wingspan – 14 m ) are comparable to the parameters of the Su-57 .
The photograph also provides some insight into that , as the drone appears quite bulky and imposing .
The UAV has a flying wing design .
Outwardly , the drone resembles the American B-2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly inferior in terms of stealth to the US aviation , it is distinguished by its high speed and maneuverability .
These are the most important characteristics , since the S-70 was developed as an addition to the Russian Su-57 fighter .
The maximum range of the UAV is 4,800 kilometers , and the speed can reach up to one thousand km/h .
The Okhotnik has a lot of free space in the fuselage , which can be used for storing fuel .
Such characteristics allow the UAV to accompany the Su-57 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of the fighter to interfere with the enemy ’ s anti-aircraft weapons .
The UAV will become a distraction and a hindrance to air defense systems .
Earlier , Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russian anti-drone systems are more effective than foreign ones .
The advantage of the complexes has been proven back in Syria .
MORE ON THE TOPIC :

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On November 22nd, a photograph was shared online, showing a S-70 Okhotnik-B (Hunter-B), presumably the very first prototype demonstrator of the Russian heavy reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle.
The photograph was taken back in October at the 929th V.P. Chkalov State Flight Test Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in Akhtubinsk.
It is, as can be seen, next to a Russian Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jet.
After a short lull in news, back in October, the Sukhoi company posted on the public procurement website information about the tender for the creation of a ground control center (NPU-70) to ensure the development of the S-70 Okhotnik-B strike UAV.
In accordance with the tender application, it is planned to allocate 2.25 billion rubles (approx. $30 million) for this work by September 30th, 2025. The documents indicate that the NPU-70 developer must take part in the manufacture of the third and fourth prototypes of the “Okhotnik”. Back then, it was confirmed that one drone has been built.
It is, almost entirely certain that it is the drone on the photo.
According to the draft contract, two prototypes of the NPU-70 for the development of the “Okhotnik” should be handed over to the customer in mid-2021, the third in January 2022.
Preliminary state testing of products is planned to be completed by the end of 2023, and the full volume of GSE is to be completed by October 2025, after which it is planned to start organizing mass production.
Also, the public procurement portal published data from several more tenders and already concluded agreements under the same state contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense – the total cost of these works exceeds 2 billion rubles.
All contracts are due in September 2025. Thus, more than 4 billion rubles will be spent on the continuation of work on the creation of the heavy attack drone S-70 “Okhotnik”.
The S-70 Okhotnik is Russia’s first heavy strike drone. On August 3rd, 2019, it took to the skies for the first time.
According to “Interfax-AVN”, in August 2020, the head of the UAC, Yuri Slyusar, said that on the instructions of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the development of the “Okhotnik” would be accelerated, and deliveries to the troops should begin in 2024. Prior to that, it was planned to start serial deliveries from 2025.
According to Slyusar, this is “a drone with unprecedented capabilities, the largest combat radius, the widest range of weapons, the widest range of equipment.”
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Okhotnik’s payload was 6 tons, the flight range was about 6,000 km, and the height was 18 km.
According to open sources, its takeoff weight is 20 tons, making it the heaviest drone currently in development. The dimensions of the “Okhotnik” (length – 19 m, wingspan – 14 m) are comparable to the parameters of the Su-57.
The photograph also provides some insight into that, as the drone appears quite bulky and imposing.
The UAV has a flying wing design. Outwardly, the drone resembles the American B-2 strategic bomber. Although the drone is slightly inferior in terms of stealth to the US aviation, it is distinguished by its high speed and maneuverability.
These are the most important characteristics, since the S-70 was developed as an addition to the Russian Su-57 fighter. The maximum range of the UAV is 4,800 kilometers, and the speed can reach up to one thousand km/h. The Okhotnik has a lot of free space in the fuselage, which can be used for storing fuel. Such characteristics allow the UAV to accompany the Su-57.
If necessary, the S-70 will fly in front of the fighter to interfere with the enemy’s anti-aircraft weapons. The UAV will become a distraction and a hindrance to air defense systems.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russian anti-drone systems are more effective than foreign ones. The advantage of the complexes has been proven back in Syria.
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southfront--2020-11-23--Artsakh President Thanks Putin For Help In Ending Karabakh War, Russian Defense Minister Visits Azer

Artsakh President Thanks Putin For Help In Ending Karabakh War, Russian Defense Minister Visits Azerbaijan

On November 22nd , all Russian observation posts are active in Nagorno-Karabakh .
Peacekeeping efforts are separated in 23 observation posts in the zones of responsibility “ South ” – at twelve , “ North ” – at eleven .
The return of refugees is being monitored .
1,718 refugees returned to Nagorno-Karabakh from the territory of Armenia .
Since November 14 , 2020 , 8,895 people have returned to their former residences with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers .
The first humanitarian convoy of the Russian EMERCOM arrived in Stepanakert to provide assistance to the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of construction materials were delivered : 627 m2 of glass and 40 m3 of lumber .
More than 100 specialists from the International Mine Action Center of the Russian Ministry of Defense went to de-mine Nagorno-Karabakh .
A video of the deployment was shared : On November 21st , Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and met with President Ilham Aliyev .
Sergei Shoigu informed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev about the deployment of the Russian contingent of peacekeeping forces in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am grateful to You for taking the time to meet with us to discuss urgent , issues .
Time is moving dynamically fast after the adoption of the statement by the leaders of the heads of state of Russia , Armenia and Azerbaijan , ” Sergei Shoigu said .
“ I believe that not much time has passed since the historic statement , but the peacekeeping forces have already taken the positions that were determined , at 23 posts .
The main highways have been taken under control to ensure security on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refugees has begun .
All the work that has been established to date , of course , gives results .
During this time , the ceasefire is being observed , and I am confident that it will continue to be so , ” the Russian Defence Minister said .
The President of Azerbaijan highly appreciated Russia ’ s efforts to stabilize the situation and the actions of Russian peacekeepers in the region .
“ We will discuss issues related to the implementation of the trilateral statement signed by the presidents of Russia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In our opinion , the provisions of the statement are being implemented successfully and this once again demonstrates the readiness of both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides to put an end to the long-standing conflict and reach a political settlement , ” the head of Azerbaijan said .
“ I would like to express my gratitude to you , as well as to the Russian leadership , President Vladimir Putin , for your active participation in the preparation and adoption of this important document , ” Ilham Aliyev said .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed gratitude to Putin for his assistance in ending the war .
His entire statement is below : “ Thanks to the efforts and actions taken by the top leadership of the Russian Federation , it was possible to stop the bloodshed in the zone of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict .
We express our gratitude to the Russian Federation and special gratitude to the President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for mediating efforts to stabilize the situation and for the assistance provided in the ceasefire and the end of the war , the restoration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation , Russian peacekeeping forces were brought into the territory of our Republic .
As of today , the Russian peacekeeping contingent has completed its deployment and has begun to fulfill the tasks assigned to it , becoming an important stabilizing factor in the difficult situation around our republic .
Effective cooperation has already been established with the command staff of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh , headed by Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov .
The fulfillment of the main tasks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our citizens requires high professionalism and resilience from the personnel of the peacekeeping contingent , which is sometimes associated with a risk to life .
On behalf of our people , I would like to express my gratitude for the work done and efforts made to stabilize the situation , create favorable conditions for establishing and maintaining peace , and solving various problems .
Highly assessing the contribution and efforts of the Russian Federation to stabilize the situation , I would like to express my special gratitude for the caring attitude towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the humanitarian assistance provided and active participation in the restoration and development of the Republic of Artsakh .
An Interdepartmental Humanitarian Response Center is being established to help resolve humanitarian issues and restore civilian infrastructure .
By order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation , five more centers will be additionally formed as part of the Interdepartmental Center for Humanitarian Response in Nagorno-Karabakh to solve the entire range of humanitarian tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh .
Russian servicemen accompany our citizens who had previously left the conflict zone and ensure the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The first humanitarian convoy of the Emergencies Ministry has already arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh .
We also express our gratitude to the President of the Russian Federation for his personal active efforts to protect objects of historical and cultural heritage , religious shrines on the territory of the Republic of Artsakh , which are important both for our people and for preserving the identity of various cultures in the world heritage.
” Finally , things appear to be going without a hitch , but that is not entirely true , as videos were shared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are two videos showing the incident .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Turkey Is Settling Families Of Syrian Mercenaries In Karabakh – Report

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On November 22nd, all Russian observation posts are active in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Peacekeeping efforts are separated in 23 observation posts in the zones of responsibility “South” – at twelve, “North” – at eleven.
The return of refugees is being monitored.
1,718 refugees returned to Nagorno-Karabakh from the territory of Armenia. Since November 14, 2020, 8,895 people have returned to their former residences with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers.
The first humanitarian convoy of the Russian EMERCOM arrived in Stepanakert to provide assistance to the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, accompanied by Russian peacekeepers. 45 tons of construction materials were delivered: 627 m2 of glass and 40 m3 of lumber.
More than 100 specialists from the International Mine Action Center of the Russian Ministry of Defense went to de-mine Nagorno-Karabakh. A video of the deployment was shared:
On November 21st, Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu paid a working visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan and met with President Ilham Aliyev.
Sergei Shoigu informed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev about the deployment of the Russian contingent of peacekeeping forces in Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Dear Mr. President, I am grateful to You for taking the time to meet with us to discuss urgent, issues. Time is moving dynamically fast after the adoption of the statement by the leaders of the heads of state of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan,” Sergei Shoigu said. “I believe that not much time has passed since the historic statement, but the peacekeeping forces have already taken the positions that were determined, at 23 posts. The main highways have been taken under control to ensure security on the contact line. The return of refugees has begun. All the work that has been established to date, of course, gives results. During this time, the ceasefire is being observed, and I am confident that it will continue to be so,” the Russian Defence Minister said.
The President of Azerbaijan highly appreciated Russia’s efforts to stabilize the situation and the actions of Russian peacekeepers in the region.
“We will discuss issues related to the implementation of the trilateral statement signed by the presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Armenia. In our opinion, the provisions of the statement are being implemented successfully and this once again demonstrates the readiness of both the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides to put an end to the long-standing conflict and reach a political settlement,” the head of Azerbaijan said. “I would like to express my gratitude to you, as well as to the Russian leadership, President Vladimir Putin, for your active participation in the preparation and adoption of this important document,” Ilham Aliyev said.
In a rare admission, Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan expressed gratitude to Putin for his assistance in ending the war. His entire statement is below:
“Thanks to the efforts and actions taken by the top leadership of the Russian Federation, it was possible to stop the bloodshed in the zone of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict. We express our gratitude to the Russian Federation and special gratitude to the President of Russia Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for mediating efforts to stabilize the situation and for the assistance provided in the ceasefire and the end of the war, the restoration of peace and stability in our region. In accordance with the decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Russian peacekeeping forces were brought into the territory of our Republic. As of today, the Russian peacekeeping contingent has completed its deployment and has begun to fulfill the tasks assigned to it, becoming an important stabilizing factor in the difficult situation around our republic. Effective cooperation has already been established with the command staff of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh, headed by Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov. The fulfillment of the main tasks of maintaining peace, stability and security of our citizens requires high professionalism and resilience from the personnel of the peacekeeping contingent, which is sometimes associated with a risk to life. On behalf of our people, I would like to express my gratitude for the work done and efforts made to stabilize the situation, create favorable conditions for establishing and maintaining peace, and solving various problems. Highly assessing the contribution and efforts of the Russian Federation to stabilize the situation, I would like to express my special gratitude for the caring attitude towards the fate of the people of Artsakh, the humanitarian assistance provided and active participation in the restoration and development of the Republic of Artsakh. An Interdepartmental Humanitarian Response Center is being established to help resolve humanitarian issues and restore civilian infrastructure. By order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, five more centers will be additionally formed as part of the Interdepartmental Center for Humanitarian Response in Nagorno-Karabakh to solve the entire range of humanitarian tasks in Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian servicemen accompany our citizens who had previously left the conflict zone and ensure the safety of convoys with humanitarian supplies. The first humanitarian convoy of the Emergencies Ministry has already arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh. We also express our gratitude to the President of the Russian Federation for his personal active efforts to protect objects of historical and cultural heritage, religious shrines on the territory of the Republic of Artsakh, which are important both for our people and for preserving the identity of various cultures in the world heritage.”
Finally, things appear to be going without a hitch, but that is not entirely true, as videos were shared of Azerbaijani soldiers humiliating captured Armenian personnel. There are two videos showing the incident.
Second part of the video above. Azeri soldiers humiliating captured Armenian soldiers. A valid sample of the society the dictatorship in Baku has put together over decades. pic.twitter.com/4LlAN7hQ4n — 301?? (@301_AD) November 23, 2020
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southfront--2020-11-23--French Leadership Fails To Admit It’s Doing Anything Wrong: A Summary

In recent weeks , French President Emmanuel Macron , as well as other French officials have lost no time on blaming most ( if not all ) of France ’ s problems on various reasons .
These include , but are not limited to : Islamists , Turkey , Russia , Pakistan , Russian journalists , French pogromists , the post-colonial past .
Notably , a misguided policy of “ rescuing ” terrorists and these same “ former terrorists ” organizing “ terror attacks ” remains unmentioned .
The questionable leadership that led to months of protests in 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are some of the complaints by French official in the weeks leading up to November 23rd .
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that Pakistani Human Rights Minister Shirin Mazari stop comparing the French President to the Nazis .
The French authorities called the Pakistani official ’ s statements that Macron ’ s actions towards Muslims in France resembled what the Nazis did with Jews “ shocking ” and “ offensive ” .
The French Foreign Ministry strongly condemned such comparisons and called on Pakistan to immediately “ correct ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ Pakistan ” above .
Now , for the “ Russia ” and “ Turkey ” .
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned , as he put it , “ the strategy pursued by Russia and Turkey to incite anti-French sentiment in Africa.
” The French leader said this in an interview with the Jeune Afrique newspaper .
The pesky “ Russian journalists ” next .
Not so much French , as French journalists working for “ the enemy ” – RT .
French police during a demonstration in Paris against the law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibits filming police officers , threatened to bring RT France journalist Mériem Laribi to justice .
Police in Paris threatened to bring RT France journalist to justice After the crowd began to disperse from the Trocadero square , the journalist RT France witnessed the arrest of a woman .
The journalist showed her “ press ” ID , while she did not take pictures .
Then she began filming from a decent distance , without interfering with the work of the police , but a policeman approached her and threatened to bring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremism ” as the premiere issue of France .
French President Emmanuel Macron proposed to the French Council of Muslim Faith ( CFCM ) within 15 days to adopt a charter of republican values , including a strict separation of religion from the state and school , specially prepared by the government in the framework of curbing Islamic extremism .
Muslim leaders in France have agreed to establish a National Council of Imams , whose members will receive official accreditation to preach .
In the event of a violation of the terms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charter says Islam is a religion , not a political movement .
It also prohibits any foreign interference in the activities of Muslim communities .
On November 18th , at the Elysee Palace , President Macron and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen met with eight CFCM leaders .
“ Two principles will be written in black and white [ in the charter ] : renunciation of politicized Islam and any foreign interference , ” a government source told Le Parisien after the meeting .
The meeting also agreed on the formation of the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced new measures to tackle what he calls Islamic separatism in France .
These will include , among others : • Restrictions on homeschooling and harsher penalties for those who intimidate government officials under the guise of religion ; • Assigning an ID number to each child to make sure they are attending school .
Homeschooling , currently allowed in France , will be banned from next school year .
Parents will face punishment up to six months in prison and heavy fines for violation ; • The prohibition on the dissemination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strangers to find a person and harm him .
This also appears somewhat in line with Pakistan ’ s accusation that Macron is treating Muslims similarly to how a Nazi treated Jews back in the day .
He stopped short of some sort of marking , mostly cause an ID number is more than enough .
Needless to say who else used such a system .
It is fashionable to have pogromists now , and counter them effectively .
In Paris , a rally held at the National Assembly building on Boulevard Saint-Germain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police used tear gas and water cannons , more than thirty people were detained , 10 were injured .
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen then condemned the actions of the “ pogromists ” , accusing them of exerting “ unacceptable pressure ” on the deputies considering the law .
“ We live in a democracy , parliamentarians can not act under pressure , ” the minister said .
At the same time , “ deep concern ” about the new law has already been expressed by the Office of the UN High Commissioner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights activists have applied .
Claire Edon , the chief ombudsman of France ( Défenseur des droits ) , also spoke out against the adoption of a measure banning the dissemination of images of law enforcement officers , urging not to accept Article 24. declare that they will keep this measure .
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs assured that she was only called to “ protect the police and gendarmes ” ( who in recent years have increasingly become victims of attacks ) , but “ in no case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of speech .
And this came nearly 4 months after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko proposed to mediate the situation between Macron and the Muslims and solve the issue .
After all , “ the last dictator ” in Europe can ’ t know anything in order to peacefully coexist with Muslims .
And what the French government is doing appears to be working swimmingly .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Bangladesh Group Gives Government 24 Hours To Shutter French Embassy In Dhaka

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In recent weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as other French officials have lost no time on blaming most (if not all) of France’s problems on various reasons.
These include, but are not limited to: Islamists, Turkey, Russia, Pakistan, Russian journalists, French pogromists, the post-colonial past.
Notably, a misguided policy of “rescuing” terrorists and these same “former terrorists” organizing “terror attacks” remains unmentioned.
The questionable leadership that led to months of protests in 2019, is also unmentioned.
Regardless, below are some of the complaints by French official in the weeks leading up to November 23rd.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded that Pakistani Human Rights Minister Shirin Mazari stop comparing the French President to the Nazis.
The French authorities called the Pakistani official’s statements that Macron’s actions towards Muslims in France resembled what the Nazis did with Jews “shocking” and “offensive”.
The French Foreign Ministry strongly condemned such comparisons and called on Pakistan to immediately “correct” the statements of its minister.
This covered the “Pakistan” above.
Now, for the “Russia” and “Turkey”.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned, as he put it, “the strategy pursued by Russia and Turkey to incite anti-French sentiment in Africa.” The French leader said this in an interview with the Jeune Afrique newspaper.
According to Macron, “a strategy is at work, sometimes led by African leaders, but primarily by foreign powers such as Russia or Turkey, which are playing on post-colonial resentment.” “We shouldn’t be naive. Many of those who make the video, who are present in the French-language media, are sponsored by Russia or Turkey.”
The pesky “Russian journalists” next. Not so much French, as French journalists working for “the enemy” – RT.
French police during a demonstration in Paris against the law “On global security”, which prohibits filming police officers, threatened to bring RT France journalist Mériem Laribi to justice.
Police in Paris threatened to bring RT France journalist to justice
After the crowd began to disperse from the Trocadero square, the journalist RT France witnessed the arrest of a woman. The journalist showed her “press” ID, while she did not take pictures.
Then she began filming from a decent distance, without interfering with the work of the police, but a policeman approached her and threatened to bring to justice.
“If you do not leave within 30 seconds, you will be arrested, that is the order,” he said.
Macron wanting to counter “extremism” as the premiere issue of France.
French President Emmanuel Macron proposed to the French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM) within 15 days to adopt a charter of republican values, including a strict separation of religion from the state and school, specially prepared by the government in the framework of curbing Islamic extremism.
Muslim leaders in France have agreed to establish a National Council of Imams, whose members will receive official accreditation to preach. In the event of a violation of the terms, this accreditation may be revoked.
The charter says Islam is a religion, not a political movement. It also prohibits any foreign interference in the activities of Muslim communities.
On November 18th, at the Elysee Palace, President Macron and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen met with eight CFCM leaders.
“Two principles will be written in black and white [in the charter]: renunciation of politicized Islam and any foreign interference,” a government source told Le Parisien after the meeting.
The meeting also agreed on the formation of the National Council of Imams.
President Macron also announced new measures to tackle what he calls Islamic separatism in France. These will include, among others:
Restrictions on homeschooling and harsher penalties for those who intimidate government officials under the guise of religion; Assigning an ID number to each child to make sure they are attending school. Homeschooling, currently allowed in France, will be banned from next school year. Parents will face punishment up to six months in prison and heavy fines for violation; The prohibition on the dissemination of personal data in a way that allows strangers to find a person and harm him.
“We must protect our children from the clutches of the Islamists,” Gerald Darmanin commented on the new bill to Le Figaro on Wednesday. The bill will be discussed at a meeting of the French cabinet on December 9th.
This also appears somewhat in line with Pakistan’s accusation that Macron is treating Muslims similarly to how a Nazi treated Jews back in the day. He stopped short of some sort of marking, mostly cause an ID number is more than enough. Needless to say who else used such a system.
The “pogromists” – a word made popular by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
It is fashionable to have pogromists now, and counter them effectively.
In Paris, a rally held at the National Assembly building on Boulevard Saint-Germain then led to violent clashes, the police used tear gas and water cannons, more than thirty people were detained, 10 were injured.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen then condemned the actions of the “pogromists”, accusing them of exerting “unacceptable pressure” on the deputies considering the law. “We live in a democracy, parliamentarians cannot act under pressure,” the minister said.
At the same time, “deep concern” about the new law has already been expressed by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to which French human rights activists have applied. Claire Edon, the chief ombudsman of France (Défenseur des droits), also spoke out against the adoption of a measure banning the dissemination of images of law enforcement officers, urging not to accept Article 24. declare that they will keep this measure.
The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs assured that she was only called to “protect the police and gendarmes” (who in recent years have increasingly become victims of attacks), but “in no case” to limit the right to freedom of speech.
And this came nearly 4 months after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko proposed to mediate the situation between Macron and the Muslims and solve the issue.
After all, “the last dictator” in Europe can’t know anything in order to peacefully coexist with Muslims. And what the French government is doing appears to be working swimmingly.
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southfront--2020-11-23--Houthi Quds-2 Missile Reportedly Strikes Saudi Aramco Facility in Jeddah

On November 23rd , the Ansar Allah movement ( Yemen ’ s Houthi ) claimed that they had fired a missile at a Saudi Aramco oil facility in the city of Jeddah , and successfully struck it .
There is a video purportedly showing the strike .
A Houthi military spokesman , Yahya Sarea , said the attack was carried out with a Quds-2 type winged missile .
He also posted a satellite image with the label “ north Jeddah bulk plant-Saudi Aramco ” .
Google Maps shows a facility matching that image and description on the northern outskirts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accurate , and ambulances and fire engines rushed to the target , ” Sarea said .
Saudi Arabia hasn ’ t confirmed the claim made by the group ’ s military spokesman , who warned foreign companies and residents in Saudi to exercise caution as “ operations will continue ” .
Aramco ’ s oil production and export facilities are mostly in Saudi ’ s Eastern Province , more than 1,000 km across the country from Jeddah .
State oil giant Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14th , 2019 , Saudi Aramco reported fires at its Abqaiq and Khurais facilities .
At the time , about 200 people were in the Khurais facility , according to Aramco officials .
The fires were contained a few hours later , according to officials .
They said no one died in the incidents , though they left unclear whether anyone was injured in the attack .
Several unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAVs or drones ) were reported to be involved .
A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were used .
Both the US and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the attack , while the Houthis actually claimed responsibility .
In recent days in November 2020 , the Houthis have been pushing the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen , and they don ’ t appear held back , whatsoever .
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On November 23rd, the Ansar Allah movement (Yemen’s Houthi) claimed that they had fired a missile at a Saudi Aramco oil facility in the city of Jeddah, and successfully struck it.
There is a video purportedly showing the strike.
A Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said the attack was carried out with a Quds-2 type winged missile.
He also posted a satellite image with the label “north Jeddah bulk plant-Saudi Aramco”. Google Maps shows a facility matching that image and description on the northern outskirts of Jeddah. “The strike was very accurate, and ambulances and fire engines rushed to the target,” Sarea said.
بعون الله وتأييده تمكنت القوة الصاروخية من استهداف محطة توزيع أرامكو في جدة بصاروخ مجنح نوع قدس 2 والذي دخل الخدمة مؤخرا بعد تجارب عملانية ناجحة في العمق السعودي لم يعلن عنها بعد،
وبفضل الله كانت الإصابة دقيقة جدا وهرعت سيارات الإسعاف والإطفاء إلى المكان المستهدف. pic.twitter.com/3xooqUQfLv — العميد يحيى سريع (@army21ye) November 23, 2020
Saudi Arabia hasn’t confirmed the claim made by the group’s military spokesman, who warned foreign companies and residents in Saudi to exercise caution as “operations will continue”.
Aramco’s oil production and export facilities are mostly in Saudi’s Eastern Province, more than 1,000 km across the country from Jeddah.
State oil giant Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
More than a year ago, on September 14th, 2019, Saudi Aramco reported fires at its Abqaiq and Khurais facilities. At the time, about 200 people were in the Khurais facility, according to Aramco officials. The fires were contained a few hours later, according to officials. They said no one died in the incidents, though they left unclear whether anyone was injured in the attack.
Several unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones) were reported to be involved. A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, stated that 25 drones and missiles were used.
Both the US and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the attack, while the Houthis actually claimed responsibility.
In recent days in November 2020, the Houthis have been pushing the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, and they don’t appear held back, whatsoever.
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southfront--2020-11-23--Ethiopian PM Gave Tigray Rebels 72 Hours To Surrender

On November 22 , Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave the Tigray People ’ s Liberation Front ( TPLF ) 72 hours to surrender before the Ethiopian military launch an attack on the city of Mekelle , the capital of the northern region .
Abiy ordered a military operation against the TPLF in Tigray on November 4 , following an attack on military positions of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces ( ENDF ) .
In his message , Abiy said the first and second phase of the ENDF operation in Tigray , which were meant to contain and weaken the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The PM also called on the residents of Mekelle to support government forces .
“ We call upon the people of Mekelle to play a key role in bringing this treasonous group to justice by standing in solidarity with the national defence force in this law enforcement action , ” Abiy said .
“ No lives should be lost and no property should be destroyed for the sake of a few greedy individuals that are seeking irnpunity using their own people as human shields.
” In the last few days , the ENDF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after recapturing several areas from the TPLF , which sustained heavy losses .
Earlier today , a spokesman for the ENDF said the advancing Ethiopian troops want to surround Mekelle with tanks and may shell the city to force surrender .
PM Abiy ’ s time limit will likely escalate the clashes in Tigary , where the TPLF is still holding vast areas .
The battle in the region is still far from over and may go on for weeks , if not months .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Ethiopian Military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Province Amid Heavy Clashes With Local Forces ( Map Update ) • Tigray ’ s Forces Reportedly Bombed Nearby Region ’ s City , Vow To Keep Fighting Even If Capital Falls

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On November 22, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) 72 hours to surrender before the Ethiopian military launch an attack on the city of Mekelle, the capital of the northern region.
“We urge you to surrender peacefully within 72 hours, recognizing that you are at the point of no return,” Abiy said in a message posted on Twitter.
Abiy ordered a military operation against the TPLF in Tigray on November 4, following an attack on military positions of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF).
In his message, Abiy said the first and second phase of the ENDF operation in Tigray, which were meant to contain and weaken the TPLF, have been largely completed. The PM also called on the residents of Mekelle to support government forces.
“We call upon the people of Mekelle to play a key role in bringing this treasonous group to justice by standing in solidarity with the national defence force in this law enforcement action,” Abiy said. “No lives should be lost and no property should be destroyed for the sake of a few greedy individuals that are seeking irnpunity using their own people as human shields.”
In the last few days, the ENDF reached Mekelle city from the eastern direction after recapturing several areas from the TPLF, which sustained heavy losses.
Ethiopian national television released footage of a destroyed T-72 in Tigray. The first documented armor loss. pic.twitter.com/eiQ5R3QkQG — Ethiopia Map (@MapEthiopia) November 22, 2020
Earlier today, a spokesman for the ENDF said the advancing Ethiopian troops want to surround Mekelle with tanks and may shell the city to force surrender.
PM Abiy’s time limit will likely escalate the clashes in Tigary, where the TPLF is still holding vast areas. The battle in the region is still far from over and may go on for weeks, if not months.
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southfront--2020-11-23--Protesters Set Fire To Congress Building In Guatemala (Video)

In Guatemala City , demonstrators stormed the Congress , set fire to the building throwing Molotov cocktails , the newspaper Prensa Libre reports .
When the fire was extinguished , the protesters started throwing stones at the building .
Some people were injured .
However , no casualties were reported as a result of the fire .
Anti-government demonstrations are taking place throughout the country .
Police was forced to use tear gas to disperse the demonstrators .
Videos of heavy clashes with police surfaced in the social networks .
The President of Guatemala , Alejandro Giamatti called on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a peaceful way .
The head of state stressed that all those involved in the pogroms will be punished in accordance with the legislation .
On November 21 , about 10,000 people were protesting in front of the National Palace in Guatemala City .
The following day , the demonstrations continue against Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature for approving a budget that cut educational and health spending the budget .
According to the protesters , the budget was negotiated and passed “ in secret ” while the country faced the fallout of hurricanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive protests also erupted in the city of São Paulo , Brazil , after security guards beat a black man to death in a supermarket .
More than 1000 demonstrators later attacked the supermarket .
People threw stones at and set fire to one of the shops .
The political situation in Peru is also unstable .
On Tuesday , the country swore in its third president in just over a week , after the wave of protests subsided on the streets of the capital , Lima .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bolivia And Latin America • COVID And Its Man-Made Gigantic Collateral Damage : The Great Reset – A Call For Civil Disobedience

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In Guatemala City, demonstrators stormed the Congress, set fire to the building throwing Molotov cocktails, the newspaper Prensa Libre reports.
When the fire was extinguished, the protesters started throwing stones at the building. Some people were injured. However, no casualties were reported as a result of the fire.
Anti-government demonstrations are taking place throughout the country.
Vandals set fire to the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala because they happen to disagree with the budgetpic.twitter.com/ZtWyhu9N3e — Alfons López Tena (@alfonslopeztena) November 21, 2020
Police was forced to use tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. Videos of heavy clashes with police surfaced in the social networks.
The President of Guatemala, Alejandro Giamatti called on the protesters to defend their civil position in a peaceful way. The head of state stressed that all those involved in the pogroms will be punished in accordance with the legislation.
On November 21, about 10,000 people were protesting in front of the National Palace in Guatemala City. The following day, the demonstrations continue against Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature for approving a budget that cut educational and health spending the budget. According to the protesters, the budget was negotiated and passed “in secret” while the country faced the fallout of hurricanes and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earlier, massive protests also erupted in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, after security guards beat a black man to death in a supermarket. More than 1000 demonstrators later attacked the supermarket. People threw stones at and set fire to one of the shops.
The political situation in Peru is also unstable. On Tuesday, the country swore in its third president in just over a week, after the wave of protests subsided on the streets of the capital, Lima.
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southfront--2020-11-23--Nimrod Anti-Tank Guided Missile (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The Nimrod is an Israeli anti-tank guided weapon developed by Israel Aerospace Industries .
@ @ @ @ @ as an anti-tank missile but , it also provides standoff strike capability against a variety @ @ @ @ @ , bunkers , personnel concentrations and personnel .
Nimrod can be installed on towed launchers @ @ @ @ @ helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft .
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The Nimrod is an Israeli anti-tank guided weapon developed by Israel Aerospace Industries. The weapon is primarily designed as an anti-tank missile but, it also provides standoff strike capability against a variety of targets such as ships, bunkers, personnel concentrations and personnel. Nimrod can be installed on towed launchers, mobile ground vehicles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
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southfront--2020-11-23--Lessons Learned From Second Nagorno-Karabakh War

On November 10th , 2020 the Republic of Armenia signed a ceasefire with Azerbaijan , agreeing to hand over nearly a fifth of the territory within its sphere of influence prior to the signing .
While maintaining the Lachin corridor , as well as a passageway to Stepanakart , the former capital of the self proclaimed Artsakh Republic ; the Armenian Prime Minister , Nikol Pashinyan , was forced to accept a peace agreement returning all surrounding territories to Azeribaijani control , as well as permitting Russian Peacekeepers to set up observation posts throughout the Lachin corridor and the Nagorno-Karabakh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreement was a bloody , and largely one-sided conflict in which Azerbaijan proved once and for all that a new generation of warfare has arrived .
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union , Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the surrounding territories have been fiercely contested between Armenia and Azerbaijan .
Initially the undisputed territory of Azerbaijan , the regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh have been under the de-facto control of the Artsakh Republic , an autonomous region within the Armenian sphere of influence , since the brutal First Nagorno-Karabakh War ended in 1994 .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were displaced from the region , causing enormous friction in the years following the OSCE brokered ceasefire , as they were not permitted to return to their homes after the territorial handover took place .
While the territory surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh has remained de-jure Azerbaijani , internationally recognized to be so , the negotiations regarding their return remained fruitless for the 26 years they had been underway .
Baku , growing increasingly dissatisfied with this lack of progress , began to consider military options during the mid-2010s .
Border skirmishes became a common occurrence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops being killed and wounded in the years before the 2020 conflict .
In 2016 , a large scale flare-up in the fighting brought tensions to a fever-pitch , with more than 100 combatants being killed .
This also served as confirmation for the Azeri military that they were truly a match for Armenia .
While undesirably large casualties were suffered , the advance had been extremely rapid ; in some cases with Armenian positions being overrun in a matter of hours from the beginning of operations .
Taking note of these results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remedy them in the form of further military modernization and expansion .
Large deals between Israel and Turkey provided Baku with loitering munitions such as the IAI Harop , developed by Israel , and the Bayraktar 2 reconnaissance drone , built by Turkey .
The Azerbaijani military also began a general restructuring of their tactics , aiming for a truly multi domain capability rather than the two-dimensional operational thinking common amongst second-rate powers .
In order to make this happen , Baku increased their defense budget by more than 60 % between 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 and 2018 , the gloves finally came off on September 27th , 2020 .
Initial skirmishes along the line of contact led to the declaration of martial law in both Armenia and Azerbaijan , and the beginning stages of mobilization by the Armenian Military .
The following day , Azerbaijan began its own mobilization efforts .
Much to the consternation of the United Nations and the International Community at large , Azerbaijan did not relent and continued it ’ s offensive actions past the first skirmishes .
Following initial moderately successful counterattacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost positions , the lines became relatively static for the following days despite intense clashes between the two forces .
As early as the beginning of October , the Armenian lines began to crack .
Intense usage of long range artillery with observation drones in a forward observer role started to take their effect on Armenian manpower and morale .
Azerbaijani forces were able to advance in both the Northern and Southern sectors of fighting throughout the beginning of the month ; and following incremental Azerbaijani advances , on October 10th Russia brokered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , within a matter of hours this ceasefire fell apart and hostilities resumed across the entire front .
Throughout mid-October the advantage shifted further and further towards Azerbaijan .
The Republic of Artsakh began losing more and more territory , and the Armenian aligned military forces continued losing more and more men and equipment .
It was at this point where Azerbaijan began exerting more operational dominance on the battlefield .
By October 19th , Azerbaijani forces had occupied a significant portion of southern Artsakh , and were successfully holding their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hundreds , if not thousands of Armenians had been killed by this point , and hundreds of trucks , tanks , and other pieces of military equipment had been destroyed by Azerbaijani drones and artillery .
Following yet another unsuccessful Russia brokered ceasefire , Azerbaijani offensives resumed in the South .
Armenian and Artsakh forces were forced into a total retreat , being continuously targeted by unseen drones , loitering munitions , and shelling .
At this point the air defenses within Nagorno-Karabakh had been utterly dismantled by effective Azerbaijani use of air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Baku had previously acquired .
A notable image encapsulates the conflict by showing the moment before a Harop impacts into an S-300PS Transporter Erector Launcher .
By the beginning of November , the entire Artsakh-Iranian border had been occupied by Azerbaijani forces , and the Armenian aligned forces were on a distinct strategic backfoot .
With morale at an all time high for Azerbaijan , their forces pivoted to the Northwest to begin an offensive targeting Stepanakart , the capital of The Republic of Artsakh .
Within a matter of days , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the shattered remnants of the Armenian aligned forces hastily attempted to halt the Azerbaijani advance .
However , the Armenian forces were no longer capable of any significant impact on the battlefield , and the Armenian Prime Minister , Nikol Pashinyan , was forced to the negotiating table after the fall of Shusha , the second largest city in Nagorno Karabakh , and the last stronghold before Stepanakart .
This war is essential to take lessons from due to a number of key properties it displayed .
The usage of Unmanned Aerial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any nation not to take note of .
Unlike in prior conflicts , aerial capabilities are no longer exclusive to large powers , and can be employed to enormous effect by any military regardless of size or funding .
There is no longer an ability to fight a nation state without considering the aerial dimension of the conflict , and air defense capabilities must be high up on the priority list of any military planner .
Had the Armenian air defenses been competent and extensive , the war may have turned out significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ munitions also holds with it enormous consequences for future conflicts .
Relatively inexpensive precision guided munitions are proliferating massively , and as a result any concentrated military formation or emplacement is vulnerable from the air .
While in the past it may have sufficed to entrench military hardware to protect it , modern warfare now dictates that such two-dimensional thinking is a recipe for disaster .
Even small , lightly funded militaries are now capable of precision standoff strikes without putting their forces at risk .
The most important effect of these two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be more relegated to standoff engagements , rather than troop-on-troop kinetic fights .
If it is possible to dismantle a military without ever putting a soldier in harm ’ s way , a commander will undoubtedly choose that option .
It is likely there will be a shift from typical “ troop ” movements towards an initial battle for aerial dominance , and an attempt to attrit enemy air defenses and destroy enemy formations as quickly as possible with cheap standoff munitions , followed by what is most aptly characterized as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While ground formations are by no means useless , their role has undergone a total change .
In a conventional conflict , they no longer are most effective in their offensive capability and ability to destroy the enemy , but rather are now most useful solely to hold off an enemy ground force from being able to deny the use of a military ’ s aerial assets , and to secure territory following the dismantling of a nation ’ s military from the air .
It is blindingly clear that as soon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air to project power and destroy Armenian aligned formations , the war was as good as won .
Nikol Pashinyan had in fact been warned of this eventuality by the fourth day of the conflict , however he had failed to react accordingly .
Instead of ensuring a successful and timely mobilization of the nation , he instead issued orders to halt replacements to the front , and opted to send only volunteers to the front lines .
Acquisition of new , effective Short Range Air Defense ( SHORAD ) systems such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and instead older 9K33 “ Osa ” Short Range Air Defense systems were procured .
While simple procurement and mobilization policies would likely not alone have resulted in a victory for Armenia , it would undoubtedly have made the conflict much more difficult for the Azerbaijani military , and a more favorable peace agreement could have been achieved .
When one opts to ignore the reality of the modern battlefield in favor of political fantasy as Pashinyan has done , good men die .
The Armenian military was not equipped with the necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the result was a crushing defeat , with thousands of unnecessary casualties .
If any military seeks to win conflicts in the modern age , it must take these lessons from Nagorno-Karabkh , lest they suffer the same fate .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Armenia Is Trolling Russia , Digging Its Own Grave Around The Clock • Karabakh Rambo : Azerbaijani President Drives Armoured Vehicle In Another District Captured From Armenians

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Prepared by Thurisaz Solutions exclusively for SouthFront
On November 10th, 2020 the Republic of Armenia signed a ceasefire with Azerbaijan, agreeing to hand over nearly a fifth of the territory within its sphere of influence prior to the signing. While maintaining the Lachin corridor, as well as a passageway to Stepanakart, the former capital of the self proclaimed Artsakh Republic; the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, was forced to accept a peace agreement returning all surrounding territories to Azeribaijani control, as well as permitting Russian Peacekeepers to set up observation posts throughout the Lachin corridor and the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Leading up to this historic agreement was a bloody, and largely one-sided conflict in which Azerbaijan proved once and for all that a new generation of warfare has arrived.
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh as well as the surrounding territories have been fiercely contested between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Initially the undisputed territory of Azerbaijan, the regions surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh have been under the de-facto control of the Artsakh Republic, an autonomous region within the Armenian sphere of influence, since the brutal First Nagorno-Karabakh War ended in 1994. During this war more than 700,000 Azerbaijani civilians were displaced from the region, causing enormous friction in the years following the OSCE brokered ceasefire, as they were not permitted to return to their homes after the territorial handover took place.
While the territory surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh has remained de-jure Azerbaijani, internationally recognized to be so, the negotiations regarding their return remained fruitless for the 26 years they had been underway. Baku, growing increasingly dissatisfied with this lack of progress, began to consider military options during the mid-2010s. Border skirmishes became a common occurrence, with hundreds of Azerbaijani and Armenian troops being killed and wounded in the years before the 2020 conflict.
In 2016, a large scale flare-up in the fighting brought tensions to a fever-pitch, with more than 100 combatants being killed. This also served as confirmation for the Azeri military that they were truly a match for Armenia. While undesirably large casualties were suffered, the advance had been extremely rapid; in some cases with Armenian positions being overrun in a matter of hours from the beginning of operations. Taking note of these results, Azerbaijan’s government began to remedy them in the form of further military modernization and expansion.
Large deals between Israel and Turkey provided Baku with loitering munitions such as the IAI Harop, developed by Israel, and the Bayraktar 2 reconnaissance drone, built by Turkey. The Azerbaijani military also began a general restructuring of their tactics, aiming for a truly multi domain capability rather than the two-dimensional operational thinking common amongst second-rate powers. In order to make this happen, Baku increased their defense budget by more than 60% between 2016 and 2020.
Following further skirmishes in 2017 and 2018, the gloves finally came off on September 27th, 2020. Initial skirmishes along the line of contact led to the declaration of martial law in both Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the beginning stages of mobilization by the Armenian Military. The following day, Azerbaijan began its own mobilization efforts. Much to the consternation of the United Nations and the International Community at large, Azerbaijan did not relent and continued it’s offensive actions past the first skirmishes. Following initial moderately successful counterattacks by Armenia in an effort to retake lost positions, the lines became relatively static for the following days despite intense clashes between the two forces.
As early as the beginning of October, the Armenian lines began to crack. Intense usage of long range artillery with observation drones in a forward observer role started to take their effect on Armenian manpower and morale. Azerbaijani forces were able to advance in both the Northern and Southern sectors of fighting throughout the beginning of the month; and following incremental Azerbaijani advances, on October 10th Russia brokered an initial Ceasefire between the two sides. However, within a matter of hours this ceasefire fell apart and hostilities resumed across the entire front.
Throughout mid-October the advantage shifted further and further towards Azerbaijan. The Republic of Artsakh began losing more and more territory, and the Armenian aligned military forces continued losing more and more men and equipment. It was at this point where Azerbaijan began exerting more operational dominance on the battlefield. By October 19th, Azerbaijani forces had occupied a significant portion of southern Artsakh, and were successfully holding their gains in the north as well. Hundreds, if not thousands of Armenians had been killed by this point, and hundreds of trucks, tanks, and other pieces of military equipment had been destroyed by Azerbaijani drones and artillery.
Following yet another unsuccessful Russia brokered ceasefire, Azerbaijani offensives resumed in the South. Armenian and Artsakh forces were forced into a total retreat, being continuously targeted by unseen drones, loitering munitions, and shelling. At this point the air defenses within Nagorno-Karabakh had been utterly dismantled by effective Azerbaijani use of air assets, such as the IAI Harop that Baku had previously acquired. A notable image encapsulates the conflict by showing the moment before a Harop impacts into an S-300PS Transporter Erector Launcher.
By the beginning of November, the entire Artsakh-Iranian border had been occupied by Azerbaijani forces, and the Armenian aligned forces were on a distinct strategic backfoot. With morale at an all time high for Azerbaijan, their forces pivoted to the Northwest to begin an offensive targeting Stepanakart, the capital of The Republic of Artsakh. Within a matter of days, large scale breakthroughs had been made, as the shattered remnants of the Armenian aligned forces hastily attempted to halt the Azerbaijani advance. However, the Armenian forces were no longer capable of any significant impact on the battlefield, and the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, was forced to the negotiating table after the fall of Shusha, the second largest city in Nagorno Karabakh, and the last stronghold before Stepanakart.
This war is essential to take lessons from due to a number of key properties it displayed. The usage of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs) is impossible for any nation not to take note of. Unlike in prior conflicts, aerial capabilities are no longer exclusive to large powers, and can be employed to enormous effect by any military regardless of size or funding. There is no longer an ability to fight a nation state without considering the aerial dimension of the conflict, and air defense capabilities must be high up on the priority list of any military planner. Had the Armenian air defenses been competent and extensive, the war may have turned out significantly differently.
The employment of standoff loitering munitions also holds with it enormous consequences for future conflicts. Relatively inexpensive precision guided munitions are proliferating massively, and as a result any concentrated military formation or emplacement is vulnerable from the air. While in the past it may have sufficed to entrench military hardware to protect it, modern warfare now dictates that such two-dimensional thinking is a recipe for disaster. Even small, lightly funded militaries are now capable of precision standoff strikes without putting their forces at risk.
The most important effect of these two new factors is that wars are likely to be more relegated to standoff engagements, rather than troop-on-troop kinetic fights. If it is possible to dismantle a military without ever putting a soldier in harm’s way, a commander will undoubtedly choose that option. It is likely there will be a shift from typical “troop” movements towards an initial battle for aerial dominance, and an attempt to attrit enemy air defenses and destroy enemy formations as quickly as possible with cheap standoff munitions, followed by what is most aptly characterized as “mopping up” by ground formations.
While ground formations are by no means useless, their role has undergone a total change. In a conventional conflict, they no longer are most effective in their offensive capability and ability to destroy the enemy, but rather are now most useful solely to hold off an enemy ground force from being able to deny the use of a military’s aerial assets, and to secure territory following the dismantling of a nation’s military from the air. It is blindingly clear that as soon as Azerbaijani forces were capable of effectively utilizing the air to project power and destroy Armenian aligned formations, the war was as good as won.
Nikol Pashinyan had in fact been warned of this eventuality by the fourth day of the conflict, however he had failed to react accordingly. Instead of ensuring a successful and timely mobilization of the nation, he instead issued orders to halt replacements to the front, and opted to send only volunteers to the front lines. Acquisition of new, effective Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) systems such as the Tor-M2KM were also neglected, and instead older 9K33 “Osa” Short Range Air Defense systems were procured. While simple procurement and mobilization policies would likely not alone have resulted in a victory for Armenia, it would undoubtedly have made the conflict much more difficult for the Azerbaijani military, and a more favorable peace agreement could have been achieved.
When one opts to ignore the reality of the modern battlefield in favor of political fantasy as Pashinyan has done, good men die. The Armenian military was not equipped with the necessary tools to wage a modern war, and the result was a crushing defeat, with thousands of unnecessary casualties. If any military seeks to win conflicts in the modern age, it must take these lessons from Nagorno-Karabkh, lest they suffer the same fate.
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