southfront--2020-09-01--UAE Intelligence Teams Allegedly Training Kurdish Armed Groups In Syria And Iraq

The United Arab Emirates has allegedly had intelligence agents in northern Syria and Iraq working with YPG/PKK Kurdish militias over the past few years .
Turkey and the UAE are also involved in bitter proxy wars in Libya , with reports over the last few months indicating that Turkey is also seeking to extend their destructive proxy war to Yemen .
Turkish news outlet Anadolu Agency has received information from multiple sources to the effect that after holding secret talks with Kurdish militants affiliated with the ‘ People ’ s Protection Units ’ ( YPG ) in 2017 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas under their control since 2018 .
Their missions include training the YPG militant groups in espionage , counter-espionage , sabotage , targeted assassinations , signals intelligence , information security and operating encrypted communication networks .
According to the information , intelligence teams have been operating in Qamishli , Hasaka and Deir ez-Zor .
LINK The YPG – the backbone of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) – is also receiving US support in an effort to encourage the group to declare autonomy and prevent them from reaching an accord with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seized considerable swathes of land in the northern and eastern parts of Syria from the Takfiri Daesh terror group in 2017 .
Turkey views the YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party ( PKK ) , which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984 .
The UAE has long been accused of sponsoring the Kurdish-denominated militant groups , which have been operating across Syria since 2011 and in Iraq since the armed insurgency of the PKK against the Turkish government began in the 1980s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unspecified security source at the Kurdish Regional Government ( KRG ) told the London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper that the UAE had provided financial aid to PKK militants in Iraq ’ s northern semi-autonomous region .
There are many other reports of the UAE sending weapons and other assistance to Kurdish groups in northern Iraq .
LINK The proxy war between Turkey and the UAE has intensified and spread to new areas over the last year , the massive influx of weapons , armed fighters and also large numbers of Turkish military forces having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ‘ civil war ’ in Syria and Libya in particular .
In Libya , following the influx of Turkish weapons and fighters late last year and early this year , the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord launched major offensives which definitively ended the siege of Tripoli and pushed the Benghazi-based Libyan National Army back from most of the territory they captured during their offensives last year .
Early in October of 2019 , Turkish armed forces and proxy militant groups launched a massive cross-border invasion of north eastern Syria in an attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas .
Two weeks after the invasion began , Turkey and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding demanding that YPG militants withdraw from a ‘ safe zone ’ declared by Turkey in north eastern Syria .
Turkey has also had substantial ongoing military operations in northern Iraq for many years .
In addition to the participation of UAE , US and other NATO military and intelligence forces , the Saudis have also been heavily involved in the war in Syria for many years .
In 2016 the Saudis sent troops and aircraft to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries were preparing for a possible ground mission in Syria .
Turkey ’ s foreign minister , Mevlut Cavusoglu subsequently confirmed the deployment declaring that it demonstrated a calibrated policy by the two states .
Cavusoglu said that Turkey and Saudi Arabia have “ always emphasised the need for an extensive result-oriented strategy in the fight against the Daesh ( Isis ) terrorist group… .
Turkey and Saudi Arabia may launch an operation from the land.
” A report by The Independent commented at the time : “ But this is less to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that Sunni rebels , backed by Saudis and the Turks , are rapidly losing ground to the forces of Bashar al-Assad , supported by a ferocious Russian air onslaught , Iranian ‘ volunteers ’ and fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah .
There is added exasperation , from the Turkish point of view , that some of this territory is being taken over by Kurdish forces .
The Saudi defence minister and heir apparent to the throne , Prince Mohammed bin Salman , presented his country ’ s military plans in Syria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coalition at the Nato headquarters in Brussels last Thursday .
He did not , according to diplomatic sources , mention sending troops and aircraft to Turkey to the US defence secretary Ash Carter and his fellow Western ministers… The force led by the Saudis , with likely contributions from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain , will , in Syria , find themselves in the same battlespace for the first time as the Iranians and Shia militias.
” LINK Although the Saudi participation in the ‘ civil war ’ in Syria hasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military personnel , late last week it was reported that around twenty Saudi soldiers had arrived at the US military base close to the oilfields in north eastern Syria .
At the end of last year , the Saudis also deployed ‘ dozens ’ of soldiers to Syria ’ s largest oilfield located in the eastern province of Deir Ez-Zor to protect a group of Saudi and Egyptian Aramco experts who arrived in the area the previous week .
According to the Arabic service of the , local sources said that the Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oil field travelled aboard helicopters , and that their arrival coincided with the arrival of around 30 trucks carrying drilling and digging machinery .
After announcing that the US was going to pull its remaining troops out of Syria in October last year , President Donald Trump was forced by the Pentagon and others to retract his decision and he subsequently said that some US troops would remain , supposedly to protect Syrian oil fields from ISIS but also to exploit them .
It is understood that the illegal exploitation of Syria ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed between Aramco and the US government , whose armed forces have steadily been increasing their military presence around the oil fields .
LINK The US military remains in control of the oil and gas fields in the Deir Ezzor region , with approximately 500 heavily armed troops in several bases scattered throughout north eastern Syria .
LINK Several days ago , the arrival of another large US military convoy to the northeast of Syria from neighbouring Iraq was reported : The Syrian government , which has not authorised the US military presence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US of plundering the country ’ s oil resources and has registered a formal complaint with the UN Security Council , however the latter is powerless to investigate or take any action on the matter given the US veto on all decisions .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Turkey is increasing its involvement in Yemen conflict-reports • Saudi-led blockade of Yemen how did it all start will it ever end

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The United Arab Emirates has allegedly had intelligence agents in northern Syria and Iraq working with YPG/PKK Kurdish militias over the past few years. Turkey and the UAE are also involved in bitter proxy wars in Libya, with reports over the last few months indicating that Turkey is also seeking to extend their destructive proxy war to Yemen.
Turkish news outlet Anadolu Agency has received information from multiple sources to the effect that after holding secret talks with Kurdish militants affiliated with the ‘People’s Protection Units’ (YPG) in 2017, the UAE has been sending intelligence teams to areas under their control since 2018.
Their missions include training the YPG militant groups in espionage, counter-espionage, sabotage, targeted assassinations, signals intelligence, information security and operating encrypted communication networks. According to the information, intelligence teams have been operating in Qamishli, Hasaka and Deir ez-Zor. LINK
The YPG – the backbone of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – is also receiving US support in an effort to encourage the group to declare autonomy and prevent them from reaching an accord with the Syrian Government. The Kurdish militants seized considerable swathes of land in the northern and eastern parts of Syria from the Takfiri Daesh terror group in 2017.
Turkey views the YPG as a terrorist organization tied to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been seeking an autonomous Kurdish region in Turkey since 1984.
The UAE has long been accused of sponsoring the Kurdish-denominated militant groups, which have been operating across Syria since 2011 and in Iraq since the armed insurgency of the PKK against the Turkish government began in the 1980s.
In June last year, an unspecified security source at the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) told the London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed newspaper that the UAE had provided financial aid to PKK militants in Iraq’s northern semi-autonomous region. There are many other reports of the UAE sending weapons and other assistance to Kurdish groups in northern Iraq. LINK
The proxy war between Turkey and the UAE has intensified and spread to new areas over the last year, the massive influx of weapons, armed fighters and also large numbers of Turkish military forces having a dramatic impact on the course of the ‘civil war’ in Syria and Libya in particular.
In Libya, following the influx of Turkish weapons and fighters late last year and early this year, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord launched major offensives which definitively ended the siege of Tripoli and pushed the Benghazi-based Libyan National Army back from most of the territory they captured during their offensives last year.
Early in October of 2019, Turkish armed forces and proxy militant groups launched a massive cross-border invasion of north eastern Syria in an attempt to push YPG militants away from border areas.
Two weeks after the invasion began, Turkey and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding demanding that YPG militants withdraw from a ‘safe zone’ declared by Turkey in north eastern Syria. Turkey has also had substantial ongoing military operations in northern Iraq for many years.
In addition to the participation of UAE, US and other NATO military and intelligence forces, the Saudis have also been heavily involved in the war in Syria for many years. In 2016 the Saudis sent troops and aircraft to Turkey, prompting speculation that the two countries were preparing for a possible ground mission in Syria.
Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu subsequently confirmed the deployment declaring that it demonstrated a calibrated policy by the two states. Cavusoglu said that Turkey and Saudi Arabia have “always emphasised the need for an extensive result-oriented strategy in the fight against the Daesh (Isis) terrorist group…. Turkey and Saudi Arabia may launch an operation from the land.”
A report by The Independent commented at the time:
“But this is less to do with Isis and much more with the fact that Sunni rebels, backed by Saudis and the Turks, are rapidly losing ground to the forces of Bashar al-Assad, supported by a ferocious Russian air onslaught, Iranian ‘volunteers’ and fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah. There is added exasperation, from the Turkish point of view, that some of this territory is being taken over by Kurdish forces. The Saudi defence minister and heir apparent to the throne, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, presented his country’s military plans in Syria to a summit of the US-led anti-Isis coalition at the Nato headquarters in Brussels last Thursday. He did not, according to diplomatic sources, mention sending troops and aircraft to Turkey to the US defence secretary Ash Carter and his fellow Western ministers… The force led by the Saudis, with likely contributions from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, will, in Syria, find themselves in the same battlespace for the first time as the Iranians and Shia militias.” LINK
Although the Saudi participation in the ‘civil war’ in Syria hasn’t generally included the overt deployment of military personnel, late last week it was reported that around twenty Saudi soldiers had arrived at the US military base close to the oilfields in north eastern Syria.
At the end of last year, the Saudis also deployed ‘dozens’ of soldiers to Syria’s largest oilfield located in the eastern province of Deir Ez-Zor to protect a group of Saudi and Egyptian Aramco experts who arrived in the area the previous week. According to the Arabic service of the Anadolu Agency, local sources said that the Saudi soldiers that arrived last year at Al-Omar oil field travelled aboard helicopters, and that their arrival coincided with the arrival of around 30 trucks carrying drilling and digging machinery.
After announcing that the US was going to pull its remaining troops out of Syria in October last year, President Donald Trump was forced by the Pentagon and others to retract his decision and he subsequently said that some US troops would remain, supposedly to protect Syrian oil fields from ISIS but also to exploit them.
It is understood that the illegal exploitation of Syria’s oilfields will be arranged through contracts signed between Aramco and the US government, whose armed forces have steadily been increasing their military presence around the oil fields. LINK
The US military remains in control of the oil and gas fields in the Deir Ezzor region, with approximately 500 heavily armed troops in several bases scattered throughout north eastern Syria. LINK
Several days ago, the arrival of another large US military convoy to the northeast of Syria from neighbouring Iraq was reported:
“SOHR activists have monitored nearly 50 trucks affiliated to the International Coalition crossing into Syria today, via Al-Walid border crossing with Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The trucks, carrying military and logistical supplies, headed to Tal Baydar military base in the north-western countryside of Al-Hasakah. On August 22, Observatory activists monitored a US military convoy crossing into Syria, via Al-Walid border crossing with Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The convoy, comprised several military armoured vehicles and 40 trucks carrying tanks, military and logistical supplies, headed to Al-Shaddadi base and other military bases in Al-Hasakah province.” LINK
The Syrian government, which has not authorised the US military presence within its territory, has repeatedly accused the US of plundering the country’s oil resources and has registered a formal complaint with the UN Security Council, however the latter is powerless to investigate or take any action on the matter given the US veto on all decisions.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Dummy Soldiers And Abandoned Battle Tanks: Israel Prepares For War With Hezbollah

Hikers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights found at least 5 armed and unguarded Merkava Mk .
IV battle tanks .
The doors of the battle tanks were open with equipment and munitions left completely unguarded inside .
The incident took place amid the growing tensions between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces in both the Golan Heights area and along the Israeli-Lebanese contact line .
During the past weeks , the Israeli military was actively deploying troops and equipment to reinforce their positions in these areas .
It is highly likely that the abandoned battle tanks were a part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources do not know how to explain this failure , they can easily blame Hezbollah .
Indeed , Israel is already taking steps to do this .
On August 29 , the Lebanese group ’ s Central Media released a video of the incident that took place about a week ago .
The video showed a dummy soldier moving amid a cloud of thick smoke on the Israeli-Lebanese separation line .
Two Merkava IV battle tanks of the IDF were guarding the “ robot soldier.
” The Israeli Defense Forces ( IDF ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an attempt to trick Hezbollah in times of tensions .
On August 26 , IDF aircraft carried out several airstrikes on what it called “ observation posts ” of Hezbollah near the contact line in southern Lebanon .
The IDF said the strikes were a response to a security incident , in which shots were fired at an Israeli force operating near the town of al-Manar .
The incident , which took place at 22:40 on August 25 , resulted in no casualties , according to the IDF ’ s statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible for what happens from its territory , ” Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee , a spokesman for the IDF , said , adding : “ We view the incident with extreme seriousness , like every attempt to violate the sovereignty of the State of Israel , and our forces will remain in a state of great readiness to preserve the sovereignty of Israel and the security of the population as needed.
” Thus , the IDF reinforced its threats to carry out strikes on Lebanon in response to any attack or provocation from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees the possible strikes on “ dummy soldiers ” intentionally put in danger areas on the contact line with Lebanon as one of such attacks .
Lebanese sources claim that the IDF is intentionally seeking a pretext for military actions against Lebanon .
Meanwhile , Secretary-General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah vowed that Hezbollah will kill an Israeli soldier every time the Israeli military kills one of his group ’ s fighters .
The Lebanese leader made the new threat in a televised speech commemorating the 10th of Muharram , a holy Islamic day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 .
The Hezbollah-Israeli tensions seem to be ready to explode with an open military confrontation at any moment .

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Hikers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights found at least 5 armed and unguarded Merkava Mk. IV battle tanks.
The doors of the battle tanks were open with equipment and munitions left completely unguarded inside. The incident took place amid the growing tensions between Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces in both the Golan Heights area and along the Israeli-Lebanese contact line.
During the past weeks, the Israeli military was actively deploying troops and equipment to reinforce their positions in these areas. It is highly likely that the abandoned battle tanks were a part of these reinforcements. So, if Israeli sources do not know how to explain this failure, they can easily blame Hezbollah.
Indeed, Israel is already taking steps to do this. On August 29, the Lebanese group’s Central Media released a video of the incident that took place about a week ago. The video showed a dummy soldier moving amid a cloud of thick smoke on the Israeli-Lebanese separation line. Two Merkava IV battle tanks of the IDF were guarding the “robot soldier.” The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) often use such “dummy targets” in an attempt to trick Hezbollah in times of tensions.
On August 26, IDF aircraft carried out several airstrikes on what it called “observation posts” of Hezbollah near the contact line in southern Lebanon. The IDF said the strikes were a response to a security incident, in which shots were fired at an Israeli force operating near the town of al-Manar. The incident, which took place at 22:40 on August 25, resulted in no casualties, according to the IDF’s statement.
“The IDF considers the Lebanese government responsible for what happens from its territory,” Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, a spokesman for the IDF, said, adding: “We view the incident with extreme seriousness, like every attempt to violate the sovereignty of the State of Israel, and our forces will remain in a state of great readiness to preserve the sovereignty of Israel and the security of the population as needed.”
Thus, the IDF reinforced its threats to carry out strikes on Lebanon in response to any attack or provocation from this direction. Apparently, the IDF sees the possible strikes on “dummy soldiers” intentionally put in danger areas on the contact line with Lebanon as one of such attacks. Lebanese sources claim that the IDF is intentionally seeking a pretext for military actions against Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah vowed that Hezbollah will kill an Israeli soldier every time the Israeli military kills one of his group’s fighters. The Lebanese leader made the new threat in a televised speech commemorating the 10th of Muharram, a holy Islamic day highly admired by Shiites, on August 30. The Hezbollah-Israeli tensions seem to be ready to explode with an open military confrontation at any moment.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Military Situation In Northwestern Syria On August 31, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in northwestern Syria : • Syrian Arab @ @ @ @ @ shelled Turkish-backed militants ’ positions in the village of Shanan ; • Russian warplanes targeted @ @ @ @ @ the village of Sheikh Bahr ; • Clashes between Turkish-backed militants and the SAA were @ @ @ @ @ • Turkish military deployed troops along the M4 highway and at the entrances to Ariha @ @ @ @ @ :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in northwestern Syria:
Large Turkish military convoy entered Greater Idlib via the Kafr Lusin crossing;
Syrian Arab Army (SAA) artillery shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the village of Shanan;
Russian warplanes targeted Turkish-backed militants’ positions near the village of Sheikh Bahr;
Clashes between Turkish-backed militants and the SAA were reported in Taqad area;
Turkish military deployed troops along the M4 highway and at the entrances to Ariha.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Iran And Russia On Their Way To New Level Of Partnership

The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the development of global international cooperation .
The bilateral partnership between Russia and Iran , which was hardened by restrictive measures , is returning to its normal course .
Visits of high-ranking officials are resumed .
So , on August 22 , the Iranian Defense Minister , Amir Khatami , arrived in Moscow to hold talks with Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu .
A few days earlier , on August 18 , the head of the Iranian foreign Ministry , Mohammad Javad Zarif , also flew to Russia to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sergey Lavrov .
The Iranian delegations were among the first to arrive in Moscow after the lifting of quarantine restrictions , which underlines the paramount importance of restoring the former level of cooperation between the two sides .
Foremost , Russia and Iran resume cooperation in the military sphere .
The Iranian security Minister held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu , and also visited the VI International Military-Technical Forum “ Army 2020 ” .
Amir Khatami ’ s visit took place before the start of the International Army Games , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the forum , and in which the military forces of Iran participate , among others .
The Defense Minister met with officers and soldiers that were sent to Russia to participate in competitions between military police units in the section known as “ Guards of order ” .
The VI Army international games “ Army-2020 ” include 31 international competitions that are held on the territory of 11 countries : Armenia , Azerbaijan , Belarus , India , Kazakhstan , China , Mongolia , Russia and Uzbekistan , as well as Iran .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , were invited to participate .
The military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran is increasing as a response to US hostile pressure .
A new agreement for the purchase of military weapons to Iran is expected to be signed soon .
Firstly , the Tehran ’ s interest is turned to electronic warfare systems , coastal defense systems and S-400 missile system .
New contracts for the purchase of such military equipment to Iran will certainly cause further concern from Washington establishment .
The priority of expanding strategic cooperation for the two sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif , who flew to Moscow from Ankara , where he discussed with his Turkish counterpart the preparation of an Astana format summit on Syria .
This time , Zarif visited Moscow for the 30th time .
He noted that he had probably broken records for the frequency of visits to Russia among all foreign Ministers .
His previous visit took place on June 16 .
The main purpose of such a soon arrival in Moscow was to hold talks with the Russian Foreign Minister .
However , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zarif managed to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin , to whom he allegedly passed a message from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani , despite the fact that the leaders of the countries had communicated by phone a few days before the meeting .
Details of the conversation between Zarif and Putin were not disclosed .
Meetings of high-level diplomats with the highest level leaders of another country always reflect the special significance and importance of issues on the agenda of international relations .
Among the questions discussed during the talks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were : the military situation in Syria , a common regional agenda , bilateral cooperation , including the implementation of joint projects in the fields of energy , transport and agriculture , as well as already “ traditional ” discussions of the preservation of the Iran nuclear deal .
Numerous negotiations have led to positive results .
Moscow and Tehran agreed to conclude a new cooperation agreement that will replace the Agreement on the basis of relations and principles of cooperation between the Russian Federation and Iran , signed in 2001 for ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Iranian side expressed its commitment to renew the agreement that should address the current international challenges and threats .
Moscow also agreed to the need to update the basis of bilateral cooperation in order to enhance it .
Both sides will start working together to develop a new document .
The next extension of the agreement from 2001 is planned in 8 months .
Even if the new agreement is not developed until then , its extension is not threatened in any case .
One of the main areas of cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arena is the ongoing struggle to preserve the nuclear deal within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action ( JCPOA ) .
After withdrawing from the JCPOA two years ago , the US continues its sanctions policy against Iran .
In response to the measures taken by the US , Iran suspended part of its obligations under the JCPOA in two stages .
In the summer of 2019 , Iran announced that it was beginning the process of enriching uranium at a level higher than the 3.67 % required by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , France and Germany , which make part of JCPOA , do not support the US policy .
The European Union expressed regret over Washington ’ s decision to restore sanctions .
For its part , Tehran proclaimed that it would comply with the terms of the nuclear agreement if the European Union compensated for the damage caused by Washington ’ s sanctions .
The EU took several measures to support Iran .
For example , Iran was disconnected from the SWIFT international interbank system in 2018 .
In one year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officially launched a settlement tool with Iran designed to preserve trade and economic relations and prevent European companies from falling under US anti-Iranian sanctions .
The tool for circumventing US sanctions was named INSTEX ( Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges ) .
The European reaction encourages Moscow and Tehran to pursue an active policy aimed at preserving the nuclear deal .
This approach is also supported by China .
Iran and Moscow are working closely on a military solution to the settlement in Syria .
The both sides proclame the importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which Turkey , Iran and Russia take joint actions to resolve the Syrian crisis .
Moscow and Tehran emphasise the need to continue cooperation , and the importance of strengthening bilateral contacts on this issue .
Today ’ s frequency of high-level contacts between the two sides signals an encreasing partnership between Iran and Russia .
In the current international situation , it is advantageous for both Tehran and Moscow to inter in a new high level of cooperation as soon as possible , given the growing pressure exerted from across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the foundations of cooperation between Iran and Russia is resulted from the changing political environment in the region and the degree of involvement of various actors in the regional agenda .
The U.S. is loosing influence and reduces its activity in the region .
Israel ’ s successful foreign policy has led to the normalization of relations with the UAE , which in turn is challenging Saudi Arabia .
France is increasing its presence in the region .
Turkey continues to pursue an active policy .
The configuration of new alliances begins to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these alliances will be very flexible , and there will definitely be more than two of them .
Under these conditions , the partnership between Moscow and Tehran will be beneficial .
Today , Iran is experiencing significant economic problems due to the coronavirus pandemic , and they are likely to worsen in the coming months .
Meanwhile , neither Russia nor Iran can pursue a less active regional policy .
This will create a void that will be quickly filled by other stakeholders in the region .
At the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coincide only partially .
This is what determines that they are rather tactical partners then strategic allies .
However , today Russia and Iran are not strategic partners , but tactical ones .
The main factor linking the two sides is political support in the international arena , which is not backed by the necessary level of economic cooperation .
At the same time , interaction in the economic sphere is complicated by the fact that both countries are competitors in the world oil market , as well as potential rivals in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two sides seems very vague , given the completely different approaches to conducting policy in the Middle East .
Russia adheres to a multi-vector policy .
Taking advantage of the fact that the US presence in the region is decreasing , it has the opportunity to strengthen its influence .
Despite growing ambitions to increase its influence in the region , Russia does not have the necessary capacity to secure its own position in the region .
It has no interests in the region other than economic ones , but the investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporations are limited .
At the same time , the number of threats on its Western border continues to grow .
In the Middle East , Russia is not interested in increasing its military presence ; it seeks to create a regional political order that will be based on a balance between the various parties .
Within this framework , Russia does not play the central role , but represents the final pound , which have the power to restore the necessary balance of regional order in accordance with the situation.This forces Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secure its position as the main external mediator that leads to varying degrees of cooperation with Iran ’ s rival countries , such as Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , etc .
This should not satisfy Iran , which is striving to establish a leading position in the region .
On the other hand , the emergence of a dominant force as Iran in the Middle East is also unprofitable for Russia .
Moscow and Tehran maintain close cooperation on issues of a global nature , without engaging areas where their interests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , differences do not prevent the parties from building a fairly stable partnership .
The main reason for this stability is the need to counter a common rival .
Given the continuing influence of a fairly high level of the United States in the region , as well as on the global stage , bilateral cooperation between Russia and Iran seems to continue to strengthen in the coming years .
In addition , there is a development of trilateral cooperation with the main counterweight of the United States , China .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercises with Russia and China was expressed by the Iranian Defense Minister Amir Khatami during his last visit to Moscow .
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The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the development of global international cooperation. The bilateral partnership between Russia and Iran, which was hardened by restrictive measures, is returning to its normal course. Visits of high-ranking officials are resumed. So, on August 22, the Iranian Defense Minister, Amir Khatami, arrived in Moscow to hold talks with Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu. A few days earlier, on August 18, the head of the Iranian foreign Ministry, Mohammad Javad Zarif, also flew to Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Iranian delegations were among the first to arrive in Moscow after the lifting of quarantine restrictions, which underlines the paramount importance of restoring the former level of cooperation between the two sides.
Foremost, Russia and Iran resume cooperation in the military sphere. The Iranian security Minister held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, and also visited the VI International Military-Technical Forum “Army 2020”.
“Cooperation between Iran and Russia on defense and military issues is gaining an accelerated pace every day. A new chapter of cooperation between Iran and Russia in the military-technical sphere is on the way,” said Qasem Jalali, the Iranian Ambassador to Russia.
Amir Khatami’s visit took place before the start of the International Army Games, which started on August 23 in conjunction with the forum, and in which the military forces of Iran participate, among others. The Defense Minister met with officers and soldiers that were sent to Russia to participate in competitions between military police units in the section known as “Guards of order”.
The VI Army international games “Army-2020” include 31 international competitions that are held on the territory of 11 countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, Russia and Uzbekistan, as well as Iran. 90 countries, including NATO member countries, were invited to participate.
The military-technical cooperation between Russia and Iran is increasing as a response to US hostile pressure. A new agreement for the purchase of military weapons to Iran is expected to be signed soon. Firstly, the Tehran’s interest is turned to electronic warfare systems, coastal defense systems and S-400 missile system. New contracts for the purchase of such military equipment to Iran will certainly cause further concern from Washington establishment.
The priority of expanding strategic cooperation for the two sides is evidenced by the visit of Iranian foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who flew to Moscow from Ankara, where he discussed with his Turkish counterpart the preparation of an Astana format summit on Syria.
This time, Zarif visited Moscow for the 30th time. He noted that he had probably broken records for the frequency of visits to Russia among all foreign Ministers. His previous visit took place on June 16.
The main purpose of such a soon arrival in Moscow was to hold talks with the Russian Foreign Minister. However, in addition to meeting with Sergey Lavrov, Zarif managed to hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, to whom he allegedly passed a message from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, despite the fact that the leaders of the countries had communicated by phone a few days before the meeting. Details of the conversation between Zarif and Putin were not disclosed. Meetings of high-level diplomats with the highest level leaders of another country always reflect the special significance and importance of issues on the agenda of international relations.
Among the questions discussed during the talks of the foreign Ministers in Moscow, there were: the military situation in Syria, a common regional agenda, bilateral cooperation, including the implementation of joint projects in the fields of energy, transport and agriculture, as well as already “traditional” discussions of the preservation of the Iran nuclear deal.
Numerous negotiations have led to positive results. Moscow and Tehran agreed to conclude a new cooperation agreement that will replace the Agreement on the basis of relations and principles of cooperation between the Russian Federation and Iran, signed in 2001 for ten years with automatic extension every five years. The Iranian side expressed its commitment to renew the agreement that should address the current international challenges and threats. Moscow also agreed to the need to update the basis of bilateral cooperation in order to enhance it.
“We agreed today that 20 years is a long time, ” Sergey Lavrov said, answering that during this time there have been” serious, deep changes in the international arena”, new threats have appeared — terrorism, different types of organized crime, climate change and viruses.
Both sides will start working together to develop a new document. The next extension of the agreement from 2001 is planned in 8 months. Even if the new agreement is not developed until then, its extension is not threatened in any case.
One of the main areas of cooperation between Iran and Russia in the international arena is the ongoing struggle to preserve the nuclear deal within the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). After withdrawing from the JCPOA two years ago, the US continues its sanctions policy against Iran. In response to the measures taken by the US, Iran suspended part of its obligations under the JCPOA in two stages. In the summer of 2019, Iran announced that it was beginning the process of enriching uranium at a level higher than the 3.67% required by the nuclear deal.
“Touching this package means absolutely destroying resolution 2231 and the JCPOA,” the Iranian foreign Minister said.
Actually, leading European countries, France and Germany, which make part of JCPOA, do not support the US policy. The European Union expressed regret over Washington’s decision to restore sanctions. For its part, Tehran proclaimed that it would comply with the terms of the nuclear agreement if the European Union compensated for the damage caused by Washington’s sanctions. The EU took several measures to support Iran. For example, Iran was disconnected from the SWIFT international interbank system in 2018. In one year, France, Germany, and the UK officially launched a settlement tool with Iran designed to preserve trade and economic relations and prevent European companies from falling under US anti-Iranian sanctions. The tool for circumventing US sanctions was named INSTEX (Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges).
The European reaction encourages Moscow and Tehran to pursue an active policy aimed at preserving the nuclear deal. This approach is also supported by China.
Iran and Moscow are working closely on a military solution to the settlement in Syria. The both sides proclame the importance of maintaining the “Astana format”, in which Turkey, Iran and Russia take joint actions to resolve the Syrian crisis. Moscow and Tehran emphasise the need to continue cooperation, and the importance of strengthening bilateral contacts on this issue.
Today’s frequency of high-level contacts between the two sides signals an encreasing partnership between Iran and Russia. In the current international situation, it is advantageous for both Tehran and Moscow to inter in a new high level of cooperation as soon as possible, given the growing pressure exerted from across the Atlantic ocean.
The сommitment to update the foundations of cooperation between Iran and Russia is resulted from the changing political environment in the region and the degree of involvement of various actors in the regional agenda. The U.S. is loosing influence and reduces its activity in the region. Israel’s successful foreign policy has led to the normalization of relations with the UAE, which in turn is challenging Saudi Arabia. France is increasing its presence in the region. Turkey continues to pursue an active policy. The configuration of new alliances begins to be viewed. In so doing, these alliances will be very flexible, and there will definitely be more than two of them. Under these conditions, the partnership between Moscow and Tehran will be beneficial.
Today, Iran is experiencing significant economic problems due to the coronavirus pandemic, and they are likely to worsen in the coming months. Meanwhile, neither Russia nor Iran can pursue a less active regional policy. This will create a void that will be quickly filled by other stakeholders in the region.
At the same time, the national interests of Russia and Iran coincide only partially. This is what determines that they are rather tactical partners then strategic allies.
However, today Russia and Iran are not strategic partners, but tactical ones. The main factor linking the two sides is political support in the international arena, which is not backed by the necessary level of economic cooperation. At the same time, interaction in the economic sphere is complicated by the fact that both countries are competitors in the world oil market, as well as potential rivals in the gas sector.
The long-term cooperation between the two sides seems very vague, given the completely different approaches to conducting policy in the Middle East. Russia adheres to a multi-vector policy. Taking advantage of the fact that the US presence in the region is decreasing, it has the opportunity to strengthen its influence. Despite growing ambitions to increase its influence in the region, Russia does not have the necessary capacity to secure its own position in the region. It has no interests in the region other than economic ones, but the investment, technological and infrastructure capabilities of Russia-based corporations are limited. At the same time, the number of threats on its Western border continues to grow. In the Middle East, Russia is not interested in increasing its military presence; it seeks to create a regional political order that will be based on a balance between the various parties. Within this framework, Russia does not play the central role, but represents the final pound, which have the power to restore the necessary balance of regional order in accordance with the situation.This forces Moscow to use multilateral cooperation in order to secure its position as the main external mediator that leads to varying degrees of cooperation with Iran’s rival countries, such as Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, etc. This should not satisfy Iran, which is striving to establish a leading position in the region. On the other hand, the emergence of a dominant force as Iran in the Middle East is also unprofitable for Russia.
Moscow and Tehran maintain close cooperation on issues of a global nature, without engaging areas where their interests are not complementary. At the same time, differences do not prevent the parties from building a fairly stable partnership. The main reason for this stability is the need to counter a common rival. Given the continuing influence of a fairly high level of the United States in the region, as well as on the global stage, bilateral cooperation between Russia and Iran seems to continue to strengthen in the coming years. In addition, there is a development of trilateral cooperation with the main counterweight of the United States, China. So, the intention to hold regular joint exercises with Russia and China was expressed by the Iranian Defense Minister Amir Khatami during his last visit to Moscow.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Mbombe 8 Infantry Combat Vehicle (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The Mbombe 8 is aт infantry fighting vehicle developed by the South African Company @ @ @ @ @ THE TOPIC :

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The Mbombe 8 is aт infantry fighting vehicle developed by the South African Company Paramount Group.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Israel, UAE And US Fast-Track Normalization Amid Media Spectacle

Israel and the United Arab Emirates have started discussions to open embassies in each other ’ s countries , during meetings between senior officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday .
The official statements emphasized the economic aspects of normalization , and Israeli and US representative urged other nations in the region to join the ‘ peace ’ process .
The Israeli delegation headed by National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat , together with his US counterpart Robert O ’ Brien , White House Adviser Jared Kushner , and other senior officials arrived on the first-ever direct flight by an Israeli airline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ El Al plane , bearing an Israeli flag , was also the first-ever Israeli flight over Saudi Arabia to be conducted overtly .
The countries ’ foreign ministries , along with US representatives , discussed details of the normalization deal and other bilateral agreements between the countries .
Israeli and UAE officials met for wide-ranging talks covering other areas including science and space , civil aviation , foreign policy and diplomacy , tourism , finance and health to consider opportunities for cooperation , often with a US facilitator .
Israeli journalists embedded with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and their discussions .
was allowed access to some of the meeting on condition that specific details of the discussions would not be disclosed .
The UAE also hosted a tour and dinner for Israeli journalists at the Louvre Abu Dhabi , and approved journalists held discussions with officials from a range of cultural , scientific and diplomatic areas , speaking on condition of anonymity .
In a press conference in Jerusalem on Monday evening , Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said peace with the UAE will be a ‘ warm peace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fundamental component .
Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat called on more countries to join them in peace .
In a press conference in Jerusalem , Netanyahu invited a UAE delegation to Israel to be “ welcomed on a red carpet , as well.
” “ I felt an immense pride , ” Netanyahu said after seeing Israeli flags waving in Abu Dhabi .
“ This is a new age in our history .
Suggesting Israel is in talks with other Arab states , Netanyahu said : “ There are many things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am sure you will find out in time.
” US National Security Advisor Robert O ’ Brien said he is “ hopeful this will be the first step in creating momentum… [ that ] will lead to other nations deciding it is in their best interests to normalize ties with Israel.
” Jared Kushner said the Saudis were ‘ very gracious ’ for allowing the first Israeli flight in their airspace , and that the flight is “ a manifestation of what is possible in the Middle East.
” “ We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kushner said .
“ It ’ s an encouragement for this progress.
” Netanyahu radioed in a message to the plane while it was flying over Saudi Arabia , saying the delegation on the plane is “ opening the door to a different kind of peace .
Peace with investments , peace with tourism , peace with many fruits and peace that will be between our two nations and all the nations of the region.
” The US representatives accompanying the event made clear that Israeli annexation of Palestinian land is an intrinsic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the embedded journalists on the flight to the UAE , Trump ’ s son-in-law Jared Kushner addressed the Trump peace plan and its allowing for Israel to extend its sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria .
The statements would appear to confirm that all affirmations claiming otherwise are merely spin , made as part of the campaign to promote the bilateral deal and convince other Arab and Muslim leaders to normalize relations with Israel .
In spite of earlier comments by the UAE and a joint statement by the three countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ suspended ’ , senior UAE official Omar Ghobash has admitted his government did not “ have any guarantees as such ” that Israel would not annex occupied Palestinian territory in the future .
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Monday slammed the flight as “ very painful ” and “ a clear and a blatant violation of the Arab position towards the Arab-Israeli conflict ” .
“ We had hoped to see an Emirati plane landing in a liberated Jerusalem , but we live in a difficult Arab era , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UAE-Israel deal went against the position of the Emirati people , and was “ in Zionist interests only … fuelling disagreements in the region ” .
In the Israeli-occupied West Bank , Hanan Ashrawi , a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization ’ s executive committee , said Kushner and his team were “ scrambling to convince as many Arab and Muslim leaders as possible ” to give Trump an election boost .
“ They will be a prop at the backdrop of a meaningless spectacle for a ridiculous agreement that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
The Israel-UAE accord also faces another problem : a possible sale of stealth F-35 fighter jets to Abu Dhabi .
Netanyahu has denied reports the deal hinges on the sale of F-35s to the UAE , saying he opposes a move that could reduce Israel ’ s military advantage .
“ This deal did not include Israel ’ s acceptance of any arms deal , ” the Israeli prime minister said last week .
Ever since the 1960s , the US has guaranteed to maintain Israel ’ s ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , it is extremely unlikely that any weapons deal between the US and the UAE would jeopardize that understanding .
Other news reports note that there are other less pleasant aspects to this ‘ different kind of peace ’ and expanding commercial opportunities that the US and Israel are hoping to spread throughout the Middle East .
One major element is : On the same day as the Israeli/ US official delegation travelled to the UAE , Hamas announced that it has reached new understandings with Israel to de-escalate the situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by the office of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar said the understandings were reached “ after a round of discussions and contacts , including with Qatari envoy Mohammed al-Emadi.
” Emadi has been shuttling between Israel and the Gaza Strip for several days in an effort to prevent an all-out military confrontation .
The Hamas announcement made no mention of Egypt ’ s mediation efforts with Israel .
An Egyptian intelligence delegation that visited the Gaza Strip 10 days ago did not return to the area since then .
The border with Egypt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blockade of the people of Gaza .
The announcement came after two weeks of tensions between Israel and Hamas , during which hundreds of explosives-laden and incendiary balloons were released toward Israel and Israel conducted nightly bombing raids on the besieged Palestinian enclave .
In addition , under the terms of the understandings , Hamas and Israel agreed to restore the calm that prevailed before the latest round of violence .
The Jerusalem Post noted that reports in a number of Arab media outlets claimed that the Qatari-engineered understandings include a pledge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Qatari cash grant to thousands of Palestinian families , reopening all the border crossings with Israel and restoring the fishing zone to the areas previously agreed .
In addition , the reports said , the new accord calls for increasing the fuel supply to the power plant in the Gaza Strip to solve the electricity crisis there .
Other reports quoted sources close to Hamas as claiming that the understandings also require Israel to facilitate the entry of medical supplies and medicine into the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While Israel has not made any official statements , at least some of the reported details appear to have been confirmed by subsequent developments , as late on Monday night the Israeli Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announced it had agreed to resume the shipment of fuel into Gaza .
Israel ’ s sudden interest in finalizing a temporary de-escalation with Hamas appears to have two main motives .
One motive is to provide some ‘ positive ’ news to accompany the Israeli/ US delegation to the UAE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel to smooth things over on the Gaza border for a while so that it can put all its military attention on the border with Lebanon and Hezbollah .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Jordan Iraq and Egypt try to get Arab peace initiative back on the geopolitical agenda • US on again off again partial troop withdrawal from Iraq on again

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Israel and the United Arab Emirates have started discussions to open embassies in each other’s countries, during meetings between senior officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The official statements emphasized the economic aspects of normalization, and Israeli and US representative urged other nations in the region to join the ‘peace’ process.
The Israeli delegation headed by National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat, together with his US counterpart Robert O’Brien, White House Adviser Jared Kushner, and other senior officials arrived on the first-ever direct flight by an Israeli airline from Israel to the UAE. The El Al plane, bearing an Israeli flag, was also the first-ever Israeli flight over Saudi Arabia to be conducted overtly.
The countries’ foreign ministries, along with US representatives, discussed details of the normalization deal and other bilateral agreements between the countries.
Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz said: “We are starting a historic process and we plan to promote the institution of full relations and opening embassies in the two countries as soon as possible to strengthen the cooperation between Israel and the UAE. “Movement of people, goods and finance is the central key to realizing the great potential in the relations.”
Separately, Israeli National Security Advisor Ben-Shabbat held a lengthy meeting with his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed.
Israeli and UAE officials met for wide-ranging talks covering other areas including science and space, civil aviation, foreign policy and diplomacy, tourism, finance and health to consider opportunities for cooperation, often with a US facilitator.
Israeli journalists embedded with the delegation made glowing reports of the officials and their discussions. The Jerusalem Post was allowed access to some of the meeting on condition that specific details of the discussions would not be disclosed.
The UAE also hosted a tour and dinner for Israeli journalists at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and approved journalists held discussions with officials from a range of cultural, scientific and diplomatic areas, speaking on condition of anonymity.
In a press conference in Jerusalem on Monday evening, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said peace with the UAE will be a ‘warm peace’, based on economic cooperation as a fundamental component.
Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat called on more countries to join them in peace.
In a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu invited a UAE delegation to Israel to be “welcomed on a red carpet, as well.”
“I felt an immense pride,” Netanyahu said after seeing Israeli flags waving in Abu Dhabi. “This is a new age in our history. Suggesting Israel is in talks with other Arab states, Netanyahu said: “There are many things I cannot tell you, but I am sure you will find out in time.” US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said he is “hopeful this will be the first step in creating momentum… [that] will lead to other nations deciding it is in their best interests to normalize ties with Israel.” Jared Kushner said the Saudis were ‘very gracious’ for allowing the first Israeli flight in their airspace, and that the flight is “a manifestation of what is possible in the Middle East.” “We can take it as a sign,” Kushner said. “It’s an encouragement for this progress.” Netanyahu radioed in a message to the plane while it was flying over Saudi Arabia, saying the delegation on the plane is “opening the door to a different kind of peace. Peace with investments, peace with tourism, peace with many fruits and peace that will be between our two nations and all the nations of the region.”
The US representatives accompanying the event made clear that Israeli annexation of Palestinian land is an intrinsic part of the normalization deal. Speaking with the embedded journalists on the flight to the UAE, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner addressed the Trump peace plan and its allowing for Israel to extend its sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria.
Israel is “going to be focused right now on the relationship with the UAE. I think that’ll make peace, in time, with the Palestinians, much more possible,” he said. Annexation was included in the plan because it was clear that “in the context of any agreement, Israel wasn’t going to give up that territory,” and the US “had to make sure Israel’s security was protected.” He claimed that recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and potentially recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank would “take those provocative issues off the table.” LINK
The statements would appear to confirm that all affirmations claiming otherwise are merely spin, made as part of the campaign to promote the bilateral deal and convince other Arab and Muslim leaders to normalize relations with Israel.
In spite of earlier comments by the UAE and a joint statement by the three countries that indicated the annexation plan would be ‘suspended’, senior UAE official Omar Ghobash has admitted his government did not “have any guarantees as such” that Israel would not annex occupied Palestinian territory in the future.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Monday slammed the flight as “very painful” and “a clear and a blatant violation of the Arab position towards the Arab-Israeli conflict”. “We had hoped to see an Emirati plane landing in a liberated Jerusalem, but we live in a difficult Arab era,” he said. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassen said the UAE-Israel deal went against the position of the Emirati people, and was “in Zionist interests only … fuelling disagreements in the region”. In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee, said Kushner and his team were “scrambling to convince as many Arab and Muslim leaders as possible” to give Trump an election boost. “They will be a prop at the backdrop of a meaningless spectacle for a ridiculous agreement that will not bring peace to the region,” she said.
The Israel-UAE accord also faces another problem: a possible sale of stealth F-35 fighter jets to Abu Dhabi. Netanyahu has denied reports the deal hinges on the sale of F-35s to the UAE, saying he opposes a move that could reduce Israel’s military advantage. “This deal did not include Israel’s acceptance of any arms deal,” the Israeli prime minister said last week.
Ever since the 1960s, the US has guaranteed to maintain Israel’s ‘qualitative military edge’ in the region. However, it is extremely unlikely that any weapons deal between the US and the UAE would jeopardize that understanding.
“Although this is not really public, from what I understand arrangements are being made that the version that the Arab country gets is not the absolute latest version,” Joshua Teitelbaum, a Gulf specialist at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University told AFP. LINK
Other news reports note that there are other less pleasant aspects to this ‘different kind of peace’ and expanding commercial opportunities that the US and Israel are hoping to spread throughout the Middle East. One major element is:
“Israeli cooperation with Gulf countries in the field of espionage and the sale of special capabilities and expertise that will help gulf governments track down dissidents. The Israeli NSO company in question is also mentioned in a very important and sensitive topic related to its advanced spyware, ‘Pegasus’, which enables penetration of mobile phones.” LINK
On the same day as the Israeli/ US official delegation travelled to the UAE, Hamas announced that it has reached new understandings with Israel to de-escalate the situation in the Gaza Strip.
An announcement published by the office of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar said the understandings were reached “after a round of discussions and contacts, including with Qatari envoy Mohammed al-Emadi.”
Emadi has been shuttling between Israel and the Gaza Strip for several days in an effort to prevent an all-out military confrontation.
The Hamas announcement made no mention of Egypt’s mediation efforts with Israel. An Egyptian intelligence delegation that visited the Gaza Strip 10 days ago did not return to the area since then. The border with Egypt remains closed, completing Israel’s blockade of the people of Gaza.
The announcement came after two weeks of tensions between Israel and Hamas, during which hundreds of explosives-laden and incendiary balloons were released toward Israel and Israel conducted nightly bombing raids on the besieged Palestinian enclave.
“Understandings have been reached to contain the escalation and halt the Zionist aggression on our people,” Hamas said in its statement. According to Hamas, the new understandings include “a number of projects that serve our people in the Gaza Strip and would help them cope with the outbreak of the coronavirus.”
In addition, under the terms of the understandings, Hamas and Israel agreed to restore the calm that prevailed before the latest round of violence.
Al Jazeera reported that
“In return (for a de-escalation), it says that Israel is undertaking to go back to the pre-escalation situation which means allowing fishermen out into the Mediterranean, easing the restriction on goods coming in and also presumably the restoration of fuel supplies to Gaza’s only power station.” LINK
The Jerusalem Post noted that reports in a number of Arab media outlets claimed that the Qatari-engineered understandings include a pledge to carry out several infrastructure projects, increasing the Qatari cash grant to thousands of Palestinian families, reopening all the border crossings with Israel and restoring the fishing zone to the areas previously agreed.
In addition, the reports said, the new accord calls for increasing the fuel supply to the power plant in the Gaza Strip to solve the electricity crisis there. Other reports quoted sources close to Hamas as claiming that the understandings also require Israel to facilitate the entry of medical supplies and medicine into the Gaza Strip in the aftermath of the increase in the number of coronavirus cases.
While Israel has not made any official statements, at least some of the reported details appear to have been confirmed by subsequent developments, as late on Monday night the Israeli Office of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announced it had agreed to resume the shipment of fuel into Gaza.
“Following efforts to calm the situation, and in light of security consultations led by Defense Minister Benny Gantz, a decision was taken to resume the routine activity of the Kerem Shalom crossing, including the entry of fuel products, starting tomorrow [Tuesday],” COGAT said. Gaza’s fishing zone, which had been closed, would now be set once again at 15 nautical miles, it said. “The resumption of the civilian policy toward the Gaza Strip is subject to the continuation of the calm and the security stability,” COGAT said. LINK
Israel’s sudden interest in finalizing a temporary de-escalation with Hamas appears to have two main motives. One motive is to provide some ‘positive’ news to accompany the Israeli/ US delegation to the UAE. The second motive would be for Israel to smooth things over on the Gaza border for a while so that it can put all its military attention on the border with Lebanon and Hezbollah.
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southfront--2020-09-01--“Islamic Resistance In Iraq” Releases Video Of Attack On US Convoy Near Baghdad

The Guardians of Blood ( also known as Islamic Resistance in Iraq ) released a video of an improvised explosive @ @ @ @ @ with US military equipment near the Camp Taji , north of Baghdad .
The attack @ @ @ @ @ , when the convoy was withsrawing US military equipment from the base that had been @ @ @ @ @ military .
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The Guardians of Blood (also known as Islamic Resistance in Iraq) released a video of an improvised explosive device attack on a convoy with US military equipment near the Camp Taji, north of Baghdad. The attack took place on August 23, when the convoy was withsrawing US military equipment from the base that had been handed over to the Iraqi military.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Taliban Overruns Base Of Government Forces In Afghanistan’s Paktia Province (Map, Photos)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • Taliban ’ s @ @ @ @ @ Badakhshan region Zia-ul-Haq was killed and two militants were wounded in a clash with Afghan @ @ @ @ @ least 3 soldiers were killed in a Taliban car bomb explosion at a public security @ @ @ @ @ province ; • Afghanistan Minister of Foreign Affairs Haneef Atmar held talks with Pakistan Foreign @ @ @ @ @ .
Atmar stressed the need to stop rocket attacks from the both sides of the @ @ @ @ @ construction of arbitrary military facilities and keep open trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan .
@ @ @ @ @ image Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image Click to @ @ @ @ @ to see the full-size image MORE ON THE TOPIC :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
Taliban’s chief for Maymi district of Badakhshan region Zia-ul-Haq was killed and two militants were wounded in a clash with Afghan security forces;
At least 3 soldiers were killed in a Taliban car bomb explosion at a public security base in Gardez, Paktia province;
Afghanistan Minister of Foreign Affairs Haneef Atmar held talks with Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohial Mahmood in Kabul. Atmar stressed the need to stop rocket attacks from the both sides of the Durand Line, stop the construction of arbitrary military facilities and keep open trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Israel Tests Hezbollah’s Readiness To Retaliate To Killing Of Its Members

Late on August 31 , air defense forces of Syria were activated to repel Israeli missile strikes on the countryside of the Syrian capital of Damascus and the southern part of the country .
According to reports , Israeli missiles targeted positions of Iranian-backed forces in the area of Mahajah and Hezbollah positions in the area of Izraa in the province of Daraa .
Another group of missiles reportedly hit alleged positions of Iranian-backed forces in the area of Sahnaya in the Damascus countryside .
The missiles were allegedly launched from the area of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were killed and 7 others were injured in the attack .
Material damage was also reported .
The Israeli strikes were likely conducted as a part of the current Israeli-Hezbollah tensions in the region .
Just recently , the sides exchanged a number of threats and the Israeli military even struck a supposed Hezbollah target on the Israeli-Lebanese contact line .
In response , Hezbollah vowed to kill an Israeli soldier for every killed Hezbollah member .
Therefore , if some Hezbollah members were killed in the August 31 attack , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by force , or its public image in the region will be significantly undermined .
Such a blow will be especially painful in the conditions of the developing political and social crisis in Lebanon following the Beirut port explosion on August 4 .
On August 29 , Turkey ’ s state-run Anadolu Agency claimed that the United Arab Emirates has had intelligence agents in northern Syria working with Kurdish YPG and PKK militias over the past few years .
They reportedly trained YPG/PKK members in the fields of espionage , counter-espionage , sabotage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , information security and communication networks .
This training allegedly took place in the areas of Qamishli , Hasaka and Deir ez-Zor .
Earlier , on August 27 , Lebanon ’ s al-Mayadeen TV reported that a group of Saudi service members had entered the area of al-Shaddadi in the province of al-Hasakah .
According to reports , the Saudi side has been trying to convince local Arab tribes to support the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) .
The SDF mostly consists of and is led by the Kurdish People ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its own turn have ties with the Kurdistan Workers ’ Party ( PKK ) .
The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and a number of other countries , including the United States .
Thus , Turkey conducts military operations against the SDF and the YPG in northern Syria , while the United States supports them with weapons , funds and diplomatic cover .

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Late on August 31, air defense forces of Syria were activated to repel Israeli missile strikes on the countryside of the Syrian capital of Damascus and the southern part of the country. According to reports, Israeli missiles targeted positions of Iranian-backed forces in the area of Mahajah and Hezbollah positions in the area of Izraa in the province of Daraa. Another group of missiles reportedly hit alleged positions of Iranian-backed forces in the area of Sahnaya in the Damascus countryside. The missiles were allegedly launched from the area of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
According to Syrian media, at least 2 people were killed and 7 others were injured in the attack. Material damage was also reported. The Israeli strikes were likely conducted as a part of the current Israeli-Hezbollah tensions in the region. Just recently, the sides exchanged a number of threats and the Israeli military even struck a supposed Hezbollah target on the Israeli-Lebanese contact line. In response, Hezbollah vowed to kill an Israeli soldier for every killed Hezbollah member. Therefore, if some Hezbollah members were killed in the August 31 attack, the movement will have to respond to this by force, or its public image in the region will be significantly undermined. Such a blow will be especially painful in the conditions of the developing political and social crisis in Lebanon following the Beirut port explosion on August 4.
On August 29, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency claimed that the United Arab Emirates has had intelligence agents in northern Syria working with Kurdish YPG and PKK militias over the past few years. They reportedly trained YPG/PKK members in the fields of espionage, counter-espionage, sabotage, acts of assassination, signals intelligence, information security and communication networks. This training allegedly took place in the areas of Qamishli, Hasaka and Deir ez-Zor.
Earlier, on August 27, Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen TV reported that a group of Saudi service members had entered the area of al-Shaddadi in the province of al-Hasakah. According to reports, the Saudi side has been trying to convince local Arab tribes to support the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF mostly consists of and is led by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) that in its own turn have ties with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and a number of other countries, including the United States. Thus, Turkey conducts military operations against the SDF and the YPG in northern Syria, while the United States supports them with weapons, funds and diplomatic cover.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Military Situation In Yemen On September 1, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen : • The Liaison and @ @ @ @ @ ( loyal to Ansar Allah ) reported 95 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah over the past @ @ @ @ @ between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces continue in the South of the Al-Amoud area ; @ @ @ @ @ the center of Madghal district in the West of Marib province .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Yemen:
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 10 airstrikes on the Maheliyah district;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 7 airstrikes on the Madghal district;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 3 airstrikes on the Hazm district;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 6 airstrikes on the Wald al-Rabi’ district;
Saudi-led coalition warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes on the Haradh area;
The Liaison and Coordination Officers’ Operations Room (loyal to Ansar Allah) reported 95 ceasefire violations in al-Hudaydah over the past 24 hours;
Clashes between Ansar Allah and Saudi-led forces continue in the South of the Al-Amoud area;
Ansar Allah forces captured the center of Madghal district in the West of Marib province.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Hezbollah Publishes Video Threatening Israel With Pending Reprisal Attack

Over a month has passed since a Hezbollah fighter was killed in SyriaHezbollah has released a video warning Israel that it will conduct proportionate reprisal attacks for every attack against Hezbollah .
Meanwhile , Israel and Hamas have announced a ceasefire with respect to the Gaza strip .
This may reflect Israel ’ s desire to calm the situation on the Gaza front for a while so that it can devote all its military attention to the border with Lebanon as it tries to fend off Hezbollah ’ s reprisal attack ( s ) .
Speaking on Sunday , Hezbollah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will kill an Israeli soldier for every Hezbollah member killed .
Nasrallah described the action as the most effective means of deterring further Israeli attacks .
“ Let the Israelis understand that whenever they kill one of our mujahideen , we will kill one of their soldiers .
We are committed to an equation .
Our objective is not revenge but punishment and to establish a balance of deterrence.
” Israel has been continuously reinforcing its military presence and activities along the contact line with Lebanon and Syria over the last month in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Over the last couple of days , Israel has carried out additional strikes against Lebanon although no casualties have been reported , presumably an attempt to avoid increasing the scale of the pending Hezbollah response .
Last week , Israeli attack helicopters struck observation posts of the Hezbollah along the Lebanon border after shots were fired at Israeli troops operating in the area , the Israeli military announced on Wednesday .
Israel has been bracing for a possible attack by the Lebanese resistance group since an Israeli airstrike killed a Hezbollah fighter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troops have also traded fire in recent weeks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza .
The military said no Israeli forces were wounded by the sniper fire , and there were no reports of casualties in Lebanon .
Earlier , Israeli troops fired flares and smoke shells along the heavily guarded border .
Hezbollah-run Al-Manar TV reported that two homes were damaged by the shelling .
In the aftermath of the incidents the military ordered civilians in nearby communities to shelter and blocked off roads near the border .
The restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took place near the northern Israeli town of Manara .
Conricus said the Hezbollah operatives were just a few dozen meters from one of the U.N. positions , though he said visibility was poor and it was impossible to say at this stage whether the peacekeepers were aware of the snipers ’ presence .
UNIFIL said it observed flares fired from several Israeli positions along the border and were informed that there had been small arms fire from Lebanon directed against an Israeli patrol in the vicinity of Manara .
UNIFIL ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged restraint and asked both sides avoid further provocations .
“ I call on both parties to fully cooperate with UNIFIL to help determine the facts , ” Del Col said .
Lebanon ’ s Higher Defence Council said it would file a complaint with the U.N. Security Council “ over Israel ’ s aggressions on Lebanon ” .
Israel also planned to lodge a complaint .
While tensions between Israel and Hamas had escalated over the last couple of weeks , they announced earlier today that an agreement has been reached to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreshadowed last week by Israel ’ s defence minister .
Israel considers Hezbollah to be its toughest and most immediate threat .
After battling Israel to a stalemate during a month-long war in 2006 , Hezbollah is believed to be far stronger today .
At the United Nations , spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday of last week that UNIFIL has launched an investigation and called on both parties to fully cooperate with the probe .
LINK Speaking after the sniper fire against Israeli positions last Tuesday night , Nasrallah said that such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldier is killed and the balance is restored .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Jordan Iraq and Egypt try to get Arab peace initiative back on the geopolitical agenda • US on again off again partial troop withdrawal from Iraq

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Over a month has passed since a Hezbollah fighter was killed in SyriaHezbollah has released a video warning Israel that it will conduct proportionate reprisal attacks for every attack against Hezbollah. Meanwhile, Israel and Hamas have announced a ceasefire with respect to the Gaza strip. This may reflect Israel’s desire to calm the situation on the Gaza front for a while so that it can devote all its military attention to the border with Lebanon as it tries to fend off Hezbollah’s reprisal attack(s).
Speaking on Sunday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed that the group will kill an Israeli soldier for every Hezbollah member killed.
Nasrallah described the action as the most effective means of deterring further Israeli attacks. “Let the Israelis understand that whenever they kill one of our mujahideen, we will kill one of their soldiers. We are committed to an equation. Our objective is not revenge but punishment and to establish a balance of deterrence.”
Israel has been continuously reinforcing its military presence and activities along the contact line with Lebanon and Syria over the last month in anticipation of a military strike by Hezbollah. Over the last couple of days, Israel has carried out additional strikes against Lebanon although no casualties have been reported, presumably an attempt to avoid increasing the scale of the pending Hezbollah response.
In a new video released by Hezbollah, an armed militant is featured shooting his rifle at a target featuring a Star of David. The clip features a Hebrew voiceover with an Arabic accent reciting a passage from Exodus 21 (24-25) “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” LINK
The terrorists using our Torah against Israel. Posted by Meir HaLevi Weinstein on Sunday, August 30, 2020
Last week, Israeli attack helicopters struck observation posts of the Hezbollah along the Lebanon border after shots were fired at Israeli troops operating in the area, the Israeli military announced on Wednesday.
Israel has been bracing for a possible attack by the Lebanese resistance group since an Israeli airstrike killed a Hezbollah fighter in neighbouring Syria last month. Israeli troops have also traded fire in recent weeks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
The military said no Israeli forces were wounded by the sniper fire, and there were no reports of casualties in Lebanon. Earlier, Israeli troops fired flares and smoke shells along the heavily guarded border. Hezbollah-run Al-Manar TV reported that two homes were damaged by the shelling.
In the aftermath of the incidents the military ordered civilians in nearby communities to shelter and blocked off roads near the border. The restrictions were lifted early Wednesday. The incident took place near the northern Israeli town of Manara.
In a briefing with reporters on Wednesday evening, Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus said the fighting began when Hezbollah snipers, located between two U.N. peacekeeping positions, opened fire. He accused the militant group of using the U.N. positions for cover, and of deliberately locating its militiamen to draw fire that could have harmed the peacekeepers. “The choice of the location by Hezbollah is not accidental,” he said.
Conricus said the Hezbollah operatives were just a few dozen meters from one of the U.N. positions, though he said visibility was poor and it was impossible to say at this stage whether the peacekeepers were aware of the snipers’ presence.
UNIFIL said it observed flares fired from several Israeli positions along the border and were informed that there had been small arms fire from Lebanon directed against an Israeli patrol in the vicinity of Manara. UNIFIL’s commander, Maj. Gen. Stefano Del Col urged restraint and asked both sides avoid further provocations. “I call on both parties to fully cooperate with UNIFIL to help determine the facts,” Del Col said. Lebanon’s Higher Defence Council said it would file a complaint with the U.N. Security Council “over Israel’s aggressions on Lebanon”. Israel also planned to lodge a complaint.
While tensions between Israel and Hamas had escalated over the last couple of weeks, they announced earlier today that an agreement has been reached to implement a ceasefire. The move was foreshadowed last week by Israel’s defence minister.
“We will continue to work to restore complete quiet to our southern region,” Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz said. “In the north, we will not allow Nasrallah, who tried to harm our country but met with an alert and prepared army, we will not let him harm our soldiers or our country.”
Israel considers Hezbollah to be its toughest and most immediate threat. After battling Israel to a stalemate during a month-long war in 2006, Hezbollah is believed to be far stronger today.
At the United Nations, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Wednesday of last week that UNIFIL has launched an investigation and called on both parties to fully cooperate with the probe. LINK
Speaking after the sniper fire against Israeli positions last Tuesday night, Nasrallah said that such attacks would not stop until an Israeli soldier is killed and the balance is restored.
“If the resistance fighters carried out 100 operations and have not killed a Zionist soldier, the attacks will continue until the equation is equal again,” he said. He added his terror group was “in no hurry” to kill a solder: “Your soldiers will eventually appear on the roads,” he said. Addressing the recent UAE-Israel normalization deal, Nasrallah called it an “act of treason.” “We condemn all attempts to acknowledge Israel and all forms of normalization with this enemy. We renew our condemnation of the stance of the officials in the UAE. Any such agreement is treason.” LINK
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southfront--2020-09-01--Military Situation In Libya On September 1, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya : • Explosions were reported @ @ @ @ @ south of Tripoli ; • A suicide bomber on a motorbike carried out an attack @ @ @ @ @ at the Eastern entrance to the city of Janzur .
No casualties were reported ; @ @ @ @ @

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya:
Explosions were reported in the Yarmuk military camp south of Tripoli;
A suicide bomber on a motorbike carried out an attack on a GNA security checkpoint at the Eastern entrance to the city of Janzur. No casualties were reported;
Italian foreign minister Luigi Di Maio arrived in Tripoli.
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southfront--2020-09-01--Meaningful Message From Russian Foreign Minister

Head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov addressed students and professors at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations .
In his speech , he stressed that the modern world faced threats that were more dangerous than those during the Second World war .
Lavrov attributed terrorism and drug-related crime to modern challenges .
The Minister noted that every year they claim a large number of lives .
According to Lavrov , one of the main problems that are facing the entire international community is the unwillingness of the number of countries , which are led by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objective reality and the formation of a new system of international relations with new power centers .
Attempts to ignore this reality and prevent the formation of relations that respectfully take into account new world balance of power , were assessed by the Foreign Minister as short-sighted and dangerous .
Lavrov stressed that Russia remained committed to the principle of a multilateral approach to solving problems , primarily within the framework of the United Nations .
At the UN , Russia , together with a large group of countries from Europe , Asia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promoting partnership aiming to defend the core principles of the organization ’ s Charter .
This policy can be considered an irrefutable confirmation of the commitment to the principles of multilateralism .
When asked by one of the students to compare the current geopolitical situation with an another period , Lavrov drew parallels between the current events and the period of the Second World war , stating the need to unite in front of a common enemy as a unifying feature between the two eras .
“ Now we also have many common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Therefore , if we follow the logic – humanity and the common enemy , yes , the Second World was about this situation .
But now we still do not have enough awareness of the threats that confront us , ” the Minister replied .
Earlier , Russian security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev accused the West of implementation of the techniques of Reich Minister of Public Education and Propaganda Joseph Goebbels .
According to Patrushev , the West calls for unity against “ common enemies ” , including Russia .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions “ for the emergence of ideas of national-state superiority.
” Today , one of the main points of confrontation is the escalated situation in Belarus .
The Baltic States imposed sanctions against Belarus and banned Lukashenko and 29 other Belarusian officials from entering their territories for five years .
Sergey Lavrov also commented on the current situation , assessing Lithuania ’ s actions as unacceptable : “ Our Lithuanian neighbors have , in my opinion , already crossed all the boundaries of decency in the demand that they put forward .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ms. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya are not using democratic methods at all , ” the Minister said .
He added that these methods “ do not show much ” respect for the sovereignty of Belarus , since there are attempts to destabilize the situation in the Republic .
Despite the emphasis of the Lavrov ’ s message on the current confrontation between the collective West and the East , it is clear from the speech that the world is facing a more dangerous threat .
By referring to the “ common enemy ” for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imply the threats beyond the traditional agenda of the Great Game .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • None Iran And Russia On Their Way To New Level Of Partnership

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Head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov addressed students and professors at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. In his speech, he stressed that the modern world faced threats that were more dangerous than those during the Second World war.
“Today, the situation in the world is certainly not as bloody as the situation that developed during the Second World war, but the risks are much greater, and they are not less serious,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov attributed terrorism and drug-related crime to modern challenges. The Minister noted that every year they claim a large number of lives.
According to Lavrov, one of the main problems that are facing the entire international community is the unwillingness of the number of countries, which are led by the United States, to recognize the objective reality and the formation of a new system of international relations with new power centers. Attempts to ignore this reality and prevent the formation of relations that respectfully take into account new world balance of power, were assessed by the Foreign Minister as short-sighted and dangerous.
“The West refuses to conduct a dialogue on equal terms, does not recognize the multipolar polycentric reality and tries to maintain its dominant position by using illegitimate methods such as sanctions, direct intervention, and so on,” Lavrov said.
Lavrov stressed that Russia remained committed to the principle of a multilateral approach to solving problems, primarily within the framework of the United Nations. At the UN, Russia, together with a large group of countries from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, is promoting partnership aiming to defend the core principles of the organization’s Charter. This policy can be considered an irrefutable confirmation of the commitment to the principles of multilateralism.
When asked by one of the students to compare the current geopolitical situation with an another period, Lavrov drew parallels between the current events and the period of the Second World war, stating the need to unite in front of a common enemy as a unifying feature between the two eras.
“Now we also have many common enemies, against which we must unite. Therefore, if we follow the logic – humanity and the common enemy, yes, the Second World was about this situation. But now we still do not have enough awareness of the threats that confront us, ” the Minister replied.
Earlier, Russian security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev accused the West of implementation of the techniques of Reich Minister of Public Education and Propaganda Joseph Goebbels. According to Patrushev, the West calls for unity against “common enemies”, including Russia. According to the official, thus the West creates conditions “for the emergence of ideas of national-state superiority.”
Today, one of the main points of confrontation is the escalated situation in Belarus. The Baltic States imposed sanctions against Belarus and banned Lukashenko and 29 other Belarusian officials from entering their territories for five years.
Sergey Lavrov also commented on the current situation, assessing Lithuania’s actions as unacceptable:
“Our Lithuanian neighbors have, in my opinion, already crossed all the boundaries of decency in the demand that they put forward. And we have reason to believe that they and Ms. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya are not using democratic methods at all, ” the Minister said. He added that these methods “do not show much” respect for the sovereignty of Belarus, since there are attempts to destabilize the situation in the Republic .
Despite the emphasis of the Lavrov’s message on the current confrontation between the collective West and the East, it is clear from the speech that the world is facing a more dangerous threat. By referring to the “common enemy” for all mankind, Russian Minister seems to imply the threats beyond the traditional agenda of the Great Game.
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