southfront--2020-12-06--Moscow Began First Ever “Large-Scale” COVID Vaccinations On Saturday

Russia has started a large-scale COVID-19 vaccinations .
Therefore , soon , mainstream media outlets will be full of reports that the Russian Sputnik V vaccine does not work or even killing the people , while ‘ democratic Western vaccines ’ are that what the world really needs ( even if they do not exist ) .
Russian officials have announced that mass distribution of the Sputnik V vaccine has begun in Moscow , which has long been the COVID-19 epicenter in Russia .
This on the same day the capital city reported a record one-day high of 7,993 infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said to be available at up to 70 different clinics across the city , but health officials have arranged for higher risk ‘ front line ’ groups to receive the jab first .
This includes doctors , nurses , teachers and social workers .
“ Over the first five hours , 5,000 people signed up for the jab – teachers , doctors , social workers , those who are today risking their health and lives the most , ” Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote in a statement on Friday .
The official Moscow mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ Sputnik V is a two-dose vaccine , with the second shot administered 21 days after the patient gets the first one.
” “ Signing up for the first shot will be enough , since the doctor at the clinic will take care of signing the patient up for the second dose .
Patients will receive an SMS-alert 24 hours before the appointed time , ” the health announcement says .
President Vladimir Putin earlier this week touted that his country is ready to roll out the world ’ s first ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population .
It ’ s supposed to be over 90 % effective , according to analysis cited in the AP : Last month , developers of the vaccine said interim analysis of trial data showed it was 91.4 % effective .
The conclusion was based on 39 infections among 18,794 study participants that received both doses of either the vaccine or a placebo , which is a much lower number of infections than Western drugmakers have looked at when assessing the effectiveness of their vaccines .
Russia remains with the fourth highest numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at over 2.4 millions confirmed infections since the pandemic began .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Jab Me If You Can : How Political Endorsements Defeat Vaccinations • Covid Offices and the Religion of Remote Work

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Russia has started a large-scale COVID-19 vaccinations. Therefore, soon, mainstream media outlets will be full of reports that the Russian Sputnik V vaccine does not work or even killing the people, while ‘democratic Western vaccines’ are that what the world really needs (even if they do not exist).
Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Russian officials have announced that mass distribution of the Sputnik V vaccine has begun in Moscow, which has long been the COVID-19 epicenter in Russia. This on the same day the capital city reported a record one-day high of 7,993 infections on Saturday.
The shot is now said to be available at up to 70 different clinics across the city, but health officials have arranged for higher risk ‘front line’ groups to receive the jab first. This includes doctors, nurses, teachers and social workers.
“Over the first five hours, 5,000 people signed up for the jab – teachers, doctors, social workers, those who are today risking their health and lives the most,” Mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote in a statement on Friday.
Kremlin via Reuters file
The official Moscow mayor’s website informed the public further that “Sputnik V is a two-dose vaccine, with the second shot administered 21 days after the patient gets the first one.”
“Signing up for the first shot will be enough, since the doctor at the clinic will take care of signing the patient up for the second dose. Patients will receive an SMS-alert 24 hours before the appointed time,” the health announcement says.
President Vladimir Putin earlier this week touted that his country is ready to roll out the world’s first ever “large-scale” vaccination campaign of a population. It’s supposed to be over 90% effective, according to analysis cited in the AP:
Last month, developers of the vaccine said interim analysis of trial data showed it was 91.4% effective. The conclusion was based on 39 infections among 18,794 study participants that received both doses of either the vaccine or a placebo, which is a much lower number of infections than Western drugmakers have looked at when assessing the effectiveness of their vaccines.
Russia remains with the fourth highest numbers of confirmed cases in the world, at over 2.4 millions confirmed infections since the pandemic began.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Military Situation In Syria On December 6, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria : • 4,000 PKK fighters @ @ @ @ @ battles fought along the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) in Syria so far , @ @ @ @ @ the SDF Mazlum Abdi ; • On December 5 , a Turkish convoy entered with @ @ @ @ @ area ; • On December 6 , artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SDF positions in @ @ @ @ @ • On December 5 , clashes between Turkish-backed forces and SDF were reported near Abu @ @ @ @ @ 6 , artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SDF positions in the Ain Issa area ; @ @ @ @ @ Hayat Tahrir al-Sham reportedly arrested several ISIS members in the village of Darkush .
MORE @ @ @ @ @ Is Second Battle For Greater Idlib Near ?

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
4,000 PKK fighters have been killed in the battles fought along the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria so far, according to the head of the SDF Mazlum Abdi;
On December 5, a Turkish convoy entered with logistical equipment to the Al-Bara area;
On December 6, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SDF positions in the Tal Tamar area;
On December 5, clashes between Turkish-backed forces and SDF were reported near Abu Rasin;
On December 6, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled SDF positions in the Ain Issa area;
On December 5, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham reportedly arrested several ISIS members in the village of Darkush.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Fake Assassination Of Top Mossad Agent Near Tel Aviv And Other Iranian Media Victories

On December 4th , a video and photographs were shared on Twitter , allegedly showing and attack in Tel ’ Aviv in which the Israeli Mossad commander Fahmi Hinawi was killed by unknown individuals .
Ultimately , Fahmi Hinawi is alive , the story and rumor about the death of the “ Mossad agent ” as a result of an assassination attempt , as it turned out , was originally spread by a journalist of the Iranian news agency Tasnim , after that the “ sensation ” was picked up by the Lebanese media .
In fact , the killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mossad ) who became the victim of some sort of showdown .
Initially , the reports by Iranian media claimed the deceased is said to be a Mossad officer , shot in Tel Aviv after 15 bullets were fired at a car he was driving when he stopped at a red light .
Several videos circulating in social media show a car stopped in the middle of the road and a heavy law enforcement presence .
It is not possible , however , to clearly determine whether the video shows the exact moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the alleged killing of Hinawi , along with social media user speculation suggesting an Iranian retaliation , come shortly after the leading Iranian nuclear scientist , Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , was assassinated in a Tehran suburb last week , with Iran describing the killing as a “ terror attack ” and blaming Israel for the scientist ’ s murder .
An Iranian retaliation for the assassination of Fakhrizadeh is expected , tensions are at a breaking point in the Middle East , as a year from Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani ’ s assassination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diplomatic staff is being pulled from Iraq by the US , and there are reports of US President Donald Trump carrying out a “ farewell strike ” on Iran , and Tehran could potentially pre-empt it , or rather , respond to the killings .
This incident , however , is a killing of an individual of no specific affiliation , and the chance for it to be politically motivated is none .
Recently , Iranian-affiliated Hezbollah aired footage of Israeli bases in Upper Galilee , which were filmed by a drone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force filmed it on the second day of the IDF ’ s “ Lethal Arrow ” large-scale drills , which were held in northern Israel .
This , and other Iranian claims for a day of reckoning for all of the attacks and assassinations by Israel and the US , are examples of the media victories that Iranian media attempts to perpetuate .
It is possible that Tehran even deems it suitable to utilize the almost exact copy of the AGM-41 Hellfire missile it recently unveiled .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Qods Force Expands In U.S. Backyard • Iranian Nuclear Program Gains Steam Following Assassination Of “ Nuclear Soleimani ” Near Tehran

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On December 4th, a video and photographs were shared on Twitter, allegedly showing and attack in Tel’Aviv in which the Israeli Mossad commander Fahmi Hinawi was killed by unknown individuals.
MASSIVE BREAKING – Reports of the assassination of the Israeli Mossad commander Fahmi Hinawi, southeast of Tel Aviv, Israel by unknown persons pic.twitter.com/yktbXiN0I2 — Ninnyd ??❤?? Waiting~4~the Revolution (@ninnyd101) December 4, 2020
Ultimately, Fahmi Hinawi is alive, the story and rumor about the death of the “Mossad agent” as a result of an assassination attempt, as it turned out, was originally spread by a journalist of the Iranian news agency Tasnim, after that the “sensation” was picked up by the Lebanese media.
In fact, the killed was an ordinary worker (not from Mossad) who became the victim of some sort of showdown.
Initially, the reports by Iranian media claimed the deceased is said to be a Mossad officer, shot in Tel Aviv after 15 bullets were fired at a car he was driving when he stopped at a red light.
The attackers reportedly quickly dispersed without a trace.
Several videos circulating in social media show a car stopped in the middle of the road and a heavy law enforcement presence. It is not possible, however, to clearly determine whether the video shows the exact moment of the alleged killing.
This is not confirmed, but reports are circulating of the assassination of the Israeli Mossad commander Fahmi Hinawi near Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/Z9olXfZxLM — Arab News Today (@ArabNewsToday) December 5, 2020
scène, de l'assassinat d'un haut responsable du Mossad israélien, Fahmi Hinavi a Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/wrN4QFrNqD — KLMD045 (@KLMD045) December 4, 2020
Reports on the alleged killing of Hinawi, along with social media user speculation suggesting an Iranian retaliation, come shortly after the leading Iranian nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated in a Tehran suburb last week, with Iran describing the killing as a “terror attack” and blaming Israel for the scientist’s murder.
An Iranian retaliation for the assassination of Fakhrizadeh is expected, tensions are at a breaking point in the Middle East, as a year from Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani’s assassination by the US is also nearing.
Diplomatic staff is being pulled from Iraq by the US, and there are reports of US President Donald Trump carrying out a “farewell strike” on Iran, and Tehran could potentially pre-empt it, or rather, respond to the killings.
This incident, however, is a killing of an individual of no specific affiliation, and the chance for it to be politically motivated is none.
Recently, Iranian-affiliated Hezbollah aired footage of Israeli bases in Upper Galilee, which were filmed by a drone.
According to al-Manar, the Hezbollah Air Force filmed it on the second day of the IDF’s “Lethal Arrow” large-scale drills, which were held in northern Israel.
This, and other Iranian claims for a day of reckoning for all of the attacks and assassinations by Israel and the US, are examples of the media victories that Iranian media attempts to perpetuate.
It is possible that Tehran even deems it suitable to utilize the almost exact copy of the AGM-41 Hellfire missile it recently unveiled.
Couple photos of Iranian Ghaem 114 air-to-ground guided missile. pic.twitter.com/7fO0mDmfUg — Yuri Lyamin (@imp_navigator) December 1, 2020
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southfront--2020-12-06--US-styled Chaos In France: Protests Against Security Law And Police Brutality Turn Paris Into Battle

US-styled Chaos In France: Protests Against Security Law And Police Brutality Turn Paris Into Battle Zone

On December 5th , violence escalated in Paris for the second consecutive weekend at a mass protest against a new security law and police brutality .
The weekly nationwide protests are becoming a major crisis for President Emmanuel Macron ’ s government , with tensions intensified by the beating of a Black music producer by police in November .
Windows of a supermarket , property agency and a bank were broken while several cars burst into flames along Avenue Gambetta as demonstrators marched towards the central Place de la Republique .
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 64 people were detained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers were injured .
France has been hit by a wave of street protests after the government introduced a security bill in parliament that set out to increase its surveillance tools and restrict rights on circulating images of police officers in the media and online .
The bill was part of Macron ’ s drive to get tougher on law and order ahead of elections in 2022 .
His government also said the police needed to be better protected from online hate .
After four French police officers were charged on November 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black music producer Michel Zecler , legislators from Macron ’ s party pledged a “ complete rewrite ” of part of the draft law .
On December 4th , French President Emmanuel Macron gave a hugely anticipated interview to Brut , a video-based news portal aimed at young people , which was seen as an attempt by the president to win credibility with youth particularly concerned by the actions of the French police .
Macron acknowledged “ there are police who are violent ” and insisted that “ they need to be punished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the violence against police at last weekend ’ s rally in Paris , which he blamed on “ crazy people ” .
Macron said the images of the beating of Black music producer Michel Zecler by police officers in Paris last weekend “ shame us ” .
The incident magnified concerns about alleged systemic racism in the police force .
HINT : The video is age restricted , and must be viewed on YouTube itself , here is the link .
“ Police everywhere , justice nowhere ” and “ police state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beaten ” were among the slogans brandished as protesters marched from Place de la Republique to the nearby Place de la Bastille .
“ We have felt for a long time to have been the victim of institutionalised racism from the police , ” said Mohamed Magassa 35 , who works in a reception centre for minors .
“ But now we feel that this week all of France has woken up.
” There are no numbers as of how many took to the streets on December 5th , but the protests on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Paris and 133,000 in total nationwide , the interior ministry said .
Protest organisers estimated 500,000 joined nationwide , including 200,000 in the capital .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • French Leadership Fails To Admit It ’ s Doing Anything Wrong : A Summary

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On December 5th, violence escalated in Paris for the second consecutive weekend at a mass protest against a new security law and police brutality.
The weekly nationwide protests are becoming a major crisis for President Emmanuel Macron’s government, with tensions intensified by the beating of a Black music producer by police in November.
Windows of a supermarket, property agency and a bank were broken while several cars burst into flames along Avenue Gambetta as demonstrators marched towards the central Place de la Republique.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 64 people were detained across the country, and eight police officers were injured.
France has been hit by a wave of street protests after the government introduced a security bill in parliament that set out to increase its surveillance tools and restrict rights on circulating images of police officers in the media and online.
The bill was part of Macron’s drive to get tougher on law and order ahead of elections in 2022. His government also said the police needed to be better protected from online hate.
The draft legislation provoked a public backlash.
After four French police officers were charged on November 30 over the beating and racial abuse of Black music producer Michel Zecler, legislators from Macron’s party pledged a “complete rewrite” of part of the draft law.
On December 4th, French President Emmanuel Macron gave a hugely anticipated interview to Brut, a video-based news portal aimed at young people, which was seen as an attempt by the president to win credibility with youth particularly concerned by the actions of the French police.
Macron acknowledged “there are police who are violent” and insisted that “they need to be punished”.
But he also lashed out at the violence against police at last weekend’s rally in Paris, which he blamed on “crazy people”.
“I cannot let it be said that we are reducing freedoms in France,” he said.
Macron said the images of the beating of Black music producer Michel Zecler by police officers in Paris last weekend “shame us”. The incident magnified concerns about alleged systemic racism in the police force.
HINT: The video is age restricted, and must be viewed on YouTube itself, here is the link. “Police everywhere, justice nowhere” and “police state” and “smile while you are beaten” were among the slogans brandished as protesters marched from Place de la Republique to the nearby Place de la Bastille. “We have felt for a long time to have been the victim of institutionalised racism from the police,” said Mohamed Magassa 35, who works in a reception centre for minors. “But now we feel that this week all of France has woken up.”
There are no numbers as of how many took to the streets on December 5th, but the protests on the November 28-29th weekend 46,000 people marched in Paris and 133,000 in total nationwide, the interior ministry said. Protest organisers estimated 500,000 joined nationwide, including 200,000 in the capital.
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southfront--2020-12-06--U.S. Director Of National Intelligence Claims China Is Trying To Create Super Soldiers Via Genetic T

U.S. Director Of National Intelligence Claims China Is Trying To Create Super Soldiers Via Genetic Testing

On December 3rd , U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe authored an opinion piece , published in the Wall Street Journal , eloquently titled “ China is National Security Threat No .
1 ” .
Among other claims , some of which hold water , there are some rather interesting ones .
According to Ratcliffe , China is conducting biological tests in its attempt to create “ super soldiers.
” Ratcliffe said China had gone to extraordinary lengths to achieve its goal .
Mistakenly , many analysts and officials within the government ’ s intelligence agency have been focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : So , according to Ratcliffe , this is a serious concern since back in 2019 there were conspiracy theories that followed reports of a Chinese researcher , He Jiankui , who used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to alter the DNA of embryos for seven couples in 2018 .
Although international outrage resulted in Jiankui ’ s incarceration in China , Ratcliffe suggested the Chinese government would attempt to capitalize on these capabilities with gene editing and continue to experiment on adults to create biometrically advanced super soldiers the likes we have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t the first to follow this line of reasoning .
In 2019 , some researchers posited the Chinese government would attempt to use the gene-editing capabilities of CRISPR to enhance the performance of some soldiers .
“ …the PLA is pursuing military applications for biology and looking into promising intersections with other disciplines , including brain science , supercomputing , and artificial intelligence , ” Elsa Kania and Wilson Vorndick wrote in Defense One back in 2019 .
“ While the potential leveraging of CRISPR to increase human capabilities on the future battlefield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present , there are indications that Chinese military researchers are starting to explore its potential , ” wrote the scholars , Elsa Kania , an expert on Chinese defense technology at the Center for a New American Security , and Wilson VornDick , a consultant on China matters and former Navy officer .
“ Chinese military scientists and strategists have consistently emphasized that biotechnology could become a ‘ new strategic commanding heights of the future Revolution in Military Affairs , ' ” the scholars wrote , quoting a 2015 article .
Disappointingly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately respond to requests to elaborate on the notion that China sought to create “ super soldiers ” and whether China would make them look like Dolph Lundgren ( or potentially like Steve Rogers , a.k.a Captain America , just as a sort of joke , maybe ) .
This all comes down to speculation , but if the Director of US intelligence says so , it could be that Chinese super soldiers are coming .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Used ‘ Secret Microwave Pulse Weapon ’ Against Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon Allegations , Calls US Main ‘ Destroyer Of World Peace ’

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On December 3rd, U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe authored an opinion piece, published in the Wall Street Journal, eloquently titled “China is National Security Threat No. 1”.
“The intelligence is clear: Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically, militarily and technologically. Many of China’s major public initiatives and prominent companies offer only a layer of camouflage to the activities of the Chinese Communist Party.”
Among other claims, some of which hold water, there are some rather interesting ones.
According to Ratcliffe, China is conducting biological tests in its attempt to create “super soldiers.”
Ratcliffe said China had gone to extraordinary lengths to achieve its goal.
“US intelligence shows that China has even conducted human testing on members of the People’s Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities,” Ratcliffe wrote. “There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing’s pursuit of power.”
Mistakenly, many analysts and officials within the government’s intelligence agency have been focused on Russia and counter-terrorism efforts, Ratcliffe said:
“But today we must look with clear eyes at the facts in front of us, which make plain that China should be America’s primary national security focus going forward.”
So, according to Ratcliffe, this is a serious concern since back in 2019 there were conspiracy theories that followed reports of a Chinese researcher, He Jiankui, who used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to alter the DNA of embryos for seven couples in 2018.
Although international outrage resulted in Jiankui’s incarceration in China, Ratcliffe suggested the Chinese government would attempt to capitalize on these capabilities with gene editing and continue to experiment on adults to create biometrically advanced super soldiers the likes we have seen only in movies.
Ratcliffe isn’t the first to follow this line of reasoning. In 2019, some researchers posited the Chinese government would attempt to use the gene-editing capabilities of CRISPR to enhance the performance of some soldiers.
“…the PLA is pursuing military applications for biology and looking into promising intersections with other disciplines, including brain science, supercomputing, and artificial intelligence,” Elsa Kania and Wilson Vorndick wrote in Defense One back in 2019. “While the potential leveraging of CRISPR to increase human capabilities on the future battlefield remains only a hypothetical possibility at the present, there are indications that Chinese military researchers are starting to explore its potential,” wrote the scholars, Elsa Kania, an expert on Chinese defense technology at the Center for a New American Security, and Wilson VornDick, a consultant on China matters and former Navy officer. “Chinese military scientists and strategists have consistently emphasized that biotechnology could become a ‘new strategic commanding heights of the future Revolution in Military Affairs,'” the scholars wrote, quoting a 2015 article.
Disappointingly, Ratcliffe’s office and the CIA did not immediately respond to requests to elaborate on the notion that China sought to create “super soldiers” and whether China would make them look like Dolph Lundgren (or potentially like Steve Rogers, a.k.a Captain America, just as a sort of joke, maybe).
This all comes down to speculation, but if the Director of US intelligence says so, it could be that Chinese super soldiers are coming.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Turkey’s TS1400 Helicopter Engine Experiences Critical Failure At Its Presentation (Video)

On December 5th , a presentation took place showing Turkey ’ s first indigenous helicopter engine – the TS1400 .
Showcasing the height of Turkish engineering at the presentation that showed significant attendance , despite COVID-19 , the engine rather gave a close look to everybody present at a critical failure of operation .
There is also a video of the event .
The broadcast was interrupted .
The event , which was attended by Defense Minister Hulusi Akar , was broadcast live .
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also followed the event .
The TS1400 is to power Turkey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the TLUH Program TUSAS has completed the design , development and the manufacture of an indigenous twin-engine , 5-ton class medium category ( 4 to 6 tons ) , utility helicopter with a maximum take-off weight ( MTOW ) of 6,050 tons and powered by a pair of 1,400 shp class turboshaft engines .
The TS1400 Turboshaft Engine Development Project is considered to be a giant step toward achieving the company ’ s vision of becoming a “ Globally Competitive , Original Power Systems OEM.
” The TEI TS1400 engine is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LHTEC CTS800-4A/4AT Turboshaft Engines , which have a reputation for compactness , light weight , reliability , power and durability .
In open sources , the dry weight of the LHTEC CTS800-4A Engine ( with a length of 86,4 cm and height of 72,9 cm ) is stated to be 360 lbs .
( 163 kg ) .
It appears that the reliability part of that requires some more effort .
The TEI TS1400 Turboshaft Engine can also be integrated into T129 Mk-I ATAK Helicopter with some adaptations to replace LHTEC CTS800-4A Engines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for several years in obtaining an export license from the U.S. Government .
With U.S. Congress adding a provision to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that Turkey is to be sanctioned for its purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defense system , the noose around Turkey ’ s military-industrial complex is tightening .
Recently , Canada stopped all of its imports of parts that are critical for Turkey ’ s Bayraktar TB2 drones .
Austria banned all weapons exports to Turkey , and Germany as well .
Other countries are likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win in its indigenous production of engines – both helicopter and aircraft ( be it UAV or even manned ) , so far there ’ s evidently limited success .
Anadolu Agency , disregarding the failure , reported that Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank , speaking at the opening ceremonies of a turboshaft engine delivery facility and a design center of TUSAS Engine Industries ( TEI ) said that the engine would avert $ 60 million of imports .
Turkey is one of seven countries with gas turbine engine technology , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per-kilogram value of Turkish exports is currently at $ 1.50 , this figure has risen to over $ 50 in the defense industry .
No mention was made that the engine apparently failed .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Turkey Unveils ‘ ULAQ ’ – Its First Ever Armored Unmanned Surface Vehicle

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On December 5th, a presentation took place showing Turkey’s first indigenous helicopter engine – the TS1400.
Showcasing the height of Turkish engineering at the presentation that showed significant attendance, despite COVID-19, the engine rather gave a close look to everybody present at a critical failure of operation.
There is also a video of the event.
The broadcast was interrupted. The event, which was attended by Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, was broadcast live. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also followed the event.
The TS1400 is to power Turkey’s T625 multirole helicopter.
“Certification and development test flights of the Gökbey are continuing successfully. The home-grown engine has been integrated into the helicopter. We test a new feature or a new capability and the pilots quite like it,” TAI Helicopter Vice General Manager Yıldırım Kemal Yıllıkçı told Anadolu Agency (AA) on the sidelines of Turkey’s Teknofest event, held in September 2020.
Under the TLUH Program TUSAS has completed the design, development and the manufacture of an indigenous twin-engine, 5-ton class medium category (4 to 6 tons), utility helicopter with a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 6,050 tons and powered by a pair of 1,400 shp class turboshaft engines.
The TS1400 Turboshaft Engine Development Project is considered to be a giant step toward achieving the company’s vision of becoming a “Globally Competitive, Original Power Systems OEM.”
The TEI TS1400 engine is expected to have similar dimensions and weight with the LHTEC CTS800-4A/4AT Turboshaft Engines, which have a reputation for compactness, light weight, reliability, power and durability. In open sources, the dry weight of the LHTEC CTS800-4A Engine (with a length of 86,4 cm and height of 72,9 cm) is stated to be 360 lbs. (163 kg).
It appears that the reliability part of that requires some more effort.
The TEI TS1400 Turboshaft Engine can also be integrated into T129 Mk-I ATAK Helicopter with some adaptations to replace LHTEC CTS800-4A Engines for which Turkey has been experiencing difficulties for several years in obtaining an export license from the U.S. Government.
With U.S. Congress adding a provision to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that Turkey is to be sanctioned for its purchase of a Russian S-400 missile defense system, the noose around Turkey’s military-industrial complex is tightening.
Recently, Canada stopped all of its imports of parts that are critical for Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2 drones.
Austria banned all weapons exports to Turkey, and Germany as well. Other countries are likely to follow. As such Ankara needs a win in its indigenous production of engines – both helicopter and aircraft (be it UAV or even manned), so far there’s evidently limited success.
Anadolu Agency, disregarding the failure, reported that Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, speaking at the opening ceremonies of a turboshaft engine delivery facility and a design center of TUSAS Engine Industries (TEI) said that the engine would avert $60 million of imports.
Turkey is one of seven countries with gas turbine engine technology, he stressed.
“The new design center that will make indigenous engines will be the starting point of our new success stories.”
Varank said that while the per-kilogram value of Turkish exports is currently at $1.50, this figure has risen to over $50 in the defense industry.
“The export value of our first national helicopter engine TS 1400 is $6,000 per kilogram,” he added.
No mention was made that the engine apparently failed.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Azerbaijan’s Troops Practice Victory Parade, Armenia’s Citizens Attempt To Practice Their Civil Righ

Azerbaijan’s Troops Practice Victory Parade, Armenia’s Citizens Attempt To Practice Their Civil Right To Protest

On December 4th , Azerbaijan began preparing for its very own Victory Parade , after the success in Nagorno-Karabakh .
More than 3,000 servicemen will participate in the military parade that will be held on Azadlig Square .
Up to 150 military vehicles , including new military equipment , missile and artillery pieces , air defense systems recently adopted into the armament , as well as warships and boats will be demonstrated at the parade .
Azerbaijan also provided a list of prisoners of war it held , and that it was ready to turn over in a prisoner exchange @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the application of the Government of the Republic of Armenia , today for the first time Azerbaijan provided to the ECHR detailed information on a number of POWs and civilians held in Azerbaijan .
The ECHR has set a deadline of December 11th to provide photographs and medical documents of POWs and civilians held in Azerbaijan , the Representative of the Republic of Armenia before the ECHR said .
In Armenia , the citizens are holding another protest demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan .
Armenia ’ s opposition parties warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil disobedience across the country if he does not resign by noon on December 1st .
He clearly didn ’ t .
Pashinyan refused to step down , defending the peace agreement as a painful but necessary move that prevented Azerbaijan from overrunning the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region .
More than 20,000 protesters rallied in Yerevan on December 5th , chanting “ Nikol , you traitor !
” and “ Nikol , go away !
” and then marched to the prime minister ’ s official residence .
Veteran politician Vazgen Manukyan , whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate for prime minister , said at the rally that his transition government would seek to renegotiate some vague aspects of the Nov. 10 peace deal .
Armenia ’ s Health Ministry said on December 2nd that at least 2,718 Armenian servicemen were killed in the latest fighting .
At least 55 Armenian civilians also were killed .
Pro-Armenian government media are reporting that an opposition leader had called the Armenian population sheep .
“ A video surfaced where the new candidate for Prime Minister calls 10 % of the population sheep , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the opposition , which claims that their candidate will soften hatred and hostility between people .
But how will calling 10 % of the population sheep and threats of physical destruction of Pashinyan lead to stabilization in the country ?
It is noteworthy that Vazgen Manukyan , during the demonstration , indicated as a goal that Armenia should join the anti-Turkish coalition , which also does not coincide with the statements of the opposition .
Opposition statements say that Vazgen Manukyan will only be interim Prime Minister and his goal is only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raises suspicions .
Why a whole year for elections ?
Isn ’ t six months enough ?
If a candidate already decides on foreign policy , how much does this correspond to his status as interim Prime Minister ?
There are a lot of questions , and Vazgen Manukyan has not yet accepted the offer of Petros Ghazaryan ( the country ’ s chief political interviewer ) to give an interview.
” The question is , also , how will Pashinyan lead the nation when he hides in a basement , releasing videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • In Video : Russian Sappers Use Uran-6 Mine-Clearing Robot In Karabakh • Nikol “ The Basement ” Pashinyan Continues Blaming Everybody But Himself , Azerbaijan Establishes “ Patriotic War Memorial Complex ”

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On December 4th, Azerbaijan began preparing for its very own Victory Parade, after the success in Nagorno-Karabakh.
More than 3,000 servicemen will participate in the military parade that will be held on Azadlig Square. Up to 150 military vehicles, including new military equipment, missile and artillery pieces, air defense systems recently adopted into the armament, as well as warships and boats will be demonstrated at the parade.
“Some of the war trophies seized from the enemy defeated by the Azerbaijan Army during the Patriotic War will also be presented at the parade.”
Azerbaijan also provided a list of prisoners of war it held, and that it was ready to turn over in a prisoner exchange with Armenia.
On the basis of the application of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, today for the first time Azerbaijan provided to the ECHR detailed information on a number of POWs and civilians held in Azerbaijan. The ECHR has set a deadline of December 11th to provide photographs and medical documents of POWs and civilians held in Azerbaijan, the Representative of the Republic of Armenia before the ECHR said.
In Armenia, the citizens are holding another protest demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
Armenia’s opposition parties warned Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan there would be civil disobedience across the country if he does not resign by noon on December 1st. He clearly didn’t.
Pashinyan refused to step down, defending the peace agreement as a painful but necessary move that prevented Azerbaijan from overrunning the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region.
More than 20,000 protesters rallied in Yerevan on December 5th, chanting “Nikol ,you traitor!” and “Nikol, go away!” and then marched to the prime minister’s official residence.
“The seat of the prime minister of Armenia is currently being occupied by a political corpse,” Artur Vanetsyan, the leader of the opposition party Homeland and the former head of the National Security Service, said at the protest rally.
Veteran politician Vazgen Manukyan, whom 17 opposition parties have nominated as their candidate for prime minister, said at the rally that his transition government would seek to renegotiate some vague aspects of the Nov. 10 peace deal.
Armenia’s Health Ministry said on December 2nd that at least 2,718 Armenian servicemen were killed in the latest fighting. At least 55 Armenian civilians also were killed.
Pro-Armenian government media are reporting that an opposition leader had called the Armenian population sheep.
“A video surfaced where the new candidate for Prime Minister calls 10 % of the population sheep, which goes against the point of view of the opposition, which claims that their candidate will soften hatred and hostility between people. But how will calling 10% of the population sheep and threats of physical destruction of Pashinyan lead to stabilization in the country? It is noteworthy that Vazgen Manukyan, during the demonstration, indicated as a goal that Armenia should join the anti-Turkish coalition, which also does not coincide with the statements of the opposition. Opposition statements say that Vazgen Manukyan will only be interim Prime Minister and his goal is only to organize new elections, which also raises suspicions. Why a whole year for elections? Isn’t six months enough? If a candidate already decides on foreign policy, how much does this correspond to his status as interim Prime Minister? There are a lot of questions, and Vazgen Manukyan has not yet accepted the offer of Petros Ghazaryan (the country’s chief political interviewer) to give an interview.”
The question is, also, how will Pashinyan lead the nation when he hides in a basement, releasing videos on Facebook?
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southfront--2020-12-06--China’s YJ-62 Subsonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

The YJ-62 cruise missile is a PLAN analogue to the anti-shipping variants of the RGM-109 Tomahawk/MRASM .
The weapon has a similar general configuration to the Tomahawk family , but employs a unique fixed scoop inlet for the air breathing engine .
It is designed to engage surface ships of all classes and types , both single and as part of a group , in conditions of electronic and fire counteraction of the enemy .
The missile can be placed on various carriers and used day and night , in any weather conditions , alone and in a salvo including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation ( Third Aerospace Academy ) .
It entered service with the Chinese Navy in 2004 , and the first carrier was a Project 052C destroyer ( Lanzhou ) .
A coastal complex was later developed based on the YJ-62 missile .
The shore-based launcher is mounted on a modified chassis of an all-terrain truck with an 8×8 wheel arrangement and a payload of 22 tons .
The YJ-62 missile has a typical cruise missile , winged design with a cylindrical body with an ogival head-end fairing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the body and a folding cross-shaped stabilizer in the tail .
The missile is equipped with a small-size turbofan engine WS-500 .
The engine weighs about 200 kg , thrust is 510 kgf .
The trapezoidal air intake is located in the lower part of the hull .
In the ship and ground versions , a single-chamber solid propellant launch engine is mounted on the rocket , located in tandem with the march .
The maximum speed of the missile is more than 0.9M , but when flying over rough terrain it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ above the ground is up to 30m , above the sea – up to 10m , firing range is 400km .
In the homing area , the missile drops to 7m above sea level .
The combat application is provided at sea disturbance up to 6 points , wind speed up to 20m/s and ambient temperature from -30° to +60°С .
The YJ-62 control system includes an active radar homing head ( ARGHS ) , inertial platformless navigation system , radio altimeter and power supply unit .
In the marching section of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an inertial system .
Range of detection of a typical target of ARGSN is 40 km , range of capture for escort is 30 km , sector of vision ± 40° .
The missile was authorized for export by the Chinese Government in 2005 under the designation C-602 , and the range of the export version was reduced to 280 kilometres in order to comply with international agreements .
The C-602 was first demonstrated in 2006 at the sixth annual air show in Zhuhai and has since been repeatedly presented at international arms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrated for the first time at the sixth annual air show in Zhuhai and was repeatedly presented at international arms exhibitions .
In 2009 , 120 C-602 missiles entered service with Pakistani Navy , which plan to use them as a counterbalance to BrahMos missile of Indian surface ships .
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The YJ-62 (eagle strike 62; yingji-62) is a Chinese subsonic anti-ship cruise missile.
The YJ-62 cruise missile is a PLAN analogue to the anti-shipping variants of the RGM-109 Tomahawk/MRASM. The weapon has a similar general configuration to the Tomahawk family, but employs a unique fixed scoop inlet for the air breathing engine.
It is designed to engage surface ships of all classes and types, both single and as part of a group, in conditions of electronic and fire counteraction of the enemy.
The missile can be placed on various carriers and used day and night, in any weather conditions, alone and in a salvo including ground targets.
YJ-62 is developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (Third Aerospace Academy). It entered service with the Chinese Navy in 2004, and the first carrier was a Project 052C destroyer (Lanzhou).
A coastal complex was later developed based on the YJ-62 missile. The shore-based launcher is mounted on a modified chassis of an all-terrain truck with an 8×8 wheel arrangement and a payload of 22 tons.
The YJ-62 missile has a typical cruise missile, winged design with a cylindrical body with an ogival head-end fairing, a folding wing in the central part of the body and a folding cross-shaped stabilizer in the tail.
The missile is equipped with a small-size turbofan engine WS-500. The engine weighs about 200 kg, thrust is 510 kgf. The trapezoidal air intake is located in the lower part of the hull. In the ship and ground versions, a single-chamber solid propellant launch engine is mounted on the rocket, located in tandem with the march.
The maximum speed of the missile is more than 0.9M, but when flying over rough terrain it is significantly reduced.
The flight height above the ground is up to 30m, above the sea – up to 10m, firing range is 400km. In the homing area, the missile drops to 7m above sea level.
The combat application is provided at sea disturbance up to 6 points, wind speed up to 20m/s and ambient temperature from -30° to +60°С.
The YJ-62 control system includes an active radar homing head (ARGHS), inertial platformless navigation system, radio altimeter and power supply unit. In the marching section of the trajectory, the missile is guided by an inertial system.
Range of detection of a typical target of ARGSN is 40 km, range of capture for escort is 30 km, sector of vision ± 40°.
The missile was authorized for export by the Chinese Government in 2005 under the designation C-602, and the range of the export version was reduced to 280 kilometres in order to comply with international agreements.
The C-602 was first demonstrated in 2006 at the sixth annual air show in Zhuhai and has since been repeatedly presented at international arms exhibitions.
In 2009 the C-602 was demonstrated for the first time at the sixth annual air show in Zhuhai and was repeatedly presented at international arms exhibitions. In 2009, 120 C-602 missiles entered service with Pakistani Navy, which plan to use them as a counterbalance to BrahMos missile of Indian surface ships.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Saudi-led Forces Are About To Lose Another Stronghold In Central Yemen

On December 4 , a large explosion rocked the Saudi-led coalition ’ s Tadawin camp in the central Yemeni province of Ma ’ rib .
Yemeni sources speculated that the explosion was caused by a Houthi missile strike .
Last week , the Yemeni group , formally known as Ansar Allah , targeted the camp with a guided missile .
Eight Saudi service members , including officers , were reportedly killed .
Houthi fighters are slowly closing in on the Tadawin camp .
Clashes between the Yemeni fighters and Saudi-backed forces are taking place in the area of Raghwan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ west of the camp .
The Saudi-led coalition appears to be aware of the threat posed to the Tadawin camp .
On December 4 , the coalition withdrew some of its equipment from the camp .
In an attempt to place more pressure on the Houthis , the Saudi-led coalition is stepping up its airstrikes on Ma ’ rib and other parts of Yemen .
On December 4 , coalition warplanes carried out 22 airstrikes on the following areas : • The districts of Baqim and al-Dhaher in Saada ; • The districts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ma ’ rib ; • The districts of Khabb wa al-Sha ’ af and al-Hazm in al-Jawf .
Despite the intense airstrikes , Saudi-backed forces continue to retreat in central Yemen and are failing to secure the border line with Saudi Arabia .
If the Houthis impose control of the Tadawin camp , the road will be open for them towards Ma ’ rib ’ s city center .
The city is located only 10 km south of the camp .
This would be another major blow for the Saudi-led coalition .
MORE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Saudi Proxies Urgently Set Up Defenses In Face Of Incoming Houthi Attack On Marib City

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On December 4, a large explosion rocked the Saudi-led coalition’s Tadawin camp in the central Yemeni province of Ma’rib.
Yemeni sources speculated that the explosion was caused by a Houthi missile strike. Last week, the Yemeni group, formally known as Ansar Allah, targeted the camp with a guided missile. Eight Saudi service members, including officers, were reportedly killed.
Houthi fighters are slowly closing in on the Tadawin camp. Clashes between the Yemeni fighters and Saudi-backed forces are taking place in the area of Raghwan, which is located 40 km to the west of the camp.
The Saudi-led coalition appears to be aware of the threat posed to the Tadawin camp. On December 4, the coalition withdrew some of its equipment from the camp.
In an attempt to place more pressure on the Houthis, the Saudi-led coalition is stepping up its airstrikes on Ma’rib and other parts of Yemen.
On December 4, coalition warplanes carried out 22 airstrikes on the following areas:
The port city of al-Hudaydah;
Sanaa International Airport;
The districts of Baqim and al-Dhaher in Saada;
The districts of Medghal, Majzar and al-Abdiyah in Ma’rib;
The districts of Khabb wa al-Sha’af and al-Hazm in al-Jawf.
Despite the intense airstrikes, Saudi-backed forces continue to retreat in central Yemen and are failing to secure the border line with Saudi Arabia.
If the Houthis impose control of the Tadawin camp, the road will be open for them towards Ma’rib’s city center. The city is located only 10 km south of the camp. This would be another major blow for the Saudi-led coalition.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Israel Weaponizes WhatsApp To Terrorize Senior Syrian Officers

Israel has warned senior officers of the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) in the southern region from cooperating with Lebanon ’ s Hezbollah in messages sent directly to their mobile phones , al-Akhbar reported on December 4 , citing sources with knowledge on the matter .
The messages were directly sent from a number hosted in Cyprus to the officers ’ mobile phones over the WhatsApp messaging application .
A source in the SAA told the al-Akhbar newspaper that this was the first time ever Israel sent a threat directly to senior Syria officers .
Earlier this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s southern region , warning senior officers of the SAA ’ s 1st Corps from cooperating with Hezbollah .
On November 18 , Israeli airstrikes destroyed the office of Major General Akram Hawija , the commander of the 1st Corps ’ 7th Division .
Hawija was one of the officers named in the leaflets .
A source in Iranian-backed forces in southern Syria told al-Akhbar that the relationship with the SAA was not harmed by the recent Israeli threats .
According to al-Akhbar , the SAA ’ s 1 Corps is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s capabilities on the frontline with the occupied Golan Heights .
Syria ’ s allies , Iran and Hezbollah , are backing these efforts .
New military camps and fortified positions are being built along the frontline .
Some of the new positions were struck by Israel in the last few months .
Al-Akhbar ’ s source stressed that the work in Syria ’ s southern region will go on , confirming that Iranian-backed forces are present in the region “ as much as the plans dictates.
” Israeli hopes that its pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or at least push Iranian forces out from the country ’ s southern region .
This will not likely happen anytime soon .
By warning Syrian officers , Tel Aviv is doubling down on this failed strategy .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Is Second Battle For Greater Idlib Near ?
• Iranian-Backed Forces On Syrian-Iraqi Border Are On High Alert Over Expected Israeli Attacks

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Israel has warned senior officers of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the southern region from cooperating with Lebanon’s Hezbollah in messages sent directly to their mobile phones, al-Akhbar reported on December 4, citing sources with knowledge on the matter.
The messages were directly sent from a number hosted in Cyprus to the officers’ mobile phones over the WhatsApp messaging application.
“Hezbollah and Iran are taking advantage of you to operate on the border against Israel, you bear responsibility and you won’t be away from our responses,” the message reads.
A source in the SAA told the al-Akhbar newspaper that this was the first time ever Israel sent a threat directly to senior Syria officers.
Earlier this year, the Israeli military dropped leaflets over Syria’s southern region, warning senior officers of the SAA’s 1st Corps from cooperating with Hezbollah.
On November 18, Israeli airstrikes destroyed the office of Major General Akram Hawija, the commander of the 1st Corps’ 7th Division. Hawija was one of the officers named in the leaflets.
A source in Iranian-backed forces in southern Syria told al-Akhbar that the relationship with the SAA was not harmed by the recent Israeli threats.
“A very good and close relationship has been formed between the two sides as a result of years of fighting side by side,” the source, who described the relationship as “excellent,” said.
According to al-Akhbar, the SAA’s 1 Corps is now leading the efforts to rebuild Syria’s capabilities on the frontline with the occupied Golan Heights. Syria’s allies, Iran and Hezbollah, are backing these efforts.
New military camps and fortified positions are being built along the frontline. Some of the new positions were struck by Israel in the last few months. Al-Akhbar’s source stressed that the work in Syria’s southern region will go on, confirming that Iranian-backed forces are present in the region “as much as the plans dictates.”
Israeli hopes that its pressure will force Iran out of Syria, or at least push Iranian forces out from the country’s southern region. This will not likely happen anytime soon. By warning Syrian officers, Tel Aviv is doubling down on this failed strategy.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Is Second Battle For Greater Idlib Near?

On December 4 and 5 , the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) deployed fresh reinforcements around the northwestern region of Greater Idlib where several terrorist groups roam free right under the eyes of Turkish forces .
The reinforcements , which included personnel and equipment , were deployed in the al-Ghab Plains in the northwestern Hama countryside , according the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other sources .
The deployment of the reinforcements coincided with intense SAA artillery strikes on militant positions near the towns of Kansafra , Al-Bara , Al-Fterah , Sfuhen , Fulayfel and Bayanin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idlib ’ s southern countryside .
Greater Idlib is currently dominated by a coalition of al-Qaeda-linked factions and Turkish-backed groups led by Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham .
Two days ago , the Turkish Armed Forces deployed large reinforcements in Greater Idlib , where they maintain more than 60 military positions .
The military buildup in Greater Idlib may be a sign of a near battle in the region .
Exactly nine months ago , a fierce battle in the region ended with a Russian-Turkish de-escalation agreement .
Ankara has not honored its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Iranian-Backed Forces On Syrian-Iraqi Border Are On High Alert Over Expected Israeli Attacks • How It Really Happened In Syria : A PMC Overly-Dramatic Retelling With Bonus ISIS Hunting Stories

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On December 4 and 5, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) deployed fresh reinforcements around the northwestern region of Greater Idlib where several terrorist groups roam free right under the eyes of Turkish forces.
The reinforcements, which included personnel and equipment, were deployed in the al-Ghab Plains in the northwestern Hama countryside, according the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and other sources.
“Military vehicles carrying large military and logistical supplies and soldier were seen arriving in al-Amaqiyyah and Tanjarah in al-Ghab Plains,” the monitoring group said in report.
The deployment of the reinforcements coincided with intense SAA artillery strikes on militant positions near the towns of Kansafra, Al-Bara, Al-Fterah, Sfuhen, Fulayfel and Bayanin, all located in the al-Zawiyah Mount in Idlib’s southern countryside.
Greater Idlib is currently dominated by a coalition of al-Qaeda-linked factions and Turkish-backed groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
Two days ago, the Turkish Armed Forces deployed large reinforcements in Greater Idlib, where they maintain more than 60 military positions.
The military buildup in Greater Idlib may be a sign of a near battle in the region. Exactly nine months ago, a fierce battle in the region ended with a Russian-Turkish de-escalation agreement. Ankara has not honored its commitments under the agreement, thus far.
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southfront--2020-12-06--In Video: Russian Sappers Use Uran-6 Mine-Clearing Robot In Karabakh

Click to see the full-size image Russian sappers continue their demining operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh region .
MORE ON THE @ @ @ @ @ The Basement ” Pashinyan Continues Blaming Everybody But Himself , Azerbaijan Establishes “ Patriotic War @ @ @

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Russian sappers continue their demining operations in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Internal Ethiopian War Draws To A Close, But Has It Damaged Neighboring Sudan Too Much

On December 5th , in Ethiopia , Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ’ s forces said that the fighting is close to over after a week passed since the government troops captured Tigray region ’ s capital Mekelle .
They wrestled control from the Tigray People ’ s Liberation Front ( TPLF ) .
The fighting has now lasted for over a month , having started on November 4th , and it is estimated that it killed thousands of people and driven some 46,000 refugees into neighboring Sudan .
The central government is claiming that the fighting is near over , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that fighting outside the city was still on-going .
He said federal forces bombed the town of Abbi Adi on December 4th , without giving further details , while a TPLF spokesman accused government troops of looting in Mekelle .
Most communications in Tigray are down and access to the area is severely restricted , making it hard to verify either side ’ s statements .
The Central government has also not given any form of comment .
Also , on December 4th , Army Colonel Shambel Beyene said that government forces were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gore area where Debretsion , Getachew and other TPLF members were thought to be hiding .
Abiy ’ s government has said it will protect civilians in the northern region and ensure their needs are met .
Sudan is struggling with the crisis that ’ s been caused by Ethiopian refugees crossing into its territory .
On November 24th , the official representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ) Babar Baloch said that upwards of 40,000 refugees had ran to Sudan for asylum .
In turn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michelle Bachelet called on the parties to the conflict in Tigray to conduct their actions “ in accordance with international laws.
” A new conflict in Ethiopia on the Sudan border , some experts believe , threatens the country ’ s hybrid civil-military leadership with exacerbated internal disputes and increased foreign interference in an already fragile democratic transition .
Sudan is today governed by a technocratic government led by a military-civilian governing body known as the Sovereign Council , which spearheads the transition to a democratic civilian government until 2022 .
Following nationwide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omar al-Bashir was ousted by the military in April 2019 and replaced by the Transitional Military Council .
Further protests demanding an end to military rule and massacres that killed more than 100 protesters in Khartoum led to a 39-month transition agreement between Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change civilian alliance on July 5 , 2019 .
The current split and political uncertainty in the country has prompted attempts by regional and large security services to turn Sudan into the center of their counterintelligence and intelligence efforts , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special services .
In fact , Sudan is at the forefront of fierce competition between the UAE and Saudi Arabia on the one hand and Qatar and Turkey on the other .
There is also another tension between Egypt and Ethiopia , which are using Sudan in proxy war against each other .
In addition , Sudan is already the target of aggressive international intervention due to the conflict of interests of the regional axes , with competition between the United States and the EU on the one hand and China and Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council , Cameron Hudson , said Sudan is struggling to maintain its independence over its regional positions as powerful states pressure its new government .
Ethiopia , Sudan and Egypt have found themselves embroiled in a bitter dispute over the filling and operation of Ethiopia ’ s Great Renaissance Dam , which remains unresolved , although the reservoir behind the dam began filling in July .
Negotiations between the parties are at an impasse , with Egypt and Sudan insisting that binding agreements are needed to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which must be negotiated before the filling process begins .
In addition , the nascent conflict in the Ethiopian region of Tigray , bordering the already troubled East Sudan , has opened a new front of tension for the country .
Sudanese officials expect up to 200,000 refugees to leave the conflict area and go to Sudan .
Sudanese political analyst Abdul Galil Suleiman warned that fighting in Tigray threatens not only Sudan , but the entire region , including Ethiopia , Eritrea and South Sudan .
He also sees this conflict as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire Horn of Africa .
Thus , the current fighting in the Ethiopian Tigray region could potentially have a significant impact on the political situation in Sudan .
Eastern Sudan itself has recently been the scene of massive protests , when demonstrators last month blocked the country ’ s largest port , Port Sudan , and called for independence from Khartoum , as indigenous tribes objected to a peace deal brokered by the government , which they said excluded their vote .
In addition , there is serious competition between the military and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to two Sudanese sources , Egyptian and Sudanese generals are seeking to pressure Ethiopia , which maintains a civilian component led by Prime Minister Hamdok , to influence the dam talks .
The military part is led by the commander of the armed forces Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan The situation is such , the Ethiopian central government needs to quickly deal with the situation and restore some semblance of normality , and an end to hostilities , since it not only threatens balance inside the country , but also strongly affects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sudan is a field in which various interests clash , and they pursue their own goals , with the political and military leadership operating in some sort of dysfunctional symbiosis .
This , alone , provides the possibility for quite a bit of chaos , without the addition of refugees , calls for independence from Eastern Sudan , and more .
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On December 5th, in Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s forces said that the fighting is close to over after a week passed since the government troops captured Tigray region’s capital Mekelle.
They wrestled control from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The fighting has now lasted for over a month, having started on November 4th, and it is estimated that it killed thousands of people and driven some 46,000 refugees into neighboring Sudan.
The central government is claiming that the fighting is near over, while TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael told Reuters that fighting outside the city was still on-going.
He said federal forces bombed the town of Abbi Adi on December 4th, without giving further details, while a TPLF spokesman accused government troops of looting in Mekelle.
“(They are) looting civilian properties, hotels and damaging factories after looting,” the spokesman Getachew Reda told a TPLF-owned TV station.
Most communications in Tigray are down and access to the area is severely restricted, making it hard to verify either side’s statements.
The Central government has also not given any form of comment.
Also, on December 4th, Army Colonel Shambel Beyene said that government forces were 10 km away from a forest in the Gore area where Debretsion, Getachew and other TPLF members were thought to be hiding.
“We will only need a few days to get to them,” he said
Abiy’s government has said it will protect civilians in the northern region and ensure their needs are met.
“Work to rebuild Tigray has commenced with teams … undertaking repair work (and) restoring services,” the prime minister said.
Sudan is struggling with the crisis that’s been caused by Ethiopian refugees crossing into its territory.
On November 24th, the official representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Babar Baloch said that upwards of 40,000 refugees had ran to Sudan for asylum.
“Last weekend alone, more than 5,000 refugees from Ethiopia crossed the eastern border of Sudan,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
In turn, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on the parties to the conflict in Tigray to conduct their actions “in accordance with international laws.”
A new conflict in Ethiopia on the Sudan border, some experts believe, threatens the country’s hybrid civil-military leadership with exacerbated internal disputes and increased foreign interference in an already fragile democratic transition. Sudan is today governed by a technocratic government led by a military-civilian governing body known as the Sovereign Council, which spearheads the transition to a democratic civilian government until 2022.
Following nationwide protests against his 30-year rule, President Omar al-Bashir was ousted by the military in April 2019 and replaced by the Transitional Military Council.
Further protests demanding an end to military rule and massacres that killed more than 100 protesters in Khartoum led to a 39-month transition agreement between Transitional Military Council and the Forces of Freedom and Change civilian alliance on July 5, 2019.
The current split and political uncertainty in the country has prompted attempts by regional and large security services to turn Sudan into the center of their counterintelligence and intelligence efforts, which is already being recorded by the local special services.
In fact, Sudan is at the forefront of fierce competition between the UAE and Saudi Arabia on the one hand and Qatar and Turkey on the other.
There is also another tension between Egypt and Ethiopia, which are using Sudan in proxy war against each other.
In addition, Sudan is already the target of aggressive international intervention due to the conflict of interests of the regional axes, with competition between the United States and the EU on the one hand and China and Russia on the other.
Former American diplomat and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, Cameron Hudson, said Sudan is struggling to maintain its independence over its regional positions as powerful states pressure its new government.
“Sudan has been struggling for some time to manage its foreign relations with larger and more powerful states that are all interested in an ultimate political outcome in Sudan. We see this in the UAE helping to push the Israeli [normalization] deal. We see this in Egypt advancing its views on the Renaissance Dam talks,” said Hudson, who is also the former chief of staff of the US Special Envoy to Sudan at the US State Department.
Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt have found themselves embroiled in a bitter dispute over the filling and operation of Ethiopia’s Great Renaissance Dam, which remains unresolved, although the reservoir behind the dam began filling in July.
Negotiations between the parties are at an impasse, with Egypt and Sudan insisting that binding agreements are needed to ensure their future interests and water security, which must be negotiated before the filling process begins.
In addition, the nascent conflict in the Ethiopian region of Tigray, bordering the already troubled East Sudan, has opened a new front of tension for the country. Sudanese officials expect up to 200,000 refugees to leave the conflict area and go to Sudan.
Sudanese political analyst Abdul Galil Suleiman warned that fighting in Tigray threatens not only Sudan, but the entire region, including Ethiopia, Eritrea and South Sudan.
“The fighting is taking place in the strategically important city of Humra, which is located in the middle of the border between Ethiopia, Sudan and Eritrea. The main Tigray tribes actually live in three countries, so this war is already regional in nature if we look at the demographics of the region, but it is also politically linked to the interests of the three countries and beyond,” he said.
He also sees this conflict as a potential threat to stability in the entire Horn of Africa. Thus, the current fighting in the Ethiopian Tigray region could potentially have a significant impact on the political situation in Sudan.
“Now we see a potential crisis in neighboring Ethiopia, which could seriously exacerbate the ongoing instability in the eastern regions of Sudan,” said Hudson.
Eastern Sudan itself has recently been the scene of massive protests, when demonstrators last month blocked the country’s largest port, Port Sudan, and called for independence from Khartoum, as indigenous tribes objected to a peace deal brokered by the government, which they said excluded their vote.
In addition, there is serious competition between the military and civilian components of the transitional government.
According to two Sudanese sources, Egyptian and Sudanese generals are seeking to pressure Ethiopia, which maintains a civilian component led by Prime Minister Hamdok, to influence the dam talks. The military part is led by the commander of the armed forces Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
“There is a strong hidden rift between the military and civilians in Sudan over the conflicts in Ethiopia and the alleged involvement of Egypt and Eritrea in recent tensions in Tigray,” the sources said on condition of anonymity. As part of this practice, the Egyptians recently opened their stationary reconnaissance point in Khartoum. “It is obvious that Egypt supports al-Burkhan and Ethiopia supports Hamdok, but this is also motivated by other interests of Ethiopia and Egypt in Sudan, as well as the conflict over the dam, since both countries want Sudan on their side in these difficult negotiations.”
The situation is such, the Ethiopian central government needs to quickly deal with the situation and restore some semblance of normality, and an end to hostilities, since it not only threatens balance inside the country, but also strongly affects Sudan, and potentially the entire region.
Sudan is a field in which various interests clash, and they pursue their own goals, with the political and military leadership operating in some sort of dysfunctional symbiosis. This, alone, provides the possibility for quite a bit of chaos, without the addition of refugees, calls for independence from Eastern Sudan, and more.
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southfront--2020-12-06--ISIS Executed SDF Commander & Coalition Spy In Northeastern Syria (Photos)

On December 5 , ISIS ’ news agency , Amaq , released photos showing the execution of two men in the northeastern region of Syria , which is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) .
The first man , Musa al-Hashim , was executed by ISIS terrorists with a bullet to the head on December 4 .
According to Amaq ’ s claims , al-Hashim was working as a spy for the U.S.-led coalition , the main backer of the SDF .
Local sources denied ISIS ’ claims .
The sources said al-Hashim , a refugee from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorists from his home in the town of al-Shheell in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside .
The second man was executed by ISIS a day later in a similar fashion near the town of al-Secher , which is also located in the southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor .
Amaq said the man , named Raed Hussein , was a commander of the SDF .
The agency shared photos of an assault rifle and documents of the SDF ’ s security forces , Asyash , which were allegedly found with Hussein .
During 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stepped up their operations against ISIS cells in northeastern Syria .
The terrorist group , however , is still active in the region .
ISIS has been taking advantage of the growing tensions between the Kurdish-led SDF and Arab population in northwestern Syria to spread its influence in the region .
The SDF is yet to address this issue , which seems to be growing .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • SDF Officially Admits Links With PKK , Says 4,000 PKK Members Killed In Syria • Turkey Pounds SDF In Ain Issa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ To Syrian Army ( Video )

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On December 5, ISIS’ news agency, Amaq, released photos showing the execution of two men in the northeastern region of Syria, which is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The first man, Musa al-Hashim, was executed by ISIS terrorists with a bullet to the head on December 4. According to Amaq’s claims, al-Hashim was working as a spy for the U.S.-led coalition, the main backer of the SDF.
Local sources denied ISIS’ claims. The sources said al-Hashim, a refugee from al-Hasakah city, was abducted by ISIS terrorists from his home in the town of al-Shheell in the southeastern Deir Ezzor countryside.
The second man was executed by ISIS a day later in a similar fashion near the town of al-Secher, which is also located in the southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
Amaq said the man, named Raed Hussein, was a commander of the SDF. The agency shared photos of an assault rifle and documents of the SDF’s security forces, Asyash, which were allegedly found with Hussein.
During 2020, the SDF and the U.S.-led coalition stepped up their operations against ISIS cells in northeastern Syria. The terrorist group, however, is still active in the region.
ISIS has been taking advantage of the growing tensions between the Kurdish-led SDF and Arab population in northwestern Syria to spread its influence in the region. The SDF is yet to address this issue, which seems to be growing.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Haftar Forces Attack Turkish Proxies In Southern Libya

On December 6 , heavy clashes broke out in southwestern Libya , when the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) launched a surprise attack on a military camp controlled by forces loyal to the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord ( GNA ) .
LNA troops attacked the Tendy camp in the morning .
The camp is located near the town of Awbari , at least 964 km south of the capital Tripoli .
Col. Muhammad al-Hasnawi is reportedly leading the attack .
A spokesman for the GNA ’ s Sirte-al-Jufra operations room , al-Hadi Dara , told Turkish state-run Anadulo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quickly repelled by the camp ’ s forces .
A pro-GNA warlord named Ali Kanah is commanding the camp .
Dara ’ s claims were denied by Khaled al-Mahjoub , Director of the LNA ’ s Moral Guidance Department , who told Sky News Arabiya that the Tendy camp was captured .
According to al-Mahdjoub , the LNA is working to secure the southwestern region to prevent terrorist groups , including al-Qaeda , from entering the country .
The region is indeed infested with al-Qaeda and ISIS remnants .
The LNA and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June .
Until now , the two sides have been engaged in more or less constructive peace talks .
Today ’ s attack may hinder these efforts .
The LNA ’ s surprise attack on Tendy camp may have been provoked by the Turkish military buildup in Libya .
In the last few weeks , Turkey stepped up its arms shipments to GNA forces and made preparations to deploy additional Syrian militants in the country .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkey Plans To Deploy More Syrian Militants In Libya Despite Ongoing @ @

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On December 6, heavy clashes broke out in southwestern Libya, when the Libyan National Army (LNA) launched a surprise attack on a military camp controlled by forces loyal to the Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).
LNA troops attacked the Tendy camp in the morning. The camp is located near the town of Awbari, at least 964 km south of the capital Tripoli. Col. Muhammad al-Hasnawi is reportedly leading the attack.
A spokesman for the GNA’s Sirte-al-Jufra operations room, al-Hadi Dara, told Turkish state-run Anadulo Agency that the LNA’s attack was quickly repelled by the camp’s forces. A pro-GNA warlord named Ali Kanah is commanding the camp.
“Haftar’s [Commander-in-Chief of the LNA] militia attempted to storm Tendy camp [formerly known as the commando camp], but the army [GNA] forces foiled the attempt,” the spokesman said.
Dara’s claims were denied by Khaled al-Mahjoub, Director of the LNA’s Moral Guidance Department, who told Sky News Arabiya that the Tendy camp was captured.
According to al-Mahdjoub, the LNA is working to secure the southwestern region to prevent terrorist groups, including al-Qaeda, from entering the country. The region is indeed infested with al-Qaeda and ISIS remnants.
The LNA and the GNA agreed on a ceasefire in June. Until now, the two sides have been engaged in more or less constructive peace talks. Today’s attack may hinder these efforts.
The LNA’s surprise attack on Tendy camp may have been provoked by the Turkish military buildup in Libya. In the last few weeks, Turkey stepped up its arms shipments to GNA forces and made preparations to deploy additional Syrian militants in the country.
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southfront--2020-12-06--SDF Officially Admits Links With PKK, Says 4,000 PKK Members Killed In Syria

More than 4,000 fighters of the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party ( PKK ) were killed while they were fighting for Kurds in Syria , Ferhat Abdi Şahin , Commander-in-Chief of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Party ( SDF ) , revealed .
Abdi , better known by his nom de guerre Mazloum Kobani , revealed the information during an interview with the Ronahi TV that was aired on December 4 .
According to Abdi , thousands of PKK fighters played a key role in the 2014 battle of Kobani , which gave momentum to the war on ISIS in Syria and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the emerge of ISIS , the PKK supported Kurds in Syria against the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front , now known as Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham .
The PKK is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey , the U.S. and the European Union .
The SDF and its main backer , the U.S , have denied any SDF affiliation with the group for the last four years , despite the overwhelming evidence of its presence in northeastern Syria .
Abdi himself was a senior PKK commander , and a personal friend of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999 .
The new remarks of Abdi are a rare SDF admission that the PKK played a major part in the military operations of the US-led coalition and the SDF in northeastern Syria .
The PKK is said to enjoy a major influence within the ranks of the SDF .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkey Pounds SDF In Ain Issa Amid Alleged Russian Demand To Surrender Town To Syrian Army ( Video )

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More than 4,000 fighters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) were killed while they were fighting for Kurds in Syria, Ferhat Abdi Şahin, Commander-in-Chief of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Party (SDF), revealed.
Abdi, better known by his nom de guerre Mazloum Kobani, revealed the information during an interview with the Ronahi TV that was aired on December 4. According to Abdi, thousands of PKK fighters played a key role in the 2014 battle of Kobani, which gave momentum to the war on ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
“They fought by our side for years,” Abdi said. “4,000 fighters of them martyred, and they were beside us until the end.”
Abdi also revealed that prior to the emerge of ISIS, the PKK supported Kurds in Syria against the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front, now known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
“We, the people and forces of Rojava [northeastern Syria] can’t but praise the efforts of the PKK,” the Kurdish commander said.
The PKK is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union. The SDF and its main backer, the U.S, have denied any SDF affiliation with the group for the last four years, despite the overwhelming evidence of its presence in northeastern Syria.
Abdi himself was a senior PKK commander, and a personal friend of the group’s leader Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since 1999.
The new remarks of Abdi are a rare SDF admission that the PKK played a major part in the military operations of the US-led coalition and the SDF in northeastern Syria. The PKK is said to enjoy a major influence within the ranks of the SDF.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Military Situation In Afghanistan On December 6, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • On December 6 @ @ @ @ @ in the city of Jalalabad injuring several people ; • On December 5 , 5 @ @ @ @ @ a drone strike in Khogyani district of Ghazi ; • On December 5 , clashes @ @ @ @ @ forces erupted in the Dehrwaud area .
10 Taliban members were reportedly killed ; • @ @ @ @ @ Deputy Leader and his negotiators met US Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha , discussing the @ @ @ @ @ removal of Taliban names from black list ; • Belgium announced the withdrawal of all @ @ @ @ @ next year .
The number of Belgian troops in Afghanistan is currently around 70 ; @ @ @ @ @ 28 Taliban fighters were killed and 8 others were wounded in the Panjwai area , @ @ @ @ @ of Defense .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • U.S .
Claimed To Keep Major @ @ @ @ @ In Government , Taliban Peace Talks

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
On December 6, a car bomb exploded in the city of Jalalabad injuring several people;
On December 5, 5 children were reportedly killed by a drone strike in Khogyani district of Ghazi;
On December 5, clashes between Taliban and Afghan army forces erupted in the Dehrwaud area. 10 Taliban members were reportedly killed;
On December 5, Taliban Deputy Leader and his negotiators met US Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Doha, discussing the release of prisoners and the removal of Taliban names from black list;
Belgium announced the withdrawal of all its troops from Afghanistan by next year. The number of Belgian troops in Afghanistan is currently around 70;
On December 5, 28 Taliban fighters were killed and 8 others were wounded in the Panjwai area, according to the Afghan Ministry of Defense.
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southfront--2020-12-06--Russians Deliver MANPADs To Hezbollah?

Russians Deliver MANPADs To Hezbollah?

On December 4 , the Lebanese al-Manar TV aired footage showing fighters of Hezbollah armed with man-portable air-defense systems ( MANPADs ) .
The video was aired as a part of “ the Secrets of the Second Liberation , ” a series documenting Hezbollah ’ s battles against terrorist groups in Syria .
Severeal media outlets and ‘ experts ’ claimed that the MANPADs seen with Hezbollah was a 9K333 Verba , Russia ’ s state-of-the-art portable air-defense system .
In 2017 , Russia equipped its troops in Syria with Verba MANPADs to address the threat of mini armed drones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exported to the Syrian Arab Army .
Armenia is the only known customer of the advanced system .
In fact , the MANPADs seen with Hezbollah fighters in al-Manar ’ s footage appears to be the 9K310 Igla-1 , a capable portable anti-aircraft missile produced by the Soviet Union in the 1980s .
Hezbollah likely received this system from Syria .
Hezbollah ’ s Igla-1 was equipped with a thermal sight that looks like those of the 9K333 Verba .
However , the sight ’ s design was different from the 1PN97M “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system .
Hezbollah ’ s thermal sight was larger and round-shaped , like the Iranian-made RU9G\RU120G sights .
Another MANPADs that was seen with Hezbollah ’ s fighters in al-Manar ’ s series was the Misagh-2 , an Iranian copy of China ’ s QW-1 Vanguard .
The MANPADs was also equipped with a thermal sight .
Hezbollah ’ s possession of MANPADs is an open secret .
Israel believes that the Lebanese group developed its air-defense capabilities in the last few years by acquiring medium-range systems from Syria and Iran .
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On December 4, the Lebanese al-Manar TV aired footage showing fighters of Hezbollah armed with man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADs). The video was aired as a part of “the Secrets of the Second Liberation,” a series documenting Hezbollah’s battles against terrorist groups in Syria.
Severeal media outlets and ‘experts’ claimed that the MANPADs seen with Hezbollah was a 9K333 Verba, Russia’s state-of-the-art portable air-defense system. In 2017, Russia equipped its troops in Syria with Verba MANPADs to address the threat of mini armed drones. However, the system was not exported to the Syrian Arab Army. Armenia is the only known customer of the advanced system.
In fact, the MANPADs seen with Hezbollah fighters in al-Manar’s footage appears to be the 9K310 Igla-1, a capable portable anti-aircraft missile produced by the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Hezbollah likely received this system from Syria.
Hezbollah’s Igla-1 was equipped with a thermal sight that looks like those of the 9K333 Verba. However, the sight’s design was different from the 1PN97M “Maugli-2M” used on the original Verba system. Hezbollah’s thermal sight was larger and round-shaped, like the Iranian-made RU9G\RU120G sights.
Another MANPADs that was seen with Hezbollah’s fighters in al-Manar’s series was the Misagh-2, an Iranian copy of China’s QW-1 Vanguard. The MANPADs was also equipped with a thermal sight.
Hezbollah’s possession of MANPADs is an open secret. Israel believes that the Lebanese group developed its air-defense capabilities in the last few years by acquiring medium-range systems from Syria and Iran. This is yet to be proven.
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southfront--2020-12-07--Poisonous Friendship: Two Russian Journalists Arrested In Turkey Over Alleged “Espionage” Of Bayrakt

Poisonous Friendship: Two Russian Journalists Arrested In Turkey Over Alleged “Espionage” Of Bayraktar TB2 Factory

Two Russian journalists were arrested in Turkey , the channel they work for – NTV said in a statement on December 4th .
Journalists Alexei Petrushko and his cameraman Ivan Malychkin “ informed the editorial staff that they had been arrested by police…in Istanbul ” .
Both work for the programme ‘ Tsentralnoie Televidenie ’ , which positions itself as a weekly news show .
According to a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry , the journalists were arrested as they were “ filming a drone factory without any accreditation ” .
The illegal filming was carried out near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drone manufacturer Baykar , Daily Sabah sources said .
The statement added that the official investigation is ongoing and on the chief prosecutor ’ s orders , the detention period for the individuals in question has been extended for three more days .
The Russian embassy in Turkey said it was in contact with the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation .
Notably , the two Russian journalists were with a Turkish national .
According to most recent reports , the two journalists were facing trial and up to 20 years in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those who fall into the “ spy ” category are usually , after sentencing , are traded over for other “ spies ” , or returned under external pressure – much less often .
Keeping them is a waste , and they are , after all citizens of a “ partner ” and could be given back against some sort of concession .
After all , a citizen of a close ally could simply be given back , freely .
An example of the release under external pressure is an example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was detained in Turkey not just for espionage , but for anti-state activities .
n 2018 , the United States put quite serious pressure on Turkey , “ slightly collapsing ” the Turkish lira , after which the pastor was convicted , house arrest was credited in real time , and right from the courtroom he went to the United States on a military plane to meet with Donald Trump , who welcomed him as a hero .
The second scenario is an exchange : the question for whom will the NTV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are two approaches : for Russia to detain a Turkish citizen and exchange him , or to use the existing “ pool ” of detainees .
It , however , appears that there are no Turkish citizens detained in Russia , meaning that Turkey may be given somebody of value to them .
The third scenario , stemming from the “ special relationship ” between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , can not be counted on .
Having received such a trump card , the Turks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ friendship and cooperation.
” Furthermore , multiple journalists usually have issues with being allowed with journalist credentials in many countries , including Turkey .
And usually , they ’ re fine in traveling as tourists and , generally , there is no issue .
In recent weeks , however , there ’ s been a sort of veiled tension between Russia and Turkey in regard to Idlib , Nagorno-Karabakh , deployment of militants from Syria to assist Azerbaijan and more .
As such , Russian journalists do their due diligence when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered that these two hoped that they would be fine with the “ tourist ” approach , but Turkey is keeping watch on most , if not everything that goes on in the country , and it backfired , just this once .
The court released the NTV journalists detained earlier on December 3 in Istanbul .
They are expected to be deported to Russia in the near future .
This approach is an unprecedentedly soft for the modern Turkey and demonstrates that despite the existing conflicts of interests in some fields on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ankara views Moscow as an important partner and is not ready to escalate relations with it over some ‘ minor issues ’ .
At the same time , Russia and Turkey , in the current situation , have no large strategic contradictions that allow the powers to actively cooperate on the international scene .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • U.S. Congress Included Mandatory Sanctions On In 2021 ’ s National Defense Authorization Act

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Two Russian journalists were arrested in Turkey, the channel they work for – NTV said in a statement on December 4th. Journalists Alexei Petrushko and his cameraman Ivan Malychkin “informed the editorial staff that they had been arrested by police…in Istanbul”.
Both work for the programme ‘Tsentralnoie Televidenie’, which positions itself as a weekly news show.
According to a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the journalists were arrested as they were “filming a drone factory without any accreditation”.
“They arrived in Istanbul for filming, but have received neither permission nor accreditation” to film, the unnamed source told AFP.
The illegal filming was carried out near the facilities of Turkey’s leading private drone manufacturer Baykar, Daily Sabah sources said.
“The Istanbul Police Department detained two Russian nationals (I.M. and A.P.) and a Turkish national (A.C.K.) at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, upon detecting that they were filming, without authorization, near the drone research and development center in our province, where taking photographs and filming are restricted,” a statement by the Istanbul Governor’s Office said.
The statement added that the official investigation is ongoing and on the chief prosecutor’s orders, the detention period for the individuals in question has been extended for three more days.
The Russian embassy in Turkey said it was in contact with the Turkish authorities to clarify the situation.
“We are counting on operational cooperation” on the Turkish side, the embassy said in a statement published on its Facebook page.
Notably, the two Russian journalists were with a Turkish national.
According to most recent reports, the two journalists were facing trial and up to 20 years in prison for espionage if they were found guilty. Those who fall into the “spy” category are usually, after sentencing, are traded over for other “spies”, or returned under external pressure – much less often. Keeping them is a waste, and they are, after all citizens of a “partner” and could be given back against some sort of concession. After all, a citizen of a close ally could simply be given back, freely.
An example of the release under external pressure is an example of US citizen, pastor Andrew Brunson, who was detained in Turkey not just for espionage, but for anti-state activities. n 2018, the United States put quite serious pressure on Turkey, “slightly collapsing” the Turkish lira, after which the pastor was convicted, house arrest was credited in real time, and right from the courtroom he went to the United States on a military plane to meet with Donald Trump, who welcomed him as a hero.
The second scenario is an exchange: the question for whom will the NTV journalists be exchanged? Here, again, there are two approaches: for Russia to detain a Turkish citizen and exchange him, or to use the existing “pool” of detainees. It, however, appears that there are no Turkish citizens detained in Russia, meaning that Turkey may be given somebody of value to them.
The third scenario, stemming from the “special relationship” between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, cannot be counted on. Having received such a trump card, the Turks will not throw it off just for “friendship and cooperation.”
Furthermore, multiple journalists usually have issues with being allowed with journalist credentials in many countries, including Turkey. And usually, they’re fine in traveling as tourists and, generally, there is no issue. In recent weeks, however, there’s been a sort of veiled tension between Russia and Turkey in regard to Idlib, Nagorno-Karabakh, deployment of militants from Syria to assist Azerbaijan and more. As such, Russian journalists do their due diligence when they enter the country. It could be considered that these two hoped that they would be fine with the “tourist” approach, but Turkey is keeping watch on most, if not everything that goes on in the country, and it backfired, just this once.
The court released the NTV journalists detained earlier on December 3 in Istanbul. They are expected to be deported to Russia in the near future. This approach is an unprecedentedly soft for the modern Turkey and demonstrates that despite the existing conflicts of interests in some fields on the ‘tactical level’, currently, Ankara views Moscow as an important partner and is not ready to escalate relations with it over some ‘minor issues’. At the same time, Russia and Turkey, in the current situation, have no large strategic contradictions that allow the powers to actively cooperate on the international scene.
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