10.05.2018 - Explosions Heard on Israeli-Syria Border, Israeli Emergency Sirens Activated
Explosions Heard on Israeli-Syria Border, Israeli Emergency Sirens Activated
Emergency sirens sounded in the Golan Heights Wednesday night, as conflict broke out across the Israel-Syria border allegedly between Israeli forces and the Iranian forces in Syria. In turn, Israeli jets reportedly fired a barrage of rockets into Syria on Thursday, hitting several military sites.
Israeli residents along the country's tense border with Syria were urged to take cover in shelters. Some projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense systems. The attack was first reported by the Army Radio network operated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF said no injuries had been reported. The army said it viewed the attack "with great severity" and was prepared for a "wide variety of scenarios."
Social media users reported that Israeli tanks fired at positions in Syria, Israeli air sorties were initiated, and that Syrian artillery shelled Israeli targets.
Recent tensions in the area spurred the Israel Defense Forces to send military vehicles, troops, and missile interceptors to Golan Heights earlier in the day. Israel had been on high alert already after the country claimed to detect unusual "Iranian activity" in Syria. On Tuesday, after US President Donald Trump exited the Iran nuclear deal, Israeli attacks in
Syria reportedly killed eight Iranians.
09/05/2018 - Large Russian military plane lands at Hmaymim airport after flying through Turkey
Large Russian military plane lands at Hmaymim airport after flying through Turkey
A Russian Tu-154M flew from the Chkalovsky Airport to the Hmaymim Military Airbase in southwest Latakia yesterday, Yoruk Isik of the Bosphorous Observer reported.
According to Isik, the Tu-154M left the Russian Chkalovsky Airport and traveled through Turkish airspace before arriving at the Hmaymim Airbase yesterday.
According to Isik, the Tu-154M left the Russian Chkalovsky Airport and traveled through Turkish airspace before arriving at the Hmaymim Airbase yesterday.
Large Russian military plane lands at Hmaymim airport after flying through Turkey.
The purpose of the flight is still unknown.
09/05/2018 - General Ayoub visits Hmeimem base on occasion of Russia victory in WWII
General Ayoub visits Hmeimem base on occasion of Russia victory in WWII – Syrian Arab News Agency
Upon the directives of Commander-in-Chief of the Army and armed forces, President Bashar al-Assad, Minister of Defense Ali Abdullah Ayoub, visited Hmeimem military base and offered congratulations on behalf of President al-Assad and the army to Russian soldiers and officers on the 73rd anniversary of victory in World War II.
General Ayoub underlined the importance of political and military support provided by the Russian friends to Syria in its war against terrorism and its supporters.
Later on, Gen. Ayoub, joined by Chief of Russian forces in Syria Alexander Jouravlev, visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and laid wreaths of flowers on it while the music of the Russian army was played. They also toured the museum specialized in the activities of the Russian military forces and the strong relations binding Syria and Russia, after which they attended a military parade for Russian and Syrian army units.
On May 9th, Russia marks the anniversary of victory over Nazism in World War II.
10/05/2018 - Breaking: Massive confrontation breaks out between Israeli and Syrian forces near occupied Golan Heights
Breaking: Massive confrontation breaks out between Israeli and Syrian forces near occupied Golan Heights
(1:30 A.M.) – At approximately 1:00 A.M. (Damascus Time), the Israeli military fired several artillery shells towards the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions in the Al-Quneitra Governorate city of Al-Ba’ath.
The Syrian Army responded by firing missiles towards an IDF base in the occupied Golan Heights – no confirmation on whether or not anything hit its target.
The Israeli Defense Forces then responded with their own barrage, which resulted in the Syrian military attempting to intercept the Israeli missiles.
No casualties have been confirmed.
The exchange is still ongoing between the two forces, with both sides firing missiles at one another.
10/05/2018 - Israel says 20 rockets fired by Iranians towards occupied Golan Heights
Israel says 20 rockets fired by Iranians towards occupied Golan Heights
(2:05 A.M.) – The official Twitter account of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed tonight that at least 20 rockets were fired by Iran’s Al-Quds Force towards the occupied Golan Heights.
“About an hour ago, IDF defense systems identified approximately 20 rockets that the Iranian Quds forces launched at the IDF forward posts on the Golan Heights,” the IDF Spokesperson tweeted.
“A number of rockets were intercepted by the IDF’s Iron Dome aerial defense system. No injuries were reported. The IDF views this event with great severity and remains prepared for a wide variety of scenarios,” the IDF Spokesperson added.
The Syrian military maintains they are the ones responding to the Israeli forces, despite the latter’s claim about IRGC attacks.
10/05/2018 - Syrian Army foils opportunistic rebel offensive in Al-Quneitra
Syrian Army foils opportunistic rebel offensive in Al-Quneitra
(2:45 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has foiled an opportunistic offensive by the rebel forces in the Al-Quneitra Governorate tonight.
According to a military source in Damascus, the Syrian Army was able to beat back the rebel forces that attacked the town of Samdaniyah Al-Gharbiyah shortly after the Israeli attack.
The source added that no ground was captured by the rebel forces and no Syrian military personnel were killed.
During the rebel attack, the Israeli forces were hammering the Syrian Army’s positions in the Al-Quneitra Governorate, targeting the latter’s positions around Al-Ba’ath and Hader.
09/05/2018 - Syrian Army enters deadliest part of Yarmouk Camp for first time in years
Syrian Army enters deadliest part of Yarmouk Camp for first time in years
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and their Palestinian allies entered the deadliest part of the Yarmouk Camp District for the first time since they were forced to withdraw from this area in 2012.
According to a military report from Damascus, the Syrian Army and their Palestinian allies broke through the Islamic State’s front-lines at 30th Street and entered the Palestine Stadium and Bassil Swimming Pool area of the Yarmouk Camp.
The Syrian Army and their Palestinian allies were able to enter this area after advancing through the Islamic State’s defenses at Hajar Al-Aswad’s northern axis.
This part of the Yarmouk Camp has been one of the most sought after areas and has cost several entities many personnel to capture these points.
28 April، 2018 - Lavrov, Zarif stress continued support to Syria against terrorism
Lavrov, Zarif stress continued support to Syria against terrorism – Syrian Arab News Agency
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif stressed continued support to the Syrian people against terrorism and schemes that threaten Syria’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.
Speaking during the meeting of the foreign ministers of the guarantor states of Astana Process held Saturday in Moscow, Lavrov affirmed that Syria is a unitary sovereign state and it is necessary to help the Syrian people fight terrorism.
He also underlined the need for coordination and taking collective action within the framework of Astana process and move forward to settle the crisis in Syria under current circumstances.
Wed May 09, 2018 - Terrorists' Large Arms Depot Destroyed in Syrian Airstrike in Idlib
Farsnews
The Syrian Air Force carried out a fresh combat flight over terrorists' positions in Southern Idlib on Wednesday, destroying a large depot of arms and ammunition.
The warplanes bombed terrorists' positions in the village of al-Zakah in Southern Idlib, destroying a large depot of arms and ammunition.
In a relevant development on Tuesday, the army's artillery and missile units opened heavy fire at the movements and positions of the Al-Nusra in the towns of al-Latamina and Kafr Zita and their outskirts and in the villages of al-Sayyad, Latmin, al-Zakah and al-Arba'een in Northern Hama and Tal Aas region in Southern Idlib.
Also, other units of the army engaged in fierce clashes with the terrorist group in Tal Mosayebeen region in Northern Aleppo and near Mariwadah in Southern Aleppo.
The Al-Nusra's positions and military hardware were destroyed and a number of its gunmen were killed or wounded in the army attacks.
Wed May 09, 2018 - Northeastern Hasaka: US Sends More Arms, Ammunition to Kurds
Farsnews
The US dispatched more weapons and military equipment to the Kurdish militias in Hasaka province on Wednesday in spite of Washington's claims over withdrawal of forces from Syria.
The new convoy of US arms and ammunition entered Syria via Simalka passageway at the border with Iraq.
Also, field sources said that several US military trucks, carrying arms and equipment, arrived in Syria in the last two day, adding that a part of the convoy was sent to Southern Hasaka.
The Kurdish militias said last week that they would start large-scale operation against ISIL in Southeastern Hasaka and Eastern Deir Ezzur.
The Kurds later started the operation and managed to capture Eslah Hajin region near the town of Hajin in Southeastern Deir Ezzur in their anti-ISIL operation.
The Lebanese al-Manar TV network reported on Saturday that the US sent a new military convoy to the Kurdish militants' bases in Tal Beidar region between the towns of Qamishli and Tal Tamr in Northeastern Hasaka.
Al-Manar further said that the convoy, including ten trucks with a large volume of arms and ammunition entered the Kurdish base via Feesh Khabour passageway at Iraq-Syria border.
In the meantime, local sources said that the Kurdish fighters have continued forced equipment in Hasaka province, adding that the militias have detained a number of civilians Southwest of the town of Ra'as al-Ein in Northwestern Hasaka and train them in military camps mostly in the same region.
Wed May 09, 2018 - Turkish Military Convoy Arrives in Northern Syria to Set up Tenth Truce Monitoring Point
Farsnews
A long convoy of Turkish Army vehicles arrived in Western Aleppo on Wednesday to set up the tenth truce monitoring point.
The Turkish army sent a convoy, including 60 military armored and military vehicles, to al-Rashedeen strategic region in Western Aleppo via Kafr Luseen passageway.
Militant-affiliated sources claimed that the Turkish army is planning to set up its tenth truce monitoring point after arrival of the new convoy.
In a similar development on Tuesday, a Turkish military delegation entered al-Rashedeen region near the town of Khan al-Asal in Western Aleppo.
The delegation members who arrived in several military vehicles and were accompanied by a number of terrorists started visiting the region.
In the meantime, militant-affiliated websites reported that the newly-arrived delegation is planning to set up a news truce monitoring point in Northwestern Syria.
Russian had recently warned Turkey of military reaction if Ankara-backed forces continued to attack the Syrian Army in the Northern part of the war-hit country.
10/05/2018 - Official: US - Russian Project of WW11 Monument in North Carolina Currently "Dead"
https://sputniknews.com/us/201805101064307432-usa-russia-monument-elizabeth-city/
A project to place a Russian monument in honor of the Lend-Lease program participants in Elizabeth City in the US state of North Carolina is currently 'dead' due to the position of the City Council on the matter, City Manager Richard Olson told Sputnik.
"I believe based on the existing dynamics of our City Council the issue is dead," Olson said on Wednesday. "From the City Council’s perspective the item has been taken care of, and it was denied… I don’t believe they will take it up for any sort of reconsideration, vote any time in the near future. That’s not to say it’s never going to happen."
In March, the Elizabeth City council voted 5-3 against a memorandum of understanding with the Russian Defense Ministry that would have permitted erecting the monument. A year ago, however, the previous Council supported the initiative to place the monument in the city’s Coast Guard Park.
Olson said that since the vote against erecting a monument in
Elizabeth City, the City Council has taken no actions.
The official added that he has had several phone calls from the representatives of the Russian government since then, although most of his conversations have been with the US delegation of the US-Russian Joint Commission on Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Office.
"My personal opinion is that we had worked in good faith with representatives of the Russian government since the previous City Council took official action on May 22 last year. We put a lot of time and energy into the location in Coast Guard Park. We were of the opinion that it was going to go there," Olson said. "I still personally believe that it’s probably the most appropriate place to put it right now. But the city Council has decided not to allow it to go there, and they are the ones that have the right to do so."
During the March vote, one of the council members, Johnnie Walton, expressed concern that the monument could be used by Russia as "a Trojan horse" to hack or disrupt computers while stressing they have the largest Coast Guard base.
"I do not share those concerns. I believe that the Council member who said that at that time was trying to use a little humor. In the way he was saying I don’t believe that that Council person honestly believes that, nor I believe that any member of the city Council believes that right now," Olson said.
Olson noted that there are people who are talking to the Federal Government trying to find another location for the monument in some place in or around Elizabeth City.
Following the rejection of the project by the Council, the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia and a coastal North Carolina funeral home owner have offered a place for the monument.
The monument represents a Russian-made bronze statue of the Catalina aircraft that was used during the Lend Lease program with three individuals on it — representatives of the Soviet Union, Canada and the United States.
"I look at the monument in two lights. First light being that it honors war dead from the
Second World War whether those were Soviet Airmen, whether it’s US soldiers or even United Kingdom soldiers," Olson concluded. "The second thing which I find even more intriguing — it’s a beautiful piece of art, the monument itself, how it was designed, the work the artists did. It’s just a beautiful piece of art."
The Alaska-Siberia Air Route was used as part of the Lend-Lease program to deliver US warplanes to the Soviet Union in the 1942-1945 period. It consisted of roads and airports that began in Montana and ran some 6,000 miles through Canada onto Alaska, where Soviet pilots tested the aircraft before flying them into Siberia to be sent westward for use against German forces.
More than 8,000 US warplanes were sent to the Soviet Union to aid the country in its
fight against Nazi Germany.
