southfront--2020-09-03--New Wave Of War Against ISIS In Nigeria’s Borno (Video)

On September 3 , ISIS announced that its members had carried out two successful attacks in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno .
In first attack , the group ’ s terrorists ambushed a convoy of the Nigerian Armed Forces between the towns of Cross and Milefour .
The Amaq news agency claimed that ten soldiers were killed in the ambush .
Four armored personnel carriers and a pick-up truck were also destroyed .
ISIS terrorists also captured two pick-up trucks , a drone and loads of weapons and ammunition , which were left behind by Nigerian troops .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the town of Magumeri .
The terrorists occupied the town for several hours , during which they killed ten Nigerian soldiers .
During the attack on Magumeri , ISIS terrorists burned an army base , a battle tank , two armored vehicles , an armored personnel carrier , a bulldozer and three pick-up trucks .
The terrorists also captured three pick-up trucks and loads of weapons and ammunition .
The Nigerian Armed Forces are constantly working to contain ISIS threat in Borno .
In the last few days , the Air Task Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on ISIS terrorists in the state .
Scores of terrorists were killed and several hideouts were destroyed in the area of Kaza .
ISIS in Nigeria , formerly known as “ Boko Haram , ” intensified its attacks in Borno State , mainly in the area bordering Lake Chad , in the last few weeks .
Nigerian government forces are taking significant measures to confront the terrorist group ’ s threat .
However , more efforts are apparently needed .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • New Jihadi Group Claimed Responsibility For Recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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On September 3, ISIS announced that its members had carried out two successful attacks in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno.
In first attack, the group’s terrorists ambushed a convoy of the Nigerian Armed Forces between the towns of Cross and Milefour. The Amaq news agency claimed that ten soldiers were killed in the ambush. Four armored personnel carriers and a pick-up truck were also destroyed.
ISIS terrorists also captured two pick-up trucks, a drone and loads of weapons and ammunition, which were left behind by Nigerian troops.
The terrorist group’s second attack targeted the town of Magumeri. The terrorists occupied the town for several hours, during which they killed ten Nigerian soldiers.
During the attack on Magumeri, ISIS terrorists burned an army base, a battle tank, two armored vehicles, an armored personnel carrier, a bulldozer and three pick-up trucks. The terrorists also captured three pick-up trucks and loads of weapons and ammunition.
The Nigerian Armed Forces are constantly working to contain ISIS threat in Borno. In the last few days, the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole intensified its airstrikes on ISIS terrorists in the state. Scores of terrorists were killed and several hideouts were destroyed in the area of Kaza.
ISIS in Nigeria, formerly known as “Boko Haram,” intensified its attacks in Borno State, mainly in the area bordering Lake Chad, in the last few weeks.
Nigerian government forces are taking significant measures to confront the terrorist group’s threat. However, more efforts are apparently needed.
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southfront--2020-09-03--Military Situation In Libya On September 3, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya : • At least 81 @ @ @ @ @ killed and many others were wounded in the explosion at the Government National Army ( @ @ @ @ @ in southern Tripoli on August 31 ; • President of the Republic of Tunisia Kais @ @ @ @ @ the Secretary-General for Libya Stephanie Williams to discuss situation in Libya ; • Unknown gunmen @ @ @ @ @ ( LNA ) checkpoint in Sirte , no casualties were reported .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya:
At least 81 pro-Turkish Syrian mercenaries were allegedly killed and many others were wounded in the explosion at the Government National Army (GNA)-held Yarmouk camp in southern Tripoli on August 31;
President of the Republic of Tunisia Kais Saied received Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Stephanie Williams to discuss situation in Libya;
Unknown gunmen attacked an Libyan National Army (LNA) checkpoint in Sirte, no casualties were reported.
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southfront--2020-09-03--Israeli Military Struck About 100 Targets In Gaza Strip In August

The Israeli military claimed on Tuesday to have struck approximately 100 Hamas targets in the Gaza strip during the month of August .
Immediately following the announcement of the latest ceasefire , Israeli military bulldozers entered Gazan territory to destroy food crops and build additional barricades along the border .
Following the announcement on Monday of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas—whereby the organization agreed to halt arson and rocket attacks , as well as border protests , in exchange for an easing of the economic blockade and border and fishing-zone restrictions , and resuming the supply of some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the military actions conducted against the people of Gaza over the past few weeks .
According to the official statements of the Israeli military , 35 Hamas weapons manufacturing sites were hit , along with 30 underground sites , 20 observation posts and 10 sites linked to the group ’ s aerial capabilities , such as drones and anti-aircraft systems .
The military also released footage of some of the strikes , as well as a map of Gaza showing the approximate location of the targets .
Following the announcement of the ceasefire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Activities in the Territories ( COGAT ) stated that if the violence ends , Israel will reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing to Gaza and reopen the Gaza fishing zone .
LINK Meanwhile , Palestinian Chronicle reports that several Israeli military bulldozers today infiltrated the eastern Gaza border , advancing dozens of meters into Gazan territory along the border to raze farmlands and pile earth mounds amidst shooting .
Israel ’ s occupation forces regularly breach the Gaza borders to level the land , destroy crops and build earthen barricades part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the borders not accessible to Palestinians .
Gaza , with a population of 2 million , has been under a strict Israeli siege and blockade since 2006 , when the Palestinian group Hamas won the legislative elections in occupied Palestine .
The steel ring around the Palestinians in the Gaza strip has been completed by Egypt , which has also closed its border with Gaza and prevented the passage of commerce , essential goods and services , and people .
Since 2006 , Israel has carried out frequent bombing campaigns in the heavily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations that have resulted in the death of thousands of people .
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The Israeli military claimed on Tuesday to have struck approximately 100 Hamas targets in the Gaza strip during the month of August. Immediately following the announcement of the latest ceasefire, Israeli military bulldozers entered Gazan territory to destroy food crops and build additional barricades along the border.
Following the announcement on Monday of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas—whereby the organization agreed to halt arson and rocket attacks, as well as border protests, in exchange for an easing of the economic blockade and border and fishing-zone restrictions, and resuming the supply of some essential services—the IDF released a list of the military actions conducted against the people of Gaza over the past few weeks.
According to the official statements of the Israeli military, 35 Hamas weapons manufacturing sites were hit, along with 30 underground sites, 20 observation posts and 10 sites linked to the group’s aerial capabilities, such as drones and anti-aircraft systems.
The military also released footage of some of the strikes, as well as a map of Gaza showing the approximate location of the targets.
Following the announcement of the ceasefire agreement, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated that if the violence ends, Israel will reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing to Gaza and reopen the Gaza fishing zone. LINK
Meanwhile, Palestinian Chronicle reports that several Israeli military bulldozers today infiltrated the eastern Gaza border, advancing dozens of meters into Gazan territory along the border to raze farmlands and pile earth mounds amidst shooting.
Israel’s occupation forces regularly breach the Gaza borders to level the land, destroy crops and build earthen barricades part of a strategy to create a buffer zone along the borders not accessible to Palestinians.
Gaza, with a population of 2 million, has been under a strict Israeli siege and blockade since 2006, when the Palestinian group Hamas won the legislative elections in occupied Palestine. The steel ring around the Palestinians in the Gaza strip has been completed by Egypt, which has also closed its border with Gaza and prevented the passage of commerce, essential goods and services, and people. Since 2006, Israel has carried out frequent bombing campaigns in the heavily populated zone and several major extended military operations that have resulted in the death of thousands of people. LINK
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southfront--2020-09-03--Iran Reveals Details Of Its Latest Long Range Radar Systems

Earlier this week , Iran revealed some of its latest military and defence technology achievements .
Particular emphasis was given to a new radar system , said to be capable of detecting aircraft at a range of several thousand kilometres .
Speaking at an exhibition of over two dozen ‘ salient achievements ’ of the air defence forces on Wednesday , the commander of Iran ’ s Air Defence Force , Alireza Sabahifard , said Iran ’ s new radar systems are capable of detecting and destroying objects of ‘ any size ’ if they violate the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unveiled was the Emad ( ‘ Pillar ’ in Persian ) , a virtual warfare simulator designed for use by all branches of the military for exercises and simulation purposes .
Another system that was discussed is the Kashef-99 ( lit .
‘ Discoverer ’ ) radar , a 3D phased-array vehicle-mountable radar capable of detecting small aircraft , drones , and even micro air vehicles ( MAVs ) .
According to the official statements , the system can detect up to 300 targets simultaneously within a 12 km range , and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state-owned defence electronics company which also created the Kashef 1 and Kashef 2 2D S-Band radars .
Earlier this year , Iran announced the development of two other radars – the Khalij-e Fars ( ‘ Persian Gulf ’ ) and Moraqeb ( ‘ Watchful ) strategic 3D phased array radar systems , which officials say are capable of monitoring US military bases at distances of between 400 and 800 km .
The Islamic Republic is also reportedly working on even longer range radar systems with the ability to detect enemy targets at ranges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ miles ’ .
In July , Iran demonstrated the capabilities of its orbiting ‘ Noor ’ military satellite , releasing satellite pictures of the US ’ s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar , a key facility for the the United States Central Command .
In June 2019 , the Khordad-3 air defence system produced by Iran Aviation Industries Organization shot down a Northrup Grumman Global Hawk surveillance drone in the Strait of Hormuz .
LINK The announcement of the advanced radar system was met with considerable scepticism in Israel .
The Jerusalem Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News are not the first time Iran said it would be able to create radar with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers .
It has made this claim before , dating back to 2015 .
It hasn ’ t shown any evidence that the radar it has built has this range .
Nevertheless radar technology does exist that could give Iran the ability to produce long-range radar , whether it could reach so far seems unlikely.
” The report further commented that : “ Radar can help Iran monitor aircraft over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot down a US drone last year over the Gulf of Oman .
Iran ’ s discussion of its new radar capabilities comes days after Iranian media also reported Israeli airstrikes on Syria .
This could mean Iran is sending a message about deploying radar to Syria .
Iran allegedly deployed a 3rd Khordad air defense system to Syria in 2018 .
Iran has sent radar to Syria before , in 2010 .
It has defense agreements with Syria as well .
In July US jets intercepted an Iranian aircraft over Syria .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ airliner by mistake .
A foreign report in the summer of 2019 indicated Iran had sent radar installations to Syria but that they had actually not been compatible with Syrian air defense .
May reports said that Syria was using Chinese-made radar after Russian radar were not successfully detecting Israeli airstrikes .
Israel has said it struck more than 1,000 Iranian targets in Syria as of 2019 .
An August 13 , 2020 report in said that airstrikes on ‘ Syrian anti-air systems also struck about a fifth of the country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON THE TOPIC : • Jordan Iraq and Egypt try to get Arab peace initiative back on the geopolitical agenda • US on again off again partial troop withdrawal from Iraq on again

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Earlier this week, Iran revealed some of its latest military and defence technology achievements. Particular emphasis was given to a new radar system, said to be capable of detecting aircraft at a range of several thousand kilometres.
Speaking at an exhibition of over two dozen ‘salient achievements’ of the air defence forces on Wednesday, the commander of Iran’s Air Defence Force, Alireza Sabahifard, said Iran’s new radar systems are capable of detecting and destroying objects of ‘any size’ if they violate the country’s airspace.
He further stated that “today, we have the ability to identify any drones in the sky of the country and the region and destroy it if necessary.”
Among the systems that were unveiled was the Emad (‘Pillar’ in Persian), a virtual warfare simulator designed for use by all branches of the military for exercises and simulation purposes.
Another system that was discussed is the Kashef-99 (lit. ‘Discoverer’) radar, a 3D phased-array vehicle-mountable radar capable of detecting small aircraft, drones, and even micro air vehicles (MAVs). According to the official statements, the system can detect up to 300 targets simultaneously within a 12 km range, and was developed by Iran Electronic Industries, the state-owned defence electronics company which also created the Kashef 1 and Kashef 2 2D S-Band radars.
Earlier this year, Iran announced the development of two other radars – the Khalij-e Fars (‘Persian Gulf’) and Moraqeb (‘Watchful) strategic 3D phased array radar systems, which officials say are capable of monitoring US military bases at distances of between 400 and 800 km. The Islamic Republic is also reportedly working on even longer range radar systems with the ability to detect enemy targets at ranges of as much as ‘thousands of miles’.
In July, Iran demonstrated the capabilities of its orbiting ‘Noor’ military satellite, releasing satellite pictures of the US’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a key facility for the the United States Central Command.
In June 2019, the Khordad-3 air defence system produced by Iran Aviation Industries Organization shot down a Northrup Grumman Global Hawk surveillance drone in the Strait of Hormuz. LINK
The announcement of the advanced radar system was met with considerable scepticism in Israel. The Jerusalem Post commented:
“The articles at Fars News are not the first time Iran said it would be able to create radar with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers. It has made this claim before, dating back to 2015. It hasn’t shown any evidence that the radar it has built has this range. Nevertheless radar technology does exist that could give Iran the ability to produce long-range radar, whether it could reach so far seems unlikely.”
The report further commented that:
“Radar can help Iran monitor aircraft over the Persian Gulf or further away. Iran shot down a US drone last year over the Gulf of Oman. Iran’s discussion of its new radar capabilities comes days after Iranian media also reported Israeli airstrikes on Syria. This could mean Iran is sending a message about deploying radar to Syria. Iran allegedly deployed a 3rd Khordad air defense system to Syria in 2018. Iran has sent radar to Syria before, in 2010. It has defense agreements with Syria as well. In July US jets intercepted an Iranian aircraft over Syria. In January Iran shot down a Ukrainian airliner by mistake. A foreign report in the summer of 2019 indicated Iran had sent radar installations to Syria but that they had actually not been compatible with Syrian air defense. May reports said that Syria was using Chinese-made radar after Russian radar were not successfully detecting Israeli airstrikes. Israel has said it struck more than 1,000 Iranian targets in Syria as of 2019. An August 13, 2020 report in Haaretz said that airstrikes on ‘Syrian anti-air systems also struck about a fifth of the country’s radar systems’.” LINK
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southfront--2020-09-03--Hundreds Of Syrian Militants Arrived In Libya After The GNA Declared Ceasefire

Turkey had deployed 800 Syrian militates in Libya since the recent announcement of a ceasefire in the country by the Government of National Accord ( GNA ) , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on September 3 .
The SOHR alleged that around 18,000 Syrian militants had been deployed in Libya by Turkey , so far .
More are reportedly receiving training in Turkish camps .
A new report by the Pentagon ’ s Inspector General contradicted the numbers provided by the SOHR , saying that Turkey deployed no more than 5,000 Syrian militants in Libya @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rami Abdulrahman , questioned the numbers in the Pentagon ’ s report during an interview with Sky News Arabia .
Abdulrahman said jihadists were not included in the number of the U.S. Department of Defense .
More than 6,000 Turkish-backed Syrian militants who had fighten for the GNA in Libya had returned to their country over the last few months , according to the SOHR .
The deployment of Syrian militants boosted the offensive capabilities of GNA forces , allowing them to secure areas in western Libya .
Turkey is now working to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the help of those militants .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Pentagon Report Reveals New Details On Syrian Mercenaries In Libya • Israeli Military Struck About 100 Targets In Gaza Strip In August

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Turkey had deployed 800 Syrian militates in Libya since the recent announcement of a ceasefire in the country by the Government of National Accord (GNA), the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on September 3.
The SOHR alleged that around 18,000 Syrian militants had been deployed in Libya by Turkey, so far. More are reportedly receiving training in Turkish camps.
A new report by the Pentagon’s Inspector General contradicted the numbers provided by the SOHR, saying that Turkey deployed no more than 5,000 Syrian militants in Libya.
The SOHR’s director, Rami Abdulrahman, questioned the numbers in the Pentagon’s report during an interview with Sky News Arabia. Abdulrahman said jihadists were not included in the number of the U.S. Department of Defense.
“The Pentagon’s report concealed the case of sending around 10,000 jihadists of non-Syrian nationalities, among them about 2,500 holders of Tunisian nationality, and most of them were in ISIS and al-Qaeda,” Abdulrahman.
More than 6,000 Turkish-backed Syrian militants who had fighten for the GNA in Libya had returned to their country over the last few months, according to the SOHR.
The deployment of Syrian militants boosted the offensive capabilities of GNA forces, allowing them to secure areas in western Libya. Turkey is now working to assert its presence in the oil-rich country with the help of those militants.
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southfront--2020-09-03--Use Of Anti-Personnel Mines By US Ground Forces

Written by Major A. Kovalchuk , Lieutenant V. Frolov ; Originally appeared at Foreign Military Review 2019 # 2 , translated by AlexD exclusively for SouthFront In the period from the beginning of the First Word War to the present , mines of various modifications were actively used in all armed conflicts .
The use of mines in modern wars and armed conflicts remains unchanged , although there are a significant number of international treaties to limit this weapon .
Every year , 500-800 people are killed by mines of various types in combat operations , as well as during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of existing technologies in clearing all emplaced mines in a combat position will take about 1000 years and up to $ 100 billion .
Thus , the mine clearance operation in Kuwait , according to the Russian branch of the international organisation “ International Campaign for the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines ” , was the largest conducted on a commercial basis , it involved 4,000 foreign sappers , and the cost amounted to $ 700 million .
The Convention of Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects , entered into force in 1983 .
Protocol II to the text of this document restricts the use of this type of weapons and defines the terms “ mine ” and “ remotely placed mine ” , but there is no clear distinction between anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines .
The Protocol regulated the use of this type of weapon in international conflicts , while the majority of victims affected by it were internal , religious and inter-ethnic conflicts .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ selectivity of actions and the time of the active state after their installation .
In December 1998 , the Supplementary Protocol II entered into force , which has so far been supported by 102 states .
These included Israel , India , China , and Pakistan , which did not accept the original Protocol II .
The new document included detailed definitions of anti-personnel mines , booby traps , remote controls and other terms , and more strictly regulated the requirements for the design and use of this type of weapon , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mines .
The transfer and export of these weapons to parties not bound by the provisions of the above-mentioned Protocol was prohibited .
At the initiative of Canada , the Ottawa process for a total ban on the production , storage , export and use of anti-personnel mines was launched in October 1996 .
It was attended by 50 host states and 24 observer countries with the active support of non-governmental organisations , including the International Red Cross .
The initiators included : developed western countries interested in carrying out humanitarian and peacekeeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing states that suffer most from the use of mines in internal conflicts and need assistance in clearing their territories ; neutral countries that do not produce anti-personnel mines .
In December 1997 , at the final conference in Ottawa , the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use , Stockpiling , Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction ( hereinafter referred to as the Convention ) , was signed by representatives of 122 countries and entered into force in 1999 .
As of September 2018 , 135 states out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and another 28 have acceded to it .
This document allows participating countries to leave a limited number of prohibited anti-personnel mines for training of mine clearance specialists , but it is not specified .
By 2015 , 69 signatories to the Ottawa Convention had kept more than 227,000 anti-personnel mines from destruction .
In 2016 , it was reported that 71 state parties “ retained ” 158,776 mines .
Finland , Turkey and Bangladesh ( over than 10 thousand anti-personnel mines each ) did not dispose of the greatest amount of ammunition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to completely dispose of all mines in 2017 .
The bulk of them were retained for mine clearance training , and as of 2017 , they were in five countries : Brazil , Turkey , Algeria , Bangladesh and Sweden .
By 2018 , 86 countries had disposed of all mines .
The United States has not used anti-personnel mines since the 1991 Gulf War and has not exported them since 1992 , remaining the largest sponsor of mine clearance programmes in the world .
However , the US has more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in warehouses .
In 2004 , the United States introduced a local regulation similar to the Convention called the “ National Agreement on the Use of Landmines ” .
The limitations of the “ National Agreement on the Use of Landmines ” and at the same time the need for their use forced the United States to use remotely operated mines .
Non-lethal ammunition is generally used against groups of people .
The main stopping factors are the blast wave and physical impact , and rubber balls are used as striking elements .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ options ( controlled , unmanaged ) for installation on the ground .
Controlled execution allows reducing the risk of civilian casualties .
The first of these mines was the anti-personnel M-7 “ Spider ” , which provides for self-destruction at the end of the combat service life .
The M-7 mine works up to 30 days from one replaceable set of batteries .
During active operation , it continuously transmits an encrypted signal about its location to operators through the global positioning system ( GPS ) equipment .
This makes it possible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreover , as soon as the battery runs out , the mine is automatically deactivated .
Even if the mine is not removed , it will not pose a danger , including to the civilian population , after the end of hostilities in the territory where these weapons were installed .
When bringing the M-7 into combat position in its control unit , the period of action is set , at the end of which it must be deactivated .
This type of mine can be equipped with both live and non-lethal charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if it was previously activated in semi-automatic mode ( in this case , the detonation is performed on command after confirmation by the operator ) .
The M-7 “ Spider ” mine consist of six rechargeable launchers mounted on a single hull , which automatically fires off fragmentation ammunition with a 60º sector of destruction .
Shrapnel and non-lethal charges , such as sticky gel or neutralising gas , can also be used as striking elements .
The M18 “ Claymore ” anti-personnel mine can be used in conjunction with it to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of “ Spider ” mines is carried out as follows : the munition is placed in a place where it can provide the maximum area of impact , then the container automatically fires a set of six sensors-alarms , made in the form of small wires of a certain length – one for each charge .
The operator monitors and manages the minefield from a portable multimedia console at a distance of up to 4 km .
After one of the sensors reacts , the device sends a signal to the operator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one or more ( all ) charges .
Thus , despite a significant number of international agreements prohibiting the use of anti-personnel mines , this type of weapon continues to be actively used in modern armed conflicts .
Any state that seeks to develop its armed forces considers it necessary to have such weapons in its arsenal .
The United States has achieved the greatest results in this area .
An example of such developments is the M-7 “ Spider ” mine ; its use does not violate international agreements or allow compliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without causing a public outcry in the world community .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • New Models Of Small Arms Of Chinese Special Forces • The Old Dependables : Russian Weapons in 21st Century Regional Conflicts

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Written by Major A. Kovalchuk, Lieutenant V. Frolov; Originally appeared at Foreign Military Review 2019 #2, translated by AlexD exclusively for SouthFront
In the period from the beginning of the First Word War to the present, mines of various modifications were actively used in all armed conflicts. The use of mines in modern wars and armed conflicts remains unchanged, although there are a significant number of international treaties to limit this weapon. Every year, 500-800 people are killed by mines of various types in combat operations, as well as during terrorist attacks.
According to military experts the use of existing technologies in clearing all emplaced mines in a combat position will take about 1000 years and up to $100 billion. Thus, the mine clearance operation in Kuwait, according to the Russian branch of the international organisation “International Campaign for the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines”, was the largest conducted on a commercial basis, it involved 4,000 foreign sappers, and the cost amounted to $700 million.
The Convention of Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons (hereinafter referred to as the Convention), which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects, entered into force in 1983. Protocol II to the text of this document restricts the use of this type of weapons and defines the terms “mine” and “remotely placed mine”, but there is no clear distinction between anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines.
The Protocol regulated the use of this type of weapon in international conflicts, while the majority of victims affected by it were internal, religious and inter-ethnic conflicts. In addition, the document regulates the selectivity of actions and the time of the active state after their installation.
In December 1998, the Supplementary Protocol II entered into force, which has so far been supported by 102 states. These included Israel, India, China, and Pakistan, which did not accept the original Protocol II.
The new document included detailed definitions of anti-personnel mines, booby traps, remote controls and other terms, and more strictly regulated the requirements for the design and use of this type of weapon, including self-neutralisation and self-deactivation mechanisms for remotely placed mines. The transfer and export of these weapons to parties not bound by the provisions of the above-mentioned Protocol was prohibited.
At the initiative of Canada, the Ottawa process for a total ban on the production, storage, export and use of anti-personnel mines was launched in October 1996. It was attended by 50 host states and 24 observer countries with the active support of non-governmental organisations, including the International Red Cross. The initiators included: developed western countries interested in carrying out humanitarian and peacekeeping missions in “hot spots”; developing states that suffer most from the use of mines in internal conflicts and need assistance in clearing their territories; neutral countries that do not produce anti-personnel mines.
In December 1997, at the final conference in Ottawa, the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction (hereinafter referred to as the Convention), was signed by representatives of 122 countries and entered into force in 1999.
As of September 2018, 135 states out of 163 participating countries have ratified the Convention and another 28 have acceded to it.
This document allows participating countries to leave a limited number of prohibited anti-personnel mines for training of mine clearance specialists, but it is not specified. By 2015, 69 signatories to the Ottawa Convention had kept more than 227,000 anti-personnel mines from destruction.
In 2016, it was reported that 71 state parties “retained” 158,776 mines. Finland, Turkey and Bangladesh (over than 10 thousand anti-personnel mines each) did not dispose of the greatest amount of ammunition. 73 countries participating in the Convention decided to completely dispose of all mines in 2017.
The bulk of them were retained for mine clearance training, and as of 2017, they were in five countries: Brazil, Turkey, Algeria, Bangladesh and Sweden. By 2018, 86 countries had disposed of all mines.
The United States has not used anti-personnel mines since the 1991 Gulf War and has not exported them since 1992, remaining the largest sponsor of mine clearance programmes in the world.
However, the US has more than 10.5 million units of stockpiled anti-personnel mines in warehouses.
In 2004, the United States introduced a local regulation similar to the Convention called the “National Agreement on the Use of Landmines”. The limitations of the “National Agreement on the Use of Landmines” and at the same time the need for their use forced the United States to use remotely operated mines.
Non-lethal ammunition is generally used against groups of people. The main stopping factors are the blast wave and physical impact, and rubber balls are used as striking elements. The discharge of this weapon involves various options (controlled, unmanaged) for installation on the ground. Controlled execution allows reducing the risk of civilian casualties. The first of these mines was the anti-personnel M-7 “Spider”, which provides for self-destruction at the end of the combat service life.
The M-7 mine works up to 30 days from one replaceable set of batteries. During active operation, it continuously transmits an encrypted signal about its location to operators through the global positioning system (GPS) equipment. This makes it possible to quickly locate and retrieve unused ammunition. Moreover, as soon as the battery runs out, the mine is automatically deactivated. Even if the mine is not removed, it will not pose a danger, including to the civilian population, after the end of hostilities in the territory where these weapons were installed.
When bringing the M-7 into combat position in its control unit, the period of action is set, at the end of which it must be deactivated. This type of mine can be equipped with both live and non-lethal charges. It will also not work independently if it was previously activated in semi-automatic mode (in this case, the detonation is performed on command after confirmation by the operator).
The M-7 “Spider” mine consist of six rechargeable launchers mounted on a single hull, which automatically fires off fragmentation ammunition with a 60º sector of destruction. Shrapnel and non-lethal charges, such as sticky gel or neutralising gas, can also be used as striking elements.
The M18 “Claymore” anti-personnel mine can be used in conjunction with it to increase the survivability of mine-explosive barriers.
The use of “Spider” mines is carried out as follows: the munition is placed in a place where it can provide the maximum area of impact, then the container automatically fires a set of six sensors-alarms, made in the form of small wires of a certain length – one for each charge.
The operator monitors and manages the minefield from a portable multimedia console at a distance of up to 4 km. After one of the sensors reacts, the device sends a signal to the operator, who gives the command to detonate one or more (all) charges.
Thus, despite a significant number of international agreements prohibiting the use of anti-personnel mines, this type of weapon continues to be actively used in modern armed conflicts. Any state that seeks to develop its armed forces considers it necessary to have such weapons in its arsenal. The United States has achieved the greatest results in this area.
An example of such developments is the M-7 “Spider” mine; its use does not violate international agreements or allow compliance with some of their main provisions, without causing a public outcry in the world community.
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southfront--2020-09-03--Syria’s Al-Hasakah Prepares For New Turkish Attack: Monitoring Group

Civilians were fleeing the northern countryside of al-Hasakah out of fear of a new attack by the Turkish military and its proxies , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on September 3 .
According to the London-based monitoring group , the civilians are fleeing the town of Abu Rasin and its outskirts as well as the town of Darbasiyah , on the Turkish border , towards the city of al-Hasakah .
The SOHR revealed that officials from the Kurdish Democratic Union Party , the Movement for a Democratic Society and the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could soon launch an attack in northern al-Hasakah .
For the last few weeks , the SDF has been taking precautions to face a new Turkish attack .
A series of meeting was held with the locals to discuss defensive measures .
Moreover , SDF fighters and security officers were told to evacuate their families .
In October of 2019 , the Turkish military and its proxies launched a large-scale attack on northeastern Syria .
Turkish forces occupied a large strip of land between al-Hasakah and Raqqa after an intense battle with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. and Russia , Turkey agreed to establish ceasefire in northeastern Syria .
However , Ankara ’ s forces are violating these agreements on a regular basis , which makes a new attack highly-possible .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Deir Ezzor Military Council Leader Disowned By His Tribe For Being An SDF “ Tool ” • Idlib Question And Prospects Of New Syrian-Turkish Confrontation

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Civilians were fleeing the northern countryside of al-Hasakah out of fear of a new attack by the Turkish military and its proxies, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on September 3.
According to the London-based monitoring group, the civilians are fleeing the town of Abu Rasin and its outskirts as well as the town of Darbasiyah, on the Turkish border, towards the city of al-Hasakah.
“About 10% of the residents of these areas were displaced, during the past hours and days,” the SOHR’s report reads.
The SOHR revealed that officials from the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, the Movement for a Democratic Society and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) informed the locals that Turkish forces could soon launch an attack in northern al-Hasakah.
For the last few weeks, the SDF has been taking precautions to face a new Turkish attack. A series of meeting was held with the locals to discuss defensive measures. Moreover, SDF fighters and security officers were told to evacuate their families.
In October of 2019, the Turkish military and its proxies launched a large-scale attack on northeastern Syria. Turkish forces occupied a large strip of land between al-Hasakah and Raqqa after an intense battle with the SDF.
In two separate agreements with the U.S. and Russia, Turkey agreed to establish ceasefire in northeastern Syria. However, Ankara’s forces are violating these agreements on a regular basis, which makes a new attack highly-possible.
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southfront--2020-09-03--Fruits of Illegality: The NSA, Bulk Collection and Warrantless Surveillance

He has become part of the furniture when it comes to discussions about privacy rights and personal liberties , arguably an odd sort of thing for a man who also dealt in the shadows of intelligence secrets .
But Edward Snowden has been doing his bit to reveal and chip away at the foundations of the national security state that continues to thrive .
The advent of coronavirus and pandemic surveillance will merely serve to advance it , but in June 2013 , Snowden ’ s exposures of National Security Agency practices were raw and unsettling to the wonks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the revelations was not that the NSA conducts surveillance , its natural bread and butter ; it was how such grubbily enterprising efforts as the metadata collection program were allowed to flourish with feral abandon .
The forests of paranoia after the 9/11 attacks on US soil proved rich for such legislative instruments as the USA PATRIOT Act .
Section 215 , in particular , authorised the bulk collection by agencies of telephony metadata , known in the trade as call detail records .
It had been barely read by members of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special sort of dedicated illiteracy .
The NSA program , at least in that form , was ended with the reforms passed by the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 .
Critics were quick to note that section 215 was merely given a trim and a clean .
The original provision permitted the NSA to store call detail records ( time , duration , the numbers communicating in a call , excluding the content of the call ) and search them as required .
Since the changes , such records are held by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request them via an order of the Foreign Intelligence Service Court .
The provision , according to Human Rights Watch , “ still permits the government to collect a staggering amount of data , in secret and without a warrant , on how people use their phones , chilling freedom of expression and association.
” Between 2015 and 2019 , the program cost $ 10 million and could only boast one significant lead , a palpably poor return for even the most devout surveillance types .
The expiry of Section 215 powers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merry legislative jig .
The Senate passed the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act in May .
The oversight measures proposed by Senators Mike Lee ( R-UT ) and Patrick Leahy ( D-VT ) made it through , expanding the role of independent advisers to the court established by the Foreign Intelligence Service Act of 1978 .
But in so doing , the Senate failed to adopt the amendment proposed by Senators Ron Wyden ( D-OR ) and Steve Daines ( R-MT ) , which would have prevented the government conducting warrantless surveillance on internet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a touch irritated at his colleagues .
“ The legislation , ” he outlined in a statement , “ hands the government power for warrantless collection of Americans ’ web browsing and internet searches , as well as other private information , without having to demonstrate that those Americans have done anything wrong.
” The Senate also refused to prohibit the use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 and surveillance conducted under the Article II executive power against people in the United States or in proceedings against them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ R-KY ) .
Privacy advocates were feeling a touch deflated .
It took a decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down on September 2 to add a spring to their steps , if only after the fact .
The decision in was not bound to make them break out into a canter .
The facts of the case covered the previous incarnation of bulk surveillance exposed by Snowden .
The outcome was also a tad troubling .
The four appellants , Somali immigrants convicted in 2013 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the terrorist group al-Shabaab , had their convictions upheld .
The judges “ held that the government may have violated the Fourth Amendment [ protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures ] when it collected the telephony metadata of millions of Americans , including at least one of the defendants , pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ” .
Unfortunately for the defendants , “ the metadata collection , even if unconstitutional , did not taint the evidence introduced by the government at trial.
” The application for suppression of the evidence – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ alleged ‘ fruits ’ of the unlawful metadata collection , ” failed .
Additionally , the FISA wiretap evidence was not held to be “ the fruit of the unlawful metadata collection.
” Scattered through the judgment are a few sprinklings of hope for privacy advocates .
Some of these are merely confirmations and recapitulations .
Others are clarifications for the intelligence community .
The government had , for instance , argued that “ ordinary criminal investigations ” should not be treated in the same context as those in a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment protections should be applied differently .
Not so , claimed the panel .
The judges acknowledged that the Fourth Amendment required notice to be given to a defendant “ when the prosecution intends to enter into evidence or otherwise use or disclose information obtained or derived from the surveillance of that defendant conducted pursuant to the government ’ s foreign intelligence authorities.
” As the Fourth Amendment apply to foreign intelligence investigations , it followed that “ US criminal defendants against whom the government uses evidence obtained or derived from foreign intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The problem for the defendants here was that failure to provide notice by the government did not prejudice them .
The American Civil Liberties Union ’ s Patrick Toomey saw the ruling as vindicating “ that the NSA ’ s bulk collection of Americans ’ records violated the Constitution.
” The mandatory notice requirement for authorities constituted an essential “ protection ” in a field of “ novel spying tools ” .
The Snowden legacy continues to be harvested , if unevenly .
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
He has become part of the furniture when it comes to discussions about privacy rights and personal liberties, arguably an odd sort of thing for a man who also dealt in the shadows of intelligence secrets. But Edward Snowden has been doing his bit to reveal and chip away at the foundations of the national security state that continues to thrive. The advent of coronavirus and pandemic surveillance will merely serve to advance it, but in June 2013, Snowden’s exposures of National Security Agency practices were raw and unsettling to the wonks of the establishment.
The most troubling of the revelations was not that the NSA conducts surveillance, its natural bread and butter; it was how such grubbily enterprising efforts as the metadata collection program were allowed to flourish with feral abandon. The forests of paranoia after the 9/11 attacks on US soil proved rich for such legislative instruments as the USA PATRIOT Act. Section 215, in particular, authorised the bulk collection by agencies of telephony metadata, known in the trade as call detail records. It had been barely read by members of Congress in a hurry; patriotism can encourage a special sort of dedicated illiteracy.
The NSA program, at least in that form, was ended with the reforms passed by the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015. Critics were quick to note that section 215 was merely given a trim and a clean. The original provision permitted the NSA to store call detail records (time, duration, the numbers communicating in a call, excluding the content of the call) and search them as required. Since the changes, such records are held by telephone companies; the agency can only request them via an order of the Foreign Intelligence Service Court.
The provision, according to Human Rights Watch, “still permits the government to collect a staggering amount of data, in secret and without a warrant, on how people use their phones, chilling freedom of expression and association.” Between 2015 and 2019, the program cost $10 million and could only boast one significant lead, a palpably poor return for even the most devout surveillance types.
The expiry of Section 215 powers in March 15, 2020 led to a merry legislative jig. The Senate passed the USA FREEDOM Reauthorization Act in May. The oversight measures proposed by Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) made it through, expanding the role of independent advisers to the court established by the Foreign Intelligence Service Act of 1978. But in so doing, the Senate failed to adopt the amendment proposed by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT), which would have prevented the government conducting warrantless surveillance on internet browsing and search histories.
Wyden was more than a touch irritated at his colleagues. “The legislation,” he outlined in a statement, “hands the government power for warrantless collection of Americans’ web browsing and internet searches, as well as other private information, without having to demonstrate that those Americans have done anything wrong.”
The Senate also refused to prohibit the use of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 and surveillance conducted under the Article II executive power against people in the United States or in proceedings against them, both ideas of Senator Rand Paul (R-KY).
Privacy advocates were feeling a touch deflated. It took a decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down on September 2 to add a spring to their steps, if only after the fact. The decision in United States v Moalin was not bound to make them break out into a canter. The facts of the case covered the previous incarnation of bulk surveillance exposed by Snowden. The outcome was also a tad troubling. The four appellants, Somali immigrants convicted in 2013 for transferring $10,900 in support of the terrorist group al-Shabaab, had their convictions upheld.
The judges “held that the government may have violated the Fourth Amendment [protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures] when it collected the telephony metadata of millions of Americans, including at least one of the defendants, pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act”. Unfortunately for the defendants, “the metadata collection, even if unconstitutional, did not taint the evidence introduced by the government at trial.” The application for suppression of the evidence – what were described by the defendants as the “alleged ‘fruits’ of the unlawful metadata collection,” failed. Additionally, the FISA wiretap evidence was not held to be “the fruit of the unlawful metadata collection.”
Scattered through the judgment are a few sprinklings of hope for privacy advocates. Some of these are merely confirmations and recapitulations. Others are clarifications for the intelligence community. The government had, for instance, argued that “ordinary criminal investigations” should not be treated in the same context as those in a “foreign intelligence context”. The Fourth Amendment protections should be applied differently.
Not so, claimed the panel. The judges acknowledged that the Fourth Amendment required notice to be given to a defendant “when the prosecution intends to enter into evidence or otherwise use or disclose information obtained or derived from the surveillance of that defendant conducted pursuant to the government’s foreign intelligence authorities.” As the Fourth Amendment did apply to foreign intelligence investigations, it followed that “US criminal defendants against whom the government uses evidence obtained or derived from foreign intelligence may have Fourth Amendment rights to protect.” The problem for the defendants here was that failure to provide notice by the government did not prejudice them.
The American Civil Liberties Union’s Patrick Toomey saw the ruling as vindicating “that the NSA’s bulk collection of Americans’ records violated the Constitution.” The mandatory notice requirement for authorities constituted an essential “protection” in a field of “novel spying tools”. The Snowden legacy continues to be harvested, if unevenly.
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-09-03--Deir Ezzor Military Council Leader Disowned By His Tribe For Being An SDF “Tool”

Ahmad al-Khubail , leader of the Deir Ezzor Military Council ( DMC ) , has been disowned by his tribe , Al Bakir , for being a “ tool ” of the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) .
Al Bakir ’ s Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Hamada disowned al-Khubail in an official statement on September 2 , accusing him and the Arab-dominated DMC of being nothing but tools in the hands of the Kurdish-led SDF .
“ Al-Khubail and his military council are far from the parity that was desired from them towards the SDF , later , it became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Deir Ezzor region , ” Sheikh al-Hamada said , adding “ al-Khubail is nothing but a tool to threaten Deir Ezzor and its peace.
” Sheikh al-Hamada accused al-Khubail of intimidating his opponents by accusing them of terrorism as well as for being responsible for arbitrary arrests in Deir Ezzor .
Before the war , Al-Khbail , who is also known as “ Abu Khaula , ” was reportedly involved in stealing motorcycles and was imprisoned for it by Syrian authorities .
As the war began , he joined the Syrian Opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militia which allegedly took part in running checkpoints that would extort and steal from drivers .
According to al-Hamada , al-Khubail and the DMC employed some people with bad reputation , some even used to work for ISIS .
The DMC controls eastern and southeastern Deir Ezzor with direct support from the U.S.-led coalition , which maintain large bases in the region ’ s rich oil fields .
Al Bakir ’ s statement against al-Khbail is a sign of the growing tension between Arabs and the Kurdish-led SDF in Deir Ezzor and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkish Forces To Establish New Base On Historical Hilltop In Northern Raqqa ( Video )

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Ahmad al-Khubail, leader of the Deir Ezzor Military Council (DMC), has been disowned by his tribe, Al Bakir, for being a “tool” of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Al Bakir’s Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Hamada disowned al-Khubail in an official statement on September 2, accusing him and the Arab-dominated DMC of being nothing but tools in the hands of the Kurdish-led SDF.
“Al-Khubail and his military council are far from the parity that was desired from them towards the SDF, later, it became clear that he is not interested in the Deir Ezzor region,” Sheikh al-Hamada said, adding “al-Khubail is nothing but a tool to threaten Deir Ezzor and its peace.”
Sheikh al-Hamada accused al-Khubail of intimidating his opponents by accusing them of terrorism as well as for being responsible for arbitrary arrests in Deir Ezzor.
Before the war, Al-Khbail, who is also known as “Abu Khaula,” was reportedly involved in stealing motorcycles and was imprisoned for it by Syrian authorities. As the war began, he joined the Syrian Opposition in Deir Ezzor and established his own militia which allegedly took part in running checkpoints that would extort and steal from drivers.
According to al-Hamada, al-Khubail and the DMC employed some people with bad reputation, some even used to work for ISIS.
“Al-Khubail intends to spread security chaos in the region, from systematic kidnappings and assassinations, to the pursuit of civilian activists opposed to the SDF and its policy, to the harassment of some independent tribal sheikhs,” said the Sheikh.
The DMC controls eastern and southeastern Deir Ezzor with direct support from the U.S.-led coalition, which maintain large bases in the region’s rich oil fields.
Al Bakir’s statement against al-Khbail is a sign of the growing tension between Arabs and the Kurdish-led SDF in Deir Ezzor and other Arab-majority areas in the northeast.
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southfront--2020-09-03--Military Situation In Afghanistan On September 3, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • At least three @ @ @ @ @ other was injured in roadside bomb explosion in the Parchiragam area of Nangarhar province ; @ @ @ @ @ dead a policewoman in the Shura Khak area of Kunduz city ; • The United @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Court Prosecutor , Fatou Bensouda , over her continued investigation into whether American forces @ @ @ @ @ ; MORE ON THE TOPIC :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
At least three civilians were killed and one other was injured in roadside bomb explosion in the Parchiragam area of Nangarhar province;
The Taliban militants shot dead a policewoman in the Shura Khak area of Kunduz city;
The United States imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, over her continued investigation into whether American forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan;
A motorcycle bomb exploded in Helmand’s Garmsir district injuring four civilians.
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southfront--2020-09-04--Turkey Launched New Operations Against PKK In Eastern, Southeastern Regions

Turkish authorities have launched new “ anti-terror ” operations against the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party ( PKK ) in the eastern and southeastern region .
On September 1 , Turkish authorities launched “ Operation Lightning-8″ in order to end the PKK presence in the southeastern Turkish city of Mardin .
The Turkish Ministry of Interior revealed in a statement that 38 members of the PKK were killed and 22 collaborators were arrested during the operation .
According to the statement , 80 caves , shelters , and depots were destroyed .
A large number of arms , ammunition , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation .
Turkish authorities launched a second operation , dubbed “ Operation Lightning-9 , ” in the eastern cities of Mus and Bingol .
The Ministry of Interior said 1,022 security personnel , including Gendarmerie Special Operations forces , police , and security guards , were taking part in the anti-terror operation .
Turkey launches operations against the PKK on a regular basis .
The Kurdish group , which maintain strongholds in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and northeastern Syria , is designated as a terrorist group by Ankara , NATO and the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tests Hezbollah ’ s Readiness To Retaliate To Killing Of Its Forces

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Turkish authorities have launched new “anti-terror” operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the eastern and southeastern region.
On September 1, Turkish authorities launched “Operation Lightning-8″ in order to end the PKK presence in the southeastern Turkish city of Mardin.
The Turkish Ministry of Interior revealed in a statement that 38 members of the PKK were killed and 22 collaborators were arrested during the operation.
According to the statement, 80 caves, shelters, and depots were destroyed. A large number of arms, ammunition, and other supplies were also seized during the operation.
Turkish authorities launched a second operation, dubbed “Operation Lightning-9,” in the eastern cities of Mus and Bingol.
The Ministry of Interior said 1,022 security personnel, including Gendarmerie Special Operations forces, police, and security guards, were taking part in the anti-terror operation.
Turkey launches operations against the PKK on a regular basis. The Kurdish group, which maintain strongholds in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and northeastern Syria, is designated as a terrorist group by Ankara, NATO and the U.S.
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southfront--2020-09-04--Russian Aerospace Forces Intensified Airstrikes On ISIS Remnants In Central Syria: Monitoring Group

The Russian Aerospace Forces ( VKS ) had intensified their airstrikes on ISIS cells in Syria ’ s central region , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on September 4 .
According to the London-based monitoring group , the VKS wants to contain the terrorist group ’ s increasing activities in the region .
ISIS remnants in central Syria stepped up their attacks on government forces over the last few weeks .
Dozens of Syrian service members were killed or injured in Homs , Hama , Raqqa and Deir Ezzor .
The SOHR said most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken place in the following areas : • The outskirts of the town of al-Sholah in western Deir Ezzor as well as in the countryside of the cities of al-Mayadin and al-Bakamal in the governorate ’ s southern part .
• Between the town of Hamimah and the T3 station in eastern Homs .
• In the countryside of the town of Resafa in southern Raqqa .
• In the countryside of the town of Ithriyah in eastern Hama .
Russian airstrikes and clashes with the Syrian Arab Army claimed the lives of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last few days only .
The VKS ’ airstrikes could help contain ISIS ’ growing threat in central Syria .
Nevertheless , only a large ground operation could end the terrorist group ’ s presence in the region .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • New Satellite Images Reveal Targets Of Recent Israeli Strikes On Syria • Third Wave Of Russian Airstrikes Hit ISIS Terrorists In Homs , Raqqa & Deir Ezzor In Central Syria • New Wave Of Russian Airstrikes Hit ISIS Terrorists In Central Syria

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The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) had intensified their airstrikes on ISIS cells in Syria’s central region, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on September 4.
According to the London-based monitoring group, the VKS wants to contain the terrorist group’s increasing activities in the region.
ISIS remnants in central Syria stepped up their attacks on government forces over the last few weeks. Dozens of Syrian service members were killed or injured in Homs, Hama, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor.
The SOHR said most of the terrorist group’s attacks had taken place in the following areas:
The outskirts of the town of al-Sholah in western Deir Ezzor as well as in the countryside of the cities of al-Mayadin and al-Bakamal in the governorate’s southern part.
Between the town of Hamimah and the T3 station in eastern Homs.
In the countryside of the town of Resafa in southern Raqqa.
In the countryside of the town of Ithriyah in eastern Hama.
Russian airstrikes and clashes with the Syrian Arab Army claimed the lives of more than 20 ISIS terrorists over the last few days only.
The VKS’ airstrikes could help contain ISIS’ growing threat in central Syria. Nevertheless, only a large ground operation could end the terrorist group’s presence in the region.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-09-04--Portland Murder Suspect Dead Afer Pulling Gun On Feds During Arrest; Admitted Guilt Hours Earlier In

Portland Murder Suspect Dead Afer Pulling Gun On Feds During Arrest; Admitted Guilt Hours Earlier In Vice Interview

Michael Forest Reinoehl , who appeared to admit to murdering a Trump supporter last weekend in Portland in a Thursday interview with , was shot dead by law enforcement later that evening as they attempted to arrest him in Lacey , Washington , located southwest of Seattle .
According to Lt. Ray Brady of the Thurston County Sheriff ’ s Office , law enforcement was in the area looking or a homicide suspect , and that the 48-year-old Reinoehl was seen exiting an apartment and entering a vehicle , according to the .
“ As they attempted to apprehend him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brady .
According to the , Reinoehl pulled a gun during the incident after a federal task force from the FBI and the U.S .
Marshals Service located Reinoehl .
Trevor Brown , 24 , who lives in a townhouse nearby , said he heard several shots fired before he looked out the window and saw as many as four police officers in the road , who fired three or four times .
He then said he saw Mr. Reinoehl lying on the ground .
Jashon Spencer , who also lives not far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before 7 p.m. when he heard a large number of gunshots .
“ I just heard a whole bunch of pops , ” Mr. Spencer said .
“ I ducked .
I thought they were shooting in my yard.
” He said that he went out and saw a bloodied man in the street , and that he captured the scene on video .
Later , a law enforcement officer could be seen attempting CPR .
– A warrant was issued for the 48-year-old Reinoehl earlier Thursday .
Reinoehl , who identified over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said in a interview that he had “ no choice ” but to murder 39-year-old Trump supporter Aaron “ Jay ” Danielson last weekend , as he believed Danielson was going to stab his friend .
“ I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color , but I wasn ’ t going to do that , ” Reinoehl added .
The suspect in last weekend ’ s murder of Aaron “ Jay ” Danielson says he acted in self defense when he fired on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You know , lots of lawyers suggest that I shouldn ’ t even be saying anything , but I feel it ’ s important that the world at least gets a little bit of what ’ s really going on , ” says Reinoehl .
“ I had no choice — I mean , I had a choice .
I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color .
But I wasn ’ t going to do that.
” Reinoehl has not been arrested or charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he is the target of its investigation into the killing of Aaron “ Jay ” Danielson , who was taking part in a pro-Trump rally with an estimated 600 trucks winding through the city that night .
But in a conversation with freelance journalist Donovan Farley provided to VICE News and airing in full Thursday night , Reinoehl said he believed he and a friend were about to be stabbed , and that he acted in self defense .
-Vice The full interview will air Thursday night .
See preview below : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ :

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Michael Forest Reinoehl, who appeared to admit to murdering a Trump supporter last weekend in Portland in a Thursday interview with Vice, was shot dead by law enforcement later that evening as they attempted to arrest him in Lacey, Washington, located southwest of Seattle.
(AP Photo/Ted Warren)
According to Lt. Ray Brady of the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement was in the area looking or a homicide suspect, and that the 48-year-old Reinoehl was seen exiting an apartment and entering a vehicle, according to the New York Times.
“As they attempted to apprehend him, there was gunfire,” said Brady.
According to the Associated Press, Reinoehl pulled a gun during the incident, after a federal task force from the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service located Reinoehl.
AP Photo/Ted Warren
Trevor Brown, 24, who lives in a townhouse nearby, said he heard several shots fired before he looked out the window and saw as many as four police officers in the road, who fired three or four times. He then said he saw Mr. Reinoehl lying on the ground. Jashon Spencer, who also lives not far away, said he was at home before 7 p.m. when he heard a large number of gunshots. “I just heard a whole bunch of pops,” Mr. Spencer said. “I ducked. I thought they were shooting in my yard.” He said that he went out and saw a bloodied man in the street, and that he captured the scene on video. Later, a law enforcement officer could be seen attempting CPR. –New York Times
A warrant was issued for the 48-year-old Reinoehl earlier Thursday.
Reinoehl, who identified over social media as “100% Antifa,” said in a Vice News interview that he had “no choice” but to murder 39-year-old Trump supporter Aaron “Jay” Danielson last weekend, as he believed Danielson was going to stab his friend.
“I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color, but I wasn’t going to do that,” Reinoehl added.
* * *
The suspect in last weekend’s murder of Aaron “Jay” Danielson says he acted in self defense when he fired on the “Patriot Prayer” supporter.
In an interview with freelance journalist Donovan Farley provided to VICE News , 48-year-old Michael Forest Reinoehl – a former military contractor and father of two who claims to be “ 100% Antifa ” – says he was providing “security” at Black Lives Matter protests, when he says he believes he and a friend were about to be stabbed.
“You know, lots of lawyers suggest that I shouldn’t even be saying anything, but I feel it’s important that the world at least gets a little bit of what’s really going on,” says Reinoehl.
“I had no choice — I mean, I had a choice. I could have sat there and watched them kill a friend of mine of color. But I wasn’t going to do that.”
Reinoehl has not been arrested or charged, and Portland police declined to say if he is the target of its investigation into the killing of Aaron “Jay” Danielson, who was taking part in a pro-Trump rally with an estimated 600 trucks winding through the city that night. But in a conversation with freelance journalist Donovan Farley provided to VICE News and airing in full Thursday night, Reinoehl said he believed he and a friend were about to be stabbed, and that he acted in self defense. -Vice
The full interview will air Thursday night. See preview below:
Now watch and listen to what happened:
– We've got one right here! We've got a couple of them right here! – Right here? Bang! Bang! It was an execution. The blood of this man is on the head of feckless leftist leaders like Ted Wheeler! What did he thing was going to happen after 100 days of violence and chaos? — James M. Cain (@dmcparson) August 30, 2020
Enhanced video of Portland shooting pic.twitter.com/nRkUAQsBo9 — Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) August 30, 2020
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southfront--2020-09-04--European Churches Attempt To “Get With The Times” To Stop Losing Believers

The EU ’ s Catholic Church appears to be , for all intents and purposes , into a sort of crisis , and that is quite evident .
The Catholic church , for example , appears to be losing its faithful .
In 2019 , 272,771 people left the Catholic Church , which is 26.2 % more than in 2018 ( 216,078 people ) .
For example , in 2015 , just upwards of 181,000 people left the Catholic Church in Germany .
This was stated by the head of the Episcopal Conference of Germany , Georg Boetzing .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US .
In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019 , 65 % of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion , down 12 percentage points over the past decade .
Meanwhile , the religiously unaffiliated share of the population , consisting of people who describe their religious identity as atheist , agnostic or “ nothing in particular , ” now stands at 26 % , up from 17 % in 2009 .
The current mainstream narrative is such , that the Church , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is usually behind the times , and the times are moving quite quick past the year 2000 .
Inclusiveness is all the rage now , and currently , it is evidently not being as inclusive .
With the media pressure from every direction , those who attend church and are believers are viewed as “ old-timey ” and “ close-minded.
” Naturally , this would lead to people wanting to be part of what ’ s “ popular ” and mostly what ’ s “ profitable ” now – what leads to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the mainstream .
This , however , fails to provide such a sense of community , since the mainstream narrative has no unshakeable foundations , it appears to be a house entirely built out of cards , and attempts to replace some of the cards are commonplace , but they sometimes lead to parts of the house falling apart .
And this is what leads to fraud such as white individuals pretending to be black , others pretending to be trans , or other kinds of fraud that seeks to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status quo .
The church is also increasingly being used in political games , examples such as these are visible in Ukraine , Montenegro , Belarus and more .
The church can also obviously be bought – this is evident in Ecumenial Patriarch Bartholomew ’ s silence on Turkey turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque – his silence being bought by the full reopening of the Sumela Monastery for tourists and faithful alike .
Bartholomew not only failed to mention Hagia Sophia at all , but he even thanked Turkish President Recep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance .
Therefore , there is no surprise that religious organizations that turned to be loyal followers of the current neo-liberal mainstream and turned themselves into tools of the Euro-Atlantic establishment ’ s games have been losing their popularity .
And it does not seem that the further open support of neo-liberal trends will help them to restore their positions among conservative parts of European societies .
Instead , every such step makes these churches closer to pseudo-church organizations that the Euro-Atlantic establishment is promoting in Eastern Europe ( like the ‘ independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no real support among the local population ) to achieve own political goals .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Foreign Media Expelled From Belarus As Propaganda Against Lukashenko Ramps Up • The New Status Of Constantinople ’ s Hagia Sophia

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The EU’s Catholic Church appears to be, for all intents and purposes, into a sort of crisis, and that is quite evident. The Catholic church, for example, appears to be losing its faithful. In 2019, 272,771 people left the Catholic Church, which is 26.2% more than in 2018 (216,078 people).
For example, in 2015, just upwards of 181,000 people left the Catholic Church in Germany.
To reverse the trend, Catholic bishops are going to undertake some inclusive actions to make the Catholic faith “more attractive” with the help of very extraordinary methods, for example – “through the introduction of the female priesthood (ordination to the deacon), weakening celibacy and the revision of Catholic sexual morality.”
This was stated by the head of the Episcopal Conference of Germany, Georg Boetzing.
This tendency of losing believers is also evident in the US.
In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion, down 12 percentage points over the past decade.
Meanwhile, the religiously unaffiliated share of the population, consisting of people who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular,” now stands at 26%, up from 17% in 2009.
The current mainstream narrative is such, that the Church, as a generally conservative “institution” is usually behind the times, and the times are moving quite quick past the year 2000.
Inclusiveness is all the rage now, and currently, it is evidently not being as inclusive. With the media pressure from every direction, those who attend church and are believers are viewed as “old-timey” and “close-minded.”
Naturally, this would lead to people wanting to be part of what’s “popular” and mostly what’s “profitable” now – what leads to the greatest benefit. And it is being part of the mainstream.
This, however, fails to provide such a sense of community, since the mainstream narrative has no unshakeable foundations, it appears to be a house entirely built out of cards, and attempts to replace some of the cards are commonplace, but they sometimes lead to parts of the house falling apart.
And this is what leads to fraud such as white individuals pretending to be black, others pretending to be trans, or other kinds of fraud that seeks to be part of the mainstream and benefit from the status quo.
The church is also increasingly being used in political games, examples such as these are visible in Ukraine, Montenegro, Belarus and more.
The church can also obviously be bought – this is evident in Ecumenial Patriarch Bartholomew’s silence on Turkey turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque – his silence being bought by the full reopening of the Sumela Monastery for tourists and faithful alike. Bartholomew not only failed to mention Hagia Sophia at all, but he even thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for all his support and assistance.
Therefore, there is no surprise that religious organizations that turned to be loyal followers of the current neo-liberal mainstream and turned themselves into tools of the Euro-Atlantic establishment’s games have been losing their popularity. And it does not seem that the further open support of neo-liberal trends will help them to restore their positions among conservative parts of European societies. Instead, every such step makes these churches closer to pseudo-church organizations that the Euro-Atlantic establishment is promoting in Eastern Europe (like the ‘independent’ Montenegrin or Ukrainian churches that have no real support among the local population) to achieve own political goals.
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southfront--2020-09-04--Indian-Chartered Oil Tanker Catches Fire Off The Coast Of Sri Lanka

On September 3rd , the MT New Diamond oil tanker , sailing under a Panama flag , caught fire off the coast of Sri Lanka .
The ship is fully loaded with about 2 million barrels of oil , and is chartered by the Indian Oil Corp. New Diamond sailed from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait , loaded with Kuwait Export Crude , Refinitiv Eikon tracking data showed .
It was heading for the Indian port of Paradip , where state-run IOC has a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery .
Taking to Twitter , Indian Coast Guard ( ICG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been deployed for immediate assistance .
Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Captain Indika de Silva said flames had spread to the New Diamond ’ s bridge , but there was no damage to the cargo area .
A statement released late on September 3rd by the navy said the New Diamond , a very large crude carrier ( VLCC ) , was crewed by 5 Greek and 18 Philippine nationals .
One Philippine national was injured and another was missing following the fire , the statement said .
Two Russian anti-submarine ships and four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Authorities “ are taking steps to mitigate and manage the risk of possible oil spills in future due to this disaster , ” the statement said .
De Silva said some of the New Diamond ’ s crew were rescued by oil product tanker Helen M. In a statement , the vessel ’ s insurer , West of England , said : “ We can confirm that these two vessels are entered in the West of England .
The Club is liaising closely with our members and the relevant authorities and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time.
” The second vessel referred to was the Gulf Livestock 1 , sailing to China from New Zealand with 43 crew and nearly 6,000 cattle that sank off Japan .
Russia sent its anti-submarine ships to assist in the salvage , despite India pulling out of a multinational military exercise just days earlier .
The reason for the rejection wasn ’ t due to any issue with Russia , Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’ s government simply said that it would not take part in the Kavkaz-2020 because Chinese and Pakistani @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strained due to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir , while India-Chinese tensions recently flared due to the situation in the Ladakh region in the Himalayas .
The government has also taken into account the worsening global COVID-19 situation where India alone is witnessing over 70,000 positive cases daily to take a decision regarding participation in the wargames being held in the Astrakhan area of Southern Russia .
“ A high-level meeting was held in South Block in which External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was discussed that it would not be right to take part in the multilateral exercise where Chinese and Pakistani military personnel would also be present , ” Indian defense sources claimed .
The Indian Defense Ministry issued a statement which read , “ Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners .
At Russia ’ s invitation , India has been participating in many international events .
However , in view of Pandemic and consequent difficulties in exercise , including arrangements of logistics , India has decided not to send a contingent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been informed to the Russian side.
” MORE ON THE TOPIC : • India Deploys Special Forces To Eastern Border , As Tensions With China Reportedly Flare

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On September 3rd, the MT New Diamond oil tanker, sailing under a Panama flag, caught fire off the coast of Sri Lanka.
The ship is fully loaded with about 2 million barrels of oil, and is chartered by the Indian Oil Corp. New Diamond sailed from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait, loaded with Kuwait Export Crude, Refinitiv Eikon tracking data showed. It was heading for the Indian port of Paradip, where state-run IOC has a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery.
Taking to Twitter, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said ICG ships and aircraft have been deployed for immediate assistance.
The Sri Lankan Navy asked for assistance.
Sri Lanka Navy spokesman Captain Indika de Silva said flames had spread to the New Diamond’s bridge, but there was no damage to the cargo area.
“We will need an international effort,” de Silva said.
A statement released late on September 3rd by the navy said the New Diamond, a very large crude carrier (VLCC), was crewed by 5 Greek and 18 Philippine nationals.
One Philippine national was injured and another was missing following the fire, the statement said. Two Russian anti-submarine ships and four Indian ships were assisting in the operation.
Authorities “are taking steps to mitigate and manage the risk of possible oil spills in future due to this disaster,” the statement said.
De Silva said some of the New Diamond’s crew were rescued by oil product tanker Helen M.
In a statement, the vessel’s insurer, West of England, said: “We can confirm that these two vessels are entered in the West of England. The Club is liaising closely with our members and the relevant authorities and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
The second vessel referred to was the Gulf Livestock 1, sailing to China from New Zealand with 43 crew and nearly 6,000 cattle that sank off Japan.
Russia sent its anti-submarine ships to assist in the salvage, despite India pulling out of a multinational military exercise just days earlier.
The reason for the rejection wasn’t due to any issue with Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government simply said that it would not take part in the Kavkaz-2020 because Chinese and Pakistani troops are participating.
India-Pakistani tensions are strained due to the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, while India-Chinese tensions recently flared due to the situation in the Ladakh region in the Himalayas.
The government has also taken into account the worsening global COVID-19 situation where India alone is witnessing over 70,000 positive cases daily to take a decision regarding participation in the wargames being held in the Astrakhan area of Southern Russia.
“A high-level meeting was held in South Block in which External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat were present. After the meeting, it was discussed that it would not be right to take part in the multilateral exercise where Chinese and Pakistani military personnel would also be present,” Indian defense sources claimed. The Indian Defense Ministry issued a statement which read, “Russia and India are close and privileged strategic partners. At Russia’s invitation, India has been participating in many international events. However, in view of Pandemic and consequent difficulties in exercise, including arrangements of logistics, India has decided not to send a contingent this year to Kavkaz-2020. The same has been informed to the Russian side.”
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southfront--2020-09-04--Lukashenko Claims Germany ‘Falsified’ Reports That Navalny Was Poisoned, Allegedly Has Evidence

On September 3rd , Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin that Germany “ falsified ” its statement that Russian figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned .
The Russian Prime Minister was on an official visit to Belarus .
“ We intercepted a conversation between Warsaw and Berlin before Merkel ’ s statement… which clearly states that this is a falsification , ” Lukashenko told Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin .
“ Navalny was never poisoned , ” Lukashenko said in a televised meeting shared by a Telegram channel .
According to Lukashenko , German Chancellor Angela Merkel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Navalny was poisoned with Novichok “ to discourage [ Russian President Vladimir ] Putin from sticking his nose in Belarusian affairs.
” Lukashenko said he ’ ll forward the purported intercepted call between Germany and Poland to Russia ’ s FSB security service .
During the entire time Mishustin look at the Belarusian president with a stone face , not saying anything , and also not reacting .
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was not yet in possession of the materials that led Lukashenko to conclude that Germany falsified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who heads Russia ’ s SVR foreign intelligence service , told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency it was “ possible ” that Navalny ’ s poisoning was a “ provocation ” by Western intelligence agencies .
Separately , on September 3rd , Russia ’ s Investigative Committee has asked one of its regional branches in Siberia to probe the possibility that someone tried to murder Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny .
This followed a claim that Navalny was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent and has called for the perpetrators to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accusations , saying that there was no actual evidence , and none has actually been presented .
It also makes little sense that Russian medics couldn ’ t detect the poison that their own country allegedly produced and then would simply turn Navalny over to Germany so that the West finds out he was allegedly poisoned under orders by the Kremlin .
Regardless , Lukashenko ’ s claims are also quite dubious .
They are the result of years of anti-Russian policy , in which he attempts to antagonize Moscow , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form a discount on natural gas , or some other product .
At the same time , in the time of the current crisis it appears that the West also don ’ t view him as an ally , and would rather have him organize new “ fair elections ” so that somebody from the opposition could be chosen .
And now , as a result , it ’ s time for Lukashenko to attempt and stir some controversy , show his loyalty to Moscow in order to get some concessions or any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON THE TOPIC : • EU , U.S. And Co. Continue Calls For Belarusian Democracy , As Lukashenko Claims Situation Is Neither Tense Nor Complicated

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On September 3rd, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin that Germany “falsified” its statement that Russian figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned.
The Russian Prime Minister was on an official visit to Belarus.
“We intercepted a conversation between Warsaw and Berlin before Merkel’s statement… which clearly states that this is a falsification,” Lukashenko told Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. “Navalny was never poisoned,” Lukashenko said in a televised meeting shared by a Telegram channel.
According to Lukashenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the public accusation against Russia and that Navalny was poisoned with Novichok “to discourage [Russian President Vladimir] Putin from sticking his nose in Belarusian affairs.”
Lukashenko said he’ll forward the purported intercepted call between Germany and Poland to Russia’s FSB security service.
During the entire time Mishustin look at the Belarusian president with a stone face, not saying anything, and also not reacting.
The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was not yet in possession of the materials that led Lukashenko to conclude that Germany falsified the Navalny poisoning claims.
Sergei Naryshkin, who heads Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence service, told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency it was “possible” that Navalny’s poisoning was a “provocation” by Western intelligence agencies.
“If the president of Belarus said it, then he had a reason,” Naryshkin was quoted as saying.
Separately, on September 3rd, Russia’s Investigative Committee has asked one of its regional branches in Siberia to probe the possibility that someone tried to murder Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
This followed a claim that Navalny was poisoned with a Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent and has called for the perpetrators to be held to account.
Russia denied the accusations, saying that there was no actual evidence, and none has actually been presented. It also makes little sense that Russian medics couldn’t detect the poison that their own country allegedly produced and then would simply turn Navalny over to Germany so that the West finds out he was allegedly poisoned under orders by the Kremlin.
Regardless, Lukashenko’s claims are also quite dubious. They are the result of years of anti-Russian policy, in which he attempts to antagonize Moscow, and then asks for a handout in the form a discount on natural gas, or some other product.
At the same time, in the time of the current crisis it appears that the West also don’t view him as an ally, and would rather have him organize new “fair elections” so that somebody from the opposition could be chosen.
And now, as a result, it’s time for Lukashenko to attempt and stir some controversy, show his loyalty to Moscow in order to get some concessions or any form of support from Russia.
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southfront--2020-09-04--Lebanese Army Find 5 Tons Of Ammonium Nitrate More At Beirut Port

On September 3rd , the Lebanese Army announced that its army engineering regiment discovered 4.8 tons of ammonium nitrate during an inspection of four containers conducted at the request of Beirut port ’ s customs authorities at entrance number nine .
The military units “ are working to handle ” the issue , the statement said .
Now , 4.8 tons may sound like a lot , but the August 4th explosion was reportedly the result of 2,900 tons of ammonium nitrate catching fire .
The substance was brought to Lebanon in November 2013 when Moldovan-flagged cargo ship MV Rhosus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The vessel was ultimately abandoned and Lebanese authorities left its cargo to decay at the port ’ s warehouse 12 , where the explosion is understood to have originated .
Days after the blast , French and Italian chemical experts working amid the remains of the port identified more than 20 containers carrying dangerous chemicals .
The explosion led to at least 190 deaths , at least 6,000 injured , and billions in destruction , and left at least 300,000 homeless .
In addition to the blast ’ s humanitarian and economic woes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis , it led to renewed protests against the Lebanese government , which led to the Prime Minister and the entirety of the government resigning .
Prime Minister Hassan Diab ’ s successor , Mustapha Adib , promised on August 31st to “ heal our nation and to restore people ’ s hope in a better tomorrow.
” The latest discovery comes amid an influx of international aid workers and a series of high-profile visits of officials from across the globe .
French President Emmanuel Macron has visited twice in the past 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detained 25 people over last month ’ s explosion , most of them port and customs officials .
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia ( ESCWA ) warned that ore than half of Lebanon ’ s population risk facing a food crisis in the aftermath of the explosion .
Separately , in a positive development , Lebanese rescue workers detected signs of life in the debris on September 3rd , almost exactly 1 month after the explosion .
A rescue worker said that they had detected signs of life in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explosion .
He said that a team with a rescue dog had detected movement under a destroyed building in the Gemmayze area of Beirut , one of the worst hit by the blast .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Lebanon Erupts In Violent Protest As Political Factions Appoint New Prime Minister • International Community Promises To Aid Beirut As Political Crisis In Lebanon Intensifies

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On September 3rd, the Lebanese Army announced that its army engineering regiment discovered 4.8 tons of ammonium nitrate during an inspection of four containers conducted at the request of Beirut port’s customs authorities at entrance number nine.
The military units “are working to handle” the issue, the statement said.
Now, 4.8 tons may sound like a lot, but the August 4th explosion was reportedly the result of 2,900 tons of ammonium nitrate catching fire.
The substance was brought to Lebanon in November 2013 when Moldovan-flagged cargo ship MV Rhosus docked in Beirut amid maintenance issues. The vessel was ultimately abandoned and Lebanese authorities left its cargo to decay at the port’s warehouse 12, where the explosion is understood to have originated.
Days after the blast, French and Italian chemical experts working amid the remains of the port identified more than 20 containers carrying dangerous chemicals.
The explosion led to at least 190 deaths, at least 6,000 injured, and billions in destruction, and left at least 300,000 homeless.
In addition to the blast’s humanitarian and economic woes that compound Lebanon’s existing financial crisis, it led to renewed protests against the Lebanese government, which led to the Prime Minister and the entirety of the government resigning.
Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s successor, Mustapha Adib, promised on August 31st to “heal our nation and to restore people’s hope in a better tomorrow.”
The latest discovery comes amid an influx of international aid workers and a series of high-profile visits of officials from across the globe. French President Emmanuel Macron has visited twice in the past 30 days.
So far, authorities have detained 25 people over last month’s explosion, most of them port and customs officials.
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) warned that ore than half of Lebanon’s population risk facing a food crisis in the aftermath of the explosion.
“More than half of the country’s population is at risk of failing to access their basic food needs by the year’s end,” the ESCWA said. “Immediate measures should be taken to prevent a food crisis,” ESCWA executive secretary, Rola Dashti, said.
Separately, in a positive development, Lebanese rescue workers detected signs of life in the debris on September 3rd, almost exactly 1 month after the explosion.
A rescue worker said that they had detected signs of life in a building that had collapsed after the explosion.
He said that a team with a rescue dog had detected movement under a destroyed building in the Gemmayze area of Beirut, one of the worst hit by the blast.
“These (signs of breathing and pulse) along with the temperature sensor means there is a possibility of life,” rescue worker Eddy Bitar told reporters at the scene.
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southfront--2020-09-04--Reports Claim Taiwan Allegedly Shot Down Chinese Fighter Jet (Videos)

On September 4 , Taiwanese social media exploded with reports that a Chinese fighter jet crashed in Guangxi ( an @ @ @ @ @ China , bordering Vietnam ) after it was shot down by Taiwan ’ s air @ @ @ @ @ the this version , the fighter jet ( a J-20 or Su-35 depending on reports @ @ @ @ @ the Taiwan Strait and was shot down .
Videos in social media claim that they @ @ @ @ @ even a potential pilot that ejected from the jet .
The Chinese military provided no @ @ @ @ @ occurred and it is still not clear if the plane fell due to a technical @ @ @ @ @ really a result of an attack by the Taiwanese military .
MORE ON THE TOPIC @ @ @ @ @ Forces To Eastern Border , As Tensions With China Reportedly Flare • U.S .
Introduces @ @ @ @ @ As Well As Confucius Institutes Cultural Centers

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On September 4, Taiwanese social media exploded with reports that a Chinese fighter jet crashed in Guangxi (an autonomous coastal region in southern China, bordering Vietnam) after it was shot down by Taiwan’s air defense forces.
According to the this version, the fighter jet (a J-20 or Su-35 depending on reports) violated Taiwanese airspace over the Taiwan Strait and was shot down.
Videos in social media claim that they show a crash site and even a potential pilot that ejected from the jet.
The Chinese military provided no information on how the crash occurred and it is still not clear if the plane fell due to a technical malfunction or if it is really a result of an attack by the Taiwanese military.
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