southfront--2020-08-14--Top Military Shipbuilding Companies in Latin America

Written by Zhelesnyak ; Originally appeared at Foreign Military Review 2019 # 2 , translated by AlexD exclusively for SouthFront Latin America is one of the largest regions in the world , which includes 46 countries .
Many of them have access to the sea , but only 11 have a relatively developed shipbuilding industry .
They are Argentina , Brazil , Venezuela , the Dominican Republic , Colombia , Cuba , Mexico , Peru , Uruguay , Chile and Ecuador .
Most of the shipbuilding enterprises in the region , faced with a number of problems in their activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to lack of competitiveness , lack of qualified labour , low labour productivity , as well as the lack of advanced technologies .
The infrastructure of many plants was worn out .
There was an urgent need to repair workshops , to modernise the descent systems , to increase the berthing line and depth , to arrange the territory , etc .
The complexity of the hull structures of modern ships required a comprehensive upgrade of enterprises .
In this regard , major shipbuilding centres in some of the most developed countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level of industrial development , have been modernised .
The shipbuilding industry in the region includes 116 major enterprises , with 120 thousand employees .
Its most important centre is located in Brazil .
It accounts for 42 enterprises ( 37 % ) of the civil and military shipbuilding industry , where 83 thousand people ( 70.4 % ) work .
The second position is occupied by Argentina – 21 enterprises ( 18 % ) , but in terms of the number of employees there , it is only the fourth after Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ) .
Mexico is in third place – 14 businesses ( 12 % ) and 7.5 thousand people ( 6.5 % ) .
In total , Brazil , Argentina and Mexico account for 77 plants ( 67 % ) and 97 thousand ( 82 % ) employed .
Most of the enterprises in this industry belong to the civil sector , while 54 ( 47 thousand people ) , work directly for the defence , which corresponds to more than 46 and about 40 % , respectively .
The shipbuilding military-industrial complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturing , repair enterprises and research organisations ( R & D ) working for the defence industry .
The military shipbuilding industry includes ( by type ) 31 shipbuilding , 20 ship repair and two engine plants , as well as a design bureau .
In this connection , companies that produce diesel engines for boats and small vessels , as well as the corresponding bureau , are only available in Brazil : the plant of Scania Latin America , the Swedish company Scania , Cummins Brazil , the American corporation Cummins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Empresa Gerencial de Projetos Navais ) .
All manufacturing enterprises , in addition to construction work , are engaged in the repair , modernisation and maintenance of ships .
In addition , a significant number of research departments are part of the large enterprises as design offices or departments .
In military technology terms , military R & D is carried out only in Brazil , Colombia and Mexico , both by states themselves and with the support of foreign companies .
The basis of the modern production base of this military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shipbuilding enterprises .
Among them , there are eight leading ones that can be attributed to the largest shipbuilding centres in the region , which have the capacity necessary for the construction of ships of the main classes .
They employ more than half of the workers in military production .
The main types of products of these enterprises include : submarines , surface ships , boats and auxiliary vessels for military purposes .
Almost all ships are built under foreign licenses using technologies from other countries that have sufficient experience in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the lag in the level of industrial and scientific-technical development of the region ’ s states from highly developed countries , and to the lack of necessary conditions , primarily financial , technological and personnel , for the creation of modern military-naval technology ( MNT ) .
Important areas of development of the military shipbuilding industry in the region are : acquisition of technologies for establishing its own development and production of modern high-tech naval vessels , organisation of joint and licensed production , creation of enterprises with modern infrastructure , repair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Navy , at national enterprises of the shipbuilding industry .
Argentina and Brazil have the capacity to manufacture submarines , but in fact only the latter builds them .
According to the Brazilian programme for the construction of submarines ( PROgrama de Desenvolvimento de SUBmarinos – PROSUB ) , by 2047 , the Navy plans to have 15 Scorpion-type submarines and six nuclear-powered submarines in service .
In this regard , an important stage in the development of the national shipbuilding industry was the modernisation of the state shipbuilding plant “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the naval base in Itaguai ( State of Rio de Janeiro ) .
As part of the Brazilian-French agreement , the French side carried out a complete modernisation of its production facilities .
Currently , the plant is equipped with all the necessary industrial and special equipment for the construction and maintenance of diesel-electric submarines .
The company has powerful high-performance presses for processing steel hull structures , as well as modern equipment that allows welding sections and blocks of the submarine hull .
On the plant premises , new workshops and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m2 were put in operation .
The cost of the project amounted to 12.5 billion dollars .
On the eve of the start of construction , a large group of Brazilian specialists were trained in France , receiving the right to manage the plant for 20 years , after which it will again become the property of the Ministry of Defence of the country .
During the implementation of the submarine construction programme , Brazil hoped to develop modern technologies in order to get rid of foreign dependence in this sector of shipbuilding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world .
Argentina , which had the necessary production capacity to build submarines , has lost its leading position in the region .
The difficult economic situation and lack of budgetary resources have forced its leadership to abandon large-scale projects for the completion of submarines and focus on major repairs and extending the life cycle of ships in service with the national Navy .
The probability that the country ’ s economic situation will improve in the near future is extremely low .
Surface ships ( frigates , corvettes , patrol @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are being built at the leading shipyards in Brazil , Colombia , Mexico and Chile .
The main enterprise for the construction of surface ships in Brazil is the Arsenal de Marin plant , which is managed by the MOD .
It has the capacity to design and build frigates and corvettes , and is the main service centre for maintenance of both Brazilian and foreign ships .
Here with the help of British experts , frigates of the “ Niteroi ” type were built , and the German corvettes of the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The capacity of this enterprise makes it possible to repair and upgrade the only aircraft carrier in the national navy , the São Paulo .
Modern frigates , patrol ocean-going ships , fast boats and supply vessels are built in the shipyards of Mexico .
As part of the national fleet development plan , the country ’ s military-political leadership consistently implements the “ programme of planned replacement of ships of the Mexican Navy ” ( Programa Permanente de sustucion de buques de la Armade de Mexico ) .
Three shipbuilding companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Astimar No .
3 ( Coatzacoalcos ) and Astimar No .
20 ( Salina Cruz ) – are engaged in this work , their main purpose is to build and repair ships for the national navy .
The equipment and infrastructure allow the manufacture of all the hull components of the ship , install the necessary equipment , launch it , conduct sea trials and then transfer it to the customer .
The qualified engineering staff and technical equipment of the plants make it possible to build ships with a displacement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign licenses , Mexican specialists built corvettes of the “ Holsinger ” , “ Sierra ” and “ Durango ” types , as well as the “ Stan 4207 ” fast boats .
Modern patrol ships and combat boats of the Oaxaca , Polaris-2 and Democrata types were developed by Mexican designers .
The national fleet is in urgent need of new frigates due to the complete obsolescence and wear of existing surface ships of the main classes .
Currently , work is underway at the national shipyard “ Astimar No .
20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction of a new type of frigate using low-visibility technology .
A ship with a standard displacement of 2,300 tons was chosen as the main option by the Dutch shipbuilding group “ Damen Shipyards ” .
The military-political leadership of the Republic of Chile pays great attention to the construction and modernisation of ships .
Priority is given to national projects , in particular those implemented at the production facilities of ASMAR ’ s Talcaguano shipyard , which is one of the largest and most modern in Latin America .
The company has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two of them are covered ) , a slipway , berths ( more than 1,100 m ) and various workshops ( mechanical , electrical , etc . )
, where the construction , repair , upgrade and maintenance of ships and vessels are carried out .
The Chilean government has planned to further increase the area of the plant , but due to economic difficulties , funding for the construction of a third dry dock has been temporarily suspended .
The most important projects implemented at Talcaguano ’ s production facilities are : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frigates of the national squadron , maintenance and repair of submarines , as well as the construction of auxiliary vessels , in particular a new icebreaker .
In 2017 , the fourth patrol ship of the OPV-80 series ( Offshore Patrol Vessel ) built at ASMAR ’ s Talcaguano plant , was built and transferred to the Chilean Navy .
It also carries out maintenance and repairs of foreign ships and vessels , in particular the repair of two German-made diesel-electric submarines ( Project 209 ) owned by Ecuador .
In Colombia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry belongs to the state corporation COTECMAR , which has one of the largest plants of this type in Latin America .
Work is carried out in three areas : research and development of their own ship projects , the introduction of foreign innovative technologies into production , as well as staff training and deepening knowledge in the field of shipbuilding .
The corporation is directly involved in the implementation of national naval development plans .
The pace of development of this industry gives grounds to consider it modern and highly efficient .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Industrial Zone ) patrol ships and fast boast are built , as well as auxiliary vessels .
Its infrastructure makes it possible to conduct research , develop new types of ships , upgrade , repair and maintain existing ones .
The company has all the necessary technical equipment .
Here , for example , there is a modern lift that lifts vessels up to 3,600 tons ( up to 117 m long and 22 m wide ) , as well as eight dry docks .
The management of the corporation is active in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Colombian professionals abroad , particularly in the American school “ Naval Postgraduate ” ( California ) , the Brazilian university ( São Paulo ) , the Spanish Polytechnic University ( Madrid ) , etc .
Foreign technologies are being successfully introduced .
So , together with South Korean specialists , Colombian engineers took part in the development of CPV-46 patrol ships , and the third ship of this series was built at the Cotecmar-Mamonal shipyard on their own .
At the same time , the project developed its own – CPV Colombia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Honduras and the Dominican Republic .
The plant has facilities for the construction of landing cargo transport of the BDA ( Buque de Desembarco Anfibio ) and modern OPV-80 patrol ships .
The largest Peruvian plant of the company SIMA ( Callao ) is the main shipbuilding centre of the country , which has the capacity to build destroyers , frigates and corvettes , as well as large vessels with a displacement of up to 50 thousand tons .
It is equipped with modern equipment necessary for ship repairs , dry and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electrical workshops .
Frigates of the Carvajal type , patrol ships , and auxiliary vessels were built under the license of the Italian company Fincantieri .
Currently , there are no orders for the construction of new MNTs .
Thus , the plant ’ s capacity is used for the repair and modernisation of equipment that is in the combat structure of the Peruvian Navy , as well as for the construction of civilian vessels .
The remaining seven assembly plants in this industry , owned by Argentina , Brazil , Venezuela , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the construction of patrol ships and boats , as well as auxiliary and small-displacement civilian vessels , due to a lack of orders .
Venezuela ’ s shipbuilding industry is in a difficult situation due to the economic crisis .
The DIANS shipyard ( Puerto Cabello ) has the capacity only to build small-displacement ships and is not able to provide construction of other ships for the national navy .
The remaining shipbuilding plants in the military sector of the country are low-power – they can only build patrol ships .
Among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are three major ones – Coserena ( Puerto Deseado , Argentina ) , Astimar No .
18 ( Acapulco , Mexico ) and “ Astilleros del Caribe ( Las Palmas , Cuba ) .
They are used for maintenance and repair of the MNTs , as well as for the construction of auxiliary vessels of small displacement .
Other plants of this profile are low-power and perform only minor repairs of boats .
The territorial location of shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises of the military industry is extremely heterogeneous – they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The leading ones are located along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean .
Thus , the largest shipbuilding centre of Argentina is the province of Buenos Aires , and Brazil , Rio de Janeiro .
In almost all Latin American countries , the shipbuilding industry in controlled by the state through management bodies within the Ministry of Defence .
Thus , only the “ big four ” Latin American countries : Brazil , Mexico , Colombia and Chile , consider as a priority the development of their own military shipbuilding industry based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a factory for the construction of submarines was converted , in Mexico , frigates , in Colombia and Chile , patrol ships .
National shipbuilding enterprises , in close cooperation with leading foreign companies , develop their own projects for warships , in particular submarines , frigates and patrol ships .
The military-political leadership of the leading Latin American countries is striving to increase the role of their naval forces by increasing the construction of ships at national capacities .
The prospects for the development and utilisation of the latter will largely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the states of the region .
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Written by Zhelesnyak; Originally appeared at Foreign Military Review 2019 #2, translated by AlexD exclusively for SouthFront
Latin America is one of the largest regions in the world, which includes 46 countries. Many of them have access to the sea, but only 11 have a relatively developed shipbuilding industry. They are Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Chile and Ecuador.
Most of the shipbuilding enterprises in the region, faced with a number of problems in their activities, were on the verge of closing due to lack of competitiveness, lack of qualified labour, low labour productivity, as well as the lack of advanced technologies. The infrastructure of many plants was worn out. There was an urgent need to repair workshops, to modernise the descent systems, to increase the berthing line and depth, to arrange the territory, etc.
The complexity of the hull structures of modern ships required a comprehensive upgrade of enterprises. In this regard, major shipbuilding centres in some of the most developed countries, which are distinguished by a high level of industrial development, have been modernised.
The shipbuilding industry in the region includes 116 major enterprises, with 120 thousand employees. Its most important centre is located in Brazil. It accounts for 42 enterprises (37%) of the civil and military shipbuilding industry, where 83 thousand people (70.4%) work. The second position is occupied by Argentina – 21 enterprises (18%), but in terms of the number of employees there, it is only the fourth after Mexico and Colombia – 6.5 thousand (5.4%). Mexico is in third place – 14 businesses (12%) and 7.5 thousand people (6.5%). In total, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico account for 77 plants (67%) and 97 thousand (82%) employed.
Most of the enterprises in this industry belong to the civil sector, while 54 (47 thousand people), work directly for the defence, which corresponds to more than 46 and about 40%, respectively.
The shipbuilding military-industrial complex of Latin America is a combination of manufacturing, repair enterprises and research organisations (R&D) working for the defence industry.
The military shipbuilding industry includes (by type) 31 shipbuilding, 20 ship repair and two engine plants, as well as a design bureau. In this connection, companies that produce diesel engines for boats and small vessels, as well as the corresponding bureau, are only available in Brazil: the plant of Scania Latin America, the Swedish company Scania, Cummins Brazil, the American corporation Cummins, and the ship project centre of EMGEPRON (Empresa Gerencial de Projetos Navais).
All manufacturing enterprises, in addition to construction work, are engaged in the repair, modernisation and maintenance of ships.
In addition, a significant number of research departments are part of the large enterprises as design offices or departments. In military technology terms, military R&D is carried out only in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, both by states themselves and with the support of foreign companies.
The basis of the modern production base of this military industry in Latin America consists of 15 shipbuilding enterprises. Among them, there are eight leading ones that can be attributed to the largest shipbuilding centres in the region, which have the capacity necessary for the construction of ships of the main classes.
They employ more than half of the workers in military production.
The main types of products of these enterprises include: submarines, surface ships, boats and auxiliary vessels for military purposes. Almost all ships are built under foreign licenses using technologies from other countries that have sufficient experience in the field of production.
This is due to the lag in the level of industrial and scientific-technical development of the region’s states from highly developed countries, and to the lack of necessary conditions, primarily financial, technological and personnel, for the creation of modern military-naval technology (MNT).
Important areas of development of the military shipbuilding industry in the region are: acquisition of technologies for establishing its own development and production of modern high-tech naval vessels, organisation of joint and licensed production, creation of enterprises with modern infrastructure, repair and modernisation of foreign-made ships in service with the Navy, at national enterprises of the shipbuilding industry.
Argentina and Brazil have the capacity to manufacture submarines, but in fact only the latter builds them.
According to the Brazilian programme for the construction of submarines (PROgrama de Desenvolvimento de SUBmarinos – PROSUB), by 2047, the Navy plans to have 15 Scorpion-type submarines and six nuclear-powered submarines in service. In this regard, an important stage in the development of the national shipbuilding industry was the modernisation of the state shipbuilding plant “Itaguai Construccos Navals”, located at the naval base in Itaguai (State of Rio de Janeiro). As part of the Brazilian-French agreement, the French side carried out a complete modernisation of its production facilities.
Currently, the plant is equipped with all the necessary industrial and special equipment for the construction and maintenance of diesel-electric submarines.
The company has powerful high-performance presses for processing steel hull structures, as well as modern equipment that allows welding sections and blocks of the submarine hull. On the plant premises, new workshops and a boathouse with an area of 55 thousand m2 were put in operation.
The cost of the project amounted to 12.5 billion dollars. On the eve of the start of construction, a large group of Brazilian specialists were trained in France, receiving the right to manage the plant for 20 years, after which it will again become the property of the Ministry of Defence of the country.
During the implementation of the submarine construction programme, Brazil hoped to develop modern technologies in order to get rid of foreign dependence in this sector of shipbuilding and get closer to the leading countries of the world.
Argentina, which had the necessary production capacity to build submarines, has lost its leading position in the region.
The difficult economic situation and lack of budgetary resources have forced its leadership to abandon large-scale projects for the completion of submarines and focus on major repairs and extending the life cycle of ships in service with the national Navy. The probability that the country’s economic situation will improve in the near future is extremely low.
Surface ships (frigates, corvettes, patrol ships, and landing cargo transports) are being built at the leading shipyards in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Chile.
The main enterprise for the construction of surface ships in Brazil is the Arsenal de Marin plant, which is managed by the MOD. It has the capacity to design and build frigates and corvettes, and is the main service centre for maintenance of both Brazilian and foreign ships. Here with the help of British experts, frigates of the “Niteroi” type were built, and the German corvettes of the “Inhauma” and “Barroso” types. The capacity of this enterprise makes it possible to repair and upgrade the only aircraft carrier in the national navy, the São Paulo.
Modern frigates, patrol ocean-going ships, fast boats and supply vessels are built in the shipyards of Mexico. As part of the national fleet development plan, the country’s military-political leadership consistently implements the “programme of planned replacement of ships of the Mexican Navy” (Programa Permanente de sustucion de buques de la Armade de Mexico). Three shipbuilding companies – Astimar No. 1 (Tampico), Astimar No. 3 (Coatzacoalcos) and Astimar No. 20 (Salina Cruz) – are engaged in this work, their main purpose is to build and repair ships for the national navy.
The equipment and infrastructure allow the manufacture of all the hull components of the ship, install the necessary equipment, launch it, conduct sea trials and then transfer it to the customer. The qualified engineering staff and technical equipment of the plants make it possible to build ships with a displacement of up to 2,500 tons.
Under foreign licenses, Mexican specialists built corvettes of the “Holsinger”, “Sierra” and “Durango” types, as well as the “Stan 4207” fast boats.
Modern patrol ships and combat boats of the Oaxaca, Polaris-2 and Democrata types were developed by Mexican designers. The national fleet is in urgent need of new frigates due to the complete obsolescence and wear of existing surface ships of the main classes. Currently, work is underway at the national shipyard “Astimar No. 20” to implement a programme for the construction of a new type of frigate using low-visibility technology. A ship with a standard displacement of 2,300 tons was chosen as the main option by the Dutch shipbuilding group “Damen Shipyards”.
The military-political leadership of the Republic of Chile pays great attention to the construction and modernisation of ships. Priority is given to national projects, in particular those implemented at the production facilities of ASMAR’s Talcaguano shipyard, which is one of the largest and most modern in Latin America.
The company has two dry and five floating docks (two of them are covered), a slipway, berths (more than 1,100 m) and various workshops (mechanical, electrical, etc.), where the construction, repair, upgrade and maintenance of ships and vessels are carried out. The Chilean government has planned to further increase the area of the plant, but due to economic difficulties, funding for the construction of a third dry dock has been temporarily suspended.
The most important projects implemented at Talcaguano’s production facilities are: construction of patrol ships, modernisation of frigates of the national squadron, maintenance and repair of submarines, as well as the construction of auxiliary vessels, in particular a new icebreaker.
In 2017, the fourth patrol ship of the OPV-80 series (Offshore Patrol Vessel) built at ASMAR’s Talcaguano plant, was built and transferred to the Chilean Navy.
It also carries out maintenance and repairs of foreign ships and vessels, in particular the repair of two German-made diesel-electric submarines (Project 209) owned by Ecuador.
In Colombia, the main production capacity of the shipbuilding industry belongs to the state corporation COTECMAR, which has one of the largest plants of this type in Latin America. Work is carried out in three areas: research and development of their own ship projects, the introduction of foreign innovative technologies into production, as well as staff training and deepening knowledge in the field of shipbuilding.
The corporation is directly involved in the implementation of national naval development plans. The pace of development of this industry gives grounds to consider it modern and highly efficient.
At the Cartagena corporate shipyard (Mamonal Industrial Zone) patrol ships and fast boast are built, as well as auxiliary vessels. Its infrastructure makes it possible to conduct research, develop new types of ships, upgrade, repair and maintain existing ones. The company has all the necessary technical equipment. Here, for example, there is a modern lift that lifts vessels up to 3,600 tons (up to 117 m long and 22 m wide), as well as eight dry docks.
The management of the corporation is active in training scientific and technical personnel, training of Colombian professionals abroad, particularly in the American school “Naval Postgraduate” (California), the Brazilian university (São Paulo), the Spanish Polytechnic University (Madrid), etc. Foreign technologies are being successfully introduced. So, together with South Korean specialists, Colombian engineers took part in the development of CPV-46 patrol ships, and the third ship of this series was built at the Cotecmar-Mamonal shipyard on their own.
At the same time, the project developed its own – CPV Colombia – already has the right to sell to Honduras and the Dominican Republic.
The plant has facilities for the construction of landing cargo transport of the BDA (Buque de Desembarco Anfibio) and modern OPV-80 patrol ships.
The largest Peruvian plant of the company SIMA (Callao) is the main shipbuilding centre of the country, which has the capacity to build destroyers, frigates and corvettes, as well as large vessels with a displacement of up to 50 thousand tons. It is equipped with modern equipment necessary for ship repairs, dry and floating docks, mechanical, welding and electrical workshops.
Frigates of the Carvajal type, patrol ships, and auxiliary vessels were built under the license of the Italian company Fincantieri. Currently, there are no orders for the construction of new MNTs. Thus, the plant’s capacity is used for the repair and modernisation of equipment that is in the combat structure of the Peruvian Navy, as well as for the construction of civilian vessels.
The remaining seven assembly plants in this industry, owned by Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba and Uruguay are currently being used for the construction of patrol ships and boats, as well as auxiliary and small-displacement civilian vessels, due to a lack of orders.
Venezuela’s shipbuilding industry is in a difficult situation due to the economic crisis. The DIANS shipyard (Puerto Cabello) has the capacity only to build small-displacement ships and is not able to provide construction of other ships for the national navy.
The remaining shipbuilding plants in the military sector of the country are low-power – they can only build patrol ships.
Among the repair companies in Latin America, there are three major ones – Coserena (Puerto Deseado, Argentina), Astimar No. 18 (Acapulco, Mexico) and “Astilleros del Caribe (Las Palmas, Cuba).
They are used for maintenance and repair of the MNTs, as well as for the construction of auxiliary vessels of small displacement.
Other plants of this profile are low-power and perform only minor repairs of boats.
The territorial location of shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises of the military industry is extremely heterogeneous – they are largely concentrated around large metropolitan areas. The leading ones are located along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, the largest shipbuilding centre of Argentina is the province of Buenos Aires, and Brazil, Rio de Janeiro.
In almost all Latin American countries, the shipbuilding industry in controlled by the state through management bodies within the Ministry of Defence.
Thus, only the “big four” Latin American countries: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Chile, consider as a priority the development of their own military shipbuilding industry based on state orders. So, in Brazil, a factory for the construction of submarines was converted, in Mexico, frigates, in Colombia and Chile, patrol ships.
National shipbuilding enterprises, in close cooperation with leading foreign companies, develop their own projects for warships, in particular submarines, frigates and patrol ships.
The military-political leadership of the leading Latin American countries is striving to increase the role of their naval forces by increasing the construction of ships at national capacities. The prospects for the development and utilisation of the latter will largely depend on the financial and economic situation of the states of the region.
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southfront--2020-08-14--CentCom Says Iran Is ‘Top Priority’ As Sabotaged Natanz Facility Set To Boost Nuclear Fuel Productio

CentCom Says Iran Is ‘Top Priority’ As Sabotaged Natanz Facility Set To Boost Nuclear Fuel Production

This week CENTCOM chief Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said that Iran is the “ top priority ” for American forces deployed across the Middle East .
“ As I look at the theater , we remain focused on Iran as our central problem .
This headquarters focuses on Iran , executing deterrence activities against Iran , and doing those things , ” McKenzie said Wednesday at a think tank hosted defense conference .
Despite the Islamic State long being driven underground , though the Pentagon has lately claimed the terror group is making a comeback , McKenzie went so far as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activity : “ The threat against our forces from Shiite militant groups has caused us to put resources that we would otherwise use against ISIS to provide for our own defense and that has lowered our ability to work effectively against them , ” the CENTCOM commander said .
Recall that the administration has long argued ISIS is the main reason for a continued US troops presence in northeast Syria .
Despite Trump ’ s “ secure the oil ” statements , the Pentagon ’ s official reason for being there is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t regain a foothold .
Across the border in Iraq , there ’ s growing pressure for all US bases and deployments to exit amid tensions with Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militias .
Meanwhile , following last month ’ s headline-grabbing fire and explosion at Iran ’ s Natanz nuclear plant , widely seen as most likely an act of sabotage , Iran is actually moving to boost production of nuclear fuel at the damaged site .
Bloomberg details in a new report that Iranian authorities are “ transfering new generations of advanced centrifuges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ metal needed for nuclear power and weapons — from a pilot facility into a new hall at its primary fuel plant in Natanz , according to a one-page restricted International Atomic Energy Agency document seen by Bloomberg.
” If the July 2 incident was indeed an act of Israeli or US sabotage , it apparently didn ’ t do the job of derailing potential uranium enrichment capabilities at the site .
There is consensus at this point that it was a covert attack , possibly via cyber operations .
Bloomberg concludes : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B of the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant — another technical violation of its 2015 agreement with world powers — suggests that last month ’ s attack at a nearby machine shop didn ’ t have the intended effect of disrupting production .
”

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
This week CENTCOM chief Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said that Iran is the “top priority” for American forces deployed across the Middle East.
“As I look at the theater, we remain focused on Iran as our central problem. This headquarters focuses on Iran, executing deterrence activities against Iran, and doing those things,” McKenzie said Wednesday at a think tank hosted defense conference.
Despite the Islamic State long being driven underground, though the Pentagon has lately claimed the terror group is making a comeback, McKenzie went so far as to blame Iran for any resurgent ISIS activity: “The threat against our forces from Shiite militant groups has caused us to put resources that we would otherwise use against ISIS to provide for our own defense and that has lowered our ability to work effectively against them,” the CENTCOM commander said.
Recall that the administration has long argued ISIS is the main reason for a continued US troops presence in northeast Syria. Despite Trump’s “secure the oil” statements, the Pentagon’s official reason for being there is to counter ISIS and ensure it can’t regain a foothold. Across the border in Iraq, there’s growing pressure for all US bases and deployments to exit amid tensions with Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militias.
Meanwhile, following last month’s headline-grabbing fire and explosion at Iran’s Natanz nuclear plant, widely seen as most likely an act of sabotage, Iran is actually moving to boost production of nuclear fuel at the damaged site.
Bloomberg details in a new report that Iranian authorities are “transfering new generations of advanced centrifuges used to enrich uranium — the heavy metal needed for nuclear power and weapons — from a pilot facility into a new hall at its primary fuel plant in Natanz, according to a one-page restricted International Atomic Energy Agency document seen by Bloomberg.”
Natanz facility aftermath to the July 2 incident.
If the July 2 incident was indeed an act of Israeli or US sabotage, it apparently didn’t do the job of derailing potential uranium enrichment capabilities at the site. There is consensus at this point that it was a covert attack, possibly via cyber operations.
Bloomberg concludes: “The addition of advanced centrifuges to Hall B of the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant — another technical violation of its 2015 agreement with world powers — suggests that last month’s attack at a nearby machine shop didn’t have the intended effect of disrupting production.”
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southfront--2020-08-14--Three Rockets Strike Iraq’s Balad Air Base That Houses US Forces

3 rockets struck Iraq ’ s Balad air base , 80 km north of the capital Baghdad , Iraq ’ @ @ @ @ @ on August 13 .
During the US war in Iraq , Balad was the second-largest @ @ @ @ @ .
It still houses some US forces .
No casualties were reported as a result @ @ @ @ @ .
In the recent months , a number of rocket and mortar attacks hit bases @ @ @ @ @ the area in Baghdad , where the U.S. embassy is located .
The United States @ @ @ @ @ The attacks increased in response to the US assassination of Iran ’ s Qods Fores @ @ @ @ @ drone strike in the Baghdad International Airport in early Jauary 2020 .
MORE ON THE @ @ @ @ @ Photos Of Recent Attacks On Iraqi Troops In Al-Anbar • Iranian-backed Forces Challenge US Military @ @ @ @ @ Attacks

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3 rockets struck Iraq’s Balad air base, 80 km north of the capital Baghdad, Iraq’s Security Media Cell announced on August 13.
During the US war in Iraq, Balad was the second-largest US base in the country. It still houses some US forces. No casualties were reported as a result of the August 13 attack.
In the recent months, a number of rocket and mortar attacks hit bases hosting US-led coalition forces and the area in Baghdad, where the U.S. embassy is located. The United States blames Iran-backed armed groups. The attacks increased in response to the US assassination of Iran’s Qods Fores commander Qassem Soleimani by a drone strike in the Baghdad International Airport in early Jauary 2020.
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southfront--2020-08-14--C-2 Medium-Range Transport Aircraft (Infographics)

Well to start with the C-2 costs $ 136 million vs A400M ’ s $ 180- $ 206 million .
@ @ @ @ @ 890km/h vs A400M = 781km/h ( 109km/h difference ) .
Range at 20 tons : @ @ @ @ @ A400M = 6400 km ( 1200 km difference ) .
Max payload : C-2 = @ @ @ @ @ 37 t ( 0.6t difference ) .
And it can do all this whilst being @ @ @ @ @ two engines ( less maintenance ) .
Basically the C-2 is better than the A400M @ @ @ @ @ possible .
In fact for the price of an A400M , you could almost buy @ @ @ @ @ the question as to why anyone would buy it .
The A400M is basically a @ @ @ @ @ ( or the F-35 ) .
Europe needs to go back to building things as @ @ @ @ @ pan-European projects ( you can blame the EU ’ s obsession with federalism for that @ @

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The C-2 is a medium-range transport aircraft developed by Kawasaki Aerospace Company for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
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southfront--2020-08-14--Averting Barbarossa II: The Liana Space Radioelectronic Surveillance System

At the end of the Cold War , the level of international tension has considerably declined for at least a decade , thanks to widespread multilateral disarmament bolstered by a variety of arms control regimes for conventional and nuclear armaments .
That decade also saw the rapid deterioration of Russia ’ s early warning and surveillance systems as satellites launched during the Soviet era exhausted their service lives and crashed into the atmosphere without being replaced .
At first , this was either not seen as an urgent priority by Russian decisionmakers or , if it was , there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an era of a prolonged economic crisis .
Fast-forwarding a decade , we find ourselves in a radically different situation .
There is no more “ end of history ” optimism in the air , nor is there a sense of durable US hegemony either that seemed so permanent in the 1990s .
Unfortunately , history tells us that such shifts in the global balance of power are fraught with danger , as the fading hegemon has an incentive to resort to extreme , reckless measures to preserve that hegemony .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being the first hegemonic transition of the nuclear age .
In the past , nuclear deterrence existed only in the context of relatively stable bipolar and then unipolar systems .
Does nuclear deterrence mutually assured destruction still work under conditions of a multipolar system experiencing a hegemonic transition ?
International relations theory has no answer to that question , but the US national security establishment appears to think that it doesn ’ t , particularly in an era of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence , drone and missile swarms , hypersonic delivery vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Crash US programs in developing all of the above , far beyond anything that might be termed reasonable defensive sufficiency under conditions of the US spending far more on defense than anyone else in the world , do raise the possibility of long-term plans to prevail in the new round of great power competition through not only covert action and “ hybrid warfare ” , but also , if an opportunity arises , through good old fashioned strategic first strike which need no longer be delivered using nuclear weapons .
The point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not to limit the number of nuclear warheads for its own sake .
Rather , it was to deprive the two superpowers of their ability to launch a disarming and decapitating strike which , given technologies of the era , could only be launched using nuclear weapons .
That is still the case today , but may not be by 2030 should the US complete its planned rearmament with a large array of land- , air- , and sea-based long-range stealthy and hypersonic weapons .
Even the US Army , with its plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again getting into the game of strategic strike , to speak nothing of land-based hypersonic missiles .
And strategic strike using non-nuclear warheads is a novel scenario in which the old “ mutually assured destruction ” calculations may not apply .
Combined with the explosive growth of US anti-ballistic missile programs , if the rest of the world stands still , by 2030 US decisionmakers might find themselves tempted to launch such a strategic strike against even a major nuclear weapons state like Russia or China , to say nothing of mid-level powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they have no nuclear deterrent to begin with .
Except the rest of the world is not about to stand still , and the Liana space surveillance system is an important component of the Russian response to US initiatives .
The imminent era of post-nuclear strategic strike demands strategic defense and stability can not be provided solely by anti-ballistic early warning systems .
They would simply provide warning of an attack once it was underway , and in view of the possibility that large numbers of hypersonic missiles could be launched very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the territory of NATO member-states following a rapid and covert deployment , as well as submarines and stealthy bombers , that warning might come too late to make an effective response possible .
To make matters worse still , US drive to destroy the Open Skies Treaty that is supposed to prevent precisely that kind of a covert preparation for a first strike , is also indicative of what the long-term US plans are .
Liana is therefore intended to provide that kind of strategic early warning , as well as operational target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted surprise first strike .
The satellite constellation is to consist of two types of satellites .
The first , Pion-NKS , is a 6.5 ton satellite intended for a 67-degree , 500km orbit , with service life of more than three years .
It ’ s development is nearly complete at the Arsenal Design Bureau .
It is a high-resolution radar reconnaissance satellite , capable of positively identifying “ car-sized ” objects on the Earth ’ s surface .
The second component of the Liana will be Lotos-S , a six-ton satellite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orbit , and performing passive detection , identification , and location of electronic emitters , including radio communications .
It was developed by the Arsenal Design Bureau , in collaboration with several other scientific research institutions .
Both types of satellites are expected to be launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome , using the proven and reliable Soyuz-2-1b launch vehicles .
The complete Liana configuration is to consist of two Pion-NKS and two Lotos-S satellites , and open-source information sources suggest the two satellite types have a fair amount of component commonality in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one another , but to perform each other ’ s primary missions though in a degraded form .
So far there have been three Lotos-S launches from Plesetsk , with the first 2009 one being a failure , and the 2015 and 2018 one a success .
No Pion-NKS launches have been scheduled yet , but the satellite ’ s advanced stage of development suggests they will occur in the coming years .
Technological advances mean that once complete , Liana will serve as a replacement for both the Legenda naval surveillance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tselina radioelectronic reconnaissance one , thus providing Russian decisionmakers with the ability to monitor troop deployments and electronic activity that would inevitably precede a strategic first strike .
Liana will also no doubt prove itself useful in non-Doomsday scenarios as well .
The Syria experience revealed the need for reliable detection and target designation of NATO cruise-missile launch assets , including aircraft , submarines , and surface vessels .
Liana ’ s capabilities mean both the assets themselves , other than submarines , and their communications can be monitored to reveal preparations for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
It is not clear Russia would have been able to accurately strike at US warships launching cruise missiles at Syria had they been directed against Russian bases .
The absence of radar surveillance satellites was a painful gap in Russia ’ s capabilities at that time , one that will be filled in the coming years .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Group Of Five For The Sahel Joint Force • The Old Dependables : Russian Weapons in 21st Century Regional Conflicts • A Swarm Of Swarms : Toward Aerospace @ @ @ @ @ @

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Written by J.Hawk exclusively for SouthFront
At the end of the Cold War, the level of international tension has considerably declined for at least a decade, thanks to widespread multilateral disarmament bolstered by a variety of arms control regimes for conventional and nuclear armaments. That decade also saw the rapid deterioration of Russia’s early warning and surveillance systems as satellites launched during the Soviet era exhausted their service lives and crashed into the atmosphere without being replaced. At first, this was either not seen as an urgent priority by Russian decisionmakers or, if it was, there were more urgent priorities for scarce defense funding in an era of a prolonged economic crisis.
Fast-forwarding a decade, we find ourselves in a radically different situation. There is no more “end of history” optimism in the air, nor is there a sense of durable US hegemony either that seemed so permanent in the 1990s. Unfortunately, history tells us that such shifts in the global balance of power are fraught with danger, as the fading hegemon has an incentive to resort to extreme, reckless measures to preserve that hegemony. What makes the current situation unprecedented is this being the first hegemonic transition of the nuclear age. In the past, nuclear deterrence existed only in the context of relatively stable bipolar and then unipolar systems. Does nuclear deterrence mutually assured destruction still work under conditions of a multipolar system experiencing a hegemonic transition?
International relations theory has no answer to that question, but the US national security establishment appears to think that it doesn’t, particularly in an era of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, drone and missile swarms, hypersonic delivery vehicles, and possibly even directed energy weapons. Crash US programs in developing all of the above, far beyond anything that might be termed reasonable defensive sufficiency under conditions of the US spending far more on defense than anyone else in the world, do raise the possibility of long-term plans to prevail in the new round of great power competition through not only covert action and “hybrid warfare”, but also, if an opportunity arises, through good old fashioned strategic first strike which need no longer be delivered using nuclear weapons.
The point of Cold War-era nuclear arms treaties was not to limit the number of nuclear warheads for its own sake. Rather, it was to deprive the two superpowers of their ability to launch a disarming and decapitating strike which, given technologies of the era, could only be launched using nuclear weapons. That is still the case today, but may not be by 2030 should the US complete its planned rearmament with a large array of land-, air-, and sea-based long-range stealthy and hypersonic weapons. Even the US Army, with its plans for “1,000-mile cannon” is once again getting into the game of strategic strike, to speak nothing of land-based hypersonic missiles. And strategic strike using non-nuclear warheads is a novel scenario in which the old “mutually assured destruction” calculations may not apply. Combined with the explosive growth of US anti-ballistic missile programs, if the rest of the world stands still, by 2030 US decisionmakers might find themselves tempted to launch such a strategic strike against even a major nuclear weapons state like Russia or China, to say nothing of mid-level powers like Iran or North Korea, particularly if they have no nuclear deterrent to begin with.
Except the rest of the world is not about to stand still, and the Liana space surveillance system is an important component of the Russian response to US initiatives. The imminent era of post-nuclear strategic strike demands strategic defense and stability cannot be provided solely by anti-ballistic early warning systems. They would simply provide warning of an attack once it was underway, and in view of the possibility that large numbers of hypersonic missiles could be launched very close to Russia’s borders from the territory of NATO member-states following a rapid and covert deployment, as well as submarines and stealthy bombers, that warning might come too late to make an effective response possible. To make matters worse still, US drive to destroy the Open Skies Treaty that is supposed to prevent precisely that kind of a covert preparation for a first strike, is also indicative of what the long-term US plans are.
Liana is therefore intended to provide that kind of strategic early warning, as well as operational target designation, in the event of an attempted surprise first strike. The satellite constellation is to consist of two types of satellites. The first, Pion-NKS, is a 6.5 ton satellite intended for a 67-degree, 500km orbit, with service life of more than three years. It’s development is nearly complete at the Arsenal Design Bureau. It is a high-resolution radar reconnaissance satellite, capable of positively identifying “car-sized” objects on the Earth’s surface. The second component of the Liana will be Lotos-S, a six-ton satellite operating on a 67-degree, 900km apogee orbit, and performing passive detection, identification, and location of electronic emitters, including radio communications. It was developed by the Arsenal Design Bureau, in collaboration with several other scientific research institutions. Both types of satellites are expected to be launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, using the proven and reliable Soyuz-2-1b launch vehicles. The complete Liana configuration is to consist of two Pion-NKS and two Lotos-S satellites, and open-source information sources suggest the two satellite types have a fair amount of component commonality in order to allow them not only to complement one another, but to perform each other’s primary missions though in a degraded form. So far there have been three Lotos-S launches from Plesetsk, with the first 2009 one being a failure, and the 2015 and 2018 one a success. No Pion-NKS launches have been scheduled yet, but the satellite’s advanced stage of development suggests they will occur in the coming years.
Technological advances mean that once complete, Liana will serve as a replacement for both the Legenda naval surveillance and target designation satellite network, and the Tselina radioelectronic reconnaissance one, thus providing Russian decisionmakers with the ability to monitor troop deployments and electronic activity that would inevitably precede a strategic first strike. Liana will also no doubt prove itself useful in non-Doomsday scenarios as well. The Syria experience revealed the need for reliable detection and target designation of NATO cruise-missile launch assets, including aircraft, submarines, and surface vessels. Liana’s capabilities mean both the assets themselves, other than submarines, and their communications can be monitored to reveal preparations for a strike and provide targeting information as well. It is not clear Russia would have been able to accurately strike at US warships launching cruise missiles at Syria had they been directed against Russian bases. The absence of radar surveillance satellites was a painful gap in Russia’s capabilities at that time, one that will be filled in the coming years.
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southfront--2020-08-14--ISIS Released Photos Of Recent Attacks On Iraqi Troops In Al-Anbar

On August 12 , ISIS ’ news agency , Amaq , shared photos of two recent attacks on Iraqi troops in the western province of al-Anbar .
In the first attack , ISIS terrorists blew up a booby-trapped motorcycle next to a gathering of Iraqi troops near the town of Kubaysah on July 27 .
Two service members were killed and another was injured , according to the terrorist group ’ s claims .
The second attack also took place near Kubaysah .
ISIS terrorists targeted a vehicle of Iraqi forces with an improvised explosive device on July 28 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was injured .
The photos confirm that the vehicle , a Humvee , was completely destroyed .
Kubaysah which is surrounded by the desert is located 20 km away from the city of Hit and 60 km away from the city of Ramadi .
ISIS cells are active around the town .
Iraqi government forces have launched a number of security operations in al-Anbar in the last few months .
However , ISIS terrorists are still present there especially in the province ’ s desert , their historical stronghold in the country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forces Challenge US Military In Iraq With Increasing Rocket Attacks

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On August 12, ISIS’ news agency, Amaq, shared photos of two recent attacks on Iraqi troops in the western province of al-Anbar.
In the first attack, ISIS terrorists blew up a booby-trapped motorcycle next to a gathering of Iraqi troops near the town of Kubaysah on July 27. Two service members were killed and another was injured, according to the terrorist group’s claims.
The second attack also took place near Kubaysah. ISIS terrorists targeted a vehicle of Iraqi forces with an improvised explosive device on July 28. Two soldiers were reportedly killed and another was injured. The photos confirm that the vehicle, a Humvee, was completely destroyed.
Kubaysah which is surrounded by the desert is located 20 km away from the city of Hit and 60 km away from the city of Ramadi. ISIS cells are active around the town.
Iraqi government forces have launched a number of security operations in al-Anbar in the last few months. However, ISIS terrorists are still present there especially in the province’s desert, their historical stronghold in the country.
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southfront--2020-08-14--HTS Arrested American Journalist\Propagandist Bilal Abdul Kareem

On August 13 , al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) arrested Bilal Abdul Kareem , an American journalist working in the Syrian region of Greater Idlib .
Abdul Kareem runs On the Ground News , an outlet that has been promoting terrorist groups in Syria , including HTS , for several years .
A few hours before his arrest , Abdul Kareem shared a report accusing HTS of torturing British aid worker Tauqir Sharif .
Abdul Kareem claimed that infamous British doctor , Shajul Islam , covered up the torture of Sharif during his first arrest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mismanaging ” relief funds and supporting some projects that “ incited division ” in Greater Idlib .
The group presented no evinced to the public to back its accusations .
Abdul Kareem ’ s support for Sharif ’ s case generated much pressure on HTS , which was forced to release him on bail on July 15 .
Back then , scandalous photos of Abdul Kareem were leaked .
HTS was blamed for this .
Sharif was arrested again by HTS earlier this week .
Abdul Kareem interviewed Sharif ’ s wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group and that he even confronted his torturer before his second arrest .
The arrest of Abdul Kareem was expected by many local observers .
The iron fist of HTS ’ regime in Greater Idlib doesn ’ t tolerate any criticism .
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On August 13, al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) arrested Bilal Abdul Kareem, an American journalist working in the Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
Abdul Kareem runs On the Ground News, an outlet that has been promoting terrorist groups in Syria, including HTS, for several years.
“HTS have arrested Bilal Abdul Kareem from Atma town in northern rural Idlib. He was assaulted and taken to an unknown location by masked HTS members,” On the Ground News said in a brief statement.
A few hours before his arrest, Abdul Kareem shared a report accusing HTS of torturing British aid worker Tauqir Sharif. Abdul Kareem claimed that infamous British doctor, Shajul Islam, covered up the torture of Sharif during his first arrest in June.
HTS accused Sharif of “mismanaging” relief funds and supporting some projects that “incited division” in Greater Idlib. The group presented no evinced to the public to back its accusations.
Abdul Kareem’s support for Sharif’s case generated much pressure on HTS, which was forced to release him on bail on July 15. Back then, scandalous photos of Abdul Kareem were leaked. HTS was blamed for this.
Sharif was arrested again by HTS earlier this week. Abdul Kareem interviewed Sharif’s wife, who confirmed that he was tortured by the group and that he even confronted his torturer before his second arrest.
The arrest of Abdul Kareem was expected by many local observers. The iron fist of HTS’ regime in Greater Idlib doesn’t tolerate any criticism.
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southfront--2020-08-14--Former Sharia Judge Assassinated In Syria’s Daraa

On August 13 morning , unidentified gunmen assassinated a former Sharia [ Islamic law ] judge in the southern Syrian governorate of Daraa .
The judge , Nadim Qwaider al-Miqdad , was reportedly shot by the gunmen on a road linking the villages of Mia ` rbah and Ghasam in the eastern countryside of Daraa .
The former judge died on the spot .
According to local sources , Sheikh al-Miqdad was a judge in the House of Justice in Houran , an Islamic court that ruled over Daraa when the governorate was controlled by Free Syrian Army Factions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army liberated the last rebel ’ s stronghold in Daraa , al-Miqdad stayed in the governorate .
However , he didn ’ t join the reconciliation process .
No group has claimed responsibility for the assassination of al-Miqdad , so far .
ISIS , whose cells are active in eastern Daraa , may be behind the attack .
The Syrian intelligence or local fighters could be also responsible .
In the last few months , dozens of Syrian service members and local fighters were assassinated in Daraa .
A state of lawlessness is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the government and local factions are hindering necessary security measures .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • In Video : Bashar al-Assad Almost Passed Out While Delivering Speech To Parliament Members

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On August 13 morning, unidentified gunmen assassinated a former Sharia [Islamic law] judge in the southern Syrian governorate of Daraa.
The judge, Nadim Qwaider al-Miqdad, was reportedly shot by the gunmen on a road linking the villages of Mia`rbah and Ghasam in the eastern countryside of Daraa. The former judge died on the spot.
According to local sources, Sheikh al-Miqdad was a judge in the House of Justice in Houran, an Islamic court that ruled over Daraa when the governorate was controlled by Free Syrian Army Factions.
In 2018, when the Syrian Arab Army liberated the last rebel’s stronghold in Daraa, al-Miqdad stayed in the governorate. However, he didn’t join the reconciliation process.
No group has claimed responsibility for the assassination of al-Miqdad, so far. ISIS, whose cells are active in eastern Daraa, may be behind the attack. The Syrian intelligence or local fighters could be also responsible.
In the last few months, dozens of Syrian service members and local fighters were assassinated in Daraa. A state of lawlessness is prevailing over the governorate. The disagreements between the government and local factions are hindering necessary security measures.
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southfront--2020-08-14--Footsteps Of Ukraine: BLM Bible Burning Condemned By Russian Church

As the BLM ( Black Lives Matter ) protestors continue to riot across the United States , reports emerged of Bible burnings in Portland .
Some sources say that as many as 100 Bibles were burned , the reason given that Jesus is portrayed in Western society as white .
The Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media , Vladimir Legoida , has condemned the Bible burnings , which have been committed by BLM rioters .
Mr. Legoida was by the Union of Orthodox Journalists as saying : “ Insulting the religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s population ( about 70 % are Christians ) , allegedly in the name of fighting racism , looks very unconvincing and , first of all , discredits the movement itself.
” He added that , in the context of actual peaceful protests , there can always be found “ grounds for dialog , ” but that “ when the main mode of action of the protesters becomes violence , robbery , and the destruction of cultural and religious symbols they dislike , then they lose any moral right to speak out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russian Orthodox Church concluded .
It is worth noting that Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors said in that she and her co-founder are “ trained Marxists.
” She was as saying : “ The first thing , I think , is that we actually do have an ideological frame .
Myself and Alicia in particular are trained organizers…We are trained Marxists .
We are super-versed on , sort of , ideological theories .
And I think that what we really tried to do is build a movement that could be utilized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is an issue where the Russian Orthodox Church has great wisdom from the painful experiences of the twentieth century .
Russians were among the first victims of Marxist-Leninist-Communist oppression which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions , and if we include other nations which have adopted this destructive ideology , as in Asia , then around one hundred million people have perished under totalitarian regimes inspired by the same basic ideology of Marxism .
The experience of Orthodox peoples , both in the homeland and in the diaspora , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sew chaos and strife for the purpose of taking power , after which all utopian ideas are quickly abandoned .
This was perfectly explained by His Holiness , Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus ’ , during his homily at the liturgy on the centenary of the execution of the Russian Royal Martyrs .
: “ Indeed , the idea of changing the life of the people for the better arises whenever there is a plan to abruptly change the course of history .
We know that the worst and bloodiest revolutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s aspirations for a better life .
The leaders of these revolutions instilled in the people that there is no other way to make life better—only by blood , only through death , only through the destruction of the existing way of life .
And at some point , having abandoned their spiritual birthright , having lost their true connection with the Church and God , the intelligentsia , aristocracy , and even , as I have already said , part of the clergy were darkened in mind and infected with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the course of our national history and to try to build as quickly as possible a world where justice reigns , where there is no bygone separation according to material indicators , where people live peacefully and happily .
As a result , many of those captured by this idea reach the point of committing crimes .
A question arises : “ Is it possible through crime , through blood , through violence , and through the destruction of holy sites to build a happy life ?
” History clearly testifies : It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words of not simply an academic theologian , but a Christian shepherd who has lived through the godless regime built by the ideology of Marxism , which the BLM Co-founders claim has trained them .
It is therefore not surprising some BLM supporters have engaged in Bible burnings , as the message of the Bible is contrary in practice to their own .
Revolutionary ideology purposes that only violence and force can achieve a better future for oppressed people , whereas Christianity teaches only the Love of Christ conquers hate , liberates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all violence through the power of the invincible Cross—a weapon of peace—which is a stumbling block to the godless .
The ideology of the BLM has much in common with the pharisees who wanted a Christ who would wage war against Roman slavery , and not the Christ who loved His enemies and prayed for them on the Cross .
Instead of those promoting violence , hatred , and ideological division in societies , akin to Marxist “ class warfare ” , the BLM movement should consider the example of Dr. Martin Luther @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the key to achieving positive social change .
Dr. King was of course , famously a Christian minister , who certainly would not approve of bible burnings .
It was precisely that idea of nonviolence , which he championed , that won the day for the civil rights movement , whereas the violent rioters who claim to be anti-fascists are employing the tools of totalitarian regimes that killed millions .

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The Washington establishment has been consistently supporting the political regime established in Kiev following the Maidan coup in 2014. The political regime that came to power thanks to foreign meddling into internal Ukrainian affairs and local support of radical/ethnic nationalists, neo-Nazis, hardcore pro-Western neo-liberals and supporters of local pseudo-church organizations. In the coming years, the Kiev regime was actively suppressing the freedom of speech and violating the human rights of an overwhelming majority of the population. The Poroshenko and then Zelensky government has been intentionally fueling ethnic and religious tensions creating an enemy from the part of Ukrainians that speak Russian (over a half of the entire population) and support the canonic Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). Radical groups backed by the Kiev regime regularly attack political, media activists, and even ordinary people that are considered by the new regime as supporters of an ‘enemy ideology’. This includes the removal of Russia-speaking schools, the destruction and seizure of churches and the denying of access to independent sources of information in the Kiev-controlled part of Ukraine. Now, it appears that all these technologies are also being actively employed in the United States by the neo-liberal elites in their fight against the Trump administration and his supporters.
As the BLM (Black Lives Matter) protestors continue to riot across the United States, reports emerged of Bible burnings in Portland. Some sources say that as many as 100 Bibles were burned, the reason given that Jesus is portrayed in Western society as white.
The Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Synodal Department for Church Relations with Society and the Media, Vladimir Legoida, has condemned the Bible burnings, which have reportedly been committed by BLM rioters.
Mr. Legoida was quoted by the Union of Orthodox Journalists as saying:
“Insulting the religious feelings of the majority of the country’s population (about 70% are Christians), allegedly in the name of fighting racism, looks very unconvincing and, first of all, discredits the movement itself.” He added that, in the context of actual peaceful protests, there can always be found “grounds for dialog,” but that “when the main mode of action of the protesters becomes violence, robbery, and the destruction of cultural and religious symbols they dislike, then they lose any moral right to speak out against injustice,” the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church concluded.
It is worth noting that Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors said in a video that she and her co-founder are “trained Marxists.” She was quoted as saying:
“The first thing, I think, is that we actually do have an ideological frame. Myself and Alicia in particular are trained organizers…We are trained Marxists. We are super-versed on, sort of, ideological theories. And I think that what we really tried to do is build a movement that could be utilized by many, many black folk.”
This is an issue where the Russian Orthodox Church has great wisdom from the painful experiences of the twentieth century. Russians were among the first victims of Marxist-Leninist-Communist oppression which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions, and if we include other nations which have adopted this destructive ideology, as in Asia, then around one hundred million people have perished under totalitarian regimes inspired by the same basic ideology of Marxism.
The experience of Orthodox peoples, both in the homeland and in the diaspora, is that revolutionary ideology was always designed to sew chaos and strife for the purpose of taking power, after which all utopian ideas are quickly abandoned.
This was perfectly explained by His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, during his homily at the liturgy on the centenary of the execution of the Russian Royal Martyrs. His Holiness said :
“Indeed, the idea of changing the life of the people for the better arises whenever there is a plan to abruptly change the course of history. We know that the worst and bloodiest revolutions have always occurred in view of people’s aspirations for a better life. The leaders of these revolutions instilled in the people that there is no other way to make life better—only by blood, only through death, only through the destruction of the existing way of life. And at some point, having abandoned their spiritual birthright, having lost their true connection with the Church and God, the intelligentsia, aristocracy, and even, as I have already said, part of the clergy were darkened in mind and infected with the thought of the need to drastically change the course of our national history and to try to build as quickly as possible a world where justice reigns, where there is no bygone separation according to material indicators, where people live peacefully and happily. As a result, many of those captured by this idea reach the point of committing crimes.
A question arises: “Is it possible through crime, through blood, through violence, and through the destruction of holy sites to build a happy life?” History clearly testifies: It is impossible!”
These are the words of not simply an academic theologian, but a Christian shepherd who has lived through the godless regime built by the ideology of Marxism, which the BLM Co-founders claim has trained them.
It is therefore not surprising some BLM supporters have engaged in Bible burnings, as the message of the Bible is contrary in practice to their own.
Revolutionary ideology purposes that only violence and force can achieve a better future for oppressed people, whereas Christianity teaches only the Love of Christ conquers hate, liberates the oppressed, and puts an end to all violence through the power of the invincible Cross—a weapon of peace—which is a stumbling block to the godless.
The ideology of the BLM has much in common with the pharisees who wanted a Christ who would wage war against Roman slavery, and not the Christ who loved His enemies and prayed for them on the Cross.
Instead of those promoting violence, hatred, and ideological division in societies, akin to Marxist “class warfare”, the BLM movement should consider the example of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who constantly stressed nonviolence as the key to achieving positive social change. Dr. King was of course, famously a Christian minister, who certainly would not approve of bible burnings. It was precisely that idea of nonviolence, which he championed, that won the day for the civil rights movement, whereas the violent rioters who claim to be anti-fascists are employing the tools of totalitarian regimes that killed millions.


southfront--2020-08-14--United States Confirmed ‘Largest-Ever’ Seizure Of Iranian Fuel On 4 Ships Bound For Venezuela

US forces have seized some 1.116m barrels of Iranian fuel aboard 4 ships headed for Venezuela , the US Department of Justice said on August 14 .
In the statement , the DOJ hinted at “ assistance ” from “ foreign partners ” and declining to reveal where the grab took place .
“ The Justice Department today announced the successful disruption of a multimillion dollar fuel shipment by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) , a designated foreign terrorist organization , that was bound for Venezuela .
These actions represent the government ’ s largest-ever seizure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 , 2020 , the United States filed a complaint seeking to forfeit all petroleum-product cargo aboard four foreign-flagged oil tankers , including the M/T Bella with international maritime organization ( IMO ) number 9208124 , the M/T Bering with IMO number 9149225 , the M/T Pandi with IMO number 9105073 , and the M/T Luna with IMO number 9208100 ( all pictured below ) .
A seizure order for the cargo from all four vessels was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Jeb Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it has successfully executed the seizure order and confiscated the cargo from all four vessels , totaling approximately 1.116 million barrels of petroleum .
With the assistance of foreign partners , this seized property is now in U.S. custody .
After enforcement of the U.S. forfeiture order , Iran ’ s navy forcibly boarded an unrelated ship in an apparent attempt to recover the seized petroleum , but was unsuccessful .
U.S. Central Command published a video of the failed Iranian operation yesterday .
See https : //twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1293678243552395264 Funds successfully forfeited with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund ( http : //www.usvsst.com/ ) after the conclusion of the case .
A warrant for arrest and civil forfeiture complaint are merely allegations .
The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government .
HSI ’ s Colorado Springs and FBI ’ s Minneapolis field office are investigating the case .
The case is being handled by the National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorneys Zia M. Faruqui , Brian Hudak , and Stuart Allen , and National Security Division Trial Attorney David Lim are litigating the case , with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Elizabeth Swienc and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick , ” the DOJ said .

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US forces have seized some 1.116m barrels of Iranian fuel aboard 4 ships headed for Venezuela, the US Department of Justice said on August 14. In the statement, the DOJ hinted at “assistance” from “foreign partners” and declining to reveal where the grab took place.
“The Justice Department today announced the successful disruption of a multimillion dollar fuel shipment by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization, that was bound for Venezuela. These actions represent the government’s largest-ever seizure of fuel shipments from Iran.
On July 2, 2020, the United States filed a complaint seeking to forfeit all petroleum-product cargo aboard four foreign-flagged oil tankers, including the M/T Bella with international maritime organization (IMO) number 9208124, the M/T Bering with IMO number 9149225, the M/T Pandi with IMO number 9105073, and the M/T Luna with IMO number 9208100 (all pictured below). A seizure order for the cargo from all four vessels was issued by U.S. District Court Judge Jeb Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The government announced today that it has successfully executed the seizure order and confiscated the cargo from all four vessels, totaling approximately 1.116 million barrels of petroleum. With the assistance of foreign partners, this seized property is now in U.S. custody.
After enforcement of the U.S. forfeiture order, Iran’s navy forcibly boarded an unrelated ship in an apparent attempt to recover the seized petroleum, but was unsuccessful. U.S. Central Command published a video of the failed Iranian operation yesterday. See https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1293678243552395264
Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (http://www.usvsst.com/) after the conclusion of the case.
A warrant for arrest and civil forfeiture complaint are merely allegations. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.
HSI’s Colorado Springs and FBI’s Minneapolis field office are investigating the case. The case is being handled by the National Security Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistant U.S Attorneys Zia M. Faruqui, Brian Hudak, and Stuart Allen, and National Security Division Trial Attorney David Lim are litigating the case, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Elizabeth Swienc and Legal Assistant Jessica McCormick,” the DOJ said.


southfront--2020-08-14--New Rocket Attack Targeted U.S. Troops In Baghdad International Airport

Late on August 14 , a new rocket attack targeted Baghdad International Airport in the outskirts of the Iraqi capital , according to several sources .
Iraqi Security Media Cell said in an statement that three “ Katyusha ” rockets were launched at a U.S. military base within the airport .
The rockets reportedly fell in the vicinity of the base .
The U.S.-led coalition has not commented on the attack , thus far .
In most cases , the coalition admits its losses within 24 hours .
A few hours prior to the rocket attack , Usbat al-Tha ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed group , shared a phrase from Quran , reading : “ So leave them alone till they meet their Day , in which they will sink into a fainting [ from horror ] , ” on its Telegram Channel .
This indicated that the group may be behind the attack .
Newly-founded Shiite groups increased their attacks on U.S. troops in the last few months .
Some of these groups are now threatening with a more serious escalation .
The U.S. believe that Kata ’ ib Hezbollah ( KH ) was behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new groups , like UT , may be a front for KH , or receiving support from it .
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Late on August 14, a new rocket attack targeted Baghdad International Airport in the outskirts of the Iraqi capital, according to several sources.
Iraqi Security Media Cell said in an statement that three “Katyusha” rockets were launched at a U.S. military base within the airport. The rockets reportedly fell in the vicinity of the base.
“No significant losses [were sustained],” the statement reads.
The U.S.-led coalition has not commented on the attack, thus far. In most cases, the coalition admits its losses within 24 hours.
A few hours prior to the rocket attack, Usbat al-Tha’ireen (UT) a new Iranian-affiliated armed group, shared a phrase from Quran, reading: “So leave them alone till they meet their Day, in which they will sink into a fainting [from horror],” on its Telegram Channel. This indicated that the group may be behind the attack.
Newly-founded Shiite groups increased their attacks on U.S. troops in the last few months. Some of these groups are now threatening with a more serious escalation.
The U.S. believe that Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) was behind some of the recent attacks. The new groups, like UT, may be a front for KH, or receiving support from it.
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southfront--2020-08-14--Injection Against Envy: The West’s Reaction To The Russian Vaccine

Vaccine , virus , riots , tyrants – this is the current agenda of international relations .
It is obvious that the Russians are to be blamed , as well as to some extent the Chinese people .
It is against this background that there is a visible and invisible competition for leadership , including leadership in the global pharmaceutical market .
The development and launch of the world ’ s first effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 will be a step comparable , if not to the first space flight , then to the conquest of the North Pole .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 6 are already conducting final tests of vaccines .
However , no one can catch up with Russian President Vladimir Putin , who was the first in the world to announce the registration of the vaccine .
Vladimir Putin ’ s statement caused a great reaction in the world , especially from the West .
Western elites , in the great part neoliberal , are seized with envy and embittered by the success of V. Putin .
They are probably driven by impotent rage that , thanks to another success of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world order based on the principles of neoliberalism and transhumanism can be postponed indefinitely .
On August 11 , there was an announcement of registration of the “ Sputnik V ” vaccine , which was developed by the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after honorary academician N. F. Gamalei ( NITSEM ) .
According to various statements , the release of the Russian vaccine may already begin in the next two weeks .
Indeed , such a quick production of the vaccine provoked many questions and disputes about the completeness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numerous discussions around this vaccine , applications for the purchase of one billion doses of Russian vaccine have already been issued by 20 countries around the world ; in particular , negotiations are underway in the markets of Latin America , the Middle East and Asia .
In his statement , Vladimir Putin stressed that his daughter had already used the vaccine .
After the injections , her temperature rose slightly .
Other possible side effects include minor symptoms such as diarrhea or headache .
However , people are much less likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious diseases or even infertility , as the vaccines developed by Bill Gates or Anthony Fauci , the chief infectious disease specialist in the United States .
Likely , the reason for this reaction of the Western big pharma to Russia ’ s leadership in developing the vaccine is purely financial .
Global big pharma has been left behind , and they only plan to release the vaccine around February 2021 .
At that time , the mass production of the Russian vaccine should be fully established by October .
Meanwhile , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high epidemiological season that will bring a large fortune to vaccine manufacturers .
There are all signs that the next wave of the coronacrisis is sheduled for the second half of September .
Another quarantine measures are expected to be enhanced .
This will increase not only the demand for the coronavirus vaccine , but also for pharmaceutical companies ’ products , such as antiviral pills and personal protective equipment .
At the same time , if the vaccine appears in October-November , big pharma is not expected to profit from the increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a business point of view , the ideal time for the introduction of the vaccine is the end of winter – the beginning of spring , in other words at the end of the autumn-winter epidemiological season , and before the spring epidemic season .
Thus , such a business strategy allows to make good profit and to act a role of humanity savor from the terrible SARA-CoV-2 .
An additional factor in this game are the US presidential elections that will take place in November .
Against this background , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success of the Russian vaccine is now exploited for growing of Putin ’ s support .
In general , as soon as the Russian vaccine becomes available in mass production , global pharma actors and various political forces that exploit the corona-hysteria in their own interests will lose one of the main pillars of their activity .
Thus , it is likely that all the current anti-Russian information campaign directed against the presented vaccine has the main goal to delay the release of the Russian vaccine to the world market .
More on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ V COVID-19 Vaccine , Says Already Has 1 Billion Worldwide Orders • Blight And Revelation : Coronavirus , Austerity And The UK

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Vaccine, virus, riots, tyrants – this is the current agenda of international relations. It is obvious that the Russians are to be blamed, as well as to some extent the Chinese people. It is against this background that there is a visible and invisible competition for leadership, including leadership in the global pharmaceutical market. The development and launch of the world’s first effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 will be a step comparable, if not to the first space flight, then to the conquest of the North Pole.
According to WHO, out of 170 laboratories, 6 are already conducting final tests of vaccines. However, no one can catch up with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was the first in the world to announce the registration of the vaccine.
Vladimir Putin’s statement caused a great reaction in the world, especially from the West. Western elites, in the great part neoliberal, are seized with envy and embittered by the success of V. Putin. They are probably driven by impotent rage that, thanks to another success of the conservative President of Russia, a global world order based on the principles of neoliberalism and transhumanism can be postponed indefinitely.
On August 11, there was an announcement of registration of the “Sputnik V” vaccine, which was developed by the National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after honorary academician N. F. Gamalei (NITSEM). According to various statements, the release of the Russian vaccine may already begin in the next two weeks.
Indeed, such a quick production of the vaccine provoked many questions and disputes about the completeness of the tests. However, despite numerous discussions around this vaccine, applications for the purchase of one billion doses of Russian vaccine have already been issued by 20 countries around the world; in particular, negotiations are underway in the markets of Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.
“Together with our foreign partners, we are already ready to produce more than 500 million doses of vaccine per year in five countries and we plan to increase production capacity even more,” said Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)
In his statement, Vladimir Putin stressed that his daughter had already used the vaccine. After the injections, her temperature rose slightly. Other possible side effects include minor symptoms such as diarrhea or headache. However, people are much less likely to expect that the Russian vaccine can cause serious diseases or even infertility, as the vaccines developed by Bill Gates or Anthony Fauci, the chief infectious disease specialist in the United States.
“I hope that the Russians finally proved that the vaccine is safe and effective. I have serious doubts that they did this,” Anthony Fauci said.
Likely, the reason for this reaction of the Western big pharma to Russia’s leadership in developing the vaccine is purely financial. Global big pharma has been left behind, and they only plan to release the vaccine around February 2021. At that time, the mass production of the Russian vaccine should be fully established by October. Meanwhile, the period from October to February is a high epidemiological season that will bring a large fortune to vaccine manufacturers.
There are all signs that the next wave of the coronacrisis is sheduled for the second half of September. Another quarantine measures are expected to be enhanced. This will increase not only the demand for the coronavirus vaccine, but also for pharmaceutical companies’ products, such as antiviral pills and personal protective equipment. At the same time, if the vaccine appears in October-November, big pharma is not expected to profit from the increased demand for antiviral drugs. Thus, from a business point of view, the ideal time for the introduction of the vaccine is the end of winter – the beginning of spring, in other words at the end of the autumn-winter epidemiological season, and before the spring epidemic season. Thus, such a business strategy allows to make good profit and to act a role of humanity savor from the terrible SARA-CoV-2.
An additional factor in this game are the US presidential elections that will take place in November. Against this background, the coronahysteria works similarly to the way the success of the Russian vaccine is now exploited for growing of Putin’s support.
In general, as soon as the Russian vaccine becomes available in mass production, global pharma actors and various political forces that exploit the corona-hysteria in their own interests will lose one of the main pillars of their activity. Thus, it is likely that all the current anti-Russian information campaign directed against the presented vaccine has the main goal to delay the release of the Russian vaccine to the world market.
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