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

[angelburst29]

The Syrian army and local militia destroyed the squads of jihadist groups al-Nusra Front and Jaish al-Islam that were trying to fight out of the northern outskirts of Aleppo, a source in the militia told RIA Novosti on Sunday.

Syrian Army, Militia Foil Al-Nusra Front, Jaish al-Islam Breakout Attempt
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160710/1042735027/terrorists-syria-breakout.html

On July 3, the Syrian army regained control over the Mallah farms on the northeastern edge of Aleppo, cutting off jihadist groups' key supply route between Syria and Turkey.

"Terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra, Jaish al-Islam and smaller militant groups made a joined attempt to break through the encirclement in the area around ​​the Castillo track in the Mallah farms. The artillery and air support helped us a lot. The attack was very massive, and we would not be able to hold our position without the support," the source in Aleppo's militia added.

According to the source, the terrorists began the breakout attempt late on Saturday. Over 20 militants and four militia members were killed in the fight.

Over 40 percent of Aleppo is estimated to be controlled by terrorist groups, including Jaish al-Islam, Ahrar ash-Sham and al-Nusra Front, outlawed in many countries around the world, including Russia.

Senior Lebanese Hezbollah Resistance Commander Samir Avazeh was killed in heavy clashes with the Takfiri terrorist groups in Northern Syria.

Senior Hezbollah Commander Killed in Battle with Takfiri Terrorists in Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950420001296

Avazeh was martyred while defending Syria against the Takfiri terrorists in Aleppo province.

In mid May, Hezbollah lost its senior military chief Mustafa Badreddin was martyred in a strike near the international airport in Damascus and held a military funeral for the senior commander in Beirut.

Initial media reports blamed the Israeli regime for the death of Hezbollah's military chief. However, the movement said in a statement that investigations showed that Badreddin was killed by Takfiri terrorist groups operating against the Syrian government.

Hezbollah fighters are combating alongside the Syrian forces against terrorist groups operating in the war-ravaged Arab country, including the ISIL and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front.

Israel is widely known to have been supporting terrorists fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Badreddin directed military operations against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and was a frequent target of attempts by Israel, the US and its allies in the Middle East to assassinate or capture him.

The Syrian Air Force carried out several combat flights over ISIL's strongholds in Eastern Homs, inflicting major damage on the Takfiri groups' military vehicles.

ISIL Military Vehicles Destroyed Badly in Syrian Airstrikes in Homs
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950420001269

The Syrian fighter jets targeted ISIL's positions and bases in Khneifes in Southern side of Palmyra and Jubb al-Jarrah in Eastern Homs, which not only claimed the lives of several militants but destroyed their machinegun-equipped vehicles in large scale.

Informed sources disclosed on Sunday that a large number of terrorists wounded in the recent battle in Northern Aleppo have been transferred to medical centers in Turkey.

Injured Militants in Syria's Aleppo Transferred to Turkey
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950420001208

"Several ambulances crossed the Turkish border into Syria's Aleppo and Idlib provinces to take the wounded terrorists from Aleppo battlefields to medical centers in Turkey," the sources said.

"There were also several nurses and medical staff in the ambulances to cure the injured militants on the way back to Turkey."

"In the meantime, hundreds of fresh terrorists, trained by the US army men in Turkish camps, crossed the Turkish border with Aleppo province heading towards al-Malaah region to join al-Nusra Front to prevent pro-government forces' advances in the region," the sources said.

The Syrian Army troops, tipped off by intelligence agents, stopped and seized a tanker carrying fuel for the ISIL terrorists in Wadi al-Azib, provincial sources said.

Syrian Army Seizes ISIL's Fuel Cargo in Eastern Hama
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950420001098

"A tanker carrying 8,000 liters of fuel was traced and stopped by the Syrian military forces near the town of Aqayrabat 70 kilometers to East of Hama city," the sources said, adding, "The Syrian soldiers seized the tanker after a brief clash which ended in the wounding of sever terrorists accompanying the cargo, while the rest of militants fled towards Eastern deserts."

The ISIL Takfiri terrorist group started minting dinar gold coins in the city of Deir Ezzur and circulating them for people's everyday use in the city, informed local sources announced on Sunday.

ISIL Mints Gold Coins in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950420001030

The local sources in Deir Ezzur reiterated that the Takfiri terrorist group has forced businessmen to only use the new coins in their oil transactions.

Each gold dinar coin weighs around 4.5 grams and its exchange rate in $190.

The sources noted that the ISIL has opted to restrict its transactions to gold coins is to gain huge profits after it lost its financial and economic resources in Syria.

ISIL is in control of only less than half of Deir Ezzur city.

In late April, the Iraqi judicial officials declared that the ISIL terrorist group which has lost its oil revenues is currently gaining several millions of dollars from car dealership and fish farming.

The Pentagon has told Congress that its needs at least $20 million on top of its current budget to counter the threat rising from the Daesh (ISIL) Takfiri group’s reconnaissance and bomber drones.

Pentagon wants more money to fight Daesh drones
http://www.presstv.us/Detail/2016/07/10/474545/Daesh-Pentagon-Iraq-Syria-JIDO

Daesh is in possession of drones that can carry improvised explosive devices (IED) and are capable of performing surveillance missions, the Defense News reported Saturday, citing Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO) spokesman David Small.

To curb that threat, JIDO, which serves as the Pentagon office that counters IED threats, will need a $20 million boost to its Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Fund.

This will be added to the $190 million already allocated to attacking the terror networks in Overseas Contingency Operations funding for the 2015 fiscal year, according a reprogramming request sent to Congress last week.

An Iranian lawmaker has survived an assassination attempt in the western province of Kermanshah, a fellow MP says.

MP escapes assassination attempt in western Iran
http://www.presstv.us/Detail/2016/07/10/474515/Iran-lawmaker-Kermanshah-Heshmatollah-Falahatpisheh-Eslamabade-Gharb-Farhad-Tajarri-Rijab

The vehicle carrying Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the representative of the county of Eslamabad-e Gharb, came under an attack by four terrorists as he was travelling to the village of Rijab on Sunday, Farhad Tajarri, an MP from the western Iranian city of Gilan Gharb, told IRNA.

He added that the governor of Dalahou county and the director general of the fisheries of Kermanshah, also passengers of the vehicle, sustained injuries while the driver and head of the Veterinary Department of Dalahou county lost their lives in the shooting.

The lawmaker said Falahatpisheh escaped the attack unhurt, adding that local security and judicial officials are investigating the assault.

Tajarri said the terrorists fled the scene after torching the vehicle with which they had conducted the attack.

A Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft belonging to Iran’s Air Force has gone down near a lake in southern Iran with the two pilots ejecting in time before the jet crashed into the ground, a provincial official says.

Iran Army fighter jet crashes, pilots survive
http://www.presstv.us/Detail/2016/07/10/474511/Iran-Air-Force-Sukhoi-Su24-Fars-Estahban-Hadi-Pajouhesh-Jahromi

The jet crashed near the Bakhtegan lake in Estahban County, in the southern Fars province Sunday morning, Hadi Pajouhesh Jahromi, a provincial deputy governor general, said.

He added that both pilots are in good health but the aircraft has been completely destroyed.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Army’s Air Force announced that technical failure had caused the incident, adding, that the jet was on a training mission.

Iran signed a contract with Russia in February to purchase a newer version of the Russian-made fighter jet, the Sukhoi-30.

Su-30 is a multirole advanced fighter aircraft for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions.

 

[Ca.]

The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that Daesh terrorists shot down a helicopter near Syria's Palmyra, killing two Russian military instructor pilots.

Daesh Terrorists Shoot Down Helicopter Near Palmyra: Russian Pilots Killed
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160709/1042708976/russian-helicopter-downed-syria.html

On July 8, Russian military instructor pilots conducted a test flight of a Syrian Mi-25 helicopter (export version of the Mi-24 helicopter), when it received a request from the Syrian authorities to carry out airstrikes against a large group of Daesh terrorists advancing to the east of Palmyra, the ministry said.

The Russian crew of the helicopter repelled the attack of a large Daesh group of fighters on the Syrian government forces.

"The crew received a request from the Syrian unit's command to strike the advancing fighters. The captain, Ryafagat Khabibulin, made a decision to attack the terrorists. The skillful actions of the Russian crew thwarted the terrorists' advance. When the helicopter's ammunition was spent and it changed its course to the opposite direction, it was shot down by terrorists from the ground and crashed in an area controlled by the Syrian government army. The helicopter's crew was killed."

The killed Russian pilots, Ryafagat Khabibulin and Yevgeny Dolgin, will be posthumously awarded, the ministry said.

RT
Russian helicopter pilot downed in Syria saved numerous lives over 25-yr service
Published time: 10 Jul, 2016 10:02
https://www.rt.com/news/350440-russian-helicopter-pilot-khabibulin/
https://twitter.com/master1152011/status/751860646376050688
Полковник Ряфагать Хабибуллин ,лейтенант Евгений Долгин.Вечная слава вертолётчикам ВКС России! Запомним их таким

Veteran helicopter pilot Ryafagat Khabibulin, who died in battle in Syria’s Homs, was among Russia’s most decorated and renowned military pilots. He had taken part in multiple operations in the North Caucasus over the last 25 years.

Ryafagat Khabibulin (b. 1965) graduated from Air Force school in 1988 and was stationed in Poland with the 55th combat helicopter regiment, where he trained to replace helicopter pilots taking part in the Afghanistan campaign.

In February 1989, all Soviet troops were withdrawn from the country and Khabibulin continued to train with senior officers, as some 85 percent of the pilots in his unit had served missions in Afghanistan. They taught the younger pilots the tactics and tricks of warfare in the mountains.

In 1992, Khabibulin’s helicopter squadron was redeployed back to Russia, in the southern Krasnodar region.

In autumn 1992, pilots of the 55th squadron flew missions to curb the conflict in the North Caucasus between the Ingush and the Ossetians.

The squadron then took part in putting an end to the conflict between Georgia and Abkhazia. In 1993-1994, Ryafagat Khabibulin spent the whole148 days of the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict on missions.

During the 1994 campaign in Chechnya, Khabibulin's helicopter came under fire from militants. Ninety-seven bullet holes were later found in the aircraft's fuselage. Everybody onboard was killed except the pilot, who suffered a fragmentation wound to the face and had his right thigh shot through. Close to blacking out, in a cabin full of smoke and spilled fuel, Khabibulin managed to secure the aircraft. He spent the next eight months in hospital.

Despite serious injuries, Khabibulin stepped back into the ranks and continued service in Chechnya until 1996.

From Chechnya, Khabibulin returned to Abkhazia. He monitored the truce there, only to return to Chechnya in 1999, when Chechen militants led by Shamil Basaev attacked nearby Dagestan, thus beginning the second Chechen campaign.

By that time he was one of the most experienced military helicopter pilots in Russia. After the active phase of the operations was over, Lieutenant-Colonel Ryafagat Khabibulin was regularly deployed to Chechnya where his squadron operated from the Khankala airfield.

When Georgia attacked South Ossetia in August 2008, Khabibulin went on sorties in the Ossetian Mountains. During one, his helicopter evacuated 12 wounded soldiers from the battlefield.

In his numerous rescue missions, many of them in extreme weather conditions or under fire, Khabibulin saved the lives of at least 40 wounded soldiers. He received numerous commendations for his skill.

His last assignment came this spring, when he was deployed to Syria as pilot-instructor.

Lieutenant-Colonel Ryafagat Khabibulin and weapons system operator Evgeny Dolgin died in combat in the Syrian province of Homs on July 8, when their Mi-25, after having fired on a group of advancing Islamic State militants, was hit with a missile in their tail and crashed to the ground.

Later, the Defense Ministry announced: "The skillful actions of the helicopter pilots pushed back the terrorist attack and thwarted their effort to pierce through the Syrian Army defenses" in the area.

Ryafagat Khabibulin and Evgeny Dolgin are now to be posthumously decorated with top state awards.

‘Pilots fly away and don’t come back’ – son of Russian helicopter pilot killed in Syria
'https://embed.life.ru/video/13200409b0a948013c78d34559193d8c'
Inspired by his father’s bravery, the son of a Russian helicopter pilot killed in Syria has followed in his footsteps – he is also a pilot. In an interview with Russian channel Life News, he said he will do everything in his power to be like his father and “not let him down.”

 

[angelburst29]

As the US-backed New Syrian Army has recently suffered two crippling defeats in Syria as the result of massive Daesh attacks on the country's borders with Jordan and Iraq, Russian military experts provide their own explanations as to why the US keeps pouring money into a group which is, evidently, unable to fight the jihadists.

US-Backed New Syrian Army: Part of a Plan to Establish Pipelines?
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160711/1042756541/us-new-syrian-army.html

On July 4, the US-backed New Syrian Army suffered another crippling defeat as a result of Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) in a massive attack at Bir Mahrutha near the Syria-Jordan border.

This is the second setback in a row the US-trained force has experienced, following quickly after it was defeated on June 28 at Al-Bukamal on the Iraqi border.

With its strength of a few hundred fighters, the New Syrian Army (NSA), a Sunni rebel group aligned with the Free Syria Army (FSA), and mainly made up of locals from Syria’s Deir ez-Zor Governorate, has received training in Jordan, as well as arms from the US and UK.

Furthermore, the US-led coalition provided air and artillery support in the above attacks; however, the reports later suggested that when the US force saw that the defeat of their protégés was imminent, they called off their jets.

Russian military experts then suggested what the real purpose behind the evidently incapable group’s operation on the ground could be.

“It is not by chance that certain information began to emerge that Washington and Arabian monarchies are using this group to [establish] control over Syria’s eastern regions,” Pavel Ivanov writes in his article for RIA Novosti.

“There are no government forces operating in this area, hence the New Syrian Army is the only force which is fighting against the radical Islamists there,” the author suggests. “Which gives all the reason to suggest that they are pursuing a clear goal.”

However, he adds, “the reality might be quite different.”

The author then cites “a circulated opinion” that the US, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are thus trying to impede in Russia’s efforts to implement a number of its gas projects, by financing and supporting the NSA.

He offers as an example the much-talked-about attempts to establish a corridor from Qatar through Saudi Arabia to Turkey and onwards to Europe for the construction of a gas pipeline which could radically change the current energy system in the region and become a major competitor to Russia’s state-owned energy company Gazprom.

The author, however, notes that there are many opponents to this suggestion who argue that such a project is very risky and economically unsound due to the lengthy military conflict on the ground.

He further suggests that there is another option: that the US and its partners simply plan to wrest Syria from both Daesh and Assad, who have become “equal-volume obstacles” for them, and to establish their own tough rules in the area: no war, no “wrong” activity in the area and “one long pipeline.”

A similar point of view was earlier echoed by Anatoly Nesmiyan, a Russian military expert and blogger better known by his username el_murid. He suggested earlier in June that the Americans are now trying to create a transit corridor: not to defeat Daesh, but to ensure the transit of Iranian gas.

“In other words, the idea of two gas pipelines, which what the Syrian war is all about, is still hanging in the air: the first pipeline was to be from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Turkey further into Europe; the second one, known as the “Islamic Pipeline” was supposed to run Iran-Iraq-Syria and further through Mediterranean Sea into Europe,” he then explained.

The expert added that the failure of the Qatar project has not discouraged the ‘game players’ and the project might be revived, taking into account the thaw in relations with Iran and active Kurdish position.

 

[angelburst29]

Popov: Putin is purging the Russian ruling class to prevent a Ukrainian scenario
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/07/popov-putin-is-purging-russian-ruling.html

In recent weeks in Russia, significant internal political events have taken place tied to the arrest or detention of several senior officials on charges of corruption. The loudest of these was the arrest of the Kirov region (northern Russia) governor Nikita Belykh. The governor was arrested while receiving yet another bribe in the amount of 400,000 euros.

Over the last half a year, several arrests of high-ranking officials and politicians (including governor, regional center mayor, or deputy minister) have been made in Russia. On June 1st, the mayor of Vladivostok (a regional center on the Pacific coast), Igor Pushkarev, was arrested. Prior to Pushkarev, the governor of the Sakhalin region, Alexander Khoroshavin, and Deputy Minister of Culture Grigory Pirumov were also arrested. And this is far from a complete list of the arrests and detentions of high-ranking officials over the past six months. In all of these cases, the charges are the same: corruption and abuse of office. But these are only the most high-profile arrests and detentions. Judging by press reports, over the past year alone the number of high-ranking corrupt officials arrested has reached dozens (or, more likely, hundreds).

Election primaries have begun in Russia and elections to the State Duma (parliament) are set to be held in September. In this context, on June 27th, the congress of the ruling United Russia party opened and was addressed by President Vladimir Putin. The majority of the party is made up of representatives of the ruling establishment. Characteristically, Putin is distancing himself from the party as its leader, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, is not popular in society or among professionals. The arrest of several regional leaders is hurting United Russia’s image, hence why, for the first time in its history, the party is holding primaries in the hope of repairing its image and updating its ranks.

Belonging to the “party in power” and a high status in the political hierarchy are not guarantees against anti-corruption investigations. As our sources in Russia’s business circles have reported, officials are really frightened. Any corrupt member of the establishment can become a victim of a judicial investigation. The fight against corruption, a scourge of post-Soviet Russia, has become a reality.

Belykh’s arrest raises other questions. Publications have appeared in the press which accuse him of corrupt ties with the pro-American opposition politician Aleksey Navalny as well as links to anti-Putin forces in the Baltic states. Belykh is a protege of Anatoly Chubais, the author of the privatization in Russia that created a class of oligarchs. Employees of the American CIA worked as Chubais’ advisors while he himself is considered to be among the main representatives of the American lobby in Moscow. Chubais appears to be the most hated person in Russia and is openly called the main lobbyist for American interests. Thus, it cannot be excluded that Belykh’s arrest is not merely a corruption trail. Nikita Belykh is known for his professional incompetence as he ended up governor of the Kirov region only thanks to Chubais’ patronage and very quickly managed to bring the region to a sorry state. Under Belykh’s management, Kirov became on of the most corrupt regions in Russia. Characteristically, Nikita Belykh was one of the leaders of the liberal “Union of Right Forces” party. Later, when this party lost all elections possible and become a laughingstock in the eyes of voters, Belykh switched over to United Russia, which greatly hurt the party. The same is the case with other arrested corrupt officials.

The Russian government, by arresting and detaining corrupt officials (such as Belykh and Pirumov) is only fixing its own mistakes. But at the same time, these anti-corruption investigations are an anti-crisis action program. Their real purpose is preventing a split in the ruling elite. Moscow has most likely learned from Ukrainian President Yanukovych’s errors which led to a split that eventually led the Ukrainian oligarchs and leaders of the Ukrainian presidential administration (!) to organize the Euromaidan, a coup d’etat, and civil war in Donbass. The Ukrainian establishment, now oriented towards the US, has plunged the country into civil war.

President Putin has clearly learned the mistakes of his Ukrainian colleague and has begun a cleansing of the political class and ruling establishment of corruption. This is a preventative measure for preserving the unity of the elites and the whole country.

The Hercules C-130 military transport aircraft crashed on Monday during takeoff at the Portuguese Montijo military airport, local media said.

Hercules C-130 Aircraft Crashes at Military Base in Portugal Killing 3
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160711/1042782526/hercules-c-130-crash.html

According to the Publico news portal, three people were killed and four sustained injuries. There were reportedly seven people on board.

Ambulances and firefighters have been immediately dispatched to the crash area. The causes of the tragic incident are being looked into.

The C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft that can take off and land carrying heavy payloads on unprepared runways. The aircraft is also used for airborne assaults and aerial refueling.

 

[angelburst29]

One more large cargo vessel of Russia, carrying arms, ammunition and other military equipment for the Russian and Syrian Armed Forces has left the Bosphorus strait, military sources announced Monday.

Russia Dispatches more Arms, Ammunition to Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950421001171

"The cargo vessel of Yamal is the third Russian large ship, which has left the Bosphorus strait in the last week," sources said.

"The Russian vessel will unload its cargo at Syria's port of Tartous," the sources added.

In the meantime, the western media confirmed that the Syria-bound Russian logistic vessels will provide Russian and Syrian Armed Forces with more weapons and ammunition in their war, known as Syria Express, on ISIL.

Reports said earlier this month that the huge Russian vessel of Grigori Bobidovich, which left the port city of Novorossiysk in Russia, passed Bosphorus strait and entered the Mediterranean sea waters en route to Syria.

The Russian vessel's final destination was Syria's Tartous port, the main logistic center of the Russian Navy in Mediterranean sea, to unload its cargo and deliver them to the Syrian armed forces.

In last two weeks, at least four huge cargo vessels of Russia have left Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, carrying military consignments for the Russian fighter jets and Syrian army.

Russian warships and naval vessels, often two at a time, have been seen passing through the Straits en route to Syria from Russia’s Northern Black Sea ports with increasing frequency this year.

Most of the military supplies, weapons, ammunition, and equipment that Russia supplies to the Syrian government are shipped from ports on the Black Sea, primarily Sevastopol and Sochi, through the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, to the two Syrian ports, Tartous and Lattakia.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) shot down an ISIL spy drone flying over their positions near the town of Manbij in Northeastern Aleppo.

Aleppo: Syrian Democratic Forces Shoot Down ISIL Spy Drone over Manbij
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950421001248

The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was brought down after it was intercepted over positions of Manbij Military Council, affiliated to the Kurdish-led SDF.

The ISIL drone was equipped with imaging devices and bombs.

Reports said on Sunday that a battalion of snipers, affiliated to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), deployed in different districts of Manbij to speed up targeting ISIL's combatants across the war-torn town.

"Based on battlefield reports, the SDF commanders called for the dispatch of a battalion of snipers to Manbij to target the ISIL terrorists one by one. The ISIL militants have been using civilians as human shield which has slowed down the SDF fighters' advances against the Takfiri terrorists in some parts of the town," the sources said.

The Takfiri terrorists who have been besieged by the Syrian government forces in the city of Aleppo called on their comrades in other parts of Syria to rush to their aide.

Besieged Terrorists in Aleppo Beg for Help From Comrades
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950421001416

The militants in Aleppo city have called on other militants fighting against the Syrian army to fight more vigorously in order to lessen the existing pressure on them who are under the government troops' siege," sources close to the militant groups announced on Monday.

The terrorists who are besieged in Aleppo city are doing their best to free themselves form the government forces' siege.

Earlier on Monday, the terrorist groups hit the residential areas in different pars of Aleppo province with tens of missiles.

Around 300 missiles were fired by the terrorists on the Aleppo city's districts of al-Maridian, al-Mashareqeh, al-Mahafezeh, Esmayeeliyeh, Bostan al-Zahreh, Siran al-Qadim, Soleymanieh, al-Martinim, Mislon, al-Jamiliya, Old Manshiya and the surrounding areas of Sa'ad Allah al-Jaberi Square and Bab al-Faraj in Aleppo province.

Many civilians were wounded and several of them were also killed in the terrorists' missile attacks.

Meantime, several houses caught fire across Aleppo city as a result of missile attacks, specially in old Serian district.

The terrorists who have been besieged in the Aleppo city center have launched massive attacks on the Syrian army positions in different parts of the city, including al-Hal market, Old Aleppo and other parts of the city.

The Syrian army and resistance forces managed to control the situation after the missile attacks by the terrorists and foil the terrorists' operations.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Kerry heading to Moscow for 4th visit in a year

https://www.rt.com/news/350713-kerry-moscow-visit-july/

US Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Moscow with a visit this week, officials of the two countries confirmed on Monday. It will be America's top diplomat's fourth official trip to Russia since May 2015.

Kerry will meet with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, to "continue to discuss topical issues of bilateral cooperation and international agenda," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. According to State Department spokesman John Kirby, such issues as the situation in Syria, Ukraine and Nagorno-Karabakh will be discussed during meetings with Russian officials.

The US Secretary of State will head to the Russian capital on Thursday, coming from France where he will be taking part in Bastille Day celebrations, Kirby said Monday. Moscow confirmed that Kerry would be in the city on July 14-15.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that Russia-US relations "remain difficult," having "seriously suffered" from Washington's "unfriendly moves" since early 2014, when Western sanctions were initiated against Moscow in connection with the Ukrainian crisis. Despite these problems, the two countries continue to cooperate on a number of international issues. Working together on resolving the crisis in Syria, as well as on implementation of Minsk agreements of the Ukrainian peace deal are among its top priorities. Moscow and Washington also discuss other regional issues, including those in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in the Korean Peninsula.

"We expect that Kerry's visit to Russia... will facilitate the improvement of the atmosphere in Russian-American relations, as maintaining global stability and solving a wide range of international issues depend on them," the Foreign Ministry said.

The US Secretary of State has been in intensive contact with Moscow recently, having not only traveled to Russia several times, but also having spoken to Moscow over the phone dozens of times this year.

Recently, reports have surfaced in the US media claiming that a new military agreement on Syria has been proposed to Moscow by Washington. The alleged cooperation "at an unprecedented level" aims to boost US-Russian ties against terrorists in the region, the Washington Post reported, saying that the proposal "was personally approved by President Obama and heavily supported by Secretary of State John F. Kerry." The Kremlin has so far declined to comment on the reports.

Russia’s foreign ministry confirms John Kerry’s visit to Moscow on July 14-15

http://tass.ru/en/politics/887640

"We expect that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Russia - the fourth one since May 2015 - will facilitate the improvement of an atmosphere for Russian-U.S. relations", the ministry said

MOSCOW, July 11. /TASS/. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will pay a working visit to Moscow on July 14-15, the Russian foreign ministry said on Monday.

"He will have talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to continue to discuss current issues of bilateral relations and the international agenda," the ministry said.

The situation in the Russia-U.S. relations is complicated, the ministry noted. "They [the relations] have been seriously damaged by unfriendly steps Washington has been taking since early 2014. These include breaking of ties in many areas, imposing of sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities, which runs counter to the international law. One of the results is the reduction of bilateral trade by almost a third," the ministry said.

"Moscow is taking reciprocal steps in response to the United States’ attempt to inflict damage to us, including to dangerous actions in the military sphere," the ministry said, adding that it has been warning the U.S side that its "confrontational course towards Russia is futile and even dangerous and constructive cooperation is possible only on the basis of equality, non-interference into our domestic affairs and reckoning with Russian interests."

Syria and Ukraine among central topics

"One of the central places in the ongoing dialogue with Washington is allocated to the Syrian settlement," the Russian foreign ministry said. "With Russia and the United States playing a leading role as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group, a ceasefire regime has been observed in most of Syria’s provinces since February 27. Regular Russia-U.S. contacts have been established at the political and expert level, including in the military sphere in order to make the regime of cessation of hostilities hold, to ensure humanitarian access, to combat terrorists and to promote the intra-Syrian negotiating process."

The Russian foreign ministry noted the importance of issues related to the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and the implementation of the Minsk agreement, and exchange of opinions on other regional problems, including the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, in Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula.

"On our part, we have been insistently raising the issue of removing acute irritants in bilateral relation that have been created by Washington which is hampering normal work of our diplomatic missions," the ministry said. "We demand the U.S. security services stop ‘manhunt’ for Russian citizens in third countries and release abducted Russian nationals. We continue our efforts to protect the rights of Russian adopted children in the United States. We have been stressing the importance of close contacts between Russians and Americans, including tourist, cultural, sports and scientific exchanges, to build up mutual trust."

"We expect that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Russia - the fourth one since May 2015 - will facilitate the improvement of an atmosphere for Russian-U.S. relations as global stability and solutions to a wide range of international crises depend on their condition," the ministry underscored.

Moscow Confirms John Kerry's Visit to Russia on July 14-15

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160712/1042802592/moscow-confirms-cerryc-visit-russia.html

John Kerry is due to meet with his Russian counterparts on July 14-15, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

MOSCOW, (Sputnik) — The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that US State Secretary John Kerry will visit Moscow on July 14-15.

"We are hoping that the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Russia — the fourth since may 2015 — will help improve the atmosphere of Russia-US relations, whose quality significantly influences global stability and ways to resolve a wide range of global problems," the ministry said in a statement.

US Department of State announced earlier on Monday that Kerry would visit Moscow on July 14-15 to hold talks on Syria, the Ukrainian crisis and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Russian officials.

 

[Ca.]

Long-range bombers flying from Russia destroy ‘major’ ISIS camp in central Syria
Published time: 12 Jul, 2016 13:26
https://www.rt.com/news/350784-russian-bombers-syria-isis/

Six Tupolev Tu-22M3 strategic bombers have delivered massive airstrikes against a major Islamic State camp and ammunition depots in Syria, Russia’s Defense Ministry says. The aircraft flew from Russia and returned home after the operation.

The bombers, based at one of Russian’s southern air bases, took off on Tuesday morning, passed through Iranian and Iraqi airspace and delivered concentrated high-explosive ammunition airstrikes on terrorist targets east of the towns of Palmyra and As Sukhnah, and the village of Arak.

All aircraft have successfully returned to home base, the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian military stated that the information on the eliminated targets was acquired over the last several days and confirmed through several intelligence channels.

The US-led international antiterrorist coalition was notified of the airstrikes in advance, the ministry says.

“The strike resulted in the destruction of a large militant field camp, three depots of arms and munitions, three tanks, four infantry combat vehicles and eight vehicles fitted with heavy machine guns, also neutralizing a large number of enemy fighters,”

the statement says.

Putin trolls CIA on Edward Snowden
Russia Insider
Published on Jul 12, 2016
http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,31512.75.html

Syrian army destroys fuel truck for jihadists in north As-Suwayda CS
Published on Jul 11, 2016
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snTbfF_PlaM

Edit: Video posted on Earlier Thred- Re: NSA Leaks, Edward Snowden: Genuine whistleblower or psy-op?

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Lavrov plans to discuss with Kerry problem of ceasefire violations in Syria

http://tass.ru/en/politics/887686

"We want the regime of cessation of hostilities to be observed in full adherence to the agreements outlined in the UN Security Council resolution," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said

BAKU, July 12. /TASS/. Russia plans to discuss the problem of ceasefire violations in Syria by groups controlled by Jebhat al-Nusra (terrorist organization banned in Russia), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"We will talk about it with US State Secretary John Kerry who will arrive in Moscow on July 14," Lavrov told journalists in Baku. "We want the regime of cessation of hostilities to be observed in full adherence to the agreements outlined in the UN Security Council resolution, in particular that the regime does not cover Islamic State, Jebhat al-Nusra and other terrorist organizations that are designated as such by UN Security Council," he added.

"The problem with implementing this agreement is that Jebhat al-Nusra disguises itself, especially near Aleppo, sets up groups with other names around itself that are allegedly not part of it and that say they are ready to join the regime of cessation of hostilities, but in reality work together with Jebhat al-Nusra," he noted.

Lavrov noted the Jaysh al-Fatah organization, where the al-Nusra Front plays a leading role. "This structure includes multiple militants groups directly linked to al-Nusra and as such, is subject to air strikes, as they cannot be part of the regime of cessation of hostilities," he explained. "We have discussed this topic with Americans for a long time - since January, when thy promised that all groups cooperating with Washington will be withdrawn from positions of Jebhat al-Nusra. This has still not been done," the foreign minister stressed.

He said that under this pretext, Russia is urged to persuade the Syrian army not to deliver air strikes at al-Nusra positions and alleged opposition groups that joined this organization. "This is one of the issues that we want to discuss with John Kerry because this is the responsibility of the US," he concluded.

According to Lavrov, Russia is concerned that UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura hesitates with organizing another round of inter-Syrian talks in Geneva.

"We are concerned that UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura kind of shies away from his duties, does not organize the next round of inter-Syrian talks and starts to make public statements that Russia and US should agree on how to deal with political settlement in Syria, and then UN and the Secretariat will organize the next round of inter-Syrian consultations," Lavrov said. "This is not the right approach," he added.

Only Syrians themselves can decide on the future of their country, Lavrov said. "They will do this only if they decide on the future of negotiations," Lavrov said.

"Foreign players, especially Russia and US as co-chairs of International Syria Support Group, may and should influence this process, encourage the sides to show constructiveness, search for compromise," Lavrov. "However, it is impossible to substitute inter-Syrian negotiations process with the Russian-US duet," he added.

"I think that this is a very harmful signal which is being sent to irreconcilable opposition - the so-called High Negotiations Committee - which is only occupied with putting forward ultimatums about the resignation of (Syrian President Bashar) Assad and some kind of deadlines," the foreign minister noted.

At the meeting with US State Secretary John Kerry on July 14-15 in Moscow, Lavrov will try to coordinate "the common approach that will be based on absolutely clear, unambiguous principles outlined in the resolution of UN Security Council.".

Jihadists launch a new offensive in Aleppo

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/jihadists-launch-new-offensive-aleppo/

Desperate jihadists in Aleppo city launched a new offensive today on Al-Breij, Al-Manasher axes south of Handarat Camp in the vicinity of the Industrial Zone.

Thought they were able to make a slight advance the quarries region, the air force has just began its tenure to push the advancing jihadists back. Heavy clashes are still ongoing near Breij hilltop.

Should the Fateh Halab coalition of jihadists capture this region, they would have secured one of the flanks surrounding their stronghold of Handarat Camp. This would make it much harder for the government forces to capture the camp that had been for long a thorn in the face of the Syrian forces.

However, it is unlikely that the jihadist rebels would be able to secure this area and make important headway due to the upcoming intense air strikes and MLRS bombardment of this region.

Ever since the rebels in east Aleppo have been cut off from their comrades who failed to lift the siege on multiple times, they have grown too desperate and have since launched numerous offensives in Aleppo city attempting to break through government lines and open new fronts to weaken government pressure on other regions in Aleppo, like Mallah and Layramoun/Bani Zaid axis.

Aleppo: SDF Captures ISIL's Children Training Center in Manbij

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950422001287

The Kurdish-led SDF fighters' continued attacks have slowed down ISIL's movements across the Northwestern streets of the town of Manbij, and instead the SDF fighter have been advancing rapidly against the Takfiri terrorists.

The ISIL has retreated from many positions, including the training center for the children of non-Syrian ISIL members.

The ISIL has started mop-up operation in al-Sharia square and its surroundings.

Reports said earlier today that Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) opened heavy fire at one of the large bases of the ISIL terrorists near the town of Manbij and destroyed its drone site and bomb-making workshop.

The SDF, mainly comprising of the Kurdish fighters, tipped off by their intelligence agents, targeted the ISIL's site of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and a bomb-making workshop, which ended in the complete destruction of the site and workshop and the killing of several militants in the base.

In the meantime, Abu Mohammad al-Qahtani, a field commander of the ISIL and five of his forces were killed in clashes with the SDF near Shari'at square in Northwestern district of Manbij.

Terrorist Groups Retreating from more Positions in Aleppo Countryside

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950422000554

"The Syrian army men, in a rapid attack, won back Sadcoub building and moved towards al-Lairamoun square that links Aleppo city to the Castillo highway in the East," the commander said.

"The militant groups' defense lines in al-Lairamoun were badly hit by the Syrian soldiers and were pushed back from Sadcoub building in the early hours of the attack," the commander added.

In relevant developments in the province on Monday, terrorist groups, once again, stormed army' positions in al-Malaah region in Northern Aleppo but retreated from the battlefield after only half an hour of clashes with government troops.

"A large number of terrorists from Nouralddeen al-Zinki, Mountain's Hawks and Faylaq al-Rahman stormed the strongholds of the Syrian army and its allies in Southern farms of al-Malaah, but their attacks were unsuccessful due to strong defense and heavy fire of the Syrian government forces," the sources said.

"Al-Nusra Front's fighters did not accompany the other terrorist groups this time. It seems that al-Nusra commanders have no hope to advance in Northern Aleppo and have came to this conclusion the more attacks will end in more casualties," the sources said.

"Only half an hour of defense by the Syrian army and popular fighters forced the terrorist groups to pull their members back from the battlefield," the sources added.

Updated-Aleppo terrorist attacks in past 4 days killed 57 people, injured 497 others

http://sana.sy/en/?p=82430

Aleppo/Daraa, SANA – The terrorist shelling attacks that targeted neighborhoods of Aleppo city during the last four days killed some 57 people and injured 497 others, according to a source at Aleppo Governorate.

The source noted that 15 children and 22 women are among the dead.

Daraa

In the same context, two civilians were killed and 11 others were injured due to terrorist rocket attacks in Daraa city on Tuesday.

In a statement to SANA, a source at Daraa Police Command said terrorists positioned in Daraa al-Balad area targeted Shamal al-Khat neighborhood and the area surrounding the Governmental Compound in the city with a number of rocket shells, claiming the lives of two citizens and injuring 11 others.

The attacks also caused material damage to private and public properties.

Moscow to Continue Assisting Damascus in Fighting Terrorism

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160712/1042855545/russia-syria-support-churkin.html

Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said that there were significant problems in the area of fighting terrorism in Syria, with extremists continuing to move through national borders, getting weapons and money as well as having access to chemical warfare agents.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – Russia is set to continue providing Syria with assistance in the anti-terrorism fight, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said Tuesday.

"For our part, we are going to continue providing the Syrian government with assistance in fighting terrorist groups, led by the Islamic State and the Nusra Front. Undoubtedly, there should be neither delays nor concessions in this struggle," Churkin said at the session of the UN Security Council.

He noted that there were significant problems in the area of fighting terrorism in Syria, with extremists continuing to move through national borders, getting weapons and money as well as having access to chemical warfare agents.

"It is necessary to put an end to that," Churkin said.

The fighting between government forces and opposition, as well as extremist groups, has been ongoing in Syria since 2011.

The Russia-US brokered ceasefire regime in Syria came into force on February 27. The Nusra Front and the Islamic State terrorist groups, which are outlawed in Russia, are not part of the ceasefire deal.

More than 900 troops involved in troop command system drills in Moscow region

http://tass.ru/en/defense/887772

The exercise involves artillery, motorized infantry and reconnaissance units of the Guards Tank Army

MOSCOW, July 12. /TASS/. More than 900 troops and more than 100 units of weapons and military equipment are involved in an exercise that has been launched at the Alabino range outside Moscow, the press service of the Western Military District reported on Tuesday. The troops will practice the use of the integrated system of troops command and control.

"Troops of the First Guards Tank Army will drill advanced combat methods, using the integrated tactical command and control system. Before the exercise, its participants - soldiers and commanders, as well as staff officers received the sets of equipment connected to the integrated tactical command and control system. Similar equipment samples for automatic weapon aiming were installed on combat vehicles," says the report.

During the exercise the troops will drill putting military units on a hair-trigger alert, preparation and conduct of combat operations, detection and destruction of the simulated enemy, the press service said.

The exercise involves artillery, motorized infantry and reconnaissance units of the Guards Tank Army, as well as representatives of the military-industrial complex and the Combined Arms Academy of the Russian Armed Forces.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

NATO military build-up near Russia to become main topic of NATO-Russia Council

http://tass.ru/en/world/887839

Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that other topics would include the settlement in Ukraine, the situation in Afghanistan and regional terrorist threats

BRUSSELS, July 13. /TASS/. The decisions of the NATO summit on increasing military presence close to the Russian borders will be the main topic of NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting on Wednesday. Another two issues - the situation in Ukraine and Afghanistan. Another sensitive issue of missile defense - is not on the meeting’s agenda and can be casually discussed in the framework of the discussion of the results of the NATO summit in Warsaw on July 8-9, where the alliance announced setting missile defense system of the Alliance to the initial level of preparedness.

Russia and NATO focus on different topics of the NRC meeting. "The central theme at the meeting will be the decisions of the Alliance’s July 8-9 summit in Warsaw on the further NATO military build-up on the "eastern flank" of the Alliance and their impact on European security," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier, adding that other topics would include the settlement in Ukraine, the situation in Afghanistan and regional terrorist threats.

The Russian side wants to hear the alliance explain its decision to deploy four NATO battalions in Poland and the Baltic States, numbering 1,000 people each, as well as "advanced military presence" in the Black Sea region on the base of established multinational brigade in Romania. In addition, the talks will touch upon increasing activity of the alliance at the sea and air borders of Russia.

"During the consideration of other issues related to military activity, the Russian side intends to initiate the discussion on the initiative put forward by our Finnish partners, the so-called ‘Niinisto plan’ on strengthening aviation security in the Baltic Sea region, to highlight the risks to strategic stability emerging as a result of the currently being created US/NATO missile defense system in Europe," Zakharova added.

In turn, NATO prefers to bring "the situation in Ukraine and the implementation of the Minsk agreements" to the foreground, while the problem of increasing military activity in Europe is considered as "discussion of transparency problems with the Russian military." Alliance, in particular, is strongly concerned about the practice of sudden operational readiness tests of Russian troops, and would like to discuss the rules of warning NATO countries about them as well as a monitoring mechanism for these maneuvers.

A source in NATO said on Monday that the alliance’s agenda for the NRC did not change after the summit in Warsaw, and still focuses on the situation in Ukraine and around the country, implementation of the Minsk agreements, as well as military activity with particular emphasis on transparency and risk reduction, security situation in Afghanistan.

NATO froze all practical cooperation with the Russian Federation in April 2014 - after Crimea’s reunification with Russia. The operation of the NATO-Russia Council was preserved to maintain political dialogue channels open. The current meeting of the Council will become the third after the cooperation freeze. The Council’s first meeting was held June 2, 2014, its second on April 20, 2016.

Contacts between Russia and NATO continued in other formats too. On June 17, 2014, NATO’s Headquarters in Brussels held a Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) meeting at the level of permanent representatives; on May 19, 2015, the Belgian capital hosted a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the NATO secretary-general. Later Lavrov and Stoltenberg met twice - on September 29, 2015 in New York and on February 12, 2016 in Munich.

After South China Sea Ruling, Beijing Unveils New Guided-Missile Destroyer

http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160713/1042862235/yinchuan-destroyer-commissioned.html

On the same day that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, Beijing has commissioned its fourth guided-missile destroyer.

The latest 052D Yinchuan destroyer was commissioned at a naval port in Sanya, in the Hainan province. Roughly 150 meters long with a 20-meter beam, the ship is one of China’s most sophisticated vessels.

Equipped with advanced weapons systems, the Yinchuan is capable of aerial defense, antisubmarine operations, and anti-sea missions.

According to Chinese military expert Cao Weidong, the new ship can outperform South Korea’s Sejong the Great-class destroyers, Japan’s Atago-class destroyers, and the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

The unveiling comes directly after the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against Beijing in its dispute over territorial claims in the South China Sea.

"The Tribunal concluded that there was no legal basis for China to claim historical rights within sea areas falling within the 'nine-dash line,'" the court said in a statement.

"Accordingly, the Tribunal concluded that, to the extent China had historic rights to resources in the waters of the South China Sea, such rights were extinguished to the extent they were incompatible with the exclusive economic zones provided for in the Convention."

Tensions have been high in the waterway, through which roughly $5 trillion in international trade passes annually. Beijing has constructed artificial islands in the region that the US and its Pacific allies claim is an attempt to establish an air defense zone.

In response, the Pentagon has performed a number provocative patrols within the 12-mile territorial limits of the land reclamation projects and performed a number of military exercises with regional partners.

China maintains that it has every right to build within its own territory and maintains the islands will be used primarily for civilian purposes.

Responding to the Hague’s decision, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it does not accept the ruling as valid.

"With regard to the award rendered on 12 July 2016 by the Arbitral Tribunal in the South China Sea arbitration established at the unilateral request of the Republic of the Philippines…the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China solemnly declares that the award is null and void and has no binding force.

"China neither accepts nor recognizes it."

China White Paper Slams Philippines' South China Sea Claim as 'Illegal'

http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160713/1042867244/china-policy-sea-philippines.html

China’s Foreign Ministry hit out at the Philippines on Wednesday for what Beijing said were illegal attempts to tighten the grip on inherent Chinese territories in the South China Sea.

BEIJING (Sputnik) — China’s official stance was set out in an extensive white paper published a day after an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, which is in a long-standing dispute with Beijing over overlapping claims to parts of the South China Sea.

"The Philippines' illegal claim has no historical or legal basis," China said in its policy paper, accusing the neighbor of "attempts to entrench its illegal occupation of some islands and reefs."

Beijing bashed the Philippines for turning to the Hague tribunal despite its earlier commitments to settle the dispute out of court, saying the Philippines' "unilateral initiation of arbitration is an act of bad faith."

China lays claims to a multitude of rocky islands and reefs in the South China Sea, specifically the Spratly Islands, which are believed to be rich in oil and gas and are claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.

Taiwan warship sets sail for South China Sea after verdict

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/07/13/474936/Taiwan-warship-South-China-Sea-The-Hague-the-Philippines-China

A Taiwanese warship has set sail for the South China Sea “to defend Taiwan's maritime territory,” a day after an international tribunal ruled against China's claims to islands and undermined Taipei's claims to the islands there.

On Tuesday, a tribunal in The Hague ruled China has no historic rights in the waterway and sided with the Philippines that had filed the complaint.

It also ruled that Taiwan-controlled Taiping, the largest island in the Spratlys chain, was legally a “rock” that did not give it an exclusive economic zone, undermining Taiwanese claims to waters surrounding the island.

On Wednesday, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen rallied troops on the deck of a frigate, saying the Taiwanese are determined to “defend their country's rights,” before the warship headed for Taiwan-administered Taiping island in the Spratly island chain from the southern city of Kaohsiung.

Taiwan's government rejected the ruling as “completely unacceptable," saying it had no legally binding force since the arbitral tribunal did not formally invite Taipei to participate in its proceedings or solicit its views.

“The South China Sea ruling, especially the categorization of Taiping island, has severely jeopardized our country's rights in the South China Sea islands and their relevant waters,” Tsai told soldiers on the deck of ship in footage broadcast by news channels.

“This patrol mission will show Taiwanese people's determination to defend their country's rights,” she said, before disembarking from the warship ahead of its departure.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry vowed to “firmly defend Taiwan's territory and sovereignty” and said there would be no change to Taiwan's claims in the strategic seas because of the ruling.

The ministry said it would continue to send aircraft and ships for patrol missions to the region and remain “highly vigilant” to protect national security.

The development came after Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai warned of “conflicts and confrontation” in the South China Sea following the verdict that Beijing’s claims to most of the strategically vital waterway had no legal basis.

“It will certainly undermine or weaken the motivation of states to engage in negotiations and consultations for solving their dispute. It will certainly intensify conflicts and even confrontation,” he said.

China on Wednesday dismissed as “baseless” the Philippines' claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea, saying the islands are “China's inherent territory”.

“The Philippines' territorial claim over part of Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands) is groundless from the perspectives of either history or international law,” Beijing said in a white paper.

In the new policy paper, China asserted its sovereignty over the islands and their surrounding waters and opposed other countries' “illegal claims and occupation.”

The document criticized Manila for violating an agreement with Beijing to settle the disputes through bilateral negotiation, saying Manila “distorted facts and concocted a pack of lies” to push forward the arbitration proceedings.

“The Arbitral Tribunal established at the Philippines' unilateral request has no jurisdiction over relevant submissions, and awards rendered by it are null and void and have no binding force,” said the document.

“China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea shall under no circumstances be affected by those awards.”

While firmly safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China adheres to the position of settling disputes through negotiation and consultation and managing differences through rules and mechanisms, it added.

China is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea with other countries in the region and upholding the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea enjoyed by other countries under international law, the white paper said.

In the white paper, Beijing urged countries outside this region to respect the efforts in this regard by countries in the region and to play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said his country has the right to set up an air defense zone in the South China Sea, but this will depend on the level of threats faced.

He, however, said China remained committed to negotiations with the Philippines.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which is also claimed in part by Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. The waters are believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas.

The dispute has at times drawn in trans-regional countries, particularly the US.

Beijing accuses Washington of meddling in regional issues and deliberately stirring up tensions in the South China Sea.

The US, in turn, accuses China of carrying out what it calls a land reclamation program in the South China Sea by building artificial islands in the disputed areas.

 

[Ca.]

W$J
NATO, Russia to Discuss Increased Baltic Tensions
Russia promises troop buildup in response to 4,000-strong Western force
_http://www.wsj.com/articles/nato-russia-to-discuss-increased-baltic-tensions-1468410323
July 13, 2016 7:45 a.m. ET

North Atlantic Treaty Organization ambassadors will meet in Brussels on Wednesday with the Russian envoy to the alliance to discuss tensions in the Baltic Sea region and the alliance’s new deterrent force to be positioned there.

Western officials say the meeting is key to judging how aggressive a stance Moscow intends to take in the aftermath of the NATO summit last week that formally approved an alliance force of up to 4,000 troops to be positioned in Poland and the Baltic States.

The Baltic region has seen maneuvering by both Russia and the West. Russia has promised a troop buildup in response to NATO’s positioning of forces there. But Moscow has also, in recent weeks, ousted its military leadership in its Baltic Fleet, a move that has come under scrutiny by Western militaries.

The meeting is only the second gathering of the NATO-Russia council since the alliance suspended practical cooperation with Moscow following the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Alexander Grushko, Russia’s ambassador to NATO, has said he would use the meeting to raise tough questions about the alliance’s military buildup.

The importance of the Baltic region has increased in recent years, amid the worst tensions between Russia and the West since the Cold War.

Russia has stepped up efforts to turn its Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad into a bastion of defense, increasing its onshore anti-ship and air-defense and bolstering its ground forces, analysts said.

In recent months, there have been a number of encounters between Russian aircraft and U.S. Navy ships and Air Force planes, further raising fears that an accident could cause tensions to boil over into a conflict.

At the end of June, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that it had fired the commander of the Baltic Fleet, the fleet’s chief of staff, and several other officers after an inspection revealed “serious shortcomings” in their work, including deficiencies in combat training and distortions in reports. A lawmaker later said 36 officers in total had been fired.

It’s unusual for senior officers to be dismissed in such large numbers and with such public criticism. Lying in reports is a fact of army life in an authoritarian system, so the real reason for the dismissals may lie elsewhere, said Alexander Golts, a defense analyst and researcher at Uppsala University in Sweden.

Russian media reports suggest the dismissals could be connected with the poor condition of officers’ housing at the fleet’s Kaliningrad base or collision damage sustained by a submarine in an unconfirmed incident in April.

Allied officials said they believe the Russian moves are likely in response to the U.S. and NATO buildup of forces in the Baltic Sea. Historically the best Russian admirals have led forces in the Black Sea. The recent firings appear aimed at bringing more talented flag officers to the Baltic Region as NATO makes that more of a focus, officials said.

“They are obviously trying to improve,” said one allied official. “They are feeling pressure.”

Germany and other allies have pushed for renewed dialogue with Russia, to balance the alliance’s military moves aimed at deterring the Russian military aggression.

NATO civilian and military officials have said stepped-up dialogue is key to allow the alliance the opportunity to be transparent with Moscow, and prevent the military buildup in the Baltic region from accidentally triggering a conflict.

In a Twitter question-and-answer session on Monday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said transparency and risk reduction would be on the agenda for the meeting with Mr. Grushko.

“With increased military activity in Europe, there is a risk for incidents, for accidents, and for miscalculations,”Mr. Stoltenberg said in a video message posted on Twitter.

Twitter Graphic
Jens Stoltenberg
_https://twitter.com/jensstoltenberg
Jens Stoltenberg ‏@jensstoltenberg Jul 11

One hour goes fast! Thanks for all your questions, sorry I wasn't able to answer them all. See you next time! #AskJens

_https://twitter.com/jensstoltenberg/status/752518854811811842

.@LovisaInserra We won't counter propaganda with propaganda, but we can counter disinformation with information.We all have a role. #AskJens

Syrian War Report – July 13, 2016: Russian Strategic Bombers Strike ISIS
SF

https://youtu.be/dwB7IvwsNrg

Sputnik
T90: Russian Tank That Fights Daesh
Russian Ballistic Missiles Are Put on Test
Published on Jul 13, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd3VEV1jhTo
Meet T90: a Russian-made battle tank! This mighty vehicle is being used by Syrian Army in fight against Daesh, and is believed to survive a missile attack with minimal damage. Daesh has no chances!
Published on Jul 12, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOsL8ngODGs
Russian Strategic Missile Forces have just launched a series of drills to test their military capability. Troops will practice all kinds of tasks from missile deployment to their masking and defence. This is going to be a really intense month for the soldiers!

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Russian and Chinese prime ministers set to meet at year end — Deputy PM

http://tass.ru/en/politics/887887

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin that that a full-fledged meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission will convene prior to the prime ministers’ year-end gathering

YEKATERINBURG, July 13. /TASS/. Russia’s and China’s prime ministers are scheduled to meet at the end of 2016, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said at a gathering of governors from Russia’s regions, China’s provinces and senior corporate officials from both countries.

"A meeting between our prime ministers is set to take place soon, most likely, at the end of the year and it will be held in Russia," he said.

Rogozin added that that a full-fledged meeting of the bilateral intergovernmental commission will convene prior to the prime ministers’ year-end gathering. "Mr. Wang Yang (the Vice Premier of China’s State Council) and I will hold it in Moscow where we have not gathered for a long time," he said. "We have kept an amicable tradition of inviting each other to get acquainted with the regions of Russia and China, so Mr. Wang Yang and I travel a lot."

The 20th regular meeting of Russia’s and China’s heads of government took place in Beijing in December 2015. Medvedev invited his Chinese counterpart to meet in Russia in 2016.

The Russian prime minister added that that he considers the mechanism of regular meetings between the prime ministers of Russia and China that has been in effect for 20 years to be efficient. Every such meeting ends with the signing of sets of important documents.

According to Medvedev, Russia and China have plans to increase their bilateral trade turnover to $200 bln by 2020. To this end, "it is necessary to make progress in all areas that we have chosen for ourselves.".

Ties with China will strengthen despite Western pressure, says Russian weapons chief

https://www.rt.com/politics/350906-russian-weapons-chief-pledges-further/

Economic cooperation between Russia and China will develop regardless of Western pressure of Moscow, Deputy PM in charge of the defense industry Dmitry Rogozin says, adding noted that it was wrong to view sanctions as the main reason for this.

“The People’s Republic of China is developing very rapidly today. In many spheres it has reached the level of development that is very interesting to Russia. We are building a mutually-beneficial technological and industrial cooperation between our countries,” Rogozin said after the Wednesday meeting with Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

Rogozin noted that the relations with China would have been even more active if not for the West’s “restrictive measures” against the Russian Federation. At the same time he emphasized that the sanctions were neither a hindrance nor the reason behind this cooperation.

“These relations are here to stay, they are caused by vital needs of our nations,” he said.

Last month Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China on a state visit, holding talks with President Xi Jinping and signing a number of major deals in various economic spheres. Among them were agreements on selling of stakes in several Russian projects to Chinese companies, an oil supply contract, under which Russia could deliver up to 2.4 million tons of crude oil to ChemChina and an intergovernmental agreement concerning a large-scale aircraft construction project.

Putin also welcomed cooperation in the framework of the so-called Silk Road Economic Belt project, which the two leaders agreed to in May. The aim of the project launched in 2013 is to create transport, energy and a trade corridor between Asian and European countries.

The nations also agreed to expand mutual payments in national currencies, to decrease dependency on external factors, Putin told reporters.

During a press conference in Beijing, Putin said that the Russian-Chinese commission on investment cooperation had selected nearly 58 business initiatives worth about $50 billion to be put in the works and added that 12 of these projects were already being implemented.

Putin also told reporters that though Russia-China bilateral relations mostly concerned economic cooperation, the two countries also worked together in other spheres, such as international affairs. He noted that such joint efforts "contribute to the stability of world affairs," where Russian and Chinese views "are either very similar or coincide."

Putin to receive Kerry, Lavrov to discuss Ukraine, Syria - Kremlin

http://tass.ru/en/politics/887897

Kerry is arriving in Moscow on July 14

MOSCOW, July 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will receive US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the afternoon on July 14, they plan to discuss the situation in Syria and Ukraine, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.

"I can say now that Putin will receive US Secretary of State (John) Kerry and (Russian) Foreign Minister (Sergey) Lavrov in late afternoon on Thursday (July 14). The issues due to be discussed are predictable enough. These are Syria, Ukraine and bilateral relations," Peskov said.

He added that the two top diplomats will brief Putin on the results of their talks.

Peskov earlier said that the possibility of such a meeting was discussed.

Kerry is arriving in Moscow on July 14. He is to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Russian side plans, in particular, to discuss ceasefire violations in Syria by various groups controlled by the Jabhat al-Nusra (terrorist organization outlawed in Russia - TASS), which declared their commitment to ceasefire, Lavrov said earlier.

Putin: nation-wide tasks cannot be solved without project approach

http://tass.ru/en/politics/887936

Russian President has named the challenges of the Strategic Development and Priority Projects Council

MOSCOW, July 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed the importance of project approach in solving the current tasks the country is facing.

"We have to work now in conditions of known serious restrictions. Certainly, we cannot solve tasks the country is facing without this project approach, and we need to rely on what we have earlier and address the current situation and the best work administration practices," Putin said on Wednesday at the first meeting of the Strategic Development and Priority Projects Council..

According to the president, the situation is more challenging and fundamentally different from the one Russia faced in the 2000s when the first national projects were initiated.

"I’d like to stress projects should not be viewed as requests for utilization of budget funds," Putin stressed.

"Regarding each project it is necessary to make it clear what will be done already by 2018 and simultaneously establish a mid-term trajectory, outline the targets, which needs to be met by 2020 and 2025," he underscored.

According to Putin, this "does not mean that the targets set earlier should be neglected" though "adjustments are obviously needed."

We do not need revolutions

The Russian leader has however ruled out radical change in the existing governance system.

"Application of the project approach does not mean the existing governance system requires immediate and profound changes. We do not need revolutions in this sphere. Everything should be done in a balanced fashion, working out each step so that not to do harm," Putin said.

According to the president, advance management technologies should be implemented and best practices should be replicated within the framework of solving specific tasks.

"The most important [task] is to improve the efficiency of managing branches, the economy on the whole and resources," the president pointed out.

Efficiency improvement is the key task, Putin said. "The point is to catch up the best governance practices of sectors, the economy on the whole and social sphere," he added.

No odd expenses

The head of state has also emphasized that Russia's priority national development projects should be budgeted without odd expenditures.

"All the expenses should be clearly traced and estimated and admittedly inefficient costs should be excluded," Putin said.

"National development projects should be provided with financial resources when drafting the federal budget for 2017 and for 2018-2019," he noted. "Otherwise all that will be boiled down to idle talk and wishful thinking."

"This should be done as a matter of priority but without crossing budget balance limits," the president added.

Trade union representatives should join the Council on Strategic Development and Priority Projects

Putin has suggested that trade union representatives should join the Council on Strategic Development and Priority Projects.

"I’ve seen that the Council has no representatives of trade unions. We have to contact the FNPR [Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia - TASS]. It is necessary for leaders to be present here if they are interested. We’re going to discuss issues directly impacting people’s life and trade unions have to be engaged," he said.

Lowering interest rates on mortgage loans

Commenting on the report of the Construction Minister Mikhail Men, the president stressed that lLowering the key rate of Russia’s Central Bank should not be the only condition for the reduction of mortgage rates.

"The reduction of the key rate of the Central Bank is not the only condition for lowering interest rates on mortgage loans. Let’s have it in mind, this is not a cure-all solution," Putin said.

In his report the minister stated that formation of market of mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the Agency for Housing Mortgage Lending in combination with a gradual reduction of the Central Bank’s key rate would make mortgage more accessible for people and boost demand for new housing.

Earlier, the minister said that the reduction of the Central Bank’s key rate to 8.5% would help the government complete the state program for mortgage rate subsidizing to 12% (the program was launched in March 2015) because market rates will be acceptable for the population.

On June 10, the Central Bank lowered the key rate by 0.5 percentage points to 10.5%. The regulator lowered the key rate for the first time since August 2015.

The next meeting of the Central Bank’s Board of Directors on the key rate is scheduled for July 29, 2016.

Council on Strategic Development and Priority Projects

Vladimir Putin announced establishment of the Council at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 17. The Council will deal with key projects aimed at structural changes in the economy and social sphere and at raising economic growth rates, President said.

As TASS reported earlier the Council will focus on 11 priority areas: healthcare, education, mortgage lending and rented housing, utilities and improvement of urban environment, labor productivity increase, high quality and safe roads, export support, small and medium enterprises support, environment and single-industry towns, and control and supervision activity. The plan is to present 3-4 key problems within each of these areas at the Council meeting, which shall be resolved in midterm.

The Council Presidium chaired by the Prime Minister will meet monthly and the Council headed by the President will hold meetings once per quarter.

Russia's Eastern Military District air defense drills involve more than 3,000 troops

http://tass.ru/en/defense/887900

At the final stage of the field exercise, the air defense units of the district will have a series of tactical live firing drills

VLADIVOSTOK, July 13. /TASS/. A large-scale field exercise of the air defense units of Russia’s Eastern Military District has started in the Khabarovsk, Primorsky, Trans-Baikal, Kamchatka Territories, in the Republic of Buryatia, in the Amur, Sakhalin and Jewish Autonomous regions on Wednesday. The drills involve more than 3,000 troops and 500 units of equipment, the district spokesman Colonel Alexander Gordeyev told TASS on Wednesday.

"More than 3,000 servicemen and about 500 units of military and special equipment will be used in the complex tactical drills at 10 ranges of the district. During the field exercise, the troops will practice putting battlefield air defense units on a hair-trigger alert, marching to ranges, repelling attacks of the imaginary enemy’s sabotage-reconnaissance groups, as well as passing through a contaminated terrain," Gordeyev said.

The personnel of the military district’s air defense units will also drill bringing combat vehicles into firing position, as well as practice airborne targets’ search, detection, identification and tracking.

At the final stage of the field exercise, the air defense units of the district will have a series of tactical live firing drills, during which the crews of the Igla short-range man-portable air defense system, Tunguska surface-to-air and anti-tank missile system and ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system will destroy aerial targets.

Russia has disagreements with Denmark and Canada on new Arctic shelf areas

http://tass.ru/en/world/888042

The UN commission to decide on the Russian application for extension of continental shelf limits in the Arctic Ocean started working on July 11 in New York

MOSCOW, July 13. /TASS/. Russia’s interests of expanding the continental shelf limits in the Arctic Ocean cross over interests of Denmark and Canada, Minister of Natural Resources Sergey Donskoi said on Wednesday on the air with Rossiya 24 TV Channel.

"We have disagreements with Denmark. They presented their vision of the Arctic shelf and this vision intersects with our application. Intersections are also possible with Canada. We will additionally work with them," the minister said.

No obstacles to presentation of an application to the UN for new Arctic shelf areas exist, as evidenced by a relevant note, Donskoi said.

"We received a relevant note from all countries today, stating that they do not object to presentation of our application," the official added.

The UN commission to decide on the Russian application for extension of continental shelf limits in the Arctic Ocean started working on July 11 in New York.

Russia wants to hear NATO’s explanations on Warsaw summit decisions — Lavrov

http://tass.ru/en/politics/887938

According to the diplomat, it was NATO that requested a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council

ASTANA, July 13. /TASS/. The conversation at Wednesday’s NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting should be responsible, and not aimed at scoring propagandist points, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"We want to understand the explanation of NATO’s decisions taken at the Warsaw summit," he said. "What we heard in the public comments, of course, does not make us happy. A desire to preserve the artificially created enemy image [of Russia - TASS] to demand the unity of its ranks and consolidate its position on this basis prevails in NATO."

"As for long-term nature of relations with NATO, then it was not our initiative to break military cooperation in the fight against terrorism," the minister said. "We also did not initiate the freezing of all interaction in supporting the security forces of Afghanistan to help them more effectively fight against the Islamic State [terrorist organization outlawed in Russia - TASS] and other radicals."

According to the diplomat, NATO representatives said that they agreed to hold the NRC meeting, "displaying goodwill." "We didn’t ask anybody. If they froze the mechanism, so they should take the steps," the Russian foreign minister said. "The Alliance requested that we hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, and we agreed, because we never evade dialogue," Lavrov said.

He expressed the hope that the NRC meeting participants wouldhave not a PR stunt, but "a really responsible conversation, not aimed at scoring propagandist points." "The conversation should correspond to the seriousness of the situation, developing as a result of the NATO policy in the sphere of military-political security on the European continent," Lavrov said.

The minister has stressed that NATO’s policy led to alienation on the European continent and Russia hoped that this course would change.

Rejection of regular dialogue

The minister also said that because of the position taken by the Russophobic minority, the proposal to hold regular meetings of the NATO-Russia Council was blocked. "We know that reputable, leading NATO countries, primarily European, have advocated within the Alliance framework for regular contacts within NRC, as it was in the past," the foreign minister said. "But that same minority, which received some enormous pleasure from the Russophobic positions, has categorically blocked the proposal. They said: let’s gather once, and then we'll see."

According to Lavrov, this gives an impression that "they are playing some sort of their own game and do not understand what's going on." "And what’s happening is a real alienation within the European continent," Lavrov said. "I really hope that this policy is clear to the respectable politicians in Europe and the United States, and that they will be able to change that course and will rely on the agreements that have been fixed within the OSCE framework and within the framework of the Founding Act, which was signed between Russia and NATO."

"We are ready for this, let's see how responsibly and seriously they approach the situation in Europe", said the Russian foreign minister.

The NATO-Russia Council meeting at the ambassadorial level has started in Brussels on Wednesday.

NATO froze all practical cooperation with the Russian Federation in April 2014 - after Crimea’s reunification with Russia. The operation of the NATO-Russia Council was preserved to maintain political dialogue channels open. The current meeting of the Council will become the third after the cooperation freeze. The Council’s first meeting was held June 2, 2014, its second on April 20, 2016.

Contacts between Russia and NATO continued in other formats too. On June 17, 2014, NATO’s Headquarters in Brussels held a Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) meeting at the level of permanent representatives; on May 19, 2015, the Belgian capital hosted a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the NATO secretary-general. Later Lavrov and Stoltenberg met twice - on September 29, 2015 in New York and on February 12, 2016 in Munich.

Russian envoy: NATO turns Poland, Baltic states into bridgehead for pressure on Moscow

http://tass.ru/en/politics/888041

According to Russia’s Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko, Moscow is ready to hold discussions with NATO on the mandatory use of transponders during flights over the Baltic Sea

BRUSSELS, July 13 /TASS/. Russia’s Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko has accused NATO of creating a bridgehead for exerting military pressure on Moscow in the Baltic States and Poland thus transferring Russia’s relations with those countries into a military dimension.

"The danger consists in the fact that today NATO is building its policy of confrontation on a mythical threat from Russia and military preparations near our borders. This territory [the Baltic States and Poland where NATO battalions are going to be deployed - TASS] is turning into a bridgehead for exerting military and political pressure on Russia and is transferring our relations with those states to a military dimension," the Russian diplomat said.

He added that the building up of NATO infrastructure on the eastern flank was confrontational. "We consider these measures to be ungrounded, excessive and counter-productive. They are aimed at confrontation; they are weakening pan-European and regional security and are returning us to security schemes characteristic of the Cold War days," Grushko said.

"The missile defense system is also creating risks for Russia. It carries a destabilizing military potential, which undermines strategic stability," he stressed adding the conversation was open and focused on the consequences of increasing NATO’s military potential and military activities on the eastern flank for the pan-European and regional security.

"Russia is posing no threat to NATO," Grushko stressed.

Transponders over Baltic

According to the diplomat, Russia is ready to hold discussions with NATO on the mandatory use of transponders during flights over the Baltic Sea.

"Our military have said we support the Finnish President's plan for building up security of flights in the airspace of the Baltc Sea area," Grushko said. "We're prepared to hold detailed consultations at the military level with representatives of NATO member-states and other nations that engage in Air Force operations in the region."

"So let's see if NATO moves this way," he added.

During a visit to Finland on July 1, Vladimir Putin supported the proposal of Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on banning Air Force flights with switched-off transponspoders over the Baltic Sea.

Russia, China discuss cooperation in Moon, Mars exploration — Deputy PM

http://tass.ru/en/science/887904

According to Rogozin, both countries have the potential to implement such impressive projects as trust exists both at the political level and at the level of specialists solving these issues

YEKATERINBURG, July 13. /TASS/. Russia and China have discussed the possibilities of cooperation in exploring the outer space, including the Moon and Mars, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday.

The vice-premier made this statement during a talk with the heads of Russian regions and Chinese provinces and the managers of companies from both countries.

"Yesterday, we (Rogozin and Vice-Premier of China’s State Council Wang Yang) worked for three and a half hours, discussing cooperation in the nuclear sphere and cooperation in the issues of interaction between our space agencies where there are such large projects as the deliveries of rocket engines, and cooperation in navigation systems," Rogozin said.

"We’re developing an understanding for the rocket and space industry for possible interaction in such profound and technologically complex projects as the future exploration of the Moon, Mars and piloted cosmonautics," the Russian vice-premier said.

In Rogozin’s opinion, both countries have the potential to implement such impressive projects as trust exists both at the political level and at the level of specialists solving these issues.

China calls on US to cease THAAD deployment in South Korea

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/07/13/475049/China-US-THAAD-missile-system-South-Korea-North-Korea

China has reaffirmed its strong opposition to the US deployment of an advanced missile system in neighboring South Korea, warning that Beijing would take necessary steps to protect its interests.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a press conference on Wednesday that the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system in South Korea jeopardizes regional stability.

"With THAAD, the US and South Korea seriously destroyed the local regional stability and seriously damaged the strategic interests of countries in the region, including those of China,” the Chinese official said.
He called on Washington and Seoul to cease the project.

“We have already said that we resolutely oppose the US and South Korea's deployment of the THAAD system, and we're intensely calling upon the US and South Korea to cease the (deployment) process,” the Chinese official stated.

"China will resolutely take the necessary steps to protect our reasonable interests," Lu added, without elaborating.

On Friday, the United States and South Korea said they had made a final decision to deploy the missile system in the South, claiming it will only be used in defense against what they called North Korean threats.

China, which shares a border with North Korea, has been voicing its opposition to the deployment of the system for months, warning it would destabilize regional security.

Washington and Seoul began intense consultations on THAAD after North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January, which was followed by a satellite launch and a string of test-launches of various missiles.

According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, the US missile system will be deployed in the southeastern county of Seongju to maximize its effectiveness while minimizing any impact on residents and the environment. The ministry has also said it aims to have the system operational by the end of 2017.

The deployment has sparked protests from residents, including those of Seongju, located 296 kilometers southeast of the capital, Seoul.

Meanwhile, Russia has also voiced opposition to the plan, saying the missile system tends to undermine stability in the region and “most negatively affect global strategic stability.”

North Korea's military has also threatened to take "physical action" in response to the deployment of the missile system on the Korean peninsula.

THAAD has been designed to intercept ballistic missiles inside or just outside the atmosphere during their final phase of flight.

New Syrian prime minister thanks Russia for support in fighting terrorism

http://tass.ru/en/world/887985

The government of Imad Khamis formed on July 3 swore constitutional allegiance to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday

BEIRUT, July 13 /TASS/. The new Syrian government will strengthen diverse relations with its Russian friends, especially economic cooperation, Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis said in a telegram sent to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

"We highly appreciate Russia’s noble stance, which is strengthening the staunchness of the Syrian people in confronting terrorism and enemy forces," the telegram said. Khamis also thanked Prime Minister Medvedev for greeting him with the appointment as Syrian prime minister on Tuesday.

The government of Imad Khamis formed on July 3 swore constitutional allegiance to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday. The new prime minister had been energy minister in the four previous governments since 2011. He had managed to ensure the normal work of the Syrian energy system in war conditions.

"The Syrian people are pinning high hopes on the new Syrian cabinet of ministers. "The new government team is assuming additional responsibility in the hard times, which Syria is going through. That requires extraordinary efforts, transparency and honesty in relations among citizens - in order to return their trust and enlist public support," President Assad said.

The Syrian president said that economic recovery was a vital task facing the new government.

US Vows $500,000 Reward to Any Terrorist Group Standing against Syrian Army in Damascus

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950423001117

The Kurdish ARA news website said in a report on Wednesday that the $500,000 bill has been issued by Dr. Mendez, a surgeon, adding that the money is already in his banking account.

The Syrian military forces continue pushing back the terrorist groups from their strongholds in Darayya in Western Ghouta, destroying the hideouts of their snipers in several building blocks.

The Syrian soldiers stormed the positions of the terrorist groups in the town of Darayya on Monday and captured several more building block, large residential area with the length of 500 meters and width of 350 meters to Eastern side of Nouralddeen Sho'ait mosque.

The terrorist snipers, who were using the building block to hide and hit civilians, retreated from their positions leaving behind several advanced rifles.

The Takfiri groups also suffered a heavy death toll in the army's advances.

Al-Nusra Front Begins Withdrawing from Yarmouk Camp

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950423001110

The retreat of the Al-Nusra Front terrorists from Yarmouk takes place within an agreement reached with the Syrian government earlier this year.

The Al-Nusra Front terrorists will leave Yarmouk for Idlib through a safe passage provided by the government.

In early May, the ISIL terrorists stormed the strongholds of their rival group of al-Nusra Front in Yarmouk refugee camp and drove them back from a main street of the camp.

The ISIL targeted the al-Nusra Front's strongholds around Ja’ouneh Street, Haifa Street and the Palestine Roundabout and killed or injured several al-Nusra militants.

The ISIL reportedly seized part of Haifa Street from al-Nusra after hours of fierce clashes.

Clashes are still ongoing between the two terrorist groups, with the ISIL on the move along Ja’ouneh Street.

The Yarmouk crisis started in 2012 when the terrorist groups took control of the Palestinian refugee camp and displaced over one million Palestinians. The terrorist groups have been trying to make the Yarmouk camp and its surrounding areas the main center of their operations.

The ISIL had sieged Yarmouk refugee camp for several months when it was in al-Nusra Front's control.

In a relevant development on Sunday, provincial officials disclosed that the Al-Nusra Front and ISIL terrorists had engaged in fresh clashes in the Southern countryside of the Syrian capital, inflicting heavy fatalities on both sides.

"The ISIL and its rival terrorist group of al-Nusra Front opened heavy fire at each others' strongholds in several axis of al-Yarmouk refugee camp in the Southern countryside of Damascus, which ended in the killing or wounding of tens of terrorists," the sources said.

IRGC: US Navy Warned to Stay 12 Miles Away from Iran's Territorial Waters

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950423000486

"We have a strong presence in the quintuple regions of the South and our independent bases in the Sea of Oman, in such a way that foreign vessels never dare to approach regions 12 miles away from our territorial waters and if they do, they will be treated like what we did to the Americans (on January 12)," Tangsiri told FNA on Wednesday.

The IRGC seized two US Navy boats on January 12 and detained them on Iran's Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf. Nine men and one woman arrived in Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf illegally when they were captured by the IRGC Navy. They were freed later after diplomatic consultations.

Asked about the recent western media reports that the IRGC speedboats have monitored a US warship in the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz, he said, "It is not a new thing and every new warship which enters the Persian Gulf, we will be present there for monitoring."

Tangsiri explained that reconnaissance of the new warships is carried out on surface and from the air by radars and drones and in a covert manner. "This is our inalienable and legal right."

Tangsiri confirmed on Tuesday the western media reports that the IRGC speedboats have monitored a US warship in the Persian Gulf's Strait of Hormuz.

Reuters reported on Monday that the IRGC has dispatched five military vessels to monitor a US warship hosting one of America's top generals on a day trip through the Strait of Hormuz, coming as close as 500 yards (meters). "The five Iranian vessels consisted of four speedboats, three with mounted machine guns, as well as a guided missile patrol ship," the report said.

In response, General Tangsiri said, "Monitoring foreign vessels in regions where the IRGC Navy conducts its missions is not a new thing and it is always done on a routine basis and round the clock."

He underlined that the IRGC Navy is tasked to precisely and sensitively monitor the traffic of every foreign vessel, "specially those of the enemies of the Islamic Revolution and the Great Satan, the US", whose presence is a threat to Iran.

Tangsiri underlined that the monitoring mission has been carried out for years and the western media's ballyhoos over the issue is the result of their incorrect understanding.

In relevant remarks in December, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi said the US warships deployed in the Persian Gulf are deeply afraid of the destruction power of Iran's speed boats.

"The US which has entered the Persian Gulf with all its military power obeys the rule of the Iranian speed boats," Fadavi said in the Southern province of Hormozgan.

"Despite its military power, the US fears the Iranian speed boats since it knows that these small-size boats that are only a few meters in length enjoy such a destructive power that they can destroy their several-hundred-meter long warships," he added.

Tehran launched an arms development program during the 1980-88 Iraqi imposed war on Iran to compensate for a US weapons embargo. Since 1992, Iran has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, missiles and fighter planes.

Yet, Iranian officials have always stressed that the country's military and arms programs serve defensive purposes and should not be perceived as a threat to any other country.

Iran's naval power has even been acknowledged by foes. In a Sep. 11, 2008 report, the Washington Institute for the Near East Policy said that in the two decades since the Iraqi imposed war on Iran, the Islamic Republic has excelled in naval capabilities and is able to wage unique asymmetric warfare against larger naval forces.

According to the report, Iran's Navy has been transformed into a highly motivated, well-equipped, and well-financed force and is effectively in control of the world's oil lifeline, the Strait of Hormuz.

Terrorists Forced to Retreat in Northern Aleppo after Tough Infighting

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950423001438

The Nour al-Din al-Zanki terrorists withdrew from al-Malaah-Castillo road in the Northern part of Aleppo city.

The terrorists' retreat came after they sustained heavy losses and casualties in clashes with rival terrorist groups, including the Al-Nusra Front, and their heavy defeats by the Syrian army over the past two weeks.

The Nour al-Din al-Zanki and Al-Nusra terrorists had previously withdrawn from al-Malaah farms in Northern Aleppo before withdrawing from the crucial Castillo road.

Earlier on Wednesday, a military strategist announced that the Syrian government forces are making rapid advances across the economically strategic al-Lairamoun region and Bani Zeid in the Northern countryside of Aleppo.

”The recent advances of the Syrian Army and its allies in al-Lairamoun and Bani Zeid will leave no chance for the militant groups to use these two districts to hit other neighborhoods of Aleppo city, and will significantly decrease civilian casualties," a military strategist said.

"In the meantime, more military achievements in al-Lairamoun industrial region will result in more economic achievements for the government forces and a graver shortage of financial resources for the terrorist groups," he added.

"Arab houses in Bani Zeid near the golden city buildings and the road connecting al-Zaheb to al-Ashrafiyeh are under the control of the Syrian army; in the meantime, the army has expanded its control over two main buildings of Hamoud and Salata near the al-Lairamoun square. The army has also captured five more factories and industrial sites in al-Lairamoun," the sources said.

"If the army continues to advance in al-Lairamoun and reach the Castillo highway, will kill two birds with one stone. Control over al-Lairamoun meant control over hundreds of factories and firms with thousands of workers and hefty amount of exports. On the other hand, if the government forces complete the siege on Bani Zeid, they will find control over a road connecting the Northern side of Aleppo city to Hraytan. The army then can cut off this supply route to Aleppo," the sources went on to say.

"With this tactic, the Syrian army and its allies can completely cut off Castillo and Hraytan roads without confronting the militants deployed there and the entire militant-held regions in Eastern Aleppo will be besieged," the sources pointed out.

Reports said earlier today that the Syrian Army's artillery and missile units opened heavy fire at the gatherings and concentration centers of the terrorist groups in part of the small town of al-Shababi in the Northern Countryside of Aleppo city, killing 86 and wounding 40 militants there.

The Syrian artillery and missile units pounded heavily gatherings of militants in al-Nazarat neighborhood and al-Brij square in al-Shababi, which ended in the killing of 86 terrorists and wounded 40 more.

 

[angelburst29]

Jeff Shell, chairman of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors, has been denied entry to Russia as he has been put by Moscow in an extended 'black list' in response to visa restrictions imposed on Russian citizens by Washington, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

Moscow Confirms Barring US Broadcasting Chief Jeff Shell From Russia
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160713/1042920310/russia--ban-black-list.html

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is the US federal agency that oversees Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and other government broadcasters, which, in Moscow's view, conduct active anti-Russian propaganda.

"US citizen Jeffry Shell was denied entry to Russia upon arrival to a Moscow airport on July 12. Shell is the chairman of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors," the ministry said in a statement.

"Shell has been recently put on the 'black list' expanded by Moscow in response to visa restrictions against Russian citizens imposed by Washington under far-fetched pretext," the statement said.

According to the ministry, the Obama administration has barred some 70 Russian officials from the US in light of the Ukrainian crisis.

The military took part in Wednesday's NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting, for the first time after a long time, says Russian Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko.

Military Take Part in NATO-Russia Council Meeting After Long Break
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160713/1042925849/military-attend-nato-russia-council.html

The military took part in Wednesday's NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting, for the first time after a long time, Russian Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko said.

"A feature of today's meeting is the fact that it was attended by the military after a long time," Grushko told reporters.

Earlier in the day, the NRC met at the level of ambassadors in the Belgian capital of Brussels. The meeting was the second one since June 2014, the year when NATO suspended civilian and military cooperation with Russia amid strained relations over the Ukrainian crisis. Political dialogue via the NRC, nevertheless, continues, with the previous meeting taking place in April.

After several days of heavy fighting, the Syrian army managed to establish control over a vital route in the vicinity of Aleppo, effectively cutting off the last supply line for the rebels still entrenched within the city.

Syrian Army Completely Surrounds Aleppo
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160713/1042920773/syrian-army-aleppo-encirclement.html

During the offensive launched about a week ago, Syrian government forces aided by Russian military aircraft finally managed to establish control over the Castello Road.

Earlier this year the Syrian army also managed to cut off the supply lines between jihadists in Aleppo and the city of Azaz located on the Turkish border, leaving the Castello Road as the last route the rebels could use to resupply their forces in the city.

The Nusra Front terrorists holding the road were finally forced to retreat after sustaining serious casualties due to massed air strikes, allowing the Syrian forces to advance and declare the surrounding area a battle zone in an attempt to limit losses among the civilians.

While Syrian army was fighting in the vicinity of Castello Road, jihadists launched an offensive in the city center using heavy weapons. The attack was repulsed by Syrian government troops and Hezbollah forces, but the vengeful rebels retaliated by shelling the western residential districts of the city, killing 12 and destroying numerous buildings.

At the present time the center of Aleppo is being controlled by the Syrian government forces while the city outskirts are held by jihadist groups. If the Syrian army manages to completely liberate the city, it would allow over a million of displaced Syrians to return to their homes.

Before the war the city of Aleppo and its surroundings served as a home to almost 5 million people.

Syria’s envoy to the UN has called on the international community to draw up an effective mechanism to end Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights and its continued exploitation of the natural resources of the territory.

World must find way to end Israeli occupation of Golan: Syria UN envoy
http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/07/13/474934/Syria-Bashar-alJaafari-Israel-Golan-Heights-

Speaking at a UN Security Council session on Tuesday, Bashar al-Ja’afari said Israeli forces continue to arbitrarily detain Syrian nationals and loot water and petroleum resources in the Golan Heights in flagrant violation of international law and regulations.

He urged the UN to force Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights and withdraw from the area in compliance with the Security Council Resolution 497, which was adopted unanimously on December 17, 1981, and which declares Tel Aviv’s annexation of Golan as “null and void and without international legal effect.”

The top Syrian diplomat also pointed to Israel’s land expropriation policies in the Golan Heights, arguing that Israeli officials have created 750 farms and accommodated 90 settler households there since the beginning of the current year, and are planning to lodge 150 families every year in a bid to change the demographic identity of the area.

Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and later occupied and annexed it.

Ja’afari further criticized the international community’s inaction toward Israel’s subversive acts, and its support for al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda.

He also lashed out at some European countries over their support for Takfiri terrorism, highlighting that they have fallen victim to acts of terror themselves.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Russian Support for Syria Tipped Scales in War Against Terrorists - Assad

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160714/1042935019/russia-syria-support.html

Bashar Assad said that Russian support for the Syrian government army has tipped the scales in the war against terrorists in the Arab Republic.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian support for the Syrian government army has tipped the scales in the war against terrorists in the Arab Republic, Syria's President Bashar Assad said.

"The Russian support of the Syrian army has tipped the scales against the terrorists," Assad told NBC News.

"At the same time, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have sent more troops since that Russian legal intervention started. But in spite of that, it was the crucial factor," he added.

Bashar Assad said his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin is very frank, honest and based on mutual respect.

"Very frank, very honest, mutual respect," Assad told NBC News, answering a question on how he would describe his relationship with the Russian president.

The Syrian leader said he was not worried about Putin's upcoming meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry and the possibility of Moscow and Washington agreeing on the need for him to resign.

"No, for one reason. Their politics, the Russian politics, [are] not based on making deals, it's based on values," he said.

US Airstrikes in Syria Illegal, Counterproductive - Assad

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160714/1042935584/us-airstrikes-syria.html

Syrian President said that US airstrikes against the Daesh group in Syria are illegal.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – US airstrikes against the Daesh group in Syria are illegal, counterproductive and not serious, Syrian President Bashar Assad said.

"They're not serious, so I cannot say I welcome the unseriousness and being in Syria illegally," Assad told NBC News.

"The reality is telling that since the beginning of the American airstrikes, the terrorism has been expanding and prevailing, not vice versa, it only shrunk when the Russians intervened," he added. "It is counterproductive. When the terrorism is growing, it is counterproductive."

United States politics have hit an "all time low," Syrian President said.

"Their mainstream politics are at an all time low," Assad told NBC News. "Regarding the politics in general, not regarding Syria."

According to the Syrian leader, Damascus hopes the next US president will be "wiser" and "less militaristic.

"We keep hoping, but we don't bet on that hope," he said.

Assad Claims Russia's Assistance Unmasked US Plans Regarding Terrorists

http://sputniknews.com/world/20160714/1042936677/russia-syria-us-assad.html

Syrian President said that Russia's involvement in Syria unmasked the Untied States' true intentions regarding terrorist groups.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia's involvement in Syria unmasked the Untied States' true intentions regarding terrorist groups, Syrian President Bashar Assad said.

"The United States doesn't have the will to defeat the terrorists, it has the will to control them and to use them as a card like they did in Afghanistan," Assad told NBC News.

"Actually, the Russian intervention unmasked the American intentions regarding ISIS and other terrorist groups," he said.

"What I'm sure about is they don't have good intentions toward Syria," Assad underlined.

Over 300 Russia Western Army Unit Soldiers Hold Aid-Delivery Drills

http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160714/1042937193/russia-western-army-drills.html

According to the head of the district’s press service, some 300 servicemen of the Russian Western Military District and over 20 planes and helicopters carried out large-scale drill on providing aid in emergency situations.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Some 300 servicemen of the Russian Western Military District and over 20 planes and helicopters carried out large-scale drill on providing aid in emergency situations in the Leningrad, Pskov and Moscow regions, the head of the district’s press service said Thursday.

"During the joint training, questions of distribution and transportation of necessary military equipment have been worked out, its delivery to the site of the imaginary man-made disaster, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid and evacuation of wounded and killed in the areas of the emergency situation," Igor Muginov said.

In addition, the crews of the transport helicopters Mi-8 and Mi-26 completed the task of search and rescue of victims in the emergency situation, including those undertaken over water surface, Muginov said.

The transport crews also practiced landing on unprepared sites and delivering cargo on external slings.

Two militants killed in operation in Russia's Dagestan

http://tass.ru/en/society/888090

A counterterrorism operation was launched in the Kharachi village in south Russia's Dagestan in the early hours of Thursday

MAKHACHKALA, July 14. /TASS/. Two gunmen were killed in a counterterrorism operation in the village of Kharachi in Dagestan in early hours of Thursday, a source with law enforcement agencies of the Northern Caucasus Federal District told TASS.

"Gunmen were sighted in the village. An exchange of fire followed and then at two in the morning the regime of a counterterrorism operation was declared. Two gunmen were shot dead in the operation. They are being identified," he said.

Earlier reports said that a counterterrorism operation was launched in the early hours of Thursday in Kharachi, Dagestan.

Israeli bulldozers enter Golan DMZ with tanks in tow

https://www.sott.net/article/322094-Israeli-bulldozers-enter-Golan-DMZ-with-tanks-in-tow

Israeli Army crosses into Syrian territory

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-army-crosses-syrian-territory-video/

An Israeli-made Merkava Tank, alongside several bulldozers, illegally crossed into Syrian territory on Tuesday to dig-up an archaeological site inside the Golan Heights.

Locals reported that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spent several hours digging up an archaeological site in the Al-Quneitra Governorate before returning to the occupied side of the Golan Heights.

A short video was posted by the opposition’s media wing that showed a Merkava tank entering the Al-Quneitra Governorate:

https://youtu.be/Ar9h_NBrihM

Israeli warplanes bomb besieged Gaza Strip

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/07/14/475106/Israeli-warplanes-airstrike-Juhor-adDik-Gaza-City

Israeli warplanes have carried out an airstrike against the Gaza Strip in yet another act of aggression against the besieged Palestinian enclave.

Local sources said Israeli aircraft fired two missiles at an area east of the village of Juhor ad-Dik which lies south of Gaza City late on Wednesday, Arabic-language Palestine al-Yawm news agency reported.

There were no immediate report about possible casualties or damage.

The Israeli military frequently bombs the Gaza Strip. Disproportionate force is always used in violation of international law, and civilians are often killed or injured.

In early July 2014, Israel waged a war on the Gaza Strip. The 50-day military aggression, which ended on August 26, 2014, killed nearly 2,200 Palestinians, including 577 children, according to the United Nations figures.

Over 11,100 others – including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly people – were also wounded in the war. Israel continues to carry out attacks on the Palestinian strip from time to time.

The Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) has condemned Israel’s nearly decade-long on the impoverished Gaza Strip.

AIDA, an umbrella body of over 80 international non-governmental and non-profit organizations working in the occupied Palestinian territories, says Israel is “severely impeding reconstruction and recovery” in the coastal land.

“Unless it is lifted, Palestinians living in Gaza will be unable to move on with their lives and live in freedom, dignity and safety,” Chris Eijkemans, country director at AIDA with the British charity Oxfam, said recently.

Gaza has been blockaded since 2007, a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.

The apartheid regime of Israel denies about 1.8 million people in Gaza their basic rights, such as freedom of movement, proper job, and adequate healthcare and education.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Russia expects NATO’s specific answers to its proposals — Foreign Ministry

http://tass.ru/en/politics/888233

According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Moscow did not hear anything new at the July 13 Russia-NATO Council meeting

MOSCOW, July 14. /TASS/. Moscow expects specific answers from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization made at a Russia-NATO Council meeting, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

"The Russian side proposed a whole number of specific and practical confidence-building measures, including the proposals on warplanes’ flights over the Baltic Sea with switched-on transponders," the spokeswoman said.

"The Russian side also expressed its readiness to continue a detailed discussion of the entire range of military and political issues at the level of military experts," Zakharova said.

"We’re waiting for a specific response from our colleagues, NATO representatives and we hope that this reaction will follow without any special delays," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

Moscow did not hear anything new at the July 13 Russia-NATO Council meeting, the spokeswoman said.

"The discussion centered on the decisions of the alliance’s Warsaw summit. In particular, the talk was about the build-up of the alliance’s eastern flank and the consequences of these decisions for European and regional security," Zakharova said.

"We did not hear anything principally new," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

"Mechanism for consultations and bringing approaches closer to each other"

At the same time, Moscow views the Russia-NATO Council as a needed mechanism for consultations on European security, Zakharova said.

"Despite the alliance’s desire to use the Russia-NATO Council and its mechanism for promoting the intra-bloc guidelines, we view it as a needed mechanism for consultations and bringing approaches closer to each other in the interests of strengthening peace and stability on the European continent," the spokeswoman said.

"We’re open for continuing an equitable dialog with the alliance in this and other formats on the entire range of Euro-Atlantic security issues," she noted.

The Russia-NATO Council meeting also discussed the situation in Ukraine with the emphasis on the need to fulfil the Minsk accords on the political settlement in the Donbass region, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

The Russian side pointed to the destructive nature of the alliance’s efforts to strengthen Kiev’s military potential and NATO’s military drills held on the Ukrainian territory, the spokeswoman said.

"The talk on the situation in Afghanistan and regional terrorist threats was held in a somewhat more constructive tone," Zakharova said.

"It was stated that despite the years-long stay of NATO contingents there, the situation in that country continues deteriorating," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

Zakharova: Western obsession with Assad’s personality incomprehensible

http://tass.ru/en/politics/888242

"We have said time and again, responding to relevant criticism that we do not support Mr. Assad personally", Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said

MOSCOW, July 14. /TASS/. Moscow considers Western obsession with the personality of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad incomprehensible, while rooting out terrorism should be the priority in resolving the Syrian crisis, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

"We have said time and again, responding to relevant criticism that we do not support Mr. Assad personally, that we are concerned about the existence of Syria’s statehood and the forces that will be able to counter the terrorist threat on the ground," she said. "This is important for both Syria itself and the international community. With all due sympathy for the Syrian people, a practical perspective is present here as well."

Zakharova added that if Syria falls to the terrorists’ onslaught, this will lead to grave consequences not only for the whole country but also for the region and Europe. "We do find this obsession with Assad’s personality incomprehensible. It is necessary to start off by cooperating in combating terrorism without any preconditions rather than with this," she said.

According to Zakharova, those who insist on any prerequisites "are thus pushing us towards playing into the hands of terrorists.".

Zakharova: Armed groups of “moderate opposition” work together with terrorists in Syria

http://sana.sy/en/?p=82690

Moscow, SANA – The Russian Foreign Ministry said armed groups of “moderate opposition” are working together with the terrorists, renewing call for separating the “opposition” from Jabhat al-Nusra terrorists.

The Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing on Thursday that “armed groups led and controlled by militants from Jabhat al-Nusra and militants from other illegal groups, continued their attempts to oust the Syrian army from its current positions.

“Moreover, several groups of the moderate armed opposition are acting synchronously with terrorist groups. We cannot but mention this,” she added.

Zakharova stressed that “In order to eliminate the hotbed of terrorism in Syria, it is necessary to differentiate clearly between armed opponents of the current authorities who reject terrorist methods and terrorists, including from Jabhat al-Nusra.”

Moscow ready for coordinated anti-terrorist efforts with US — Kremlin

http://tass.ru/en/politics/888134

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has reminded of Vladimir Putin's repeated calls for joint action in Syria

MOSCOW, July 14. /TASS/. The Kremlin confirms that Moscow is ready to coordinate joint efforts with the US in fight against terrorism in Syria.

"I want to recall repeated statements of President [Vladimir] Putin, who said the Kremlin believed from the very start that an efficient fight against terrorism on the territory of Syria and bordering states was possible only in joint action, through coordinating joint efforts," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

"Not just an exchange of information, but exactly coordination of joint efforts," he marked. "Putin has repeatedly expressed regrets over our American partners’ rejecting such cooperation," president’s spokesman said.

"And of course, this position remains topical," he added.

The Kremlin is not ready to comment on the idea to establish a joint center with the United States for coordinating the antiterrorist efforts in Syria until this proposal is officially made.

"I cannot comment on this so far, because it’s newspaper information," he told reporters.

The Kremlin spokesman said that "contacts of the (US) state secretary (John Kerry) with the president (of Russia Vladimir Putin) will take place today, and the main talks will be held tomorrow - with his (Kerry’s) counterpart (Foreign Minister Sergey) Lavrov." "After we familiarize with the proposals not from the newspaper materials, but get the first-hand information, we will be able to talk on something," the Kremlin official said.

According to previous media reports, the United States may propose to Russia to establish a new center for the coordination of the air antiterrorist campaign in Syria. The place for the center’s deployment was also named - Jordan. The purpose of the new center will be "to enable expanded coordination between the United States and the Russian Federation beyond the established safety of flight procedures" and "work to maximize independent, but synchronized, efforts against Daesh (the Arabic acronym for Islamic State) in Syria".

The proposals are expected to be the keynote of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s talks in Moscow on Thursday and Friday.

Putin regrets repeated refusal of US to cooperate with Russia in Syria

https://www.rt.com/news/350991-putin-regret-us-syria/

As John Kerry heads to Moscow, the Kremlin is refusing to comment on reports that Washington may offer to set up a joint HQ to synchronize airstrikes in Syria. Moscow stressed, however, that Vladimir Putin has repeatedly proposed this, but to no effect.

“I’d like to remind you of the statements of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has always said that Moscow believes an efficient fight against terrorism in Syria and beyond is only possible through collaborative effort,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

“Putin has regretted, on numerous occasions, that our American partners have turned down such cooperation,” he added.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post revealed a proposal reportedly drafted by the US ahead of Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Moscow.

The leaked paper discussed setting up a joint Russian-American coordination center outside Amman, Jordan, to share intelligence on Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and Al-Nusra Front, as well as to conduct “independent but synchronized” airstrikes on terrorists.

The Kremlin has refused to comment on the Washington Post report so far, saying it is waiting for the proposal to come through official channels.

Peskov said a meeting between President Putin and Secretary Kerry is expected to take place immediately after the US official’s arrival, while a meeting with Lavrov is scheduled for Friday.

“We’ll be able to speak of something after learning it from the primary source, not media reports,” Peskov concluded.

Russian Long-Range Strategic Bombers Strike Daesh Targets in Syria

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160714/1042955770/daesh-syria-jets-targets.html

Six strategic long-range bombers from Russia struck Daesh targets in a second concentrated attack across Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

"This morning six Tu-22M3 long-range bombers launched from an airfield based in Russia delivered a second concentrated attack on the newly discovered Daesh targets in areas east of Palmyra, as well as the towns of As Sukhnah, Arak and T-3 oil pumping stations in Homs province," the ministry said.

The Russian Aerospace Forces have stepped up the intensity of internationally designated terrorist group armed formations in the vicinity of Palmyra.

https://youtu.be/QMiTZtnFuVo

Six strategic long-range bombers from Russia destroyed the jihadists' command post, a field camp, two oil processing facilities, as well as a number of fighters and equipment, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.

"The targets destroyed as a result of the strike were: a command post, a Daesh field camp, two oil processing facilities, a large number of enemy fighters and military equipment. All aircraft returned safely to their airfields after completing the task," the ministry said.

It added that US-led coalition forces performing another anti-Daesh mission were informed of the airstrike in advance. The Russian Aerospace Forces carried out over 50 strikes near Palmyra since Tuesday, July 12, the ministry said.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. On February 27, a US-Russia brokered ceasefire came into force in Syria.

Terrorist groups such as Daesh and the Nusra Front (both outlawed in Russia and a range of other states) are not part of the deal.

Ahrar Al-Sham Sees Battle against Gov't Forces in Northern Aleppo as Madness

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950424000377

Writing on his twitter page on Wednesday, Abu Yousef al-Muhajer voiced surprise at certain groups' participation in Malaah battle, and said Ahrar al-Sham has not sent its forces to the region given the weak possibility of victory against the government and popular forces and the fear of sustaining a major toll and damages.

Media sources said that terrorists of Nour al-Din al-Zanki Movement and al-Nusra Front and a number of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants have participated in the battle.

Reports said on Wednesday that the terrorists of Nour al-Din al-Zanki Movement were forced to retreat from a strategic region in Northern Aleppo city after they had fierce clashes with other rival terrorists groups

The Nour al-Din al-Zanki terrorists withdrew from al-Malaah-Castillo road in the Northern part of Aleppo city.

The terrorists' retreat came after they sustained heavy losses and casualties in clashes with rival terrorist groups, including the Al-Nusra Front, and their heavy defeats by the Syrian army over the past two weeks.

The Nour al-Din al-Zanki and Al-Nusra terrorists had previously withdrawn from al-Malaah farms in Northern Aleppo before withdrawing from the crucial Castillo road.

Also yesterday, a military strategist announced that the Syrian government forces are making rapid advances across the economically strategic al-Lairamoun region and Bani Zeid in the Northern countryside of Aleppo.

”The recent advances of the Syrian Army and its allies in al-Lairamoun and Bani Zeid will leave no chance for the militant groups to use these two districts to hit other neighborhoods of Aleppo city, and will significantly decrease civilian casualties," a military strategist said.

"In the meantime, more military achievements in al-Lairamoun industrial region will result in more economic achievements for the government forces and a graver shortage of financial resources for the terrorist groups," he added.

"Arab houses in Bani Zeid near the golden city buildings and the road connecting al-Zaheb to al-Ashrafiyeh are under the control of the Syrian army; in the meantime, the army has expanded its control over two main buildings of Hamoud and Salata near the al-Lairamoun square. The army has also captured five more factories and industrial sites in al-Lairamoun," the sources said.

"If the army continues to advance in al-Lairamoun and reach the Castillo highway, will kill two birds with one stone. Control over al-Lairamoun meant control over hundreds of factories and firms with thousands of workers and hefty amount of exports. On the other hand, if the government forces complete the siege on Bani Zeid, they will find control over a road connecting the Northern side of Aleppo city to Hraytan. The army then can cut off this supply route to Aleppo," the sources went on to say.

"With this tactic, the Syrian army and its allies can completely cut off Castillo and Hraytan roads without confronting the militants deployed there and the entire militant-held regions in Eastern Aleppo will be besieged," the sources pointed out.

Al-Nusra Militants Punched by Army, Allies in Quneitra

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950424000709

According to a source, the Syrian soldiers in cooperation with popular forces clashed with a group of al-Nusra Front Takfiri terrorists that had arrived in al-Ajraf region towards al-Samadaniyeh al-Sharqieh.

Most members of the Takfiri terrorist group were killed during the clashes while others fled away towards al-Samadaniyeh al-Gharbiyeh.

Also in the same region, the Syrian army attacked the al-Nusra Front terrorists stationed in the road linking al-Hamidiya and al-Horiya in the Western parts of al-Ba'ath city in Quneitra with missiles and killed and injured tens of them.

On Wednesday, the Syrian military forces stormed the al-Nusra Front's positions in the Northern side of the main square in Quneitra and pinned the militants down behind their defense lines with the lowest military movements possible, army sources said.

"Al-Nusra's concentration centers in al-Rawabi came under the heavy attacks of the Syrian army men," the sources said, adding, "Al-Nusra suffered a heavy death toll and its military hardware sustained major damage in the attacks."

Also on Saturday, the Syrian Army's missile units, tipped off by intelligence agents, targeted a military column of the terrorist groups in Northern Quneitra and inflicted major losses on the convoy.

"The terrorist groups' military vehicles and motorcycles were targeted by the Syrian army's missiles on a road to Taloul al-Hamr near the town of Hadhar,"the sources said.

"A major part of the convoy was destroyed and, at least, 16 terrorists were killed in the attack," they added.

Terrorists' Centers in Hama Targeted, Destroyed in Airstrikes

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950424000650

The Syrian Air Force destroyed two positions and a number of vehicles of Takfiri terrorists in Jana al-Elbawi and Souha in Hama province.

Also the gathering centers of Jund al-Aqsa terrorist group near Morek town in the Northern parts of Hama was targeted by the fighter jets. 5 militants were killed in the attack.

On Tuesday, a notorious commander of the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front was killed in the Syrian Army troop's ambush operation Southeast of Hama city.

Abdullah al-Makhzoum and five of his comrades were killed in the Syrian army men's ambush near al-Qantara al-Shamaliyeh on the Western side of al-Salamiyah.

Al-Nusra's military hardware also sustained major damage in the ambush.

Also, on Sunday, the Syrian Army troops, tipped off by intelligence agents, stopped and seized a tanker carrying fuel for the ISIL terrorists in Wadi al-Azib.

"A tanker carrying 8,000 liters of fuel was traced and stopped by the Syrian military forces near the town of Aqayrabat 70 kilometers to East of Hama city," the sources said, adding, "The Syrian soldiers seized the tanker after a brief clash which ended in the wounding of sever terrorists accompanying the cargo, while the rest of militants fled towards Eastern deserts."

 

[Ca.]

Boost in US arms sales meant to placate Arab states: Ex-Pentagon official
PressTV News Videos
Published on Jul 14, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XAHGmATSHA
The impending approval of nearly $40 billion in US foreign military sales in the 2016 fiscal year is actually aimed at calming the United States’ Arab allies in the Middle East, says a former Pentagon official.

Syrian and Iraqi War Report – July 14, 2016: Syrian Army Gains Ground in Aleppo
South Front

https://youtu.be/Q9VPc73UAvM

South Front
US Plans to Deploy Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems to South Korea
Published on Jul 14, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb3U7GMPWQE

Наступление продолжается. Лерамун. Аллепо. Attack is going on. Leiramun. Allepo
The attack continues. Lera Mun. Aleppo. Attack is going on. Leiramun. Aleppo
Published on Jul 14, 2016

https://youtu.be/Ulx6dDvVri0
Агентство ANNA-News это волонтерский проект.
Волонтеры ANNA-News ведут свои репортажи с мест событий, снимают видеоролики и публикуют аналитические статьи по проблеме национальной безопасности России и ее союзников в современных военно-политPublished on Jul 14, 2016

Russian Insider
Russia Now Has Pocket-Sized Stealth-Defeating Radars
16 hours ago
http://russia-insider.com/en/russia-now-has-pocket-sized-stealth-defeating-radars/ri15604
Low frequency radars have no trouble detecting stealth planes. Russia now has a highly mobile variant

Russia is the latest country to claim that it has developed a new radar system that can detect stealth warplanes. But the Sunflower low-frequency over-the-horizon radar likely suffers all the same drawbacks that have plagued previous generations of similar sensors.

Namely, Sunflower might be able to detect a low-observable airplane. But it probably can’t do so with great fidelity — nor generate a useful targeting track for a missile to follow. Despite Russia’s claim, stealth aircraft are no less difficult to find, target and destroy now than they were before the Sunflower’s introduction.

Russian media touted the Sunflower radar in a series of articles in early July 2016. “Russia’s powerful over-the-horizon … Sunflower radar is capable of detecting and tracking the stealth fifth-generation plane or any other fighter jet that was designed to avoid detection,” state-owned website Sputnik Newsreported on July 2, citing an earlier article in Svobodnaya Pressa, an independent Russian tabloid.

Sunflower and similar radars “see stealth fighter jets as clearly as World War II-era aircraft,” Svobodnaya Pressa claimed.

Technically speaking, that’s almost certainly true. Fighter-size stealth aircraft are optimized to avoid detection by radars in higher-frequency bands such as the C, X, Ku and part of the S band.

Low-frequency radars with larger wavelengths aren’t really affected by the stealth features that tend to defeat higher-frequency sensors. There’s a resonant effect with low-frequency radars that can generate a significant signal return despite an aircraft’s low-observable shaping and radar-absorbing coating.

But the same qualities that allow a low-frequency radar to detect a stealth fighter also prevent it from detecting the same aircraft with great precision. Mike Pietrucha, a former U.S. Air Force an electronic warfare officer, told editor Dave Majumdar from The National Interest that early low-frequency radars could pinpoint a target’s location to within only 10,000 feet or so — not nearly accurately enough to guide a missile.

For that reason, low-frequency radars such as Sunflower are useful only as early-warning systems. All they can do is alert air-defenders to the likely presence of low-observable aircraft in a general area.

To be fair, that’s not an insignificant contribution to a counter-air campaign. But it’s also not new. The United States, Russia, China and Iran — among other countries — have long deployed low-frequency radars for early-warning purposes.

Stealth fighters have always been visible to these sensors and always will be. Sunflower’s supposed counter-stealth prowess speaks more to the strict physical limitations of low-observable fighter-design and less to a stealth-defeating breakthrough on Russia’s part.

What’s perhaps is most impressive about Sunflower isn’t its ability to detect stealth fighters, but its comparative compactness. Many low-frequency radars installations are huge and power-intensive — and big, fat targets during a shooting war.

Sunflower, by contrast, is small and portable, according to media reports. “The system could be put online in 10 days and needs a team of just three people to stay operational,” Sputnik explained. “It does not need much power, it is easy to operate and it does not have much equipment.”

Sunflower clearly trades performance for portability. Where larger low-frequency radars can detect targets thousands of miles away, the new Russian system reportedly has a range of just 300 miles or so.

But there are clear tactical advantages in being able to quickly set up large numbers of smaller, low-frequency radars. Russia could, on short notice, deploy batteries of Sunflowers on the periphery of conflict zones in order to begin getting a vague idea of where U.S. and allied stealth fighters are operating.

That’s hardly a sure-fire way of defeating stealth. But it’s not nothing.