Russia Begins Operations in Syria: End Game for the US Empire?

[sToRmR1dR]

Columns of US military equipment will pass through the territory of Lithuania

http://ria.ru/world/20160605/1443137604.html

US forces rumble across Lithuania to large-scale Baltic NATO drills

https://www.rt.com/news/345510-us-forces-march-lithuania/

A newly released video shows US armed forces marching through Lithuanian territory as they take part in “Dragoon Ride II,” a tactical march taking place ahead of NATO’s massive annual military drills that will be conducted in the Baltic States this year.

In the video, columns of US military vehicles, including Stryker M1126 Infantry Carriers and M1128 Mobile Gun Systems equipped with 105mm cannons, can be seen moving along the streets of Lithuanian cities.

http://<iframe width="560" height="...HU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Military columns consisting of 10-20 vehicles rumbled along the route from the city of Kalvarija to the city of Panevezys throughout the day, Lithuanian Defense Ministry said.

In the second part of the video, US military vehicles are seen parked near a shopping mall in Panevezys, as US soldiers show the vehicles, weapons, and equipment to locals.

Dragoon Ride II is a “2,200-kilometer [1,370-mile] tactical road march from the town of Vilseck, Germany to Estonia” that is being conducted from May 27 to June 15 ahead of the annual drills, according to the US army’s official website.

Its purpose is to “demonstrate a dynamic presence throughout the region by showcasing freedom of movement,” the statement on the website says.

The demonstration of military might features “1,400 Soldiers and 400 vehicles stopping in several cities to host public displays of their equipment along with their Allied counterparts.”

The march is being held in the run up to “Saber Strike 16,” a US-led multinational exercise that has been held annually in the EU since 2011. This year’s exercises will take place in the Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – from May 30 to June 22.

Nearly 10,000 service members from 13 states are to participate in the drills. Apart from major NATO forces and those of the host countries, troops and military equipment from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, and the UK will also take part.

NATO defense ministers to discuss location of forces in East Europe on June 14-15 — source

http://tass.ru/en/world/880238

BRUSSELS, June 6. /TASS/. NATO defense ministers will discuss "number, location and composition of multinational battalions of the Alliance in Eastern Europe" at the meeting in Brussels on June 14-15, a diplomatic source from the mission of one of NATO’s member countries in Brussels told TASS on Monday.

China's President Xi Calls for 'Mutual Trust' With US Amid Maritime Rivalry

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160606/1040833689/china-us-xi-kerry.html

Speaking on US-China rivalry in the Asia-Pacific, Chinese President Xi Jinping said both countries had extensive mutual interests in the region and should learn to cooperate.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the United States to build mutual trust and refrain from adopting a confrontational stance on any divisive issues, at Monday’s opening of the annual US-China dialogue.

"We should enhance the mutual trust between our two countries," Xi said in Beijing, as quoted by the South China Morning Post. "The key is not to adopt a confrontational attitude towards any differences."

Speaking on US-China rivalry in the Asia-Pacific, the Chinese president said both countries had extensive mutual interests in the region and should learn to cooperate.

"[We] should hold regular dialogues, cooperation, cope with various challenges and work hard to cultivate a mutual, instead of an exclusive, circle of friends between the two countries," Xi said.

He emphasized that Beijing favored a "dual-track approach" to territorial rows in the South China Sea, meaning nations that are involved in a dispute should talk directly to each other.

"Based on the principle of the dual-track approach, the South China Sea disputes can be properly resolved," the Chinese leader noted.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said at the opening ceremony that disputes over South China Sea territories should be handled in line with international laws.

"We are looking for a peaceful resolution to the dispute in the South China Sea and oppose any country resolving claims through unilateral action," he was quoted by the media as saying.

The 6th US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue started in Beijing on Monday amid rising tensions over the South China Sea. The United States criticizes China for building islands to claim vast areas of the sea, which are also contested by China’s neighbors.

The talks also tackled strategic security issues, such as maritime security and North Korea’s nuclear and missile program, according to the US Department of State.

Netanyahu: Close Relations With Russia Benefit Israeli National Security

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160606/1040836178/russia-israel-relations-netanyahu.html

Improving Israeli-Russian relations is a factor of Israel’s national security that has already spared Israel from confrontations at its northern border, the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) – The statement was made ahead of Netanyahu's visit to Russia dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the countries.

“Russia is a global power and our relations are getting closer. I worked on this rapprochement and today it is serving us, our national security, preventing unneeded and dangerous clashes at our northern border,” he said as quoted by the press service on Sunday.

According to the press service of the Israeli prime minister, during the visit he is going to discuss with the Russian leadership implementation of the earlier achieved agreements, global fight against terrorism, bilateral economic and trade relations, the situation in Syria and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Terrorists shell Syrian cities killing over 270 peaceful civilians

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880154

"Militants from terrorist groups have shelled Syrian cities killing more than 270 peaceful civilians and leaving hundreds of people injured," the information bulletin said

MOSCOW, June 5 /TASS/. Terrorist groups in Syria have been intensively shelling Syrian cities over the past 24 hours. As a result, more than 270 civilians have been killed and hundreds have been injured, the Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria said in an information bulletin, which was published at the Russian Defense Ministry website on Saturday.

"Militants from terrorist groups have shelled Syrian cities killing more than 270 peaceful civilians and leaving hundreds of people injured," the information bulletin said.

'Fierce Fighting': Militants Clashing in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsood District

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160606/1040831767/sheikh-maqsood-aleppo-fighting.html

Over 2,000 militants from Syrian terror groups, "moderate rebels" forces gathered in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood, as al-Nusra Front militants kept shelling the district overnight, the Russian military said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Al-Nusra Front militants continued overnight to shell the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood in northern Aleppo, Russia’s Syrian reconciliation center said Monday.

"As darkness fell, terrorist groups opened heavy fire from a window of the Castello trade center, which was formerly held by ‘moderate opposition’ forces," a member of the Russian Defense Ministry’s center based in Hmeymin said.

"Fierce fighting is underway on the outskirts of the Sheikh Maqsood district. Militants continue pulling armed vehicles and cars with mounted large-caliber machine guns to the area," the Russian military official added.

He said more than 2,000 militants from both terror groups and "moderate opposition" forces had gathered near Sheikh Maqsood, which has been greatly damaged by artillery fire. Dozens of civilians have been killed or injured.

Russian Air Force pounds Jabhat Al-Nusra in southern Aleppo

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-air-force-pounds-southern-aleppo/

The Russian Air Force carried out another series of airstrikes over the southern Aleppo countryside on Sunday night, targeting the jihadist controlled villages of Khan Touman, Al-Zorba, Tal Al-‘Eiss, and Khan Al-‘Assal.

According to a military source in the Aleppo Governorate town of Al-Safira, the Russian Air Force specifically targeted the village of Khan Touman in order to alleviate the pressure on the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers at Al-Qarassi and Khalsah.

Some pro-government social media pages reported that the Syrian Arab Army and their allies have launched an offensive to recapture Khan Touman from the jihadist rebels; however, these claims have not been confirmed.

Over the weekend, Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group), Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham, and Faylaq Al-Sham launched a large-scale offensive near Khan Touman, capturing several sites from the Syrian Armed Forces in the process.

Syrian Army, Desert Hawks liberates new point in west Raqqa

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-desert-hawks-liberates-new-point-west-raqqa/

The Syrian Armed Forces reportedly liberated another point along the Salamiyah-Raqqa Highway on Sunday night after seizing the village of Abu Allaj earlier in the day.

Led by the Desert Hawks and Syrian Arab Army’s 555th Regiment of the 4th Mechanized Division, the Syrian Armed Forces liberated Bur Ambaj from the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) terrorists in the western countryside of Raqqa on Sunday night.

According to the Desert Hawks media wing, Bur Ambaj is located directly east of Abu Allaj village.

As a result of their gains on Sunday, the Syrian Armed Forces advanced more than 40 km along the Salamiyah-Raqqa Highway, marking their largest series of gains in west Raqqa during this Syrian Conflict.

The Desert Hawks and 555th Regiment were not alone on Sunday, they were backed by the National Defense Forces (NDF), Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP), Syrian Marines, Galilee Forces (Palestinian paramilitary), and Arab National Guard.

 

[angelburst29]

B-52 Used to Bomb Yugoslavia Deployed to Russia's Borders
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/06/b-52-used-to-bomb-yugoslavia-deployed.html

The exercises that are currently being held in the Baltic States will involve two US air force B-52 bombers. This bomber participated in the operation against Yugoslavia in 1999.

US bombers were deployed to Europe to participate in NATO exercises Baltops 2016 and Saber Strike 2016 in the Baltic. It was originally intended to send three aircraft, however, one of them flew to Estonia because of a breakdown, said a source to "Interfax".

The bombers with the tail numbers 60-0037 and 60-0044 were deployed to the Fairford airbase in the UK in 1999, where they were used in combat missions against targets in the former Yugoslavia.

Recall that in history there is an unpleasant fact. During the bombing of Belgrade, the US military wrote a message on the bombs: "Happy Easter!" These bombs then destroyed Orthodox churches.

It is worth noting that in response to the activation of the NATO exercises, Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced large-scale events for the preparation of the Russian army. This summer it is planned to hold more than 2000 different drills.

The Syrian troops have repelled the attempt of Daesh terrorists to encircle them in the Syrian province of Hama, a military source told Sputnik on Monday.

Syrian Army Escapes Encirclement en Route to Daesh-Occupied Raqqa - Source
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160606/1040863628/raqqa-syria-army.html

At the moment, the Syrian Army is carrying out an offensive on the city of Raqqa, Daesh terrorists' stronghold. At the moment, the troops are moving toward the city of Tabqa in Raqqa's suburbs.

The source noted that Daesh terrorists had tried to gain control over a strategic road near the city of Asriya, however, the Syrian army had repelled the attempt and had killed some of the terrorists.

Raqqa has been under control of Daesh, a designated terror group outlawed in the United States and Russia among many other countries, since 2013.

NATO’s military buildup in Europe is an attack on freedom and democracy of European countries, French member of the European Parliament Edouard Ferrand told Sputnik on Monday.

EU Lawmaker Urges Europe to Get Rid of 'Grip of NATO'
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160606/1040860397/eu-nato-grip.html

In late May, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said that NATO had made a decision to deploy four battalions in Poland and Baltic states.

"In France, the reinstatement of the NATO’s integrated [military] command was unfortunately decided by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009, a betrayal of our Gaullist legacy. NATO has quadrupled its investment in Europe. Such reinforcement is a serious attack on the independence of the European nations," Ferrand, who is also a member of the National Front party, said.

He also urged all European states to release themselves from the "grip of NATO," as it was a prerequisite for the European people’s freedom and democracy.

Since 2014, the alliance has been building up its military presence in eastern European countries bordering Russia, using Moscow's alleged interference in Ukraine as a pretext for the move.

Moscow has repeatedly denied the claims and warned NATO that the military buildup on Russia’s borders is provocative and could harm regional and global stability.

NATO Exercises Ongoing Near Russia Since 2014
http://sputniknews.com/infographics/20150603/1022907016.html
Infographics

Washington might think that three major war-games currently held close to Russia's border make for a "busy but exciting" month, but Moscow believes that the drills have a "major destabilizing component" and are "primarily aimed at fomenting tensions" in the Baltics and Eastern Europe, as Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov put it.

Baltops 2016: NATO Responds to 'Russia's Ability to Defend Itself'
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160606/1040865706/russia-nato-baltops-drills.html

The three military drills include the US-led Baltops 2016 maritime exercise that was launched last week and will last until June 26. Meanwhile Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are taking part in the US-led Saber Strike drills scheduled for May 27 – June 22. The Anakonda 2016 exercise will run in Poland on June 7-17.

Baltops 2016 is taking place in the area, where "no Russian military buildup is happening," Russian military expert Viktor Murakhovsky told the Vzglyad newspaper. "They are screaming about the Iskander [mobile short-range ballistic missile systems], etc. At the moment our missile brigade in the Kaliningrad Region has only Soviet-era Tochka-U [tactical ballistic missile systems]."

​Approximately 6,100 troops from 17 countries along with 45 submarines and warships, including the USS Mount Whitney, and over 60 aircraft are taking part in one of the largest drills in northern Europe. The Baltops 2016 annual war-games have been held for more than four decades.

Participating nations comprise NATO members Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the UK and the US, as well as the bloc's two partner countries, Finland and Sweden.

The drills' area of operations is huge. They will take place in Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Sweden and throughout the Baltic Sea with the aim of reassuring Washington's allies and partners that the US and NATO are committed to protecting the region from any threat, particularly Russia.

This is not the message that makes Moscow happy. The Kremlin as well as Russian and foreign experts have repeatedly pointed out that Russia does not pose a threat to any of its neighbors or beyond and does not intent to challenge or alter the existing balance of power in Europe.

For its part, Moscow is worried about NATO's relentless military buildup on the bloc's eastern flank, although it is not inclined to "overdramatize" recent developments, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov put it recently. The bloc's activities, he added, can hardly be described as anything other than "destabilizing and shortsighted."

Military and political analyst Alexander Perendzhiev maintained that Baltops 2016 should be viewed as NATO's response to Russia's ability to protect itself. He also told the Vzglyad newspaper that the alliance is trying to drag Sweden and Finland into the bloc.

"They are creating an organizational base for these two countries to join NATO. This trend does not mean that Sweden and Finland will necessarily join the bloc, because it will not only be about solving their issues with NATO's help. They clearly understand that the alliance will try to solve its problems at their expense," he noted.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has spoken to his US counterpart John Kerry three times over the week pointing out that it the Syrian opposition's actions, supported by Ankara, were unacceptable.

Lavrov Slams Syrian Opposition's Turkey-Backed Actions as 'Unacceptable'
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160606/1040858402/lavrov-syria-opposition-turkey.html

The Syrian opposition's actions carried out with the support of Turkey are unacceptable, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

"Over the last week I've spoken to [US Secretary of State] John Kerry three times, I think, strongly drawing his attention to the unacceptability of actions carried out by the [Syrian] opposition with the direct support of Turkey," Lavrov told reporters.

Al-Nusra Front militants attacked divisions of the Syrian army after illaegally crossing Syrian-Turkish border on Friday, the Russian military announced.

Nusra Front Attacks Syrian Army After Crossing Turkish Border
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160603/1040761605/al-nusra-attacks-syrian-army.html

Over 200 Nusra Front terrorists attacked units of the Syrian army after crossing the border from Turkey, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"More than 200 terrorist from the Nusra Front terrorist organization illegally crossed the Syrian-Turkish border near the town of Beisun and attacked positions of the units of the Syrian armed forces," the ministry said in a daily bulletin posted on its website.

 

[bjorb]

EU president Jean-Claude Juncker drunk and bitch slaps leaders

http://<iframe width="1280" height=...DU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

During the EU-Eastern Partnership summit in Latvia he succeeded during working hours to get drunk. Look at the left, it's clearly middle of the day. Not that he minds, he is boozed up and wasted. Before the press nonetheless well they take pictures of him with other officials. While he is at it he also bitch slaps his fellow partners in crime. And calls the Hungarian PM 'dictator' for everybody to hear.

So this are our evil overlords. What a joke. I wonder what Putin would had done if this jolly drunk psychopath would had tried to kiss and bitch slap him.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

US Guided Missile Destroyer Porter to Enter Black Sea

http://sputniknews.com/us/20160605/1040799624/uss-porter-enters-black-sea.html

US destroyer with guided missiles entered the Black Sea

http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201606061756-i56c.htm

US Missile Destroyer US Navy "Porter" entered the Black Sea.

The US military said that the destroyer with guided missiles carries a planned campaign called "Atlantic commitment," according to "Izvestiya" newspaper.

Trekking is aimed at "strengthening peace and stability," says the press service of the US Sixth Fleet. Also, the Office noted that the destroyer will visit the ports of the Black Sea NATO allies, and hold bilateral exercises with ships of the partner countries.

The destroyer is equipped with anti-missile defense system "Aegis" and 56 cruise missiles "Tomahawk".

Destroyer acts in accordance with the Montreux Convention, which states that non-Black Sea countries, ships can be in the Sea 21 days.

Lavrov: There are no threats in Baltic region that would justify its militarization

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880304

According to the diplomat, Russia negatively assesses NATO’s course on involving other countries in NATO military activities

MOSCOW, June 6. /TASS/. There are no threats that would justify the militarization of the Baltic Sea region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday following meeting with his Finnish counterpart Timo Soini.

"We are convinced that there are no threats in this region that would justify its militarization," the minister said.

He also noted that the Russian side had shared its concerns over increased NATO activity in the region and the movement of the alliance’s infrastructure towards Russia’s borders. "We are convinced that all issues of cooperation in the Baltic Sea area and in the north in general should be solved within the framework of the multilateral formats that have already been created," Lavrov added.

According to the diplomat, Russia negatively assesses NATO’s course on involving other countries in the military activities of the Alliance.

‘We have confirmed our position that every country is sovereign to choose the policy of ensuring security that it deems necessary," he said.

"We do not hide our negative attitude toward NATO’s course on moving military infrastructure closer to our borders," Lavrov said. "Here Russia’s sovereign rights comes into force to ensure security by measures that are appropriate for current risks," he added.

"I am confident that our Finnish friends and neighbors understand this as well," Lavrov concluded.

International maritime drills BALTOPS-2016 have started today in Finland’s south.

Russia does not have plans to attack NATO countries

The diplomat stressed that Russia has never planned and does not plan to attack any NATO member country.

"I am confident that serious and honest politicians know that Russia will never attack any member country of the North Atlantic Alliance," Lavrov said. "We do not have any plans like this. I think NATO knows it very well but just uses the pretext to deploy more equipment and battalions, first of all as a guarantee that the United States will still keep an eye on this ‘field’," he added.

Russia will react to NATO’s actions by measures it deems appropriate

The minister stressed that Russia reserves its sovereign right to react to NATO’s actions how it deems possible.

"We do not hide our negative attitude toward NATO’s course on moving military infrastructure closer to our borders," Lavrov said. "Here Russia’s sovereign rights comes into force to ensure security by measures that are appropriate for current risks," he added.

According to the Russian top diplomat, Moscow sees threats not in the very existence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, but in the alliance’s practices.

"One of the main threats to Russia’s security is in NATO’s further eastward expansion and the alliance’s policy of using military force in violation of international law, the way it happened in Libya and Yugoslavia," Lavrov said.

"We see threats not in the existence of NATO but in the way that military alliance acts in practice," Lavrov said.

NATO used Ukraine conflict to find new reason to justify its existence

According to the minister, the North Atlantic Alliance has used the situation in Ukraine to invent a new reason for justifying its existence.

"Now serious analysts have no doubts that NATO has used the reason provided by the coup d’etat in Ukraine and our reaction towards attempts to discriminate Russians in Ukraine to invent a new meaning of the alliance’s existence," Lavrov said.

Lavrov said earlier the Soviet Union was the reason for NATO’s existence. "However, the alliance did not disband when the Soviet Union disappeared," the Russian foreign minister said.

"A new pretext was needed, a kind of a new mission as the United States was not planning at all to let Europeans float freely in the security issues," he said.

"Then Afghanistan came up as a new uniting threat," he reminded. "NATO’s mission was there for more than 10 years and fought against terrorism, but in my opinion, the fight ended in a reverse result," Lavrov said.

Grushko: NATO activity change the military situation in the Baltic region

http://ria.ru/world/20160606/1443666626.html

MOSCOW, June 6 -. RIA Novosti NATO activity along the Russian borders is not a direct threat to Russia, but poses serious risks, said Russia's permanent representative to NATO, Alexander Grushko.

"I would not say that it is a direct threat to the Russian Federation, it is nevertheless clear that it poses serious risks, because in fact we can see that the sum is absolutely new military reality along our borders, and that the NATO Planning result" , - he said in an interview to television channel "Russia 24".

Grushko said that "the crisis Ukrainian sauce invented a new threat from the East, for this case adjusted war machine." "What we are witnessing today in the Baltic States, in fact, is nothing other than a military construction", - said the permanent representative of the Russian Federation.

Defense ministry: NATO allegations about Russian threat meant to fan hysteria

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880357

It is planned to announce deployment of a land force in Poland and the Baltic republics to "contain" Russia at a NATO summit due to be held in Warsaw in July.

MOSCOW, June 6. /TASS/. Representatives of the United States and NATO who speak about possible threats from Russia are only fanning Russophobic hysteria, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Monday.

"Certain representatives of the United States and NATO have been recently whipping up Russophobic hysteria in Europe for yet another time. Notably, this show follows one and the same pattern each time," he said.

NATO’s officials, in his words, first say the alliance needs to be protected from external threats. "Once hearing this, one might think NATO is an innocent lamb driven into the corner by ‘predators’ personified by Russia and other countries that are not controlled by the United States," Konashenkov noted.

Then comes act two Konashenkov called ‘intimidation,’ when "retirees of the Cold War, such as Michael McFaul [the US’ former ambassador to Russia], Victor Ashe [the US’ former ambassador to Poland] or Wesley Clark [NATO’s former Supreme Allied Commander] rise from oblivion with paranoid slogans about the revival of the ‘evil empire’ and sharpy’s calculations how long NATO could resist before being completely smashed by the Russians." And such statements, in his words, are immediately cited by the West’s leading mass media as "indisputable truth."

Act three, ‘soothing,’ is when "the NATO secretary general comes into the fore to say that rumors about NATO’s weakness are mere allegations. But NATO’s taxpayers will have to take one more effort to strengthen it," Konashenkov said.

He said it is planned to announce deployment of a land force in Poland and the Baltic republics to "contain" Russia at a NATO summit due to be held in Warsaw in July. "And here comes the final act: the Russian threat is ‘neutralized,’ military budgets of NATO countries are increased, comfortable life of NATO’s bureaucracy is once again protected from criticism of taxpayers from the NATO countries," the defense ministry added.

Grushko: NATO is trying to create a dividing line in Europe

http://ria.ru/world/20160606/1443675896.html

MOSCOW, June 6 -. RIA Novosti , NATO is trying to create a dividing line in Europe, which then will be difficult to overcome, said on Monday Russia's permanent representative to NATO, Alexander Grushko.

"With the help of military means (NATO) is trying to achieve in Europe create a dividing line, which will be difficult to overcome. This will have very serious political consequences, as the military planning (Euro-Atlantic) in the form in which it is carried out today, will pull for themselves and the continuation of hostile policies because the society will need to constantly repeat that Russia -. it is a great enemy against which to defend themselves, otherwise sooner or later, the citizens will be interested in where the money goes, "- said Grushko on the TV channel" Russia-24 ".

Grushko: Russia has every opportunity to find answers to the NATO action

http://ria.ru/world/20160606/1443669439.html

MOSCOW, June 6 -. RIA Novosti In the Russian Federation there is every opportunity to find answers to the actions of NATO in the East, said Russia's permanent representative to NATO, Alexander Grushko.

"We have all the possibilities to find adequate responses to Russia, as we know, can ensure its security is very effective." - He said in an interview to television channel "Russia 24".

Grushko: Moscow will analyze the risks caused by the actions of NATO in the Baltics

http://ria.ru/world/20160606/1443668741.html

MOSCOW, June 6 -. RIA Novosti Moscow will analyze all the consequences of the NATO action in the Baltic States in terms of risks for Russia, he said on Monday Russia's permanent representative to NATO, Alexander Grushko.

"To sum up, we are talking about military activity, which significantly changes the military situation in the region. Purely from a military point of view, we have to carefully analyze all the consequences (NATO exercises) at an angle of the risks that today these NATO actions create for us "- he said on" Russia-24 ".

Pushkov: Germany has become a reproducer of the American lines in Europe

http://ria.ru/world/20160606/1443667808.html

MOSCOW, June 6 -. RIA Novosti Germany has become a reproducer of the American line on the European continent, the head of the State Duma International Affairs Committee Alexei Pushkov.

As reported earlier, the German newspaper The Die Welt , the German Defense Ministry in the so-called "White Paper" on the security policy of the country pointed to Russia in the list of the ten most serious threats to Germany. According to the current German government, Russia "is no longer a partner, and became a rival." "Russia calls into question the established post-Cold War European order of the world" and "washes the border between war and peace", results in the publication of the exposure draft "White Paper".

"Germany has become a reproducer of the American line on the European continent. If the form is us with Ebola do not compare, then we compare with other major threats. With that, what Russia is a threat to Germany, impossible to understand. And none of the German newspaper , no German politician can not explain, but what comes from the Russian threat to Germany Such a threat does not exist. "- Pushkov said the TV channel" Russia 24 ".

MP links artificial inclusion of Russia in the list of major threats to Germany with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's line on the consolidation of relations and the subordination of the US Germany.

"Not all of Germany believes that this is the right line, but since she (Merkel) is Chancellor, it conducts it consistently enough. And the situation is, in my opinion, is not improving. In its policy towards Russia, in my opinion, is getting worse unfortunately ", - he added.

Russia, China concerned over lack of progress on Korean nuclear problem

http://tass.ru/en/world/880376

Russia and China focus on the modalities of the de-escalation the tensions on the Korean Peninsula, noticing ;ack of progress, says the Russian Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, June 6. /TASS/. Moscow and Beijing have voiced concern over the lack of positive shifts in resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula during the third round of the Russian-Chinese Northeast Asia Security Dialogue. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the Russian delegation at the meeting is led by Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and the Chinese - by Assistant Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou.

"The parties exchanged views in the substantive and confidential manner on the military and political aspects of security in northeast Asia with a focus on the modalities of the de-escalation the tensions on the Korean Peninsula," the ministry said. "They expressed mutual concern over the lack of progress in resolving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and a disproportionately high level of military activity in the subregion."

The ministry recalled that the first round of the dialogue was held in April 2015 in Shanghai and the second - In February 2016 in Moscow.

Russia, Israel to sign documents on bilateral cooperation — lawmaker

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880372

A package of documents designed to expand and deepen bilateral interaction, including a treaty on social security for pensioners, will be signed during a visit to Moscow by the Israeli prime minister

MOSCOW, June 6 /TASS/. Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russian parliament, said that Russia and Israel would sign a number of important documents, including a treaty on social security for pensioners, during a visit to Moscow by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Moscow.

"A treaty on pensions, which has been finalized and approved, will be signed," Matviyenko said at a meeting with Ze’ev Elkin, the minister for Jerusalem affairs, on Monday. "This important treaty between Russia and Israel will restore the social justice and confirm a special nature of relations existing between Russia and Israel," the Russian lawmaker said. According to Matviyenko, a package of documents designed to expand and deepen bilateral interaction will be signed during Netanyahu’s visit.

"The most important document will be a treaty on social security of pensioners that will make pensioners both in Russia and Israel happy," she added.

"An active political dialogue on all urgent issues helps coordinating joint efforts in the solution of many problems. This dialogue is under way both at bilateral and international levels," Matviyenko stressed.

She said that Russia and Israel should think of how to improve economic cooperation in conditions of reduced trade turnover. "The Russian-Israeli inter-governmental commission has what to work on. There are good prospects and there is an interest of business circles to deepen cooperation. The most important thing is that we have potential and we should exert every effort to make better use of it in the pharmaceuticals industry, agriculture and new technologies," the Russian Federation Council speaker said.

"We highly appreciate Russian-Israeli cooperation and are determined to actively develop our friendly and time proven relations," Matviyenko concluded.

The Russian-Israeli top-level

The Russian-Israeli top-level dialog develops perfectly, Netanyahu said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman ahead of his visit to Moscow marking 25 years after the two countries restored diplomatic relations.

Focusing on his upcoming talks with President Vladimir Putin, the prime minister said "We are both leading the people with great past and with great aspirations. We are strengthening our relations. We have much in common, we have a lot of common interests, and our dialog develops excellently".

"We also have a common threat - radical Islam. We are cooperating on very important issues," he said, noting problems necessitating cooperation. As an example, he cited the Syrian direction, on which "our military cooperate".

The prime minister marked "amazing changes" the two countries have seen in their relations in the past 25 years. "Israel and Russia have created a true cultural bridge. More than one million Israelis speak Russia. We grew up on Russian culture and literature. This is a spiritual link between the peoples which in the long run leads to cooperation between the countries," Netanyahu said.

"Russia is a global power, while Israel is a regional power," he added.

"Snake hides its legs." :)

 

[angelburst29]

Obama Slams Door in Putin’s Face: Says if Putin doesn’t want Russia’s retaliatory forces eliminated, he’ll need to be the one to press the nuclear button first
http://thesaker.is/obama-slams-door-in-putins-face-says-if-putin-doesnt-want-russias-retaliatory-forces-eliminated-hell-need-to-be-the-one-to-press-the-nuclear-button-first/

Actions speak louder than mere words, and U.S. President Barack Obama has now acted, not only spoken. His action is to refuse to discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia’s biggest worry about recent changes in America’s nuclear strategy — particularly a stunning change that is terrifying Putin.

On Sunday June 5th, Reuters headlined “Russia Says U.S. Refuses Talks on Missile Defence System”, and reported that, “The United States has refused Russian offers to discuss Washington’s missile defence programme, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov was quoted as saying on Sunday, calling the initiative ‘very dangerous’.”

Russia’s concern is that, if the “Ballistic Missile Defense” or “Anti Ballistic Missile” system, that the United States is now just starting to install on and near Russia’s borders, works, then the United States will be able to launch a surprise nuclear attack against Russia, and this system, which has been in development for decades and is technically called the “Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System”, will annihilate the missiles that Russia launches in retaliation, which will then leave the Russian population with no retaliation at all, except for the nuclear contamination of the entire northern hemisphere, and global nuclear winter, the blowback from America’s onslaught against Russia, which blowback some strategists in the West say would be manageable probems for the U.S. and might be worth the cost of eliminating Russia.

That theory, of a winnable nuclear war (which in the U.S. seems to be replacing the prior theory, called “M.A.D.” for Mutually Assured Destruction) was first prominently put forth in 2006 in the prestigious U.S. journal Foreign Affairs, headlining “The Rise of Nuclear Primacy” and which advocated for a much bolder U.S. strategic policy against Russia, based upon what it argued was America’s technological superiority against Russia’s weaponry and a possibly limited time-window in which to take advantage of it before Russia catches up and the opportunity to do so is gone.

Paul Craig Roberts was the first reporter in the West to write in a supportive way about Russia’s concerns that Barack Obama might be a follower of that theory. One of Roberts’s early articles on this was issued on 17 June 2014 and headlined “Washington Is Beating The War Drums”, where he observed that “US war doctrine has been changed. US nuclear weapons are no longer restricted to a retaliatory force, but have been elevated to the role of preemptive nuclear attack.”

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has tried many times to raise this issue with President Obama, the most recent such instance being via a public statement of his concern, made on May 27th. Apparently, the public statement by Antonov on June 5th is following up on that latest Putin effort, by Antonov’s announcement there that Obama now explicitly refuses to discuss Putin’s concerns about the matter.

The fact that these efforts on the part of the Russian government are via public media instead of via private conversations (such as had been the means used during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when the shoe was on the other foot and the U.S. President was concerned about the Soviet President’s installation of nuclear missiles 90 miles from the U.S. border) suggests that Mr. Obama, unlike U.S. President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1962, refuses to communicate with Russia, now that the U.S. is potentially in the position of the aggressor.

Russia is making its preparations, just in case it will (because of the Aegis Ashore system) need to be the first to attack. However, some knowledgeable people on the subject say that Russia will never strike first. Perhaps U.S. President Obama is proceeding on the basis of a similar assumption, and this is the reason why he is refusing to discuss the matter with his Russian counterpart. However, if Mr. Obama wishes to avoid a nuclear confrontation, then refusing even to discuss the opponent’s concerns would not be the way to go about doing that. Obama is therefore sending signals to the contrary — that he is preparing a nuclear attack against Russia — simply by his refusal to discuss the matter. In this case, his action of refusal is, itself, an answer to Putin’s question, like slamming the door in Putin’s face would be. It’s a behavioral answer, instead of a merely verbal one.

The geostrategist John Helmer discussed on May 30th the question of when the “Trigger Point” will likely be for Putin to decide whether there is no reasonable alternative but to launch — and for him then to launch — World War III.

British special forces in Syria to protect detachments opposition from daily attacks by militants of the terrorist organization Islamic state, said one of the commanders.

British troops, without permission, entered Syria
http://srbin.info/2016/06/06/britanske-trupe-bez-dozvole-usle-u-siriju/#

(Translated)
According to newspaper "The Times", these actions are in fact the first evidence of participation of British land forces during clashes in Syria, if it does not take into account the training of rebels in Jordan.

SWAT frequently cross the territory of Syria to provide assistance to armed formation "The new Syrian Army" that holds under its control village of El Tant. This place is located near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders.

The paper states that the transfer of special forces in the conflict zone, as opposed to the regular forces, it needs the approval of Parliament.

UK Special Forces have been spotted in Syria fighting alongside anti-government militants, marking the first evidence of the troops’ direct involvement in the years-long conflict.

British forces fight alongside militants in Syria
http://presstv.com/Detail/2016/06/06/469168/UK-Daesh-Syria-NSA

The British troops have been frequently crossing into Syria to support the so-called New Syrian Army (NSA), purportedly protecting them from attacks by the Daesh Takfiri terrorists, the Times reported Monday.

“They helped us with logistics, like building defenses to make the bunkers safe,” First Lieutenant Mahmoud al-Saleh said of the British forces.

The NSA is mainly operating in the southeastern village of al-Tanf, after snatching it from Daesh in May.

“They [Daesh] attack us at all times, 3am, 5am, 4pm, and 11pm. If you look at the timing of the assaults it’s clear they don’t want us to get any rest. They’re using missiles, mortars and many suicide bombers,” Saleh continued.

British and American forces, who have been training anti-Syria militants in Jordan, had to retrain the NSA members before sending them back into the Arab country.

The British daily also noted in its report UK troops that helped the group rebuild its base in the town after it was hit by a suicide attack last month.

After a series of air attacks, which killed a prominent leader of the Islamic State , the militant group carried out an extensive purge of its ranks for spies or informers.

Caliphate in a panic : The Islamic State killed dozens in their hunt for spies
http://srbin.info/2016/06/05/kalifat-u-panici-islamska-drzava-ubila-desetine-svojih-u-lovu-na-spijune/

(Translate)
After a series of air attacks, which killed a prominent leader of the Islamic State , the militant group carried out an extensive purge of its ranks for spies or informants who could have information about her movements give the international coalition led by the United States .

According to several sources , the Islamic state has killed 38 of its members in March when he died Hajd , tuni . He was attacked as he drove through northern Syria after ordering him to go to lead the local fighters .

In addition to dozens of leaders of the Islamic countries in the purges killed , others have disappeared in prisons , and many fled in fear that they could be next on the list while the extremist group reviewed its ranks for spies , stated Syrian opposition activists , commanders of Kurdish militia and several Iraqi intelligence officials and the Iraqi government informant who was working in the Islamic country .

Fear of informants caused paranoia in the ranks of the Islamic State . Supplied with enough to have a mobile phone or internet connection to foster suspicion . As a warning to others , the Islamic state has exposed the bodies of several suspected spies, or used extremely cruel killing techniques , throwing the inclusive suspects in barrels with an acid .

"The commanders of the Islamic countries do not dare to come out of Iraq to Syria because they die in attacks from the air " , said al Babars Talavi , opposition activists in Syria which accompanies this extremist group.

In recent months, US officials have said that the US has killed the leader of a series of major GrpE , including its " minister of war " Omar al , Iraqi militants Saker Vuhajeba , known as Abu Wahiba , and chief financial officials , known by several names, including Haji Iman , Abu Ala and Abu al afar or Al - Anbar .

In the northern Iraqi city of Mosul , the largest city in the territory of the so-called Islamic caliphate state, which includes Syria and Iraq , a series of extremists who had the governor or the governor of the province , were killed in air - attacks .

As a result, those who are called to the governor demanding that they do not list the names and restricted their movement , said an Iraqi informant for the AP .

Iraqi intelligence officials allowed the AP to phone talks with the informant . Purge in the ranks of the Islamic State of going on simultaneously while this group is losing territory under their control and in Syria , and in Iraq . The Iraqi government offensive there recovered the western city of Ramadi, which is held from Islamic countries , a second offensive is underway to restore the neighboring town Fallujah . the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human rights , Rami Abdurrahman said that the fighters of the Islamic State began to provide information on the objectives of the international coalition and trends official ID - but because they needed the money since their Islamic countries decreased significantly after the plate bombarovanja oil plants in her hands earlier this year . the damage and loss of important supply route of the Islamic countries to Turkey are reported to have caused damage to the financing of these ultra groups .

" They have executed dozens of fighters on charges that they provided information to the coalition or asking GPS - devices to aircraft targeted a particular area " , said Abdurahman , speaking on the Functioning of the members of an Islamic state in Syria .

Sneak Iraqi government said that after the killing of al Anbarija , seven - eight officials of the Islamic State in Mosul detained and since then they disappeared without a trace .

" The Islamic state is now concentrating on how to find informants because they lost the commanders that are difficult to replace . Now each commander of the Islamic countries have the right to kill a person suspected of being an informer of the coalition " , said an intelligence official in Baghdad.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Kremlin notes lack of trust in Russia-NATO relations

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880482

In the Kremlin’s opinion the existing dialog can hardly take Russia and NATO "closer to greater understanding"

MOSCOW, June 7. /TASS/. The Kremlin believes that Russia-NATO relations still experience a shortage of trust.

"For the time being one has to acknowledge a shortage of mutual trust," Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has told the media.

Asked if a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council was a possibility Peskov said that "the dialog is in progress at the ambassador level." However, in the Kremlin’s opinion the existing dialog "can hardly take us closer to greater understanding (between Russia and NATO)."

‘Absurd’: Russian envoy to NATO ridicules allegations of plans to invade Poland

https://www.rt.com/politics/345706-absurd-envoy-to-nato-ridicules/

Russia has no plans whatsoever to attack Poland and any talk about such a scheme is both absurd and dangerous, Russian envoy to NATO Aleksandr Grushko has said.

“During the NATO secretary general’s recent visit to Poland, officials in this country [Poland] made statements suggesting that from now on Russia would know that any attack on Poland would mean an attack on NATO as a whole. This is completely absurd because they are discussing a non-existent problem. There are no plans for any attacks on Poland,” the diplomat said in an interview with TV channel Russia-24, adding that certain statements about NATO military exercises in the Baltics were “shockingly blatant.”

In the same interview, Grushko emphasized that it was very dangerous for NATO to start carrying out plans based on these false presumptions. “Their policies dwell in surreal reality and the most dangerous thing is that now they start to implement these policies in the form of military planning and preparations on the territories adjacent to our borders.”

The diplomat stated that the alleged Russian threat to NATO was nothing but a myth, invented in order to justify NATO’s current policies and to bring additional unity to the alliance and the Western political bloc in general.

“All these weird games [and] false suggestions that NATO members have no own armies, they will end sooner or later because it is difficult to constantly live in the fog of an ideological campaign based on nothing,” Grushko forecasted.

At the same time, the envoy assured reporters that recently-started NATO exercises in the Baltic region posed no threat to Russia. “What we see now in the Baltics is nothing but an attempt to push through the military build-up with the very same hostile policy that has been recently conducted by NATO. I would not say that this is any direct danger for the Russian Federation, but it is still obvious that such moves create serious risks, because we see a completely new military reality taking shape along our borders,” Grushko said.

“The developments on NATO’s eastern borders will not be left without our military-technical and political response. As everyone knows, Russia can be very effective in securing its safety,” he noted.

President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, also criticized NATO exercises in Europe as a move that does not contribute to security in the region.
“In any case, the war games… certainly do not contribute to the atmosphere of trust and safety on the continent,” Peskov told reporters on Tuesday.

The Anaconda-2016 NATO military exercise began in Poland on June 6 with the practical part of the training starting on June 7. Over 31,000 servicemen from 24 nations will take part in the drill, making it the largest in Eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War. The scenario for the exercises is classified, but NATO commanders earlier claimed that the bloc intended to test its capacity against an enemy more capable and well-trained than the rebel groupings which the US and its allies have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Der Spiegel: Russophobia Poland annoying Allies

http://ria.ru/world/20160607/1444144383.html

MOSCOW, June 7 - RIA Novosti . Poland started in large-scale military exercises "Anaconda-16" concerned about the North Atlantic Alliance leadership due to the possible deterioration of relations with Russia, writes Der Spiegel , with reference to the representatives of NATO.

The NATO Headquarters believe that the doctrine "too clearly aimed at Russia." Despite tensions with Moscow during the exercise "without having played out a scenario of a real war", quoted Der Spiegel. In addition, to carry out maneuvers on the eve of the NATO summit in Warsaw - means to go too far, it is believed in the alliance.

Formally, the "Anaconda" - a national doctrine, but under pressure from Warsaw were attended by almost all the NATO countries, primarily the United States.

"For the moment the alliance selected fails: while in Brussels stressed that they intend to somehow restore the dialogue with Moscow, Poland played war" - the newspaper writes.

Underhand representatives of NATO countries, including Germany, "trying to placate the Poles," but the new Polish government "strictly adheres to its anti-Russian course." Many fear that Poland is "politically poison" the July summit of the alliance in Warsaw.

Disagreements emerged during a recent visit to Poland, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. While Stoltenberg talked about placing units of the alliance in the country on a rotating basis , President Andrzej Duda demanded the establishment of permanent bases. And when Secretary General proudly announced that Poland will be sent to an unprecedented number of troops, it is argued that this number is still to be discussed.

In addition, Poland is invited to participate in the exercise "Anaconda-16" Georgia and Ukraine . These countries are seeking to become members of NATO, but the alliance rejected this idea, partly to "not to irritate" Russia. "However, with the Poles are not considered-Russia Founding Act, NATO and Warsaw. Declared obsolete ," - notes Der Spiegel.

"From the perspective of Berlin, Warsaw deliberately provocative acts", - stressed the German edition.

The Polish side managed to annoy and Germany, accusing it of allegedly blocking the transit of US troops. German government "was not happy", and not by chance that in the teachings of "Anaconda-16" is now involved only 400 soldiers of the Bundeswehr. In total, the exercise involved 31,000 troops from 24 countries.

Drills involving 50 military aircraft begin in Russia's Rostov Region, Crimea

http://tass.ru/en/defense/880478

Tactical aviation pilots will practise interception of air targets and electronically simulated missile launches

MOSCOW, June 7. /TASS/. More than 50 planes and helicopters are participating in a three-day exercise that began in Crimea and the Rostov Region earlier on Tuesday, the press-service of the Southern Military District said.

"Taking part in the exercise are more than 50 aircraft, including Mi-28N, Ka-52 and Mi-35M helicopter gunships, Antonov-12 and Antonov-26 transport planes and the newest two-seat fighters Sukhoi-30SM fighters and upgraded Sukhoi-27 fighters and 2,500 air pilots, flight engineers and ground personnel," the press-service said.

Tactical aviation pilots will practise interception of air targets and electronically simulated missile launches.

At the Opuk proving ground helicopter crews will be destroying hypothetical targets with missile and gun fire at distances ranging 500 meters to 5,000 meters in day and night time.

"Radio-technical units will be searching for, identifying and tracking hypothetical enemy targets in different situations. The emphasis is on the identification and classification of air targets at low and extra-low altitudes," the Southern Military District said.

Russian Pilots Now Training in Crimea to Take out Missile Shield on Russia's Borders

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/pilots-crimea-will-be-taught-eliminate-anti-missile-defense-system-bases-russian-borders

Originally appeared at Izvestia - Russian daily news. Translated by Julia Rakhmetova

31 May 2016

http://izvestia.ru/news/616008

Russia’s new Aerospace Firing Range in the Crimea will be a unique venue for year-round training of Su-24M and Tu-22M3 bomber pilots in missile and bombing weapons against waterborne and shore targets.

As the editor of the magazine Arsenal Otechestva, Victor Murakhovsky told Izvestia, a new structure will become part of the Chkalov Flight Test Center in Aktyubinsk, where new methods, systems and armaments are developed.

“The most difficult part of training is air strikes at shore and water targets from the sea, when planes operate from shore,” Victor Murakhovsky told Izvestia.

“Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Air Force had been deprived of this possibility. Chauda’s advantage is that it has a maximum amount of sunny days so that flights are almost on a kind of assembly line.

“Operating missile systems and armored column positions resulted from fighter-bomber combat experience during the Syrian campaign. Killing waterborne targets is the latest thing,” – Murakhovsky underlined.

According to this expert, the elements not only of air battles but also against complex ground targets – mobile command posts, cruise missiles batteries at the prelaunch stage, tank and vehicle columns on the march, and also water targets – were first implemented during combat training.

Aerospace commanders withheld details of pilot training; however, as the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Vzlyet, Andrei Fomin, told Izvestia, including both practical bomb-dropping and so-called "electronic" launches of anti-ship cruise missiles. The Su-24M and Tu-22M3 carry a combat load of several tons – dummy air bombs ОFАB-250 and FАB-1500. Besides, the Tu-22M3 is capable of following this blow with X-22 and X-15 cruise missiles.

“Bombing of waterborne targets is likely to be confined to electronic launches,” according to the expert.

“The price of anti-ship cruise missiles is too high to slather them. At the same time, today electronic control allows the recording of pilot preparation to launch data, targeting parameters, target lock-on and possibility kill – to a high degree of precision.

According to Victor Murakhovsky, the new training center will influence not only lead-ups to bombardments. Preparation of the first regiment of deck-based fighters Mikoyan MiG-29K at the ground testing and training complex in Saky has begun. NITKA, as the military men call it for short, is a sort of ski jump for strike aircraft and a full-fledged landing field that imitates the deck of the aircraft-carrier Admiral Kuznetsov with all its controls and braking systems for practicing line-oriented shipboard take off and land.

“The Mikoyan MiG-29K is the only strike aircraft capable of applying two brand-new anti-ship cruise missiles X-31 and X-35. The new firing range will also offer new possibilities for deck-based pilots to self-improve their practical skills.”

The head of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Victor Bondarev, has already stated that pilots will improve high seas aircraft piloting in empty view areas, but also the use of naval arms.

As the official representative of the Black Sea Fleet, Vyacheslav Trukhachev told Izvestia, training of Mikoyan MiG-29K pilots will last til July 1st. In mid-summer the regiment will be relocated to the aircraft-carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, and will go into combat service in the Mediterranean.

“The Defense Ministry has shown videos where Russian bomber aircraft knock-out the terror organization infrastructures in Syria,” according to professor Vadim Kozyulin of the Academy of Military Science, who shared his opinion with Izvestia. “Now we can also practice in the Crimea. In the context of the American National Anti-Missile Defense base that appeared in Romania, this will be a message to the US and NATO, which have been warned that Moscow wouldn’t leave their unfriendly actions at Russia’s borders unanswered.

Russian Navy gets new Admiral Essen frigate built for Black Sea fleet

http://tass.ru/en/defense/880590

The ship has a balanced weapons suite, an artillery system, the sophisticated Kalibr missile system and a well-balanced up-to-date Shtil-1 surface-to-air missile system

KALININGRAD, June 7. /TASS/. The Admiral Essen first production-standard Project 11356 frigate was commissioned for service with the Russian Navy on Tuesday.

The Russian Navy flag was hoisted onboard the frigate in a ceremony at the Yantar Shipyard in the westernmost port of Kaliningrad. The new ship will be assigned to the Black Sea Fleet.

"We are very satisfied with the ship. It has a balanced weapons suite - an artillery system, the sophisticated Kalibr [NATO reporting name: SS-N-27 Sizzler] missile system and a well-balanced up-to-date Shtil-1 [SA-N-12 Grizzly] surface-to-air missile system," Navy’s Shipbuilding Department Chief Vladimir Tryapichnikov said after the ceremony.

The frigate was laid down in July 8 2011 and floated out in November 2014. Its official tests took place in the Baltic and Barents seas and were completed on May 30 this year.

The Black Sea Fleet is to receive six Project 11356 frigates. The lead ship of the family, the Admiral Grigorovich, was delivered on March 11, 2016. The third frigate in the class, the Admiral Makarov, is scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2016.

Russia, China urge restart of talks on Korean nuclear problem — ministry

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880602

Moscow and Beijing believe it is necessary to continue coordinated effort to see the situation on the Korean peninsula remain within political-diplomatic framework

MOSCOW, June 7./TASS/. Moscow and Beijing believe it is necessary to continue coordinated effort to see the situation on the Korean peninsula remain within political-diplomatic framework, the Russian Foreign Ministry reports after Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov met with China’s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawei in Beijing on Tuesday.

"During an exchange of opinions, both sides stated a need to continue coordinated effort to retain the situation on the Korean peninsula in the political-diplomatic framework as well as to search for ways to unblock six-way talks on the settlement of the Korean peninsula’s nuclear problem," the ministry said.

A third round of the Russian-Chinese dialog on security in Northeast Asia is currently under way in Beijing.

The Russian delegation is led by Igor Morgulov, while the Chinese - by foreign minister’s assistant, Kung Xuanyou. The first round of the dialog was held in Shanghai in April 2015, while the second one took place in Moscow in February 2016.

US concerned with escalation of violence in Aleppo — ambassador to Russia

http://tass.ru/en/world/880526

John Tefft has stressed that it's necessary Russia should use its influence to restore the ceasefire regime

MOSCOW, June 7 /TASS/. Washington is concerned with the escalation of tensions in Syrian Aleppo, US Ambassador to Moscow John Tefft wrote on VK social network on Tuesday as he answered the users’ questions.

"We are working hard to restore the ceasefire regime and are concerned with the recent escalation of violence in Aleppo," the American diplomat said. "It is vitally important for us to focus on implementation of commitments to observe the ceasefire by all the sides and it is necessary that Russia use its influence on the regime," Tefft stressed.

"Such measures along with steps to ensure a political transition of power in Syria will create an opportunity for the United States and Russia to conduct a more profound dialogue on working out a common approach to common threats such as the Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra [both are banned in Russia]," the US diplomat said.

The only way to settle Syrian crisis

According to the diplomat, the United States supports the efforts of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura because it believes that political talks are the only way to settle the Syrian crisis.

"The United States is not giving up on Syria. A search for the solution of this conflict, which led to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis since the time of WWI, remains a US priority. However, political settlement through negotiations is the only way to resolve this crisis," Tefft said.

"That is why we continue supporting Staffan de Mistura’s efforts," the US diplomat said.

Dirty Dealings: US 'Effectively Sided' With Al-Qaeda to Overthrow Assad

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160607/1040941556/us-nusra-syria-assad.html

Washington has teamed up with its archenemy, al-Qaeda, in pursuit of its "obsession" with wanting to remove Bashar al-Assad from power, former UK ambassador to Syria, Peter Ford, told RT. For US leadership any means appear to justify the end, at least when it comes to the embattled Arab country.

The US "is effectively siding with a branch of al-Qaeda" in Syria, the diplomat said. "We can only hope that it is a temporary aberration and they will soon return to their senses."

Ford was referring to al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's offshoot in Syria. The United Nations, as well as Russia and the US consider this group to be a terrorist organization. Yet Washington asked Moscow to refrain from launching airstrikes on al-Nusra Front if those rebels, whom the US considers to be moderate, are in the same area.

The diplomat maintained that this request is "not reasonable at all" and even "grotesque." However, it should not sound surprising if Washington's "obsession with getting rid of Assad and the secular government in Syria" is taken into account.

US strategy on resolving the Syrian crisis has long focused on the notion that Bashar al-Assad must leave. Critics say that his removal will most likely create a power vacuum that will be filled with Islamists. After all, al-Nusra fighters and other militant groups, including Ahrar al-Sham, have been trying to establish a caliphate in the country that was once peaceful and secular.

Russia has long lobbied for Ahrar al-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam to be put on the UN's List of designated terrorist groups. This initiative was blocked by the US, although these groups have occasionally carried out joint attacks against civilians.

In addition, Moscow has asked the US to convince the groups Washington supports to move away from areas where al-Nusra Front militants are active. Ford described Russia's efforts as a "very reasonable demand," yet it has not been met yet.

Assad: Syria’s Aleppo to become graveyard for Erdogan’s regime

http://tass.ru/en/world/880538

According to the Syrian president, capturing Aleppo is the last hope of Erdogan's regime "to implement its Muslim Brotherhood Islamist project"

BEIRUT, June 7. /TASS/. Syria’s northwestern city of Aleppo will become a graveyard for the regime of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan where his "dreams and hopes will be buried," Syrian leader Bashar Assad told the country’s parliament on Tuesday.

"When they failed to achieve what they wanted to, an open declaration came up on the support for terrorism and withdrawal from an agreement on halting military actions," Assad said. "And we saw that when the civilian population and hospitals in Aleppo were attacked."

"The fascist regime of Erdogan focused its attention on Aleppo as it was crushed in Syria and this is the last hope to implement its Muslim Brotherhood Islamist project," Assad said. "Aleppo will become a tomb where all dreams and hopes of this butcher will be buried," the Syrian president said.

All sides should join the peaceful process

Assad has urged all sides involved in the conflict to lay down arms and join the peaceful process.

"I call on all those who hold arms in their hands regardless of the reasons to join the reconciliation process in the country that began several years ago already and was given a new impetus of late," the Syrian president told lawmakers.

The Syrians have no other choice than to gain victory over terrorism, he said. "Without that victory for us and our children there is no present and no future," the president said.

But this does not mean that Syria is giving up political processes, he added.

"We continue working in the political area, now there is possibility to achieve success in this direction," Assad said.

The Syrian leader stressed that "both at the official level and all the Syrian people have a great wish to stop bloodshed for the sake of saving the country."

The president thanked Russia, Iran, China and the Lebanese resistance for their support.

"The defeat of terrorism is inevitable as there are such countries like Russia, Iran and China that back the Syrian people and are on the side of truth and those oppressed against the oppressors."

"I thank them for their firm positions towards us. These states do not give up their principles and traditionally seek to support the right of people to choose their fate independently," Assad said.

The talks must not violate the constitution

Damascus won’t engage in any talks that are launched in violation of the principles stipulated in the Constitution, Assad said.

"Plans were nurtured for terror to fully seize Syria along with the plans to destroy the foundation of our state - the Constitution - by changing it for a constitution based on the confessional division, which turns the sons of one motherland into enemies and foes," the Syrian president said.

"We won’t engage in any talks in violation of the principles of the Constitution and we won’t allow the states sponsoring terrorism to push Syria into an abyss and we’ll continue our struggle against terrorism until its full eradication," Assad said.

According to Assad, "international conflicts have generated regional conflicts, which directly affects the region and, in particular, Syria."

"The world has become an eye-witness of international conflicts between the countries, which are seeking to keep their sovereignty and independence, and other countries, which are working to implement the interests of third parties even at the expense of their own peoples’ interests," Assad said.

The Syrian leader also said he was convinced that "the inter-confessional strife in Syria was dead, even though some are trying to waken it up" and terrorist attacks in the country "won’t be able to cause a split among the Syrian people."

Commenting on the talks on the peace settlement in Syria, Assad said these negotiations "have actually not started" while Damascus "has not received an answer" up until now "to the document submitted on the very principles of the negotiation process."

Assad also said the international community had not expected that the Syrian people would take an active part in the parliamentary elections.

"These parliamentary elections were not ordinary and they were held in severe conditions but the Syrian people has again surprised the world with its unprecedented participation in them and elected its representatives," Assad said.

The Syrian People’s Council of the new convocation gathered on Monday for its first session after the parliamentary elections held on April 13. Following the legislative practice, the parliament’s oldest deputy opened its first session. Later, the legislators elected Hadiyeh Khalaf Abbas as the first female speaker in the parliament’s history.

EXCLUSIVE: Kurdish Fighters Win Back Key Village Near Manbij, Kill 40 ISIL Terrorists

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950318000710

The SDF forces are now in full control of the village of Fares Saqir to the East of Manbij.

At least 40 ISIL terrorists were killed in tough battle with the Kurdish fighter in the countryside of Manbij.

On Monday, one of the notorious commanders of al-Nusra Front, known for his role in the killing of children in Aleppo, was killed in clashes with the Syrian Army troops.

The al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra confirmed on the terrorist group's official page that Wael Haj Hossein, also known as Farouq al-Shami, was killed in Southern Aleppo.

The killed commander believed that al-Nusra must intensify killing of children in a bid to put the Syrian government and Bashar al-Assad under the pressure.

Reports said earlier on Monday that the Syrian Democratic Forces continued to advance against the terrorist groups in Northeastern Aleppo and forced them to retreat from more farms and villages in the region.

The SDF fighters pushed the Takfiri terrorists back from the road connecting Manbij to Jarabulus and at least 20 farms near the Tishrin dam's lake.

In the meantime, the villages of Khirbet al-Masi, Fares al-Saghir, Fares al-Kabir and Qirat al-Kabir East of Manbij were liberated in the SDF operation.

Spokesman for the Military Council of Manbij Sharfan Darvish announced on Monday that the ISIL has evacuated its members and their families living in Manbij and has carried out whatever they could take with them.

"The Manbij fighters have entered the town of Dadat located between Manbij and Jarabulus. At least 50 terrorists have thus far been killed in clashes with the SDF," Darvish went on to say.

Al-Nusra Front Regroups, Continues Attacks on Syrian Government Forces

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160607/1040947341/terrorists-syria-attack-forces.html

Al-Nusra Front terrorist group has resumed attacks against Syrian government forces.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Al-Nusra Front terrorist group has regrouped and resumed attacks against Syrian government forces, a spokesman for the Russian center for the Syria reconciliation said.

"Using the ceasefire and the close proximity to areas controlled by the so-called moderate opposition, the Nusra Front has regrouped, restocked its weapons and arms supplies an began carrying out attacks," the representative said.

Daesh has also been receiving fresh arms supplies, according to the spokesman.

"An armed convoy of trucks, carrying arms and weapons, was spotted to the northeast of Aleppo. The convoy was moving away from the Turkish border and freely passed through territories controlled by various armed groups and reached an area controlled by IS [Daesh] militants," he added.

Al-Nusra Front and Daesh are militant jihadist groups outlawed in many countries, including Russia. Both groups are not covered by the Syrian ceasefire agreement.

Battle for Raqqa: Syrian Army in action against IS jihadists

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/battle-raqqa-syrian-army-action-jihadists-video/

Syria’s Government troops made new gains inside Raqqa province, as a Russian backed military assault is underway to liberate the city, which is under control of the Islamic State (ISIS).

http://<iframe width="560" height="...uU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

EXCLUSIVE: Syrian Army Discovers Terrorists' Arms Depot in Damascus Countryside

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950318000454

The army units seized a huge amount of weapons from the terrorists' depot near the town of Jobar in Eastern Damascus countryside.

Jobar town is still under the terrorists' control and the presence of a large number of tunnels there has made the Syrian army face many difficulties to advance in the area.

The discovered weapons belonged to Ahrar al-Sham Movement terrorist group.

On Monday, the Syrian Army troops discovered and destroyed a network of nine tunnels connecting farms to villages in Eastern Ghouta.

The Syrian soldiers destroyed nine tunnels which connected Bala Farms to the villages of al-Mohammadiyeh and Beit Na'eem.

Several militants were killed or wounded and a large volume of the militants' arms and ammunition were also exploded in destruction of the tunnels.

Reports said on Friday that the Syrian soldiers and popular forces struck the gatherings and concentration centers of the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front in Western Ghouta, inflicting major losses on the militants.

The Syrian government forces targeted positions of al-Nusra near the villages of al-Maqrousa and Harfa, which ended in the killing or wounding of several militants and destruction of their military equipment, including machineguns.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

NATO War Games Near Russia 'Pushing Humanity Towards World War III'

http://sputniknews.com/military/20160608/1040968457/nato-wargames-poland-russia-obama.html

NATO has begun its Anaconda-16 war game, calling for the largest assembly of foreign forces in Poland since World War II.

On Monday, NATO launched its largest war game in decades, near the Russian border, as part of what analysts call the "summer of provocation," a bid to reignite the Cold War intended to force Moscow to starve its domestic economy to ramp up its military to meet a growing external threat.

The war game, titled Anaconda-16, will take place in Poland ahead of next month’s NATO summit in Warsaw, where officials are expected to approve permanent troops to be stationed in the country and throughout eastern Europe, to combat what they consistently refer to 'Russian aggression.'

The 10-day military exercise calls for the participation of some 31,000 NATO troops and thousands of military vehicles, in what will be the single largest movement of foreign forces inside of Poland since World War II, rehashing painful memories for many Russians.

In June 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to disarm the ‘Russian aggression’ talking point disseminated by neoconservative Beltway think tanks, pointing to the absurdity of Russia instigating a war against NATO member states.

"I think that only an insane person, and only in a dream, can imagine that Russia would suddenly attack NATO," said Putin, adding, "I think some countries are simply taking advantage of people’s fears with regard to Russia."

Regardless of the motives, the escalation of a NATO military presence close to Russian borders has reached a fever pitch, with the US establishing a missile-defense system in Romania and undertaking the development of a separate missile shield in neighboring Poland.

Beyond attempting to strangle Moscow’s nuclear deterrent, the Obama administration has also increased Pentagon spending in countries neighboring Russia by four-fold.

The Obama administration is not alone in its efforts to increase a rhetoric of threat. In recent months Poland has called for an influx of US troops and military aid, citing concerns that Russia may seek to invade. Germany has agreed to dispatch troops into the country for the war game, marking the first time that German soldiers have entered Polish territory since the Nazis used it as a route to invade the Soviet Union.

On Monday, Loud & Clear’s Brian Becker sat down with security analysts Daniel McAdams and John Wight to discuss the latest round of provocations on Russia’s border, and whether NATO war hawks seek more violence.

What is the purpose of the Anaconda-16 War Game?

"Well this is a series of so many NATO exercises on Russia’s borders during the summer, you can call it the summer of provocation," said McAdams. "This is the largest of the military exercises, and is the largest movement of foreign forces within Poland since World War II, so that is very significant and it is all being sold to everyone else as a protection against Russian aggression."

"In reality, it is NATO troops that are outside of Russia’s borders and it is absolutely a provocation, another step in trying to poke Russia in the eye," explained the security analyst.

Is Poland important to the United States strategically?

"Poland is massively important because of the historical enmity between the Poles and Russia along with the location," explained John Wight. "Daniel is absolutely right in calling this the summer of provocation, what we are witnessing is the recrudescence of the policy of containment that was devised after the Second World War."

"Containment, however, is a bit of a misnomer because it isn’t a policy of containment, it is a policy of aggression designed to surround Russia politically, economically, and ultimately militarily, in order to keep Russia’s government paranoid and to apply pressure on Russia to cause it to implode internally," said Wight, explaining the existential threat that Moscow faces from US-led saber rattling.

Is Russia a counter-hegemonic force against the United States?

"I wouldn’t say that Russia set out to be counter-hegemonic, but certain events have taken place," suggested McAdams. "You know the famous Putin speech where he essentially said ‘We’ve had it, we’ve had enough, and we’ve taken it for a number of years,’ and this was right before Russia accepted Syria’s invitation to put down the jihadists."

"I believe Russia has been pushed into this position, but if you talk about the early dates of the Obama administration, there was still this idea of resetting relations," said McAdams. "Instead, what happened in the Obama administration, and it happens in every administration, in which the neocons swoop in and take over foreign policy."

"You have people like Victoria Nuland who served Dick Cheney prior to President Obama. What on earth were they thinking by allowing somebody like this to have control of power, somebody who is a member of the Kagan neocon crime family, as the wife to Robert Kagan. This is how the neocons do it and they swallowed the Obama administration like a cancer that keeps growing," stated the security analyst.

"The neoconservatives now have control of Obama’s Russian policy and I think they are pushing us towards World War III," asserted McAdams.

Russian Defense Minister Urges SCO to Take Extra Anti-Terrorism Measures

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160608/1040973183/shoigu-sco-terrorism.html

SCO member states should step up measures to tackle international terrorism, said Russia's defense minister.

ASTANA (Sputnik) — Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members need to work out additional measures to fight international terrorism due to serious threats and constant challenges, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.

"I would like to note that in this difficult time, when we face constant challenges and quite serious threats in Central Asia, South-East Asia, Syria, Afghanistan, there is need for a common understanding and consolidated actions in the fight against international terrorism," Shoigu said at a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart Imangali Tasmagambetov.

"We need to discuss everything that goes on in the world and work out additional joint measures against terrorism. I hope we will have this opportunity today," added the Russian minister, who is set to take part in a SCO defense ministers' meeting later on Wednesday.

Russia ready to share its Syria operation experience with Kazakhstan — defense minister

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880692

ASTANA, June 8 /TASS/. Russia is ready to share with Kazakhstan the experience of using Russian troops in Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at a meeting with his Kazakhstani counterpart Imangali Tasmagambetov on Wednesday.

"We are ready to share our experience in operational planning and the use of Russian troops in Syria in the struggle against the ISIS terrorist group [the former name for the Islamic State - TASS] and Jebhat al-Nusra," Shoigu said in reply to Tasmagambetov’s request.

Russia started its military operation in Syria late in September 2015. Since February 2016, Russia has been withdrawing its troops from the country.

China does not recognize arbitration case on South China Sea — foreign ministry

http://tass.ru/en/world/880670

China will continue to firmly insist on resolving relevant disputes with the Philippines on the South China Sea by negotiations

BEIJING, June 8. /TASS/. China does not recognize the arbitration case in The Hague brought by the Philippines on the South China Sea and insists on resolving territorial disputes exclusively by negotiations, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

"China does not accept any measures of resolving issues connected with establishing borders on land or on sea, which are forced upon it, as well as any appeals to the third party to settle these problems," the foreign ministry said. "China will continue to firmly insist on resolving relevant disputes with the Philippines on the South China Sea by negotiations. China is the main force ensuring peace and stability in the South China Sea," the ministry added.

"The decision of the Philippines to unilaterally initiate an arbitration case goes against the bilateral agreement on resolving disputes by negotiations and violated the provisions of the UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea," the ministry noted.

In January 2013 the Philippines unilaterally initiated an international arbitration case with China on the territorial dispute in the South China Sea. On 29 October 2015, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague ruled that it had the power to hear the case.

Beijing has for decades been involved in a dispute with many countries in the region over the territorial jurisdiction of a number of islands in the South China Sea, where significant reserves of hydrocarbons have been found. This refers, above all, to the Xisha archipelago (the Paracel Islands), the Nansha Islands (the Spratly Islands) and Huangyan Island. Other countries involved in the dispute are Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines. As of the end of 2013, China has been engaged in large-scale hydro-engineering and construction work on the expansion and development of the territories under its control.

Foreign ministers of Russia and Palestine to discuss Palestinian-Israeli settlement

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880666

Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that "the meeting will focus on the problems of Palestinian-Israeli peace process"

MOSCOW, June 8. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki will discuss Palestinian-Israeli settlement in Moscow on Wednesday. Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that "the meeting will focus on the problems of Palestinian-Israeli peace process" in the light of the forum on Middle Eastern settlement that was held in Paris on June 3.

It is expected that special attention at the meeting will be paid to the situation on Palestinian territories. "The prospects of establishing inter-Palestinian unity will definitely be discussed, and relevant issues of bilateral Russian-Palestinian cooperation in different spheres will be touched upon separately," Zakharova noted.

Results of conference in Paris

According to several observers, the international conference on Middle Eastern settlement that took place in Paris on June 3, can hardly be considered productive. Establishing working groups which should have been facilitating promotion of peaceful settlement between Israel and Palestine, did not move anywhere from statements that had been made before the event.

Despite the high level of participation (UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, US State Secretary John Kerry), the final document for the press looked rather dull - the agreements reached by the participating countries were outlined on half a page.

The sides have once again confirmed their support for the two-state solution, condemned Israel’s settlement policy, and noted the importance of direct dialogue between Israel and Palestine. External players can only facilitate the settlement of the conflict, as many politicians at the conference stressed, but only Israelis and Palestinians can reach a direct agreement.

In turn, Moscow has described the conference as useful and called for analyzing its results. "The meeting was useful. The results of this discussion that took place in Paris will have to be analyzed, along with the final document, and see what can be done to promote sustainable negotiations process between Palestinians and Israelis on the basis of these approaches," Russian presidential special envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told TASS after the conference.

Pause in political process too long
At the same time, the situation with direct dialogue between Palestine and Israel remains very complicated. According to Bogdanov, "the pause in the political process between the sides has become too long."

"The formula of the two-state solution came under a real threat. Though it was not removed from the agenda, prospects of fail settlement on the internationally recognized basis are practically melting away in front of our eyes," the diplomat noted. "It is nearing the ‘point of no return’. Such developments would only facilitate further escalation of tensions," he said in Paris.

At the same time, the main task of the international community, and Moscow in particular, is to make the sides sit down at the negotiations table. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also noted the importance of creating conditions for such talks speaking at the press conference on the sidelines of the meeting in Paris.

Moscow, in turn, expressed readiness to provide a platform for possible negotiations between Palestine and Israel. "Of course, we are ready (to provide a platform) if the two sides - Israelis and Palestinians - have the desire and readiness to meet. I think that contacts exist in some kind of format. If they would want to meet in Moscow, we are ready for that," Bogdanov noted.

Coincidence?

Coincidence or not, but the visits of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki to Moscow follow one after another and even overlap. However, no contacts between the two officials are planned in Moscow. In an interview with the Russian media, al-Maliki said his visit to Moscow at the time of Netanyahu’s official trip to the Russian capital is "a coincidence."

Moreover, both sides are currently reluctant to establish dialogue. Time will show whether Palestinians and Israelis will sit down at the negotiations table, especially considering the results of the conference in Paris. To some extent, it will depend on Wednesday’s meeting between the foreign ministers of Russia and Palestine.

Over 20 Killed, 40 Injured in Terrorist Shellings of Syria's Aleppo

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160608/1040971768/aleppo-shelling-terrorists.html

Militants from the al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham armed groups continued their shellings of northern Syrian city of Aleppo and killed at least 20 and injured more than 40 people, a spokesman for the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation at the Hmeimim airbase said Wednesday.

HMEIMIM (Syria), (Sputnik) — He added that the militants attacked administrative buildings, as well as residential areas and killed more than 20 people, while 40 more were injured.

"Militants from al-Nusra Front terrorist group and Ahrar ash-Sham armed group conducted mortar attack against Aleppo's districts of Meydan and al-Muhafaza," the spokesman said.

Syria has been mired in civil war since March 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups, such as al-Nusra Front, which is prohibited in a number of countries, including Russia.

Russia steps up air campaign over Aleppo

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russia-steps-air-campaign-aleppo/

The jihadist rebels in rural Aleppo have had little sleep over the last 72 hours, thanks in large part to the Russian Air Force’s powerful aerial campaign that has specifically targeted their positions around this province in northern Syria.

On Tuesday night, the Russian Air Force carried out a significant number of airstrikes over the Aleppo Governorate, hitting several targets that belonged to the jihadist rebels of Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group) and Harakat Ahrar Al-Sham. In particular, the Russian Air Force specifically targeted the villages of ‘Anadan, Haritan, Hayyan, Bayyanoun, Khan Touman, Tal Al-‘Eiss, and Qa’liyjah; these are all located outside of Aleppo City.

Earlier reports indicated that the Syrian Armed Forces had taken control of the Aleppo Infantry Academy in the northern countryside of the province; however, this has been denied by local sources.

 

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The Russian coordination center in Hmeimim stated on Tuesday that it monitored a convoy of trucks loaded with weapons and munitions that crossed the Turkish borders and entered areas in Aleppo’s northeastern countryside where terrorists from ISIS are active.

Russian coordination center: Trucks loaded with weapons and ammo crossed Turkish borders to ISIS in Aleppo
http://sana.sy/en/?p=79588

The center added that ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra terror organizations are still targeting military positions and residential areas in Aleppo city despite the advent of the month of Ramadan, adding that these terrorists are also still rallying their forces in the surroundings of Aleppo.

The center said that terrorists targeted areas in Aleppo with mortars, rockets, and artillery from the direction of Kafr Hamra town, adding that the number of civilian casualties is increasing constantly.

The center also said that the town of Handarat, the surroundings of al-Nairab Airport, and the neighborhoods of al-Muhafaza, al-Midan, al-Sheikh Maqsoud, and al-Zahra’a in Aleppo city suffered intensive shelling with mortar and rockets during the past 24 hours.

 

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US, NATO Aggregate Forces for War Scenario in Latvia - US Marine Corps

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160608/1041010371/us-nato-latvia.html

The US Marine Corps and 12 NATO allies will be conducting military exercises in Latvia and other Baltic states in the coming weeks, US Marine Corps announced in a Wednesday press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US forces are aggregating forces in Germany "for war scenario in Latvia," according to the release.

"Alongside 12 NATO allies, Marines demonstrate their collective capability to move troops and equipment wherever the next conflict occurs. They are validating their ability to rapidly deploy and work fluidly with their partners," the press release stated.

The exercises, taking part under the broader annual Baltic-region Exercise Saber Strike 16, will include several live-fire ranges, with support of artillery, tanks and aircraft. Saber Strike 16 is scheduled to take place from May 27 through June 22 in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The Marine Corps exercise intersects the annual BALTOPS joint Naval drills taking place in Estonia, Finland, Germany, Poland, Sweden and throughout the Baltic Sea from June 3 through June 19.

US Military Convoy Enters Estonia as Part of Saber Strike Drills

http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160608/1041014622/us-convoy-estonia.html

First US military convoy entered Estonia from Latvia as a part of tactical road march dubbed Dragoon Ride II within the framework of the Saber Strike military drills, the Estonian General Staff said on Wednesday.

TALLINN (Sputnik) — Dragoon Ride II, a part of the Saber Strike US military drills, sees the participation of around 1,500 US soldiers, along with Stryker armored combat vehicles, howitzers and support vehicles, marching from Germany along two routes through the Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, to Estonia.

It has been reported that military equipment will keep arriving in Estonia until late Thursday. The troops will make four stops across Estonia to meet the residents and demonstrate military equipment.

Conducted annually since 2010, Saber Strike is a US-Europe set of cooperative military training drills held between May 27 and June 21 in multiple locations throughout Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Participating nations this year include the three Baltic states, as well as Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Why US Simultaneously Deploys Six Aircraft Carrier Groups

http://sputniknews.com/military/20160608/1041016335/us-aircraft-carriers.html

The United States Navy has deployed an additional four aircraft carriers on combat duty. As a result, the number of simultaneously deployed aircraft carriers has reached six for the first time since 2012, Defense News reported.

On June 1, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was sent from the US east coast to support the USS Harry Truman in the Mediterranean. On June 4, the USS Ronald Raegan was reportedly deployed from a naval base in Japan to the South China Sea. Two more flattops, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS George Washington, left their bases for training maneuvers.

In addition, the seventh aircraft carrier, the USS George Bush, will be deployed in the near future for patrolling.

Aircraft carriers are the main offensive force with the US Navy. On average, a US aircraft carrier can carry 30-40 F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters. The aircraft has a combat range of 800 kilometers.

Commenting on the situation, a representative of the Navy underscored that the deployment of the aircraft carriers is not a response to any challenge.

"Usually, 50 percent of the US warships are on the sea. This is why the recent deployment of six of the total nine aircraft carriers is a routine practice. This is the strategy the US has used for a long time – maintaining naval presence across the world," Konstantin Sivkov, head of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, told Svobodnaya Pressa.

The deployment of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to the Mediterranean Sea is bad news for Daesh terrorists. It will expand the US Air Force wing in the region to 120 planes.

As for the deployment of US flattops to the South China Sea, the move would increase tensions between Washington and Beijing, Sivkov said.

"US aircraft carriers are a powerful force. An aircraft carrier never operates in standalone mode. A US carrier group usually comprises one-two submarines and six-eight warships. In addition, the aircraft carrier has several dozens of jets. Such a force can spark tensions in any area of the world ocean," Maj. Gen. Vladimir Romanenko said.

However, one or two US carrier groups cannot create a serious geopolitical risk, he added. The US may intensify airstrikes against Daesh or fuel tensions with China, but the global balance of power will not change.

The possible reason for the deployment of aircraft carriers is the upcoming presidential elections in the US. It may be the Democrats’ effort to strengthen their positions, Mikhail Alexandrov, a political analyst at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, suggested.

"This is a demonstration of force and it doesn’t pose risks for Russia. Washington wants to send a message to the electorate to draw attention away from numerous flaws in the US foreign policy," military expert Ivan Konovalov told Sputnik Radio.

Moreover, the US also wants to demonstrate its military force to its allies, Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky, an expert in international affairs at the Russian Higher School of Economics, told Sputnik Radio.

"The fleet of aircraft carriers is a tool to project power. The US sends a signal to its allies that it’s ready to wage wars far from its borders. It is very important for Washington since there are doubts in US military power among allies," he pointed out.

Second US Carrier Strike Group Enters Mediterranean

http://sputniknews.com/military/20160608/1041018797/us-strike-group-mediterranean.html

A second US aircraft carrier strike group arrived in the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday in support of US national security interests in Europe, the US European Command (EUCOM) announced in a release

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Earlier this week it was reported that US Navy deploys the biggest number of aircraft carrier strike groups at the same time.

"The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) entered the Mediterranean Sea and the US 6th Fleet area of operations today in support of US national security interests in Europe," the release stated on Wednesday.

The seventh aircraft carrier strike group is being prepared to be deployed later in the year, while the US Navy could receive the 11th carrier that will also strengthen US maritime capabilities.

China Urges US to Stop Conducting Surveillance Flights Near Its Borders

http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160608/1041014049/china-us-spy-plane.html

China urges US to stop carrying out close reconnaissance flights that seriously undermine China's maritime security, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said during a briefing.

Earlier, CNN, citing Pentagon sources, reported that an RC-135 USAF reconnaissance plane was intercepted by a Chinese J-10 fighter jet in international airspace over the East China Sea.

No incident occurred but the US military called the Chinese pilot’s maneuvers “hazardous”.

However, China’s Defense Ministry negated such statements saying, “The US is deliberately speculating again on the question of reconnaissance flights by American military aircraft near China,” the Ministry of Defense reported to Chinese newspaper Huantsu Shibao.

The ministry further said that the Chinese military pilots always act on the basis of laws and regulations and are always governing their professional activities as they are responsible.

“The US continues to maintain close intelligence activities that seriously undermine China's security at sea. This is the cause of the problem. We call on the US to stop such actions and prevent the future occurrence of any similar incidents,” Hong Lei said during a briefing, commenting on the CNN media reports.

He stressed that China has a right to self-defense. The official representative of the Foreign Ministry of China declined to comment on the incident and refused to give details of when it happened.

This was the second incident in the last month. In mid-May, it was reported that the two Chinese fighters intercepted the US reconnaissance plane over international waters of the East China Sea. The incident caused a row between Beijing and Washington.

The Pentagon said that the incident was dangerous, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry denied it, saying that the Chinese fighter kept at a safe distance.

Palestinian FM hopes for Russian active role in resolving conflict with Israel

http://tass.ru/en/world/880786

Palestine's FM says Russian international role is growing due to its active participation in the solution of the Middle East problem

MOSCOW, June 8 /TASS/. Palestine hopes for Moscow’s "direct and active involvement" in resolving the conflict with Israel, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told the Rossiya 24 TV channel on Wednesday.

"Perhaps, the conference in France (held on June 3 - TASS) will promote a peace accord (between Palestine and Israel), but that does not mean that other opportunties are closed," he said. "For that reason, I am here in Moscow to discuss Moscow’s capabilities regarding the direct active involvement in the settlement process."

The Palestinian Authority requested consultations with Moscow after the conference, al-Maliki said.

"Considering the results of the latest session in Paris, we felt that it was necessary for us to come to Moscow to exchange opinions and see whether there were prospects for progress [in the Mideast settlement]," the Palestinian foreign minister said.

"We’re convinced that Russia can play a very important role in bringing the parties to the negotiating table," he said.

The minister noted that the recent talks in Paris held without the participation of the parties to the conflict helped ensure agreement on the beginning of the talks.

"The international support group was to develop the general principles of how to achieve peace between Palestine and Israel," he said.

"We intend to discuss the assessment of this conference with the Russian side," he added. "We want to assess further cooperation opportunties and understand Russia’s arguments regarding further rapprochement between Palestine and Israel. Taking into account the fact that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu is here, we want to know what the Russian side thinks about this and how the Russian side can facilitate this process."

According to the minister, "the next conference will be held in September."

"We offer Israelis the final opportunity to sit down at the negotiating table and reach a peace agreement with the recognition of the occupied territory belonging to Palestine," he said.

The international conference on the Israeli-Palestinian settlement was held on June 3 in Paris. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said after the meeting that another conference would take place before the end of this year.

Russia's growing international role

Russia’s growing international role is explained, among other things, by its active participation in the solution of the Middle East problem, al-Maliki said.

"I would like to thank you on behalf of the Palestinian delegation. We are very happy to be here today to meet the Russian foreign minister," al-Maliki said.

According to him, the Palestinian leadership is trying to preserve the current dynamics of relations and interaction with Moscow for further development of relations.

"The Palestinian president [Mahmoud Abbas] visited Russia about 6 weeks ago for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. They discussed the Palestinian problem and the French initiative to organize an International Middle East Settlement Conference [took place in Paris on June 3 - TASS]," the Palestinian foreign minister said.

"Naturally, Russia’s [global] role, which has recently increased, was discussed," al-Maliki said adding that Russia had passed several decisions in the context of the Middle East settlement.

The Palestinian foreign minister said that the visit to Russia was the first step by Palestine after the Paris conference.

"We have arrived in Moscow to exchange views, discuss further steps and increase efforts designed to reach the Middle East settlement," Al-Maliki concluded.

Speeding Up: Why Iran Wants to Receive Russia's S-300 as Soon as Possible

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160608/1041009124/russia-iran-s300.html

When Sergei Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation, reaffirmed that Russia plans to transport the last four S-300 battalions to Iran by the end of this year, Tehran had grounds to celebrate. The Islamic republic wants to receive the advanced air defense systems as soon as possible, the Expert magazine asserted.

Earlier, deliveries were planned to be completed in 2017, but both sides seem to have decided to speed things up.

The S-300 is extremely significant for Tehran. The potent defensive surface-to-air missile (SAM) system serves as a "major guarantee that no one will attack Iran, be it Israel, NATO or Saudi Arabia," the publication noted.

It is the latter that worries Iran, not the former. "An assault launched by Israel or any other Western power seemed almost inevitable in, say, 2013, but after anti-Iranian sanctions were lifted last winter this appears to be an unlikely scenario," the media outlet explained.

Meanwhile, Iran's rivalry with its archenemy, Saudi Arabia, has been escalating since world powers and Tehran inked the nuclear deal.

"The oil kingdom has already shown that it is ready to carry out a military operation [beyond its borders] by launching an offensive in Yemen. This is why Iran's wish to receive the [S-300] systems as soon as possible, before the end of the year, is understandable," the media outlet explained.

Russia will also benefit from this delivery schedule. Not only will a major arms deal be completed. For Moscow, it will also mean that a years-long dispute over the deal will become a thing of the past.

Moscow and Tehran signed an $800-million deal for the delivery of five S-300 missile systems in 2007. In 2011, Iran sued Russia in the Geneva Arbitration Court after Moscow suspended the contract in 2010, citing a UN Security Council resolution that placed an arms embargo on Tehran.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lifted the S-300 delivery ban in April 2015, shortly after the P5+1 group of international negotiators and Iran reached a framework nuclear agreement to remove all economic sanctions against Tehran in exchange for its pledge to ensure that all nuclear research in the country will be for peaceful purposes.

Russia delivered the first S-300 battalion earlier this year.

Daesh to Conquer Aleppo to Make it Militants' 'Capital Instead of Raqqa'

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160608/1041016825/daesh-advent-aleppo.html

Kurdish politician and a member of the opposition “Syrian Democratic Council,” Raizan Heidu, told Sputnik that Daesh militants are going to capture the Syrian city of Aleppo and declare it their new capital instead of Raqqa.

As the Syrian Army is getting closer to Raqqa backed by the Russian air force, Daesh terrorists are trying to take control of a different city.

“The northern suburbs of Aleppo, in particular the village of Mare, are facing continuous attempts from Daesh to conquer it, to prevent the battle for Raqqa and to extend control over the city of Azaz,” Heidu told Sputnik.

Heidu further explained that the fighters will be able to create a gap in the Kurdish federal region, which now resembles a triangle with vertices in Afrin and Kobani in the northeast.

He further said that the militants also seek to gain control over the border with Turkey, to cut supply lines of the opposition factions, warring with Daesh in Aleppo.

“That way it will be easier to enter Aleppo, to establish control over there and proclaim it as the capital instead of Raqqa,” Heidu said.

Despite a truce declared in Syria, Aleppo and surrounding areas remains the site of fierce fighting between the Islamists on one hand and Kurds and the Syrian Army on the other.

Last week, the advent of the Syrian Army operations in Raqqa was first reported by the Lebanese newspaper al-Akhbar.

According to the army troops they were already there for a few days in the village Asriyan in the neighboring province of Hama, preparing for an offensive.

Some units of the Syrian Army moved by approximately 10 kilometers and are now advancing towards the city of Tabqa, which has a vital military airfield. In February and March, the Syrian Army made an attempt to carry out an attack on Raqqa.

After a series of clashes with militants the attack was suspended and the Syrian Army began its offensive on Palmyra.

The Syrian government has had no presence in Raqqa since August 2014. Liberating the city, where some believe Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is living, has long been seen as key to crippling the terrorist organization.

Over 160 gunmen heading for Aleppo area through Turkish border — reconciliation center

http://tass.ru/en/world/880848

The armed group crossed the border in northern Idlib province with a view to reinforcing terrorist groups in Aleppo

MOSCOW, June 8. /TASS/. The Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria has registered the movement of more than 160 Jabhat al-Nusra militants across the Turkish-Syrian border, the center’s spokesman told TASS on Wednesday.

"We have registered the movement of more than 160 Jabhat al-Nusra militants across the Turkish-Syrian border. The armed group crossed the border in northern Idlib province with a view to reinforcing terrorist groups operating in the Aleppo area," he said.

A spokesman for the Russian center said earlier on Wednesday that Jabhat al-Nusra gunmen had intensified fire attacks on Aleppo, with dozens killed and hundreds wounded. In the morning, militants began mortar attacks on Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood in the same province during the morning prayer. Later the reconciliation center spokesman said that the gunmen continue mortar attacks on Syrian army positions in Ansar populated locality on the southern outskirts of Aleppo.

In recent days, the province has been the scene of fierce fighting with the use of armored vehicles. The Russian reconciliation center noted that the gunmen took the advantage of the cessation of hostilities and the immediate proximity to the areas controlled by the "moderate opposition" to regroup their forces and replenish arms and ammunition.

 

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Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots collide over Georgia, eject safely
http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2016/06/08/air-national-guard-f-16-fighter-pilots-collide-over-georgia-eject-safely/85588370/

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two South Carolina Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots ejected safely after a midair collision overnight in eastern Georgia, the Guard said.

The collision happened Tuesday night around 9:15 p.m. during routine night-flying operations over a military operating area in Jefferson County, Georgia, the Air National Guard said in a news release.

The jets were assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, which operates out of McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, South Carolina.

The two male pilots were brought to a hospital, said 1st Lt. Stephen Hudson, a spokesman for the Guard.

"They were taken to a local hospital for observation," Hudson said. "Apparently there were no major injuries."

There were no immediate reports of injuries on the ground.

The pilots were conducting a training mission over Georgia airspace in an area known as the Townsend Range, Hudson said. The region is used by the South Carolina Air National Guard for such training.

Hudson said it appeared the two aircraft crashed in separate locations, apparently wooded areas.

"We are dealing with two crash sites," Hudson said, adding that officials from the South Carolina Air National Guard were traveling to the area Wednesday morning.

Local first responders were securing the area and providing emergency services, the Guard's news release said. The release also said the Air Force would conduct a safety investigation.

The collision comes after both of the military's precision flying teams suffered crashes last week.

A Blue Angels F/A-18 crashed last Thursday near Nashville, Tennessee, while taking off for a practice session. The pilot, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, was killed.

Also Thursday, a Thunderbirds F-16 crashed outside Colorado Springs, Colorado, but that pilot, Maj. Alex Turner, ejected safely. The Thunderbirds had just performed over the open-air graduation ceremony at the nearby Air Force Academy, where President Barack Obama spoke.

 

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Syrian military source tells Zaman al-Awsl website that Israeli jets targeted the Fourth Mechanical Division of the Syrian army.

Report: Israeli Jets Strike Syrian Army Post Near Homs
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.723701

Israeli warplanes attacked Syrian army posts south of the city of Homs over the weekend, the Syrian news website Zaman al-Awsl reported Monday night.

According to the report, which cited a Syrian military source, the Israeli jets allegedly targeted a military compound of the Fourth Mechanical Division of the Syrian army.

Locals said they heard huge explosions.

Homs is the site of battles between the Syrian army and rebels, including ISIS.

Israel has previously been accused of striking targets in Syria belonging to the Syrian military and the Lebanese group Hezbollah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to let Israeli aircrafts fly freely in Syrian and Lebanese skies, Arab48.com reported on Tuesday.

Netanyahu asks Putin to let Israeli planes fly freely in Syrian and Lebanese skies
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20160608-netanyahu-asks-putin-to-let-israeli-planes-fly-freely-in-syrian-and-lebanese-skies/

The Israeli Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ze’ev Elkin, who was Netanyahu’s translator and attended a Tuesday meeting, said that Netanyahu and Putin have a “credible” relationship, noting that Netanyahu is “using” it.

Elkin said that there is “no contradiction” between Netanyahu’s relations with Putin and his relations with the US President Barak Obama.

Regarding the security cooperation between the Russian and Israeli armies, Elkin said that Russia runs the forces in Syria, not the United States.

He said: “Therefore, if we wanted free aviation for our aerial forces in Lebanon and Syria and if we wanted to maintain the security and political interests of Israeli citizens, the Russians are our target.”

Netanyahu started a three-day visit to Moscow on Monday. It is his fourth and longest visit to the capital since the start of 2016.

Second high-speed encounter within weeks takes place as Washington warns Beijing against setting up air defence zone over disputed Asia-Pacific waters.

Chinese fighter makes 'unsafe' intercept of US plane over East China Sea
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/08/chinese-fighter-makes-unsafe-intercept-of-us-plane-over-east-china-sea?

A Chinese fighter jet has carried out an “unsafe” intercept of a US spy plane in international airspace over the East China Sea, according to Pentagon officials.

The intercept involved a Chinese J-10 fighter plane and an RC-135 reconnaissance plane, the officials said on Tuesday.

The officials, who requested anonymity, said the air crew deemed the encounter to be “unsafe” because of the “high rate of speed” at which the Chinese jet was travelling.

In May the Pentagon said two Chinese fighter jets flew within 15 metres (50ft) of a US EP-3 aircraft over the South China Sea.

The Pentagon said the May incident violated an agreement the two governments signed in 2015.

Earlier this week the US secretary of state, John Kerry, said the US would view any Chinese establishment of an air defense zone over the South China Sea as a “provocative and destabilising act”.

US officials have expressed concern that an international court ruling expected in coming weeks on a case brought by the Philippines against China over its South China Sea claims could prompt Beijing to declare an air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, as it did over the East China Sea in 2013.

China has claimed most of the South China Sea, through which US$5tn (£3.5tn) in trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims.

Washington has accused Beijing of militarising the South China Sea by creating artificial islands. Beijing in turn has criticised increased US naval patrols and exercises in Asia.

During a conference in Singapore last week the US defense secretary, Ash Carter, said the US approach to the Asia-Pacific remained “one of commitment, strength and inclusion” but he warned China against provocative behavior in the South China Sea.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

French special forces on ground in Syria – Defense Ministry official

https://www.rt.com/news/345939-syria-france-forces-ground/

France has deployed its special forces on the ground in northern Syria to advise rebels and help them fight Islamic State, a French Defense Ministry official has revealed to AFP.

"The offensive at Manbij is clearly being backed by a certain number of states including France. It's the usual support - it's advisory," the official told the agency.

Until now, France admitted the presence of some 150 special forces in the region, all of them in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Manbij is a key strategic town under Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) control in northern Syria. It’s a waypoint between the Turkish border and the IS-held Raqqa.

The latest remark isn’t the first hint at the French presence in Syria: last Friday, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said to TV channel Public Senat that Paris was “providing support through weapons supplies, air presence and advice".

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Al-Nusra Front Terrorists Attack Kurdish Neighborhood in Aleppo

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160609/1041036522/nusra-front-aleppo-attack.html

Nusra Front terrorists have attacked government forces and local militia in the Kurdish neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsood in Aleppo, a representative of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation at the Hmeymim airbase said early on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to the representative, at least five people were killed and more than 50 injured during the attack.

He added that al-Nusra Front militants have also carried out attacks in the Syrian provinces of Idlib, Latakia and Hama in the past twenty four hours.

"The attacks lasted for over three hours and stopped only at dawn. The terrorists suffered losses," the representative said.

The Russian Center for Syrian reconciliation said on Wednesday that a group of at least 160 Nusra Front militants had crossed the border with Turkey in the north of Idlib province and were heading for the Aleppo area to reinforce terrorists fighting there.

According to the center, at least 20 people were killed and over 40 were injured in al-Nusra Front and Ahrar ash-Sham Wednesday shellings in Aleppo.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement came into force across Syria on February 27. The deal does not apply to terrorist groups such as Daesh and al-Nusra Front, both of which are outlawed in Russia and a range of other states.

Russia unleashes massive bombardment on Islamist rebels in western Aleppo

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russia-unleashes-massive-bombardment-islamist-rebels-western-aleppo/

Around midnight, the rebel-held town of Darat Izza (western Aleppo) was struck by two long-range Russian ballistic missiles, fired from positions at Khmeimim Airbase in Latakia.

The missiles were of the type ‘OTR-21 Tochka’, a fierce long-range artillery weapon first developed during the 1980’s Soviet era. Locals in Idlib were in awe at the sight and photograped one of the missiles mid-air.

Meanwhile, dozens of mostly Russian airstrikes hit the towns of Anadan, Haritan and Kafr Hamra once again tonight in an attempt to weaken the rebel frontline ahead of a highly anticipated government offensive in western Aleppo.

http://<iframe width="420" height="...I0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

As depicted above, the Russian Airforce is utilizing various types of airstrikes to maximize the impact and shock local Islamist forces.

Tiger Forces, led by Major General Suheil al-Hassan, are yet to begin the offensive into the Anadan plains although the elite assault troops remain deployed on the outskirts of the region ready to strike upon given the order.

The massive Russian bombing of western Aleppo follows statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergio Lavrov three days ago, vowing to give the upmost air support for the Syrian Arab Army in its efforts to retake Aleppo city.

 

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The Nusra Front terrorist group continues attacks against settlements in Syria's Aleppo region, including the city of Aleppo itself, a spokesman for the Russian reconciliation center in Syria said Thursday.

Nusra Front Terrorists Continue Shelling of Aleppo Province
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160609/1041061310/nusra-front-shelling-syria.html

Attacks against settlements in Aleppo province continue, the spokesman said.

"The shelling of settlements is becoming frequent and lasts several hours. Militants are not sparing ammunition and carry out attacks not only against government forces, but also residential areas," he added.

Fares Shehabi is the most likely to be positioned as a Syrian new prime minister, sources familiar with the matter told Sputnik on Thursday.

Fares Shehabi Most Likely Candidate to Become Syria's New Prime Minister
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160609/1041054228/syria-prime-minister-shehabi.html

Fares Shehabi, a businessman from Aleppo, is the most likely candidate for the position of Syria’s new prime minister, sources familiar with the matter told Sputnik on Thursday.

Shehabi, a known critic of the country’s economic and social policies as well as Turkey’s policies regarding Syria, currently serves as the chairman of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Industry.

He has also topped opinion polls on the issue.

Wael Halqi is the current prime minister of the country. He has held the post since 2012.

UN Special Envoy for Syria said that United Nations has received from the Syrian government approval to deliver humanitarian aid to 19 besieged areas in the war-torn country.

UN Has Damascus’ Approval to Deliver Aid to All 19 Besieged Areas in Syria
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160609/1041059692/un-syria-mistura.html

The United Nations has received from the Syrian government approval to deliver humanitarian aid to 19 besieged areas in the war-torn country, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Thursday.

"We were informed by our team in Damascus… there’s been a permission, an approval, that’s the terminology for it, by the government of Syria for all 19 besieged areas, that’s good news, by the end of June," de Mistura said during a press conference.

The United Nations has obtained data that Damascus released numerous fighters in Syria, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said.

We are, as you know, very actively constantly monitoring the aspect of detainees and those who are being abducted [in Syria], but we did get the information today from one main source, but we would like to have more information, that some substantial number of fighters appear to have been released … we are talking about thousands and thousands," de Mistura said during a press conference.

It is too early to summit all parties to the Syrian conflict for the third round of the intra-Syrian peace talks, which should be launched as soon as possible, Staffan de Mistura said.

The fighter jet has crashed Thursday in the Pushkinsky district of the Moscow region, a source in the local emergencies services said; a pilot's body was found near the plane's wreckage.

MiG-29 Fighter Jet Crashes in Moscow Region
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160609/1041040995/russia-moscow-mig-crash.html

A MiG-29 jet fighter crashed Thursday in the Pushkinsky district of the Moscow region, a source in the local emergencies services said.

"A MiG-29 crashed in a field near the Muranovo village in the Pushkinsky district of the Moscow region. There are no injured on the ground," the source told RIA Novosti.

A human trafficking kingpin, nicknamed "the General," has been arrested and extradited to Italy on suspected charges of running a trafficking network, where he sent thousands of migrants to Europe, with many of them perishing at sea.

'The General' of Death: World's Top Migrant Trafficker Busted in Africa (Video)
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160609/1041054053/mediterranean-migrants-trafficking-arrest.html

The man named Mered Medhanie and originally from Eritrea, was extradited from Sudan to Italy after his calls were intercepted and he was heard boasting about cramming people into rickety boats and sending them onwards to make the perilous journey across the Mediterranean.

The National Crime Agency tracked him down to his address in Sudan and he is — according to agency sources — one of the worlds most wanted people smugglers. He has been accused of being the mastermind behind the whole trafficking operation, which saw thousands of migrants smuggled across sea to Europe.

For the Italian prosecution team, who are building a case against "the General," his comments only prove how many people still do not care about the lives of those fleeing war zones in the Middle East and Africa.

"This shows an absolute indifference about the lives of immigrants," Italian magistrate Maurizio Scalia said.

Medhanie was arrested in Sudan on May 24 on charges of trafficking and abetting illegal immigration. He will now face up to 30 years in prison, if he is convicted.

Due to the number of people who lost their lives at sea thanks to his trafficking operation, magistrates have said he may also face homicide charges. There was no comment from the lawyer representing him.

This is the first time that a suspected trafficking kingpin has been tracked down in Africa and arrested. However, many other smuggling networks based on the continent continue to operate.

NATO is a war machine that has no other use than to serve the interests of the US financial elite. It is time for the European powers to leave the obsolete bloc and accelerate their rapprochement with Moscow, before Washington's warmongers drag Europe into a conflict with Russia, French journalist Victor Ayoli writes.

All About Money: Now is the Best Time for France, Germany to Leave NATO
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160609/1041077046/nato-france-germany-us-financial-elite.html

Washington's goal is to sow trouble in Europe and pressure its European allies into spending more on the US-led NATO bloc. By building new NATO military bases in the EU, Washington seeks to bolster the Alliance's influence on the continent, the French journalist Victor Ayoli notes in his article for Agora Vox.

The journalist points out that NATO has recently kicked off its BALTOPS 16 and Saber Strike 16 joint military drills in close proximity to the Russian north-western border.

Saber Strike 16, a US Army Europe-led cooperative training exercise, has brought together 13 participating nations including host countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), NATO members Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States, and ostensibly neutral Finland.

Moscow has repeatedly voiced its serious concerns over the expansion of NATO's presence in Eastern Europe and the bloc's ongoing enlargement toward Russia's borders.

"NATO is a war machine having no other use — as the Warsaw Pact had been dissolved long ago — than to serve exclusively the interests of the US financial elite and multinational corporations that are seeking global hegemony. Could you imagine what the Russo-NATO standoff could lead to? Do you think it would be limited to a few local strikes? It's a naïve and even stupid assumption: NATO, like Russia, has an apocalyptic nuclear arsenal," Ayoli underscores.

The French journalist wonders whether there is a real necessity to carry out these provocative maneuvers on Russia's doorstep.

"Is it reasonable? And whom do [these drills] intend to scare? Vladimir Putin?… Could anyone scare a bear with a pocket knife?" he asks.

Ayoli underscores that while Washington and its subservient vassals portray Russia as a significant menace to the EU, Moscow does not pose any threat to the Europeans.

NATO — the obsolete weapon of the rotten hegemonic US system — is pushing the world towards another world war, he warns.

Unsurprisingly, the Russians are taking these maneuvers seriously.

Citing the May analytical report posted by the anonymous blogger 'The Saker' on how Moscow is preparing to protect its national interests and secure its borders to prevent a repeat of the Wehrmacht's Operation Barbarossa invasion in 1941, Ayoli calls attention to Russia's ongoing military modernization.

First of all, Moscow is recreating its First Guards Tank Army. Currently it is equipped with T-72B3 and T-80 main battle tanks, but they will be replaced by the brand new T-14 Armata tank. Likewise, the Army's infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) and armored personnel carriers (APC) will be replaced with newer, more advanced machines. From the air, these units will be backed by Mi-28 and Ka-52 attack helicopters.

Secondly, Russia has recently deployed its new Iskander-M operational tactical missile systems. The system is "extremely accurate, it has advanced anti-ABM capabilities, it flies at hypersonic speeds and is practically undetectable on the ground."

Thirdly, while the tanks, IFVs and Iskander-M pose no deterrent to the US, the RS-28 "Sarmat" (SS-X-30 by NATO classification) would definitely prompt the US and NATO hawks to think twice, according to the journalist.

But that is not all: the Russian Armed Forces also boast Status-6 underwater torpedo systems, the Kalibr cruise-missiles which have proven themselves in the war in Syria, the Barguzins — modernized elusive "nuclear trains" equipped with ICBMs, etc.

The journalist warns that NATO is pushing Europe toward a new conflict with Russia. According to Ayoli, if just one European country leaves the Alliance, the bloc will fall apart at the seams.

It is time for France to withdraw from the dangerous Alliance and accelerate its rapprochement with Moscow. Other countries, most notably Germany, will most likely follow in Paris' footsteps, creating a new powerful Axis: Paris — Berlin — Moscow, he concludes.

Politicians, bankers, influential leaders and chiefs of major global businesses are meeting at the annual Bilderberg conference in Germany from Thursday (June 9), during which global matters, including relations with China and Russia, as well as the the migration crisis will be discussed.

West's Most Powerful Meet at Bilderberg Annual Bash in Germany
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160609/1041067152/bilderberg-west-power-influence.html

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is set to rub shoulders with ex-CIA Director David H. Petraeus, Philip M. Breedlove, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, ex-British MI6 chief John Sawers and IMF boss Christine Lagarde at the 64th Bilderberg meeting, which is set to take place from June 9-12, 2016 at the Taschenbergpalais Hotel in Dresden, Germany.

The conference — surrounded by tight security — is notoriously secretive in its discussions and regularly attracts demonstrations against what critics describe as a global meeting of western capitalists, politicians and academics who wield great power behind the scenes. It is billed as: "an annual meeting designed to foster dialogue between Europe and North America."

No journalists are allowed to report on proceedings, however it will be attended by Richard Engel, chief Foreign Correspondent, NBC News, John Micklethwait, Editor-in-Chief, Bloomberg LP and Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist.

​Bilderberg conferences are described as "private" and no minutes are taken, no report is written, no resolutions are proposed, no votes are taken, and no policy statements are issued.

Daniel Estulin, author of "The True Story of the Bilderberg Group" describes the meetings as "a shadow world government…. [threatening] to take away our right to direct our own destinies (by creating) a disturbing reality.

"Imagine a private club where presidents, prime ministers, international bankers and generals rub shoulders, where gracious royal chaperones ensure everyone gets along, and where the people running the wars, markets, and Europe (and America) say what they never dare say in public," says Estulin.

Geopolitics Guests this year also include: Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Alphabet Inc., which owns Google; Michael O'Leary, CEO, Ryanair; Thomas de Maizière, German Minister of the Interior; Col. Chris Hadfield, Astronaut; and Thomas Enders, CEO, Airbus Group.

Under discussion in Germany will be: China, Europe — particularly migration — the Middle East, Russia, the US political landscape, cyber security, the geo-politics of energy and commodity prices and an item entitled "Precariat and middle class."

The first meeting took place in Hotel De Bilderberg in Oosterbeek, Netherlands, from 29 to 31 May 1954. Representatives from economic, social, political and cultural fields were invited to hold informal discussions to help create a better understanding of the complex forces and major trends affecting western nations in the difficult post-war period.

As many of the world's most influential people - from the world of spies, commerce, politics and finance - meet in Germany this week, Sputnik takes a look at a few of the world's most mysterious organizations.

Secrecy and the Powerbrokers: Five of the Most Mysterious Movements
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160609/1041069656/bilderberg-bohemian-trilateral-secret.html

Bilderberg The annual meeting of the great and the good at which no minutes are taken and no reporting is allowed is being attended by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, ex-CIA Director David H. Petraeus, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe Philip M. Breedlove, ex-British MI6 chief John Sawers and IMF boss Christine Lagarde at the 64th Bilderberg meeting, which is set to take place from June 9-12, 2016 at the Taschenbergpalais Hotel in Dresden, Germany.

​Bohemian Club The all-male, mainly US club meets every July at Bohemian Grove, an elite campsite in California where ex-presidents, media executives, artists, musicians and prominent businessmen meet to discuss… well… er… stuff!

With the motto "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here" members are overseen by an annual "captain" in a venue which includes a huge amphitheater containing the largest pipe organ in the world. The patron is John of Nepomuk, who was drowned in the Vltava river at the behest of Wenceslaus, King of the Romans and King of Bohemia.

Council on Foreign Relations The US membership club consists of over 4,900 members comprising top government officials, renowned scholars, business executives, acclaimed journalists, prominent lawyers, and distinguished nonprofit professionals, according to its own website. The Inter Press Service News Agency described it as "the nation's most influential foreign-policy think tank," while the conservative John Birch Society claims that it is "guilty of conspiring with others to build a one world government."

Trilateral Commission Formed by David Rockefeller in 1973 and meeting in Washington, Paris and Tokyo, the think tank comprises people from the political, business, and academic worlds — but not current high office holders.

Its central aim is to "foster closer cooperation among these core industrialized areas of the world with shared leadership responsibilities in the wider international system."

However, former conservative Republican Senator Barry Goldwater, in his book "With No Apologies" described it as: "a skillful, coordinated effort to seize control and consolidate the four centers of power: political, monetary, intellectual, and ecclesiastical… [in] the creation of a worldwide economic power superior to the political governments of the nation-states involved."

​Commercial Energy Working Group A powerful Washington lobby group that nobody knows who it represents and which does not have a website or file any accounts, according to the Intercept.

It operates out of law firm Sutherland Asbill & Brennan and lobbies "on behalf of the Commercial Energy Working Group," and is variously described as "a diverse group of commercial firms in the energy industry" or "some of the largest users of energy derivatives in the United States and globally," but nobody really knows who they are.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Russian Defense Ministry Confirms Su-27 Crashed Near Moscow, Pilot Killed

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160609/1041042480/russia-su27-jet-crash.html

Russia's Defense Ministry has confirmed that a Su-27 fighter jet crashed in the Moscow region.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed reports on Thursday that a Su-27 fighter aircraft had crashed in the Moscow region.

"On June 9 at 10:25 [local time, 07:35 GMT], a Su-27 belonging to the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed in the Moscow region while returning to the base airfield after a planned flight. The pilot died. The flight was conducted without ammunition, there is no destruction on the ground," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Aerospace Forces have suspended Su-27 flights after a fatal crash in the Moscow region on Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Su-27 flights have been suspended at the decision of the commander until the reasons behind the crash in Moscow region are determined. According to preliminary data, the crash was caused by technical failure," the ministry said in a statement.

First images from Su-27 fighter jet crash site in Moscow Region

http://tass.ru/en/defense/881023

A fighter aircraft of the Russian Knights aerobatic team crashed in the Pushkino district of the Moscow Region

A Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter plane crashed in the Pushkino district of the Moscow Region on Thursday morning. The warplane crashed in the forest some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the village of Muranovo. Russia’s Defense Ministry has officially confirmed the plane’s crash and the pilot’s death. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a technical failure may have caused the crash. The pilot performed all the necessary operations to divert the plane from a populated area adn had no time to eject.

Russia grounds all Sukhoi-27 fighters until causes of air crash near Moscow are clear

http://tass.ru/en/defense/881040

According to the source, the black box of the crashed Russian warplane is in good condition

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. All flights by Sukhoi-27 fighters have been suspended by the commander of Russia’s Aero-Space Force until it is clear what caused the crash of a plane of this type near Moscow on Thursday morning, the Defense Ministry said.

"According to preliminary findings, technical problems were to blame," the ministry’s statement says.

Earlier, a source in the panel of inquiry told TASS all Sukhoi-27 had been grounded.

According to a source in the panel of inquiry has told TASS, the black box of the crashed warplane is in good condition.

"The ‘box’ has been found, it is one, it is in a good condition," the source said.

The Su-27 warplane of the Russian Knights aerobatic team crashed in the Pushkinsky district in the Moscow Region earlier on Thursday after the aerobatic team took part in a ceremony of opening a monument to aviators in Ashukino.

Earlier, the Defense Ministry said the Sukhoi-27 may have crashed due to technical problems. The pilot was killed in the crash. According to the ministry, the pilot did all he could to steer the plane away from a nearby community and had no time to eject himself.

http://<iframe width="560" height="...-Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Russia Detains Daesh Underground Cell Member Detained in Ingushetia

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160609/1041084500/russia-daesh-fsb.html

Russian security forces have arrested a resident of Russia's southern Republic of Ingushetia suspected of being a member of an underground Daesh terrorist cell, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – A 26-year old was captured in the Sunzhensky District of Ingushetia during a police operation, the FSB said, noting that the detainee is suspected of being part of a local illegal armed group that has pledged allegiance to the Daesh.

An improvised hand grenade was seized during the arrest, according to the statement.

The Daesh is a militant jihadist group outlawed in many countries, including Russia.

Token support: French Senate votes to lift Russian sanctions - will govt listen?

https://www.sott.net/article/319859-Token-support-French-Senate-votes-to-lift-Russian-sanctions-will-govt-listen

Kremlin hails French Senate’s resolution on softening sanctions

http://tass.ru/en/politics/880998

Russian top officials comment on French Senate’s advisory resolution on easing anti-Russian sanctions

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. The resolution of France’s Senate on easing sanctions against Russia "can be only welcomed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

"No doubt, this decision can be only welcomed," Peskov said answering a TASS question.

Peskov reminded that Moscow has stated many times that the ‘sanctions dialogue’ has no prospects. The Kremlin spokesman stressed that the issue of the future of the anti-Russian sanctions is not part of Russia’s agenda.

The French Senate passed a resolution on Wednesday on "gradually softening" the sanctions against Russia imposed by the European Union. The majority of the participants in the plenary meeting of the upper house of the country’s parliament - 302 senators - voted for it, 16 voted against this decision. The meeting was attended by a total of 335 senators. The resolution is advisory.

The French government cannot ignore the decision

Speaker of Russia’s State Duma (lower house of parliament) Sergey Naryshkin has said that the French government should take into account the Senate’s resolution in favor of lifting anti-Russian sanctions.

"The resolution is advisory, but the government cannot ignore parliamentarians’ opinion, the more so since France is a state governed by the rule of law. In a law-governed country, it is impossible to defy the opinion of lawmakers," he told reporters on Thursday.

"Of course, I consider this decision to be positive," Naryshkin said. He noted that "an opinion contrasting the anti-Russian rhetoric and Russophobia will gradually prevail in the minds of European politicians and parliamentarians."

"And the French Senate’s decision is in a series of such decisions," he added.

Europe is tired of sanctions

The resolution shows that Europe is tired of sanctions, First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Defense and Security Committee Franz Klintsevich told reporters on Thursday.

"The resolution passed by the French Senate is quite symptomatic," he said.

Despite its halfness (senators called not for lifting the sanctions altogether but for softening them gradually), "nevertheless, the conclusion is quite obvious: Europe is tired of anti-Russian sanctions," Klintsevich noted, adding that there is more to it than just economic losses. "There has been a growing awareness that the world in which sanctions run the show cannot be safe," he said.

Klintsevich also drew attention to differences in the approaches of European officials and lawmakers towards anti-Russian sanctions. "One gets the impression that EU officials and parliamentarians live in parallel worlds. While some indulge in saber-rattling and attempts to scare the population with a nonexistent Russian threat, others, for the most part, favor the development of mutually beneficial relations with our country", he said, adding that "parliamentarians, not officials represent the people, and they have every right to talk on their behalf."

The EU won't lift the sanctions

Senior Russian lawmaker Alexei Pushkov has not ruled out that the European Union may ease its stance on the anti-Russian sanctions after the resolution but the document is unlikely to have a significant impact on the decision on the sanctions.

"I don’t think that the resolution itself can have a decisive influence on the decision that will be taken in July on sanctions against Russia," Pushkov, who chairs the lower house’s foreign affairs committee, told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

"I don’t rule out that the EU can somehow soften the position in its words - and say that we take into consideration the viewpoints voiced in the French parliament and as soon as the implementation of the Minsk accords begins we will start considering the issue on softening the sanctions," he said.

The lawmaker said some intensification of relations with the leaders of the EU and the European Commission could be expected. "Such resolutions wash out the logics of sanctions, it is subjected to a very serious erosion."

Signal to the country’s government and the EU Council

The resolution of the French Senate calling to ease anti-Russian sanctions gradually is a "serious signal" to the country’s government and the Council of the European Union, Russian Federation Council lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday.

"The resolution puts a dent in the ‘unanimous and unconditional’ pressure on Russia in general and at least in this respect is a step in a right direction," said Kosachev, who heads the upper house’s foreign affairs committee, stressing that the document was adopted by a 90% majority with an almost 100% turnout at the Senate’s session.

This is a "very serious signal to the government of France and the Council of the European Union," he said.

The senators did not dare to speak about France’s special interests, including the problem of pig breeding that is indeed on the brink of collapse due to the failure to cope with the falling prices and rivalry with major German producers, he said.

Russian defense minister arrives in Tehran

http://tass.ru/en/politics/881079

Sergey Shoigu will take part in a meeting with his Iranian and Syria counterparts

TEHRAN, June 9. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has arrived in Tehran to take part in a meeting with his Iranian and Syria counterparts, a Russian diplomatic source told TASS on Thursday.

The meeting was organized by Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan. It will focus on the latest developments in the regions, and ways to step up and expand the fight against terrorism.

Syrian Defense Minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij arrived in Tehran on Wednesday.

TASS does not yet have an official confirmation from the Russian Defense Ministry about Shoigu’s arrival to Tehran.

Lavrov urges US to join practical measures against truce violators in Syria

http://tass.ru/en/politics/881093

According to the minister, the groups cooperating with the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (outlawed in Russia) should be excluded from the ceasefire regime

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. Moscow is calling on the United States to join practical measures against violators of the truce in Syria, as a delay is bad in the fight against terrorism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday.

"This is a very important issue [on dissociation of the Syrian opposition from terrorists] from the viewpoint of efficiency of all our efforts to prevent the triumph of terrorists in Syria and to promote intra-Syrian political dialogue," he said.

"Many months have passed since the UN Security Council approved decisions of the Syria Support Group, this is more than enough time for any armed formation to make its choice: join the regime of cessation of fire or not," Lavrov said.

"We voiced that thought to the United States, which is the leader of the coalition, recalling that it is counterproductive to wait further from the viewpoint of our common antiterrorism tasks," he said.

"Along with the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra [terrorist organizations banned in Russia], all those armed formations that have not joined the regime of cessation of hostilities, or joined it but do not observe it, should bear all responsibility," Lavrov said.

"I hope that the United States, which agreed with that logic, will join us in practical ctions to prevent the current situation from being used to strengthen the positions of terrorists on the ground," he said.

According to the minister, the groups cooperating with the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (outlawed in Russia) should be excluded from the ceasefire regime.

"Particular attention at this stage is paid to full and strict compliance with the cessation of hostilities, understanding clearly that IS, Jabhat al-Nusra and those cooperating with them are excluded from it and that it is necessary to stop the infiltration of gunmen and weapons from Turkey," Sergey Lavrov said after a meeting with his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh on Thursday.

Lavrov has also stressed that it is extremely important to stop movement of militants and weapons across the Turkish-Syrian border.

New round of talks

Russia is concerned over the slowing political settlement process in Syria and is urging to start a new round of inter-Syrian peace talks as soon as possible.

According to Lavrov, the sides confirmed at the talks "their commitment to the decisions reached in the International Syria Support Group and then approved by the UN Security Council."

"Special attention at this stage is being paid to ensuring full and strict observance of the ceasefire regime, with the clear understanding, of course, that this regime must exclude militants of the Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra [terrorist organizations outlawed in Russia] and those who are collaborating with them, as well as with the understanding that it is necessary to cut short the smuggling of arms and the illegal infiltration of militants into Syria through the Turkish border," the Russian foreign minister said.

"At the same time, we’re now watching considerable progress in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population in need and note the efforts that are being taken there and believe that more can be done there," Lavrov said.

"With all the importance of the task of the ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid, a decisive role in the settlement [in Syria] should be played by political negotiations, which we all undertook to maintain in the form of an inclusive dialog [between the Syrian government and the opposition], without preliminary conditions and interference from outside," the Russian foreign minister said.

"The slowdown of this process is a cause for concern," Lavrov said.

"In this regard, a new round of talks should begin as soon as possible," the Russian foreign minister said.

Fall of Aleppo to mark fall of all terrorist groups in Syria — ambassador

http://tass.ru/en/world/881135

Syria's ambassador to Russia says Damascus hopes it will advance further towards Raqqa, liberate Aleppo

MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. The fall of Aleppo will mark the fall of all terrorist groups in Syria, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad said on Thursday.

"The battle for Aleppo will be considered the most important battle," Haddad said at the Russian State Duma. "And the fall of Aleppo will mark the fall of all terrorist groups in Syria," he added.

"The Syrian army will soon move toward Aleppo, and we will liberate this city from all terrorists with support of Russian Aerospace Defense Forces," the ambassador noted.

"Generals fighting on the ground do not notify us about their plans, but we know that movement toward Aleppo and liberation of this city are planned in the nearest future," he concluded.

Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. On March 14, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start, from March 15, withdrawing the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ group from Syria. Putin said the tasks set before the military "have been fulfilled on the whole."

Two Russian military facilities - at the Hmeymim aerodrome and in Tartus - are still operational in Syria. The Russian military continue to take an active part in the fight against terrorist groups. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said strikes on terrorists will continue to be delivered.

Syria coordinates its actions with allies led by Russia

Damascus coordinates all its actions, including in the Raqqa area, with its allies led by Russia, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad told reporters in the State Duma (lower house of parliament) on Thursday after a meeting of the inter-factional deputy group for protection of Christian values.

"The Syrian Arab Army coordinates all its actions, including in the Raqqa region, with its allies led by Russia," the ambassador said.

"At the moment, fighting is underway near the city of Tabqa. Before long, we will announce that the city has been captured and we will advance further towards Raqqa," he added.

Ceasefire center: Jabhat al-Nusra spares no ammunition to shell Aleppo

http://tass.ru/en/world/881099

The militants are delivering fire from mortars and multiple launch rocket systems

HMEYMIM (Syria), June 9. /TASS/. Militants from Jabhat al-Nusra grouping continue shelling populated settlements in the province of Aleppo and districts of the city of the same name for many hours, a spokesman for the Russian Center for the Syrian Ceasefire said on Thursday.

The militants are delivering fire from mortars and multiple launch rocket systems, the spokesman said.

"Bombardments of neighborhoods are becoming frequent and last several hours. The gunmen are sparing no ammunition and delivering strikes both against the positions of government troops and residential quarters," the spokesman said.

The Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Sides in Syria reported earlier that Jabhat al-Nusra’s artillery fire killed over 15 people in the province of Aleppo.

Fierce fighting with the use of the armor has been raging in the province of Aleppo in recent days. As the Center for the Syria Ceasefire has said, the militants took advantage of the truce and the immediate vicinity to the areas controlled by the moderate opposition to regroup forces and replenish arms and munitions.

The ceasefire regime has been in effect in Syria since February 27. It does not apply to the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groupings (both outlawed in Russia) and to other organizations recognized as terrorist groups by the UN Security Council.

Militants redeploy armor to northwest Aleppo — Russian ceasefire center

http://tass.ru/en/world/881159

The militants have strengthened positions and continue shelling the government troops’ positions

HMEYMIM, June 9. /TASS/. The amassment of terrorist groupings’ armored vehicles has been spotted in northwest Aleppo in the area of Tell-Nsibin, a spokesman for the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Sides in Syria said on Thursday.

"A column with military hardware has arrived from the community of Haretan. The militants have strengthened positions and continue shelling the government troops’ positions," the spokesman said.

Fierce fighting with the use of the armor has been raging in the province of Aleppo in recent days. As the Center for the Syria Ceasefire has said, the militants took advantage of the truce and the immediate vicinity to the areas controlled by the moderate opposition to regroup forces and replenish arms and munitions.

The ceasefire regime has been in effect in Syria since February 27. It does not apply to the Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra terrorist groupings (both outlawed in Russia) and to other organizations recognized as terrorist groups by the UN Security Council.

Syrian "Rebels" Announce First Use of the Russian "Iskander" System

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/06/syrian-rebels-announce-first-use-of.html

Translated by Ollie Richardson for Fort Russ
9th June, 2016

http://military-informant.com/army/siriyskie-povstantsyi-zayavili-o-pervom-primenenii-rossiyskogo-raketnogo-kompleksa-iskander.html

Rebels and the militants from the terrorist groups "Islamic State" have reported that the Russian military contingent used the newest "Iskander" rocket system. This was reported by military-informant.com.

In the night of June 9th, in the area of the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Syrian border with Turkey, a powerful explosion took place from a missile attack. The border crossing is 50 km west of Aleppo.

Representatives of the terrorist group ISIS announced that the Russian Hmeymim airbase launched a tactical missile from the "Iskander" system. The modern "Iskander" missile system is actually in service with the Russian military contingent in Syria, arriving at the Hmeymim airbase in March 2016.

Sources in the Ministry of Defense of Syria, in turn, confirmed the missile strike on militant positions near the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, but according to their message, the Soviet Tochka missile system was used to destroy the convoy of trucks that was carrying weapons and ammunition from the territory of Turkey.

 

[angelburst29]

Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots collide over Georgia, eject safely
http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2016/06/08/air-national-guard-f-16-fighter-pilots-collide-over-georgia-eject-safely/85588370/

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two South Carolina Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots ejected safely after a midair collision overnight in eastern Georgia, the Guard said.

The collision happened Tuesday night around 9:15 p.m. during routine night-flying operations over a military operating area in Jefferson County, Georgia, the Air National Guard said in a news release.

The jets were assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, which operates out of McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, South Carolina.

[...]

The collision comes after both of the military's precision flying teams suffered crashes last week.

A Blue Angels F/A-18 crashed last Thursday near Nashville, Tennessee, while taking off for a practice session. The pilot, Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, was killed.

Also Thursday, a Thunderbirds F-16 crashed outside Colorado Springs, Colorado, but that pilot, Maj. Alex Turner, ejected safely. The Thunderbirds had just performed over the open-air graduation ceremony at the nearby Air Force Academy, where President Barack Obama spoke.

MiG-29 Fighter Jet Crashes in Moscow Region
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160609/1041040995/russia-moscow-mig-crash.html

A MiG-29 jet fighter crashed Thursday in the Pushkinsky district of the Moscow region, a source in the local emergencies services said.

Swiss Defense Department said that two Northrop F-5E fighter jets of the Swiss Air Force’s display team collided in midair in the Netherlands.

Swiss Display Team's Northrop F-5E Jets Collide in Netherlands
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160609/1041083754/swiss-f-5-airshow.html

Two Northrop F-5E fighter jets of the Swiss Air Force’s display team collided in midair in the Netherlands, the Swiss Defense Department said Thursday.

One of the warplanes crashed while its pilot ejected to safety. The department said the cause for the collision was yet unknown.

The Patrouille Suisse display team was training near the Leeuwarden air base for an airshow that is scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

*****
09.06.2016 - two Northrop F-5E fighter jets of the Swiss Air Force’s display team collided in midair in the Netherlands
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160609/1041083754/swiss-f-5-airshow.html

09.06.2016 - MiG-29 Fighter Jet Crashes in Moscow Region
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160609/1041040995/russia-moscow-mig-crash.html

08. 06. 2016 - Two South Carolina Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots ejected safely after a midair collision
http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2016/06/08/air-national-guard-f-16-fighter-pilots-collide-over-georgia-eject-safely/85588370/

26.05.2016 - Four Pilots Rescued After 2 Navy Jets Collide Off North Carolina Coast
http://ktla.com/2016/05/26/four-pilots-recovered-after-navy-jets-collide-off-north-carolina-coast/

19.05.2016 - US B-52 Bomber Crashes on Guam, Crew Safe
http://sputniknews.com/us/20160519/1039857711/usa-nuclear-bomber-crashes.html

18.05.2016 - Azerbaijani Cargo Plane With Nine on Board Crashes in Afghanistan
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160518/1039842465/azerbaijan-cargo-plane-crash.html

12.04.2016 - Mi-28N gunship crashes near Homs, both pilots dead – Russian Defense Ministry
https://www.rt.com/news/339273-russian-helicopter-crash-syria/

08.04.2016 - Albanian Army Helicopter Crashes in Lake; 2 Dead, 1 Injured
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/albanian-army-helicopter-crashes-missing-injured-38190597

08.04.2016 - Japanese military jet missing with crew of 6
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-u-125-military-jet-missing-with-crew-of-6-airmen/

30.03.2016 - Russian warplane crashes in Far East
http://tass.ru/en/defense/865961