southfront--2020-08-07--Colombia: Former President Uribe Placed Under House Arrest By The Supreme Court

The Colombian Supreme Court ordered the house arrest of former president ( and current senator ) Álvaro Uribe Vélez on Tuesday , in a historic event in the South American country .
The decision took effect immediately , though the former president has the opportunity to appeal the decision .
The decision was unanimous among the six magistrates of the Supreme Court ’ s Investigative Chamber who decided the case ( the seventh , Cristina Lombana , a military officer during Uribe ’ s presidency , declared herself impeded from hearing the case ) .
Although Uribe can appeal the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision ’ s legal effect until and unless the appeal is successful .
The decision concerns accusations that Uribe tried to bribe ex-paramilitary members who are now prisoners , to persuade them to change their testimony against the former president implicating him in the creation and financing of several former paramilitary groups .
The decision was confirmed by ex-president Uribe himself , who , through his social networks , announced the precautionary measure against him .
The arrest warrant , which may last for a maximum of one year , must be carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under increased political and legal pressure following revelations made by the magazine in a series of investigative reports including ‘ Chuzadas sin cuartel ’ ( Illegal electronic surveillance without quarter ) and ‘ Las carpetas secretas ’ ( The secret archives ) , which implicated Uribe ’ s Democratic Centre political party in the illegal surveillance and interception of communications carried out primarily by military intelligence units against government opponents ( or suspected opponents ) including journalists , human rights defenders , the then Secretary-General of the Presidency , and an adviser to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In a press release , the Democratic Centre party said it was indignant that the Supreme Court put Uribe under house arrest , possibly ending the political career of one of the most powerful politicians in Colombia .
The statement asserted that the bribery charges and accusations Uribe had tried to obstruct justice were “ slanderous ” and “ sustained by false witnesses ” .
Democratic Centre is already struggling to refute allegations that drug trafficking money financed the presidential campaign of Ivan Duque in 2018 , among numerous other major scandals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ former president Uribe and current president Ivan Duque ‘ s in disarray .
One of the party ’ s members in the Senate , Paloma Valencia , even proposed a comprehensive reform to the judicial system to abolish the units investigating Uribe on fraud and bribery charges , something the party has been unsuccessfully promoting for years .
However , the proposal is less likely than ever to gain support in the national Congress , where the Democratic Centre has a minority ( 19 of 108 seats in the senate and 32 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the other major parties are distancing themselves following the party ’ s heavy defeat in the 2019 regional elections and a series of damaging allegations and investigations .
While the leadership of the coalition Conservative Party stated that they “ regretted the situation the former ex-president is in , ” they nonetheless expressed support for the Supreme Court .
Radical Change party leader German Vargas , whose party also is in the governing coalition , did not immediately respond to the Supreme Court ’ s announcement .
Several of Uribe ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manuel Santos and leftist Senator Gustavo Petro , stated that they expect the court to do its utmost to ensure that Uribe receives a fair trial .
The Supreme Court ’ s statement justifying the house arrest noted that the magistrates ’ decision to proceed with the trial is unanimous and that it is based on solid evidence .
LINK MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Colombia ’ s Supreme Court opens another criminal investigation against former president Alvaro Uribe • Lawfare Colombian-style legal political and quasi-judicial harassment persecution and counterinsurgency operations in @

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The Colombian Supreme Court ordered the house arrest of former president (and current senator) Álvaro Uribe Vélez on Tuesday, in a historic event in the South American country. The decision took effect immediately, though the former president has the opportunity to appeal the decision.
The decision was unanimous among the six magistrates of the Supreme Court’s Investigative Chamber who decided the case (the seventh, Cristina Lombana, a military officer during Uribe’s presidency, declared herself impeded from hearing the case). Although Uribe can appeal the decision, this will not alter the decision’s legal effect until and unless the appeal is successful.
The decision concerns accusations that Uribe tried to bribe ex-paramilitary members who are now prisoners, to persuade them to change their testimony against the former president implicating him in the creation and financing of several former paramilitary groups.
The decision was confirmed by ex-president Uribe himself, who, through his social networks, announced the precautionary measure against him.
“The deprivation of my freedom causes me deep sadness for my wife, for my family and for the Colombians who still believe that I have done something good for the Homeland,” Uribe said in this regard.
La privación de mi libertad me causa profunda tristeza por mi señora, por mi familia y por los colombianos que todavía creen que algo bueno he hecho por la Patria — Álvaro Uribe Vélez (@AlvaroUribeVel) August 4, 2020
The arrest warrant, which may last for a maximum of one year, must be carried out immediately.
Uribe has also been under increased political and legal pressure following revelations made by the magazine Semana in a series of investigative reports including ‘Chuzadas sin cuartel’ (Illegal electronic surveillance without quarter) and ‘Las carpetas secretas’ (The secret archives), which implicated Uribe’s Democratic Centre political party in the illegal surveillance and interception of communications carried out primarily by military intelligence units against government opponents (or suspected opponents) including journalists, human rights defenders, the then Secretary-General of the Presidency, and an adviser to the High Commissioner for Peace. LINK
In a press release, the Democratic Centre party said it was indignant that the Supreme Court put Uribe under house arrest, possibly ending the political career of one of the most powerful politicians in Colombia.
The statement asserted that the bribery charges and accusations Uribe had tried to obstruct justice were “slanderous” and “sustained by false witnesses”. Democratic Centre is already struggling to refute allegations that drug trafficking money financed the presidential campaign of Ivan Duque in 2018, among numerous other major scandals.
The announcement left the political party of former president Uribe and current president Ivan Duque‘s in disarray. One of the party’s members in the Senate, Paloma Valencia, even proposed a comprehensive reform to the judicial system to abolish the units investigating Uribe on fraud and bribery charges, something the party has been unsuccessfully promoting for years.
However, the proposal is less likely than ever to gain support in the national Congress, where the Democratic Centre has a minority (19 of 108 seats in the senate and 32 of 172 in the House of Representatives) and the other major parties are distancing themselves following the party’s heavy defeat in the 2019 regional elections and a series of damaging allegations and investigations.
While the leadership of the coalition Conservative Party stated that they “regretted the situation the former ex-president is in,” they nonetheless expressed support for the Supreme Court.
Radical Change party leader German Vargas, whose party also is in the governing coalition, did not immediately respond to the Supreme Court’s announcement.
Several of Uribe’s main political adversaries, former President Juan Manuel Santos and leftist Senator Gustavo Petro, stated that they expect the court to do its utmost to ensure that Uribe receives a fair trial.
The Supreme Court’s statement justifying the house arrest noted that the magistrates’ decision to proceed with the trial is unanimous and that it is based on solid evidence. LINK
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southfront--2020-08-07--Russian S-300 Air Defense System Spotted In Libya?

Russia has deployed an advanced S-300 air defense system to Libya to support the forces of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar against the Turkish military and its proxies , local media reported on August 5 .
According to photos surfacing online , the supposed S-300 system is deployed near the town of Ras Lanuf , a key oil export port controlled by the Libyan National Army ( LNA ) .
The town is located more than 200km away from the port city of Sirte , which the LNA is defending against Turkish-led forces .
The circulating photos supposedly show a 96L6E @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launcher ( TEL ) similar to those used in S-300 and S-400 air-defense systems .
This 3D early-warning and acquisition radar has a range of 300 km and can track up to 100 targets simultaneously .
Last month , several Arab sources already reported that an S-300 system had bee deployed in Libya .
Egypt , an ally of the LNA , operates a variant of the system that is different from the one allegedly spotted near Ras Lanuf .
Turkish sources are already crying foul about the cowardly Russians who are aiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democratically bombing LNA-controlled cities .
At the same time , it should be noted that the photos from the Ras Lanuf area are yet to be verified .
In particular , the pictured radar also looks similar to those of the Iranian-made Khordad-15 air defense system , which was used in 2019 to shoot down a RQ-4A Global Hawk BAMS-D surveillance drone of the United States over the Strait of Hormuz .
In any case , if any of these versions is confirmed , it will be sad news for the Erdogan sultanate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an attack on Sirte , the Turkish Armed Forces , pro-Turkish Syrian militants and Tripoli forces have not yet launched an attack on the port city , likely fearing a direct military response by Egypt to such a move .
Sporadic clashes regularly erupt west of Sirte and sides exchange isolated airstrikes , but the general situation on the frontline has stabilized .
This means that the conflict has at least temporarily entered into a positional war stage .
In these conditions , the main backers of Field Marshal Khaftar – Egypt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France and Russia , have every chance to take the upper hand in this standoff even without the direct involvement of Russia or other major powers at their side .

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Russia has deployed an advanced S-300 air defense system to Libya to support the forces of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar against the Turkish military and its proxies, local media reported on August 5.
According to photos surfacing online, the supposed S-300 system is deployed near the town of Ras Lanuf, a key oil export port controlled by the Libyan National Army (LNA). The town is located more than 200km away from the port city of Sirte, which the LNA is defending against Turkish-led forces.
The circulating photos supposedly show a 96L6E Cheese Board radar and a transporter erector launcher (TEL) similar to those used in S-300 and S-400 air-defense systems. This 3D early-warning and acquisition radar has a range of 300 km and can track up to 100 targets simultaneously.
Last month, several Arab sources already reported that an S-300 system had bee deployed in Libya. Egypt, an ally of the LNA, operates a variant of the system that is different from the one allegedly spotted near Ras Lanuf.
Turkish sources are already crying foul about the cowardly Russians who are aiming to shoot down peaceful Turkish combat drones democratically bombing LNA-controlled cities. At the same time, it should be noted that the photos from the Ras Lanuf area are yet to be verified. In particular, the pictured radar also looks similar to those of the Iranian-made Khordad-15 air defense system, which was used in 2019 to shoot down a RQ-4A Global Hawk BAMS-D surveillance drone of the United States over the Strait of Hormuz. In any case, if any of these versions is confirmed, it will be sad news for the Erdogan sultanate and its proxies.
Despite active preparations for an attack on Sirte, the Turkish Armed Forces, pro-Turkish Syrian militants and Tripoli forces have not yet launched an attack on the port city, likely fearing a direct military response by Egypt to such a move. Sporadic clashes regularly erupt west of Sirte and sides exchange isolated airstrikes, but the general situation on the frontline has stabilized.
This means that the conflict has at least temporarily entered into a positional war stage. In these conditions, the main backers of Field Marshal Khaftar – Egypt and the UAE, partially supported by France and Russia, have every chance to take the upper hand in this standoff even without the direct involvement of Russia or other major powers at their side.
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southfront--2020-08-07--Russian Service Members Were Injured In Northern Lattakia Clashes – Reports

A number of Russian service members were reportedly injured in the northern countryside of Syria ’ s Lattakia on August 6 .
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the Russian service members were injured when militants shelled the outskirts of the town of Kinsabba .
According to the monitoring group , a Russian helicopter landed near the town to evacuate the wounded .
The al-Fateh al-Mubeen Operations Room claimed responsibility for the strikes on Kinsabba .
The operation room , which includes Turkish-backed factions and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups , is led by Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet to comment on these claims .
The ministry usually acknowledges any human losses in Syria within a few days .
Earlier in the morning , the Syrian Arab Army launched a limited attack from Kinsabba on the al-Hadadah hill .
Intense clashes broke out in the region .
Nine Syrian soldiers and five militants were reportedly killed .
If the reports of Russian casualties in northern Lattakia are true , Russian forces will likely respond within a few hours .
Such an attack could even encourage the Syrian military and its allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Idlib .
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A number of Russian service members were reportedly injured in the northern countryside of Syria’s Lattakia on August 6.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed that the Russian service members were injured when militants shelled the outskirts of the town of Kinsabba. According to the monitoring group, a Russian helicopter landed near the town to evacuate the wounded.
The al-Fateh al-Mubeen Operations Room claimed responsibility for the strikes on Kinsabba. The operation room, which includes Turkish-backed factions and al-Qaeda-affiliated groups, is led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
The Ministry of Defense of Russia is yet to comment on these claims. The ministry usually acknowledges any human losses in Syria within a few days.
Earlier in the morning, the Syrian Arab Army launched a limited attack from Kinsabba on the al-Hadadah hill. Intense clashes broke out in the region. Nine Syrian soldiers and five militants were reportedly killed.
If the reports of Russian casualties in northern Lattakia are true, Russian forces will likely respond within a few hours. Such an attack could even encourage the Syrian military and its allies to launch a new operation in Greater Idlib.
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southfront--2020-08-07--Light Armoured Vehicle III – Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Infographics)

Click to see the full-size image The LAV ( Light Armoured Vehicle ) III infantry fighting vehicle is a Canadian @ @ @ @ @ part of the Light Armoured Vehicle ( LAV ) series .
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The LAV (Light Armoured Vehicle) III infantry fighting vehicle is a Canadian armoured vehicle developed as a part of the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) series.
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southfront--2020-08-07--Death From the Sky: Hiroshima and Normalised Atrocities

When US President Harry S. Truman made the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6 , 1945 , followed by another on Nagasaki a few days later , he was not acting as an agent untethered from history .
In the wheels of his wearied mind lay the battered Marines who , despite being victorious , had received sanguinary lashings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa .
A fear grew , and US military sources speculated about , the slaughter that might follow an invasion of the Japanese homeland .
They also pondered the future role of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were other means by which Japan ’ s involvement in the war might be terminated before Moscow got its hands on the battered remains of North East Asia .
Much is made about the moral dilemma Truman faced .
He knew there was the nastiest of weapons at hand , born from the race to acquire it from Nazi Germany .
But on a certain level , it was merely another weapon , one to use , a choice sample in the cabinet of lethal means and measures .
By that stage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air , not to mention land , was banal and common place ; enemy populations were to be experimented upon , burned , torched , gassed , shelled and eradicated in the program of total war .
By the time Truman made his decision , Japan had become a graveyard of strategic aerial bombing .
General Curtis E. LeMay of the US Air Force prided himself on incinerating the enemy , and was encouraged by various study commissions advocating the use of incendiary bombs against Japan ’ s flammable urban architecture .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the pioneering US aviator and air power enthusiast Billy Mitchell , who fantasised in the 1920s about Japanese cities being “ the greatest aerial targets the world has ever seen ” .
In 1941 , US Army chief of staff George Marshall spread the word to journalists that the US would “ set the paper cities of Japan on fire ” .
Civilians would not be spared .
Towards the end of the war , daylight precision bombing had fallen out of favour ; LeMay preferred the use of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do the work .
His pride of joy in conflagration was Tokyo .
During the six-hour raid over the night of March 9 and 10 , 1945 , the US Strategic Bombing Survey concluded that 87,793 had perished , with 40,918 injuries .
There was little novel in LeMay ’ s blunt approach .
Britain ’ s Air Force Marshal Arthur “ Bomber ” Harris fertilised the ground , and the air , for such an idea .
He made it his mission to not only kill Germans but kill German civilians with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a workmanlike conviction so disturbing it chilled the blood of many Britons .
As he put it , “ The cities of Germany , including their working populations , are literally the heart of Germany ’ s war potential.
” It was his intention to , he explained to personnel , “ in addition to the horrors of fire … to bring masonry crashing down on top of the Boche , to kill the Boche and to terrify the Boche ” .
The Teutonic enemy came , not so much in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , regarded after the Second World War as generally ineffective , a ghastly failure to bring the population to its knees , received its blessing in Bomber Command .
This entire process neutered the moral compass of its executioners .
Killing civilians had ceased to be a problem of war , one of those afterthoughts which served to sanction mass murder .
Britain ’ s chief of the air staff for a good deal of the war , Charles Portal , called it a “ fallacy ” that bombing Germany ’ s cities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frighten Germans and that we camouflaged this intention by the pretence that we would destroy industry .
Any such idea is completely false .
The loss of life , which amounted to some 600,000 killed , was purely incidental.
” When 600,000 becomes an incidental matter , we are well on the way to celebrating the charnel houses of indiscriminate war .
When the issue of saturation bombing creased the legal minds behind the Nuremberg and Tokyo war crimes trials , an admission had to be made : all sides of the Second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realm of convenience in the killing of humanity , uniformed or not .
To win was all that mattered .
While the Nuremberg Charter left it open to criminalise German aerial tactics , the International Military Tribunal hedged .
As chief of the Luftwaffe , Hermann Göring was singled out for air attacks on Poland and other states but the prosecutors refrained from pushing the point , likely reflecting the cold fact , as Matthew Lippmann puts it , “ that both Germany and the Allies engaged in similar tactics.
” It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good pioneering go at indiscriminate aerial slaughter .
But the Allied powers , marshalling never before seen fleets of murderous bombers , perfected the bloody harvest .
The war had to be won , and , if needed , over the corpses of the hapless mother , defenceless child and frail grandparent .
As the historian Charles S. Maier notes with characteristic sharpness , a tacit consensus prevailed after the Second World War that the ledger of brutality was all stacked on one side .
German bombings during the Spanish Civil War , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , London and Coventry during the world war that followed , were seen as “ acts of wanton terror ” .
The Allied attacks on Italian , German and Japanese urban centres , in proportion and scale far more destructive , were seen as “ legitimate military actions ” .
Distinctions about civilian and non-civilian vanished in the atomic cloud .
Hiroshima ’ s tale is the apotheosis of eliminating distinctions in war .
It propagated such dangerous beliefs that nuclear wars might be won , sparing a handful of specialists and breeders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dawn .
It normalised , even as it constituted a warning , the act of annihilation itself .
Prior to the twin incinerations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki , the redoubtable nurse and writer Vera Brittain issued a warning that remains salient to those who wish to resort to waging death from the sky : “ If the nations can not agree , when peace returns , to refrain from the use of the bombing aeroplane as they have refrained from using poison gas , then mankind itself deserves to perish from the epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilisation.
” 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
When US President Harry S. Truman made the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by another on Nagasaki a few days later, he was not acting as an agent untethered from history. In the wheels of his wearied mind lay the battered Marines who, despite being victorious, had received sanguinary lashings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
A fear grew, and US military sources speculated about, the slaughter that might follow an invasion of the Japanese homeland. They also pondered the future role of the Soviets, and wondered whether there were other means by which Japan’s involvement in the war might be terminated before Moscow got its hands on the battered remains of North East Asia.
Much is made about the moral dilemma Truman faced. He knew there was the nastiest of weapons at hand, born from the race to acquire it from Nazi Germany. But on a certain level, it was merely another weapon, one to use, a choice sample in the cabinet of lethal means and measures. By that stage of the war, killing civilians from the air, not to mention land, was banal and common place; enemy populations were to be experimented upon, burned, torched, gassed, shelled and eradicated in the program of total war.
By the time Truman made his decision, Japan had become a graveyard of strategic aerial bombing. General Curtis E. LeMay of the US Air Force prided himself on incinerating the enemy, and was encouraged by various study commissions advocating the use of incendiary bombs against Japan’s flammable urban architecture. He was realising the dreams of such figures as the pioneering US aviator and air power enthusiast Billy Mitchell, who fantasised in the 1920s about Japanese cities being “the greatest aerial targets the world has ever seen”. In 1941, US Army chief of staff George Marshall spread the word to journalists that the US would “set the paper cities of Japan on fire”. Civilians would not be spared.
Towards the end of the war, daylight precision bombing had fallen out of favour; LeMay preferred the use of Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, heavily laden with firebombs, to do the work. His pride of joy in conflagration was Tokyo. During the six-hour raid over the night of March 9 and 10, 1945, the US Strategic Bombing Survey concluded that 87,793 had perished, with 40,918 injuries.
There was little novel in LeMay’s blunt approach. Britain’s Air Force Marshal Arthur “Bomber” Harris fertilised the ground, and the air, for such an idea. He made it his mission to not only kill Germans but kill German civilians with a cool determination. He did so with a workmanlike conviction so disturbing it chilled the blood of many Britons. As he put it, “The cities of Germany, including their working populations, are literally the heart of Germany’s war potential.” It was his intention to, he explained to personnel, “in addition to the horrors of fire … to bring masonry crashing down on top of the Boche, to kill the Boche and to terrify the Boche”. The Teutonic enemy came, not so much in all shades, but one. Saturation bombing, regarded after the Second World War as generally ineffective, a ghastly failure to bring the population to its knees, received its blessing in Bomber Command.
This entire process neutered the moral compass of its executioners. Killing civilians had ceased to be a problem of war, one of those afterthoughts which served to sanction mass murder. Britain’s chief of the air staff for a good deal of the war, Charles Portal, called it a “fallacy” that bombing Germany’s cities “was really intended to kill and frighten Germans and that we camouflaged this intention by the pretence that we would destroy industry. Any such idea is completely false. The loss of life, which amounted to some 600,000 killed, was purely incidental.” When 600,000 becomes an incidental matter, we are well on the way to celebrating the charnel houses of indiscriminate war.
When the issue of saturation bombing creased the legal minds behind the Nuremberg and Tokyo war crimes trials, an admission had to be made: all sides of the Second World War had made the air a realm of convenience in the killing of humanity, uniformed or not. To win was all that mattered. While the Nuremberg Charter left it open to criminalise German aerial tactics, the International Military Tribunal hedged. As chief of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Göring was singled out for air attacks on Poland and other states but the prosecutors refrained from pushing the point, likely reflecting the cold fact, as Matthew Lippmann puts it, “that both Germany and the Allies engaged in similar tactics.”
It is true that Germany and Japan gave a good pioneering go at indiscriminate aerial slaughter. But the Allied powers, marshalling never before seen fleets of murderous bombers, perfected the bloody harvest. The war had to be won, and, if needed, over the corpses of the hapless mother, defenceless child and frail grandparent. As the historian Charles S. Maier notes with characteristic sharpness, a tacit consensus prevailed after the Second World War that the ledger of brutality was all stacked on one side. German bombings during the Spanish Civil War, notably of Guernica; Warsaw, Rotterdam, London and Coventry during the world war that followed, were seen as “acts of wanton terror”. The Allied attacks on Italian, German and Japanese urban centres, in proportion and scale far more destructive, were seen as “legitimate military actions”.
Distinctions about civilian and non-civilian vanished in the atomic cloud. Hiroshima’s tale is the apotheosis of eliminating distinctions in war. It propagated such dangerous beliefs that nuclear wars might be won, sparing a handful of specialists and breeders in bunkers planning for the new post-apocalyptic dawn. It normalised, even as it constituted a warning, the act of annihilation itself.
Prior to the twin incinerations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the redoubtable nurse and writer Vera Brittain issued a warning that remains salient to those who wish to resort to waging death from the sky: “If the nations cannot agree, when peace returns, to refrain from the use of the bombing aeroplane as they have refrained from using poison gas, then mankind itself deserves to perish from the epidemic of moral insanity which today afflicts our civilisation.”
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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southfront--2020-08-07--Egypt And Greece Sign Maritime Agreement, Turkey Objects

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has announced that Egypt and Greece signed an agreement on Thursday designating an exclusive economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean between the two countries .
Shoukry made the announcement at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Cairo .
In Greece , diplomats said the deal effectively nullified an accord between Turkey and the internationally recognised government of Libya .
Last year , those two parties agreed to maritime boundaries in a deal Egypt and Greece decried as illegal and a violation of international law .
Greece maintains it infringed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurisdiction of the island of Crete .
His statement came hours after Greece said it is ready to start exploratory talks on the demarcation of maritime zones with Turkey as soon as this month .
Tensions were already high between Greece and Turkey over the exploration of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean .
The NATO members are also at odds over a range of issues from over flights in the Aegean Sea area to maritime zones in the eastern Mediterranean and the division of Cyprus .
In June , Greece and Italy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishing an exclusive economic zone between the two countries .
Earlier this month , Egypt said that part of a seismic survey planned by Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean potentially encroached on waters where Cairo claims exclusive rights .
Egypt hopes to become a regional energy hub with the rapid growth in Egypt ’ s natural gas supplies .
It formed with other countries the so-called Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum , which aims to develop the region ’ s gas market .
Turkey is not a member of the forum , which also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Italy and Jordan .
LINK Turkey ’ s Foreign Minister on Thursday said Greece and Egypt violated the rights and continental shelves of Turkey and Libya by signing a maritime deal on exclusive economic zones ( EEZ ) in the Eastern Mediterranean .
In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency , Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that the text and map of the agreement had yet to be revealed , adding : “ However , it ’ s obvious by the given coordinates that the deal not only violates the rights and continental shelf of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hence , an agreement that violates our continental shelf , which we have reported to the UN , is null and void and the reason why we ’ ve come to this point is that countries like Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration , are trying to sign agreements with Egypt and Israel while ignoring Turkey , ” Cavusoglu added .
“ We ’ ll continue to show them and the world that this agreement is null and void on the table and in the field.
” LINK A spokesman for the foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Accord issued a similar statement .
LINK In 2019 , Turkish officials and the prime minister of Libya ’ s Government of National Accord ( GNA ) Fayez Al-Sarraj signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea .
At that time , five countries , including Egypt , Greece , and Cyprus , called on the United Nations not to register the maritime boundary deal , describing it as “ illegal.
” The speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives , Aguila Saleh , in his letter to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a close ally of Greece and Cyprus , has had strained relations with Turkey since the 2013 ouster of Egypt ’ s late Islamist president Mohamed Morsi , a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’ s government .
Relations further deteriorated over Turkey ’ s intervention in Libya and a signalled military intervention by Egypt in the war-torn country .
LINK Earlier this week , the governments of Cyprus and France announced that the Cyprus-France Defence Cooperation Agreement has entered into effect .
It ensures “ energy , crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the two countries.
” According to an official announcement , the agreement , which was signed on April 4 , 2017 , entered into force on August 1 , 2020 after the completion of formal procedures .
The French president has also invited the seven leaders of the southern EU member states ( MED7 ) to a meeting in Paris at the end of August .
LINK In other developments , Libya , Turkey and Malta have issued a joint statement expressing reservations about the European Union ’ s Operation IRINI that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arms embargo in Libya .
The joint statement on Thursday came after meetings for the Turkish and Maltese Foreign Ministers with Libyan officials in Tripoli .
Turkish and Maltese Foreign Ministers as well as their Libyan counterpart have all voiced their reservations about IRINI naval mission , agreeing to boost their cooperation in different fields as the Maltese Foreign Minister and his Turkish counterpart reiterated their support for the Government of National Accord , saying there can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya .
They also agreed on joint cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flow of illegal immigrants , return of Maltese and Turkish firms to work in the country and resume flights among the three countries .
The statement also said that the three countries will boost cooperation to fight illegal immigration and human trafficking as this issue isn ’ t just a threat to Europe but also to Libya , saying the southern borders of Libya should be well secured against human trafficking and smuggling operations .
The three countries also agreed to set up a joint working team to coordinate efforts and cooperation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As international developments evolve and each side seeks to consolidate its position and secure its interests , the people of Libya remain trapped in a conflict in which events on the ground in Libya are increasingly of secondary importance .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Al Sisi says Egypt has right to intervene in Libya vows to protect Sirte al Jufra • A reconsideration of domestic challenges to achieving a peaceful settlement in Libya

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Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has announced that Egypt and Greece signed an agreement on Thursday designating an exclusive economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean between the two countries.
Shoukry made the announcement at a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Cairo.
“This agreement allows both countries to move forward in maximizing the utilization of the resources available in the exclusive economic zone, especially promising oil and gas reserves,” Shoukry said.
In Greece, diplomats said the deal effectively nullified an accord between Turkey and the internationally recognised government of Libya.
Last year, those two parties agreed to maritime boundaries in a deal Egypt and Greece decried as illegal and a violation of international law. Greece maintains it infringed on its continental shelf and also the maritime jurisdiction of the island of Crete.
Greek foreign minister Dendias said of the agreement: “It is the absolute opposite of the illegal, void and legally unfounded memorandum of understanding that was signed between Turkey and Tripoli. Following the signing of this agreement, the non existent Turkish-Libyan memorandum has ended up where it belonged from the beginning: in the trash can.”
His statement came hours after Greece said it is ready to start exploratory talks on the demarcation of maritime zones with Turkey as soon as this month.
Tensions were already high between Greece and Turkey over the exploration of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean. The NATO members are also at odds over a range of issues from over flights in the Aegean Sea area to maritime zones in the eastern Mediterranean and the division of Cyprus.
In June, Greece and Italy signed an agreement on maritime boundaries, establishing an exclusive economic zone between the two countries.
Earlier this month, Egypt said that part of a seismic survey planned by Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean potentially encroached on waters where Cairo claims exclusive rights.
Egypt hopes to become a regional energy hub with the rapid growth in Egypt’s natural gas supplies. It formed with other countries the so-called Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, which aims to develop the region’s gas market.
Turkey is not a member of the forum, which also includes Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Italy and Jordan. LINK
Turkey’s Foreign Minister on Thursday said Greece and Egypt violated the rights and continental shelves of Turkey and Libya by signing a maritime deal on exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the Eastern Mediterranean.
In an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency, Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that the text and map of the agreement had yet to be revealed, adding: “However, it’s obvious by the given coordinates that the deal not only violates the rights and continental shelf of Turkey but also of Libya.” “Hence, an agreement that violates our continental shelf, which we have reported to the UN, is null and void and the reason why we’ve come to this point is that countries like Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, are trying to sign agreements with Egypt and Israel while ignoring Turkey,” Cavusoglu added. “We’ll continue to show them and the world that this agreement is null and void on the table and in the field.” LINK
A spokesman for the foreign ministry of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord issued a similar statement. LINK
Egyptian media outlet Al Ahram commented of the latest developments:
In 2019, Turkish officials and the prime minister of Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) Fayez Al-Sarraj signed a memorandum of understanding on maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean Sea. At that time, five countries, including Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus, called on the United Nations not to register the maritime boundary deal, describing it as “illegal.” The speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, in his letter to the UN, rejected the agreement. Egypt, a close ally of Greece and Cyprus, has had strained relations with Turkey since the 2013 ouster of Egypt’s late Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government. Relations further deteriorated over Turkey’s intervention in Libya and a signalled military intervention by Egypt in the war-torn country. LINK
Earlier this week, the governments of Cyprus and France announced that the Cyprus-France Defence Cooperation Agreement has entered into effect.
It ensures “energy, crisis management, counter-terrorism and maritime security cooperation between the two countries.”
According to an official announcement, the agreement, which was signed on April 4, 2017, entered into force on August 1, 2020 after the completion of formal procedures.
“This agreement strengthens and further expands the cooperation of the Republic of Cyprus with the French Republic, in matters of defence and security, while at the same time it is an important step towards achieving the common goal of ensuring a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean,” the announcement said.
The French president has also invited the seven leaders of the southern EU member states (MED7) to a meeting in Paris at the end of August. LINK
In other developments, Libya, Turkey and Malta have issued a joint statement expressing reservations about the European Union’s Operation IRINI that aims to monitor implementation of the UN arms embargo in Libya.
The joint statement on Thursday came after meetings for the Turkish and Maltese Foreign Ministers with Libyan officials in Tripoli.
Turkish and Maltese Foreign Ministers as well as their Libyan counterpart have all voiced their reservations about IRINI naval mission, agreeing to boost their cooperation in different fields as the Maltese Foreign Minister and his Turkish counterpart reiterated their support for the Government of National Accord, saying there can be no military solution to the crisis in Libya.
They also agreed on joint cooperation in economy and efforts to limit the flow of illegal immigrants, return of Maltese and Turkish firms to work in the country and resume flights among the three countries.
The statement also said that the three countries will boost cooperation to fight illegal immigration and human trafficking as this issue isn’t just a threat to Europe but also to Libya, saying the southern borders of Libya should be well secured against human trafficking and smuggling operations.
The three countries also agreed to set up a joint working team to coordinate efforts and cooperation for the implementation of the agreements. LINK
As international developments evolve and each side seeks to consolidate its position and secure its interests, the people of Libya remain trapped in a conflict in which events on the ground in Libya are increasingly of secondary importance.
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southfront--2020-08-07--ISIS Rises Again In Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado, Killing Dozens In Large Attack

ISIS terrorists have launched a new large-scale attack on government forces in the province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique .
The group ’ s news agency , Amaq , reported on August 6 that the terrorists raided two bases of the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces near the port town of Mocimboa da Praia , that is located near a $ 60bn gas project .
According to ISIS claims , 50 Mozambican service members were killed or injured in the attack .
The remaining soldiers fled the targeted bases .
ISIS terrorists seized weapons and large quantities of ammunition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Defence Armed Forces .
Between March and April , ISIS launched a wave of devastating attacks in Cabo Delgado .
Several towns were temporary captured by the terrorist group .
Dozens of people were killed or injured .
The group ’ s terrorists even reached Mocimboa de Praia .
During July , the situation in Cabo Delgado improved with government forces securing wide parts of the province and pushing ISIS terrorists away .
The new attack on Mocimboa da Praia indicates that ISIS ’ presence in Cabo Delgado is still strong .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to stability in the province , which attracted massive foreign investments over the past few years .

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ISIS terrorists have launched a new large-scale attack on government forces in the province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique.
The group’s news agency, Amaq, reported on August 6 that the terrorists raided two bases of the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces near the port town of Mocimboa da Praia, that is located near a $60bn gas project.
According to ISIS claims, 50 Mozambican service members were killed or injured in the attack. The remaining soldiers fled the targeted bases.
ISIS terrorists seized weapons and large quantities of ammunition, which were left behind by the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces.
Between March and April, ISIS launched a wave of devastating attacks in Cabo Delgado. Several towns were temporary captured by the terrorist group. Dozens of people were killed or injured. The group’s terrorists even reached Mocimboa de Praia.
During July, the situation in Cabo Delgado improved with government forces securing wide parts of the province and pushing ISIS terrorists away.
The new attack on Mocimboa da Praia indicates that ISIS’ presence in Cabo Delgado is still strong. The terrorist group is still posing a serious threat to stability in the province, which attracted massive foreign investments over the past few years.
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southfront--2020-08-07--ISIS Claimed Two IED Attacks On Military Bulldozers In Egypt’s Northern Sinai

ISIS terrorists have reportedly destroyed military bulldozers of the Egyptian Armed Forces in two separate attacks in the Sinai Peninsula @ @ @ @ @ destroyed near the town of al-Lafitat , south of the city of Sheikh Zuweid , @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
The bulldozer was targeted with an improvised explosive device ( IED ) .
@ @ @ @ @ second bulldozer was destroyed near the town of al-Fallujah , west of the city of @ @ @ @ @ .
The terrorists also used an IED .
In the last few months , ISIS @ @ @ @ @ IED attacks on government forces in Sinai .
Explosive devices are providing the terrorist group @ @ @ @ @ method to inflict serious losses on its enemies .
The Egyptian military and security forces @ @ @ @ @ remnants in the Sinai Peninsula on a regular basis .
The repeated operations inflicted heavy @ @ @ @ @ Sinai .
Nevertheless , the terrorist group is still active in the region , especially @ @ @ @ @ the north .
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ISIS terrorists have reportedly destroyed military bulldozers of the Egyptian Armed Forces in two separate attacks in the Sinai Peninsula.
The first bulldozer was destroyed near the town of al-Lafitat, south of the city of Sheikh Zuweid, in northern Sinai on August 3. The bulldozer was targeted with an improvised explosive device (IED).
On August 5, the second bulldozer was destroyed near the town of al-Fallujah, west of the city of Rafah, in northern Sinai. The terrorists also used an IED.
In the last few months, ISIS cells carried out dozens of IED attacks on government forces in Sinai. Explosive devices are providing the terrorist group with a low-risk, low-cost method to inflict serious losses on its enemies.
The Egyptian military and security forces are conducting operations against ISIS remnants in the Sinai Peninsula on a regular basis.
The repeated operations inflicted heavy losses on ISIS cells in Sinai. Nevertheless, the terrorist group is still active in the region, especially near the large cities in the north.
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southfront--2020-08-07--ISIS Attack Near Palmyra Claimed Lives Of Several Syrian Soldiers

On August 7 , ISIS announced that its terrorists had destroyed a truck of the Syrian Arab Army in the eastern Homs countryside .
The terrorist group said in a statement released by its news agency , Amaq , that the truck was targeted near the ancient city of Palmyra on August 5 with an improved explosive device .
The explosion destroyed the truck , killing or injuring an unknown number of syrian soldiers .
This was the second attack by ISIS in eastern Homs this month .
On August 2 , the group ’ s terrorists shot three soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released photos of two of the victims a few days after the attack .
The terrorists are launching these attacks from their hideouts in Homs desert , which lays between eastern Homs and western Deir Ezzor .
ISIS intensified its attacks in central Syria this year .
Recent reports revealed the group ’ s terrorists are receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters based in the southeastern region of al-Tanaf .
The army and its allies are constantly working to contain the remaining terrorists in the Homs desert .
Nevertheless , a large operation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • U.S.-Made Howitzer Capable of Delivering Chemical Weapons Spotted With HTS In Syria ’ s Idlib

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On August 7, ISIS announced that its terrorists had destroyed a truck of the Syrian Arab Army in the eastern Homs countryside.
The terrorist group said in a statement released by its news agency, Amaq, that the truck was targeted near the ancient city of Palmyra on August 5 with an improved explosive device. The explosion destroyed the truck, killing or injuring an unknown number of syrian soldiers.
This was the second attack by ISIS in eastern Homs this month. On August 2, the group’s terrorists shot three soldiers near the town of al-Sukhnah. Amaq released photos of two of the victims a few days after the attack.
The terrorists are launching these attacks from their hideouts in Homs desert, which lays between eastern Homs and western Deir Ezzor.
ISIS intensified its attacks in central Syria this year. Recent reports revealed the group’s terrorists are receiving support from U.S.-backed fighters based in the southeastern region of al-Tanaf.
The army and its allies are constantly working to contain the remaining terrorists in the Homs desert. Nevertheless, a large operation to neutralize these terrorists is much needed.
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southfront--2020-08-07--Syrian Army Undertakes Failed Advance In Northern Lattakia Amid Rise Of ISIS Attacks In Deir Ezzor

Iranian-backed militias and the Syrian National Defense Forces ( NDF ) have launched a joint security operation against ISIS cells in the area between the towns of al-Mayadin and al-Bukamal , on the western bank of the Euphrates .
According to pro-government sources , hundreds of fighters and 120 military vehicles are involved .
Liwa Fatemiyoun , which is funded , trained , and equipped by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , is reportedly leading the operation .
Pro-government forces once again resumed active anti-ISIS efforts following another increase of ISIS attacks in the desert area .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the terrorists attacked positions and checkpoints of the Syrian Arab Army and the National Defense Forces around the town of Jundya .
Government forces repelled the attack after several hours of heavy clashes .
On August 4 , ISIS terrorists stormed a Syrian Army position near the town of Jub Abyad .
The previous attack , on August 1 , also happened in the countryside of Deir Ezzor killing at least 2 NDF members and injuring several others .
On August 6 , a combat drone of the Turkish Armed Forces struck an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qanat al-Suis , east of the city of al-Qamishli in the province of al-Hasakah .
The targeted factory reportedly employs dozens of locals and produces only civilian products .
At least one civilian was severely injured in the strike , which also caused material damage .
A day earlier , on August 5 , Turkish artillery strikes killed at least 2 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces ( SDF ) near the towns of Ayn Issa and Sida .
While Turkish-backed forces and the SDF do not conduct active offensive actions against each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in firefights and artillery duels .
The security situation continues to deteriorate in the southern part of the Idlib de-escalation zone .
Since August 5 , clashes between the Syrian Army and Turkish-backed militants , mostly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , have been ongoing in northern Lattakia and northwestern Hama .
This significantly intensified on the evening August 6 in the area of the al-Kurd Mountian .
Army troops reportedly tried to advance towards al-Hadadah hill , but their attack was repelled .
According to pro-militant sources , at least 9 Syrian soldiers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also claimed that several Russian service members were injured in militant artillery strikes near the village of Kinsabba .
If this report is confirmed , it may finally force the Russian Aerospace Forces and special operations units to provide more active assistance to the Syrian Army in its current standoff with the terrorists .
This support will likely guarantee success in the field for pro-government forces , but at the same time it will lead to a new round of tension with Turkey , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new round of escalation in Greater Idlib still requires some large incident that would force the main backers of the warrying sides to switch from mostly diplomatic efforts to direct military actions .

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Iranian-backed militias and the Syrian National Defense Forces (NDF) have launched a joint security operation against ISIS cells in the area between the towns of al-Mayadin and al-Bukamal, on the western bank of the Euphrates. According to pro-government sources, hundreds of fighters and 120 military vehicles are involved. Liwa Fatemiyoun, which is funded, trained, and equipped by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is reportedly leading the operation.
Pro-government forces once again resumed active anti-ISIS efforts following another increase of ISIS attacks in the desert area. According to pro-government sources, on August 6, the terrorists attacked positions and checkpoints of the Syrian Arab Army and the National Defense Forces around the town of Jundya. Government forces repelled the attack after several hours of heavy clashes. On August 4, ISIS terrorists stormed a Syrian Army position near the town of Jub Abyad. The previous attack, on August 1, also happened in the countryside of Deir Ezzor killing at least 2 NDF members and injuring several others.
On August 6, a combat drone of the Turkish Armed Forces struck an electric cable factory in the district of Qanat al-Suis, east of the city of al-Qamishli in the province of al-Hasakah. The targeted factory reportedly employs dozens of locals and produces only civilian products. At least one civilian was severely injured in the strike, which also caused material damage.
A day earlier, on August 5, Turkish artillery strikes killed at least 2 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the towns of Ayn Issa and Sida. While Turkish-backed forces and the SDF do not conduct active offensive actions against each other, they regularly engage each other in firefights and artillery duels.
The security situation continues to deteriorate in the southern part of the Idlib de-escalation zone. Since August 5, clashes between the Syrian Army and Turkish-backed militants, mostly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have been ongoing in northern Lattakia and northwestern Hama. This significantly intensified on the evening August 6 in the area of the al-Kurd Mountian. Army troops reportedly tried to advance towards al-Hadadah hill, but their attack was repelled. According to pro-militant sources, at least 9 Syrian soldiers and 5 militants were killed in the clashes.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also claimed that several Russian service members were injured in militant artillery strikes near the village of Kinsabba. If this report is confirmed, it may finally force the Russian Aerospace Forces and special operations units to provide more active assistance to the Syrian Army in its current standoff with the terrorists. This support will likely guarantee success in the field for pro-government forces, but at the same time it will lead to a new round of tension with Turkey, which actively protects Idlib radicals. Therefore, a new round of escalation in Greater Idlib still requires some large incident that would force the main backers of the warrying sides to switch from mostly diplomatic efforts to direct military actions.
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southfront--2020-08-07--U.S.-Made Howitzer Capable of Delivering Chemical Weapons Spotted With HTS In Syria’s Idlib

On August 7 , al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham ( HTS ) , which controls the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib , released a photo showing its terrorists firing a U.S.-made M114 howitzer .
The terrorists used the heavy howitzer to shell an artillery position of the Syrian Arab Army in the town of Jbala in the southern countryside of Idlib .
The 155 mm howitzer has a maximum firing range of 14,6 km and a rate of fire of up to 40 round per hour .
The howitzer can be used to deliver chemical weapons such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ howitzer was likely supplied by Turkey .
More than 500 M114 howitzers are known to be in service with the Turkish Armed Forces .
Ankara has recently supplied HTS and other factions in Greater Idlib with loads of weapons and ammunition .
Last year , HTS terrorists were spotted with a Turkish-made HY-12 120 mm mortar , a licensed copy of the French MO-120-RT .
Turkey committed to neutralize the remaining terrorists in Greater Idlib under the ceasefire agreement with Russia signed on March 5 .
Yet , Ankara is stepping up its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THIS TOPIC :

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On August 7, al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, released a photo showing its terrorists firing a U.S.-made M114 howitzer.
The terrorists used the heavy howitzer to shell an artillery position of the Syrian Arab Army in the town of Jbala in the southern countryside of Idlib.
The 155 mm howitzer has a maximum firing range of 14,6 km and a rate of fire of up to 40 round per hour. The howitzer can be used to deliver chemical weapons such as White phosphorus and Mustard gas.
The howitzer was likely supplied by Turkey. More than 500 M114 howitzers are known to be in service with the Turkish Armed Forces.
Ankara has recently supplied HTS and other factions in Greater Idlib with loads of weapons and ammunition. Last year, HTS terrorists were spotted with a Turkish-made HY-12 120 mm mortar, a licensed copy of the French MO-120-RT.
Turkey committed to neutralize the remaining terrorists in Greater Idlib under the ceasefire agreement with Russia signed on March 5 . Yet, Ankara is stepping up its support for these terrorists.
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southfront--2020-08-07--Mysterious Explosion Killed, Injured Entire Family In Syria’s Greater Idlib

Early on August 7 , a large blast rocked the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the southwestern part of the Syrian region of Greater Idlib .
The explosion , which occured in a civilian house , killed a child and injured five other people , mostly women , according to Enab Baladi , a pro-opposition outlet .
The house was wiped out by the explosion .
A source in the so-called Syrian Civil Defense , “ White Helmets , ” told Enab Baladi that the cause of the explosion is still unknown .
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war debris and unexploded ammunition .
Nevertheless , the more logical explanation is that large quantities of ammunition were stored in the house .
Last April , a similar explosion rocked the town of al-Kastan in Jisr al-Shughur countryside .
Eight people were injured .
Back then , opposition sources revealed that an ammunition depot hidden within a civilian building was the cause .
Jisr al-Shughur and its countryside are occupied by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay ’ at Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkistan Islamic Party .
Any ammunition depot in the region likely belong to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MORE ON THIS TOPIC :

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Early on August 7, a large blast rocked the city of Jisr al-Shughur in the southwestern part of the Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
The explosion, which occured in a civilian house, killed a child and injured five other people, mostly women, according to Enab Baladi, a pro-opposition outlet. The house was wiped out by the explosion.
A source in the so-called Syrian Civil Defense, “White Helmets,” told Enab Baladi that the cause of the explosion is still unknown.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the explosion was caused by war debris and unexploded ammunition. Nevertheless, the more logical explanation is that large quantities of ammunition were stored in the house.
Last April, a similar explosion rocked the town of al-Kastan in Jisr al-Shughur countryside. Eight people were injured. Back then, opposition sources revealed that an ammunition depot hidden within a civilian building was the cause.
Jisr al-Shughur and its countryside are occupied by al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkistan Islamic Party. Any ammunition depot in the region likely belong to one of these two terrorist groups.
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southfront--2020-08-07--Our Website Was Attacked Day After Public Release Of US State Department Report About SouthFront

On August 7 , SouthFront ’ s website ( southfront.org ) became a target of cyber-attack .
The active phase of the attack started at around 14:30 CEST and continued for at least one hour .
The website work was temporarily disrupted , but the penetrators failed to damage our infrastructure .
Fully accidentally , this attack happened a day after the US Department of State released a special report mentioning SouthFront as a pillar of “ Russia ’ s Disinformation and Propaganda ” .
It looks that somebody in the Department of State or affiliated structures became sad after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ brilliant investigation ’ .
READ IT HERE The report of the Department of State became another logical step in a wider effort of Euro-Atlantic structures to censor SouthFront work after the illegal termination of our accounts on YouTube and Facebook .
MORE ABOUT THE ONGOING CENSORSHIP CAMPAIGN HERE WE CALL ON YOU TO SHARE INFORMATION SOUTHFRONT AND SHARE SOUTHFRONT CONTENT ON YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE .
Please , share this message with the global audience .
Also , please , inform your friends , your social circles about SouthFront @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Middle East and around the world .
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DEAR FRIENDS,
On August 7, SouthFront’s website (southfront.org) became a target of cyber-attack. The active phase of the attack started at around 14:30 CEST and continued for at least one hour. The website work was temporarily disrupted, but the penetrators failed to damage our infrastructure.
Fully accidentally, this attack happened a day after the US Department of State released a special report mentioning SouthFront as a pillar of “Russia’s Disinformation and Propaganda”. It looks that somebody in the Department of State or affiliated structures became sad after reading SouthFront’s response to this ‘brilliant investigation’. READ IT HERE
The report of the Department of State became another logical step in a wider effort of Euro-Atlantic structures to censor SouthFront work after the illegal termination of our accounts on YouTube and Facebook. MORE ABOUT THE ONGOING CENSORSHIP CAMPAIGN HERE
WE CALL ON YOU TO SHARE INFORMATION SOUTHFRONT AND SHARE SOUTHFRONT CONTENT ON YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK AS WIDE AS POSSIBLE.
Please, share this message with the global audience. Also, please, inform your friends, your social circles about SouthFront as an independent platform covering crucial developments in the Middle East and around the world.
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southfront--2020-08-07--Bodyguard Of Senior Hamas Leader Survived Assassination Attempt In Lebanon (Photos)

The Palestinian Hamas Movement announced on August 7 that one of its members had survived an assassination attempt in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon .
In a statement , the movement ’ s media office said the member , Bilal Ghali , was injured by a blast while approaching his car .
“ Brother Bilal Ghali , who belongs to the Islamic Resistance Movement , Hamas , and is a former bodyguard in the movement , was subjected to an incident while approaching his car on his way to work , which resulted in light injuries , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now in a good condition .
Lebanese authorities have reportedly launched an investigation into the incident .
Ghali is the former bodyguard of Osama Hamdan , senior representative of Hamas in Lebanon and a member of the organization ’ s politburo .
In January of 2018 , a similar assassination attempt injured Hamas official Mohammed Hamdan in Sidon .
Lebanese authorities revealed later that Israeli intelligence agency , Mossad , was behind the attack .
The attempt of Ghali ’ s life was likely orchestrated by the Israeli intelligence , which is known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resistance ” movements .
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The Palestinian Hamas Movement announced on August 7 that one of its members had survived an assassination attempt in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon.
In a statement, the movement’s media office said the member, Bilal Ghali, was injured by a blast while approaching his car.
“Brother Bilal Ghali, who belongs to the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, and is a former bodyguard in the movement, was subjected to an incident while approaching his car on his way to work, which resulted in light injuries,” the statement read.
Hamas said Ghali is now in a good condition. Lebanese authorities have reportedly launched an investigation into the incident.
Ghali is the former bodyguard of Osama Hamdan, senior representative of Hamas in Lebanon and a member of the organization’s politburo.
In January of 2018, a similar assassination attempt injured Hamas official Mohammed Hamdan in Sidon. Lebanese authorities revealed later that Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, was behind the attack.
The attempt of Ghali’s life was likely orchestrated by the Israeli intelligence, which is known to be active throughout Lebanon against “resistance” movements.
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southfront--2020-08-07--Mysterious Drone Shot Down On Israel-Lebanon Separation Line

The Israeli Defense Forces ( IDF ) announced on August 7 that it had shot down a drone along the separation line with Lebanon .
In a statement , the IDF said its units identified , monitored , and downed a drone that infiltrated into northern Israel along the separation line .
The army is currently searching for the drone ’ s wreckage .
The incident came amid high tension between Israel and Lebanon .
The IDF is expecting an attack by Hezbollah , which lost a fighter in the July 20 Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian capital , Damascus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israeli attacks on its fighters within a few weeks .
The IDF reinforced its units in northern Israel with elite troops and advanced weapon systems over the last two weeks .
The army also limited military and civilian movement along the separation line with Lebanon .
On July 27 , the IDF said its forces thwarted an “ infiltration attempt ” by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon .
A second “ infiltration attempt ” was foiled on August 2 , this time it was from southern Syria .
Hezbollah has reportedly taken the decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Lebanese group ’ s response will likely be limited .
Nevertheless , it could lead to an escalation .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • War Drums Beat In Middle East After Thousands Of Casualties In Beirut Explosion

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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on August 7 that it had shot down a drone along the separation line with Lebanon.
In a statement, the IDF said its units identified, monitored, and downed a drone that infiltrated into northern Israel along the separation line. The army is currently searching for the drone’s wreckage.
“The IDF continues to maintain a high level of readiness to defend Israel’s northern border from any threat,” the statement reads.
The incident came amid high tension between Israel and Lebanon. The IDF is expecting an attack by Hezbollah, which lost a fighter in the July 20 Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian capital, Damascus. The Lebanese group usually responds to Israeli attacks on its fighters within a few weeks.
The IDF reinforced its units in northern Israel with elite troops and advanced weapon systems over the last two weeks. The army also limited military and civilian movement along the separation line with Lebanon.
On July 27, the IDF said its forces thwarted an “infiltration attempt” by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon. A second “infiltration attempt” was foiled on August 2, this time it was from southern Syria.
Hezbollah has reportedly taken the decision to response to the recent Israeli strikes. The Lebanese group’s response will likely be limited. Nevertheless, it could lead to an escalation.
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southfront--2020-08-08--Military Situation In Iraq On August 8, 2020 (Map Update)

Click to see the full-size image A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq : • Terrorist Abu Khattab @ @ @ @ @ forces .
He was responsible for the Bani Saad market bombing in Diyala in 2008 @ @ @ @ @ almost 150 people ; • Two ISIS militants were arrested in Kirkuk ; • Turkish @ @ @ @ @ village of Qamish in the Sulaimania area .
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A brief overview of the recent developments in Iraq:
Terrorist Abu Khattab was arrested by Iraqi security forces. He was responsible for the Bani Saad market bombing in Diyala in 2008, which claimed lives of almost 150 people;
Iraqi Brigade 315 shelled with mortars ISIS locations south of Samarra;
Two ISIS militants were arrested in Kirkuk;
Turkish warplanes conducted airstrikes on the village of Qamish in the Sulaimania area.
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southfront--2020-08-08--Military Situation On Israeli-Lebanese Contact Line And In Golan Heights Area On August 8, 2020 (Map

Military Situation On Israeli-Lebanese Contact Line And In Golan Heights Area On August 8, 2020 (Map Update)

MILITARY SITUATION ON ISRAELI-LEBANESE CONTACT LINE : Iron_rust still sitting in his basement and making keyboard warrior threats on this @ @ @ @

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A brief overview of the recent developments on the Israeli-Lebanese contact line:
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) shot down an unknown drone over the Mount Hermon;
An Israeli army unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was falsely identified as Lebanese drone over the Galilee region;
The Palestinian Hamas Movement announced that one of its members had survived an assassination attempt in the city of Saida.
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southfront--2020-08-08--Help à La Française: Macron Pushes Neo-Expansionism

The current geopolitical position of France is shaped by a variety of factors .
As one of the key actors in the Mediterranean region , Paris is now primarily a European leader in countering Turkey ’ s expansionist policy .
Relations between the two countries are complicated by the necessity to reckon with the activation of significant global processes , the destruction of the system of international law , the diminishing role of the Washington establishment in particular in the Mediterranean region and to a greater extent in the Middle East , while the influence of Turkey and Russia increases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of power in the entire Mediterranean region encourages regional players to actively integrate into the current geopolitical agenda .
So Macron , in his turn , decided to gain the moment and go on a geostrategic offensive .
First of all , such a turn towards an active independent foreign policy , largely aimed at deterring Turkey , is observed in the framework of the Libyan conflict , where Paris tends to support the Tobruk government in the framework of an international coalition that includes Egypt and the United Arab Emirates .
Moreover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Cyprus , which entered into force on August 1 .
Egypt and Greece also signed an agreement in Cairo on Thursday to demarcate their maritime borders and establish an exclusive economic zone .
Given the close cooperation between members of the emerging Egypt-Greece-France trilateral Mediterranean partnership , it can be assumed that Turkey risks remaining isolated in the next few years .
It follows that Ankara will strengthen the opposition and will make a major effort to destabilize a potential alliance .
The new second vector of French foreign policy in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s opportunistic policy and represents an unprecedented increase in influence in Lebanon .
Lebanon has historically had close ties with France .
After the First World War and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire , the League of Nations approved in 1923 the French mandate in Syria and Lebanon .
Despite the fact that the mandate was valid only until 1943 , the French military left the territory of Syria and Lebanon only in 1946 .
Of course , France retains a great influence in Lebanon , which in turn alarms regional actors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that took place in the port of the Lebanese capital , Beirut , on August 4 , led to horrific consequences in the country , including further deterioration of the economic situation , which was already significantly weakened , inter alia by the COVID-19 pandemic .
Even before the outbreak of the pandemic and the explosions in Beirut , about 50 % of the country ’ s population lived below the poverty line , and the unemployment rate reached 35 % .
The terrible accident was a kind of trigger that marked not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , but also a new round of geopolitical confrontation between regional actors .
On August 7 , Macron flew to visit Beirut , which was destroyed by the explosion .
After a demonstrative visit to the most affected areas , the French President met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun .
In his statement , Macron not only expressed his condolences to the entire population of Lebanon , specifying that at least 50 French citizens were also injured by the explosion , but also announced the humanitarian assistance provided to Lebanon .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help as we have the relationships of solidarity and friendship that we have maintained with the Lebanese people for decades , ” said Prime Minister Jean Castex .
This “ tragedy of exceptional magnitude ” touches “ a friendly country , a country that is also in difficulty ” .
French aid is delivered by three military aircraft cantaining food and medical aid to the Lebanese capital .
These aircraft carry a civil security detachment ( 55 people , 15 tons of equipment ) and a mobile health post including 6 tons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 500 wounded , accortding to the Elysée .
In addition , France apparently plans to take patronage over the delivery of international humanitarian aid to the affected areas .
According to the French head of State , “ an international conference of support ” will soon be organized to mobilize international funding for Lebanon .
“ France will also be there to organize international aid alongside the European Union , the United Nations and with the support of the World Bank .
In the next few days we will organize – and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already begun to make the first contacts and mobilize his teams-an international conference of support to Beirut and the Lebanese population , ” said the French leader .
However , heading to Beirut , Macron was carrying not only humanitarian aid , but also a “ new political pact.
” French President said he would pitch a “ new political deal ” to the Lebanon leadership .
“ Strong initiatives are needed to fight corruption against the opacity of the banking system ” .
He also called for “ the initiation of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the CEDRE plan ” .
The economic conference for the development of Lebanon through reforms and with companies ( CEDRE ) , which took place on April 6 , 2018 in Paris , aimed to support the development and strengthening of the Lebanese economy , through a comprehensive plan of reforms and infrastructure investments prepared by the Lebanese authorities .
The conference had been used to raise funds .
But very quickly , donors , whose pledges had reached $ 11.6 billion , had expressed doubts about the credibility of the programe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political instability .
Macron claimed : “ I spoke frankly and transparently with the president regarding the need to fight corruption , implement reforms , conduct a transparent investigation into what is happening in the banking system , and continue dialogue with the IMF.
” Continuing to leave the diplomatic framework , which already brings him some accusations of interference , he returned to this « political , moral , economic and financial crisis in which the political class bears a historical responsibility “ , wishing « investigations that can take place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would demand accountability from the authorities and that he would return on September 1 and if the proposed “ political Pact ” was not implemented , he would be forced to take measures .
Of course , Macron faced a great support from the local population .
The Lebanese surrounding the president ’ s procession , accompanied it with songs , cries , slogans , as ” Revolution !
” , assistance alternated with the denunciation of Michel Aoun .
“ Michel Aoun , terrorist !
” “ You freed us from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current authorities.
” Disillusioned Lebanese citizens created an online petition demanding to place Lebanon under French mandate for the next 10 years .
In less than 6 hours it has already reached more than 20 thousand signatures .
Due to the fact that the meeting itself and the “ frank conversation ” between Macron and the Lebanese leadership was private , various rumors have emerged .
For example , that Macron ’ s representative voiced the following imperatives to Michel Aoun : • Full disarmament of Hizbollah ’ s offices in and around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all Hizbollah ’ s rocket forces and installations in the South of the country , and submitting of its command posts to UNIFIL • Submitting of Beirut international airport to a joint international contingent led by Germany • Dissolution of Parliament and the government and holding of snap elections followed by the election of a new President .
These statements , allegedly made by the French side , are clearly pro-Israeli in nature and are primarily directed against Hizbollah .
The reliability of this information , which has passed through various information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is likely that such information injection is carried out by one of the parties of the regional conflict .
Analyzing the theses allegedly proposed by Macron ’ s representative to the President of Lebanon , it is difficult to believe in their authenticity .
Macron is a fully mature politician and it is unlikely that he and his team have taken such openly provocative steps .
Therefore , the demands for immediate early elections and the disarmament of the Hizbollah movement are most likely fake .
However , Macron ’ s actions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership of Lebanon , which is in a difficult situation , can be described by the French word “ chantage ” .
MORE ON THE TOPIC : • Large Protests In Beirut : Residents Take To The Streets , Heavy Clashes With Security Forces Reported ( Videos ) • War Drums Beat In Middle East After Thousands Of Casualties In Beirut Explosion

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The current geopolitical position of France is shaped by a variety of factors. As one of the key actors in the Mediterranean region, Paris is now primarily a European leader in countering Turkey’s expansionist policy. Relations between the two countries are complicated by the necessity to reckon with the activation of significant global processes, the destruction of the system of international law, the diminishing role of the Washington establishment in particular in the Mediterranean region and to a greater extent in the Middle East, while the influence of Turkey and Russia increases in the region.
The changing balance of power in the entire Mediterranean region encourages regional players to actively integrate into the current geopolitical agenda. So Macron, in his turn, decided to gain the moment and go on a geostrategic offensive. First of all, such a turn towards an active independent foreign policy, largely aimed at deterring Turkey, is observed in the framework of the Libyan conflict, where Paris tends to support the Tobruk government in the framework of an international coalition that includes Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Moreover, France has a security cooperation agreement with Cyprus, which entered into force on August 1. Egypt and Greece also signed an agreement in Cairo on Thursday to demarcate their maritime borders and establish an exclusive economic zone. Given the close cooperation between members of the emerging Egypt-Greece-France trilateral Mediterranean partnership, it can be assumed that Turkey risks remaining isolated in the next few years. It follows that Ankara will strengthen the opposition and will make a major effort to destabilize a potential alliance.
The new second vector of French foreign policy in the region is largely determined by Macron’s opportunistic policy and represents an unprecedented increase in influence in Lebanon.
Lebanon has historically had close ties with France. After the First World War and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations approved in 1923 the French mandate in Syria and Lebanon. Despite the fact that the mandate was valid only until 1943, the French military left the territory of Syria and Lebanon only in 1946. Of course, France retains a great influence in Lebanon, which in turn alarms regional actors such as Egypt.
The large explosions that took place in the port of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on August 4, led to horrific consequences in the country, including further deterioration of the economic situation, which was already significantly weakened, inter alia by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the outbreak of the pandemic and the explosions in Beirut, about 50% of the country’s population lived below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reached 35%. The terrible accident was a kind of trigger that marked not only the need to change the political course, but also a new round of geopolitical confrontation between regional actors.
On August 7, Macron flew to visit Beirut, which was destroyed by the explosion. After a demonstrative visit to the most affected areas, the French President met with Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
In his statement, Macron not only expressed his condolences to the entire population of Lebanon, specifying that at least 50 French citizens were also injured by the explosion, but also announced the humanitarian assistance provided to Lebanon.
“As always, France will be here to help as we have the relationships of solidarity and friendship that we have maintained with the Lebanese people for decades,” said Prime Minister Jean Castex. This “tragedy of exceptional magnitude” touches “a friendly country, a country that is also in difficulty”.
French aid is delivered by three military aircraft cantaining food and medical aid to the Lebanese capital. These aircraft carry a civil security detachment (55 people, 15 tons of equipment) and a mobile health post including 6 tons of equipment and allowing the care of 500 wounded, accortding to the Elysée.
In addition, France apparently plans to take patronage over the delivery of international humanitarian aid to the affected areas. According to the French head of State, “an international conference of support” will soon be organized to mobilize international funding for Lebanon.
“France will also be there to organize international aid alongside the European Union, the United Nations and with the support of the World Bank. In the next few days we will organize – and the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs has already begun to make the first contacts and mobilize his teams-an international conference of support to Beirut and the Lebanese population,” said the French leader.
However, heading to Beirut, Macron was carrying not only humanitarian aid, but also a “new political pact.” French President said he would pitch a “new political deal” to the Lebanon leadership.
“Strong initiatives are needed to fight corruption against the opacity of the banking system”. He also called for “the initiation of an IMF program” and the continuation of “the CEDRE plan”. The economic conference for the development of Lebanon through reforms and with companies (CEDRE), which took place on April 6, 2018 in Paris, aimed to support the development and strengthening of the Lebanese economy, through a comprehensive plan of reforms and infrastructure investments prepared by the Lebanese authorities. The conference had been used to raise funds. But very quickly, donors, whose pledges had reached $ 11.6 billion, had expressed doubts about the credibility of the programe, which implementation had been delayed by political instability.
Macron claimed: “I spoke frankly and transparently with the president regarding the need to fight corruption, implement reforms, conduct a transparent investigation into what is happening in the banking system, and continue dialogue with the IMF.”
Continuing to leave the diplomatic framework, which already brings him some accusations of interference, he returned to this «political, moral, economic and financial crisis in which the political class bears a historical responsibility “, wishing «investigations that can take place in a transparent framework “.
Macron said he would demand accountability from the authorities and that he would return on September 1 and if the proposed “political Pact” was not implemented, he would be forced to take measures.
Of course, Macron faced a great support from the local population. The Lebanese surrounding the president’s procession, accompanied it with songs, cries, slogans, as ” Revolution !”, assistance alternated with the denunciation of Michel Aoun. “Michel Aoun, terrorist!” “You freed us from the Ottomans. Free us from the current authorities.” Disillusioned Lebanese citizens created an online petition demanding to place Lebanon under French mandate for the next 10 years. In less than 6 hours it has already reached more than 20 thousand signatures.
Due to the fact that the meeting itself and the “frank conversation” between Macron and the Lebanese leadership was private, various rumors have emerged. For example, that Macron’s representative voiced the following imperatives to Michel Aoun:
Declaration of Beirut as a demilitarized zone Full disarmament of Hizbollah’s offices in and around the capital, as well as elimination of all Hizbollah’s rocket forces and installations in the South of the country, and submitting of its command posts to UNIFIL Submitting of Beirut international airport to a joint international contingent led by Germany Dissolution of Parliament and the government and holding of snap elections followed by the election of a new President.
These statements, allegedly made by the French side, are clearly pro-Israeli in nature and are primarily directed against Hizbollah.
The reliability of this information, which has passed through various information channels, is highly questionable. It is likely that such information injection is carried out by one of the parties of the regional conflict.
Analyzing the theses allegedly proposed by Macron’s representative to the President of Lebanon, it is difficult to believe in their authenticity. Macron is a fully mature politician and it is unlikely that he and his team have taken such openly provocative steps. Therefore, the demands for immediate early elections and the disarmament of the Hizbollah movement are most likely fake. However, Macron’s actions and the pressure that he exerts on the leadership of Lebanon, which is in a difficult situation, can be described by the French word “chantage”.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
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southfront--2020-08-08--Military Situation In Northwestern Syria On August 8, 2020 (Map Update)

The Syrian , Russian and Iranians need to restart the iblib operating , we know the turks had use drones @ @ @ @ @ , let remove that advantages and let ’ s identify they artillery position , if @ @ @ @ @ , cruise missile will destroyed such location , the Russian should divert satellite to Syrian @ @ @ @ @ points goos target for strike that limit the operation of the enemy , this is @ @ @ @ @ posses should be destroyed especially if it can turn to rise up once they demands @ @ @ @ @ need to start at before down of Monday m

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A brief overview of the recent developments in Syria:
Turkish military convoy consisting of 35 military vehicles entered Idlib via Kafr Lusin crossing;
Turkish-backed militants shelled SAA positions in the town of Maarat al-Numan;
Syrian Arab Army (SAA) shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the village of Banin;
SAA shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the town of Barah;
SAA shelled Turkish-backed militants’ positions in the town of Ziyarah.
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southfront--2020-08-08--Large Protests In Beirut: Residents Take To The Streets, Heavy Clashes With Security Forces Reported

Large Protests In Beirut: Residents Take To The Streets, Heavy Clashes With Security Forces Reported (Videos)

After the recent port blast , thousands of Lebanese people took at the streets of the capital , Beirut , to protest against the political elite leading the country since 1991 .
The blast , which rocked the city ’ s port on August , was reportedly result of rooting corruption and neglect .
A large part of Beirut was damaged by the blast , which claimed the lives of more than 150 people and injured 6,000 others .
The protesters gathered at the capital ’ s heart , the Martyrs Square , where they hanged cardboard figures of Lebanese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah .
Lebanese security forces confronted the protesters in different parts of Beirut , firing tear gas grenades and rubber bullets at them .
The clashes led to an escalation , with the protesters storming a number of government buildings , including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , the Ministry of Economy , the Ministry of Environment , the Association of Banks and the Ministry of Energy and Water .
According to the Lebanese Red Cross , 238 people were injured in the clashes .
At least 70 were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of its personnel was killed by “ killer rioters.
” Beirut ’ s Fire Department refused a request for help by Lebanese security forces .
A number of firefighter from the department were killed in the port blast .
The victims were not informed that dangerous materials were present at the site of the initial fire .
The protests in Beirut received wide coverage from Israeli media , which highlighted some chants against Hezbollah and its allies .
Other chants against politicians known to be allies of the U.S. received less coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the protestors on the Twitter account of its Embassy in Beirut : The most recent reports from Beirut show that security forces are retaking control .
Protesters were pushed out from the Martyrs Square and most government buildings .
Lebanon is now witnessing a new phase of chaos that can potentially lead to a civil war .
Prime Minister Hassan Diab called for an early parliamentary election .
This could ether lead to a real reform or deepen the country ’ s problems .
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After the recent port blast, thousands of Lebanese people took at the streets of the capital, Beirut, to protest against the political elite leading the country since 1991.
The blast, which rocked the city’s port on August, was reportedly result of rooting corruption and neglect. A large part of Beirut was damaged by the blast, which claimed the lives of more than 150 people and injured 6,000 others.
The protesters gathered at the capital’s heart, the Martyrs Square, where they hanged cardboard figures of Lebanese politicians, including the President Michel Aoun and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
#Lebanon protesters put up gallow and hang cutouts of the country’s political class, including the leader of Hezbollah, the president, the speaker of parliament, and so on. pic.twitter.com/kWrVkpNJZf — Timour Azhari (@timourazhari) August 8, 2020
Lebanese security forces confronted the protesters in different parts of Beirut, firing tear gas grenades and rubber bullets at them.
Russia 1 (state TV) presenter seemingly gets hit by a tear gas grenade in Beirut. pic.twitter.com/GpaYfpL6RX — Ollie Richardson (@O_Rich_) August 8, 2020
The markings would suggest they’re French. Merci Emmanuel https://t.co/KmW7WtGfW3 — Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) August 8, 2020
The clashes led to an escalation, with the protesters storming a number of government buildings, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Environment, the Association of Banks and the Ministry of Energy and Water.
Ministry of Energy and Water has been stormed in #Beirut pic.twitter.com/NZNFchxShY — Aldin ?? (@aldin_ww) August 8, 2020
All of a sudden, Army started beating protesters viscously near ring. As I was filming, army beat me and threw my phone away. Army still beating other protesters. #LebanonProtests pic.twitter.com/COQbWRGzC8 — Aya Majzoub (@Aya_Majzoub) August 8, 2020
According to the Lebanese Red Cross, 238 people were injured in the clashes. At least 70 were hospitalized. Security forces also announced that one of its personnel was killed by “killer rioters.”
Beirut’s Fire Department refused a request for help by Lebanese security forces. A number of firefighter from the department were killed in the port blast. The victims were not informed that dangerous materials were present at the site of the initial fire.
The protests in Beirut received wide coverage from Israeli media, which highlighted some chants against Hezbollah and its allies. Other chants against politicians known to be allies of the U.S. received less coverage.
Meanwhile, the U.S.A. expressed support to the protestors on the Twitter account of its Embassy in Beirut:
The most recent reports from Beirut show that security forces are retaking control. Protesters were pushed out from the Martyrs Square and most government buildings.
#Lebanon Army chasing and beating people around Martyrs Square.pic.twitter.com/WsmqMRUDTS — Aldin ?? (@aldin_ww) August 8, 2020
Lebanon is now witnessing a new phase of chaos that can potentially lead to a civil war. Prime Minister Hassan Diab called for an early parliamentary election. This could ether lead to a real reform or deepen the country’s problems.
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southfront--2020-08-08--Lebanese Man Allegedly Linked To Hezbollah Assassinated In Iran’s Tehran

The Public Relations of Tehran Province announced on August 8 that two Lebanese nationals were assassinated in the Iranian capital .
The assassination reportedly took place in the neighborhood of Bostan in Pasdaran Avenue in the northern part of Tehran city .
Two assailants riding a motorcycle shot the victims in their car , a Renault L90 , late on August 7 .
The victims were shot dead with four bullets .
A fifth bullet missed , hitting a nearby vehicle without injuring anyone .
The victims were identified as Habib Dawood and his daughter Mariam .
Fars News said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of History of Tehran University .
According to the UAE-based al-Arabiya TV , Dawood was a member of Lebanon ’ s Hezbollah .
Dawood and his daughter were allegedly a few meters away from a house owned by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis when they were attacked .
Al-Muhandis is a former Deputy-Commander of Iraq ’ s Popular Mobilization Units who was killed in a U.S. drone strike on the Iraqi capital , Baghdad , earlier this year .
Hezbollah usually acknowledges any attack on its members in Lebanon or abroad .
If Dawood was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel will be the main suspect .
The Israeli intelligence is infamous for carrying out such assassinations .
MORE ON THIS TOPIC : • Infamous War Criminal And Iran-Hater Elliott Abrams Appointed US Special Representative For Iran

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The Public Relations of Tehran Province announced on August 8 that two Lebanese nationals were assassinated in the Iranian capital.
The assassination reportedly took place in the neighborhood of Bostan in Pasdaran Avenue in the northern part of Tehran city.
Two assailants riding a motorcycle shot the victims in their car, a Renault L90, late on August 7. The victims were shot dead with four bullets. A fifth bullet missed, hitting a nearby vehicle without injuring anyone.
“The assailants opened fire and escaped, the police are tracking them now,” Public Relations of Tehran Province said in a statement.
The victims were identified as Habib Dawood and his daughter Mariam. Fars News said Dawood was a teacher in the Department of History of Tehran University. According to the UAE-based al-Arabiya TV, Dawood was a member of Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Dawood and his daughter were allegedly a few meters away from a house owned by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis when they were attacked. Al-Muhandis is a former Deputy-Commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units who was killed in a U.S. drone strike on the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, earlier this year.
Hezbollah usually acknowledges any attack on its members in Lebanon or abroad. If Dawood was a member of the Lebanese group, Israel will be the main suspect. The Israeli intelligence is infamous for carrying out such assassinations.
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