southfront--2020-03-20--Sea Ceptor Anti-Aircraft Missile Programme of the UK Navy

Written by Captain 3rd rank Y. Solovyov ; Originally appeared at Foreign Military Review # 12 2019 , translated by AlexD exclusively for SouthFront The British military leadership believes that among the means of attacking by air , the main threat to ships will be anti-ship missiles ( ASATs ) .
Thus , the greatest danger will come from the enemy ’ s use of air-to-surface missiles .
As a rule , the flight to the target of existing and developing anti-ship missiles occurs at low altitude and at high ( in the future , hypersonic ) speed .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ship ’ s Sea Wolf SAM , which armed the Duke-class frigates , became urgent in the UK .
This was due to the short fire range ( 7 km in the latest modifications ) , which made the complex ineffective , especially when repelling massive attacks by air .
In addition , it has a sufficiently large mass for the specified type of frigates , primarily due to two “ Type 911 ” radars used for tracking targets and aiming missiles .
Eventually , the new SAM was to enter service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FSC programme ( FSC – Future Surface Combatant ) .
The command of the British Navy considered the following options : further use of the Sea Wolf SAM ( GWS-26 mod .
2 ) before the withdrawal of the Duke-class frigates from combat service ; its modernisation or creation of a new complex based on a missile manufactured by MBDA .
Research has shown that it is not advisable to keep this SAM on these ships , even in the modernised version .
Preference was given to the development of MBDA , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FLAADS ” ( FLAADS – Future Local Area Air Defence System – a promising air defence system of a limited area ) .
In the course of research , the possibility of placing a complex with a SAM system on board was studied , as well as the requirements for targeting and guidance systems were defined .
It was planned to create a unified missile for the Navy and the ground forces , which , in turn , was supposed to provide significant financial savings during production and operation .
The economic justification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third quarter of 2010 , and in January 2012 , MBDA signed a contract worth 483 million pounds ( 759 million dollars ) for the development of the anti-aircraft missile .
The beginning of full-scale development of the FLAADS-M SAM ( named Sea Ceptor ) was announced in February 2012 .
In May 2018 , the British Navy adopted the Sea Ceptor .
The basis of the new complex is the anti-aircraft missile CAMM ( Common Anti-Air Modular Missile ) .
It is made according to a normal aerodynamic scheme and is equipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ASRAAM air-to-air missile .
An active radar homing head provides aiming the ordnance at the target in the final leg of the trajectory .
An important feature of the CAMM is the “ cold ” start , when a rocket with a non-working engine is ejected from the transport and launch container using a pneumatic mechanism to a height o f24-30 m. When climbing , four spatial orientation engines installed in the tail section provide its tilt towards the target .
At this stage , the main engine is turned on , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intercept point of the target .
Currently , the Sea Ceptor is being installed on Duke-class frigates , where it will replace the Sea Wolf complex as part of its modernisation .
CAMM missiles are placed in the existing Sea Wolf vertical launch system ( VLS ) ( 32 cells ) .
Their launch containers have a slight tilt over the side to minimise the possibility of the missiles falling on the deck in the event of a failure of the main engine .
Lockers with launch control system equipment are placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cables as similar blocks of Sea Wolf missiles .
Two-way communication equipment is installed in the bow and stern of the ship to provide guidance for missiles in the middle leg of the flight .
This allows the transmission of coordinates of the target from the ship to the rocket and gets information about its condition and malfunctions .
Detection of air objects , as well as the issuance of target designation to the complex is performed by the three-coordinate radar “ Artisan ” .
The station operates on frequencies in the 2-4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 0.06-200 km , the angle of the place ( UM ) is more than 70° , and the azimuth is 360° .
The accuracy of measuring coordinates at a distance is less than 7 m , at a distance of 0.6° , at an azimuth of 0.25° .
The number of simultaneously tracked targets is up to 800 .
The antenna rotation speed is 30 rpm .
The mass of the radar antenna is about 700 km .
It is mounted on the ship ’ s mast .
In the future the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vertical launch system ( ExLS – Extensible Launching System ) , developed by Lockheed-Martin based on Mk 41 elements .
There will be four CAMM SDMS in a single cell of such a VLS .
This company created several variants of the launch device modules ; including a single-cell SCL ( SCL – Single Cell Launcher ) and a three-cell “ ExLS ” .
It is expected that two VLS ( eight three-cell modules each ) will be installed on prospective Glasgow-type frigates designed under the FGC programme .
One installation will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other , in the central part of the ship .
As noted above , it is planned to install the Sea Ceptor SAM on all existing Duke-class frigates , as well as on eight new Glasgow-class frigates intended to replace them .
In addition , this complex is planned to replace the Sea Wolf on three Cochrane-class frigates ( the Duke-class frigates transferred to the Chilean Navy in 2004-2005 ) .
Currently , contracts have been signed for the supply of Sea Ceptor for two Anzac-class frigates ( Project MEKO 200 ) of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tamadare-class corvettes of the Brazilian Navy .
Thus , in the UK , much attention is paid to the development of ship-based means of destroying air targets .
In this regard , the Sea Ceptor anti-aircraft missile system was developed .
The new SAM has an increased range compared to its predecessor and the number of simultaneously fired targets .
In addition , the new launcher allows the placement of a larger set of missiles on the ship than the old launch platform .
These advantages make it possible to increase the defensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ships of the British Navy when repelling enemy attacks using various means of air attack .
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Written by Captain 3rd rank Y. Solovyov; Originally appeared at Foreign Military Review #12 2019, translated by AlexD exclusively for SouthFront
The British military leadership believes that among the means of attacking by air, the main threat to ships will be anti-ship missiles (ASATs). Thus, the greatest danger will come from the enemy’s use of air-to-surface missiles.
As a rule, the flight to the target of existing and developing anti-ship missiles occurs at low altitude and at high (in the future, hypersonic) speed.
In the mid-2000s, the need to replace the ship’s Sea Wolf SAM, which armed the Duke-class frigates, became urgent in the UK. This was due to the short fire range (7 km in the latest modifications), which made the complex ineffective, especially when repelling massive attacks by air. In addition, it has a sufficiently large mass for the specified type of frigates, primarily due to two “Type 911” radars used for tracking targets and aiming missiles. Eventually, the new SAM was to enter service with ships that were designed under the FSC programme (FSC – Future Surface Combatant).
The command of the British Navy considered the following options: further use of the Sea Wolf SAM (GWS-26 mod. 2) before the withdrawal of the Duke-class frigates from combat service; its modernisation or creation of a new complex based on a missile manufactured by MBDA. Research has shown that it is not advisable to keep this SAM on these ships, even in the modernised version. Preference was given to the development of MBDA, which at this point proposed the project “FLAADS” (FLAADS – Future Local Area Air Defence System – a promising air defence system of a limited area). In the course of research, the possibility of placing a complex with a SAM system on board was studied, as well as the requirements for targeting and guidance systems were defined. It was planned to create a unified missile for the Navy and the ground forces, which, in turn, was supposed to provide significant financial savings during production and operation.
The economic justification for the project was presented in the third quarter of 2010, and in January 2012, MBDA signed a contract worth 483 million pounds (759 million dollars) for the development of the anti-aircraft missile. The beginning of full-scale development of the FLAADS-M SAM (named Sea Ceptor) was announced in February 2012. In May 2018, the British Navy adopted the Sea Ceptor.
The basis of the new complex is the anti-aircraft missile CAMM (Common Anti-Air Modular Missile). It is made according to a normal aerodynamic scheme and is equipped with a single-stage solid-fuel engine of the ASRAAM air-to-air missile. An active radar homing head provides aiming the ordnance at the target in the final leg of the trajectory.
An important feature of the CAMM is the “cold” start, when a rocket with a non-working engine is ejected from the transport and launch container using a pneumatic mechanism to a height o f24-30 m. When climbing, four spatial orientation engines installed in the tail section provide its tilt towards the target. At this stage, the main engine is turned on, and the missile begins a controlled flight to the intercept point of the target.
Currently, the Sea Ceptor is being installed on Duke-class frigates, where it will replace the Sea Wolf complex as part of its modernisation. CAMM missiles are placed in the existing Sea Wolf vertical launch system (VLS) (32 cells). Their launch containers have a slight tilt over the side to minimise the possibility of the missiles falling on the deck in the event of a failure of the main engine. Lockers with launch control system equipment are placed in the same places and connected to cables as similar blocks of Sea Wolf missiles. Two-way communication equipment is installed in the bow and stern of the ship to provide guidance for missiles in the middle leg of the flight. This allows the transmission of coordinates of the target from the ship to the rocket and gets information about its condition and malfunctions.
Detection of air objects, as well as the issuance of target designation to the complex is performed by the three-coordinate radar “Artisan”. The station operates on frequencies in the 2-4 GHz band. The range of view is 0.06-200 km, the angle of the place (UM) is more than 70°, and the azimuth is 360°. The accuracy of measuring coordinates at a distance is less than 7 m, at a distance of 0.6°, at an azimuth of 0.25°.
The number of simultaneously tracked targets is up to 800. The antenna rotation speed is 30 rpm. The mass of the radar antenna is about 700 km. It is mounted on the ship’s mast.
In the future the missiles will be placed in the ExLS vertical launch system (ExLS – Extensible Launching System), developed by Lockheed-Martin based on Mk 41 elements. There will be four CAMM SDMS in a single cell of such a VLS.
This company created several variants of the launch device modules; including a single-cell SCL (SCL – Single Cell Launcher) and a three-cell “ExLS”. It is expected that two VLS (eight three-cell modules each) will be installed on prospective Glasgow-type frigates designed under the FGC programme. One installation will be located in the bow, and the other, in the central part of the ship.
As noted above, it is planned to install the Sea Ceptor SAM on all existing Duke-class frigates, as well as on eight new Glasgow-class frigates intended to replace them. In addition, this complex is planned to replace the Sea Wolf on three Cochrane-class frigates (the Duke-class frigates transferred to the Chilean Navy in 2004-2005). Currently, contracts have been signed for the supply of Sea Ceptor for two Anzac-class frigates (Project MEKO 200) of the New Zealand Navy and four planned Tamadare-class corvettes of the Brazilian Navy.
Thus, in the UK, much attention is paid to the development of ship-based means of destroying air targets. In this regard, the Sea Ceptor anti-aircraft missile system was developed. The new SAM has an increased range compared to its predecessor and the number of simultaneously fired targets. In addition, the new launcher allows the placement of a larger set of missiles on the ship than the old launch platform.
These advantages make it possible to increase the defensive capabilities of the existing and prospective surface ships of the British Navy when repelling enemy attacks using various means of air attack.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Satellite Images Show Significant Damage Caused By Recent Strikes On Syria’s Al-Bukamal

On March 19 , Israel ’ s ImageSat International released satellite images showing the aftermath of the March 11 strikes on the vicinity of the eastern Syrian city of al-Bukamal .
The images confirmed that the mysterious strikes targeted the Imam Ali Base , southwest of al-Bukamal .
The base , which was reportedly built by Iranian forces , sustained significant damage .
Most hardened shelters and storage facilities were completely destroyed .
The strikes , however , didn ’ t target an under construction tunnel within the base , nor a nearby unofficial crossing on the border with Iraq @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a response by the U.S. to the March 11 rocket attack on Camp Taji in Iraq .
The attack killed three U.S.-led coalition service members .
However , the U.S. responded to the attack on March 13 with strikes on Iraqi military positions .
According to Israeli and U.S. sources , the Imam Ali Base was meant to be used as a missile site by Iranian forces .
There is no solid evidence backing these claims .
The most possible scenario is that the Imam Ali Base was attacked by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel is reportedly behind a series of airstrikes that targeted the same base over the last few months .
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On March 19, Israel’s ImageSat International released satellite images showing the aftermath of the March 11 strikes on the vicinity of the eastern Syrian city of al-Bukamal.
The images confirmed that the mysterious strikes targeted the Imam Ali Base, southwest of al-Bukamal. The base, which was reportedly built by Iranian forces, sustained significant damage. Most hardened shelters and storage facilities were completely destroyed.
The strikes, however, didn’t target an under construction tunnel within the base, nor a nearby unofficial crossing on the border with Iraq.
Initially, the strikes were thought to be a response by the U.S. to the March 11 rocket attack on Camp Taji in Iraq. The attack killed three U.S.-led coalition service members. However, the U.S. responded to the attack on March 13 with strikes on Iraqi military positions.
According to Israeli and U.S. sources, the Imam Ali Base was meant to be used as a missile site by Iranian forces. There is no solid evidence backing these claims.
The most possible scenario is that the Imam Ali Base was attacked by the Israeli Air Force (IAF). Israel is reportedly behind a series of airstrikes that targeted the same base over the last few months.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Large Explosion Rocks Turkish-Occupied City In Syria’s Aleppo (Videos)

On March 19 , a large explosion rocked the Turkish-occupied city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Syria ’ @ @ @ @ @ said an explosive-laden car exploded in the city ’ s western district , near the @ @ @ @ @ the Step News Agency , two people were killed and many others , including children @ @ @ @ @ car bomb attack .
Several activists released videos showing the aftermath of the explosion .
@ @ @ @ @ for the attack .
However , opposition activists said Kurdish forces , ISIS or even @ @ @ @ @ been behind it .
Car bomb attacks are nothing new to Turkish-occupied areas in the @ @ @ @ @ Syria .
In the last few months , dozens of people , including militants and @ @ @ @ @ in such attacks .
In spite of this , Turkey is yet to take any @ @ @ @ @ in these areas .
The local law enforcement body , the Free Syrian Police , @ @ @ @ @ but also infamous for its corruption .
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On March 19, a large explosion rocked the Turkish-occupied city of Azaz in the northern countryside of Syria’s Aleppo. Local sources said an explosive-laden car exploded in the city’s western district, near the local council.
According to the Step News Agency, two people were killed and many others, including children, were injured in the car bomb attack. Several activists released videos showing the aftermath of the explosion.
There was no immediate claim for the attack. However, opposition activists said Kurdish forces, ISIS or even the Syrian intelligence may have been behind it.
Car bomb attacks are nothing new to Turkish-occupied areas in the northern and northeastern parts of Syria. In the last few months, dozens of people, including militants and Turkish soldiers, were killed in such attacks.
In spite of this, Turkey is yet to take any serious measure to improve security in these areas. The local law enforcement body, the Free Syrian Police, is not only dysfunctional, but also infamous for its corruption.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Houthis Launch Missiles At Saudi-led Coalition Aerial Formation Over Central Yemen

The Houthis announced on March 19 that the Yemeni Air Defense Force had targeted an aerial formation of the Saudi-led coalition over central Yemen .
Brig .
Gen. Yahya Sari , a spokesman for the Yemeni group , said the formation , that consisted of several warplanes , was targeted over the district of Sirwah in the province of Ma ’ rib with a “ Fatir-1 ” air-defense system .
“ The air defense [ force ] confronted a combat formation consisting of a number of hostile warplanes in the skies of the district of Sarwah in Marib with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave before they could conduct any aggression , ” the spokesman said .
The Fatir-1 is a locally-upgraded Soviet-made SA-6 “ Gainful ” system that was revealed by the Houthis in August of 2019 .
The system has an effective range of 22 km .
A few days ago , the Houthis targeted three warplanes- an F-15 and two F-16s – of the Saudi-led coalition over northern Yemen with the Fatir-1 system .
The Houthis are failing to shoot down the targeted warplanes in most cases .
However , their air-defense fire has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key areas in northern and central Yemen .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • In Photos : Houthis Captured Large Number Of Battle Tanks , Armoured Vehicles , Artillery From Saudi-backed Forces

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The Houthis announced on March 19 that the Yemeni Air Defense Force had targeted an aerial formation of the Saudi-led coalition over central Yemen.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Sari, a spokesman for the Yemeni group, said the formation, that consisted of several warplanes, was targeted over the district of Sirwah in the province of Ma’rib with a “Fatir-1” air-defense system.
“The air defense [force] confronted a combat formation consisting of a number of hostile warplanes in the skies of the district of Sarwah in Marib with the Fatir-1 air-defense system and forced them to leave before they could conduct any aggression,” the spokesman said.
The Fatir-1 is a locally-upgraded Soviet-made SA-6 “Gainful” system that was revealed by the Houthis in August of 2019. The system has an effective range of 22 km.
A few days ago, the Houthis targeted three warplanes- an F-15 and two F-16s – of the Saudi-led coalition over northern Yemen with the Fatir-1 system.
The Houthis are failing to shoot down the targeted warplanes in most cases. However, their air-defense fire has limited he Saudi-led coalition aerial operations over key areas in northern and central Yemen.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Coronavirus Forces U.S. To Pull Some Troops Out Of Iraq. Pompeo Blames Russia For Coronavirus Hyster

Coronavirus Forces U.S. To Pull Some Troops Out Of Iraq. Pompeo Blames Russia For Coronavirus Hysteria

“ When you have eliminated the impossible , whatever remains , however improbable , must be the truth ?
” Sherlock Holmes So , “ we lie , steel & cheet ” Pompeous the shithead is out drooling nonsense again , but then again , He is just an Moronikan , not much of an surprice , stupdity so bad its only beaten by Trump .
Yup , trancapapapacy and eh accuCracy , as if this bag is shit knows what this words even means .
So , I knew I was right when this hysterical freak show called Corona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an hart beat into been something witch they is lying about , fudging the stats , you know the word , lies , dammed lies and statistics , and in this uh… epidemic , they have dragged the shit into new hights .
But , the ugly truth is , I didnt go fully for the bio-weapon theory , but now I am not that certain anymore , not that it have to be an bio-weapon , but the effect of it , when I know only one nations insanly evil Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trumpthing , thats whhat they want , never let an crisis go to waist , and the blame game , to divert the attentions into an issue witch is de facto irrelevant , when its comed out anyway , weapon or not , is what have the Imperial banana republic done , and why have they done this .
Remeber , the Impisses have crashed the european economy , with moronic sanctions witch have bleed europa , and wars , witch is feeding refugees in millions , killed millions directly or indirectly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 5 colums in the EU , an EU whom even gave their own members the finger , and made everything worse , and when they countered it was with draconian idiocy , like the little freak MaCrony to Mutti Morekill , they have no gone total bananas , and spews shit in every direction I will this time again link , to articles witch if this dont awaken you/us , we indeed will go down in flames , because as said before , the AmeriCunts are evil , an people without any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steeling and cheeting and their actions speaks , and we know also that our MSM witch is run by the same people whom is cashing in on various bailouts/austeritys , of course while sprinkling scraps on the people , and smal companys will be wiped out , but never the banks whom is becoming an black hole , witch we pay for , of course , and then we have the second biggest evil , the MIC , medical ind .
complext and this time , they both have the same agenda , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything anymore of what our MSM writes , they accused some of us for been “ conspiracy lacen ” while it turned out we where dead on .
Remeber Trumps denile of the buying of vaccine/medics , that was an fact , and this time its about stealing/taking away things the Italians needed .
And that they did nothing , and why they did nothing , cue bono .
This f… .
knew and I start to belive they , the AmerCunts started this , and never underestemate their evil .
https : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nothing but an f… .
scam .
Its what that comes that worries me , not this virus , but ignorants will always hang them self on the MSM bedbug wagon , since its about hate propaganda , and China is their main target , like the Trumps Kung Flu , etc and the best thing , if there ever was any f… doubt about how false the MSM is , the expsoing of the ugly truth about the so called “ Alternative Media ” is what I realy like , everything from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from so called right winged alt media witch means the same as the MSM where they are based upon their owners , whom are Jews .
The truth is , there is no alternative media , some few , and they deserve respect , but the large ones are 100 % fake .
Then we have the good news , Cuba , hehe , and China , the exposure of the corrupt EU , and again this time they did it all them selfs , and hopefully , european nations finaly awaken to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bitches for the NWO aka The Imperial banana republic .
The best thing to do is to kick the Moronikans out of europa , ban their corps , and if they want to stay , pay to play of simply eradicate them from our realms , so others may come up , we will benefit from trowing the scums of this earth out , the banana republic will become an 3 world shithole , and let them have it .

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The U.S.-led coalition announced on March 20 that it will be pulling a part of its troops out of Iraq as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
In an official statement, the coalition said its “training-focused forces” will be returning to their countries within a few weeks. The coalition noted that Iraq’s security forces suspended all training activities in order to prevent potential spread of the COVID-19.
“The coalition remains committed to the lasting defeat of ISIS through our partnership with the ISF [Iraqi security forces], and as the situation permits, we will resume our support to Iraqi training,” the statement reads.
The coalition also announced that it will be “repositioning” some of its units within Iraqi military bases. The coalition claimed that the recent success in counter-ISIS efforts is the reason behind the repositioning decision. However, the increasing number of rocket attacks on US forces in the country is likely among the key reasons behind the decision.
As of March 20, 208 COVIED-19 cases have been documented in Iraq. 17 of the patients lost their lives to the notorious virus.
While the U.S.-led coalition was announcing its decision to pull its troops of Iraq because of the coronavirus fear, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused accusing Russia, Iran and China of fueling hysteria over the pandemic in the West. Pompeo said on March 20 that Russia, Iran and China are making “pretty diffused” efforts to disparage the U.S. plan to address Coronavirus pandemic.
“They need to knock it off. We don’t approve of it … The idea of transparency and accuracy in information is very important,” Pompeo said, according to U.S. News.
These accusations contradict with the U.S. own behavior, which appears to be hysteric. The U.S. has more than 16,000 COVID-19 cases. Many in the U.S. itself are criticizing the government performance in handling the pandemic. The coronavirus problems are strengthened by the economic crisis developing around the world.
Apparently, somebody in Washington opted to find some ‘external enemy’ to blame for internal problems. The list of the chosen enemies is not surprising. So, according to the US State Deparment, all these reports from the EU and the United States are fake and a result of the Russian/Chinese/Iranian-led propagnada campaign. Okay…
It’s expected that in the near future, the US and other Western states that are struggling in the fight against teh COVID-19 will increase their propaganda campaign blaming some ‘enemies’ for their own problems. The pandemic issue will be politized in order to shift the audience’s attention from the real problems. Previously, SouthFront covered the COVID-19 pandemic residually since this is not a topic related to military, diplomatic or geopolitical situation around the world. However, now, when the pandemic issue is being weaponized by the US-led bloc in its media and diplomatic propagnada campaign, we will pay more attention to the topic.
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southfront--2020-03-20--PMU Clears Vast Areas Of Khanaqin In Eastern Iraq Of ISIS Cells

On March 20 , Iraq ’ s Popular Mobilization Units ( PMU ) cleared more than 100 square kilometers of @ @ @ @ @ of Diyala from ISIS remnants .
PMU units launched a large-scale combing operation in the @ @ @ @ @ , in the morning .
The operation was successfully concluded by the eve .
Khanaqin @ @ @ @ @ PMU ’ s Diyala Operations Command , the engineer unit and the 4th Regiments of @ @ @ @ @ 2nd Regiments of the 23th Brigade .
The large-scale combing operation targeted ISIS cells in @ @ @ @ @ active in the areas of al-Zur and al-Adghal [ forest in Arabic ] .
Similar @ @ @ @ @ in ISIS ’ ex-strongholds on a regular basis .
These operations are limiting the movement @ @ @ @ @ the terrorist group from reorganizing its members .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • ‘ @ @ @ @ @ Complete ’ : New Iraqi Group Threatens U.S. Military In Video Message

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On March 20, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) cleared more than 100 square kilometers of Khanaqin in the eastern province of Diyala of ISIS remnants.
PMU units launched a large-scale combing operation in the region, which borders Iran, in the morning. The operation was successfully concluded by the eve.
Khanaqin operation was conducted by the PMU’s Diyala Operations Command, the engineer unit and the 4th Regiments of the 23th Brigade and the 2nd Regiments of the 23th Brigade.
“The operation resulted in securing and clearing eight areas: Ain al-Samak, Zallu, Kani Masi, Ali al-Sagheer, Baggha, Tilal Nukht Khan, Wadi Gharb, and Wadi Talab,” a source in the PMU said, according to the Military Media.
The large-scale combing operation targeted ISIS cells in Khanaqin, which have been active in the areas of al-Zur and al-Adghal [forest in Arabic].
Similar security operations are carried out in ISIS’ ex-strongholds on a regular basis. These operations are limiting the movement of ISIS remnants, preventing the terrorist group from reorganizing its members.
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southfront--2020-03-20--ISIS Cells Assassinated 40 People In Syria’s Deir Ezzor During Last Three Months

On March 20 , ISIS newspaper , al-Naba ’ , released an infographic summarizing the assassinations carried out by the terrorist group ’ s cells in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor over the last three months .
According to the al-Naba ’ , ISIS cells assassinated 40 people and injured 8 others in the course of 34 operations which took place between January and March .
17 of the operations were carried out with machine guns , 3 with handguns , 5 with improvised explosive devices ( IEDs ) , 3 involved kidnappings and 5 were conducted during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence agents , ” 14 local commanders , 10 “ spies , ” 3 fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) and 2 local chiefs .
A quick look at the assassinations reported by ISIS ’ news agency , Amaq , reveals that the vast majority of these attacks took place in the northeastern , eastern and southeastern parts of Deir Ezzor which are controlled by the SDF .
The SDF and its allies in the U.S.-led coalition intensified their operations in Deir Ezzor in order to counter ISIS influence there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently that effective .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • In Photos : HTS Uses Ceasefire To Recruit and Train New Fighters

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On March 20, ISIS newspaper, al-Naba’, released an infographic summarizing the assassinations carried out by the terrorist group’s cells in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ezzor over the last three months.
According to the al-Naba’, ISIS cells assassinated 40 people and injured 8 others in the course of 34 operations which took place between January and March.
17 of the operations were carried out with machine guns, 3 with handguns, 5 with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), 3 involved kidnappings and 5 were conducted during raids.
The victims were 18 “intelligence agents,” 14 local commanders, 10 “spies,” 3 fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and 2 local chiefs.
A quick look at the assassinations reported by ISIS’ news agency, Amaq, reveals that the vast majority of these attacks took place in the northeastern, eastern and southeastern parts of Deir Ezzor which are controlled by the SDF.
The SDF and its allies in the U.S.-led coalition intensified their operations in Deir Ezzor in order to counter ISIS influence there. However, these operations are not apparently that effective.
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southfront--2020-03-20--In Photos: HTS Uses Ceasefire To Recruit and Train New Fighters

Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) continues to take advantage of Greater Idlib ceasefire by recruiting and training new fighters .
On March 20 , HTS ’ news network , Iba ’ a , released photos showing live fire drills by the group ’ s new recruits .
The fighters were trained to conduct offensive operations and to use a variate of weapons , including heavy machine guns .
The terrorist group stepped up its recruitment and traning efforts following the March 5 Russia-Turkish agreement on Greater Idlib .
Last week , HTS launched a large recruitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , known as the “ Red Bands.
” The group also asked for new volunteers in its Inghimasi force , a unit responsible for suicide attacks .
HTS is , without doubts , preparing for a possible military confrontation with the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) and its allies in Greater Idlib .
The Russian-Turkish brokered agreement may collapse in a few weeks as Ankara is yet to fulfill any of its commitments .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Syria And Turkey Brace For New Military Confrontation In Syria ’ s @ @

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Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continues to take advantage of Greater Idlib ceasefire by recruiting and training new fighters.
On March 20, HTS’ news network, Iba’a, released photos showing live fire drills by the group’s new recruits. The fighters were trained to conduct offensive operations and to use a variate of weapons, including heavy machine guns.
The terrorist group stepped up its recruitment and traning efforts following the March 5 Russia-Turkish agreement on Greater Idlib.
Last week, HTS launched a large recruitment campaign to revive its depleted special forces, known as the “Red Bands.” The group also asked for new volunteers in its Inghimasi force, a unit responsible for suicide attacks.
HTS is, without doubts, preparing for a possible military confrontation with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies in Greater Idlib. The Russian-Turkish brokered agreement may collapse in a few weeks as Ankara is yet to fulfill any of its commitments.
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southfront--2020-03-20--‘Moderate Rebels’ Bite Hand That Feeds Them. 2 Turkish Soldiers Killed In Idlib

Syria entered the second half of the week with a new spike of tensions in Greater Idlib .
This escalation has been widely expected because militant groups are sabotaging key parts of the Russian-Turkish agreement on de-escalation in the area .
Radicals kept their positions along the M4 highway , where a security zone was set to be created , and blocked the planned joint Russian-Turkish patrols there .
On March 19 , they expanded their strategy with direct actions against Turkish and Russian forces .
At least two improvised explosive devices exploded along the route of a Turkish military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 Turkish soldiers were killed and several others were injured .
Opposition sources initially reported that Horas al-Din , one of multiple al-Qaeda-affiliated organizations in Idlib , was behind the attack .
Nonetheless , Horas al-Din itself denied responsibility for the incident .
There is no surprise that the group indirectly receiving support from Turkey denied such a move .
Later , pro-militant media adapted their version of events blaming ISIS cells and even Assad agents .
The March 19 developments demonstrated that Ankara does not fully control the terrorist organizations that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attempt to solidify its own influence in the region .
Therefore , in some conditions , Turkish-backed terrorists become a threat to Turkey and its forces themselves .
The Turkish leadership fully understands that the ceasefire will not survive too long without the neutralization of terrorists .
So , the Turkish Army continues its military buildup in the area .
Turkish forces set up new positions near Ram Hamadan and al-Jinah .
Additionally , three Turkish convoys , consisting of dozens of battle tanks , armored vehicles , rocket launchers and howitzers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province of Idlib .
Turkish units also conducted a modest attempt to de-block the M4 highway by removing earthen mounds left by militants .
The situation on the frontline is also escalating .
Late on March 19 , the Syrian Army repelled an attack on its positions near Hizareen .
Syrian state media claimed that militants suffered heavy casualties in the clashes .
Wa Harid al-Muminin , a coalition of small al-Qaeda-linked groups , claimed responsibility for the attack .
It released its own statement saying that 15 “ regime troops ” had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army and the National Defense Forces started reinforcing their positions in southern Idlib and northern Lattakia with fresh troops and military equipment .
Pro-government sources claim that Jisr al-Shughur , the town controlled by the Turkistan Islamic Party , will become the target of the army offensive , if the ceasefire collapses .

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Syria entered the second half of the week with a new spike of tensions in Greater Idlib. This escalation has been widely expected because militant groups are sabotaging key parts of the Russian-Turkish agreement on de-escalation in the area.
Radicals kept their positions along the M4 highway, where a security zone was set to be created, and blocked the planned joint Russian-Turkish patrols there. On March 19, they expanded their strategy with direct actions against Turkish and Russian forces. At least two improvised explosive devices exploded along the route of a Turkish military column near the village of Muhamabal. 2 Turkish soldiers were killed and several others were injured. Opposition sources initially reported that Horas al-Din, one of multiple al-Qaeda-affiliated organizations in Idlib, was behind the attack. Nonetheless, Horas al-Din itself denied responsibility for the incident. There is no surprise that the group indirectly receiving support from Turkey denied such a move. Later, pro-militant media adapted their version of events blaming ISIS cells and even Assad agents. The March 19 developments demonstrated that Ankara does not fully control the terrorist organizations that it is protecting from the Syrian Army in an attempt to solidify its own influence in the region. Therefore, in some conditions, Turkish-backed terrorists become a threat to Turkey and its forces themselves.
The Turkish leadership fully understands that the ceasefire will not survive too long without the neutralization of terrorists. So, the Turkish Army continues its military buildup in the area. Turkish forces set up new positions near Ram Hamadan and al-Jinah. Additionally, three Turkish convoys, consisting of dozens of battle tanks, armored vehicles, rocket launchers and howitzers crossed the Turkish border with the Syrian province of Idlib.
Turkish units also conducted a modest attempt to de-block the M4 highway by removing earthen mounds left by militants. The situation on the frontline is also escalating. Late on March 19, the Syrian Army repelled an attack on its positions near Hizareen. Syrian state media claimed that militants suffered heavy casualties in the clashes. Wa Harid al-Muminin, a coalition of small al-Qaeda-linked groups, claimed responsibility for the attack. It released its own statement saying that 15 “regime troops” had been killed.
Meanwhile, the Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces started reinforcing their positions in southern Idlib and northern Lattakia with fresh troops and military equipment. Pro-government sources claim that Jisr al-Shughur, the town controlled by the Turkistan Islamic Party, will become the target of the army offensive, if the ceasefire collapses.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Syria And Turkey Brace For New Military Confrontation In Syria’s Greater Idlib

The March 5 Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria ’ s Greater Idlib continuous to hold on , despite a series of violations by radical militants in the region and unfulfilled promises by Ankara .
Syria and Turkey , however , appear to be preparing for a new military confrontation in the northwestern region .
In the ceasefire ’ s first few weeks , the Turkish military raised the number of its “ observation posts ” in Greater Idlib to 44 .
Ankara also deployed large reinforcements in the Syrian region , with some sources reporting the deployment of around 1,400 military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Hulusi Akar , stressed on March 20 that Ankara will go on with its deployment plans in Greater Idlib .
While Turkey is taking advantage of the recent agreement with Russia to deploy more and more troops in Greater Idlib , it is yet to fulfill any of its commitments under the agreement .
The M4 highway , which links Syria ’ s industrial hub , Aleppo city , with the port city of Lattakia , is still blocked by militants .
Reopening the strategic highway is the keystone of the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Damascus government is fulfilling its commitments , by halting its aerial and land operations in Greater Idlib .
The Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) , however , is preparing for a worst case scenario .
Fresh reinforcements are reportedly being sent to the region , especially to the army ’ s positions south of the M4 .
In a phone call on March 20 , Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria ’ s Bashar al-Assad discussed the agreement on Greater Idlib .
If no progress is made in implementing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military confrontation could break out in the region within a few weeks .
Damascus and is allies will likely move to reopen the M4 highway by force .
This will not likely happen without a direct confrontation between the SAA and the Turkish military , similar to what we saw last month .
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The March 5 Russian-Turkish agreement on Syria’s Greater Idlib continuous to hold on, despite a series of violations by radical militants in the region and unfulfilled promises by Ankara. Syria and Turkey, however, appear to be preparing for a new military confrontation in the northwestern region.
In the ceasefire’s first few weeks, the Turkish military raised the number of its “observation posts” in Greater Idlib to 44. Ankara also deployed large reinforcements in the Syrian region, with some sources reporting the deployment of around 1,400 military vehicles there.
Turkish National Defense Ministry, Hulusi Akar, stressed on March 20 that Ankara will go on with its deployment plans in Greater Idlib.
“The Turkish Armed Forces is continuing planned deployment and distribution of troops in the Idlib de-escalation zone of northwestern Syria, in line with the cease-fire of March 6. Reports by some media organizations about withdrawals of our troops from the region do not reflect the truth,” the Anadolu Agency quoted Akar as saying.
While Turkey is taking advantage of the recent agreement with Russia to deploy more and more troops in Greater Idlib, it is yet to fulfill any of its commitments under the agreement.
The M4 highway, which links Syria’s industrial hub, Aleppo city, with the port city of Lattakia, is still blocked by militants. Reopening the strategic highway is the keystone of the recent Russian-Turkish agreement.
On the other side, the Damascus government is fulfilling its commitments, by halting its aerial and land operations in Greater Idlib. The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), however, is preparing for a worst case scenario. Fresh reinforcements are reportedly being sent to the region, especially to the army’s positions south of the M4.
In a phone call on March 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad discussed the agreement on Greater Idlib.
“During the call, President al-Assad and Putin touched upon the implementation of the Russian-Turkish agreements concluded on March 5 to achieve stability in Idlib region and the continued violation of these agreements by terrorist organizations in addition to the political process,” a statement released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reads.
If no progress is made in implementing the Russian-Turkish agreement on Greater Idlib, a military confrontation could break out in the region within a few weeks.
Damascus and is allies will likely move to reopen the M4 highway by force. This will not likely happen without a direct confrontation between the SAA and the Turkish military, similar to what we saw last month.
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Cuba Saves

The cruise ship MS Braemar , with five confirmed cases of Covid-19 and a thousand people on board , docked shortly before dawn this Wednesday in the Port of Mariel , 40 kilometers from Havana .
The airport evacuation corridor to the runway of the José Martí International Terminal , from where four United Kingdom planes moved the evacuees , left with the precision of a clockwork .
While the world holds its breath and it is impossible to predict the consequences of the pandemic , Cuba was in the news yesterday because of the transfer of more than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Braemar who , since March 8 , were confined to being a ghost ship in the Caribbean .
The odyssey began when the British company Fed Olsen ’ s cruise ship arrived in Cartagena , where a woman from the U.S. disembarked and was diagnosed shortly afterward with coronavirus .
From that moment on , five Caribbean ports denied entry to the ship and the families of the cruise passengers turned to the media to express their fears for the fate of their loved ones and the possibility that they would be forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe , exposed to massive contagion and perhaps death on an industrial scale before the ship could reach Britain .
The scaremongering and media hype surrounding the new coronavirus turned the passengers and crew into a kind of plague .
Anthea Guthrie , a passenger on the Braemar and a retired gardener , showed a video on her Facebook page of the time when the cruise ship was being supplied 25 miles from one of the ports where they were unable to dock .
A ship towed a second rudimentary barge , without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rice and bunches of bananas to the Braemar , where members of the British crew came aboard in the middle of the night , like fugitives in a kind of pirate expedition .
The testimony of that moment was shared by Anthea after she heard the good news that Cuba would receive them .
She published another video in which the passengers , relaxed on deck , thanked the island ’ s gesture of solidarity and raised glasses to the health of the Cubans .
Like a veteran of the networks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ship but included the label # DunkirkSpirit , which alludes to the evacuation of 330,000 allied soldiers – mostly British – from the French coast in May 1940 , at the beginning of World War II , when Adolf Hitler seemed invincible .
“ For us , Dunkirk does not only speak of heroism , but of humanity .
It means that there are solutions in the worst of circumstances , and this time we will have Cuba to thank for it ” , said Anthea , relieved after the news that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island .
Havana ’ s decision to allow entry to MS Braemar , following a request from the governments of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland , did not surprise the Cubans , who have a long tradition of medical and humanitarian collaboration .
Since the beginning of the sixties , thousands of health workers have collaborated with almost all the poor countries in the world .
Over 35,000 medical students from 138 countries have studied for free on the island .
Following the devastating earthquakes in Pakistan ( 2005 ) and Haiti @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fever in Western Africa , in 2014 , Cuban doctors were the first to arrive in the territories marked by devastation .
Cuban collaboration in health with its unquestionable scientific results , particularly in the field of biotechnology , have provoked poisonous anger in the usual privileged people and sympathy and warmth in the usual unprivileged .
But the truth of Cuba , a life vest for many during the Covid-19 pandemic , has tipped the balance toward expressions of affection directed at the army of white coats .
The Latin American governments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expelled the doctors today live the double ordeal of the coronavirus and the claim of their people for such an act of arrogance and stupidity .
A line of nations are calling for medical collaboration and the island ’ s drugs , which have proven their effectiveness in treating the sick .
The great paradox is that , while the ships with oil and food contracted by Cuba are harassed by the United States , the ships with the sick that nobody wants in their ports receive solidarity and respect in Cuba .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , refused to receive the Braemar , according to an article published yesterday in The UK Independent .
The two most repeated words since yesterday on Twitter are Cuba Saves .
This is no coincidence .

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Source: La Jornada, translation Resumen Latinoamericano, North America bureau
The cruise ship MS Braemar, with five confirmed cases of Covid-19 and a thousand people on board, docked shortly before dawn this Wednesday in the Port of Mariel, 40 kilometers from Havana. The airport evacuation corridor to the runway of the José Martí International Terminal, from where four United Kingdom planes moved the evacuees, left with the precision of a clockwork.
While the world holds its breath and it is impossible to predict the consequences of the pandemic, Cuba was in the news yesterday because of the transfer of more than a thousand passengers and crew members of the Braemar who, since March 8, were confined to being a ghost ship in the Caribbean.
The odyssey began when the British company Fed Olsen’s cruise ship arrived in Cartagena, where a woman from the U.S. disembarked and was diagnosed shortly afterward with coronavirus. From that moment on, five Caribbean ports denied entry to the ship and the families of the cruise passengers turned to the media to express their fears for the fate of their loved ones and the possibility that they would be forced to make the long journey back to Europe, exposed to massive contagion and perhaps death on an industrial scale before the ship could reach Britain.
The scaremongering and media hype surrounding the new coronavirus turned the passengers and crew into a kind of plague. Anthea Guthrie, a passenger on the Braemar and a retired gardener, showed a video on her Facebook page of the time when the cruise ship was being supplied 25 miles from one of the ports where they were unable to dock. A ship towed a second rudimentary barge, without engine or crew, to bring sacks of rice and bunches of bananas to the Braemar, where members of the British crew came aboard in the middle of the night, like fugitives in a kind of pirate expedition.
The testimony of that moment was shared by Anthea after she heard the good news that Cuba would receive them. She published another video in which the passengers, relaxed on deck, thanked the island’s gesture of solidarity and raised glasses to the health of the Cubans. Like a veteran of the networks, she has not only been reporting from the ship but included the label #DunkirkSpirit, which alludes to the evacuation of 330,000 allied soldiers – mostly British – from the French coast in May 1940, at the beginning of World War II, when Adolf Hitler seemed invincible.
“For us, Dunkirk does not only speak of heroism, but of humanity. It means that there are solutions in the worst of circumstances, and this time we will have Cuba to thank for it”, said Anthea, relieved after the news that the cruise ship would dock on the island.
Havana’s decision to allow entry to MS Braemar, following a request from the governments of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, did not surprise the Cubans, who have a long tradition of medical and humanitarian collaboration. Since the beginning of the sixties, thousands of health workers have collaborated with almost all the poor countries in the world. Over 35,000 medical students from 138 countries have studied for free on the island. Following the devastating earthquakes in Pakistan (2005) and Haiti (2010) or during the Ebola fever in Western Africa, in 2014, Cuban doctors were the first to arrive in the territories marked by devastation.
Cuban collaboration in health with its unquestionable scientific results, particularly in the field of biotechnology, have provoked poisonous anger in the usual privileged people and sympathy and warmth in the usual unprivileged. But the truth of Cuba, a life vest for many during the Covid-19 pandemic, has tipped the balance toward expressions of affection directed at the army of white coats. The Latin American governments that, under pressure from Washington, expelled the doctors today live the double ordeal of the coronavirus and the claim of their people for such an act of arrogance and stupidity. A line of nations are calling for medical collaboration and the island’s drugs, which have proven their effectiveness in treating the sick.
The great paradox is that, while the ships with oil and food contracted by Cuba are harassed by the United States, the ships with the sick that nobody wants in their ports receive solidarity and respect in Cuba. The Trump regime, by the way, refused to receive the Braemar, according to an article published yesterday in The UK Independent.
The two most repeated words since yesterday on Twitter are Cuba Saves. This is no coincidence.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Putin Won’t Blink First: Putin Rejects Potential US ‘Intervention’ In Russia-Saudi Oil War

“ We do not think that anyone should intervene in these relations , ” the Russian presidency ’ s office stated Friday of its “ good relationship ” and “ partnership ” with the Saudis , hitting back at Trump ’ s comments on the emerging oil-price war .
Yesterday President Trump described the Saudi-Russia oil price war as “ very bad ” for Saudi Arabia but ultimately “ devastating ” to Russia , but with the consolation of lower prices at the pump for American consumers .
Trump assured the public that “ we have a lot of power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Washington will attempt mediate the dispute “ at the appropriate time.
” This after US oil prices collapsed by a staggering 24 % Wednesday to just $ 20 , before clawing back Thursday afternoon and into Friday morning to $ 25 on Trump ’ s comments and especially reports that the US will buy up to 30 million barrels of crude for its emergency stockpile by the end of June .
But as expected the Kremlin has remained unblinking since launching its ‘ war on US shale ’ when it early this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly cut production , sending crude prices crashing and leaving dozens of American producers teetering on bankruptcy .
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the emerging crisis Friday : “ There are no price wars between Russia and Saudi Arabia .
There is a very unfavorable pricing environment for many countries , ” he said according to TASS .
So it does indeed appear Moscow and Riyadh are in for a long game of chicken , and certainly the Russians have signaled they ’ ve long built up the reserves necessary to weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to take things .
On this note , Bloomberg warns “ Russian President Vladimir Putin will refuse to submit to what the Kremlin sees as oil blackmail from Saudi Arabia , signaling the price war that ’ s roiling global energy markets will continue.
” And further , the Kremlin is bracing itself to endure through the carnage , writes Bloomberg further : “ The unprecedented clash between the two giant exporters and former OPEC+ allies threatens to push the price of a barrel below $ 20 , but Moscow won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seek a truce , said people familiar with the government ’ s position .
Russia is confident “ it can hold out longer than Riyadh , ” the report observed .
As for the White House signaling a potential near-future intervention , which reportedly involves talk of more sanctions on Russia with diplomatic pressures on Saudi Arabia to curb output as opposed to the expected flood of cheap crude to hit the market in April , the Russian presidential spokesman dismissed the scapegoating as but more “ Russo-phobia ” in Friday comments .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that indeed many companies are now suffering due to low oil prices , we know that the huge US oil sector is now in distress because of these prices.
” He singled out those who produce shale oil : “ There is a serious crisis , we also understand this , ” Peskov said , per state-run TASS .
“ Certainly , this price situation is fairly unpleasant .
It is possible to agree in this respect , ” Peskov added , but then crucially referenced Russia ’ s safety margin in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just how far it ’ s willing to hold out .
“ When saying that this is a catastrophe for Russia , there is probably no way of agreeing with this in midterm , since as our president and our government reiterated that we have a solid safety margin for several years , which will support fulfilling all social commitments , development plans , and so on , ” Peskov added.
” There were times when the price was even lower.
” But as Bloomberg notes , “ The losses are already visible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially putting the nation on course for a recession.
” The Russians are ready for it to sting a bit , but are resolved to make their geopolitical rivals suffer first .
“ The state budget , which is based on oil prices of just above $ 40 per barrel , may be in deficit this year , forcing the government to tap its sovereign-wealth fund just two months after Putin promised higher social spending , ” Bloomberg added .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
“We do not think that anyone should intervene in these relations,” the Russian presidency’s office stated Friday of its “good relationship” and “partnership” with the Saudis, hitting back at Trump’s comments on the emerging oil-price war. Yesterday President Trump described the Saudi-Russia oil price war as “very bad” for Saudi Arabia but ultimately “devastating” to Russia, but with the consolation of lower prices at the pump for American consumers.
Trump assured the public that “we have a lot of power over the situation,” adding that that Washington will attempt mediate the dispute “at the appropriate time.” This after US oil prices collapsed by a staggering 24% Wednesday to just $20, before clawing back Thursday afternoon and into Friday morning to $25 on Trump’s comments and especially reports that the US will buy up to 30 million barrels of crude for its emergency stockpile by the end of June.
But as expected the Kremlin has remained unblinking since launching its ‘war on US shale’ when it early this month ditched Riyadh and OPEC+ plans to significantly cut production, sending crude prices crashing and leaving dozens of American producers teetering on bankruptcy. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed the emerging crisis Friday: “There are no price wars between Russia and Saudi Arabia. There is a very unfavorable pricing environment for many countries,” he said according to TASS.
So it does indeed appear Moscow and Riyadh are in for a long game of chicken, and certainly the Russians have signaled they’ve long built up the reserves necessary to weather the storm of however far the Saudis want to take things. On this note, Bloomberg warns “Russian President Vladimir Putin will refuse to submit to what the Kremlin sees as oil blackmail from Saudi Arabia, signaling the price war that’s roiling global energy markets will continue.”
And further, the Kremlin is bracing itself to endure through the carnage, writes Bloomberg further: “The unprecedented clash between the two giant exporters — and former OPEC+ allies — threatens to push the price of a barrel below $20, but Moscow won’t be the first to blink and seek a truce, said people familiar with the government’s position. Russia is confident “it can hold out longer than Riyadh,” the report observed.
As for the White House signaling a potential near-future intervention, which reportedly involves talk of more sanctions on Russia with diplomatic pressures on Saudi Arabia to curb output as opposed to the expected flood of cheap crude to hit the market in April, the Russian presidential spokesman dismissed the scapegoating as but more “Russo-phobia” in Friday comments.
Peskov said further, “We understand that indeed many companies are now suffering due to low oil prices, we know that the huge US oil sector is now in distress because of these prices.” He singled out those who produce shale oil: “There is a serious crisis, we also understand this,” Peskov said, per state-run TASS.
“Certainly, this price situation is fairly unpleasant. It is possible to agree in this respect,” Peskov added, but then crucially referenced Russia’s safety margin in terms of reserves, tipping its cards showing just how far it’s willing to hold out.
“When saying that this is a catastrophe for Russia, there is probably no way of agreeing with this in midterm, since as our president and our government reiterated that we have a solid safety margin for several years, which will support fulfilling all social commitments, development plans, and so on,” Peskov added.”There were times when the price was even lower.”
But as Bloomberg notes, “The losses are already visible for Russia, weakening its currency and potentially putting the nation on course for a recession.” The Russians are ready for it to sting a bit, but are resolved to make their geopolitical rivals suffer first. “The state budget, which is based on oil prices of just above $40 per barrel, may be in deficit this year, forcing the government to tap its sovereign-wealth fund just two months after Putin promised higher social spending,” Bloomberg added.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Syrian Army Deploys Fresh Reinforcements In Northern Raqqa

On March 20 , the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) deployed fresh reinforcements near the key town of Ayn Issa in the northern Raqqa countryside .
According to local sources , the reinforcements , which arrived in the morning , included dozens of troops and around a 100 military vehicles .
These forces were reportedly deployed inside the 93th Brigade Base , southwest of Ain Issa .
A day earlier , clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) and Turkish forces broke out north of Ain Issa .
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ayn Issa , one of the larges towns in northern Raqqa , hosts a coordination center between the Russian military and the SDF .
SAA units entered northern Raqqa and other parts of northeast Syria last year as a result of a breakthrough agreement between the SDF and the Damascus government .
The deployment helped put an end to a large-scale Turkish-led attack on the region .
The fresh SAA reinforcements were likely deployed in response to the increasing tension around Ayn Issa .
The town ’ s northern outskirt is witnessing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON THIS TOPIC :

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On March 20, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) deployed fresh reinforcements near the key town of Ayn Issa in the northern Raqqa countryside.
According to local sources, the reinforcements, which arrived in the morning, included dozens of troops and around a 100 military vehicles. These forces were reportedly deployed inside the 93th Brigade Base, southwest of Ain Issa.
A day earlier, clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish forces broke out north of Ain Issa. The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) claimed that both side suffered causalities.
Ayn Issa, one of the larges towns in northern Raqqa, hosts a coordination center between the Russian military and the SDF.
SAA units entered northern Raqqa and other parts of northeast Syria last year as a result of a breakthrough agreement between the SDF and the Damascus government. The deployment helped put an end to a large-scale Turkish-led attack on the region.
The fresh SAA reinforcements were likely deployed in response to the increasing tension around Ayn Issa. The town’s northern outskirt is witnessing clashes on a regular basis.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Turkish Military Establishes 44th ‘Observation Post’ In Syria’s Greater Idlib

On March 20 , the Turkish military established its 44th “ observation post ” in the so-called Greater Idlib region in northwest Syria .
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( SOHR ) , the post was established near the town of Bsanqul in the western Idlib countryside .
The town is located less than 2 kilometers to the northern of the strategic M4 highway .
In the last two days Turkey established two similar “ observation posts ” near the town of Ram Hamden in northern Idlib and al-Jinah in northwest Aleppo .
Moreover , Turkish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idlib .
Two convoys , consisting of 110 military vehicles , entered the Syrian region on March 20 .
A recent report by the SOHR revealed that Turkey has deployed up to 1,400 military vehicles in Greater Idlib since the beginning of the ceasefire .
Russia and Turkey agreed to impose a new ceasefire in the region on March 5 .
A day earlier , a convoy of the Turkish military came under attack on the M4 .
Two soldiers were killed as a result .
After the incident , Turkish forces reopened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Lattakia with Aleppo city .
Nevertheless , radical militants blocked the highway again within a few hours .
Turkey , that is rushing into strengthen its military presence in Greater Idlib , maybe overestimating its influence in the Syrian region .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Idlib Radicals Block M4 Highway Again Hours After Its Reopening By Turkish Troops

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On March 20, the Turkish military established its 44th “observation post” in the so-called Greater Idlib region in northwest Syria.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the post was established near the town of Bsanqul in the western Idlib countryside. The town is located less than 2 kilometers to the northern of the strategic M4 highway.
In the last two days Turkey established two similar “observation posts” near the town of Ram Hamden in northern Idlib and al-Jinah in northwest Aleppo.
Moreover, Turkish military reinforcements continued to arrive in Greater Idlib. Two convoys, consisting of 110 military vehicles, entered the Syrian region on March 20.
A recent report by the SOHR revealed that Turkey has deployed up to 1,400 military vehicles in Greater Idlib since the beginning of the ceasefire. Russia and Turkey agreed to impose a new ceasefire in the region on March 5.
A day earlier, a convoy of the Turkish military came under attack on the M4. Two soldiers were killed as a result. After the incident, Turkish forces reopened the highway, that links the coastal city of Lattakia with Aleppo city. Nevertheless, radical militants blocked the highway again within a few hours.
Turkey, that is rushing into strengthen its military presence in Greater Idlib, maybe overestimating its influence in the Syrian region.
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southfront--2020-03-20--COVID-19 Testing – Real Infected Numbers Could Be Much Higher

As of March 20th , COVID-19 has spread to 183 countries and territories .
Scientists note the need to improve test systems and identify the disease at an early stage .
Expectedly , different countries have different testing practices and different patterns associated with it .
Until a vaccine is found , testing remains the most important measure against the virus along with quarantines .
A virologist from the University of Kent , Jeremy Rossman , in a conversation with Russian outlet RBC , noted that governments should not only take quarantine measures and limit crowds , but also increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indeed , despite the pandemic , there is no single , standardized , testing protocol .
For example , Russia tests those returning from abroad with a cold In total , on March 19th , Russia conducted 133,000 tests for coronavirus – eight tests for every 10 thousand people living in the country .
Below is a graph , presenting how many are being tested per 10,000 people of population , and how many out of those tested are positive .
The data for all countries , apart from France and South Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16-18th , while for the other it is between March 10-14th .
The separate data for Lombardy and Washington is because those two locations appear to be the epicenter of the epidemic in the USA and Italy .
The Rospotrebnadzor resolution of March 13th indicates the need for testing for everyone who has returned from Europe in the past two weeks , as well as those who have been abroad in the last month and have found symptoms of colds .
The decree also requires determining the order of laboratory tests “ of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cold and are not in contact with patients with COVID-2019 , including the possibility of selecting material from such people at airports ” .
It operates throughout Russia , with the exception of Moscow .
The Moscow authorities explained that the need for analysis is always determined only by the doctor , focusing on priority for several risk groups .
The maximum risk group includes people with symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections , manifested within two weeks after returning from countries with major outbreaks of infection , as well as patients with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Moscow , coronavirus was diagnosed in 86 of 199 such cases .
On March 16th , Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova announced that a fourth system for testing for the virus was being developed in Russia .
The government assured that there was no shortage of tests in the country , and Invitro announced plans to provide a commercial testing service .
On March 19th , the stock of test systems in the country amounted to 700 thousand units .
According to the Minister of Health , Mikhail Murashko , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On March 19th , the RDIF ( Russian Direct Investment Fund ) announced that it was creating the Coronavirus Alliance with the participation of the sovereign fund of the Russian Federation , Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs , Yandex and Mail.ru Group .
It should provide operational testing of Russians for coronavirus .
“ The approved innovative Russian-Japanese testing system today is a unique solution , one of the most effective in the field of diagnostics of COVID-19 , ” the RDIF said in a statement .
The new system reduces testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from two or more hours to 30 minutes , the fund said .
Medpromresurs is engaged in the promotion of the new system .
Roszdravnadzor has already approved the use of the Russian-Japanese diagnostic system , the RDIF said .
In the US , the low coverage of coronavirus testing on average in the United States – less than one test per 10 thousand people – is due to bureaucratic problems .
Opportunities for development by US laboratories or the use of existing tests from other countries have faced regulatory challenges .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the centers for the control and prevention of diseases sent to the field turned out to be defective .
Medical companies received emergency permission to manufacture only by mid-March , and now the number of available test systems in the US should increase – manufacturers promise millions of sets .
Authorities , however , urge that testing should take place only if there are grounds , and after consultation with a doctor .
In those states where more tests are performed , a higher incidence is recorded , for example , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevalence of laboratory tests is much higher than the national average .
In Japan , as in the United States , they conducted less than one test per 10 thousand people as of March 18th .
The authorities initially decided not to conduct mass testing , considering a laboratory examination as a tool for obtaining the most complete data on infection , and not as a way to identify patients for prescribing therapy .
In early March , Japan included this test in the list of tests covered by health insurance , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Italy has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the EU .
A February 25 document from the Italian Ministry of Health states that testing is done only for people with symptoms of a flu-like illness or severe respiratory infection , as well as suspected coronavirus .
In a memo dated February 22 , the grounds for suspicion for coronavirus are described : the presence of symptoms combined with a travel history or close contact with the patient or an unexpected clinical course of a previously diagnosed disease of a different origin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to contain the epidemic , said Giovanni di Perry , head of the infectious diseases department at the Amadeus of Savoy Hospital in Turin .
He called it passive .
They decided to intensify the diagnosis in Veneto – one of the first regions of Italy where cases were detected .
The head of the region , Luka Zaya , said that tests for coronavirus will be carried out even for those who could accidentally contact patients , for example , supermarket staff .
The peak of the epidemic in China has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible to take control of the outbreak of the disease , including through testing , Chinese doctors say .
They emphasize that many patients carry a coronavirus infection asymptomatically or with minor symptoms and it is extremely important to identify such infected people and quarantine them in a timely manner .
The importance of testing on the example of China was also noted by the World Health Organization ( WHO ) : the report on the joint mission of WHO and China speaks of the principle of early diagnosis and early isolation applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included , among other things , temperature measurement , polls at the entrance to various institutions and transport facilities , as well as testing of patients even with a low level of suspected infection .
The same approach is followed in South Korea .
There they launched mass testing , including the drive-through system , when you can check for infection without leaving your car and all tests are free .
In this way , a large number of people can be checked for infection by avoiding contact between those who are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as March 8 , South Korea remained the largest focus of infection outside of China .
By March 19 , the number of cases in the country increased by about a thousand people , while in Italy the number of infected people increased by several times .
In the UK , as of 19 March , 64,621 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus .
The number of tests has been rising from just over 1,000 a day at the end of February , when testing began , to more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government plans to increase this to 10,000 a day initially , with a goal of reaching 25,000 tests a day within four weeks .
There are two main reasons for testing people – to diagnose them individually , and to try to understand how far the virus has spread in the wider population .
This second reason is referred to as “ surveillance testing ” .
The UK passed its 2,500th case as of 18 March and has tested 828 people per million of its population , or 8.3 people per 10,000 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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As of March 20th, COVID-19 has spread to 183 countries and territories.
Scientists note the need to improve test systems and identify the disease at an early stage. Expectedly, different countries have different testing practices and different patterns associated with it.
Until a vaccine is found, testing remains the most important measure against the virus along with quarantines.
A virologist from the University of Kent, Jeremy Rossman, in a conversation with Russian outlet RBC, noted that governments should not only take quarantine measures and limit crowds, but also increase the availability of tests for COVID-19.
“For example, in Britain, tests for the new virus are now available only for the most seriously ill, although such tests should be available to everyone,” he said.
Indeed, despite the pandemic, there is no single, standardized, testing protocol.
For example, Russia tests those returning from abroad with a cold
In total, on March 19th, Russia conducted 133,000 tests for coronavirus – eight tests for every 10 thousand people living in the country.
Below is a graph, presenting how many are being tested per 10,000 people of population, and how many out of those tested are positive.
The data for all countries, apart from France and South Korea, is for the period of March 16-18th, while for the other it is between March 10-14th. The separate data for Lombardy and Washington is because those two locations appear to be the epicenter of the epidemic in the USA and Italy.
The Rospotrebnadzor resolution of March 13th indicates the need for testing for everyone who has returned from Europe in the past two weeks, as well as those who have been abroad in the last month and have found symptoms of colds.
The decree also requires determining the order of laboratory tests “of people who have no signs of a cold and are not in contact with patients with COVID-2019, including the possibility of selecting material from such people at airports”. It operates throughout Russia, with the exception of Moscow.
The Moscow authorities explained that the need for analysis is always determined only by the doctor, focusing on priority for several risk groups.
The maximum risk group includes people with symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, manifested within two weeks after returning from countries with major outbreaks of infection, as well as patients with pneumonia. As of March 19th, in Moscow, coronavirus was diagnosed in 86 of 199 such cases.
On March 16th, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova announced that a fourth system for testing for the virus was being developed in Russia.
The government assured that there was no shortage of tests in the country, and Invitro announced plans to provide a commercial testing service. On March 19th, the stock of test systems in the country amounted to 700 thousand units. According to the Minister of Health, Mikhail Murashko, there is no point in testing for coronavirus.
On March 19th, the RDIF (Russian Direct Investment Fund) announced that it was creating the Coronavirus Alliance with the participation of the sovereign fund of the Russian Federation, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Yandex and Mail.ru Group. It should provide operational testing of Russians for coronavirus.
“The approved innovative Russian-Japanese testing system today is a unique solution, one of the most effective in the field of diagnostics of COVID-19,” the RDIF said in a statement.
The new system reduces testing time by more than four times, from two or more hours to 30 minutes, the fund said.
Medpromresurs is engaged in the promotion of the new system. Roszdravnadzor has already approved the use of the Russian-Japanese diagnostic system, the RDIF said.
In the US, the low coverage of coronavirus testing on average in the United States – less than one test per 10 thousand people – is due to bureaucratic problems.
Opportunities for development by US laboratories or the use of existing tests from other countries have faced regulatory challenges.
In addition, most of the test systems from the centers for the control and prevention of diseases sent to the field turned out to be defective.
Medical companies received emergency permission to manufacture only by mid-March, and now the number of available test systems in the US should increase – manufacturers promise millions of sets.
Authorities, however, urge that testing should take place only if there are grounds, and after consultation with a doctor.
In those states where more tests are performed, a higher incidence is recorded, for example, in the state of Washington, where the prevalence of laboratory tests is much higher than the national average.
In Japan, as in the United States, they conducted less than one test per 10 thousand people as of March 18th.
The authorities initially decided not to conduct mass testing, considering a laboratory examination as a tool for obtaining the most complete data on infection, and not as a way to identify patients for prescribing therapy.
In early March, Japan included this test in the list of tests covered by health insurance, and the number of patients examined may increase.
Italy has become the epicenter of the pandemic in the EU. A February 25 document from the Italian Ministry of Health states that testing is done only for people with symptoms of a flu-like illness or severe respiratory infection, as well as suspected coronavirus.
In a memo dated February 22, the grounds for suspicion for coronavirus are described: the presence of symptoms combined with a travel history or close contact with the patient or an unexpected clinical course of a previously diagnosed disease of a different origin.
This approach does not allow timely measures to contain the epidemic, said Giovanni di Perry, head of the infectious diseases department at the Amadeus of Savoy Hospital in Turin. He called it passive.
They decided to intensify the diagnosis in Veneto – one of the first regions of Italy where cases were detected. The head of the region, Luka Zaya, said that tests for coronavirus will be carried out even for those who could accidentally contact patients, for example, supermarket staff.
The peak of the epidemic in China has already been passed, and it was possible to take control of the outbreak of the disease, including through testing, Chinese doctors say.
They emphasize that many patients carry a coronavirus infection asymptomatically or with minor symptoms and it is extremely important to identify such infected people and quarantine them in a timely manner.
The importance of testing on the example of China was also noted by the World Health Organization (WHO): the report on the joint mission of WHO and China speaks of the principle of early diagnosis and early isolation applied in the country.
Such an approach included, among other things, temperature measurement, polls at the entrance to various institutions and transport facilities, as well as testing of patients even with a low level of suspected infection.
The same approach is followed in South Korea. There they launched mass testing, including the drive-through system, when you can check for infection without leaving your car and all tests are free.
In this way, a large number of people can be checked for infection by avoiding contact between those who are being tested, doctors say. As early as March 8, South Korea remained the largest focus of infection outside of China.
By March 19, the number of cases in the country increased by about a thousand people, while in Italy the number of infected people increased by several times.
In the UK, as of 19 March, 64,621 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus. The number of tests has been rising from just over 1,000 a day at the end of February, when testing began, to more than 6,000 per day by mid-March.
The government plans to increase this to 10,000 a day initially, with a goal of reaching 25,000 tests a day within four weeks.
There are two main reasons for testing people – to diagnose them individually, and to try to understand how far the virus has spread in the wider population. This second reason is referred to as “surveillance testing”.
The UK passed its 2,500th case as of 18 March and has tested 828 people per million of its population, or 8.3 people per 10,000 of population.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Idlib Radicals Block M4 Highway Again Hours After Its Reopening By Turkish Troops

On March 20 morning , Syrian opposition supporters and radical militants re-blocked the M4 highway in Greater Idlib , challenging the will of their closest ally , Turkey .
Local activists shared a video showing opposition supporters and militants gathering on the M4 to protest against the recent Russian-Turkish agreement on Greater Idlib .
The protesters used bulldozers to establish several new barriers on the highway .
The protesters ’ move pose a serious challenge to Turkey , whose military reopened the highway a day earlier .
Turkish forces removed several barriers and deployed pre-made barracks along the highway .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coastal city of Lattakia with Aleppo , is the keystone of the Russian Turkish agreement reached on March 5 .
If Turkey fail to fulfill this term , the entire agreement will likely collapse .
Radical militants , who threatened any force that would move to reopen the highway , attacked a convoy of the Turkish military on March 19 .
The attack , which took place on the highway itself , claimed the lives of two Turkish soldiers .
Turkey is serious about reopening the highway .
Nevertheless , Ankara ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have been receiving support from it for around nine years , appears to be too weak .
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On March 20 morning, Syrian opposition supporters and radical militants re-blocked the M4 highway in Greater Idlib, challenging the will of their closest ally, Turkey.
Local activists shared a video showing opposition supporters and militants gathering on the M4 to protest against the recent Russian-Turkish agreement on Greater Idlib. The protesters used bulldozers to establish several new barriers on the highway.
The protesters’ move pose a serious challenge to Turkey, whose military reopened the highway a day earlier. Turkish forces removed several barriers and deployed pre-made barracks along the highway.
Reopening the M4 highway, which links the coastal city of Lattakia with Aleppo, is the keystone of the Russian Turkish agreement reached on March 5. If Turkey fail to fulfill this term, the entire agreement will likely collapse.
Radical militants, who threatened any force that would move to reopen the highway, attacked a convoy of the Turkish military on March 19. The attack, which took place on the highway itself, claimed the lives of two Turkish soldiers.
Turkey is serious about reopening the highway. Nevertheless, Ankara’s influence over Greater Idlib militants, who have been receiving support from it for around nine years, appears to be too weak.
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southfront--2020-03-20--Russian FSB Continues Dismantling Of ISIS Cells, Despite COVID-19 Scare

On March 20th , the Russian security service – FSB , announced that ISIS cells in three regions had been dismantled and its members arrested .
The primary objective of these cells was raising funds to finance terrorists .
The report said that under the guise of charity , about two million rubles were transferred to the accounts of terrorists and their accomplices .
During the searches in the apartments of the suspects , communication equipment , payment instruments , as well as documents confirming their illegal activities were seized .
On March 11th , the FSB reported that four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crimea .
The video shows the searches of the suspects , shows the brochures Hizb ut-Tahrir , found in them , brochures advertising the Caliphate , ISIS and Islamic Aqidah as the doctrine of monotheism .
A video was released of the raid on the terrorist cell in Crimea .
During the searches , in addition to propaganda materials , they found and seized electronic storage media and communications equipment .
The operation to detain them was carried out by FSB officers together with units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the detainees spread terrorist ideology among the inhabitants of the peninsula , as well as recruited into the ranks of the banned organization of Crimean Muslims .
Criminal cases were opened against the detainees .
Back in October 2019 , Director of the FSB Alexander Bortnikov at an international meeting of heads of special services , security agencies and law enforcement agencies in Sochi announced the prevention of 39 terrorist attacks being prepared in Russia in 2019 .
According to the head of the FSB , all terrorist attacks were averted at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 special services eliminated 49 terrorist cells that planned attacks in different regions of Russia .
32 militants were neutralized , another 679 were detained , and 22 were inclined to abandon terrorist activities .
At the end of 2019 , the total number of suppressed terrorist cells went up to 78 .
Earlier , Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev said that in 2018 , 13 cells of the ISIS terrorist organization were dismantled in the North Caucasus .
This shows that the attempts for terrorists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , since there is a clear discrepancy in numbers between 2018 and 2020 .
The effective work of the Russian security services is evident , as there have been no notable terror attacks in Russia for a while .
And the effective work continues despite the COVID-19 hysteria .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Russia ’ s FSB Detained 2 Persons Preparing Terrorist Attacks In Saint Petersburg Thanks To US Intelligence Data • Who Is Moscow Shooter ?
December 19 Attack On FSB Public Office

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On March 20th, the Russian security service – FSB, announced that ISIS cells in three regions had been dismantled and its members arrested.
The primary objective of these cells was raising funds to finance terrorists.
“The FSB, in cooperation with the Federal Financial Monitoring Service on the territory of the Republic of Crimea, Komi and the Rostov Region, suppressed the activities of the conspiratorial cell of the international terrorist organization ISIS the FSB said in a statement.
The report said that under the guise of charity, about two million rubles were transferred to the accounts of terrorists and their accomplices.
During the searches in the apartments of the suspects, communication equipment, payment instruments, as well as documents confirming their illegal activities were seized.
On March 11th, the FSB reported that four members of Hizb ut-Tahrir were arrested in Crimea.
The video shows the searches of the suspects, shows the brochures Hizb ut-Tahrir, found in them, brochures advertising the Caliphate, ISIS and Islamic Aqidah as the doctrine of monotheism.
A video was released of the raid on the terrorist cell in Crimea.
During the searches, in addition to propaganda materials, they found and seized electronic storage media and communications equipment.
The operation to detain them was carried out by FSB officers together with units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian Guard.
Law enforcement agencies believe that the detainees spread terrorist ideology among the inhabitants of the peninsula, as well as recruited into the ranks of the banned organization of Crimean Muslims. Criminal cases were opened against the detainees.
Back in October 2019, Director of the FSB Alexander Bortnikov at an international meeting of heads of special services, security agencies and law enforcement agencies in Sochi announced the prevention of 39 terrorist attacks being prepared in Russia in 2019.
According to the head of the FSB, all terrorist attacks were averted at the preparation stage.
In addition, in 2019 special services eliminated 49 terrorist cells that planned attacks in different regions of Russia. 32 militants were neutralized, another 679 were detained, and 22 were inclined to abandon terrorist activities.
At the end of 2019, the total number of suppressed terrorist cells went up to 78.
Earlier, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Nikolai Patrushev said that in 2018, 13 cells of the ISIS terrorist organization were dismantled in the North Caucasus.
This shows that the attempts for terrorists to organize attacks in Russia are increasing, since there is a clear discrepancy in numbers between 2018 and 2020.
The effective work of the Russian security services is evident, as there have been no notable terror attacks in Russia for a while.
And the effective work continues despite the COVID-19 hysteria.
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southfront--2020-03-21--Coronavirus Is Shaping Foreign Student Community In Russia

The coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) crisis is raging across the globe .
National governments are employing Lockdowns and strict security measures .
At the same time , states are evacuating their citizens residing in foreign countries .
A large part of citizens that remains in foreign countries is students studying under student exchange and cooperative programmes .
Russia is no different .
Furthermore , many foreign students there is citizens of European countries ( France , Italy , Belgium and others ) .
Moscow State Institute of International Relations ( MGIMO ) , Peoples ’ Friendship University of Russia ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MGU ) are well-known strongholds of the foreign student community in Russia .
When the crisis in Europe became especially acute , foreign universities that sent own students to Russia demanded their students to return to their home countries .
This demand was supported by foreign diplomatic missions that also ‘ strongly advised ’ students to leave Russia .
However , according to sources in the student community , these demands found no support among the foreign student community .
Citizens of EU member states were not hurrying up to leave the safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the COVID-19 crisis .
Using the opportunity to prolong their visas ( the process for foreigners remaining in Russia was eased because of the COVID-19 situation ) , they opted to remain in Russia en mass .
Many of students united to rent houses near Moscow , where they continue working on their research papers , while another part in the best traditions of post-apocalyptic movies left Moscow towards the less-populated parts of the country , like Siberia .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • World Is In Crisis To Which Russia @ @ @

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The coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is raging across the globe. National governments are employing Lockdowns and strict security measures. At the same time, states are evacuating their citizens residing in foreign countries.
A large part of citizens that remains in foreign countries is students studying under student exchange and cooperative programmes. Russia is no different. Furthermore, many foreign students there is citizens of European countries (France, Italy, Belgium and others). Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), Moscow State University (MGU) are well-known strongholds of the foreign student community in Russia.
When the crisis in Europe became especially acute, foreign universities that sent own students to Russia demanded their students to return to their home countries. This demand was supported by foreign diplomatic missions that also ‘strongly advised’ students to leave Russia. However, according to sources in the student community, these demands found no support among the foreign student community. Citizens of EU member states were not hurrying up to leave the safety and security of Russia to the hotspot of the COVID-19 crisis. Using the opportunity to prolong their visas (the process for foreigners remaining in Russia was eased because of the COVID-19 situation), they opted to remain in Russia en mass.
Many of students united to rent houses near Moscow, where they continue working on their research papers, while another part in the best traditions of post-apocalyptic movies left Moscow towards the less-populated parts of the country, like Siberia.
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southfront--2020-03-21--Military Situation In Iraq On March 20, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • The US-led coalition @ @ @ @ @ withdrawing a part of its forces from Iraq because of the COVID-19 outbreak ; • @ @ @ @ @ forces had clared More than 100km2 of Khanaqin in the province of Diyala of ISIS @ @ @ @ @ coalition halted training of Iraqi security forces because of the COVID-19 crisis .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
The US-led coalition announced that it’s withdrawing a part of its forces from Iraq because of the COVID-19 outbreak;
The PMU said that its forces had clared More than 100km2 of Khanaqin in the province of Diyala of ISIS remnants;
The US-led coalition halted training of Iraqi security forces because of the COVID-19 crisis.
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southfront--2020-03-21--Military Situation In Afghanistan On March 21, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • Four security personnel @ @ @ @ @ attack in the Nijrab district , Kapisa province ; • At least 25 members of @ @ @ @ @ were killed in an assault on a checkpoint in Zabul .
Government sources blame the @ @ @ @ @ between the Taliban and government forces erupted in the Khan Abad district , Kunduz province @ @ @ @ @ that at least 23 government fighters were killed and 8 more were wounded as a @ @ @ @ @ their positions in the Dawlat Abad district of Balkh province ; • Several army personnel @ @ @ @ @ Taliban attack in the Maiwand district , Kandahar province .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
Four security personnel were killed in a Taliban attack in the Nijrab district, Kapisa province;
At least 25 members of the army and police officers were killed in an assault on a checkpoint in Zabul. Government sources blame the Taliban;
A firefight between the Taliban and government forces erupted in the Khan Abad district, Kunduz province;
The Taliban announced that at least 23 government fighters were killed and 8 more were wounded as a result of an attack on their positions in the Dawlat Abad district of Balkh province;
Several army personnel were reportedly killed in a Taliban attack in the Maiwand district, Kandahar province.
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southfront--2020-03-21--Military Situation In Yemen On March 21, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen : • Clashes between Ansar @ @ @ @ @ east of Sarwah .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen:
Saudi-led coalition forces struck Khab and Shaaf areas 19 times;
Saudi-led coalition forces struck the Majzar area 2 times;
Ceasefire violations were reported in al-Hudaydah;
Clashes between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces continue east of Sarwah.
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southfront--2020-03-21--Military Situation In Syria On March 21, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria : • Hayat Tahrir al-Sham @ @ @ @ @ Red Crescent near Idlib city ; • Idlib militant groups received an additional funding from @ @ @ @ @ and Russia ; • ISIS claimed its cells assassinated 40 people and injured 8 others @ @ @ @ @ the period from January to March ; • Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham is training @ @ @ @ @ regime ; • The Syrian Army deployed reinforcements at the 93th Brigade Base near Ayn @ @ @ @ @ military established a new fortified position near Bsanqul ; • The M4 highway in southern @ @ @ @ @ .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
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