WAR DRUMS

Russia to keep deepening cooperation with Venezuelan military – state arms exporter
Published time: 29 Mar, 2019 18:58
Edited time: 30 Mar, 2019 08:56
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Russia to keep deepening cooperation with Venezuelan military – state arms exporter
FILE PHOTO: A Mi-26 helicopter flies over Caracas.   AFP / Raul Arboleda
A new helicopter training center has been built in Venezuela, the Russian state arms exporter said, pledging to deepen cooperation with Caracas. The news comes amid US threats of sanctions over Russia’s presence in the country.
The training center, built by Russia’s arms exporter, was unveiled on Friday, according to press service Rosoboronexport. The center is designed to train Venezuelan pilots to use such Russia-made hardware as Mi-17 and Mi-26 transport, Mi-35 attack helicopters and others.

“Rosoboronexport and other Russian organizations partaking in the Russian-Venezuelan military-technical cooperation, remain committed to deepening partnership with the defense ministry and other government bodies of Venezuela,” the press service said. The cooperation focuses on training military personnel and servicing the supplied hardware
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Amid internal woes, SPLC goes after Trump, enlists former Michelle Obama aide
March 28, 2019

Amid internal woes, SPLC goes after Trump, enlists former Michelle Obama aide
Brookings Institution / CCL
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the anti-“hate” organization famous for slandering conservatives, is enlisting Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff to investigate complaints of sexual harassment and racial discrimination that have rocked the left-wing group.

In a fundraising memo designed to encourage supporters to stick with them despite the scandal, Bryan Fair, chairman of the SPLC’s board of directors, attacked President Donald Trump and detailed the SPLC’s campaign to “combat the forces of hate and bigotry.”

The bigotry scandal embroiling the SPLC isn’t the only ironic twist in this story. The new hire, Tina Tchen, played a role in getting charges dropped against hate crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett.

SPLC scandal
In the memo, Fair announced that the SPLC is bringing on Tchen to address the sexual and racial harassment scandals, or what it calls “internal workplace challenges,” that have come to light within the progressive organization.

“We just launched an initiative with Tina Tchen– a former chief of staff for Michelle Obama and one of the leading voices behind the Times UP Legal Defense Fund– to advise us on workplace culture issues. Everyone who works at the SPLC deserves a workplace that reflects our highest values, and we’re committed to making sure that it happens,” he wrote.

The SPLC is struggling through a shake-up at the top of the organization over allegations of “intolerance,” sexual harassment and racial discrimination. In recent days, SPLC President Richard Cohen resigned while co-founder Morris Dees was forced out over “inappropriate conduct.”


Employees at the organization have complained of workplace discrimination that “threaten[s] the moral authority of this organization” as a stream of media reports have brought to light a culture of intolerance at the group whose sole mission, ironically, is fighting intolerance.

Interesting choice
Tchen, who is a Chicago lawyer, ironically intervened in the case of hate crime faker Smollett on his family’s behalf. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the former Obama staffer contacted Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on February 1, three days after Smollett claimed he was attacked by Trump supporters in Chicago — and while Smollett was still considered a victim and not suspected of wrongdoing — and put her in contact with Smollett’s family.
Foxx, who ended up recusing herself, messaged Tchen back saying she tried to get Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnston to turn the investigation over to the FBI.

“Spoke to Superintendent Johnson. I convinced him to reach out to the FBI to ask that they take over the investigation. He is reaching out now and they will get to me shortly,” Foxx wrote to Tchen in an e-mail. Foxx also notified a relative of Smollett, who replied, “OMG this would be a huge victory.”
Tchen has denied trying to influence the case.
Disgraced organization
Despite the SPLC’s own bigotry scandals, the organization remains undeterred in its quest to fight “hate,” which presumably means whatever the left doesn’t like. That agenda is reflected in Fair’s memo, which focuses on the SPLC’s efforts to thwart Trump’s immigration agenda and hails its own work in fighting the “deportation machine.”

“Given the rising tide of hate and given the callousness of the Trump administration, our work is as critical as ever. I can assure you that we will continue to work as hard as we can to combat the forces of hate and bigotry and to seek justice for the most marginalized people in our country,” he wrote.

The SPLC’s decision to hire a former Obama aide who interceded on behalf of a hate crime hoaxer to investigate its own discrimination issues hardly seems out of line with the group’s long-standing, now thoroughly exposed, hypocrisy.

The SPLC is mostly known for its “hate map,” which lists “hate groups” all over the country.  While the SPLC claims they’re all about fighting hate, critics exposed its classification of hate groups as unmistakably prejudiced against conservatives, cavalierly lumping mainstream conservative organizations together with neo-Nazis and the KKK.

Now, the SPLC’s long-respected moral authority on designating “hateful” groups has all but collapsed. Despite being exposed as hypocrites and frauds, though, it looks like the group intends to soldier on, deflecting attention from their own problems with a newly intensified focus on Trump.
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Russia to keep deepening cooperation with Venezuelan military – state arms exporter
Published time: 29 Mar, 2019 18:58
Edited time: 30 Mar, 2019 08:56
Get short URL https://on.rt.com/9r5r
Russia to keep deepening cooperation with Venezuelan military – state arms exporter
FILE PHOTO: A Mi-26 helicopter flies over Caracas.   AFP / Raul Arboleda
A new helicopter training center has been built in Venezuela, the Russian state arms exporter said, pledging to deepen cooperation with Caracas. The news comes amid US threats of sanctions over Russia’s presence in the country.
The training center, built by Russia’s arms exporter, was unveiled on Friday, according to press service Rosoboronexport. The center is designed to train Venezuelan pilots to use such Russia-made hardware as Mi-17 and Mi-26 transport, Mi-35 attack helicopters and others.

“Rosoboronexport and other Russian organizations partaking in the Russian-Venezuelan military-technical cooperation, remain committed to deepening partnership with the defense ministry and other government bodies of Venezuela,” the press service said. The cooperation focuses on training military personnel and servicing the supplied hardware

ALSO ON RT.COM
'Get out of Syria first': Moscow reacts to Trump's demand to leave Venezuela
While military ties between Moscow and Caracas go a long way back, this statement might signal Russia’s unwavering intent to stand by Nicolas Maduro’s government, to which the Venezuelan Army has remained loyal despite the massive US-backed protests gripping the country. The new training facility was opened at a time when Washington is openly supporting a coup led by the opposition leader, Juan Guaido, who has proclaimed himself as interim president, while branding the legitimately elected president a usurper.

READ MORE: US is manufacturing a crisis in Venezuela so that there is chaos and 'needed' intervention

Officials in Donald Trump’s administration saw red when planes carrying Russian military specialists landed in Caracas on Saturday. Moscow later confirmed that the arrival was linked to the military-technical cooperation deal sealed in 2001, stressing it does not need any further approval, including by the opposition-controlled parliament.

Since then, President Trump himself has demanded that Russia “get out” of Venezuela, his National Security Advisor John Bolton said that they “won’t tolerate” a different foreign power meddling in the Western Hemisphere, while the US special representative for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, has outright threatened sanctions on Russia for the move.

ALSO ON RT.COM
Venezuela regime-change champion John Bolton says US won’t tolerate foreign meddling in the country
“We have a list of options we have given the secretary [of State Mike Pompeo]. There are a lot of things we can do in economic terms, in terms of sanctions,” Abrams told reporters Friday, adding that “it would be a mistake for the Russians to think they have a free hand.”

Speaking outside the White House on Friday, Trump told reporters that he might discuss the Venezuela crisis with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "We will probably be talking at some point," he said.

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French, Belgian intelligence are plotting false flag chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib – Moscow
Published time: 29 Mar, 2019 19:12
Edited time: 30 Mar, 2019 08:57
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French, Belgian intelligence are plotting false flag chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib – Moscow
FILE PHOTO. Clock Tower of the Idlib city.   Reuters / Ammar Abdullah
The secret services of France and Belgium are plotting to stage a false flag chemical attack in Syria to frame Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Agents of the two countries are cooperating with terrorist leaders in Idlib.
Militants, occupying large parts of the Syrian province of Idlib are readying a false flag attack involving chemical weaponry, the head of the Russian Centre for Reconciliation in Syria, Major General Viktor Kupchishin said on Friday.

ALSO ON RT.COM
Another alleged Syrian chemical attack but this time Western media is silent (VIDEO)
The attack is being prepared in close cooperation between operatives of Belgian and French secret services and terrorist groups, including the rebranded Syrian Al-Qaeda offshoot – Hayyat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS, previously known as Al-Nusra Front). Apart from them, the “pseudo humanitarian,” as the General put it, White Helmets group is also taking part in preparations.

ALSO ON RT.COM
From 'good guys' to ruthless extremists: How Washington & allies supported jihadists in Syria
A batch of poisonous gas, believed to be chlorine-based, has been already delivered to a number of villages in the Idlib province. The poison is packed in canisters disguised as oxygen and natural gas tanks, according to the Russian military.

The plotters have discussed the filming of the upcoming false flag attack and are expected to repurpose footage of a recent Russian strike on a drone warehouse in Idlib to “prove” Moscow’s involvement.

While the “actors” are offered some $100 for playing the roles of chemical attack victims, there’s a distinct possibility that the militants will poison people for real to make the video more “lifelike,” the official warned.

ALSO ON RT.COM
BBC producer says hospital scenes after 2018 Douma ‘chemical attack’ were staged
It’s not the first time Russia has warned about a false flag attack involving chemical weapons, revealing details about it to the general public. Last September, the Russian military issued a string of warnings of an imminent false flag attack in Idlib, accusing the notorious White Helmets group of being behind it. The attack would be used by the West to launch – again – airstrikes on Syrian government troops, according to Moscow. The incident, however, never happened – probably since it was exposed beforehand.
MORE https://www.rt.com/news/455104-syria-france-belgium-chemical-weapon/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=push_notifications&utm_campaign=push_notifications

Syria: We will attack Israel unless it withdraws from the Golan
 March 7, 2019
Syria: We will attack Israel unless it withdraws from the GolanSyrian President Bashar Assad (AP)
Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad issued the warning to a U.N. official as Damascus fears U.S. recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
By World Israel News Staff
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad reportedly warned Kristin Lund, head of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), that “Syria will attack Israel if it does not leave the Golan Heights.”
“We will not hesitate to confront Israel,” Mekdad said. “We are also not scared away by its [Israel’s] supporters who are helping to perpetuate the occupation of the Golan,” he added.
The Syrian official accused Israel of using violence and harming regional stability.
The message has been interpreted as a sign that Syria is concerned that the U.S. will recognize Israel’s sovereignty on the Golan Heights.
Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) introduced legislation last week urging the United States to officially recognize Israel’s sovereignty. The IDF captured the territory in the 1967 war. In 1981, the Knesset passed legislation applying Israeli law on the Golan.
MORE https://worldisraelnews.com/syria-threatens-to-attack-israel-unless-it-withdraws-from-the-golan/?

North Korea Escalates Rhetoric Following Reports of New Nuclear Activity…
Mar 07, 2019 10:37 pm
North Korea Escalates Rhetoric Following Reports of New Nuclear Activity…
(US News) – North Korea on Thursday blasted new, smaller-scale U.S.-South Korea military exercises as an “open challenge” to the aspiration of Pyongyang, seemingly rejecting what had been a key compromise President Donald Trump made following a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month. The fiery rhetoric followed numerous reports this week that North Korea has begun new activity to bolster its nuclear weapons program, despite White House assurances following the high profile

February meeting in Vietnam that Kim was committed to denuclearization. “The ill-boding moves of the south Korean military authorities and the U.S. are a wanton violation of the DPRK-U.S. joint statement and the north-south declarations in which the removal of hostility and tensions were committed to,” North Korean state news service KCNA wrote, using its preferred acronym for itself. The statement described the new downsized exercises as “an open challenge to the aspiration and desire of all Koreans and the international community for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.” 
READ MORE https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2019-03-07/north-korea-escalates-rhetoric-following-reports-of-new-nuclear-activity

Iran in economic, psychological war with US & its allies – President Rouhani
Published time: 6 Mar, 2019 07:42
Edited time: 6 Mar, 2019 08:30
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Iran in economic, psychological war with US & its allies – President Rouhani
AFP / ATTA KENARE
The US is waging an economic and psychological war against Iran in an attempt to topple its government, President Hassan Rouhani said, as he called on the Iranian people to stay strong in the face of this aggression.
“Iran is in economic and psychological war with America and its allies... their aim is to change the regime,” he said during a rally speech in the northern province of Gilan.
The Iranian president added that “our nation and the leadership are united against our enemies.”
Press TV

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 Iran’s president Rouhani delivers speech https://www.pscp.tv/w/b09tdTF6dkVOV0RMQVd5UWV8MWxEeExNeVBQcWJLbaFx6X2JPJgfn63oJch2ZOiV3Kbt7AJymKg_5c2pJChq …
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Iran’s president Rouhani delivers speech
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The Trump administration made increasing pressure on Iran a priority of its foreign policy. Washington pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran despite the objections of other signatories and has been twisting the arms of other nations to force them to stop doing business with Iran.

Rouhani said the US re-imposing economic sanctions on Iran was meant to goad Tehran into pulling out of the nuclear deal, which has not happened. This resulted in the US being isolated at the UN Security Council when President Donald Trump personally appealed for sanctions to be slapped on Iran last year.

ALSO ON RT.COM
‘Toxic mixture’ of Trump, Pence & Bolton endangers Europe’s security – top German MP
The White House is currently filled with Iran hawks, such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton. Washington is trying to forge a regional anti-Iranian alliance, which would include Israel and the Gulf monarchies led by Saudi Arabia. Last month, they met in Poland for a high-profile meeting, which was largely snubbed by European heavyweights.

Rouhani said the outcome of the meeting, which was a far cry from the world rallying behind Washington to fight against Tehran, was another blow to the US policy towards Iran.

The Iranian president acknowledged that the US has managed to create problems in Iran with its sanctions and other actions, and pledged that his government will work tirelessly to solve or mitigate them, serving the interests of the Iranian people.

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India prepares for war, 14,000 bunkers are built along Pakistan border as the nations prepare their military
Feb 27, 2019 08:53 pm
India prepares for war, 14,000 bunkers are built along Pakistan border as the nations prepare their military
(Daily Mail) – India is preparing for war with the construction of 14,000 bunkers to protect families on the Pakistan border as Islamabad invokes the specter of nuclear conflict, telling India ‘better sense’ is needed. Earlier today Pakistan and India said they had shot down each other’s warplanes, in a dramatic escalation of the dangerous confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals. Pakistan said it downed two Indian jets in its airspace and captured two pilots, later amended to one: whom they then seemingly paraded –

blindfolded and bloodied – for the camera. On Tuesday evening, Islamabad used heavy caliber artillery to shell 12 to 15 places along the Indian side creating panic among the populace on the border where bunkers are being hastily thrown up to ease their fears. The downed pilot was named today as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and seen in a video of what appears to be an interview at a Pakistani Airbase, in which he refuses to reveal any information about his capture – or captors. 
READ MORE https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6750329/Pakistan-shoots-Indian-jets-carries-airstrikes-Kashmir.html

https://www.rt.com/news/452634-pakistan-ready-release-india-pilot/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=push_notifications&utm_campaign=push_notifications
Pakistan minister says Islamabad ready to return pilot to ease India tension – local TV
Published time: 28 Feb, 2019 09:26
Edited time: 28 Feb, 2019 10:34
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Pakistan minister says Islamabad ready to return pilot to ease India tension – local TV
Demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during a protest demanding the release of an Indian Air Force pilot after he was captured by Pakistan, in Kolkata REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri
Islamabad is ready to hand over a pilot captured after an Indian jet was downed over Kashmir if the move will help defuse tensions which have pushed the neighbors close to war, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister has said.
“If there is de-escalation with the return of this [Indian] pilot, Pakistan is willing to consider this. We are ready for all positive engagement," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was quoted by Pakistani Geo TV on Thursday.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is also willing to talk to Indian premier Narendra Modi “to extend an invitation of peace,” the top diplomat said. The Indian side is yet to respond to the offer.

Claiming Islamabad has been calling for peace since the outbreak of hostilities, Qureshi said, “If India wants to talk about terrorism then we are ready.”

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Niece of former Pakistan PM Bhutto calls for release of captured Indian pilot
Taking a more combative tone, the minister accused India of risking regional stability, saying “history will not forgive you” if a conflict breaks out. “God forbid there is a war, Pakistan will be affected but will India’s economy not suffer?”

The pilot in question, identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, was shot down and ejected over Pakistani-controlled territory in the disputed state of Kashmir on Wednesday. Pakistan later released footage of the pilot, in which he refuses to answer questions about his mission or type of aircraft.

 Embedded video
AFP news agency

@AFP
 VIDEO: Pakistan's military releases a video showing an Indian fighter pilot who was captured after his jet was shot down when it entered Pakistani airspace in Kashmir

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In a previous video that went viral, the downed pilot was seen being rescued from an angry mob of locals by Pakistani soldiers. Though the soldiers’ treatment of the pilot drew praise from both Indians and Pakistanis, New Delhi called the releases a “vulgar display” and demanded the immediate safe return of the pilot.

 Embedded video
Abinash Routray
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 This is the reality and this how they are treating. Now i feel #SayYesToWar #FakePakistan #indianPilot
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Meanwhile, local voices in Pakistan have also called for a détente. The niece of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and granddaughter of former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto wrote an op-ed for the New York Times op-ed, in which she said: “I and many other young Pakistanis have called upon our country to release the captured Indian pilot as a gesture of our commitment to peace, humanity and dignity.”

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Russia, US and France launch nuclear-capable missiles HOURS APART
Feb 07, 2019 11:08 pm
Russia, US and France launch nuclear-capable missiles HOURS APART
(Express) – Russia, the United States and France have test-launched nuclear-capable missiles within hours of one another as fears rise of a return to a Cold War-era arms race amid the abandonment of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. RUSSIA, the United States and France have test-launched nuclear-capable missiles within hours of one another as fears rise of a return to a Cold War-era arms race amid
the abandonment of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. None of the tests were thought to be equipped with nuclear warheads and were likely scheduled ahead of the INF treaty breakdown. In a press release, the French Ministry of Defense said the demonstration of the ASMP was “successful”. The weapon was fired at a testing center of the DGA Essays de missiles located near Biscarrosse, southwestern France.
 READ MORE https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1083676/world-war-3-russia-US-France-nuclear-missile-launch-inf-treaty/amp

Russia warns US of ‘NEW ERA’ after Trump scraps INF nuclear treaty
Feb 04, 2019 10:26 pm
Russia warns US of ‘NEW ERA’ after Trump scraps INF nuclear treaty
(Express) – Moscow issued its latest warning amid fears the US President’s decision would bring the world closer to a Cold War and allow a build-up of intermediate-range nuclear weapons on their Eastern flank. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: ”I don’t think we’re talking about the development of a Cold War. “A new era has begun.” Alarm spread through Europe after the announcement on Friday

that Donald Trump had abandoned the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Trump administration officials cited Russia’s noncompliance with the treaty as the reason for leaving the deal, in a move which threatens to undermine peace and stability between Russia and the US. The President said the nuclear weapons accord, struck between the US and the Soviet Union in 1987, had been violated by Moscow because of the development of a new missile. 
READ MORE https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1082308/world-war-3-russia-us-cold-war-inf-treaty-nuclear-trump-putin/amp

China just tested the world’s most powerful naval gun, and US intelligence says it will be ready for warfare by 2025
Jan 31, 2019 09:17 am
China just tested the world’s most powerful naval gun, and US intelligence says it will be ready for warfare by 2025
(CNBC) – China tested the world’s most powerful naval gun earlier this month, and it is expected to be ready for warfare by 2025, according to people with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report. China’s railgun was first seen in 2011 and underwent testing in 2014, according to the people, who spoke to CNBC on the condition of anonymity. Between 2015 and 2017, the weapon was calibrated to strike at extended ranges, increasing its lethality. By December 2017, the weapon was successfully mounted on a warship and began at-sea testing, a feat no other nation has accomplished.

The Chinese are expected to complete at-sea testing by 2023. The development comes at a moment when tensions between China and the U.S. are already high, underscored by crucial trade talks that were scheduled to move to Washington on Wednesday. Railguns use electromagnetic energy instead of gunpowder to propel rounds, and China’s is capable of striking a target 124 miles away at speeds of up to 1.6 miles per second, according to the people who have knowledge of the intelligence report. 
READ MORE https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/01/30/china-naval-gun-ready-for-warfare-by-2025-us-intelligence.html

RUMORS OF WAR: Israel and Iran Edging Dangerously Close to State of All-Out War
Jan 22, 2019 01:50 pm
RUMORS OF WAR: Israel and Iran Edging Dangerously Close to State of All-Out War
(Charisma) – Israel and Iran are edging dangerously close to a state of all-out war. On Sunday night, Israeli forces rained missiles down on Iranian forces based in the Damascus area “for nearly an hour.” According to the IDF, this was a response to “dozens” of missiles that were fired by Iranian forces in Syria toward targets in Israel earlier that day. The Israelis were able to intercept the Iranian missiles, but if any of them had gotten through they could have caused a tremendous amount of damage. Some of the missiles that Israel fired at the Iranians were reportedly intercepted, but quite a few of them did hit

their intended targets. If the violence continues to escalate, we could potentially soon be talking about an all-out war between Israel and Iran in which both sides use their weapons of mass destruction. The missile strikes against Iranian targets in Damascus made headlines all over the globe. According to Syrian state media, there were “consecutive waves of guided missiles.” Syrian state media cited a Syrian military source as saying Israel launched an “intense attack through consecutive waves of guided missiles,” but that Syrian air defenses destroyed most of the “hostile targets.” 
READ MORE https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/standing-with-israel/74883-world-war-3-alert-israel-iran-edging-dangerously-close-to-state-of-all-out-war



RUMORS OF WAR: Iran warns it’s ready to ‘Eliminate Israel from Earth,’
Jan 21, 2019 09:31 am
RUMORS OF WAR: Iran warns it’s ready to ‘Eliminate Israel from Earth,’
(RT News) – The head of Iran’s air force has warned that Tehran is ready to “confront” and “eliminate” Israel. His fighting words come after Israel launched air raids on alleged Iranian targets inside Syria, killing 4 Syrian soldiers. Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, the commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF), issued the provocative statement to the Young Journalist Club news agency, according Iranian media.

Israel is believed to have fired dozens of missiles and guided bombs at targets inside Syria over the last 48 hours, purportedly targeting Iranian forces stationed in the country. The strikes have killed four Syrian soldiers and left six others injured, the Russian Defense Ministry has said, as well as causing damage to Damascus International Airport. The ministry claims that Syrian forces have intercepted 30 Israeli missiles over the past 48 hours. 
READ MORE https://www.rt.com/news/449321-iran-israel-destroy-earth-syria/

https://www.rt.com/news/449404-supersonic-bomber-tu-22m-crash/?utm_source=browser&utm_medium=push_notifications&utm_campaign=push_notifications
Supersonic strike bomber Tu-22M3 crash-lands in Russia’s northwest
Published time: 22 Jan, 2019 11:49
Edited time: 22 Jan, 2019 12:13
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Supersonic strike bomber Tu-22M3 crash-lands in Russia’s northwest 
A Tu-22 supersonic strategic bomber Wikipedia
A Tu-22M3 supersonic strategic bomber has crashed in Russia’s north-west while trying to make a landing during a sudden snowstorm. Two crew members died in the incident while two others were injured.
The bomber got into trouble after conducting a training exercise, the Russian defense ministry reported. It attempted to make a landing at an air base near the city of Olenegorsk in Russia’s Murmansk region.

The aircraft was destroyed by the impact. Two crew members died on the spot while two others survived and were taken to a hospital for treatment, the ministry said. 

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Return of carrier-killer bomber: Upgraded Tu-22 makes maiden flight in Russia
The storm, which affected the aircraft, is of a rare kind that only happens in Arctic areas. It is almost impossible to predict and develops very rapidly, turning a calm day into a fierce and dangerous blizzard.

The Tupolev Tu-22M3 is a supersonic long-range bomber, which can carry nuclear air-to-surface missile. The model has been operational since the late 1980s. The aircraft that crashed in the Murmansk region had no weapons on board, according to the ministry statement.

The air base near Olenegorsk is operated by the long-range command of the Russian Air Forces and is one of several where Tu-22M3s are deployed.

RUMORS OF WAR: Israel may need to invade Iran to stop its entrenchment in Syria …
Jan 16, 2019 04:28 pm
RUMORS OF WAR: Israel may need to invade Iran to stop its entrenchment in Syria …
(JP) – Israel needs to prepare for the possibility that its battle to keep Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria may have to be expanded to Lebanon or to Iran directly. That is one of the recommendations that appeared in the Institute for National Security Studies Strategic Assessment for Israel 2018-2019, which was released and rolled out by the Tel Aviv-based think tank at a ceremony at the President’s Residence on Wednesday.

“Israel maintains a very strong basic deterrent against security challenges that are below the threshold of war,” according to the report. “At the same time, most of the fronts facing Israel are very volatile: Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. In all three, despite the existence of mutual deterrence between the sides, there is a potential for escalation toward a broad confrontation and a general war, more than one front at a time.” READ MORE https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Israel-may-need-to-invade-Iran-says-strategic-report-577590

Casualties as blast in Manbij, Syria reportedly occurs near US-led coalition patrol (VIDEOS)
Published time: 16 Jan, 2019 11:43
Edited time: 16 Jan, 2019 14:53
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US military ramped up security inside Syria's Manbij following the bombing attack Ruptly
US military ramped up security inside Syria's Manbij following the bombing attack Ruptly
A powerful blast has hit the northern Syrian city of Manbij, which was recently threatened by Turkey over its Kurdish control. Several people were killed, with local sources claiming Kurdish-allied US soldiers were among the dead.
The blast happened near a restaurant and market. Preliminary reports say at least six people were killed and 19 others injured by the explosion. Various sources on the ground claim that between two and five US soldiers are among the casualties, but this has yet to be confirmed.

Footage from Manbij obtained by RT’s video agency Ruptly shows emergency vehicles and several US troops, presumably responding to the blast.
Screenshot Ruptly
Ruptly’s contributor on the ground said the US military ramped up security inside the city following the attack and put the city hospital, where victims have been transported, on lockdown.
Photos and videos taken at the scene show a damaged building with broken windows and what appear to be blood stains on a column and several damaged cars.
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Update: #USA Blackhawks are landing next to targeted site in #Manbij 
US Service men were injured. An US patrol was near the targeted restaurant - according to locals some were enjoying a meal inside the restaurant
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MrRevinsky
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#Breaking #Syria #EasternEuphrates
Explosion reported near a market in #Manbij. Unclear if #US soldiers (who were there) are involved.@AleppoAMC says that 5 US servicemen have been killed but I tend to be skeptical.
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The US-led coalition stated it was “aware of open-source reports” on the blast, and said that it had conducted a routine Syrian patrol, but stopped short of confirming any casualties in the explosion.
OIR Spokesperson

@OIRSpox
 U.S. service members were killed during an explosion while conducting a routine patrol in Syria today. We are still gathering information and will share additional details at a later time.
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2:47 PM - Jan 16, 2019
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Four US soldiers were killed and three were injured, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed American official.
Al Jazeera sources earlier said the death toll includes two US soldiers, one Kurdish fighter, and six civilians. Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak said five Americans were killed by the explosion. Another unconfirmed report said the target was a restaurant where US, French and Kurdish troops were meeting to discuss security arrangements for the city.
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Bibi threatens Iran with more after attacking Iranian targets
By Leah Rosenberg -  January 16, 2019 356 0
https://israelunwired.com/bibi-threatens-iran-with-more-after-attacking-iranian-targets/
There is no more important threat to Israel than Iran. But most of the threats from Iran are via what Bibi Netanyahu calls Iran’s proxies. This refers to both the Hizbullah in Israel’s north and Hamas in Israel’s south.

Israel Attacks Iranian Targets in Syria, Power Clash Begins as US Pulls Out
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Tactical or Strategic Move
The question that is central about the move of the United States to remove it’s forces from Syria is whether or not it was tactical or strategic. Secretary of State Pompeo declared that it was tactical. But that the basic concept of defeating and stopping ISIS is still a top priority for the Trump administration. I think Bibi Netanyahu is OK with this and accepts the tactical move on one condition – that it is done gradually.

In the Middle East, any sweeping move can be interpreted very easily as a defeat. If the Iranians or ISIS perceive the United States as the loser in the region, it could lead to more offensive moves on their part.

Bibi – the Great Strategist
The way that Bibi Netanyahu handled Barack Obama was masterful. He kept his eye on the main issue – Iran. He gave in to Obama on some matters that cost his some domestic political capital. But he never let down on Iran – even if it meant confronting the President of the United States in Congress or at the UN. This was an excellent strategy, and I think that history will prove that he succeeded in protecting the vital interests of the Jewish State despite giving in on some tactical levels to assuage President Obama.

The way Netanyahu handles President Trump is different. The administration of President Trump and President Obama are almost polar opposites one from another. So, a completely different way needs to be used when dealing with President Trump. However, at this point in time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is busy with his reelection campaign. If he wins, as most polls indicate he will, he should use his mandate to continue to weaken the threats from Israel’s north and strengthen Israel’s hold on the strategic areas in central Israel.

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Netanyahu to Iran: Get out of Syria fast, we won’t stop attacking
Published time: 15 Jan, 2019 08:21
Edited time: 15 Jan, 2019 09:01
Get short URL https://on.rt.com/9mbg
Netanyahu to Iran: Get out of Syria fast, we won’t stop attacking
Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with incoming Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi. REUTERS / Corinna Kern
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the IDF will continue to attack Iranians in Syria. Earlier, an Israeli commander said it conducted attacks in the country on nearly a daily basis and supplied arms to Syrian rebels.
“I'm telling you, get out of there fast. We won’t stop attacking,” the prime minister said on Tuesday morning during a ceremony, in which he appointed Aviv Kochavi as the new chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Netanyahu also rejected statements by an Iranian official, who said Iran only sent military advisers to Syria and not regular fighting troops.

“They always lie. They are lying with that and they are lying when they say their attempt to launch a satellite into space failed,” he said.

The Israeli leader was referring to the remarks made on Monday by Iranian General Hassan Firoozabadi, who said its “military advisers” will say in Syria as long as required to defeat terrorists, and an announcement on Tuesday by Iranian Communications Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi, who said Tehran’s attempt to place a satellite into orbit had failed.

ALSO ON RT.COM https://www.rt.com/news/448685-israel-syria-strikes-eizenkot/
‘We struck thousands of targets’: IDF chief of staff on Israel’s ‘near-daily’ strikes in Syria

Turkey calls for joint control with Russia & Iran over US troop pullout from Syria
Published time: 9 Jan, 2019 08:31
Edited time: 9 Jan, 2019 09:54
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Turkey calls for joint control with Russia & Iran over US troop pullout from Syria
FILE PHOTO. Presidents Hassan Rouhani of Iran, Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Vladimir Putin of Russia.   Reuters / Umit Bektas
As the US is experiencing “certain difficulties” with the withdrawal from Syria, it should be coordinated with Iran and Russia to prevent “terrorists” from taking up the vacated space, the Turkish foreign minister says.
“The United States [has] been facing certain difficulties with the process of the troops' withdrawal from Syria. We want to coordinate this process with Russia and Iran, with which we had arranged work in the framework of the Astana process,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday.

Read more
Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) chat with members of U.S. forces in the town of Darbasiya Reuters / Rodi SaidUS troop pullout from Syria conditional on Turkey's security guarantees for Kurds - Bolton
Cavusoglu visited Moscow late in December to discuss the situation in Syria. On Wednesday, he mulled bilateral talks between Turkey and Iran, giving no timeframe, however.

At the same time, a tripartite summit in Moscow is being prepared as well, Cavusoglu revealed.

The proposal from Cavusoglu comes as Ankara and Washington are engaged in a bitter war of words over the US troop withdrawal from Syria. On Tuesday, US National Security Advisor John Bolton blasted an opinion piece penned by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the New York Times as both “offensive and wrong.”

Erdogan praised his own efforts in combatting terrorism in Syria, while criticizing the US-backed operations in Raqqa and the Iraqi city of Mosul, as well as recalling the “lesson of Iraq” and the “premature declarations of victory” which led to the emergence of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS).

Prior to that exchange, Bolton demanded safety guarantees for Syria’s Kurds from Turkey, calling it a precondition for US withdrawal. The Turkish president called Bolton’s demands a “huge mistake” and refused to “swallow” them. He also reiterated Ankara’s resolve to fight “terrorism” in Syria, stressing that it actually seeks to protect the “Kurdish brothers” in the neighboring country.

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Bolton made a ‘serious mistake,’ Ankara won't ‘swallow’ his comments on Syria's Kurds – Erdogan
Russia, along with Turkey and Iran, is a guarantor of the ceasefire in Syria, which has been successfully implemented in several areas throughout the country. Moscow has actively undertaken efforts to settle the years-long conflict, supporting the Syrian government forces in the fight against terrorism, bringing humanitarian relief to civilians, and working on the bringing warring parties to the negotiating table.

The abrupt decision to withdraw troops from Syria announced by President Donald Trump in December was met in Moscow with a great deal of skepticism.

“Concerning the pullout of US troops, I don’t know what that is. The US has been in Afghanistan for 17 years already, and almost every year they say that they’re pulling their troops out. But they’re still there,” President Vladimir Putin said at the time.

RUMOR OF WAR: China’s army told to urgently prepare for war in warning to US and Taiwan
Jan 06, 2019 07:04 pm
RUMORS OF WAR: China’s army told to urgently prepare for war in warning to US and Taiwan
(Express) – President Xi Jinping told a meeting of top brass China’s armed forces must strengthen their sense of urgency and do everything they can to prepare for battle. The news comes amidst escalating tensions between China and the US as well as American-backed Taiwan, with disputes between the two superpowers ranging from trade to the status of the island. Mr Jinping told a meeting of the top military authority that China faced increasing risks and challenges, and the armed forces must work to

secure its security and development needs, reports the official Xinhua news agency. Mr. Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the armed forces must devise strategies for the new era and take on responsibilities for preparing and waging war. He is quoted as saying: ”The world is facing a period of major changes never seen in a century, and China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development.” 
READ MORE https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1067621/world-war-3-china-us-china-vs-taiwan-donald-trump-xi-jinping-china-news/amp

Russia to Deploy Precision Strike Missiles in Western Atlantic, Iran to send Warships
Jan 04, 2019 06:47 pm
Russia to Deploy Precision Strike Missiles in Western Atlantic, Iran to send Warships
(WFB) – Russia is deploying long-range, precision cruise missiles to the western Atlantic that American defense officials say will allow Moscow to target Washington and other East Coast cities with conventional or nuclear attacks. Moscow is adding Kalibr land attack cruise missiles to both warships and missile submarines that Moscow plans to use in Atlantic patrols near the United States, sorties that were once routine during the Cold War. The new sea-based Kalibr deployments are expected in the coming months, according to officials familiar with intelligence reports of the Russian maritime operations. The land-attack version of the Kalibr, known as the SS-N-30A by NATO, is a relatively new weapon and was showcased for the first time by Moscow in attacks on Syria that began in 2015. 
READ MORE https://freebeacon.com/national-security/russia-to-deploy-precision-strike-missiles-in-western-atlantic/



(Reuters) – The Iranian navy will send warships to deploy in the Atlantic from March, a top commander said on Friday, as the Islamic Republic seeks to increase the operating range of its naval forces to the backyard of the United States, its arch-foe. Iran sees the presence of U.S. aircraft carriers in the Gulf as a security concern and its navy has sought to counter that by showing the flag near American waters. A flotilla will leave for the Atlantic early in the Iranian new year, starting from March, Iran’s naval deputy commander said. 
READ MORE  https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-usa-navy/iran-to-send-warships-to-the-atlantic-closer-to-u-s-waters-idUSKCN1OY0SX

WAR DRUMS
PROPHECY WATCH: Iran, Turkey and Russia Threaten Israel
Dec 22, 2018 08:53 pm
PROPHECY WATCH: Iran, Turkey and Russia Threaten Israel
(JP) – The fifth Cypriot-Greek-Israeli summit will take place in Beersheba on December 20. While much of Israel’s attention is focused on Iran’s proxies on the country’s northern and southern borders, this high-level trilateral meeting is a noteworthy strategic event. Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian militias in Syria, and Hamas in Gaza are serious military challenges along Israel’s northern and southern borders. They contribute to a new emerging threat in the eastern Mediterranean.

Each of these bad actors is under Iranian influence. Iran, which is seeking a Shi’ite corridor from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean, plans its own air and naval bases on the Mediterranean coast, too. This would allow Iran to project power into the Balkans along the Mediterranean shores, and further west, too, toward the Muslim communities in Europe. There are three Muslim states in the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Kosovo) that have already been penetrated by Muslim powers Turkey and Iran. 
READ MORE https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Iran-Turkey-Russia-and-others-threaten-Western-and-Israeli-security-in-this-strategic-zone-574590




PROPHECY WATCH: Iran, Turkey and Russia Threaten Israel
Dec 22, 2018 08:53 pm
PROPHECY WATCH: Iran, Turkey and Russia Threaten Israel
(JP) – The fifth Cypriot-Greek-Israeli summit will take place in Beersheba on December 20. While much of Israel’s attention is focused on Iran’s proxies on the country’s northern and southern borders, this high-level trilateral meeting is a noteworthy strategic event. Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian militias in Syria, and Hamas in Gaza are serious military challenges along Israel’s northern and southern borders. They contribute to a new emerging threat in the eastern Mediterranean.

Each of these bad actors is under Iranian influence. Iran, which is seeking a Shi’ite corridor from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean, plans its own air and naval bases on the Mediterranean coast, too. This would allow Iran to project power into the Balkans along the Mediterranean shores, and further west, too, toward the Muslim communities in Europe. There are three Muslim states in the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Kosovo) that have already been penetrated by Muslim powers Turkey and Iran. 
READ MORE https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Iran-Turkey-Russia-and-others-threaten-Western-and-Israeli-security-in-this-strategic-zone-574590



Russia Successfully Tests Weapon That Travels 27 Times Speed of Sound and Renders Missile Defense Systems ‘Useless’
Dec 28, 2018 04:07 pm
Russia Successfully Tests Weapon That Travels 27 Times Speed of Sound and Renders Missile Defense Systems ‘Useless’
(Newsweek) – Russian officials said they have developed a new weapons system that travels at 27 times the speed of sound, thus making it “impossible” to intercept with current missile defense technology. The system, known as the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, “essentially makes missile defenses useless,” Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov told Russian state television on Thursday, Associated Press reported. On Wednesday, the Russian military completed a successful test of the Avangard—

according to the Kremlin—in which the weapon was launched from the Dombarovskiy missile base in the Southern Ural Mountains, striking a practice target 3,700 miles away in Kamchatka, a peninsula in the far east of the country. President Vladimir Putin oversaw the test, commenting afterward that the weapons system would guarantee Russia’s security for the foreseeable future and that it could be deployed as early as next year. 
READ MORE https://www.newsweek.com/russian-new-weapon-mach-27-avangard-hypersonic-glide-vehicle-intercontinental-1273729?utm_campaign=NewsweekFacebookSF&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social

PROPHECY WATCH: Could Vladimir Putin be Gog of Bible Prophecy?
Dec 28, 2018 08:52 am
PROPHECY WATCH: Could Vladimir Putin be Gog of Bible Prophecy?
(CE) – According to Scripture, an aggressive and authoritarian ruler identified as “Gog” will arise from Russia (known in Biblical times as “Magog”) to lead a coalition of nations against Israel, in what is known as the Ezekiel 38-39 war, in the last days. Since this ruler is likely that of either a current or future leader of Russia, and the stage appears to be set for the Ezekiel 38-39 war, there may well be a credible candidate for Gog, and there is: Vladimir Putin. Little is known about this man, who was catapulted from obscurity into the seat of Russian power. What is known, however, is that Putin very closely fits the description of Gog…


1. Gog is a dictator with such powerful reputation to where countries of the world hesitate to confront him directly (Ezekiel 38:13). Putin is an undisputed dictator, and him and his Russia are already becoming so powerful that no one in the world can stop them. Forbes has named Vladimir Putin the world’s most powerful person four years in a row. Garry Kasparov in his book, “Winter Is Coming” says, “Putin’s Russia is clearly the biggest and most dangerous threat facing the world today.” Time magazine (2014) makes the case that Vladimir Putin does not see himself as Russia’s president or prime minister but rather as her modern Czar (Gog is a title like “Czar”). Putin is certainly living up to his name – Vladimir – which means: Universal ruler! 
CONTINUE http://www.christianevidence.net/2018/12/could-vladimir-putin-be-gog.html?m=1

Assad just gave Iraq authorization to strike ISIS inside Syria — without waiting for approval
December 31, 2018 by Jerry McCormick
https://www.patriotnewsalerts.com/strike-isis-inside-syria/?utm_medium=ci&utm_source=push&utm_campaign=pna
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Syria is already making aggressive moves in anticipation of the United States withdrawal of troops from their country.

In a stunning announcement, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gave the green light to Iraq to attack ISIS within its borders without waiting for approval from Syrian officials.

Taking on the Enemy
Iraq and Syria have decided that it’s now up to them to take on ISIS.

With President Trump announcing he will be removing troops from the area, Syria leadership is revving up its own efforts against ISIS to ensure the terrorists do not gain a strong foothold there again.

While Iraqi forces have regularly conducted bombing missions on Syrian soil, they have always had to wait until the military strikes were approved by Syrian officials.

That stipulation has now been removed, giving Iraq a lot more flexibility to carry out missions as it sees fit.

Keeping Them Out
One of Trump’s reasons for removing U.S. troops from Syria is because he believes that ISIS has been largely defeated in the area.

President Trump said he believes the hard work has been done and Syria, along with its middle eastern allies, should be able to finish the job.

But while Trump’s announcement was not well-received by military leaders and politicos, he seems to be standing firm on his decision.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), on whom Trump has relied heavily to push his MAGA agenda in Congress, was vocally opposed to Trump pulling out the troops.

Graham said he wants “to fight the war in the enemy’s backyard, not ours.”

But after a lunch with the president, Graham seems to be back on our side.

Meanwhile, Syria seems to be ready to move forward without the help of the United States.

In addition to allowing Iraq to operate its strikes without approval, the country has also opened up its financial system to its allies, offering “full cooperation on the financial and banking levels.”

Do you agree with Trump's choice to pull troops out of Syria?
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According to reports, it will take more than a decade to rebuild Syria from the almost decade-long war.

Costs of rebuilding are expected to top more than $200 billion.

Syrian govt forces 'raise flag' over key area of Manbij as YPG calls to protect it from Turkey
Published time: 28 Dec, 2018 09:23
Edited time: 28 Dec, 2018 10:25
Get short URL https://on.rt.com/9lck
Syrian govt forces 'raise flag' over key area of Manbij as YPG calls to protect it from Turkey
FILE PHOTO: A Syrian army soldier stands next to a Syrian flag in Umm al-Mayazen, in the countryside near Deraa. Reuters / Omar Sanadiki
Syrian government forces have entered the northern city of Manbij, Damascus announced in response to a call for intervention by Kurdish militias. The move comes after Turkey amassed troops on its southern border.
On Friday, the YPG, the Kurdish militias, called on Damascus to secure Manbij, a strategic location in northern Syria close to the border with Turkey. Ankara earlier said it plans to conduct an “anti-terrorist operation” around the city, with the YPG being the target.

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Kurdish YPG calls on Syrian government to protect Manbij from Turkish attack
Damascus responded with a statement, which said government forces were already entering the city.

“Considering the Arab Army’s duty and in a response to a call by the people of Manbij, the Syrian general staff announces that the Army has entered Manbij and raised the flag of the Syrian Arab Republic there,” the statement cited by Syrian media said.

The statement added that the army is determined to “crush terrorism and defeat all invaders and occupiers” and to provide security for all Syrian citizens.

The development comes after the US, an ally of the Kurds for the past several years, decided to withdraw its troops from Kurd-controlled areas in Syria. The withdrawal came after Ankara complained about the presence of the YPG fighters near its border. Turkey sees all Kurdish militias as an extension of its domestic Kurdish insurgency and attacked them repeatedly in both Syria and Iraq.

ALSO ON RT.COM
Arab states are making nice with Assad’s Syria. Will the West follow suit?
After Washington said it would be pulling out of northern Syria, Turkey amassed a large fighting force near its southern border but refrained from launching the promised offensive. American troops are still deployed along the border, which may explain why hostilities have not broken out immediately.

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RUMORS OF WAR: U.S. Sends Aircraft Carrier to Persian Gulf in Show of Force Against Iran
Dec 08, 2018 03:37 pm
RUMORS OF WAR: U.S. Sends Aircraft Carrier to Persian Gulf in Show of Force Against Iran
(WSJ) – A U.S. aircraft carrier strike group will arrive in the Middle East within days, U.S. defense officials said, ending the longest period in two decades that such a military presence has been absent from the region. The USS John C. Stennis and accompanying ships will arrive by this week’s end, the first such military presence in the region in eight months, the officials said, to exhibit a show of force against Iran. Tensions between Washington and Tehran are growing over renewed Trump administration sanctions on the

country, Iranian-backed groups in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen and Iran’s latest ballistic missile tests. The naval deployment also will support the continuing war against remnants of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, and the U.S. war in Afghanistan, where the U.S. and Afghan militaries have ramped up airstrikes in an effort to press the Taliban into peace talks and rid the country of what they consider irreconcilable fighters, the officials said. The Stennis is scheduled to remain in the region for about two months, the officials said, spending most of that time in the Persian Gulf. 
READ MORE https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sends-aircraft-carrier-to-persian-gulf-in-show-of-force-against-iran-1543871934



RUMORS OF WAR: U.S. Fears Iran Planning ‘Massive Regional War’ in Middle East
Dec 08, 2018 03:32 pm
RUMORS OF WAR: U.S. Fears Iran Planning ‘Massive Regional War’ in Middle East
(WFB) The Trump administration disclosed that Iran is behind the construction of several underground tunnels leading into Israel that Hezbollah militants and other terror forces have been using to conduct attacks, according to multiple U.S. officials who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon and communicated fears that Tehran is preparing to lead a “massive regional war.” The public identification of Iran isn’t likely to surprise international observers, but signals aggressive moves by the Trump administration to tie Iran to

the rise of terrorism not just in Israel, but across the Middle East, where Iranian-backed militants continue to strike U.S. interests and allies. The Obama administration, in contrast to Trump, was careful to avoid singling out Iran as the chief force for terrorism against Israel and U.S. allies in the region in hopes of appeasing the hardline regime as it sought to ink the landmark nuclear pact that Trump abandoned earlier this year. READ MORE https://freebeacon.com/national-security/u-s-fears-massive-regional-war-identifying-iran-source-tunnels-israel/

WAR DRUMS: Ukrainian President imposes martial law after face off with Russian ships near Crimea
Nov 26, 2018 08:34 am
WAR DRUMS: Ukrainian President imposes martial law after face off with Russian ships near Crimea
(RT News) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has imposed martial law after the country’s vessels faced off with Russian ships near Crimea. The measure is expected to last for 60 days and was earlier approved by Ukraine’s Security Council. Martial law is scheduled to be in place from November 26 to January 26. It still requires final approval from Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. However, the Ukrainian General Staff was already tasked with beginning partial troop mobilization, according to media reports.

The Ukrainian army was put on full combat alert even before the martial law was declared. Rada is expected to vote on the motion later on Monday. The move comes on the back of a standoff between a group of Ukrainian Navy ships, which crossed into Russian territorial sea without authorization, and the Russian border guard vessels. As the Ukrainians were undertaking “dangerous maneuvers” and defied legal orders of the Russian side, 
READ MORE https://www.rt.com/news/444891-poroshenko-signs-martial-law-decree/

Last chance to stay in power? Ukrainian President Poroshenko signs decree on martial law
Published time: 26 Nov, 2018 12:58
Edited time: 26 Nov, 2018 16:11
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Last chance to stay in power? Ukrainian President Poroshenko signs decree on martial law
Reuters / Mikhail Palinchak;  Reuters Pictures Archive
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Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has imposed martial law after the country’s vessels faced off with Russian ships near Crimea. The measure could potentially allow him to call off scheduled elections and preserve power.
Martial law is scheduled to be in place from November 26 to January 26. It still requires final approval from Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada. However, the Ukrainian General Staff was already tasked with beginning partial troop mobilization, according to media reports.
The Ukrainian army was put on full combat alert even before the martial law was declared.
The Rada is expected to vote on the motion later on Monday. However, Poroshenko revealed that he actually brought martial law into force ahead of its approval by parliament, starting from November 28. With that, the president also warned about a “serious threat” of a “ground invasion” of Ukraine, citing a “secret intelligence document.”
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Ukraine puts army on ‘full combat alert’ after naval clash with Russia off Crimea — RT World News
Ukraine has placed its troops on full combat alert, as MPs in Kiev are set to approve President Petro Poroshenko’s proposal to impose martial law following a skirmish between the Russian military and...
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Invoking martial law is seen as a move which is beneficial for Poroshenko. The president’s rating is falling as he struggles to campaign for re-election in March.

However, the elections would be called off if martial law was still in place by that time, meaning that the president would keep his post despite unpopular economic measures and corruption scandals in his government.

The decree, which Poroshenko introduced in parliament, specifically states that the people’s right “to elect and be elected” might be suspended under martial law, effectively meaning that the government can call off any elections as long as the measure is in place.

Facing a public outcry over the possible fate of the upcoming elections, the president suggested that lawmakers approve martial law for 30 rather than 60 days, so as to avoid derailing the March vote. The elections will go ahead on schedule, he insisted.
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Black Sea standoff: Kiev’s ‘provocation’ aims to score political points ahead of elections – Moscow
The Ukrainian leadership apparently seeks to “score political points” ahead of the March 2019 presidential elections, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on the issue. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also described the decision to impose the martial law as “an electoral intrigue.”
The move comes on the back of a standoff between a group of Ukrainian Navy ships, which crossed into Russian territorial sea without authorization, and the Russian border guard vessels.
The Ukrainian ships were sailing between two of the country’s ports: from Odessa in the Black Sea to Mariupol in the Azov Sea. The only waterway connecting these ports is through the Kerch Strait between Crimea and mainland Russia.
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Although both Russia and Ukraine have freedom of navigation in the Kerch Strait under a 2003 treaty, there are detailed technical rules on how vessels should pass through the narrow, complex waterway. Every ship passing through it should contact the Crimean sea port of Kerch, which controls traffic in the area.
While Kiev says that it notified the Russian side about its ships sailing through the area in advance, Moscow denies it received any warning. Moscow then accused Kiev of staging a planned provocation aimed at stirring up the conflict between the two neighbors and justifying the imposition of martial law..

WAR DRUMS: Gaza-Based Rocket Assault Forces Israelis to Brace for War
Nov 13, 2018 09:26 am
WAR DRUMS: Gaza-Based Rocket Assault Forces Israelis to Brace for War
(CBN News) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his Security Cabinet Tuesday to decide how to respond to the biggest single day of rocket attacks from Gaza ever. The unprecedented barrage has brought the Jewish state to a knife’s edge between a ceasefire and war. Air raid sirens and explosions:
this is the sound of war in southern Israel. Terrorists in the Gaza Strip launched some 400 rockets, mortars and missiles at Israel. The Iron Dome Anti-Missile batteries struck down about 100. Some fell inside populated areas. “Those rockets have struck inside Israel as well as inside cities in the south such as where we are now in Ashkelon,” Israel Police Spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told CBN News.
 READ MORE http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2018/november/gaza-based-rocket-assault-forces-israelis-to-brace-for-war