southfront--2020-06-25--LNA Spokesman Claims Turkey Wishes To Besiege Egypt And Saudi Arabia

He said that operation “ Al-Harama ” ( Dignity ) destroyed the Muslim Brotherhood ’ s “ project ” and safeguarded the nation .
Al-Mesmari also said that Turkey was attempting to expand into the Horn of Africa , and also Yemen , in order to attempt and besiege both Egypt and Saudi Arabia .
He also said that military and civil aircraft are still on regular flights from Turkey to Mitiga and Misrata , some of which have transported Syrian mercenaries .
Al-Mesmari said that Turkey and the forces it supports have interpreted a statement by the UN Mission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light to the militias to allow their crimes to be used and an arrangement for the people of Tarhuna on their national and patriotic stand with the democratically elected parliament.
” According to him , the mass graves that were discovered in Tarhuna were , in fact , dead LNA fighters , who the Government of National Accord ( GNA ) presented as civilian casualties .
The UAE , which supports Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar ’ s LNA , issued a statement of support of France ’ s opposition of Turkey .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the face of the statements and the ongoing aggressive actions by Turkey .
We strongly condemn Turkey ’ s dangerous behavior in a previous targeting of a French navy ship as part of a NATO mission to impose an arms embargo approved by the United Nations.
” On the ground in Libya there appear to be no clashes currently , as there was footage of a “ record number ” of aircraft at al Khadim Air base , just east of Benghazi .
This includes two supposed IL-76 military cargo aircraft .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport in the last 34 days .
Out of the 23 flights , only one was made via a Squadron A400 turboprop transport .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Libyan House Of Representatives Officially Asks For Assistance From Egyptian Army Against Turkey And GNA

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On June 24th, the Libyan National Army (LNA) spokesperson Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari gave a briefing.
Major General Ahmed Al-Mesmari, Operation Al-Karama destroyed the Brotherhood project and participated in safeguarding the Arab nation We detected Turkish military naval pieces in the north of the Libyan western region in very large numbers pic.twitter.com/BhgfuPnJjn — M.LNA (@LNA2019M) June 24, 2020
He said that operation “Al-Harama” (Dignity) destroyed the Muslim Brotherhood’s “project” and safeguarded the nation.
“We detected Turkish military naval pieces in the north of the Libyan western region in very large numbers.”
Al-Mesmari also said that Turkey was attempting to expand into the Horn of Africa, and also Yemen, in order to attempt and besiege both Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
“The Turkish presence in Libya threatens the entire region. The Libyan National Army is ready to deal with any emergency.”
He also said that military and civil aircraft are still on regular flights from Turkey to Mitiga and Misrata, some of which have transported Syrian mercenaries.
Al-Mesmari said that Turkey and the forces it supports have interpreted a statement by the UN Mission in Libya as “giving the green light to the militias to allow their crimes to be used and an arrangement for the people of Tarhuna on their national and patriotic stand with the democratically elected parliament.”
According to him, the mass graves that were discovered in Tarhuna were, in fact, dead LNA fighters, who the Government of National Accord (GNA) presented as civilian casualties.
When the #GNA militia entered Tarhuna Hospital, there were bodies of martyrs from the armed forces, and they themselves photographed these bodies, and their media saw that as a mutilation chance by using the of these bodies and placing them in graves as civilians. pic.twitter.com/gN87Zam2Lf — M.LNA (@LNA2019M) June 24, 2020
The UAE, which supports Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s LNA, issued a statement of support of France’s opposition of Turkey.
UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said:
“The UAE confirms its solidarity with France in the face of the statements and the ongoing aggressive actions by Turkey. We strongly condemn Turkey’s dangerous behavior in a previous targeting of a French navy ship as part of a NATO mission to impose an arms embargo approved by the United Nations.”
On the ground in Libya there appear to be no clashes currently, as there was footage of a “record number” of aircraft at al Khadim Air base, just east of Benghazi. This includes two supposed IL-76 military cargo aircraft.
Record amount of aircraft on ground at ??Al Khadim Air Base, #Libya this morning: 5 or 6 aircraft on the deck, of which two seem to be large Ilyushin Il-76 freighters. pic.twitter.com/1dV5yScS3K — Gerjon | חריון (@Gerjon_) June 24, 2020
Turkey has carried out 23 flights with its Lockheed C-130 Hercules military transport in the last 34 days.
Impressive Turkish air-bridge across Mediterranean: Turkish Air Force’s Erkilet based 222nd Squadron’s two Lockheed C-130 Hercules four-engine turboprop military transports are flying from Istanbul Grand to Misrata. These are the 22nd & 23rd flights in the last 34 days. pic.twitter.com/pDixOORLVM — Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) June 24, 2020
Out of the 23 flights, only one was made via a Squadron A400 turboprop transport.
22nd flight: Turkish Air Force’s Erkilet based 221st Squadron A400 turboprop transport plane 180094 climbed out of Atatürk over Bosphorus en route to unknown destination in #Libya. This is the first use of 221st Squadron A400 by TurAF. All previous deliveries were made by C130s pic.twitter.com/QKUeDRx6zb — Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) June 24, 2020
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southfront--2020-06-25--Bolton’s Memoir Bolts from the Stable

Bolton’s Memoir Bolts from the Stable

President Donald Trump ’ s former National Security Advisor John Bolton would have been confident .
His indulgent The Room Where it Happened : A White House Memoir pitted him against the administration in a not infrequent battle over material that is published by former officials recounting their giddy days in high office .
On June 17 , the US government filed a civil suit seeking a preliminary injunction ahead of the planned release of the memoir on June 23 , and a “ constructive trust ” arising from all profits issuing from the publication of the work .
Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lederman point out , signed two separate , fundamentally similar non-disclosure agreements , “ corresponding to two different sets of Specialized Compartmented Information programs to which he was afforded access.
” Publishing sensitive national security information in the US context is governed by that driest of documents known as Standard Form 312 .
Bolton undertook that he would “ never divulge classified information to anyone unless : ( a ) [ he has ] officially verified that the recipient has been properly authorized by the United States Government to receive it ; or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been given prior written notice of authorization from the United States Government … that such disclosure is permitted.
” The second feature of the agreement is that Bolton agreed that , should he be “ uncertain about the classification status ” of any information in question , he would “ confirm from an authorized official that the information is unclassified before [ he ] may disclose it.
” This was not all .
To further supress information that would otherwise make it into the public domain is Standard Form 4414 , which covers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to in the field as sensitive compartmented information ( SCI ) .
The policing authority in this case is the National Security Council , which required Bolton to submit to review “ any writing … that contains or purports to contain any SCI or descriptive of activities that produce or relate to SCI or that I have reason to believe derived from SCI , that I contemplate disclosing to any person not authorized to have access to SCI or that I have prepared for public disclosure.
” Judge Royce Lamberth of the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not convinced by arguments made by the administration for a preliminary injunction halting the memoir ’ s publication .
But this did not necessarily make Bolton an endearing defendant .
The judge admitted that “ Bolton ’ s unilateral conduct raises grave national security concerns ” but found that “ the horse is out of the barn ” .
Ultimately , Bolton ’ s decision to go forth with the publication without final clearance from the intelligence censors was incautious but irreversible .
The judge even conceded that “ Bolton may indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The point was rapid , vast distribution and spread , assisted by the nature of technology .
In “ the Internet age , even a handful of copies in circulation could irrevocably destroy confidentiality.
” All was required was for a determined individual , armed with the contents of such a publication , to “ publish [ it ] far and wide from his local coffee shop.
” Resigned , the judge conceded that “ the damage is done .
There is no restoring the status quo.
” To that end , any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The other obvious point – that over 200,000 copies of the book had already been shipped domestically , with thousands of copies being exported to booksellers in Europe , India and the Middle East – rendered the need for such a restraint moot .
“ By the looks of it , ” mused the judge , “ the horse is not just out of the barn – it is out of the country.
” The Bolton episode underscores the very legitimacy of the prepublication review process .
Former CIA operative John Kiriakou @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however sympathetic their authors , need to get into open circulation .
The republic needs the oxygen of revelation .
The process of review , he attests , is “ deeply flawed and frequently political.
” As Kiriakou reminds us , such a system of suppression drew breath from the case of Victor Marchetti , who worked as an analyst at the CIA between 1955 and 1969 .
Serialised versions of his book reflecting on the grand old days were slated to run in .
The CIA took issue , filed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ citing the presence of classified information and the naming of undercover operatives .
The case made its way to the US Supreme Court , which held that the initial judgment in favour of an injunction was sound .
The non-disclosure regime was appropriate .
“ We find the contract constitutional and otherwise reasonable and lawful.
” What followed was an arduous process of review , cutting and redaction , with Marchetti seeking clearance , and the CIA being miserly in concession .
Not all was lost for former members of the intelligence community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it into circulation , provided they were cleared , and done so within 60 days by the relevant prepublication board .
Those not cleared might see profits confiscated .
But this did not address the issue of zealous overclassification , unnecessary redaction and violations of the 60 day rule .
The battle against the very constitutionality of the prepublication review system has begun in earnest .
On January 27 , 2020 , the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information request seeking records related to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former federal officials , among them Bolton ’ s memoir .
In April 2 , 2019 , the Knight First Amendment Institute filed a lawsuit challenging the very constitutionality of prepublication review .
Along with the ACLU , the action was undertaken on behalf of five former public servants arguing that the prepublication system spanning the CIA , the Defence Department , the National Security Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence , violated the First Amendment right “ to convey and of the public to hear , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government employees on issues of public importance.
” The action further argued that the prepublication process violated the First Amendment in not providing former employees “ with fair notice of they can and can not publish without prior review ” , one that also invited “ arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement by censors.
” On April 16 , 2020 , the District Court in Maryland found in favour of the government , holding the prepublication review system to be constitutional .
Judge George Hazel found that the ACLU and Knight First Amendment Institute had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but felt governed by the forty-year old Supreme Court case of .
The defects of the prepublication system , be it in terms of vagueness on classification , the certainty of review standards , and the absence of procedural safeguards , had little bearing on the question of constitutionality .
The plaintiffs have duly appealed .
Among their arguments is the fact that focused on remedies rather than First Amendment principles , sidestepping the very merits of the CIA review system .
The limits of government authority in imposing prepublication review obligations also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also aged , both in terms of the law of pre-restraint on employee obligations and the factual environment .
As the Knight First Amendment Institute urges , “ We need to hear these voices [ of former employees of the intelligence services ] , but if we want to hear them , we have to fix the obstacle course that prepublication review has become.
” Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures at RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
President Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton would have been confident. His indulgent The Room Where it Happened: A White House Memoir pitted him against the administration in a not infrequent battle over material that is published by former officials recounting their giddy days in high office. On June 17, the US government filed a civil suit seeking a preliminary injunction ahead of the planned release of the memoir on June 23, and a “constructive trust” arising from all profits issuing from the publication of the work.
Bolton had, as Jack Goldsmith and Marty Lederman point out, signed two separate, fundamentally similar non-disclosure agreements, “corresponding to two different sets of Specialized Compartmented Information programs to which he was afforded access.”
Publishing sensitive national security information in the US context is governed by that driest of documents known as Standard Form 312. Bolton undertook that he would “never divulge classified information to anyone unless: (a) [he has] officially verified that the recipient has been properly authorized by the United States Government to receive it; or (b) [he has] been given prior written notice of authorization from the United States Government … that such disclosure is permitted.” The second feature of the agreement is that Bolton agreed that, should he be “uncertain about the classification status” of any information in question, he would “confirm from an authorized official that the information is unclassified before [he] may disclose it.”
This was not all. To further supress information that would otherwise make it into the public domain is Standard Form 4414, which covers “Special Access Programs”, referred to in the field as sensitive compartmented information (SCI). The policing authority in this case is the National Security Council, which required Bolton to submit to review “any writing … that contains or purports to contain any SCI or descriptive of activities that produce or relate to SCI or that I have reason to believe derived from SCI, that I contemplate disclosing to any person not authorized to have access to SCI or that I have prepared for public disclosure.”
Judge Royce Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia was not convinced by arguments made by the administration for a preliminary injunction halting the memoir’s publication. But this did not necessarily make Bolton an endearing defendant. The judge admitted that “Bolton’s unilateral conduct raises grave national security concerns” but found that “the horse is out of the barn”.
Ultimately, Bolton’s decision to go forth with the publication without final clearance from the intelligence censors was incautious but irreversible. The judge even conceded that “Bolton may indeed have caused the country irreparable harm.” The point was rapid, vast distribution and spread, assisted by the nature of technology. In “the Internet age, even a handful of copies in circulation could irrevocably destroy confidentiality.” All was required was for a determined individual, armed with the contents of such a publication, to “publish [it] far and wide from his local coffee shop.” Resigned, the judge conceded that “the damage is done. There is no restoring the status quo.”
To that end, any injunction “would be so toothless”. The other obvious point – that over 200,000 copies of the book had already been shipped domestically, with thousands of copies being exported to booksellers in Europe, India and the Middle East – rendered the need for such a restraint moot. “By the looks of it,” mused the judge, “the horse is not just out of the barn – it is out of the country.”
The Bolton episode underscores the very legitimacy of the prepublication review process. Former CIA operative John Kiriakou makes the unimpeachable point that such documents, however sympathetic their authors, need to get into open circulation. The republic needs the oxygen of revelation. The process of review, he attests, is “deeply flawed and frequently political.” As Kiriakou reminds us, such a system of suppression drew breath from the case of Victor Marchetti, who worked as an analyst at the CIA between 1955 and 1969. Serialised versions of his book reflecting on the grand old days were slated to run in Esquire. The CIA took issue, filed a temporary injunction against publication of the book citing the presence of classified information and the naming of undercover operatives. The case made its way to the US Supreme Court, which held that the initial judgment in favour of an injunction was sound. The non-disclosure regime was appropriate. “We find the contract constitutional and otherwise reasonable and lawful.” What followed was an arduous process of review, cutting and redaction, with Marchetti seeking clearance, and the CIA being miserly in concession.
Not all was lost for former members of the intelligence community and publishers. Texts might still make it into circulation, provided they were cleared, and done so within 60 days by the relevant prepublication board. Those not cleared might see profits confiscated. But this did not address the issue of zealous overclassification, unnecessary redaction and violations of the 60 day rule.
The battle against the very constitutionality of the prepublication review system has begun in earnest. On January 27, 2020, the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and the ACLU filed a Freedom of Information request seeking records related to the review of the manuscripts of 25 former federal officials, among them Bolton’s memoir. In April 2, 2019, the Knight First Amendment Institute filed a lawsuit challenging the very constitutionality of prepublication review. Along with the ACLU, the action was undertaken on behalf of five former public servants arguing that the prepublication system spanning the CIA, the Defence Department, the National Security Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, violated the First Amendment right “to convey and of the public to hear, in a timely manner, the opinions of former government employees on issues of public importance.”
The action further argued that the prepublication process violated the First Amendment in not providing former employees “with fair notice of they can and cannot publish without prior review”, one that also invited “arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement by censors.”
On April 16, 2020, the District Court in Maryland found in favour of the government, holding the prepublication review system to be constitutional. Judge George Hazel found that the ACLU and Knight First Amendment Institute had standing to challenge the review process, but felt governed by the forty-year old Supreme Court case of Snepp v. United States. The defects of the prepublication system, be it in terms of vagueness on classification, the certainty of review standards, and the absence of procedural safeguards, had little bearing on the question of constitutionality.
The plaintiffs have duly appealed. Among their arguments is the fact that Snepp focused on remedies rather than First Amendment principles, sidestepping the very merits of the CIA review system. The limits of government authority in imposing prepublication review obligations also remained untested. The reasoning of Snepp has also aged, both in terms of the law of pre-restraint on employee obligations and the factual environment. As the Knight First Amendment Institute urges, “We need to hear these voices [of former employees of the intelligence services], but if we want to hear them, we have to fix the obstacle course that prepublication review has become.”
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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southfront--2020-06-25--US Pilot Captures New Images Of Secretive Beale Air Force Base

US civilian pilot Gabriel Zeifman recently flew his Cessna aircraft over Beale Air Force Base in Northern California , home of the U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk drones , along with the T-38 Talon trainers and a squadron of KC-135R tankers , and took a series of photos of the installation .
The images provide a fascinating view of the top secret spy plane base , and reveal one area where it appears that a major new project has been undertaken over the last year .
The images show the infamous base , which hosts the 9th Reconnaissance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its latest configuration .
It is a relatively basic airfield given its huge strategic importance , with just one runway .
It once hosted SR-71 Blackbirds , and now has a large contingent of RQ-4 Global Hawk drones .
The U-2 , which has been based at the airfield for the better part of a century , is slated to continue flying into the foreseeable future , while a substantial portion of the RQ-4 Global Hawks—the Block 30 model—that were originally intended to replace them , may meet an early retirement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Global Hawks will continue on .
Zeifman ’ s flight , which was done legally through civilian airspace with the permission of air traffic control , captured images of five Global Hawks and two U-2s , two high-flying intelligence aircraft .
He also spotted a contingent of KC-135 Stratotankers , which are Boeing 707 airliners modified to carry fuel for mid-air refuelling .
The planes enable the spy planes to stay aloft for many hours and to cover thousands of miles .
One major change on the base in recent months , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the T-38s from the northern part of the ramp with their own independent hangar , down to the central part of the ramp , where large sunshades have been erected to keep the black jets out of the baking sun .
The hangar that once supported them has also been modified over the winter , with a new roof and structural modifications , the addition of heavy environmental systems , and what looks like a large fuel tank has been constructed .
A fence now surrounds the entire facility , including its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It isn ’ t clear if parts of this fence are temporary , although a more permanent security fence could easily be installed to enclose the facility and its own apron area .
Last year posted its latest report on the so-called RQ-180 , a very stealthy , deep-penetrating , high-altitude , long-endurance , unmanned aircraft that could take on a similar role as a Global Hawk , and possibly other tasks , but it can do so in highly challenging environments .
At the time published its report , its author Guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be flying the secret aircraft is now based out of Beale Air Force base , as well as possibly a number of RQ-180s .
This would make sense , but at the time , as we pointed out , there was nowhere highly secure and modified to a low observable ( stealthy ) aircraft ’ s special needs to put such an aircraft on the base .
This may be the purpose of the modifications to the hangar mentioned above .
The hangar ’ s location is in a relatively remote part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area of the installation that has easy access to the end of the runway .
Having its own fuel supply would also be very convenient for operating a sensitive platform independently and under tight security restrictions at an active base with less sensitive operations ongoing daily .
It is possible that this facility will be used for something else .
Maybe the T-38s will return to this ramp in the near future or the facility will be used for another purpose .
But the evidence now suggests otherwise and the size of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 metres ) wide , would probably allow for at least a couple of the secretive RQ-180 drones to be housed there .
These aircraft would still exist in very limited numbers , so it wouldn ’ t be surprising for two of them to be based at Beale at this stage of the program , with more being deployed there over time as more units are built and deployed .
LINK • The US is leaving the open skies treaty

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US civilian pilot Gabriel Zeifman recently flew his Cessna aircraft over Beale Air Force Base in Northern California, home of the U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk drones, along with the T-38 Talon trainers and a squadron of KC-135R tankers, and took a series of photos of the installation. The images provide a fascinating view of the top secret spy plane base, and reveal one area where it appears that a major new project has been undertaken over the last year.
The images show the infamous base, which hosts the 9th Reconnaissance Wing of the US Air Force, in its latest configuration. It is a relatively basic airfield given its huge strategic importance, with just one runway. It once hosted SR-71 Blackbirds, and now has a large contingent of RQ-4 Global Hawk drones. The U-2, which has been based at the airfield for the better part of a century, is slated to continue flying into the foreseeable future, while a substantial portion of the RQ-4 Global Hawks—the Block 30 model—that were originally intended to replace them, may meet an early retirement. Still, the most advanced Block 40 Global Hawks will continue on.
Zeifman’s flight, which was done legally through civilian airspace with the permission of air traffic control, captured images of five Global Hawks and two U-2s, two high-flying intelligence aircraft.
He also spotted a contingent of KC-135 Stratotankers, which are Boeing 707 airliners modified to carry fuel for mid-air refuelling. The planes enable the spy planes to stay aloft for many hours and to cover thousands of miles.
One major change on the base in recent months, according to satellite imagery, is the relocation of the T-38s from the northern part of the ramp with their own independent hangar, down to the central part of the ramp, where large sunshades have been erected to keep the black jets out of the baking sun. The hangar that once supported them has also been modified over the winter, with a new roof and structural modifications, the addition of heavy environmental systems, and what looks like a large fuel tank has been constructed. A fence now surrounds the entire facility, including its access to the general apron area. It isn’t clear if parts of this fence are temporary, although a more permanent security fence could easily be installed to enclose the facility and its own apron area.
Last year Aviation Week posted its latest report on the so-called RQ-180, a very stealthy, deep-penetrating, high-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned aircraft that could take on a similar role as a Global Hawk, and possibly other tasks, but it can do so in highly challenging environments. At the time Aviation Week published its report, its author Guy Norris claimed that the operational unit that could be flying the secret aircraft is now based out of Beale Air Force base, as well as possibly a number of RQ-180s. This would make sense, but at the time, as we pointed out, there was nowhere highly secure and modified to a low observable (stealthy) aircraft’s special needs to put such an aircraft on the base. This may be the purpose of the modifications to the hangar mentioned above.
The hangar’s location is in a relatively remote part of the base and in a higher-security area of the installation that has easy access to the end of the runway. Having its own fuel supply would also be very convenient for operating a sensitive platform independently and under tight security restrictions at an active base with less sensitive operations ongoing daily.
It is possible that this facility will be used for something else. Maybe the T-38s will return to this ramp in the near future or the facility will be used for another purpose. But the evidence now suggests otherwise and the size of the hangar, roughly 200 feet (about 60 metres) wide, would probably allow for at least a couple of the secretive RQ-180 drones to be housed there. These aircraft would still exist in very limited numbers, so it wouldn’t be surprising for two of them to be based at Beale at this stage of the program, with more being deployed there over time as more units are built and deployed. LINK
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southfront--2020-06-25--WISENT 2 Armoured Support Vehicle (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The WISENT 2 is one of the German advanced multi-functional armoured support vehicle , @ @ @ @ @ an armoured recovery vehicle or an armoured engineer vehicle .
The vehicle was developed by @ @ @ @ @ ) on the basis of the Leopard 2 chassis .
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The WISENT 2 is one of the German advanced multi-functional armoured support vehicle, which can be used as an armoured recovery vehicle or an armoured engineer vehicle. The vehicle was developed by Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) on the basis of the Leopard 2 chassis.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Houthis Storm Saudi Position In Jizan, Destroy Two Vehicles (Videos)

The Houthis ( Ansar Allah ) have carried out new attacks against the Saudi military and its proxies near the @ @ @ @ @ of Jizan .
On June 25 , the Yemen group ’ s fighters stormed a @ @ @ @ @ area of al-Da ’ air .
The fighters took control of the position and burned @ @ @ @ @ had been left behind by Saudi forces .
A day earlier , the Houthis engineer @ @ @ @ @ bulldozer of Saudi forces east of the al-Dud Mount with an improves explosive device .
@ @ @ @ @ to exhaust and deter the Saudi military and its Yemeni proxies on the Yemeni-Saudi border @ @ @ @ @ strong presence on the border with Saudi Arabia .
The Saudi-led coalition has made numerous @ @ @ @ @ line since 2015 , but failed to do so .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ Involvement In Conflict In Yemen : Reports

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The Houthis (Ansar Allah) have carried out new attacks against the Saudi military and its proxies near the Kingdom’s southern province of Jizan.
On June 25, the Yemen group’s fighters stormed a Saudi military position in the area of al-Da’air. The fighters took control of the position and burned a pick-up vehicle, which had been left behind by Saudi forces.
A day earlier, the Houthis engineer units blow up a military bulldozer of Saudi forces east of the al-Dud Mount with an improves explosive device.
Such small-scale operations are meant to exhaust and deter the Saudi military and its Yemeni proxies on the Yemeni-Saudi border. The Houthis maintain a strong presence on the border with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition has made numerous attempts to secure the border line since 2015, but failed to do so.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Clashes Rage Between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham And Other Al-Qaeda Groups In Idlib

After two days of fighting with militants from the rival militant coalition Fa Ithbatu , Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has launched a large-scale attack in order to put an end to the resistance to its dominance in Greater Idlib .
According to pro-militant sources , Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members supported by battle tanks stormed the town of Arab Said west of Idlib city .
This town was recently captured by Fa Ithbatu forces and turned into a foothold for operations against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham .
At the same time , Hayat Tahrir al-Sham besieged and stormed the HQ of Horas al-Din @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in the town of Sarmada .
In their turn , Horas al-Din attacked several Hayat Tahrir al-Sham checkpoints near the western entrance to Idlib city , allegedly seizing them .
Fa Ithbatu accuses Hayat Tahrir al-Sham of conspiring with foreign forces , mainly Turkey , against the so-called Syrian revolution .
Earlier in June , Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested Ansar al-Din commander , Abu Salah al-Uzbeki , and Liwa al-Muqatlin al-Ansar commander , Abu Malek al-Tali .
Both these groups are a part of the recently formed Fa Ithbatu coalition .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increase in operations of the Russian special forces in southern Idlib .
According to them , a unit of the Russian special forces raided a position of Turkish-backed Suqur al-Sham near the village of Benin killing 4 and injuring 3 members of the group .
This became the first militant claim about the Russian Special Forces in Idlib since the signing of the March 5 de-escalation agreement between Ankara and Moscow .
If such an attack really happened , it was likely a response to the recent drone attack by Idlib militants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Lattakia .
Late on June 24 , an unidentified drone struck a militant vehicle moving on the road near the town of Binnish in Greater Idlib .
The strike completely destroyed the vehicle and the several persons inside .
While the eliminated militants are yet to be identified , local sources claim that the vehicle likely belonged to Ansar al-Tawhid or Horas al-Din .
Recently , combat drones of the US-led coalition conducted several strikes on ISIS- and al-Qaeda-linked terrorists that hide in the Turkish-occupied part of Syria .
The Turkish Army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syrian Army and the Kurdish People ’ s Protection Units ( YPG ) near the town of Tell Rifat in northern Aleppo .
Pro-Turkish sources claim that several army and YPG fighters were killed .
Strikes likely came in response to the recent series of attacks by YPG-affiliated cells on positions of pro-Turkish groups in the region of Afrin .

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After two days of fighting with militants from the rival militant coalition Fa Ithbatu, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has launched a large-scale attack in order to put an end to the resistance to its dominance in Greater Idlib.
According to pro-militant sources, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members supported by battle tanks stormed the town of Arab Said west of Idlib city. This town was recently captured by Fa Ithbatu forces and turned into a foothold for operations against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. At the same time, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham besieged and stormed the HQ of Horas al-Din, a member group of Fa Ithbatu, in the town of Sarmada.
In their turn, Horas al-Din attacked several Hayat Tahrir al-Sham checkpoints near the western entrance to Idlib city, allegedly seizing them.
Fa Ithbatu accuses Hayat Tahrir al-Sham of conspiring with foreign forces, mainly Turkey, against the so-called Syrian revolution. Earlier in June, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested Ansar al-Din commander, Abu Salah al-Uzbeki, and Liwa al-Muqatlin al-Ansar commander, Abu Malek al-Tali. Both these groups are a part of the recently formed Fa Ithbatu coalition.
Meanwhile, pro-militant sources are spreading rumors about an increase in operations of the Russian special forces in southern Idlib. According to them, a unit of the Russian special forces raided a position of Turkish-backed Suqur al-Sham near the village of Benin killing 4 and injuring 3 members of the group.
This became the first militant claim about the Russian Special Forces in Idlib since the signing of the March 5 de-escalation agreement between Ankara and Moscow. If such an attack really happened, it was likely a response to the recent drone attack by Idlib militants on Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base in Lattakia.
Late on June 24, an unidentified drone struck a militant vehicle moving on the road near the town of Binnish in Greater Idlib. The strike completely destroyed the vehicle and the several persons inside. While the eliminated militants are yet to be identified, local sources claim that the vehicle likely belonged to Ansar al-Tawhid or Horas al-Din. Recently, combat drones of the US-led coalition conducted several strikes on ISIS- and al-Qaeda-linked terrorists that hide in the Turkish-occupied part of Syria.
The Turkish Army and Turkish-backed militants shelled positions of the Syrian Army and the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) near the town of Tell Rifat in northern Aleppo. Pro-Turkish sources claim that several army and YPG fighters were killed. Strikes likely came in response to the recent series of attacks by YPG-affiliated cells on positions of pro-Turkish groups in the region of Afrin.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Wihout Your Immidiate Support, Our Ill-Wishers Will Win

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southfront--2020-06-25--Locals Protest Against Turkish-Backed Militants In Northeast Syria

On June 25 , dozens of civilians , mainly women , took to the streets of Ras al-Ain and the nearby village of Aluk Gharbi in northern al-Hasakah to protest against actions of Turkish-backed militants .
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) , the protesters gathered in front of the police station to condemn criminal acts of the Mu ’ tasim Division , whose fighters assaulted a nurse in a local hospital .
The UK-based monitoring group reported that several similar protests as well as general strikes were held in Turkish-occupied areas , including the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern Raqqa , over the last few days .
The Turkish military and its proxies occupied a large chunk of northeast Syria last year after a large-scale attack on the Syrian Democratic Forces .
The state of lawlessness is now prevailing over Turkish-occupied areas in northeast Syria .
Bombings take place there on a regular basis .
Earlier this week , dozens of people were killed or injured in a blast near Ras al-Ain .
Aside from the deteriorating security situation , civilians in Turkish-occupied areas in the northeast have been facing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish-conrrolled area is still lacking public services .
Prices of basics , like bread , are growing .
Turkey is not making any serious efforts to address these issues .
As a result , tensions between Turkish-led forces and locals have been increasing .
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On June 25, dozens of civilians, mainly women, took to the streets of Ras al-Ain and the nearby village of Aluk Gharbi in northern al-Hasakah to protest against actions of Turkish-backed militants.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the protesters gathered in front of the police station to condemn criminal acts of the Mu’tasim Division, whose fighters assaulted a nurse in a local hospital.
The UK-based monitoring group reported that several similar protests as well as general strikes were held in Turkish-occupied areas, including the towns of Tell Abyad and Suluk in northern Raqqa, over the last few days.
The Turkish military and its proxies occupied a large chunk of northeast Syria last year after a large-scale attack on the Syrian Democratic Forces.
The state of lawlessness is now prevailing over Turkish-occupied areas in northeast Syria. Bombings take place there on a regular basis. Earlier this week, dozens of people were killed or injured in a blast near Ras al-Ain.
Aside from the deteriorating security situation, civilians in Turkish-occupied areas in the northeast have been facing a serious humanitarian crisis. Most of the Turkish-conrrolled area is still lacking public services. Prices of basics, like bread, are growing.
Turkey is not making any serious efforts to address these issues. As a result, tensions between Turkish-led forces and locals have been increasing.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Military Situation In Palestine On June 25, 2020 (Map Update)

“ Of the 193 member states of the United Nations , 138 … have recognised the State of Palestine as @ @ @ @ @ – International recognition of the State of Palestine – “ Israel has diplomatic relations with @ @ @ @ @ member states as of December 2019 .
… Thirty-one UN member states do not recognize @ @ @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Palestine:
A Palestinian was shot dead and 38 others were wounded in clashes with the Israel Defense Forces in the town of Abu Dis of the Jerusalem Governorate;
Israeli forces arrested 14 Palestinians in Hebron, Jenin and Qalqilya in the West Bank;
Israeli forces destroyed two Palestinian homes in the village of Anata North-East of Jerusalem;
Israeli forces used grenades with a toxic gas during the invasion of the village of Fasail North of Jericho;
A delegation from Hamas, headed by Ismail Haniyeh, met with Russian Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov in Qatar.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Hay’at Tahrir Violates Agreement With Fa Ithbatu, Launches Large Attack In Western Idlib

Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) has violated its recent agreement with the Fa Ithbatu Operations Room by launching a large attack on its factions in western Aleppo .
Under the initial agreement , which was reached early on June 25 , both sides agreed to suspend their movements in western Idlib to de-escalate the situation .
According to opposition sources , HTS has violated the agreement by launching an attack on Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Din in the afternoon .
The attack targeted some positions and checkpoints of the two groups in the towns of al-Yacubiyeh and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy clashes are now taking place around the town of Arab Said , a stronghold of Fa Ithabtu .
Before launching its new attack , HTS accused Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Din of looting , claiming that they didn ’ t take part in the recent battle against the Syrian Arab Army .
HTS claimed in the statement that it is ready for a ceasefire and an agreement with Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Din .
However , only if the two groups meet its demands , which include the removal of all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between HTS and the Fa Ithbatu Operations Room will likely escalate further in the upcoming few days as both sides appear to be determined to continue their struggle .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • ISIS Terrorists Kill , Injure Several Syrian Soldiers In New Eastern Homs Attack

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Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has violated its recent agreement with the Fa Ithbatu Operations Room by launching a large attack on its factions in western Aleppo.
Under the initial agreement, which was reached early on June 25, both sides agreed to suspend their movements in western Idlib to de-escalate the situation.
According to opposition sources, HTS has violated the agreement by launching an attack on Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Din in the afternoon. The attack targeted some positions and checkpoints of the two groups in the towns of al-Yacubiyeh and al-Janoudiyah.
The sources also reported that heavy clashes are now taking place around the town of Arab Said, a stronghold of Fa Ithabtu.
Before launching its new attack, HTS accused Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Din of looting, claiming that they didn’t take part in the recent battle against the Syrian Arab Army.
“They [Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Din] didn’t witness a war, or keep security [in Greater Idlib],” the statement reads.
HTS claimed in the statement that it is ready for a ceasefire and an agreement with Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Din. However, only if the two groups meet its demands, which include the removal of all the newly-established checkpoints in Idlib.
The conflict between HTS and the Fa Ithbatu Operations Room will likely escalate further in the upcoming few days as both sides appear to be determined to continue their struggle.
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southfront--2020-06-25--US Embassy Helps Russians To Vote YES On Constitutional Amendments

On June 25 , the vote on amendments to the Russian constitution started in all the 14 administrative regions of Russia ’ s Far Eastern federal district , according to state media citing regional election commissions and administrative bodies .
The official vote is scheduled for July 1 , but authorities opened polling stations a week early to stop overcrowding amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
The proposed amendments will allow to strengthen the system of governance and limit a president ’ s rule to two six-year terms in total , rather than two consecutive terms , ( allowing Vladimir Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election ) .
Besides this , they will introduce economic changes needed to provide Russian citizens with an additional social and economic security , an affirmation of Russia ’ s “ faith in God ” , and entrench the definition of the marriage as a unity of a man and a women .
These conservative ( both social and economic ) moves go contrary to the neo-liberal agenda promoted by the so-called ‘ united West ’ .
On the same day , the US embassy in Russia , central Moscow , raised a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its building .
This move likely directly ordered by US Ambassador to Russia John J. Sullivan and was designed to demonstrate the US official position towards the current constitutional vote in Russia .
It is an open secret that the majority of the Russian population is against the official promotion of LGBT and neo-liberal values that became mainstream in the West .
Even in the biggest cities like Moscow or Saint Petersburg , the number of people supporting so-called ‘ neo-liberal ’ values does not exceed about 5 % .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values ” that bans LGBT propaganda among people under 18yo .
In these conditions , the move of the US embassy could be described as an intentional provocation .
At the same time , the voting on amendments to the Russian constitution also caused mixed feelings among residents of Moscow , Saint Petersburg and some other large cities that just recently experienced often strange and contradictory actions of local authorities in the conditions of the COVID-19 crisis .
This included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fees , and the drastic electronic surveillance measures employed by Moscow authorities .
A one more point of contradictions is that the proposed amendments will allow Vladimir Putin to participate in the next presidential election potentially allowing him to lead Russia until 2036 .
These factors are behind reports that a part of Moscow residents has opted to not participate in the voting .
There is also a segment of uncommitted voters .
Nonetheless , both these groups support traditional values and the definition of the marriage proposed in the amendments .
Over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been able to follow the situation in the United States , where LGBT activists were supporting left wing and black rioters .
The June 25 action initiated by the US Ambassador will motivate a part of uncommitted voters to support the conservative changes to the constitution .
In this situation , the US embassy decision is a foolery or an agitation trick in support of the “ YES ” vote .
Mr. Putin should thank US diplomats or even give a state decoration to Mr. Sullivan .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Low-Ranking Officers Of Russian Armed Forces • How Contemporary Russia Is Governed And By Whom

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On June 25, the vote on amendments to the Russian constitution started in all the 14 administrative regions of Russia’s Far Eastern federal district, according to state media citing regional election commissions and administrative bodies. The official vote is scheduled for July 1, but authorities opened polling stations a week early to stop overcrowding amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed amendments will allow to strengthen the system of governance and limit a president’s rule to two six-year terms in total, rather than two consecutive terms, (allowing Vladimir Putin to potentially participate in the next presidential election). Besides this, they will introduce economic changes needed to provide Russian citizens with an additional social and economic security, an affirmation of Russia’s “faith in God”, and entrench the definition of the marriage as a unity of a man and a women. These conservative (both social and economic) moves go contrary to the neo-liberal agenda promoted by the so-called ‘united West’.
On the same day, the US embassy in Russia, central Moscow, raised a LGBT flag alongside with a US flag on its building. This move likely directly ordered by US Ambassador to Russia John J. Sullivan and was designed to demonstrate the US official position towards the current constitutional vote in Russia.
It is an open secret that the majority of the Russian population is against the official promotion of LGBT and neo-liberal values that became mainstream in the West. Even in the biggest cities like Moscow or Saint Petersburg, the number of people supporting so-called ‘neo-liberal’ values does not exceed about 5%. There is a Russian federal law “for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values” that bans LGBT propaganda among people under 18yo. In these conditions, the move of the US embassy could be described as an intentional provocation.
At the same time, the voting on amendments to the Russian constitution also caused mixed feelings among residents of Moscow, Saint Petersburg and some other large cities that just recently experienced often strange and contradictory actions of local authorities in the conditions of the COVID-19 crisis. This included the increased administrative pressure, including various fees, and the drastic electronic surveillance measures employed by Moscow authorities. A one more point of contradictions is that the proposed amendments will allow Vladimir Putin to participate in the next presidential election potentially allowing him to lead Russia until 2036. These factors are behind reports that a part of Moscow residents has opted to not participate in the voting. There is also a segment of uncommitted voters. Nonetheless, both these groups support traditional values and the definition of the marriage proposed in the amendments.
Over the past weeks, Russian citizens have been able to follow the situation in the United States, where LGBT activists were supporting left wing and black rioters. The June 25 action initiated by the US Ambassador will motivate a part of uncommitted voters to support the conservative changes to the constitution.
In this situation, the US embassy decision is a foolery or an agitation trick in support of the “YES” vote. Mr. Putin should thank US diplomats or even give a state decoration to Mr. Sullivan.
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southfront--2020-06-25--ISIS Terrorists Kill, Injure Several Syrian Soldiers In New Eastern Homs Attack

On June 25 , ISIS announced that its members had carried out a new attack against Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) troops in the eastern Homs countryside .
The Amaq news agency reported that the group ’ s fighters attacked a unit of the army near the town of al-Sukhnah on June 23 .
Heavy clashes broke out there .
As a result , two soldiers were allegedly killed and another one was injured .
“ With the grace of God Almighty , caliphate soldiers clashed with elements of the apostate , Nusiri regime near the town of al-Sukhnah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which led to the death of 2 [ soldier ] , the injury of a third and the seizure a 4×4 vehicle equipped with a heavy machine gun , ” Amaq said in a statement .
Two days after the attack , a series of Russian airstrikes targeted ISIS hideouts in the Homs desert , which lays between eastern Homs and western Deir Ezzor .
The attack was likely launched from there .
Last week , ISIS cells launched an attack from the Homs desert on SAA positions in southern Deir Ezzor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three others were reportedly captured by the terrorist group .
In the last few months , the SAA and its allies inflicted heavy losses on ISIS remnants in the Homs desert .
Nevertheless , the group ’ s presence there is still strong .
More efforts are clearly needed to contain this threat .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkish-Backed NFL Claims Its Militants Killed Two Russian Service Members In Southern Idlib

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On June 25, ISIS announced that its members had carried out a new attack against Syrian Arab Army (SAA) troops in the eastern Homs countryside.
The Amaq news agency reported that the group’s fighters attacked a unit of the army near the town of al-Sukhnah on June 23. Heavy clashes broke out there. As a result, two soldiers were allegedly killed and another one was injured.
“With the grace of God Almighty, caliphate soldiers clashed with elements of the apostate, Nusiri regime near the town of al-Sukhnah two days ago, with machine guns, which led to the death of 2 [soldier], the injury of a third and the seizure a 4×4 vehicle equipped with a heavy machine gun,” Amaq said in a statement.
Two days after the attack, a series of Russian airstrikes targeted ISIS hideouts in the Homs desert, which lays between eastern Homs and western Deir Ezzor. The attack was likely launched from there.
Last week, ISIS cells launched an attack from the Homs desert on SAA positions in southern Deir Ezzor. Eight soldiers were killed, while three others were reportedly captured by the terrorist group.
In the last few months, the SAA and its allies inflicted heavy losses on ISIS remnants in the Homs desert. Nevertheless, the group’s presence there is still strong. More efforts are clearly needed to contain this threat.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Militant Infighting In Idlib And Kurdish-Turkish Tensions In Afrin (Map Update)

Those mercenaries have weakness , the Russian and Syrian must find a way to keep them fighting amomg themselves… .

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
Turkish-backed forces shelled the village of Babilla in Maarrat al-Nu’man District;
Horas al-Din acknowledged the death of its commander Khalid al-Aruri as a result of the US R9X drone strike on June 14;
Fa Ithbatu took control of a security checkpoint of HTS in the village of Al-Yaqoubiya, north of Jisr al-Shughour;
Clashes between HTS and Fa Ithbatu continue west of Idlib’s city center and in the village of Arab Said;
Two people were killed and 3 wounded as a result of a motorcycle explosion in Afrin;
Turkish Armed Forces artillery targeted YPG positions near the Menagh airbase and in Malikiyah, Shawargat Ar, Al-Kamiya villages;
HTS’ security forces raided the main headquarters of Ansar al-Din in the town of Saramada in northern Idlib ;
Abu Adnan al-Homsi, commander of al-Qaeda-affiliated Horas al-Din was killed in a drone strike on Greater Idlib.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Turkish-Backed NFL Claims Its Militants Killed Two Russian Service Members In Southern Idlib

The National Front for Liberation ( NFL ) announced on June 25 that its militants had killed two service members of the Russian Special Forces and two Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) soldiers in the southern Idlib countryside .
Cpt .
Naji Mustafa , a spokesman for the Turkish-backed group , claimed that the four service members were killed while they were taking part in an large-scale attack on the town of Benin on June 24 and 25 .
The NFL ’ s claims were dismissed by pro-government sources that reported that the Russian Special Forces raided a position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Benin on June 24 .
At least seven militants of the faction were killed or injured in the raid .
Russian forces sustained no losses whatsoever .
On June 25 , Russian forces and the SAA didn ’ t carry out any attack on Benin or any other area in Idlib , according to the sources .
In spite of this , opposition sources falsely reported heavy clashes around the town .
These claims appear to be a propaganda stunt meant to rise the low morale of militants ’ supporters in Greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the infighting there .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Hay ’ at Tahrir Al-Sham And Fa Ithbatu Reach Initial Agreement To Resolve Their Dispute

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The National Front for Liberation (NFL) announced on June 25 that its militants had killed two service members of the Russian Special Forces and two Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers in the southern Idlib countryside.
Cpt. Naji Mustafa, a spokesman for the Turkish-backed group, claimed that the four service members were killed while they were taking part in an large-scale attack on the town of Benin on June 24 and 25.
The NFL’s claims were dismissed by pro-government sources that reported that the Russian Special Forces raided a position of the NFL’s Suqur al-Sham in Benin on June 24. At least seven militants of the faction were killed or injured in the raid. Russian forces sustained no losses whatsoever.
On June 25, Russian forces and the SAA didn’t carry out any attack on Benin or any other area in Idlib, according to the sources. In spite of this, opposition sources falsely reported heavy clashes around the town.
These claims appear to be a propaganda stunt meant to rise the low morale of militants’ supporters in Greater Idlib as well as to distract them from the infighting there.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Military Situation In Iraq On June 25, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • ISIS claimed responsibility @ @ @ @ @ an Iraqi Humvee near the city of Hit in al-Anbar province ; • According to @ @ @ @ @ members were killed as a result of Turkish airstrikes in northern Iraq ; • The @ @ @ @ @ ISIS VBIED in the town of Azim in Diyala province ; MORE ON THE TOPIC @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
ISIS claimed responsibility for an IED attack on an Iraqi Humvee near the city of Hit in al-Anbar province;
Turkish warplanes conducted airstrikes on Zakho district;
According to Turkish media, 5 PKK members were killed as a result of Turkish airstrikes in northern Iraq;
The 1st PMU Brigade destroyed an ISIS VBIED in the town of Azim in Diyala province;
The Iraqi Armed Forces struck ISIS strongholds in Qara Chokh mountains.
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southfront--2020-06-25--Prof Michel Chossudovsky: “Colonial Drug Trafficking and the British Empire”

By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987 , the UN General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse .
Rarely acknowledged , ( “ legal ” ) drug trafficking was initiated by the British Empire .
There is continuity .
The colonial label has been scrapped .
Today the ( “ illicit ” ) drug trade is a multibillion dollar operation .
The two main hubs of production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approximately 90 % of the World supply of opium ( transformed into heroin and opioid related products ) .
There was a successful drug eradication programme in 2000-2001 which was initiated ( with UN support ) .
prior to the US-NATO led invasion in October 2001 .
Since the invasion and military occupation , according to UNODC , the production of opium has increased 50 fold , reaching 9000 metric tons in 2017 .
• The Andean region of South America ( Colombia , Peru , Bolivia ) which produces cocaine .
Colombia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug Economy is an integral part of Empire Building .
Drug trafficking is protected by the US military and intelligence apparatus .
( This will be the object of several Global Research articles which will be published in the next few days in support of the June 26 , 2020 UN sponsored “ global observance to raise awareness ” ) .
The Role of the British Empire Historically , drug trafficking was an integral part of British colonialism .
It was “ legal ” .
Opium produced in Bengal by the British East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to China ’ s Southern port of Canton .
While the share of agricultural land allocated to opium was comparatively small , opium production under colonial rule was nonetheless conducive to impoverishing the Indian population , destabilizing the agriculture system as well as triggering numerous famines .
According to an incisive BBC report : “ The cash crop [ opium ] occupied between a quarter and half of a peasant ’ s holding .
By the end of the 19th Century poppy farming had an impact on the lives of some 10 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar .
The trade was run by the East India Company , the powerful multinational corporation established for trading with a royal charter that granted it a monopoly over business with Asia .
This state-run trade was achieved largely through two wars , which forced China to open its doors to British Indian opium .
… Stiff production targets fixed by the Opium Agency also meant farmers – the typical poppy cultivator was a small peasant – could not decide whether or not to produce opium .
They were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and labour to the colonial government ’ s export strategy ” .
When China ’ s Qing Emperor Daoguang ordered the destruction of opium stocks in the port of Canton ( Guangzhou ) in 1838 , the British Empire declared war on China on the grounds that it was obstructing the “ free flow ” of commodity trade .
The term “ trafficking ” applies to Britain .
It was condoned and supported throughout the reign of Queen Victoria ( 1837-1901 ) .
In 1838 , 1,400 tons of opium per annum were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wake of the First Opium war , the volume of these shipments ( which extended until 1915 ) increased dramatically .
The so-called first opium war ( 1838-1842 ) , which represented an act of aggression against China was followed by the 1842 Treaty of Nanjing , which not only protected British imports of opium into China , it also granted extraterritorial rights to Britain and other colonial powers leading to the formation of the “ Treaty Ports ” .
The massive revenues of the opium trade were then used by Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be called the “ laundering of drug money ” .
The channeling of opium revenues was also used to finance the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank ( HKSB ) established by the BEIC in 1865 in the wake of the first opium war .
In 1855 , Sir John Bowring on behalf of the British Foreign Office negotiated a treaty with King Mongkut ( Rama IV ) of Siam , entitled T he Anglo-Siamese Treaty of Friendship and Commerce ( April 1855 ) which allowed for the free and unrestricted import of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thailand ) .
While Britain ’ s trade in opium with China was abolished in 1915 , Britain ’ s drug trafficking monopoly continued until India ’ s Independence in 1947 .
Affiliate companies of the BEIC such as Jardine Matheson played an important role in the drug trade .
Historians have focussed on the Atlantic Triangular Slave Trade : slaves from Africa exported by colonial powers to the Americas , followed by commodities produced in plantations using slave labour exported back to Europe .
Britain ’ s colonial drug trade had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colonial plantations by impoverished farmers in Bengal was exported to China , the revenues of which ( paid in silver coins ) were used largely to finance Britain ’ s imperial expansion including mining in Australia and South Africa .
No compensation was paid to the victims of the British Empire ’ s drug trade .
The impoverished farmers of Bengal .
Together with the Atlantic slave trade , colonial drug trafficking constitutes a crime against humanity .
Both the Slave Trade and Drug Trafficking were sustained by racism .
in 1877 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project ” which consisted in integrating the British and US empires into a single Anglo-Saxon Empire : “ I contend that we are the finest race in the world … Just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens of human beings… Why should we not form a secret society… for making the Anglo-Saxon race but one Empire… Africa is still lying ready for us it is our duty to take it .
… It is our duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race , more of the best the most human , most honourable race the world possesses .
There is continuity from the colonial style legitimate “ drug war ” led by the British Empire , to the present drug trafficking structures : Afghanistan under US military occupation , the Narco-State in Latin America .
Today , drug trafficking is a multi-trillion dollar business .
The UN office on drugs and crime estimates the laundering of drug money and other criminal activity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Global GDP , $ 800 billion to $ 3 trillion .
Drug money is laundered through the global banking system .
Remember the Crack Cocaine scandal revealed in 1996 by journalist Gary Webb .
Crack was sold to the African-American communities in Los Angeles .
Since 2001 , the retail sale of heroin and opioids has become increasingly “ weaponized ” directed against sustaining racism , poverty and social inequality .
While today ’ s drug trade is the source of wealth and enrichment , drug addiction including the use of heroin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2001 , 1,779 Americans were killed as a result of heroin overdose .
By 2016 , heroin addiction resulted in 15,446 deaths .
Those lives would have been saved had the US and its NATO allies NOT invaded and occupied Afghanistan in 2001 .
See our forthcoming articles on drug abuse and “ Illicit Trafficking ” .

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Written by Prof Michel Chossudovsky; Originally appeared at Global Research
By resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the UN General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.
Raise awareness?
Rarely acknowledged, (“legal”) drug trafficking was initiated by the British Empire. There is continuity. The colonial label has been scrapped. Today the (“illicit”) drug trade is a multibillion dollar operation.
The two main hubs of production today are:
Afghanistan which produces approximately 90% of the World supply of opium (transformed into heroin and opioid related products). There was a successful drug eradication programme in 2000-2001 which was initiated (with UN support). prior to the US-NATO led invasion in October 2001. Since the invasion and military occupation, according to UNODC, the production of opium has increased 50 fold, reaching 9000 metric tons in 2017.
reaching 9000 metric tons in 2017. The Andean region of South America (Colombia, Peru, Bolivia) which produces cocaine. Colombia is a US supported narco-state.
The Drug Economy is an integral part of Empire Building. Drug trafficking is protected by the US military and intelligence apparatus.
(This will be the object of several Global Research articles which will be published in the next few days in support of the June 26, 2020 UN sponsored “global observance to raise awareness”).
The Role of the British Empire
Historically, drug trafficking was an integral part of British colonialism. It was “legal”.
Opium produced in Bengal by the British East India Company (BEIC) was shipped to China’s Southern port of Canton.
The state-sponsored export of opium from British India to China was arguably the largest and most enduring drug operation in history. At its peak in the mid-19th century it accounted for roughly 15% of total colonial revenue in India and 31% of India’s exports. To supply this trade the East India Company (EIC) – and later the British Government – developed a highly regulated cultivation system in which over one million farmers a year were under contract to grow opium poppies. … The agency system ensured that farmers did not share in the large profits of the opium trade. Given their monopsony power, the opium agencies were able to “keep the price of crude opium just on the economic edge” (Jonathan Lehne, 2011)
While the share of agricultural land allocated to opium was comparatively small, opium production under colonial rule was nonetheless conducive to impoverishing the Indian population, destabilizing the agriculture system as well as triggering numerous famines.
According to an incisive BBC report:
“The cash crop [opium] occupied between a quarter and half of a peasant’s holding. By the end of the 19th Century poppy farming had an impact on the lives of some 10 million people in what is now the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The trade was run by the East India Company, the powerful multinational corporation established for trading with a royal charter that granted it a monopoly over business with Asia. This state-run trade was achieved largely through two wars, which forced China to open its doors to British Indian opium. … Stiff production targets fixed by the Opium Agency also meant farmers – the typical poppy cultivator was a small peasant – could not decide whether or not to produce opium. They were forced to submit part of their land and labour to the colonial government’s export strategy”.
BEIC Opium Factory and Stacking Warehouse, Patna, 1850s
China and the Opium Wars
When China’s Qing Emperor Daoguang ordered the destruction of opium stocks in the port of Canton (Guangzhou) in 1838, the British Empire declared war on China on the grounds that it was obstructing the “free flow” of commodity trade.
The term “trafficking” applies to Britain. It was condoned and supported throughout the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). In 1838, 1,400 tons of opium per annum were exported from India to China. In the wake of the First Opium war, the volume of these shipments (which extended until 1915) increased dramatically.
The so-called first opium war (1838-1842), which represented an act of aggression against China was followed by the 1842 Treaty of Nanjing, which not only protected British imports of opium into China, it also granted extraterritorial rights to Britain and other colonial powers leading to the formation of the “Treaty Ports”.
The massive revenues of the opium trade were then used by Britain to finance its colonial conquests. Today it would be called the “laundering of drug money”. The channeling of opium revenues was also used to finance the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank (HKSB) established by the BEIC in 1865 in the wake of the first opium war.
In 1855, Sir John Bowring on behalf of the British Foreign Office negotiated a treaty with King Mongkut (Rama IV) of Siam, entitled The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of Friendship and Commerce (April 1855) which allowed for the free and unrestricted import of opium into the Kingdom of Siam (Thailand).
While Britain’s trade in opium with China was abolished in 1915, Britain’s drug trafficking monopoly continued until India’s Independence in 1947. Affiliate companies of the BEIC such as Jardine Matheson played an important role in the drug trade.
Racism, Narcotics and Colonialism
Historians have focussed on the Atlantic Triangular Slave Trade: slaves from Africa exported by colonial powers to the Americas, followed by commodities produced in plantations using slave labour exported back to Europe.
Britain’s colonial drug trade had a similar triangular structure. Opium produced in colonial plantations by impoverished farmers in Bengal was exported to China, the revenues of which (paid in silver coins) were used largely to finance Britain’s imperial expansion including mining in Australia and South Africa.
No compensation was paid to the victims of the British Empire’s drug trade. The impoverished farmers of Bengal.
Together with the Atlantic slave trade, colonial drug trafficking constitutes a crime against humanity.
Both the Slave Trade and Drug Trafficking were sustained by racism. in 1877, Cecil Rhodes put forth a “secret project” which consisted in integrating the British and US empires into a single Anglo-Saxon Empire:
“I contend that we are the finest race in the world … Just fancy those parts that are at present inhabited by the most despicable specimens of human beings… Why should we not form a secret society… for making the Anglo-Saxon race but one Empire…
Africa is still lying ready for us it is our duty to take it. … It is our duty to seize every opportunity of acquiring more territory and we should keep this one idea steadily before our eyes that more territory simply means more of the Anglo-Saxon race, more of the best the most human, most honourable race the world possesses.
There is continuity from the colonial style legitimate “drug war” led by the British Empire, to the present drug trafficking structures: Afghanistan under US military occupation, the Narco-State in Latin America.
Today, drug trafficking is a multi-trillion dollar business. The UN office on drugs and crime estimates the laundering of drug money and other criminal activity to be of the order of 2-5 percent of Global GDP, $800 billion to $3 trillion. Drug money is laundered through the global banking system.
Remember the Crack Cocaine scandal revealed in 1996 by journalist Gary Webb. Crack was sold to the African-American communities in Los Angeles.
Since 2001, the retail sale of heroin and opioids has become increasingly “weaponized” directed against sustaining racism, poverty and social inequality.
While today’s drug trade is the source of wealth and enrichment, drug addiction including the use of heroin, opioids and synthetic opioids has skyrocketed In 2001, 1,779 Americans were killed as a result of heroin overdose. By 2016, heroin addiction resulted in 15,446 deaths.
Those lives would have been saved had the US and its NATO allies NOT invaded and occupied Afghanistan in 2001.
See our forthcoming articles on drug abuse and “Illicit Trafficking”.
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southfront--2020-06-26--In Video: Turkish Airstrike Hits Civilians In Iraqi Kurdistan

A Kurdish fighter was killed and six civilians were injured on June 25 when a Turkish airstrike targeted a pick-up truck parked near a resort in the town of Kuna Masi in the district of Sharbazhir of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region .
Shaho Osman , mayor of Sharbazhir in the northwestern province of Sulaymaniyah , told Rudaw that the injured civilians are two men , two women , and two children , five of them are members of the same family .
It remains uncertain if the slain Kurdish fighter was a member of the Kurdistan Worker ’ s Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Turkey as a terrorist group .
The Turkish airstrike on Kuna Masi didn ’ t only injure civilians , but also terrorized families who were spending time in the nearby resort .
Jîl Şwanî , a Kurdish writer , shared a video showing young children and their parents running for safety when the Turkish airstrike took place .
He confirmed , however , that none of the people seen in the video were hurt .
Earlier this month , the Turkish Ministry of National Defence launched Operation Claw-Eagle against PKK remnants in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ministry ’ s caims , hundreds of positions of the group have been targeted , thus far .
Kuna Masi airstrike led to a backlash against the Kurdistan Government , which was accused of facilitating the Turkish operation against the PKK in the region .
Seven civilians has been killed in Kurdistan since the beginning of Operation Claw-Tiger .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : Clashes Rage Between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham And Other Al-Qaeda Groups In Idlib

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A Kurdish fighter was killed and six civilians were injured on June 25 when a Turkish airstrike targeted a pick-up truck parked near a resort in the town of Kuna Masi in the district of Sharbazhir of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
Shaho Osman, the mayor of Sharbazhir in the northwestern province of Sulaymaniyah, told Rudaw that the injured civilians are two men, two women, and two children. Five of them are members of the same family.
It remains uncertain if the slain Kurdish fighter was a member of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), whcih is designated by Turkey as a terrorist group.
The Turkish airstrike on Kuna Masi didn’t only injure civilians, but also terrorized families who were spending time in the nearby resort.
Jîl Şwanî, a Kurdish writer, shared a video showing young children and their parents running for safety when the Turkish airstrike took place. He confirmed, however, that none of the people seen in the video were hurt.
Is this okay with you? @masrour_barzani @qubadjt @jensstoltenberg this is my brother playing with my nephew when a Turkish bomb drops 20 meters away from them in Kuna Masi. #TwitterKurds pic.twitter.com/tNUK8HeWt0 — Jîl Şwanî (@thejilswani) June 25, 2020
Earlier this month, the Turkish Ministry of National Defence launched Operation Claw-Eagle against the PKK in the Kurdistan Region. According to the ministry’s caims, hundreds of positions of the group have been targeted so far.
The Kuna Masi airstrike led to a backlash against the Kurdistan Government, which was accused of facilitating the Turkish operation in the region. Seven civilians has been killed in Kurdistan since the beginning of Operation Claw-Tiger.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
Clashes Rage Between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham And Other Al-Qaeda Groups In Idlib
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southfront--2020-06-26--Epic Of Attrition 3: New Video Release Documents Recent ISIS Attacks In Syria’s Al-Hasakah

On June 24 , ISIS released a new video documenting recent attacks by its cells against the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) in the northeastern governorate of al-Hasakah .
The 12-minute video , that is titled “ Epic Of Attrition 3 , ” includes footage of terrorist attacks which took place between August 31 of 2019 and May 23 of 2020 .
• 72 operations , including raids , assassinations and bombings , were carried out ; • 169 commanders and fighters of the SDF were killed or injured ; • 36 vehicles of the SDF were destroyed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ISIS cells assassinating three fighters and an official of the SDF on highways in al-Hasakah .
Three of the victims were shot with silenced handguns while they were aboard their motorcycles .
The video release also includes horrifying footage showing the execution of six SDF fighters .
One of the victims was beheaded by ISIS terrorists .
ISIS confirmed its responsibility for some of the recent bombings in al-Hasakah in the video .
The group shared footage of two bombings and six attacks with improvised explosive devices ( IEDs ) targeting vehicles of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted oil tankers in al-Hasakah .
One of the tankers was transporting oil to government-held areas .
The video release also shows ISIS terrorists shelling a base of the U.S.-led coalition in the town of al-Shaddadi with 107 mm rockets .
The results of the attack are still unknown .
Footage of a raid by ISIS terrorists on an SDF position in al-Hasakah were also included in the video release .
Several SDF fighters were killed .
Loads of weapons and equipment were captured by the terrorist group .
The video release was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their allegiance to the terrorist group ’ s new leader , Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi .
The Epic of Attrition 3 is meant to intimidate the locals in al-Hasakah , especially Arabs and tribal leaders supporting the SDF .
The terrorist group is apparently working to expand its influence from Deir Ezzor to the oil-rich northeastern governorate .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Russia Deployed Its Navy Seals And Dolphins To Defend Tartus Port , Syria : Covert Shores Report

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On June 24, ISIS released a new video documenting recent attacks on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northeastern governorate of al-Hasakah.
The 12-minute video, that is titled “Epic Of Attrition 3,” includes footage of terrorist attacks which took place between August 31 of 2019 and May 23 of 2020.
According to ISIS claims:
72 operations, including raids, assassinations and bombings, were carried out;
169 commanders and fighters of the SDF were killed or injured;
36 vehicles of the SDF were destroyed.
The first part of the video shows ISIS cells assassinating three fighters and an official of the SDF on highways in al-Hasakah. Three of the victims were shot with silenced handguns while they were moving on their motorcycles.
The video release also includes horrifying footage showing the execution of six SDF fighters. One of the victims was beheaded by ISIS terrorists.
ISIS confirmed its responsibility for some of the recent bombings in al-Hasakah in the video. The group shared footage of two bombings and six attacks with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) targeting vehicles of the SDF.
Two other IED attacks targeted oil tankers in al-Hasakah. One of the tankers was transporting oil to government-held areas.
The video release also shows ISIS terrorists shelling a base of the U.S.-led coalition in the town of al-Shaddadi with 107 mm rockets. The results of the attack are still unknown.
Footage of a raid by ISIS terrorists on an SDF position in al-Hasakah were also included in the video release. Several SDF fighters were killed. Loads of weapons and equipment were captured by the terrorist group.
The video release was concluded with footage of ISIS terrorists pledging their allegiance to the terrorist group’s new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.
The Epic of Attrition 3 is meant to intimidate the locals in al-Hasakah, especially Arabs and tribal leaders supporting the SDF. The terrorist group is apparently working to expand its influence from Deir Ezzor to the oil-rich northeastern governorate.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-06-26--US Adds Further Charges In Its Efforts To Extradite Julian Assange

The Justice Department on Wednesday said it had filed a second superseding indictment against imprisoned publisher Julian Assange , adding to existing computer intrusion charges .
The statement released by the Justice Department declares : “ The new indictment does not add additional counts to the prior 18-count superseding indictment returned against Assange in May 2019 .
It does , however , broaden the scope of the conspiracy surrounding alleged computer intrusions with which Assange was previously charged .
According to the charging document , Assange and others at WikiLeaks recruited and agreed with hackers to commit computer intrusions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release said the new indictment alleges that : “ In 2012 , Assange communicated directly with a leader of the hacking group LulzSec ( who by then was cooperating with the FBI ) , and provided a list of targets for LulzSec to hack .
With respect to one target , Assange asked the LulzSec leader to look for ( and provide to WikiLeaks ) mail and documents , databases and pdfs .
In another communication , Assange told the LulzSec leader that the most impactful release of hacked materials would be from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
WikiLeaks obtained and published emails from a data breach committed against an American intelligence consulting company by an ‘ Anonymous ’ and LulzSec-affiliated hacker .
According to that hacker , Assange indirectly asked him to spam that victim company again.
” The indictment quotes Assange at hacking conferences encouraging hackers to obtain a “ Most Wanted Leaks ” list of classified materials that sought to publish .
Consortium News reports of the latest charges : The superseding indictment says Assange was allegedly able to learn from “ unauthorized access ” to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that country were monitoring him .
The indictment says the source of this information was a former member of Anonymous who worked with named Sabu , identified in the press as Hector Monsegur , who became an FBI informant after being arrested in June 2011 .
In the same month , Iceland ’ s Interior Minister Ögmundur Jonasson prevented FBI agents from entering Iceland , testifying that “ FBI dirty-tricks operations were afoot against .
” He said the agents had been sent to seek “ our cooperation in what I understood as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frame Julian Assange and .
” The possibility remains that the new evidence against Assange was obtained in an FBI sting operation .
The new indictment repeats the existing espionage and computer intrusion charges .
About the latter , the DOJ release said : “ In addition , the broadened hacking conspiracy continues to allege that Assange conspired with Army Intelligence Analyst Chelsea Manning to crack a password hash to a classified U.S. Department of Defense computer.
” Assange was helping Manning sign in as an administrator to a system she had legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information , but instead to download video games , movies and music videos forbidden to U.S. military personnel , Assange ’ s lawyers argued during the first week of his extradition hearing in February at Woolwich Crown Court next to Belmarsh Prison in London .
Assange is being held in the notorious maximum security prison on remand on a U.S. extradition request for 17 counts of espionage and the one for computer intrusion .
LINK Paul Craig Roberts , who has followed the legal trial closely , is particularly scathing of the US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ One thing the United States most certainly is not is a democracy .
A democracy requires an informed electorate , and the United States most certainly does not have an informed electorate .
The American media , indeed , the entirety of the Western print and TV media , functions as a Propaganda Ministry for Washington and the ruling oligarchies .
The explanations are controlled to serve the agendas of the ruling elites .
The persecution and torture of Julian Assange proves conclusively that the First Amendment is a dead-letter Amendment… ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Torture , has described how his investigation of Assange ’ s treatment liberated him from the false picture that has been created in order to establish the legal precedent that government crimes against humanity can not be revealed : “ In the end it finally dawned on me that I had been blinded by propaganda , and that Assange had been systematically slandered to divert attention from the crimes he exposed .
Once he had been dehumanized through isolation , ridicule and shame , just like the witches we used to burn at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deprive him of his most fundamental rights without provoking public outrage worldwide .
And thus , a legal precedent is being set , through the backdoor of our own complacency , which in the future can and will be applied just as well to disclosures by The Guardian , the New York Times and ABC News .
Even so , you may say , why spend so much breath on Assange , when countless others are tortured worldwide ?
Because this is not only about protecting Assange , but about preventing a precedent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy .
For once telling the truth has become a crime , while the powerful enjoy impunity , it will be too late to correct the course .
We will have surrendered our voice to censorship and our fate to unrestrained tyranny.
” LINK The move comes amid unprecedented attempts by both social media companies and the US administration to tighten their control over the media and alternative communication for their own respective purposes .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Trump tries to tame the social media shrew

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The Justice Department on Wednesday said it had filed a second superseding indictment against imprisoned WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, adding to existing computer intrusion charges.
The statement released by the Justice Department declares:
“The new indictment does not add additional counts to the prior 18-count superseding indictment returned against Assange in May 2019. It does, however, broaden the scope of the conspiracy surrounding alleged computer intrusions with which Assange was previously charged. According to the charging document, Assange and others at WikiLeaks recruited and agreed with hackers to commit computer intrusions to benefit WikiLeaks.”
Specifically, the DOJ release said the new indictment alleges that:
“In 2012, Assange communicated directly with a leader of the hacking group LulzSec (who by then was cooperating with the FBI), and provided a list of targets for LulzSec to hack. With respect to one target, Assange asked the LulzSec leader to look for (and provide to WikiLeaks) mail and documents, databases and pdfs. In another communication, Assange told the LulzSec leader that the most impactful release of hacked materials would be from the CIA, NSA, or the New York Times. WikiLeaks obtained and published emails from a data breach committed against an American intelligence consulting company by an ‘Anonymous’ and LulzSec-affiliated hacker. According to that hacker, Assange indirectly asked him to spam that victim company again.”
The indictment quotes Assange at hacking conferences encouraging hackers to obtain a “Most Wanted Leaks” list of classified materials that WikiLeaks sought to publish. Consortium News reports of the latest charges:
The superseding indictment says Assange was allegedly able to learn from “unauthorized access” to a website of this government that police from that country were monitoring him. The indictment says the source of this information was a former member of Anonymous who worked with WikiLeaks named Sabu, identified in the press as Hector Monsegur, who became an FBI informant after being arrested in June 2011. In the same month, Iceland’s Interior Minister Ögmundur Jonasson prevented FBI agents from entering Iceland, testifying that “FBI dirty-tricks operations were afoot against WikiLeaks.” He said the agents had been sent to seek “our cooperation in what I understood as an operation to set up, to frame Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.” The possibility remains that the new evidence against Assange was obtained in an FBI sting operation. The new indictment repeats the existing espionage and computer intrusion charges. About the latter, the DOJ release said: “In addition, the broadened hacking conspiracy continues to allege that Assange conspired with Army Intelligence Analyst Chelsea Manning to crack a password hash to a classified U.S. Department of Defense computer.” Assange was helping Manning sign in as an administrator to a system she had legal access to, not to access classified information, but instead to download video games, movies and music videos forbidden to U.S. military personnel, Assange’s lawyers argued during the first week of his extradition hearing in February at Woolwich Crown Court next to Belmarsh Prison in London. Assange is being held in the notorious maximum security prison on remand on a U.S. extradition request for 17 counts of espionage and the one for computer intrusion. LINK
Paul Craig Roberts, who has followed the legal trial closely, is particularly scathing of the US attempt to persecute and prosecute Assange.
“One thing the United States most certainly is not is a democracy. A democracy requires an informed electorate, and the United States most certainly does not have an informed electorate. The American media, indeed, the entirety of the Western print and TV media, functions as a Propaganda Ministry for Washington and the ruling oligarchies. The explanations are controlled to serve the agendas of the ruling elites. The persecution and torture of Julian Assange proves conclusively that the First Amendment is a dead-letter Amendment…”
Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, has described how his investigation of Assange’s treatment liberated him from the false picture that has been created in order to establish the legal precedent that government crimes against humanity cannot be revealed:
“In the end it finally dawned on me that I had been blinded by propaganda, and that Assange had been systematically slandered to divert attention from the crimes he exposed. Once he had been dehumanized through isolation, ridicule and shame, just like the witches we used to burn at the stake, it was easy to deprive him of his most fundamental rights without provoking public outrage worldwide. And thus, a legal precedent is being set, through the backdoor of our own complacency, which in the future can and will be applied just as well to disclosures by The Guardian, the New York Times and ABC News. Even so, you may say, why spend so much breath on Assange, when countless others are tortured worldwide? Because this is not only about protecting Assange, but about preventing a precedent likely to seal the fate of Western democracy. For once telling the truth has become a crime, while the powerful enjoy impunity, it will be too late to correct the course. We will have surrendered our voice to censorship and our fate to unrestrained tyranny.” LINK
The move comes amid unprecedented attempts by both social media companies and the US administration to tighten their control over the media and alternative communication for their own respective purposes.
VIDEO – ‘The Julian Assange Case, Honest Government Ad’
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