southfront--2020-08-16--Evidence Builds That Audio Tapes Provided By Ukraine To MH17 Investigators Were Altered

The authenticity of the phone tapes provided to the investigation by the Security Service of Ukraine ( SBU ) have long been questioned .
Audio analyses done by an expert on two of these phone tapes published on YouTube have already shown that there is evidence they were tampered with .
The audio tape concerning the involvement of Igor Bezler ( nickname “ Bes ” ) in the downing of flight MH17 was one of the most clearly falsified pieces of ‘ evidence ’ .
In the first place , the supposed conversation begins with the end of a sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recording was not of the entire conversation , but just a piece of it .
The risk to have an extract put out of context was then very high .
And that ’ s exactly what happened .
Here is the discussion we can hear in the extract provided by the SBU : The SBU published this phone tape as ‘ proof ’ that Bezler admitted they shot down the MH17 ( even if they never mention it was a Boeing , or a passenger plane , the ‘ context ’ is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security service of Ukraine , a country which is also a suspect in the case ) .
But there were quickly several problems .
The location where the plane mentioned fell ( near Enakievo ) was not the location where the MH17 fell ( the area near Grabovo ) , as you can see in the map below .
However , the location indicated by Bezler in the audio tape does correspond to a plane that was shot down , a military aircraft downed by the DPR ( Donetsk People ’ s Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the media agencies Interfax and TASS reported on 17 June 2014 that the DPR people ’ s militia claimed to have shot down a SU-25 while it was attacking Golmovsky .
This village is on the periphery of Gorlovka , several kilometres from Enakievo .
Another anomaly from the audio tape is the question about the pilots .
One would expect to search specifically for the pilots only in the case of a military aircraft , not a civilian one , because there is no ejection seat in a passenger plane .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tape , you understand the whole picture .
Watch the whole video of Anatoly Shary subtitled in English : Here is the full discussion about the shot down plane : The SBU eliminated all the parts of the conversation which could help understand what Bezler was really talking about , and that it has absolutely no relation to the MH17 crash .
Bezler and the man with whom he speaks mention clearly it ’ s a Sukhoi ( a military aircraft ) which was shot down .
As reported in the incident mentioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 .
One month before the MH17 crash !
Which means that the SBU falsified the date of the recording in addition to cutting essential parts of the conversation .
In this full phone tape , you can clearly hear the piece of sentence which is at the very beginning of the SBU extract provided as evidence in the MH17 case : “ .
The presence of this sentence seems to indicate the file received by Anatoly Shary is the one from which the SBU ‘ evidence ’ is extracted .
The two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Shary and the one published by SBU ) were compared by Michael Kobs ( a researcher who has investigated the MH17 case , and has already produced several reports on it , like “ Haunt the BUK ” ) , with audio analysis software .
And this comparison shows that the two files share the same level of noise , and the same audio profile .
Which means that it is most likely that the SBU file was extracted from the very same file published by Shary .
Moreover , the facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the events of June 2014 , and are corroborated by the testimony given by Bezler to the investigation team and to the Dutch court in charge of the MH17 case .
And last but not least , another phone tape presented by the Dutch court on 8 June 2020 confirms the facts on which Bezler testified : In this audio tape dated 16 June 2014 , Dubinsky announced that “ Bes downed a Sushka ” ( “ Bezler downed a Sukhoi ” ) in Gorlovka in the evening , and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being searched for ” .
It is exactly what the full phone tape with Bezler is talking about !
This discussion involving Bezler had nothing to do with the MH17 , the SBU knew it and edited the phone tape to deceive the investigation team and the Dutch court .
Impartiality and expertise of the investigation team and the Dutch court put into question The information published by Anatoly Shary not only put into question the reliability of the evidence provided by the SBU in the MH17 case .
Once again , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into question .
Because , as Donbass Insider emphasizes it is not the first forgery to be proved in this very sensitive case .
The JIT published as ‘ proof ’ a discussion from a fake VK account , Vladimir Tsemakh was kidnapped by the SBU and presented as a key suspect after one of his swear words in an interview was conveniently “ misinterpreted ” as the word “ BUK ” , and testimonies of several witnesses were deformed or completely falsified by western media ( watch the documentaries from Bonanza Media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also been discredited by subsequent events , as it scammed a witness who testified that he saw fighter jets in order to suggest he was a fraud .
Moreover , the US refused to provide the satellite pictures they claimed having , and the Russian data about the fact that the missile pieces shown by the JIT belong to a Ukrainian army unit was put aside by the court without any real analysis of the documents by the investigation team ( they never came to Russia to verify the documents on site ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiment of Almaz Antey was not included in the file , there are a lot of discrepancies and inconsistencies in the official version , and most of the witnesses that are relied on in the trial are anonymous ( even when the witness in question is Eliot Higgings , from… Bellingcat ) , which makes it impossible to check their testimonies .
Donbass Insider also points out that in the recording of Bezler testimony to the investigators , you can hear one of them admitting that he does not know Ukraine ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the fact that they did not immediately realize that a plane which fell near Enakievo , could not be the MH17 which fell much further to the east .
What then are the competencies of the investigators , if they don ’ t know the geography of the crash area after three years of investigation .
How can these people can assert , like in the court hearing of 8 June 2020 , or in the article published by Bellingcat about Bezler , that the reliability of the phone tapes was checked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with other elements , when they are not even able to check the location of the crash ?
What kind of experts can state that phone tapes are reliable when a part of the conversation is obviously missing ?
How could a Dutch Prosecutor claim on 10 March 2020 , that “ the complete intercepted conversations that are contained in the case file ” “ have been thoroughly investigated ” and still take evidence provided by the SBU as proof ?
If the Dutch Prosecutors really investigated the complete phone tapes , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not base their case file mainly on what the SBU provided .
And the full phone tape of Bezler published by Shary indicates that the SBU provided falsified “ evidence ” about the MH17 crash to the investigation team and to the Dutch justice .
And neither the “ great ” couch experts of Bellingcat , nor the JIT and its professional experts saw it was forged .
Not to mention the investigators who don ’ t even know where the locality of the crash area is .
LINK The publication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proves that the official investigation was completely flawed , based on staged fakes and forgeries , that the experts relied on during the trial do have not the competencies to assess the authenticity of the evidence , and that the court in charge of the MH17 case should immediately stop the hearings and restart the investigation from scratch with an impartial team of competent people .
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The authenticity of the phone tapes provided to the investigation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have long been questioned. Audio analyses done by an expert on two of these phone tapes published on YouTube have already shown that there is evidence they were tampered with.
The audio tape concerning the involvement of Igor Bezler (nickname “Bes”) in the downing of flight MH17 was one of the most clearly falsified pieces of ‘evidence’. In the first place, the supposed conversation begins with the end of a sentence (“I understood, damn”), which shows that the recording was not of the entire conversation, but just a piece of it. The risk to have an extract put out of context was then very high. And that’s exactly what happened.
Here is the discussion we can hear in the extract provided by the SBU:
“I understood, damn. We just shot down a plane. The group of “Miner”. It fell behind Enakievo. I went… Pilots? Where are the pilots? We went to look for and photograph the downed plane. It is smoking… How many minutes ago? Well, about 30 minutes ago.”
The SBU published this phone tape as ‘proof’ that Bezler admitted they shot down the MH17 (even if they never mention it was a Boeing, or a passenger plane, the ‘context’ is given exclusively by the assertion of the security service of Ukraine, a country which is also a suspect in the case).
But there were quickly several problems. The location where the plane mentioned fell (near Enakievo) was not the location where the MH17 fell (the area near Grabovo), as you can see in the map below.
However, the location indicated by Bezler in the audio tape does correspond to a plane that was shot down, a military aircraft downed by the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) militia one month before.
Both of the media agencies Interfax and TASS reported on 17 June 2014 that the DPR people’s militia claimed to have shot down a SU-25 while it was attacking Golmovsky. This village is on the periphery of Gorlovka, several kilometres from Enakievo.
Another anomaly from the audio tape is the question about the pilots. One would expect to search specifically for the pilots only in the case of a military aircraft, not a civilian one, because there is no ejection seat in a passenger plane.
And when you hear the full phone tape, you understand the whole picture.
Watch the whole video of Anatoly Shary subtitled in English:
Here is the full discussion about the shot down plane:
“Yes, Vasily Nikolaevich? Igor, tell me, well, what is there, is it decided for this 200 [dead soldier]? Yes, they are bringing him to Crimea, everything is fine. Oh … Well, I just understood, damn. We just shot down a plane. The group of “Miner”. It fell behind Enakievo. I went… Pilots? Where are the pilots? We went to look for and photograph the downed plane. It smokes… How many minutes ago? Well, about 30 minutes ago. About half an hour ago, right? Which kind? Sukhoi again? Yes, Sukhoi.”
The SBU eliminated all the parts of the conversation which could help understand what Bezler was really talking about, and that it has absolutely no relation to the MH17 crash. Bezler and the man with whom he speaks mention clearly it’s a Sukhoi (a military aircraft) which was shot down. As reported in the incident mentioned by Interfax and TASS on 17 June 2014. One month before the MH17 crash! Which means that the SBU falsified the date of the recording in addition to cutting essential parts of the conversation.
In this full phone tape, you can clearly hear the piece of sentence which is at the very beginning of the SBU extract provided as evidence in the MH17 case: “I just understood, damn”. The presence of this sentence seems to indicate the file received by Anatoly Shary is the one from which the SBU ‘evidence’ is extracted.
The two audio files (the full one published by Shary and the one published by SBU) were compared by Michael Kobs (a researcher who has investigated the MH17 case, and has already produced several reports on it, like “Haunt the BUK”), with audio analysis software. And this comparison shows that the two files share the same level of noise, and the same audio profile. Which means that it is most likely that the SBU file was extracted from the very same file published by Shary.
Moreover, the facts available in this full phone tape correspond to the events of June 2014, and are corroborated by the testimony given by Bezler to the investigation team and to the Dutch court in charge of the MH17 case.
And last but not least, another phone tape presented by the Dutch court on 8 June 2020 confirms the facts on which Bezler testified:
In this audio tape dated 16 June 2014, Dubinsky announced that “Bes downed a Sushka” (“Bezler downed a Sukhoi” ) in Gorlovka in the evening, and that the “pilot ejected” and “is being searched for”. It is exactly what the full phone tape with Bezler is talking about! This discussion involving Bezler had nothing to do with the MH17, the SBU knew it and edited the phone tape to deceive the investigation team and the Dutch court.
Impartiality and expertise of the investigation team and the Dutch court put into question
The information published by Anatoly Shary not only put into question the reliability of the evidence provided by the SBU in the MH17 case. Once again, it is the whole investigation which is put into question.
Because, as Donbass Insider emphasizes it is not the first forgery to be proved in this very sensitive case. The JIT published as ‘proof’ a discussion from a fake VK account, Vladimir Tsemakh was kidnapped by the SBU and presented as a key suspect after one of his swear words in an interview was conveniently “misinterpreted” as the word “BUK”, and testimonies of several witnesses were deformed or completely falsified by western media (watch the documentaries from Bonanza Media).
The media outlet Bellingcat has also been discredited by subsequent events, as it scammed a witness who testified that he saw fighter jets in order to suggest he was a fraud. Moreover, the US refused to provide the satellite pictures they claimed having, and the Russian data about the fact that the missile pieces shown by the JIT belong to a Ukrainian army unit was put aside by the court without any real analysis of the documents by the investigation team (they never came to Russia to verify the documents on site). The data of the full scale experiment of Almaz Antey was not included in the file, there are a lot of discrepancies and inconsistencies in the official version, and most of the witnesses that are relied on in the trial are anonymous (even when the witness in question is Eliot Higgings, from… Bellingcat), which makes it impossible to check their testimonies.
Donbass Insider also points out that in the recording of Bezler testimony to the investigators, you can hear one of them admitting that he does not know Ukraine’s geography well, perhaps as an excuse for the fact that they did not immediately realize that a plane which fell near Enakievo, could not be the MH17 which fell much further to the east.
What then are the competencies of the investigators, if they don’t know the geography of the crash area after three years of investigation. How can these people can assert, like in the court hearing of 8 June 2020, or in the article published by Bellingcat about Bezler, that the reliability of the phone tapes was checked by experts or by crossing the information with other elements, when they are not even able to check the location of the crash? What kind of experts can state that phone tapes are reliable when a part of the conversation is obviously missing? How could a Dutch Prosecutor claim on 10 March 2020, that “the complete intercepted conversations that are contained in the case file” “have been thoroughly investigated” and still take evidence provided by the SBU as proof? If the Dutch Prosecutors really investigated the complete phone tapes, they would have seen the falsification of evidence, and not base their case file mainly on what the SBU provided. And the full phone tape of Bezler published by Shary indicates that the SBU provided falsified “evidence” about the MH17 crash to the investigation team and to the Dutch justice. And neither the “great” couch experts of Bellingcat, nor the JIT and its professional experts saw it was forged. Not to mention the investigators who don’t even know where the locality of the crash area is. LINK
The publication of the full phone tape of Bezler proves that the official investigation was completely flawed, based on staged fakes and forgeries, that the experts relied on during the trial do have not the competencies to assess the authenticity of the evidence, and that the court in charge of the MH17 case should immediately stop the hearings and restart the investigation from scratch with an impartial team of competent people. LINK
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southfront--2020-08-16--Belarus Kicks Off Large-Scale Military Drills Near Poland, Lithuania. Lukashenko Is Losing Propagand

Belarus Kicks Off Large-Scale Military Drills Near Poland, Lithuania. Lukashenko Is Losing Propaganda War To Western-backed Opposition

On August 16 , the Belarusian Armed Forces announced large-scale military drills near the country ’ s nuclear plant and in the Grodno region bordering Poland and Lithuania .
The drills will take place on August 17-20 and involve rocket and artillery units , air-defense forces and airborne troops .
Meanwhile , mechanized and battle tank brigades also hold live-fire exercises .
The military added that forces will train to strengthen the country ’ s western border as part of the drills .
The military exercises served as a visual and powerful confirmation to earlier remarks by the country ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to defend Belarus from the ‘ foreign interference ’ .
Nonetheless , if earlier Lukashenko was widely speculating about unfriendly ‘ Russian actions ’ in an attempt to gain support of the media-active pro-Western opposition , after the presidential election his position shifted towards the ‘ friendship ’ with Russia and the repelling of ‘ Western interference ’ .
Indeed the main opposition propaganda and coordination center is managed from Poland , but this shift is rather a result of the complicated situation in which Lukashenko found itself rather than the admission of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government also staged a large rally in center of Minsk in support of the acting president .
President Lukashenko participated in the pro-government rally claiming that Belarus will cease to exist as a country if the destabilization efforts achieve success .
He also warned about NATO troops deployed at Belarus ’ border .
“ I am kneeling for you , for the first time in my life .
You have deserved it !
” he said .
“ Despite all the difficulties , all its flaws , we ’ ve built a beautiful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to surrender her to ?
If somebody wants to surrender the country , even when I am dead , I will not allow it.
” Despite the large pro-government rally in Minsk , Lukashenko and his supporters have been losing the media battle to anti-government structures supported from the West .
Furthermore , on August 16 , state-run channels ONT and STV reported about anti-government protests in an apaprent shift of their coverage .
Earlier , pro-opposition sources claimed that at least a part of workers of state-media is going to join the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large number of workers from state-run plants participate in protests on a regular basis .
Among the main targets of the pro-opposition propganda campaign : • the Lukashenko government is about to collapse and his political regime will soon fall ; • the dehumanization of Lukashenko ( as a cockroach ) and servicemembers of law enforcements ( as fascists ) ; • the promotion of the expected support of the so-called ‘ international community ’ ( the US and the EU ) ; • the promotion of violence again law enforcements ( at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest ; later , when rioters lost clashes to Police , opposition media started claiming that all demonstrations are ‘ peaceful ’ ) • the creation of the image of Belarus as a country with a strong economic basis and genuine ‘ democratic values ’ that are undermined by Lukashenko .
According to them , if Minsk gets rid off Lukashenko and breaks ties with Russia , Belarus will immediately enter the era of wealth and prosperity ( like Ukrane apparently ) ; • the fueling of ‘ fears ’ of the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Belarus by ‘ bloody Russians ’ .
The facts that Belarus is in fact economically , socially and militarily deeply integrated with Russia , a large part of population works in Russia and 100 % of the population speaks Russian , are somehow ignored .
By the way , Russian troops are officially deployed in Belarus already as a part of the existing military cooperation agreements .
Meanwhile , authorities said that security forces detained 2 persons that exploded an improvised explosive device near the supermarket “ Belarus ” .
No casualties were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions , they continued increasing on August 16 .
According to reports , tens of thousands attending a protest in Minsk .
The main event took place near a memorial to the fight against Nazi Germany , which is located near a war museum and that has a lot of space around it .
Protests continue with a large-scale support on the international scene with ‘ groups of activists ’ holding anti-Lukashenko rallies across Europe and mainstream media outlets widely speculating about the fall of the Lukashenko political regime and the upcoming Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goes fully in the framework of the propaganda campaign described above .
The US and the EU continue pressuring Lukashenko on the international scene .
On August 14 , EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said that the EU had refused to accept Lukashenko ’ s victory and promised sanctions against Belarusian officials .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said that the election was rigged and threatened Lukashenko with sanctions .
The situation in Belarus , while in the terms of security is still mostly controlled by the Lukashenko circle , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is about to be lost by Lukashenko , if not already , and supporters of the opposition are much more well-coordinated and have an upper hand in the field of media resources .
The strike of large Belarusian plants undermined Lukashenko ’ s support base among work class .
Supporters the president are poorly coordinated and not motivated for a real confrontation with the opposition due to the wide-scale usage of violence by police against peaceful rallies earlier .
The aggressive Western-funded succeeded in gaining a wider support of the population ( mainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-proportional use of force ) and are now trying to use the protest sentiments to overthrow the Lukashenko government or at least undermine the stability in the country to fuel the social and political instability and further .
At the same time , the harsh determination of Lukashenko to keep power and protect his political regime at any cost seem to be enough to prevent any regime-change attempts through power-based methods .
Therefore , if Lukashenko ’ s “ silent majority ” , law enforcements and local elites remain loyal to him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
Nonetheless , his chances to organize a controlled transfer of power to the chosen successor have apparently collapsed .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Video Shows Moment Of Death Of Protester In Minsk During August 10 Riots • Lukashenko Claims The Situation In Belarus Is Relatively Stable , Remembers About ‘ Alliance ’ With Russia

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On August 16, the Belarusian Armed Forces announced large-scale military drills near the country’s nuclear plant and in the Grodno region bordering Poland and Lithuania. The drills will take place on August 17-20 and involve rocket and artillery units, air-defense forces and airborne troops. Meanwhile, mechanized and battle tank brigades also hold live-fire exercises. The military added that forces will train to strengthen the country’s western border as part of the drills.
The military exercises served as a visual and powerful confirmation to earlier remarks by the country’s President Alexander Lukashenko about his readiness to defend Belarus from the ‘foreign interference’. Nonetheless, if earlier Lukashenko was widely speculating about unfriendly ‘Russian actions’ in an attempt to gain support of the media-active pro-Western opposition, after the presidential election his position shifted towards the ‘friendship’ with Russia and the repelling of ‘Western interference’. Indeed the main opposition propaganda and coordination center is managed from Poland, but this shift is rather a result of the complicated situation in which Lukashenko found itself rather than the admission of these apparent facts.
Meanwhile, the government also staged a large rally in center of Minsk in support of the acting president. President Lukashenko participated in the pro-government rally claiming that Belarus will cease to exist as a country if the destabilization efforts achieve success. He also warned about NATO troops deployed at Belarus’ border.
“I am kneeling for you, for the first time in my life. You have deserved it!” he said. “Despite all the difficulties, all its flaws, we’ve built a beautiful country together. Who did you decide to surrender her to? If somebody wants to surrender the country, even when I am dead, I will not allow it.”
Despite the large pro-government rally in Minsk, Lukashenko and his supporters have been losing the media battle to anti-government structures supported from the West. Furthermore, on August 16, state-run channels ONT and STV reported about anti-government protests in an apaprent shift of their coverage. Earlier, pro-opposition sources claimed that at least a part of workers of state-media is going to join the so-called ‘nation-wide’ strike. A large number of workers from state-run plants participate in protests on a regular basis.
Among the main targets of the pro-opposition propganda campaign:
the Lukashenko government is about to collapse and his political regime will soon fall;
the dehumanization of Lukashenko (as a cockroach) and servicemembers of law enforcements (as fascists);
the promotion of the expected support of the so-called ‘international community’ (the US and the EU);
the promotion of violence again law enforcements (at least at the first stages of the protest; later, when rioters lost clashes to Police, opposition media started claiming that all demonstrations are ‘peaceful’)
the creation of the image of Belarus as a country with a strong economic basis and genuine ‘democratic values’ that are undermined by Lukashenko. According to them, if Minsk gets rid off Lukashenko and breaks ties with Russia, Belarus will immediately enter the era of wealth and prosperity (like Ukrane apparently);
the fueling of ‘fears’ of the coming Russian intervention and the seizure of entire Belarus by ‘bloody Russians’. The facts that Belarus is in fact economically, socially and militarily deeply integrated with Russia, a large part of population works in Russia and 100% of the population speaks Russian, are somehow ignored. By the way, Russian troops are officially deployed in Belarus already as a part of the existing military cooperation agreements.
Meanwhile, authorities said that security forces detained 2 persons that exploded an improvised explosive device near the supermarket “Belarus”. No casualties were reported.
As to anti-government demonstrations and actions, they continued increasing on August 16. According to reports, tens of thousands attending a protest in Minsk. The main event took place near a memorial to the fight against Nazi Germany, which is located near a war museum and that has a lot of space around it.
Protests continue with a large-scale support on the international scene with ‘groups of activists’ holding anti-Lukashenko rallies across Europe and mainstream media outlets widely speculating about the fall of the Lukashenko political regime and the upcoming Russian intervention to Belarus. All of these goes fully in the framework of the propaganda campaign described above.
The US and the EU continue pressuring Lukashenko on the international scene. On August 14, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said that the EU had refused to accept Lukashenko’s victory and promised sanctions against Belarusian officials. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said that the election was rigged and threatened Lukashenko with sanctions.
The situation in Belarus, while in the terms of security is still mostly controlled by the Lukashenko circle, is pretty complicated. The propaganda war is about to be lost by Lukashenko, if not already, and supporters of the opposition are much more well-coordinated and have an upper hand in the field of media resources. The strike of large Belarusian plants undermined Lukashenko’s support base among work class. Supporters the president are poorly coordinated and not motivated for a real confrontation with the opposition due to the wide-scale usage of violence by police against peaceful rallies earlier. The aggressive Western-funded succeeded in gaining a wider support of the population (mainly due to mistakes by authorities and the non-proportional use of force) and is now trying to use the protest sentiments to overthrow the Lukashenko government or at least undermine the stability in the country to fuel the social and political instability and further.
At the same time, the harsh determination of Lukashenko to keep power and protect his political regime at any cost seem to be enough to prevent any regime-change attempts through power-based methods. Therefore, if Lukashenko’s “silent majority”, law enforcements and local elites remain loyal to him, he will be able to remain the president. Nonetheless, his chances to organize a controlled transfer of power to the chosen successor have apparently collapsed.
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southfront--2020-08-16--ISIS Terrorists Slaughtered Syrian Civilian, Solider In Eastern Homs (Photos)

ISIS terrorists have captured and executed two men in the vicinity of the town of al-Sukhnah in the eastern countryside of Homs .
The group said in a statement , released by its news agency on August 16 , that one of the victims was slaughtered for being a member of the Alawite sect , while the other was killed in a similar fashion because he was a Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) service member .
A day earlier , ISIS terrorists captured and executed a man near the town of Resafa in the southern Raqqa countryside .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sect .
ISIS terrorists are using the Homs desert as a base to launch attacks against the SAA and its allies in eastern Homs , eastern Hama , southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor .
Hundreds of ISIS terrorists are taking shelter in the Homs desert .
These terrorists are reportedly receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters based in the southeastern area of al-Tanaf .
ISIS uses executions as a mean to intimidate its enemies and the local population in its influence zones .
The terrorist group is clearly attempting to establish a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its allies should take decisive action to foil the terrorist group ’ s plans .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • In Video : Russian Forces Inspect Villages Shelled By Turkish Forces In Northeast Syria

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ISIS terrorists have captured and executed two men in the vicinity of the town of al-Sukhnah in the eastern countryside of Homs.
The group said in a statement, released by its news agency on August 16, that one of the victims was slaughtered for being a member of the Alawite sect, while the other was killed in a similar fashion because he was a Syrian Arab Army (SAA) service member.
A day earlier, ISIS terrorists captured and executed a man near the town of Resafa in the southern Raqqa countryside. The victim was a civilian from the Ismali sect.
ISIS terrorists are using the Homs desert as a base to launch attacks against the SAA and its allies in eastern Homs, eastern Hama, southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor.
Hundreds of ISIS terrorists are taking shelter in the Homs desert. These terrorists are reportedly receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters based in the southeastern area of al-Tanaf.
ISIS uses executions as a mean to intimidate its enemies and the local population in its influence zones. The terrorist group is clearly attempting to establish a new stronghold in central Syria. The SAA and its allies should take decisive action to foil the terrorist group’s plans.
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southfront--2020-08-16--US Signs Agreement With Poland Giving US Military More ‘Lebensraum’ In The East

The long-awaited announcement about what will happen to the thousands of US troops being transferred from Germany finally came at the end of July .
US officials , including Defense Secretary Mark Esper and General Tod Wolters , who heads US European Command , outlined the moves and the strategic reasoning behind them .
Their references to Poland , the Baltic states and the Black Sea reflect how the US is using the region to get closer to Russia .
In July , the US Department of Defence announced plans to withdraw around 12,000 US military personnel from Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 24,000 .
Nearly 5,600 service members will be redeployed to NATO countries , including Poland , with 6,400 to return to the US .
The decision followed repeated complaints from President Donald Trump that Berlin wasn ’ t spending enough on defence or contributing its share to NATO coffers .
While media reports suggest that some will be moved to Belgium and Italy , the US is pushing to transfer many of the military personnel to the east .
“ We ’ re moving forces out of Central Europe , Germany , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War , ” Esper said .
“ We ’ re following , in many ways , the boundary east [ to ] where our newest allies are , so into the Black Sea region ” as well as Poland and the Baltics .
The shift means European Command will “ now be able to rotate units in perpetuity in multiple locations , ” including the Black Sea , which “ dramatically improves our operational capability , ” Wolters said .
On Saturday the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sealed an agreement with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops in the eastern EU member state and right next to the Russian border .
Under the pact , an additional 1,000 US troops will be sent to Poland to accompany the 4,500 soldiers already stationed there .
The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and allows for the enhancement and modernization of existing capabilities and facilities by allowing U.S. forces to access additional Polish military installations .
The deal sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded US presence in the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspects of US-Polish cooperation , including investment and trade ties .
Presumably the deal will also grant all US military personnel and contractors deployed with them full diplomatic privileges and immunity from Polish laws .
Several military commands will also be moved out of Germany , among them the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters .
It will be based in Poland from next year .
Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed the deal , known as the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement ( EDCA ) , at the Presidential Palace in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a tour of Central Europe , which included visits to the Czech Republic , Austria and Slovenia .
LINK Russia may not be the only objective .
On Sunday the president of Belarus , Alexander Lukashenko , accused NATO of deploying tanks and planes to Belarus ’ western border , a claim the military alliance rejected .
Speaking at a rally of his supporters in central Minsk , the 65-year-old leader dismissed opposition calls for a new election and urged Belarusians to defend their country .
NATO said it was closely monitoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military buildup was underway in eastern Europe .
Lukashenko , who has led the former Soviet state for 26 years , denies election fraud .
He says foreign interference is to blame for the unrest .
Earlier on Sunday , Russia said it had offered Belarus military assistance if necessary .
Moscow also said external pressure was being applied to the country , but did not say where from .
Lukashenko told state TV he would move an air assault brigade to Belarus ’ western border .
According to the RIA news agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold weeklong drills to strengthen the country ’ s borders with Poland and Lithuania starting on Monday .
LINK At the same time , a report at Business Insider reflects the push within NATO to send more military personnel and hardware to Russia ’ s borders to the south .
Hodges is one of many who criticized the redeployment of European Command forces , arguing it doesn ’ t improve readiness and that the manner in which it ’ s being done hurts NATO .
In June , Adm. James Foggo , outgoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said eight US ships spent about 120 days patrolling the Black Sea last year and ‘ routinely ’ conduct ‘ complex exercises ’ like Sea Breeze with allies and partners .
The US military has increased its presence in the area in recent years , and the 20th iteration of Sea Breeze , a Ukrainian-US exercise with other Black Sea and NATO nations , was the latest example .
This year it included more than 40 ships and aircraft from eight countries .
The Porter was there on its third Black Sea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missile destroyer “ conducted surface action group tactical maneuvering , over-the-horizon surface targeting , air defense , and anti-submarine operations , ” Trent said .
The Porter worked with a US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft “ to share a common tactical maritime picture ” and with Ukrainian tactical aircraft during the air-defense exercises .
The P-8A worked with ships and aircraft , including Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets , on undersea warfare and air-intercept training , Cmdr .
M. Trever Plageman , head of Patrol Squadron 47 , told Insider .
Russian planes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sea , including during Sea Breeze . )
During Sea Breeze , US Air Forces Europe led a one-day mission with Navy and Space Command assets “ to train US forces to integrate , operate , and communicate while executing all domain operations ” .
Sea Breeze concluded on July 26 , but on August 2 , the Navy and Air Force conducted a similar exercise in the area — with live weapons .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Apocalypse soon ?
US still scrambling and surging to develop new high @ @ @

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The long-awaited announcement about what will happen to the thousands of US troops being transferred from Germany finally came at the end of July. US officials, including Defense Secretary Mark Esper and General Tod Wolters, who heads US European Command, outlined the moves and the strategic reasoning behind them. Their references to Poland, the Baltic states and the Black Sea reflect how the US is using the region to get closer to Russia.
In July, the US Department of Defence announced plans to withdraw around 12,000 US military personnel from Germany, reducing its troop presence there from 36,000 to 24,000. Nearly 5,600 service members will be redeployed to NATO countries, including Poland, with 6,400 to return to the US. The decision followed repeated complaints from President Donald Trump that Berlin wasn’t spending enough on defence or contributing its share to NATO coffers.
While media reports suggest that some will be moved to Belgium and Italy, the US is pushing to transfer many of the military personnel to the east.
“We’re moving forces out of Central Europe, Germany, where they had been since the Cold War,” Esper said. “We’re following, in many ways, the boundary east [to] where our newest allies are, so into the Black Sea region” as well as Poland and the Baltics. The shift means European Command will “now be able to rotate units in perpetuity in multiple locations,” including the Black Sea, which “dramatically improves our operational capability,” Wolters said.
On Saturday the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sealed an agreement with Poland to boost the number of US troops in the eastern EU member state and right next to the Russian border.
Under the pact, an additional 1,000 US troops will be sent to Poland to accompany the 4,500 soldiers already stationed there. The pact supplements an existing NATO Status of Forces Agreement and allows for the enhancement and modernization of existing capabilities and facilities by allowing U.S. forces to access additional Polish military installations.
The deal sets out a formula for sharing the logistical and infrastructure costs of an expanded US presence in the country, and is also intended to further other aspects of US-Polish cooperation, including investment and trade ties. Presumably the deal will also grant all US military personnel and contractors deployed with them full diplomatic privileges and immunity from Polish laws.
Several military commands will also be moved out of Germany, among them the US Army V Corps overseas headquarters. It will be based in Poland from next year.
Pompeo and Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak signed the deal, known as the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. The US diplomat is wrapping up a tour of Central Europe, which included visits to the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia. LINK
Russia may not be the only objective. On Sunday the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, accused NATO of deploying tanks and planes to Belarus’ western border, a claim the military alliance rejected.
Speaking at a rally of his supporters in central Minsk, the 65-year-old leader dismissed opposition calls for a new election and urged Belarusians to defend their country.
“I called you here not to defend me, but for the first time in a quarter-century, to defend your country and its independence,” he said to a crowd of supporters, as protesters once again mobilized in several cities demanding his ouster.
NATO said it was closely monitoring events in Belarus, but denied a military buildup was underway in eastern Europe.
“NATO’s multinational presence in the eastern part of the Alliance is not a threat to any country. It is strictly defensive, proportionate, and designed to prevent conflict and preserve peace,” a NATO spokeswoman said in a statement.
Lukashenko, who has led the former Soviet state for 26 years, denies election fraud. He says foreign interference is to blame for the unrest.
“If we kowtow to them, we will go into a tailspin,” he told his supporters. “We will perish as a state, as a people, as a nation.”
Earlier on Sunday, Russia said it had offered Belarus military assistance if necessary. Moscow also said external pressure was being applied to the country, but did not say where from.
Lukashenko told state TV he would move an air assault brigade to Belarus’ western border. According to the RIA news agency, the Belarusian army also plans to hold weeklong drills to strengthen the country’s borders with Poland and Lithuania starting on Monday. LINK
At the same time, a report at Business Insider reflects the push within NATO to send more military personnel and hardware to Russia’s borders to the south.
“The Black Sea region is what the Kremlin uses (to) launch its operations in Syria and Libya and the Eastern [Mediterranean],” Ben Hodges, who commanded US Army Europe between 2015 and 2017, told Insider. “It’s how they influence everything that goes on in the Balkans and the Caucuses as well as obviously Ukraine and Moldova.”
Hodges is one of many who criticized the redeployment of European Command forces, arguing it doesn’t improve readiness and that the manner in which it’s being done hurts NATO.
“Having said that, I always welcome any additional focus on the Black Sea region, because I think that … needs to be a much higher priority,” Hodges said, adding that Esper’s suggestion that a Stryker brigade could be deployed to the region was “a very good idea.” Increasing [NATO] naval presence in the Black Sea region really is even more important,” as the Turkish, Romanian, Bulgarian, and Ukrainian navies are “still not a match for the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” Hodges said.
In June, Adm. James Foggo, outgoing commander of US naval forces in Europe, said eight US ships spent about 120 days patrolling the Black Sea last year and ‘routinely’ conduct ‘complex exercises’ like Sea Breeze with allies and partners.
The US military has increased its presence in the area in recent years, and the 20th iteration of Sea Breeze, a Ukrainian-US exercise with other Black Sea and NATO nations, was the latest example. This year it included more than 40 ships and aircraft from eight countries. The Porter was there on its third Black Sea patrol in five months. The guided missile destroyer “conducted surface action group tactical maneuvering, over-the-horizon surface targeting, air defense, and anti-submarine operations,” Trent said.
The Porter worked with a US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft “to share a common tactical maritime picture” and with Ukrainian tactical aircraft during the air-defense exercises.
The P-8A worked with ships and aircraft, including Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets, on undersea warfare and air-intercept training, Cmdr. M. Trever Plageman, head of Patrol Squadron 47, told Insider. Russian planes frequently intercept US aircraft over the Black Sea, including during Sea Breeze.)
During Sea Breeze, US Air Forces Europe led a one-day mission with Navy and Space Command assets “to train US forces to integrate, operate, and communicate while executing all domain operations”.
It included F-16s that “conducted training scenarios” using Joint Air-to-Surface Missile cruise missile tactics. The JASSM is a long-range “precision standoff missile” designed “to destroy high-value, well-defended targets.” US Special Operations Command Europe also sent an MC-130J aircraft “to exercise special operations forces insertion.”
Sea Breeze concluded on July 26, but on August 2, the Navy and Air Force conducted a similar exercise in the area — with live weapons. LINK
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southfront--2020-08-16--LNA Foiled ISIS Attack, Killed Three Terrorists In Southern Libya (Photos)

The Libyan National Army ( LNA ) and its security forces have foiled a terrorist attack by ISIS in the southern Libyan town of Ghadduwa .
According to Lt. Col. Osama Othmona , a security official , three terrorists infiltrated into Ghadduwa to abduct one of the residents .
The terrorists were confronted by security forces and the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Battalion of the LNA .
“ Two terrorists were killed after clashes with forces of the General Directorate of Desert Patrol , while the third blew himself up after getting cornered by the armed forces and the police , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lt. Col. Othmona revealed that the same ISIS cell abducted an elderly man from Ghadduwa last week .
The officer didn ’ t provide any details on the incident .
Ransom kidnapping is a known to be a source of income for the terrorist group .
A few days ago , a source in the LNA warned that ISIS is resurfacing in Libya , mainly in the town of Sabratah in the west .
The source claimed that Turkey deployed thousands of jihadists in the town , which is controlled by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed that Turkey transported 10,000 jihadists , including 2,500 Tunisians , from Syria to Libya in the recent months .
The movement of jihadists from Syria to Libya will for sure help ISIS rebuild its influence in the southern and western regions of Libya .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkish Fairy Tales : Ankara Promises Syrian Militants Jobs In Qatar Before Sending Them To Libya – SOHR

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The Libyan National Army (LNA) and its security forces have foiled a terrorist attack by ISIS in the southern Libyan town of Ghadduwa.
According to Lt. Col. Osama Othmona, a security official, three terrorists infiltrated into Ghadduwa to abduct one of the residents. The terrorists were confronted by security forces and the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Battalion of the LNA.
“Two terrorists were killed after clashes with forces of the General Directorate of Desert Patrol, while the third blew himself up after getting cornered by the armed forces and the police,” the officer said on August 16.
Lt. Col. Othmona revealed that the same ISIS cell abducted an elderly man from Ghadduwa last week. The officer didn’t provide any details on the incident. Ransom kidnapping is a known to be a source of income for the terrorist group.
A few days ago, a source in the LNA warned that ISIS is resurfacing in Libya, mainly in the town of Sabratah in the west. The source claimed that Turkey deployed thousands of jihadists in the town, which is controlled by the Government of National Accord.
A recent report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed that Turkey transported 10,000 jihadists, including 2,500 Tunisians, from Syria to Libya in the recent months.
The movement of jihadists from Syria to Libya will for sure help ISIS rebuild its influence in the southern and western regions of Libya.
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southfront--2020-08-16--Join SouthFront In Fighting Back Against Censorship!

SouthFront is facing an increasing agressive censorship and pressure campaign from Euro-Atlantic structures and global corporations .
Over the past months , YouTube and Facebook have contributed extensive efforts to suppress SouthFront work on these platforms .
( LINK , LINK ) Just recently , the US Department of State released an official report calling SouthFront a “ pillar ” of “ Russia ’ s disinformation and propaganda ” simultaneously asking millions of dollars to fight SouthFront .
The requested FY 2021 budget of the US Department of Satate ’ s Global Engagement Center , tasked with preparing fairy tales @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is $ 138 million .
This is $ 11,500,000 per month .
At the same time , SouthFront ’ s monthly donation budget needed to continue our work is merely $ 5,000 .
While Euro-Atlantic structures remain scared by mighty SouthFront , our team continues its struggle to keep SouthFront alive and continue its work and further .
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This is about 35 % of the needed monthly budget .
If SouthFront is not able to collect the needed amount , our work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ danger .
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DEAR FRIENDS,
SouthFront is facing an increasing agressive censorship and pressure campaign from Euro-Atlantic structures and global corporations.
Over the past months, YouTube and Facebook have contributed extensive efforts to suppress SouthFront work on these platforms. (LINK, LINK) Just recently, the US Department of State released an official report calling SouthFront a “pillar” of “Russia’s disinformation and propaganda” simultaneously asking millions of dollars to fight SouthFront. The requested FY 2021 budget of the US Department of Satate’s Global Engagement Center, tasked with preparing fairy tales and justifying the censorship of SouthFront, is $138 million. This is $11,500,000 per month. At the same time, SouthFront’s monthly donation budget needed to continue our work is merely $5,000.
While Euro-Atlantic structures remain scared by mighty SouthFront, our team continues its struggle to keep SouthFront alive and continue its work and further.
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southfront--2020-08-16--In Video: Russian Forces Inspect Villages Shelled By Turkish Forces In Northeast Syria

On August 16 , a delegation of the Russian military inspected villages in northeast Syria which were recently shelled by Turkish forces .
The delegation visited the villages of Shukh and Buraz in the northeastern Aleppo countryside , that is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) .
The two villages were shelled on August 13 and 14 from the nearby Turkish-occupied town of Jarabulus .
During the visit , Russian officers inspected the targeted areas and the remains of three shells fired by Turkish forces at the two villages .
The Russian delegation also met with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step in and put an end for Turkish attacks on their villages .
These attacks have been ongoing for seven years now .
In the last few months , Turkish forces intensified their attacks on SDF-held areas in northeast Syria .
The attacks were not limited to artillery shelling , combat drones also carried out a number of strikes on the region .
Turkish forces attacks on northeast Syria are a violating two separate de-escalation agreements Ankara signed with Moscow and Washington last year .
Earlier this year , Russian forces established a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop Turkish attacks on the region .
A similar approach can be followed in northeast Aleppo to protect civilians there .
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On August 16, a delegation of the Russian military inspected villages in northeast Syria which were recently shelled by Turkish forces.
The delegation visited the villages of Shukh and Buraz in the northeastern Aleppo countryside, that is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The two villages were shelled on August 13 and 14 from the nearby Turkish-occupied town of Jarabulus.
During the visit, Russian officers inspected the targeted areas and the remains of three shells fired by Turkish forces at the two villages.
The Russian delegation also met with some locals, who called on Russia to step in and put an end for Turkish attacks on their villages. These attacks have been ongoing for seven years now.
In the last few months, Turkish forces intensified their attacks on SDF-held areas in northeast Syria. The attacks were not limited to artillery shelling, combat drones also carried out a number of strikes on the region.
Turkish forces attacks on northeast Syria are a violating two separate de-escalation agreements Ankara signed with Moscow and Washington last year.
Earlier this year, Russian forces established a number of new positions in northern al-Hasakah to stop Turkish attacks on the region. A similar approach can be followed in northeast Aleppo to protect civilians there.
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southfront--2020-08-16--Military Situation In Yemen On August 16, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen : • The Liaison and @ @ @ @ @ ( loyal to Ansar Allah ) reported 114 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah over the past @ @ @ @ @ between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces continue in the north of Marib province .
MORE @ @ @ @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen:
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 3 airstrikes on the Majaz area;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 4 airstrikes on the Qifah area;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 9 airstrikes on the Sarwah area;
The Liaison and Coordination Officers’ Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 114 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah over the past 24 hours;
Clashes between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces continue in the north of Marib province.
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southfront--2020-08-16--Saudi-led Coalition Intercepted Missiles, Suicide Drones Launched By Houthis

The Saudi-led coalition announced on August 16 that its air-defense units had intercepted and destroyed a “ ballistic missile ” @ @ @ @ @ The day before , the Saudi-led coalition intercepted a “ ballistic missile ” launched by @ @ @ @ @ ’ s southern province of Najran .
A number of suicide drones , which took @ @ @ @ @ , Sanaa , were also shot down by the coalition .
The Houthis have not @ @ @ @ @ incidents , thus far .
The Yemen group may have carried out a large operation @ @ @ @ @ .
Last month , the Houthis carried out a large operation with missiles and drones @ @ @ @ @ bases and oil fields in different parts of Saudi Arabia .
Back then , the @ @ @ @ @ was foiled .
The Houthis are constantly working to develop their offensive capabilities with the @ @ @ @ @ the Saudi-led coalition .
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The Saudi-led coalition announced on August 16 that its air-defense units had intercepted and destroyed a “ballistic missile” launched by the Houthis.
“Joint Coalition Forces have intercepted and destroyed this afternoon [Sunday] a ballistic missile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia toward civilians and civilian objects in the [Southern Region],” Col. Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the coalition, said in a statement.
The day before, the Saudi-led coalition intercepted a “ballistic missile” launched by the Houthis at the Kingdom’s southern province of Najran. A number of suicide drones, which took off from the Yemen capital, Sanaa, were also shot down by the coalition.
The Houthis have not commented on any of these incidents, thus far. The Yemen group may have carried out a large operation against targets in Saudi Arabia.
Last month, the Houthis carried out a large operation with missiles and drones at air-defense systems, air bases and oil fields in different parts of Saudi Arabia. Back then, the coalition claimed that the attack was foiled.
The Houthis are constantly working to develop their offensive capabilities with the hope of deterring and intimidating the Saudi-led coalition.
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southfront--2020-08-16--Pro-Kurdish Fighters In Jarabulus Were Disclosed

The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army ( SNA ) has uncovered a cell working for Kurdish forces in the town of Jarabulus in northern Aleppo , opposition sources reported on August 16 .
The cell was reportedly apprehended by the SNA while attempting to move a large quantity of explosives in Jarabulus .
The explosives were being prepared for an attack .
According to the sources , the cell , which was allegedly behind a number of recent bombings in Jarabulus , was working for the Kurdish People ’ s Protection Units ( YPG ) .
The YPG is the backbone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which controls most of northeast Syria .
A day earlier , a man was killed and six others were injured when a booby-trapped motorcycled exploded near a bakery in Jarabulus ’ town center .
The attack was the most recent in a series of similar bombings .
Kurdish forces are known for carrying out attacks in Turkish-occupied areas .
Nevertheless , it ’ s still unclear if they were behind the recent bombing in Jarabulus , or linked to the town ’ s cell .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Pro-Turkish SNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is Coming ( Photos )

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The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) has uncovered a cell working for Kurdish forces in the town of Jarabulus in northern Aleppo, opposition sources reported on August 16.
The cell was reportedly apprehended by the SNA while attempting to move a large quantity of explosives in Jarabulus. The explosives were being prepared for an attack.
According to the sources, the cell, which was allegedly behind a number of recent bombings in Jarabulus, was working for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). The YPG is the backbone of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which controls most of northeast Syria.
A day earlier, a man was killed and six others were injured when a booby-trapped motorcycled exploded near a bakery in Jarabulus’ town center. The attack was the most recent in a series of similar bombings.
Kurdish forces are known for carrying out attacks in Turkish-occupied areas. Nevertheless, it’s still unclear if they were behind the recent bombing in Jarabulus, or linked to the town’s cell.
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southfront--2020-08-16--‘Country 404’: Zelensky Administration Seeks To Ban Opposition Parties Ahead Of Local Elections

The post-2014 Ukrainian leadership continues employing best democratic practices learned from their foreign sponsors .
Now , the administration of President Volodymyr Zelensky , through its pocket ‘ patriots ’ , is seeking to ban two opposition parties – the Opposition Platform — For Life and the Party of Shariy – just ahead of the local elections set to be held on October 25 , 2020 .
The formal reason of the move proposed through the Public Council under the Ministry of Justice is the parties ’ supposed ‘ destructive actions ’ against the Ukrainian sovereignty and national security i.e @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eastern Ukraine by political measures , protect the Russian-speaking population , fight street violence and political terror ( a cornerstone of the Kiev regime ’ s internal policy ) etc .
According to local media , there are high chances that this move will get a further development and the government will really try to ban these opposition parties .
The United States , which is the most democratic country around the world and the puppeteer behind the modern Ukrainian leadership , de-facto has only two political parties : the Democrats and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely feels itself obliged to follow its footsteps and create own ‘ two-parties system ’ led by something like the ruling “ US Puppets ” party and the opposition “ Puppets of the US ” party .
Other parties that could question the current Ukrainian course that already led to the economic collapse , deep social crisis and the state of chaos across the country are not needed .
In any cases , the government widely employs direct attacks , detentions and even killings of opposition figures , journalists and activists as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this will only make the situation easier .
The next logical step of the ongoing ‘ democratic development ’ of Ukraine would be not only the bans of opposition political parties and media organizations , but even religious organizations supported by a majority of the population .
For example , pro-government ‘ activists ’ have repeatedly called to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church ( Moscow Patriarchate ) on the territory of Ukraine and seize all of its properties .
The fact that this church is the only canonic Orthodox church in Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation is not being seen as any real obstacle .
At the same time , the Ukrainian leadership and its Western sponsors are not shy to claim that the Kiev regime is the democratic shield defending Europe in the front of the Russian aggression .
If all what happens in Ukraine is “ democracy ” , this easily explains why multiple countries around the world do not support this kind of “ democratic values ” .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Ukraine Is Hovering Between New War And Economic Collapse • The @ @ @ @ @ @

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The post-2014 Ukrainian leadership continues employing best democratic practices learned from their foreign sponsors.
Now, the administration of President Volodymyr Zelensky, through its pocket ‘patriots’, is seeking to ban two opposition parties – the Opposition Platform — For Life and the Party of Shariy – just ahead of the local elections set to be held on October 25, 2020. The formal reason of the move proposed through the Public Council under the Ministry of Justice is the parties’ supposed ‘destructive actions’ against the Ukrainian sovereignty and national security i.e. calls to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine by political measures, protect the Russian-speaking population, fight street violence and political terror (a cornerstone of the Kiev regime’s internal policy) etc.
According to local media, there are high chances that this move will get a further development and the government will really try to ban these opposition parties. The United States, which is the most democratic country around the world and the puppeteer behind the modern Ukrainian leadership, de-facto has only two political parties: the Democrats and the Republicans. So, the Zelensky administration likely feels itself obliged to follow its footsteps and create own ‘two-parties system’ led by something like the ruling “US Puppets” party and the opposition “Puppets of the US” party. Other parties that could question the current Ukrainian course that already led to the economic collapse, deep social crisis and the state of chaos across the country are not needed. In any cases, the government widely employs direct attacks, detentions and even killings of opposition figures, journalists and activists as a tool of its internal policy. So, this will only make the situation easier.
The next logical step of the ongoing ‘democratic development’ of Ukraine would be not only the bans of opposition political parties and media organizations, but even religious organizations supported by a majority of the population. For example, pro-government ‘activists’ have repeatedly called to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) on the territory of Ukraine and seize all of its properties. The fact that this church is the only canonic Orthodox church in Ukraine that has a wide support among the nation is not being seen as any real obstacle.
At the same time, the Ukrainian leadership and its Western sponsors are not shy to claim that the Kiev regime is the democratic shield defending Europe in the front of the Russian aggression. If all what happens in Ukraine is “democracy”, this easily explains why multiple countries around the world do not support this kind of “democratic values”.
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southfront--2020-08-16--Pro-Turkish SNA Carried Out Drills, As The New Battle For Greater Idlib Is Coming (Photos)

The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army ( SNA ) had carried out drills in the northwestern region of Greater Idlib , the Zaitun Agency reported on August 16 .
According to the agency , the drills were meant to inspect the combat capabilities of the SNA , as well as to prepare for any future battle with the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) in Idlib or Aleppo .
Photos of the drills showed SNA fighters raising Turkish flags .
This led to a backlash from some opposition activists , who critisized the SNA .
The SNA was formed in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with support from Turkey .
The coalition is known for its poor combat capabilities and high-level of corruption .
The loyalty of the coalition is often questioned as it receives all of its commands from Turkey .
The SNA is deployed in Turkish-occupied areas in northern and northeastern Syria , as well as in Greater Idlib , where al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) holds control .
The coalition entered Greater Idlib last year with the aim to support HTS .
The National Front for Liberation ( NFL ) is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , side by side with HTS and other groups linked to al-Qaeda .
The NFL is also preparing for a possible battle with the SAA .
A recent reports revealed that militants were preparing to launch an attack on SAA positions in southern Idlib .
The recent preparations by the SNA and the NFL indicates their hostile intentions .
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The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) had carried out drills in the northwestern region of Greater Idlib, the Zaitun Agency reported on August 16.
According to the agency, the drills were meant to inspect the combat capabilities of the SNA, as well as to prepare for any future battle with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in Idlib or Aleppo.
Photos of the drills showed SNA fighters raising Turkish flags. This led to a backlash from some opposition activists, who critisized the SNA.
الجيش الوطني يجري تدريبات عسكرية لتفقد القدرات القتالية واستعداداً لخوض أي معركة مرتقبة على جبهات إدلب وحلب
تصوير: صهيب القاسم
(ألبوم 2) pic.twitter.com/1k1Mc7NO9w — وكالة زيتون الإعلامية – Zaitun Agency (@ZaitunAgency) August 16, 2020
The SNA was formed in January 2017 by several factions in northern Syria with support from Turkey. The coalition is known for its poor combat capabilities and high-level of corruption. The loyalty of the coalition is often questioned as it receives all of its commands from Turkey.
The SNA is deployed in Turkish-occupied areas in northern and northeastern Syria, as well as in Greater Idlib, where al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) holds control. The coalition entered Greater Idlib last year with the aim to support HTS.
The National Front for Liberation (NFL) is another Turkish-backed coalition operating in Greater Idlib, side by side with HTS and other groups linked to al-Qaeda. The NFL is also preparing for a possible battle with the SAA.
A recent reports revealed that militants were preparing to launch an attack on SAA positions in southern Idlib. The recent preparations by the SNA and the NFL indicates their hostile intentions.
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southfront--2020-08-17--Military Situation In Syria On August 17, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria : • ISIS terrorists executed @ @ @ @ @ Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) soldier near the town of al-Sukhanah in Homs countryside @ @ @ @ @ vehicle was hit by an explosive near the town of Ariha during the Turkish-Russian joint @ @ @ @ @ ; • ISIS terrorists executed an Ismali minority member near the town of Resafa in @ @ @ @ @ • SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants ’ positions in the villages of Barah and Kansafra @ @ @ @ @ visited the USA ’ s Al-Omar Base and met with US officials ; • US @ @ @ @ @ the area of SAA deployment in the city of Qamishli .
Then , the US @ @ @ @ @ , killing one SAA soldier and wounding 2 others .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
ISIS terrorists executed an Alawite member and an Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldier near the town of al-Sukhanah in Homs countryside;
A Turkish armored vehicle was hit by an explosive near the town of Ariha during the Turkish-Russian joint patrol along the M4 highway;
ISIS terrorists executed an Ismali minority member near the town of Resafa in the southern Raqqah countryside;
SAA artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the villages of Barah and Kansafra;
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi visited the USA’s Al-Omar Base and met with US officials;
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi visited the USA’s Al-Omar Base and met with US officials; US patrol was prevented from entering the area of SAA deployment in the city of Qamishli. Then, the US forces fired on the checkpoint, killing one SAA soldier and wounding 2 others.
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