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

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American missile destroyer provides assistance to the Iranian fishing vessel October 26th, 2017
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/american-missile-destroyer-provides.html

The US Navy provided assistance to an Iranian fishing vessel on Wednesday after it was reportedly attacked by pirates south of the Yemeni island of Socotra.

The navy said in a statement that the Iranian Coast Guard had contacted the US Naval Command in Bahrain to inform them of an Iranian fishing boat being attacked by pirates while sailing south of the Yemeni island of Socotra.

The international naval forces which are deployed in the area to combat piracy, were asked to intervene and help the fishing vessel and its crew.

Accompanied by the Japanese destroyer JS Amagiri, the American guided missile destroyer USS Howard then rushed to the scene.

The intervention team of the US destroyer provided the Iranian fishermen with necessary water and food supplies and repaired some parts of the vessel that got damaged during the attack.

It also provided medical assistance to the three wounded Iranian fishermen.

NATO is reportedly mulling the creation of two new commands designed to improve allied logistics and protect supply lines – all in a bid to address weaknesses in any potential conflict with Russia, says a report by the Wall Street Journal citing sources.

NATO seeking to add 2 new commands for fear of ‘potential conflict’ with Russia – report
https://www.rt.com/news/407775-nato-new-commands-russia-conflict/

NATO defense ministers will review the new command structures at their quarterly meeting in November, allied officials told the newspaper.

The recommendations reportedly include a new NATO logistics command that would focus on moving people and material more rapidly, and a command for the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans meant to focus on protecting sea lanes, critical for securing Europe from submarine threats.

The WSJ quoted NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu as saying that the alliance is reviewing its command structure to make sure it is “fit for purpose” and focused on military mobility. “The ability to deploy forces quickly across the alliance is important for NATO’s collective defense,” she said.
“Allies are adapting national legislation to allow military equipment to transit faster across borders and are working on improving national infrastructure,” she added. Costs and funding for the new planned commands are yet to be finalized, the WSJ says.

The report claims that NATO members have been forced to boost the speed with which they reinforce front-line forces or move to unexpected conflict zones due to the military bloc’s mounting tensions with Russia.

While many Americans are aware that the United States is at war in countries such as Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan because of the media attention given to those conflicts, the news that four U.S. soldiers were killed in Niger came as a surprise that left some asking the question, “Since when is the U.S. at War with Africa?”

Ron Paul Reminds Americans the US Military is Occupying 53 of 54 African Nations (Video)
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/ron-paul-troops-occupying-nations-africa/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DKfCshlXeo (20:56 min.)

Sgt. La David Johnson, Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright were killed on Oct. 4, after their team was reportedly ambushed by “ISIS-affiliated militants traveling by vehicle, carrying small arms and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.”

Former Texas Congressman Ron Paul weighed in on the situation, and noted that this appears to be one more war the U.S. is fighting without approval from Congress—and it is a war that includes the presence of U.S. troops in 53 out of the 54 nations in Africa.

Now, when the Pentagon and the administration have had some pressure on them, you know, instead of having 100 people there, they’re admitting we have 6,000 people in Africa, and they even put a number on it. They say ‘we have some military in 53 of the 54 countries in Africa.’ That’s pretty expansive,” Paul said.

While South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a devoted war hawk and member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, initially admitted that he was not aware the U.S. had troops in Niger before news of the attack surfaced, he immediately pledged his support to yet another military conflict created by the United States.

“The war is morphing,” Graham said. “You’re going to see more actions in Africa, not less; you’re going to see more aggression by the United States toward our enemies, not less; you’re going to have decisions being made not in the White House but out in the field.”

In response, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul took to Twitter to write, “You know you are in too many wars in too many places when even warmonger Lindsay Graham can’t keep track anymore.”

In response to the attack and to the public relations scandal that has followed as Americans learn they are funding military operations in Africa, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford claimed that the U.S. has had troops stationed in Niger “on and off” for more than 20 years with the purpose to “defeat violent extremism in West Africa.”

On Wednesday, The US President Donald Trump said in a televised interview that the decent relations with Russia would likely reduce tensions around the Pyongyang's nuclear issue.

Trump: Good US-Russia Relations Would Make North Korea Crisis Easier to Settle (Video)
https://sputniknews.com/us/201710261058547496-usa-russia-north-korea-trump/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEAOtPhjxGk (24:20 min.)

"I think it would be great if we got along with Russia. I don't think there's anything wrong," Trump told Fox News on Wednesday.

"I think we could have a good relationship. I think the North Korea situation would be easier settled."

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the “reign of the Assad family” in Syria is coming to an end, and the “only issue is how that can be brought about.”

Tillerson: Assad family reign coming to end, only issue is how to bring it about (Trump wants Peace and Tillerson stirring up trouble?)
https://www.rt.com/news/407855-tillerson-syria-assad-russia/

Tillerson's comments were made following a meeting with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura in Geneva.

“The United States wants a whole and unified Syria with no role for Bashar al-Assad in the government,” Tillerson said, as quoted by Reuters. “The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end. The only issue is how that should that be brought about.”

The secretary said he reaffirmed Washington's commitment to revive the Geneva peace process for Syria during a meeting with de Mistura.

He also said that “the only reason Syrian forces have been successful has been because of the air support they have received from Russia.”

At the very beginning at his term as secretary of state, Tillerson said that the fate of Syrian President should “be decided by Syrian people,” signaling late in March an apparent drift from the “Assad must go” narrative which prevailed during the Obama era.

Tillerson, however, changed his stance a week later in April following the chemical attack in Idlib, which was attributed by Western powers, without any investigation, to the Syrian government. (Article continues.)

 

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Russia’s UN envoy, Vasily Nebenzya, on Thursday warned the United States against comments on the future of Syrian President Bashar Assad and his family.

Russia’s UN envoy tells US to abstain from comments on Assad’s future 27/10/2017
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russias-un-envoy-tells-us-abstain-comments-assads-future/

“I think that we should not make predictions on anyone’s future. Time will show if someone has the future or not,” Nebenzya said after the UN Security Council session on Syria.

The comment was made in response to a statement by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who said Washington “wants a whole and unified Syria with no role for Bashar al-Assad in the government.”

“It is our view and I have said this many times as well that we do not believe that there is a future for the Assad regime and Assad family,” he continued. “The reign of the Assad family is coming to an end.”

French envoy Francois Delatre, who chairs the UN Security Council this month, refrained from making any comments on the US top diplomat’s statement. Instead, he said that the Security Council members have shown unity on the Syrian issue

Officially, the US military never leaves troops behind. Secretary of State James Mattis even said literally this last week, in denying that a soldier might’ve been left behind in the October 4 Niger ambush, in which four US special forces were killed.

More Controversy In The Secret War Of Niger, Looks Like U.S. Troops Were Left Behind To Die, And The Trump Regime Never Even Knew About This War
http://nrt24.ru/en/news/more-controversy-secret-war-niger-looks-us-troops-were-left-behind-die-and-trump-regime-never

The Niger incident has fueled controversy and prompted numerous questions from Congress, not only about the ambush but about how the US military managed to get 1,000 troops into Niger and conducting “routine” operations on the ground without telling the Armed Services Committees or informing President Trump.

As details continue to emerge on the incident, however, it appears increasingly certain that Mattis hadn’t told the truth, with officials now saying that when French helicopters evacuated the US forces, they had lost contact with four US troops, and only evacuated seven out of 11 in the unit.

Hours later, they managed to return to recover the bodies of the three soldiers initially reported killed. The fourth soldier wasn’t found for another two days. That the troops left without contact with the four makes it uncertain if some might’ve been alive at the time, and died abandoned on the field.

That would obviously be scandalous if true, so officials are dodging the possibility by continuing to insist that they don’t ever leave people behind, despite mounting evidence that they definitely did leave people behind.

The Niger incident has fueled controversy and prompted numerous questions from Congress, not only about the ambush but about how the US military managed to get 1,000 troops into Niger and conducting “routine” operations on the ground without telling the Armed Services Committees or informing President Trump.

When many Americans woke up one morning in October to discover that two US Special Forces soldiers and one support soldier were killed in an ambush in Niger, they were incredulous. Why are American troops in Niger? How is Niger important to the United States strategically? How could our highly trained Special Forces soldiers be killed in an ambush during what was supposed to be a low-risk mission? This article will answer these questions in detail.

3rd Special Forces Group had been in Niger for years by 2017, and 10th Special Forces Group had been deploying there before them. Historically, the land-locked African country was more of a French area of operations. While the United States military has a global mandate, the French take a more localized approach, focusing on their former colonies in West Africa. Some see this as a continuation of the French-Afrique relationship, a kind of unseemly mafia-like relationship between African states and their former colonial masters. Be that as it may, the French Foreign Legion has been very active in this theater, combating Al Qaeda-linked militants in Mali while other French soldiers maintain a presence in nearby countries like Ghana and Senegal.

In the chaotic moments after an Army Special Forces team and 30 Nigerien troops were ambushed by militants in a remote corner of West Africa three weeks ago, four of the Americans were separated from the larger group.

U.S. Soldiers Were Separated From Unit in Niger Ambush, Officials Say OCT. 26, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/world/africa/niger-soldiers-killed-ambush.html

Their squad mates immediately alerted commanders that they were under attack — then called for help nearly an hour later, as a top Pentagon official said this week — and ground forces from Niger’s army and French Mirage jets were both dispatched.

About two hours later, the firefight tapering off, French helicopters from nearby Mali swooped in to the rescue on the rolling wooded terrain. But they retrieved only seven of the 11 Americans. The four others were inexplicably left behind, no longer in radio contact and initially considered missing in action by the Pentagon, a status that officials say raises the possibility they were still alive when the helicopters took off without them.

United States officials insisted that other American, French and Nigerien forces were in the area when the helicopters lifted off. When Americans suffer casualties in an operation, the wounded are typically evacuated before the dead, officials said.

The bodies of three dead Americans and the team’s interpreter were found hours later. But American military officials still cannot explain why it took two more days and an exhaustive search by troops from all three countries to find the body of the fourth soldier, Sgt. La David T. Johnson, discovered by Nigerien troops in the woods near the ambush site.

New details emerging from the military’s investigation into the ambush and interviews with military officials and lawmakers have revealed, once again, changes to the timeline in a shifting narrative that has bedeviled top Pentagon officials. It has prompted increasingly frustrated members of Congress to demand answers for how a shadowy mission in an austere region of Africa left four Americans and five Nigeriens dead, including the interpreter.

The questions — including the mission’s shifting goals, the intelligence assessment to back it up, how the soldiers were separated and the frantic search for Sergeant Johnson’s body — were at the forefront on Thursday when senior military officers and their civilian Pentagon bosses traveled to Capitol Hill to give separate two-hour classified briefings for members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.

Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, who heads the Senate panel and who has criticized the Defense Department for failing to provide lawmakers details of the ambush, praised the briefing without divulging details. But he emphasized that he still had “100 questions” that the officials could not yet answer.

Pentagon officials said they would need 30 days to wrap up their inquiry, Mr. McCain said. Other senators on the committee said it could take up to 60 days. Army Maj. Gen. Roger L. Cloutier Jr., the chief of staff of the military’s Africa Command in Germany, is leading the inquiry.

“It’s clearer, but there’s still a lot of things that they don’t know,” said Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat of Florida. “Why did it take 48 hours to find Sergeant Johnson? We don’t know that yet.”

Senator Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, said many lawmakers were surprised to learn the scope of American military missions in Africa and, in particular, the size of the military presence in Niger, where 800 United States troops conduct training missions and drone operations.

“I don’t think Congress has been completely kept up to date,” Mr. Kaine said.

The mystery of what happened that day only deepened as new details emerged from interviews with more than a half dozen military officers, Pentagon officials and lawmakers this week.

On the night of Oct. 3, two groups set off in rural southwest Niger. One was a team of American, French and Nigerien commandos on a clandestine operation to kill or capture an Islamic State operative, part of a broader mission code-named Obsidian Nomad. The other group — made up of about eight Army Special Forces, three American soldiers in support roles and their interpreter, along with 30 Nigerien troops — was on a separate reconnaissance patrol. At some later point, the team was asked to back up the first group if needed.

Bad weather scotched the raid, intended to be launched from helicopters. But the second group remained in the region, after being asked by commanders to search further for evidence of the Islamic State jihadist, code-named Naylor Road by the military.

On the morning of Oct. 4, the team swung through the village of Tongo Tongo to resupply and met with local elders out of courtesy. Villagers might have tipped off Islamic State militants in the area, Nigerien and American military officials have said. One military official, however, said on Thursday that a villager told the troops that an important Islamic State emir was in the area, possibly alerting them that the extremists were approaching.

Shortly after the American soldiers, who were led by an Army captain, and the Nigerien troops left the village, heading back to base about two hours away, some 50 Islamic State militants armed with machine guns and heavy weapons ambushed the group at about 11:40 a.m. local time.

Lightly armed with no heavy weapons of their own, the American and Nigerien forces tried to defend themselves. Outgunned and taking casualties, the soldiers tried to stand their ground until additional Nigerien troops rushed to the scene.

It was not clear when the Nigeriens, along with French troops, arrived, but American officials indicated that they had made it to the ambush site by the time the seven Americans were evacuated.

When troops from the elite Joint Special Operations Command were alerted to the situation, however, they were told that several Americans were missing. That calls into question Pentagon officials’ earlier assertions that either the Nigerien forces or French helicopters were with the bodies of at least three of the soldiers until they were recovered — an insistence that underscores the mantra that no soldier is left behind.

“The U.S. military does not leave our troops behind,” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said last week.

Eventually, the team of American commandos originally scheduled to target the Islamic State militant the previous night were dropped near the ambush site and found the bodies of three of their comrades: Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright.

But at least one American was still missing. Commandos from Sigonella, Italy, and Djibouti rushed to Niger’s capital, Niamey, while a reserve unit of Special Forces stationed at Africa Command headquarters in Germany prepared to deploy if needed. Sergeant Johnson’s body was found by Nigeriens on the evening of Oct. 6.

After the ambush, American units in the region were forced to change radio frequencies because communications equipment was missing and believed compromised by enemy forces.

The American-backed operations to topple the Islamic State from its strongholds in Mosul, Iraq, and Raqqa, Syria, could increase the risks in Africa, if Islamic State fighters flee to the continent to continue their mayhem there, as some have begun to do.

“The more we succeed in the Middle East, the more we’re going to see the snakes run to Africa,” Senator Thom Tillis, Republican of North Carolina, said on Thursday. “We’ve got to be prepared to advise and assist the nations there that are willing to work with us.”

Some lawmakers, including Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, called for hearings to help explain what went wrong in Niger.

“I need to be able to look families in the eye and explain what our mission is, what mistakes were made in this incident, who made them and why,” Mr. Blumenthal said.

Army Maj. Gen. Roger Cloutier, a career infantry officer and Iraq veteran, will lead the investigation into the Oct. 4 ambush in Niger that killed four U.S. soldiers, wounded two others and also killed five Nigerien troops.

AfriCom Two-Star Named to Lead Niger Ambush Investigation 27 Oct 2017
http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/10/27/africom-two-star-named-to-lead-niger-ambush-investigation.html

Cloutier, the chief of staff to Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, commander of U.S. Africa Command, will take over the Article 15-6 fact-finding investigation into the firefight in western Niger near the Mali border, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford said Thursday.

The FBI is also looking into implications for national security of the ambush that killed Sgt. La David Johnson, 25, of Miami Gardens, Florida; Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, 35, of Puyallup, Washington; Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, 39, of Springboro, Ohio; and Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Georgia.

The four were part of a 12-man team from the Army 3rd Special Forces Group that joined a patrol with 30 Nigerien troops. During the firefight, Sgt. La David Johnson became separated from the rest of the group. His body was not recovered until two days after the initial attack.

Dunford put no timeline on the investigation but said at a news conference Tuesday that once the results are in, his top priority will be to share the findings with the families of the fallen.

"That's my primary target audience right now. We'll address it fully" in public once the families are informed, he said.

Under their rules of engagement, the 12 U.S. soldiers on the patrol "were authorized to accompany Nigerien forces when the prospects for enemy contact was unlikely," Dunford said Tuesday.

On Thursday, he told reporters traveling with him to South Korea that he had read the mission assignment, "and it was a patrol to go out and identify information about the local area."

NBC News and other outlets, citing defense officials, have reported that the patrol diverted from its reconnaissance mission to pursue an extremist leader thought to be in the area.

However, Dunford said the patrol "was not targeted or focused on any specific Islamic State leader or location, because that would have made the mission enemy contact more likely. The estimate at the time was enemy contact was not likely," Military Times reported.

Dunford said, "What I don't know, and what the investigation will find out is -- did they have a change of mission at any given point? If so, how did they get that change of mission? Who approved that change of mission? What was that mission?

"Those are all things that I am seeing bits and pieces of but, honestly, I wouldn't say any of it is fact until the investigation is complete," he said.

In remarks to reporters at the White House Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he did not personally authorize the Niger patrol but said he had given commanders there wide discretion to conduct operations, as he has in other regions.

"I gave them authority to do what's right so that we win. That's the authority they have. I want to win, and we're going to win, and we're beating ISIS very badly," Trump said. "You look at what's happened in the Middle East -- we have done more in eight months than the previous administration has done in many years."

"We have decimated ISIS in the Middle East. They go to Africa, they go to places. When they get there, we meet them there. That's what goes on. It's a tough business. It's a tough war, but we are winning it," he said.

"With that being said, my generals and my military, they have decision-making ability. As far as the incident that we're talking about, I've been seeing it just like you've been seeing it. I've been getting reports. They have to meet the enemy, and they meet them tough, and that's what happens," Trump said.

Also on Thursday, defense officials briefed the Senate Armed Services Committee on the Niger ambush in closed session.

In a joint statement after the session, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, the committee chairman, and Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, the ranking member, did not disclose details of the briefing but said, "This was an important opportunity to get answers to our questions about the attack, as well as the broader regional security situation."

Last week, McCain threatened to issue subpoenas unless the Defense Department was more forthcoming in sharing information with Congress.

 

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The Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon told Sputnik on Friday that US and Russian generals recently have held a third face-to-face deconfliction meeting in an attempt to prevent any mishaps as rival forces close in on the same territory in Syria.

US and Russian Generals Hold Third Face-to-Face Deconfliction Meeting
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710271058609956-usa-russia-generals-deconfliction-syria/

"I’m pretty sure that there have been three now in total. I think three face-to-face meetings have occurred," Dillon said in a phone interview from Baghdad, adding that the latest meeting had occurred "within the last week and a half."

All three meetings took place outside of Iraq and Syria in a Middle Eastern country, Dillon told Sputnik

US and Russian generals held the first such meeting in mid-September, followed by a second in early October, Dillon previously disclosed.

Such meetings give US and Russian officers an opportunity to examine the same maps and graphics and arrive at agreements to avoid any ambiguity, he said.

The meetings allow "operational leaders on both sides to work through these deconfliction measures so that we can both continue to go after our goals and objectives, and ours is defeating ISIS," Dillon said, referring to the Daesh terror group.

In recent weeks, US and Russian forces have stepped up their communications as the battlefield of operations against the Daesh shrinks, he noted.

"As the pro-regime forces and our partner force the Syrian Democratic Forces started to move closer to one another, there’s no question that the level of deconfliction had to increase," Dillon said, adding that the lines of communication between the two sides "are often used multiple times throughout the day."

The two sides maintain two lines of communication to coordinate operations in the air and on the ground, as well as a third direct channel for senior level commanders, Dillon said.

US-Led Coalition Not Coordinating with Russia on Syria's Idlib - Meantime, The Spokesperson for the Operation Inherent Resolve Colonel Ryan Dillon told Sputnik that The US-led coalition was neither coordinating with Russian forces nor operating in the Syrian province of Idlib.

"We are not. So the organization that I represent is strictly focused on the defeat and fighting ISIS [Daesh] so all of the things that are happening in Idlib with al-Nusra and HTS that is not the coalition who is in that area," Dillon said in a phone interview from Baghdad, referring to the terrorists groups of Nusra Front and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

Dillon added the coalition was monitoring developments in Idlib province, as fighting there could spill into areas where the Daesh terror group has been defeated.

"Our partners the Syrian Democratic Forces and the civilian councils that have been established are not negatively impacted, but that is not something that the coalition is not actively involved in, the whole situation in Idlib," he said.

The Syrian province of Idlib is mainly controlled by the Free Syrian Army and other opposition forces, who are fighting against government troops.

Idlib is covered by one of four de-escalation zones created after an agreement reached by participants of the Astana talks on Syrian reconciliation mediated by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran.

Tensions around chemical attacks in Syria are running high as, according to Moscow, OPCW-UN report, issued recently, is based on flawed methodology and thus wrenches the truth.

US Fanning Tensions on Syrian Chemical Dossier - Russian Foreign Ministry
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710271058606414-us-fanning-tensions-syrian-chemical-dossier/

Russian Foreign Ministry claims that the biased attitude of western countries leads to the fact that more evidence of double standards appears in the UN Security Council as well as in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

On Thursday, the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the OPCW and the UN presented to the Security Council a new report attributing responsibility for the chemical attack in Khan Sheikhun in April 2017 to the Syrian authorities and for the use of mustard gas in Umm Hosh in September 2016 to the Daesh militants.

The Syrian government denies carrying out the attack. Russia has said that the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism's probe into the attack has failed to answer key questions.

Russia and Syria question the conclusions of the report saying that the investigating team has not even visited the site of the alleged chemical attack. The report of the Joint Investigative Mechanism explains that the investigation into the chemical weapons attacks was conducted remotely because of security concerns. According to the report, the data on the physical characteristics of the incident sites was obtained via "satellite imagery, taken both before and after the incidents."

The Spokesperson for the Operation Inherent Resolve Colonel Ryan Dillon told Sputnik on Friday that the US-led coalition forces have uncovered and destroyed chemical weapons that were in the hands of the Daesh terror group.

US-Led Coalition Uncovers Chemical Weapons in Daesh Territories – Spokesman
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710271058609993-us-led-coalition-chemical-weapons/

"We have seen a nascent and ineffective use of chemical weapons by ISIS [Daesh] in both Iraq and in Syria," Dillon told Sputnik in a phone interview from Baghdad. "We have found them and we have gone after them and ripped them apart."

Researchers and analysts have recorded dozens of instances in which Daesh has used chemical weapons in Syria and Iraq, warning that the terror group is more likely to employ such tactics as its caliphate crumbles.

We have found in a couple different instances mortars or RPGs, rocket-propelled grenades, with some type of chemical that has been used in an attempt to use those as chemical weapons," Dillon said, adding the coalition forces also found stockpiles of largely industrial types of chemical material that could be used when mixed together. The coalition had destroyed the weapons, he added.

The New York Times has reported that during the deadly Daesh ambush in Niger that killed four US and four Nigerien soldiers, the American soldiers who ended up listed as killed in action were left behind as the rest of their squad was evacuated. It isn’t clear if the left-behind soldiers were still alive or not at the time of the evacuation.

US Soldiers Killed in Niger Were Separated, ‘Left Behind’ During Evacuation
https://sputniknews.com/africa/201710271058608448-niger-ambush-soldiers-left-behind/

The Times reports that after the Daesh ambushers fell upon the 11 US soldiers and roughly 30 Nigerien troops, the Americans called for air support. The request was answered by French helicopters based in Mali. When the helicopters arrived at the scene, they evacuated seven of the 11 US troops.

Four others for reasons unknown remained at the scene — three of whom were Green Berets. The four soldiers were no longer in radio contact, and the Pentagon briefly declared them missing in action.

Later that day, a retrieval team returned to the scene of the ambush and discovered the bodies of the Green Berets. The fourth body, that of Sgt. La David Johnson, was discovered two days later roughly a mile from the ambush site.

A US official "directly familiar with after-action reports" explained to CNN that during the ambush, the US vehicles at the front of the convoy were separated from the main body of the patrol. Pentagon officials did not mention these details during their press releases on the events of the ambush.

In a Monday press conference, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford urged patience as the Department of Defense investigates the incident. Many questions, such as why it took two days to find Johnson's body, remain unanswered.

The Times' report cited anonymous US officials who claimed that other US and coalition forces were nearby after the evacuation. US military protocol calls for the immediate evacuation of wounded soldiers first, then healthy ones, then the bodies of the dead.

Dunford also said that enemy contact was believed to be "unlikely" when the soldiers were attacked, which was the only reason why the American soldiers were there. Under the rules of engagement, US soldiers can "only accompany partner forces when the chances of enemy contact are unlikely."

"If we have a specific threat to the homeland and local forces are unable to deal with that threat, United States forces are going to deal with that threat," Dunford said. "But the bias is towards enabling local African partners to conduct operations in Africa."

Roughly 800 American soldiers are stationed in Niger, running training, support and drone missions out of the capital of Niamey. Their mission is to aid in the quest to "defeat violent extremism in Africa," as well as respond to the "global threat with foreign fighters," according to Dunford.

The deaths in Niger have become the subject of an American media circus, much of it centers around US President Donald Trump's conduct towards Johnson's widow — he was alleged to have been callous and unprepared in a sympathy call he made to her.

The question of what the US troops were doing in Niger and why these four aren't coming back has been somewhat overshadowed, with military officials merely noting that skirmishes and violence are commonplace for the oft-ignored American soldiers stationed in Africa.

"This area is inherently dangerous," said Dunford. "We're there because [Daesh] and al-Qaeda are operating in that area."

But a Nigerien soldier who spoke to CNN under the condition of anonymity said the US troops were unprepared: they were driving unarmored 4x4 military vehicles with only one heavy machine gun. They were wearing "t-shirts and baseball caps," not body armor.

"I was surprised that the Americans would go out into the zone with such a light convoy and no air cover, no drones to keep watch over them," the soldier told CNN. The Pentagon did not confirm or deny the charge.

In a speech October 26, former Romanian President Traian Basescu suggested there was no need for US forces and weaponry to be posted in Europe, and ridiculed the notion of a "threat" posed to the continent by Russia. His comments will almost inevitably be extremely unwelcome to NATO leaders.

'Why Are We Spending So Much on Defense?' Basescu Ridicules 'Russian Threat'
https://sputniknews.com/military/201710271058601162-romania-defense-nato-needless/

Traian Basescu, Romanian President 2004 to 2014, said October 26 the integration of national armed forces across Europe into a cohesive unit was essential for the European Union to solve external security problems and improve internal defenses.

Speaking at a conference at the National Bank of Romania, "10 Years Since Romania's EU Accession," the popular reformist ex-President noted member states had 178 weapon systems, while the US had but 30.

"The EU can defend its eastern flanks on its own, provided the armed forces are integrated. An integration of defense research is essential. We're all spending money to find out the same thing. Sooner or later, taxpayers will ask, 'why are we investing so much money in defense and are unable to defend ourselves and crying for the Americans to come defend us?' " Basescu said.

He also implicitly ridiculed the notion of an existential "Russian threat" by noting the Russian Federation's defense budget totals US$66 billion, while EU member states had a collective total defense expenditure of US$263 billion.

"Poland is crying for the Americans to come, [saying] Russians are attacking us. Romania is also crying for the Americans to come. I can assure you the Americans will come to Europe anyway. Why do we feel we're not safe?" he explained.

Notable Precedent - Basescu's comments are notable for a number of reasons. For one, he is perhaps the first major political figure in an Eastern European member state to speak positively about the prospect of a unified European army. Such a project, while ongoing for many years, has largely only been advocated previously by French and German leaders, and figures within Brussels.

Other leaders in the region have remained tight-lipped on the prospect, or in the cases of Hungary and Poland, been ambivalent, or actively skeptical.

Moreover, his sentiments run highly contrary to current government policy in respect of defense. In March, it was announced Bucharest was seeking to significantly bolster its military arsenal with the purchase of 20 F16 aircraft, 8-wheeled armored personnel carriers and other equipment, in a bid to drag national defense spending to the NATO-mandated two percent of GDP.

Moreover, incumbent ministers had spoken of siting Patriot missile systems on Romanian soil, following the lead of Poland — the provisions were utilized by Romanian forces in provocative NATO drills throughout Summer 2017.

Wilderness of Mirrors - However, perhaps most notably, he is one of the first frontline politicians in Europe to question the "Russian threat" narrative — and the corresponding claimed necessity of vast defense spending to counter it.

Ever since 2014, if not earlier, the fictional "Russian threat" has been used to justify a huge NATO buildup in the region — as of October 2017, there is an unbroken line of troops, planes, ships and missile defense systems running from the Northern tip of Belarus to Russia's southernmost border.

"Talking about a more assertive Russia is the only way to to keep defense outlays up. The NATO leadership is trying to convince member-states to spend more on defense — the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and others, especially in Eastern Europe are not eager to splurge on arms, and raising fears of an imaginary ‘Russian aggression' is the only way to make them pay up," foreign policy expert Dmitry Ofitserov-Belsky previously told Sputnik.

Basescu's comments are likely to be unwelcome to NATO top brass. On top of the ongoing push, renewed greatly under Donald Trump's administration, for members to meet if not exceed the bloc's two percent of GDP defense spending, the US has long-considered Eastern Europe far more conducive to its interests than Western Europe. This was perhaps best encapsulated in 2003 by then US-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, in the lead up to the Iraq war.

"I think [Germany and France are] old Europe. If you look at NATO today, the center of gravity is shifting to the East. There are a lot of new members. Germany has been a problem, France has been a problem. Vast numbers of other countries in Europe [are] not with France and Germany, they're with the United States," he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has again cautioned against the creation of a European army, also admitting that Europe cannot do without NATO, the US and Britain. Why does he repeat this warning like a mantra time after time?

Why NATO Chief Maintains 'There-Could-Be-Only-One' Stance on Calls for EU Army
https://sputniknews.com/europe/201709091057243695-nato-stoltenberg-eu-army/

Speaking to Sputnik, Czech military expert Ivan Kratochvil said that "the creation of the EU army with the aim of ensuring the territorial integrity and inviolability of EU countries unequivocally threatens the US interests in Europe."

He drew attention to the fact that Stoltenberg's remarks came ahead of an informal meeting of the defense and foreign ministers of EU countries which was held in the Estonian capital Tallinn earlier this week.

Kratochvil pointed to Stoltenberg stressing that NATO remains committed to protecting the EU and that both organizations should complement each other rather than compete.

"He wants more European forces, more modern capabilities and more defense spending. Also, Stoltenberg wants to avoid differences and such duplication as the creation of the European command or the European army as well as the rhetoric that Europe could do without NATO," Kratochvil said.

According to him, the NATO Secretary General has repeatedly warned against creating the European army because "the alliance provides US dominance in Europe."

"This is a forceful instrument of US influence on its allies and the countries neighboring with NATO members. From the point of view of geopolitics, Russia is the first and most serious enemy of NATO," Kratochvil pointed out.

In this regard, he referred to "the development of NATO, especially in recent years when the US had no counterweight in the world."

"The so-called 'old' NATO members are allowed to have an army, that is, ground forces, aviation and navy which in terms of quantity and technical equipment do not threaten US supremacy. The [NATO] 'newcomers' were doomed to being seen as reinforcements," he said.

Kratochvil recalled that adopting this concept, the armed forces of the Czech Republic lost its air defense system as well as tank, engineering, railway, missile and other units. As for the Czech Republic's symbolic expeditionary corps, their main task is to defend US interests in the world according to the expert.

"The creation of effective European air defense systems, such as Thales Raythenon, is possible but unacceptable from the point of view of US superiority. Also, the arming of detachments and subunits of US satellites takes place either at the expense of morally obsolete weapons or in small quantities," Kratochvil said.

In this vein, we can safely say that Mr. Stoltenberg is right by saying that the EU is unable to protect itself from an equal enemy. The condition of EU countries' armies clearly indicates the dependence of separate states on American domination. It is absolutely impossible to refute this," he concluded.

The idea of a single EU army has been in the air for several years. Since around 2013, Berlin has been overseeing efforts towards closer EU defense integration through the Framework Nations Concept, which stipulates that Germany share its troops and capabilities with other European countries.

In July of this year, conservative member of the UK Parliament Daniel Kawczynski told Sputnik that the possible establishment of the single EU army will be a catastrophe.

"We have a strong demarcation line between Russia and Western Europe and both sides know that this is a line that must not be crossed. I think that German plans to create the single European army would be a disaster and would cause great uncertainty and weakness for Europe," Kawczynski said.

Earlier, Dick Zandee, senior research fellow at the Clingendael Institute, said in an interview with Sputnik that creation of the European army is "a pure fantasy and dreaming because we still have [sovereign] states in Europe and no [EU] member is ready to send its troops abroad to wage war or carry out peace operations without deciding to do so at the national level."

In June, the German Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces said that the creation of the EU army is inevitable. Speaking to the German Press Agency, Hans-Peter Bartels renewed calls on the EU's militaries to unite into a single armed force.

His statement came amid growing concerns about the reliability of NATO as well as the disorganization and fragmentation of national defense structures.

 

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Illegal armed groups have intercepted a UN humanitarian convoy near Damascus, demanding an immediate food ransom, an informed source told Sputnik on Saturday.

Militants Block UN Humanitarian Convoy Near Damascus - Source
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710291058629265-syria-un-humanitarian-convoy-militants/

"The militants did not allow a UN convoy to pass, demanding 5,000 food packages, but were denied this," the source from Damascus said.

He added that the convoy was supposed to go to the town of Yalda, and then to Babbila and Beit Sahm.

"As far as we know, the militants set these conditions before [the convoy reached] Yalda," the source noted.

Abu Abdulrahman al-Mohajer, a notorious commander of Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) was killed in a gun attack on his vehicle in Southern Idlib, militant-affiliated websites reported on Saturday.

One More Terrorist Commander Assassinated by Unknown Raiders in Northwestern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960806000544

The websites disclosed that unknown attackers opened fire at the vehicle of Abu Abdulrahman al-Mohajer in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Southern Idlib, killing him.

In the meantime, Jamal Zeiniyeh nom the guerre Arava Jamal Zeiniyeh, the son of Abu Malik Tali, a former commander of Al-Nusra in Qalamoun al-Qarbi was killed by unknown attackers.

News websites reported on Wednesday that attacks on terrorist commanders and spreading insecurity increased vastly in militant-held regions in Idlib province.

The websites reported that Salah al-Aboud nom de guerre Abu Shadi, one of the commanders of Faylaq al-Sham terrorist group, was gunned down by unknown assailants in a market in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Southern Idlib.

In the meantime, Abu Abdultayer, one of the commanders of Ahrar al-Sham, was also killed by unknown assailants in the small town of Fayloun in Southern Idlib.

Also, five members of Al-Nusra Front were killed and three others were injured in a bomb blast in Tal al-Zahab region near the town of Jisr al-Shughour in Southern Idlib.

A notorious field commander of the ISIL has escaped battlefield in the Eastern province of Deir Ezzur towards the regions that are under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), local sources confirmed on Saturday.

Senior Terrorist Commander Escape towards SDF-Held Regions amid Syrian Army Advances in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960806000315

The sources reported that Mohammad al-Shahada, a field commander of the ISIL, escaped battlefields in Deir Ezzur towards the SDF-held regions following rapid advances of the Syrian Army troops in the region.

In the meantime, the army men, backed up by the Syrian Air Force, managed to advance from their positions in the small town of Mahkan Southeast of Deir Ezzur towards the key town of Albu Kamal at the border with Iraq, capturing several positions.

The army soldiers killed or wounded a number of terrorists and destroyed their military and bomb-laden vehicles in their advances.

Field sources said on Friday that the army forces, heavily assisted by the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, restored control over the important T2 Oil Pumping Station in the Southwestern part of Deir Ezzur province.

Over 10 civilians were injured after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) opened fire at people who tried to return home in Raqqa city in Northeastern Syria, an Arab media outlet reported on Saturday.

SDF Opens Fire at Civilians Returning Home in Syria's Raqqa
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960806000457

The Arabic-language al-Manar tv network reported that hundreds of resident of Mashlab neighborhood in the Eastern part of Raqqa city demonstrated at the Eastern entrance of the city and tried to return to their houses in Raqqa but the SDF gunmen started shooting to disperse the civilians.

Al-Manar further said that 12 civilians were injured in the shooting. Social media activist reported that some of the injured are in critical condition, adding that Mashlab neighborhoods was demined from ISIL's planted landmines and bombs 100 days ago.

Earlier this month the SDF drove ISIL out of more regions in the Northeastern Raqqa city, imposing full control over the city.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) engaged in fierce clashes over distributing people's properties in the newly-captured Raqqa city in Northeastern Syria, militant-affiliated websites reported on Saturday.

Infighting Erupts among SDF Fighters over Distribution of Civilians' Possessions in Raqqa
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960806000907

The websites said that two groups of the SDF clashed with each other fiercely in Tal Aliz street in the Central part of Raqqa city after disagreements and disputes erupted among them over distribution of stolen properties and possessions of the people.

The SDF fighters opened fire at each other in the Raqqa streets, the websites added. There is no report on the possible number of casualties in the clashes.

Turkish security sources said on Saturday that over 5,000 militants have been trained by the Turkish forces to go on mission as policemen in the regions under the control of the terrorists affiliated to the Ankara-led Euphrates Shield in Northern Syria.

Turkish Forces Train over 5,000 Militants of Euphrates Shield Operation for Syria Mission
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960806001051

The sources said that Turkey's Police Academy has been supervising the training courses for 5, 631 Syrian militants in order to be deployed in the regions controlled by the militants of the Euphrates Shield and in the town of Azaz in Northern Aleppo.

The sources further said that the militants went under training courses in five camps affiliated to the Turkish police academy, adding that almost 20 percent of the militants participated in the trainings under the supervision of the Turkish special operation police.

A Kurdish media outlet reported on Wednesday that the Turkish army troops deployed in the Northwestern territories of Aleppo province in an agreement with Nouralddeen al-Zinki terrorist group.

The Kurdish-language Hawar news reported that the Turkish army reached an agreement with Nouralddeen al-Zinki and deployed in the village of Sheikh Aqil in Northwestern Aleppo.

In the meantime, some other sources in Idlib province reported that 14 armored and military vehicles of the Turkish army along with 3 fuel tankers left Turkey-Syria border for Aleppo, adding that the convoy is bout to deploy in Sheikh Aqil.

Also, Spokesman for Nouralddeen al-Zinki Abdulsalam Adbulrazaq said that they have reached an agreement with the Turkish troops over the deployment of Turkish soldiers at monitoring positions in Western Aleppo.

Turkish troops have established the second observation post in the Northwestern province of Idlib in line with the Astana agreements, local media reported Saturday.

Turkish Troops Set up 2nd Observation Post in Safe Zone in Northwestern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960806001268

The post was set up East of Salwah village, where the first post was erected and the overall number of such posts will reach 14, Sputnik quoted the Yeni Safak newspaper as reporting.

During the September round of Astana talks, Russia, Iran and Turkey, the three states that serve as guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire, agreed on all four de-escalation zones in Syria. The sides also reached an agreement on the rules of operation in buffer zones, checkpoints and observation posts, as well as the rules of engagement for units of the de-escalation control force.

On October 7, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of an operation against militants in Syria in the province of Idlib. According to Tayyip Erdogan, the goal of the operation is to protect civilians. Damascus has already urged Ankara to immediately withdraw troops from the province.

Commanders of eleven militant groups in Eastern Qalamoun region in Damascus province are about to attend peace talks with the Syrian government on Sunday to end battle with the Syrian Army troops, a Russian media outlet reported.

Eleven Militant Groups Intend to Join Peace with Syrian Gov't
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960806000698

The Arabic-language website of RT reported that leaders of eleven militant groups in Eastern Qalamoun have agreed to hold a meeting with Damascus official on Sunday to study the terms of a peace agreement after they negotiated with Russian military men in Humeimim peace center and the mediatory role of regional elites.

The Arabic RT reported that the militant groups with almost 2,000 gunmen are from five large towns in Qalamoun, adding that the gunmen would join the Syrian Army's back up forces after indorsing the peace agreement and receiving government amnesty.

The representative of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria said that the militants' different pretexts and new demands in the peace process have been the cause of delay in holding final talks between the militants and the government.

The center added that Damascus has called for direct talks with militant groups' representatives to review the gunmen's amnesty application and to clean the towns from arms and military equipment.

 

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Many analysts have been wondering about the Kurds' refusal to reveal any details over the scale of US support to the mostly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the number of military facilities the US has set up in Northern Syria.

Syrian Kurds Refuse to Reveal Number of US Bases, Volume of Supplied US Arms
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960807001486

The US continues to arm the Syrian Kurds, even after the announced retaking of Raqqa from ISIL.

Nuri Mahmud, an official representative of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the primary component of the US-backed SDF force which conducted Raqqa operation, confirmed that the US has been supplying them with arms since the liberation of Kobani in 2015, the Sputnik reported.

Mahmud, however, refused to reveal the scale of the arms provided by the US, only noting that it is relatively humble and not enough in comparison with the weaponry it supplied to the Iraqi army for the liberation of Mosul.

The Kurdish official called their relationship with Washington a "strategic alliance" and confirmed that the US is setting up military bases on territories which the Kurds take under control.

According to Nuri Mahmud, these facilities are used for the fight against ISIL. However, he refused to give the exact number of operating US bases.
"We can't discuss this issue. It is none of our business," he told Sputnik.

Abdulaziz Yunus, the SDF representative in charge of foreign affairs, also confirmed that the US continues supplying arms to SDF, and remains the only power which is supporting Kurds militarily.

The Kurdish official, however, as well as Nuri Mahmud, refused to reveal the amount of weaponry they received.

"The US is supplying us with ammunition based on our demands. Apart from coalition forces, no one else supports us with weaponry. We won't disclose the exact volume of the provided arms but hope that the deliveries will increase as it will enable us to liberate other regions from terrorists," he explained.

Abdulaziz Yunus stressed that the interests of SDF coincide with those of the US, and that they will continue their cooperation. Washington had supported the Free Syrian Army, but this didn't yield any results. That is why, after the liberation of Kobani, the US decided to support them and has been satisfied with this arrangement, he concluded.

Militant groups affiliated to the Ankara-led Euphrates Shield Operation have agreed on forming a united army with the back up of the Turkish military, militant-affiliated sources disclosed on Sunday.

Turkey Planning to Turn Militants of Euphrates Shield into United Army
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960807001186

The Arabic-language al-Watan daily quoted the dissident-affiliated websites as disclosing that governor of Aintab, governor of Kilis, commander of Turkish Special Forces, Turkish intelligence agents, lieutenant commander of the coalition and commanders of the terrorist groups held a meeting at the venue of the base of the Turkish Special Forces .

Al-Watan further said that the participants in the meeting agreed on turning militant groups into a united army.

The paper said that based on the agreement the entire militant groups should forget their previous names and must gather under the title of united army, adding those groups that oppose the agreement should hand over their weapons, ammunition, command posts, positions, vehicle and equipment.

Turkish security sources said on Saturday that over 5,000 militants were trained by the Turkish forces to go on mission as policemen in the regions under the control of the terrorists affiliated to the Ankara-led Euphrates Shield in Northern Syria.

The sources said that Turkey's Police Academy was supervising the training courses for 5, 631 Syrian militants in order to be deployed in the regions controlled by the militants of the Euphrates Shield and in the town of Azaz in Northern Aleppo.

The sources further said that the militants went under training courses in five camps affiliated to the Turkish police academy, adding that almost 20 percent of the militants participated in the trainings under the supervision of the Turkish special operation police.

Militant-affiliated websites disclosed that recent assassination of senior commanders of Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) was rooted in their disagreement with Turkish military intervention in Idlib province.

Al-Nusra Commanders Assassinated for Opposing Turkish Military Meddling in Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960807000807

The websites further said that differences and arguments among commanders of Al-Nusra over Turkey's military meddling in Idlib and Western Aleppo were the root cause of the assassination of four high-ranking commanders of Al-Nusra.

The websites added that assassination of Abu Talha Ordoni in Ma'ardabsah in Eastern Idlib, Hassan al-Bakour nom de guerre Abu Abdurrahman Hawan in Khan Sheikhoun in Southern Idlib, Abu Abdurrahman al-Mohajer in Khan Sheikhoun and Mostafa Zahri in Dana in Northern Idlib was only due to their opposing views towards Turkish army's presence in Idlib.

News websites reported on Wednesday that attacks on terrorist commanders and spreading insecurity increased vastly in militant-held regions in Idlib province.

The websites reported that Salah al-Aboud nom de guerre Abu Shadi, one of the commanders of Faylaq al-Sham terrorist group, was gunned down by unknown assailants in a market in the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Southern Idlib.

In the meantime, Abu Abdultayer, one of the commanders of Ahrar al-Sham, was also killed by unknown assailants in the small town of Fayloun in Southern Idlib.

Also, five members of Al-Nusra Front were killed and three others were injured in a bomb blast in Tal al-Zahab region near the town of Jisr al-Shughour in Southern Idlib.

Another long convoy of the Turkish Army vehicles arrived in the Northwestern province of Idlib amid dispatches of more Ankara troops to Northwestern Idlib, dissident-affiliated websites reported.

Another Military Column of Turkish Army Enters Northwestern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960807000704

The websites said that a long convoy of the Turkish army entered the town of Kafar Lusin in Northern Idlib.

The websites said that the Turkish convoy included several trucks, personnel carriers and armored vehicles, adding that the convoy further headed towards Western Aleppo.

The Syrian Army High Command announced that the pro-government forces were getting ready to launch a large-scale offensive to retake Idlib province from the terrorist groups.

According to the statement released by the military command, General Mohammad Khaddour would be leading the operation to retake the Abu al-Dhohour Airport in Eastern Idlib.

General Khaddour would also lead the operations to recapture the town of Abu Dali in Northern Hama, the statement added.

General Khaddour is considered as one of the most experienced officers in the Syrian Army; he is also the commander of the elite 3rd Legion.

A military source said that the Idlib operation would not likely begin for the next few weeks, as the army needed to secure their main supply route to Aleppo province.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are getting ready to march towards the ISIL-held town of Albu Kamal at the border with Iraq amid the Syrian Army troops' advances to capture the strategic town.

US Trying Hard to Prevent Syrian Army from Capturing ISIL-Held Albu Kamal
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960807000953

The army men and their popular allies are now in rush towards the ISIL-held town of Albu Kamal after capturing the town of al-Mayadeen and many more regions in the Southeastern territories of Deir Ezzur province.

According to field reports, the US-backed SDF have also started to advance towards the strategic border town of Albu Kamal in the Southeastern countryside of Deir Ezzur province, as Kurdish units have reportedly expanded their control over new sites located South of the Al-Umar Fields.

Another source in Deir Ezzur who requested to remain anonymous said that the army soldiers will soon kick off the final phase of Albu Kamal liberation operation, adding that if the pro-government forces delay the launch of operation they will lose one of the most important passageways to Iraq as the ISIL and the SDF had been in secret talks over the handover of the town to the latter.

Local sources said on Friday that the army men and popular fighters captured Huweija Sakar region, adding that the region was an important stronghold of ISIL with long tunnels and a vast landmine field.

They added that the army units would put pressure on ISIL in al-Mazra'ah region which was between al-Sina'ah and Huweija Sakar.

Tens of Special Forces of the Syrian Army left their base in Northern Hasaka and arrived in Deir Ezzur to participate in a large-scale operation to end ISIL's presence in the Southeastern part of the province.

Tens of Syrian Army Elite Forces Arrive in Deir Ezzur to Launch Anti-Terrorism Operation
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960807000863

Over 300 soldiers left their base in Qamishli and deployed to the Deir Ezzur province in order to participate in the new phase of the military operation to liberate ISIL's vital stronghold of Albu kamal near the Iraqi border.

Field sources said on Friday that the army forces, heavily assisted by the Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, restored control over the important T2 Oil Pumping Station in the Southwestern part of Deir Ezzur province.

Shortly after capturing the facility, fresh footage was released by Hezbollah’s media wing depicting anti-ISIL operations against ISIL in and around the largely destroyed T2 Oil Pumping Station, located approximately 100 kilometers Southwest of the provincial capital.

In addition to regular skirmishes, the role of sappers was emphasized as ISIL often litters areas with landmines and improvised explosives before retreating into their interior lines.

With the T2 Oil Pumping Station firmly under government control, the army paved the way for a pincer offensive towards al-Mayadeen region that would either establish a pocket on the provincial border between Homs and Deir Ezzur or prompt a last-minute retreat from ISIL terrorists in the region.

Former Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani revealed that his country, alongside Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United States, began shipping weapons to the terrorists in Syria from the very moment events started in 2011.

Ex-Qatari PM Discloses S. Arabia's Role in Syria Crisis
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960807000295

"Saudi Arabia had entrusted Qatar with overthrowing Assad's government, and weapons and ammunition were supplied to the armed groups (terrorists) in Syria, including al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board), in coordination with Turkey and the US army,"
al-Thani said in an interview with Qatari TV.

He also underlined the Arab regimes' willingness to establish friendly ties with Israel, adding that no one speaks of freedom of Quds any more and everyone just speaks of normalizing relations with Tel Aviv.

Elsewhere, al-Thani referred to the siege laid on Qatar by a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states, and said it was preplanned move and the misquote of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani's remarks after the country's news agency was hacked was not behind the boycott.

The former Qatari premier also stressed the necessity for resolving differences between the Arab states and Iran through holding negotiations, and said,
"The Arab countries shouldn’t be looking for the West's tensions with Iran." "Sincere behavior towards Iran is better as Iran is a great country in the region and it would be better to resolve the existing differences through talks," he added.

In relevant remarks in 2015, Head of the western-backed Syrian opposition group known as Dissidents Alliance, Khaled Khoja, disclosed that Saudi Arabia and Turkey have provided wide military backup for the Al-Nusra Front to help the terrorist group make advances in Idlib and Dara'a provinces.

"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his recent visit to Riyadh had discussed with Al Saud officials the Saudi and Turkish help to the Al-Nusra Front," Khoja said at the time.

Also in the same year, the American defense officials said at least 400 US military trainers are in Turkey and Jordan to train over 3,000 anti-Syria militants to join fight against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.

The United States also provided the militants with weapons, trucks and tactical radios for their communication.

The US coordinated support by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey for terrorists operating against the Syrian government over the past years of conflict in the Arab country, Qatar's former prime minister revealed.

Ex-Qatari PM: US Worked with Saudi Regime, Qatar, Turkey to Support Terrorists in Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960807000699

Hamad bin Jassim admitted in an interview with Qatari national broadcaster that his country, a tiny state to the South of the Persian Gulf, was part of a group of four countries that delivered weapons and funds to terrorist groups in Syria, Al Waght reported.

Hamad said Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey sent their weapons for militant groups in Syria via the US military forces in the region.

"Anything weapons that was sent to Syria would go through Turkey and was coordinated with the US, and the distribution of anything was via US forces,” the former Qatari premier said.

Hamad said the four countries only supported those armed groups designated as the moderate Syrian opposition in the West but outlawed by the Syrian government. He admitted that many of the weapons had found their way into the hands of al-Nusra Front, a group allied to al-Qaeda. Hamad rejected similar claims about supporting ISIL, the main terrorist group operating in Syria.

Hamad also censured the Saudi regime for revising its policy on Syria by forgetting previous calls for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He said the Saudis now wanted Assad to stay in power, a stance, he said, Riyadh was not willing to share with others.

"You (Saudi Arabia) are now saying keep Bashar. Ok let him stay, we don’t have any problem, we have no quarrel with him. He was a friend of us … But you were in the same trench with us, if you changed your mind, tell us so,” Hamad said.

The remarks come amid a worsening row between Qatar and Saudi-led regimes.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain severed relations with Qatar and imposed a blockade against it, accusing Doha of funding "terrorism". Qatar has vehemently rejected the allegations as "baseless".

On June 22, the group issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of Al Jazeera TV, limiting ties with Iran, and expelling Turkish troops stationed in the country as a prerequisite to lifting the blockade. Doha rejected all the demands, denouncing them as attempts to infringe Qatar's sovereignty.

 

[angelburst29]

Two Navy SEALs under investigation in death of Green Beret in Mali (Video)
https://www.yahoo.com/gma/two-navy-seals-under-investigation-death-green-beret-215408372--abc-news-topstories.html

Two members of the Navy's elite SEAL Team Six are under investigation in the death of an Army Green Beret in Mali this past June, according to U.S. officials. The death is being investigated by the Navy's Criminal Investigative Service.

On June 4, Army Staff Sgt. Logan J. Melgar was found dead in his room in embassy housing in Bamako, Mali.

U.S. officials confirm that two Navy SEALS are under investigation for Melgar's death, and that the SEALS belong to the elite SEAL Team Six.

One official said the death is being investigated as a homicide and that investigators are looking into Melgar's suspected asphyxiation.

An investigation was immediately launched by the Army's Criminal Investigation Division. That investigation was transferred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service on September 25.

"NCIS can confirm we are investigating the death of SSGT Melgar but beyond that, NCIS does not discuss the details of ongoing investigations," said Ed Buice, an NCIS spokesman.

A U.S. official said Melgar's death is being investigated as a homicide.

The news of the investigation into Melgar's death was first reported by the New York Times.

Melgar’s death was not publicly announced by the Pentagon at the time of his death. Not every military fatality overseas is required to be disclosed publicly by the Pentagon. Typically the rule of thumb is that fatalities are required to be announced for named operations, such as Operation Inherent Resolve.

Melgar was part of a small group of U.S. military personnel working in Bamako, Mali in support of the U.S. Embassy. The Lubbock, Texas, native enlisted in the Army in January 2012 as an 18X. In 2013, he started his Special Forces training, and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 2016, after he'd completed the Special Forces Qualification and Special Forces Engineer courses.

Melgar conducted two deployments to Afghanistan as an engineer sergeant.

Navy criminal authorities are investigating whether two members of the elite SEAL Team 6 strangled an Army Green Beret in June while on a secret assignment in Mali, military officials say.

2 Navy SEALs Under Suspicion in Strangling of Green Beret in Mali
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/29/us/politics/navy-seals-team-6-strangle-green-beret-mali.html

Staff Sgt. Logan J. Melgar, a 34-year-old veteran of two tours in Afghanistan, was found dead on June 4 in the embassy housing he shared in the Malian capital, Bamako, with a few other Special Operations forces assigned to the West African nation to help with training and counterterrorism missions.

His killing is the latest violent death under mysterious circumstances for American troops on little-known missions in that region of Africa.

Four American soldiers were killed in an ambush this month in neighboring Niger while conducting what was initially described as a reconnaissance patrol but was later changed to supporting a much more dangerous counterterrorism mission against Islamic militants in the area.

The Navy SEALs’ potential involvement also raised the prospect of a highly unusual killing of an American soldier by fellow troops, and threatened to stain SEAL Team 6, the famed counterterrorism unit that carried out the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

Sergeant Melgar’s superiors in Stuttgart, Germany, almost immediately suspected foul play, and dispatched an investigating officer to the scene within 24 hours, military officials said. Agents from the Army’s Criminal Investigation Command arrived soon after and spent months on the case before handing it off last month to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

No one has been charged in Sergeant Melgar’s death, which a military medical examiner ruled to be “a homicide by asphyxiation,” or strangulation, said three military officials briefed on the autopsy results. The two Navy SEALs, who have not been identified, were flown out of Mali shortly after the episode and were placed on administrative leave.

The biggest unanswered question is why Sergeant Melgar was killed. “N.C.I.S. does not discuss the details of ongoing investigations,” Ed Buice, the agency’s spokesman, said in an email, confirming that his service had taken over the case on Sept. 25.

Neither the Army nor the military’s Africa Command issued a statement about Sergeant Melgar’s death, not even after investigators changed their description of the two SEALs from “witnesses” to “persons of interest,” meaning the authorities were trying to determine what the commandos knew about the death and if they were involved.

The uncertainty has left soldiers in the tight-knit Green Beret community to speculate wildly about any number of possible motives, from whether it was a personal dispute among housemates gone horribly wrong to whether Sergeant Melgar had stumbled upon some illicit activity the SEALs were involved in, and they silenced him, according to interviews with troops and their families. Other officials briefed on the inquiry said they had heard no suggestion that the Navy commandos had been doing anything illegal.

When contacted separately by telephone on Saturday, Sergeant Melgar’s widow, Michelle, and his brother, Shawn, declined to comment.

Lawmakers have criticized top officers and Pentagon officials for offering a shifting timeline of the events in the Niger attack, and for failing to respond with timely, accurate information about the American military’s role on the continent at a time when President Trump has loosened restrictions on the armed forces to intensify attacks against the Islamic State and Al Qaeda around the world.

Sergeant Melgar, a graduate of Texas Tech University who joined the Army in 2012, was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group, based at Fort Bragg, N.C., the same unit whose soldiers were attacked by a much larger and heavily armed group of Islamic State fighters near the border between Niger and Mali on Oct. 4.

According to military officials, Sergeant Melgar was part of a small team in Bamako assigned to help provide intelligence about Islamic militancies in Mali to the United States ambassador there, Paul A. Folmsbee, to protect American personnel against attacks. The sergeant also helped assess which Malian Army troops might be trained and equipped to build a counterterrorism force.

Sergeant Melgar, a native of Lubbock, Tex., was about four months into what military officials said was a six-month tour in Mali, and was living with three other American Special Operations troops in a house provided by the American Embassy.

Two of those housemates were members of the Navy’s SEAL Team 6, which has over the past decade carried out kill-or-capture missions in Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, as well as the one that killed bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011.

According to two senior American military officials, the two SEAL commandos were in Mali at the request of Mr. Folmsbee in a previously undisclosed and highly unusual clandestine mission to support French and Malian counterterrorism forces battling Al Qaeda’s branch in North and West Africa, known as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, as well as smaller cells aligned with Al Qaeda or the Islamic State. The Americans helped provide intelligence for missions, and had participated in at least two such operations in Mali this year before Sergeant Melgar’s death.

Much is unknown about what happened around 5 a.m. on June 4 in the team house. The initial reports to Sergeant Melgar’s superiors in Germany said he had been injured while wrestling or grappling with the two Navy commandos, according to three officials who have been briefed on the investigation.

According to one version of events, one of the SEALs put Sergeant Melgar in a chokehold. When the sergeant passed out, the commandos frantically tried to revive him. Failing that, they rushed him to an emergency clinic, where he was pronounced dead.

Spokesmen for the Africa Command, the Special Operations Command, the Defense Department and the Army and Navy investigative services declined to comment, citing the continuing investigation, or did not respond to emails and phone calls on Sunday.

A spokesman for the State Department’s Africa Bureau and Mr. Folmsbee, Nicholas A. Sadoski, directed all questions to the Pentagon. Mr. Sadoski declined to answer questions about what kind of oversight the ambassador exercised over the American military personnel in Mali, how frequently was he briefed on Special Operations missions there and when he learned about Sergeant Melgar’s death.

Why American Special Operations forces are in Mali at all is a story in a nutshell of the American military’s successes and failures in Africa.

Mali had been one of West Africa’s most stable nations before 2012, and was held up by the Pentagon as a model partner in combating Islamic militants. But when secular Tuareg separatists began an uprising, as they had done in the past, insurgents linked to Al Qaeda took advantage of the deteriorating security situation.

When the militants surged across Mali’s northern desert in 2012, American-trained commanders of the country’s elite army units defected at a critical time, taking troops, trucks, weapons and their newfound skills to the enemy. A confidential internal review completed by the Africa Command after the debacle concluded that there were critical gaps in the American training for Malian troops and senior officers.

With Mali’s army in collapse, the rebels were pushed out by French and Chadian troops early in 2013, and the United Nations established a peacekeeping mission. But the chaos continues today. Various armed insurgents regularly attack Malian forces and the United Nations peacekeepers. To date, 149 peacekeepers have been killed in Mali, making it one of the most dangerous peacekeeping missions in the world.

And terrorists continue to mount deadly attacks, including an assault in June on a resort outside Bamako that killed at least five people.

For the 3rd Special Forces Group, the past year has served as a reminder that Africa remains a dangerous assignment. In addition to Sergeant Melgar and the four soldiers killed in Niger, one soldier committed suicide in Kenya last October and another died in a vehicle accident while on patrol in Niger in February.

Those who knew Sergeant Melgar described him as a soldier’s soldier — he deployed to Afghanistan twice on training missions between July 2014 and February 2016, according to his Army service record — and a devoted father of two sons, 13 and 15, who texted and talked via Skype multiple times a day with his wife while serving overseas.

More than four months later, his death still has many at Fort Bragg and in Lubbock reeling. An online community bulletin board in Lubbock stated: “A Melgar family representative shared that ‘Staff Sgt. Melgar did what most only dream of and excelled at every turn! His life was epic! He is missed dearly every single day.’”

Sergeant Melgar was also honored at the high school he attended in Wolfforth, Tex., Frenship High, during the homecoming football game on Oct. 6.

A final tribute awaits Sergeant Melgar: He is scheduled to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 20.

As the mystery deepens about the deaths of four American soldiers in an ambush by extremists in Niger, President Trump has disavowed responsibility and put the onus on the military. It’s the same sort of cowardly dodge he attempted when a Navy SEAL died in a botched raid in Yemen in January.

A Deadly Ambush’s Great Mystery: What Are We Doing in Niger? OCT. 27, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/27/opinion/niger-ambush-la-david-johnson.html

It won’t wash. Like his predecessors — presidents who were strong enough to actually acknowledge their heavy responsibility — Mr. Trump is commander in chief, in charge of putting the armed forces in harm’s way. Ultimately he and his Pentagon will have to provide a full accounting not only of the operation but also of how it fits into a broader strategy for countering terrorists in Africa.

In the past four years, the American military has expanded its presence on the continent to train local forces and help them battle extremists so that the United States could avoid larger deployments. The Pentagon is further intensifying that focus as the Islamic State seeks new havens after being routed from Syria and Iraq.

One of the largest concentrations of American forces in Africa is in Niger, a hub for regional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations. It is home to 800 to 1,000 American troops.

For the first 12 days after the attack there on Oct. 4, Mr. Trump was silent. When he finally spoke, in answer to a reporter’s question, he started an unseemly public argument with the widow of one of the victims, Sgt. La David Johnson. Now, as contradictory accounts about elements of the ambush are trickling out, frustrated members of Congress are demanding answers about how a shadowy mission in a remote region of Africa ended so calamitously.

In the current telling, the American soldiers — a 12-member Army Special Forces team — were patrolling with 30 troops from Niger when the ambush took place. The Americans immediately told commanders they were under attack, then called for help an hour later. That prompted the dispatch of Niger ground forces and French Mirage jets, which arrived about two hours later, as the fighting was tapering off. But the rescue units did not retrieve all 12 Americans, inexplicably leaving four behind, out of radio contact. They were initially considered missing in action by the Pentagon, which suggests that they may have been alive when the helicopters left without them.

While the bodies of three dead Americans and the team’s Nigerien interpreter were found hours later, it took two more days for American, French and Nigerien troops to find the body of the fourth soldier, Sergeant Johnson, in woods near the ambush site.

Pentagon officials said the operation was similar to dozens of train-and-assist reconnaissance missions, in which contact with enemy forces was considered unlikely. American forces in Niger operate under strict rules that forbid them to go on missions that could involve enemy encounters. Some news reports, however, suggested that the soldiers were part of a larger mission to track down a suspected militant leader.

This raises many questions: Was the mission changed after the Green Berets left their operating base? Were they given bad intelligence or did they misinterpret what they were told? Why did the soldiers wait so long to call for help? Why did it take so long to locate the body of Sergeant Johnson? The location of the ambush was “inherently dangerous,” Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters this week.

That so many questions have been raised and left unanswered raises yet another serious question: What exactly is the true mission of American troops in Africa?

American officials say their troops have a light footprint in Niger, but experts say local populations often view the foreign military presence in Africa — France has an even bigger operation — as heavy-handed, provoking a backlash against local and Western governments.

Congress has funded advise-and-assist missions since before the Africa command was established in 2008, as Al Qaeda and other extremist groups spread into northern Africa. Under threat, Niger welcomed such assistance and is a major recipient of counterterrorism assistance in Africa.

Still, John McCain, the Arizona Republican who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, and other senators are complaining that the Pentagon has not fully informed Congress about what it’s doing in Africa. He recently threatened to subpoena Pentagon officials about the Niger fiasco, before Defense Secretary Jim Mattis agreed to meet with him.

While the Pentagon has described the Niger operation as a noncombat, train-and-assist mission, it needs to explain whether Mr. Trump’s decision to loosen the rules on counterterrorism operations, giving more decision-making authority to lower-level officers, changed the nature of engagement and put more troops at risk. The president himself has shown little interest in Africa.

The lack of clarity about the Niger operation is one more reason for Congress to replace the 2001 law authorizing military force against Al Qaeda with legislation to address current threats like the Islamic State, limit American interventions and ensure regular congressional oversight. After dragging its feet, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has finally scheduled a hearing on it, for Monday.

 

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On Monday afternoon, a lone jihadist suicide bomber drove a vehicle filled with explosives towards the government-held village of Abu Lefah in northeastern Hama, looking to take out two armored vehicles belonging to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) that were spotted by a drone flying above.

Syrian tank blown to smithereens by Al-Qaeda suicide bomber in rural Hama
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/video-syrian-tank-blown-smithereens-al-qaeda-suicide-bomber-rural-hama/

According to Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), a BMP-1 and a T-72 tank were destroyed as the HTS suicide bomber reached SAA positions in the frontier village although this claim could not be independently verified by field sources close to Al-Masdar News.

The suicide bombing was followed up by a HTS ground offensive shortly after; however, a military source stationed near the M42 Highway informed Al-Masdar News that government forces had repelled all follow-up attacks by the Al-Qaeda affiliated faction.

The source added that the SAA had inflicted heavy casualties upon HTS militants today and stressed that government forces had turned the tables on HTS and were probing the jihadist defensive line to break through potential weak points.

On the other hand, Jaish Al-Izza (Free Syrian Army faction) claimed in an online bulletin that the SAA had sustained 20 casualties on Monday alone and added that their fighters had captured a T-55 tank during the latest round of clashes. Failaq Al-Sham also released photos from the region today, suggesting at least two rebel factions to be assisting HTS.

In a separate yet related event, HTS also claimed to have destroyed a SAA tank in the nearby village of Jubb Al-Abyad earlier today.

Jubb Al-Abyad and Abu Lefah were captured by the SAA amid a surprise offensive that began last week. An interactive map depicting the current frontline situation in northeastern Hama can be found here.

Islamist fighters are rushing to aid Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS/Al-Qaeda) in northeastern Hama after the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has reopened the frontier amid a surprise offensive that has seen government forces capture a dozen villages north of the M42 Highway over the past week.

In pictures: Al-Qaeda receives reinforcements to halt Syrian Army offensive towards Idlib
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/pictures-al-qaeda-receives-reinforcements-halt-syrian-army-offensive-towards-idlib/

Photos released by Failaq Al-Sham today shows its militants reinforcing HTS’ defensive line in the countryside of northeastern Hama in anticipation of the next SAA push:

On the other side of the battlefield, Major General Mohammad Khaddour – commander-in-chief of the elite 3rd Legion – has been tasked with advancing towards the provincial border with Idlib.

According to Al-Masdar News expert Ibrahim Joudeh, the initial targets of the government offensive are to capture the Islamist stronghold of Abu Dahur and recapture the village of Abu Dali. Once these strategic objectives are secured, General Mohammad Khaddour will oversee a military campaign to retake the Idlib Governorate.

The Syrian Arab Army and their allies launched a new attack along the Deir Ezzor-Albukamal Road, Monday, striking the Islamic State’s (ISIS) positions directly west of the recently liberated T-2 Pumping Station.

Syrian Army, Hezbollah reach two new towns in west Deir Ezzor, 65km to Albukamal
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-hezbollah-reach-two-new-towns-west-deir-ezzor-65km-albukamal/

Backed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah, the Syrian Arab Army pushed along the Deir Ezzor-Albukamal Road in a bid to clear the western axis of the T-2 Station.

According to a military source, the Syrian Army and their allies advanced at least 7km west of the T-2 Station, while also reaching the two towns of Baktal and Shammas after a fierce battle with ISIS.

As a result of this advance, the Syrian Arab Army and their allies are now less than 65km west of the strategic border-city of Albukamal. Albukamal is now the de factor capital of the Islamic State’s so-called ‘caliphate’ – it was previously Al-Mayadeen.

Several operatives from the Russian Special Forces are currently deployed across the Deir Ezzor Governorate, a military source told Al-Masdar News on Monday evening.

Russian Special Forces deployed all over Deir Ezzor
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-special-forces-deployed-deir-ezzor/

The Russian soldiers are assisting the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their allies in ongoing battle to eliminate the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) from the eastern and central parts of Syria.

While central Syria is all but cleared, the eastern province of Deir Ezzor still possesses a large number of Islamic State terrorists.

Due to the Islamic State’s large presence in Deir Ezzor, the Russian forces have been primarily concentrated in the Euphrates River Valley and vast desert region west of the province.

Militant-affiliated websites reported on Tuesday that one of the notorious commanders of the ISIL terrorist group has escaped Deir Ezzur with a hefty amount of money, heading towards Greece via the Kurdish-held territories.

Senior Terrorist Commander Escapes from Eastern Syria to Greece with SDF's Assistance
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960809000710

The websites reported that Zia'a Mustafa al-Bati, an ISIL field commander in Southern Deir Ezzur, crossed the SDF-held regions and moved towards Greece with considerable cash.

They added that al-Bati has paid $40,000 to the human traffickers and left Syria along with another ISIL member known as Harth al-Jeihan. Albati was one of the former members of the Free Syrian Army (SDF) in the town of Mouhassan in Southeastern Deir Ezzur that joined ISIL later.

Relevant reports said on Monday that Mohammad al-Shahada, a field commander of the ISIL, escaped battlefields in Deir Ezzur towards the SDF-held regions following rapid advances of the Syrian Army troops in the region.

In the meantime, the army men, backed up by the Syrian Air Force, managed to advance from their positions in the small town of Mahkan Southeast of Deir Ezzur towards the key town of Albu Kamal at the border with Iraq, capturing several positions.

The army soldiers killed or wounded a number of terrorists and destroyed their military and bomb-laden vehicles in their advances.

The Syrian Army soldiers have discovered a long network of tunnels linking the positions of the ISIL terrorist group in different towns to each other in the Eastern province of Deir Ezzur, a filed source reported on Tuesday.

Syrian Army Discovers Terrorists' Vast Network of Tunnels in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960809000852

The source said that the army men found a network of long tunnels that mostly were a region on the Western bank of the Euphrates River between Deir Ezzur city and the towns of al-Mayadeen, connecting the towns and villages of Mouhassan, Bu Amr, Bu Leil and Buqrus to each other.

The source added that the ISIL has dug and used the tunnels to send fresh forces and provide logistical supplies for its important positions in necessary cases.

The source went on to say that the newly-seized tunnels are very deep and have different branches with command rooms and depots of arms, ammunition and equipment.

Relevant reports said on Monday that the army men stormed ISIL's positions in the neighborhoods of old airport, al-Hamidiyeh and al-Jabiliyeh after capturing the Stadium district and imposed control over more positions.

Abu Ali Damer, a notorious commander of Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board), was assassinated by unknown attackers in Northern Idlib, dissident-affiliated websites reported on Tuesday.

Unknown Raiders Assassinate Another Al-Nusra Commander in Northwestern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960809000670

The websites reported that Abu Ali Damer, a senior field commander of Al-Nusra, was killed by unknown assailants along the road connecting Idlib city to the town of Ma'arat Mesrin amid intensifying attacks on Al-Nusra commanders.

Militant-affiliated websites disclosed on Sunday that recent assassination of senior commanders of Al-Nusra Front was rooted in their disagreement with Turkish military intervention in Idlib province.

The websites further said that differences and arguments among commanders of Al-Nusra over Turkey's military meddling in Idlib and Western Aleppo were the root cause of the assassination of four high-ranking commanders of Al-Nusra.

Another notorious commander of the ISIL has escaped Southeastern Deir Ezzur towards the regions that are under control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after a recent agreement between ISIL and the US-back SDF over the handover of Deir Ezzur's territories to the latter, local sources reported on Tuesday.

Eastern Syria: Senior Terrorist Commanders Continue to Escape from Battlefields towards SDF-Held Regions
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960809000557

The sources said that Abu Khatab, one of the most notorious commanders of ISIL in the town of al-Basireh in Southeastern Deir Ezzur, has fled the battlefield towards the SDF-controlled regions.

Dissident-affiliated websites reported on Monday that almost 1,500 ISIL terrorists escaped from battlefronts in two provinces in Syria in the last 6 months.

The websites also said that ISIL's death toll rose up to 500 in September, adding that the ISIL carried out strict measures to prevent members' running away, punishing harshly those who tried to flee the battlefields.

The Syrian security forces foiled a smuggling attempt by a group of rebel fighters in the southern part of Damascus this past weekend.

Syrian security forces foil smuggling attempt in southern Damascus
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-security-forces-foil-smuggling-attempt-southern-damascus-video/

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Syrian security forces uncovered a rebel sleeper cell in the Nahr ‘Aisha area of southern Damascus, seizing all of the contents.

The Syrian security forces seized a large cache of ammunition hidden in sheep guts after their explosive detection devices detected the weapons. The driver was arrested and transferred to the competent authorities.

 

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The Russian Defense Ministry has announced a massive strike on Daesh targets in Deir ez-Zor amid the Syrian army's operation to wipe terrorists out from the province.

Russian Submarine Launches Strikes With Cruise Missiles on Daesh in Deir ez-Zor
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710311058695224-russia-submarines-cruise-missiles-daesh/

"On October 31, 2017, the submarine 'Veliky Novgorod,' from a submerged position, launched massive strike with Kalibr cruise missiles on important ISIL [Islamic State, ISIS, Daesh, banned in Russia] targets in Deir ez Zor province from the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea," according to the Russian Defense Ministry's statement released on Tuesday.

As a result of the strike with three cruise missiles, terrorists' command posts, a fortified area where militants and armored vehicles were present, as well as a large arsenal of weapons and ammunition of Daesh terrorists near the Abu Kemal settlement in the Deir ez-Zor province have been destroyed as confirmed by means of reconnaissance.

The strike comes amid the Syrian army's operation assisted by the Russian aviation aimed at eliminating rest of terrorists in the Deir ez-Zor province after the historic lifting of the three-year Daesh siege of the city of Deir ez-Zor in September.

In the course of the military campaign in the province, the government forces managed to establish control over the largest Daesh hotbed in the province located in the city of al-Mayadeen. DETAILS TO FOLLOW

The cases of mortar shelling of the center of Damascus have increased in the course of the recent months.

Terrorists Shell Center of Damascus, 5 Civilians Injured - State Media
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710311058691923-terrorists-damascus-shelling/

Terrorists have opened fire on the central Al-Ameen Street in the Syrian capital of Damascus, injuring five civilians, according to the Syrian state television.

The central Abbasin Square also reportedly came under mortar fire, which caused material damage.

No other details have been available so far.

The cases of mortar shelling of the Old City of the Syrian capital have increased over the past months. On September 13, two civilians died and eight more were wounded in shelling of Bab Touma district. Last week, terrorists shelled the Jaramana and Dahiyat al-Assad suburbs of Damascus.

The shelling comes amid the latest round of the Syrian peace talks in Astana, where the sides to the conflict, as well as the negotiations' brokers — Russia, Turkey and Iran — are discussing setting up a de-escalation zone in Damascus' south.

The sides of the Syrian conflict continue efforts to settle the crisis.

New Deconfliction Zone to Be Established in Syria's Southern Damascus - Source
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710311058689541-syria-damascus-deconfliction-damascus/

A new deconfliction zone will be established in Syria's southern Damascus, as the agreement has been reached with militants there, a source at the ongoing talks on Syria in Astana told Sputnik.

Another source has explained that previously there had been a request to Russia from the military groups in southern Damascus to include the southern Damascus area in the zones of de-escalation or deconfliction.

The unstable situation in Jobar, a municipality of Damascus, and Baet Jinn, a town in southern Syria, southwest of Damascus, was among the issues raised by the opposition. Media reports suggested the possibility of the establishment of a new zone there.

Commenting on this information, the source at the talks said it is not necessary, as "Jobar and Baet Jinn are already covered by the [existing] de-escalation zones."

Idlib De-escalation Zone - Negotiations of the ceasefire guarantor states in Astana on Syria have stalled over Idlib de-escalation zone, and other issues on the agenda are linked to it and inter-related, sources told Sputnik.

The plenary session, which was initially scheduled for 6 pm (13:00 GMT) is delayed.

The Idlib de-escalation zone is the only one where monitoring should be carried out by all three guarantors — Russia, Turkey and Iran.

One of the sources added that all issues on the agenda were inter-linked. Therefore, without progress on one matter, there cannot be progress on the others.

Other key issues on the agenda include the release of detainees, humanitarian demining, and convening of a Congress of the National Dialogue of the Syrian sides in order to push for a political settlement.

Another source in one of the delegations told Sputnik that the chances that the document on the release of detainees would be adopted today still existed.

The draft document intended to create a special working group for the release of detainees and arbitrary abducted people.

So far, four zones of de-escalation have been established in Syria: the northwestern Idlib province and parts of the neighboring Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces; the north of the central Homs province; Eastern Ghouta near Damascus; and certain parts in the country's southern Daraa and Quneitra provinces.

The memorandum on the establishment of four de-escalation zones in Syria was signed in Astana in May, with Russia, Iran and Turkey acting as the guarantors of the ceasefire regime.

Earlier this month, member of Russia's Federation Council, Viktor Ozerov said that Russian servicemen could stay in Syrian de-escalation zones for some time.

The statement came in light of the October 16 announcement by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who said that the Russian military campaign in Syria "was about to be completed."

On Monday, the seventh round of the Astana-format talks on Syrian settlement kicked off in the Kazakh capital. The talks will focus on creating a working group that will deal with hostage and prisoner release, return of fallen soldiers' bodies, and searches for missing persons.

As many as 200 people are feared to have been killed as a tunnel at a nuclear test site in North Korea collapsed, Japanese media reported Tuesday.

200 Feared Buried Alive as Tunnel Reportedly Collapses at N Korean Nuclear Site
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201710311058687561-north-korea-tunnel-collapse/

A tunnel was under construction at the Punggye-ri test site when it collapsed and about 100 people were trapped inside, the Japanese broadcaster Asahi reported citing an unnamed source in North Korea.

An additional 100 people may have died during a rescue operation as the result of a second collapse.

According to Yonhap news agency, the report did not provide further details, such as when the accident happened.

Experts, cited by Yonhap, warned that the nuclear test site must have become fatigued and unstable from several recent nuclear tests.

The most powerful one, which many believe to be an H-bomb, took place on September 3. According to experts, the blast destabilized the region and rendered the Punggye-ri test site unsafe for testing nuclear weapons.

 

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The Syrian Marines have been dispatched from the Badiyeh (desert) al-Sham in Southern Syria to the Northeastern part of Hama province, a military source reported.

Syrian Marines Relocated to Northeastern Hama to Aid in Upcoming Southern Aleppo Offensive
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960810000632

The Lebanon-based AMN quoted a military source as saying on Tuesday night that the marines have been deployed to the Ithriya-Khanasser road in order to help the Qalamoun Shield forces of the 3rd Division and Republican Guard take back the Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) stronghold in al-Rahjan.

Once al-Rahjan is captured, the Syrian Marines will play a major role in the upcoming battle to clear the Southern part of the Aleppo.

The final preparations are being made for the Southern Aleppo offensive, as the Syrian Army and their allies, mainly Hezbollah, plan to retake the regions of Khan Touman, Tal Al-‘Eis, and Al-Rashedeen.

The Syrian Army's engineering units discovered a depot of Italy-made landmines during their clean up operation in Aleppo province, a Russian media outlet reported on Wednesday.

Gov't Forces Discover Italy-Made Landmines in Northern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960810000712

The Arabic-language website of RT quoted the commander of engineering units as reporting that they found 30 landmines made in Italy and a number of hand-made rockets in terrorist groups' positons in the town of Um Adas and its surrounding areas.

RT further said that the region where the army men found the Italy-made landmines was occupied by the terrorists over three years ago, adding that C4 explosive material has been used in the landmines that is more powerful than TNT.

RT reported last month that 30 militants that laid down arms and applied for amnesty in Northeastern Aleppo were pardoned by the Damascus government after mediation by the Russian forces at the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria.

The report added that the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria provided a safe passageway for the pardoned terrorists to enter Aleppo city at the demand of the Syrian government.

The Syrian Army units have found thousands of tons of stolen wheat, flour and fertilizers hidden inside an ISIL warehouses in Deir Ezzur province.

Tons of Stolen Wheat, Fertilizers Found in ISIL's Warehouses in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960809001540

Deir Ezzur Governor Mohammad Ibrahim Samra said that 1000 tons of flour were found at one of the ISIL's hideouts in al-Mayadeen city, Syria's state news agency, SANA, reported.

SANA said that while combing liberated areas in Mouhassan region in Southeastern Deir Ezzur, the army units found four warehouse, containing 600 tons of stolen wheat hidden in a technical way underground at ISIL's hideouts.

Also, 208 tons of grains that were transported to the Euphrates Grain Center in Deir Ezzur were found in ISIL-held region in Hatla.

The army also discovered 122,360 tons of wheat in the village of al-Hosseiniyeh hidden underground.

The Army units also found dozens of tons of fertilizers stored at ISIL caches in al-Mayadeen and in a number of villages in Southeastern Deir Ezzur to be used by terrorists for manufacturing explosives.

A senior US military commander in the operation against the ISIL in Iraq and Syria, James Jarrard, got into a muddle when asked about the exact number of US troops in Syria.

Major Blunder: US Commander Unsure If It’s 4k or 500 Troops in Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960810001135

During his press briefing on Tuesday, the US Army major general got confused by a simple question from a journalist regarding the scale of the US presence in Syria, and needed a colleague from the Pentagon to intervene, RT reported.

At first, Jarrard said that there are 5,000 US troops in the region, but immediately corrected himself, lowering the figure to 4,000.

“I think it's a little over 4,000 US troops in Syria right now that are supporting efforts against Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) and supporting the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces)," he told Pentagon reporters in response to a question about the number of American troops in the region.

The figure provided was several times bigger than the official data, which stunned the journalist and forced the general to apologize. He said his original answer had been a ‘slip of the tongue’ when he was asked to confirm the figure.

“I'm sorry. I misspoke there. There are approximately 500 troops in Syria,” the military official said, prompting laughter from some journalists in the room.

His Pentagon colleague, who was hosting the briefing, had to clarify the numbers, confirming that that there are some 503 troops in Syria and 5,262 in Iraq.

The matter came up again during the briefing, as another journalist repeated the same question “for the sake of the record.”

This time, Jarrard said that there are 503 coalition forces in Syria and added that he did not have the number for Iraq “on the top” of this head.

Washington is engaged in the military campaign in Syria that has been repeatedly called “illegitimate” by Damascus, which sees the US presence in its country as intervention.

A senior U.S. military commander said Tuesday that 4,000 American troops are on the ground in Syria, a figure far greater than the 503 personnel the Trump administration says are deployed there.

A top U.S. general just said 4,000 American troops are in Syria. The Pentagon says there are only 500 October 31, 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/10/31/a-top-u-s-general-just-said-4000-american-troops-are-in-syria-the-pentagon-says-there-are-only-500/?utm_term=.73e381cd4eb5

Army Maj. Gen. James B. Jarrard, who heads the U.S.-led Special Operations task force targeting the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, offered the surprising figure while briefing Pentagon-based reporters via satellite from Baghdad.

When asked to confirm the 4,000 figure, Jarrard appeared to be caught off guard. He then apologized and said the number is about 500. Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman facilitating the briefing, interjected moments later, insisting the number is just 503.

“The general misspoke,” Pahon told The Washington Post after the briefing. “I don’t know what 4,000 refers to. That’s nowhere near an accurate number.”

Yet it’s long been an open secret that the Pentagon has far more personnel involved in operations against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, than its publicly disclosed figures.

Hundreds of additional American forces — including Special Operations troops, forward air controllers and artillery crews — moved into Syria to back up allied local forces as they prepared to assault Raqqa, which was the Islamic State’s self-declared capital until its fall this month.

Earlier this year, teams of Army Rangers were rushed to Manbij for a mission the Pentagon called “reassurance and deterrence,” which was intended to maintain peace between Syrian Kurdish forces who liberated the city and armed groups loyal to neighboring Turkey. U.S. commanders also routinely send attack helicopters into Syria and leave them there, sometimes for days at a time.

The Trump administration says there are 5,262 U.S. troops supporting war efforts in Iraq, though the number is believed to be much higher.

“It’s widely acknowledged there are more than 503 in Syria and 5,200 in Iraq,” Pahon told The Post. “These are our force management level numbers. They don’t include temporary forces.”

Jennifer Cafarella, a Syria expert at the Institute for the Study of War, said sensitivity over U.S. troop levels in Syria and Iraq dates to the Obama administration, which was determined to fight the Islamic State with a minimal American presence on the ground.

“President Obama,” she said, “was forced to repeatedly scale up the U.S. role after it became clear that his initial strategy to partner with local forces could not generate the necessary outcomes without greater U.S. involvement. Whether or not Major General Jarrard’s statement was accurate, the U.S was certainly drawn deeper into Iraq and Syria than it seems was originally planned. This troop creep reflects flaws in the design of U.S. strategy against ISIS that U.S. policymakers continue to fail to recognize.”

These are not the only countries where the Pentagon appears to have manipulated deployment numbers. As the Wall Street Journal revealed in August, there are about 3,000 more troops on the ground in Afghanistan than the administration’s official tally showed.

The Pentagon has faced growing pressure from Congress to be more transparent about the scope of its activities overseas, not only in the Middle East but also throughout Africa and pockets of Southeast Asia. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has promised to comply, but Jarrard’s statement Monday is likely to raise deeper suspicion among those who’ve renewed scrutiny of the military’s sprawling counterterrorism operations since the deaths of four American soldiers Oct. 4 in Niger.

Some lawmakers were taken aback by the size and scope of U.S. combat forces deployed throughout Africa. About 800 Americans are based in Niger to run counterterrorism operations and to train and advise local troops, and hundreds more U.S. forces are in other African countries.

Mattis was summoned to Capitol Hill along with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Monday for a hearing over whether to update the laws that provide authority to fight terrorist groups and detain militants on multiple continents. They presented a unified front, saying that is unnecessary. Both indicated the administration is concerned about new laws inhibiting the military’s ability to target terrorists anywhere in the world.

The Pentagon’s top general said Thursday that he is “very frustrated with the drip, drip, drip of information” seeping out in the media about an Oct. 4 ambush in Africa that killed four U.S. soldiers and five Nigerien troops, but acknowledged that “everyone is doing their job” in examining it.

Top U.S. general frustrated with media’s ‘drip, drip, drip’ of details on deadly Niger attack October 26. 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/10/26/top-general-is-very-frustrated-with-the-drip-drip-drip-of-information-on-deadly-niger-attack/?tid=a_inl&utm_term=.41e09938019e

Marine Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that he would prefer to let investigators quietly compile all the information and then brief the families involved before they read accounts of the battle in the media. But the issue is more complicated than that, he said.

“It’s the world as it is,” said Dunford, traveling on a flight from Washington to South Korea. “I’m not making a judgment here. But I would just tell you, my preference would be to get a single document” that outlines the investigation.

The ambush, in southwestern Niger, caught a team of 12 soldiers with 3rd Special Forces Group and 30 Nigerien soldiers partnered with them. The body of Army Sgt. La David T. Johnson was not recovered for two days, prompting elite senior U.S. officials to deploy elite U.S. commandos with Joint Special Operations Command.

Johnson, 25, was a conventional U.S. soldier who worked as a mechanic and was attached to the 3rd Special Forces Group team. The other U.S. soldiers killed in the operation were Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, 39; Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, 35; and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, 29. Staff Sgt. Johnson was a conventional soldier trained to work with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons, while Black and Wright were Green Beret soldiers.

A newly published United States Department of Defense (DoD) “cost of war” report showed, US taxpayers have shelled out $1.46 trillion for war since September 11, 2001, when the War on Terror began.

Report: US Spends $250 Million per Day for War on Terror Wed Nov 01, 2017
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960810001532

The report was published by the Federation of American Scientists Secrecy News blog and covers the period of September 11, 2001 to mid-2017,
TeleSUR reported.

This amounts to around $250 million per day.

As the report notes, nearly $1.3 trillion of the total cost spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars alone. On top of this, continuing operations in Afghanistan and the US-led air campaign in Iraq and Syria has totalled $120 billion.

US President Donald Trump promised to rebuild America’s military which he sees as less extravagant than it ever has been.

"Our active-duty armed forces have shrunk from 2 million in 1991 to about 1.3 million today," he said in a speech. "The Navy has shrunk from over 500 ships to 272 ships during this same period of time. The Air Force is about one-third smaller than 1991. Pilots flying B-52s in combat missions today. These planes are older than virtually everybody in this room."

Part of Trump’s plan to ‘rebuild’ the US’ military is to make sure that the military is "funded beautifully."

The Trump administration has proposed a $603 billion defense budget, which well exceeds the cap of $549 billion, and would require the US Congress to make spending cuts in other areas.

In July, the House of Representatives approved $696.5 billion in defense spending, which includes a base budget of $621.5 billion and $75 billion in ‘Overseas Contingency Operations dollars’, commonly referred to as ‘war money’. Conversely, the Senate passed a $640 billion base defense budget with a $60 billion allocation for war money. Both versions of the budget well exceed the Trump administration’s proposal, making this defense budget, by far, the largest defense budget in US history.

While the US’ current and proposed military spending is massive, the DoD’s “cost of war” report did not take into account other collateral costs of war, including veteran’s benefits and other related costs.

International Business Times notes that: “The report’s costs include only direct war-related expenses such as operating and maintaining bases, procuring equipment, and paying for and feeding troops.” The report does not include intelligence spending on the War on Terror, nor does it include veteran’s benefits.

Harvard Kennedy School professor Linda Bilmes estimated in 2011 that the cost of veteran’s benefits would range between $600 billion, $1 trillion. However, since Bilmes’ study, the number of veterans receiving benefits has skyrocketed. Current estimates project the figure to be $674 billion over the next 40 years.

The US intelligence apparatus also operates under a $52.6 billion annual operating budget, which includes 16 agencies, with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) soaking up the lion’s share of $14.7 billion, according to leaks that were revealed by Edward Snowden. The CIA spent $1 billion alone annually training and arming military opposition factions in Syria.

The report also does not take into account the large military-contractor economy that has surged around the War on Terror, which is currently valued at around $674.4 billion.

The War on Terror is the second most expensive war in US history, trailing well behind World War II, which costed an estimated $4.1 trillion in today’s dollars. For comparison, the long and drawn out Vietnam War costed around $770 billion, with an additional $250 billion if veteran’s benefits are taken into account.

U.S. military is the largest employer in the world Flashback June 17, 2015: Wal-Mart is largest private employer
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-military-is-the-largest-employer-in-the-world-2015-06-17

Travel on Uncle Sam’s dime and have taxpayers pay for your education—these are some of the perks offered by the U.S. military, and it appears its recruiting strategy is effective.

The U.S. Department of Defense has been named the largest employer in the world with 3.2 million employees on its payroll, according to the World Economic Forum.

The second largest is China’s People’s Liberation Army with 2.3 million on its staff roster and third biggest is Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT, +0.96% with 2.1 million employees.

McDonald’s Corp. MCD, +0.07% came in fourth with 1.9 million workers but the World Economic Forum noted the fast-food chain would be eliminated from the list if employees at its franchise restaurants weren't counted. “As the majority of its restaurants are franchises, this figure falls to 420,000 when they are excluded,” said the WEF.

The U.K. National Health Service comes in at fifth place while the remaining spots are taken by Chinese and Indian entities. Closing out the top 10 list is Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., also known as Foxconn Technology Group 2317, +0.00% the contractor for Apple Inc. AAPL, -1.47% and BlackBerry US:BBRY among others.

With the militaries of three countries in the top 10, it should be noted that the list would look very different if only active duty troops were counted. By that measure, China has the largest standing military in the world with 2.3 million while the U.S. follows at 1.6 million and India is third with 1.3 million, according to GlobalSecurity.org, a military-focused website.

 

[angelburst29]

An Israeli warplane fired several missiles towards the Syrian industrial city of Hassia in the Homs Governorate last night, a military source told Al-Masdar News.

Israeli warplane bombs Syrian industrial city in Homs 02/11/2017
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-warplane-bombs-syrian-industrial-city-homs/

The Israeli warplane fired the missiles towards Hassia while flying over Lebanese airspace late last night.

The missiles struck a storage warehouse in Hassia, causing a large explosion that could be heard from as far as Al-Qusayr near the Lebanese border.

In response to the Israeli bombing, the Syrian Air Defense fired a surface-to-air missile towards the warplane, but were unable to hit the intended target.

Israel has not yet commented on this latest bombing.

According to a Lebanese security service source, IDF carried out the airstrike from Lebanon's Beqaa area.

Israel Carries Out Airstrike Against Syrian Targets From Lebanon's Airspace
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711021058741642-israel-strikes-syria-lebanon/

Israeli aircraft have carried out an attack on targets in Syria from Lebanon's airspace, a Lebanese security service source told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"According to our information, Israeli aircraft carried out a missile strike on the territory of Syria from Lebanon's airspace in the Beqaa area," the source said.

Beqaa Governorate is located in eastern Lebanon, bordering Syria.

A Syrian air force source told Sputnik that the Syrian army's 72nd division launched surface-to-air missiles at Israeli planes in the Homs province in response to the airstrike.

In mid-October, the press service of Israel’s armed forces said the Air Force destroyed an anti-aircraft battery in Syria in response to attacks on Israeli planes. The Israeli Defense Force stressed later that it was not looking to escalate the situation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated earlier that Tel Aviv will continue to carry out airstrikes on targets in Syria, saying that IDF would conduct military operations if intelligence data confirms a planned weapons transfer and if the mission is "operationally feasible."

The Israeli military jets have once again violated the Syrian airspace.

Israeli Air Force raids a copper factory in Syria
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/israeli-air-force-raids-copper-factory.html

This time they attacked the industrial suburban area of Hasia'a, located the countryside of Homs province. In response, Syrian air defense systems launched several anti-aircraft missiles.

According to the field reports, the jets targeted a copper factory.

The Israeli media said Israeli military aircrafts carried out raids on the sites in the countryside of Homs province in Syria, noting that the Syrian Army responded by firing surface-to-air missiles.

The Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, while citing some Lebanese sources, reported that the Israeli aircrafts carried out their attack from the area of Mount Lebanon, where several explosions were heard.

The Syrian army targeted an Israeli jet with a surface-to-air missile over the country’s Homs province.

Syrian Army Targets Israeli Jet over Homs
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960811000406

A Syrian army commander said that the Israeli jet was targeted after it bombed a copper factory located to the South of Homs province, presstv said.

However, Israel's Channel 10 claimed that the aircraft returned unscathed to its base after bombing the factory in the industrial town of Hisya, 35 km (21 miles) South of Homs and 112 km (70 miles) North of the capital Damascus.

The Syrian commander did not say whether the Israeli strike had caused any casualties.

The Syrian government has announced that it will retaliate should Israel continue to conduct airstrikes on Syrian territory.

We Mean Business: Syria Will Fire Scuds at Israel in Response to Airstrikes Flash-back 26.03.2017
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201703261051967762-syria-israel-scuds-response/

Any further airstrikes on Syrian territory will be met with deadly force and retaliation strikes deep within Israeli soil, they said.

According to the message, delivered via Russian mediators, attacks on Syrian military objects will be met with Scud missiles launched at Israeli military (IDF) bases. If Israel attacks civilian infrastructure, Syrian missiles will be fired at Israel's Haifa port and petrochemical plant. The missiles will be launched without any prior notice, the statement said.

The notice follows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's March 20 statement that protecting its borders is the right and obligation of every nation.

"Syria's forceful response to the Israeli attacks changed the rules of the game," said Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Jaafari. He added that the threatened response is "appropriate and in line with Israel's terrorist operation," and that Israel "will now think a million times [before striking again]."

A large number of Iranian soldiers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are participating in the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) ongoing offensive to liberate the Islamic State (ISIS) occupied border-city of Albukamal in the Deir Ezzor Governorate, a military source in Damascus told Al-Masdar News.

Large Iranian force taking part in Albukamal offensive
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/large-iranian-force-taking-part-albukamal-offensive/

The IRGC soldiers are reportedly coordinating between the Syrian Arab Army, Hezbollah, Liwaa Fatemiyoun (Afghani-Iranian paramilitary), and Iraqi paramilitaries (primarily Hashd Al-Sha’abi) operating on both sides of the border.

Unlike the previous battles in southern Aleppo and Palmyra, the Syrian Army and IRGC are not relying on Russian choppers for assistance; instead, they are using several attack drones to clear the imperative Deir Ezzor-Albukamal Road.

These attack drones have proven incredibly effective, as their forces have already liberated more than 15km of territory east of the T-2 Pumping Station.

As the battle for Deir Ezzor City concludes, thousands of Syrian Arab Army and Russian military personnel are expected to arrive to this front to provide the adequate numbers needed to execute the last phase of Operation Dawn.

The Syrian Air Force targeted the ISIL positions in Eastern Deir Ezzur, blowing up the terrorists' base during military operations to reach their last bastion at borders with Iraq.

Syrian Fighter Jets Destroy ISIL Base in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960811000668

The Syrian bombers pounded the ISIL positions near al-Sawi'eiyeh bridge in Albu Kamal near the borders with Iraq on Thursday, smashing the ISIL base special to keeping the bomb-laden vehicles and killing all terrorists inside them.

Meantime, the Syrian fighter jets launched heavy strikes on ISIL positions in Badiyeh al-Sukhneh and areas near Hamimeh in Eastern Homs, inflicting heavy damage and casualties on the militants.

In a relevant development on Wednesday, Russian strategic Tu-22M3 bombers, which were covered by Su-30SM fighters deployed at the Hmeimim airbase in Lattakia, launched an airstrike on ISIL targets in Syria, according to the country's Defense Ministry's statement.

"Six long-range Tu-22M3 bombers took off from the territory of Russia that flew over the territory of Iran and Iraq have launched a massive airstrike on the terrorist targets near the city of Albu Kamal in the Deir Ezzur province," the statement said.

Russian reconnaissance means have confirmed the destruction of terrorists' fortified areas, arms and ammunition depots, the statement said.

The Syrian army forces won back control of a new region in Northeastern Hama during military operations against the al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) terrorist group on Thursday.

Syrian Army Regains Control of New Regions in Northern Hama
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960811000784

The army units engaged in heavy clashes with the al-Nusra terrorists at borders between the two provinces of Hama and Idlib, retaking control of the village of al-Forkeh.

Also, the artillery units of the Syrian army targeted the al-Nusra Front's moves in Western Salamiyeh last night, leaving tens of terrorists dead and wounded.

In a relevant development on Wednesday, the Syrian Army troops pushed the al-Nusra Front back from more territories in Northern Hama, coming further close to the Hama province's administrative border with terrorist-held province of Idlib in Northwestern Syria, field sources confirmed.

The sources said that the army forces captured a number of regions in Northern Hama, including Mosheirefeh Abu Lefeh, Jubb al-Jamlan, Rasm Abu Mayal, deployed in regions parallel to Idlib's border.

The Syrian army forces discovered and seized a major cache of ISIL weapons and explosives used to make bombs and prepare bomb-laden cars.

Army Forces Discover ISIL's Large Arms Cache in Eastern Hama
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960811000547

The engineering units of the Syrian army discovered the cache during purging operations in the village of Rasm al-Awamid in Eastern Hama on Thursday.

The depot contained a large amount of explosives, including monophosphate, sodium carbonate, barrels which contained white alcohol powder and flammable nitrogen as well as several barrels of TNT and C4.

Meantime, the Syrian army units seized a large number of hand-made weapons and missiles of the ISIL.

In a relevant development on Wednesday, the Syrian Army troops advanced further against the al-Nusra (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) in Northern Hama on Wednesday, inching closer to the key bastion of the terrorists.

More than 200 members of the terrorist groups in Northeastern Aleppo who laid down arms and applied for amnesty were pardoned by Damascus.

Over 200 Gunmen Receive Gov't Amnesty in Northeastern Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960811000371

The militants, who endorsed the peace agreement with the Syrian Army in the town of Manbij, received government amnesty from the peace committee on Thursday and returned to normal life.

In a relevant development last month, over 100 members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) that laid down arms and applied for amnesty were pardoned by Damascus, the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria reported.

The Russian center said that 120 FSA militants, who endorsed the peace agreement with the Syrian Army in Northern Aleppo, received government amnesty and returned to normal life.

The Syrian government has given some militants an opportunity to return to a normal life, grants amnesty to them.

Nearly 200 Militants Surrender to Syrian Authorities in Aleppo - Russian MoD
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711021058745368-syria-militants-aleppo/

The reconciliation center and the Syrian authorities agreed to withdraw the members of illegal armed groups from the northern part of Aleppo, ensure their safe passage and further amnesty," Soslan Tseboyev, the center's representative told reporters, adding that a total of 198 militants had surrendered.

Tseboyev noted that the militants had left the territory which is not controlled by the Syrian government via a security checkpoint. The Syrian security forces performed body searches, while the Russian side ensured the security of the area. All the militants were unarmed, and many of them were wounded, he added.

Abdullah Hussein, a representative of the Aleppo provincial administration, has confirmed that many of the surrendered militants will be granted amnesty.

The Turkish authorities arrested three people for paying tribute to the late Syrian military officer, Major General Issam Zahreddine, in the Hatay Province, the ABC Gazetsi reported yesterday.

Turkish authorities arrest three people for paying tribute to Syrian General Issam Zahreddine
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-authorities-arrest-three-people-paying-tribute-syrian-general-issam-zahreddine/

According to the report, the three people responsible for the memorial service commemorating General Zahreddine in the Turkish town of Defne were arrested and charged with “making propaganda.”

The Turkish authorities have stated that this case is confidential and will not release details.

General Issam Zahreddine was killed on October 18th while fighting the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in the Deir Ezzor Governorate – he was 56 years old.

 

[angelburst29]

The Turkish military build-up in northern Syria continued, today, after another large convoy entered the Idlib Governorate from the Hatay Province.

Turkish military build-up in Syria continues as large convoy enters Idlib province
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-military-build-syria-continues-large-convoy-enters-idlib-province/

At least 30 armored vehicles were seen entering the Idlib Governorate via the Atmeh border-crossing this afternoon, marking the second in two weeks that Ankara has sent a large force to Syria. This move by Ankara comes just weeks after Russia and Turkey agreed to setup another de-escalation zone in this part of northern Syria.

The Turkish Army convoy is now positioned just south of the Afrin Canton, which is controlled by the Kurdish PYD regime and their military wing.

Militant-affiliated websites reported on Friday that hundreds of Chinese terrorists trained by the Turkish intelligence officers have arrived in Northern Hama after intensifying clashes between the Syrian Army and Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board).

Hundreds of Turkey-backed Chinese Militants Arrive in Syria to Fight Gov't Forces
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960812000158

The websites reported that hundreds of militants of al-Sini (Chinese) al-Turkistani terrorist group have deployed in Northern Hama.

The websites added that the newly-arrived terrorists have been equipped with the most modern weapons, adding that the terrorists have been trained by the Turkish intelligence service to join war on the Syrian army in the provinces of Lattakia, Idlib and Hama.

In the meantime, field sources reported that tens of Chinese terrorists have been killed in clashes with the army men in Northern Hama in the last few days.

The websites said on Wednesday that hundreds of Free Syrian Army (FSA) terrorists united with the al-Nusra Front militants in Northeastern Hama against the Syrian army.

The news websites said that after the Syrian army advanced in the Northeastern parts of Hama and regained controlled of several regions, hundreds of FSA members entered battle against the army soldiers along with the al-Nusra terrorists.

They added that two groups of Jeish al-Izzah and Jeish Idlib Hor, affiliated to the FSA, united with al-Nusra.

Meantime, the FSA-linked Ferqat al-Wosta group also engaged in clashes with the Syrian army in Northeastern Hama.

The Turkish Army has started entering Northern Lattakia to carry out reconnaissance operations after they ignored the Astana agreement over de-escalation zone in Idlib by dispatching more troops, an Arab media outlet reported on Friday.

Syria: Turkish Military Invasion Expands from Idlib to Lattakia Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960812000186

The Arabic-language al-Watan daily reported border regions with Turkey in Western Idlib and Northern Lattakia have been witnessing military movements by the Ankara forces.

In the meantime, dissident-affiliated websites disclosed that the Turkish army has been carrying out reconnaissance operations from Bedama region in Jisr al-Shughour in Southwestern Idlib up to the border regions in Northern Lattakia that are under terrorists' control.

Also, social media activists reported that the Turkish forces have deployed in front of Khirbet al-Joz passageway in Western Idlib, preparing to enter the border region.

A terrorist commander disclosed last month that a long convoy of Turkish Army vehicles was forwarded to Idlib province in Northwestern Syria, adding that the convoy was the largest military column Ankara has thus far sent for a Syria mission.

The longest military convoy of the Turkish army, including over fifty vehicles, entered the small border town of Kafr Lusin and later moved to the small town of Qah in Northern Idlib, the militant-affiliated websites quoted Hazifah al-Taher, a commander of the Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board), as saying.

The websites further said that 80 Turkish soldiers, deployed in Kafr Lusin, crossed the border into Northern Idlib.

Hazifah al-Taher further told the websites that the Turkish convoy was forwarded to Idlib to take control over a key base that overlooked the town of Afrin in Qala'a Sam'an in Western Aleppo.

A massive convoy of Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers departed from the provincial capital of Deir Ezzor for the T-2 Pumping Station in the southwestern part of the province.

Massive Syrian Army convoy heads towards Iraqi border for Albukamal offensive (Video)
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/massive-syrian-army-convoy-heads-towards-iraqi-border-albukamal-offensive/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w48QgMUB958 (1:50 min.)

According to a military source, the large convoy heading towards the T-2 Pumping Station was comprised of several tanks, infantrymen, and military equipment.

These Syrian Army reinforcements will be participating in the ongoing offensive to liberate the Islamic State’s (ISIS) de facto capital, Albukamal, near the Iraqi border. Video footage showing part of this large convoy was released by a pro-government news channel on YouTube:

Syrians living in the occupied Golan Heights took to the streets on Friday to protest the alleged Israeli support for the terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir Al Sham (Al Nusra Front).

Syrians in Golan Heights accuse Israel of aiding Al Nusra Front [Video]
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/syrians-in-golan-heights-accuse-israel.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rwB9kWccgA (1:02 min.)

The demonstrations come, following the deadly terrorist attack on the town of Hadar, located in the countryside of the southwestern Syrian province of Quneitra.

On Friday morning, Hay’at Tahrir Al Sham (Al Nusra Front) terrorists detonated a car bomb in a crowded residential area at the outskirts of the predominantly Druze town of Hadar. At least nine people were killed and 23 left injured. The death toll is expected to rise as most of the injured are in a critical condition.

Later, the terrorists began targeting the scene of the attack with gunfire and rocket shells, triggering a response from the Syrian Army who killed scores of the terrorists while clashing with them.

According to some sources, the Israeli Defense Forces then began secretly aiding the terrorists to make their way into Kurs Al Nafl, located northwest of Hadar in direction of Israeli border.

In order to help their people in need, hundreds of Druzes living in the Golan Heights began heading towards the town of Hadar to help the victims and their families.

When they tried to cross the ceasefire line, they were, however, forced to return as the Israeli Defense Forces blocked all paths leading towards the Syrian border.

Some people were convinced the Israelis made their move in order to prevent the people from helping those in need, accusing them of collaborating with Al Nusra Front.

As a result, hundreds of them took to the streets, accusing Israel of providing direct support to Hay’at Tahrir Al Sham (Al Nusra Front) terrorists.

The Syrian Army troops seized a large quantity of weapons from the retreating ISIL forces in Deir Ezzur province.

ISIL's Large Arms Depot Seized by Syrian Army in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960812000505

The army soldiers uncovered several storage facilities in ISIL's positions amid the terrorist group's retreating from the battlefields in the Eastern province of Deir Ezzur, AMN reported on Friday.

The army men found a large weapons depot in Deir Ezzur city while clearing several neighborhoods once controlled by the terrorist group.

According to a military source, the total amount of weapons seized in Deir Ezzur city is expected to greatly exceed the cache from liberated al-Mayadeen.

Officers from the Russian Defense Ministry’s International Demining Center defused 275 explosive devices in Deir Ezzur city in the past 24 hours, the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria said in a statement on Friday.

Russian Sappers Defuse 275 Explosive Devices in Syria’s Deir Ezzur in One Day
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960812000483

“25 hectares of the city’s territory and its suburbs have been explored, as well as four kilometers of roads and six buildings over the past 24 hours. As many as 275 explosive devices have been cleared,” the statement read, AMN reported.

The Syrian military sources confirmed on Friday that Deir Ezzur city, the biggest in the country's East and the last stronghold of the ISIL terrorist group, has fully come under government control.

Syrian Army Fully Liberates Deir Ezzur City
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960812000339

After the three-year-long siege of Deir Ezzur was broken on September 5, the Syrian government forces announced on Friday that they have cleared the city from last ISIL fighters, which marks another key defeat for the terrorist group, which has recently lost most of the territory it occupied in Iraq and Syria in 2014, Sputnik reported.

Earlier a news service run by the Syrian army's ally Hezbollah had reported that the Syrian army gained control of al-Hamidiyeh, Sheikh Yassin, al-Arzi and al-Roshdiyeh districts, and prepared to enter the final district held by terrorists.

On Friday, the Syrian Army finally assumed full control over the entire city of Deir Ez Zour, following the elimination of the last ISIS gathering in the city.

Full liberation of Deir Ez Zour is a devastating blow to both, ISIS and the US-led coalition "fighting" it
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/full-liberation-of-deir-ez-zour-is.html

“Units of the Syrian Arab Army, in cooperation with the allied and supporting forces, have accomplished the mission of fully liberating the city of Deir Ez Zour from ISIS terrorists ,” a military source said on Friday.

During the process of final liberation of the city, scores of ISIS terrorists, their prominent leaders including, were killed and their weapons and equipment destroyed.

Military sources affirmed that the army units seized all ISIS ammunition depots left in the city.

Right after assuming full control of the city, the Army’s engineering units began sweeping the streets, roads, squares and buildings in the liberated neighborhoods to remove any land mines or IEDs left over by ISIS terrorists.

The Army’s Deir Ez Zour mission started months ago already. In September, the Syrian Forces managed to lift the 3-year-long siege of Deir Ez Zour city.

The full liberation of the eastern city of Deir Ez Zour is an important step made by the Syrian Army towards the complete destruction of ISIS in Syria and represents a major blow to the terrorist group.

It is, however, no less a devastating blow to the US-led “anti-ISIS” international coalition, which is in fact aiming at prolonging the existence of ISIS in order to further push the anti-Syrian agenda.

Syrian film director, Mohammad Bayazid, was recently exposed faking his own assassination in an effort to garner financial support to promote his work.

Syrian opposition film director fakes own assassination to finance film
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-opposition-film-director-fakes-assassination-finance-film/

Bayazid’s plan was exposed when one of his own producers, Mohammad Al-Hindi, released footage of the film director stating that he was going to fake his own assassination in effort to frame the Syrian government.

The fake assassination was supposed bolster support for his film about a Syrian-American that was a prisoner at the Palmyra Prison for 20 years; however, his plan would backfire when his dishonesty was revealed. The video footage below was posted all over pro-government news pages; it shows Bayazid revealing his own plan.

A leaked video has been released online with Syrian director Mohammed Bayazid plotting his own assassination.

VIDEO: Syrian director fakes assassination attempt to blame government
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/video-syrian-director-fakes.html

The assassination attempts were then to be blamed on the Syrian government.

Bayazid was located in Turkey's Instanbul during the faked assassination attempts and hoped his faked assassination attempt would promote his anti-Syrian government film. A friend of the director leaked the video.

The U.S. delivered a large quantity of hellfire missiles to the Lebanese Army, Thursday, the National News Agency (NNA) reported.

US supplies Lebanese Army with hellfire missiles
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-supplies-lebanese-army-hellfire-missiles/

The Lebanese Army confirmed the delivery and added that their forces also received a large quantity of ammunition and 60mm mortar shells.

This weapons delivery to the Lebanese Army is part of the U.S.’ military assistance program that helps smaller states like Lebanon in the region. No further details were released.

 

[angelburst29]

Syrian news agency SANA reports that two civilians have been killed and several have received shrapnel wounds as a result of the terrorists' artillery attack.

Terrorists Shell Central Damascus - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711041058811087-terrorists-shell-central-damascus/

According to reports, militants have opened fire on the center of the Syrian capital Damascus with several shells exploding in the central Abbasid square.

Sources in Syria's police office say shelling has caused significant material damage.

Over the past few months the number of shelling cases in the Old City of the Syrian capital has grown significantly. On Tuesday terrorists shelled the central Al-Ameen Street in Damascus, injuring five civilians.

Since January parties to the conflict together with negotiation's brokers — Russia, Turkey and Iran — have been conducting talks on Syrian peace settlement in the Kazakhstan's capital — Astana. The seventh round of negotiations took place earlier this week and, according to some sources at the talks, sides were discussing the possibility of establishing a new de-escalation zone in southern Damascus.

Damascus condemned strongly Israeli forces' continued attacks on Syrian civilians and their properties, waring about the repercussions of Tel Aviv's support for the terrorist groups through financing and arming them.

Syria Calls for Immediate Halt to Israeli Flagrant Attacks on Syrian Civilians
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960813000465

The Syrian Foreign Ministry addressed two letters to the UN Secretary General and Chairman of the Security Council (UNSC) complaining about the Israeli forces' attack on a copper factory in Hassyah industrial zone in Homs province, The ministry said that Israeli aircrafts fired four missiles, from the Lebanese airspace, at a copper factory in Hassyah industrial zone in Homs province at 21:25 PM on Wednesday.

It added that the Israeli continued attacks on the Syrian Arab Republic comes in response to the great victories achieved by the Syrian Army against terrorist groups, particularly Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) and ISIL, noting that these attacks are a systematic behavior of the occupation authorities in order to protect terrorists and to raise their morale after their collapse in most of Syrian territory.

The Al-Qaeda linked Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham rebel group launched a major offensive in the Golan Heights, today, targeting the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) controlled town of Hader in a bid to break the siege on the Beit Jinn pocket.

Israel-backed jihadists beaten back by Syrian Army in the Golan Heights
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israel-backed-jihadists-beaten-back-syrian-army-golan-heights/

Backed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), HTS and their allies managed to break-through the Syrian Army’s lines at the western outskirts of Hader when two suicide bombers scored direct hits on their positions.

As a result of this attack, HTS captured several points while also killing at least a half dozen civilians inside the predominately Druze town of Hader.

According to eyewitnesses in Israeli-occupied Majdal Al-Shams, the Israeli Defense Forces provided support to the Al-Qaeda linked rebels that were attacking the Syrian government positions near the town of Hader.

In response to this assault, the Syrian Arab Army sent a large number of reinforcements to Hader to help drive back the jihadist forces from the town’s western outskirts.

The counter-assault would prove successful, as the Syrian Army recovered several points, including the Al-Waseet Checkpoint and Qars Al-Nafl hilltop.

Backed by close support from their Air Force, the Syrian Army is now attempting to retake Tal Al-Harrah from the jihadist forces.

The Israeli-backed jihadists of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham suffered a large number of casualties during their failed offensive in the Golan Heights region of the Al-Quneitra Governorate, Friday, a Syrian Arab Army (SAA) source told Al-Masdar News.

Graphic: Scores of Israeli-backed jihadists eliminated in failed Golan Heights offensive
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/graphic-scores-israeli-backed-jihadists-eliminated-failed-golan-heights-offensive/

Initially, the Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group managed to seize several hilltops and checkpoints west of Hader, a government stronghold near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights border.

However, Syrian Army reinforcements arrived before nightfall on Friday to help recover the areas they lost in the Golan Heights earlier in the day.

According to a military source, the Syrian Arab Army has recaptured all of the sites they lost, including the strategic hilltops of Tal Al-Harrah and Qars Al-Nafl.

Pro-government activists in the Golan Heights released several images of dead HTS jihadists near the strategic town of Hader: A military source told Al-Masdar News that 16 soldiers from Syrian Army and National Defense Forces (NDF) were killed during the jihadist assault.

The total number of jihadists killed during the attack is still unknown; however, it is estimated between 20 and 30.

Tel Aviv and Damascus that have been in the state of war since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, have repeatedly exchanged tit-for-tat attacks.

Damascus Calls Israel 'Agent of Terrorism' After Airstrike on Syrian Factory
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711021058767118-syria-israel-attack-factory/

The Syrian Foreign Ministry has sent a letter to the UN Security Council over an Israeli airstrike on a copper factory in Hassia area in Syria's Homs province, according to the ministry's documents published on Thursday.

Yet another aggression of Israel… shows that Israeli authorities are not satisfied with the state terrorism against the Arab population in occupied Palestine, Syria and Lebanon. They want to play the role of the official agent of terrorism," the ministry's document read, as quoted by the SANA news agency.

Damascus' statement comes a day after a Lebanese security service source told Sputnik that Israeli aircraft had carried out an attack on targets in Syria
from Lebanon's airspace.

The 33rd prime minister of Lebanon said that he fears there's a "plot to target his life," according to local media.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri Announces Sudden Resignation - Reports
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711041058812587-lebanese-prime-minister-saad-hariri-resignation/

In a televised address on Saturday, Prime Minister Hariri announced an unexpected resignation saying the atmosphere in the country resembles that before the assassination of his father, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, who was killed in 2005.

The politician pointed out he "sensed what is being plotted covertly to target my life," according to Reuters.

Hariri also lashed out at Iran and its ally Hezbollah, a Shi'ite militia operating in Lebanon for interfering in the affairs of Arab countries. He added that Tehran's arms in the region will be cut off. DETAILS TO FOLLOW

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) welcome the US's ever-increasing presence in Syria, although all this technically constitutes an invasion and has never been condoned by the country's government in Damascus.

My World, My Rules? US Creates Another Base in Syria, SDF Reveals
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711041058806924-syria-raqqa-us-military-base/

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the SDF's senior official said that the US had created a military base in the Syrian city of Raqqa, which was recently liberated from Daesh terrorists.

The United States is building military bases in the areas freed by our forces from terrorists. We consider it to be the right strategy. Recently, America created a military base at the entrance to the territory of Raqqa, in the Jezra neighborhood," the official said.

He explained that the neighborhood was chosen by the Americans because it was slightly damaged during a military operation in Raqqa and can now be seen as the city's safest area.

In addition, there are no mine traps or explosives in Jezra, according to him.

"The base and the adjacent territory are reliably protected by American soldiers. No one, except these soldiers and SDF fighters, has access to the base," the official concluded.

In an interview with Sputnik on Friday, Muhammed Kheir al-Akkam, professor of international relations at the University of Damascus, specifically pointed to the US's "fully coordinated move to replace Daesh with the SDF" in Syria.

Al-Akkam accused the US of paying lip-service to fighting terrorism and financing both Daesh and the SDF. He emphasized that "the US does not want the end of the Syrian war until their goals [there] are achieved."

In another development on Friday, the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria said that the US had established a military base near the town of At Tanf on the Syria-Iraq border without the Syrian government's permission and banned anyone from coming within 55 kilometers. According to the Center, the base's proximity to the Rukban refugee camp precludes humanitarian access and may be considered a war crime.

A senior U.S. official allegedly met with Syria’s intelligence chief, ‘Ali Mamlouk, in Damascus this week, Reuters News Agency reported on Friday.

US official meets with Syrian intelligence chief in Damascus – report
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-official-meets-syrian-intelligence-chief-damascus-report/

According to the publication, the U.S. official was in Damascus to discuss a number of issues, including the imprisonment of several CIA operatives in Syria.

The regional official did not name the U.S. official who met Ali Mamlouk, Syria’s national security chief,” Reuters claimed.

“During the meeting, Mamlouk protested to the U.S. official that U.S. forces ‘are on Syrian land and this is considered occupation’,’ the regional official said. The U.S. official responded that ‘our presence is advisory and we are fighting Daesh,’ the regional official added, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State,” the Reuters report added.

Al-Masdar reached out to a Syrian government source for confirmation, but they were unable to confirm or deny these claims.

The Syrian Arab Army liberated the strategic city of Deir Ezzor, Friday, after a two month long operation that began with the lifting of the siege on the provincial capital.

Syrian Army shifts attention to Albukamal, ISIL’s last stand in Syria
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-shifts-attention-albukamal-isils-last-stand-syria/

Now that the provincial capital has been completely cleansed of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS), the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) high command has shifted its attention to the terrorist stronghold of Albukamal near the Iraqi border.

Albukamal is not only an Islamic State stronghold, it is also the last major city under the control of the aforementioned terrorist group.

Leading this operation to liberate Albukamal will be the Syrian Arab Army’s elite Tiger Forces; they were the same unit that liberated Deir Ezzor City, Al-Sukhnah, and Palmyra.

While the Tiger Forces will lead the operation to liberate Albukamal, they will receive a major boost from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Liwaa Fatemiyoun (Afghani-Iranian paramilitary), Hezbollah, and the Iraqi forces across the border.

In the coming days, the Tiger Forces are expected to make the short trip from Deir Ezzor City to the T-2 Pumping Station in order to liberate the last areas under ISIS control.

The Russian Ministry of Defence released footage of the Russian Air Force as it launched a massive air strike on targets of the so-called Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) in the Syrian residential area of Albukamal, Friday.

Russian airstrike hits IS targets in Albukamal
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-airstrike-hits-targets-albukamal-video/

At a press briefing, the Russian Defence Ministry`s spokesman said that the air strike from the Khmeimim Air Base inflicted a “devastating damage” to ISIS terrorists and their “fortified zones, arms and munitions warehouses, militant gatherings and important command points” in Albukamal.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the use of Su-24 and Su-34 bombers and Su-30Sm, Su-35 and MiG-29 fighters in the air strike.

The Defence Ministry official had also pointed out in his statement that the Russian Air Force airstrike facilitated the Syrian troops’ intensive offensive against the militants stronghold in the east of Syria.

 

[angelburst29]

Syrian state TV reported that dozens had been killed and injured in newly-liberated Deir Ez-Zor when an explosion rocked a local refugee camp.

At Least 100 People Killed in Explosion in Deir Ez-Zor, Syria
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201711051058827130-syria-explosion-deir-ez-zor/

At least 100 people were killed in the deadly blast, which took place at a refugee center near the city of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, the country's state media reported Sunday.

According to the Syrian state television, dozens of people were injured.

The incident took place at a major refugee center to the northwest of Deir ez-Zor, where the suicide bomber detonated an explosive device installed in his car. The refugee center is located in the area between Koniko and Jafra. The exact number of victims is unknown.

Responsibility for the attack was not assumed by any of the terrorist organizations.

According to the media reports, the majority of the victims of the terrorist attack are women and children.

At least 100 people were killed and many more were left wounded, after ISIS terrorists detonated a car bomb on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in the eastern Syrian province of Deir Ez Zour, on Saturday evening, Al Alam and Al Mayadeen report.

100 Killed after ISIS terrorists target displaced people in Syria's Deir Ez Zour
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/100-killed-after-isis-terrorists.html

The attack comes a day after Syrian Forces declared Deir Ez Zour city (the provincial capital), to be finally free of ISIS.

The terrorists reportedly targeted a camp for internally displaced people. Among the dead, there are lots of women and children. Details to follow...

The Syrian police has found a mass grave in the town of Deir Hafer in Eastern Aleppo, containing the bodies of eight people killed by the ISIL, Aleppo Police Chief Gen. Issam al-Shelli said Sunday.

Mass Grave of Civilians Killed by Terrorists Unearthed in Northern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960814000583

Al-Shelli reported that the mass grave contains the bodies of eight civilians murdered by ISIL on 26 of August, 2014 for raising the Syrian flag in various areas in Deir Hafer, adding that preliminary investigations and local testimonies indicated that the victims were imprisoned for a month before the terrorists killed them and left their bodies hanging for three days in the town square.

He further said that after receiving information about the mass grave on Saturday, police patrols headed to the site and recovered the eight bodies then sent them to forensic experts, adding that four of the victims were identified by their families via the remains of their clothes.

In relevant developments but in Raqqa province in May, The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) discovered a mass grave of the Syrian soldiers and government staff killed by ISIL terrorists in al-Tabaqa city in Western Raqqa while carrying out a clean-up operation.

The sources said that the Kurdish fighters found a mass grave with hundreds of bodies of the army men and government bodies' staff killed and buried by the ISIL terrorists in a desert region 4km East of al-Tabaqa city.

The sources said that the ISIL killed and buried the soldiers and government staff after capturing al-Tabaqa in 2014.

Local witnesses also confirmed that ISIL executed hundreds of soldiers that were guards of a military airport in al-Tabaqa region. The sources added that most of the victims were beheaded by the ISIL.

Several fighters from the Iraqi paramilitary, Hashd Al-Sha’abi (trans. Popular Mobilization Units), entered Syria from Iraq’s Al-Anbar Governorate, members of this group reported last night.

Iraqi fighters enter Syria to block US-backed forces from taking Albukamal – report
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-fighters-enter-syria-block-us-backed-forces-taking-albukamal-report/

According to these fighters from Hashd Al-Sha’abi, they entered Syria to block the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from taking the border-city of Albukamal in Deir Ezzor’s southeastern countryside.

While Al-Masdar cannot confirm these claims at the moment, there is a large IRGC and Hezbollah presence near the Iraqi border; it is believed Hashd Al-Sha’abi is coordinating with these groups to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) at Albukamal.

The Iraqi Armed Forces liberated the border-city of Al-Qa’im on Friday, ending the Islamic State’s long reign over this imperative crossing that links Iraq’s Al-Anbar Governorate and Syria’s Deir Ezzor.

The Israeli military threatened to launch an incursion into Syria “to protect” the people of a village populated by the Arab country’s Druze minority, who are themselves supportive of the Syrian government.

Israel Threatens to Launch Incursion Into Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960814000385

“In recent hours, we witness the intensifying of the fighting at the area of the Druze village of Hader in the Syrian part of the Golan Heights,” Ronen Manelis, an Israeli military spokesperson, said in a statement, which was carried by The Jerusalem Post.

The military “is prepared and ready to assist the residents of the village and prevent damage to or the capture of the village Hader out of commitment to the Druze population,” he further claimed.

Since a war in 1967, Israel has occupied two-thirds of Syria’s Golan Heights.

The Hader Village, however, is situated in the part of the territory that is under Damascus’ control, and its population is aligned with the Syrian government, casting doubts about Israel’s real motives in possibly launching an incursion into Syrian territory.

The official Syrian Arab News Agency earlier reported that at least six people had been killed and 21 others wounded in a car bomb attack targeting the village by the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, which was formerly known as al-Nusra Front.

Israel has been widely reported to be providing medical treatment to al-Nusra in Golan.

Tel Aviv has also several times targeted territory inside Syria, often claiming that it strikes convoys heading for the fighters of the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah.

The Hezbollah fighters have been helping the Syrian military fight Fateh al-Sham and Daesh.

Takfiri groups such as Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) and al-Nusra have never attacked Israel despite operating close to Syria’s borders with Israel over the past three years.

In April, Israel’s former minister of military affairs, Moshe Ya’alon, admitted to a tacit alliance with Daesh, saying the Takfiri group had “immediately apologized” to Tel Aviv after firing “once” into Israel.

In September 2016, Israeli lawmaker Akram Hasson criticized Israel for supporting Takfiri terrorists in Syria, saying that the Fateh al-Sham terrorist group was operating in Syria with “unprecedented logistical and medical” support from Tel Aviv.

He said Israel’s escalation of attacks on the Syrian army positions in the Golan Heights had been aimed at paving the way for the terrorist group to gain more ground.

He said that Fateh al-Sham was bombing the Syrian Druze village of Khadr, with the support of the Israeli minister of military affairs, Avigdor Lieberman. Citing eyewitnesses, Hasson said the Takfiris were using advanced technological equipment, adding that Israel’s strategic support had been broadened over the past few months.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today that the Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will soon hold a meeting in Vietnam where they will discuss several important issues, the settlement of the Syrian crisis including.

Putin and Trump to meet in Vietnam
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/putin-and-trump-to-meet-in-vietnam.html

During a press conference on Saturday, Peskov said that arrangements are being made to prepare a meeting between the two leaders, where particular attention will be paid to the settlement of the Syrian crisis.

The meeting will take place in scope of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which will be held between November 10th and 11th in Vietnam.

Peskov pointed out to plenty of the topics to be discussed, stressing they are in the interest of both, Kremlin and the White House.

He noted that the settlement of the Syrian crisis has recently seen lots of positive developments, adding that the whole thing now requires more joint efforts and coordination between different sides in order to take it to a whole new level so that the crisis itself would be over much sooner.

Ottawa, Canada - 30 Russian citizens have had sanctions placed against them by the Canadian government, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Canada places sanctions on 30 Russian individuals
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/canada-places-sanctions-on-30-russian.html

"Canada is determined to protect human rights and combat corruption worldwide," the country’s foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland said in connection with the sanctions.

"Today's announcement sends a clear message that Canada will take action against individuals who have profited from acts of significant corruption or who have been involved in gross violations of human rights," she continued.

The Canadian authorities will freeze all the banking assets of the blacklisted persons and will ban entry to the Canadian territory for them.

A spokesman for the Russian diplomatic mission in Ottawa, Kirill Kalinin, told TASS that Moscow will retaliate to the new sanctions placed on Russian individuals by Canada.

Moscow retaliates to Canadian sanctions against Russian individuals
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/11/moscow-retaliates-to-canadian-sanctions.html

"Canada’s decision on extending anti-Russian sanctions under a false pretext of a hypocritical protection of human rights is absolutely senseless and reprehensible," the diplomat said.

By taking these steps, Ottawa "is isolating itself from one of the key global powers" and "pushes Canada’s foreign policy back to the narrow black and white worldview, incompatible with modern geopolitics," he stressed.

"At the moment, dozens of Canadians have been banned from entering Russia. This is not our choice, but in case of new sanctions our response will be unchanged and reciprocal in terms of amount and quality," the diplomat said.

It was earlier reported by FRN that Canada’s government imposed sanctions on 30 Russian citizens under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, which is also known as the Sergei Magnitsky Act.

 

[Cosmos]

The US is seriously loosing it. No wonder that it gets so confusing for them, since they have to reconcile so many contradicting lies and try to spin it into a more or less "coherent picture" at the same time:

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The scary thing is, that the final stage of that schizophrenic nonsense isn't even reached yet I think. It will only get worse, although it already looks like it can't get worse!

Meanwhile the russians announced, that they are confident, that by the end of the year syria will be cleaned from terrorists. As we speak, less then 5% of the country remain under IS rule. When the russians came in, over 70% of the country was under IS rule and by some estimates as many as 90% of the country! We are not there yet, but I think we can safely say, that the russian intervention was a huge success, for the time being.

Now the deep state is struggling, I think like never before, to get their plans back in order. They sort of see what is happening with their grand plans in syria (although that "seeing" is largely based on wishful thinking), and since we are talking about Psychopaths here, they can't loose.

Now they are trying hard to paint their other bodies, namely Al Quaida (now morphed into Al-Nusra) as not so bad after all (yes, those "who did" 9/11), to accomplish their goals in syria. As it looks now, that insane strategy doesn't hold any water for success either on the ground. Then, they have their Kurdish fighters as another option, and this as well has not much chances of success, since even the kurds themselves are getting very suspicious about trusting the US, after what they promised and then did with the kurds in Iraq. If the russians succeed with their diplomacy in turkey, and it looks good so far, the US is pretty much out. Then we have heads of countries like Iraq, who seriously publicly start to say: "NO America, not anymore, go home!".

In short; the US seems to be cornered in syria and about to loose it completely, and there isn't much they can do about it. Psychopaths don't like that at all.

 

[bjorb]

[quote author= Pashalis]In short; the US seems to be cornered in syria and about to loose it completely, and there isn't much they can do about it. Psychopaths don't like that at all.[/quote]

That’s right. In their wishful thinking they probably believed that they can, even to this day stop the total liberation of Syria and somehow turn the tide. I can imagine that these Deep State figures will reach a new level of hysteria and insanity when they finally realize that they lost against Russia in Syria. It surely isn’t going to get pretty.