southfront--2020-08-20--FSB Prevented Abduction Attempt By Ukraine’s Security Service On Russian Territory

On August 20th , the Russian security service – FSB reported that it prevented the Security Service of Ukraine ( SBU ) from abducting one of the leaders of the Eastern Ukraine ’ s people ’ s militia in Russia and taking him to Ukraine .
The name of the victim was not disclosed .
Seven defendants in the criminal case – Russian citizens – have already been arrested .
The development reportedly took place near Moscow .
The organizers and coordinators of the action were the citizens of Ukraine Andriy Baidala and Igor Mishchenko .
They allegedly acted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterintelligence department of the SBU Alexander Rusnak and the head of the fifth department of the department , Alexander Poklada .
Two groups of members of the Russian organized crime group were formed for the abduction .
They were supposed to be paid $ 200,000 for their work .
During an attempted abduction , the following Russian citizens were arrested – Makarov T.B.
, Mishchenko M.S.
, Kapkaeva O.D.
, Kormich A.M. , Pyzin M.Yu.
, Moroz E.A .
and Dolgov V.V .
They are in custody , and charges are being drawn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FSB , Andriy Baidala is known as a freelance employee of the SBU and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine , a confidant of the fifth directorate of the SBU counterintelligence department under the pseudonym Shved .
In the DPR , he is involved in several criminal cases as the organizer of terrorist attacks in Donetsk , and he is also suspected of involvement in the murder of Alexander Zakharchenko .
Russian media , such as Kommersant , contacted Igor Strelkov , who is a former official of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but he responded that he was fine and was not the victim of the abduction attempt .
The video begins with a shot of a large man in denim shorts and a red T-shirt lying on the rubble next to a black Audi station wagon .
From above , he is held by three operatives , but he does not offer resistance .
At some point , it becomes clear that the detainee ’ s shoes were removed .
The second detainee is held face down on the hood of a white Kia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no resistance .
He is told that he needs to turn his head .
Then it is shown how the detainee , already with a T-shirt pulled over his face , is allowed to get up from the car and into a gray Volkswagen minibus .
Next comes footage from another room , decorated with whitewashed clapboard .
Several people in handcuffs sign some documents .
One of them is sitting on the couch and apparently answering questions from employees , but it is difficult to understand what he is talking about .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk People ’ s Republics and even inside Russia demonstrate that the current Kiev regime is in no way interested in the real de-escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the settlement of tensions with Moscow via diplomatic measures .
As long as the Western-controlled political regime in the current form exists on the territory of Ukraine , the peace on the territory of Ukraine is unlikely and Eastern Europe is under a permanent threat of the new open military conflict in the region .
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On August 20th, the Russian security service – FSB reported that it prevented the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) from abducting one of the leaders of the Eastern Ukraine’s people’s militia in Russia and taking him to Ukraine.
The name of the victim was not disclosed. Seven defendants in the criminal case – Russian citizens – have already been arrested.
“As a result of a special operation, the FSB of the Russian Federation uncovered and suppressed an illegal action by the special services of Ukraine on the abduction on the territory of Russia and the forcible transfer to Ukraine of a citizen of the Russian Federation, one of the leaders of the Donbass people’s militia, who took an active part in hostilities against the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” the FSB press service reported.
The development reportedly took place near Moscow.
The organizers and coordinators of the action were the citizens of Ukraine Andriy Baidala and Igor Mishchenko.
They allegedly acted on the instructions of the head of the counterintelligence department of the SBU Alexander Rusnak and the head of the fifth department of the department, Alexander Poklada.
Two groups of members of the Russian organized crime group were formed for the abduction. They were supposed to be paid $200,000 for their work.
During an attempted abduction, the following Russian citizens were arrested – Makarov T.B., Mishchenko M.S., Kapkaeva O.D., Kormich A.M., Pyzin M.Yu., Moroz E.A. and Dolgov V.V. They are in custody, and charges are being drawn up against them.
According to the FSB, Andriy Baidala is known as a freelance employee of the SBU and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, a confidant of the fifth directorate of the SBU counterintelligence department under the pseudonym Shved. In the DPR, he is involved in several criminal cases as the organizer of terrorist attacks in Donetsk, and he is also suspected of involvement in the murder of Alexander Zakharchenko.
Russian media, such as Kommersant, contacted Igor Strelkov, who is a former official of the Donetsk People’s Republics, but he responded that he was fine and was not the victim of the abduction attempt.
The video begins with a shot of a large man in denim shorts and a red T-shirt lying on the rubble next to a black Audi station wagon. From above, he is held by three operatives, but he does not offer resistance. At some point, it becomes clear that the detainee’s shoes were removed.
The second detainee is held face down on the hood of a white Kia by several people. He also has no resistance.
“Tell me what to do, and I will do it,” he says.
He is told that he needs to turn his head. Then it is shown how the detainee, already with a T-shirt pulled over his face, is allowed to get up from the car and into a gray Volkswagen minibus.
Next comes footage from another room, decorated with whitewashed clapboard. Several people in handcuffs sign some documents. One of them is sitting on the couch and apparently answering questions from employees, but it is difficult to understand what he is talking about.
Aggressive actions of Ukrainian special services on the territory of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and even inside Russia demonstrate that the current Kiev regime is in no way interested in the real de-escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and the settlement of tensions with Moscow via diplomatic measures. As long as the Western-controlled political regime in the current form exists on the territory of Ukraine, the peace on the territory of Ukraine is unlikely and Eastern Europe is under a permanent threat of the new open military conflict in the region.
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southfront--2020-08-20--At Least 3 Dead And 16 Wounded After More Than A Dozen Rockets Strike Kabul

On August 18th , 3 were killed and 16 others were wounded in rocket attacks on Kabul , Afghanistan ’ s Ministry of Interior said .
Two of those killed were government employees , there were children among the wounded .
At least 14 rockets were fired in Kabul city , including eight launched from PD16 and six from PD17 , a security source said on Tuesday , adding that “ all rockets were launched from two Toyota “ Corolla ” vehicles .
Eyewitnesses said that the rockets landed in Wazir Akbar Khan , Sherpur , first Macroryan and Shashdarak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at the Presidential Palace where at least 7 of the wounded were hit .
The rocket attacks started after President Ashraf Ghani placed a wreath at the Minaret of Independence at the Ministry of Defense building to mark Afghanistan ’ s 101st Independence Day .
Interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said that two suspects had been arrested .
Witnesses said some of the rockets fell near the palace and the defence ministry in a heavily fortified area that also houses several embassies .
Sources told the Reuters news agency the diplomatic area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blasts , as workers in embassies took cover in safe rooms .
The attack came a day after the government said it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners it holds until the armed group frees more captured Afghan soldiers .
Despite that , Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he was not aware of the attack in Kabul .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • One Thousand And One Fakes .
Pompeo Argues Taliban Kills US Soldiers In Afghanistan Thanks To Russian Money • Iran Paid Taliban Bounties To Target US Soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Acknowledge Escape Of Over 300 Prisoners , Many Islamic State Militants • ISIS Militants Attack Prison In Jalalabad , Afghanistan , At Least 32 Dead So Far

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On August 18th, 3 were killed and 16 others were wounded in rocket attacks on Kabul, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior said.
Two of those killed were government employees, there were children among the wounded.
At least 14 rockets were fired in Kabul city, including eight launched from PD16 and six from PD17, a security source said on Tuesday, adding that “all rockets were launched from two Toyota “Corolla” vehicles.
Eyewitnesses said that the rockets landed in Wazir Akbar Khan, Sherpur, first Macroryan and Shashdarak areas of Kabul.
They were primarily aimed at the Presidential Palace where at least 7 of the wounded were hit.
The rocket attacks started after President Ashraf Ghani placed a wreath at the Minaret of Independence at the Ministry of Defense building to mark Afghanistan’s 101st Independence Day.
Interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said that two suspects had been arrested.
“Most of these rockets have hit civilian houses in Kabul,” Arian said. “Unfortunately, 10 civilians including four children and one woman have been wounded.”
Witnesses said some of the rockets fell near the palace and the defence ministry in a heavily fortified area that also houses several embassies.
Sources told the Reuters news agency the diplomatic area was quickly placed under lockdown after the blasts, as workers in embassies took cover in safe rooms.
The attack came a day after the government said it would not release the last 320 Taliban prisoners it holds until the armed group frees more captured Afghan soldiers.
Despite that, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he was not aware of the attack in Kabul.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Russia’s FSB Detained Crimean Man Suspected Of Membership In Ukrainian Militant Group

On August 19th , a man was arrested in Crimea by Russia ’ s security service – FSB , on suspicions of being a member of the Ukrainain militant group “ Mufti Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion ” .
This Kiev-funded militant group mostly consists of Crimean Tatars and is deployed on the border between Ukraine and Crimea .
The individual left for Ukraine back in 2016 to join the group , where he studied the use of weapons and participated in joint border patrols with the state border service of Ukraine .
Subsequently , the suspect returned to Crimea and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ termination of participation in the illegal armed group , continuing to contact its members .
On August 19th , FSB officers carried out investigative actions at the place of residence of the detainee .
He faces up to 15 years in prison .
A video of the arrest was also published .
Around a month earlier , on July 22nd , a 55-year-old man was sentenced to 8 years in prison for being a member of the battalion .
Nariman Mezhmedinov had joined the Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion of Crimean Tatar volunteers in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had actively participated for four months during 2016 in the battalion ’ s activities , namely blocking roads near a checkpoint and searching vehicles coming in and out of Crimea in 2016 .
These are two separate arrests , despite the men carrying out similar activities in 2016 .
MSM , and specifically the US state-funded Radio Free Liberty claimed that the man was sentenced to jail for simply being part of a “ resistance group.
” In February 2020 , another member of an illegal armed group was arrested in Crimea .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like the detainee on August 19 , he joined the battalion in 2016 .
Then the FSB said that the man had the opportunity to stop participating in the organization , but he did not turn to law enforcement agencies for help , thereby continuing his illegal activities .
The battalion was established back in 2015 by the Former Deputy Minister of Crimea Lenur Islyamov .
He and his group tried to block the passage of trucks into the republic .
He is now on the federal wanted list .
A criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia .
The battalion was assisted by similar volunteer formations such as the Azov battalion , the Righter Sector and other Nazi-infested formations .
They also participated in the hostilities against the Donetsk and Luhansk People ’ s Republics in Eastern Ukraine .
It is also known that the battalion receives humanitarian aid from Turkey in the form of money and uniforms and has connections with some Turkish right-wing organizations .
One would presume that the Tatars in Crimea would support the activities of a group that is “ clearly ” on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In January 2016 , the Islamic clerics of Crimea issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims of the peninsula from joining Islyamov ’ s battalion .
They also expressed outrage at the use of the name of the first mufti of Muslims of Crimea , Lithuania , Poland and Belarus , Noman Chelebidzhikhan ( 1885-1918 ) , in the name of the battalion .
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On August 19th, a man was arrested in Crimea by Russia’s security service – FSB, on suspicions of being a member of the Ukrainain militant group “Mufti Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion”. This Kiev-funded militant group mostly consists of Crimean Tatars and is deployed on the border between Ukraine and Crimea.
The individual left for Ukraine back in 2016 to join the group, where he studied the use of weapons and participated in joint border patrols with the state border service of Ukraine.
Subsequently, the suspect returned to Crimea and did not notify law enforcement agencies about the termination of participation in the illegal armed group, continuing to contact its members.
“It has been established that the suspect left for the territory of Ukraine in 2016, where he joined the ranks of an illegal armed formation <…>, as part of which he was trained in handling firearms. His functional duties also included guarding the location of the battalion, assisting the State Border Service of Ukraine in joint patrols of the border zone, checking persons and vehicles at checkpoints,” the FSB statement said.
On August 19th, FSB officers carried out investigative actions at the place of residence of the detainee. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
A video of the arrest was also published.
Around a month earlier, on July 22nd, a 55-year-old man was sentenced to 8 years in prison for being a member of the battalion.
Nariman Mezhmedinov had joined the Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion of Crimean Tatar volunteers in 2016.
According to the FSB, Mezhmedinov had actively participated for four months during 2016 in the battalion’s activities, namely blocking roads near a checkpoint and searching vehicles coming in and out of Crimea in 2016.
These are two separate arrests, despite the men carrying out similar activities in 2016.
MSM, and specifically the US state-funded Radio Free Liberty claimed that the man was sentenced to jail for simply being part of a “resistance group.”
In February 2020, another member of an illegal armed group was arrested in Crimea. He was charged under a similar article. Like the detainee on August 19, he joined the battalion in 2016.
Then the FSB said that the man had the opportunity to stop participating in the organization, but he did not turn to law enforcement agencies for help, thereby continuing his illegal activities.
The battalion was established back in 2015 by the Former Deputy Minister of Crimea Lenur Islyamov. He and his group tried to block the passage of trucks into the republic. He is now on the federal wanted list. A criminal case has been opened against Islyamov in Russia.
The battalion was assisted by similar volunteer formations such as the Azov battalion, the Righter Sector and other Nazi-infested formations.
They also participated in the hostilities against the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in Eastern Ukraine.
It is also known that the battalion receives humanitarian aid from Turkey in the form of money and uniforms and has connections with some Turkish right-wing organizations.
One would presume that the Tatars in Crimea would support the activities of a group that is “clearly” on their side, but one would be mistaken.
In January 2016, the Islamic clerics of Crimea issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims of the peninsula from joining Islyamov’s battalion. They also expressed outrage at the use of the name of the first mufti of Muslims of Crimea, Lithuania, Poland and Belarus, Noman Chelebidzhikhan (1885-1918), in the name of the battalion.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Military Junta In Mali Promises “Stability” As President Gives Up Power

Starting on August 18th and continuing on August 19th , a part of the Mali military carried out a coup overthrowing the current president and assuming power .
The junta , which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People claim that they needed to act in order to prevent Mali from falling further into chaos .
Colonel-Major Ismael Wague said he was the spokesperson for the coup government .
“ The social and political tension has undermined the proper functioning of the country for quite a while , ” said Wague , flanked by soldiers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ day [ with ] anarchy and insecurity because of the fault of the people in charge of its destiny .
Real democracy doesn ’ t go with complacency , nor weakness of the state authority , which must guarantee freedom and security of the people.
” Al Jazeera published the coup leaders ’ speech , as well as President Keita ’ s resignation with a translation .
On the morning of 18 August 2020 , soldiers began firing bullets into the air at a military base in Kati , a town 15 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mali .
After moving into the capital , the mutineers arrested Minister of Finance Abdoulaye Daffe , the Chief of Staff of the National Guard , and Moussa Timbiné , speaker of the National Assembly .
The Prime Minister , Boubou Cissé , appealed for dialogue with the mutineers , acknowledging they held “ legitimate frustrations ” .
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned and dissolved parliament late on August 18th .
This came hours after the coup leaders detained him at gunpoint .
On August 19th , army officer Colonel Assimi Goita announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coup .
Goita had appeared among the group of officers seen in the overnight televised statement but did not speak .
During that address , Wague said all international agreements will still be respected and international forces , including the UN mission in Mali and G5 Sahel , will remain in place “ for the restoration of stability ” .
The coup leaders also remain “ committed to the Algiers process ” – a 2015 peace agreement between the Malian government and armed groups in the north of the country , Wague said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mali ’ s regional and international partners , who fear Keita ’ s fall could further destabilize the Sahel region where al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated terrorists carry out attacks with increasing impunity .
West Africa ’ s 15-nation regional bloc , the Economic Community of West African States suspended Mali from its institutions and closed its member states ’ borders with Mali .
Meanwhile , chairman of the African Union and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on condemned the “ unconstitutional change of government ” in Mali and demanded its detained politicians be freed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefed on Mali behind closed doors on August 19th at the request of France and Niger , diplomats said .
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called for the immediate release of Keita and other detainees .
China said it opposed regime change by force while EU leaders called for the release of those held .
The coup coincided with opposition plans to resume protests against Keita .
It , however , shouldn ’ t be considered that the junta is on the side of the opposition , according to their claims they took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections , for whoever wins them .
Starting from June 5th , tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets under the umbrella of the so-called June 5 Movement ( M5-RFP ) to demand the president ’ s resignation .
They accuse him of allowing Mali ’ s economy to collapse and of mishandling a deteriorating security situation that has rendered massive regions of Mali ungovernable .
Military leaders had ordered closure of all border crossings and imposed a night-time curfew .
“ As of today , 19 August 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until further notice .
A curfew is in place from 21:00 to 05:00 until further notice , ” Col-Major Ismaël Wagué , Deputy Chief of Staff of the Malian Air Force , said in a televised address .
He also invited all opposition groups to talks for fresh elections .
Opposition member Mahmoud Dicko announced that he is leaving politics as a result of a meeting between him and some of the soldiers that took part in the mutiny .
It is unclear how the situation will develop from now , Mali was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keita , but a military coup with no clear agenda in sight apart from “ restoring stability ” and organizing “ fair elections ” seems like it would create either a power void or allow for repression .
At the same time , terrorists in the Sahel continue spreading their influence further .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • More Details Emerge Of US Military Operations In Africa • Al-Qaeda In Mali Claimed Responsibility For Major Attack On French Military Camp

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Starting on August 18th and continuing on August 19th, a part of the Mali military carried out a coup overthrowing the current president and assuming power.
The junta, which calls itself the National Committee for the Salvation of the People claim that they needed to act in order to prevent Mali from falling further into chaos.
Colonel-Major Ismael Wague said he was the spokesperson for the coup government.
“The social and political tension has undermined the proper functioning of the country for quite a while,” said Wague, flanked by soldiers. “Mali descends into chaos day by day [with] anarchy and insecurity because of the fault of the people in charge of its destiny. Real democracy doesn’t go with complacency, nor weakness of the state authority, which must guarantee freedom and security of the people.”
Al Jazeera published the coup leaders’ speech, as well as President Keita’s resignation with a translation.
On the morning of 18 August 2020, soldiers began firing bullets into the air at a military base in Kati, a town 15 kilometers away from Bamako, the capital of Mali.
After moving into the capital, the mutineers arrested Minister of Finance Abdoulaye Daffe, the Chief of Staff of the National Guard, and Moussa Timbiné, speaker of the National Assembly.
The Prime Minister, Boubou Cissé, appealed for dialogue with the mutineers, acknowledging they held “legitimate frustrations”.
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita resigned and dissolved parliament late on August 18th. This came hours after the coup leaders detained him at gunpoint.
On August 19th, army officer Colonel Assimi Goita announced himself as the leader of the military coup.
“Let me introduce myself, I am Colonel Assimi Goita, chairman of the National Committee for the salvation of the People,” he said after meeting top civil servants.
Goita had appeared among the group of officers seen in the overnight televised statement but did not speak.
During that address, Wague said all international agreements will still be respected and international forces, including the UN mission in Mali and G5 Sahel, will remain in place “for the restoration of stability”.
The coup leaders also remain “committed to the Algiers process” – a 2015 peace agreement between the Malian government and armed groups in the north of the country, Wague said.
The takeover was quickly condemned by Mali’s regional and international partners, who fear Keita’s fall could further destabilize the Sahel region where al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated terrorists carry out attacks with increasing impunity.
West Africa’s 15-nation regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States suspended Mali from its institutions and closed its member states’ borders with Mali.
Meanwhile, chairman of the African Union and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on condemned the “unconstitutional change of government” in Mali and demanded its detained politicians be freed.
The UN Security Council will be briefed on Mali behind closed doors on August 19th at the request of France and Niger, diplomats said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had called for the immediate release of Keita and other detainees.
China said it opposed regime change by force while EU leaders called for the release of those held.
“We call for the immediate freeing of prisoners, and for a return to the state of law,” said EU Council chief Charles Michel after a video summit of the bloc’s 27 leaders.
The coup coincided with opposition plans to resume protests against Keita.
It, however, shouldn’t be considered that the junta is on the side of the opposition, according to their claims they took power to restore stability and organize new elections, for whoever wins them.
Starting from June 5th, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets under the umbrella of the so-called June 5 Movement (M5-RFP) to demand the president’s resignation. They accuse him of allowing Mali’s economy to collapse and of mishandling a deteriorating security situation that has rendered massive regions of Mali ungovernable.
Military leaders had ordered closure of all border crossings and imposed a night-time curfew. “As of today, 19 August 2020, all air and land borders are closed until further notice. A curfew is in place from 21:00 to 05:00 until further notice,” Col-Major Ismaël Wagué, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Malian Air Force, said in a televised address.
He also invited all opposition groups to talks for fresh elections.
Opposition member Mahmoud Dicko announced that he is leaving politics as a result of a meeting between him and some of the soldiers that took part in the mutiny.
It is unclear how the situation will develop from now, Mali was in a state of chaos under president Keita, but a military coup with no clear agenda in sight apart from “restoring stability” and organizing “fair elections” seems like it would create either a power void or allow for repression. At the same time, terrorists in the Sahel continue spreading their influence further.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Dongfeng CSK141 Light Protected Vehicle (Infographics)

And you calling somebody “ neo nazi ” while you preserve APARTHEID regime within your society of casts !
!
@ @ @ @ @ choose to live in India as COW but never as HUMAN BEING !
India is @ @ @ @ @

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The Dongfeng CSK141 is a light protected vehicle developed by China’s Dongfeng company.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Map Update: Ansar Allah Liberated 1,000 km2 From Al-Qaeda And ISIS In Central Yemen

I ’ m starting to learn arabic .
I want to reach more information about this war .
It seems @ @ @ @ @ that the balance can tip at any moment in favor of the Resistance here and @ @ @ @ @ ’ s struggles .
Marib seems in a very weak position now and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ the Houthis said they were going after it months ago , and now it ’ @ @ @ @ @ Having so many odds against that ’ s a huge accomplishment .
Also bringing a @ @ @ @ @ Taiz seems like something totally within Houthis capabilities .
I don ’ t know , @ @ @ @ @ information or point of view about this would be very much appreciated , and an @ @ @ @ @ beyond words .
SF maybe ?

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On August 19, Ansar Allah (the Houthis) announed that they had liberated 1,000km2 ISIS and al-Qaeda in the central Yemeni province of al-Bayda. MORE HERE
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southfront--2020-08-20--Uncovering Faces Of Belarusian Opposition

The crisis in Belarus does not seem coming to the end but rather deepening with opposition forces actively creating structures alternative to the existing governing system of the country .
The Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition , formed under the brand of former presidential candidate Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya hiding in Lithuania , released on August 19 demanding the Lukashenko government to annul the result of the presidential election , release all ‘ political prisoners ’ , and hold a new ‘ fair ’ presidential election .
The ‘ coordination council ’ presidium includes the following persons : Svetlana Alexievich is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Literature received thanks to her hardcore anti-Soviet and anti-Russian views .
Lilia Vlasova and Maxim Znak are ‘ lawyers ’ affiliated with Western-funded network of ‘ non-government organizations ’ and influence groups created in Belarus .
Sergei Dylevsky is a member of the Minsk Tractor Works ’ strike committee .
The psychological pressure on workers and the sabotage of work of large Belarusian plants are among the key goals of the ongoing anti-government campaign .
Olga Kovalkova is former presidential candidate Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya ’ s authorized representative .
Maria Kolesnikova is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the formal link between the ‘ Belarusian opposition ’ and the ‘ presidential candidate ’ hiding in Lithuania .
Pavel Latushko is the former director general of the Janka Kupala National Theater , well known for his active participation in the Lukashenko-initiated Belarusization campaign in Belarus designed to push out the Russian language and culture from Belarus .
An overwhelming majority ( over 90 % ) of the Belarusian population speaks Russian as a main language and self-identify themselves as Russian-speaking people or ethnic Russians .
Belarus entered the August 9 presidential election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peak of protest sentiments .
The cornerstone of this situation is the existing economic and social problems , the general dissatisfaction of the population with the ruling of Alexander Lukashenko and apparent falsifications during the election ( 80.10 % of votes gained by Lukashenko is at least unlikely ) .
As the recent weeks demonstrated , this situation was successfully exploited by forces that destroyed Ukraine and earlier Serbia .
Besides the obvious demands of the full political surrender of Alexander Lukashenko , the August 19 statement of the opposition includes an interesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy course of Belarus .
A person that knows little about the internal political situation in Belarus and the real foreign policy course of the Lukashenko administration may consider this as a signal of the supposed intention of the opposition to keep constructive and allied relations with Russia , the main military ally and economic sponsor of Belarus .
In fact , the Belarusian state exists in the current form only thanks to a constant flow of Russian economic support , trade preferences and even direct donations .
Nonetheless , the Lukashenko regime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towards Russia for decades .
The video below demonstrates how ‘ Belarusian patriots ’ use Polsih flags during the opposition rally in Grodno .
The work Polish propaganda structures in support of the opposition is not even a secret .
The ‘ pro-Russian ’ Belarusian leader , Alexander Lukashenko , has become an initiator of a wide-scale campaign against pro-Russian media , pro-Russian political activists and even against the Russian language and culture .
The forceful Belarusization ( while a majority of the population barely speaks ‘ thousand-year ’ Belarusian language ) of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lukashenko regime created a foothold for the creation of a strong network of various anti-Russian and pro-Western influence groups and non-government organizations .
They formal ideology varies from the radical Belarusian nationalism ( like Ukrainian neo-Nazi ‘ patriots ’ ) to the Western mainstream neo-liberal agenda , but all they are united by the anti-Russian , anti-Soviet and pro-Western sentiments .
Lukashenko and his circle cultivated these ideologies and influence groups as a bogeyman for the Kremlin and used them to prevent the growth of ‘ Russian influence ’ that he saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The work of Western-funded ‘ non-government organizations ’ and psychological operations of Euro-Atlantic structures were in fact allowed in Belarus , while any pro-Russian organization was immediately suppressed and destroyed .
The personality and scale of influence of Vladimir Makei , who is often called the ‘ second person ’ in Belarus , are another factor allowing to get a more realistic look at Lukashenko ’ s Belarus .
Makei has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus since 2012 and kept his position even after the August 9 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widely known as a supporter of the pro-Western foreign policy course and a person with deep ties with the Euro-Atlantic establishment .
The foreign ministry headed by such a person became a tool of influence of Euro-Atlantic structures inside the Belarusian government .
The recent public declarations of mid-level foreign policy officials in support of the opposition signals about the ideological characteristics of the ministry ’ s staff .
Members of the foreign ministry staff declare support to the opposition : Once again , the history gives a lesson that any strong leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal and develop a fruitful cooperation with the neo-liberal-dominated West leads his country to chaos and often dies himself .
The cases of Slobodan Milosevic , Muammar al-Gaddafi and even Saddam Hussein that was destroying his ballistic rockets on cameras in an attempt to please the US-led ‘ international community ’ appeared to be not enough for Lukashenko .
Therefore , if the opposition says that it has no intention to change the ‘ foreign policy course ’ , it means that it is going to do what Lukashenko is already doing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coordination council is also attempt to compensate the public damage from the spread of its official national security strategy that presidential candidate Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya was promoting during the campaign .
This national security strategy directly states about the need to break ties with Russia , withdraw from ‘ Russia-led ’ structures and move towards NATO and the EU .
This is fully in the framework of statements made publicly by representatives of the opposition leadership on a daily basis .
Rhetoric of Polish and Lithuanian-oriented opposition media and activists have a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrates that it is not seeking to intervene into the Belarusian internal policy and even became a target of provocations organized by the Lukashenko regime .
Despite the fact that these hardcore pro-Western and anti-Russian views are supported less than 5 % of the population , this small group receives the direct financial , diplomatic , media and clandestine support from the West .
This anti-Russian rhetoric , revealing the real face of the opposition leadership is needed for the particular purpose : to fuel the anti-Russian hysteria in order to not allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Euro-Atlantic structures overthrow Lukashenko and start looting billion-worth industrial facilities of the country .
This works like an ordinary corporate raid , when the raider ( Euro-Atlantic financiers ) exploits the pseudo-ideology and the protest in order to seize properties of a third party .
The only party that has means and facilities to prevent this scenario or became a competitor to this raider is Russia .
This is why the opposition has already started the nationalist-driven anti-Russian propaganda campaign .
However , the history can make a tough joke on them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existence of conditionally independent Belarus , Russia did not interfere in the country ’ s internal politics , including the ideological policy of Lukashenko , who de facto supported Belarusian nationalism .
Nonetheless , the Belarusian nation was among the most affected by the Nazism during the Second World War .
The people well know what ’ s the good and what ’ s the evil .
The early revelation of the real goals of the ‘ forces of democracy ’ may give Russia a juridical and moral right to intervene in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the usage of police forces , a limited military force or even a direct annexation of the territory .
As of August 19 , the situation in Belarus remains very complicated with contradictory tendencies in the internal political sphere .
On the one hand , protests continue and the media , financial and organization support of protests from foreign actors have been growing .
On the other hand , almost 2 weeks passed since the August 9 presidential election and the maidan coup scenario failed .
Even the national-wide strike remains the mostly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affecting the entire country .
If one compares this with the agenda of the Polish Telegram channel NEXTA , the media pillar of pro-Western nationalist agenda of protests , he would find that the opposition goal was to trigger the destructive scenario , including the fall of the Lukashenko regime or at least the start of the civil conflict , by August 12-13 .
Additionally , supporters of Lukashenko held several rallies in Minsk and other Belarusian cities in the past few days .
These rallies collected mostly residents of small towns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus .
However , they played an important role demonstrating that the opposition narrative about “ 3 % support ” of Lukashenko is a lie .
The fate of Belarus and the outcome of the ongoing crisis will like be determined within a month .
At the same time , the danger of a direct civil conflict and chances of a direct military clash of external actors on the territory of Belarus have been increasing .
In any scenario , as a result of the crisis , Belarus will lose a part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to its industrial potential .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Polish Psychological Operations Unit On Guard Of ‘ Democracy ’ In Belarus

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Click to see the full-size imageThe crisis in Belarus does not seem coming to the end but rather deepening with opposition forces actively creating structures alternative to the existing governing system of the country.
The Coordination Council of the Belarusian opposition, formed under the brand of former presidential candidate Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya hiding in Lithuania, released on August 19 demanding the Lukashenko government to annul the result of the presidential election, release all ‘political prisoners’, and hold a new ‘fair’ presidential election.
The ‘coordination council’ presidium includes the following persons:
Svetlana Alexievich is a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature received thanks to her hardcore anti-Soviet and anti-Russian views. Lilia Vlasova and Maxim Znak are ‘lawyers’ affiliated with Western-funded network of ‘non-government organizations’ and influence groups created in Belarus. Sergei Dylevsky is a member of the Minsk Tractor Works’ strike committee. The psychological pressure on workers and the sabotage of work of large Belarusian plants are among the key goals of the ongoing anti-government campaign. Olga Kovalkova is former presidential candidate Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya’s authorized representative. Maria Kolesnikova is one of Tikhanovskaya’s associates. They represent the formal link between the ‘Belarusian opposition’ and the ‘presidential candidate’ hiding in Lithuania. Pavel Latushko is the former director general of the Janka Kupala National Theater, well known for his active participation in the Lukashenko-initiated Belarusization campaign in Belarus designed to push out the Russian language and culture from Belarus. An overwhelming majority (over 90%) of the Belarusian population speaks Russian as a main language and self-identify themselves as Russian-speaking people or ethnic Russians.
Belarus entered the August 9 presidential election and the days following it amid the peak of protest sentiments. The cornerstone of this situation is the existing economic and social problems, the general dissatisfaction of the population with the ruling of Alexander Lukashenko and apparent falsifications during the election (80.10% of votes gained by Lukashenko is at least unlikely). As the recent weeks demonstrated, this situation was successfully exploited by forces that destroyed Ukraine and earlier Serbia.
Besides the obvious demands of the full political surrender of Alexander Lukashenko, the August 19 statement of the opposition includes an interesting part regarding the constitutional system and foreign policy course of Belarus.
“The Coordinating Council does not aim to change the constitutional order and foreign policy course,” the statement said.
A person that knows little about the internal political situation in Belarus and the real foreign policy course of the Lukashenko administration may consider this as a signal of the supposed intention of the opposition to keep constructive and allied relations with Russia, the main military ally and economic sponsor of Belarus. In fact, the Belarusian state exists in the current form only thanks to a constant flow of Russian economic support, trade preferences and even direct donations. Nonetheless, the Lukashenko regime has been providing a consistent hostile policy towards Russia for decades.
The video below demonstrates how ‘Belarusian patriots’ use Polsih flags during the opposition rally in Grodno. The work Polish propaganda structures in support of the opposition is not even a secret.
А вот теперь серьезно…Это митинг змагаров в Гродно, городе, чья администрация пошла на уступки змагарам. И что мы видим? ПОЛЬСКИЕ флаги. Я это называю – РАСЧЕХЛИЛИСЬ. Я говорил уже, что Майдан в Белоруссии идет быстрее, чем на Украине. Они не выдержат игру вдолгую. Цейтнот. pic.twitter.com/jCHuv4Uzs1 — Borisenko (@borisenkodmitr) August 19, 2020
The ‘pro-Russian’ Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has become an initiator of a wide-scale campaign against pro-Russian media, pro-Russian political activists and even against the Russian language and culture. The forceful Belarusization (while a majority of the population barely speaks ‘thousand-year’ Belarusian language) of the media and political sphere provided by the Lukashenko regime created a foothold for the creation of a strong network of various anti-Russian and pro-Western influence groups and non-government organizations. They formal ideology varies from the radical Belarusian nationalism (like Ukrainian neo-Nazi ‘patriots’) to the Western mainstream neo-liberal agenda, but all they are united by the anti-Russian, anti-Soviet and pro-Western sentiments.
Lukashenko and his circle cultivated these ideologies and influence groups as a bogeyman for the Kremlin and used them to prevent the growth of ‘Russian influence’ that he saw as a threat to his political regime. The work of Western-funded ‘non-government organizations’ and psychological operations of Euro-Atlantic structures were in fact allowed in Belarus, while any pro-Russian organization was immediately suppressed and destroyed.
The personality and scale of influence of Vladimir Makei, who is often called the ‘second person’ in Belarus, are another factor allowing to get a more realistic look at Lukashenko’s Belarus. Makei has served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus since 2012 and kept his position even after the August 9 election. During this period, he become widely known as a supporter of the pro-Western foreign policy course and a person with deep ties with the Euro-Atlantic establishment. The foreign ministry headed by such a person became a tool of influence of Euro-Atlantic structures inside the Belarusian government. The recent public declarations of mid-level foreign policy officials in support of the opposition signals about the ideological characteristics of the ministry’s staff.
Members of the foreign ministry staff declare support to the opposition:
Once again, the history gives a lesson that any strong leader that believes that he can make a deal and develop a fruitful cooperation with the neo-liberal-dominated West leads his country to chaos and often dies himself. The cases of Slobodan Milosevic, Muammar al-Gaddafi and even Saddam Hussein that was destroying his ballistic rockets on cameras in an attempt to please the US-led ‘international community’ appeared to be not enough for Lukashenko.
Therefore, if the opposition says that it has no intention to change the ‘foreign policy course’, it means that it is going to do what Lukashenko is already doing, but better. The aforementioned statement of the coordination council is also attempt to compensate the public damage from the spread of its official national security strategy that presidential candidate Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya was promoting during the campaign. This national security strategy directly states about the need to break ties with Russia, withdraw from ‘Russia-led’ structures and move towards NATO and the EU. This is fully in the framework of statements made publicly by representatives of the opposition leadership on a daily basis.
Rhetoric of Polish and Lithuanian-oriented opposition media and activists have a clear anti-Russian direct despite the fact that Moscow demonstrates that it is not seeking to intervene into the Belarusian internal policy and even became a target of provocations organized by the Lukashenko regime. Despite the fact that these hardcore pro-Western and anti-Russian views are supported less than 5% of the population, this small group receives the direct financial, diplomatic, media and clandestine support from the West.
This anti-Russian rhetoric, revealing the real face of the opposition leadership is needed for the particular purpose: to fuel the anti-Russian hysteria in order to not allow it to intervene when the Western-controlled opposition and Euro-Atlantic structures overthrow Lukashenko and start looting billion-worth industrial facilities of the country. This works like an ordinary corporate raid, when the raider (Euro-Atlantic financiers) exploits the pseudo-ideology and the protest in order to seize properties of a third party. The only party that has means and facilities to prevent this scenario or became a competitor to this raider is Russia. This is why the opposition has already started the nationalist-driven anti-Russian propaganda campaign.
However, the history can make a tough joke on them. Throughout about 30 years of the existence of conditionally independent Belarus, Russia did not interfere in the country’s internal politics, including the ideological policy of Lukashenko, who de facto supported Belarusian nationalism. Nonetheless, the Belarusian nation was among the most affected by the Nazism during the Second World War. The people well know what’s the good and what’s the evil.
The early revelation of the real goals of the ‘forces of democracy’ may give Russia a juridical and moral right to intervene in the situation in Belarus to the extent of the usage of police forces, a limited military force or even a direct annexation of the territory.
As of August 19, the situation in Belarus remains very complicated with contradictory tendencies in the internal political sphere. On the one hand, protests continue and the media, financial and organization support of protests from foreign actors have been growing. On the other hand, almost 2 weeks passed since the August 9 presidential election and the maidan coup scenario failed. Even the national-wide strike remains the mostly propaganda construct rather than the real strike affecting the entire country. If one compares this with the agenda of the Polish Telegram channel NEXTA, the media pillar of pro-Western nationalist agenda of protests, he would find that the opposition goal was to trigger the destructive scenario, including the fall of the Lukashenko regime or at least the start of the civil conflict, by August 12-13. Additionally, supporters of Lukashenko held several rallies in Minsk and other Belarusian cities in the past few days. These rallies collected mostly residents of small towns and villages and was especially strong in eastern Belarus. However, they played an important role demonstrating that the opposition narrative about “3% support” of Lukashenko is a lie.
The fate of Belarus and the outcome of the ongoing crisis will like be determined within a month. At the same time, the danger of a direct civil conflict and chances of a direct military clash of external actors on the territory of Belarus have been increasing. In any scenario, as a result of the crisis, Belarus will lose a part of its sovereignty and suffer a major blow to its industrial potential.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-08-20--In Mysterious Incident US Military Lost Two MQ-9 Reapers Over Idlib

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

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The shaky stability established in Syria after the end of the Turkish attack on the Syrian Army in Idlib in February and March of 2020 has collapsed.
Just a day after the confrontation between the US military and the Syrian Army in the province of al-Hasakah, US troops deployed at the Koniko gas fields on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River came under rocket attack. According to local sources, at least 3 unguided rockets fell near US positions. Nonetheless, the attack led to no casualties.
A few hours earlier, two combat drones of the US military crashed in Idlib. Just ahead of the incident, pro-militant sources claimed that they had shot down 2 Russian drones in the area. Nonetheless, photos and videos from the ground immediately revealed that at least one of the crashed drones was an MQ-9 Reaper. Later, US media citing defense officials reported that the US lost two MQ-9 Reapers in a midair collision over Idlib. Many Syrian sources immediately linked the incident with the use of electronic warfare systems on US combat drones in the area.
On the same day, a Russian major-general was killed and two service members were injured after an improvised explosive device hit their convoy near the Al-Taim oil field, about 15 km outside the city of Deir Ezzor. The killed major-general was identified as Vyacheslav Gladkih. He served as Deputy Commander of the 36th Combined-Arms Army. In Syria, he was serving as an adviser to the Syrian Arab Army.
Recently, ISIS significantly increased the number of attacks on Syrian pro-government forces in the provinces of Homs and Deir Ezzor. The terrorist group is especially active near the cities of Deir Ezzor and Mayadin. It could be suggested that the group of Russian advisers was there to discuss the current situation in the area with its Syrian counterparts.
On August 19, local sources reported the simultaneous increase of military activity in the provinces of Idlib, Hasakah and Deir Ezzor. In Idlib, 3 Turkish military convoys crossed the border and moved towards the contact line between militants and the Syrian Army south of the M4 highway. Just recently, a joint Turkish-Russian patrol came under attack there, but Ankara is still set to protect al-Qaeda terrorists hiding there at any cost. In al-Hasakah, the Syrian Army is reinforcing it’s positions near Tell Tamr and in the countryside of al-Qamishli. In the provinces of Deir Ezzor, the Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces conducted several raids near the cities of Deir Ezzor and al-Mayadin. The recent series of ISIS attacks on positions of pro-government forces, including the death of a Russian major-general, will likely lead to a larger united effort of Syrian and Russian forces to track and eliminate the ISIS cells that still hide in the desert.
The conflict in Syria seems to have all chances to once again enter a hot phase with the provinces of al-Hasakah and Idlib being the main points of possible confrontation of foreign forces deployed in the country. At the same time, the ISIS threat in the central Syrian desert also remains an important destabilizing factor.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Russia And Syria Agreed To Expand Hmeimim Air Base

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

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Syria had agreed to transfer additional land and water area to expand Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base, the Russian news agency Interfax reported.
The new agreement was published on the official Russian portal of legal information on August 19. The protocol was signed on July 21 in Damascus and on July 30 in Moscow.
“The Syrian Arab Republic agrees to the transfer to the Russian Federation a land plot and water area in the province of Lattakia in order to create and locate a medical health and rehabilitation center for the Russian aviation group,” the agreement reads.
The new areas, which cover 8 hectares and include several buildings, will be used to expand Hmeimim Air Base for the entire duration of the agreement on the deployment of the Russian air group in Syria.
Last May, President Vladimir Putin has ordered the defense and foreign ministries to hold talks with Syria to get more facilities and maritime access in Syria.
Besides Hmeimim Air Base, Russia maintains a Naval Base in the port of Tartus city. Syria hosts other smaller Russian fortified positions, including an air-defense facility in western Hama, where an S-400 system is deployed.
The expansion of Hmeimim Air Base will reinforce Russian military presence in Syria on the long term. Russia’s support has allowed Syrian government forces to re-impose control of vast parts of the country since 2015.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Former Syrian Rebels Clashed With Each Other In Government-Held Daraa

On August 20 , intense clashes broke out between former rebels in the southern Syrian governorate of Daraa , which is held by government forces .
The conflict reportedly erupted when the Military Intelligence Directorate ( MID ) had carried out a security operation in the town of Umm Walad in eastern Daraa on August 19 .
MID officers arrested Sheikh Ibrahim Turki al-Ayoub , who works with the 5th Corps , along with two other locals .
During the operation , the MID received support from local fighters working for two former rebel commanders known as Muhammad Ali al-Lahham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act of revenge , local fighters close to Sheikh al-Ayoub attacked and burned the houses of al-Lahham and Zureik on August 20 .
This led to intense clashes in Umm Walad .
According to several sources , including the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , a local fighter was killed and two others were injured as a result of the clashes .
The fighters working for al-Lahham and Zureik and the others supporting Sheikh al-Ayoub all joined the reconciliation process in 2018 .
Umm Walad clashes are an illustrative example of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law is becoming weaker in the governorate .
Dozens of attacks were reported there over the past few months .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • ISIS Claimed Responsibility For Recent Attack On Russian Troops In Syria ’ s Deir Ezzor

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On August 20, intense clashes broke out between former rebels in the southern Syrian governorate of Daraa, which is held by government forces.
The conflict reportedly erupted when the Military Intelligence Directorate (MID) had carried out a security operation in the town of Umm Walad in eastern Daraa on August 19. MID officers arrested Sheikh Ibrahim Turki al-Ayoub, who works with the 5th Corps, along with two other locals.
During the operation, the MID received support from local fighters working for two former rebel commanders known as Muhammad Ali al-Lahham and Emad Abu Zureik.
In an act of revenge, local fighters close to Sheikh al-Ayoub attacked and burned the houses of al-Lahham and Zureik on August 20.
This led to intense clashes in Umm Walad. According to several sources, including the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a local fighter was killed and two others were injured as a result of the clashes.
The fighters working for al-Lahham and Zureik and the others supporting Sheikh al-Ayoub all joined the reconciliation process in 2018.
Umm Walad clashes are an illustrative example of the deteriorated security situation in Daraa. The rule of law is becoming weaker in the governorate. Dozens of attacks were reported there over the past few months.
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southfront--2020-08-20--Idlib Is Burning. New Proxy War In Deir Ezzor

The series of unfortunate events involving the US-led coalition , Turkey and Turkish proxies continues in Syria ’ s Greater Idlib .
Late on August 19 and early on August 20 , the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) shelled positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near Haranabush and al-Sheikh Bahr in southern Idlib with what pro-opposition sources called “ long-range rockets ” .
Despite multiple claims in pro-opposition media about fierce SAA strikes , no casualties were reported .
The SAA likely used BM-27 Uragan or BM-30 Smerch heavy rocket launchers .
The BM-27 has a range of 37 km @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit targets up to 90 km away .
On the same day , unidentified gunmen destroyed communication towers used by the Turkistan Islamic Party near the town of Ras Elhisn , which is located right on Turkey ’ s border .
The Turkistan Islamic Party , which as well as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has an al-Qaeda-like ideology , is an internationally-recognized terrorist group mostly consisting of Uyghur militants .
The group has a strong presence in northern Lattakia , western and southern Idlib and is one of the main allies of Hayat Tahrir @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main stronghold is Jisr al-Shughur .
Over the previous few days , the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted a series of airstrikes on positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham across Greater Idlib punishing the group for the recent IED attack on the joint Turkish-Russian patrol on the M4 highway .
Meanwhile , two US combat drones crashed in the region as a result of a mysterious incident that pro-US sources described as a midair collision .
If the situation in Idlib further deteriorates with such speed , the Turkish attempts to stabilize it by deploying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be not enough to keep Turkish al-Qaeda friends under control in the area .
A Syrian pro-government group known as the Popular Resistance in the Eastern Region ( PR-ER ) has claimed responsibility for the recent rocket attack on U.S. troops in Deir Ezzor .
Three unguided rockets landed in the vicinity of the CONICO gas plant , where U.S. forces are deployed , late in the hours of August 18 .
The U.S. military confirmed the incident without reporting any losses .
The PR-ER said in a statement that the rocket @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack by U.S. forces at a Syrian Arab Army checkpoint near the village of Tal al-Dhahab in the northern al-Hasakah countryside .
The U.S. attack left a Syrian service member , Malik Muhammad al-Muhaimid , dead and injured at least two others .
The PR-ER first surfaced over 2 years ago declaring the aim of fighting the US occupation of northeastern Syria .
Since then , it has claimed responsibility for several attacks on US forces .
However , the group ’ s activity remained relatively low recently .
The intensification of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tensions between the Syrians and US forces in the region .
Meanwhile , Turkish proxies also entered the game on the banks of the Euphrates .
On August 18 , the pro-Turkish armed group “ Gathering of Rebels in the Land of Deir Ezzor ” released a statement threatening Syrian , Russian , Iranian and Kurdish forces in the province with attacks .
It also claimed responsibility for the IED blast that killed a Russian major-general near Deir Ezzor city .
The group self-identifies as a unit of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , denied by the SNA .
Pro-Turkish sources claim that this armed group was created by the Kurds to discredit the Syrian patriots on Turkish paychecks .
It ’ s as if there is something that can done to discredit pro-Turkish groups more than what they have done by themselves .
Deir Ezzor province seems to be becoming a center for the new proxy battle for the Syrian energy resources .

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The series of unfortunate events involving the US-led coalition, Turkey and Turkish proxies continues in Syria’s Greater Idlib.
Late on August 19 and early on August 20, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) shelled positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham near Haranabush and al-Sheikh Bahr in southern Idlib with what pro-opposition sources called “long-range rockets”. Despite multiple claims in pro-opposition media about fierce SAA strikes, no casualties were reported. The SAA likely used BM-27 Uragan or BM-30 Smerch heavy rocket launchers. The BM-27 has a range of 37 km, while the more advanced BM-30 can hit targets up to 90 km away.
On the same day, unidentified gunmen destroyed communication towers used by the Turkistan Islamic Party near the town of Ras Elhisn, which is located right on Turkey’s border. The Turkistan Islamic Party, which as well as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has an al-Qaeda-like ideology, is an internationally-recognized terrorist group mostly consisting of Uyghur militants. The group has a strong presence in northern Lattakia, western and southern Idlib and is one of the main allies of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The terrorist group’s main stronghold is Jisr al-Shughur.
Over the previous few days, the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted a series of airstrikes on positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham across Greater Idlib punishing the group for the recent IED attack on the joint Turkish-Russian patrol on the M4 highway. Meanwhile, two US combat drones crashed in the region as a result of a mysterious incident that pro-US sources described as a midair collision.
If the situation in Idlib further deteriorates with such speed, the Turkish attempts to stabilize it by deploying additional troops and equipment there will appear to be not enough to keep Turkish al-Qaeda friends under control in the area.
A Syrian pro-government group known as the Popular Resistance in the Eastern Region (PR-ER) has claimed responsibility for the recent rocket attack on U.S. troops in Deir Ezzor. Three unguided rockets landed in the vicinity of the CONICO gas plant, where U.S. forces are deployed, late in the hours of August 18. The U.S. military confirmed the incident without reporting any losses.
The PR-ER said in a statement that the rocket strike was in response to an earlier attack by U.S. forces at a Syrian Arab Army checkpoint near the village of Tal al-Dhahab in the northern al-Hasakah countryside. The U.S. attack left a Syrian service member, Malik Muhammad al-Muhaimid, dead and injured at least two others.
The PR-ER first surfaced over 2 years ago declaring the aim of fighting the US occupation of northeastern Syria. Since then, it has claimed responsibility for several attacks on US forces. However, the group’s activity remained relatively low recently. The intensification of its actions may be linked with the growing tensions between the Syrians and US forces in the region.
Meanwhile, Turkish proxies also entered the game on the banks of the Euphrates. On August 18, the pro-Turkish armed group “Gathering of Rebels in the Land of Deir Ezzor” released a statement threatening Syrian, Russian, Iranian and Kurdish forces in the province with attacks.
It also claimed responsibility for the IED blast that killed a Russian major-general near Deir Ezzor city. The group self-identifies as a unit of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). This was, however, denied by the SNA. Pro-Turkish sources claim that this armed group was created by the Kurds to discredit the Syrian patriots on Turkish paychecks. It’s as if there is something that can done to discredit pro-Turkish groups more than what they have done by themselves.
Deir Ezzor province seems to be becoming a center for the new proxy battle for the Syrian energy resources.
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