southfront--2020-11-18--ISIS Snipers Targeted Egyptian Troops, Equipment In Saini Peninsula (Photos)

Over the last few days , ISIS snipers targeted Egyptian Armed Forces personnel and equipment in the Sinai Peninsula .
On November 16 , the terrorist group ’ s snipers damaged an electro-optical , infrared surveillance system installed in the outskirt of the city of Sheikh Zuweid in the northern part of Sinai .
Amaq , the news agency of the group , shared a photo of the attack .
On November 17 , ISIS snipers targeted two Egyptian service members inside a fortified post in the al-Sayah checkpoint to the west of Rafah city in northern Sinai .
Photos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hit .
ISIS have been active in Sinai for more than six years now .
The terrorist group ’ s cells are mainly present in the northern part of the peninsula .
After sustaining serious losses as a result of repeated Egyptian military and security operations , ISIS cells in Sinai are now limiting their attacks .
Starting this year , terrorists began relying more and more on improvised explosive devices , snipers and small-scale raids .
Despite inflicting some losses on Egyptian government forces , ISIS cells in Sinai remain incapable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Helicopter Crash In Egypt ’ s Sinai Peninsula Claimed Lives Of U.S. , French And Czech Service Members • ISIS Terrorists Targeted Egyptian Military In Several Recent Attacks On North Sinai

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Over the last few days, ISIS snipers targeted Egyptian Armed Forces personnel and equipment in the Sinai Peninsula.
On November 16, the terrorist group’s snipers damaged an electro-optical, infrared surveillance system installed in the outskirt of the city of Sheikh Zuweid in the northern part of Sinai. Amaq, the news agency of the group, shared a photo of the attack.
On November 17, ISIS snipers targeted two Egyptian service members inside a fortified post in the al-Sayah checkpoint to the west of Rafah city in northern Sinai. Photos released by Amaq confirm that the post was hit.
ISIS have been active in Sinai for more than six years now. The terrorist group’s cells are mainly present in the northern part of the peninsula.
After sustaining serious losses as a result of repeated Egyptian military and security operations, ISIS cells in Sinai are now limiting their attacks. Starting this year, terrorists began relying more and more on improvised explosive devices, snipers and small-scale raids.
Despite inflicting some losses on Egyptian government forces, ISIS cells in Sinai remain incapable of holding ground or plotting large-scale attacks.
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southfront--2020-11-18--Ugly Truth Behind Devastating Armenian Defeat In Karabakh Was Revealed

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan led Armenian forces to collapse in the Nagorno-Karabakh war and lost Shusha because he was refusing to accept Russian peacekeepers and allow displaced Azerbaijani citizens to return .
This was revealed by Russian President Vladimir Putin during answers to media questions on November 17 .
“ On October 19-20 , I had a series of telephone conversations with both President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan .
And then the Azerbaijani armed forces regained control over an insignificant southern part of Karabakh .
In general , I managed to convince President Aliyev that it is needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition on his part was the return of refugees , including to the city of Shusha , ” Putin said .
The proposed peace agreement supposed to allow Armenian forces to maintain control over their side of the contact line , including Shusha , and to allow the return of civilians under the supervision of Russian peacekeepers .
However the Pashinyan government said that it was “ unacceptable ” for them because this move would supposedly threaten Armenian interests .
In the ensuing weeks after the refusal to accept the Russian peacekeepers deployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of areas in southern and central Karabakh , lost the symbolic town of Shusha and in the end accepted a much worse peace deal .
After total defeat in the war with Azerbaijan , it was obliged to surrender the districts of Lachin , Kalbajar and Agdam .
Shusha is in the hands of Azerbaijani troops .
Thousands of Armenians were killed .
These are the costs of the actions of the Soros-grown Pashinyan clique that was obsessed with pleasing its western puppeteers by distancing from Russia rather than defending Armenians .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it has not been settled and , according to Putin , the sides agreed to “ maintain the status quo ” .
A “ significant factor ” that played a role in the Second Karabakh War and now influences the potential settlement process is that Armenia itself has neither recognized Karabakh as an independent state nor as a part of Armenia .
“ To put it bluntly , after the former Georgian leaders ’ undoubtedly criminal moves , I mean the attacks against our peacekeepers in South Ossetia , Russia recognized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We recognized the expression of the will of the people living in Crimea to reunite with Russia as just , and we met the people halfway , we did so openly .
Some people may like it , others may not like it , but we did it in the interests of the people who live there and in the interests of Russia , and we are not ashamed to speak about it openly .
This did not happen with Karabakh , and this , of course , has significantly influenced the developments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Armenian prime minister and his circle continue crying foul blaming previous governments , the Armed Forces and even the Armenian nation in general for the loss of the war .
Armenia has become another sad example of how color revolutions and the seizure of power by pro-globalist grant-suckers eventually lead to the destruction of statehood and major territorial or economic losses for the countries where this happens .

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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan led Armenian forces to collapse in the Nagorno-Karabakh war and lost Shusha because he was refusing to accept Russian peacekeepers and allow displaced Azerbaijani citizens to return. This was revealed by Russian President Vladimir Putin during answers to media questions on November 17.
“On October 19-20, I had a series of telephone conversations with both President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan. And then the Azerbaijani armed forces regained control over an insignificant southern part of Karabakh. In general, I managed to convince President Aliyev that it is needed to stop hostilities, but a mandatory condition on his part was the return of refugees, including to the city of Shusha,” Putin said. The proposed peace agreement supposed to allow Armenian forces to maintain control over their side of the contact line, including Shusha, and to allow the return of civilians under the supervision of Russian peacekeepers. However the Pashinyan government said that it was “unacceptable” for them because this move would supposedly threaten Armenian interests. In the ensuing weeks after the refusal to accept the Russian peacekeepers deployment, Armenian forces retreated from a large number of areas in southern and central Karabakh, lost the symbolic town of Shusha and in the end accepted a much worse peace deal. After total defeat in the war with Azerbaijan, it was obliged to surrender the districts of Lachin, Kalbajar and Agdam. Shusha is in the hands of Azerbaijani troops. Thousands of Armenians were killed. These are the costs of the actions of the Soros-grown Pashinyan clique that was obsessed with pleasing its western puppeteers by distancing from Russia rather than defending Armenians.
As to the current status of Nagorno-Karabakh, it has not been settled and, according to Putin, the sides agreed to “maintain the status quo”. A “significant factor” that played a role in the Second Karabakh War and now influences the potential settlement process is that Armenia itself has neither recognized Karabakh as an independent state nor as a part of Armenia.
“To put it bluntly, after the former Georgian leaders’ undoubtedly criminal moves, I mean the attacks against our peacekeepers in South Ossetia, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. We recognized the expression of the will of the people living in Crimea to reunite with Russia as just, and we met the people halfway, we did so openly. Some people may like it, others may not like it, but we did it in the interests of the people who live there and in the interests of Russia, and we are not ashamed to speak about it openly.
This did not happen with Karabakh, and this, of course, has significantly influenced the developments there,“ Putin noted.
Meanwhile, the Armenian prime minister and his circle continue crying foul blaming previous governments, the Armed Forces and even the Armenian nation in general for the loss of the war. Armenia has become another sad example of how color revolutions and the seizure of power by pro-globalist grant-suckers eventually lead to the destruction of statehood and major territorial or economic losses for the countries where this happens.
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southfront--2020-11-18--Israeli Army Shared Footage Of Recent Strikes On Syria

On November 18 , the Israeli Defense Forces ( IDF ) shared footage of the recent strikes on Syria , which took place in the early morning .
The video , which were apparently filmed from the ground , show at least three pinpoint strikes on unspecified military positions in Syria .
The IDF said the strikes were a response to an attempt by “ an Iranian-led Syrian squad ” to plant improvised explosive devices on the Israel-Syria separation line along the Israeli-occupied part of the Golan Heights .
The strikes targeted an Iranian base near Damascus International Airport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials , a command post for the Syrian Arab Army ’ s 7th Division and several air-defense systems .
According to the Ministry of Defense of Syria , three service members were killed and another one was injured as a result of the Israeli strikes .
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that five Iranians officers and two Lebanese or Iraqi fighters were also killed in strikes .
Nevertheless , the monitoring group is known for spreading fake news after Israeli attacks on Syria .
This was one of the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility for strikes on Syria .
Usually , Tel Aviv doesn ’ t acknowledge its operations against Syria .
The strikes were most likely a message to Damascus and Tehran as they came amid reports of a possible Israel or U.S. attack on Iran .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Senior Syrian General , Eleven Soldiers Killed In New ISIS Ambush In Deir Ezzor • Israel Strikes Various Syrian Armed Forces And Alleged Iranian Targets , In “ Retaliation ” For IED Placement Attempt

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On November 18, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shared footage of the recent strikes on Syria, which took place in the early morning.
The video, which were apparently filmed from the ground, show at least three pinpoint strikes on unspecified military positions in Syria.
תיעוד מתקיפות צה”ל אשר התרחשו במהלך הלילה ובהן תקפו מטוסי קרב בסוריה מטרות צבאיות ובהן מחסנים, מפקדות ומתחמים צבאיים של כוח קודס האיראני והצבא הסורי pic.twitter.com/U7yLxpnlCz — צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) November 18, 2020
The IDF said the strikes were a response to an attempt by “an Iranian-led Syrian squad” to plant improvised explosive devices on the Israel-Syria separation line along the Israeli-occupied part of the Golan Heights.
The strikes targeted an Iranian base near Damascus International Airport, a secret housing complex for senior Iranian officials, a command post for the Syrian Arab Army’s 7th Division and several air-defense systems.
18th November 2020, the #IDF, according to their statement targeted #Damascus Intl. Airport and also #Iran|ian #IRGC affilated assets including a HQ. Sat. imagery from today flipped into NIR shows the infamous “Glass House” possibly could have been this location struck. pic.twitter.com/bynTs7GCiB — Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) November 18, 2020
According to the Ministry of Defense of Syria, three service members were killed and another one was injured as a result of the Israeli strikes.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that five Iranians officers and two Lebanese or Iraqi fighters were also killed in strikes. Nevertheless, the monitoring group is known for spreading fake news after Israeli attacks on Syria.
This was one of the very few occasions in which Israel publicly claimed responsibility for strikes on Syria. Usually, Tel Aviv doesn’t acknowledge its operations against Syria. The strikes were most likely a message to Damascus and Tehran as they came amid reports of a possible Israel or U.S. attack on Iran.
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southfront--2020-11-18--Russian MoD Released New Map Of Peacekeeping Forces Positions In Nagorno-Karabakh

On November 18 , the Ministry of Defense of Russia shared a map of peacekeepers ’ observation posts in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh , where a heated battle between Armenia and Azerbaijan took place .
Major General Igor Konashenkov , a spokesman for the Russian MoD , said the ceasefire is now being observed along the entire line of contact .
“ In the area of the peacekeeping operation , round-the-clock monitoring of the situation and control over the observance of the ceasefire regime is carried out by peacekeeping units at 23 observation posts .
There are 11 observation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 12 in the southern one , ” RIA Novosti quoted Maj. Gen. Konashenkov as saying .
The MoD ’ s spokesman also confirmed that Russian peacekeepers were deployed in Stepanakert city , also known as Khankendi , revealing that peacekeeping operation are being controlled from there .
The map shows the new positions of the Russian peacekeeping forces , marked with red triangles .
The demarcation line between the Northern and Southern control zones was also changed .
The deployment of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh is still ongoing .
More than 170 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November 10 , when the Russian-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan became active .
Armenian civilians are now returning to Nagorno-Karabakh .
According to the Russian MoD , 648 people returned to the region from the territory of Armenia on November 18 .
A total , of 1,709 refugees have returned to Stepanakert , the region ’ s capital , since November 14 .
More than 25,000 civilians allegedly lost their houses and moved from the regions that will go under Azerbaijani control .
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is currently stable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Russian-brokered peace deal .
Once the deal is fully implemented , most of the region ’ s refugees will be able to return to their homes .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Ilham Aliyev : Russia And Turkey Will Participate In Operations To Guarantee Security Of Armenians And Azerbaijanis • Turkish Parliament Approves Deployment Of Troops To Azerbaijan For Monitoring Center , MPs Claim Its For “ Observation Posts ” In Conflict Zone

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On November 18, the Ministry of Defense of Russia shared a map of peacekeepers’ observation posts in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, where a heated battle between Armenia and Azerbaijan took place.
Major General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian MoD, said the ceasefire is now being observed along the entire line of contact.
“In the area of the peacekeeping operation, round-the-clock monitoring of the situation and control over the observance of the ceasefire regime is carried out by peacekeeping units at 23 observation posts. There are 11 observation posts in the northern zone of responsibility and 12 in the southern one,” RIA Novosti quoted Maj. Gen. Konashenkov as saying.
The MoD’s spokesman also confirmed that Russian peacekeepers were deployed in Stepanakert city, also known as Khankendi, revealing that peacekeeping operation are being controlled from there.
The map shows the new positions of the Russian peacekeeping forces, marked with red triangles. The demarcation line between the Northern and Southern control zones was also changed.
The deployment of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh is still ongoing. More than 170 flights transporting peacekeepers have been completed since November 10, when the Russian-brokered peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan became active.
Armenian civilians are now returning to Nagorno-Karabakh. According to the Russian MoD, 648 people returned to the region from the territory of Armenia on November 18. A total, of 1,709 refugees have returned to Stepanakert, the region’s capital, since November 14.
More than 25,000 civilians allegedly lost their houses and moved from the regions that will go under Azerbaijani control.
The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is currently stable. Both sides are fulling their commitments according to the Russian-brokered peace deal. Once the deal is fully implemented, most of the region’s refugees will be able to return to their homes.
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southfront--2020-11-18--Senior Syrian General, Eleven Soldiers Killed In New ISIS Ambush In Deir Ezzor

Early on November 17 , ISIS terrorists ambushed a Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) unit in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor .
The unit was moving in the area of Faydat Ibn Muyni ’ a when it fell into the terrorists ’ ambush .
Heavy clashes broke out in the area .
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) , 12 Syrian service members were killed in the clashes .
More than 17 others were injured .
Major General Bashir Salim Ismail , commander of the SAA ’ s 137th Regiments , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The SAA and pro-government forces are now deploying reinforcements near Faydat Ibn Muyni ’ a as well as in other parts of western Deir Ezzor .
ISIS ’ news agency , Amaq , is yet to release any details on the well-planned ambush .
This was one of the terrorist group ’ s most successful attacks against Syrian troops this year .
The terrorists , who set the ambush , likely snick out from the Homs desert , which lays between western Deir Ezzor and eastern Homs .
Hundreds of ISIS terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegedly receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters based in the nearby area of al-Tanaf .
The SAA and its allies are yet to launch a full-on military operation to neutralize ISIS remnants in the Homs desert .
Only a comprehensive operation can end the terrorist group ’ s presence in the region .
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Early on November 17, ISIS terrorists ambushed a Syrian Arab Army (SAA) unit in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor.
The unit was moving in the area of Faydat Ibn Muyni’a when it fell into the terrorists’ ambush. Heavy clashes broke out in the area. According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), 12 Syrian service members were killed in the clashes. More than 17 others were injured.
Major General Bashir Salim Ismail, commander of the SAA’s 137th Regiments, was among the personnel killed in ISIS ambush.
The SAA and pro-government forces are now deploying reinforcements near Faydat Ibn Muyni’a as well as in other parts of western Deir Ezzor.
“After the attack, NDF [National Defense Forces] militias brought in large military reinforcement from Al-Mayadeen to the conflict zone,” the SOHR said in a report.
ISIS’ news agency, Amaq, is yet to release any details on the well-planned ambush. This was one of the terrorist group’s most successful attacks against Syrian troops this year.
The terrorists, who set the ambush, likely snick out from the Homs desert, which lays between western Deir Ezzor and eastern Homs. Hundreds of ISIS terrorists are hiding there. The terrorists are allegedly receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters based in the nearby area of al-Tanaf.
The SAA and its allies are yet to launch a full-on military operation to neutralize ISIS remnants in the Homs desert. Only a comprehensive operation can end the terrorist group’s presence in the region.
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southfront--2020-11-19--Satellite Images Show Aftermath Of Recent Israeli Strikes On Syria

On November 19 , the Israeli Defense Forces ( IDF ) shared satellite images showing the aftermath of the recent strikes on Syria .
The strikes , which took place early on November 18 , targeted a number of Syrian and alleged Iranian military positions in Syria ’ s central and southern region .
Footage showing some of the strikes were released .
The IDF ’ s images confirm that a military complex allegedly used by the Iranian Quds Force and the headquarters of the Syrian Arab Army 7th Division were completely wiped out as a result of the strikes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also revealed that the so-called Glass House near Damascus International Airport was struck .
Israel claims that the building is the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria .
Israel said the strikes on Syria were a response to an attempt by “ an Iranian-led Syrian squad ” to plant three improvised explosive devices ( IED ) along the Israel-Syria separation line in the occupied Golan Heights .
The IDF claimed on November 19 that the Quds Force Unit 840 was behind the last attempt , as well as previous failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israeli strikes were more of a message then a response .
Tel Aviv is trying to push Iranian forces out of Syria using political , economic and military means .
So far , this strategy has been nothing but a complete failure .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Syria ’ s Life Line : Historic Reopening Of Arar Border Crossing Between Iraq And Saudi Arabia

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On November 19, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shared satellite images showing the aftermath of the recent strikes on Syria.
The strikes, which took place early on November 18, targeted a number of Syrian and alleged Iranian military positions in Syria’s central and southern region. Footage showing some of the strikes was released.
The IDF’s images confirm that a military complex allegedly used by the Iranian Quds Force and the headquarters of the Syrian Arab Army 7th Division were completely wiped out as a result of the strikes.
#صور_جوية مجمع عسكري كان يستخدمه #فيلق_القدس الإيراني في محيط #دمشق قبل وبعد الضربة الإسرائيلية. كيف بدت قيادة الفرقة السابعة في الجيش السوري بعد استهدافها؟ #شاهدوا pic.twitter.com/LBwwMnzM5x — افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) November 19, 2020
A satellite image shared by activists also revealed that the so-called Glass House near Damascus International Airport was struck. Israel claims that the building is the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria.
#Israel AF strike on #Syria targets November 18th, 2020. As pointed out by @AuroraIntel , the #IRGC Command Center dubbed the “Glass House” was hit. Imagery acquired a few hours after the strike indicates the possible use of a penetrating warhead for underground targets. #IMINT pic.twitter.com/RYKYMqL3ql — Observer IL (@Obs_IL) November 19, 2020
Israel said the strikes on Syria were a response to an attempt by “an Iranian-led Syrian squad” to plant three improvised explosive devices (IED) along the Israel-Syria separation line in the occupied Golan Heights.
On November 19, the IDF claimed that the Quds Force Unit 840 was behind the last attempt, as well as previous failed attacks with IEDs in Golan.
The Israeli strikes were more of a message then a response. They were carried out hours before U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, landed in Tel-Aviv to hold the trilateral meeting.
Tel Aviv is trying to push Iranian forces out of Syria using political, economic and military means. So far, this strategy has been nothing but a complete failure.
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southfront--2020-11-19--Getting Ready To Rumble: Boris Johnson To Announce UK’s Largest Defense Spending Increase Since Cold

Getting Ready To Rumble: Boris Johnson To Announce UK’s Largest Defense Spending Increase Since Cold War

On November 19th , UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to announce Great Britain ’ s £16.5 billion increase in defense spending , pledging to end his country ’ s “ era of retreat.
” The Ministry of Defense ’ s current annual budget of £41.5 billion will increase by £4 billion per year for the next four years , on top of the Conservative Party manifesto commitment to up defense spending by 0.5 % above the rate of inflation each year of the current parliament .
This represents roughly a 10 % increase , the country ’ s largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cold War .
“ I have taken this decision in the teeth of the pandemic because the defence of the realm must come first , ” Johnson said in a statement ahead of the announcement .
“ The international situation is more perilous and more intensely competitive than at any time since the Cold War and Britain must be true to our history and stand alongside our allies .
To achieve this , we need to upgrade our capabilities across the board .
This is our chance to end the era of retreat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our global influence , unite and level up our country , pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life.
” This comes as the conclusion of long discussions between the Ministry of Defense , the prime minister ’ s office and the Treasury about whether defense will receive a multi-year settlement – even as other departments are only expected to be given a single-year budget .
However , the new funding announcement comes without the full weight of what had been billed as a sweeping review of foreign , defense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was meant to set out the UK ’ s global priorities , an assessment of the security risks and how it is adapting to meet them .
The Review will come after New Year ’ s Eve .
The prime minister is expected to confirm the creation of a National Cyber Force , which is a partnership between the military and the spy agency GCHQ .
The force has the ability to launch offensive cyber-attacks as well as defend against hostile action in cyber space – seen as an increasingly critical domain of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , along with the traditional ones of land , sea and air ( and cyber-space ) , is space .
Johnson will unveil a new “ Space Command ” , which the government said would be “ capable of launching our first rocket by 2022 ” .
In addition , a new Artificial Intelligence agency will be created to focus on the fast-moving advances in that area .
It is thought this agency will be part of the Department of Digital , Culture , Media and Sport .
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there would actually now be a £24bn boost to defense spending – when the extra money is added to the Conservatives ’ election commitment to increase the budget by at least 0.5 % above inflation every year .
Wallace said that “ the actual decisions on the numbers ” behind the boost to defense spending would be revealed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak at the spending review , coming in the week starting on November 24th .
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the following : Despite the COVID-19 pandemic , and struggling economies everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending is at an all-time high , which means that the UK , a traditional US ally , is likely expecting some sort of confrontation , either with Russia or China , or both .
Incoming US President Joe Biden is a mystery , and it is unclear in which directions he would push and pull , but regardless , the UK appears to be ready to fulfill and exceed NATO and Washington ’ s expectations towards it .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Johnson At Sea : Coronavirus Confusion In The @

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On November 19th, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to announce Great Britain’s £16.5 billion increase in defense spending, pledging to end his country’s “era of retreat.”
The Ministry of Defense’s current annual budget of £41.5 billion will increase by £4 billion per year for the next four years, on top of the Conservative Party manifesto commitment to up defense spending by 0.5% above the rate of inflation each year of the current parliament.
This represents roughly a 10% increase, the country’s largest military investment since the end of the Cold War.
“I have taken this decision in the teeth of the pandemic because the defence of the realm must come first,” Johnson said in a statement ahead of the announcement. “The international situation is more perilous and more intensely competitive than at any time since the Cold War and Britain must be true to our history and stand alongside our allies. To achieve this, we need to upgrade our capabilities across the board.
This is our chance to end the era of retreat, transform our armed forces, bolster our global influence, unite and level up our country, pioneer new technology and defend our people and way of life.”
This comes as the conclusion of long discussions between the Ministry of Defense, the prime minister’s office and the Treasury about whether defense will receive a multi-year settlement – even as other departments are only expected to be given a single-year budget.
However, the new funding announcement comes without the full weight of what had been billed as a sweeping review of foreign, defense and security policy.
The Integrated Review was meant to set out the UK’s global priorities, an assessment of the security risks and how it is adapting to meet them. The Review will come after New Year’s Eve.
The prime minister is expected to confirm the creation of a National Cyber Force, which is a partnership between the military and the spy agency GCHQ.
The force has the ability to launch offensive cyber-attacks as well as defend against hostile action in cyber space – seen as an increasingly critical domain of conflict between states.
Another new domain, along with the traditional ones of land, sea and air (and cyber-space), is space.
Johnson will unveil a new “Space Command”, which the government said would be “capable of launching our first rocket by 2022”.
In addition, a new Artificial Intelligence agency will be created to focus on the fast-moving advances in that area. It is thought this agency will be part of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, welcomed the spending decision and said there would actually now be a £24bn boost to defense spending – when the extra money is added to the Conservatives’ election commitment to increase the budget by at least 0.5% above inflation every year.
“This means that we can have a proper discussion about what are our global ambitions, and how we are going to fund it,” he said. “This very large settlement for defense will allow us to fix the problems we’ve inherited… and allow headspace to modernize our forces.”
Wallace said that “the actual decisions on the numbers” behind the boost to defense spending would be revealed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak at the spending review, coming in the week starting on November 24th.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the following:
“One of the failures of the past reviews was our funding never matched our ambition. And that goes for most of the reviews for the last 40 years … This very large settlement for defense will allow us to fix the problems that we’ve inherited … and allow headspace to modernize our forces.”
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, and struggling economies everywhere, including in the UK, defense spending is at an all-time high, which means that the UK, a traditional US ally, is likely expecting some sort of confrontation, either with Russia or China, or both.
Incoming US President Joe Biden is a mystery, and it is unclear in which directions he would push and pull, but regardless, the UK appears to be ready to fulfill and exceed NATO and Washington’s expectations towards it.
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southfront--2020-11-19--Russian Peacekeepers Receive More Equipment, As Traffic Through Lachin Corridor Runs Without Issue (

Russian Peacekeepers Receive More Equipment, As Traffic Through Lachin Corridor Runs Without Issue (Map)

On November 18th , a video was shared showing Russian peacekeepers escorting an Azerbaijani army convoy through the Lachin corridor .
The video was shot by RT ’ s correspondent Murad Gazdiev .
KamAZ trucks with Azerbaijani servicemen are deploying to the city of Shusha , accompanied by Tigr armored vehicles .
The personnel of the peacekeeping forces inspect all motor transport that crosses the observation posts in order to detect arms or explosives .
Military Police units , for their part , patrol the entire stretch road to Stepanakert through the Lachin corridor .
The opening of the road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents by private motor vehicles as well as the transportation of aliments and various articles .
In the areas of the peacekeeping mission , 24-hour monitoring of the situation and control over the observance of the ceasefire regime is carried out by peacekeeping units at 23 observation posts : twelve in the southern zone of responsibility and eleven in the northern one .
Initially reports were that there would be 16 observation posts , and it is unknown if any of the extra ones are simply temporary .
Meanwhile , equipment and troop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peacekeepers .
The next Il-76 and An-124 aircraft of the military transport aviation of the Aerospace Forces of Russia with equipment and personnel of the 15th peacekeeping brigade , sent to Armenia to participate in the peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh , loaded materiel , weapons and military equipment at the Ulyanovsk-Vostochny airfield and flew to the airfields of Yerevan city .
During the past 24 hours the Military Transport Aviation has carried out 20 flights .
More than 30 motor and special vehicles ( armored vehicles , expanded mobility trucks ) as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered to Armenia .
Azerbaijan and Armenia have exchanged 385 bodies of victims of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh since November 13th .
This was announced at a briefing by the official representative of the Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova .
On November 19th , Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan , who still refuses to give up power , introduced the new head of the national security Service of Armenia Armen Abazyan .
“ We must analyze what happened and come to the right conclusions , ” Pashinyan said , introducing the new head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed the Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of Armenia Ara Ayvazyan The Head of the Military control service of the Ministry of defense of Armenia Movses Hakobyan submitted a letter of resignation .
Pashinyan also faced protesters in Yerevan , saying that the time for resignation is not now , and that there was no need for protests .
The national security service of Armenia identified 67 participants in the pogroms in the Parliament and the government , including participants in the beating of Parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan .
According to the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 were arrested , 5 were detained , and other preventive measures were applied to 25 more .
Criminal cases were initiated against participants in the beating of the speaker of the Parliament , participants in pogroms in the Parliament , the government and government mansions .
In General , the identities of about 80 participants in the pogroms have been clarified , and their search is underway .
Criminal cases have been opened against those who participated in the beating of Parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan .
In support of Armenia , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliament approved sanctions .
The Artsakh Foreign Ministry thanked the Netherlands for the support .
We appreciate this bold step by the Dutch legislature , which demonstrates the commitment to the ideas of fundamental human rights and freedoms and justice , as well as the inadmissibility of crimes against humanity and their prevention and condemnation .
We hope that this step of the Dutch parliament will be a precedent for making similar decisions in other countries as well ” , the statement reads in part .
In response , Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in France has addressed to journalists with the request to stop using the Armenian names of the settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh , Azerbaijan proposing options to name them otherwise .
In general , the situation in Karabakh is stable , with chaos in Armenia still brewing , Pashinyan refusing to give up power and the Russian peacekeeper actually keeping the peace , especially in the Lachin corridor .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Ugly Truth Behind Devastating Armenian Defeat In Karabakh Was Revealed

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On November 18th, a video was shared showing Russian peacekeepers escorting an Azerbaijani army convoy through the Lachin corridor.
The video was shot by RT’s correspondent Murad Gazdiev.
KamAZ trucks with Azerbaijani servicemen are deploying to the city of Shusha, accompanied by Tigr armored vehicles.
The personnel of the peacekeeping forces inspect all motor transport that crosses the observation posts in order to detect arms or explosives. Military Police units, for their part, patrol the entire stretch road to Stepanakert through the Lachin corridor.
The opening of the road enabled to accomodate the transit of local residents by private motor vehicles as well as the transportation of aliments and various articles.
In the areas of the peacekeeping mission, 24-hour monitoring of the situation and control over the observance of the ceasefire regime is carried out by peacekeeping units at 23 observation posts: twelve in the southern zone of responsibility and eleven in the northern one.
Initially reports were that there would be 16 observation posts, and it is unknown if any of the extra ones are simply temporary.
Meanwhile, equipment and troop deliveries to Karabakh continue for the Russian peacekeepers.
The next Il-76 and An-124 aircraft of the military transport aviation of the Aerospace Forces of Russia with equipment and personnel of the 15th peacekeeping brigade, sent to Armenia to participate in the peacekeeping operation in Nagorno-Karabakh, loaded materiel, weapons and military equipment at the Ulyanovsk-Vostochny airfield and flew to the airfields of Yerevan city.
During the past 24 hours the Military Transport Aviation has carried out 20 flights. More than 30 motor and special vehicles (armored vehicles, expanded mobility trucks) as well as logistic materiel and equipment have been delivered to Armenia.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have exchanged 385 bodies of victims of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh since November 13th.
This was announced at a briefing by the official representative of the Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
On November 19th, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who still refuses to give up power, introduced the new head of the national security Service of Armenia Armen Abazyan.
“We must analyze what happened and come to the right conclusions,” Pashinyan said, introducing the new head of the national security service.
Pashinyan dismissed the Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs of Armenia Ara Ayvazyan
The Head of the Military control service of the Ministry of defense of Armenia Movses Hakobyan submitted a letter of resignation.
Pashinyan also faced protesters in Yerevan, saying that the time for resignation is not now, and that there was no need for protests.
The national security service of Armenia identified 67 participants in the pogroms in the Parliament and the government, including participants in the beating of Parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan.
According to the press service of the national security service, 10 were arrested, 5 were detained, and other preventive measures were applied to 25 more.
Criminal cases were initiated against participants in the beating of the speaker of the Parliament, participants in pogroms in the Parliament, the government and government mansions.
In General, the identities of about 80 participants in the pogroms have been clarified, and their search is underway.
Criminal cases have been opened against those who participated in the beating of Parliament speaker Ararat Mirzoyan.
In support of Armenia, and against Turkey and Azerbaijan, the Dutch parliament approved sanctions.
The Artsakh Foreign Ministry thanked the Netherlands for the support.
“The NKR Foreign Ministry welcomes the adoption by the Dutch Parliament on November 17 of resolutions in which the parliament urges the government to pursue at the EU level to impose sanctions on the President and Vice President of Azerbaijan, President of Turkey and others responsible for the war crimes and violence committed in Artsakh. The Dutch parliament also called on the EU member states to stop supplying weapons to Turkey because of its complicity in the aggression against Artsakh.
We appreciate this bold step by the Dutch legislature, which demonstrates the commitment to the ideas of fundamental human rights and freedoms and justice, as well as the inadmissibility of crimes against humanity and their prevention and condemnation. We hope that this step of the Dutch parliament will be a precedent for making similar decisions in other countries as well”, the statement reads in part.
In response, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev said the following:
“The Dutch Parliament, unfortunately, decided to impose sanctions against Azerbaijan and Turkey. My assistant said that during the discussions, the Dutch foreign Minister came up with a more balanced approach. But the Parliament made such an unbalanced and unfair decision, and this, of course, will not contribute to closer relations between our countries”
The Azerbaijani Embassy in France has addressed to journalists with the request to stop using the Armenian names of the settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan proposing options to name them otherwise.
In general, the situation in Karabakh is stable, with chaos in Armenia still brewing, Pashinyan refusing to give up power and the Russian peacekeeper actually keeping the peace, especially in the Lachin corridor.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-11-19--A Win-Win Situation: Decades-Closed Transport Corridors Open Up In Nagorno-Karabakh

The Nagorno-Karabakh war is over , at least for now , and since November 10th has been sealed due to the deployment and work of Russian peacekeepers .
As a result , by setting up their observation posts , the peacekeepers unblocked the transport corridors and this in turn leads to some prospects for the future .
Russian blogger Periskop provided an overview on the matter , in a blogpost .
His idea is to put aside the military-political results of the Karabakh War , and instead shift focus on the transport aspect .
The changes are quite extensive , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 , and even those of 1994 .
They could potentially greatly reshape freight and passenger flows in that region .
For the first time , in a while , several strategic directions that have been inactive for almost 30 years are unlocked at the same time , plus the plans of powerful players in this region for new corridors .
There are several most rudimentary observations that can be made : • For the first time in its post-Soviet independence , Armenia will fully equip its own border and it will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport crossings on its border .
Until now , it was protected by a large buffer zone and its eastern borders were conditional .
And now – the situation has changed , since all border areas are transferred to Azerbaijan under the November 10th Almost throughout the entire East and South , the Armenians will have to work with the Azerbaijanis and , after some time , perhaps with the Turks .
This map shows the scale of the problem .
• Regarding the provision of the peace deal that leaves a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lachin corridor has been “ internationalized ” and will be controlled by Russian troops .
Nevertheless , everything is not so simple there : since the Azerbaijanis took the city of Shusha at the end of the war , the corridor ’ s approach to Stepanakert and northern Karabakh partially passes through the zone of control of the Azerbaijani army .
In this regard , an interesting clause is made in the November 10 Agreement : “ [ … ] 6 .
The Republic of Armenia will return the Kelbajar region to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , and the Lachin region by December 1 , 2020 .
The Lachin corridor ( 5 km wide ) , which will ensure the connection of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and at the same time will not affect the city of Shusha , remains under the control of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation .
As agreed by the Parties , in the next three years , a plan will be determined for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor , providing communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contingent to protect this route .
The Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of traffic along the Lachin corridor of citizens , vehicles and goods in both directions.
” The map below shows that the Lachin corridor passes at the foot of the mountain on which Shusha is located .
Therefore , it is assumed that the corridor will be moved north to the other side of the valley , where country roads now pass .
The map is Armenian , therefore Lachin is called “ Berdzor ” here .
I have marked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the corridor section to the north .
HINT : The text in read reads – “ Future construction will go around Shusha.
” • It is interesting that the route of communication with the remainder of Karabakh in the 10.11 Agreement was chosen without any alternative , despite the fact that there is also a second convenient link through the Zod Pass – a direct route through the East Sevan ridge .
Until 2017 , it was worse in terms of road class than the Lachin corridor , and did not function @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is of a comparable class with Lachinsky and is year-round .
But !
This path is no longer listed in the document .
The cutout from the Armenian map of the region shows this corridor leading directly to Sevan .
“ Karvachar ” is Kelbajar , which will soon be handed over to the winning side .
• Even more curious is the situation with the southern transport corridor , which is supposed to be unblocked under the Agreement and internationalized under the control of Russian forces : It is necessary to clarify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also a railway passes along the border South .
Part of it was built in 1936 , and the connection with the old royal road in Julfa – in 1941 .
This corridor was abandoned in 1992 , when the war cut as many as 4 places .
Gradually , Armenia dismantled its plots , and Azerbaijan kept them up to Horadiz in the east , and within the Nakhichevan enclave .
But that ’ s not all !
Iran , taking advantage of 30 years of anarchy and , in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buffer territory , quietly built the Khudaferin hydroelectric power station there and flooded about 15 km of the dismantled railway .
Here is this piece , in a green box : It is clear that the landscape there has seriously changed .
And it is so serious that after raising the water ’ s edge by 35-40 m , the new place for the line resembles the Circum-Baikal Railway – there it is necessary to cut a rocky corridor , it is super expensive .
True , this most difficult section lasts only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was an Agreement between the USSR and Iran of 1977 , where this project was supposed to be done jointly .
However , Iran , after the disappearance of the second side , gracefully put x … , oh , bolt on all this , and did what he wanted without taking into account the transit line .
Azerbaijan did not control the land ; Armenia did not care .
Now there is a transport-geographic dead end .
By the way , it is not very clear why Azerbaijan kept quiet when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unilaterally blocked the railway corridor .
Line of the flooding area – in red : The landscape has changed so much that now it is not easy to continue the line .
It approaches the Khudaferin hydroelectric station from below and rests against the dam .
The height of the level difference is 65 m. This means that the railway will have to be rebuilt to the hydroelectric power station for at least 10 km and raised to compensate for the height difference .
And then either punch a tunnel through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a coastal corridor through , as in the Circum-Baikal Railway .
All this is very expensive .
So , the railway along the Southern Corridor will obviously return to full operation quickly : it needs quite a bit of funds to be restored .
The road , however , was moved to the north from the hydroelectric power station , and it is working .
So they will use it .
Interestingly , the reservoir was filled only in 2010 , i.e .
recently .
• Turkey , as a stakeholder , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of transport links and has already declared the construction of a railway to the Nakhichevan enclave .
Then you can use the Southern Highway Corridor through Zangezur , because the railway is still problematic ( see above ) .
Provision 10.11 explicitly declares in clause 9 the possibility of new links : [ … ] By agreement of the Parties , the construction of new transport communications linking the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with the western regions of Azerbaijan will be provided .
Here is the general configuration of Turkey ’ s railway approaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see , quite sparsely .
The Van corridor to Iran is tied to a ferry and not a complete one .
So the Ankara – Kars link is the only railway link to that region .
True , a new link with Georgia through Akhalkalaki was recently built .
So far , it is very flawed and with a small capacity .
But it is there .
The Turks got a connection with Azerbaijan through Georgia , since the direct highway through Kars is blocked by Armenia , it has not been working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the inactive Southern corridor along the Araks are also visible on the same map .
The green line shows a possible railway route to the Nakhichevan enclave .
In principle , this is quite real .
I looked at the terrain – the Turks need to build about 220 km of the railway from Sarikamish , but most of the route will pass near the Armenian border and bypass Mount Ararat .
But what will happen in reality – the future will show in a 5-year perspective .
• The loss of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Azerbaijan ’ s control over its territories south of Karabakh along the border with Iran , oddly enough , can bring serious relief to Armenia itself – there is a possibility of its transit communication with Iran through Nakhichevan .
It is inexpensive and quite simple : the problem section Ordubad – Horadiz with Iranian flooding is located to the east , and to reanimate communications , you only need to restore the dismantled border section of several kilometers .
And that ’ s all .
This can be clearly seen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the last Soviet link Armenia – Azerbaijan by the shortest route through Sevan – Agstafa is unclear .
They had just finished building it when the Karabakh conflict began in 1988 and it worked , God forbid , for three years .
At some level of normalization of relations , and it can be used .
Also , there is still a dismantled branch to Stepanakert from Yevlakh , which can potentially be restored rather quickly .
In conclusion , it should be noted that with all the casualties and costs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of transport corridors can compensate for the damage in 5 years and reanimate trade relations of both Armenia ( via Nakhichevan to Iran ) and Azerbaijan with its enclave and further to Turkey .
The construction of new transit routes through Zangezur can also bring Armenia a purely commercial profit .
As long as all strategic corridors will be guarded by the “ forester ” ( i.e.
, directly by Russian troops ) , the possibility of cutting them is minimal .
Well , Armenia now also has a choice : either to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unpleasant geopolitical results of the war , but also with the parallel unblocking of transport links ; or prepare its revenge and potentially lose all of Artsakh completely .
And one more important change , left behind the scenes of this review : the Russian troops and the Air Force , supplying the peacekeeping contingent , for the first time in 25 years received a direct air corridor from Russia through Azerbaijan , and not by a roundabout way through the Caspian Sea and Iran .
Azerbaijan ’ s President Ilham Aliyev @ @ @ @ @ @ @ railway corridor for the supply of the Russian contingent .
But currently , the future is uncertain and how things will transpire is still largely a mystery .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Karabakh War Could Be Stopped Weeks Before Fall Of Shusha , But Pashinyan Was Refusing To Accept Russian Peacekeepers : Putin

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The Nagorno-Karabakh war is over, at least for now, and since November 10th has been sealed due to the deployment and work of Russian peacekeepers.
As a result, by setting up their observation posts, the peacekeepers unblocked the transport corridors and this in turn leads to some prospects for the future.
Russian blogger Periskop provided an overview on the matter, in a blogpost.
His idea is to put aside the military-political results of the Karabakh War, and instead shift focus on the transport aspect.
The changes are quite extensive, and a more significant than those of 2014, and even those of 1994.
They could potentially greatly reshape freight and passenger flows in that region.
For the first time, in a while, several strategic directions that have been inactive for almost 30 years are unlocked at the same time, plus the plans of powerful players in this region for new corridors.
There are several most rudimentary observations that can be made:
For the first time in its post-Soviet independence, Armenia will fully equip its own border and it will have to directly deal with the points of transport crossings on its border. Until now, it was protected by a large buffer zone and its eastern borders were conditional. And now – the situation has changed, since all border areas are transferred to Azerbaijan under the November 10th Almost throughout the entire East and South, the Armenians will have to work with the Azerbaijanis and, after some time, perhaps with the Turks. This map shows the scale of the problem. Regarding the provision of the peace deal that leaves a bit of Karabakh left with Armenia. The Lachin corridor has been “internationalized” and will be controlled by Russian troops. Nevertheless, everything is not so simple there: since the Azerbaijanis took the city of Shusha at the end of the war, the corridor’s approach to Stepanakert and northern Karabakh partially passes through the zone of control of the Azerbaijani army. In this regard, an interesting clause is made in the November 10 Agreement:
“[…] 6. The Republic of Armenia will return the Kelbajar region to the Republic of Azerbaijan by November 15, 2020, and the Lachin region by December 1, 2020. The Lachin corridor (5 km wide), which will ensure the connection of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and at the same time will not affect the city of Shusha, remains under the control of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation. As agreed by the Parties, in the next three years, a plan will be determined for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor, providing communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, with the subsequent redeployment of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to protect this route. The Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees the safety of traffic along the Lachin corridor of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions.”
The map below shows that the Lachin corridor passes at the foot of the mountain on which Shusha is located. Therefore, it is assumed that the corridor will be moved north to the other side of the valley, where country roads now pass. The map is Armenian, therefore Lachin is called “Berdzor” here. I have marked with a dotted line the possible relocation of the corridor section to the north.
HINT: The text in read reads – “Future construction will go around Shusha.”
It is interesting that the route of communication with the remainder of Karabakh in the 10.11 Agreement was chosen without any alternative, despite the fact that there is also a second convenient link through the Zod Pass – a direct route through the East Sevan ridge. Until 2017, it was worse in terms of road class than the Lachin corridor, and did not function for all months. But now it is of a comparable class with Lachinsky and is year-round. But! This path is no longer listed in the document.
The cutout from the Armenian map of the region shows this corridor leading directly to Sevan. “Karvachar” is Kelbajar, which will soon be handed over to the winning side.
Even more curious is the situation with the southern transport corridor, which is supposed to be unblocked under the Agreement and internationalized under the control of Russian forces:
“[…] 9. All economic and transport links in the region are unblocked. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport links between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with the aim of organizing the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions. Control over transport communication is carried out by the bodies of the Border Service of the FSB of Russia.”
It is necessary to clarify that not only an automobile road, but also a railway passes along the border South. Part of it was built in 1936, and the connection with the old royal road in Julfa – in 1941. This corridor was abandoned in 1992, when the war cut as many as 4 places. Gradually, Armenia dismantled its plots, and Azerbaijan kept them up to Horadiz in the east, and within the Nakhichevan enclave.
But that’s not all! Iran, taking advantage of 30 years of anarchy and, in fact, a “no-man’s” buffer territory, quietly built the Khudaferin hydroelectric power station there and flooded about 15 km of the dismantled railway. Here is this piece, in a green box:
HINT: The green square shows an area flood as a result of the Iranian dam construction. The thick black lines show the deconstructed parts of the railroad in the area.
It is clear that the landscape there has seriously changed.
And it is so serious that after raising the water’s edge by 35-40 m, the new place for the line resembles the Circum-Baikal Railway – there it is necessary to cut a rocky corridor, it is super expensive. True, this most difficult section lasts only 8-9 km, but nonetheless.
Once there was an Agreement between the USSR and Iran of 1977, where this project was supposed to be done jointly. However, Iran, after the disappearance of the second side, gracefully put x …, oh, bolt on all this, and did what he wanted without taking into account the transit line. Azerbaijan did not control the land; Armenia did not care.
Now there is a transport-geographic dead end. By the way, it is not very clear why Azerbaijan kept quiet when Iran changed the landscape of the territory and unilaterally blocked the railway corridor.
Line of the flooding area – in red:
The landscape has changed so much that now it is not easy to continue the line. It approaches the Khudaferin hydroelectric station from below and rests against the dam.
The height of the level difference is 65 m. This means that the railway will have to be rebuilt to the hydroelectric power station for at least 10 km and raised to compensate for the height difference. And then either punch a tunnel through the rocks 6-7 km away, or punch a coastal corridor through, as in the Circum-Baikal Railway. All this is very expensive.
So, the railway along the Southern Corridor will obviously return to full operation quickly: it needs quite a bit of funds to be restored. The road, however, was moved to the north from the hydroelectric power station, and it is working. So they will use it. Interestingly, the reservoir was filled only in 2010, i.e. recently.
Turkey, as a stakeholder, also wants to take advantage of the unblocking of transport links and has already declared the construction of a railway to the Nakhichevan enclave. Then you can use the Southern Highway Corridor through Zangezur, because the railway is still problematic (see above). Provision 10.11 explicitly declares in clause 9 the possibility of new links:
[…] By agreement of the Parties, the construction of new transport communications linking the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic with the western regions of Azerbaijan will be provided.
Here is the general configuration of Turkey’s railway approaches to the Transcaucasus. As you can see, quite sparsely. The Van corridor to Iran is tied to a ferry and not a complete one. So the Ankara – Kars link is the only railway link to that region.
True, a new link with Georgia through Akhalkalaki was recently built. So far, it is very flawed and with a small capacity. But it is there. The Turks got a connection with Azerbaijan through Georgia, since the direct highway through Kars is blocked by Armenia, it has not been working for 27 years. The dismantled sections of the inactive Southern corridor along the Araks are also visible on the same map.
The green line shows a possible railway route to the Nakhichevan enclave. In principle, this is quite real. I looked at the terrain – the Turks need to build about 220 km of the railway from Sarikamish, but most of the route will pass near the Armenian border and bypass Mount Ararat. But what will happen in reality – the future will show in a 5-year perspective.
The loss of the war by Armenia and the restoration of Azerbaijan’s control over its territories south of Karabakh along the border with Iran, oddly enough, can bring serious relief to Armenia itself – there is a possibility of its transit communication with Iran through Nakhichevan. It is inexpensive and quite simple: the problem section Ordubad – Horadiz with Iranian flooding is located to the east, and to reanimate communications, you only need to restore the dismantled border section of several kilometers. And that’s all. This can be clearly seen in the above map. The fate of the last Soviet link Armenia – Azerbaijan by the shortest route through Sevan – Agstafa is unclear. They had just finished building it when the Karabakh conflict began in 1988 and it worked, God forbid, for three years. At some level of normalization of relations, and it can be used. Also, there is still a dismantled branch to Stepanakert from Yevlakh, which can potentially be restored rather quickly.
In conclusion, it should be noted that with all the casualties and costs of the war of 2020, the unblocking of transport corridors can compensate for the damage in 5 years and reanimate trade relations of both Armenia (via Nakhichevan to Iran) and Azerbaijan with its enclave and further to Turkey.
The construction of new transit routes through Zangezur can also bring Armenia a purely commercial profit. As long as all strategic corridors will be guarded by the “forester” (i.e., directly by Russian troops), the possibility of cutting them is minimal.
Well, Armenia now also has a choice: either to reflect on its defeat and agree with the unpleasant geopolitical results of the war, but also with the parallel unblocking of transport links; or prepare its revenge and potentially lose all of Artsakh completely.
And one more important change, left behind the scenes of this review: the Russian troops and the Air Force, supplying the peacekeeping contingent, for the first time in 25 years received a direct air corridor from Russia through Azerbaijan, and not by a roundabout way through the Caspian Sea and Iran. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev will be forced to open a land railway corridor for the supply of the Russian contingent. But currently, the future is uncertain and how things will transpire is still largely a mystery.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-11-19--Polisario Front Continues Pushing Morocco’s Wall, With No End Of Hostilities In Sight (Map Update)

The war in West Sahara continues going , as the Sahrawi People ’ s Liberation Army ( SPLA ) – the Polisario Front , continued intense strikes on the Moroccan Armed Forces entrenchments “ along its wall of shame , causing human and material damages ” for the 6th straight day .
On November 19th , Secretary General of the Ministry of Security and Documentation of the Government of the Arab Republic Sahrawi Democratic ( RASD ) , Sid Ould Oukal , affirmed that the Polisario Front keeps the doors of dialogue open , but will pursue the armed struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He said that the Polisario Front had announced the resumption of the armed struggle to liberate the territories occupied by Morocco “ without exception , no distinction whatsoever , ” with reference to the Moroccan attempt to focus on the illegal breach of El Guerguerat .
Ould Oukal said that the Polisario Front which “ has had enough with the Moroccan obsession and UN incapacity to impose itself against the enemy , keeps the doors of dialogue wide open “ on condition that the military struggle continues , after its irreversible resumption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blames Morocco for the escalation , with its UN Representative Dr. Sidi Mohamed Omar , said it is very difficult in this moment to speak about a peace negotiation , after Morocco launched its military attack on Western Sahara .
Furthermore , the government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic ( SADR ) said that Morocco ’ s statement following the King ’ s call on the secretary general of the United Nations to intervene quickly to restore the ceasefire , translates the “ confusion of the ( Moroccan ) occupation State following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sahrawi people ’ s liberation army.
” • On November 18 , Polisaro artillery shelled a Moroccan position in the Guerguerat area ; • On November 18 , Polisaro artillery shelled a Moroccan position in the Samara area ; • Saharawi Government declared that it now considers the entire territory of Western Sahara “ including its terrestrial , maritime and air spaces , a war zone ” ; • On November 19 , the WSRW called upon the European Commission to suspend the EU Morocco Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement ( SFPA ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal ’ s human rights clause .
The Saharawi government dubbed the attacks carried out by the Moroccan occupation in El Guerguerat an “ act of premeditated aggression that aims to undermine the efforts of the UN secretary general intended to calm the tension in the region.
” The call “ testifies to the confusion ” of Morocco “ following the incessant strikes of the Saharawi Liberation Army fighters triggered by its ( Moroccan ) military attack Friday at dawn against Saharawi civilians , who were peacefully demonstrating in the region of El @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic ( SADR ) .
” “ Moroccan occupation regime ’ s lamentation regarding the ceasefire is a mere ploy that must not deceive anyone , because it is the one who violated the ceasefire , ” he stressed .
“ [ Morocco ’ s ] operation breached the ceasefire agreement , it wasn ’ t us that conducted a military operation , ” said Sidi , referring to the crossing of the Moroccan army past the Berm , a 2,700km ( 1,677-mile ) sand wall that separates areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sahara .
In defense of its actions , Morocco had already spoken to the UN secretary-general about the issue but said it set up a “ security cordon ” over what it claims was the Polisario militia presence blocking the Guerguerat crossing , situated on an important trading road with neighbouring Mauritania .
Back on November 16th , Morocco ’ s king warned that his country would react with the “ greatest severity ” to any attack in Western Sahara , as the pro-independence Polisario Front said conflict would continue until Rabat ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory .
He said , as previously mentioned , that Rabat remained committed to a cease-fire .
But Morocco also “ remains firmly determined to react , with the greatest severity , and in self-defense , against any threat to its security , ” the king said , quoted in an official statement .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Clashes In Western Sahara Continue , As Polisario Front Says There ’ s No Hope For Peace

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The war in West Sahara continues going, as the Sahrawi People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) – the Polisario Front, continued intense strikes on the Moroccan Armed Forces entrenchments “along its wall of shame, causing human and material damages” for the 6th straight day.
On November 19th, Secretary General of the Ministry of Security and Documentation of the Government of the Arab Republic Sahrawi Democratic (RASD), Sid Ould Oukal, affirmed that the Polisario Front keeps the doors of dialogue open, but will pursue the armed struggle which has resumed irreversibly and without interruption.”
He said that the Polisario Front had announced the resumption of the armed struggle to liberate the territories occupied by Morocco “without exception, no distinction whatsoever,” with reference to the Moroccan attempt to focus on the illegal breach of El Guerguerat.
Ould Oukal said that the Polisario Front which “has had enough with the Moroccan obsession and UN incapacity to impose itself against the enemy, keeps the doors of dialogue wide open “on condition that the military struggle continues, after its irreversible resumption and without interruption.”
The Polisario Front blames Morocco for the escalation, with its UN Representative Dr. Sidi Mohamed Omar, said it is very difficult in this moment to speak about a peace negotiation, after Morocco launched its military attack on Western Sahara.
Furthermore, the government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) said that Morocco’s statement following the King’s call on the secretary general of the United Nations to intervene quickly to restore the ceasefire, translates the “confusion of the (Moroccan) occupation State following the incessant shelling by the fighters of the Sahrawi people’s liberation army.”
On November 18, Polisaro artillery shelled a Moroccan position in the Guerguerat area;
On November 18, Polisaro artillery shelled a Moroccan position in the Samara area;
Saharawi Government declared that it now considers the entire territory of Western Sahara “including its terrestrial, maritime and air spaces, a war zone”;
On November 19, the WSRW called upon the European Commission to suspend the EU Morocco Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) over Morocco’s violation of the deal’s human rights clause.
The Saharawi government dubbed the attacks carried out by the Moroccan occupation in El Guerguerat an “act of premeditated aggression that aims to undermine the efforts of the UN secretary general intended to calm the tension in the region.”
“The Government of the Saharawi Republic strongly condemns the statement issued by the Kingdom of Morocco, following a telephone call on Monday between UN chief Antonio Guterres and the King of Morocco, where bellicose language and a hollow threat have been used”.
The call “testifies to the confusion” of Morocco “following the incessant strikes of the Saharawi Liberation Army fighters triggered by its (Moroccan) military attack Friday at dawn against Saharawi civilians, who were peacefully demonstrating in the region of El Gueguerat, in the liberated territory of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).”
“Moroccan occupation regime’s lamentation regarding the ceasefire is a mere ploy that must not deceive anyone, because it is the one who violated the ceasefire,” he stressed. “[Morocco’s] operation breached the ceasefire agreement, it wasn’t us that conducted a military operation,” said Sidi, referring to the crossing of the Moroccan army past the Berm, a 2,700km (1,677-mile) sand wall that separates areas controlled by Polisario and Morocco in Western Sahara.
In defense of its actions, Morocco had already spoken to the UN secretary-general about the issue but said it set up a “security cordon” over what it claims was the Polisario militia presence blocking the Guerguerat crossing, situated on an important trading road with neighbouring Mauritania.
“In the face of provocations from the militias of the Polisario, the Kingdom of Morocco had no other choice but to assume its responsibilities in order to put an end to the deadlock situation generated by these actions and restore free civil and commercial movement,” the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.
Back on November 16th, Morocco’s king warned that his country would react with the “greatest severity” to any attack in Western Sahara, as the pro-independence Polisario Front said conflict would continue until Rabat ended its “occupation” of the disputed territory.
He said, as previously mentioned, that Rabat remained committed to a cease-fire.
But Morocco also “remains firmly determined to react, with the greatest severity, and in self-defense, against any threat to its security,” the king said, quoted in an official statement.
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southfront--2020-11-19--Map Update: Military Situation In Nagorno-Karabakh On November 19, 2020

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh region : • As @ @ @ @ @ number of observation posts maintained by the Russian peacekeeping force is 23 ; • On @ @ @ @ @ of Nor Maraga , Nor Aygestan , Nor Seisulan , Nor Karmiravan , Nor Haykadzhur @ @ @ @ @ of Martakert district in the Agdam region are being evacuated before being transferred to Azerbaijani @ @ @ @ @ ; • On November 18 , the Armenian Ministry of Defense confirmed the death of @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno-Karabakh war ; • The Russian Ministry of Defense said that 936 more refugees have @ @ @ @ @ escort from Russian peacekeepers .
The total number of people that returned since the deployment @ @ @ @ @ .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Ugly Truth Behind Devastating Armenian Defeat In Karabakh @ @ @ @ @ Released New Map Of Peacekeeping Forces Positions In Nagorno-Karabakh • Ilham Aliyev : Russia And @ @ @ @ @ To Guarantee Security Of Armenians And Azerbaijanis

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A brief overview of the recent developments in the Nagorno-Karabakh region:
As of November 19, the number of observation posts maintained by the Russian peacekeeping force is 23;
On November 18, the villages of Nor Maraga, Nor Aygestan, Nor Seisulan, Nor Karmiravan, Nor Haykadzhur, Ovtashen and Nor Jraberd of Martakert district in the Agdam region are being evacuated before being transferred to Azerbaijani control, according to Armenia;
On November 18, the Armenian Ministry of Defense confirmed the death of 81 more soldiers in the Nagorno-Karabakh war;
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that 936 more refugees have returned to Stepanakert with an escort from Russian peacekeepers. The total number of people that returned since the deployment of Russian forces is 2,600.
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southfront--2020-11-19--SouthFront Survival Is Not Possible Without Your Support!

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southfront--2020-11-19--China Used ‘Secret Microwave Pulse Weapon’ Against Indian Troops In Border Battle

A report this week in the UK has revealed new information on China ’ s use of a cutting edge high tech weapon during last summer ’ s high altitude Himalayan standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the disputed Ladakh border region .
Initial claims that a military-grade crowd control sonic pulse weapon capable of causing severe bodily discomfort , including dizziness and nausea , was used by China ’ s PLA military on Indian soldiers along the Line of Actual Control , were recently made by a notable professor at a Beijing university .
It would mark the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversial weapon was deployed in battle .
“ Its forces had turned two strategic hilltops that had been occupied by Indian soldiers ‘ into a microwave oven ’ , forcing them to retreat and allowing the positions to be retaken without an exchange of conventional fire , according to Jin Canrong , a professor of international relations at Beijing-based Renmin University , ” the reports .
Also described as electromagnetic ‘ microwave ’ weapons , when reportedly turned on the Indian forces they retreated during a standoff after becoming sick and vomiting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students that within 15 minutes of the weapons being deployed , ‘ those occupying the hilltops all began to vomit ’ .
‘ They couldn ’ t stand up , so they fled .
This was how we retook the ground , ’ he explained .
China ’ s forces decided to use the weapons because the altitude was too high to fight against a team of Tibetan mountaineering specialists , Jin said .
Gunfire is banned under an old agreement , although there were warning shots in September in an exchange of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other .
In June Chinese and Indian patrols along the border broke into hand-to-hand clashes that left at least 20 Indian troops killed .
The microwave weapon incident was said to have occurred in late August .
Via Daily Mail/Epoch Times : China ’ s so-called Poly WB-1 , a type of ‘ microwave ’ weapon , which was first put on display at an air show in 2014 .
China and India have been engaged in military-to-military talks to attempt to return the region to a peaceful status quo amid the border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Each side has accused the other of violating prior agreements , but for now that talks appear to have kept the peace even as a military build-up on each side has continued .
However , as of September both sides were witnessed sending additional troops and supplies to the harsh high-altitude region , strongly suggesting the standoff will continue for the long haul .
The US military has recently experimented with such ‘ sonic weapons ’ which are designed to cause an extreme concentration of heat , capable of causing enough discomfort to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been deemed ineffective on the battlefield , outside of simple urban crown control situations .
Assuming these new claims out of China are true , it would mark the first time such a sonic weapon was used in a live battlefield situation on humans .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Navy Pushes Ahead With 500-Ship Plan To ‘ Counter China & Russia ’ In Wake Of Esper Firing • In Videos : At Least 11 Killed In Indian-Pakistani Exchange Of Strikes In Disputed Kashmir Region

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
A report this week in the UK Times has revealed new information on China’s use of a cutting edge high tech weapon during last summer’s high altitude Himalayan standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in the disputed Ladakh border region.
Initial claims that a military-grade crowd control sonic pulse weapon capable of causing severe bodily discomfort, including dizziness and nausea, was used by China’s PLA military on Indian soldiers along the Line of Actual Control, were recently made by a notable professor at a Beijing university.
It would mark the first known instance in history such a controversial weapon was deployed in battle.
Illustrative US Air Force image showing an ‘Active Denial System’ or invisible, counter personnel, directed-energy weapon.
“Its forces had turned two strategic hilltops that had been occupied by Indian soldiers ‘into a microwave oven’, forcing them to retreat and allowing the positions to be retaken without an exchange of conventional fire, according to Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Beijing-based Renmin University,” the Times reports. Also described as electromagnetic ‘microwave’ weapons, when reportedly turned on the Indian forces they retreated during a standoff after becoming sick and vomiting, the professor claimed: Jin told his students that within 15 minutes of the weapons being deployed, ‘those occupying the hilltops all began to vomit’. ‘They couldn’t stand up, so they fled. This was how we retook the ground,’ he explained. China’s forces decided to use the weapons because the altitude was too high to fight against a team of Tibetan mountaineering specialists, Jin said. Gunfire is banned under an old agreement, although there were warning shots in September in an exchange of fire which both sides blamed on each other. In June Chinese and Indian patrols along the border broke into hand-to-hand clashes that left at least 20 Indian troops killed. The microwave weapon incident was said to have occurred in late August. Via Daily Mail/Epoch Times: China’s so-called Poly WB-1, a type of ‘microwave’ weapon, which was first put on display at an air show in 2014. China and India have been engaged in military-to-military talks to attempt to return the region to a peaceful status quo amid the border dispute, which reaches back decades. Each side has accused the other of violating prior agreements, but for now that talks appear to have kept the peace even as a military build-up on each side has continued. However, as of September both sides were witnessed sending additional troops and supplies to the harsh high-altitude region, strongly suggesting the standoff will continue for the long haul. Via Daily Mail
The US military has recently experimented with such ‘sonic weapons’ which are designed to cause an extreme concentration of heat, capable of causing enough discomfort to disperse crowds, but they have long been deemed ineffective on the battlefield, outside of simple urban crown control situations.
Assuming these new claims out of China are true, it would mark the first time such a sonic weapon was used in a live battlefield situation on humans.
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southfront--2020-11-19--Stir The Pot One Last Time? Trump’s Potential Order Of “Farewell Strike” On Iran

Trump ’ s most high-profile attack on Iran took place when the US killed IRGC Major General Qassem Soleimani in a January 3 drone strike at Baghdad ’ s airport .
It could be that Trump is looking to make the last days in office quite hot by stirring some controversy in the Middle East .
On November 17th , Iran warned of a “ crushing response ” to any attack by the United States .
This followed a report by the New York Times , published on November 16th .
This took place while Israel was striking targets in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arab Army , as well as allegedly to the Iranian Quds Force .
The report alleged that US President Donald Trump convened his top advisers to ask if he had options to strike Iranian nuclear sites during his final weeks in office .
His advisers allegedly warned that this could lead to a larger conflict in his last weeks in office .
The meeting with top advisers took place on November 12th , a day after the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran had stockpiled more than 12 times more enriched uranium than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported , citing four current and former US officials , all of them unnamed .
The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that Iran now had a stockpile of more than 2,442 kilograms , or over 5,385 pounds , of low-enriched uranium .
That is enough to produce about two nuclear weapons , according to an analysis of the report by the Institute for Science and International Security .
Among those present at the meeting were Vice President Mike Pence ; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ; acting defense secretary Christopher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , the report said .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Israel on November 18th and he is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , Defense Minister Benny Gantz , Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Mossad chief Yossi Cohen .
Some Israeli officials commented on the New York Times report .
“ If I were the Iranians , I would not feel at ease , ” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said , saying that he was not directly aware of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump administration .
“ It is very important that the Iranians know that if , indeed , they suddenly dash toward high levels of enrichment , in the direction of nuclear weaponry , they are liable to encounter the military might of the United States — and also , perhaps , of other countries , ” Steinitz said .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • “ Crushing Response ” Leading To War : Responds To Report That Trump Mulled Attack

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Trump’s most high-profile attack on Iran took place when the US killed IRGC Major General Qassem Soleimani in a January 3 drone strike at Baghdad’s airport.
It could be that Trump is looking to make the last days in office quite hot by stirring some controversy in the Middle East.
On November 17th, Iran warned of a “crushing response” to any attack by the United States.
This followed a report by the New York Times, published on November 16th.
“Any action against the Iranian nation would certainly face a crushing response,” said government spokesperson Ali Rabiei in remarks streamed on an official government news site.
This took place while Israel was striking targets in Syria, belonging to both the Syrian Arab Army, as well as allegedly to the Iranian Quds Force.
The report alleged that US President Donald Trump convened his top advisers to ask if he had options to strike Iranian nuclear sites during his final weeks in office.
His advisers allegedly warned that this could lead to a larger conflict in his last weeks in office.
The meeting with top advisers took place on November 12th, a day after the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran had stockpiled more than 12 times more enriched uranium than the 2015 nuclear deal allows, the Times reported, citing four current and former US officials, all of them unnamed.
The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that Iran now had a stockpile of more than 2,442 kilograms, or over 5,385 pounds, of low-enriched uranium. That is enough to produce about two nuclear weapons, according to an analysis of the report by the Institute for Science and International Security.
Among those present at the meeting were Vice President Mike Pence; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; acting defense secretary Christopher C. Miller; and Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the report said.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Israel on November 18th and he is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Mossad chief Yossi Cohen.
Some Israeli officials commented on the New York Times report.
“If I were the Iranians, I would not feel at ease,” Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said, saying that he was not directly aware of any deliberations on the matter by the Trump administration. “It is very important that the Iranians know that if, indeed, they suddenly dash toward high levels of enrichment, in the direction of nuclear weaponry, they are liable to encounter the military might of the United States — and also, perhaps, of other countries,” Steinitz said.
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southfront--2020-11-19--Military Situation In Syria On November 19, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A biref overview of the recent developments in Syria : • On November 18 @ @ @ @ @ shelled positions of the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) in Maarat al-Numan city ; @ @ @ @ @ artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) north @ @ @ @ @ November 18 , SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in Kansafra village ; • @ @ @ @ @ between SDF and Turkish-backed forces were reported west of al-Bab ; • On November 18 @ @ @ @ @ arrested in a security operation by SDF in the Tal Hamis area .
MORE ON @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Life Line : Historic Reopening Of Arar Border Crossing Between Iraq And Saudi @

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A biref overview of the recent developments in Syria:
On November 18, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in Maarat al-Numan city;
On November 18, artillery of Turkish-backed forces shelled positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) north of Minnagh;
On November 18, SAA artillery shelled positions of Turkish-backed forces in Kansafra village;
On November 18, clashes between SDF and Turkish-backed forces were reported west of al-Bab;
On November 18, 2 ISIS members were arrested in a security operation by SDF in the Tal Hamis area.
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southfront--2020-11-19--“Brereton Report” Discovers Evidence Of Murders And War Crimes In Afghanistan By Australian Special

“Brereton Report” Discovers Evidence Of Murders And War Crimes In Afghanistan By Australian Special Forces

In Australia , an inquiry discovered “ credible evidence ” that special forces personnel had carried out murder and willful cover-up of war crimes in Afghanistan .
The report can be found here .
[ pdf ] This also frequently took place with complicity of their patrol commanders .
One of the Special Air Service subunits involved will be disbanded by the Chief of Army .
Released on November 18th , the Brereton report made some interesting revelations , but also absolved the high leadership of Australian defense of any knowledge .
The report revealed that 39 Afghans were allegedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incidents .
Two more were cruelly treated .
The practice also facilitated the “ blooding ” of new members , an initiation exercise in which they take their first kill .
The investigation also found a further two people were cruelly treated .
The timeline of the killings dated from 2006 to 2013 .
Brereton identified several reasons why it took so long for the reports to come to light .
The commanders trusted their subordinates in the field and were protective of them during investigations .
This was exploited by patrols to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complied because their patrol commanders were “ demi-gods ” who can make or break their careers , and the prospect of being a “ lemon ” was a devastating one .
Brereton said that the circumstances of each , were they to be eventually accepted by a jury , would constitute the war crime of murder .
In all cases , the report finds it “ was or should have been plain that the person killed was a non-combatant ” .
The chief of the defence force , Angus Campbell , said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be in dispute .
There was also a culture of covering up these actions .
Patrols would compartmentalize from their leaders and from one another , hiding their actions on the battlefield from all , it said .
Operational reports were allegedly “ sanitized ” to make it appear as though special forces were complying with the laws of engagement .
The Defense Force Chief General Angus Campbell offered an apology to the Afghanistan people .
He described the alleged conduct as “ shameful ” , “ deeply disturbing ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head , described it as “ disgraceful and a profound betrayal ” of all the Australian Defence Force stood for .
When asked what he would say to the families of the dead , Campbell said : “ I am sincerely sorry for their loss and I can imagine the pain , the suffering and the uncertainty that that loss has caused , both at the time and that continued uncertainty of how this happened , ” he said .
“ My sincere apologies to them and a desire to find a way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interviewed as part of the investigation was unaware or unclear that the behaviour in these incidents was unlawful .
“ History teaches that the failure to comprehensively deal with allegations and indicators of breaches of Law of Armed Conflict as they begin to emerge and circulate is corrosive , ” Brereton wrote .
“ It gives spurious allegations life , and serious allegations a degree of impunity .
“ The consequences of not addressing such allegations as and when they eventually arise are measured in decades.
” The inquiry was not always able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing , but a “ code of silence ” meant all present were complicit .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • To End Its Operations Against ISIS In Syria And Iraq

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In Australia, an inquiry discovered “credible evidence” that special forces personnel had carried out murder and willful cover-up of war crimes in Afghanistan.
The report can be found here. [pdf]
This also frequently took place with complicity of their patrol commanders.
One of the Special Air Service subunits involved will be disbanded by the Chief of Army.
Released on November 18th, the Brereton report made some interesting revelations, but also absolved the high leadership of Australian defense of any knowledge.
The report revealed that 39 Afghans were allegedly murdered by Australian special forces in 23 incidents. Two more were cruelly treated.
The practice also facilitated the “blooding” of new members, an initiation exercise in which they take their first kill. The investigation also found a further two people were cruelly treated.
Major General Paul Brereton’s investigation took a four-year inquiry.
The timeline of the killings dated from 2006 to 2013. Brereton identified several reasons why it took so long for the reports to come to light.
The commanders trusted their subordinates in the field and were protective of them during investigations.
This was exploited by patrols to keep information to themselves. The troops complied because their patrol commanders were “demi-gods” who can make or break their careers, and the prospect of being a “lemon” was a devastating one.
Brereton said that the circumstances of each, were they to be eventually accepted by a jury, would constitute the war crime of murder.
In all cases, the report finds it “was or should have been plain that the person killed was a non-combatant”. The chief of the defence force, Angus Campbell, said that in each case, the intent cannot be in dispute.
“None were alleged to have occurred in circumstances in which the intent of the perpetrator was unclear, confused or mistaken,” he said. “And every person spoken to by the inquiry thoroughly understood the law of armed conflict and the rules of engagement under which they operated.”
There was also a culture of covering up these actions.
Patrols would compartmentalize from their leaders and from one another, hiding their actions on the battlefield from all, it said.
Operational reports were allegedly “sanitized” to make it appear as though special forces were complying with the laws of engagement.
“Operation summaries and other reports frequently did not truly and accurately report the facts of engagements, even where they were innocent and lawful, but were routinely embellished, often using ‘boilerplate’ language, in order proactively to demonstrate apparent compliance with rules of engagement, and to minimize the risk of attracting the interest of higher headquarters,” the report said.
The Defense Force Chief General Angus Campbell offered an apology to the Afghanistan people.
He described the alleged conduct as “shameful”, “deeply disturbing” and “appalling”. Brereton, the inquiry head, described it as “disgraceful and a profound betrayal” of all the Australian Defence Force stood for.
When asked what he would say to the families of the dead, Campbell said:
“I am sincerely sorry for their loss and I can imagine the pain, the suffering and the uncertainty that that loss has caused, both at the time and that continued uncertainty of how this happened,” he said. “My sincere apologies to them and a desire to find a way to make recompense.” Not one person interviewed as part of the investigation was unaware or unclear that the behaviour in these incidents was unlawful. “History teaches that the failure to comprehensively deal with allegations and indicators of breaches of Law of Armed Conflict as they begin to emerge and circulate is corrosive,” Brereton wrote. “It gives spurious allegations life, and serious allegations a degree of impunity. “The consequences of not addressing such allegations as and when they eventually arise are measured in decades.”
The inquiry was not always able to determine who was responsible for the killing, but a “code of silence” meant all present were complicit.
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