southfront--2020-08-14--Israeli-UAE Peace Deal Marks Tectonic Shift In Middle Eastern Balance Of Power

The Middle East is on the brink of the new tectonic shift in the regional balance of power .
The previous years were marked by the growth of the Iranian and Hezbollah influence and the decrease of the US grip on the region .
The January 2020 started with the new Iranian-US confrontation that had all chances to turn into an open war .
August 202 appeared to mark the first peace agreement between an Arab state and Israel in more than 25 years .
Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a historical peace agreement .
US President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August 13 , calling Israel and the UAE “ great friends ” of his country .
In a joint statement , Israel , the UAE and the U.S. said the agreement will advance peace in the Middle East .
The statement praised the “ bold diplomacy ” and “ vision ” of the three country ’ s leaders .
Delegations from Israel and the UAE are expected to meet within a few weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment , tourism , direct flights , security , telecommunications , technology , energy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the establishment of reciprocal embassies , and other areas of mutual benefit .
In the framework of the peace agreement , Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in Netanyahu ’ s “ Vision for Peace ” in the Western Bank .
Also , Tel Aviv will reportedly focus its efforts on “ expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world.
” The agreement will also provide Muslims with greater access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem .
It still remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its part of the deal as the annexation of Palestinian territories is the cornerstone of its regional policy .
In the near future , the United States will likely work to motivate other Gulf states to follow the UAE ’ s footsteps .
In particular , another US regional ally , Saudi Arabia , is already widely known for keeping close ties with Israel in the field of security and military cooperation .
Both states are allies of Washington and are engaged in a regional standoff against the Iranian-led coalition of Shiite forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also a logical step for the Trump administration ’ s regional policy , which is based on the two main cornerstones : the unconditional support of Israel and the confrontation with Iran .
Through such moves , Washington may hope to create a broader Israeli-Arab coalition through which it will try to consolidate the shirking influence and contain the ongoing Iranian expansion in the region .
At the same time , the overtures with Israel , which has undertaken wide and successful efforts to destabilize neighboring Arab states , could cause a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribute to its further dissatisfaction with the course of its leadership .
All these developments , together with the consisted Iranian policy aimed at the defense of Palestinians , will increase the popularity of Iran as not only defender of Shiites across the Middle East , but all Muslims in general .
Tehran has been seeking to achieve this goal for years and achieved a particular progress in the field .
The US-Israeli aggressive policy in the region also played an important role in fact promoting the popularity of the so-called Axis of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power in Arab states will become even more noticeable and create additional threats to Gulf states involved in a direct confrontation with it .
The Saudi Kingdom , as the main candidate for the next peace deal , will find itself in an especially shaky position .
It is already involved in the long , bloody , and unsuccessful intervention in Yemen , with Yemen ’ s Houthis regularly conducting cross-border raids into Saudi Arabia and even striking its capital , Riyadh .
Also , the Saudi leadership has a long-standing problem with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which are regularly and violently suppressed by Saudi forces .
Other factors are the apparent economic and social problems , not least due to Riyadh ’ s own adventures on the oil market and the coronavirus crisis .
Therefore , at some moment the Saudi regime may easily find itself on the brink of collapse under the weight of its own social , political and economic mistakes , and controversial policies on the international arena .
And it ’ s highly unlikely that the friends in Tel Aviv or Washington will decide to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current political regime in the Saudi kingdom .

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The Middle East is on the brink of the new tectonic shift in the regional balance of power. The previous years were marked by the growth of the Iranian and Hezbollah influence and the decrease of the US grip on the region. The January 2020 started with the new Iranian-US confrontation that had all chances to turn into an open war. August 202 appeared to mark the first peace agreement between an Arab state and Israel in more than 25 years.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a historical peace agreement. US President Donald Trump announced the breakthrough agreement on August 13, calling Israel and the UAE “great friends” of his country. In a joint statement, Israel, the UAE and the U.S. said the agreement will advance peace in the Middle East. The statement praised the “bold diplomacy” and “vision” of the three country’s leaders.
Delegations from Israel and the UAE are expected to meet within a few weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment, the establishment of reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit.
In the framework of the peace agreement, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in Netanyahu’s “Vision for Peace” in the Western Bank. Also, Tel Aviv will reportedly focus its efforts on “expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world.” The agreement will also provide Muslims with greater access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. It still remains in question how Israel will comply with its part of the deal as the annexation of Palestinian territories is the cornerstone of its regional policy.
In the near future, the United States will likely work to motivate other Gulf states to follow the UAE’s footsteps. In particular, another US regional ally, Saudi Arabia, is already widely known for keeping close ties with Israel in the field of security and military cooperation. Both states are allies of Washington and are engaged in a regional standoff against the Iranian-led coalition of Shiite forces.
The support of the UAE-Israeli agreement is also a logical step for the Trump administration’s regional policy, which is based on the two main cornerstones: the unconditional support of Israel and the confrontation with Iran. Through such moves, Washington may hope to create a broader Israeli-Arab coalition through which it will try to consolidate the shirking influence and contain the ongoing Iranian expansion in the region. At the same time, the overtures with Israel, which has undertaken wide and successful efforts to destabilize neighboring Arab states, could cause a public backlash among the Arab population and contribute to its further dissatisfaction with the course of its leadership. All these developments, together with the consisted Iranian policy aimed at the defense of Palestinians, will increase the popularity of Iran as not only defender of Shiites across the Middle East, but all Muslims in general. Tehran has been seeking to achieve this goal for years and achieved a particular progress in the field. The US-Israeli aggressive policy in the region also played an important role in fact promoting the popularity of the so-called Axis of Resistance. Now, the Iranian soft power in Arab states will become even more noticeable and create additional threats to Gulf states involved in a direct confrontation with it.
The Saudi Kingdom, as the main candidate for the next peace deal, will find itself in an especially shaky position. It is already involved in the long, bloody, and unsuccessful intervention in Yemen, with Yemen’s Houthis regularly conducting cross-border raids into Saudi Arabia and even striking its capital, Riyadh. Also, the Saudi leadership has a long-standing problem with the oppressed Shia minority, protests of which are regularly and violently suppressed by Saudi forces. Other factors are the apparent economic and social problems, not least due to Riyadh’s own adventures on the oil market and the coronavirus crisis. Therefore, at some moment the Saudi regime may easily find itself on the brink of collapse under the weight of its own social, political and economic mistakes, and controversial policies on the international arena. And it’s highly unlikely that the friends in Tel Aviv or Washington will decide to undertake any extraordinary steps to rescue the current political regime in the Saudi kingdom.
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southfront--2020-08-14--‘Islamic Resistance In Iraq’ Threatened U.S. Forces In New Statement

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq – ‘ Ashab al-Kahf ( AK ) threatened U.S. forces in the country with more @ @ @ @ @ statement released on August 13 .
The statement included the following list of warnings for @ @ @ @ @ Iraqi civilians and military personnel : AK also hinted that its fighters will soon began @ @ @ @ @ and positions hosting U.S. forces in Iraq .
The group concluded its statement by calling @ @ @ @ @ ranks , saying that anyone who wish to do so should inform “ Islamic resistance @ @ @ @ @ a pro-Iran Shiite group founded in August of 2019 .
Last month , the group @ @ @ @ @ cooperating with the U.S.-led coalition .
The warning was followed by a number of attacks @ @ @ @ @ convoys throughout Iraq .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : ISIS Released Photos Of Recent Attacks @ @ @ @ @

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The Islamic Resistance in Iraq – ‘Ashab al-Kahf (AK) threatened U.S. forces in the country with more attacks in a new official statement released on August 13.
The statement included the following list of warnings for U.S. forces as well as Iraqi civilians and military personnel:
Civilian vehicles must not move between the American convoys and escorted vehicles, in order to preserve the pure [civilians] blood.
It is necessary to move at least 1,000 meters away from the positions of the Americans, which, by the will of God, will be burned both American occupiers and their Iraqi accomplices. We stress to avoid approaching the line of fire [front-lines].
The Americans must withdraw their dogs from the base of Taji, otherwise the fire will eat them and will not distinguish between an African, Asian, malicious English or American.
The NATO must withdraw its mercenaries, or no one can blame us for a bombing or a ground strike.
Soon, weapons, you don’t expect, will enter the battle and they will leave you confused as you are now in front of what is happening to your drones.
AK also hinted that its fighters will soon began launching ground attacks on bases and positions hosting U.S. forces in Iraq.
The group concluded its statement by calling on Iraqis to join its ranks, saying that anyone who wish to do so should inform “Islamic resistance” factions.
AK is a pro-Iran Shiite group founded in August of 2019. Last month, the group warned Iraqi logistics companies from cooperating with the U.S.-led coalition. The warning was followed by a number of attacks on U.S.-led coalition logistic supply convoys throughout Iraq.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
ISIS Released Photos Of Recent Attacks On Iraqi Troops In Al-Anbar
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southfront--2020-08-14--West Offers Poisonous ‘Hand Of Friendship’ To Lukashenko Amid Mass Protests Against His Government

The mass usage of force by Belarusian authorities against mass protests that erupted after the presidential election play a dirty trick on President Alexander Lukashenko .
While the decisive usage of force was a useful tool to supress the coup attempt and violent street riots on August 9 and August 10 , the further actions of Police and the Internal Troops against protests on August 11 , 12 , 13 and 14 , when the opposition mostly switched to nonviolent resistance approaches undermined the image of the Lukashenko government among the neutral part of the population and even among its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the intensification of street protests ( this time peaceful ones ) , the first successes of the opposition ’ s attempts to stage a nation-wide strike and contributed to the popularity of the anti-Lukashenko movement in general .
Pro-opposition media organizations , including those managed from Poland and Lithuania , have achieved a decisive victory over pro-government media , and the popularity of protests inside the country and on the international scene is growing .
Harsh statements of the top Belarusian leadership mocking all the protesters as solely provocateurs and foreign agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters also played their own role .
While it ’ s wrong to deny actions of destructive forces , it ’ s an apparent distortion of reality to describe all opposition supporters as foreign agents or provocateurs .
He also warned workers against participating in strikes .
The anti-Russian statements of the Belarusian leaders are also surprising in the sitaution while it ’ s an open secret that a large part of protests is being coordinated from Poland .
From the practical point of view , the destruction of relations with the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ de-facto sponsor of its economy ) also does not help his regime to remain in power .
Meanwhile , police officers guarding the government building in Minsk put down their shields in an apparent sign of the collapse of the commitment of at least a part of law enforcements to use the force against protestsers .
Pro-opposition media outelts cirtulate over a dozens of photos supposedly showing resignation letters of police officers and personnel of the Internal Troops .
Earlier , the opposition staged a flash mob motivating former police officers and servicemembers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Opposition supporters achieved another important victory , they got the moral ascendancy over the Lukashenko government in the eyes of residents of large cities .
The Minsk Tractor Works ( MTZ ) was hit by protests and its workers joined the anti-government rally on August 14 .
The plant is one of the biggest employers in the Belarus capital , giving jobs to some 15,000 people .
The incident took place shortly after Belarus Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko arrived there to talk with protesters .
He reportedly refused to speak to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angering many there and setting off the protest march .
Workers of several other plants across Belarus also joined the protests .
The inability of the Belarusian government to participate in a real dialogue with the pro-opposition part of the population is among the key problems that put it in the current situation .
Meanwhile , Belarus is facing an expected and increasing pressure on the international scene .
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya that fled to Lithuania declared ( with an apparent help from foreign special services ) that she was staring to create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power from Lukashenko to her .
The council , according to Tsikhanouskaya , should include representatives of all associations that are interested in dialogue and the peaceful transfer of power – labor collectives , parties , trade unions , etc .
She also called on the ‘ international community ’ , including European states , to help with the dialogue with the current authorities .
It should be noted that , according to the opposition version of events , Tsikhanouskaya won the election ( with 10 % sic ) .
The European Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Belarus and expressed their ‘ concerns ’ over the protests there .
Lithuania , Latvia , Estonia and Poland declared that they are ready to become mediators in the dialogue between the opposition and the Lukashenko government .
Apparently they hope that Lukashenko forgot how ‘ EU states ’ already became mediators between the government and the ‘ opposition ’ in Ukraine in 2014 .
The Yanukovich government fell just a few days after they supposedly reached a deal to settle the tensions .
Protests against the Lukashenko government in Europe : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Affairs Austria , said that the European Union is not interested in the rapprochement between Russia and Belarus .
He added that the current situation in Belarus is the setback for the EU-Belarusian relations and supported calls for sanctions against the Lukashenko government .
The European Union sees the threat of sanctions as a useful tool to pressure Lukashenko to ‘ negotiate ’ ( surrender to ) with the opposition .
It is interesting to see how Lukashenko ’ s best friend in the European Union and the United States immediately betrayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work to overthrow his government .
The de-facto anti-Russian foreign policy , the public anti-Russian rhetoric and the Lukashenko-initiated economic and political conflicts with Russia appeared to be not enough to satisfy them .
They need the fully-controlled and ‘ European ’ Belarus – i.e .
the goal of Euro-Atlantic structures is to get a full foreign control of Belarus , like they ( led by the United States ) did in Ukraine .
As to Russia , which is painted by the ‘ destructive force ’ by the West and even by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Russians , it seems that Moscow ’ s main problem is the lack of political will to provide a really strong policy towards its supposed ally .
The Russian indulgence to Lukashenko ’ s multiple anti-Russian moves and the unwillingness of Moscow to whip into the line the Lukashenko regime and put an end to its destructive actions led to the current situation .
The years of direct and indirect sponsorship of Belarus ( billions of dollars ) are turning into dust .
Furthermore , a large part of the Belarusian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Russian donations only , see Moscow as the supposed ‘ aggressor ’ that want to suppress the ‘ democracy ’ in mighty and flourishing Belarus .
The soft policy towards Belarus only set conditions for the expansion of anti-Russian forces there and Lukashenko ’ s political adventures with the West that led to the situation , when Russia could easily get another point of instability on its border .
In own turn , Lukashenko is just reaping the fruit of his own actions of the previous years .
MORE ON THE TOPIC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Of Protests Despite Their Switch To ‘ Nonviolent Resistance ’ Phase • Crisis In Belarus : Democratic Neo-Nazis Against Last Emperor Of Europe • Crisis In Belarus As Sign Of Global Division

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The mass usage of force by Belarusian authorities against mass protests that erupted after the presidential election play a dirty trick on President Alexander Lukashenko.
While the decisive usage of force was a useful tool to supress the coup attempt and violent street riots on August 9 and August 10, the further actions of Police and the Internal Troops against protests on August 11, 12, 13 and 14, when the opposition mostly switched to nonviolent resistance approaches undermined the image of the Lukashenko government among the neutral part of the population and even among its supporters. This situation became a trigger for the intensification of street protests (this time peaceful ones), the first successes of the opposition’s attempts to stage a nation-wide strike and contributed to the popularity of the anti-Lukashenko movement in general.
On August 14, the Belarusian Electoral Commission officially declared Lukashenko a winner of the presidential election with 80.1% of votes, while the opposition candidate, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, got 10.1%. Regardless these numbers, the government says that the election was fire and transparent, while the opposition has declared it rigged, the situation on the ground has clearly turned not into the favor of the acting president.
Pro-opposition media organizations, including those managed from Poland and Lithuania, have achieved a decisive victory over pro-government media, and the popularity of protests inside the country and on the international scene is growing.
Harsh statements of the top Belarusian leadership mocking all the protesters as solely provocateurs and foreign agents and denying the usage of force against protesters also played their own role. While it’s wrong to deny actions of destructive forces, it’s an apparent distortion of reality to describe all opposition supporters as foreign agents or provocateurs.
“For starters, I’m still alive and I haven’t fled abroad as some of our vaunted, ‘informed’ compatriots are drumming up that the president has fled the country and is now abroad,” President Alexander Lukashenko said on August 14 adding that his opponents are trying to “stir up laborers’ associations”.
He also warned workers against participating in strikes.
“Today you don’t produce 10 tractors, they don’t go to the market, and tomorrow the Germans will come with the Americans. The Russians will bring their equipment,” the president said.
The anti-Russian statements of the Belarusian leaders are also surprising in the sitaution while it’s an open secret that a large part of protests is being coordinated from Poland. From the practical point of view, the destruction of relations with the only really ally of Belarus (and a de-facto sponsor of its economy) also does not help his regime to remain in power.
Meanwhile, police officers guarding the government building in Minsk put down their shields in an apparent sign of the collapse of the commitment of at least a part of law enforcements to use the force against protestsers. Pro-opposition media outelts cirtulate over a dozens of photos supposedly showing resignation letters of police officers and personnel of the Internal Troops. Earlier, the opposition staged a flash mob motivating former police officers and servicemembers to throw away their unifroms on cameras. Opposition supporters achieved another important victory, they got the moral ascendancy over the Lukashenko government in the eyes of residents of large cities.
The Minsk Tractor Works (MTZ) was hit by protests and its workers joined the anti-government rally on August 14. The plant is one of the biggest employers in the Belarus capital, giving jobs to some 15,000 people. The incident took place shortly after Belarus Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko arrived there to talk with protesters. He reportedly refused to speak to the crowd in front of the press, angering many there and setting off the protest march. Workers of several other plants across Belarus also joined the protests.
The inability of the Belarusian government to participate in a real dialogue with the pro-opposition part of the population is among the key problems that put it in the current situation.
#Belarus. Happening right now. Thousands of demonstrators are marching on the main street in #Minsk. Workers of MTZ, Minsk Tractor Works, who announced strike, joined street protesters. Last time something like this happened 30 years ago. pic.twitter.com/fhRGB5uFHa — Hanna Liubakova (@HannaLiubakova) August 14, 2020
Военные и гражданские люди друг напротив друга на площади Независимости. Посмотрите, какая там атмосфера! pic.twitter.com/kj8Bs8ZNLZ — TUT.BY (@tutby) August 14, 2020
Meanwhile, Belarus is facing an expected and increasing pressure on the international scene. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya that fled to Lithuania declared (with an apparent help from foreign special services) that she was staring to create a special council tasked with the transition of power from Lukashenko to her. The council, according to Tsikhanouskaya, should include representatives of all associations that are interested in dialogue and the peaceful transfer of power – labor collectives, parties, trade unions, etc. She also called on the ‘international community’, including European states, to help with the dialogue with the current authorities. It should be noted that, according to the opposition version of events, Tsikhanouskaya won the election (with 10% sic).
The European Union and the United States already condemned violence in Belarus and expressed their ‘concerns’ over the protests there. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland declared that they are ready to become mediators in the dialogue between the opposition and the Lukashenko government. Apparently they hope that Lukashenko forgot how ‘EU states’ already became mediators between the government and the ‘opposition’ in Ukraine in 2014. The Yanukovich government fell just a few days after they supposedly reached a deal to settle the tensions.
Protests against the Lukashenko government in Europe:
Meanwhile, Alexander Schallenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs Austria, said that the European Union is not interested in the rapprochement between Russia and Belarus. He added that the current situation in Belarus is the setback for the EU-Belarusian relations and supported calls for sanctions against the Lukashenko government. The European Union sees the threat of sanctions as a useful tool to pressure Lukashenko to ‘negotiate’ (surrender to) with the opposition.
It is interesting to see how Lukashenko’s best friend in the European Union and the United States immediately betrayed him amid the crisis and in fact work to overthrow his government. The de-facto anti-Russian foreign policy, the public anti-Russian rhetoric and the Lukashenko-initiated economic and political conflicts with Russia appeared to be not enough to satisfy them. They need the fully-controlled and ‘European’ Belarus – i.e. the goal of Euro-Atlantic structures is to get a full foreign control of Belarus, like they (led by the United States) did in Ukraine.
As to Russia, which is painted by the ‘destructive force’ by the West and even by the government of Lukashenko for years funded by the Russians, it seems that Moscow’s main problem is the lack of political will to provide a really strong policy towards its supposed ally. The Russian indulgence to Lukashenko’s multiple anti-Russian moves and the unwillingness of Moscow to whip into the line the Lukashenko regime and put an end to its destructive actions led to the current situation. The years of direct and indirect sponsorship of Belarus (billions of dollars) are turning into dust. Furthermore, a large part of the Belarusian population, which in fact survived due to Russian donations only, see Moscow as the supposed ‘aggressor’ that want to suppress the ‘democracy’ in mighty and flourishing Belarus. The soft policy towards Belarus only set conditions for the expansion of anti-Russian forces there and Lukashenko’s political adventures with the West that led to the situation, when Russia could easily get another point of instability on its border.
In own turn, Lukashenko is just reaping the fruit of his own actions of the previous years.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-08-14--Iraqi Military Apprehended Dozens Of Syrians Smuggling Explosives (Photos)

The Iraqi military has ambushed a group of suspected terrorists from Syria who attempted to smuggle load of explosives into the country .
Maj. Gen. Yehia Rasool , a spokesman for the Iraqi Commander-in-Chief , said in an official statement that the suspected terrorists were ambushed by the 66th Infantry Brigade of the Iraqi military ’ s 20th Division .
The suspected terrorists , numbered 31 , were all apprehended by the Iraqi military .
According to Maj. Gen. Rasool , all of them came from Raqqa .
Iraqi forces seized 344 detonators and 140 blocks of TNT explosives that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for unknown reasons .
“ They [ the suspected terrorists ] and the criminal evidence were handed over to the specialized authorities to complete their investigative papers and present them to the judiciary , ” Maj. Gen al-Rasool said in the statement that was released on August 14 .
The spokesman told the UAE-based al-Ain TV that Iraqi authorities are now improving security at the border with Syria by building fortifications , installing thermal surveillance cameras as well as by monitoring the border line with drones .
The infiltrators may be linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar right on the border with Syria .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • ISIS Released Photos Of Recent Attacks On Iraqi Troops In Al-Anbar

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The Iraqi military has ambushed a group of suspected terrorists from Syria who attempted to smuggle load of explosives into the country.
Maj. Gen. Yehia Rasool, a spokesman for the Iraqi Commander-in-Chief, said in an official statement that the suspected terrorists were ambushed by the 66th Infantry Brigade of the Iraqi military’s 20th Division.
Another photo of the group. Also the explosives and det cord. pic.twitter.com/FAdbyevZdt — TØM CΛT (@TomtheBasedCat) August 14, 2020
The suspected terrorists, numbered 31, were all apprehended by the Iraqi military. According to Maj. Gen. Rasool, all of them came from Raqqa.
Iraqi forces seized 344 detonators and 140 blocks of TNT explosives that the suspects attempted to smuggle into Iraq for unknown reasons.
“They [the suspected terrorists] and the criminal evidence were handed over to the specialized authorities to complete their investigative papers and present them to the judiciary,” Maj. Gen al-Rasool said in the statement that was released on August 14.
The spokesman told the UAE-based al-Ain TV that Iraqi authorities are now improving security at the border with Syria by building fortifications, installing thermal surveillance cameras as well as by monitoring the border line with drones.
The infiltrators may be linked to ISIS, whose cells are highly active in the western Iraqi province of al-Anbar right on the border with Syria.
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southfront--2020-08-14--The 2nd Murder In 48h: Mayor And His Two Children Killed In Syria’s Daraa

On August 14 , the mayor of Eyeb town in the northern Daraa countryside was killed along with his two children by unidentified gunmen .
The gunmen shot the mayor , Fadl Gadallah Muslih , his son Mutaz , a college student , and his 8-year old daughter , Ghufran , on a road leading to the town of al-Mudawra in the northern Daraa countryside .
The three were killed on the spot .
According to local sources , Muslih and his children were on their way back from the capital , Damascus , when the attack occurred .
Muslih @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Hezbollah and Iranian forces that maintain a small presence in Syria ’ s southern region .
ISIS terrorists or even foreign sides , like the Israeli intelligence , may be behind the murder of Muslih and his two children .
This was the second assassination in Daraa in the last 48 hours .
Sheikh Nadim Qwaider al-Miqdad , a former Sharia judge , was killed by unidentified gunmen in eastern Daraa on August 13 morning .
The situation in Daraa is slowly spinning out of control .
The number of attacks targeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing .
Necessary security measures are yet to be taken .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC :

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On August 14, the mayor of Eyeb town in the northern Daraa countryside was killed along with his two children by unidentified gunmen.
The gunmen shot the mayor, Fadl Gadallah Muslih, his son Mutaz, a college student, and his 8-year old daughter, Ghufran, on a road leading to the town of al-Mudawra in the northern Daraa countryside. The three were killed on the spot.
According to local sources, Muslih and his children were on their way back from the capital, Damascus, when the attack occurred.
Muslih was reportedly in contact with Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iranian forces that maintain a small presence in Syria’s southern region.
ISIS terrorists or even foreign sides, like the Israeli intelligence, may be behind the murder of Muslih and his two children.
This was the second assassination in Daraa in the last 48 hours. Sheikh Nadim Qwaider al-Miqdad, a former Sharia judge, was killed by unidentified gunmen in eastern Daraa on August 13 morning.
The situation in Daraa is slowly spinning out of control. The number of attacks targeting government forces and local fighters is constantly growing. Necessary security measures are yet to be taken.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-08-14--Cyber-Attack Hits Israeli Military Companies, Experts Blame North Korea ‘Hackers For Hire’

Israel claimed Wednesday that it had thwarted a cyberattack by a North Korea-linked hacking group on its military industry .
The Defence Ministry released a statement claiming the attack was deflected ‘ in real time ’ and that there was no ‘ harm or disruption ’ to its computer systems .
However , this claim has been contradicted by experts familiar with the facts .
Security researchers at ClearSky , the international cyber-security firm that first exposed the attack , said the North Korean hackers penetrated the computer systems and were likely to have stolen a large amount of classified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be shared with North Korea ’ s ally , Iran .
The episode adds Israel to the list of countries and companies that have allegedly been targeted by North Korea ’ s hacking unit , known to private security analysts as the Lazarus Group .
US and Israeli officials have claimed that the Lazarus Group , also known as Hidden Cobra , is backed by Pyongyang .
In 2018 US federal prosecutors claimed that the group of hackers was working on behalf of Lab 110 , a North Korean military intelligence unit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group of playing a role in North Korea ’ s devastating 2017 ransom ware attack , known as ‘ WannaCry ’ , which paralyzed 300,000 computers across 150 countries .
They have also been accused of being behind the 2016 cyber-theft of $ 81 million from Bangladesh Bank ; and the crippling 2014 cyber attack at Sony Pictures Entertainment that resulted in the leak of executive emails and destroyed more than two-thirds of the studio ’ s computer servers .
Though the group ’ s track record is mixed , North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6,000 hackers has grown more sophisticated with time according to US and British officials tracking the group .
In a report published last April , officials at the State Department , the Department of Homeland Security , the Treasury Department and the F.B.I .
accused North Korea of using its digital activities to evade sanctions and generate income for its nuclear weapons program .
The report also accused North Korea of hiring out its hackers to other cybercriminals and countries in what has been called ‘ hacking for hire ’ .
Israel has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in recent months .
Israel said it foiled a cyberattack on its water infrastructure in April .
Two weeks later Israel launched a cyberattack against Iran ’ s Shahid Rajaee port facility that knocked its computers offline and temporarily disrupted shipping traffic .
With regard to the latest attack targeting Israeli ’ s defence industry , an Israeli security official said there was concern that the stolen data would be used not only by North Korea , but by Iran .
The operation began with a LinkedIn message last June , ClearSky researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head hunter sent a message to a senior engineer at an Israeli government-owned company that manufactures weapons for the Israeli military and intelligence .
The hackers created a fake LinkedIn profile for the executive head hunter , Dana Lopp .
Ms Lopp was one of several head hunters from prominent defence and aerospace companies — including Boeing , McDonnell Douglas and BAE Systems — whose accounts the hackers mimicked .
After establishing contact with their Israeli targets , the hackers asked for an email address or phone number to connect via WhatsApp or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a live call .
At some point , the hackers asked to send their targets a list of job requirements .
That file contained invisible spyware that infiltrated the employee ’ s personal computer and attempted to access classified Israeli networks .
ClearSky said the attacks , which started early this year , “ succeeded , in our assessment , to infect several dozen companies and organizations in Israel ” and around the globe .
The hacking campaign was a notable step up from a previous attempt to hack the Israeli military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ClearSky reported a somewhat clumsy effort by Lazarus to break into an Israeli military corporation ’ s computers by sending emails in broken Hebrew that were likely written with electronic translation .
The emails immediately aroused suspicion and the attack was stopped .
The hackers , thought to be from North Korea , appear to have learned their lesson and in mid-2019 began using LinkedIn and WhatsApp to establish contact with military complexes in the West , attacking aerospace and weapons companies in Europe and the Middle East .
ClearSky researchers said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made it further into the Israeli networks than officials let on .
They added that the better corporate security becomes , the more nation-states and cybercriminals will try to target employees ’ directly via social media and email phishing attacks .
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Israel claimed Wednesday that it had thwarted a cyberattack by a North Korea-linked hacking group on its military industry. The Defence Ministry released a statement claiming the attack was deflected ‘in real time’ and that there was no ‘harm or disruption’ to its computer systems. However, this claim has been contradicted by experts familiar with the facts.
Security researchers at ClearSky, the international cyber-security firm that first exposed the attack, said the North Korean hackers penetrated the computer systems and were likely to have stolen a large amount of classified data. Israeli officials fear the data could be shared with North Korea’s ally, Iran.
The episode adds Israel to the list of countries and companies that have allegedly been targeted by North Korea’s hacking unit, known to private security analysts as the Lazarus Group. US and Israeli officials have claimed that the Lazarus Group, also known as Hidden Cobra, is backed by Pyongyang.
In 2018 US federal prosecutors claimed that the group of hackers was working on behalf of Lab 110, a North Korean military intelligence unit. The complaint they were investigating accused the group of playing a role in North Korea’s devastating 2017 ransom ware attack, known as ‘WannaCry’, which paralyzed 300,000 computers across 150 countries. They have also been accused of being behind the 2016 cyber-theft of $81 million from Bangladesh Bank; and the crippling 2014 cyber attack at Sony Pictures Entertainment that resulted in the leak of executive emails and destroyed more than two-thirds of the studio’s computer servers.
Though the group’s track record is mixed, North Korea’s growing army of more than 6,000 hackers has grown more sophisticated with time according to US and British officials tracking the group.
In a report published last April, officials at the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Treasury Department and the F.B.I. accused North Korea of using its digital activities to evade sanctions and generate income for its nuclear weapons program. The report also accused North Korea of hiring out its hackers to other cybercriminals and countries in what has been called ‘hacking for hire’.
Israel has been fighting an escalating cyberconflict with Iran in recent months. Israel said it foiled a cyberattack on its water infrastructure in April. Two weeks later Israel launched a cyberattack against Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port facility that knocked its computers offline and temporarily disrupted shipping traffic.
With regard to the latest attack targeting Israeli’s defence industry, an Israeli security official said there was concern that the stolen data would be used not only by North Korea, but by Iran.
The operation began with a LinkedIn message last June, ClearSky researchers said. Hackers posing as a Boeing head hunter sent a message to a senior engineer at an Israeli government-owned company that manufactures weapons for the Israeli military and intelligence.
The hackers created a fake LinkedIn profile for the executive head hunter, Dana Lopp. Ms Lopp was one of several head hunters from prominent defence and aerospace companies — including Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and BAE Systems — whose accounts the hackers mimicked.
After establishing contact with their Israeli targets, the hackers asked for an email address or phone number to connect via WhatsApp or, to increase credibility, suggested switching to a live call.
At some point, the hackers asked to send their targets a list of job requirements. That file contained invisible spyware that infiltrated the employee’s personal computer and attempted to access classified Israeli networks.
ClearSky said the attacks, which started early this year, “succeeded, in our assessment, to infect several dozen companies and organizations in Israel” and around the globe.
The hacking campaign was a notable step up from a previous attempt to hack the Israeli military industry last year. In 2019, ClearSky reported a somewhat clumsy effort by Lazarus to break into an Israeli military corporation’s computers by sending emails in broken Hebrew that were likely written with electronic translation. The emails immediately aroused suspicion and the attack was stopped.
The hackers, thought to be from North Korea, appear to have learned their lesson and in mid-2019 began using LinkedIn and WhatsApp to establish contact with military complexes in the West, attacking aerospace and weapons companies in Europe and the Middle East.
ClearSky researchers said that in the latest attack North Korean hackers made it further into the Israeli networks than officials let on. They added that the better corporate security becomes, the more nation-states and cybercriminals will try to target employees’ directly via social media and email phishing attacks. LINK
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southfront--2020-08-14--Turkish Authorities Arrested Prominent Syrian Army Defector In Istanbul

Turkish authorities have arrested Ahmad Rahal , a former Syrian Arab Army general who is now working as a pro-opposition political analyst .
Two Turkish officers in plain clothes arrested Rahal in his house in İstanbul late on August 13 .
The officers claimed that they just wanted to check the legality of Rahal ’ s residency and his personal papers .
Rahal , who held the rank of a “ Bridger General ” in the Syrian Navy , defected in 2012 and announced his support for the opposition .
Since then , the former officer has been working as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Arabian media .
Sources familiar with the circumstances of Rahal arrest told the New Arab that he was taken into custody as a result of security reports accusing him of criticizing Turkey in the media .
According to the source , Turkish authorities promised to release Rahal on August 14 , what indicated that there were no dangerous accusations against them .
The arrest of Rahal is a testimony to the bad state of civil and political rights in Turkey .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Turkish-Affiliated Commander Was Targeted By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Afrin ( Photos )

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Turkish authorities have arrested Ahmad Rahal, a former Syrian Arab Army general who is now working as a pro-opposition political analyst.
Two Turkish officers in plain clothes arrested Rahal in his house in İstanbul late on August 13. The officers claimed that they just wanted to check the legality of Rahal’s residency and his personal papers.
Rahal, who held the rank of a “Bridger General” in the Syrian Navy, defected in 2012 and announced his support for the opposition. Since then, the former officer has been working as a political analyst, who regularly appeared on Arabian media.
Sources familiar with the circumstances of Rahal arrest told the New Arab that he was taken into custody as a result of security reports accusing him of criticizing Turkey in the media.
“Apparently reports accusing Rahal of criticizing Turkey or factions supported by it in the media have reached Turkish authorities” the source said.
According to the source, Turkish authorities promised to release Rahal on August 14, what indicated that there were no dangerous accusations against them.
The arrest of Rahal is a testimony to the bad state of civil and political rights in Turkey.
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southfront--2020-08-14--Palestinians And Their Allies Feel Betrayed By Israel’s “Temporary” Freeze Of Annexation

On August 13th , the United Arab Emirates announced a “ historic ” deal to normalize relations with Israel .
Reportedly , Tel ’ Aviv , in return , abandoned its plans to annex the remaining parts of the West Bank .
The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , crown prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces .
Almost immediately after the announcement , it turned out that Israel ’ s primary policy of annexing further and further territory isn ’ t being entirely sidelined , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benjamin Netanyahu said that the deal ushers in a “ new era ” for the Arab world and Israel , but also made clear that he had only agreed to delay annexation and that the plans remained “ on the table ” , adding that he would “ never give up our rights to our land ” .
This comes as a surprise to no one .
Trump tweeted a statement from the countries , acknowledging the deal .
He then told reporters in the Oval Office that it was “ a truly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders of Israel and the United Arab Emirates would sign their historic peace accord in the White House in around three weeks .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the deal .
For the Palestinians who have relied on Arab backing in their struggle for independence , the announcement marked both a win and setback .
It ’ s a win because it ’ s apparently a freezing of annexation plans , but at the same time , if it ’ s simply temporary , then it means that a typical ally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abandoned the cause , in a way .
President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas expressed his “ strong rejection and condemnation ” of the deal called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League .
In a statement , Abbas called the deal an “ aggression ” against the Palestinian people and a “ betrayal ” of their cause , including their claim to Jerusalem as a capital of their future state .
Hanan Ashrawi , a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization ’ s executive committee who has served in various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UAE ’ s announcement was the equivalent of being “ sold out ” by “ friends ” .
“ This agreement does absolutely not serve the Palestinian cause , it rather serves the Zionist narrative .
This agreement encourages the occupation [ by Israel ] to continue its denial of the rights of our Palestinian people , and even to continue its crimes against our people , ” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement .
“ What is required is to support the legitimate struggle of our people against the occupation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupier , and any annexation we will face by a Palestinian confrontation that is supported by the Arabs and internationally , and not by signing normalisation agreements with them [ Israel ] .
” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said hoped the Israel-UAE deal can help realise a two-state solution with the Palestinians for peace in the Middle East .
Guterres said annexation would “ effectively close the door ” on negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and “ destroy the prospect ” of a viable Palestinian state under a two-state solution .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ push forward stalled peace negotiations if it succeeds in prodding Israel to accept a Palestinian state on land that had been occupied by Israel in 1967 .
Safadi said the agreement must be followed by Israel ending any unilateral moves to annex territory in the occupied West Bank that “ obstruct peace prospects and violate Palestinian rights ” .
Right-wing Israelis were expected displeased , since they don ’ t wish anything to be a setback to the annexation plans .
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi , a close ally of the UAE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it an act of “ strategic stupidity ” that will only strengthen the Tehran-backed “ axis of resistance ” .
The Iranian foreign ministry denounced the deal as an act of “ strategic stupidity from Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv ” .
Turkey , said history will not forget and never forgive the “ hypocritical behaviour ” of the United Arab Emirates in agreeing a deal with Israel to normalise relations .
The Palestinian people and administration were right to react strongly against the agreement , the foreign ministry said .
France welcomed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank under the historic agreement , calling it a “ positive step ” , Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement , adding that the suspension “ must become a definitive measure ” .
Germany welcomed the “ historic ” deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates .
Generally , the decision appears questionable at best , and it is unlikely to lead to any long-term change of policy in Israel , since that ’ s the country ’ s premier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON THE TOPIC : • Iran And Hezbollah Set Up New Force To Knock Out Israeli Forces In Golan Heights

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On August 13th, the United Arab Emirates announced a “historic” deal to normalize relations with Israel.
Reportedly, Tel’Aviv, in return, abandoned its plans to annex the remaining parts of the West Bank.
The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.
During a call with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, an agreement was reached to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories. The UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship. — محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) August 13, 2020
Almost immediately after the announcement, it turned out that Israel’s primary policy of annexing further and further territory isn’t being entirely sidelined, but simply “delayed.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the deal ushers in a “new era” for the Arab world and Israel, but also made clear that he had only agreed to delay annexation and that the plans remained “on the table”, adding that he would “never give up our rights to our land”.
This comes as a surprise to no one.
Trump tweeted a statement from the countries, acknowledging the deal. He then told reporters in the Oval Office that it was “a truly historic moment”.
“Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates,” he said.
Trump said the leaders of Israel and the United Arab Emirates would sign their historic peace accord in the White House in around three weeks.
“Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economics will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation and forging closer people-to-people relations,” said the statement by Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the deal.
“This is a remarkable achievement for two of the world’s most forward leaning, technologically advanced states, and reflects their shared regional vision of an economically integrated region,” he said in a statement. “It also illustrates their commitment to confronting common threats, as small – but strong – nations.” He added: “Blessed are the peacemakers. Mabruk and Mazal Tov.”
For the Palestinians who have relied on Arab backing in their struggle for independence, the announcement marked both a win and setback. It’s a win because it’s apparently a freezing of annexation plans, but at the same time, if it’s simply temporary, then it means that a typical ally in the face of the UAE has abandoned the cause, in a way.
President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas expressed his “strong rejection and condemnation” of the deal called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League.
In a statement, Abbas called the deal an “aggression” against the Palestinian people and a “betrayal” of their cause, including their claim to Jerusalem as a capital of their future state.
“The Palestinian leadership rejects and denounces the UAE, Israeli and US trilateral, surprising announcement,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a senior adviser to Abbas.
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s executive committee who has served in various leadership positions in Palestine, said the UAE’s announcement was the equivalent of being “sold out” by “friends”.
May you never experience the agony of having your country stolen; may you never feel the pain of living in captivity under occupation; may you never witness the demolition of your home or murder of your loved ones. May you never be sold out by your "friends." https://t.co/CBaNl1QQqx — Hanan Ashrawi (@DrHananAshrawi) August 13, 2020
“This agreement does absolutely not serve the Palestinian cause, it rather serves the Zionist narrative. This agreement encourages the occupation [by Israel] to continue its denial of the rights of our Palestinian people, and even to continue its crimes against our people,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement. “What is required is to support the legitimate struggle of our people against the occupation and not to establish agreements with this occupier, and any annexation we will face by a Palestinian confrontation that is supported by the Arabs and internationally, and not by signing normalisation agreements with them [Israel].”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said hoped the Israel-UAE deal can help realise a two-state solution with the Palestinians for peace in the Middle East.
Guterres said annexation would “effectively close the door” on negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and “destroy the prospect” of a viable Palestinian state under a two-state solution.
Jordan said that the UAE-Israel deal could push forward stalled peace negotiations if it succeeds in prodding Israel to accept a Palestinian state on land that had been occupied by Israel in 1967.
“If Israel dealt with it as an incentive to end occupation … it will move the region towards a just peace,” Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a statement on state media.
Safadi said the agreement must be followed by Israel ending any unilateral moves to annex territory in the occupied West Bank that “obstruct peace prospects and violate Palestinian rights”.
“The region is at a crossroads … continued occupation and denial of the Palestinian peoples’ legitimate rights won’t bring peace or security,” Safadi added.
Right-wing Israelis were expected displeased, since they don’t wish anything to be a setback to the annexation plans.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, a close ally of the UAE, welcomed the agreement.
٢/٢ ..و اتخاذ خطوات من شأنها إحلال السلام في الشرق الأوسط كما أثمن جهود القائمين علي هذا الاتفاق من أجل تحقيق الازدهار و الاستقرار لمنطقتنا. — Abdelfattah Elsisi (@AlsisiOfficial) August 13, 2020
“I followed with interest and appreciation the joint statement between the United States, United Arab Emirates and Israel to halt the Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands and taking steps to bring peace in the Middle East,” el-Sisi said on Twitter. “I value the efforts of those in charge of the deal to achieve prosperity and stability for our region.”
Iran strongly condemned the deal.
Iran called it an act of “strategic stupidity” that will only strengthen the Tehran-backed “axis of resistance”.
The Iranian foreign ministry denounced the deal as an act of “strategic stupidity from Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv”.
“The oppressed people of Palestine and all the free nations of the world will never forgive the normalising of relations with the criminal Israeli occupation regime and the complicity in its crimes,” a ministry statement said. “This is stabbing the Palestinians in the back and will strengthen the regional unity against the Zionist regime.”
Turkey, said history will not forget and never forgive the “hypocritical behaviour” of the United Arab Emirates in agreeing a deal with Israel to normalise relations.
The Palestinian people and administration were right to react strongly against the agreement, the foreign ministry said.
“History and the conscience of the region’s peoples will not forget and never forgive this hypocritical behaviour of the UAE, betraying the Palestinian cause for the sake of its narrow interests,” it said in a statement. “It is extremely worrying that the UAE should, with a unilateral action, try and do away with the [2002] Arab Peace Plan developed by the Arab League. It is not in the slightest credible that this three-way declaration should be presented as supporting the Palestinian cause.”
France welcomed Israel’s decision to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank under the historic agreement, calling it a “positive step”, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement, adding that the suspension “must become a definitive measure”.
Germany welcomed the “historic” deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
“The normalization of ties between the two countries “is an important contribution to peace in the region”, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the deal.
“The UAE and Israel’s decision to normalize relations is hugely good news,” he wrote on Twitter. “It was my profound hope that annexation did not go ahead in the West Bank and today’s agreement to suspend those plans is a welcome step on the road to a more peaceful Middle East,” Johnson continued.
Generally, the decision appears questionable at best, and it is unlikely to lead to any long-term change of policy in Israel, since that’s the country’s premier policy since it was formed.
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southfront--2020-08-14--NSA And FBI Warn Of Russian Hackers Targeting Linux Systems

In a rare occurrence , the US National Security Agency ( NSA ) and FBI issued a warning for a new Linux malware dubbed “ Drovorub ” .
It was reportedly developed by Russian military hackers .
According to a report based on data collected by the agencies , the Linux malware strain is the work of APT28 , a notorious hacking group from military unity 26165 of the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate ( GRU ) 85th Main SpecialService Center ( GTsSS ) .
The intention is to steal secrets from the public sector , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Linux malware toolset consisting of an implant coupled with a kernel module rootkit , a file transfer and port forwarding tool , and a command and control ( C2 ) server .
When deployed on a victim machine , Drovorub provides the capability for direct communications with actor-controlled C2 infrastructure ; file download and upload capabilities ; execution of arbitrary commands ; port forwarding of network traffic to other hosts on the network ; and implements hiding techniques to evade detection .
The stealthy capabilities of Drovorub Linux malware make it easy for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , initiating attacks at any time .
According to the report , the two components of the Linux malware operate by communicating with each other using JSON over WebSockets and the traffic is encrypted from the server module using the RSA algorithm .
“ For the FBI , one of our priorities in cyberspace is not only to impose risk and consequences on cyber adversaries but also to empower our private sector , governmental , and international partners through the timely , proactive sharing of information , ” said FBI Assistant Director Matt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our partners at NSA is an outstanding example of just that type of sharing .
We remain committed to sharing information that helps businesses and the public protect themselves from malicious cyber actors.
” There is also a handy fact sheet .
[ pdf ] “ How did you find out about this malware ?
We use a variety of means and methods to acquire information about cyber threats , including our own cybersecurity operations , foreign signals intelligence , U.S. Government partners , engagement with industry , and foreign partners around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the source of any particular information so we can continue to fulfil our vital role for the nation .
Protecting our sources also allows us to more broadly release the underlying threat information in ways we might not be able to otherwise do.
” As such it is generally unclear how the malware was discovered and how it was concluded that “ the Russians ” made it .
There is also a guide on how to prevent the malware from operating : “ Will the mitigations outlined in the guidance protect my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ full ” or “ thorough ” mode should reliably prevent malicious kernel modules , such as the Drovorub kernel module , from loading .
This will prevent Drovorub from being able to hide itself on a system .
The other detection and mitigation options , such as Snort and Yara rules , will naturally have a limited lifetime , as they are expected to be the first things changed in future versions of the malware to avoid detection .
They should be used as quickly as possible before changes are made.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group identified as APT28 is also commonly known as Fancy Bear .
To be more precise , the hacking collective labeled as APT28 is said to be associated with military unit 26165 , the GRU ’ s 85th Main Special Service Center ( GTsSS . )
The FBI and NSA report reveals that Drovorub infrastructure has ties to the GTsSS infrastructure , and attributes the proprietary malware as being developed for use by them .
On August 5th , Microsoft also published a blog post blaming the group for another offensive operation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ APT28 is responsible for a campaign attacking popular Internet of Things ( IoT ) devices .
In an election year , it ’ s worth remembering that APT28 was also “ implicated ” in the 2016 Democratic National Committee hack .
These are most definitely not your “ normal ” hackers .
They are special , Russian “ super hackers.
” No one should be surprised to find Fancy Bears inside Linux systems , he claimed , adding “ they need protection just as much as Windows systems , maybe even more depending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present in the target ’ s open-source environment .
”

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In a rare occurrence, the US National Security Agency (NSA) and FBI issued a warning for a new Linux malware dubbed “Drovorub”.
It was reportedly developed by Russian military hackers.
“This Cybersecurity Advisory represents an important dimension of our cybersecurity mission, the release of extensive, technical analysis on specific threats,” NSA Cybersecurity Director Anne Neuberger said. “By deconstructing this capability and providing attribution, analysis, and mitigations, we hope to empower our customers, partners, and allies to take action. Our deep partnership with FBI is reflected in our releasing this comprehensive guidance together.”
According to a report based on data collected by the agencies, the Linux malware strain is the work of APT28, a notorious hacking group from military unity 26165 of the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) 85th Main SpecialService Center (GTsSS).
The intention is to steal secrets from the public sector, as well as private IT companies.
Drovorub is a Linux malware toolset consisting of an implant coupled with a kernel module rootkit, a file transfer and port forwarding tool, and a command and control (C2) server.
When deployed on a victim machine, Drovorub provides the capability for direct communications with actor-controlled C2 infrastructure; file download and upload capabilities; execution of arbitrary commands; port forwarding of network traffic to other hosts on the network; and implements hiding techniques to evade detection.
The stealthy capabilities of Drovorub Linux malware make it easy for hackers to target different types of platforms, initiating attacks at any time.
According to the report, the two components of the Linux malware operate by communicating with each other using JSON over WebSockets and the traffic is encrypted from the server module using the RSA algorithm.
“For the FBI, one of our priorities in cyberspace is not only to impose risk and consequences on cyber adversaries but also to empower our private sector, governmental, and international partners through the timely, proactive sharing of information,” said FBI Assistant Director Matt Gorham. “This joint advisory with our partners at NSA is an outstanding example of just that type of sharing. We remain committed to sharing information that helps businesses and the public protect themselves from malicious cyber actors.”
There is also a handy fact sheet. [pdf]
“How did you find out about this malware? We use a variety of means and methods to acquire information about cyber threats, including our own cybersecurity operations, foreign signals intelligence, U.S. Government partners, engagement with industry, and foreign partners around the world. We don’t comment on the source of any particular information so we can continue to fulfil our vital role for the nation. Protecting our sources also allows us to more broadly release the underlying threat information in ways we might not be able to otherwise do.”
As such it is generally unclear how the malware was discovered and how it was concluded that “the Russians” made it.
There is also a guide on how to prevent the malware from operating:
“Will the mitigations outlined in the guidance protect my system from exposure? Implementing SecureBoot in “full” or “thorough” mode should reliably prevent malicious kernel modules, such as the Drovorub kernel module, from loading. This will prevent Drovorub from being able to hide itself on a system. The other detection and mitigation options, such as Snort and Yara rules, will naturally have a limited lifetime, as they are expected to be the first things changed in future versions of the malware to avoid detection. They should be used as quickly as possible before changes are made.”
The advanced persistent threat (APT) group identified as APT28 is also commonly known as Fancy Bear.
To be more precise, the hacking collective labeled as APT28 is said to be associated with military unit 26165, the GRU’s 85th Main Special Service Center (GTsSS.) The FBI and NSA report reveals that Drovorub infrastructure has ties to the GTsSS infrastructure, and attributes the proprietary malware as being developed for use by them.
On August 5th, Microsoft also published a blog post blaming the group for another offensive operation.
The Microsoft Security Response Center claimed that APT28 is responsible for a campaign attacking popular Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In an election year, it’s worth remembering that APT28 was also “implicated” in the 2016 Democratic National Committee hack.
These are most definitely not your “normal” hackers. They are special, Russian “super hackers.”
“I’m not surprised that everyone’s favorite fancy bear (APT28) is on the prowl in Linux land,” says Ian Thornton-Trump, CISO at threat intelligence specialists Cyjax. “Tactically, it makes sense to hack workstations, pivot to Linux servers and hide in that infrastructure to stay persistent.” “APT groups, especially Russian and Chinese ones, are going to be driven by specific mission requirements and if the target’s information or capabilities are found in a Linux environment that won’t stop the mission objectives,” Thornton-Trump said.
No one should be surprised to find Fancy Bears inside Linux systems, he claimed, adding “they need protection just as much as Windows systems, maybe even more depending on what juicy information or capabilities are present in the target’s open-source environment.”
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southfront--2020-08-14--U.S. DoJ Confirms Whites And Asians Are Discriminated Against In University Applications: How Dare I

U.S. DoJ Confirms Whites And Asians Are Discriminated Against In University Applications: How Dare It?

The US Department of Justice determined that Yale University pursued a policy of systematic discrimination against Asian and white applicants .
They had much higher requirements for admission than Latinos and especially African Americans , this was reported by the Wall Street Journal on August 14th .
This is the culmination of a two-year-long civil rights investigation spurred by a complaint by Asian-American groups .
According to MSM , this is an attempt by the Trump administration to undermine affirmative action policies that have bolstered diversity within higher education for decades .
The school ’ s admissions process , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 1964 Civil Rights Act , and Yale must stop the use of race or national origin in its upcoming admissions cycle or get sign-off on a plan that continues to use it from the department .
In a statement , a Yale spokeswoman said the school “ categorically denies this allegation ” and called it a “ meritless ” and “ hasty ” determination .
Yale said that they have provided the Justice Department with “ a substantial amount of information and data ” so far .
But it was apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before August 13th when the US Department of Justice made its conclusion .
She added that Yale wouldn ’ t change its policy .
A federal judge in Boston in 2019 upheld a similar challenge brought by an Asian American student group against Harvard , determining that while Harvard ’ s admissions process is “ not perfect , ” she would not “ dismantle a very fine admissions program that passes constitutional muster , solely because it could do better.
” The Trump administration submitted a “ statement of interest ” in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challengers and noting that the administration was investigating Harvard ’ s screening processes after complaints to the Department of Education from more than 60 Asian-American groups This is really no secret .
It has been an open secret for a while now , entering an elite ( or Ivy League ) university has , for a while now , been easiest for Black high school graduates , then Latinos , then white , and it is the most difficult for Asians .
The reason lies in the diversity system , i.e .
tacit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racial makeup of students should reflect the racial makeup of American society as a whole .
That is , in fact , each student isn ’ t competing with all applicants , but exclusively with applicants of your race .
By and large , it was well known .
But now the Department of Justice has concluded that this practice is discriminatory and unacceptable .
If the Supreme Court accepts the point of view of the Department , this means curtailment of affirmative action and , as a consequence , a total reformatting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
Since the ruling stratum is recruited from graduates of elite universities , the abolition of racial quotas this would be mean a sharp increase in the proportion of Asians in this very ruling stratum , a slight decrease in the proportion of Latinos – and an almost complete nullification of the representation of African Americans in the elite .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Chaos In Chicago : Bridges Raised To Prevent Gun-Toting Looters Getting Downtown

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The US Department of Justice determined that Yale University pursued a policy of systematic discrimination against Asian and white applicants. They had much higher requirements for admission than Latinos and especially African Americans, this was reported by the Wall Street Journal on August 14th.
Breaking: Yale University discriminated against Asian-American and white applicants, according to the Justice Department, which issued its findings nearly two years after opening an investigation into the school’s admissions practices https://t.co/hovosfghQT — The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 13, 2020
“Yale rejects scores of Asian American and white applicants each year based on their race,” disfavoring applicants from those races compared to African American applicants with similar academic credentials, the Justice Department alleged in a statement.
This is the culmination of a two-year-long civil rights investigation spurred by a complaint by Asian-American groups.
According to MSM, this is an attempt by the Trump administration to undermine affirmative action policies that have bolstered diversity within higher education for decades.
The school’s admissions process, the Justice Department said, is a violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and Yale must stop the use of race or national origin in its upcoming admissions cycle or get sign-off on a plan that continues to use it from the department.
In a statement, a Yale spokeswoman said the school “categorically denies this allegation” and called it a “meritless” and “hasty” determination.
Yale said that they have provided the Justice Department with “a substantial amount of information and data” so far. But it was apparently unable to provide all the information required before August 13th when the US Department of Justice made its conclusion.
“Had the Department fully received and fairly weighed this information, it would have concluded that Yale’s practices absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent,” said Karen Peart, the school’s director of university media relations.
She added that Yale wouldn’t change its policy.
A federal judge in Boston in 2019 upheld a similar challenge brought by an Asian American student group against Harvard, determining that while Harvard’s admissions process is “not perfect,” she would not “dismantle a very fine admissions program that passes constitutional muster, solely because it could do better.”
The Trump administration submitted a “statement of interest” in the Harvard case, siding with the student challengers and noting that the administration was investigating Harvard’s screening processes after complaints to the Department of Education from more than 60 Asian-American groups
This is really no secret. It has been an open secret for a while now, entering an elite (or Ivy League) university has, for a while now, been easiest for Black high school graduates, then Latinos, then white, and it is the most difficult for Asians.
The reason lies in the diversity system, i.e. tacit racial quotas, according to which the racial makeup of students should reflect the racial makeup of American society as a whole.
That is, in fact, each student isn’t competing with all applicants, but exclusively with applicants of your race.
By and large, it was well known. But now the Department of Justice has concluded that this practice is discriminatory and unacceptable.
If the Supreme Court accepts the point of view of the Department, this means curtailment of affirmative action and, as a consequence, a total reformatting of the social structure of the United States.
Since the ruling stratum is recruited from graduates of elite universities, the abolition of racial quotas this would be mean a sharp increase in the proportion of Asians in this very ruling stratum, a slight decrease in the proportion of Latinos – and an almost complete nullification of the representation of African Americans in the elite.
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southfront--2020-08-14--More Details Emerge Of US Military Operations In Africa

A new report published in South African newspaper has provided some details on the US military presence in Africa .
Last year , US Special Operations forces were active in 22 African countries .
This accounts for 14 % of all American commandos deployed overseas , the largest number for any region besides the Middle East .
US troops were also directly involved in combat operations in 13 African nations .
The US is not officially at war with an African nation , and the continent is rarely discussed in reference to US military activities around the globe .
Therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as happened in Niger , Mali , and Somalia in 2018 , the response from the public , and even from the media is often “ why are US soldiers there in the first place ?
” The presence of the US military , especially commandos , in African countries is seldom acknowledged , either by Washington or by African governments .
What they are doing remains even more opaque .
U.S. Africa Command ( AFRICOM ) generally claims that its commando forces are involved in so-called “ AAA ” ( advise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet in a combat situation , the role between adviser and participant can evaporate in an instant .
The United States has approximately 6,000 military personnel scattered throughout the continent , with military attachés outnumbering diplomats in many embassies across Africa .
Earlier this year , reported that the military operates 29 bases in Africa .
One of these is a huge drone hub in Niger , something called “ the largest U.S. Air Force-led construction project of all time.
” The construction cost alone was over $ 100 million , with total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million by 2024 .
Equipped with Reaper drones , the US can now conduct cross border bombing raids all over the North and West of Africa .
Washington claims that the military ’ s primary role in the region is to combat the rise of extremist forces .
In recent years , a number of Jihadist groups have arisen , including Al-Shabaab , Boko Haram , and other al-Qaeda affiliated groups .
However , much of the reason for their creation and rapid growth can be traced back to previous US actions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi in Libya .
The United States also plays a key role in training many nations ’ soldiers and security forces , whether directly or indirectly .
For example , the US pays Bancroft International , a private military contractor , to train Somali military units that are at the forefront of the fighting in the country ’ s internal conflicts .
According to , these Somali fighters are likely also funded by the US taxpayer .
The US military also occupies the island of Diego Garcia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the African island nation of Mauritius .
In the 1960s and 1970s , the British government expelled the entire local population , dumping them in slums in Mauritius , where most still live .
The United States now uses the island as a military base and a nuclear weapons storage facility .
The island served as a critical logistical and operational hub for US military activities during both Iraq Wars and continues to be a major threat , casting a nuclear shadow over the Middle East , East Africa , and South Asia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Western corporate media of China ’ s imperialist motives in Africa , there is very little discussion of the continuing neo-colonial roles of the US , France or the United Kingdom throughout the continent .
While China operates one base in the Horn of Africa and has greatly increased its economic role on the continent , the thousands of US troops operating in dozens of countries scarcely seem to exist and they remain a complete mystery , even for many of those directly impacted by the military presence who have no idea from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men came from or why they are there .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Al Sisi says Egypt has right to intervene in Libya vows to protect Sirte al Jufra

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A new report published in South African newspaper The Mail and Guardian has provided some details on the US military presence in Africa. Last year, US Special Operations forces were active in 22 African countries. This accounts for 14% of all American commandos deployed overseas, the largest number for any region besides the Middle East. US troops were also directly involved in combat operations in 13 African nations.
The US is not officially at war with an African nation, and the continent is rarely discussed in reference to US military activities around the globe. Therefore, when US soldiers die in Africa, as happened in Niger, Mali, and Somalia in 2018, the response from the public, and even from the media is often “why are US soldiers there in the first place?”
The presence of the US military, especially commandos, in African countries is seldom acknowledged, either by Washington or by African governments. What they are doing remains even more opaque. U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) generally claims that its commando forces are involved in so-called “AAA” (advise, assist and accompany) missions. Yet in a combat situation, the role between adviser and participant can evaporate in an instant.
The United States has approximately 6,000 military personnel scattered throughout the continent, with military attachés outnumbering diplomats in many embassies across Africa. Earlier this year, The Intercept reported that the military operates 29 bases in Africa. One of these is a huge drone hub in Niger, something The Hill called “the largest U.S. Air Force-led construction project of all time.” The construction cost alone was over $100 million, with total operating costs expected to top $280 million by 2024. Equipped with Reaper drones, the US can now conduct cross border bombing raids all over the North and West of Africa.
Washington claims that the military’s primary role in the region is to combat the rise of extremist forces. In recent years, a number of Jihadist groups have arisen, including Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, and other al-Qaeda affiliated groups. However, much of the reason for their creation and rapid growth can be traced back to previous US actions, including the destabilization of Yemen, Somalia, and the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi in Libya.
The United States also plays a key role in training many nations’ soldiers and security forces, whether directly or indirectly. For example, the US pays Bancroft International, a private military contractor, to train Somali military units that are at the forefront of the fighting in the country’s internal conflicts. According to The Mail and Guardian, these Somali fighters are likely also funded by the US taxpayer.
The US military also occupies the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, claimed by the African island nation of Mauritius. In the 1960s and 1970s, the British government expelled the entire local population, dumping them in slums in Mauritius, where most still live. The United States now uses the island as a military base and a nuclear weapons storage facility. The island served as a critical logistical and operational hub for US military activities during both Iraq Wars and continues to be a major threat, casting a nuclear shadow over the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia.
While there is much condemnation in Western corporate media of China’s imperialist motives in Africa, there is very little discussion of the continuing neo-colonial roles of the US, France or the United Kingdom throughout the continent. While China operates one base in the Horn of Africa and has greatly increased its economic role on the continent, the thousands of US troops operating in dozens of countries scarcely seem to exist and they remain a complete mystery, even for many of those directly impacted by the military presence who have no idea from where those hellfire missiles or heavily armed men came from or why they are there. LINK
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southfront--2020-08-15--ISIS Terrorists Injured, Killed Nine Liwa Al-Quds Fighters In Syria’s Deir Ezzor

On August 15 , a unit of Liwa al-Quds , a pro-government Palestinian group , fell into an ambush set by ISIS terrorists in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor .
The incident reportedly took place in the area of al-Khur , in the outskirts of the city of al-Mayadin , in the early morning hours .
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , three fighters of Liwa al-Quds were killed in the ambush .
Six other fighters were injured .
This was the second such ambush this week .
On August 11 , ISIS ambushed units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army 4th Division near the town of al-Tabni in the southern countryside of Deir Ezzor .
Government forces sustained some material losses .
A service member was also killed .
ISIS cells are likely launching these attacks from the Homs desert , which lays between western Deir Ezzor and eastern Homs .
In the last few months , government forces attempted to contain the terrorists within the Homs desert by carrying out a series of operations in eastern Homs , eastern Hama , southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor .
These operations had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopt a new , more active approach against ISIS terrorists in the Homs desert , which have become a serious threat .
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On August 15, a unit of Liwa al-Quds, a pro-government Palestinian group, fell into an ambush set by ISIS terrorists in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor.
The incident reportedly took place in the area of al-Khur, in the outskirts of the city of al-Mayadin, in the early morning hours.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, three fighters of Liwa al-Quds were killed in the ambush. Six other fighters were injured.
This was the second such ambush this week. On August 11, ISIS ambushed units of Liwa al-Quds and the Syrian Arab Army 4th Division near the town of al-Tabni in the southern countryside of Deir Ezzor. Government forces sustained some material losses. A service member was also killed.
ISIS cells are likely launching these attacks from the Homs desert, which lays between western Deir Ezzor and eastern Homs.
In the last few months, government forces attempted to contain the terrorists within the Homs desert by carrying out a series of operations in eastern Homs, eastern Hama, southern Raqqa and western Deir Ezzor. These operations had limited success.
Government forces need to adopt a new, more active approach against ISIS terrorists in the Homs desert, which have become a serious threat.
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southfront--2020-08-15--Booby-Trapped Motorcycle Blew Up In Turkish-Occupied Jarabulus. Casualties Reported (Photos)

On August 15 , a blast was reported in the Turkish-occupied town of Jarabulus in the northern countryside of Syria ’ s Aleppo .
The blast was caused by a booby-trapped motorcycle that exploded near a bakery in Jarabulus ’ town center in the morning .
Citing medical sources , local activists reported that a man , “ Ahmad Bakur ” , was killed in the blast .
At least six other people were injured .
The activists also shared images showing the suspect who parked the booby-trapped motorcycle near the bakery in the early morning hours .
His identity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that has recently became active in Turkish-occupied areas in northern Aleppo may be behind this attack .
Kurdish forces may also be responsible as they are known for orchestrating attacks in Turkish-occupied areas .
Some activists believe that corrupt Turkish-backed militants are facilitating such attacks for Kurdish forces or ISIS in exchange for money .
The lack of any accountability in Turkish-occupied areas indicate that this may be true .
In most cases , the perpetrators are not revealed .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • The 2nd Murder In 48h : Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Daraa

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On August 15, a blast was reported in the Turkish-occupied town of Jarabulus in the northern countryside of Syria’s Aleppo.
The blast was caused by a booby-trapped motorcycle that exploded near a bakery in Jarabulus’ town center in the morning.
Citing medical sources, local activists reported that a man, “Ahmad Bakur”, was killed in the blast. At least six other people were injured.
The activists also shared images showing the suspect who parked the booby-trapped motorcycle near the bakery in the early morning hours. His identity is yet to be revealed.
ISIS that has recently became active in Turkish-occupied areas in northern Aleppo may be behind this attack. Kurdish forces may also be responsible as they are known for orchestrating attacks in Turkish-occupied areas.
Some activists believe that corrupt Turkish-backed militants are facilitating such attacks for Kurdish forces or ISIS in exchange for money. The lack of any accountability in Turkish-occupied areas indicate that this may be true. In most cases, the perpetrators are not revealed.
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southfront--2020-08-15--ISIS Terrorists Destroyed Syrian Army Tank In Deir Ezzor With Guided Missile (Photos)

In an unusual attack , ISIS terrorists destroyed a battle tank of the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) in Deir Ezzor with an anti-tank guided missile ( ATGM ) The terrorist group ’ s news agency , Amaq , shared photos of the attack on August 14 .
The photos show the terrorists targeting what appears to be a T-62 tank of the army with a Konkurs ATGM .
The terrorists scored a direct hit .
ISIS remnants in central Syria rarely use advanced weapons such as ATGMs against the SAA .
The terrorists lost most of their advanced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its allies in the last few years .
Recent reports revealed that ISIS terrorists in the central region are receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters in the southeastern area of al-Tanaf .
This may explain how , the terrorists were able to obtain ATGMs , once again .
U.S. supplied Syrian militants in al-Tanaf with loads of weapons in the last few years , including Hungarian-made Konkurs ATGMs .
ISIS terrorists intensified their attacks on Deir Ezzor this week .
On August 11 , the group ’ s cells ambushed units of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ al-Quds near al-Tabni .
Later on August 15 , a unit of Liwa al-Quds was ambushed in the outskirt of al-Mayadin .
The terrorist group is now posing a serious threat to government forces in southern and western Deir Ezzor .
The SAA and its allies should address this threat rapidly and with force .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • The 2nd Murder In 48h : Mayor And His Two Children Killed In Syria ’ s Daraa

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In an unusual attack, ISIS terrorists destroyed a battle tank of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in Deir Ezzor with an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM)
The terrorist group’s news agency, Amaq, shared photos of the attack on August 14. The photos show the terrorists targeting what appears to be a T-62 tank of the army with a Konkurs ATGM. The terrorists scored a direct hit.
ISIS remnants in central Syria rarely use advanced weapons such as ATGMs against the SAA. The terrorists lost most of their advanced weapons during their battles with the army and its allies in the last few years.
Recent reports revealed that ISIS terrorists in the central region are receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters in the southeastern area of al-Tanaf. This may explain how, the terrorists were able to obtain ATGMs, once again.
U.S. supplied Syrian militants in al-Tanaf with loads of weapons in the last few years, including Hungarian-made Konkurs ATGMs.
ISIS terrorists intensified their attacks on Deir Ezzor this week. On August 11, the group’s cells ambushed units of the SAA’s 4th Division and Liwa al-Quds near al-Tabni. Later on August 15, a unit of Liwa al-Quds was ambushed in the outskirt of al-Mayadin.
The terrorist group is now posing a serious threat to government forces in southern and western Deir Ezzor. The SAA and its allies should address this threat rapidly and with force.
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southfront--2020-08-15--Putin Sees US & Iran Headed Toward War – Proposes Urgent World Summit To Stop It

Yeah , bait and switch , and good old fascion knee capping if you dont do was the Yankikes tells you to do , thats been the hall mark of Trump the ConDon , like the road side highjacking of Chines corps , to even think the ISISraeli bitch Trumsptein is about to make any CONsensus is not only an pipe dream , its an bloody ilution , because , the UssA Gov is run from their senate witch is in Tel-aviv , and remeber even the so called DemonCrauts whines about Trump , because he is an drooling idiot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venezuela , and to even be so naive to think this foreign policy is going to change if Creepy Joe the Bideet manages to find the door into the white house , is even more dangerous , because it have been the DemonCrauts whom have instigated most of the present wars and instabilitys to sactions , with their bitches hanging in their skirts , the despecable corrupt EU and the even worse UN .
I agrees with Putin on this , wars take years to prepare , but it always starts with years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forgerys etc to smear the so called enemy of the UssA .
I wouldnt trust Trumpstein for an split second , even the RepubliCONs , its infact , based upon persiving some decades back in time no difference what so ever , despite the frantic drivel we have to endure reading the retardians explain how eh….. what good Trump have done , because , its after all , never been an issue , its about domestic politics regarding wars , all americans have no problems with that , never had and never will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an f… .
because they are God chousen people on this earth , ask anyone of them , its their god given right to do whatever they want , never forget that .
I know they will do something , either China or Iran , because regarding Iran , ISISrael is the one holding Trump by the balls , and owns the Gov and their propaganda machine , the MSM .
China , is slightly different but again the hate propaganda have increased by the weeks .
While the UssA disintigrades , sooner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something , to ralie the masses , and an highe war is their standard prosedyre , they have started almost 250 wars in their 270 years of existence , and what on earth would be the difference now , nothing .
I also know about E. Abrams , whom failed in Venezuela , but this evil creep is now on Iran , etc , evil scums , all of them , no excseptions , and now their pudles MaCrony and the idiot clown Bozo is always there , never trust them , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UssA and ISISrael tells them to do , the punch and judy show in Lebanon and in the Grece is just an phony kabuki , because the Turds would never be able to do what they are doing right now without the full suport of France/EU and the Imperial banana republic Moronike , with the Knuckledragging orangutan in charge , whipped forward by the people and ISISrael .
And I infact laughed when I read about Trumps is going to clean the swamp , muhahaha , jesus the Yankikes are douped , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he is just another NWO bitch , nothing else .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Russia thinks war between the US and Iran is on the horizon, and is proposing steps to stop it:
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday proposed a video summit with the United States, Britain, France, China, Germany and Iran in a bid to avoid “confrontation and escalation” at the United Nations, where Washington is trying to extend an arms embargo on Tehran, reports Reuters.
But it’s hard to know what could be done at this point. Not only did the Trump administration void the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), but long-standing hawks like Pompeo have sought to ramp up sanctions at every turn.
The situation has been stalemated, with Tehran demanding easing of sanctions or erasure altogether as a condition for fresh talks, but with the White House alternately saying Iran has to first abandon all development related to nuclear power (which the US says is actually for nuclear weapons) and its ballistic missile program.
But if Gaddafi’s fate is anything to go by (who abandoned his WMD program in the early 2000s and was “brought in from the cold” as they say – only to be overthrown by US-NATO military intervention and summarily executed in the street years later), the view from Tehran is that any ‘deal-making’ with the United States is impossible.
“The issue is urgent,” Putin said of his plan in Friday comments. He explained the alternative remains “only further escalation of tensions, increasing risk of conflict – such a scenario must be avoided.”
Iranian ballistic missiles, via Iran Focus
When asked about Putin’s proposal and a press briefing on Friday, President Trump responded: “I hear there’s something, but I haven’t been told of it yet.”
However, given Iran essentially sees the US as in a state of war with the Islamic Republic – especially given the January assassination of IRGC Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani, it will likely less than optimistic for any UN deconfliction meeting to succeed.
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