southfront--2020-11-26--Moroccan Armed Forces Secury Guerguerat Border Post, And Reinforce Its Positions, Clashes In Western

Moroccan Armed Forces Secury Guerguerat Border Post, And Reinforce Its Positions, Clashes In Western Sahara Continue

On November 24th , Morocco ’ s Armed Forces have cleared access to the Guerguerat border post , reinforcing positions it took this month to protect the only road leading from Western Sahara to Mauritania .
The kingdom in early November accused the Algeria-backed Polisario Front movement of blocking the key highway for trade with the rest of Africa .
It launched a military operation to reopen it before deploying heavy machinery in the buffer zone at Guerguerat .
Morocco retains its military positions on the ground , and is not pushing further inward .
That is in line with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to secure the area , ensure the flow of traffic and stop any Polisario incursions , a senior government official said in Rabat .
Polisario Front , however , said that the 30-year-long truce is over , and the war has been renewed .
According to analysts , the clashes show that the Polisario Front is frustrated with the 30-year-long status quo .
The group , mainly backed by Algeria , has long demanded a referendum on independence in the territory as provided for by a 1991 UN Security Council resolution .
Morocco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep sovereignty over the former Spanish colony .
Stephane Dujarric , spokesman for the United Nations Secretary General confirmed on November 24th the continuation of hostilities in Western Sahara , calling for the elimination of all obstacles to the resumption of the political process .
We also continue to receive reports of sporadic gunfire , and this along the northern and eastern parts of the Moroccan sand wall , ” he told a press briefing , in the moment when Morocco continues to downplay the scale of clashes in El Guerguarat , southwest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ these incidents took place mainly during the night , ” adding the United Nations Mission for the referendum of self-determination in Western Sahara ( Minurso ) , is still present across the Sahrawi territory , including El Guerguerat .
“ They ( members of the mission ) obviously continue to monitor the situation , ” he said .
“ The Mission obviously continues to be in contact with all relevant stakeholders , and our message continues to make it clear that the parties must take all necessary measures to defuse tensions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political process , ” the spokesman of the UN chief added .
The Polisario Front claims it has the upper hand in the fighting .
The Moroccan army , whose morale is at the lowest , according to military experts , has suffered numerous losses in equipment and human lives , according to the Sahrawi army .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Polisario Front Continues Pushing Morocco ’ s Wall , With No End Of Hostilities In Sight ( Map Update )

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On November 24th, Morocco’s Armed Forces have cleared access to the Guerguerat border post, reinforcing positions it took this month to protect the only road leading from Western Sahara to Mauritania.
The kingdom in early November accused the Algeria-backed Polisario Front movement of blocking the key highway for trade with the rest of Africa.
It launched a military operation to reopen it before deploying heavy machinery in the buffer zone at Guerguerat.
Morocco retains its military positions on the ground, and is not pushing further inward.
That is in line with Moroccan King Mohamed VI’s orders to secure the area, ensure the flow of traffic and stop any Polisario incursions, a senior government official said in Rabat.
Polisario Front, however, said that the 30-year-long truce is over, and the war has been renewed.
According to analysts, the clashes show that the Polisario Front is frustrated with the 30-year-long status quo.
The group, mainly backed by Algeria, has long demanded a referendum on independence in the territory as provided for by a 1991 UN Security Council resolution.
Morocco has offered autonomy but insists it will keep sovereignty over the former Spanish colony.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations Secretary General confirmed on November 24th the continuation of hostilities in Western Sahara, calling for the elimination of all obstacles to the resumption of the political process.
We also continue to receive reports of sporadic gunfire, and this along the northern and eastern parts of the Moroccan sand wall,” he told a press briefing, in the moment when Morocco continues to downplay the scale of clashes in El Guerguarat, southwest of Western Sahara.
Dujarric said that “these incidents took place mainly during the night,” adding the United Nations Mission for the referendum of self-determination in Western Sahara (Minurso), is still present across the Sahrawi territory, including El Guerguerat.
“They (members of the mission) obviously continue to monitor the situation,” he said. “The Mission obviously continues to be in contact with all relevant stakeholders, and our message continues to make it clear that the parties must take all necessary measures to defuse tensions, eliminate all obstacles to the resumption of the political process,” the spokesman of the UN chief added.
The Polisario Front claims it has the upper hand in the fighting.
“So far, despite Moroccan attempts to downplay the gravity of the situation, intensive military clashes between the Sahrawi military and the Moroccan occupying forces continue along the illegal Moroccan military wall, which has already caused human and material losses,” affirmed the Polisario Front.
The Moroccan army, whose morale is at the lowest, according to military experts, has suffered numerous losses in equipment and human lives, according to the Sahrawi army.
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southfront--2020-11-26--CIA Officer Killed In Combat In Somalia – Report

An officer of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency , CIA , was killed in combat in Somalia , the New York Times reported on November 25 , citing former and current U.S. officials .
According to the newspaper , the officials didn ’ t say if the officer was killed during a counter-terrorism raid or as a result of an enemy attack .
The officer , whose identity was not unveiled , was a member of the Special Activities Center , the paramilitary division of the CIA , and a former member of the U.S. Navy ’ s elite SEAL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting the Somali National Army in stand-off with al-Shabaab , an affiliate of al-Qaeda , for years now .
The forces are carrying out airstrikes , ground assaults and training Somali forces .
Al-Shabaab , which is mainly active in the southern part of Somalia , has between 5,000 and 10,000 fighters , according to estimates from the U.S. Africa Command .
In September , al-Shabaab attacked U.S. and Somali forces in Jana Cabdalle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and mortars .
A U.S. service member was injured in the attack .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 600 troops from Somalia in the near future .
President Donald Trump may make a decision on this before leaving office on the 20th of January .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Syrian Army Supported By Russian Aerospace Forces Chases After ISIS In Central Syria

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An officer of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, was killed in combat in Somalia, the New York Times reported on November 25, citing former and current U.S. officials.
According to the newspaper, the officials didn’t say if the officer was killed during a counter-terrorism raid or as a result of an enemy attack.
The officer, whose identity was not unveiled, was a member of the Special Activities Center, the paramilitary division of the CIA, and a former member of the U.S. Navy’s elite SEAL Team 6.
U.S. forces have been supporting the Somali National Army in stand-off with al-Shabaab, an affiliate of al-Qaeda, for years now. The forces are carrying out airstrikes, ground assaults and training Somali forces.
Al-Shabaab, which is mainly active in the southern part of Somalia, has between 5,000 and 10,000 fighters, according to estimates from the U.S. Africa Command.
In September, al-Shabaab attacked U.S. and Somali forces in Jana Cabdalle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device and mortars. A U.S. service member was injured in the attack.
Washington is reportedly making plans to withdraw more than 600 troops from Somalia in the near future. President Donald Trump may make a decision on this before leaving office on the 20th of January.
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southfront--2020-11-27--Car Bomb Explosion Claimed Lives Of Turkish-Baked Militants in Syria’s Ras Al-Ain (Photos)

On November 27 , a large explosion rocked the southern outskirts of the Turkish-occupied town of Ras al-Ain in the northern countryside of Syria ’ s al-Hasakah .
Opposition sources said the explosion was caused by a booby-trapped car that blew up in a checkpoint of the Syrian National Army ( SNA ) near the village of Tell Janab .
The checkpoint was wiped out as a result of the explosion .
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , four militants of the SNA ’ s Ahrar al-Sharqiyah faction were killed in the attack .
Several other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a spokesman for the local council in Ras al-Ain , held the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) responsible for the attack .
The local official didn ’ t provide any evidence to back his accusations .
The Turkish military and its proxies captured Ras al-Ain and its outskirts in October of 2019 after a fierce battle with the SDF , whose fighters showed fierce resistance .
The new attack is the most recent in a series of bombing that began after the Turkish invasion of northeastern Syria .
So far , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish service members have been killed in similar attacks .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Former Turkish Officer Sheds Light On Smuggling Of Weapons Into Syria

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On November 27, a large explosion rocked the southern outskirts of the Turkish-occupied town of Ras al-Ain in the northern countryside of Syria’s al-Hasakah.
Opposition sources said the explosion was caused by a booby-trapped car that blew up in a checkpoint of the Syrian National Army (SNA) near the village of Tell Janab. The checkpoint was wiped out as a result of the explosion.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, four militants of the SNA’s Ahrar al-Sharqiyah faction were killed in the attack. Several other militants were injured.
Abdullah al-Jashaam, a spokesman for the local council in Ras al-Ain, held the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) responsible for the attack. The local official didn’t provide any evidence to back his accusations.
The Turkish military and its proxies captured Ras al-Ain and its outskirts in October of 2019 after heavy clashes with the SDF, whose fighters showed fierce resistance.
The new attack is the most recent in a series of bombing that began after the Turkish invasion of northeastern Syria. So far, dozens of civilians, militants and several Turkish service members have been killed in similar attacks.
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southfront--2020-11-27--France Pushes For EU Sanctions On Turkey Over Mediterranean Gas Row

France ’ s leading efforts to push for European sanctions on fellow NATO member Turkey has picked up steam , with Paris expected to propose the punitive action next month with the backing of Greece and Cyprus , but so far with lack of enthusiasm from other EU governments .
It comes after the months-long standoff in the Eastern Mediterranean over Turkish hydrocarbon exploration and drilling , which France says is a violation of Cyprus and Greece ’ s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones .
According to , “ Paris says Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has not heeded EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back down in a dispute over gas exploration in the Mediterranean or face consequences.
” “ The European Parliament on Thursday is expected to call for sanctions , decrying Erdogan ’ s visit earlier this month to the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north of the island of Cyprus , ” continues .
It ’ s expected that the French sanctions would target shipping , banking , and energy sectors – all vital to Turkey ’ s oil and gas exploration initiatives .
France ’ s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian issued a bit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week : “ Confrontation or collaboration , it ’ s up to them , ” he said .
But one unnamed EU diplomat cited in Reuters underscored that “ Turkey is a key partner in many areas , so there ’ s no consensus in the Council ( of EU governments ) .
It is still too early ” – which suggests a likely uphill battle before any European sanctions actually become a reality .
France in the past months has gone so far as to join naval and aerial exercises with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mediterranean as a “ warning ” to Turkey .
However , Erdogan has appeared undeterred .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Chaos And Armed Conflicts : U.S. Strategy To Dismantle Russia Is Already Working • Upset Azerbaijani Troops Try To Provoke Russian Peacekeepers In Dadivank

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
France’s leading efforts to push for European sanctions on fellow NATO member Turkey has picked up steam, with Paris expected to propose the punitive action next month with the backing of Greece and Cyprus, but so far with lack of enthusiasm from other EU governments.
It comes after the months-long standoff in the Eastern Mediterranean over Turkish hydrocarbon exploration and drilling, which France says is a violation of Cyprus and Greece’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones.
According to Reuters, “Paris says Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has not heeded EU leaders’ warnings on Oct. 1 to back down in a dispute over gas exploration in the Mediterranean or face consequences.”
Turkish frigate Gaziantep escorts a drilling ship in the eastern Mediterranean near Cyprus. Turkish Defense Ministry/AFP
“The European Parliament on Thursday is expected to call for sanctions, decrying Erdogan’s visit earlier this month to the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north of the island of Cyprus,” Reuters continues.
It’s expected that the French sanctions would target shipping, banking, and energy sectors – all vital to Turkey’s oil and gas exploration initiatives.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian issued a bit of an ultimatum at a French parliamentary hearing this week: “Confrontation or collaboration, it’s up to them,” he said.
But one unnamed EU diplomat cited in Reuters underscored that “Turkey is a key partner in many areas, so there’s no consensus in the Council (of EU governments). It is still too early” – which suggests a likely uphill battle before any European sanctions actually become a reality.
Via CNN
France in the past months has gone so far as to join naval and aerial exercises with the Greek and Cypriot militaries in the Mediterranean as a “warning” to Turkey. However, Erdogan has appeared undeterred.
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southfront--2020-11-27--Russian Warplanes Hit Militant Positions In Syria’s Lattakia

Late on November 26 , warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a number of airstrikes on militants ’ positions in the northern Lattakia countryside .
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrikes hit the outskirts of the town of Kabani .
The town is a stronghold of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham , Ajnad al-Kavkaz , the Turkistan Islamic Party and other smaller terrorist groups .
The Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation also maintains a presence near the town .
From Kabani , the terrorist groups launch rocket and artillery strikes on Syrian military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Base on a regular basis .
“ Opposition factions operating in Lattakia countryside shelled , with heavy artillery , regime positions in Tallat Al-Burkan near Kabani area in Jabal al-Akrad in the north-eastern countryside of Lattakia , ” the SOHR reported a few hours prior to the Russian airstrikes , which were likely a response to the shelling .
Militants in northern Lattakia and in other parts of Greater Idlib are violating the ceasefire , that was brokered by Russia and Turkey earlier this year , at an increasing rate .
The situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable .
The militants are stepping up their attacks under the watchful eyes of Turkey .
Nevertheless , there are indications of any near operation by Syrian government forces and their allies .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Former Turkish Officer Sheds Light On Smuggling Of Weapons Into Syria

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Late on November 26, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out a number of airstrikes on militants’ positions in the northern Lattakia countryside.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the airstrikes had hit the outskirts of the town of Kabani. The town is a stronghold of al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Ajnad al-Kavkaz, the Turkistan Islamic Party and other smaller terrorist groups. The Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation also maintains a presence near the town.
From Kabani, the terrorist groups launch rocket and artillery strikes on Syrian military positions and Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base on a regular basis.
“Opposition factions operating in Lattakia countryside shelled, with heavy artillery, regime positions in Tallat Al-Burkan near Kabani area in Jabal al-Akrad in the north-eastern countryside of Lattakia,” the SOHR reported a few hours prior to the Russian airstrikes, which were likely a response to the shelling.
Militants in northern Lattakia and in other parts of Greater Idlib are violating the ceasefire, that was brokered by Russia and Turkey earlier this year, at an increasing rate.
The situation in Greater Idlib is still far from stable. The militants are stepping up their attacks under the watchful eyes of Turkey. Nevertheless, there are indications of any near operation by Syrian government forces and their allies.
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southfront--2020-11-27--YouTube Attempts To Silence The Mises Institute

YouTube , the dominant video platform owned by Google , decided yesterday to remove a Mises Institute video .
This decision apparently lasts for all eternity , can not be appealed to an actual human , and comes with this friendly admonition : “ Because it ’ s the first time , this is just a warning .
If it happens again , your channel will get a strike and you won ’ t be able to do things like upload , post , or live stream for 1 week.
” The video , a talk by Tom Woods titled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 1.5 million views , was recorded at our live event in Texas two weeks ago .
It offered challenges to the official narrative surrounding the coronavirus , particularly with respect to mask mandates .
Woods ’ s talk featured several charts showing rises in Covid “ cases ” across multiple cities and countries not long after imposing mask rules , demonstrating how such rules apparently have little effect on slowing transmission of the virus .
The speech was nothing less than a heartfelt tour de force against the terrible lockdowns and pseudoscience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a call to reexamine tradeoffs and priorities .
It was , as you might imagine , a mix of unassailable data combined with our friend Tom ’ s strong prescription for liberty and personal choice rather than centralized state edicts .
In other words , YouTube had no earthly business removing it .
This kind of discourse seems to me the best and highest use for YouTube , its most important function .
“ Big Digital , ” as Professor Michael Rectenwald terms tech companies , have become “ governmentalities ” : supposedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power and state narratives .
This sordid process is different for each company , ( some are more complicit than others , a few are heroically non-compliant ) but it involves a mix of early start-up funding ; connections and contracts with state agencies , particularly relating to defense and surveillance ; and propaganda campaigns in service of state narratives .
Rectenwald explains this phenomenon in his own recent talk titled “ The Google Election “ : In short , Google , Facebook and others are not strictly private sector entities ; they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have given to the term .
They are extensions and apparatuses of the state .
Furthermore , these platforms are governmentalities with a particular interest in the growth and extension of governmentality itself .
This includes championing every kind of “ subordinated ” and newly created identity class that they can find or create , because such “ endangered ” categories require state acknowledgement and protection .
Thus , the state ’ s circumference continues to expand .
Big Digital is partial to the interests and growth of the state .
It not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shares their values .
This helps makes sense of its leftist bent and their preference for the deep state Democrats .
Leftism is statism .
We encourage readers to consider the entirety of Rectenwald ’ s talk , and his sobering book for his thorough treatment of the facts and realities behind tech companies and the US state .
This is not alarmism or conspiracies , but documented examples of how Google , Facebook , YouTube , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn and others actively participate—including financially—in a melding of corporate and state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real fascism .
Big Digital—what writer Ilana Mercer calls “ Deep Tech ” — is not a collection of private companies in the sense we think of such .
They are partners of the federal government , committed to ideological service as part and parcel of their own bottom line .
Thankfully , the sneering call to “ build your own platforms ” is being answered .
Companies like Bitchute and LBRY ( its video platform is Odysee ) continue to host Mises Institute content , and promise to continue doing so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woods ’ s forbidden talk at those respective source here and here .
Truth tellers matter more than ever .
It ’ s time for our own institutions and platforms , which is precisely why the Mises Institute exists .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Covid Offices and the Religion of Remote Work • The Post Covid World , The WEF ’ s Diabolical Project : “ Resetting the Future of Work Agenda ” – After “ The Great Reset ” .
A Horrifying Future

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Written by Jeff Diest; Originally appeared at Mises Institute
YouTube, the dominant video platform owned by Google, decided yesterday to remove a Mises Institute video. This decision apparently lasts for all eternity, cannot be appealed to an actual human, and comes with this friendly admonition: “Because it’s the first time, this is just a warning. If it happens again, your channel will get a strike and you won’t be able to do things like upload, post, or live stream for 1 week.”
The video, a talk by Tom Woods titled “The Covid Cult” with more than 1.5 million views, was recorded at our live event in Texas two weeks ago. It offered challenges to the official narrative surrounding the coronavirus, particularly with respect to mask mandates. Woods’s talk featured several charts showing rises in Covid “cases” across multiple cities and countries not long after imposing mask rules, demonstrating how such rules apparently have little effect on slowing transmission of the virus.
The speech was nothing less than a heartfelt tour de force against the terrible lockdowns and pseudoscience plaguing the debate over Covid, and a call to reexamine tradeoffs and priorities. It was, as you might imagine, a mix of unassailable data combined with our friend Tom’s strong prescription for liberty and personal choice rather than centralized state edicts.
In other words, YouTube had no earthly business removing it. This kind of discourse seems to me the best and highest use for YouTube, its most important function.
“Big Digital,” as Professor Michael Rectenwald terms tech companies, have become “governmentalities”: supposedly private enterprises turned into instruments of state power and state narratives. This sordid process is different for each company, (some are more complicit than others, a few are heroically non-compliant) but it involves a mix of early start-up funding; connections and contracts with state agencies, particularly relating to defense and surveillance; and propaganda campaigns in service of state narratives. Rectenwald explains this phenomenon in his own recent talk titled “The Google Election“:
In short, Google, Facebook and others are not strictly private sector entities; they are governmentalities in the sense that I have given to the term. They are extensions and apparatuses of the state. Furthermore, these platforms are governmentalities with a particular interest in the growth and extension of governmentality itself. This includes championing every kind of “subordinated” and newly created identity class that they can find or create, because such “endangered” categories require state acknowledgement and protection. Thus, the state’s circumference continues to expand. Big Digital is partial to the interests and growth of the state. It not only does business with statists but also shares their values. This helps makes sense of its leftist bent and their preference for the deep state Democrats. Leftism is statism.
We encourage readers to consider the entirety of Rectenwald’s talk, and his sobering book Google Archipelago for his thorough treatment of the facts and realities behind tech companies and the US state. This is not alarmism or conspiracies, but documented examples of how Google, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and others actively participate—including financially—in a melding of corporate and state power.
This, then, is real fascism. Big Digital—what writer Ilana Mercer calls “Deep Tech”— is not a collection of private companies in the sense we think of such. They are partners of the federal government, committed to ideological service as part and parcel of their own bottom line.
Thankfully, the sneering call to “build your own platforms” is being answered. Companies like Bitchute and LBRY (its video platform is Odysee) continue to host Mises Institute content, and promise to continue doing so. In fact, you can view Dr. Woods’s forbidden talk at those respective source here and here.
Truth tellers matter more than ever. It’s time for our own institutions and platforms, which is precisely why the Mises Institute exists.
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southfront--2020-11-27--Pashinyan Addresses The Nation, Says He Won’t Resign, Blames Opposition And “External” Forces For Ch

Pashinyan Addresses The Nation, Says He Won’t Resign, Blames Opposition And “External” Forces For Chaos

On November 27th , Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an address to the nation .
He didn ’ t resign , and he continued blaming various forces inside and outside Armenia for the loss in Nagorno-Karabakh and the chaos inside the country .
He said that the government would not resign , and he would not give up power .
But that is not because it should be considered a “ clinging to power ” but rather because there are external and internal forces that allegedly wish to make it seem like there is anarchy inside of Armenia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlined that following the signing of the peace deal what is currently happening in Nagorno-Karabakh follows the decisions to the letter .
“ Continuing my thought , I want to emphasize that what is happening these days is the process of implementing the November 9 announcement .
And that process , please pay attention , also implies that in Gegharkunik region , in particular , the Armenian Armed Forces should be located on the state border of the Republic of Armenia , the border that we know as the border of Soviet Armenia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the part of Kalbajar .
Moreover , this limit is determined not by an eye gauge , but by GPS coordinates.
” He spoke of the Sotk mine and that “ they ” want the war to move to Armenia and are causing issues related to everything that takes place .
“ And as it was clarified , the Sotk mine was partly located in the territory of Soviet Armenia , partly in the territory of Soviet Azerbaijan .
In general , the demarcation is a rather complicated process and , whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must take place not only with the participation of Russian peacekeepers , but also with the representatives of Azerbaijan .
And every time this work causes panic , misinformation and a sense of chaos in the society , it is done for one purpose .
They want , I repeat , to move the war to Armenia , because they are used to coming to power with blood and holding power with blood .
But I repeat , we will not allow this , the people will not allow this .
And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement bodies of Armenia are in full control of the situation , and the law enforcement bodies will not allow this .
And I would also like to thank the law enforcement officers for their work during this time .
We are talking about the National Security Service , the Police , the State Security Service , the Investigative Bodies , the Prosecutor ’ s Office.
” He said that the government was doing everything it had to , to protect the Armenian people ’ s interests .
Then he moved on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that misinformation was spread about how the war was mismanaged were false .
“ There is a lot of talk these days about the people losing trust in the official media , and the justification is that the government and I allegedly passed false information to the public during the war .
The reality , however , is completely different .
In all my speeches at the beginning and during the war , I have said practically everything about the war , I have said a little differently , in ways and means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said so that what is said does not give the enemy so much information that may be inadmissible and threaten our security.
” He then played the victim , saying that he did everything he could , and his family too , and it wasn ’ t right to protest against him .
“ But this is not the essence of what I have to say , the essence of what I have to say is that during the whole war the truth was told to the people , it was told according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was said with faith and purpose to break the situation every minute , and for that we must cherish the fighting spirit and even declare defeats in such a way that it does not break the fighting soldier , the soldier I was talking about , who are invincible until the last moment .
keep their position , their line.
” He concluded with a story about peace , how it was important to preserve it , and also not lose focus of retaining stability in Armenia , and to that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resign , after all he brings democracy to Armenia .
Mostly by persecuting the opposition for protesting .
“ The important goal today is to preserve the peace that has been achieved , to make it lasting , and if we can make it permanent , much better .
Today , the important goal is to ensure stability and security around Armenia and Artsakh , to ensure the security of Artsakh .
Ensuring the smooth and safe operation of the Lachin corridor , ensuring the conditions for the return of the people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affected regions .
And for this it is necessary , I repeat , it is necessary to implement the November 9 agreements .
These arrangements also include the exchange of bodies of prisoners and victims .
From these agreements comes the intensification of the search for the missing , which is a very important issue for all of us , and here every hour , every minute can be fatal .
I have met with hundreds of relatives of the missing and captured soldiers these days .
Listen to all their demands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we must act quickly , but I repeat , unfortunately , it depends not only on us .
It depends not only on us.
” MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Azerbaijan ’ s Forces Leave Sotk Gold Mine , Pashinyan And Putin “ Frequently Speak Over The Phone ”

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On November 27th, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made an address to the nation.
He didn’t resign, and he continued blaming various forces inside and outside Armenia for the loss in Nagorno-Karabakh and the chaos inside the country.
“I appeal to you again because, especially in these difficult days, it is very important to preserve our national pride and our national dignity, because pride and dignity are very easy to maintain when it is not under attack, when nothing threatens it, but it is more important to persevere when dignity and pride have come under many blows.”
He said that the government would not resign, and he would not give up power. But that is not because it should be considered a “clinging to power” but rather because there are external and internal forces that allegedly wish to make it seem like there is anarchy inside of Armenia and that needs to be stopped.
“I want to say clearly and unequivocally that we will not allow this, not because we cling to power, but because the people do not want it, the proud citizen of the Republic of Armenia, whose pride, yes, is bruised, but not destroyed, whose dignity, yes, is damaged, but not dead.”
He underlined that following the signing of the peace deal what is currently happening in Nagorno-Karabakh follows the decisions to the letter.
“Continuing my thought, I want to emphasize that what is happening these days is the process of implementing the November 9 announcement. And that process, please pay attention, also implies that in Gegharkunik region, in particular, the Armenian Armed Forces should be located on the state border of the Republic of Armenia, the border that we know as the border of Soviet Armenia, I am talking now, specifically in the part of Kalbajar. Moreover, this limit is determined not by an eye gauge, but by GPS coordinates.”
He spoke of the Sotk mine and that “they” want the war to move to Armenia and are causing issues related to everything that takes place.
“And as it was clarified, the Sotk mine was partly located in the territory of Soviet Armenia, partly in the territory of Soviet Azerbaijan. In general, the demarcation is a rather complicated process and, whether we like it or not, it must take place not only with the participation of Russian peacekeepers, but also with the representatives of Azerbaijan. And every time this work causes panic, misinformation and a sense of chaos in the society, it is done for one purpose. They want, I repeat, to move the war to Armenia, because they are used to coming to power with blood and holding power with blood. But I repeat, we will not allow this, the people will not allow this. And I also want to emphasize that the law enforcement bodies of Armenia are in full control of the situation, and the law enforcement bodies will not allow this. And I would also like to thank the law enforcement officers for their work during this time. We are talking about the National Security Service, the Police, the State Security Service, the Investigative Bodies, the Prosecutor’s Office.”
He said that the government was doing everything it had to, to protect the Armenian people’s interests.
Then he moved on to state propaganda and said that all claims that misinformation was spread about how the war was mismanaged were false.
“There is a lot of talk these days about the people losing trust in the official media, and the justification is that the government and I allegedly passed false information to the public during the war. The reality, however, is completely different. In all my speeches at the beginning and during the war, I have said practically everything about the war, I have said a little differently, in ways and means specific to the war, I have said so that what is said does not give the enemy so much information that may be inadmissible and threaten our security.”
He then played the victim, saying that he did everything he could, and his family too, and it wasn’t right to protest against him.
“But this is not the essence of what I have to say, the essence of what I have to say is that during the whole war the truth was told to the people, it was told according to the rules specific to the war. It was said with faith and purpose to break the situation every minute, and for that we must cherish the fighting spirit and even declare defeats in such a way that it does not break the fighting soldier, the soldier I was talking about, who are invincible until the last moment. keep their position, their line.”
He concluded with a story about peace, how it was important to preserve it, and also not lose focus of retaining stability in Armenia, and to that end there is no way he could resign, after all he brings democracy to Armenia.
Mostly by persecuting the opposition for protesting.
“The important goal today is to preserve the peace that has been achieved, to make it lasting, and if we can make it permanent, much better. Today, the important goal is to ensure stability and security around Armenia and Artsakh, to ensure the security of Artsakh. Ensuring the smooth and safe operation of the Lachin corridor, ensuring the conditions for the return of the people of Artsakh, restoring Artsakh and Armenia, the affected regions. And for this it is necessary, I repeat, it is necessary to implement the November 9 agreements. These arrangements also include the exchange of bodies of prisoners and victims. From these agreements comes the intensification of the search for the missing, which is a very important issue for all of us, and here every hour, every minute can be fatal. I have met with hundreds of relatives of the missing and captured soldiers these days. Listen to all their demands and complaints. They are right and we must act quickly, but I repeat, unfortunately, it depends not only on us. It depends not only on us.”
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southfront--2020-11-27--Russian President And Rosneft Chief Discuss Massive Vostok Oil Project, Beyond The Polar Circle

The two spoke on several topics , including Vostok Oil in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex in the Far East .
The Rosneft head thanked Putin for supporting the Vostok Oil project and for the investment benefits provided for the development of infrastructure .
The investment allowed to create an economically effective model and to start the practical implementation of the Project .
Rosneft has pledged to deliver up to 30 million tonnes of oil to the Northern Sea Route by 2024 .
Igor Sechin reported that exploration work is being conducted to prepare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The priority sites for multiple well pads have been identified and they will number 150 at the initial stage of the project .
The survey and design stage of the project to build a pipeline , which will be 770 kilometres long , and a port in Sever Bay have been finished .
These projects will ensure the production , transportation and transhipment of up to 50 million tonnes of oil a year at the initial stage , and up to 100 million tonnes when the second stage is completed .
To meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosneft signed a contract with Inter RAO for a set of works to design and construct energy facilities , including energy centres with a total capacity of 2,500 GW , as well as more than 3,500 kilometres of power lines .
o ship oil produced by this project , an order for 10 Arc7 ice-class tankers have been placed at the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex .
In total , there will be 50 vessels of different types servicing the Project , including tankers , gas carriers and supply vessels .
A long-term contract was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ units produced in Russia .
These machines are equipped with modern geolocation and geosteering systems that can be bound to a specific drilling point .
They stand on a hydraulic platform , which ensures more precise drilling , greater drilling speed , higher efficiency and less risk of accidents .
The drilling unit has a modular structure .
The provision of the equipment for the implementation of the project is also on-going .
In particular , the long-term supply contract with KAMAZ for the supply of machinery , special-purpose equipment and the establishment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the first stage , the Project will require 2,500 pieces of machinery , special-purpose equipment and cranes .
Subsequently , the total quantity may increase to 6,000 units .
The possibility of procuring helicopters for the Vostok Oil project was discussed with Rostec .
Considering the fleet the Company already has , around 50 new helicopters will be required at the first stage .
The Project is to create tens of thousands of new jobs .
It will take over 400,000 people to develop the Vostok Oil fields , including 130,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towns will be built to accommodate workers who will stay there in shifts .
The implementation of the project creates additional incentives for the localization of high-tech equipment and ensures an increase in domestic demand for products of various industries , equivalent to 2 % of GDP per year .
Experts , in turn , emphasize that the main demand for oil until 2025 will be provided by Asian countries , mainly China and India .
In this sense , the Vostok Oil project was launched extremely timely .
MORE ON THE TOPIC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fact , Is A Hot War Likely ?
• Russia Intensifies Economic And Security Efforts In the

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On November 25th, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Rosneft Oil Company Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin.
The two spoke on several topics, including Vostok Oil in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex in the Far East.
The Rosneft head thanked Putin for supporting the Vostok Oil project and for the investment benefits provided for the development of infrastructure.
The investment allowed to create an economically effective model and to start the practical implementation of the Project. Rosneft has pledged to deliver up to 30 million tonnes of oil to the Northern Sea Route by 2024.
Igor Sechin reported that exploration work is being conducted to prepare the resource portfolio of Vostok Oil. The priority sites for multiple well pads have been identified and they will number 150 at the initial stage of the project.
The survey and design stage of the project to build a pipeline, which will be 770 kilometres long, and a port in Sever Bay have been finished.
These projects will ensure the production, transportation and transhipment of up to 50 million tonnes of oil a year at the initial stage, and up to 100 million tonnes when the second stage is completed.
To meet the energy needs of the Project, Rosneft signed a contract with Inter RAO for a set of works to design and construct energy facilities, including energy centres with a total capacity of 2,500 GW, as well as more than 3,500 kilometres of power lines.
o ship oil produced by this project, an order for 10 Arc7 ice-class tankers have been placed at the Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex.
In total, there will be 50 vessels of different types servicing the Project, including tankers, gas carriers and supply vessels.
A long-term contract was signed on delivering up to 100 drilling units produced in Russia. These machines are equipped with modern geolocation and geosteering systems that can be bound to a specific drilling point.
They stand on a hydraulic platform, which ensures more precise drilling, greater drilling speed, higher efficiency and less risk of accidents. The drilling unit has a modular structure.
The provision of the equipment for the implementation of the project is also on-going.
In particular, the long-term supply contract with KAMAZ for the supply of machinery, special-purpose equipment and the establishment of specialised maintenance centres has been extended.
At the first stage, the Project will require 2,500 pieces of machinery, special-purpose equipment and cranes. Subsequently, the total quantity may increase to 6,000 units.
The possibility of procuring helicopters for the Vostok Oil project was discussed with Rostec. Considering the fleet the Company already has, around 50 new helicopters will be required at the first stage.
The Project is to create tens of thousands of new jobs. It will take over 400,000 people to develop the Vostok Oil fields, including 130,000 Rosneft personnel and contractors. Fifteen new towns will be built to accommodate workers who will stay there in shifts.
The implementation of the project creates additional incentives for the localization of high-tech equipment and ensures an increase in domestic demand for products of various industries, equivalent to 2% of GDP per year.
Experts, in turn, emphasize that the main demand for oil until 2025 will be provided by Asian countries, mainly China and India. In this sense, the Vostok Oil project was launched extremely timely.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-11-27--Chaos And Armed Conflicts: U.S. Strategy To Dismantle Russia Is Already Working

In 2020 , there have been several notable developments , that all seem to have been happening along Russia ’ s borders and in key regions developments in which influencing the Russian position on the international scene .
• Ukraine ’ s refusal to seek peace in its East with the Donetsk and Luhansk People ’ s Republics , and various questionable policies .
• Western-backed protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko , with a ‘ school teacher-turned-politician ’ challenging him with an insignificant share of the vote in the presidential election .
She received wide support from the West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Poland and the Baltics .
• The Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) and other groups in Syria are being supported openly , and not so openly , by the United States and sabotage the further diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Syria .
• The situation in Central Asia is rather exacerbated , with an evident increase in ISIS activity in Afghanistan , alongside various terrorist elements appearing near its borders with Collective Security Treaty Organization ( CSTO ) countries .
The Russian Security Service – FSB – is hard at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terror cells on the territory of the Russian Federation , and reports such as these are frequent , meaning that there appears to be a network that is successful in either moving terrorist elements into the country , or recruiting them there .
• There also was the Armenian-Azerbaijan War in Nagorno-Karabakh , which Russia didn ’ t directly involve itself in , since the fight was for the self-proclaimed independent republic of Artsakh , and Armenia never officially asked for assistance .
Regardless , with the Peace Deal it brokered on November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Armenia blaming Russia for the defeat .
And that is even though it essentially saved it from an even bigger fiasco and loss of territory .
At the same time , despite being the victor , Azerbaijan simply received what it was promised with the Minsk agreements , with the addition of Shusha .
There are protests against Russia in Azerbaijan , a country in which any non-government sanctioned protest is snuffed , violently .
There are calls that Russia stole the “ glorious victory ” , while in Armenia there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian peacekeepers are there and somehow force their hand in the fight .
• Turkey deployed thousands of Syrian militants to South Caucasus , and there are claims that it is even reportedly attempting to relocate families from Syria ’ s Afrin and other areas to the parts of Karabakh that were given to Azerbaijan .
This is likely to also provide a fresh extremist presence in the region .
• Turkey , once again , appeared to be shifting its gaze towards Crimea , but also cooperate with Ukraine in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment .
All of these developments , somehow , almost entirely coincide with a report which the RAND Corporation released back in 2019 .
The report is called “ Extending Russia ” with the subtitle “ Competing from Advantageous Ground.
” A short description of the report reads the following : Notably , the report suggests that the following “ Geopolitical measures ” need to be employed in order to counter Russia ’ s spreading influence and capabilities to provide an adequate answer to an extraordinary situation .
This chapter describes six possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : There are several other possible geopolitical moves discussed in other RAND research but not directly evaluated here—including intensifying NATO ’ s relationship with Sweden and Finland , pressuring Russia ’ s position in the Arctic , and checking Russia ’ s attempts to secure its influence in Asia .
Between 2014 and 2016 , the US provided $ 600 million in security assistance to Ukraine .
These funds have been used to train Ukrainian military forces and provided nonlethal military equipment , including counterartillery and countermortar radars , secure communications , logistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical equipment .
According to RAND , the US could increase its military assistance to Ukraine , or increase its calls to allow Kiev into NATO .
Eastern Ukraine is already a significant drain on Russian resources , exacerbated by the accompanying Western sanctions .
Increasing U.S. military aid would certainly drive up the Russian costs , but doing so could also increase the loss of Ukrainian lives and territory or result in a disadvantageous peace settlement .
This would generally be seen as a serious setback for U.S. policy .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There appears to be no conclusive peace settlement in Ukraine , and anti-Russian policy continues moving forward full speed .
The Kiev regime , at large controlled from Washington , is intentionally sabotaging attempts to de-escalate the situation and publicly preparing for a new military operation in eastern Ukraine .
Recently , pro-Kiev sources started laying great hopes on the Turkish military aid .
For sure , the US is also involved .
In August 2020 , incoming US President Joe Biden promised to provide Ukraine with even more lethal weapons .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved several sales of “ defensive lethal weapons ” to Ukraine .
As such this part of RAND ’ s suggestion appears to be moving , more or less , according to plan .
Increased U.S. support to the so-called ‘ moderate ’ Syrian opposition could perpetuate and intensify a civil war that had begun to wind down , thereby imposing attritional costs on both Russia and Iran .
RAND believes that such support should also reduce the “ moderate opposition ’ s ” reliance on the better-armed , more extremist groups and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of moderate opposition forces to combat the “ more extremist elements.
” Now , first of all RAND doesn ’ t even deny that the most of “ moderate opposition ” is made up of extremists , who are fighting against even more extreme elements .
At the same time , the reality of the situation is this : the US , with all its claims of complete withdrawal from Syria , simply employed the SDF separatist leadership as a tool of sabotaging the peace settlement in Syria , while Washington is looting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies exploit Syrian oil resources .
Some of the money is used to bankroll the SDF .
The Russian side has repeatedly also claimed that ISIS and ISIS-affiliated fighters were being trained and received improved weaponry in the US-controlled areas of Syria .
Unlike Ukraine , the United States does not have a single actor to aid in the fight in Syria but rather faces a plethora of groups—often with murky affiliations—increasing the chances of weapons falling into the wrong hands .
In the highly unlikely event of total success—if Russia were to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were to somehow ‘ defeat ’ Damascus—the result would be a major geopolitical setback for Moscow but also a major contraction in its foreign commitments and associated expenditures , not to mention a huge responsibility for the United States and its allies to assume .
At the same time , it appears that supporting the “ moderate rebels ” isn ’ t proving effective enough and Israel is picking up the slack with targeting various Syrian and alleged Iranian positions in the areas under Damascus ’ control .
Essentially , there were some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any significant , since the fight in Syria appears to be too far gone .
Likewise , according to RAND , this course of action might have been viable a few years ago , when the armed opposition was stronger and less radicalized .
Under current circumstances , the most that expanded U.S. aid could likely do would be to perpetuate a conflict that has already destabilized an entire region .
Russia might be forced to pay a bit more for its Syrian commitment but only at the cost of continued regional turbulence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casualties and displaced personnel .
Belarus is Russia ’ s neighbour and important ally .
It provides a buffer between Russia and major NATO countries and is the initial link in Russia ’ s ground lines of communication between the mainland and Kaliningrad— the Russian enclave entirely encircled by Lithuania and Poland .
Already host to Russian forces , Belarus features prominently in many notional conflicts among the United States , NATO , and Russia .
In a zero-sum world , denying Russia its one and only true ally would be a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It would bring an end to “ Europe ’ s last dictatorship , ” a long-standing U.S. policy goal .
RAND considered regime change in Belarus as one of the most significant escalations , but the attempts have all but failed , and with Russia actually not having to lift a finger .
Even despite Lukashenko attempt to get some concessions from Russia prior to the protests in the country .
Currently , protests in Belarus are still on-going , but they ’ ve barely achieved any real progress in the regime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference in the internal situation in Belarus is an undeniable fact .
Lukashenko may be making some interesting claims regarding Russia , or attempting to play tough in order to get a discount from Moscow on natural gas , or some other commodity , but at the same time is wise enough to continue actively communicating with Russian President Vladimir Putin and remain a formal ally .
The RAND analysis begins with reminding that in 2008 , the Georgian-Russian relations with damaged severely , after a few days of war and the resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Russia also plays a key role with Azerbaijan and Armenia , particularly over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh .
Ethnically Armenian but geographically located within Azerbaijan , Nagorno- Karabakh ’ s bid to join the Armenia Soviet Socialist Republic during the latter years of the Soviet Union was denied by the Soviet Politburo because of the risk of encouraging secessionist movements elsewhere .
According to RAND , the United States could extend Russia in the Caucasus in two ways .
First , the United States could push for a closer NATO relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia to strengthen its military presence in South Ossetia , Abkhazia , Armenia , and southern Russia .
Alternatively , the United States could try to induce Armenia to break with Russia .
Although a long-standing Russian partner , Armenia has also developed ties with the West : It provides troops to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and is a member of NATO ’ s Partnership for Peace , and it also recently agreed to strengthen its political ties with the EU .
The United States might try to encourage Armenia to move fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States were to succeed in this policy , then Russia might be forced to withdraw from its army base at Gyumri and an army and air base near Yerevan ( currently leased until 2044 ) , and divert even more resources to its Southern Military District .
According to the analysis , resolving Nagorno-Karabakh is likely a prerequisite to Armenia breaking with Russia , but it is unclear precisely how the United States or NATO could resolve the decades-old conflict without privileging one side and antagonizing the other .
NATO has encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Minsk Group—led by the Russians .
Currently , the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the six-week war that started on September 27th , 2020 was due to several factors .
Notably , Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan , as an avid supporter of the West worked to the benefit of what RAND describes and distanced Armenia from Russia with questionable policy .
In turn , Turkey , in support of Azerbaijan saw a chance , prepared and began to largely pull the strings on Baku ’ s offensive on the region .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation for Yerevan , by brokering a peace deal which saw Azerbaijan get what it was supposed to be given under the Minsk Agreements , with the addition of Shusha .
Pashinyan , however , continued blaming Russia , the Armenian population , foreign countries and such for the failure and the gross mismanagement of Armenia ’ s forces in the war .
Azerbaijan ’ s president Ilham Aliyev presents the war as “ gloriously won ” but there are some elements which are protesting and claiming that Moscow actually robbed Baku of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-Russian protests , in a country in which all non-government approved protests are violently stopped .
The US made some claims for peace and so on , as did many Western countries , with France even attempting to somehow mediate the conflict , but only barely .
Paris attempted to prove itself as a valuable ally to Armenia , but in the end , it simply said “ we are with you , our Armenian brothers ” and all they provided were empty words .
In Armenia , in order for Pashinyan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrests of the opposition began .
As such , support for Russia still remains rather low , and it is playing to the measure that RAND outlined in April 2019 .
In the current conditions , pro-Western forces in the region would continue their efforts to destabilize the region creating chaos near the Russian border and setting conditions for the NATO expansion there .
Russia is part of two economic ventures related to Central Asia : the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative .
Russia has benefited from both , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , partners might have been harmed economically .
There might be steps the United States and allies could take to reduce Russia ’ s benefits from both of these .
Engaging more with Central Asia could have modest benefits .
Expanding Central Asian connectivity to the rest of the world could reduce that area ’ s trade with Russia .
It must be noted , however , that economic growth within these countries would likely have the opposite effect and increase their trade with Russia because economic size and trade are correlated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the year .
Notably , and not in the vein which RAND describes is that militant activity in Afghanistan , as well as along its borders with the CSTO countries has increased , which Russia sees as a threat .
There are frequent reports of the FSB arresting various terrorist elements that either came from Central Asian republics or were recruited from groups from there .
There is little evidence that the US has anything to do with that , but there are some reports that unknown black hawks have been extracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve resurfaced in northern Afghanistan , after a while .
The US efforts to counter China ’ s Belt and Road Initiative , and is attempting to counter various projects in the Eurasian Economic Union , which Russia is part of such as the Nord Stream 2 , but they are unrelated to Central Asia .
In conclusion , regarding this , RAND appears to be a bit far from what ’ s been carried out , or if such measures are being implemented – they ’ re not being effective .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that currently hosts a Russian peacekeeping force and army base .
Officially , Russian policy toward Transnistria is ambiguous .
Russia ’ s Foreign Policy Concept includes only a single , rather inarticulate statement : Russia strongly advocates a political and diplomatic settlement of conflicts in the post-Soviet space , specifically , Russia works within the existing multilateral negotiating mechanism to find an inclusive solution to the Transnistrian issue , respecting the sovereignty , territorial integrity and neutral status of the Republic of Moldova in determining the special status of Transnistria .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youth ( who , according to some journalistic accounts , might be more pro-West than their elders ) to push their pseudo-state to leave the Russian orbit .
There ’ s been very limited movement throughout 2020 , but it is likely that activities have been more focused on Belarus , Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh , and Moldova has been left for sometime in the near ( or far future ) .
The pro-Western presidential candidate , Maia Sandu , won the 2020 election in Moldova , and she ’ s already promoting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Russian peacekeeping force from Transnistria .
This move sets conditions for the increase of instability .
Extending Russia through geopolitical competition is a fundamentally difficult and dangerous proposition .
One might bait Russia into extending its foreign commitments , but only at the risk of serious setbacks to local U.S. partners .
Even if such efforts succeeded in generating Russian withdrawals , the result would be the opposite of an extension .
Any geopolitical moves to extend Russia would also need to consider other options that ( for reasons of length @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in depth—namely , intensifying NATO ’ s cooperation with Sweden and Finland , pressuring Russia ’ s claims in the Arctic , and checking its influence in the Arctic .
Many of these are not exactly spot on , and whether they ’ re entirely connected to what ’ s going on comes down to conspiracy theories .
However , it is fact that within a year and a half of the publishing , many of these recommendations have been implemented .
There has been a regime change attempt in Belarus , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went to warn for Nagorno-Karabakh , and Russia had to mediate , deploy peacekeepers and further resources , as well as is being accused of both sides for either losing the war for Armenia , or stealing away a bigger victory for Azerbaijan .
Militants are being delivered to South Caucasus , and even families are being relocated there from Syria .
The US and the “ moderate rebels ” in Syria are still operating , albeit not as actively as before , but Israel is there to provide assistance by bombing Syrian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread chaos in Central Asia are apparent , and the FSB continues arresting various extremist elements , but there are likely more who are roaming around and entering the country through various channels .
It is unknown what will happen in Moldova , as of yet , but the trend is alredy seen .
Another thing that could be added is cooperating with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople , assisting in the forming of the autonomous Orthodox Church of Ukraine , making pushes to repeat that questionable “ success ” in other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regardless , pressure on Moscow is being exerted from quite a few directions , at the same time , and it is unlikely that under US President Joe Biden this will end .
After all , his chosen aides all plan to improve relations with allies , while countering Russia ’ s spreading influence .
Namely in Ukraine , since Biden appears to have a soft spot for the country from which he and his son allegedly funneled billions .
Ukraine , and Eastern Ukraine , could also be the best direction from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still developing on many fronts , and the pieces are yet to fall squarely on the board .
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In 2020, there have been several notable developments, that all seem to have been happening along Russia’s borders and in key regions developments in which influencing the Russian position on the international scene.
These include:
Ukraine’s refusal to seek peace in its East with the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, and various questionable policies.
Western-backed protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, with a ‘school teacher-turned-politician’ challenging him with an insignificant share of the vote in the presidential election. She received wide support from the West, especially from heavily US-aligned states such as Poland and the Baltics.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and other groups in Syria are being supported openly, and not so openly, by the United States and sabotage the further diplomatic settlement of the conflict in Syria.
The situation in Central Asia is rather exacerbated, with an evident increase in ISIS activity in Afghanistan, alongside various terrorist elements appearing near its borders with Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) countries. The Russian Security Service – FSB – is hard at work in countering various ISIS and other terror cells on the territory of the Russian Federation, and reports such as these are frequent, meaning that there appears to be a network that is successful in either moving terrorist elements into the country, or recruiting them there.
There also was the Armenian-Azerbaijan War in Nagorno-Karabakh, which Russia didn’t directly involve itself in, since the fight was for the self-proclaimed independent republic of Artsakh, and Armenia never officially asked for assistance. Regardless, with the Peace Deal it brokered on November 10 th , there have been numerous voices in Armenia blaming Russia for the defeat. And that is even though it essentially saved it from an even bigger fiasco and loss of territory. At the same time, despite being the victor, Azerbaijan simply received what it was promised with the Minsk agreements, with the addition of Shusha. There are protests against Russia in Azerbaijan, a country in which any non-government sanctioned protest is snuffed, violently. There are calls that Russia stole the “glorious victory”, while in Armenia there are calls to renew hostilities, while the Russian peacekeepers are there and somehow force their hand in the fight.
, there have been numerous voices in Armenia blaming Russia for the defeat. And that is even though it essentially saved it from an even bigger fiasco and loss of territory. At the same time, despite being the victor, Azerbaijan simply received what it was promised with the Minsk agreements, with the addition of Shusha. There are protests against Russia in Azerbaijan, a country in which any non-government sanctioned protest is snuffed, violently. There are calls that Russia stole the “glorious victory”, while in Armenia there are calls to renew hostilities, while the Russian peacekeepers are there and somehow force their hand in the fight. Turkey deployed thousands of Syrian militants to South Caucasus, and there are claims that it is even reportedly attempting to relocate families from Syria’s Afrin and other areas to the parts of Karabakh that were given to Azerbaijan. This is likely to also provide a fresh extremist presence in the region.
Turkey, once again, appeared to be shifting its gaze towards Crimea, but also cooperate with Ukraine in terms of selling UAVs to it and other military equipment.
All of these developments, somehow, almost entirely coincide with a report which the RAND Corporation released back in 2019.
The report is called “Extending Russia” with the subtitle “Competing from Advantageous Ground.” A short description of the report reads the following:
“The steps we posit would not have either defense or deterrence as their prime purpose, although they might contribute to both. Rather, these steps are conceived of as measures that would lead Russia to compete in domains or regions where the United States has a competitive advantage, causing Russia to overextend itself militarily or economically or causing the regime to lose domestic and/or international prestige and influence. This report deliberately covers a wide range of military, economic, and political policy options. Its recommendations are directly relevant to everything from military modernization and force posture to economic sanctions and diplomacy; consequently, it speaks to all the military services, other parts of U.S. government that have a hand in foreign policy, and the broader foreign and defense policy audience.”
Notably, the report suggests that the following “Geopolitical measures” need to be employed in order to counter Russia’s spreading influence and capabilities to provide an adequate answer to an extraordinary situation.
This chapter describes six possible U.S. moves in the current geopolitical competition:
providing lethal arms to Ukraine,
resuming support to the Syrian rebels,
promoting regime change in Belarus,
exploiting Armenian and Azeri tensions,
intensifying attention to Central Asia,
isolating Transnistria (a Russian-occupied enclave within Moldova).
There are several other possible geopolitical moves discussed in other RAND research but not directly evaluated here—including intensifying NATO’s relationship with Sweden and Finland, pressuring Russia’s position in the Arctic, and checking Russia’s attempts to secure its influence in Asia.
Ukraine
Between 2014 and 2016, the US provided $600 million in security assistance to Ukraine. These funds have been used to train Ukrainian military forces and provided nonlethal military equipment, including counterartillery and countermortar radars, secure communications, logistics systems, tactical unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, and medical equipment.
According to RAND, the US could increase its military assistance to Ukraine, or increase its calls to allow Kiev into NATO.
“Expanding U.S. assistance to Ukraine, including lethal military assistance, would likely increase the costs to Russia, in both blood and treasure, of holding the Donbass region. More Russian aid to the separatists and an additional Russian troop presence would likely be required, leading to larger expenditures, equipment losses, and Russian casualties. The latter could become quite controversial at home, as it did when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan.”
Eastern Ukraine is already a significant drain on Russian resources, exacerbated by the accompanying Western sanctions. Increasing U.S. military aid would certainly drive up the Russian costs, but doing so could also increase the loss of Ukrainian lives and territory or result in a disadvantageous peace settlement. This would generally be seen as a serious setback for U.S. policy.
What’s going on in reality? There appears to be no conclusive peace settlement in Ukraine, and anti-Russian policy continues moving forward full speed. The Kiev regime, at large controlled from Washington, is intentionally sabotaging attempts to de-escalate the situation and publicly preparing for a new military operation in eastern Ukraine. Recently, pro-Kiev sources started laying great hopes on the Turkish military aid. For sure, the US is also involved. In August 2020, incoming US President Joe Biden promised to provide Ukraine with even more lethal weapons. In late 2019, the Trump administration also approved several sales of “defensive lethal weapons” to Ukraine.
As such this part of RAND’s suggestion appears to be moving, more or less, according to plan.
Syria
“In 2015, Russia’s intervention in Syria cost an estimated $2.4 million to $4 million a day, according to the Moscow Times and IHS Janes’ estimates. 34 Given the size of Russia’s defense budget ($50 billion that year), the sum might not be significant in and of itself.”
Increased U.S. support to the so-called ‘moderate’ Syrian opposition could perpetuate and intensify a civil war that had begun to wind down, thereby imposing attritional costs on both Russia and Iran.
RAND believes that such support should also reduce the “moderate opposition’s” reliance on the better-armed, more extremist groups and ultimately might improve the willingness and ability of moderate opposition forces to combat the “more extremist elements.” Now, first of all RAND doesn’t even deny that the most of “moderate opposition” is made up of extremists, who are fighting against even more extreme elements.
At the same time, the reality of the situation is this: the US, with all its claims of complete withdrawal from Syria, simply employed the SDF separatist leadership as a tool of sabotaging the peace settlement in Syria, while Washington is looting Syria’s oil fields. US companies exploit Syrian oil resources. Some of the money is used to bankroll the SDF.
The Russian side has repeatedly also claimed that ISIS and ISIS-affiliated fighters were being trained and received improved weaponry in the US-controlled areas of Syria.
Unlike Ukraine, the United States does not have a single actor to aid in the fight in Syria but rather faces a plethora of groups—often with murky affiliations—increasing the chances of weapons falling into the wrong hands.
“Supporting the rebels could run counter to the most prominent objective of the Trump administration’s Middle East foreign policy—fighting radical Islamist terrorism.”
In the highly unlikely event of total success—if Russia were to abandon the Assad government and the opposition were to somehow ‘defeat’ Damascus—the result would be a major geopolitical setback for Moscow but also a major contraction in its foreign commitments and associated expenditures, not to mention a huge responsibility for the United States and its allies to assume.
At the same time, it appears that supporting the “moderate rebels” isn’t proving effective enough and Israel is picking up the slack with targeting various Syrian and alleged Iranian positions in the areas under Damascus’ control.
Essentially, there were some attempts, but none of them are any significant, since the fight in Syria appears to be too far gone.
Likewise, according to RAND, this course of action might have been viable a few years ago, when the armed opposition was stronger and less radicalized. Under current circumstances, the most that expanded U.S. aid could likely do would be to perpetuate a conflict that has already destabilized an entire region. Russia might be forced to pay a bit more for its Syrian commitment but only at the cost of continued regional turbulence, societal radicalization, and increased civilian casualties and displaced personnel.
Belarus
Belarus is Russia’s neighbour and important ally. It provides a buffer between Russia and major NATO countries and is the initial link in Russia’s ground lines of communication between the mainland and Kaliningrad— the Russian enclave entirely encircled by Lithuania and Poland. Already host to Russian forces, Belarus features prominently in many notional conflicts among the United States, NATO, and Russia.
In a zero-sum world, denying Russia its one and only true ally would be a clear geopolitical and ideological gain for the West. It would bring an end to “Europe’s last dictatorship,” a long-standing U.S. policy goal.
“Starting revolutions is not easy, and the United States lending public support to opposition movements does not guarantee that they will be successful. In 2007, Gallup found that 60 percent of Belarusian respondents believed democracy was important and 47 percent believed it was “somewhat” or “very” important for Belarus to have an active opposition party.”
RAND considered regime change in Belarus as one of the most significant escalations, but the attempts have all but failed, and with Russia actually not having to lift a finger.
Even despite Lukashenko attempt to get some concessions from Russia prior to the protests in the country.
“Promoting regime change in Belarus is one of the most escalatory options considered in this report. Such an effort probably would not succeed and could provoke a strong Russian response, including the possibility of military action. Such a reaction might extend Russia by requiring the nation to commit resources to preserve its grasp over Belarus, thereby provoking the United States and its European allies to respond with harsher sanctions, but the result would be a general deterioration of the security environment in Europe and a setback for U.S. policy.”
Currently, protests in Belarus are still on-going, but they’ve barely achieved any real progress in the regime change agenda. However, the Western/NATO interference in the internal situation in Belarus is an undeniable fact.
Lukashenko may be making some interesting claims regarding Russia, or attempting to play tough in order to get a discount from Moscow on natural gas, or some other commodity, but at the same time is wise enough to continue actively communicating with Russian President Vladimir Putin and remain a formal ally.
Nagorno-Karabah: Armenia and Azerbaijan
The RAND analysis begins with reminding that in 2008, the Georgian-Russian relations with damaged severely, after a few days of war and the resulting South Ossetia and Abkhazia as separate countries.
Russia also plays a key role with Azerbaijan and Armenia, particularly over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Ethnically Armenian but geographically located within Azerbaijan, Nagorno- Karabakh’s bid to join the Armenia Soviet Socialist Republic during the latter years of the Soviet Union was denied by the Soviet Politburo because of the risk of encouraging secessionist movements elsewhere.
According to RAND, the United States could extend Russia in the Caucasus in two ways. First, the United States could push for a closer NATO relationship with Georgia and Azerbaijan, likely leading Russia to strengthen its military presence in South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia, and southern Russia.
Alternatively, the United States could try to induce Armenia to break with Russia.
Although a long-standing Russian partner, Armenia has also developed ties with the West: It provides troops to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan and is a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace, and it also recently agreed to strengthen its political ties with the EU. The United States might try to encourage Armenia to move fully into the NATO orbit. If the United States were to succeed in this policy, then Russia might be forced to withdraw from its army base at Gyumri and an army and air base near Yerevan (currently leased until 2044), and divert even more resources to its Southern Military District.
“Increased U.S. involvement in the region could produce additional economic benefits as well. The Caspian Sea remains a key producer of both oil and natural gas. Indeed, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that there are “48 billion barrels of oil and 292 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in proved and probable reserves in the Caspian basins. Almost 75 percent of oil reserves and 67 percent of natural gas reserves are located within 100 miles of the coast.”
According to the analysis, resolving Nagorno-Karabakh is likely a prerequisite to Armenia breaking with Russia, but it is unclear precisely how the United States or NATO could resolve the decades-old conflict without privileging one side and antagonizing the other. NATO has encouraged both parties to resolve the conflict through the Minsk Group—led by the Russians.
Currently, the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the six-week war that started on September 27th, 2020 was due to several factors.
Notably, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as an avid supporter of the West worked to the benefit of what RAND describes and distanced Armenia from Russia with questionable policy.
In turn, Turkey, in support of Azerbaijan saw a chance, prepared and began to largely pull the strings on Baku’s offensive on the region.
Still, Russia managed to somehow salvage the situation for Yerevan, by brokering a peace deal which saw Azerbaijan get what it was supposed to be given under the Minsk Agreements, with the addition of Shusha.
Pashinyan, however, continued blaming Russia, the Armenian population, foreign countries and such for the failure and the gross mismanagement of Armenia’s forces in the war.
Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev presents the war as “gloriously won” but there are some elements which are protesting and claiming that Moscow actually robbed Baku of its “glorious victory.”
There are anti-Russian protests, in a country in which all non-government approved protests are violently stopped.
The US made some claims for peace and so on, as did many Western countries, with France even attempting to somehow mediate the conflict, but only barely.
Paris attempted to prove itself as a valuable ally to Armenia, but in the end, it simply said “we are with you, our Armenian brothers” and all they provided were empty words.
In Armenia, in order for Pashinyan and the pro-Western leadership to remain, political arrests of the opposition began. As such, support for Russia still remains rather low, and it is playing to the measure that RAND outlined in April 2019. In the current conditions, pro-Western forces in the region would continue their efforts to destabilize the region creating chaos near the Russian border and setting conditions for the NATO expansion there.
Central Asia
Russia is part of two economic ventures related to Central Asia: the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative. Russia has benefited from both, although in the case of the former, partners might have been harmed economically. There might be steps the United States and allies could take to reduce Russia’s benefits from both of these.
Engaging more with Central Asia could have modest benefits. Expanding Central Asian connectivity to the rest of the world could reduce that area’s trade with Russia. It must be noted, however, that economic growth within these countries would likely have the opposite effect and increase their trade with Russia because economic size and trade are correlated.
Now, little of this has succeeded in the year. Notably, and not in the vein which RAND describes is that militant activity in Afghanistan, as well as along its borders with the CSTO countries has increased, which Russia sees as a threat.
There are frequent reports of the FSB arresting various terrorist elements that either came from Central Asian republics or were recruited from groups from there. There is little evidence that the US has anything to do with that, but there are some reports that unknown black hawks have been extracting militants from all around, and they’ve resurfaced in northern Afghanistan, after a while.
The US efforts to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and is attempting to counter various projects in the Eurasian Economic Union, which Russia is part of such as the Nord Stream 2, but they are unrelated to Central Asia. In conclusion, regarding this, RAND appears to be a bit far from what’s been carried out, or if such measures are being implemented – they’re not being effective.
Moldova
Transnistria is a Russian-speaking enclave within Moldova that currently hosts a Russian peacekeeping force and army base.
Officially, Russian policy toward Transnistria is ambiguous. Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept includes only a single, rather inarticulate statement:
Russia strongly advocates a political and diplomatic settlement of conflicts in the post-Soviet space, specifically, Russia works within the existing multilateral negotiating mechanism to find an inclusive solution to the Transnistrian issue, respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity and neutral status of the Republic of Moldova in determining the special status of Transnistria.
The United States could encourage Transnistria’s youth (who, according to some journalistic accounts, might be more pro-West than their elders) to push their pseudo-state to leave the Russian orbit.
Moldovan cooperation in an effort to expel the Russians would not be easy to secure. In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Moldova’s pro-Russian President Igor Dodon stated, “A NATO office in Chisinau [Moldova’s capital], in a neutral country, is a provocation. I do not want this. I want neither NATO nor this Russia-led [military] alliance as far as armed forces are concerned.”
There’s been very limited movement throughout 2020, but it is likely that activities have been more focused on Belarus, Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh, and Moldova has been left for sometime in the near (or far future). The pro-Western presidential candidate, Maia Sandu, won the 2020 election in Moldova, and she’s already promoting the ideal of the need of the withdrawal of the Russian peacekeeping force from Transnistria. This move sets conditions for the increase of instability.
RAND’s General Recommendations
Extending Russia through geopolitical competition is a fundamentally difficult and dangerous proposition. One might bait Russia into extending its foreign commitments, but only at the risk of serious setbacks to local U.S. partners. Even if such efforts succeeded in generating Russian withdrawals, the result would be the opposite of an extension.
Any geopolitical moves to extend Russia would also need to consider other options that (for reasons of length and resources) were not considered here in depth—namely, intensifying NATO’s cooperation with Sweden and Finland, pressuring Russia’s claims in the Arctic, and checking its influence in the Arctic.
Many of these are not exactly spot on, and whether they’re entirely connected to what’s going on comes down to conspiracy theories. However, it is fact that within a year and a half of the publishing, many of these recommendations have been implemented.
There has been a regime change attempt in Belarus, which is still on-going. Armenia and Azerbaijan went to warn for Nagorno-Karabakh, and Russia had to mediate, deploy peacekeepers and further resources, as well as is being accused of both sides for either losing the war for Armenia, or stealing away a bigger victory for Azerbaijan.
Militants are being delivered to South Caucasus, and even families are being relocated there from Syria.
The US and the “moderate rebels” in Syria are still operating, albeit not as actively as before, but Israel is there to provide assistance by bombing Syrian and alleged Iranian targets.
Attempts to spread chaos in Central Asia are apparent, and the FSB continues arresting various extremist elements, but there are likely more who are roaming around and entering the country through various channels.
It is unknown what will happen in Moldova, as of yet, but the trend is alredy seen.
Another thing that could be added is cooperating with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, assisting in the forming of the autonomous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, making pushes to repeat that questionable “success” in other countries such as Montenegro, and more.
Regardless, pressure on Moscow is being exerted from quite a few directions, at the same time, and it is unlikely that under US President Joe Biden this will end. After all, his chosen aides all plan to improve relations with allies, while countering Russia’s spreading influence. Namely in Ukraine, since Biden appears to have a soft spot for the country from which he and his son allegedly funneled billions. Ukraine, and Eastern Ukraine, could also be the best direction from which to target Russia.
Things are still developing on many fronts, and the pieces are yet to fall squarely on the board.
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southfront--2020-11-27--IRGC’s Basij Force Carries Out Drill With 1,000+ Light And Semi-Heavy Combat Vessels

On November 26th , Iran ’ s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps ( IRGC ) Navy ’ s volunteer forces , known as Basij , carried out a massive drill along the Persian Gulf coastline and Strait of Hormuz .
Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri , commander of the IRGC Navy was in attendance .
According to Tangsiri , the exercise is a “ show of the power that is at the disposal of the Islamic Republic ’ s popular establishment.
” It seeks to send across a message off “ peace , friendship , fraternity , and establishment of sustainable security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sea of Oman littoral area , ” he added .
The event saw sailors , enlisted with the popular volunteer Basij force , taking to the waters aboard more than 1,000 light and semi-heavy-lift vessels .
The drills were staged to mark the final day of the National Basij Week to display the naval power that is possessed by the popular force .
The Basij force was formed after the victory of Iran ’ s Islamic Revolution in 1979 on the order of the late founder of the Islamic Republic , Imam Khomeini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integrity and solidarity among the grassroots in the country , and has been playing a major role in backing responsible authorities in defending the Revolution ’ s ideals .
No mentions have been made regarding the US or Israel in the reports .
On November 27th , a statement issued to mark Navy Day “ declared its full readiness to establish stability , security and hoist Iran ’ s flag in the distant oceans and international waters , as well as spare no effort to sacrifice its life in this glorious path.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day each year is a reminder of the bravery and sacrifices of the men who with empty hands and big hearts and firm faith struck at the heart of the Ba ’ athist regime ’ s navy , and although they immortalized themselves forever as the guardians of the Persian Gulf , they cut off Saddam ’ s regime ’ s hands from the sea forever .
“ Today , if this force has the title of a strategic force on its forehead , it is the fruit of the blood of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who defend all the valuable interests and assets of this land thousands of kilometers away from the country ’ s water borders , ” the statement concluded .
This show of force is coming amid rumors that outgoing US President Donald Trump could potentially order a sort of “ farewell strike ” on Iran .
And Israel Defense Forces ( IDF ) appear to be preparing for such a scenario .
Middle East expert Elijah Magnier reported the following regarding the situation : “ In an unprecedentedly high level of military readiness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led by Iran has declared a maximum alert on all fronts , as a preparation for a possible battle or war breaking out in the Middle East prior to the arrival in office of President-elect Joe Biden .
Sources within the “ Axis of the Resistance ” say that “ the US may not be planning for a war against Iran with President Donald Trump leaving office soon .
However , it is not excluded that the “ bully of the neighborhood ” , Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu , would like to carry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear facilities in order to sabotage the nuclear deal ready for when Biden takes over .
In the case of an Israeli bombing followed by an Iranian retaliation , the Trump administration can then intervene with the pretext of “ defending ” Israel.
” The New York Times reported that Trump ’ s advisers talked him out of ordering a strike , which they argued would certainly spiral into a larger war .
The significant showing by Iran is more than likely related to the recent rumors , with the Middle East being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could the Trump administration undertake in its last days in office .
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Trump ’ s Potential Order Of “ Farewell Strike ” On Iran • Israeli PM Netanyahu And Mossad Chief Cohen Secretly Met With MBS And Pompeo In The Kingdom : Israeli Media

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On November 26th, Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy’s volunteer forces, known as Basij, carried out a massive drill along the Persian Gulf coastline and Strait of Hormuz.
Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy was in attendance.
According to Tangsiri, the exercise is a “show of the power that is at the disposal of the Islamic Republic’s popular establishment.” It seeks to send across a message off “peace, friendship, fraternity, and establishment of sustainable security” in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman littoral area,” he added.
The event saw sailors, enlisted with the popular volunteer Basij force, taking to the waters aboard more than 1,000 light and semi-heavy-lift vessels.
The drills were staged to mark the final day of the National Basij Week to display the naval power that is possessed by the popular force.
The Basij force was formed after the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979 on the order of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. The force owes its strength to integrity and solidarity among the grassroots in the country, and has been playing a major role in backing responsible authorities in defending the Revolution’s ideals.
No mentions have been made regarding the US or Israel in the reports.
On November 27th, a statement issued to mark Navy Day “declared its full readiness to establish stability, security and hoist Iran’s flag in the distant oceans and international waters, as well as spare no effort to sacrifice its life in this glorious path.”
Additional it “further noted that the day each year is a reminder of the bravery and sacrifices of the men who with empty hands and big hearts and firm faith struck at the heart of the Ba’athist regime’s navy, and although they immortalized themselves forever as the guardians of the Persian Gulf, they cut off Saddam’s regime’s hands from the sea forever. “Today, if this force has the title of a strategic force on its forehead, it is the fruit of the blood of the young people and their silent struggles, who defend all the valuable interests and assets of this land thousands of kilometers away from the country’s water borders,” the statement concluded.
This show of force is coming amid rumors that outgoing US President Donald Trump could potentially order a sort of “farewell strike” on Iran.
And Israel Defense Forces (IDF) appear to be preparing for such a scenario.
“The Israel Defense Forces have in recent weeks been instructed to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. will conduct a military strike against Iran before President Trump leaves office.”
SCOOP: Israeli military prepares for possibility Trump will strike Iran https://t.co/uwtCDmRKxW — Axios (@axios) November 25, 2020
Middle East expert Elijah Magnier reported the following regarding the situation:
“In an unprecedentedly high level of military readiness, the “Axis of the Resistance” led by Iran has declared a maximum alert on all fronts, as a preparation for a possible battle or war breaking out in the Middle East prior to the arrival in office of President-elect Joe Biden. Sources within the “Axis of the Resistance” say that “the US may not be planning for a war against Iran with President Donald Trump leaving office soon. However, it is not excluded that the “bully of the neighborhood”, Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, would like to carry out a swift hit on the Iranian nuclear facilities in order to sabotage the nuclear deal ready for when Biden takes over. In the case of an Israeli bombing followed by an Iranian retaliation, the Trump administration can then intervene with the pretext of “defending” Israel.”
The New York Times reported that Trump’s advisers talked him out of ordering a strike, which they argued would certainly spiral into a larger war.
America's "stability promotion" works in mysterious ways… (The US – and the region – would be better off it the US simply didn't…) In threat to Iran, US sends heavy bombers to Middle East via Israel https://t.co/YrxXDwBdL8 via @timesofisrael — Trita Parsi (@tparsi) November 26, 2020
The significant showing by Iran is more than likely related to the recent rumors, with the Middle East being on high alert to see what possibly could the Trump administration undertake in its last days in office.
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