southfront--2020-12-16--Is Russia Focusing On The Wrong Kind Of Drone?

Serial deliveries of the S-70 Okhotnik-B heavy combat UAV to the Russian Armed Forces are expected to begin in 2024 , Andrei Yelchaninov , First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission ( MIC ) of Russia , said in an interview with Interfax .
According to him , serial purchases of the Okhotnik-B will be included in the next state armament program for 2024-2033 .
Both the Ministry of Defense and the board of the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation are already actively working on drawing it up .
Yelchaninov noted that during the joint tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Su-57 fighter jet , the mutual transfer of information between the aircraft is being tested – the redistribution of targets in flight , maintaining intervals and distances , and performing anti-missile maneuvers .
In the future , the pilot of the Su-57 fighter will be able to distribute tasks to a group of drones and organize the work of the so-called “ swarm ” using artificial intelligence , the first deputy chairman of the board of the Russian military-industrial complex claimed .
Essentially , delivers starting as of 2024 , with only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how far Russia has to go in order to catch up to market leaders such as the US and Israel in terms of UAV technology .
Russia also doesn ’ t specifically need a heavy combat drone , as it has a large number of fighter aircraft , and also active pilots , with sufficient training .
On the other hand , medium , light combat drones and loitering munitions are critically important .
There is , however , a setback – receiving significant funding on “ small-scale projects ” is difficult , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are very attractive for heavy funding .
This all goes against any successes that the “ small-scale projects ” have .
As a result , Russian developers are focused on UAVs that are not of critical importance , since they are a sort of redundancy of capabilities that already exist .
At the same time , those that are important fall behind , since there ’ s little interest in working with close to no funding .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Footage Of First Orion-1 Attack-Reconnaissance UAV Delivered To Russia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Out Test Flights Of S-70 -B Heavy Attack Drone In Fighter-Intercepter Mode

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Serial deliveries of the S-70 Okhotnik-B heavy combat UAV to the Russian Armed Forces are expected to begin in 2024, Andrei Yelchaninov, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Military-Industrial Commission (MIC) of Russia, said in an interview with Interfax.
“The drone has shown its performance, and is still being tested. What is currently flying is a technology demonstrator and a prototype of a drone that should enter the troops starting from 2024,” Yelchaninov said.
According to him, serial purchases of the Okhotnik-B will be included in the next state armament program for 2024-2033. Both the Ministry of Defense and the board of the military-industrial complex of the Russian Federation are already actively working on drawing it up.
Yelchaninov noted that during the joint tests of the Okhotnik-B with the fifth generation Su-57 fighter jet, the mutual transfer of information between the aircraft is being tested – the redistribution of targets in flight, maintaining intervals and distances, and performing anti-missile maneuvers.
In the future, the pilot of the Su-57 fighter will be able to distribute tasks to a group of drones and organize the work of the so-called “swarm” using artificial intelligence, the first deputy chairman of the board of the Russian military-industrial complex claimed.
“This is one of the possible scenarios, that also prove that human life is always higher and more expensive. And the capability of one human brain is much higher than the totality of a set of computers,” Yelchaninov said.
Essentially, delivers starting as of 2024, with only a prototype being useable 4 years earlier shows how far Russia has to go in order to catch up to market leaders such as the US and Israel in terms of UAV technology.
Russia also doesn’t specifically need a heavy combat drone, as it has a large number of fighter aircraft, and also active pilots, with sufficient training.
On the other hand, medium, light combat drones and loitering munitions are critically important.
There is, however, a setback – receiving significant funding on “small-scale projects” is difficult, while heavy drones such as the Okhotnik-B are very attractive for heavy funding.
This all goes against any successes that the “small-scale projects” have.
As a result, Russian developers are focused on UAVs that are not of critical importance, since they are a sort of redundancy of capabilities that already exist. At the same time, those that are important fall behind, since there’s little interest in working with close to no funding.
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southfront--2020-12-16--Nikol “The Basement” Desperately Claims Russia’s Peacekeepers Were Encircled By Azerbaijan

On December 15th , the Russian Ministry of Defense provided an updated on the peacekeepers ’ activity in Nagorno-Karabakh .
At 23 observation posts , peacekeepers are conducting round-the-clock monitoring of the situation – no ceasefire violations have been recorded .
The assistance hotline received 485 calls for the entire period of work .
Continuous supply of electricity to 24 settlements with a population of over 10,000 was ensured .
174.97 hectares of territory , 49.1 km of roads , 405 houses were cleared of unexploded ordnance , 4,826 explosive objects were found and rendered harmless .
The servicemen of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humanitarian kits with food and essential items to Mardakert city .
Food kits and basic necessities were given to refugees who returned to their homes and other residents of the village in need .
Several hundred families have received humanitarian kits , which include food and basic necessities .
With the assistance of Russian peacekeepers , vital infrastructure is being restored in areas affected by the fighting .
Completed repair work to restore power lines on the western outskirts of Shushi .
A continuous supply of electricity was ensured to 24 settlements in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Specialists of the medical units of the Russian Ministry of Defence in Stepanakert and Mardakert continue to provide medical assistance to the population .
What this means is that Russian military medics are approached by local residents suffering from chronic diseases , who , during the aggravation of the conflict , were deprived of the opportunity to receive qualified medical care and the necessary medicines .
A video has been spread on the Internet of a group of Armenian servicemen being taken out of the blockade from the area of Hin Tagher-Khtsaberd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation was carried out due to the active steps of the Russian peacekeeping contingent carrying out a peacekeeping mission in the Artsakh Republic , with the direct mediation of the contingent commander , Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov .
Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview to the Armenian radio Azatutyun .
• After the incidents in Khtsaberd and Khin Taher , peacekeepers appeared there , but the situation did not change .
Baku ’ s actions are aimed at withdrawing the Russian peacekeepers from Karabakh .
• Azerbaijan has not yet signed a document on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh .
According to him , at least as of December 15 , Baku has not yet signed this document .
• Pashinyan did not rule out that Azerbaijan is pursuing the goal of achieving the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers and continuing the war .
“ But now , it is impossible to achieve this , ” he claimed .
• The situation in Khtsaberd and Khin Taher is very tense .
There are units of the Artsakh Defense Army , Russian peacekeepers , Azerbaijani troops and , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Armenian information , Russian peacekeepers are also surrounded .
There is a problem of communication .
Peacekeepers also have such problems .
The Russian Ministry of Defense denied any claims by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Russian peacekeepers were encircled by the Azerbaijani army .
This relates to the area of Hin Tagher-Khtsaberd villages in the Hadrut region , which Azerbaijan ’ s forces pushed , but left when the Russian peacekeepers came in .
Pashinyan also said that he would not allow the people to lose their election power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resign , nor call for early electiosn .
Pashinyan also commented on the point of view that after defeat he will not be able to negotiate with Aliyev : Additionally , a special group of Turkish military personnel consisting of 136 people arrived in Azerbaijan to assist the Azerbaijani army in demining from improvised explosive devices in the temporarily occupied territories of Artsakh .
Azerbaijan has made almost no statements , but is instead releasing videos of the various villages in the regions it was given .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Revealed , Political Crisis Deepens In Yerevan

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On December 15th, the Russian Ministry of Defense provided an updated on the peacekeepers’ activity in Nagorno-Karabakh.
At 23 observation posts, peacekeepers are conducting round-the-clock monitoring of the situation – no ceasefire violations have been recorded.
The assistance hotline received 485 calls for the entire period of work.
Continuous supply of electricity to 24 settlements with a population of over 10,000 was ensured.
174.97 hectares of territory, 49.1 km of roads, 405 houses were cleared of unexploded ordnance, 4,826 explosive objects were found and rendered harmless.
A video showed the Uran-6 mine-clearing robot in action.
The servicemen of the Russian peacekeeping continent in Nagorno-Karabakh delivered humanitarian kits with food and essential items to Mardakert city.
Food kits and basic necessities were given to refugees who returned to their homes and other residents of the village in need.
Several hundred families have received humanitarian kits, which include food and basic necessities.
With the assistance of Russian peacekeepers, vital infrastructure is being restored in areas affected by the fighting.
Completed repair work to restore power lines on the western outskirts of Shushi. A continuous supply of electricity was ensured to 24 settlements in which more than 10 thousand people live.
Specialists of the medical units of the Russian Ministry of Defence in Stepanakert and Mardakert continue to provide medical assistance to the population.
What this means is that Russian military medics are approached by local residents suffering from chronic diseases, who, during the aggravation of the conflict, were deprived of the opportunity to receive qualified medical care and the necessary medicines.
In total, Russian military doctors provided medical assistance to 529 citizens, including 63 children.
A video has been spread on the Internet of a group of Armenian servicemen being taken out of the blockade from the area of Hin Tagher-Khtsaberd villages in the Hadrut region.
The operation was carried out due to the active steps of the Russian peacekeeping contingent carrying out a peacekeeping mission in the Artsakh Republic, with the direct mediation of the contingent commander, Lieutenant General Rustam Muradov.
Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview to the Armenian radio Azatutyun.
He made some interesting statements:
After the incidents in Khtsaberd and Khin Taher, peacekeepers appeared there, but the situation did not change. Baku’s actions are aimed at withdrawing the Russian peacekeepers from Karabakh.
Azerbaijan has not yet signed a document on the approval of the mandate of the Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh. According to him, at least as of December 15, Baku has not yet signed this document.
Pashinyan did not rule out that Azerbaijan is pursuing the goal of achieving the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers and continuing the war.
“But now, it is impossible to achieve this,” he claimed.
The situation in Khtsaberd and Khin Taher is very tense. There are units of the Artsakh Defense Army, Russian peacekeepers, Azerbaijani troops and, according to Armenian intelligence, the Turkish military. According to Armenian information, Russian peacekeepers are also surrounded. There is a problem of communication. Peacekeepers also have such problems.
The Russian Ministry of Defense denied any claims by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Russian peacekeepers were encircled by the Azerbaijani army.
This relates to the area of Hin Tagher-Khtsaberd villages in the Hadrut region, which Azerbaijan’s forces pushed, but left when the Russian peacekeepers came in.
Pashinyan also said that he would not allow the people to lose their election power, and as such he would not resign, nor call for early electiosn.
“The forces demanding my resignation also demanded my resignation in December 2019. In fact, nothing has changed for them during this time,” meaning that mismanaging the entire war, losing it, and then blaming it on absolutely everybody else, and doing so while attempting to lead a country through Facebook hasn’t changed anything.
Pashinyan also commented on the point of view that after defeat he will not be able to negotiate with Aliyev:
“President of Azerbaijan decides the fate of power in Armenia? Maybe the President of Azerbaijan will say who will be the next candidate for prime minister? Maybe the opposition candidate for prime minister has been agreed with Aliyev? Maybe he will say with whom it will be convenient for him to negotiate?”
Additionally, a special group of Turkish military personnel consisting of 136 people arrived in Azerbaijan to assist the Azerbaijani army in demining from improvised explosive devices in the temporarily occupied territories of Artsakh.
Azerbaijan has made almost no statements, but is instead releasing videos of the various villages in the regions it was given.
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southfront--2020-12-16--Turkish-backed Forces Are Preparing For New Military Escalation In Libya

Turkey has kept around 8,000 Syrian militants in Libya despite the ceasefire and the recent progress in peace talks , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on December 16 .
Between late 2019 and early 2020 , Turkey deployed more than 18,000 militants in Libya to back its ally , the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord ( GNA ) .
Syrian militants helped GNA forces to repel an offensive by the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) on Tripoli .
This came at a high cost for the militants , who lost at least 469 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Turkey halted the withdrawal of Syrian militants from Libya about a month ago .
Around 10,000 of them had already returned to Syria .
Ankara may be preparing for a new military escalation in Libya .
In the recent days , there were many speculations by GNA supporters of a Turkish plan to deploy fighter jets , namely F-16s , in the country .
New satellite images confirmed that Turkey is preparing al-Watiya Air Base in western Libya for the deployment of such advanced fighter jets .
The Turkish preparations come at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are witnessing some progress .
The ceasefire in the country is holding very well .
Furthermore , there are no indications of a new LNA attack on the Tripoli-based GNA .
These factors indicate that Turkish-backed forces are the side planning an attack .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkey Is Making Final Preparations To Deploy F-16 Fighter Jets In Libya ’ s Al-Watiya Air Base • Militant Activity In Jammu And Kashmir Increasing Amid Rumors Of Deployment Of Turkish Proxies

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Turkey has kept around 8,000 Syrian militants in Libya despite the ceasefire and the recent progress in peace talks, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on December 16.
“Despite the Libyan-led agreement and ceasefire, there are many questions about the reasons behind maintaining such a large number of mercenaries in Libya until now,” the London-based monitoring group reported.
Between late 2019 and early 2020, Turkey deployed more than 18,000 militants in Libya to back its ally, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).
Syrian militants helped GNA forces to repel an offensive by the Libyan National Army (LNA) on Tripoli. This came at a high cost for the militants, who lost at least 469 of their comrades.
According to the SOHR, Turkey halted the withdrawal of Syrian militants from Libya about a month ago. Around 10,000 of them had already returned to Syria.
Ankara may be preparing for a new military escalation in Libya. In the recent days, there were many speculations by GNA supporters of a Turkish plan to deploy fighter jets, namely F-16s, in the country.
New satellite images confirmed that Turkey is preparing al-Watiya Air Base in western Libya for the deployment of such advanced fighter jets.
The Turkish preparations come at a time when the intra-Libya peace talks are witnessing some progress. The ceasefire in the country is holding very well. Furthermore, there are no indications of a new LNA attack on the Tripoli-based GNA. These factors indicate that Turkish-backed forces are the side planning an attack.
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southfront--2020-12-16--Military Situation In Yemen On December 16, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen : • On December 15 @ @ @ @ @ 6 airstrikes on the Madghal area ; • On December 15 , Saudi-led coalition warplanes @ @ @ @ @ Majazah area ; • On December 15 , the Liaison and Coordination Officers ’ Operations @ @ @ @ @ Allah ) reported 195 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah during the past 24 hours ; • @ @ @ @ @ Allah repelled attacks of Saudi-led forces on the Moris area ; • On December 16 @ @ @ @ @ and Saudi-led forces continued east of the Sarwah area ; • On December 16 , @ @ @ @ @ shelled positions of Saudi-backed forces in the Shaqra area .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ Tanker Explosions And Other Unfortunate Events

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen:
On December 15, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 6 airstrikes on the Madghal area;
On December 15, Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on the Majazah area;
On December 15, the Liaison and Coordination Officers’ Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 195 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah during the past 24 hours;
On December 15, Ansar Allah repelled attacks of Saudi-led forces on the Moris area;
On December 16, clashes between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces continued east of the Sarwah area;
On December 16, artillery of the UAE-backed STC shelled positions of Saudi-backed forces in the Shaqra area.
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southfront--2020-12-16--ISIS Claims Its Fighters Repelled Syrian Army Attack In Eastern Hama

ISIS terrorists have repelled a large attack by the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) and its allies on their hideouts in Hama ’ s far east , according to the ISIS propaganda wing – Amaq News Agency .
A large , heavily armed force of the SAA launched the attack on December 14 .
Amaq said the terrorists held onto their positions in the desert and were able to repel the attack following heavy clashes .
Amaq claimed that the SAA withdrew from the battlefield under the cover of warplanes , which carried out a series of airstrikes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely from the Russian Aerospace Forces .
Russian warplanes have been hammering ISIS hideouts in the Homs desert and its vicinity for the last few days .
Over the last year , ISIS terrorists expanded their influence in central Syria .
The terrorists moved out of the Homs desert and established footholds in eastern Hama , eastern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor .
From there , the terrorists launched dozens of attacks on Syrian government forces .
The SAA and its allies are making immense effort to counter the growing threat of ISIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorist group is not backing down by any means .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkish Forces To Withdraw From Last Two Posts Besieged By Syrian Army

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ISIS terrorists have repelled a large attack by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies on their hideouts in Hama’s far east, according to the ISIS propaganda wing – Amaq News Agency.
A large, heavily armed force of the SAA launched the attack on December 14. Amaq said the terrorists held onto their positions in the desert and were able to repel the attack following heavy clashes.
“The fighters of the Islamic State were able to burn down a military truck, killing three soldiers and injured ten others who were aboard it,” Amaq quoted an ISIS source as saying.
Amaq claimed that the SAA withdrew from the battlefield under the cover of warplanes, which carried out a series of airstrikes on the region.
The warplanes were most likely from the Russian Aerospace Forces. Russian warplanes have been hammering ISIS hideouts in the Homs desert and its vicinity for the last few days.
Over the last year, ISIS terrorists expanded their influence in central Syria. The terrorists moved out of the Homs desert and established footholds in eastern Hama, eastern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor. From there, the terrorists launched dozens of attacks on Syrian government forces.
The SAA and its allies are making immense effort to counter the growing threat of ISIS in central Syria. Nevertheless, the terrorist group is not backing down by any means.
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southfront--2020-12-16--Russian Forces Establish Presence On Syrian-Iraqi Border

Over the past weeks , the Syrian Army and its allies have intensified their operations against ISIS cells hiding in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert .
According to pro-government sources , during the past few days , Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias carried out a series of raids to the south of the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway and southeast of al-Mayadin .
Pro-militant media outlets clam that over 10 Syrian soldiers and 15 ISIS members died in these clashes .
The Russian Aerospace Forces also resumed their strikes on ISIS targets in the desert region .
Pro-opposition sources say that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the intensity of this campaign demonstrates that the regularly resurfacing ISIS cells , which actively exploit the state of chaos on the Syrian-Iraqi border , pose a notable security threat .
Just a few days ago , the Russian Military Police established a local HQ and several positions in the Syrian town of al-Bukamal , which lies on the border with Iraq .
Local sources link the increased Russian presence on the border with the recently resumed anti-ISIS operation there .
Given the de-facto collapse of security in the area on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian , Iraqi and Iranian-backed forces deployed near al-Bukamal and al-Qaim are now the major factor deterring the terrorists operating there .
At the same time , Israel and mainstream Western propaganda argue that al-Bukamal is just the base of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and thus must be destroyed .
While the presence of Iranian-backed forces there is an open secret , attacks on them and their allies , which were repeatedly conducted by Israel and even the US-led coalition , have in fact supported the ISIS agenda .

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Over the past weeks, the Syrian Army and its allies have intensified their operations against ISIS cells hiding in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert.
According to pro-government sources, during the past few days, Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias carried out a series of raids to the south of the Palmyra-Deir Ezzor highway and southeast of al-Mayadin. Pro-militant media outlets clam that over 10 Syrian soldiers and 15 ISIS members died in these clashes.
The Russian Aerospace Forces also resumed their strikes on ISIS targets in the desert region. Pro-opposition sources say that the Russians delivered over 100 airstrikes. Indeed, the intensity of this campaign demonstrates that the regularly resurfacing ISIS cells, which actively exploit the state of chaos on the Syrian-Iraqi border, pose a notable security threat.
Just a few days ago, the Russian Military Police established a local HQ and several positions in the Syrian town of al-Bukamal, which lies on the border with Iraq. Local sources link the increased Russian presence on the border with the recently resumed anti-ISIS operation there.
Given the de-facto collapse of security in the area on the Iraqi side of the border, the Syrian, Iraqi and Iranian-backed forces deployed near al-Bukamal and al-Qaim are now the major factor deterring the terrorists operating there. At the same time, Israel and mainstream Western propaganda argue that al-Bukamal is just the base of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and thus must be destroyed.
While the presence of Iranian-backed forces there is an open secret, attacks on them and their allies, which were repeatedly conducted by Israel and even the US-led coalition, have in fact supported the ISIS agenda.
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southfront--2020-12-16--Turkish Forces To Withdraw From Last Two Posts Besieged By Syrian Army

Turkish forces will withdraw from the last two observation posts besieged by the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) in Greater Idlib , several pro-government and opposition sources reported on December 16 .
The posts , which are located near the town of Tell Touqan in southern Idlib and on al-Eis hilltop in western Aleppo , are both being evacuated .
Al-Eis ’ hilltop , which rises 365m above sea level , overlooks a long strip of the M5 highway which links Syria ’ s industrial hub , Aleppo city , with the country ’ s capital , Damascus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ four observation posts between southern Idlib and western Aleppo , all were located along the M5 highway , While Turkish is evacuating the posts besieged by the SAA and its allies , it is working to build a new series of posts in Greater Idlib .
The new posts are located south of the Lattakia-Aleppo highway , known as the M4 .
The limited Turkish withdrawal shows that Ankara fears a new confrontation in Greater Idlib .
A confrontation in which Turkish posts will not spared the fight .
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Turkish forces will withdraw from the last two observation posts besieged by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in Greater Idlib, several pro-government and opposition sources reported on December 16.
The posts, which are located near the town of Tell Touqan in southern Idlib and on al-Eis hilltop in western Aleppo, are both being evacuated.
“The evacuation process began today, Wednesday, December 16,” a source told the Jesr Press. “Turkish forces initially headed to the village of Maarat al-Naasan in the western countryside of Aleppo.”
Al-Eis’ hilltop, which rises 365m above sea level, overlooks a long strip of the M5 highway which links Syria’s industrial hub, Aleppo city, with the country’s capital, Damascus.
Last week, Turkish forces withdrew from four observation posts between southern Idlib and western Aleppo, all were located along the M5 highway,
While Turkish is evacuating the posts besieged by the SAA and its allies, it is working to build a new series of posts in Greater Idlib. The new posts are located south of the Lattakia-Aleppo highway, known as the M4.
The limited Turkish withdrawal shows that Ankara fears a new confrontation in Greater Idlib. A confrontation in which Turkish posts will not spared the fight.
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southfront--2020-12-17--Russian-Backed 5th Corps Created Network Of Posts Along Syrian-Iraqi Border

The Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) 5th Corps , which is directly backed by Russia , was deployed on the Syrian-Iraqi border for the first time , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on December 17 .
According to the London-based monitoring group , the 5th Corps troops were deployed in a number of border posts located near the town of al-Bukamal .
Last week , the Russian Military Police established a headquarters in al-Bukamal .
The al-Qa ’ im border crossing with Iraq is located less than 7 km away from the town ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating in the southern Deir Ezzor countryside for almost three years .
Their presence in the region is meant to counter ISIS as well deter the U.S.-led coalition , which maintains a large force on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River .
Pro-Israeli sources claim that the increasing Russian presence in southern Deir Ezzor and along the border with Iraq may be a sign of a nearing Iranian withdrawal from the region .
Iranian-backed forces were originally deployed in the region because the SAA was busy on many fronts in southern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were dealt with in the past two years .
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The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) 5th Corps, which is directly backed by Russia, was deployed on the Syrian-Iraqi border for the first time, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on December 17.
According to the London-based monitoring group, the 5th Corps troops were deployed in a number of border posts located near the town of al-Bukamal.
“Several Iranian-backed militias, including al-Nujabaa’ Movement, the Iraqi Hezbollah and al-Abdal, had handed over several posts to the 5th Corps, in accordance with a Russian-Iranian agreement whose terms have not been demonstrated yet,” the SOHR’s report reads.
Last week, the Russian Military Police established a headquarters in al-Bukamal. The al-Qa’im border crossing with Iraq is located less than 7 km away from the town’s center.
Russian forces have been operating in the southern Deir Ezzor countryside for almost three years. Their presence in the region is meant to counter ISIS as well deter the U.S.-led coalition, which maintains a large force on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.
Pro-Israeli sources claim that the increasing Russian presence in southern Deir Ezzor and along the border with Iraq may be a sign of a nearing Iranian withdrawal from the region.
Iranian-backed forces were originally deployed in the region because the SAA was busy on many fronts in southern and central Syria. Most of these fronts were dealt with in the past two years.
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southfront--2020-12-17--PKK Attacked Iraqi Peshmerga From Northeastern Syria

The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government ’ s ( KRG ) Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs announced on December 16 that its forces had come under an attack of the People ’ s Protection Units ( YPG ) .
Deputy Peshmerga Minister Sarbast Lazgin told reporters that a group of eight YPG fighters attempted to sneak from northeastern Syria to the KRG territory in the early morning .
The group was warned by the Peshmerga .
However , five fighters went on with their attempt .
Later , a Peshmerga border position in the area , where the infiltration attempt took place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 gunmen coming from northeastern Syria .
Northeastern Syria is controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) .
The YPG and the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party ( PKK ) are the core of the Kurdish-led group .
The attack on Peshmerga was condemned by KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani , who called it an “ unprovoked attack by the YPG.
” Barzani called on the U.S.-led coalition to ensure that the YPG will not launch any new attacks on the Peshmerga from Syria ’ s northeastern region .
Commander-in-Chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack on Peshmerga as a “ shameful , ” saying on Twitter that all attacks on the KRG Peshmerga should stop .
This was not the first such incident .
Two days earlier , a Peshmerga soldier was killed in clashes with PKK fighters in the area of Amedi in Duhok province .
The SDF does not seems to be able to build constructive relations with any of its neighbors , not with Turkey , Damascus or even the KRG .
The Kurdish-led group is isolated and is becoming more and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been steadily declining .
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The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs announced on December 16 that its forces had come under an attack of the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
Deputy Peshmerga Minister Sarbast Lazgin told reporters that a group of eight YPG fighters attempted to sneak from northeastern Syria to the KRG territory in the early morning. The group was warned by the Peshmerga. However, five fighters went on with their attempt.
Later, a Peshmerga border position in the area, where the infiltration attempt took place, came under attack by 50 to 60 gunmen coming from northeastern Syria.
Northeastern Syria is controlled by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The YPG and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) are the core of the Kurdish-led group.
The attack on Peshmerga was condemned by KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who called it an “unprovoked attack by the YPG.”
“This was a clear and illegal violation of the territory of Kurdistan Region and the authority of the Kurdistan Regional Government,” Barzani said. “The YPG cannot be allowed to exploit foreign assistance to launch attacks on our territory. Any repeat would be seriously damaging to regional security.”
Barzani called on the U.S.-led coalition to ensure that the YPG will not launch any new attacks on the Peshmerga from Syria’s northeastern region.
“The YPG cannot be allowed to exploit foreign assistance to launch attacks on our territory,” the PM said in a statement. “Any repeat would be seriously damaging to regional security.”
Commander-in-Chief of the SDF, Mazloum Abdi, slammed the attack on Peshmerga as a “shameful,” saying on Twitter that all attacks on the KRG Peshmerga should stop.
This was not the first such incident. Two days earlier, a Peshmerga soldier was killed in clashes with PKK fighters in the area of Amedi in Duhok province.
The SDF does not seems to be able to build constructive relations with any of its neighbors, not with Turkey, Damascus or even the KRG. The Kurdish-led group is isolated and is becoming more and more dependent on U.S. support, which has been steadily declining.
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southfront--2020-12-17--Space Command Says Russia Just Tested Another Anti-Satellite Missile, Blasts “Hostile Act”

It appears the US Space Force already has some justification for its existence as Russia has this week test-fired a new anti-satellite missile , according to US officials .
Chief of the Space Command , Army Gen. James Dickinson , condemned what he called Russia ’ s making space a “ warfighting domain ” by its provocative actions in statements issued Wednesday , a day after the Russian test .
While details of the alleged test were not immediately given or confirmed by the Russian side or in state media , US Space Command described it as a ground-launched “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one fired from orbit .
“ Russia has made space a warfighting domain by testing space-based and ground-based weapons intended to target and destroy satellites , ” Gen. Dickinson said .
“ This fact is inconsistent with Moscow ’ s public claims that Russia seeks to prevent conflict in space.
” He further charged that the Kremlin is seeking to “ exploit U.S. reliance on space-based systems ” after Russia has demonstrated no less that two specific types of space weapons .
These weapons are “ capable of destroying satellites in low Earth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The United States is concerned by Russia ’ s continued development and deployment of several types of ground-based and space-based anti-satellite weapons.
” As a result of this latest and past tests , Washington has additionally expressed alarm over a mass amount of dangerous space debris created : “ If this weapon is tested on an actual satellite or used operationally , it will cause a large debris field that could endanger commercial satellites and irrevocably pollute the space domain , ” Space Command said further in its news release .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Tuesday ’ s test no Russian weapons hit any ‘ dummy ’ targets or satellites in orbit , though noting the capability exists .
“ We stand ready and committed to deter aggression and defend our Nation and our allies from hostile acts in space , ” Dickinson added .
“ Russia ’ s persistent testing of these systems demonstrates threats to US and allied space systems are rapidly advancing.
” Russia has in prior statements accused the United States of doing the exact same thing , namely , pursuing the ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of key ballistic missile and nuclear-related treaties , actions which could trigger a new post-Cold War arms race between to the two powers .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Is Russia Focusing On The Wrong Kind Of Drone ?
• In Video : Russia Equips Its Strategic Forces In Orenburg With Avangard Hypersonic Missile Systems

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
It appears the US Space Force already has some justification for its existence as Russia has this week test-fired a new anti-satellite missile, according to US officials.
Chief of the Space Command, Army Gen. James Dickinson, condemned what he called Russia’s making space a “warfighting domain” by its provocative actions in statements issued Wednesday, a day after the Russian test. While details of the alleged test were not immediately given or confirmed by the Russian side or in state media, US Space Command described it as a ground-launched “direct-ascent” missile, as opposed to one fired from orbit.
“Russia has made space a warfighting domain by testing space-based and ground-based weapons intended to target and destroy satellites,” Gen. Dickinson said. “This fact is inconsistent with Moscow’s public claims that Russia seeks to prevent conflict in space.”
He further charged that the Kremlin is seeking to “exploit U.S. reliance on space-based systems” after Russia has demonstrated no less that two specific types of space weapons. These weapons are “capable of destroying satellites in low Earth orbit” according to the Space Command.
“The United States is concerned by Russia’s continued development and deployment of several types of ground-based and space-based anti-satellite weapons.”
As a result of this latest and past tests, Washington has additionally expressed alarm over a mass amount of dangerous space debris created: “If this weapon is tested on an actual satellite or used operationally, it will cause a large debris field that could endanger commercial satellites and irrevocably pollute the space domain,” Space Command said further in its news release.
However, the US statement noted that in Tuesday’s test no Russian weapons hit any ‘dummy’ targets or satellites in orbit, though noting the capability exists.
“We stand ready and committed to deter aggression and defend our Nation and our allies from hostile acts in space,” Dickinson added. “Russia’s persistent testing of these systems demonstrates threats to US and allied space systems are rapidly advancing.”
Russia has in prior statements accused the United States of doing the exact same thing, namely, pursuing the ‘weaponization’ of space while unilaterally pulling out of key ballistic missile and nuclear-related treaties, actions which could trigger a new post-Cold War arms race between to the two powers.
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southfront--2020-12-17--Sudan Claims Its Border Patrol Ambushed By Ethiopian Forces. President Of Tigray Region Reportedly R

Sudan Claims Its Border Patrol Ambushed By Ethiopian Forces. President Of Tigray Region Reportedly Requests Asylum in South Sudan

There have been several significant developments in the conflict in Ethiopia between the Federal Government and the Tigray Region .
On Wednesday , Sudanese officials claimed that several Sudanese soldiers were killed in an ambush by ‘ Ethiopian forces and militias ’ on Tuesday as they were patrolling Sudanese territory close to the border and numerous others were injured .
Also on Wednesday , an as yet unconfirmed South Sudanese media report claimed that the President of Tigray Regional State and leader of the Tigray People ’ s Liberation Front ( TPLF ) , Debretsion Gebremichael , has requested asylum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abiy Ahmed claimed victory almost three weeks ago when Mekelle , the capital city of the Tigray region , was captured by Federal forces , most of the TPLF leadership remains at large .
Moreover , although Federal forces have captured most of the major townships in Tigray and continue their advance into outlying areas , the few reports that are emerging from the region as well as other secondary indications ( in particular the ongoing refusal of the Federal Government to permit international humanitarian agencies to provide food , medical and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that fighting is ongoing in many areas and the conflict may drag on for some time yet .
Among recent battlefield successes , Federal Government forces have reportedly captured the townships of Yechilay and Aragure ( between Mekelle and the border with the province of Afar to the east ) , as well as several large arms caches and the Tekeze Dam .
Meanwhile , the international repercussions from the conflict – which had thus far been largely contained – may be about to escalate dramatically as Sudan´s military stated on Wednesday that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Ethiopian forces and militias against a Sudanese army unit patrolling close to the border with Ethiopia .
On Wednesday the Sudan Tribune reported that : The attack which is perceived as a new escalation from Sudan against its troops comes a few days after an accusation by a parliamentary committee accusing the Sudanese army of backing the Tigray rebels .
“ On Tuesday evening , while our forces were returning to their base after inspecting the area around Jebel Abu Teyyor , inside the Sudanese territory , they were ambushed by Ethiopian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in losses of human lives and equipment , ” said the Sudanese Army Military Media Center in a statement on Wednesday .
The statement did not mention the number of dead , but military sources told the Sudan Tribune that the ambush had claimed the lives of an officer with the rank of major and 3 other soldiers , in addition to injuring 12 soldiers .
The Sudanese army said that its troops will vigorously repulse any attack on the Sudanese territory and announced the deployment of its forces to prevent the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using the Sudanese territories in their attacks ” .
Military Sources told the Sudan Tribune reporter in Gadaref that the Sudanese forces have been already deployed along the border .
The sources further said that fierce clashes have been taking place since the morning in the Al-Osra and east of Wad Aarod areas of Al-Quraysha locality and Abu Teyyour in Al-Fashaqa locality .
On 12 December , The Addis Ababa based newspaper , The Reporter , said that a parliamentary committee accused the Sudanese army of carrying out attacks on civilians after receiving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee “ received reports from refugees who returned from Sudan that the TPLF forces are bribing some Sudanese forces to plot and instigate assault against civilians , ” said Lemma Tessema , who chairs a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation in Tigray .
The Ethiopian army and its Amhara militiamen had earlier this year clashed with the Sudanese army several times .
Addis Ababa had pledged to not repeat such attacks and formed a joint military committee on this respect .
LINK Three days before the reported attack , Sudan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethiopia ’ s Prime Minister in Addis Ababa .
The visit lasted a few hours , despite an announcement by Sudan that the visit would be for two days .
Up until now the Sudanese Government and military , which are struggling to stabilize the country and bring Sudan ’ s long era of civil war and political turmoil to an end , appears to have been careful to avoid becoming entangled in the Ethiopian conflict and has cooperated extensively with the Federal Government of Ethiopia .
This cooperation has included returning Ethiopian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the internecine conflict and sought refuge in Sudan to Ethiopia to face prosecution by Federal authorities there .
The incident could have very serious consequences for the Ethiopian government if it doesn ’ t take immediate steps to investigate the allegations and , if verified , make substantive conciliatory gestures and measures to compensate for the harm done and guarantee that no such border violations by Federal forces occur in the future .
In this respect , while Sudan has been cooperating with the Federal Government of Ethiopia up until now , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joint exercises with Egypt ( as well as several other Arab countries ) in recent months , which could prove to be an invaluable insurance policy and support if relations with Ethiopia deteriorate .
LINK Also on Wednesday , another possible new development – yet to be verified – could further complicate the situation and raises the prospect that the Ethiopian Federal Government might be obliged to negotiate with at least some of the TPLF leadership after all , rather than executing them extra-judicially or parading them on what seems likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Sudans Post this morning , a South Sudan official who said he has direct knowledge of the matter said the Ethiopian leader [ Debretsion ] had visited the country three days before Al-Sisi ’ s visit [ last month ] , but returned a day later to an East African country and did not meet al-Sisi .
“ Debretsion was here before President Sisi visited Juba , ” the official who refused to be named said in an interview with Sudans Post in Juba this morning .
“ When he came , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to one of the East African countries the same day and he didn ’ t meet al-Sisi and he didn ’ t also request to meet al-Sisi.
” The senior government official who said he personally met Debretsion said the Ethiopian opposition leader had requested President Salva Kiir ’ s government to mediate days after Abiy Ahmed gave his forces 72 hours to surrender , saying the world ’ s youngest country could play an important role in resolving the Tigray crisis .
“ When he came , he was asking for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Uganda when he came here .
He said that South Sudan can play an important role and he was told that we are not working separately from the region and was told to contact the IGAD [ an East African regional intergovernmental organization ] instead , ” the official said .
“ This was what was discussed , but now he has returned and he is seeking refuge and safety and is not here to seek assistant against the Ethiopian government .
He is here to seek refuge , ” the official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of South Sudan is not ready to support those acting outside law against their enforcement.
” LINK If the report is confirmed , the final decision of the fledgling South Sudanese Government on whether to deport the fugitive to Ethiopia will be crucial – will it accept the Federal Government ’ s assertions at face value , or demand that evidence be provided to back up the government ’ s allegations ?
Or , possibly , decide to grant temporary political asylum on the grounds of persecution and the unlikelihood that the individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which due process is observed ?
In the latter case , the Federal Government ’ s stated objective of the military operation would be to a large extent thwarted , as one of the main targets of the ‘ law enforcement operation ’ – which is estimated to have caused over one thousand killed and hundreds of thousands forcibly displaced – will remain beyond reach .
The developments follow an increasing number of reports earlier this month confirming that Eritrean troops have been involved in the fighting .
On December 8 The Guardian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to categorically deny the allegations that Eritrean military forces are participating in the conflict .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Ethiopian Government Struggles To Secure Its Military Victory In Tigray As Rebels Do Not Rush To Surrender

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There have been several significant developments in the conflict in Ethiopia between the Federal Government and the Tigray Region. On Wednesday, Sudanese officials claimed that several Sudanese soldiers were killed in an ambush by ‘Ethiopian forces and militias’ on Tuesday as they were patrolling Sudanese territory close to the border and numerous others were injured. Also on Wednesday, an as yet unconfirmed South Sudanese media report claimed that the President of Tigray Regional State and leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Debretsion Gebremichael, has requested asylum in South Sudan.
While Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed claimed victory almost three weeks ago when Mekelle, the capital city of the Tigray region, was captured by Federal forces, most of the TPLF leadership remains at large. Moreover, although Federal forces have captured most of the major townships in Tigray and continue their advance into outlying areas, the few reports that are emerging from the region as well as other secondary indications (in particular the ongoing refusal of the Federal Government to permit international humanitarian agencies to provide food, medical and other emergency aid in the region) suggest that fighting is ongoing in many areas and the conflict may drag on for some time yet.
Among recent battlefield successes, Federal Government forces have reportedly captured the townships of Yechilay and Aragure (between Mekelle and the border with the province of Afar to the east), as well as several large arms caches and the Tekeze Dam.
More Ural trucks and pickups along with Grad rocket artillery boxes. More visible transport trucks and ammo crates pic.twitter.com/Zl8Hyg4h8h — Ethiopia Map (@MapEthiopia) December 15, 2020
Meanwhile, the international repercussions from the conflict – which had thus far been largely contained – may be about to escalate dramatically as Sudan´s military stated on Wednesday that a cross-border attack had been carried out by Ethiopian forces and militias against a Sudanese army unit patrolling close to the border with Ethiopia.
On Wednesday the Sudan Tribune reported that:
The attack which is perceived as a new escalation from Sudan against its troops comes a few days after an accusation by a parliamentary committee accusing the Sudanese army of backing the Tigray rebels. “On Tuesday evening, while our forces were returning to their base after inspecting the area around Jebel Abu Teyyor, inside the Sudanese territory, they were ambushed by Ethiopian forces and militias. The attack resulted in losses of human lives and equipment,” said the Sudanese Army Military Media Center in a statement on Wednesday. The statement did not mention the number of dead, but military sources told the Sudan Tribune that the ambush had claimed the lives of an officer with the rank of major and 3 other soldiers, in addition to injuring 12 soldiers. The Sudanese army said that its troops will vigorously repulse any attack on the Sudanese territory and announced the deployment of its forces to prevent the “parties to the conflict in Ethiopia from using the Sudanese territories in their attacks”. Military Sources told the Sudan Tribune reporter in Gadaref that the Sudanese forces have been already deployed along the border. The sources further said that fierce clashes have been taking place since the morning in the Al-Osra and east of Wad Aarod areas of Al-Quraysha locality and Abu Teyyour in Al-Fashaqa locality. On 12 December, The Addis Ababa based newspaper, The Reporter, said that a parliamentary committee accused the Sudanese army of carrying out attacks on civilians after receiving bribes from the TPLF rebels. The Committee “received reports from refugees who returned from Sudan that the TPLF forces are bribing some Sudanese forces to plot and instigate assault against civilians,” said Lemma Tessema, who chairs a parliamentary committee to investigate the situation in Tigray. The Ethiopian army and its Amhara militiamen had earlier this year clashed with the Sudanese army several times. Addis Ababa had pledged to not repeat such attacks and formed a joint military committee on this respect. LINK
Three days before the reported attack, Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok met with the Ethiopia’s Prime Minister in Addis Ababa. The visit lasted a few hours, despite an announcement by Sudan that the visit would be for two days.
“Hamdok told a news conference that they finished their talks earlier than expected and there was no reason to stay.” LINK
Up until now the Sudanese Government and military, which are struggling to stabilize the country and bring Sudan’s long era of civil war and political turmoil to an end, appears to have been careful to avoid becoming entangled in the Ethiopian conflict and has cooperated extensively with the Federal Government of Ethiopia. This cooperation has included returning Ethiopian soldiers who had refused to fight in the internecine conflict and sought refuge in Sudan to Ethiopia to face prosecution by Federal authorities there.
The incident could have very serious consequences for the Ethiopian government if it doesn’t take immediate steps to investigate the allegations and, if verified, make substantive conciliatory gestures and measures to compensate for the harm done and guarantee that no such border violations by Federal forces occur in the future.
In this respect, while Sudan has been cooperating with the Federal Government of Ethiopia up until now, it has also stepped up military cooperation and joint exercises with Egypt (as well as several other Arab countries) in recent months, which could prove to be an invaluable insurance policy and support if relations with Ethiopia deteriorate. LINK
Also on Wednesday, another possible new development – yet to be verified – could further complicate the situation and raises the prospect that the Ethiopian Federal Government might be obliged to negotiate with at least some of the TPLF leadership after all, rather than executing them extra-judicially or parading them on what seems likely to be a largely predetermined show trial.
On Wednesday, Sudans Post reported:
Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, a South Sudan official who said he has direct knowledge of the matter said the Ethiopian leader [Debretsion] had visited the country three days before Al-Sisi’s visit [last month], but returned a day later to an East African country and did not meet al-Sisi. “Debretsion was here before President Sisi visited Juba,” the official who refused to be named said in an interview with Sudans Post in Juba this morning. “When he came, he came here on November 25 and returned to one of the East African countries the same day and he didn’t meet al-Sisi and he didn’t also request to meet al-Sisi.” The senior government official who said he personally met Debretsion said the Ethiopian opposition leader had requested President Salva Kiir’s government to mediate days after Abiy Ahmed gave his forces 72 hours to surrender, saying the world’s youngest country could play an important role in resolving the Tigray crisis. “When he came, he was asking for President Salva Kiir mediation. He was in Uganda when he came here. He said that South Sudan can play an important role and he was told that we are not working separately from the region and was told to contact the IGAD [an East African regional intergovernmental organization] instead,” the official said. “This was what was discussed, but now he has returned and he is seeking refuge and safety and is not here to seek assistant against the Ethiopian government. He is here to seek refuge,” the official said, adding that “the government of South Sudan is not ready to support those acting outside law against their enforcement.” LINK
If the report is confirmed, the final decision of the fledgling South Sudanese Government on whether to deport the fugitive to Ethiopia will be crucial – will it accept the Federal Government’s assertions at face value, or demand that evidence be provided to back up the government’s allegations? Or, possibly, decide to grant temporary political asylum on the grounds of persecution and the unlikelihood that the individual involved would receive a fair trial in which due process is observed?
In the latter case, the Federal Government’s stated objective of the military operation would be to a large extent thwarted, as one of the main targets of the ‘law enforcement operation’ – which is estimated to have caused over one thousand killed and hundreds of thousands forcibly displaced – will remain beyond reach.
The developments follow an increasing number of reports earlier this month confirming that Eritrean troops have been involved in the fighting. On December 8 The Guardian reported:
The claims made to Reuters, which interviewed several unidentified diplomats in the region and a US official, follow mounting allegations by Tigrayan leaders that Eritrea, long a rival of Ethiopia, had joined with Ethiopian forces against a common enemy despite denials from both nations… According to the report, evidence of Eritrean involvement cited in the US view of the month-long war includes satellite images, intercepted communications and anecdotal reports from the Tigray region. “There doesn’t appear to be a doubt anymore. It’s being discussed by US officials on calls – that the Eritreans are in Tigray – but they aren’t saying it publicly,” the US government source, who has been privy to the internal calls, told Reuters. The latest allegations follow an incident on Sunday when a UN security team attempting to visit a camp for those displaced in the fighting reportedly encountered uniformed Eritrean troops during an incident in which they were shot at and detained. Troops suspected of being Eritrean have also allegedly been spotted in the regional capital Mekelle, said a resident and two diplomats in touch with the city’s inhabitants. Some were reported to be in Eritrean uniforms, one of the diplomats said. Others wore Ethiopian uniforms, but spoke Tigrinya with an Eritrean accent and drove trucks without license plates, the resident told Reuters. LINK
The Eritrean and Ethiopian Governments continue to categorically deny the allegations that Eritrean military forces are participating in the conflict.
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southfront--2020-12-17--Putin Hold Annual Press Conference In Moscow (Live)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is is holding his annual press conference with a “ Direct Line ” session .
MORE @ @ @ @ @ Is Russia Focusing On The Wrong Kind Of Drone ?

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Russian President Vladimir Putin is is holding his annual press conference with a “Direct Line” session.
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southfront--2020-12-17--Map Update: Military Situation In Nagorno-Karabakh On December 17, 2020

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh : • As of December @ @ @ @ @ provided medical assistance to 558 people , including 67 children , in Karabakh ; • @ @ @ @ @ displaced persons returned from Yerevan to Stepanakert by buses with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers @ @ @ @ @ 17 , a total of 40,800 people returned to Karabakh with the assistance of Russian @ @ @ @ @ 16 , President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan said he is ready to resign as soon @ @ @ @ @ to held the presidential and parliamentary elections in the region ; MORE ON THE TOPIC @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Nagorno-Karabakh:
As of December 17, Russian military doctors provided medical assistance to 558 people, including 67 children, in Karabakh;
On December 16, 439 displaced persons returned from Yerevan to Stepanakert by buses with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers;
As of December 17, a total of 40,800 people returned to Karabakh with the assistance of Russian peacekeepers;
On December 16, President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan said he is ready to resign as soon as Armenia will be ready to held the presidential and parliamentary elections in the region;
On December 16, 136 Turkish military sappers arrived in Azerbaijan.
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southfront--2020-12-17--Hoarding the Jabs: The Inequalities of Vaccine Distribution

Public health is no excuse to keep business and patriotism at bay .
Not a very humanitarian sentiment , but then again , healing the sick and preserving the healthy can become parochial , nationalist objectives .
The least convincing language of the pandemic has been this baffling and trite notion that “ we ” and “ all this ” and “ together ” are somehow linked in blood sealed harmony , binding Homo sapiens in a bond of preservation that urges us to suffer together in order to survive .
The rhetoric of the vaccine market has been enlisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if it serves to prop up a very distinct elite : the social media and technological kleptocrats ; the pharmacological behemoths ; the corrupt incompetents in government .
And now , the pieces are moving into their standard places .
Privileges are being asserted ; priorities are being pushed , despite the summit proclaiming language of the politics of generosity .
Dr John Nkengasong , director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention , is of the view that an entire continent has been diddled in the COVID-19 vaccine stakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had purchased “ in excess of their needs while we in Africa are still struggling with the Covax facility.
” The Covax facility , run by Gavi , the Vaccine Alliance , is the health equivalent of a charity , subsidising vaccines for 92 lower-income countries .
It promises to be imperfect , supplying assistance to acquire vaccines for a modest 20 % of populations , on the proviso that recipient states also fork out for a percentage of the doses .
The initiative has worked towards securing 700 million doses of vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged to supply 64 % of its doses to those in developing countries .
Charities are also warning that the wealthier states are on a hoarding drive leaving poorer states to catch their breath .
The People ’ s Vaccine Alliance comprising such groups as Global Justice Now , Oxfam and Amnesty International trembles with indignation , claiming that 90 % of people across 70 poorer countries will not be able to be vaccinated in 2021 .
Canada is singled out in Oxfam International ’ s press release with special reproach , having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five times ” ( 8.9 doses per head ) .
The United States is a runner-up with 7.3 doses per head .
Data gathered by the alliance reveals that “ rich nations representing just 14 per cent of the world ’ s population have bought up to 53 per cent of all the most promising vaccines so far.
” The People ’ s Vaccine Alliance has taken the baton for a collectively available vaccine that renounces the profit motive .
“ Our best chance of all staying safe is to ensure a COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ global common good.
” The organisations demand a “ transformation in how vaccines are produced and distributed , ” urging pharmaceutical companies to be as generously wide as possible in production lines , “ sharing their knowledge free from patents.
” Admirable , if optimistic objectives are stated : the prevention of vaccine monopolies ; the selling of vaccines at affordable prices ; the purchase of vaccines at true cost prices and provided gratis to the populace .
Support for the equitable distribution of vaccines has also come from quarters keen to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improper state .
A report from the RAND Corporation , an outfit rarely disposed to shedding tears for the poor , encourages mass , equitable immunisation , as not doing so could lead to losses of $ 1.2 trillion per annum in GPD terms .
Prolonged physical distancing measures “ will continue to affect key sectors of the global economy negatively , especially those that rely on close physical proximity between people.
” The authors might well accept that “ nationalist behaviour is inevitable , ” but also point to the merits of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries stood to lose $ 119 billion a year “ if the poorest countries are denied a supply .
If these high-income countries paid for the supply of vaccines , there could be a benefit-to-cost ratio of 4.8 to 1.
” Paying the impoverished to stay healthy can keep you wealthy .
In such an untidy , desperate scramble , the opportunities for striking bargains are also emerging .
From China come promises that vaccines at discounted prices will be offered to Africa , lubricated by loans as a form of vaccine diplomacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine doses from the Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac , a move which prompted a surly Weibo user to remark that Indonesians “ should thank us Chinese people ; even we are yet to be vaccinated ” .
China ’ s rambunctious state paper , the , contrasts this with the politics of US vaccine policy , suggesting that the term “ vaccine diplomacy ” was “ a trite headline conceived of by the West ’ s own mentality.
” In the vaccine wars , the true culprit was Washington , intent on hogging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s generosity , the US has made no secret of its selfishness .
The White House has made it clear it seeks to prioritize Americans for coronavirus vaccine shipments , and then it would take care of its main allies.
” Other countries prefer placing their bets with the Covax facility on the assurance that vaccines , once made available , will have been certified by the World Health Organisation .
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen summed up the cautionary sentiment .
“ Cambodia is not a dustbin… and not a place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is vaccine nationalism or vaccine diplomacy , both forms stem from the same source of inspiration .
Self-interest comes before the demands of a common humanity .
The weak and vulnerable , as ever , remain spectators to their own fate .
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures at RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com MORE ON THE TOPIC : • The 2020 Worldwide Corona Crisis : Destroying Civil Society , Engineered Economic Depression , Global Coup d ’ État @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moscow Began First Ever “ Large-Scale ” COVID Vaccinations On Saturday

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
Public health is no excuse to keep business and patriotism at bay. Not a very humanitarian sentiment, but then again, healing the sick and preserving the healthy can become parochial, nationalist objectives. The least convincing language of the pandemic has been this baffling and trite notion that “we” and “all this” and “together” are somehow linked in blood sealed harmony, binding Homo sapiens in a bond of preservation that urges us to suffer together in order to survive.
The rhetoric of the vaccine market has been enlisted to promote a broader human goal, even if it serves to prop up a very distinct elite: the social media and technological kleptocrats; the pharmacological behemoths; the corrupt incompetents in government. And now, the pieces are moving into their standard places. Privileges are being asserted; priorities are being pushed, despite the summit proclaiming language of the politics of generosity.
Dr John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, is of the view that an entire continent has been diddled in the COVID-19 vaccine stakes. Wealthy countries, he insists, had purchased “in excess of their needs while we in Africa are still struggling with the Covax facility.” The Covax facility, run by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is the health equivalent of a charity, subsidising vaccines for 92 lower-income countries. It promises to be imperfect, supplying assistance to acquire vaccines for a modest 20% of populations, on the proviso that recipient states also fork out for a percentage of the doses. The initiative has worked towards securing 700 million doses of vaccine for distribution while the Oxford-AstraZeneca combine has pledged to supply 64% of its doses to those in developing countries.
Charities are also warning that the wealthier states are on a hoarding drive leaving poorer states to catch their breath. The People’s Vaccine Alliance comprising such groups as Global Justice Now, Oxfam and Amnesty International trembles with indignation, claiming that 90% of people across 70 poorer countries will not be able to be vaccinated in 2021. Canada is singled out in Oxfam International’s press release with special reproach, having “enough vaccines to vaccinate each Canadian five times” (8.9 doses per head). The United States is a runner-up with 7.3 doses per head. Data gathered by the alliance reveals that “rich nations representing just 14 per cent of the world’s population have bought up to 53 per cent of all the most promising vaccines so far.”
The People’s Vaccine Alliance has taken the baton for a collectively available vaccine that renounces the profit motive. “Our best chance of all staying safe is to ensure a COVID-19 vaccine is available for all as a global common good.” The organisations demand a “transformation in how vaccines are produced and distributed,” urging pharmaceutical companies to be as generously wide as possible in production lines, “sharing their knowledge free from patents.” Admirable, if optimistic objectives are stated: the prevention of vaccine monopolies; the selling of vaccines at affordable prices; the purchase of vaccines at true cost prices and provided gratis to the populace.
Support for the equitable distribution of vaccines has also come from quarters keen to see stuttering capitalism return to its fit and improper state. A report from the RAND Corporation, an outfit rarely disposed to shedding tears for the poor, encourages mass, equitable immunisation, as not doing so could lead to losses of $1.2 trillion per annum in GPD terms. Prolonged physical distancing measures “will continue to affect key sectors of the global economy negatively, especially those that rely on close physical proximity between people.”
The authors might well accept that “nationalist behaviour is inevitable,” but also point to the merits of providing vaccines across the globe. High-income countries stood to lose $119 billion a year “if the poorest countries are denied a supply. If these high-income countries paid for the supply of vaccines, there could be a benefit-to-cost ratio of 4.8 to 1.” Paying the impoverished to stay healthy can keep you wealthy.
In such an untidy, desperate scramble, the opportunities for striking bargains are also emerging. From China come promises that vaccines at discounted prices will be offered to Africa, lubricated by loans as a form of vaccine diplomacy. Indonesia has also received 1.2 million vaccine doses from the Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, a move which prompted a surly Weibo user to remark that Indonesians “should thank us Chinese people; even we are yet to be vaccinated”.
China’s rambunctious state paper, the Global Times, contrasts this with the politics of US vaccine policy, suggesting that the term “vaccine diplomacy” was “a trite headline conceived of by the West’s own mentality.” In the vaccine wars, the true culprit was Washington, intent on hogging the show. “Compared with China’s generosity, the US has made no secret of its selfishness. The White House has made it clear it seeks to prioritize Americans for coronavirus vaccine shipments, and then it would take care of its main allies.”
Other countries prefer placing their bets with the Covax facility on the assurance that vaccines, once made available, will have been certified by the World Health Organisation. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen summed up the cautionary sentiment. “Cambodia is not a dustbin… and not a place for a vaccine trial.”
Whether it is vaccine nationalism or vaccine diplomacy, both forms stem from the same source of inspiration. Self-interest comes before the demands of a common humanity. The weak and vulnerable, as ever, remain spectators to their own fate.
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-12-17--Military Situation In Syria On December 17, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments : • On December 17 , Russia @ @ @ @ @ the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 33 times : 24 – in Idlib province , @ @ @ @ @ , 3 – in Latakia province , 4 – in Hama province ; • On @ @ @ @ @ raided Suluk town and arrested 7 people allegedly working with thje SDF ; • On @ @ @ @ @ raided Abu Hamam village and arrested a number of members of the Shaitat tribe in @ @ @ @ @ took place in the village ; • On December 17 , Foreign Minister of Syria @ @ @ @ @ to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov .
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A brief overview of the recent developments:
On December 17, Russia reported that Idlib militants violated the ceasefire regime in Greater Idlib 33 times: 24 – in Idlib province, 2 – in Aleppo province, 3 – in Latakia province, 4 – in Hama province;
On December 16, Turkish-backed forces raided Suluk town and arrested 7 people allegedly working with thje SDF;
On December 16, the SDF raided Abu Hamam village and arrested a number of members of the Shaitat tribe in response to anti-SDF demonstrations that took place in the village;
On December 16, Turkish forces started evacuating the al-Eis observation post;
On December 17, Foreign Minister of Syria Feisal Miqdad arrived in Moscow to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
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southfront--2020-12-17--France Says Its Developing Bionic Supersoldiers Because “Everyone Else Is Doing It”

A report published last Tuesday by the French Military Ethics Committee has indicated that the country has begun to develop technology for bionically enhanced soldiers .
The report discussed conditions in which devices like implants can be used to improve soldier performance on the battlefield .
“ Human beings have long sought ways to increase their physical or cognitive abilities in order to fight wars .
Possible advances could ultimately lead to capacity enhancements being introduced into soldiers ’ bodies , ” the report said , according to the BBC .
The report said that maintaining clear ethical lines would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers .
The report called for eugenic or genetic applications of the technology to be banned , as well as anything “ that could jeopardise the soldier ’ s integration into society or return to civilian life ” .
The country ’ s military leaders believe that it is necessary to develop this technology because not doing so would allow other countries to get ahead and gain a military advantage .
In a speech last week , Defence Minister Florence Parly , said that the country ’ s military doesn ’ t plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right away , but said that this could be an option in the future because other countries will be pushing the technology as far as they can .
“ We must face the facts .
Not everyone shares our scruples and we must be prepared for whatever the future holds , ” Parly said .
Parly went on to promise that the French government would seek to find a balance , and will find “ ways to maintain our operational superiority without turning our backs on our values .
” Parly also pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neural implants , have already been introduced to civilian fields without much controversy .
Intelligence officials in the United States have suggested that the Chinese military has conducted biological tests on its soldiers in hopes of creating an army of enhanced supersoldiers .
The disturbing claim was made in a recent Wall Street Journal editorial written by John Ratcliffe , Donald Trump ’ s director of national intelligence .
In his article , Ratcliffe claimed that “ The intelligence is clear : Beijing intends to dominate the US and the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of China ’ s major public initiatives and prominent companies offer only a layer of camouflage to the activities of the Chinese Communist Party.
” Ratcliffe suggested that the Chinese government has “ no ethical boundaries.
” “ 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 .
There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing ’ s pursuit of power , ” Ratcliffe wrote .
His assertions are likely based on a paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year that looked into China ’ s use of biological technology for military applications.According to Mint , Elsa Kania , one of the authors of the paper , said that the Chinese government was using CRISPR gene-editing technology to enhance soldiers .

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Written by John Vibes; Originally appeared at themindunleashed.com
A report published last Tuesday by the French Military Ethics Committee has indicated that the country has begun to develop technology for bionically enhanced soldiers. The report discussed conditions in which devices like implants can be used to improve soldier performance on the battlefield.
“Human beings have long sought ways to increase their physical or cognitive abilities in order to fight wars. Possible advances could ultimately lead to capacity enhancements being introduced into soldiers’ bodies,” the report said, according to the BBC.
The report said that maintaining clear ethical lines would be important in the development of bionic soldiers. The report called for eugenic or genetic applications of the technology to be banned, as well as anything “that could jeopardise the soldier’s integration into society or return to civilian life”.
The country’s military leaders believe that it is necessary to develop this technology because not doing so would allow other countries to get ahead and gain a military advantage.
In a speech last week, Defence Minister Florence Parly, said that the country’s military doesn’t plan on developing anything extremely “invasive” right away, but said that this could be an option in the future because other countries will be pushing the technology as far as they can.
“We must face the facts. Not everyone shares our scruples and we must be prepared for whatever the future holds,” Parly said.
Parly went on to promise that the French government would seek to find a balance, and will find “ways to maintain our operational superiority without turning our backs on our values.”
Parly also pointed out that similar technologies, such as neural implants, have already been introduced to civilian fields without much controversy.
Intelligence officials in the United States have suggested that the Chinese military has conducted biological tests on its soldiers in hopes of creating an army of enhanced supersoldiers.
The disturbing claim was made in a recent Wall Street Journal editorial written by John Ratcliffe, Donald Trump’s director of national intelligence.
In his article, Ratcliffe claimed that “The intelligence is clear: Beijing intends to dominate the US 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.”
Ratcliffe suggested that the Chinese government has “no ethical boundaries.”
“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. There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing’s pursuit of power,” Ratcliffe wrote.
His assertions are likely based on a paper that was published by American researchers last year that looked into China’s use of biological technology for military applications.According to Mint, Elsa Kania, one of the authors of the paper, said that the Chinese government was using CRISPR gene-editing technology to enhance soldiers.


southfront--2020-12-17--SouthFront Will Not Survive Without Your Immediate Support!

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southfront--2020-12-17--Turquía Y Azerbaiyán Reclaman Ereván Y Sueñan Con Capturar Todo El Cáucaso

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southfront--2020-12-17--Happy 2020: The Richest Count Profit While The World Is In Crisis

The 2020 is nearing its end .
The pandemic of SARS COV-2 and the containment measures that have been adopted in most countries have led to an escalation of the economic crisis .
However , while most people are trying to calculate the losses , the size of the world ’ s largest capitals has increased by 20 % over the past year according to Forbes .
According to Forbes ’ estimations the 2,200-plus billionaires in the world have collectively gotten $ 1.9 trillion richer in 2020 .
The calculations based on stock prices from December 11 revealed that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trillion , which is 20 % more than the one on December 31 , 2019 .
The wealth of more than 600 American billionaires is $ 4 trillion , it increased on $ 560 billion since the beginning of the year .
The fortune of Tesla co-founder Elon Musk showed the largest capital growth by $ 110 billion and put him on the third line of the ranking of the richest people in the world .
The growth of Musk ’ s fortune was provided by stocks of Tesla Motors , which rose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sharp increase in the capital of the ten richest people in the United States took place the day after the presidential election .
Their combined wealth increased by more than $ 33 billion .
The most significant growth was shown by the assets of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos , his fortune increased by $ 10.5 billion .
He remains the richest man in the world thanks to the pandemic and people forced to go shopping online .
Among the others beneficiaries , there are Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg , whose capital is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Page ( $ 77 billion ) and the founder of the Indian holding company Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani ( $ 74.1 billion ) .
Louis Vuitton and Dior Bernard Arnault earned only $ 3.6 billion .
Bill Gates ’ fortune increased by $ 668 million .
Chinese billionaires as a group became the richest this year in dollar terms .
The main reason for the growth of the billion-dollar fortunes was the growth in the stock markets throughout this year .
The S & P 500 index is up 13 % this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus spread , the NASDAQ is up 38 % .
Thus , the main beneficiary of all the crises that took place in 2020 was the global oligarchy .
In the context of limited and merged markets , the enrichment of a minority means the impoverishment of a large part of the world ’ s population .
Today this fact is confirmed by UN data on the food crisis in Africa and Asia .
According to the WFP , the number of people in hunger has increased from 80 million to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which means that we are going to face the worst humanitarian crisis in the last half century .
It can be assumed that for Africa and Third World countries , the minimum amount that can ensure food security for one person is $ 50 per month .
Thus , it turns out that the capital that the richest people received during the year could provide more than 3 billion people in hunger with the minimum nutrition during the year , which is about 40 % of the world ’ s population .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ system ?
Perhaps the error is that the real financial and economic parameters of the system have nothing to do with what we see on computer screens .
A hundred dollars on your screen are far from a hundred dollars in your pocket , and even more far from a hundred kilograms of flour in your cellar .
This is what the leading economists of the so-called First Western world are trying to explain .
On the other hand , the error may lay in the fact that the crises in 2020 were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least managed and aimed strengthening of the totalitarian power of the global financial backstage actors .
Today ’ s liberalism and democracy , spread by westernization , are de facto ineffective .
In reality , liberalism should pass along the rift between the poverty and global elites , and not along the LGBT movement or the black minority in the United States .
Inefficiency in solving global problems only exposes the essence of deep perversion of the modern system promoted by the collective West .
What democracy or social justice may we talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass somewhere between the wallet and the “ a $ $ ” of the common Western bureaucrat .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Who Benefit From Terror In Europe , US Political Chaos And Regional Wars ?
• Food Price Crisis In Russia : Putin Gives Ultimatum For Solution

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The 2020 is nearing its end. The pandemic of SARS COV-2 and the containment measures that have been adopted in most countries have led to an escalation of the economic crisis. However, while most people are trying to calculate the losses, the size of the world’s largest capitals has increased by 20% over the past year according to Forbes.
According to Forbes’ estimations the 2,200-plus billionaires in the world have collectively gotten $1.9 trillion richer in 2020. The calculations based on stock prices from December 11 revealed that their combined wealth was estimated at $11.4 trillion, which is 20% more than the one on December 31, 2019.
The wealth of more than 600 American billionaires is $4 trillion, it increased on $560 billion since the beginning of the year.
The fortune of Tesla co-founder Elon Musk showed the largest capital growth by $110 billion and put him on the third line of the ranking of the richest people in the world. The growth of Musk’s fortune was provided by stocks of Tesla Motors, which rose by 630%.
In 2020, a sharp increase in the capital of the ten richest people in the United States took place the day after the presidential election. Their combined wealth increased by more than $33 billion. The most significant growth was shown by the assets of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, his fortune increased by $10.5 billion. He remains the richest man in the world thanks to the pandemic and people forced to go shopping online.
Among the others beneficiaries, there are Facebook founder Mark Zukerberg, whose capital is $105.5 billion, Google co-founder Larry Page ($77 billion) and the founder of the Indian holding company Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani ($74.1 billion). Louis Vuitton and Dior Bernard Arnault earned only $3.6 billion. Bill Gates’ fortune increased by $668 million.
Chinese billionaires as a group became the richest this year in dollar terms.
“The CSI 300 Index, which tracks 300 of China’s leading companies, is up 19% this year—helping Chinese billionaires add a total of $750 billion to their aggregate net worths in 2020. Altogether, the 400 Chinese billionaires are worth $2 trillion. That doesn’t include the 67 Hong Kong billionaires, whose fortunes rose a collective $60 billion, to an aggregate of $380 billion”. – Forbes report said.
The main reason for the growth of the billion-dollar fortunes was the growth in the stock markets throughout this year. The S&P 500 index is up 13% this year, despite the crash in March due to the coronavirus spread, the NASDAQ is up 38%.
Thus, the main beneficiary of all the crises that took place in 2020 was the global oligarchy. In the context of limited and merged markets, the enrichment of a minority means the impoverishment of a large part of the world’s population. Today this fact is confirmed by UN data on the food crisis in Africa and Asia.
At a special session of the UN General Assembly, Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) David Beazley said that next year would be marked by a humanitarian catastrophe caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the WFP, the number of people in hunger has increased from 80 million to 135 million over the past four years, which means that we are going to face the worst humanitarian crisis in the last half century.
It can be assumed that for Africa and Third World countries, the minimum amount that can ensure food security for one person is $ 50 per month. Thus, it turns out that the capital that the richest people received during the year could provide more than 3 billion people in hunger with the minimum nutrition during the year, which is about 40% of the world’s population.
What is going on with the global system? Perhaps the error is that the real financial and economic parameters of the system have nothing to do with what we see on computer screens. A hundred dollars on your screen are far from a hundred dollars in your pocket, and even more far from a hundred kilograms of flour in your cellar. This is what the leading economists of the so-called First Western world are trying to explain.
On the other hand, the error may lay in the fact that the crises in 2020 were, if not staged, but at least managed and aimed strengthening of the totalitarian power of the global financial backstage actors.
Today’s liberalism and democracy, spread by westernization, are de facto ineffective. In reality, liberalism should pass along the rift between the poverty and global elites, and not along the LGBT movement or the black minority in the United States. Inefficiency in solving global problems only exposes the essence of deep perversion of the modern system promoted by the collective West.
What democracy or social justice may we talk about today? Only about those that pass somewhere between the wallet and the “a$$” of the common Western bureaucrat.
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southfront--2020-12-17--Greece Increases Defense Spending By 57% Amid On-Going Tensions With Turkey

On December 16th , Greek parliament approved the 2021 state budget , which includes a massive increase in defense expenditures .
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the government aims to increase spending on military capacity by 57 % compared to that of 2019 .
Greece ’ s defense budget is projected to reach around 5.5 billion euros ( US $ 6.6 billion ) .
This actually isn ’ t 50 % more , but actually more than doubles 2019 ’ s spending .
This year ’ s economic contraction is expected to reach 10.5 % , according to a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget .
Despite that defense spending is at an all-time high , mostly because of tensions with Turkey .
Despite the hardship , Greece will purchase 18 French Rafale fighter jets , for which it will pay 1.5 billion euros in 2021 from a total of 2.5 billion euros .
“ Within a few days , the deal on the acquisition of eighteen Rafale type jets from France will be signed here in Athens , ” PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis told members of parliament .
“ Never before has such a complex and important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and efficiently , ” he said .
He also said the Greek government wishes to acquire new frigates , helicopters , and drones , upgrade its F-16 fleet and recruit an additional 15,000 personnel to its ranks .
Specifically , Greece also wants to buy four new frigates as well as ammunition and other accessories .
The deal with France should be approved in the days following December 16th , and French Defense Minister Florence Parly will sign the contract in Athens during her visit in the week starting on December 21st .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ early 2021 , while the first six planes — which have been previously used — will arrive in Greece by July , Defense Ministry officials said .
In 2019 , Greece spent 2.3 % of gross domestic product on defense , placing it third behind the United States and Bulgaria in terms of proportion of the economy .
Greece has always had high military spending compared to other NATO members , even during the financial crash in 2007 .
The government ’ s decision to increase defense spending , of course , wasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition politician Alexis Tsipras had the following to say : Commenting on the government ’ s plan for the military budget , Tsipras said “ we are not voting against the spending increase .
But we do not give you a blank check , without consultation , without a plan and strategy.
” Turkey hasn ’ t commented on the increase in spending , but both countries are also allied NATO members .
Regardless , the key reason for the massive increase is the tensions between Athens and Ankara , mostly caused due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eastern Mediterranean Sea .
Turkey also flooded the Greek border with illegal migrants , and even had its armed forces attempt to break down a border fence and shot tear gas , and more , in an attempt to pressure the European Union in a softer stance towards its activities in Syria ’ s Idlib .
France , who ’ s selling warplanes to Greece , also strongly opposes Turkey ’ s intervention in Libya against Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar ’ s Libyan National Army ( LNA ) .
MORE ON THE TOPIC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , As Trump Administration Expected To Do The Same

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On December 16th, Greek parliament approved the 2021 state budget, which includes a massive increase in defense expenditures.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the government aims to increase spending on military capacity by 57% compared to that of 2019.
Greece’s defense budget is projected to reach around 5.5 billion euros (US$6.6 billion). This actually isn’t 50% more, but actually more than doubles 2019’s spending.
This year’s economic contraction is expected to reach 10.5%, according to a government projection in the country’s 2021 budget.
Despite that defense spending is at an all-time high, mostly because of tensions with Turkey.
Despite the hardship, Greece will purchase 18 French Rafale fighter jets, for which it will pay 1.5 billion euros in 2021 from a total of 2.5 billion euros.
“Within a few days, the deal on the acquisition of eighteen Rafale type jets from France will be signed here in Athens,” PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis told members of parliament. “Never before has such a complex and important military program been carried out so quickly and efficiently,” he said.
He also said the Greek government wishes to acquire new frigates, helicopters, and drones, upgrade its F-16 fleet and recruit an additional 15,000 personnel to its ranks.
Specifically, Greece also wants to buy four new frigates as well as ammunition and other accessories.
The deal with France should be approved in the days following December 16th, and French Defense Minister Florence Parly will sign the contract in Athens during her visit in the week starting on December 21st.
Pilots will begin training in France in early 2021, while the first six planes — which have been previously used — will arrive in Greece by July, Defense Ministry officials said.
In 2019, Greece spent 2.3% of gross domestic product on defense, placing it third behind the United States and Bulgaria in terms of proportion of the economy.
Greece has always had high military spending compared to other NATO members, even during the financial crash in 2007.
The government’s decision to increase defense spending, of course, wasn’t hailed by everybody, as opposition politician Alexis Tsipras had the following to say:
“If there is one word that describes the draft state budget for 2021 and the government’s management of all critical issues, it is ‘failure,’” he said.
Commenting on the government’s plan for the military budget, Tsipras said “we are not voting against the spending increase. But we do not give you a blank check, without consultation, without a plan and strategy.”
Turkey hasn’t commented on the increase in spending, but both countries are also allied NATO members. Regardless, the key reason for the massive increase is the tensions between Athens and Ankara, mostly caused due to Turkey’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Turkey also flooded the Greek border with illegal migrants, and even had its armed forces attempt to break down a border fence and shot tear gas, and more, in an attempt to pressure the European Union in a softer stance towards its activities in Syria’s Idlib.
France, who’s selling warplanes to Greece, also strongly opposes Turkey’s intervention in Libya against Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA).
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