southfront--2020-08-29--Over 100 Pro-Government Fighters & Terrorists Killed, Injured Or Went Missing In Deir Ezzor Clashes

Dozens of pro-government fighters and ISIS terrorists were killed , injured or went missing after a series of heavy clashes in western and southern Deir Ezzor , the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on August 29 .
The clashes erupted earlier this week when pro-government groups , led by the National Defense Forces , launched a new combing operation in Deir Ezzor countryside .
ISIS terrorists responded by carrying out a series of attacks on government forces in the western and southern countryside of Deir Ezzor .
“ As a result of these operations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 48 [ fighters ] of regime forces and allied militias , including officers and commanders , were killed , in addition , dozens were wounded , Furthermore , contact was lost with more than 50 personnel during the combing operation in the Syrian Badia , 22 ISIS militants were also killed in the Russian air strikes and clashes , ” the SOHR ’ s report reads .
The SOHR may have exaggerated the real number of losses on both sides as no such losses were reported by any other source .
ISIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ezzor from the nearby Homs desert , which has become their main stronghold in Syria .
The repeated operations in Deir Ezzor are inflicting losses on ISIS terrorists .
Nevertheless , the group is reportedly receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters in al-Tanaf , which is allowing it to survive .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC :

Support SouthFront
Dozens of pro-government fighters and ISIS terrorists were killed, injured or went missing after a series of heavy clashes in western and southern Deir Ezzor, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on August 29.
The clashes erupted earlier this week when pro-government groups, led by the National Defense Forces, launched a new combing operation in Deir Ezzor countryside.
ISIS terrorists responded by carrying out a series of attacks on government forces in the western and southern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
“As a result of these operations, and within a single week, at least 48 [fighters] of regime forces and allied militias, including officers and commanders, were killed, in addition, dozens were wounded, Furthermore, contact was lost with more than 50 personnel during the combing operation in the Syrian Badia, 22 ISIS militants were also killed in the Russian air strikes and clashes,” the SOHR’s report reads.
The SOHR may have exaggerated the real number of losses on both sides as no such losses were reported by any other source.
ISIS terrorists are launching their attacks in Deir Ezzor from the nearby Homs desert, which has become their main stronghold in Syria.
The repeated operations in Deir Ezzor are inflicting losses on ISIS terrorists. Nevertheless, the group is reportedly receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters in al-Tanaf, which is allowing it to survive.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--New Iraqi Group Claimed Responsibility For Recent Rocket Strike On Baghdad’s Green Zone

A new Iraqi Shiite armed group calling itself the “ Zulfiqar Force ” has claimed responsibility for one of a recent rocket strike on the Green Zone in the capital , Baghdad .
In an official statement , the group claimed responsibility for the rocket strike that targeted the Green Zone in the early morning of August 28 .
The group ’ s fighters launched two “ Katyusha ” rockets at the highly-fortified area , where the U.S. embassy is located .
Iraqi security forces said the rocket strike didn ’ t cause any losses .
Nevertheless , the Zulfiqar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building of a private company working for the U.S. embassy .
“ No matter how the brutal enemy plans to protect its headquarters and its elements through contractors and plotters , this will not be an obstacle in the way of those who reject and resist falsehood and all its forms , ” the group said in its statement .
Late on August 27 a similar rocket strike targeted the Green Zone .
The Zulfiqar Force didn ’ t claim responsibility for the strike .
The group revealed in its statement that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a response to the assassination of Iran ’ s Quds Force Commander , Qassim Soleimani , and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis , Deputy-Commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units .
The assassination of the two leaders placed U.S. forces in Iraq under a serious threat from the country ’ s Shiite armed groups , which are close to Iran .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC :

Support SouthFront
A new Iraqi Shiite armed group calling itself the “Zulfiqar Force” has claimed responsibility for one of a recent rocket strikes on the Green Zone in the capital, Baghdad.
In an official statement, the group claimed responsibility for the rocket strike that targeted the Green Zone in the early morning of August 28. The group’s fighters launched two “Katyusha” rockets at the highly-fortified area, where the U.S. embassy is located.
According to Iraqi security forces, the rocket strike didn’t cause any losses. Nevertheless, the Zulfiqar Force claimed that the rockets struck the building of a private company working for the U.S. embassy.
“No matter how the brutal enemy plans to protect its headquarters and its elements through contractors and plotters, this will not be an obstacle in the way of those who reject and resist falsehood and all its forms,” the group said in its statement.
Late on August 27, a similar rocket strike targeted the Green Zone. The Zulfiqar Force didn’t claim responsibility for the strike.
The group revealed in its statement that it was carrying out attacks on U.S. forces as a response to the assassination of Iran’s Quds Force Commander, Qassim Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Deputy-Commander of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units.
The assassination of the two leaders placed U.S. forces in Iraq under a serious threat from the country’s Shiite armed groups, which are close to Iran.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--Mediterranean Military Standoff Goes Airborne: Turkish F-16s Intercept Greek F-16s

Turkish and Greek fighter jets have faced off over the eastern Mediterranean , the second direct confrontation between the two NATO members this month .
Turkey ’ s air force scrambled several F-16 fighter jets to intercept six Greek F-16s as they approached the region in the Eastern Mediterranean where Turkey has issued a maritime Navtex alert notice , the country ’ s National Defence Ministry stated .
According to the Turkish defence ministry statement issued on August 27 , the Turkish Air Forces ’ radar systems detected six F-16 fighter jets taking off from Greece ’ s Crete Island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Greek aircraft were intercepted as they were approaching the area where Turkey had previously issued a Navtex alert , located to the southwest of Cyprus Island , and forced them to change course away from the area .
Navtex or Navigational Telex is a maritime communications system by way of which ships can inform other vessels about their presence and activities in a specified area .
Turkey resumed energy exploration earlier this month in the Eastern Mediterranean after Greece and Egypt signed a controversial maritime delimitation deal .
On Thursday Turkey issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four-day extension to the energy exploration of its seismic research vessel , the MTA Oruc Reis , in the Eastern Mediterranean , which Turkey had previously announced would conduct research in the region until August 23 .
“ Greece and other countries have tried to box in Turkey ’ s maritime territory and energy exploration rights… Turkey has consistently opposed Greek efforts to declare a huge exclusive economic zone , violating the interests of Turkey , the country with the longest coastline in the Mediterranean .
Ankara has also said energy resources near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairly between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus ( TRNC ) — which has issued Turkish state oil company Turkish Petroleum a license — and the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus.
” The Turkish Ministry of Defence subsequently published a video of the incident .
According to Greece ’ s Defence Ministry , the Turkish air force sent an unspecified number of F-16s to intercept six Greek figher jets , also F-16s as they were returning from Cyprus — where they had been participating in war games — to their base in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back-up at 11.30am yesterday , and then “ proceeded to the immediate recognition and interception of the Turkish aircraft ” .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Ripple effects Greece and Turkey open new northern front on Libyan conflict

Support SouthFront
Turkish and Greek fighter jets have faced off over the eastern Mediterranean, the second direct confrontation between the two NATO members this month. Turkey’s air force scrambled several F-16 fighter jets to intercept six Greek F-16s as they approached the region in the Eastern Mediterranean where Turkey has issued a maritime Navtex alert notice, the country’s National Defence Ministry stated.
According to the Turkish defence ministry statement issued on August 27, the Turkish Air Forces’ radar systems detected six F-16 fighter jets taking off from Greece’s Crete Island and subsequently heading towards Southern Cyprus. The Greek aircraft were intercepted as they were approaching the area where Turkey had previously issued a Navtex alert, located to the southwest of Cyprus Island, and forced them to change course away from the area.
Navtex or Navigational Telex is a maritime communications system by way of which ships can inform other vessels about their presence and activities in a specified area. Turkey resumed energy exploration earlier this month in the Eastern Mediterranean after Greece and Egypt signed a controversial maritime delimitation deal.
On Thursday Turkey issued a new Navtex alert announcing a second four-day extension to the energy exploration of its seismic research vessel, the MTA Oruc Reis, in the Eastern Mediterranean, which Turkey had previously announced would conduct research in the region until August 23.
Turkish media stated of the latest developments:
“Greece and other countries have tried to box in Turkey’s maritime territory and energy exploration rights… Turkey has consistently opposed Greek efforts to declare a huge exclusive economic zone, violating the interests of Turkey, the country with the longest coastline in the Mediterranean. Ankara has also said energy resources near the island of Cyprus must be shared fairly between the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) — which has issued Turkish state oil company Turkish Petroleum a license — and the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus.”
The Turkish Ministry of Defence subsequently published a video of the incident.
According to Greece’s Defence Ministry, the Turkish air force sent an unspecified number of F-16s to intercept six Greek figher jets, also F-16s as they were returning from Cyprus — where they had been participating in war games — to their base in Crete. The Greek aircraft called for back-up at 11.30am yesterday, and then “proceeded to the immediate recognition and interception of the Turkish aircraft”.
Earlier this month a Greek frigate clipped a Turkish navy ship during war games
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--Russia Holds Large-Scale Navy And Air Force Exercises Off Alaskan Coast

Russia ’ s Pacific Fleet conducted wide-ranging naval manoeuvres in the Bering Sea on Thursday and Friday of this week , in international waters off the Alaskan coast , during which the Omsk nuclear submarine and the Varyag missile cruiser launched cruise missiles at a practice target in the Bering Sea .
Russia ’ s Defence Ministry announced Thursday that its nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Omsk and missile cruiser Varyag fired at targets in the Bering Sea as part of its ‘ Ocean Shield 2020 ’ drills .
The military games took place in the Bering Sea and involved over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The significant size and location of the military exercises are intended to send a clear message to Washington , taking place in a region which over the past year has seen US air force jets scrambled on numerous occasions to intercept Russian long-range bombers as they were approaching US airspace off Alaska ’ s coast .
The US has held an unusually high number of large-scale naval , army and air force exercises in close proximity to Russia ’ s borders from the Baltic to the Black Sea this year .
Russia appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the quantity and scale of NATO drills held in close proximity to Russian territory .
The military drills also involved firing Onyx cruise missiles at a practice target in the Gulf of Anadyr from the coast of the Chukchi Peninsula .
The presence of Russian military assets in the area surprised US commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on Wednesday .
The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson , which confirmed the ships were there as part of a pre-planned Russian military exercise that was known to some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As the exercise was ongoing , US military spotted a Russian submarine surfacing near Alaska on Thursday .
US Northern Command spokesman Bill Lewis noted that the Russian military exercise is taking place in international waters , well outside U.S. territory .
Lewis said the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command were closely monitoring the submarine .
Former chief of staff of the Russian navy , retired Admiral Viktor Kravchenko , said that by having the submarine surface in the area the navy may have wanted to send a deliberate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency quoted Russia ’ s Pacific Fleet sources as saying that the surfacing of the Omsk nuclear submarine was routine .
Also late Thursday , NORAD sent F-22 fighter jets to intercept three groups of two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol aircraft that were approaching US airspace off Alaska .
The Russian aircraft remained in the area for about five hours and came within 50 nautical miles of Alaska .
Officials said the Russian aircraft remained in international air space , and at no time entered United States or Canadian sovereign air space .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and manoeuvres if NATO ’ s war games along Russia ’ s borders continue , possibly with some Chinese participation .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • US strategic bombers trained for strikes on Russia when they were intercepted over the Black Sea • Apocalypse soon ?
US still scrambling and surging to develop new high tech weapons systems

Support SouthFront
Russia’s Pacific Fleet conducted wide-ranging naval manoeuvres in the Bering Sea on Thursday and Friday of this week, in international waters off the Alaskan coast, during which the Omsk nuclear submarine and the Varyag missile cruiser launched cruise missiles at a practice target in the Bering Sea.
Russia’s Defence Ministry announced Thursday that its nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine Omsk and missile cruiser Varyag fired at targets in the Bering Sea as part of its ‘Ocean Shield 2020’ drills. The military games took place in the Bering Sea and involved over 50 warships and around 40 aircraft.
The significant size and location of the military exercises are intended to send a clear message to Washington, taking place in a region which over the past year has seen US air force jets scrambled on numerous occasions to intercept Russian long-range bombers as they were approaching US airspace off Alaska’s coast.
The US has held an unusually high number of large-scale naval, army and air force exercises in close proximity to Russia’s borders from the Baltic to the Black Sea this year. Russia appears have organized the drills in response to the quantity and scale of NATO drills held in close proximity to Russian territory.
“We are holding such massive drills there for the first time ever,” Russia’s navy chief, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov said in an official statement.
The military drills also involved firing Onyx cruise missiles at a practice target in the Gulf of Anadyr from the coast of the Chukchi Peninsula.
The presence of Russian military assets in the area surprised US commercial fishing vessels in the Bering Sea on Wednesday.
“We were notified by multiple fishing vessels that were operating out the Bering Sea that they had come across these vessels and were concerned,” U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow said Thursday.
The Coast Guard contacted the Alaskan Command at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which confirmed the ships were there as part of a pre-planned Russian military exercise that was known to some U.S. military officials, he said.
As the exercise was ongoing, US military spotted a Russian submarine surfacing near Alaska on Thursday. US Northern Command spokesman Bill Lewis noted that the Russian military exercise is taking place in international waters, well outside U.S. territory. Lewis said the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command were closely monitoring the submarine.
Former chief of staff of the Russian navy, retired Admiral Viktor Kravchenko, said that by having the submarine surface in the area the navy may have wanted to send a deliberate signal.
“It’s a signal that we aren’t asleep and we are wherever we want,” RIA Novosti quoted Kravchenko as saying.
Russian state RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russia’s Pacific Fleet sources as saying that the surfacing of the Omsk nuclear submarine was routine.
Also late Thursday, NORAD sent F-22 fighter jets to intercept three groups of two Tu-142 Russian maritime patrol aircraft that were approaching US airspace off Alaska.
The Russian aircraft remained in the area for about five hours and came within 50 nautical miles of Alaska. Officials said the Russian aircraft remained in international air space, and at no time entered United States or Canadian sovereign air space.
“Our northern approaches have had an increase in foreign military activity as our competitors continue to expand their military presence and probe our defenses,” Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of NORAD, said in a statement. “This year, we’ve conducted more than a dozen intercepts, the most in recent years. The importance of our continued efforts to project air defense operations in and through the north has never been more apparent.” LINK
The US can expect more such exercises and manoeuvres if NATO’s war games along Russia’s borders continue, possibly with some Chinese participation.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--Australia-China Relations: Down Under Squabbling

These are proving testy times for Australian-Chinese relations .
Last week , Chinese authorities announced that an investigation would be conducted into claims that Australia has been using unfair dumping practices for its wine on the Chinese market .
This was not what Australian wine makers wanted to hear , given that exports of Australian wine to China grew from AU $ 268 million in 2015/16 to AU $ 1.75 billion in 2018/19 .
While the investigation will take eighteen months , it risks going the way of a similar anti-dumping inquiry into Australian barley that was concluded in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deputy head of mission of China ’ s embassy to Australia , spoke about various creases that had arisen in the relationship .
Before the National Press Club in Canberra , he wished to “ remove the shadows ” that had been cast .
“ We are not trying to turn Australia into the People ’ s Republic of China … we ’ re not asking Hungry Jack ’ s to sell Chinese dumplings.
” He suggested there was a confusion between foreign interference and foreign influence .
Australia could hardly enjoy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ without accepting some foreign influence.
” Australia had also done its bit to hurt “ the feelings of the Chinese people ” by promoting an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus .
“ All of a sudden , they heard this shocking news of a proposal coming from Australia , which is supposed to be a good friend of China.
” Response to his speech was miffed .
Liberal MP Dave Sharma struggled to identify the “ authenticity ” of the message .
He questioned Chinese willingness to “ having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing ’ s insistence on limiting contact with counterparts in Canberra .
Then came the freely expressed opinions of former Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews , whose private Zoom call with party members spoke of his “ problems … with the most complete totalitarian regime that we ’ ve seen probably on the face of the earth from the regime of Xi Jinping.
” Previous totalitarian regimes might have taken issue with that characterisation , not least of all because they would have deserved top billing for that honour .
But Andrews , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians , is rattled by the Oriental Menace .
His grievances span “ aggression in the South China Sea ” , repression and incarceration of the Uighurs in “ re-education camps ” , and “ a complete trampling of the agreement with China and the UK ( to allow greater freedom ) .
” When such criticisms make their way to stage and podium , the crude , and not altogether invalid criticism from Deng Xiaoping comes to mind .
National sovereignty , he insisted , came first but “ talk about human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … to safeguard the interests of … strong and rich countries.
” Countries keen to huff about human rights violations were often the very same ones infringing “ upon the sovereignty of poor , weak countries of the Third World.
” Within Australia itself , lashes of concern are being directed at Victoria ’ s Belt and Road agreement with Beijing .
The Morrison government has promised to introduce legislation that will grant the foreign affairs minister powers to review and cancel such initiatives .
Foreign minister Marise Payne noted the current absence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consult the Commonwealth “ on arrangements with foreign governments ” .
Keen watchers of this episode will note the stark inconsistency of positions taken by the Morrison government and his predecessors on such Beijing-related matters .
On the one hand , the BRI nestling in an Australian state constitutes a threat , a tingling sensation of discomfort that has ministers and backbenchers up in arms .
On the other , Australia has expressed approval in forming a partnership with China on that very same initiative , covering infrastructure projects in other countries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Territory government to grant a 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin to China ’ s Landbridge Group , the Commonwealth kept its distance .
A club of anti-China enthusiasts is attempting to reverse , or annul , such agreements .
Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells spoke in May of possibilities that evoking a national security emergency might give .
Australia had to reverse its attitude to Beijing , which had “ erred on the side of appeasement instead of standing up to often bellicose and illegal actions ” .
On August 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board of grievance with its customs department suspending beef exports from John Dee claiming it had found traces of the banned veterinary chemical chloramphenicol in sirloin pieces .
According to a statement from China Customs , “ In order to safeguard the food security of imported meat , China has informed the Australia side to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the company and repot the result to China side.
” This added to the suspension of four Australian abattoirs in May over those ever regularly cited reasons : non-compliance with health and labelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Australian government blocked the sale of Australia ’ s oldest family-owned meat processor and Japanese-owned Lion Diary and Drinks , to China Mengniu Dairy Company .
Both parties had already sensed that the Foreign Investment Review Board might be reluctant to grant final approval , and agreed to cease the process .
It was certainly a departure from the initial confidence felt in February , when the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission gave its blessing , claiming the sale would not undermine local milk supplies .
But the times are awash with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circulating about the next trade snipe , the next meddle and investigation .
The Australian treasurer , Josh Frydenberg , had told Mengniu Dairy that “ the proposed acquisition would be contrary to the national interest , ” a view he claimed was “ preliminary ” .
Nothing of detail was provided and certainly seemed at odds with the Morrison government ’ s approval of the AU $ 1.5 billion sale to Mengniu of the baby formula business Bellamy ’ s last year .
National interest can be such a slippery concept .

Support SouthFront
Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
These are proving testy times for Australian-Chinese relations. Last week, Chinese authorities announced that an investigation would be conducted into claims that Australia has been using unfair dumping practices for its wine on the Chinese market. This was not what Australian wine makers wanted to hear, given that exports of Australian wine to China grew from AU$268 million in 2015/16 to AU$1.75 billion in 2018/19. While the investigation will take eighteen months, it risks going the way of a similar anti-dumping inquiry into Australian barley that was concluded in May.
On Wednesday, Wang Xining, the deputy head of mission of China’s embassy to Australia, spoke about various creases that had arisen in the relationship. Before the National Press Club in Canberra, he wished to “remove the shadows” that had been cast. “We are not trying to turn Australia into the People’s Republic of China … we’re not asking Hungry Jack’s to sell Chinese dumplings.” He suggested there was a confusion between foreign interference and foreign influence. Australia could hardly enjoy wealth, cultural diversity and intellectual richness “without accepting some foreign influence.”
Australia had also done its bit to hurt “the feelings of the Chinese people” by promoting an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. “All of a sudden, they heard this shocking news of a proposal coming from Australia, which is supposed to be a good friend of China.”
Response to his speech was miffed. Liberal MP Dave Sharma struggled to identify the “authenticity” of the message. He questioned Chinese willingness to “having open channels of dialogue”, given Beijing’s insistence on limiting contact with counterparts in Canberra.
Then came the freely expressed opinions of former Australian Defence Minister Kevin Andrews, whose private Zoom call with party members spoke of his “problems … with the most complete totalitarian regime that we’ve seen probably on the face of the earth from the regime of Xi Jinping.” Previous totalitarian regimes might have taken issue with that characterisation, not least of all because they would have deserved top billing for that honour.
But Andrews, along with a good number of Australian politicians, is rattled by the Oriental Menace. His grievances span “aggression in the South China Sea”, repression and incarceration of the Uighurs in “re-education camps”, and “a complete trampling of the agreement with China and the UK (to allow greater freedom).”
When such criticisms make their way to stage and podium, the crude, and not altogether invalid criticism from Deng Xiaoping comes to mind. National sovereignty, he insisted, came first but “talk about human rights, freedom and democracy is designed … to safeguard the interests of … strong and rich countries.” Countries keen to huff about human rights violations were often the very same ones infringing “upon the sovereignty of poor, weak countries of the Third World.”
Within Australia itself, lashes of concern are being directed at Victoria’s Belt and Road agreement with Beijing. The Morrison government has promised to introduce legislation that will grant the foreign affairs minister powers to review and cancel such initiatives. Foreign minister Marise Payne noted the current absence of legislation compelling states and territories to consult the Commonwealth “on arrangements with foreign governments”.
Keen watchers of this episode will note the stark inconsistency of positions taken by the Morrison government and his predecessors on such Beijing-related matters. On the one hand, the BRI nestling in an Australian state constitutes a threat, a tingling sensation of discomfort that has ministers and backbenchers up in arms. On the other, Australia has expressed approval in forming a partnership with China on that very same initiative, covering infrastructure projects in other countries. When the decision was made by the Northern Territory government to grant a 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin to China’s Landbridge Group, the Commonwealth kept its distance.
A club of anti-China enthusiasts is attempting to reverse, or annul, such agreements. Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells spoke in May of possibilities that evoking a national security emergency might give. Australia had to reverse its attitude to Beijing, which had “erred on the side of appeasement instead of standing up to often bellicose and illegal actions”.
On August 26, China put more runs on the board of grievance with its customs department suspending beef exports from John Dee claiming it had found traces of the banned veterinary chemical chloramphenicol in sirloin pieces. According to a statement from China Customs, “In order to safeguard the food security of imported meat, China has informed the Australia side to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the company and repot the result to China side.” This added to the suspension of four Australian abattoirs in May over those ever regularly cited reasons: non-compliance with health and labelling requirements.
Not to be outdone, the Australian government blocked the sale of Australia’s oldest family-owned meat processor and Japanese-owned Lion Diary and Drinks, to China Mengniu Dairy Company. Both parties had already sensed that the Foreign Investment Review Board might be reluctant to grant final approval, and agreed to cease the process. It was certainly a departure from the initial confidence felt in February, when the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission gave its blessing, claiming the sale would not undermine local milk supplies.
But the times are awash with squabble and suspicion. Half-baked reasons are circulating about the next trade snipe, the next meddle and investigation. The Australian treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, had told Mengniu Dairy that “the proposed acquisition would be contrary to the national interest,” a view he claimed was “preliminary”. Nothing of detail was provided and certainly seemed at odds with the Morrison government’s approval of the AU$1.5 billion sale to Mengniu of the baby formula business Bellamy’s last year. National interest can be such a slippery concept.
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--SouthFront Will Not Survive Without Your Immediate Help

2 DAYS UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST While Euro-Atlantic structures remain scared by mighty SouthFront and search new ways to @ @ @ @ @ continues its struggle for the freedom of speech .
Since August 1 , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ This is about 55 % of the needed monthly budget needed to continue SouthFront work @ @ @ @ @ structures funded by the Euro-Atlantic establishment , SouthFront operates thanks to the audience ’ s @ @ @ @ @ be able to survive without your help .
Donate via VISA , PayPal , Paysafecard @ @ @ @ @ .
This systems accepts all types of cards , PayPal , Amazon Payments , bitcoin @ @ @ @ @ main text , in P.S . )
You can subscribe for a monthly donation of @ @ @ @ @ another amount ) OR make one time donation by clicking buttons below

Support SouthFront
2 DAYS UNTIL THE END OF AUGUST
While Euro-Atlantic structures remain scared by mighty SouthFront and search new ways to destroy us, SouthFront Team continues its struggle for the freedom of speech.
Since August 1, we’ve collected $2,743. This is about 55% of the needed monthly budget needed to continue SouthFront work and further.
Unlike propaganda structures funded by the Euro-Atlantic establishment, SouthFront operates thanks to the audience’s donations. We will not be able to survive without your help.
SUPPORT SOUTHFRONT WORK:
PayPal
Account: southfront@list.ru
DonationAlerts
Donate via VISA, PayPal, Paysafecard, Bitcoin and other options.
Tinypass (Piano)
This systems accepts all types of cards, PayPal, Amazon Payments, bitcoin (FAQ is under the main text, in P.S.)
You can subscribe for a monthly donation of $15 (or any another amount) OR make one time donation by clicking buttons below
Patreon
Donate via SouthFront’s Patreon account (click here)
SouthFront: Analysis & Intelligence Team
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--Will Hillary And the Dems Get The Civil War They Are Trying To Provoke?

Written by The Saker ; Originally appeared at The Unz Review If you have not already seen this , check out this video of Hillary Clinton stating that , quote , “ Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances “ : “ Any ” means “ any ” .
That would include the ( admittedly hypothetical ) case of Trump clearly winning in by landslide .
Again , “ any ” means “ any ” .
The direct implications of that is that the Dems should re-take the White House by any and all means and under any and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct appeal to sabotage the US democracy which , as flawed as it is , is the only rule of law based option currently available to the people of the USA .
Will that result in a civil war ?
That is rather unlikely , because for a civil war you need to have at least two credible parties which can coordinate attacks and defensive operations on , at least , a regional scale .
I don ’ t see that in the USA .
But I don ’ t see how local/regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political chaos can be avoided .
We already know that the Dems will never accept a Trump victory .
We also know that the Trump supporters will claims that the USPS can not be trusted with mail voting ( I totally agree with them , the USPS is one of the worst postal services of any developed country on the planet ) .
Then there is the following issue : as police departments are “ defunded ” and cops are resigning en masse ( and I sure can ’ t blame them !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ increasingly protect themselves , which many of them can do , but the problem here is that these citizens are then charged while the surviving BLM and/or Antifa thugs walk free , even if they attacked first .
In some US states ( like Florida , thank God for that ! )
, the local Sheriffs will stand by their citizens and the local DAs will not prosecute those who used lethal force to defend themselves against a short list of forcible felonies ( including home violations , carjackings , rapes , etc.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of FL sheriffs : I have been a Florida resident since 18 years now and I can sincerely say that I don ’ t recommend BLM/Antifa try to loot or riot in Florida , because they will be met with a lot of force and a legal system which strongly favors the law abiding citizen , including in cases of self-defense .
So far , if I am not mistaken , most of the riots so far have taken place in northern states ( Atlanta is in the south , but it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” since it is run by BLM/Antifa sympathizers ; the same could be said about Miami , FL , by the way ) .
This is probably not a coincidence .
And this has nothing to do with “ southern racism ” ( in my experience southerners are no more racist than northerners ) , but much more with a culture of self-defense , rooted in the land , which makes southern people much more likely to “ circle the wagons ” and act together .
And while I never bought the ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect the people from tyranny ” ( tyrants typically have trained and professional forces which can make minced meat of any armed civilians ! )
, I do believe that armed citizens can very effectively stop rioting thugs ( just remember how the Koreans of L.A. defended themselves and their stores during the L.A. riots ) .
Luckily , southern states are much more faithful to the US Constitution than those northern states which have “ castrated ” the 2nd Amendment “ by a thousand ( legislative ) cuts ” ( there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not widely known , but in about 25 % -30 % or so of cases or armed robbery by thugs , their guns either don ’ t work , or they are fake .
Their ammo often sucks too ( either bad condition , or completely inadequate ) .
Why ?
Because criminals are too stupid and too cheap to invest in quality firearms and training .
As a result , if BLM/Antifa thugs try to storm a residential neighborhood or some small town in the South , they might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very competent firepower .
I think that it is pretty clear that the US deep state and the Dem Party are using BLM/Antifa as footsoldiers to create chaos and prepare for even worse violence should Trump win .
There are also some signs that the Dem leadership does not want to let the ( totally senile ) Joe Biden go against Trump in a debate .
Here is an excerpt from a ZeroHedge report : The message is clear : we do not recognize Trump as a legitimate opponent and should he win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interference and/or and Russian interference and/or “ Republican bullying ” ( whatever that is supposed to mean ) .
Bottom line : we will under no circumstances accept another defeat .
Dunno about you , but to me this sounds like sedition .
Here is how Wikipedia defines this concept : I don ’ t see any evidence that Trump and/or the GOP leadership are guilty of sedition , at least not inside their own country – outside , of course , they are currently the single most subversive force on the planet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in spite of all the many major differences , Trump is facing a situation not dissimilar to what Lukashenko faces in Belarus .
The biggest difference is that Trump is not backed by Putin .
In fact , he is backed by nobody ( besides nutcases like Jair Bolsonaro and Ivan Duque Marquez or cheap prostitutes like Andrzej Duda or Dalia Grybauskaite ) .
I do see overwhelming evidence that the Clinton Gang & the US deep state & ( pseudo- ) “ liberal ” “ elites ” are all guilty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ egging on of rioting thugs , things happen which would have been quite unthinkable just a year ago .
For example : a US Senator and his wife almost got lynched by a mob just outside the White House .
Is that even possible ?
Yes it is , see for yourself : Friends , this is not Afghanistan or the Central African Republic .
And a senator is one of the highest possible offices any man or woman can achieve .
Yet in this country capital city , right outside the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a senator from a mob .
Yet this is how the mainstream media presented this : “ “ .
Since when are criminal thugs who attempt to lynch a senator and his wife called “ protesters ” ?
!
And does “ confront ” not suggest that Senator Paul somehow deserved to be “ confronted ” .
Can you imagine what the media would have said if this had happened to a black senator ?
Does this kind of mainstream “ reporting ” not show that this country ’ s political system is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a civil war happening in the US .
But I do think that this country can , and probably will , break-up into different zones so to speak .
In some regions , law and order will be maintained , by force is needed , while in others something new will appear : what the French call “ “ , meaning “ areas of lawlessness ” in which law enforcement will be absent ( either because the political leaders will refuse to engage them , or because they will simply have to withdraw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zones have a parallel “ black ” economy which can make the gangs which control such zones very wealthy ( think of Russia in the 1990s ) .
Eventually , a lot of people will flee from such zones and seek refuge in the safer areas of the country ( this process has already begun in New York ) .
Right now , there are a little over two months before the election , and I think that it is safe to say that the situation will deteriorate even faster and much worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ ready ” ( so to speak ) for a massive explosion of violence followed by months of chaos .
Many will probably vote Trump just because they will ( mistakenly ) believe that he is the only politician who will stand against what the Dems promise to unleash against the majority of “ deplorables ” who want to keep their country and traditions .
At the core , the conflict we are now witnessing is a conflict about identity , something which most people deeply care about .
Sooner or later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dems attempt to turn the USA into some kind of obese transgender liberal Wakanda run by crooks , freaks and thugs .
The Dems won ’ t get their civil war – but they will suffer the blowback for their attempts to destroy the United States .

Support SouthFront
Written by The Saker; Originally appeared at The Unz Review
If you have not already seen this, check out this video of Hillary Clinton stating that, quote, “Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances“:
“Any” means “any”. That would include the (admittedly hypothetical) case of Trump clearly winning in by landslide. Again, “any” means “any”.
The direct implications of that is that the Dems should re-take the White House by any and all means and under any and all circumstances.
That is also a direct appeal to sabotage the US democracy which, as flawed as it is, is the only rule of law based option currently available to the people of the USA.
Will that result in a civil war?
That is rather unlikely, because for a civil war you need to have at least two credible parties which can coordinate attacks and defensive operations on, at least, a regional scale. I don’t see that in the USA.
But I don’t see how local/regional violence (at times severe) and political chaos can be avoided.
We already know that the Dems will never accept a Trump victory.
We also know that the Trump supporters will claims that the USPS cannot be trusted with mail voting (I totally agree with them, the USPS is one of the worst postal services of any developed country on the planet).
Then there is the following issue: as police departments are “defunded” and cops are resigning en masse (and I sure can’t blame them!), simple citizens will have to increasingly protect themselves, which many of them can do, but the problem here is that these citizens are then charged while the surviving BLM and/or Antifa thugs walk free, even if they attacked first.
In some US states (like Florida, thank God for that!), the local Sheriffs will stand by their citizens and the local DAs will not prosecute those who used lethal force to defend themselves against a short list of forcible felonies (including home violations, carjackings, rapes, etc.). Just listen to this selection of FL sheriffs:
I have been a Florida resident since 18 years now and I can sincerely say that I don’t recommend BLM/Antifa try to loot or riot in Florida, because they will be met with a lot of force and a legal system which strongly favors the law abiding citizen, including in cases of self-defense.
But in northern states?!
So far, if I am not mistaken, most of the riots so far have taken place in northern states (Atlanta is in the south, but it is also not truly a “southern city” since it is run by BLM/Antifa sympathizers; the same could be said about Miami, FL, by the way).
This is probably not a coincidence. And this has nothing to do with “southern racism” (in my experience southerners are no more racist than northerners), but much more with a culture of self-defense, rooted in the land, which makes southern people much more likely to “circle the wagons” and act together.
And while I never bought the (rather silly) arguments that “guns protect the people from tyranny” (tyrants typically have trained and professional forces which can make minced meat of any armed civilians!), I do believe that armed citizens can very effectively stop rioting thugs (just remember how the Koreans of L.A. defended themselves and their stores during the L.A. riots).
Luckily, southern states are much more faithful to the US Constitution than those northern states which have “castrated” the 2nd Amendment “by a thousand (legislative) cuts” (there are, exceptions, of course).
This is not widely known, but in about 25%-30% or so of cases or armed robbery by thugs, their guns either don’t work, or they are fake. Their ammo often sucks too (either bad condition, or completely inadequate). Why? Because criminals are too stupid and too cheap to invest in quality firearms and training. As a result, if BLM/Antifa thugs try to storm a residential neighborhood or some small town in the South, they might be “greeted” by a lot of very competent firepower.
I think that it is pretty clear that the US deep state and the Dem Party are using BLM/Antifa as footsoldiers to create chaos and prepare for even worse violence should Trump win. There are also some signs that the Dem leadership does not want to let the (totally senile) Joe Biden go against Trump in a debate. Here is an excerpt from a ZeroHedge report:
“I don’t think that there should be any debates,” Pelosi said on Thursday, one day after President Trump demanded Biden take a drug test before the two square off. “I wouldn’t legitimize a conversation with him – nor a debate in terms of the presidency of the United States,” she added. Pelosi said that Trump was “disgraceful” when he ‘stalked‘ Hillary Clinton during the 2016 debate by walking near her, and that he will probably “act in a way that is beneath the dignity of the presidency.”
The message is clear: we do not recognize Trump as a legitimate opponent and should he win, this will be because of Chinese interference and/or and Russian interference and/or “Republican bullying” (whatever that is supposed to mean). Bottom line: we will under no circumstances accept another defeat.
Dunno about you, but to me this sounds like sedition. Here is how Wikipedia defines this concept:
Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent toward, or resistance against, established authority. Sedition may include any commotion, though not aimed at direct and open violence against the laws. Seditious words in writing are seditious libel. A seditionist is one who engages in or promotes the interest of sedition.
I don’t see any evidence that Trump and/or the GOP leadership are guilty of sedition, at least not inside their own country – outside, of course, they are currently the single most subversive force on the planet. In fact, I would argue that in spite of all the many major differences, Trump is facing a situation not dissimilar to what Lukashenko faces in Belarus. The biggest difference is that Trump is not backed by Putin. In fact, he is backed by nobody (besides bone fide nutcases like Jair Bolsonaro and Ivan Duque Marquez or cheap prostitutes like Andrzej Duda or Dalia Grybauskaite).
I do see overwhelming evidence that the Clinton Gang & the US deep state & (pseudo-) “liberal” “elites” are all guilty of sedition. As a result of this egging on of rioting thugs, things happen which would have been quite unthinkable just a year ago.
For example: a US Senator and his wife almost got lynched by a mob just outside the White House. Is that even possible? Yes it is, see for yourself:
Friends, this is not Afghanistan or the Central African Republic. And a senator is one of the highest possible offices any man or woman can achieve. Yet in this country capital city, right outside the White House, cops were unable to protect a senator from a mob. Yet this is how the mainstream media presented this: “Protesters confront Rand Paul outside White House after Republican convention“. Since when are criminal thugs who attempt to lynch a senator and his wife called “protesters”?! And does “confront” not suggest that Senator Paul somehow deserved to be “confronted”.
Can you imagine what the media would have said if this had happened to a black senator?
Does this kind of mainstream “reporting” not show that this country’s political system is collapsing?
Conclusion
I don’t see a civil war happening in the US. But I do think that this country can, and probably will, break-up into different zones so to speak. In some regions, law and order will be maintained, by force is needed, while in others something new will appear: what the French call “des zones de non-droit“, meaning “areas of lawlessness” in which law enforcement will be absent (either because the political leaders will refuse to engage them, or because they will simply have to withdraw under fire). Typically, such zones have a parallel “black” economy which can make the gangs which control such zones very wealthy (think of Russia in the 1990s). Eventually, a lot of people will flee from such zones and seek refuge in the safer areas of the country (this process has already begun in New York).
Right now, there are a little over two months before the election, and I think that it is safe to say that the situation will deteriorate even faster and much worse. By November 2nd the country will be “ready” (so to speak) for a massive explosion of violence followed by months of chaos.
Many will probably vote Trump just because they will (mistakenly) believe that he is the only politician who will stand against what the Dems promise to unleash against the majority of “deplorables” who want to keep their country and traditions. At the core, the conflict we are now witnessing is a conflict about identity, something which most people deeply care about. Sooner or later, there will be push-back against the Dems attempt to turn the USA into some kind of obese transgender liberal Wakanda run by crooks, freaks and thugs.
The Dems won’t get their civil war – but they will suffer the blowback for their attempts to destroy the United States.
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--The Stormtroops Of Regime Change And Counter-Revolution

The West is facing an unprecedented threat to its hegemony , as more agile , innovative , and cohesive non-Western powers are growing by leaps and bounds , to the point of making a transition to a global non-Western hegemony for the first time in history .
During the last five centuries , the baton had passed from one European power to the next , and ultimately to the United States .
Should the United States falter under the double weight of its global imperial overstretch and domestic oligarchy plundering even its own society , there will not be another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it left off .
European Union , once touted as a likely successor or possible candidate for US-EU co-hegemony , is showing few signs of consolidating into a federation .
Thus America ’ s decline would in all likelihood lead to the People ’ s Republic of China becoming the global hegemonic power .
Russia certainly has problems with oligarchy as well , but at least there the oligarchs are essentially treated as a “ necessary evil ” of capitalist economy and kept in check by the national security wing of the Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President .
Likewise China ’ s billionaires are kept at arms length from political power , lest they use In the West , on the other hand , the oligarchs run the show and the national security state is kept under close ideological surveillance to ensure that it will come to the defense of the oligarchy “ against all enemies , foreign and domestic ” .
US service academies , which admit on the basis of recommendations by elected US officials , who themselves are creatures of special interests and Big Money , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And ultimately the US political system ’ s apparent inability to reform itself , to make itself more fair and meritocratic , means that it ’ s bound to lose the great power competition to those who are simply marginally less corrupt .
But that simply won ’ t do , which means the more effective competitors have to be brought down by other means , up to and including open warfare for which the United States is actually preparing .
The current US modernization programs appear to be intended to give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warfare even against nuclear weapons states by not later than 2030 .
In the meantime other tactics will be used , such as economic warfare , information warfare , and of course the use of various proxy forces .
Since in an oligarchy property of the elites becomes of paramount importance , right-wing militants have long been used as a means to suppress socialists and communists .
Very often these right-wing paramilitaries operate jointly with the official law enforcement and security forces .
Examples here include the SA stormtroopers operating as Hilfspolizei in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties in Weimar Germany , the autodefensas in Colombia , even the drug cartels whose own politics tend toward the reactionary end of the spectrum .
We are seeing exactly the same process emerge in the United States , in the form of right-wing , white supremacist militias who are allowed to openly flaunt laws of the United States and are invariably , without exception , treated as allies by US police departments , though not at the federal level just yet .
The situation is only marginally better in the EU , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with kid gloves and , like their Islamist brethren , are allowed to travel to Ukraine and obtain combat training and experience in the Azov Regiment .
Occasionally this leads to “ blowback ” , as in the case of the Queensland mass murderer whose fighting skills were honed in Ukraine .
Considering that , in the view of European leaders , “ there is no alternative ” to economic neoliberalism , there is little doubt Europe ’ s far right will be weaponized in support of the regime should pro-democracy protests in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Yellow Vest ones we have seen so far .
But that is only the defensive aspect of weaponizing right-wing nationalists .
It keeps the ruling classes secure against threats from below , but does not contribute anything to the struggle against China , Russia , other “ emerging threats ” to Western hegemony .
Thus whereas extremists are the stormtroopers of counter-revolution waiting in the wings in case there is an actual threat of revolution or even substantial reform in countries of the West , in non-Western countries they are used as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremists come in two flavors .
The first prong is Islamic extremism , and so far to the extent that Western governments cultivate such individuals ( as seems to be the case in Europe ) , it ’ s done exclusively for foreign consumption , as it were .
For the most part , Western intelligence services displayed remarkable equanimity as French , Belgian , even German islamists traveled back and forth between their home countries and various MENA war zones .
Invariably in cases of “ blowback ” in the form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as “ known to the security services ” .
CIA ’ s investment in Al Qaeda in the 1980s , in particular , did result in fair amount of “ blowback ” in the form of 9/11 , but even that has not dissuaded Western powers from promoting this type of proxy fighter .
The second prong are the ethnic nationalists of Russia and other CIS states .
Before Ukraine , not having a war on which to sharpen their claws , they adopted the guise of “ soccer hooligans ” and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ links .
There is little known on Western services ’ efforts to utilize these contacts , but it is evident Western countries actually keep track of their “ hooligans ” in order to occasionally prevent them from international travel if there is danger of excessive violence .
Kiev ’ s ‘ hooligans ” were in force on the Maidan and formed the lion ’ s share of Parubiy ’ s “ Maidan security force ” .
There is also a lot of overlap between these “ hooligans ” and various right-wing organizations like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others .
But in order to be fully effective , these right-wing militants must be mobilized by someone with big money , usually an oligarch disaffected with the system who enjoys the secret blessing of the US and EU .
In Kiev that scenario worked to perfection .
Yes , there were right-wing nationalists , and yes , there were disaffected oligarchs willing to bankroll their organizations and mobilize them to achieve their purposes , which was beforehand blessed by Western powers that be .
In Hong-Kong this approach faltered , apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a behind-the-scenes agreement with the island enclave ’ s oligarchy which then abandoned its militants to their own devices .
Consequently that uprising has all but flared out .
In Belarus neither of these conditions were satisfactorily met .
The country does not really have oligarchs capable of raising a de-facto army of street-fighters , and the street-fighters themselves are none too numerous .
While there is evidence Ukrainian entities participated in grooming Belarusian shock troops , including in the trenches of the Donbass , in the end their numbers and/or enthusiasm was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ coup anticipated .
After a few nights of violence , that segment of the protest movement vanished out of sight due to effective Belarusian counter-intelligence efforts .
Atlantic Council practically disclosed a state secret when it bemoaned the absence of “ robust young men ” capable of going toe-to-toe with the security forces .
It is evident Lukashenko ’ s survival took them by surprise , and it is probable someone over-promised their ability to deliver said “ robust young men ” onto Minsk streets .
Could this work in Russia ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s own preparations and the West characteristically shooting itself in the foot .
Preparations include formations like Rosgvardia which are meant to combat the low-to-middle intensity scenarios like the Maidan .
But the Western economic warfare against Russia , the freezing of assets of Russian firms and individuals , have encountered a consolidation of the Russian oligarchs around the country ’ s political center .
The West overplayed its hand there : expecting a quick , Maidan-like resolution in Moscow , it sent a signal it does not respect Russian individuals ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have their property rights disrespected ?
The tragic irony of it all is that while the strategy of destabilization using the disaffected oligarch—young extremist combination has been progressively less effective with coming years , as governments worldwide have drawn appropriate lessons from color revolutions and are determined not to be undone in a similar manner , United States is experiencing a genuine , home-grown , grass-roots pro-democracy movement that is not bank-rolled by oligarchs or spearheaded by racial extremists .
To be sure , elements in the Democratic Party think it can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vote ” device against Donald Trump , but on the other hand there is mounting evidence it is having an opposite effect .
America ’ s middle bourgeois , being easily frightened and anxious to protect what little property it still has , just might decide Trump ’ s the guy to keep them safe going forward .
But even , or perhaps especially , if Biden is elected one should expect more use of various paramilitaries to maintain order .
Unfortunately America ’ s internal instability will mean even more erratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THE TOPIC : • The Old Dependables : Russian Weapons in 21st Century Regional Conflicts

Support SouthFront
Written by J.Hawk excluslvely for SouthFront
The West is facing an unprecedented threat to its hegemony, as more agile, innovative, and cohesive non-Western powers are growing by leaps and bounds, to the point of making a transition to a global non-Western hegemony for the first time in history. During the last five centuries, the baton had passed from one European power to the next, and ultimately to the United States. Should the United States falter under the double weight of its global imperial overstretch and domestic oligarchy plundering even its own society, there will not be another Western state there to pick up where it left off. European Union, once touted as a likely successor or possible candidate for US-EU co-hegemony, is showing few signs of consolidating into a federation. Thus America’s decline would in all likelihood lead to the People’s Republic of China becoming the global hegemonic power.
Russia certainly has problems with oligarchy as well, but at least there the oligarchs are essentially treated as a “necessary evil” of capitalist economy and kept in check by the national security wing of the Russian state that is directly answerable to the President. Likewise China’s billionaires are kept at arms length from political power, lest they use In the West, on the other hand, the oligarchs run the show and the national security state is kept under close ideological surveillance to ensure that it will come to the defense of the oligarchy “against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. US service academies, which admit on the basis of recommendations by elected US officials, who themselves are creatures of special interests and Big Money, are an example of that ideological oversight. And ultimately the US political system’s apparent inability to reform itself, to make itself more fair and meritocratic, means that it’s bound to lose the great power competition to those who are simply marginally less corrupt.
Struggling Against the Inevitable
But that simply won’t do, which means the more effective competitors have to be brought down by other means, up to and including open warfare for which the United States is actually preparing. The current US modernization programs appear to be intended to give the US the ability to wage offensive warfare even against nuclear weapons states by not later than 2030. In the meantime other tactics will be used, such as economic warfare, information warfare, and of course the use of various proxy forces.
Since in an oligarchy property of the elites becomes of paramount importance, right-wing militants have long been used as a means to suppress socialists and communists. Very often these right-wing paramilitaries operate jointly with the official law enforcement and security forces. Examples here include the SA stormtroopers operating as Hilfspolizei in support of German police forces combating left-wing parties in Weimar Germany, the autodefensas in Colombia, even the drug cartels whose own politics tend toward the reactionary end of the spectrum. We are seeing exactly the same process emerge in the United States, in the form of right-wing, white supremacist militias who are allowed to openly flaunt laws of the United States and are invariably, without exception, treated as allies by US police departments, though not at the federal level just yet. The situation is only marginally better in the EU, but even there right-wing militants are treated with kid gloves and, like their Islamist brethren, are allowed to travel to Ukraine and obtain combat training and experience in the Azov Regiment. Occasionally this leads to “blowback”, as in the case of the Queensland mass murderer whose fighting skills were honed in Ukraine. Considering that, in the view of European leaders, “there is no alternative” to economic neoliberalism, there is little doubt Europe’s far right will be weaponized in support of the regime should pro-democracy protests in European countries rise above the level of the Yellow Vest ones we have seen so far.
But that is only the defensive aspect of weaponizing right-wing nationalists. It keeps the ruling classes secure against threats from below, but does not contribute anything to the struggle against China, Russia, other “emerging threats” to Western hegemony.
Two-Pronged Assault
Thus whereas extremists are the stormtroopers of counter-revolution waiting in the wings in case there is an actual threat of revolution or even substantial reform in countries of the West, in non-Western countries they are used as the spearhead of regime change. These extremists come in two flavors. The first prong is Islamic extremism, and so far to the extent that Western governments cultivate such individuals (as seems to be the case in Europe), it’s done exclusively for foreign consumption, as it were. For the most part, Western intelligence services displayed remarkable equanimity as French, Belgian, even German islamists traveled back and forth between their home countries and various MENA war zones. Invariably in cases of “blowback” in the form of terror incidents, the perpetrators were described as “known to the security services”. CIA’s investment in Al Qaeda in the 1980s, in particular, did result in fair amount of “blowback” in the form of 9/11, but even that has not dissuaded Western powers from promoting this type of proxy fighter.
The second prong are the ethnic nationalists of Russia and other CIS states. Before Ukraine, not having a war on which to sharpen their claws, they adopted the guise of “soccer hooligans” and, courtesy of UEFA, quickly developed international links. There is little known on Western services’ efforts to utilize these contacts, but it is evident Western countries actually keep track of their “hooligans” in order to occasionally prevent them from international travel if there is danger of excessive violence. Kiev’s ‘hooligans” were in force on the Maidan and formed the lion’s share of Parubiy’s “Maidan security force”. There is also a lot of overlap between these “hooligans” and various right-wing organizations like Right Sector, Azov, C14, and others. But in order to be fully effective, these right-wing militants must be mobilized by someone with big money, usually an oligarch disaffected with the system who enjoys the secret blessing of the US and EU.
From Kiev to Minsk
In Kiev that scenario worked to perfection. Yes, there were right-wing nationalists, and yes, there were disaffected oligarchs willing to bankroll their organizations and mobilize them to achieve their purposes, which was beforehand blessed by Western powers that be. In Hong-Kong this approach faltered, apparently largely because Beijing was able to reach a behind-the-scenes agreement with the island enclave’s oligarchy which then abandoned its militants to their own devices. Consequently that uprising has all but flared out. In Belarus neither of these conditions were satisfactorily met. The country does not really have oligarchs capable of raising a de-facto army of street-fighters, and the street-fighters themselves are none too numerous. While there is evidence Ukrainian entities participated in grooming Belarusian shock troops, including in the trenches of the Donbass, in the end their numbers and/or enthusiasm was not what the Western curators of Belarus’ coup anticipated. After a few nights of violence, that segment of the protest movement vanished out of sight due to effective Belarusian counter-intelligence efforts. Atlantic Council practically disclosed a state secret when it bemoaned the absence of “robust young men” capable of going toe-to-toe with the security forces. It is evident Lukashenko’s survival took them by surprise, and it is probable someone over-promised their ability to deliver said “robust young men” onto Minsk streets.
Could this work in Russia? Probably not, due to both Russia’s own preparations and the West characteristically shooting itself in the foot. Preparations include formations like Rosgvardia which are meant to combat the low-to-middle intensity scenarios like the Maidan. But the Western economic warfare against Russia, the freezing of assets of Russian firms and individuals, have encountered a consolidation of the Russian oligarchs around the country’s political center. The West overplayed its hand there: expecting a quick, Maidan-like resolution in Moscow, it sent a signal it does not respect Russian individuals’ property rights, and which oligarch wants to have their property rights disrespected?
Conclusion
The tragic irony of it all is that while the strategy of destabilization using the disaffected oligarch—young extremist combination has been progressively less effective with coming years, as governments worldwide have drawn appropriate lessons from color revolutions and are determined not to be undone in a similar manner, United States is experiencing a genuine, home-grown, grass-roots pro-democracy movement that is not bank-rolled by oligarchs or spearheaded by racial extremists. To be sure, elements in the Democratic Party think it can be used as a “get out the vote” device against Donald Trump, but on the other hand there is mounting evidence it is having an opposite effect. America’s middle bourgeois, being easily frightened and anxious to protect what little property it still has, just might decide Trump’s the guy to keep them safe going forward. But even, or perhaps especially, if Biden is elected one should expect more use of various paramilitaries to maintain order. Unfortunately America’s internal instability will mean even more erratic and reckless international behavior.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--Mediterranean Disputes Reaching Flashpoint, Military Standoffs Intensify Amid Belated Diplomatic Eff

Mediterranean Disputes Reaching Flashpoint, Military Standoffs Intensify Amid Belated Diplomatic Efforts

Developments are accelerating in the maritime boundary dispute between Turkey and Greece .
Belligerent statements and threats by senior government officials from both countries , accompanied by multiple military deployments and standoffs , are still far outpacing diplomatic efforts to head off an impending clash between the two NATO members .
NATO member state Turkey is blocking a decision by the military alliance to provide support to the EU ’ s Sea-Guardian mission monitoring the UN arms embargo of Libya .
The EU mission is supposed to inspect vessels in the area suspected of carrying arms or other contraband to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest military supporter of the Government of National Accord in Tripoli and has sent over ten thousand military personnel and armed fighters ( mostly mercenaries and ‘ jihadists ’ ) as well as advanced weapons by air and sea .
The Sea-Guardian mission has been unable to fulfil its objectives , because the cargo ships transporting the weapons and fighters are being escorted by the Turkish navy which are preventing inspections from taking place .
In one instance , a French frigate was locked onto by the fire control radar of a Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ship presumably loaded with weapons and/ or mercenaries .
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had said on Wednesday at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Berlin that there were no new developments on the subject .
However , he said that they were still considering how they could cooperate with the EU operation .
LINK In other developments , Greece ’ s national parliament has ratified an accord on maritime boundaries with Egypt , hours after Turkey extended the operation of a seismic survey vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean and announced that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region next week .
The Athens-Cairo agreement is widely perceived as a response to the accord signed in 2019 by the Government of National Accord in Libya allowing Turkey access to areas in the region where large hydrocarbon deposits have been discovered .
Under their treaty , Egypt and Greece are now legally authorised ( by their respective national laws ) to initiate exploration and exploitation of the resources available in their respective exclusive economic zones , including oil and gas reserves .
A similar accord between Italy and Greece was approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Turkish navy issued the latest advisory , known as a Navtex , saying it will hold ‘ gunnery exercises ’ in the Eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Iskenderun , northeast of Cyprus on September 1 and 2 .
It also extended the seismic work of the Oruc Reis vessel southwest of Cyprus , until September 1 .
Greece says the Turkish advisories are illegal .
As other international actors are being drawn into the dispute , France announced on Wednesday that it was joining military exercises with Italy , Greece and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said the deployment of French military aircraft in Cyprus violated treaties regarding the control and administration of the island after its independence from Britain in 1960 , and that France ’ s actions are encouraging Greece and Cyprus to escalate tensions in the region to dangerous levels .
Cyprus was divided in two in 1974 following a Turkish invasion , which they claimed was in response to an attempted coup supported by Greece .
Turkey recognises the Turkish-populated north of Cyprus as a separate state under its protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by other countries .
A dispute over maritime borders and resource rights near the island of Cyprus has reignited the long-running territorial disputes between Greece and Turkey , with the two countries staging parallel naval drills and manoeuvres in the disputed area .
The European Union has threatened Turkey with economic sanctions unless it halts the gas exploration activities it is undertaking in disputed maritime areas .
EU foreign secretary Josep Borrell announced on Friday that the bloc wanted to give “ a serious chance to dialogue ” but was steadfast in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the crisis .
EU sanctions could include individuals , ships or the use of European ports .
Borrell was speaking after EU foreign ministers met in Berlin to discuss support for Greece after it ratified a maritime accord with Egypt to counter Turkey ’ s claims to energy resources in the region .
Responding to the announcement , Turkey ’ s foreign ministry said the EU has no legal basis for its stance and rejected Greek maritime claims .
Borrell and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas added that the EU wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between Greece and Turkey , before resorting to economic sanctions or other punitive measures .
Turkey is also a formal candidate to join the EU , although its candidacy is at risk and could be withdrawn as an additional measure .
Two senior EU diplomats told Reuters news agency that foreign ministers agreed to leave any decision to EU government leaders , who are set to meet for a two-day summit from September 24 .
“ Nothing will be decided before the September European Council , ” a senior diplomat said , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greater access to the EU ’ s market of 450 million consumers if it suspends all maritime exploration activities in disputed areas .
LINK However , neither side is currently prepared to make any concessions , and events are fast approaching a possible military clash .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Ripple effects Greece and Turkey open new northern front on Libyan conflict • Mosques museums and politics the fate of Hagia Sophia

Support SouthFront
Developments are accelerating in the maritime boundary dispute between Turkey and Greece. Belligerent statements and threats by senior government officials from both countries, accompanied by multiple military deployments and standoffs, are still far outpacing diplomatic efforts to head off an impending clash between the two NATO members.
NATO member state Turkey is blocking a decision by the military alliance to provide support to the EU’s Sea-Guardian mission monitoring the UN arms embargo of Libya. The EU mission is supposed to inspect vessels in the area suspected of carrying arms or other contraband to Libya. However, Turkey is the largest military supporter of the Government of National Accord in Tripoli and has sent over ten thousand military personnel and armed fighters (mostly mercenaries and ‘jihadists’) as well as advanced weapons by air and sea.
The Sea-Guardian mission has been unable to fulfil its objectives, because the cargo ships transporting the weapons and fighters are being escorted by the Turkish navy which are preventing inspections from taking place. In one instance, a French frigate was locked onto by the fire control radar of a Turkish warship when it attempted to inspect a ship presumably loaded with weapons and/ or mercenaries.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had said on Wednesday at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Berlin that there were no new developments on the subject. However, he said that they were still considering how they could cooperate with the EU operation. LINK
In other developments, Greece’s national parliament has ratified an accord on maritime boundaries with Egypt, hours after Turkey extended the operation of a seismic survey vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean and announced that it will hold live-fire military exercises in the region next week.
The Athens-Cairo agreement is widely perceived as a response to the accord signed in 2019 by the Government of National Accord in Libya allowing Turkey access to areas in the region where large hydrocarbon deposits have been discovered.
Under their treaty, Egypt and Greece are now legally authorised (by their respective national laws) to initiate exploration and exploitation of the resources available in their respective exclusive economic zones, including oil and gas reserves.
A similar accord between Italy and Greece was approved on Wednesday.
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas on Thursday said “their ratification is urgent” given “Turkey’s illegal activities”. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament another bill will extend Greece’s coastal zone in the Ionian Sea from six to 12 nautical miles under international maritime conventions.
Earlier on Thursday, the Turkish navy issued the latest advisory, known as a Navtex, saying it will hold ‘gunnery exercises’ in the Eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Iskenderun, northeast of Cyprus on September 1 and 2.
It also extended the seismic work of the Oruc Reis vessel southwest of Cyprus, until September 1.
Greece says the Turkish advisories are illegal.
As other international actors are being drawn into the dispute, France announced on Wednesday that it was joining military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said the deployment of French military aircraft in Cyprus violated treaties regarding the control and administration of the island after its independence from Britain in 1960, and that France’s actions are encouraging Greece and Cyprus to escalate tensions in the region to dangerous levels.
Cyprus was divided in two in 1974 following a Turkish invasion, which they claimed was in response to an attempted coup supported by Greece. Turkey recognises the Turkish-populated north of Cyprus as a separate state under its protection, a claim which is not recognised by other countries.
A dispute over maritime borders and resource rights near the island of Cyprus has reignited the long-running territorial disputes between Greece and Turkey, with the two countries staging parallel naval drills and manoeuvres in the disputed area.
The European Union has threatened Turkey with economic sanctions unless it halts the gas exploration activities it is undertaking in disputed maritime areas.
EU foreign secretary Josep Borrell announced on Friday that the bloc wanted to give “a serious chance to dialogue” but was steadfast in its support for member states Greece and Cyprus in the crisis.
EU sanctions could include individuals, ships or the use of European ports.
“We can go to measures related to sectoral activities … where the Turkish economy is related to the European economy,” Borrell told a news conference, referring to possible sanctions. The EU would focus on everything related to “activities we consider illegal”, he said.
Borrell was speaking after EU foreign ministers met in Berlin to discuss support for Greece after it ratified a maritime accord with Egypt to counter Turkey’s claims to energy resources in the region.
Responding to the announcement, Turkey’s foreign ministry said the EU has no legal basis for its stance and rejected Greek maritime claims.
“It is beyond the limits of the EU to criticise the hydrocarbon activities of our country within our own continental shelf and demand that we stop them,” a foreign ministry spokesman said. “Greece is not an archipelago state. It is illegal under international law for Greek islands to have a continental shelf”.
Borrell and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas added that the EU wants to give dialogue a chance to lower tensions between Greece and Turkey, before resorting to economic sanctions or other punitive measures.
Turkey is also a formal candidate to join the EU, although its candidacy is at risk and could be withdrawn as an additional measure. Two senior EU diplomats told Reuters news agency that foreign ministers agreed to leave any decision to EU government leaders, who are set to meet for a two-day summit from September 24.
“Nothing will be decided before the September European Council,” a senior diplomat said, adding that Turkey could also be rewarded with greater access to the EU’s market of 450 million consumers if it suspends all maritime exploration activities in disputed areas. LINK
However, neither side is currently prepared to make any concessions, and events are fast approaching a possible military clash.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--Israeli Military Forgot At Least 5 Merkava Battle Tanks At Golan Heights (Video)

I am offended when I see the “ Star of DEATH ” ” .
Judaism is neither a race or a religion , it is Xenophobic Tribalism .
XENOPHOBIC : n.A person unduly fearful or contemptuous of that which is foreign , especially of strangers or foreign peoples .
TRIBALISM : n. 1 .
The organization , culture , or beliefs of a tribe .
2 .
A strong feeling of identity with and loyalty to one ’ s tribe or group .
For 3,500 years Israel has practiced eugenics … .
Jewishness is based on : Jewish mother determines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father determines the Tribe ( cohen , levite , dan , benjamin ) They are a TRIBE … .
a family based GANG .
If you are not an active member you are NOT part of the GANG .
No more than having a cousin in the Hell ’ s Angels makes YOU a Hell ’ s Angel .
ALL people of Good Will should oppose the ORIGINAL “ nazis ” .
The most Genocidal Monsters in history : Jews BRAG about the murder of Egypt ’ s first born and celebrate every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the genocide of 75,000 Persians and celebrate it every year at PURIM .
Never FORGET , Never FORGIVE , the SHOAH of 1.5MILLION Armenian Christians under the crypto-Jewish “ Young Turks ” “ necessary for the Rothschilds ’ Baku Oil .
The Armenian Christians ’ financial and intellectual prominence was not “ good for business.
” ” Armenians had lived in peace thousands of years , until Jewish money wanted them out .
Never FORGET , Never FORGIVE , the SHOAH of 66MILLION Christians under the Jewish Bolsheviks Never FORGET , Never FORGIVE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the Jewish Bolsheviks slaughtered the Educated Elite CHRISTIAN Leaders .
Teach about Bela Kun and his Jewish comrades who committed the Red Terror in 1918 Hungary .
http : //www.jrbooksonline.com/some_pics_from_cecile_tormay.htm Never FORGET , Never FORGIVE , the ongoing SHOAH of the PALESTINIANS .
The sight of the “ STAR of DEATH ” sends a frightening and offensive message to ALL NON-Jews .
“ The classes and the races ( RACES ) too weak to master the new conditions of life must give way… .
They must perish in the revolutionary holocaust.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paper , April 16 , 1856 , Journal of the History of Idea , 1981 ………….. “ RACISL HOLOCAUST ” advocated by a JEW against NON-Jews years before Hitler was even born ……… Israel does not have a ‘ right to exist ” , because Israel is born of genocide and war crimes that ISRAEL brags about .
To recognize their false claim today is to validate crimes against humanity The “ STAR of DEATH ” represents the ORIGINAL “ Nazis ” , the perpetrators and braggarts of the Humanity ’ s first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nazis did is an EXACT COPY of what they brag about doing to the ORIGINAL Palestinians .
Deuteronomy 7:16 , 20:16 “ And thou shalt consume all the peoples which the Lord thy God shall deliver unto thee ; thine eye shall not pity them…thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.
” KILL THE SICK and CRIPPLED Numbers c.5 v.2-4 KILL HOMOSEXUALS & UNDESIRABLES Leviticus c.20 v.13 well , really the whole chapter KILL ALL DISSIDENTS : Exodus c.32 v.27 Numbers c.11 v.1-2 Numbers c.16 all Numbers c.21 v.5-6 Numbers v.26 v.10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” or “ INTEGRATION ” Numbers v25 v.4-8 Deuteronomy c.14 v.2 DEHUMANIZE and then EXTERMINATE ALL NON-MEMBERS : SEXUALLY ENSLAVE any females “ who have not KNOWN a man ” a very brief selection , many more in THEIR book .
Numbers c.21 v.03 Canaanites Numbers c.21 v.24 Amorites Numbers c.21 v.33-35 Bashan Numbers c.31 all Midianites Numbers c.32 v. more Amorites Deuteronomy c.2 v.34 People of Heshbon Deuteronomy c.3 v.6 really the whole chapter .
threescore cities Joshua c.12 A list of victims of Israeli GENOCIDE OCCUPY YOUR VICTIM ’ S DWELLINGS/LAND @ @ @ @ @ @ @ c.33 v.53 ( just to name a FEW ) GENOCIDE CODIFIED IN THEIR RELIGION Numbers c.33 v.31-34 Deuteronomy c.7 v.2 Deuteronomy c.12 v.28-30 Deuteronomy c.20 v.11-16 TERRORISM CODIFIED IN THEIR RELIGION Deuteronomy c.2 v.2 Deuteronomy c.7 v.1 Jews SELF-anointed “ The CHOSEN People of GOD ” Nazis SELF-anointed “ The CHOSEN People of GENETICS ” .
TODAY Israel states that it is creating “ A PURE Jewish State ” YESTERDAY the Nazis were creating “ A PURE German State ” And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city , both man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ox , and sheep , and ass , with the edge of the sword .
.
.
( Joshua 6:21 ) For modern day reinforcement of these “ rules ” research/google “ the KINGS TORAH ” is a good start .

Support SouthFront
משפחות שטיילו היום ברמת הגולן נדהמו למצוא טנקים בשטח פתוח ללא כל השגחה או שמירה. הטנקים פתוחים כשבפנים ציוד ואמצעי לחימה, מאגים ומרגמות. גישה מלאה לתא המפקד, התותחן והטען. דו״צ בתגובה חריפה: מדובר בתקלה חריגה וחמורה. הנושא יתוחקר באופן מיידי ע״י המפקדים ויוצג עד לרמת אלוף. צפו pic.twitter.com/MPtX6ksnq6 — עופר חדד Ofer Hadad (@Ofer_Hadad) August 27, 2020
Hikers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights found at least 5 armed and unguarded Merkava Mk. IV battle tanks. Doors of the battle tanks were open with equipment and munitions left completely unguarded inside.
“This is an exceptional and serious malfunction that does not meet the standard expected by the IDF,” the Israeli Defense Forces said in response to the incident. “The issue will be investigated immediately by the commanders and will be presented up to the level of the regional commander. Lessons will be learned and those responsible will be prosecuted and severely punished. After the incident, security around the vehicles was tightened and procedures were sharpened for all soldiers and commanders.”
The video was published online amid the growing tensions between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces in both the Golan Heights area and the Israeli-Lebanese contact line. So, if Israeli sources do not know how to explain this failure, they can easily blame Hezbollah.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--Car Bomb Exploded Near Turkish Observation Post At Syria’s Jisr al-Shughur

On August 28 evening , a car bomb exploded near the Turkish observation post located near the militant-held town of @ @ @ @ @ s southern Idlib .
According to reports , the car bomb exploded after Turkish forces @ @ @ @ @ it .
Therefore , the car bomb did not reach its destination .
Despite this @ @ @ @ @ militant was killed in the explosion .
There are also reports that several Turkish soldiers @ @ @ @ @ However , this is yet to be confirmed .
Meanwhile , pro-militant sources claim that @ @ @ @ @ of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda ) near the town @ @ @ @ @ of Jebal Zawiyah .
Just a few days earlier , Idlib radicals conducted an attack @ @ @ @ @ on the M4 highway in southern Idlib damaging a Russian vehicle .
This became the @ @ @ @ @ patrol in about a week .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Six Syrian Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ Attack In Southern Deir Ezzor

Support SouthFront
On August 28 evening, a car bomb exploded near the Turkish observation post located near the militant-held town of Jisr al-Shughur in Syria’s southern Idlib.
According to reports, the car bomb exploded after Turkish forces deployed there opened fire on it. Therefore, the car bomb did not reach its destination. Despite this, at least one Turkish-backed militant was killed in the explosion.
There are also reports that several Turkish soldiers may have been wounded. However, this is yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, pro-militant sources claim that the Syrian Army shelled positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) near the town of Kinsafa in the area of Jebal Zawiyah.
#Syria: aftermath of daily shelling with heavy artillery on Jebal Zawiyah towns (#Kansafra – S. #Idlib) by pro-Assad forces. pic.twitter.com/RuONTlHSYQ — Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) August 28, 2020
Just a few days earlier, Idlib radicals conducted an attack on a joint Turkish-Russian patrol on the M4 highway in southern Idlib damaging a Russian vehicle. This became the second attack on a Turkish-Russian patrol in about a week.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--KamAZ-5350 Military Utility Truck (Infographics)

It ’ s a very good truck , why so few votes on the article ?
Hope will see it @ @ @ @ @ competition in Syria

Support SouthFront
The KamAZ-5350 is a Russian military utility truck, a further development of the KamAZ-4310.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--UAE And Israel Plan To Create Intelligence Bases On Yemen’s Socotra Island

Israel and the United Arab Emirates are going to create a military intelligence-gathering infrastructure on Yemen ’ s Socotra Island , according to Arab and French sources .
The 3,650km2 island , located south of the Yemeni mainland in the Indian Ocean , overlooks the Bab al-Mandab Strait .
The straight is a sea route chokepoint between the Horn of Africa and the Middle East , connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea .
Most exports of oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf that transit the Suez Canal or the SUMED Pipeline pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strait of Hormuz .
Since the start of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen , the UAE , formally a Saudi ally , and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council , a Yemeni separatist movement that is formally allied with the Saudi-backed government in Aden , have established control over most of Socotra Island .
For years , the UAE has been seeking to annex the island due to its strategic location .
The collapse of the Yemeni statehood due to the years-long instability and the foreign intervention paved a way for more direct actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a logical step in this strategy .
According to reports , a delegation of Israeli and UAE officers recently visited the island and examined several locations for establishing the planned intelligence facilities .
Earlier in August , the UAE and Israel with assistance from the United States reached a historical peace agreement relaunching diplomatic , economic and even military cooperation between the states on the highest level .
The security and military cooperation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait was among the expected goals .
Arab and Iranian media allege that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the top of Mount Ambassaira , south of the Eritrean capital of Asmara .
The base , according to reports , is designed to monitor the conflict in Yemen , as well as the naval situation in the region , including movements of Iranian naval forces .
The UAE , thanks to its support to the Southern Transitional Council , has already changed the balance of power in southern Yemen to its favor .
If , additionally to this , Abu Dhabi succeeds in turning the Socotra Island into its outpost , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift the balance of power to its own favor even further .
The Emirati leadership has been slowly but steadily taking an upper hand in the diplomatic , military and economic competition with the Saudi Kingdom , which has so far suffered most of negative consequences , including direct strikes on its territory , from the conflict with Yemen ’ s Houthis .
The peace agreement and security , military cooperation with Israel will also contribute to this scenario .
The tactical UAE-Israeli-US alliance has all chances to compete with the expanding Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which for years was the key US ally against Iran , has been left outside of this plan .
And this is very bad news for the Kingdom , which is passing through a deep economic and political crisis complicated by the barely successful invasion of Yemen .

Support SouthFront
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
DEAR FRIENDS. IF YOU LIKE THIS TYPE OF CONTENT, SUPPORT SOUTHFRONT WORK: PayPal: southfront@list.ru, http://southfront.org/donate/ or via: https://www.patreon.com/southfront, BTC: 3Gbs4rjcVUtQd8p3CiFUCxPLZwRqurezRZ, BCH ABC: qpf2cphc5dkuclkqur7lhj2yuqq9pk3hmukle77vhq, ETH: 0x9f4cda013e354b8fc285bf4b9a60460cee7f7ea9
Israel and the United Arab Emirates are going to create a military intelligence-gathering infrastructure on Yemen’s Socotra Island, according to Arab and French sources.
The 3,650km2 island, located south of the Yemeni mainland in the Indian Ocean, overlooks the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The straight is a sea route chokepoint between the Horn of Africa and the Middle East, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. Most exports of oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf that transit the Suez Canal or the SUMED Pipeline pass through both the Bab el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.
Since the start of the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen, the UAE, formally a Saudi ally, and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, a Yemeni separatist movement that is formally allied with the Saudi-backed government in Aden, have established control over most of Socotra Island. For years, the UAE has been seeking to annex the island due to its strategic location. The collapse of the Yemeni statehood due to the years-long instability and the foreign intervention paved a way for more direct actions. The creation of a military infrastructure there is a logical step in this strategy.
According to reports, a delegation of Israeli and UAE officers recently visited the island and examined several locations for establishing the planned intelligence facilities. Earlier in August, the UAE and Israel with assistance from the United States reached a historical peace agreement relaunching diplomatic, economic and even military cooperation between the states on the highest level. The security and military cooperation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait was among the expected goals.
Arab and Iranian media allege that in 2016 Israel started building an intelligence-gathering base at the top of Mount Ambassaira, south of the Eritrean capital of Asmara. The base, according to reports, is designed to monitor the conflict in Yemen, as well as the naval situation in the region, including movements of Iranian naval forces.
The UAE, thanks to its support to the Southern Transitional Council, has already changed the balance of power in southern Yemen to its favor. If, additionally to this, Abu Dhabi succeeds in turning the Socotra Island into its outpost, the UAE will have all chances to shift the balance of power to its own favor even further.
The Emirati leadership has been slowly but steadily taking an upper hand in the diplomatic, military and economic competition with the Saudi Kingdom, which has so far suffered most of negative consequences, including direct strikes on its territory, from the conflict with Yemen’s Houthis. The peace agreement and security, military cooperation with Israel will also contribute to this scenario.
The tactical UAE-Israeli-US alliance has all chances to compete with the expanding Iranian influence in the region. Saudi Arabia, which for years was the key US ally against Iran, has been left outside of this plan. And this is very bad news for the Kingdom, which is passing through a deep economic and political crisis complicated by the barely successful invasion of Yemen.
Support SouthFront


southfront--2020-08-29--Military Situation In Yemen On August 29, 2020 (Map Update, Videos)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen : • The Liaison and @ @ @ @ @ ( loyal to Ansar Allah ) reported 92 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah over the past @ @ @ @ @ Allah targeted the Saudi-led coalition HQ in Marib city with missile and drone ; • @ @ @ @ @ and Saudi-led forces were reported in the Madghal area .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : @ @ @ @ @ To Create Intelligence Bases On Yemen ’ s Socotra Island

Support SouthFront
A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen:
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 8 airstrikes on Abdiyah district;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 5 airstrikes on Majzar district;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on Nate district;
The Liaison and Coordination Officers’ Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 92 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah over the past 24 hours;
Ansar Allah targeted the Saudi-led coalition HQ in Marib city with missile and drone;
Heavy clashes between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces were reported in the Madghal area.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
Support SouthFront