southfront--2020-08-04--Shootings, Murders Spike By Record In Portland After Disbanding ‘Gun Violence Reduction Team’

Violent crime in US metro areas surged this summer amid the pandemic , recession , and social unrest : A perfect storm of distress that is unraveling society .
From Atlanta to Baltimore to New York City to Chicago to Houston to some major Californian metro areas , many of these democratically-controlled cities are facing an eruption in violent crime , including murders and thefts .
Readers may recall some of the cities listed above are the usual suspects when referring to metros with the most out of control crime in the US .
Now Portland ’ s liberal utopia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in July jump .
Portland Police Bureau has responded to 15 homicides in July , which is a three-decade high , reported The Oregonian .
The Portland Metropolitan Area has seen approximately 24 homicides this year .
Besides homicides – assaults , burglaries , and vandalism are also increasing over last year ’ s figures .
Police Chief Chuck Lovell is concerned by the increase in violent crime .
He ’ s shifted officers from patrols to aid in ongoing homicide investigations .
At the same time , Lovell said Portland City Hall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the massive defunding wave in early July that forced a sizeable cut in its Gun Violence Reduction Team .
Also , there ’ s been at least a month of lawless anarchists destroying property in the area .
The federal government sent in personnel to squash the uprising .
Since the Gun Violence Reduction Team was disbanded on July 1 , Lovell has repeatedly linked it with the struggle to police the city .
In another recent press conference about the rise in homicides , Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler admitted the city had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month , officials witnessed an over 380 percent spike in such violence , compared to the same time period in 2019 .
Liberal cities , ones that have defunded police and allowed anarchists to run wild , are seeing a perfect storm of distress flare up as the virus-induced downturn has unleashed a social-economic bomb .

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Originally appeared at ZeroHedge
Violent crime in US metro areas surged this summer amid the pandemic, recession, and social unrest: A perfect storm of distress that is unraveling society.
From Atlanta to Baltimore to New York City to Chicago to Houston to some major Californian metro areas, many of these democratically-controlled cities are facing an eruption in violent crime, including murders and thefts.
Readers may recall some of the cities listed above are the usual suspects when referring to metros with the most out of control crime in the US. Now Portland’s liberal utopia appears to be imploding, as murders in July jump.
Portland Police Bureau has responded to 15 homicides in July, which is a three-decade high, reported The Oregonian. The Portland Metropolitan Area has seen approximately 24 homicides this year. Besides homicides – assaults, burglaries, and vandalism are also increasing over last year’s figures.
Verified Non-Suicide Shootings In Portland
Police Chief Chuck Lovell is concerned by the increase in violent crime. He’s shifted officers from patrols to aid in ongoing homicide investigations.
“That’s very concerning. I mean, to know that that many people have been killed in such a short period of time,” Lovell said at a recent virtual press conference.
At the same time, Lovell said Portland City Hall slashed its budget, which resulted in the massive defunding wave in early July that forced a sizeable cut in its Gun Violence Reduction Team. Also, there’s been at least a month of lawless anarchists destroying property in the area. The federal government sent in personnel to squash the uprising.
Since the Gun Violence Reduction Team was disbanded on July 1, Lovell has repeatedly linked it with the struggle to police the city.
The loss “forced us into a position where we have to really look at what resources we can bring to bear, absent that structure that we had with the Gun Violence Reduction Team,” he said.
In another recent press conference about the rise in homicides, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler admitted the city had seen “an unprecedented escalation of gun violence.”
In the first 12 days of the month, officials witnessed an over 380 percent spike in such violence, compared to the same time period in 2019.
“This is the city we live. Portlanders, our neighbors, are being hurt by this violence. They’re being killed. The violence and the loss of life are unacceptable,” Wheeler added.
Liberal cities, ones that have defunded police and allowed anarchists to run wild, are seeing a perfect storm of distress flare up as the virus-induced downturn has unleashed a social-economic bomb.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Afghan Officials Acknowledge Escape Of Over 300 Prisoners, Many Islamic State Militants

Afghan security forces have retaken the prison in Jalalabad after it was captured by Islamic State militants on Sunday .
An Afghan government official stated on Monday that at least 39 people were killed in the attack , including the assailants , and that over 300 prisoners escaped before security forces managed to recapture the prison complex .
Another 50 people were wounded in the attack that began Sunday at approximately 6.30pm local time when a suicide bomber detonated explosives packed in a vehicle at the entrance to the prison complex .
Other militants simultaneously stormed the prison and took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ensuing firefight between the assailants and security forces lasted around 20 hours .
The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack .
Many of the escaped prisoners were members of the Islamic State militant group , which still has a significant presence in the eastern province of Nangarhar where the prison is located .
At least 10 of the dead were ISIS militants involved in the assault to free their comrades from the prison in Jalalabad , the capital of Nangarhar province , said Ajmal Omar , a provincial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead were believed to be prisoners , civilians and Afghan forces .
“ The aim of this attack was to rescue all Daesh members inside the prison , and unfortunately that included five or six senior Daesh people , ” Omar said , using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group , which is also known as ISIS .
Among the prisoners who escaped was the group ’ s shadow governor for neighbouring Kunar Province , he said .
More than 300 prisoners were still at large , Attaullah Khugyani , spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
Of the 1,793 prisoners , more than 1,025 had tried to escape and been recaptured and 430 had remained inside .
“ The rest are missing , ” he said .
One inmate , who gave his name as Azizullah , said he heard the powerful explosion , followed by the militants storming into the main prison block , shouting for their fighters and telling them to flee .
As the siege dragged on throughout the day , the city was placed under a curfew .
Located some 120 kilometres east @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highway leading to the Khyber Pass and the Pakistani city of Peshawar .
Security forces also clashed with Islamic State fighters on Monday in another part of Nangarhar , according to Ghalib Mujahid , the governor of Behsud district , though he could not provide further details .
The attack is one of the deadliest attacks claimed by the Islamic State group since the emergence of the armed group in Afghanistan ’ s Nangarhar province in early 2015 .
A United Nations report released last month estimated the membership of ISIS in Afghanistan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack , Afghan authorities reported that Afghan special forces had killed a senior Islamic State commander near Jalalabad .
Although the group ’ s strength has been reduced by security force operations , analysts say it is still a formidable force in some areas .
LINK Of the five prisoners killed by the militants , at least three were members of the Taliban , which is a bitter enemy of the Islamic State in Afghanistan .
The Taliban had declared a three-day cease-fire starting Friday for the major Muslim holiday of Eid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight Sunday .
While hopes had been raised that the long delayed ‘ Intra-Afghan ’ peace talks might finally begin after the Afghan president announced last week that he intends to release more Taliban prisoners as per the original February agreement between the US and the Taliban , coinciding with a 3 day ceasefire declared for Eid celebrations , the final decision on the prisoners ’ fate will apparently be made this week .
The contentious prisoner swap stipulated under the US-Taliban deal remains one of the biggest obstacles to the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kabul is meant to free around 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held captive by the insurgents .
The National Security Council said Sunday that more than 4,900 inmates have been freed , and the Taliban last week said they had already met their side of the commitment .
“ To show goodwill and accelerate the peace talks , we will release 500 Taliban prisoners in response to the group ’ s three-day ceasefire announcement , ” Ghani said in an Eid speech .
However , the 500 inmates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5,000 demanded by the Taliban .
Kabul authorities have already released 4,600 of those prisoners but are hesitating about the release of the final 400 , deeming them too dangerous .
“ I do not have the right to decide on the release of those 400 Taliban prisoners who are accused of serious crimes , ” Ghani said , adding that a Loya Jirga ( gathering of Afghan elders ) would decide their fate , possibly on 7 August .
LINK The Taliban , who have insisted on the release of those 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both Kabul and the Taliban have signalled they could be ready to start talks after Eid , and the Afghan government on Sunday offered to extend the ceasefire .
The insurgents have not formally responded .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC :

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Afghan security forces have retaken the prison in Jalalabad after it was captured by Islamic State militants on Sunday. An Afghan government official stated on Monday that at least 39 people were killed in the attack, including the assailants, and that over 300 prisoners escaped before security forces managed to recapture the prison complex.
Another 50 people were wounded in the attack that began Sunday at approximately 6.30pm local time when a suicide bomber detonated explosives packed in a vehicle at the entrance to the prison complex.
Other militants simultaneously stormed the prison and took up positions in nearby residential buildings. The ensuing firefight between the assailants and security forces lasted around 20 hours.
The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claimed responsibility for the attack. Many of the escaped prisoners were members of the Islamic State militant group, which still has a significant presence in the eastern province of Nangarhar where the prison is located.
At least 10 of the dead were ISIS militants involved in the assault to free their comrades from the prison in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, said Ajmal Omar, a provincial council member. The rest of the dead were believed to be prisoners, civilians and Afghan forces. “The aim of this attack was to rescue all Daesh members inside the prison, and unfortunately that included five or six senior Daesh people,” Omar said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group, which is also known as ISIS. Among the prisoners who escaped was the group’s shadow governor for neighbouring Kunar Province, he said. More than 300 prisoners were still at large, Attaullah Khugyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, added. Of the 1,793 prisoners, more than 1,025 had tried to escape and been recaptured and 430 had remained inside. “The rest are missing,” he said.
One inmate, who gave his name as Azizullah, said he heard the powerful explosion, followed by the militants storming into the main prison block, shouting for their fighters and telling them to flee.
As the siege dragged on throughout the day, the city was placed under a curfew.
Located some 120 kilometres east of Kabul, Jalalabad lies on the highway leading to the Khyber Pass and the Pakistani city of Peshawar.
Security forces also clashed with Islamic State fighters on Monday in another part of Nangarhar, according to Ghalib Mujahid, the governor of Behsud district, though he could not provide further details.
The attack is one of the deadliest attacks claimed by the Islamic State group since the emergence of the armed group in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province in early 2015. A United Nations report released last month estimated the membership of ISIS in Afghanistan at around 2,200.
The day before the attack, Afghan authorities reported that Afghan special forces had killed a senior Islamic State commander near Jalalabad. Although the group’s strength has been reduced by security force operations, analysts say it is still a formidable force in some areas. LINK
Of the five prisoners killed by the militants, at least three were members of the Taliban, which is a bitter enemy of the Islamic State in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s political spokesman, Suhail Shaheen, said that his group was not involved in the prison attack. “We have a cease-fire and are not involved in any of these attacks anywhere in the country,” he said.
The Taliban had declared a three-day cease-fire starting Friday for the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The formal cease-fire expired at midnight Sunday.
While no major clashes between the Taliban and security forces were reported during the period, the government accused the Taliban of violating the ceasefire 38 times over the three-day truce. Interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian said the insurgents had killed 20 civilians and wounded 40 by “carrying out terrorist and offensive attacks as well as using landmines.” The Taliban rejected the accusations.
While hopes had been raised that the long delayed ‘Intra-Afghan’ peace talks might finally begin after the Afghan president announced last week that he intends to release more Taliban prisoners as per the original February agreement between the US and the Taliban, coinciding with a 3 day ceasefire declared for Eid celebrations, the final decision on the prisoners’ fate will apparently be made this week.
The contentious prisoner swap stipulated under the US-Taliban deal remains one of the biggest obstacles to the start of the dialogues.
Under the exchange, Kabul is meant to free around 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held captive by the insurgents.
The National Security Council said Sunday that more than 4,900 inmates have been freed, and the Taliban last week said they had already met their side of the commitment.
“To show goodwill and accelerate the peace talks, we will release 500 Taliban prisoners in response to the group’s three-day ceasefire announcement,” Ghani said in an Eid speech. However, the 500 inmates are not on the original list of 5,000 demanded by the Taliban. Kabul authorities have already released 4,600 of those prisoners but are hesitating about the release of the final 400, deeming them too dangerous. “I do not have the right to decide on the release of those 400 Taliban prisoners who are accused of serious crimes,” Ghani said, adding that a Loya Jirga (gathering of Afghan elders) would decide their fate, possibly on 7 August. LINK
The Taliban, who have insisted on the release of those 400 militants, did not immediately comment.
Both Kabul and the Taliban have signalled they could be ready to start talks after Eid, and the Afghan government on Sunday offered to extend the ceasefire.
The insurgents have not formally responded. LINK
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southfront--2020-08-04--Explosive-Laden Man In Kiev Demands Interview With Journalists: Gets It

On August 3rd , 32-year-old Uzbekistan citizen Sukhrob Karimov entered a bank in Kiev , Ukraine and stated that he had a backpack full of explosives .
He let bank staff go and demanded that the authorities invite journalists so that he could make a statement .
Police burst into the room while the man was talking to journalists and arrested him .
Officials confirmed after the man was arrested that he did in fact have explosives .
“ On August 3 , at 12:00 , a representative of Universal Bank JSC ( Shevchenko district , premises of the Leonardo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that an unknown man under 35 had entered the office , said that he had a bomb in his backpack and asked call the police .
The employees of the banking institution left the premises , and the head of the branch remained of her own free will , ” Deputy Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko said .
In the interview he gave to journalists , Sukhrob Karimov said that he was “ the Holy Spirit ” and that he was “ God.
” On July 23rd , in Poltava , a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of the Main Police Department of the Poltava Region hostage by using a grenade and drove away with him in a car provided by law enforcement officers .
Later , the attacker abandoned the car , released the hostage unharmed and fled .
A criminal case was initiated under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine .
Later , the communications department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine , Artem Shevchenko , said that law enforcement officers had eliminated the criminal .
On July 21st , an armed man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hostage in Lutsk and held them for about 12 hours .
The attacker himself called the police , reported the presence of weapons , explosive devices and introduced himself as Maxim Bad .
In the evening of the same day , the invader , whose real name is Maxim Krivosh , surrendered .
13 hostages were released , no one was injured .
The current Ukrainian policy is such that the Ukrainian authorities showed that they are prepared to succumb to the requests of terrorists – an example is Lutsk , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to interview the explosive-laden individual in the Kiev bank .
This is likely to open the flood gates for future incidents similar , or even worse , than these .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Government-Backed Radicals Seize Two More Canonical Parishes In Ukraine • Craziness In Ukraine 2.0 : Former Soldier Took Police Officer Hostage In Poltava

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On August 3rd, 32-year-old Uzbekistan citizen Sukhrob Karimov entered a bank in Kiev, Ukraine and stated that he had a backpack full of explosives.
He let bank staff go and demanded that the authorities invite journalists so that he could make a statement.
Police burst into the room while the man was talking to journalists and arrested him. Officials confirmed after the man was arrested that he did in fact have explosives.
“On August 3, at 12:00, a representative of Universal Bank JSC (Shevchenko district, premises of the Leonardo business center) called the police and said that an unknown man under 35 had entered the office, said that he had a bomb in his backpack and asked call the police. The employees of the banking institution left the premises, and the head of the branch remained of her own free will,” Deputy Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko said.
In the interview he gave to journalists, Sukhrob Karimov said that he was “the Holy Spirit” and that he was “God.”
On July 23rd, in Poltava, a man took the head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Main Police Department of the Poltava Region hostage by using a grenade and drove away with him in a car provided by law enforcement officers.
Later, the attacker abandoned the car, released the hostage unharmed and fled.
A criminal case was initiated under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Later, the communications department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Artem Shevchenko, said that law enforcement officers had eliminated the criminal.
On July 21st, an armed man took an entire bus, with passengers, hostage in Lutsk and held them for about 12 hours. The attacker himself called the police, reported the presence of weapons, explosive devices and introduced himself as Maxim Bad. In the evening of the same day, the invader, whose real name is Maxim Krivosh, surrendered. 13 hostages were released, no one was injured.
The current Ukrainian policy is such that the Ukrainian authorities showed that they are prepared to succumb to the requests of terrorists – an example is Lutsk, then in Poltava, then also journalists went to interview the explosive-laden individual in the Kiev bank. This is likely to open the flood gates for future incidents similar, or even worse, than these.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Taliban Flag Unfurled Inside Hagia Sophia Mosque

“ The conversion of Hagia Sophia was a motivational message of # MuslimBrotherhood to the world ’ s Islamist extremists and terrorists .
Soon , pro ISIS activists will raise their flag too , ” said Noor Dahri , the executive director of the Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism think tank .
In the footage , you can see a group of men with the group ’ s flag unfurled .
This is a white cloth that depicts the Shahadah ( evidence of faith in Islam ) .
The unidentified individuals changed their location several times , they stood with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Mosque , and then in the center of the prayer hall .
They were shouting “ Allahu Akbar ” with their right index finger raised , a gesture that has been identified with Islamic extremism .
Immediately after , Afghanistan called on Turkey to take action against the propaganda of the Taliban group after the unfurling of the flag , Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Gran Hewad said .
“ The peace process is supported by the Afghan government and the Afghan people , [ They ] should support it too and get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process and that appear in these countries , ” Hewad said .
The Afghan government said it is going to consider such actions in support of the Taliban as meddling in the country ’ s internal affairs .
A video was also uploaded sharing locals ’ response to what happened .
“ I certainly don ’ t think it ’ s right .
Since this is the territory of Turkey and the territory of Turkey , no other flag should be raised here .
Our homeland and our flag are forever in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muslim community .
I didn ’ t find it right , ” said Gulay Sertkaya .
Another resident condemned the action , saying it “ goes against Islam.
” On July 10th , Turkey ’ s Council of State ruled that the Hagia Sophia museum had to be turned back into a Muslim place of worship , overturning a 1934 decree .
The site had also previously housed a church .
UNESCO expressed concerns about the impact it may have on the universal value of the World Heritage Site , while the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Erdogan to reverse the decision .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Gone !
Ecumenial Patriarch Sold His Position Towards Hagia Sophia For Reopening Of Sumela Monastery • Mosques , Museums and Politics : The Fate of Hagia Sophia

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On August 3rd, a Taliban flag was unfurled inside Turkey’s newly re-opened Hagia Sophia mosque.
“The conversion of Hagia Sophia was a motivational message of #MuslimBrotherhood to the world’s Islamist extremists and terrorists. Soon, pro ISIS activists will raise their flag too,” said Noor Dahri, the executive director of the Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism think tank.
In the footage, you can see a group of men with the group’s flag unfurled. This is a white cloth that depicts the Shahadah (evidence of faith in Islam).
The unidentified individuals changed their location several times, they stood with the flag first at the entrance to the Mosque, and then in the center of the prayer hall.
They were shouting “Allahu Akbar” with their right index finger raised, a gesture that has been identified with Islamic extremism.
Immediately after, Afghanistan called on Turkey to take action against the propaganda of the Taliban group after the unfurling of the flag, Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman Gran Hewad said.
“The peace process is supported by the Afghan government and the Afghan people, [They] should support it too and get rid of movements that can harm this process and that appear in these countries,” Hewad said.
The Afghan government said it is going to consider such actions in support of the Taliban as meddling in the country’s internal affairs.
A video was also uploaded sharing locals’ response to what happened.
“I certainly don’t think it’s right. Since this is the territory of Turkey and the territory of Turkey, no other flag should be raised here. Our homeland and our flag are forever in the forefront, for the whole of the Muslim community. I didn’t find it right,” said Gulay Sertkaya. Another resident condemned the action, saying it “goes against Islam.”
On July 10th, Turkey’s Council of State ruled that the Hagia Sophia museum had to be turned back into a Muslim place of worship, overturning a 1934 decree. The site had also previously housed a church.
UNESCO expressed concerns about the impact it may have on the universal value of the World Heritage Site, while the EU has called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reverse the decision.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Russians Still Hope Hagia Sophia To Remain Orthodox

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 10 , 2020 , repealed a decree , signed by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk .
An Orthodox Christian cathedral built in 537 by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I once again has turned into a mosque .
This incident provoked favorable reaction comments among Turkish Muslims as well as massive disappointment in Christian countries .
Despite the disputes between Constantinople and Moscow Patriarchate regarding Ukraine , Russians and the Russian Orthodox Church were among the first to support the Greeks and advocated for preserving the non-confessional status of Hagia Sophia , following the initiatives on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In contrast to most Western states , Russian authorities made real efforts on this issue .
For instance , the Russian President in a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart made a promise to preserve the shrine and provide free access for pilgrims and tourists to the cathedral .
Given the serious and universal threat to Orthodoxy , the Russian Church demonstrated compassion for the Greeks and loyalty to the spirit of gospel love .
Ukrainian Orthodox leader Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil shared his sympathy and solidarity with the people of Greece .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ splits in church congregations when schismatics since 2019 have seized more than 500 churches resulted in clashes throughout the country .
Although the Patriarchate of Constantinople opened Pandora ’ s Box , and Patriarch Bartholomew himself never encourages the schismatics recognized by him in Ukraine to renounce violence .
At the same time , the canonical Ukrainian Church under the leadership of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onufriy is still ready to forgive and sympathize .
On the day of the 1032 th anniversary of the Christianization of Kyiv Rus , Metropolitan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status of Hagia Sophia .
He believes that the Christian Church must belong to the Christians who built it .
Furthermore , most Russians also would like to see Hagia Sophia as an Orthodox Church .
Numerous infamous experts and bloggers are widely transmitting this idea .
Unfortunately , the Orthodox world met the Muslim attack divided and separated , and could not provide a consolidated response , resulting in a change of cathedral status .
It is unclear whether the Turkish leader determined to achieve exactly this , raising the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But it may be assumed that the globalists , which for an extended period of time tried to undermine the unity of the Orthodox Church , succeeded and also got leverage over the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople yet .
Currently , the Greek officials , the European Union members and the U.S. diplomats express grave concern over the actions of Turkey .
However , the independent Ecumenical Patriarchate represents a disadvantage to the followers of Atlanticism .
The other people are indifferent to the fate of the Orthodox Greeks in Turkey .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ deterrence of refugees by Ankara ; otherwise , the poor Balkan countries will again be swept by a wave of illegal immigrants .
Orthodox Christians are well aware of Hagia Sophia significance for the faith and are quite worried regarding its transformation into a mosque .
Local Churches are also disturbed by the position of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the international stage .
The long silence , as well as indecisiveness of Patriarch Bartholomew on the problem of Hagia Sophia , disappointed the representatives of the Local Churches .
No wonder Fanar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globalists are trying to blame Russia and the Russian Church for the Patriarchate of Constantinople ’ s reputation loss .
The Greek media call Russia a traitor .
Some experts say Russia ’ s preferred to be a partner with Turkey rather than support the Orthodox .
As we know the Turkish leader has recently opened the restored Greek Orthodox Panagia Soumela Monastery and Patriarch Bartholomew thanked him for this .
According to the other sources , Hagia Sophia turned into a mosque as Moscow failed to protect the interests of the Greek @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Moscow does not have enough reputation in Ankara and political influence in the Middle East .
If it is true , why Putin and Erdogan have repeatedly met these days ?
Nevertheless , people who value the religion rather than the politics suppose that Patriarch Bartholomew has done nothing to prevent from converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque .
For a long time , the Ecumenical Patriarch did not comment on the intentions of the Turkish authorities to change Hagia Sophia .
The rhetoric of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports the Turkish leader .
For the Christians and the Turkish Orthodox community , the Panagia Soumela Monastery in Trabzon and Hagia Sophia mean different things .
One can say that the Greeks in Turkey and their Byzantine heritage are becoming the ancient exhibit for tourists .
Patriarch Bartholomew is supposed to be the leader of the whole Orthodox world having a dialogue with the representative of other confessions , particularly with the Vatican .
Criticizing Bartholomew , some people wonder if he can protect the interests of the Orthodox when he does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for one of the leading Christian sanctuaries .
According to the more passionate protectors of the Orthodox traditions , the first fall of Constantinople was the punishment for the church union .
Today ’ s fall of Hagia Sophia is the responsibility for ecumenism , friendship with Rome , the backing of the church division in Ukraine , and undermining of the Orthodox unity .
Patriarch Bartholomew has put the political interests of the North-American-European cooperation above the Church and welfare of the religious people .
Dividing the Orthodox world , he lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role of the Orthodoxy in resolving the international conflicts during talks with Ankara .
As to the Russian authorities , Putin sympathizes with the Greeks , but he thinks it is not right to take the protection of Hagia Sophia a PR-campaign to improve Bartholomew ’ s image .
However , Kremlin can not ignore the expectations of the Russian people who do not hold grudges and are always ready to help each other .
Moreover , the Russian President accused Bartholomew of getting money from the recognition of division .
Washington guides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Orthodox world should not suffer from the weakness and mistakes of Patriarch Bartholomew .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Radicals Protests Against Ceasefire in Eastern Ukraine Immediately After Its Enforced

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Submitted by Nadia Bazuk
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 10, 2020, repealed a decree, signed by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. An Orthodox Christian cathedral built in 537 by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I once again has turned into a mosque. This incident provoked favorable reaction comments among Turkish Muslims as well as massive disappointment in Christian countries.
Despite the disputes between Constantinople and Moscow Patriarchate regarding Ukraine, Russians and the Russian Orthodox Church were among the first to support the Greeks and advocated for preserving the non-confessional status of Hagia Sophia, following the initiatives on changing status of this UNESCO monument.
In contrast to most Western states, Russian authorities made real efforts on this issue. For instance, the Russian President in a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart made a promise to preserve the shrine and provide free access for pilgrims and tourists to the cathedral.
Given the serious and universal threat to Orthodoxy, the Russian Church demonstrated compassion for the Greeks and loyalty to the spirit of gospel love. Ukrainian Orthodox leader Metropolitan Anthony of Boryspil shared his sympathy and solidarity with the people of Greece. As the Ukrainian people suffered the same splits in church congregations when schismatics since 2019 have seized more than 500 churches resulted in clashes throughout the country. Although the Patriarchate of Constantinople opened Pandora’s Box, and Patriarch Bartholomew himself never encourages the schismatics recognized by him in Ukraine to renounce violence. At the same time, the canonical Ukrainian Church under the leadership of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Ukraine Onufriy is still ready to forgive and sympathize.
On the day of the 1032 th anniversary of the Christianization of Kyiv Rus, Metropolitan Onufriy reacted negatively to the change in the status of Hagia Sophia. He believes that the Christian Church must belong to the Christians who built it.
Furthermore, most Russians also would like to see Hagia Sophia as an Orthodox Church. Numerous infamous experts and bloggers are widely transmitting this idea.
Unfortunately, the Orthodox world met the Muslim attack divided and separated, and could not provide a consolidated response, resulting in a change of cathedral status.
It is unclear whether the Turkish leader determined to achieve exactly this, raising the issue of changing the status of UNESCO monument. But it may be assumed that the globalists, which for an extended period of time tried to undermine the unity of the Orthodox Church, succeeded and also got leverage over the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople yet.
Currently, the Greek officials, the European Union members and the U.S. diplomats express grave concern over the actions of Turkey. However, the independent Ecumenical Patriarchate represents a disadvantage to the followers of Atlanticism. The other people are indifferent to the fate of the Orthodox Greeks in Turkey. They are much more concerned regarding the deterrence of refugees by Ankara; otherwise, the poor Balkan countries will again be swept by a wave of illegal immigrants.
Orthodox Christians are well aware of Hagia Sophia significance for the faith and are quite worried regarding its transformation into a mosque. Local Churches are also disturbed by the position of the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the international stage. The long silence, as well as indecisiveness of Patriarch Bartholomew on the problem of Hagia Sophia, disappointed the representatives of the Local Churches.
No wonder Fanar (the Patriarchate of Constantinople) and globalists are trying to blame Russia and the Russian Church for the Patriarchate of Constantinople’s reputation loss. The Greek media call Russia a traitor. Some experts say Russia’s preferred to be a partner with Turkey rather than support the Orthodox. As we know the Turkish leader has recently opened the restored Greek Orthodox Panagia Soumela Monastery and Patriarch Bartholomew thanked him for this. According to the other sources, Hagia Sophia turned into a mosque as Moscow failed to protect the interests of the Greek Orthodoxy. The reason for this is that Moscow does not have enough reputation in Ankara and political influence in the Middle East. If it is true, why Putin and Erdogan have repeatedly met these days?
Nevertheless, people who value the religion rather than the politics suppose that Patriarch Bartholomew has done nothing to prevent from converting Hagia Sophia into a mosque.
For a long time, the Ecumenical Patriarch did not comment on the intentions of the Turkish authorities to change Hagia Sophia. The rhetoric of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia is tougher. Moreover, Bartholomew even supports the Turkish leader. For the Christians and the Turkish Orthodox community, the Panagia Soumela Monastery in Trabzon and Hagia Sophia mean different things. One can say that the Greeks in Turkey and their Byzantine heritage are becoming the ancient exhibit for tourists.
Patriarch Bartholomew is supposed to be the leader of the whole Orthodox world having a dialogue with the representative of other confessions, particularly with the Vatican. Criticizing Bartholomew, some people wonder if he can protect the interests of the Orthodox when he does not have enough courage to stand up for one of the leading Christian sanctuaries. According to the more passionate protectors of the Orthodox traditions, the first fall of Constantinople was the punishment for the church union. Today’s fall of Hagia Sophia is the responsibility for ecumenism, friendship with Rome, the backing of the church division in Ukraine, and undermining of the Orthodox unity.
Patriarch Bartholomew has put the political interests of the North-American-European cooperation above the Church and welfare of the religious people. Dividing the Orthodox world, he lost the opportunity to appeal to the facilitating role of the Orthodoxy in resolving the international conflicts during talks with Ankara.
As to the Russian authorities, Putin sympathizes with the Greeks, but he thinks it is not right to take the protection of Hagia Sophia a PR-campaign to improve Bartholomew’s image. However, Kremlin cannot ignore the expectations of the Russian people who do not hold grudges and are always ready to help each other.
Moreover, the Russian President accused Bartholomew of getting money from the recognition of division. Washington guides Fanar. That is why Putin understands that the Orthodox world should not suffer from the weakness and mistakes of Patriarch Bartholomew.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Israeli Forces Struck Syrian Armed Forces Positions Near Golan Heights

Again with that lie of yours .
Iran and Russia both prevented Syria from disintegrating as a secular society and nation , and instead becoming a backwards pseudo-Caliphate à la Afghanistan on top of being a de-facto satellite of Gulf monarchies namely the KSA , supporting dozens of jihadist paramilitaries inside the country directly aligned with Al-Qaeda .
And no amount of repetition of that looping iranophobic propaganda piece of yours will ever change that fact .
Anyway you missed the point of my comparison entirely , and simply rushed to contradict me whenever I mention Iran , a topic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aptness to discuss lately .
Indeed , I was merely speaking of a material inability to respond to occasional foreign aggression on a country exhausted by war and technically besieged economically and militarily that has to take its losses and humiliations without the ability to directly respond , outside of any political or historical considerations .
So I wonder why you arbitrarily gave a larger scope to my words than I did myself .
And in that regard , Iran in the 80s and Syria since 2011 faced the exact same situation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the internal situation looked like at the time of conflict .
You are making political and moral judgments , my point wasn ’ t even to discuss these dimensions of the matter here .
Besides you made a complete fool of yourself by seemingly ignoring that despite being the country attacked , Iran became infamous for being the one embargoed by most powers instead of its invader , by BOTH blocs of the Cold War , since it had the bad luck of going against a Soviet ally on top of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran freshly outgoing its unconditional sphere or influence by whatever menas necessary , including overt support to a notable Soviet middle-eastern protegee .
You also seem to lack knowledge on the internal political situation at the time .
Iran ’ s burgeoning “ revolutionary government ” was already suffering an existential crisis , hadn ’ t delivered on any of its main promises that got them the needed popular support to begin with , though the war effectively triggered a patriotic wave that saved Khomeini ’ s regime totally in extremis .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quell whatever remained of intellectual opposition to him in two wave of mass executions both in 81 and 88 .
He refused to stop the wars on favorable terms after grasping back whatever lands of importance Saddam once had captured in oil-rich border regions because he knew his rule was still threatened from the inside , and the US was busy preparing the ill-fated Nojeh coup with corps of air-force officers that had come back to Iran to fight the Baathist invader .
While Iran as a country had nothing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and its political situation or sectarian composition with no compare to that of Syria at the time open hostilities started , the “ unity ” you speak of was not that monolithic at all , many factions existed within Iran , monarchy nostalgics , communists , anti-regime social-democrats , liberals and so on .
They ALL had agendas during the war , as none of them magically forgot their ambitions or opinions towards the regime just because the war started .
It took a year to kick out Saddam ’ s troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dragged on for 7 more long years .
There was also the MKO that fought against its own country until th every end of the war .
Most Iranian remained united in the face of outside aggression and that was a good thing to prevent a breakup of the large country , yes , but the same can now be said of Syrians .
Today is not 2012 .
Most citizens have realized the true foreign agenda of all the generous “ helping hands ” extended from Europe and the US , see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are , and while some remain hostile to the Baathist regime , most prefer a status quo to outright disappearance of their nation to Salafist warlords .
National reconciliation is working where it matters most ( i.e .
major cities ) despite many expected hurdles and setbacks , and of course all the relentless propaganda the likes of you try to throw all over the place and hide that .
This trend is further consolidated b their understandable disgust at the level of unjust pressure they still suffer from via massive and destructive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eastern regions and its obsession in balkanazing the state by illegally supporting a Kurdish quasi-state on 30 % of its territory , all of which directly and willingly contribute to prevent reconstruction or stabilization of the country whatsoever , and also implicitly helping Turkey maintain and expand its military presence in Norther Idlib going as far a circulating the Lira and replacing state institution with its own wherever it can .

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Late on August 3, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck several targets in the Syrian province of Quneitra. According to the IDF, the strikes hit observation posts, intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery and command and control systems of the Syrian Armed Forces. The Syrian state media reported that Syrian forces intercepted several missiles, while the impact of the rest of them caused a material damage only.
In response to an attempted IED attack near the security fence between Syria & Israel last night, we just struck SAF targets in Syria including: ? observation posts
? intel collection systems
? anti-aircraft artillery
? command & control systems We hold Syria responsible. — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 3, 2020
A day earlier, on August 2, the IDF claimed that it neutralized 4 gunmen that were trying to plant an IED on the security fence on the contact line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the government-controlled part of Syria.
Weapons & a bag containing explosives were found just meters from the Israeli security fence between #Israel and #Syria. Last night, 4 terrorists attempted to plant & use them. We stopped them before they could. We won’t allow any harm to Israel or our sovereignty. pic.twitter.com/G1RwWjSgAh — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 3, 2020
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southfront--2020-08-04--Harry DeWolf-Class Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship (Infographics)

Not going to win any races , sits a bit high , but overall not a bad looking ship .
@ @ @ @ @ in Canada , even if fat cat ‘ Irving ’ got the lion ’ s @ @ @ @ @ some ‘ trade knowledge ’ was passed on and a couple hundred men have ‘ @ @ @ @ @ while .
No mention how # 2 and # 3 are doing .

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The Harry DeWolf is the class arctic/offshore patrol ships developed and built for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard.
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southfront--2020-08-04--US Marine Corps Identifies Nine Dead After Amphibious Vehicle Training Mishap Off California Coast

The Marine Corps has identified eight Marines and one sailor who died after their amphibious assault vehicle sank during a July 30 training exercise in the vicinity of San Clemente Island located in the Pacific off the Californian coast .
The soldiers belonged to the First Marine Expeditionary Force , based at Camp Pendleton in southern California .
Search and rescue efforts were initiated on Thursday , after a total of sixteen personnel were trapped inside an amphibious assault vehicle when it began taking on water and sank off the coast of San Clemente Island , California .
Among eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injuries , with two more in critical condition ( as of early Monday one of the injured was announced to be in a stable condition ) .
On Sunday , following a massive search-and-rescue effort involving Navy , Coast Guard and Marine Corps vessels and aircraft , the Marine Corps announced that the troops were presumed dead .
All the Marines were riflemen with Bravo Company , Battalion Landing Team 1/4 , assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit .
A hospital corpsman assigned to the same unit was also among the casualties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost troops .
The Marine Corps has suspended all amphibious vehicle water operations as officials investigate the cause of the deadly mishap .
LINK The New York Times reported that two nearby amphibious assault vehicles witnessed the vehicle sink and were able to pinpoint its exact location .
Officials said it was unclear how the accident happened .
The depth of the water drops off quickly around the island and the vehicle was in several hundred feet of water when it sank , Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman , commanding general of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When the vehicle left shore , conditions had been considered acceptable for training .
There are around 800 amphibious assault vehicles in the Marines ’ inventory , each of which can carry up to 21 people and weigh 26 tons .
The amphibious assault vehicles , first deployed in the 1970s , are slow , lightly armoured and are considered by many Marines as particularly vulnerable , especially during conflict .
Moreover , it is prone to taking in water while at sea from both its rear ramp and troop compartment .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an amphibious vehicle they were training in caught fire , also at Camp Pendleton .
Although the Marines have been seeking a replacement , the amphibious vehicle has remained a cornerstone in the Corps ’ inventory as there are no alternative vehicles with comparable amphibious capabilities .
Camp Pendleton hosts the largest Marine base on the West Coast , and Marines often practice beach assaults there using the amphibious troop transport vehicles .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • US soldier dies in Syria in unknown incident

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The Marine Corps has identified eight Marines and one sailor who died after their amphibious assault vehicle sank during a July 30 training exercise in the vicinity of San Clemente Island located in the Pacific off the Californian coast. The soldiers belonged to the First Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Pendleton in southern California.
Search and rescue efforts were initiated on Thursday, after a total of sixteen personnel were trapped inside an amphibious assault vehicle when it began taking on water and sank off the coast of San Clemente Island, California.
Among eight Marines rescued, one later died of injuries, with two more in critical condition (as of early Monday one of the injured was announced to be in a stable condition). On Sunday, following a massive search-and-rescue effort involving Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps vessels and aircraft, the Marine Corps announced that the troops were presumed dead.
All the Marines were riflemen with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/4, assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. A hospital corpsman assigned to the same unit was also among the casualties.
Recovery efforts are ongoing for the lost troops. The Marine Corps has suspended all amphibious vehicle water operations as officials investigate the cause of the deadly mishap. LINK
The New York Times reported that two nearby amphibious assault vehicles witnessed the vehicle sink and were able to pinpoint its exact location.
Officials said it was unclear how the accident happened. The depth of the water drops off quickly around the island and the vehicle was in several hundred feet of water when it sank, Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Osterman, commanding general of the I Marine Expeditionary Force, stated. When the vehicle left shore, conditions had been considered acceptable for training.
There are around 800 amphibious assault vehicles in the Marines’ inventory, each of which can carry up to 21 people and weigh 26 tons.
The amphibious assault vehicles, first deployed in the 1970s, are slow, lightly armoured and are considered by many Marines as particularly vulnerable, especially during conflict. Moreover, it is prone to taking in water while at sea from both its rear ramp and troop compartment. In 2017, 15 Marines were wounded when an amphibious vehicle they were training in caught fire, also at Camp Pendleton.
Although the Marines have been seeking a replacement, the amphibious vehicle has remained a cornerstone in the Corps’ inventory as there are no alternative vehicles with comparable amphibious capabilities.
Camp Pendleton hosts the largest Marine base on the West Coast, and Marines often practice beach assaults there using the amphibious troop transport vehicles. LINK
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southfront--2020-08-04--Military Situation On Israeli-Lebanese Contact Line And In Golan Heights Area On August 3, 2020 (Map

Military Situation On Israeli-Lebanese Contact Line And In Golan Heights Area On August 3, 2020 (Map Update)

Don ’ t be mistaken by our coward PM , we might get orders from that corrupted man but we @ @ @ @ @ .
We are waiting for Hezbollah ’ s mistake , when the war breaks out @ @ @ @ @ crying about our actions , but it won ’ t change the outcome .
Anway @ @ @ @ @ boring from Hezbollah ’ s threats I want them to act , we have alot @ @ @ @ @ in SL .

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A brief overview of the recent developments on the Lebanese-Israeli contact line and in the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights:
Four men were killed by an IDF airstrike as they attempted to place an IED near the Technical Fence in Golan Heights;
According to IDF Spokesperson, the identities of four men were not established;
In response to the rocket that was fired at Israel from Gaza, Israeli fighter jets and aircraft struck subterranean Hamas facilities in Gaza.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Turkish Soldier Was Reportedly Found Dead Near Syria’s Ras Al-Ayn: Reports

A Turkish soldier was found dead near the Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn in the northeastern part of the country @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights ( SOHR ) reported on August 3 .
The SOHR provided no details @ @ @ @ @ reason of the death .
Ras al-Ayn is jointly controlled by the Turkish Army and @ @ @ @ @ was captured during Turkey ’ s Operation Peace Spring .
The town , as well @ @ @ @ @ occupied by Turkey , remains in the constant state of chaos .
Therefore , if @ @ @ @ @ is confirmed , he may have been killed even by some pro-Turkish militants involved in @ @ @ @ @ ON THE TOPIC : • Clashes Erupt Between Turkish-Backed Militants And Syrain Army In Southern @ @ @ @ @ Videos , Photos ) • Turkish-Backed Forces On Guard For Liberal Values And Same-Sex Marriages @ @

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A Turkish soldier was found dead near the Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn in the northeastern part of the country, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on August 3.
The SOHR provided no details regarding the possible attackers or reason of the death.
Ras al-Ayn is jointly controlled by the Turkish Army and pro-Turkish Syrian militant groups and was captured during Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring.
The town, as well as other territories of Syria occupied by Turkey, remains in the constant state of chaos. Therefore, if the death of the soldier is confirmed, he may have been killed even by some pro-Turkish militants involved in an organized crime.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The Harpoon is a United States all-weather , over-the-horizon , anti-ship missile .
The @ @ @ @ @ is being manufactured by McDonnell Douglas ( now Boeing Defense , Space & Security ) @ @ @ @ @ a land attack variant .
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The Harpoon is a United States all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile. The missile has been developed and is being manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Defense, Space & Security). The missile also has a land attack variant.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Military Situation In Libya On August 4, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya : • A major fire @ @ @ @ @ departure and return hall at Misrata International Airport .
No casualties were reported ; • @ @ @ @ @ the Sirte-Jufra Operations Room Abdelhadi Drah , the forces under the command of the GNA @ @ @ @ @ needed preparations to liberate Sirte and Jufra once negations for Khalifa Haftar forces ’ withdrawal @ @ @ @ @ TOPIC :

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Libya:
A major fire broke out in the passenger departure and return hall at Misrata International Airport. No casualties were reported;
According to the spokesman for the Sirte-Jufra Operations Room Abdelhadi Drah, the forces under the command of the GNA are ready and have all needed preparations to liberate Sirte and Jufra once negations for Khalifa Haftar forces’ withdrawal fail.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Israeli-Syrian Tensions Are Flaring Up In Golan Heights Area

Tensions are once again flaring up in the Golan Heights area , on the contact line between Syrian and Israeli forces .
Late on August 3 , the Israeli Defense Forces ( IDF ) struck several targets in the Syrian province of Quneitra .
According to the IDF , the strikes hit observation posts , intelligence collection systems , anti-aircraft artillery and command and control systems of the Syrian Armed Forces .
The Syrian state media reported that Syrian forces intercepted several missiles , while the impact of the rest of them caused only material damage .
A day earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed that it had neutralized 4 gunmen that were trying to plant an IED on the security fence on the contact line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the government-controlled part of Syria .
Soldiers from the Maglan special forces unit and unspecified aircraft opened fire at the four suspects , some of whom were armed , killing them all , IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman said .
The spokesman said the military did not yet know which military or group the men belonged to , but Israeli media as always blamed Iran and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new energy between the Syrian Army and Turkish-backed militant groups , first of all Hayat Tahrir al-Sham ( formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda ) , in southern Idlib and northern Lattakia .
According to pro-government sources , the escalation began with a series of intense strikes on positions of the army in southern Idlib .
In response to the attack , the Syrian Army and the Russian Aerospace Forces struck a number of positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham along the contact line .
Sources loyal to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants claimed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle in northwestern Hama and killed up to 10 Syrian soldiers by rocket and mortar strikes .
Early on August 4 , units of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham also stormed positions of the Syrian Army near Ard al-Wat and Ayn al-Qantarah , but the attack was repelled .
The clashes followed a series of incidents , including the canceled joint Turkish-Russian patrol along the M4 highway in southern Idlib .
These developments are a logical result of the current situation in Greater Idlib , where the so-called ‘ opposition-held area ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups supported by Turkey .

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Tensions are once again flaring up in the Golan Heights area, on the contact line between Syrian and Israeli forces.
Late on August 3, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) struck several targets in the Syrian province of Quneitra. According to the IDF, the strikes hit observation posts, intelligence collection systems, anti-aircraft artillery and command and control systems of the Syrian Armed Forces. The Syrian state media reported that Syrian forces intercepted several missiles, while the impact of the rest of them caused only material damage.
A day earlier, on August 2, the IDF claimed that it had neutralized 4 gunmen that were trying to plant an IED on the security fence on the contact line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the government-controlled part of Syria.
Soldiers from the Maglan special forces unit and unspecified aircraft opened fire at the four suspects, some of whom were armed, killing them all, IDF Spokesperson Hidai Zilberman said. The spokesman said the military did not yet know which military or group the men belonged to, but Israeli media as always blamed Iran and Hezbollah.
Clashes also resumed with a new energy between the Syrian Army and Turkish-backed militant groups, first of all Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda), in southern Idlib and northern Lattakia. According to pro-government sources, the escalation began with a series of intense strikes on positions of the army in southern Idlib.
In response to the attack, the Syrian Army and the Russian Aerospace Forces struck a number of positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham along the contact line. Sources loyal to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants claimed that the group shot down a Russian Orlan-10 reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle in northwestern Hama and killed up to 10 Syrian soldiers by rocket and mortar strikes.
Early on August 4, units of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham also stormed positions of the Syrian Army near Ard al-Wat and Ayn al-Qantarah, but the attack was repelled.
The clashes followed a series of incidents, including the canceled joint Turkish-Russian patrol along the M4 highway in southern Idlib. These developments are a logical result of the current situation in Greater Idlib, where the so-called ‘opposition-held area’ is in fact controlled by various terrorist groups supported by Turkey.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Massive Explosions Rock Port Of Lebanese Capital. Multiple People Killed & Injured (Videos)

UPDATE ( 19:40 CEST ) : Both Israel and Hezbollah denied responsibility for two massive explosions in Beirut .
According @ @ @ @ @ a version that the explosion was caused by some confiscated materials that were stored in @ @ @ @ @ August 4 , two major explosions rocked the port of the Lebanese capital of Beirut @ @ @ @ @ in the surrounding area and multiple casualties .
The estimated number of casualties is already @ @ @ @ @ large number of buildings , including offices and apartments , were damaged or completely destroyed @ @ @ @ @ reports , may may have been caused by the explosion of a fireworks storage .
@ @ @ @ @ to officially reveal the cause of the incident .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • @ @ @ @ @ Line And In Golan Heights Area On August 3 , 2020 ( Map Update )

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UPDATE (19:40 CEST): Both Israel and Hezbollah denied responsibility for two massive explosions in Beirut. According to media authorities are considering a version that the explosion was caused by some confiscated materials that were stored in the port area.
***
On August 4, two major explosions rocked the port of the Lebanese capital of Beirut causing the large-scale devastation wreaked in the surrounding area and multiple casualties.
The estimated number of casualties is already over 100 people.
A large number of buildings, including offices and apartments, were damaged or completely destroyed. According to social media reports, the incident may have been caused by the explosion of a fireworks storage.
Nonetheless, authorities are yet to officially reveal the cause of the incident.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Military Situation In Afghanistan On August 4, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan : • US Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ video meeting with the Taliban ’ s chief negotiator Mullah Baradar Akhund to discuss the @ @ @ @ @ At least 10 ISIS members were killed in the almost day-long battle between Afghan security @ @ @ @ @ Jalalabad prison ; • Several civilians were allegedly killed and wounded in mortar rounds fired @ @ @ @ @ , Badghis province .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Afghanistan:
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo held a video meeting with the Taliban’s chief negotiator Mullah Baradar Akhund to discuss the Afghan peace process;
At least 10 ISIS members were killed in the almost day-long battle between Afghan security forces and ISIS in the Jalalabad prison;
Several civilians were allegedly killed and wounded in mortar rounds fired by ANDSF in Bala Murghab, Badghis province.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Secret Meeting on the Privatization of Nuclear War Held on Hiroshima Day 2003

The Trump Administration ’ s Nuclear Posture Review ( NPR ) 2018 has called for “ the development of new , more usable nuclear weapons ” .
The 2018 NPR is in many regards .
What seems to have escaped the numerous media reports on Trump ’ s 2018 NPR is that the development of “ more usable nuclear weapons ” had already been put forth in George W. Bush ’ s 2001 Nuclear Posture Review , which was adopted by the US Senate in late 2002 .
In this regard , Senator Edward Kennedy had accused the Bush Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more useable nuclear weapons.
” namely tactical nuclear weapons ( B61-11 mini-nukes ) with an explosive capacity between one third and 6 times times a Hiroshima bomb .
The term “ more usable ” emanates from the debate surrounding the 2001 NPR , which justified the use of tactical nuclear weapons in the conventional war theater on the grounds that tactical nuclear weapons , namely bunker buster bombs with a nuclear warhead are , according to scientific opinion on contract to the Pentagon “ harmless to the surrounding population because the explosion is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excerpt from Michel Chossudovsky ’ s Towards a World War Three Scenario , The Dangers of Nuclear War .
first published in 2011 .
At no point since the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th , 1945 , has humanity been closer to the unthinkable – a nuclear holocaust which could potentially spread in terms of radioactive fallout over a large part of the Middle East .
All the safeguards of the Cold War era , which categorized the nuclear bomb as “ a weapon of last resort ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” military actions using nuclear warheads are now described as acts of “ self-defense ” .
During the Cold War , the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction ( MAD ) prevailed , namely that the use of nuclear weapons against the Soviet Union would result in “ the destruction of both the attacker and the defender ” .
In the post Cold war era , US nuclear doctrine was redefined .
The dangers of nuclear weapons have been obfuscated .
Tactical weapons have been upheld as distinct , in terms of their impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cold War era .
Tactical nuclear weapons are identical to the strategic nuclear bombs .
The only things that differentiates these two categories of nuclear bombs are : The tactical nuclear weapon or low yield mini-nuke is described as a small nuclear bomb , delivered in the same way as the earth penetrating bunker buster bombs .
Tactical nuclear weapons , in terms of in-theater delivery systems are comparable to the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 .
The Pentagon ’ s 2001 Nuclear Posture Review envisaged so-called “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first strike use ” of nuclear weapons , not only against “ axis of evil ” countries ( including Iran and North Korea ) but also against Russia and China.2 The adoption of the NPR by the US Congress in late 2002 provided a green light for carrying out the Pentagon ’ s pre-emptive nuclear war doctrine , both in terms of military planning as well as defense procurement and production .
Congress not only rolled back its prohibition on low yield nuclear weapons , it also provided funding “ to pursue work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was allocated to bunker buster ( earth penetrator ) tactical nuclear weapons as well as to the development of new nuclear weapons.3 On August 6 , 2003 , on Hiroshima Day , commemorating when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima ( August 6 1945 ) , a secret meeting was held behind closed doors at Strategic Command Headquarters at the Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska .
Senior executives from the nuclear industry and the military industrial complex were in attendance .
This mingling of defense contractors , scientists and policy-makers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The meeting was intended to set the stage for the development of a new generation of “ smaller ” , “ safer ” and “ more usable ” nuclear weapons , to be used in the “ in-theater nuclear wars ” of the 21st Century .
In a cruel irony , the participants to this secret meeting , which excluded members of Congress , arrived on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and departed on the anniversary of the attack on Nagasaki .
More than 150 military contractors , scientists from the weapons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the headquarters of the US Strategic Command in Omaha , Nebraska to plot and plan for the possibility of “ full-scale nuclear war ” , calling for the production of a new generation of nuclear weapons – more “ usable ” so-called “ mini-nukes ” and earth penetrating “ bunker busters ” armed with atomic warheads.4 According to a leaked draft of the agenda , the secret meeting included discussions on “ mini-nukes ” and “ bunker-buster ” bombs with nuclear war heads “ for possible use against rogue states ” : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post 9/11 nuclear weapons doctrine was in the making , with America ’ s major defense contractors directly involved in the decision-making process .
The Hiroshima Day 2003 meetings had set the stage for the “ privatization of nuclear war ” .
Corporations not only reap multibillion-dollar profits from the production of nuclear bombs , they also have a direct voice in setting the agenda regarding the use and deployment of nuclear weapons .
The nuclear weapons industry , which includes the production of nuclear devices as well as the missile delivery systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ handful of defense contractors with Lockheed Martin , General Dynamics , Northrop Grunman , Raytheon and Boeing in the lead .
It is worth noting that barely a week prior to the historic August 6 , 2003 meeting , the National Nuclear Security Administration ( NNSA ) disbanded its advisory committee which provided an “ independent oversight ” on the US nuclear arsenal , including the testing and/or use of new nuclear devices.6 The above text is an excerpt from Michel Chossudovsky ’ s Towards a World War Three Scenario , The Dangers @ @ @ @

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Written by Prof Michel Chossudovsky; Originally appeared at Global Researh
Behind closed doors at Strategic Command Headquarters
The Trump Administration’s Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) 2018 has called for “the development of new, more usable nuclear weapons”.
The 2018 NPR is in many regards Déjà Vu.
What seems to have escaped the numerous media reports on Trump’s 2018 NPR is that the development of “more usable nuclear weapons” had already been put forth in George W. Bush’s 2001 Nuclear Posture Review, which was adopted by the US Senate in late 2002. In this regard, Senator Edward Kennedy had accused the Bush Administration for having developed “a generation of more useable nuclear weapons.” namely tactical nuclear weapons (B61-11 mini-nukes) with an explosive capacity between one third and 6 times times a Hiroshima bomb.
The term “more usable” emanates from the debate surrounding the 2001 NPR, which justified the use of tactical nuclear weapons in the conventional war theater on the grounds that tactical nuclear weapons, namely bunker buster bombs with a nuclear warhead are, according to scientific opinion on contract to the Pentagon “harmless to the surrounding population because the explosion is underground.”
Michel Chossudovsky, August 6, 2019, August 3, 2020
***
The text below is an excerpt from Michel Chossudovsky’s Towards a World War Three Scenario, The Dangers of Nuclear War. first published in 2011.
***
At no point since the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945, has humanity been closer to the unthinkable – a nuclear holocaust which could potentially spread in terms of radioactive fallout over a large part of the Middle East.
All the safeguards of the Cold War era, which categorized the nuclear bomb as “a weapon of last resort”, have been scrapped. “Offensive” military actions using nuclear warheads are now described as acts of “self-defense”.
The casualties from the direct effects of blast, radioactivity, and fires resulting from the massive use of nuclear weapons by the superpowers [of the Cold War era] would be so catastrophic that we avoided such a tragedy for the first four decades after the invention of nuclear weapons.1
During the Cold War, the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) prevailed, namely that the use of nuclear weapons against the Soviet Union would result in “the destruction of both the attacker and the defender”. In the post Cold war era, US nuclear doctrine was redefined.
The dangers of nuclear weapons have been obfuscated. Tactical weapons have been upheld as distinct, in terms of their impact, from the strategic thermonuclear bombs of the Cold War era. Tactical nuclear weapons are identical to the strategic nuclear bombs. The only things that differentiates these two categories of nuclear bombs are:
1) their delivery system;
2) their explosive yield (measured in mass of trinitrotoluene (TNT), in kilotons or megatons.
The tactical nuclear weapon or low yield mini-nuke is described as a small nuclear bomb, delivered in the same way as the earth penetrating bunker buster bombs. Tactical nuclear weapons, in terms of in-theater delivery systems are comparable to the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.
The Pentagon’s 2001 Nuclear Posture Review envisaged so-called “contingency plans” for an offensive “first strike use” of nuclear weapons, not only against “axis of evil” countries (including Iran and North Korea) but also against Russia and China.2
The adoption of the NPR by the US Congress in late 2002 provided a green light for carrying out the Pentagon’s pre-emptive nuclear war doctrine, both in terms of military planning as well as defense procurement and production. Congress not only rolled back its prohibition on low yield nuclear weapons, it also provided funding “to pursue work on so-called mini-nukes”. The financing was allocated to bunker buster (earth penetrator) tactical nuclear weapons as well as to the development of new nuclear weapons.3
Hiroshima Day 2003: Secret Meeting at Strategic Command Headquarters
On August 6, 2003, on Hiroshima Day, commemorating when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima (August 6 1945), a secret meeting was held behind closed doors at Strategic Command Headquarters at the Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.
Senior executives from the nuclear industry and the military industrial complex were in attendance. This mingling of defense contractors, scientists and policy-makers was not intended to commemorate Hiroshima. The meeting was intended to set the stage for the development of a new generation of “smaller”, “safer” and “more usable” nuclear weapons, to be used in the “in-theater nuclear wars” of the 21st Century.
In a cruel irony, the participants to this secret meeting, which excluded members of Congress, arrived on the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and departed on the anniversary of the attack on Nagasaki. More than 150 military contractors, scientists from the weapons labs, and other government officials gathered at the headquarters of the US Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska to plot and plan for the possibility of “full-scale nuclear war”, calling for the production of a new generation of nuclear weapons – more “usable” so-called “mini-nukes” and earth penetrating “bunker busters” armed with atomic warheads.4
According to a leaked draft of the agenda, the secret meeting included discussions on “mini-nukes” and “bunker-buster” bombs with nuclear war heads “for possible use against rogue states”:
We need to change our nuclear strategy from the Cold War to one that can deal with emerging threats… The meeting will give some thought to how we guarantee the efficacy of the (nuclear) stockpile.5
The Privatization of Nuclear War: US Military Contractors Set the Stage
The post 9/11 nuclear weapons doctrine was in the making, with America’s major defense contractors directly involved in the decision-making process.
The Hiroshima Day 2003 meetings had set the stage for the “privatization of nuclear war”. Corporations not only reap multibillion-dollar profits from the production of nuclear bombs, they also have a direct voice in setting the agenda regarding the use and deployment of nuclear weapons.
The nuclear weapons industry, which includes the production of nuclear devices as well as the missile delivery systems, etc., is controlled by a handful of defense contractors with Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Northrop Grunman, Raytheon and Boeing in the lead. It is worth noting that barely a week prior to the historic August 6, 2003 meeting, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) disbanded its advisory committee which provided an “independent oversight” on the US nuclear arsenal, including the testing and/or use of new nuclear devices.6
The above text is an excerpt from Michel Chossudovsky’s
Towards a World War Three Scenario, The Dangers of Nuclear War.
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southfront--2020-08-04--Ansar Allah Forces Resisting Saudi-led Aggression Release More Videos Showing Latest Clashes

The military forces in Yemen ( Ansar Allah ) resisting the Saudi-led aggression have released more video footage of the resistance forces spearheading the efforts to expel the invaders from their country and some of the latest clashes that have taken place .
The footage includes several tanks and other vehicles being destroyed by anti-tank missiles .
Meanwhile , the Saudi ’ s have made another attempt to win over the leadership of the Southern Transitional Council , which receives backing from the United Arab Emirates , and secure their acquiescence to support the administration of former president Abd Rabbuh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to a report by Press TV the rival forces , sponsored by the Saudis and the UAE respectively , have agreed to share power in the country ’ s south as part of an agreement brokered by Riyadh in an attempt to end infighting in the military coalition that has been waging war against the people of Yemen since March of 2015 .
On Tuesday of last week , Saudi Arabia said it had proposed a resolution aimed at renewing the groups ’ commitment to implement a deal that the kingdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ militants loyal to the Saudi-allied Hadi administration and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council ( STC ) .
Under the Saudi-proposed resolution , the STC agreed to rescind its proclamation of ‘ self-rule ’ in the southern port city of Aden , which serves as the seat of the Hadi administration , according to a press release posted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency ( SPA ) and the Saudi Foreign Ministry early on Wednesday .
The sides also renewed an agreement to observe a ceasefire which was supposed to come into effect on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appoint a ‘ governor ’ for the regional capital Aden and form ‘ a government ’ there within 30 days .
Shortly after the report , STC spokesman Nizar Haitham tweeted that his group was abandoning self-administration .
The Riyadh agreement signed last year was intended to end the power struggle and deadly clashes between the two sides , which are allies under the Riyadh-led military coalition .
However , in April the STC declared a state of emergency in areas under its control and announced “ self-administration rule ” in Yemen ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TOPIC : • Saudi-led blockade of Yemen how did it all start will it ever end • Turkey is increasing its involvement in Yemen conflict-reports • Battles flare between Saudi-backed and UAE-backed forces to control island of Socotra

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The military forces in Yemen (Ansar Allah) resisting the Saudi-led aggression have released more video footage of the resistance forces spearheading the efforts to expel the invaders from their country and some of the latest clashes that have taken place.
The footage includes several tanks and other vehicles being destroyed by anti-tank missiles.
Meanwhile, the Saudi’s have made another attempt to win over the leadership of the Southern Transitional Council, which receives backing from the United Arab Emirates, and secure their acquiescence to support the administration of former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in areas under Saudi occupation.
According to a report by Press TV the rival forces, sponsored by the Saudis and the UAE respectively, have agreed to share power in the country’s south as part of an agreement brokered by Riyadh in an attempt to end infighting in the military coalition that has been waging war against the people of Yemen since March of 2015.
On Tuesday of last week, Saudi Arabia said it had proposed a resolution aimed at renewing the groups’ commitment to implement a deal that the kingdom had brokered in Riyadh last November between militants loyal to the Saudi-allied Hadi administration and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC).
Under the Saudi-proposed resolution, the STC agreed to rescind its proclamation of ‘self-rule’ in the southern port city of Aden, which serves as the seat of the Hadi administration, according to a press release posted by the state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and the Saudi Foreign Ministry early on Wednesday.
The sides also renewed an agreement to observe a ceasefire which was supposed to come into effect on June 22, and agreed to jointly appoint a ‘governor’ for the regional capital Aden and form ‘a government’ there within 30 days.
Shortly after the report, STC spokesman Nizar Haitham tweeted that his group was abandoning self-administration.
The Riyadh agreement signed last year was intended to end the power struggle and deadly clashes between the two sides, which are allies under the Riyadh-led military coalition. However, in April the STC declared a state of emergency in areas under its control and announced “self-administration rule” in Yemen’s south. LINK
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southfront--2020-08-04--Military Situation In Syria On August 4, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria : • A Turkish soldier @ @ @ @ @ city of Ras Al-Ayn in Hasakah province ; • The Israeli army targeted SAA positions @ @ @ @ @ to alleged suspicious activities near fences in the Golan Heights ; • Israeli army targeted @ @ @ @ @ in response to alleged suspicious activities near fences in the Golan Heights • Syrian Army @ @ @ @ @ the Kabani and Tufahiya areas ; • Syrian Army artillery shelled militant positions in the @ @ @ @ @ • Demonstration took place in Hawaij village calling on the international coalition forces to uncover @ @ @ @ @ of Sheikh Mutashar Al-Hafel , one of the Akidat elders ; • Turkish-backed militants shelled @ @ @ @ @ of Kafr Nubl .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
A Turkish soldier was found dead in the city of Ras Al-Ayn in Hasakah province;
The Israeli army targeted SAA positions in Quneitra province in response to alleged suspicious activities near fences in the Golan Heights;
Israeli army targeted SAA positions in Quneitra province in response to alleged suspicious activities near fences in the Golan Heights
Syrian Army artillery shelled militant positions in the Kabani and Tufahiya areas;
Syrian Army artillery shelled militant positions in the Kanasfara and Muzarra areas;
Demonstration took place in Hawaij village calling on the international coalition forces to uncover the perpetrators of the assassination of Sheikh Mutashar Al-Hafel, one of the Akidat elders;
Turkish-backed militants shelled SAA positions near the town of Kafr Nubl.
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southfront--2020-08-05--New Round Of Clashes In Greater Idlib: Losses Reported On Both Sides

Early on August 5 , heavy clashes broke out between the Syrian Arab Army ( SAA ) and militants in the northwestern region of Greater Idlib .
Opposition sources claimed that a unit of the SAA had failed to advance near the town of Fatterah in the southern Idlib countryside .
However , pro-government sources didn ’ t report any attacks by the army .
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , three Syrian soldiers were killed and three others were injured in the clashes .
Two militants were also killed .
Over the past few days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in different parts of Greater Idlib .
Russian warplanes also carried out a series of airstrikes on militants ’ positions in the region .
The situation in Greater Idlib is slowly spinning out of control .
The SAA deployed fresh reinforcements in Greater Idlib last week .
According to recent reports , the army and its allies are preparing to launch a new operation there .
Greater Idlib ’ s factions , including Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham and the National Front for Liberation , are preparing to repel the SAA attack on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thousands of Turkish troops are deployed there .
The recent developments indicate that the army is indeed planning to resume ground operations in Greater Idlib .
This will lead to a major escalation and a possible confrontation with Turkish forces in the region .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Israeli-Syrian Tensions Are Flaring Up In Golan Heights Area

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Early on August 5, heavy clashes broke out between the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and militants in the northwestern region of Greater Idlib.
Opposition sources claimed that a unit of the SAA had failed to advance near the town of Fatterah in the southern Idlib countryside. However, pro-government sources didn’t report any attacks by the army.
According to the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, three Syrian soldiers were killed and three others were injured in the clashes. Two militants were also killed.
Over the past few days, a number of clashes took place in different parts of Greater Idlib. Russian warplanes also carried out a series of airstrikes on militants’ positions in the region. The situation in Greater Idlib is slowly spinning out of control.
The SAA deployed fresh reinforcements in Greater Idlib last week. According to recent reports, the army and its allies are preparing to launch a new operation there.
Greater Idlib’s factions, including Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the National Front for Liberation, are preparing to repel the SAA attack on the southern part of the region. Thousands of Turkish troops are deployed there.
The recent developments indicate that the army is indeed planning to resume ground operations in Greater Idlib. This will lead to a major escalation and a possible confrontation with Turkish forces in the region.
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southfront--2020-08-05--Mealy-Mouthed Universities: Academic Freedom and the Pavlou Problem Down Under

A sorry state of affairs has descended upon Australian academic institutions like a suffocating cloak .
Vice-Chancellors and their overly remunerated toadies are getting human relations departments to scribble their apologias for sins against thought .
Overt political opinions , notably when expressed in a manner that might threaten brands and compromised lines of funding , are being hunted down by cadres of paranoid officials .
This process is being undertaken against both staff and students .
Terrible that it should happen to the staff , but when university officialdom turns against the students , it is perhaps time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The move of suspending fourth-year humanities student Drew Pavlou from the University of Queensland had more than a rippling effect .
The May decision made a splash in the , which started with the sort of description no university would surely wish to be associated with .
“ A student activist has been suspended from one of Australia ’ s leading universities after calling for democracy in Hong Kong and repeatedly criticizing Chinese influence on campus.
” Pavlou was in little doubt why he had received the two year suspension .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me .
It ’ s because the University of Queensland wants to do everything possible to avoid offending its Chinese allies.
” In , he explained that he was facing suspension “ on the grounds that I ‘ prejudiced ’ the university ’ s reputation by using my position as an elected student representative to express support for Hong Kong ’ s democratic protesters.
” Pavlou was duly served with a dossier of 11 allegations stretching 186 pages .
It would have been interesting , particularly for students , to see what bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially given the tight budgets institutions face with diminishing student numbers and the losses caused by the coronavirus .
Typical of the law and order approach that captivates university pen pushers , Pavlou was supposedly not targeted for reasons of free speech but those of safety and reputation .
It was alleged , for instance , that Pavlou had harassed , bullied and threatened a student in a Facebook exchange .
As it transpired , the student in question poured cold water on the whole thing .
Pavlou ’ s lawyer , Tony @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the effect that “ two of the people involved in the exchange did not make formal complaints to UQ – and I certainly have not.
” Pavlou might well have been “ characteristically crass ” , but the complaint seemed “ largely manufactured.
” This led Morris to the obvious suspicion : what else had been confected in this whole charade of accusations ?
Among the hollow allegations was the apparent prejudice caused to the reputation of UQ from a February 14 posting on Facebook advertising a “ fictional UQ event ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Panel – Why Uyghur ’ s [ sic ] Must be Exterminated ” .
The measure of such a university ’ s vengefulness in terms of guarding its corporate brand knows few bounds .
Pavlou ’ s suspension at the time was flimsy , poorly executed , a mockery of natural justice .
The disciplinary panel , constituting two academic staff and a student , was always questionable .
Staff members tend to be tenaciously compliant to the sirens of orthodoxy , unless they are not seeking promotion .
And anyone willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is bound to have a “ sold ” sign on their easily purchased conscience .
On appeal , the sentence was not quashed but merely reduced .
Pavlou was notified in July by the university ’ s Senate Discipline Appeals Committee that he would be suspended for the rest of the year and required to complete 25 hours of “ campus service ” , which had the stench of Iron Curtain re-education about it .
Of the 11 charges , only two “ serious misconduct ” allegations were said to hold water , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse towards a fellow student , the other involving Pavlou sporting a Hazmat suit outside the office of the UQ vice-chancellor .
The skin of authoritarianism is truly thin .
The Appeals Committee was “ of the view that the University ’ s reputation should not be regarded as a fragile or easily bruised thing ” but nonetheless took a dim view of Pavlou ’ s behaviour which showed no signs of “ remorse or insight ’ .
With jaw dropping disingenuousness , UQ chancellor Peter Varghese thought the episode closed .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he himself had considered stiff , “ should finally put to rest the false allegations that this process has been an attack on freedom of expression.
” In another statement explaining Pavlou ’ s automatic disqualification as a member of the UQ Senate , the chancellor reiterated that the relevant findings of serious misconduct had nothing to do with Pavlou ’ s “ personal or political views about China or Hong Kong.
” Lipstick on a pig comes to mind .
In a July 17 , 2020 email to UQ alumni , Vice-Chancellor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be jeered as any politburo missive .
There was no mention of Pavlou ; no mention of critics ; no mention of a crisis in how universities deal with criticism from the student body .
But the reader was left in no doubt .
“ At UQ , we live and breathe an ongoing commitment to the protection and promotion of free speech every day.
” Such freedom had “ been fiercely protected by staff and students for decades – exemplified by demonstrations against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and the 1971 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to court some understanding , recalled his time as a student when he was “ actively involved in demonstrations on and off the campus including arguing for a switch to renewable energy solutions following the 1973 oil crisis.
” Having to constantly remind people about a legacy worn and decidedly irrelevant in a corporatized university is a sure sign that a disease has taken hold and is killing the patient .
Significant in the note is how far Pavlou ’ s activism , the roaring elephant in the room , rattled the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the China connection .
Høj promised that the university had changed its approach to the Confucius Institute , making sure its staff were “ subject to Australian laws and UQ policies.
” Serving foreign government officials would “ no longer be offered honorary or adjunct positions ” .
Sources of international income would also be diversified “ to ensure a sustainable financial position.
” Pavlou was crestfallen but keen to take the matter to the Queensland Human Rights Commission .
“ UQ still achieves its main goal of removing me as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just a face-saving PR move.
” As Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch wondered , “ Free speech ?
Academic freedom ?
What ’ s that ?
” What , indeed .
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College , Cambridge .
He lectures at RMIT University , Melbourne .
Email : bkampmark @ gmail.com

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Submitted by Dr. Binoy Kampmark
A sorry state of affairs has descended upon Australian academic institutions like a suffocating cloak. Vice-Chancellors and their overly remunerated toadies are getting human relations departments to scribble their apologias for sins against thought. Overt political opinions, notably when expressed in a manner that might threaten brands and compromised lines of funding, are being hunted down by cadres of paranoid officials. This process is being undertaken against both staff and students. Terrible that it should happen to the staff, but when university officialdom turns against the students, it is perhaps time to go into ignominious retirement or advertising.
The move of suspending fourth-year humanities student Drew Pavlou from the University of Queensland had more than a rippling effect. The May decision made a splash in the New York Times, which started with the sort of description no university would surely wish to be associated with. “A student activist has been suspended from one of Australia’s leading universities after calling for democracy in Hong Kong and repeatedly criticizing Chinese influence on campus.”
Pavlou was in little doubt why he had received the two year suspension. “It’s a calculated move to silence me. It’s because the University of Queensland wants to do everything possible to avoid offending its Chinese allies.” In Foreign Policy, he explained that he was facing suspension “on the grounds that I ‘prejudiced’ the university’s reputation by using my position as an elected student representative to express support for Hong Kong’s democratic protesters.”
Pavlou was duly served with a dossier of 11 allegations stretching 186 pages. It would have been interesting, particularly for students, to see what bill was drawn up for that effort, especially given the tight budgets institutions face with diminishing student numbers and the losses caused by the coronavirus. Typical of the law and order approach that captivates university pen pushers, Pavlou was supposedly not targeted for reasons of free speech but those of safety and reputation. It was alleged, for instance, that Pavlou had harassed, bullied and threatened a student in a Facebook exchange.
As it transpired, the student in question poured cold water on the whole thing. Pavlou’s lawyer, Tony Morris QC, received a tart email to the effect that “two of the people involved in the exchange did not make formal complaints to UQ – and I certainly have not.” Pavlou might well have been “characteristically crass”, but the complaint seemed “largely manufactured.” This led Morris to the obvious suspicion: what else had been confected in this whole charade of accusations?
Among the hollow allegations was the apparent prejudice caused to the reputation of UQ from a February 14 posting on Facebook advertising a “fictional UQ event” on campus: “US Confucius Institute Panel – Why Uyghur’s [sic] Must be Exterminated”. The measure of such a university’s vengefulness in terms of guarding its corporate brand knows few bounds.
Pavlou’s suspension at the time was flimsy, poorly executed, a mockery of natural justice. The disciplinary panel, constituting two academic staff and a student, was always questionable. Staff members tend to be tenaciously compliant to the sirens of orthodoxy, unless they are not seeking promotion. And anyone willing to be associated with such show trial efforts is bound to have a “sold” sign on their easily purchased conscience.
On appeal, the sentence was not quashed but merely reduced. Pavlou was notified in July by the university’s Senate Discipline Appeals Committee that he would be suspended for the rest of the year and required to complete 25 hours of “campus service”, which had the stench of Iron Curtain re-education about it. Of the 11 charges, only two “serious misconduct” allegations were said to hold water, one involving the fatuous ground of online abuse towards a fellow student, the other involving Pavlou sporting a Hazmat suit outside the office of the UQ vice-chancellor. The skin of authoritarianism is truly thin.
The Appeals Committee was “of the view that the University’s reputation should not be regarded as a fragile or easily bruised thing” but nonetheless took a dim view of Pavlou’s behaviour which showed no signs of “remorse or insight’.
With jaw dropping disingenuousness, UQ chancellor Peter Varghese thought the episode closed. A reduced sentence, modifying the initial finding he himself had considered stiff, “should finally put to rest the false allegations that this process has been an attack on freedom of expression.” In another statement explaining Pavlou’s automatic disqualification as a member of the UQ Senate, the chancellor reiterated that the relevant findings of serious misconduct had nothing to do with Pavlou’s “personal or political views about China or Hong Kong.” Lipstick on a pig comes to mind.
In a July 17, 2020 email to UQ alumni, Vice-Chancellor Peter Høj showed a mealy-mouthed disposition to be jeered as any politburo missive. There was no mention of Pavlou; no mention of critics; no mention of a crisis in how universities deal with criticism from the student body. But the reader was left in no doubt. “At UQ, we live and breathe an ongoing commitment to the protection and promotion of free speech every day.” Such freedom had “been fiercely protected by staff and students for decades – exemplified by demonstrations against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and the 1971 anti-apartheid protests.”
Høj, in an effort to court some understanding, recalled his time as a student when he was “actively involved in demonstrations on and off the campus including arguing for a switch to renewable energy solutions following the 1973 oil crisis.” Having to constantly remind people about a legacy worn and decidedly irrelevant in a corporatized university is a sure sign that a disease has taken hold and is killing the patient.
Significant in the note is how far Pavlou’s activism, the roaring elephant in the room, rattled the functionaries, much of it to do with the China connection. Høj promised that the university had changed its approach to the Confucius Institute, making sure its staff were “subject to Australian laws and UQ policies.” Serving foreign government officials would “no longer be offered honorary or adjunct positions”. Sources of international income would also be diversified “to ensure a sustainable financial position.”
Pavlou was crestfallen but keen to take the matter to the Queensland Human Rights Commission. “UQ still achieves its main goal of removing me as an elected student representative, their supposed lenience is just a face-saving PR move.” As Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch wondered, “Free speech? Academic freedom? What’s that?” What, indeed.
Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com
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