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

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Looks like the next Regime change or Color Revolution might be in the Philippines?

China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), a State-owned infrastructure group, recently signed a contract with the Philippines' Mega Harbour Port and Development Inc. to conduct a 208-hectare land reclamation project in Davao's harbour. The reclamation is expected to finished by the end of 2019, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Oct. 24.

China firm bags land reclamation contract with Philippines
http://en.people.cn/n3/2016/1025/c90000-9132369.html

CCCC Dredging will undertake the project in Davao, which is located on Mindanao Island in the southern part of the country. By moving sediment from the seafloor to a reef, four islands will be built along the 8-kilometer coastline of Davao Bay. The artificial islands will be used for government offices, businesses, residences, ports and industrial land.

Established in March 2015, CCCC Dredging is the largest dredging company in China in terms of capacity and installed power. The company previously carried out a large-scale cooperation with the parent company of Mega Harbour Port and Development Inc., construction company R-II Builders.

Zhou Jingbo, chairman of CCCC Dredging, remarked that the project will elevate cooperation between China and the Philippines’ port construction companies to a new height. Zhou expects the project to become a model for future cooperation between the two nations.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte clarified Friday after returning from his trip to Beijing that when he said he wanted to separate from Washington, he did not mean a severing of diplomatic ties, but to no longer "dovetail the foreign policy" of the US. Some Chinese then claimed that Duterte changed his attitude immediately after he got loans from China, and they have even made jokes mocking the president's inconsistency.

Did Duterte go back on his words after Beijing visit?
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1013259.shtml

The concerns are real. But they can be dissolved by Duterte's latest clarification about US-Philippine relations.

Whatever wording Duterte used in China to comment on the past Washington-Manila ties, Chinese diplomats don't expect that the Philippines under his presidency will take any radical turns in its relationship with the US, such as terminating their alliance or closing down US bases.

By refusing to "dovetail" the US foreign policy, Duterte has again demonstrated the new foreign policy of the Philippines. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay said Saturday that the US remains the "closest friend" of the Philippines, but Manila wants to break away from a "mindset of dependency and subservience" and forge closer ties with other nations. These comments combined cement the significant changes that Duterte has brought to the geopolitical landscape in the South China Sea, but don't indicate any return to the previous diplomacy of former president Benigno Aquino III.

Few Western reports talked about Duterte changing tack after going back to Manila. US and Japanese media continue to express concerns about the improving Beijing-Manila ties. After all, Duterte is so different a president, and he likes to use sharp or sometimes exaggerated words to attract more attention. But so far he has shown clear and firm policy logic.

Duterte's endeavors to combat drugs and improve infrastructure and people's well-being in the Philippines are well supported by China. In this case, turning Beijing from a rival to a strong helper and partner to develop his country serves the political interests of his administration and also the national interests in the long-run.

It is those whose expectations are too high of the new Philippine president that believe Duterte went back on his words after his Beijing visit. Some others would rather see the rumors come true because they desire to prove that the Chinese government makes foolish choices.

In the South China Sea, US strategy has been dealt a blow by the Philippines' sudden shift while China can benefit from Duterte's new foreign policy. But China should not simply pin all its hopes on Duterte's unusual governance. China still has much to do to constantly expand its common interests with the Philippines and work for a complete turnabout in the South China Sea.

You’d think that rewarding China’s dredging sector would be the last thing the Philippines wants to do. After all, in recent years Chinese dredging ships have been an unwelcome presence in parts of the South China Sea near the Philippines, helping to build islands atop reefs that then became Chinese military bases, complete with runways and ports.

A Chinese company reportedly involved in South China Sea dredging won a big project in the Philippines
http://qz.com/820447/a-chinese-company-reportedly-involved-in-south-china-sea-dredging-won-a-big-project-in-the-philippines/

Yet one outcome of a state visit by Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte to Beijing last week is a large contract for China’s state-owned CCCC Dredging, a company reportedly involved in just such island-building. The company will create four artificial islands off the coast of Davao City, where Duterte served as mayor for years before becoming president in late June.

China’s state-owned People’s Daily reported on the deal this week, saying that the project was a “model for future cooperation between the two nations,” and will produce about 200 hectares of land for new residences, businesses, and government offices, as well as ports and industrial parks.

It didn’t mention Mischief Reef, a particularly galling example of the South China Sea island-building that the company was reportedly involved with (paywall). In mid-July an international tribunal ruled that by building an island there, China violated the UN Convention on the Law of Sea: The project infringed upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone, caused “permanent, irreparable harm” to the coral reef ecosystem, and “permanently destroyed evidence of the natural condition of the features in question.”

In its natural state Mischief remains below water except at low tide. A look at satellite images shows it’s now a sprawling piece of land dotted with runways, hangars, and construction projects.

Late last year CCCC Dredging delayed a $1 billion IPO (paywall) in Hong Kong in response to questions about its involvement in the controversial South China Sea island-building projects. Earlier in the year, surveillance photos revealed one of its ships at Mischief Reef.

The company is a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC). In 2011 the World Bank barred CCCC and its subsidiaries from road and bridge projects until 2017, citing fraudulent practices—at a project in the Philippines.

 

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American and Russian military jets have been involved in a ‘near miss’ in Syria, officials announced. Such incidents are a near-weekly occurrence, according to the US military.

Russian and US jets flew dangerously close in Syria - US official
https://www.rt.com/usa/364561-russian-us-jets-syria/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS

The closest call came on October 17, in the "middle of the night, probably somewhere around midnight," Lieutenant General Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of US Air Force Central Command, said on Friday, first reported by AFP.

US Air Force Command Apologizes for Flying Close to Russian Jets Over Syria

https://sputniknews.com/military/201610291046872227-us-russia-syria-air/

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the US Air Force Central Command apologized for US planes flying close to Russian jets over Syria.

"On October 17, the crew of a US aircraft E-3 AWACS drifted down nearly one kilometer from its height and dangerously approached a Russian Su-35 fighter jet at the distance of less than 500 meters in violation of all air safety rules in [Syrian] airspace near Deir ez-Zor," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

Shortly after the incident, the command of the Russian Aerospace Forces at the Hmeymim airbase in Syria's Latakia contacted the US side asking for explanations.

Konashenkov said that representatives of the US Air Force Command "apologized for the incident and promised to work with pilots to further avoid such situations."

US Air Force Central Command chief Lt. Gen. Jeff Harrigian claimed on Friday that a Russian military aircraft flew dangerously close to a US jet over Syria on October 17. According to Harrigian, in the latest incident the jets were less than a half-mile apart, and Russian authorities said the pilot did not see the US counterpart. The commander further claimed that Russian aircraft intercept US planes "every 10 days-ish."

Moscow is surprised by Pentagon's attempts to shift the blame for the incident on the Russian Aerospace Forces, the general said.

"We are surprised by yet another attempt of the US military command to shift the blame for the dangerous approach of the US plane to Su-35 fighter jet on the Russian Aerospace Forces."

Konashenkov said that Russian and US pilots cooperate to avoid dangerous incidents in Syrian airspace, adding that Moscow informed of the Su-35 jet's route in advance. "

This incident proved that effective cooperation has been established between Russian and American pilots allowing to avoid such incidents in future."

In October 2015, senior officials from the US Department of Defense and Russia's Defense Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on safety in Syrian airspace that has proven effective so far.

Syrian government ready for talks with opposition - Assad’s advisor

http://tass.com/world/909605

"The problem with the opposition is that every part is receiving money from foreign parties - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey," Bouthaina Shaaban said

Syria’s government is ready to resume negotiations with the opposition, advisor to the Syrian president, Bouthaina Shaaban said in an interview with the Rossiya 24 television channel on Saturday.

"We are absolutely ready to resume those talks, under the condition the other side, taken by the Syrian opposition, is also ready," she said. "Moreover, we now are moving in a very important direction - to a national truce in Syria."

Certain progress was achieved in truce inside the country, she added.

"The problem with the opposition is that every part is receiving money from foreign parties - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey," she said. "This is not at all a national opposition. Those are foreign agents."

"Those were terrorists, backed by the West, who are responsible for the fact the humanitarian pause was not successful," she continued.

The West, she said, uses the situation in the Middle East.

"They want us to become again countries of the Sunni, of the Shiite, but we are national countries," she said. "We are countries, where different nations live. We want to remain strong countries, capable of protecting ourselves and protecting our civilization."

It would take a decade to have the world become "truly multi-polar."

"In the world of the kind, the West, at last, will realize it cannot impose its will to Syria or any other country," the advisor said.

Western Countries Use Militants to Achieve Own Goals in Syria – Assad’s Aide

https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610291046871839-goals-syria-assad-aide/

The United States and its western partners are using militants to achieve their goals in Syria and stand behind the collapse of the initiatives on peace settlement, Syrian presidential adviser Bouthaina Shaaban said Saturday.

She noted that the Syrian government was doing its best to implement provisions of the ceasefire declared after the United States and Russia had reached an agreement on the issue.

“The West is using militants to achieve its strategic goals in the region,” Shaaban told the Russia-24 TV channel.

“We declared that we agreed with the cessation of hostilities. But it was the United States, who violated this agreement, having carried out an airstrike on facilities where the Syrian troops were deployed. So, that was not a mistake of the Syrian government or Russia that the humanitarian initiative was not implemented. That are the terrorists, who are enjoying support of the West, who are responsible for the lack of success of the humanitarian pause,” Shaaban added.

Syria's civil war between government forces and a wide range of insurgents, including opposition groups and terrorists, such as the Islamic State (IS, also known as Daesh) and the Jabhat Fatah al Sham (also known as the Nusra Front, or Jabhat al-Nusra), both outlawed in Russia, is lasting for over five years and has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

On September 9, Russia and the United States reached an agreement for a peace process in Syria. A ceasefire stipulated by the deal entered into force on September 12, but while it was supposed to last at least seven days for the next steps to be taken toward the Syrian settlement, it soon collapsed.

Over 16,000 Syrians killed by US-backed rebels since February – Russian UN mission

https://www.rt.com/news/364668-syria-us-backed-rebels/

Over 16,000 people have fallen victim to opposition groups meant to be under US control, Russia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations said in a statement assessing how Russia-US agreements on Syria are being implemented.

“From February to September the opposition groups that are supposed to be under the US control committed 2,031 violations of the [cessation of hostilities], which claimed lives of 3,532 military personnel and 12,800 civilians,” the Mission’s statement, published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, reads.

The mission states further that while Russia fulfilled its part of the bargain and negotiated with the Syrian authorities to make the cessation of hostilities possible, Washington failed to deliver on its promise to negotiate the same with the US-backed ‘moderate’ Syrian opposition.

“Russia guaranteed the implementation of the [cessation of hostilities] by the Syrian government. The US on the other hand was not capable to insure the implementation of the [cessation of hostilities] by the armed groups.”

“Furthermore, the US failed to fulfill their February promise to separate Al-Nusra Front from ‘moderate’ opposition,” the mission stressed, adding that there are a number of other matters it regards as US failures in the combined efforts of the two states to bring peace to the Middle Eastern country. These include the failure to establish a valuable exchange of information about ceasefire violations, and the failure to facilitate humanitarian access to East Aleppo.

The mission stressed that Russia, for its part, ensured the withdrawal of Syrian Army forces from Castello road to give way to a humanitarian convoy twice, as well as the establishment of a manned check point for truck inspection on the government-controlled side, while the US failed to do the same on the side controlled by militants.

The mission noted that its conclusions are based on a fact-based comparative analysis of the Russia-US agreements and their implementation within the past months. It has submitted this analysis to a number of high-ranking officials within the United Nations and to several human rights organizations in order to “shed some light on true reasons that hinder the Russia-US agreements implementation.”

“Russia is open for a continued cooperation in a wide range of areas of the settlement of the Syrian crisis with its partners, including the US. But this cooperation is only possible on the basis of equal rights and a principle of responsible discharge of the respective functions,” the mission stated.

The armed conflict has been raging in Syria since March 2011. Government troops confronted the militants of different armed groups. The figures on the number of victims of the conflict differ. According to the United Nations, around 300,000 Syrians have been killed during the war.

The Russian Institute of Oriental Studies, however, using data from the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics, carried out its own investigation, and estimated the number of Syrians killed to be around 105,000, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

According to that study, 45,000 of those killed served in the Syrian Army and government-controlled militia, 24,000 were militants from local militant groups, and 36,000 were civilians. The study also found that about 18,000 of those killed in Syria were foreign mercenaries of terrorist groups operating in the country — citizens of over 80 different countries.

Militants Launch Offensive in Aleppo District, May Attack Castello Road

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610291046876486-militants-aleppo-castello/

Militants in Aleppo have launched an offensive in Bustan az-Zakhra district and may soon attack area surrounding the Castello Road, a militia source told RIA Novosti.

Syrian army and militia are repelling militants' attacks on the Assad military academy and Bustan az-Zakhra district, while the fighting may soon continue near the Castello Road, the source told RIA Novosti.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Syria: Terrorists' Offensives in Western Aleppo Fended Off for 2nd Day

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950808001367

"After heavy clashes with Jeish al-Fatah terrorists who sought to advance in Jam'iyat al-Zahra district, the Syrian army killed and wounded dozens of terrorists and repelled their offensive," the sources said.

Also, military sources reported that the army troops and their allies used artillery and missile fire to repulse the terrorists' attack which had started by blowing up a military vehicle in Jam'iyat al-Zahra district in Western Aleppo.

Also, the Syrian army clashed heavily with Jeish al-Fatah terrorists in Dahiyat al-Assad district in Western Aleppo, the sources added.

Another military source also reported that the army forces targeted the militants' gathering centers in the region with missile and artillery fire.

"The army troops also attacked the terrorists' positions at the Scientific Research Center in Western Aleppo and inflicted tens of casualties on militants," the source said, adding that the Syrian warplanes also heavily pounded the militants' bases in Dahiyat al-Assad and Jam'iyat al-Zahra.

Syrian Government forces have engaged in heavy fighting with Jeish al-Fatah terrorists in at least four neighborhoods in Western Aleppo city since Friday.

"Syrian army soldiers and popular forces have inflicted major losses and tens of casualties on Jeish al-Fatah's militants in Jam'iyat al-Zahra district, Scientific Research Center, and neighborhoods of al-Kathar al-Bazar and Family House," army sources reported on Friday.

"A militant tank and two more explosive-laden cars of the militants also were targeted in the Western districts of Aleppo," they added.

"One more bomb-laden suicide vehicle of the terrorists was targeted and detonated in al-Rashedeen neighborhood in the Southern outskirts of Aleppo city," the sources went on to say.

Also yesterday, the Syrian government forces repelled Jeish al-Fatah's offensives on their strongholds in the districts and neighborhoods of Dahiyat al-Assad, al-Rashedeen 4 and 5, Sowq a-Jebes, Housisng Project 1070, al-Hikmeh School and Jam'iyat al-Sahafi'ein, inflicting at least 25 casualties on the militants.

Syrian artillery and missile units assisted the army soldiers in their defense.

In the meantime, a large number of fresh soldiers joined the army front in Dahiyat al-Assad.

Other reports said on Friday that 13 civilians, including four children, were killed and at least 55 others were wounded in Jeish al-Fatah's missile attacks on Aleppo's residential areas.

Jeish al-Fatah's missile unis shelled Aleppo neighborhoods of Dahiyay al-Assad, 3,000-Unit Housing Project, the districts of al-Hamdaniyeh, New Aleppo, Salahuddin and near Sa'adullah square, leaving 13 dead and over 55 wounded.

SAA reinforcements arrive in Aleppo as Islamists try to cut off government supply line

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/saa-reinforcements-arrive-aleppo-islamists-try-cut-off-government-supply-line/

Earlier today, news emerged that the commander-in-chief of the Tiger Forces, Colonel Suheil Al-Hassan, had arrived in Aleppo city to help reverse Islamist gains in western Aleppo. This reknown commander spearheaded an offensive earlier in 2016 which had the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) encircle rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo.

Furthermore, the SAA's Desert Hawks Brigade arrived to Aleppo city on Saturday. This specialized SAA unit arrived from the eastern Aleppo countryside after it was determined that the Islamic State was unlikely to gather another assault on the Kuweiris Airbase following a series of recent territorial setbacks for ISIS in Aleppo province.

The Desert Hawks Brigade is trained specifically in ambush tactics and desert warfare. Notably, this elite SAA unit led the charge to liberate Palmyra from the Islamic State little more than six months ago.

Despite ongoing clashes in western Aleppo, the Desert Hawks Brigade and Tiger Forces are expected spearhead attacks on rebel-held districts in eastern Aleppo. These SAA units are primarily used as assault troops while other factions of the Syrian Armed Forces, such as the Republican Guard and National Defence Forces (NDF) specialize in defensive warfare.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of Ahrar al-Sham vowed to cut off the SAA's narrow supply line to Aleppo city through an assault on Khanasir town in the southern countryside of Aleppo. Twice in the past 18 months, jihadist forces have closed the SAA's only road to the provincial capital of Aleppo only to have government forces reopen it weeks later.

Despite months of frontline calm, the western outskirts of Khanasir did experience skirmishes on Saturday although no advances were achieved on either side.

Over 50 Terrorists Killed in Failed Attack to Recapture Key Town in Northern Hama

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950808000570

Syrian army soldiers, backed up by the Russian and Syrian fighter jets, repelled the joint attack of Faylaq al-Sham, Jeish al-Ezzah, Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Sham on their strongholds near the newly-recaptured town of Souran, killing at least 50 militants and wounding many more.

In the meantime, militants' centers in the towns of Taybat al-Imam and its nearby villages, Tal Bazam, Lahaya and Bouyedeh were heavily shelled by the Syrian army's artillery units.

Syrian government forces have been hitting terrorists' defense lines near Taybat al-Imam to drive them out of the town.

Reports said on Thursday that the Syrian army troops continued the liberation operation in Northern Hama province to retake the two strategic towns of Souran and Taybat al-Imam, establishing full control over Souran.

"Militants sent tens of reinforcements from the nearby town of Taybat al-Imam to Souran to prevent the fall of the city," a battlefield source said, "But pro-government forces inflicted heavy damage and casualties on the terrorists and took back the city".

According to the source, after the Syrian Army won back Souran, the terrorists launched a large-scale assault from Taybat al-Imam to drive the pro-government forces out the city, but were pushed back.

 

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Smart Copter: Russia's Mi-28NM Talks to Drones, Shoots Missiles With Lasers

https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610311046904995-russia-helicopter-drones-bombs/

The modernized version of the Mi-28NM "Night Hunter" helicopter gunship will be armed with bombs and be capable of exchanging data with UAVs, according to the newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

The newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta quoted Yevgeny Poluyanov of the Mil Experimental Design Bureau as saying that the upgraded version of Russia's Mi-28NM "Night Hunter" attack helicopter will be equipped with bombs and be capable of interacting with unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to Poluyanov, the new Mi-28NM will be able to interact in a single information space with ground combat units and other types of high-tech weaponry, including drones.

http://<iframe width="560" height="...j4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Poluyanov said that the Mi-28NM's new version will be armed with various kinds of guided and unguided missiles as well as a bomb arsenal.

"The helicopter is also equipped with the latest anti-jamming system and a laser array designed to deflect all existing heat-seeking missiles," he said.

Earlier, Poluyanov told RIA Novosti that "the Mi-28NM helicopter substantially outperforms the US attack helicopter AH-64-D Apache in terms of destroying air targets."

He added that this is achieved through the use of advanced Ataka and Khrizantema air-to-air guided missiles, which are part of Mi-28NM's armament.

The Mi-28NM is a modernized version of the Mi-28N Night Hunter attack helicopter; it is being upgraded to become a fifth-generation gunship. The project, which has been in development since 2008, is expected to be complete by next year.

Among other things, the new version features a 360-degree radar and an advanced weapons guidance system that ensures faster target acquisition through an upgrade to the helicopter's fire control system.

Russian Helicopters plans helicopter supply contracts with China — official

http://tass.com/economy/909719

The plans concern Kamov and Mil series, while no specific models were named

Russian Helicopters plans to close helicopter supply contracts with Chinese partners next year, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for after-sales services Igor Chechikov told TASS in an interview on Monday.

"These have already been customers’ wishes recorded in appropriate requests and applications. We are discussing now supplies of Mi [Mil] and Ka [Kamov] brands helicopters with several Chinese customs and plan signing of specific contracts in 2017," Chechikov said. The senior manager did not detail models.

The pool of various types of Russian helicopters in China is already significant, Chechikov added.

Chinese premier to meet with Putin during visit to Russia — ministry

http://tass.com/world/909700

Chinese State Council Premier Li Keqiang will attend the 21st regular meeting of the heads of government of Russia and China on November 7

Chinese State Council Premier Li Keqiang will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during an official visit to Russia November 6-8, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Huilai said.

"Premier Li Keqiang will hold a meeting with President Putin in Moscow," Huilai said.

He said Li Keqiang will attend the 21st regular meeting of the heads of government of Russia and China, to be held in St. Petersburg November 7.

Li Huilai said the Chinese State Council premier will be present at a private dinner organized by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

Lavrov says US publicly insults Russia regarding Syria

http://tass.com/politics/909698

"The U-turn became a reminder that Russia can’t have a mission in the world other than defend its truth, do it jointly with other powers," he said

The United States, regarding Syria, even publicly insults Russia, accusing Moscow of "war crimes" despite the fact that the U.S. bombed Yugoslavia’s civilian targets, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview for the documentary "I have made up my mind. Yevgeny Primakov" for Rossiya 1 television channel

"When the greatest patriot of his country, a very experienced politician, a great public official, a person with a huge intuition, with encyclopedic education, with understanding of various processes, learned that the United States decided to start bombings of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, he did not see for himself an opportunity to continue business as usual, fly to U.S. Vice President Albert Gore for important, but rather routine talks," Lavrov said.

"The U-turn became a reminder that Russia can’t have a mission in the world other than defend its truth, do it jointly with other powers, but certainly achieving equal relations and mutually beneficial agreements," he said.

"The aggression against Yugoslavia was certainly aggression," Lavrov underscored. "By the way, it was the first armed attack in Europe on a sovereign state after 1945."

"If we are talking about that, now, against the backdrop of what is going on around Syria, our Western partners, first of all Americans, and Brits too, are in their hysteria reaching public insults, using such words as ‘barbarism’, ‘war crime’," he said.

"I will recall that the aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was associated with attacks on a huge number of civilian facilities, by the way, Serbian television, bridges that civilian passenger trains traveled on, and much more. Thousands of those killed, several hundred children out of them, 250,000 refugees that no one has recalled since," Lavrov said.

He said that "if Russia, in the person of Primakov, had not reacted in the way he reacted to that gross violation of international law, then we would have probably long not forgiven ourselves for that, and our history would have contained another unpleasant page."

"He did it in such a way that Russia showed its character and took the only right position as of that moment," Lavrov said.

Primakov, born on October 29, 1929, was a Russian politician and diplomat. He served as the country’s prime minister in 1998-1999. During his career, he also served as foreign minister, speaker of the Soviet Union’s Supreme Soviet, and intelligence service chief.

On March 24, 1999, Primakov was flying to Washington for an official visit. When his plane was above the Atlantic Ocean, Primakov got to know that NATO had started bombing Yugoslavia. The politician decided to cancel the visit, ordering the plane to turn around and headed back to Moscow in a maneuver, which was dubbed "Primakov's Loop".

Primakov died on June 26, 2015 at the age of 85 after prolonged illness.

Jihadist attacks against civilians in Aleppo could amount to war crimes: UN Envoy

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/jihadist-attacks-civilians-aleppo-amount-war-crimes-un-envoy/

The head of the United Nations' Envoy to Syria, Stefan de Mistura, stated on Sunday that the jihadist attacks against civilians in Aleppo could amount to war crimes if they continue.

"Those who argue that this is meant to relieve the siege of eastern Aleppo should be reminded that nothing justifies the use of disproportionate and indiscriminate weapons, including heavy ones, on civilian areas and it could amount to war crimes," de Mistura's office said in a statement.

De Mistura's statement came just hours before the jihadist rebels fired chemical weapons at the government-controlled Al-Hamdaniyah District in southwest Aleppo.

Over 40 civilians have been killed by the jihadist rebels in the last 48 hours, prompting de Mistura to issue a harsh warning towards the Syrian opposition.

Three Russian submarines head to Syrian waters for Aleppo offensive

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/three-russian-submarines-head-syrian-waters-aleppo-offensive/

Three Russian submarines were detected by the Royal British Navy in the Irish Sea this past weekend, the Independent reported on Sunday.

"The Royal Navy and NATO have been tracking the two Akula-class submarines and a diesel-powered Kilo-class sub as they travelled to join the fleet of Russian ships headed by the Soviet-era aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov," the Independent added.

These three submarines are likely armed with kalibr cruise missiles that will be used against the jihadist rebels fighting the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the Aleppo Governorate.

The main vessel in this naval fleet is the Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov; this ship is carrying several fighter jets and attack helicopters that are going to conduct airstrikes against anti-government forces in Syria.

 

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Explosives found in freight train in Moscow — source

http://tass.com/world/909755

The explosive was found during a routine check

An explosive has been found in a freight train carriage at the Chukhlinka railway station in southeast Moscow, the law-enforcement agencies told TASS on Monday.

"The explosive was found in a freight train carriage during a routine check. The train was moved to a side-track for the purposes of security and is now being inspected by specialists," the police said.

There have been no delays in the train schedule over the incident, the police added.

Russian Aerospace Forces receive third shipment of Su-34 aircraft this year

http://tass.com/defense/909820

The Russian Aerospace Forces are supposed to receive a total of 150-200 Sukhoi Su-34 aircraft

The Sukhoi Aviation Holding Company (JSC) has turned over a third shipment of the Su-34 bombers to the Russian Aerospace Forces this year, the company’s press service said.

"Today, the Sukhoi Company has turned over a new shipment, a third this year, of Su-34 frontline bomber aircraft to the Russian Defense Ministry under the 2016 state defense order. The customer received the planes on single acceptance day on October 31," the press service went on to say.

The bombers took off from the airfield of the V.P. Chkalov aviation plant in Novosibirsk and headed for their home base.

The Russian Defense Ministry struck its first Su-34 deal in 2008. The Russian Aerospace Forces are supposed to receive a total of 150-200 aircraft. This plane can carry up to 8 tonnes of weapon payload and develop a speed of up to 1,900 kilometers per hour. Its flying range is 4,000 kilometers. Su-34 bombers took part in the anti-terrorism operation in Syria.

Lavrov says US, allies not seeking separation of terrorists from opposition in Aleppo

http://tass.com/politics/909768

The nearly two-week-long pause in the flights of aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force should have been enough to carry out this separation, Lavrov stated

The United States and its allies failed to make the opposition break from terrorists during the two-week-long pause in Russian and Syrian airstrikes in Aleppo and this may signal that they don’t really want this, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"The nearly two-week-long pause in the flights of aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force should have been enough to carry out this separation," Lavrov said. "If this does not happen, then our previous assessments need to be revised somehow."

"If earlier we said that it seemed that the US and its allies were unable or did not want to separate the moderate (opposition) from Jabhat al-Nusra, then now we should say already that they do not really want to do this," Lavrov explained.

The Russian top diplomat noted that "a very serious conversation continues, including between the military." "We hope that the self-preservation instinct will prevail as cozying up to terrorists and trying to use them for one’s own goals has never led to anything good."

"In the end, these terrorists pointed their guns at those who tried to tame them. The Americans probably know this better than anyone else," Lavrov said.

Gunmen unwilling to leave Aleppo will be considered accomplices of terrorists

Gunmen from the armed opposition units who do not want to separate from the Al-Nusra Front and leave eastern Aleppo make themselves the accomplices of terrorists and a legal target in line with the UN Security Council’s decisions, Sergey Lavrov said pointed out.

"Once again we urge our Western partners and partners in the region who have direct contacts and direct influence on various opposition groups to immediately demand that they leave the territory and break from Jabhat Al-Nusra so that we focus on the fight against terrorism," Lavrov said. "If this does not happen then in fact they make themselves accomplices of Jabhat Al-Nusra and thus are a legal target in accordance with those decisions made by the UN Security Council."

The minister recalled the claims of Western partners that there are just two or three hundred terrorists from the Al-Nusra Front (outlawed in Russia) in eastern Aleppo and the other several thousand are members of the moderate opposition. "We have shared our assessments several times naming all groups of gunmen who are now in eastern Aleppo and who are directly subordinated to Jabhat Al-Nusra, according to our data," he said.

Lavrov voiced doubt that 200 or 300 terrorists could have carried out so many shellings of civilian facilities. "This once again makes us understand that anyway all other gunmen who are in eastern Aleppo voluntarily or not are accomplices of Jabhat Al-Nusra. If they do not take part in these combat actions directly then in any case they associate themselves with it," he stressed.

Russia strongly condemns terrorist attacks with toxic gases on civilians in Aleppo

http://sana.sy/en/?p=92107

Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned targeting the civilian population in Aleppo with shells that contain chlorine gas by the armed terrorist organizations.

“Moscow strongly condemns the terrorist attack using toxic substances against the civilians in Aleppo and it’s our duty to remind those who say they have influence over the armed Syrian opposition of the necessity to fulfill their obligation to clearly separate so-called ‘moderates’ from the terrorists from ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and other militant groups,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement on Monday.

Zakharova added, in the statement, that this is not the first instance when terrorists used chemical weapons against civilians as they used it before on the eastern Ghouta and Khan al-Assal in 2013, on Mar’a town in 2015 and in the summer of 2016 in Salah Eddin neighborhood in Aleppo city.

The General Command of the Syrian Arab Army and Armed Forces affirmed earlier that terrorist organizations are exploiting the pause in Aleppo to escalate their attacks on the city and to target civilians in its neighborhoods, pointing out that terrorists fired shells containing chlorine gas at the “1070 Apartments” area and al-Hamadaniyeh residential neighborhood in Aleppo, causing 48 cases of asphyxiation.

Moscow urges to investigate US-led coalition’s strikes on civilians in Syria, Iraq

http://tass.com/politics/909773

A Russian diplomat says terrorists benefit from Western media disinformation about Russia’s actions in Syria

Moscow is calling for an investigation into all air raids carried out by the US-led coalition on civilians in Syria and Iraq, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, Konstantin Dolgov, stated at Monday’s news conference.

"Airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition kill real civilians, not some mythical people," Dolgov said. "It is necessary to investigate all these cases." "Is there any response? No, except for attempts to blame Russia for these incidents. Bombs are dropped on Mosul, with civilians dying there. Double standards are dangerous, they undermine confidence in the rule of law."

According to the diplomat, last week Russia presented detailed evidence on human rights violations by the coalition and crimes committed by the terrorists. "We are awaiting some kind of response, we are talking about this not for the sake of making a witty remark," Dolgov insisted. "We are waiting for an impartial investigation and a punishment for the culprits."

"Our answer is the truth, which is a powerful thing," Dolgov noted. "We will continue to present these facts to our Western colleagues systematically and consistently."

Terrorists benefit from Western media disinformation

The diplomat went on to say that terrorist groups benefit from Western media’s disinformation about Russia’s actions in Syria.

"Our Western colleagues do not shun anything, TV channels with a longstanding reputation are involved in this shell game scam," Dolgov said. "Such attempts to demonize Russia play into the hands of terrorists and extremists, the Al-Nusra Front (outlawed in Russia). Such disinformation attempts are a factor of support for the terrorists," he said.

At Least 84 Killed, Nearly 300 Injured in Nusra Front Attacks on Aleppo

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610311046916924-aleppo-nusra-attacks/

Syrian Arab Army's leadership issued a statement Monday saying that al-Nusra Front killed at least 84 people and injured 280 in Aleppo during the past three days.

Al-Nusra Front terrorist group, with the help of other militant groups, has intensified its offensive on Aleppo taking advantage of the ceasefire, the statement said.

"Al-Nusra Front terrorist group and a number of affiliated militant groups continue intensifying attacks on the city of Aleppo from several directions, taking advantage of the ceasefire," the statement said.

Al-Nusra Front terrorists and some Syrian rebel groups, allied to the group, launched an offensive in Aleppo's south-west on Friday. For more than three days, terrorists have been attacking Syrian Arab Army's units, as well as residential areas in western and central parts of Aleppo.

On Saturday, militants in Aleppo carried out attacks on the Al-Asad military academy and Bustan az-Zakhra district. Heavy fighting continues near the academy with armored vehicles' detonation and suicide bombers' attacks as part of the terrorists' offensive. According to Syrian military intelligence data, during a few days of the humanitarian pause in Aleppo, militants have redeployed some 8,000 fighters to the city's south and north. If terrorists gain control over the Al-Asad military academy, the whole western part of Aleppo will be under threat of militants' fire.

Western Intel: Russia to Launch Aleppo Operation with Arrival of Aircraft Carrier in Days

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950810001531

The Times newspaper, citing the findings of the analysis, said the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, accompanied by seven warships and sailing in the Mediterranean, is expected to reach the Syrian coast between Wednesday and Friday to support the operation.

The media outlet also noted that three Russian submarines armed with cruise missiles are allegedly sailing to the Syrian coast.

A Western intelligence source told the newspaper that Moscow is "on the brink of a major military assault on Aleppo".

The publication assumes that Moscow seeks to exploit a pause in the United States on the eve of the presidential election in order to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Forces' secure a decisive victory in the Syrian largest city.

Over the recent months, Aleppo has been a battlefield between government forces and numerous terrorist groups.

Over 16,000 Terrorists Attacking Syrian Army in Great Epic Operation in Aleppo

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950810000688

"Jeish al-Fatah has launched several rounds of attacks, codenamed the Great Epic Operation, with over 16,000 militants to break the army's siege of their comrades in the Eastern districts of Aleppo city but failed to do so," the sources said.

"The Syrian government forces have fended off the entire attacks of Jeish al-Fatah carried out from three flanks of Ramouseh, Assad Military-Engineering Academy and Artillery Academy Building," the sources added.

"16,000 militants of Jeish al-Fatah have launched a four-phased operation (the Great Epic Operation) to access and capture the Assad Military-Engineering Academy in Southwestern Aleppo in the first and second phases of operation, and then in the third phase they would carry out fresh offensives to capture Aleppo highway, while the last phase of the operation would focus on the removal of the siege on the militants in Aleppo city," they continued.

"Yet, they have failed to attain any of their objectives in the first three days of the operation," they went on to say.

Reports said on Sunday Syrian Army troops and popular forces fended off Jeish al-Fatah's offensives near a military center in Southwestern Aleppo, inflicting tens of casualties on the militants.

Syrian government forces repelled Jeish al-Fatah's assault to capture the Assad Military-Engineering Academy and Bostan al-Zahra neighborhood, targeting militants' suicide vehicles.

Jeish al-Fatah suffered a heavy death toll and retreated from the battlefield without any gain.

Army sources said the terrorists were preparing to attack the army positions in the Northwestern outskirts of Aleppo near the Castillo road.

Nusra Strongholds in Hama, Lattakia Crushed in Syrian Army Attacks

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950810001246

The army's artillery units shelled Fatah al-Sham's bases near the villages of al-Ankawi and al-Ziyareh in al-Saqilibiyeh in Northwestern Hama, inflicting 30 casualties on the militants and destroying their weapons.

Meantime, the Syrian Air Force also carried out several combat sorties over terrorists' convoys and sites in the town of Taybat al-Imam and its Northern outskirts, the towns of al-Masaseneh, al-Latamina, Morek and its Southern outskirts, Kafr Zita, Jani al-Albawi and Ithriya in Northern and Northeastern Hama, destroying their bases and military vehicles.

Fatah al-Sham's positions in the town of Kabani in Northeastern Lattakia also came under heavy artillery fire by the Syrian army.

On Sunday, the Syrian Air Force targeted a large convoy of Jeish al-Fatah terrorists in Northern Hama, destroying at least 12 military vehicles of the militants.

The Syrian fighter jets pounded the positions and routes of Jeish al-Fatah near the village of Albuyzeh, and the towns of Taybat al-Imam, al-Latamina, al-Masaseneh and al-Hiseh in Northern Hama, destroying a long convoy of the terrorists, including five armored and seven machinegun-equipped vehicles and three bases.

 

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The Syrian Foreign Ministry sent two letters to the UN secretary-general and to the president of the Security Council reporting about chemical attacks perpetrated by militants in the Syrian city of Aleppo, local media reported.

Syria Sends 2 Letters to UN Reporting About Using Chemical Weapons by Militants
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611011046938609-syria-sends-un-letters-chemical-attacks/

“The terrorist organizations have exploited the pause duration through using chemical materials on October 30th when they launched shells of chlorine gas on 1070 apartments region and the residential neighborhood of Hamadaniyah in Aleppo, causing 48 suffocation cases among civilians and military men,”
the letters said, as quoted by the SANA news agency.

The ministry noted that during last three days militants from eastern Aleppo fired more than 50 Grad shells and 30 gas cylinders leaving 84 people killed and 280 injured.

“The government of Syrian Arab republic has formed an inquiry team to investigate into the crime of launching the poisonous gases according to international standards,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The letters also accused the western countries of launching information campaign against the Syrian government and defending the crimes perpetrated by radical groups.

“Syria, while condemns the use of chemical weapons by any side, affirms that the unjust campaign launched by western countries against Syria should be directed to the terrorist organizations,” the letters said.

On October 30, militants shelled the al-Hamdaniya and al-Assad neighborhoods of western Aleppo using homemade shells with chemical substances, according to Syria's state news agency SANA. The Command of the Syrian Armed Forces said the shells contained chlorine gas.

The attack has killed two Syrian servicemen and left at least 37 civilians injured, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

Chemical Attack in Syria's Aleppo Leaves 2 Dead, Dozens of Civilians Injured
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610311046936140-aleppo-chemical-attack/

"On October 30, illegal armed groups fired shells fitted with a poisonous substance against Dahiyat Assad and Hamdaniyah areas of Aleppo city from the territory of 1070 quarters," the ministry said on its website. "Two Syrian military servicemen were killed. Not less than 37 civilians were injured."

A statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry earlier on Monday condemned the attacks, saying "this instance of combat use of chemicals by the terrorists against the civilians is not, unfortunately, an isolated case…

"We strongly condemn the terrorist attack using toxic substances against the civilians in Aleppo."

Chemical weapon attacks will not be able to force the army to abandon its duties to protect civilians and free Syria of terrorism, according to the Command of the Syrian Armed Forces (SAF).

Militants Use Chemical Weapons in Syria Amid Failure to Reach Goals
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610311046934295-syria-chemical-weapons/

Chemical weapon attacks committed by militants against the civilian population in Syria’s Aleppo show their inability to accomplish the tasks set by their sponsors, the Command of the Syrian Armed Forces (SAF) said on Monday.

"These criminal acts show a failure of terrorist groups to achieve the goals set by their sponsors and supporters. Such actions will not be able to force the army to abandon its duties to protect civilians and free the country of terrorism," the SAF statement said.

On October 30, terrorists shelled Hamdaniya, Dahiyat Al-Assad neighborhoods of western Aleppo using homemade shells with chemical substances. As a result, at least 35 people were poisoned, many of whom were hospitalized.

The Command of the Syrian Armed Forces claimed the terrorists had used shells containing chlorine gas.

In April and May shells with suffocating gas were dropped on the Kurdish neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud. The responsibility for the use of prohibited weapons was taken by the armed group Jaish al-Islam.

The UN Security Council approved extension the mandate of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-UN joint mechanism for investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

UN Security Council Votes to Extend Syria Joint Mission on Chemical Weapons
https://sputniknews.com/world/201610311046933528-un-syria-russia-chemical/

The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution that extends through November 18 the mandate of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-UN joint mechanism for investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

“The draft resolution is adopted unanimously by 15 votes of the Security Council members,” council president and Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.

Following the vote, Churkin addressed the Council in his role as ambassador, saying Russia supported the resolution and hoped the short-term extension would give UN member states time for substantive discussions on the future of the joint mechanism.

Last week, Russia said a long-term extension of the mandate for the body’s work should be expanded to cover anti-terrorism efforts and regional security. The joint mechanism was established in 2013 to investigate and prosecute suspected war crimes involving chemical weapons in Syria.

 

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US Missiles Can Strike Key Russian Sites With Cruise Missiles - Security Council

https://sputniknews.com/military/201611011046941829-us-missiles-nato-russia/

US missile systems in Europe are capable of striking Russia's strategic sites despite Washington's claims to the contrary, and Moscow considers NATO's military buildup as a threat, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev told Sputnik.

NATO’s steps to build up its military capacity and to assign global functions to the alliance pose a threat to Russian security, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev told Sputnik.

"We still regard the strengthening of NATO’s military might and assigning this organization global functions, locating the bloc states’ military infrastructure closer to Russian borders, deploying new types of armaments, creating a global missile defense system as threats to our country’s security," Patrushev said.

Russia continues working within the Russia-NATO Council framework to coordinate measures aimed at preventing air and sea confrontations, Patrushev added.

"Under the present circumstances, Russia continues using the Russia-NATO Council dialogue platform, working on bilateral agreements on prevention of air and sea incidents," Patrushev said.

US Missile Systems Capable of Striking Key Russian Sites

The United States' missile systems set to be deployed in Eastern Europe and South Korea have the capability to strike Russia's strategic sites despite Washington's claims to the contrary, Nikolai Patrushev told Sputnik.

"The methods of defending against the imaginary 'Russian threat' raise questions. You mentioned the deployment of missile defense system elements at our borders. These systems can launch cruise missiles with strategic Russian infrastructure facilities within their radius," Patrushev said.

"The US of course denies this possibility, but cannot provide real arguments," he added.

Russia Ready to Work With US Despite Being Listed as 'Major Threat'

https://sputniknews.com/politics/201611011046941633-russia-us-major-threat/

Neither Russia nor the United States are interested in further deterioration of bilateral ties and sooner or later the relationship will get back to normal, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev told Sputnik.

Russia is ready to cooperate with the United States on an equitable basis despite being classified as one of the US' biggest national security threats, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev told Sputnik.

"We are ready to work with the US partners on the basis of equality and mutual respect for each other's interests. In the meantime, Russia is on the list among the major threats to US national security," Patrushev said.

Neither Russia nor the United States are interested in further deterioration of bilateral ties and sooner or later the relationship will get back to normal, Patrushev told Sputnik.

"The contemporary history experience has shown that sooner or later the US-Russian relations will get back on track, all the more since further deterioration of bilateral relations does not satisfy either Moscow’s or Washington’s interests," Patrushev said.

Russian shipborne air task force arrives in Mediterranean

http://tass.com/defense/909957

The defense minister says refusal of some countries to allow Russian ships to call at ports did not affect their traffic in the Mediterranean Sea

The Russian shipborne air strike force led by the missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky has arrived in the Mediterranean Sea, Russia’s Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu said on Tuesday.

"Last week, our shipborne air strike force led by the missile cruisier Pyotr Veliky made a passage through the eastern Atlantic into the Mediterranean Sea. On October 27-29, support vessels replenished the naval group with all types of supplies to the required level," Shoigu said at a conference call in the Defense Ministry.

The refusal of some countries to allow Russian vessels to call at their ports did not affect the mission of the Russian task force, he added.

"We were especially surprised by the position of certain countries which under the pressure of the US and NATO said in public they denied the request of our warships to call at their ports. This did not affect at all the schedule of their traffic along the planned route as they are provided with all the necessary resources," Shoigu said.

According to Shoigu, the Russian groupings at the Hmeymim air base and the Tartus naval maintenance base in Syria are also supplied with all the necessary items as 2,000 tons of cargoes are delivered there on average every day.

The refusal of some countries to allow Russian warships to call at their ports has demonstrated how "our partners understand their contribution to the struggle against international terrorism in Syria," Shoigu said.

‘It is time for our Western partners to determine with whom they are really struggling - with terrorists or with Russia," he added.

The Russian Northern Fleet’s aircraft carrier group began its voyage to the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea on October 15. According to data of the Northern Fleet’s press office, the group comprises the heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky, the large antisubmarine warfare ships Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov and support vessels.

China Interested in Purchasing Russian Rocket Engines

https://sputniknews.com/russia/201611011046940270-china-russia-rocket-engines/

Director General of the Russian State Space Corporation said that China is interested in purchasing Russian rocket engines.

China is interested in purchasing Russian rocket engines, Director General of the Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos Igor Komarov said on Tuesday.

“We are speaking about practical spheres such as engines. Chinese partners are interested in such directions as purchasing engines as well as creating perspective engines and carrier rockets including heavy-lift launch vehicles,” Komarov told journalists at Airshow China 2016.

 

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One killed in helicopter crash in south Russia

http://tass.com/world/910029

According to updated information, the helicopter fell on a territory near a house and not on a private house

One person died and six others were injured after a helicopter fell on a territory surrounding a private house in Sochi in south Russia, the regional emergencies services told TASS on Tuesday.

"There were seven people aboard. One died," the source said.

A Eurocopter AS350 belonging to CJSC Yeltsovka has crashed. The helicopter followed the Krasnaya Polyana - Imereti Lowland route and fell on the courtyard of a one-storey private house. No fire followed after the crash, the source said.

The Interior Ministry’s transport department for the Southern Federal District has confirmed the information on the crash specifying that only five people got injured.

"A helicopter has crashed near the village of Vesyoloye in the city of Sochi. One person has died and five have been injured. A check is under way to find the causes of the tragedy," the transport department said.

An investigative team of the Sochi branch of the Interior Ministry’s transport department is working at the scene.

Russia and China plan to sign contract on heavy-lift helicopter design in 1-2 months

http://tass.com/economy/910032

Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant is engaged in building power transmission, gear case and windshield antiicing system of the new rotorcraft

Russia and China are planning to sign the contract on the design of a heavy-lift helicopter within the next two months, Chief Executive Officer of Russian Helicopters Alexander Mikheev said Tuesday.

"Today we’re finalizing the program’s discussion and I think we’ll sign the contract on the design of a heavy helicopter within the next one or two months," he said.

According to Mikheev, Russian and Chinese partners have agreed the scope of work, defined the responsibility of the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, and are conducting pre-contractual negotiations on timescale, costs and area of responsibility now. "The Chinese side is in charge of the helicopter’s conceptual structure and its certification," he said, adding that the Russian company is engaged in building power transmission, gear case and windshield antiicing system. CEO also said that the Chinese side is responsible for the power generator.

AHL (Advanced Heavy Lifter) is being developed jointly by Russian Helicopters and China’s AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China). The aircraft’s take-off weight is expected to be 38.2 tonnes, and the lifting capacity - from 10 to 15 tonnes. The helicopter’s speed will be up to 300 km per hour, the flight range will reach 630 km and service ceiling - 5,700 meters.

Earlier Rostec Director General Sergei Chemezov told TASS that the engine for the helicopter would be created no earlier than two or three years later.

Airshow China 2016: new stealth fighter and aerobatic maneuvers

http://tass.com/defense/910046

Airshow China-2016, the country's biggest meeting of aircraft makers and buyers, opened in Zhuhai

The international aerospace exhibition Airshow China-2016, the country's biggest meeting of aircraft makers and buyers in underway in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. The exhibition features military and civil planes, spacecraft and space equipment, aviation equipment and armament, aircraft and rocket engines, armament and military hardware for airborne troops, fire control systems, air defense complexes, radar stations and navigation equipment for airports. First day of the event - in a photo gallery by TASS.

First footage of China's fifth generation fighter

http://tass.com/defense/910013

TASS publishes first video footage of China's J-20 fifth generation fighter that was shown to the visitors of Airshow China 2016

China's J-20 fifth generation fighter has been showcased at Airshow China 2016.

The warplane performed its first test flight in 2011 and it's expected to become operational within the Chinese Armed Forces in 2017-2019.

The Chinese Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon” is a fighter jet referred to the fourth generation under China’s classification and the fifth generation under the Western category system.

Some media sources have reported that Russian-made AL-31FN engines are mounted on the J-20 and the Chinese Army has purchased decommissioned engines of this type in large numbers.

Most of J-20 performance characteristics are kept in secret. The fighter jet features a large number of elements similar to or fully copied from the Russian-made Mikoyan MiG 1.44 technology demonstrator plane and the US F-22 and F-35 fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

The aircraft has a canard configuration: it features a pair of ventral fins and the closely spaced engines (similar to the MiG 1.44), while the canopy and the nose are identical to the same elements on the F-22 aircraft.

The air inlets are arranged similar to the air intakes on the F-22 plane. The J-20 has an all-moving vertical stabilizer and the geometry similar to the F-35 fighter jet’s fin.

Turkish General Staff chief arrives in Russia to discuss military cooperation

http://tass.com/defense/909989

At the previous meeting, the parties decided to set up communication channels and a direct hotline between the two countries’ militaries

Turkey’s Chief of the General Staff Hulusi Akar has arrived in Moscow at the invitation of his Russian counterpart, General Valery Gerasimov, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Tuesday.

"On November 1, Turkey’s Chief of the General Staff Army General Hulusi Akar is going to visit Russia upon the invitation of Russia’s Chief of the General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimov to discuss bilateral military cooperation, exchange views and assess the situation in the region," the statement reads.

The two countries’ chiefs of the general staff previously held talks on September 15 in Turkey’s capital of Ankara. At the meeting, the parties decided to set up communication channels and a direct hotline between the two countries’ militaries in order to maximize cooperation efficiency and improve the level of bilateral contacts.

Turkey Setting Up Military Base in Northern Syria

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950811000647

According to al-Safir newspaper, Turkey is implementing the scenario played in Iraq's Bashiqa now in a village in Northern Aleppo.

The suspicious moves of certain Turkish army units near al-Zareh village in the Southern parts of al-Rae'i town (near the Syrian-Turkish border) show that Ankara is seriously pursuing establishment of a military base in Northern Syria.

According to the newspaper, the goal of such moves is setting up a military base, airbase or camp by the Turkish army under the pretext of the Euphrates Shield operation.

Informed sources said on Sunday that Ankara had dispatched more soldiers and military equipment to the Northern territories of Syria to strengthen its Euphrates Shield Operation.

"The Turkish Army has sent more forces to Jindris region at the Turkish border with Syria in Northwestern Aleppo," the sources said.

News sources, for their part, said on Monday that Ankara has dispatched reinforcement to two border regions of Qarqmish and Ugozeli in Gaziantep in Southern Turkey.

Ankara has also forwarded a number of tanks, military vehicles and equipment to its borders.

Turkey has deployed its forces in the Northern Iraqi town of Bashiqa despite Baghdad's objections.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said earlier this month that Turkish troops will remain in the camp.

"There are soldiers from 63 countries in Iraq. Claims toward Turkey about its military presence in Iraq are an unfriendly step. Turkey will maintain its presence in the country," Yildirim said.

Turkey claims that deployment of troops and tanks is to help the Iraqi national forces reclaim the city of Mosul from the ISIL but it has caused a rift with Iraq.

Russian shipborne air task force arrives in Mediterranean

http://tass.com/defense/909957

International Waters: Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier passes through W. Med

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Anti-Submarine US Plane Flights over Russian Fleet in Mediterranean Sea

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950811001009

Western websites monitoring planes' flight paths across the globe reported that a US P-8A Poseidon plane carried out reconnaissance flights over the Russian fleet in the Eastern coasts of Algeria heading to the Western part of the Mediterranean Sea to join the Russian navy in Syria's waters.

The British media said on Monday that three Russian submarines were detected by the Royal British Navy in the Irish Sea this past weekend.

"The Royal Navy and NATO have been tracking the two Akula-class submarines and a diesel-powered Kilo-class sub as they travelled to join the fleet of Russian ships headed by the Soviet-era aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov," the Independent reported.

These three submarines are likely armed with kalibr cruise missiles that will be used against the militants fighting the Syrian Army in the Aleppo Governorate.

The main vessel in this naval fleet is the Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov; this ship is carrying several fighter jets and attack helicopters that are going to conduct airstrikes against terrorist groups in Syria.

Observers believe that the US spy planes have recently increased their flights over Syria to gather intelligence on the Syrian army and the Russian forces' moves in the region.

On October 24, a US spy plane was spotted flying off the coasts of Syria near the Russian navy base in Tartus and an airbase in Lattakia.

Western websites monitoring planes' flight course across the globe reported that a US spy plane carried out at least four reconnaissance flights over the Russian navy base in Tartus and its air fleet in Humeimim air base in Lattakia province.

A week earlier in October, another US military plane carried out spy flights several kilometers away from a Russian technical center in the country's navy base in Tartus.

Also last month, a US P-8A Poseidon spy plane was spotted flying off the coast of Lebanon and Syria, near Tartus.

The US Navy reconnaissance plane was spotted at the time flying a few kilometers away from Russia’s Humeimim airbase in Syria.

The P-8A Poseidon aircraft flew close to Syria’s Mediterranean coast where Russia’s naval task force operates. It was the fourth time that a US spy plane was spotted near the Russian base in Humeimim.

Humeimim military airport, Southeast of the city of Lattakia, is Russia’s strategic center of operations against the ISIL and other terrorist groups.

According to reports, the P-8A Poseidon aircraft, designed and built for anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering, took off from the Mediterranean island of Sigonella in Sicily. The aircraft, with tail number 168761 then flew over Syria’s coast for one and a half hours in close proximity to the Russian airbase and logistics facility located at Tartus port, South of Lattakia.

Russian drone shows rebels weaponry in Syria’s Aleppo

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-drone-shows-rebels-weaponry-syrias-aleppo/

In the recently-released footage, militants belong to jihadi groups in the embattled city of Aleppo were spotted mobilizing BM-21 Grad rocket launchers somewhere in the Islamist-controlled areas in the city's northwest.

The truck carrying the MLRS was then moved to a tunnel in order to be hidden from Syrian and Russian fighter jets.

An alliance of jihadi groups has recently launched a wide-scale offensive against the government forces with the aim to lift the siege on the rebel-held districts in the city's east.

Nearly a month ago, Islamist fighters admitted to have received BM-21 Grad rocket launchers for the first time from their regional and international backers.

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Syrian Commander: Terrorists Using Toxic Gases in Aleppo at US Order

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950811001405

"After the terrorists failed in the Great Epic Operation (Aleppo battle), the US allowed them to use toxic gases against the civilians," Mohannad Haaj, a member of the Syrian parliament and commander of al-Mahavir Battalion of the Syrian army, said on Tuesday.

Noting that the terrorists have failed in all their attempts, he said, "The so-called Great Epic Operation of terrorists has scandalously failed since the Syrian army's strategy is to allow the terrorists to enter a region first and then surround and annihilate them all."

Jeish al-Fatah coalition of terrorist groups launched chemical attack on residential areas under the control of the government troops in Aleppo city on Saturday, inflicting casualties on the civilian population in the region.

According to medical sources, Jeish al-Fatah fired chemically armed shells at government positions and residential areas in the Assad Military-Engineering Academy and 3,000-unit Housing Complex near the academy in Southwestern Aleppo city three times in the last several hours, leaving at least a civilian dead and 36 more vitally wounded.

"Heavy attacks of the militants have blocked ways to transfer the poisoned and injured civilians to medical centers," the medics said.

"Based on evidence and the symptoms reported about the affected population, Jeish al-Fatah has used Chlorine in its chemical attacks this morning," the medical sources underlined.

Late in September, the Russian Defense Ministry said that it had received information that terrorists were planning chemical attacks against the Syrian army and residential areas in Aleppo.

"It became known that terrorist groups are preparing provocative attacks by chemical weapons on Syrian army's positions and residential areas in the East part of Aleppo to accuse government forces of the attacks," said Lt. Gen. Viktor Poznikhir, the first deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff.

The cessation of hostilities in Syria was undermined by militant groups that increased their activities, he added.

Also, the Syrian army said in a statement on Monday that the al-Nusra Front (Fatah al-Sham Front) terrorists have killed and wounded hundreds of people in Aleppo during the last three days.

The statement said that terrorists killed at least 84 people and injured 280 in Aleppo during the past three days after the al-Nusra Front terrorist group intensified its offensive on Aleppo with the help of other militant groups.
According to reports, 16,000 terrorists launched a large-scale operation (the Great Epic Operation) on Friday to capture the government-held regions in Western and Southwestern Aleppo, and then remove the siege on the militants in the Eastern parts of the city.

Local media outlets have revealed that hundreds of terrorists have been killed and wounded in bloody battle with Syrian army troops and popular forces in Aleppo.

Second Column of Syrian Special Forces, Several Russian T90 Tanks Arrive in Aleppo

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950811000473

"This is the second convoy of the Syrian Special Forces, also known as Liwa Suqour al-Sahra, that has arrived in Aleppo this week," the sources said.

"The Deseret Hawks Brigade forces will join their comrades to strengthen the army forces' combat capabilities," they added.

"Simultaneous with the arrival of the Syrian Special Forces, a number of the Syrian Army's T90 tanks arrived in Aleppo battlefields," the sources said.

Military sources said on Monday that Commander of the Syrian Army's Tiger Forces Colonel Suheil al-Hassan and a large number of his fighters had arrived in Aleppo to join other army units and popular forces in the war against Jeish al-Fatah terrorists,

"A long column of military vehicles carrying hundreds of Tiger Forces and missile systems arrived in Aleppo city on Sunday," the sources said, adding, "Several advanced Russia-made tanks have also accompanied the Tiger Forces."

"The Tiger Forces and the commandoes of the Desert Hawks Brigade, backed up by Syrian choppers, are due to launch joint offensives in Aleppo in the next few days," added the sources.

Over 90 Militants Killed in Failed Attack on Syrian Army Positions in Dara'a

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950811000378

"A coalition of terrorist groups of al-Muhajirin and al-Ansaar, Jabhat al-Nusra, Faloujet Houran, Jeish al-Yarmouk, Bait al-Maqdes, Liwa al-Karama, Mujahidi Houran, al-Liwa al-Rade’a, Ahrar Nawa, al-Mu’taz Bellah and Jund al-Malahem struck the Syrian army's strongholds in Northern Dara'a," the source said.

"The army troops inflicted major casualties on the militants, destroying four explosive-laden suicide vehicles and 16 surveillance drones," the source added.

"After being defeat, the terrorist groups transferred their injured members to Israeli medical centers," he said.

The source further added that the terrorist groups used Israeli intelligence in their attack.

In the meantime, the Syrian army stormed terrorist centers in Saida and Ghariyeh in Eastern Dara'a, destroying their rocket and mortar launchers.

In relevant developments in the province on Monday, Syrian military forces' heavy attack against a base of Fatah al-Sham Front (the al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group previously known as the al-Nusra Front) in the Southern province of Dara'a inflicted major damage on the group's missile launchpads.

The Syrian army struck Fatah al-Sham's sites near the cement-block plant and al-Beit al-Azraq (Blue House) East of the town of Dael and also East of the town of Seida, destroying the militants' vehicles and missile systems.

Army reports said the missile crew as well as a number of guards were killed in the attack.

Elsewhere in North and Northeastern Dara'a, the army soldiers also repelled the terrorists' attacks on their positions in Khirbet al-Qazaleh and Namer.

Also, in the same province, the Army's artillery units shelled the terrorists' gatherings in the Southern part of the town of al-Na'eimeh, Gharz region, the towns of Ibtta and Dael, Tal (Hill) al-Samn, West of the bridge of the town of al-Qariyeh al-Gharbiyeh, near Khirbet al-Qazaleh and South of al-Yadoudeh town, destroying three armored vehicles, four more vehicles carrying militants, a tank and four drones.

The government troops also targeted the terrorists' strongholds in Busra square in Dara'a al-Mahatta district and al-Hamadeen neighborhood in Dara'a al-Balad district, destroying their base and military equipment.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Russia says resumption of Syria peace talks delayed indefinitely

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-shoigu-idUSKBN12W3EE

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday a Western failure to rein in violent Islamists in Syria had indefinitely delayed the resumption of peace talks.

Shoigu said that rebels backed by Western governments had been attacking civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo, despite a pause in Russian and Syrian air attacks.

"As a result, the prospects for the start of a negotiation process and the return to peaceful life in Syria are postponed for an indefinite period," Shoigu said.

Separately, a Kremlin spokesman said that a temporary pause in Russian and Syrian government air strikes on Aleppo was in force for now, but could not be extended if the rebels in the city did not halt their attacks.

Insurgents launched an offensive last week against government-held western Aleppo, more than a month into an operation by the army to retake the city's rebel-held eastern districts, which it had already put under siege.

The United Nations said on Tuesday that all sides fighting over Aleppo may be committing war crimes through indiscriminate attacks in civilian areas.

Russia backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's civil war, and its military operation in Syria, now in its second year, has shored up Assad's position. That has put Moscow on a collision course with Washington and its allies who want Assad removed from office.

Since Oct. 18, Russia and its Syrian allies say they have halted air attacks in Aleppo. Western governments had alleged that the strikes had been killing civilians in large numbers, an allegation Moscow denied.

But the pause in the air attacks on Aleppo is fragile: Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month its continuation depended on the behavior of moderate rebel groups in Aleppo and their Western backers.

LOST CHANCES

Shoigu, who was addressing a meeting of Russian military officials, railed against those rebels and their backers, saying they had squandered a chance for peace talks.

"It is time for our Western colleagues to determine who they are fighting against: terrorists or Russia," Shoigu said, in remarks broadcast on Russian television.

"Maybe they have forgotten at whose hands innocent people died in Belgium, in France, in Egypt and elsewhere?"

Listing attacks he said had been carried out by Western-backed rebels inside Aleppo, he said: "Is this an opposition with which we can achieve agreements?"

"In order to destroy terrorists in Syria it is necessary to act together, and not put a spanner in the works of partners. Because the rebels exploit that in their own interests."

Shoigu said he was also surprised that some European governments had refused to allow Russian navy vessels bound for Syria to dock in their Mediterranean ports to refuel or take on supplies.

But he said those refusals had not affected the naval mission, or interfered with supplies reaching the Russian military operation in Syria.

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the "humanitarian pause" in Russian air strikes in Aleppo had allowed civilians to flee, and made it possible for aid to be brought in.

"But all that is impossible if the terrorists continue to fire on neighborhoods, humanitarian aid routes, launch attacks, and continue to hide behind a (human) shield. That will not permit the continuation of the humanitarian pause," Peskov said.

Terrorist organizations target with shells the UN offices in al-Meridian neighborhood in Aleppo

http://sana.sy/en/?p=92134

Terrorist groups positioned in the eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo City on Tuesday attacked with shells the building of Shahba hotel in al-Meridian neighborhood in Aleppo.

SANA reporter said that terrorists positioned in Bustan al-Qaser neighborhood fired three shells on Shahba Hotel in Aleppo which is the residence for the UN staff, and no causalities were reported among the hotel guests or the UN staff.

The reporter added that two of the shells fell on a residential building near the hotel causing a huge material damage.

In turn, the UN Resident Representative in Syria Ali al-Za’atari said in a statement that the UN Office to the west of Aleppo City was shelled with tanks, causing a material damage in the upper floors of the building.

Al-Za’atari said that targeting the building which includes the offices of the UN is still very shocking.

The statement mentioned that more than 40 people were killed and many others were injured due to the terrorist attacks with rocket shells on civilian areas to the west of Aleppo.

 

[angelburst29]

Syrian President Bashar Assad said he intended to run the country till the end of his third term in 2021.

Syrian President Assad Intends to Remain in Power Until 2021
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611011046973965-assad-plans-remain-power/

There was no possibility of political changes till the government forces won the war and the general state of the social fabric in Syria was "much better, that before" the war, Assad was quoted as saying by The New York Times.

In July 2000, Assad came to power for the first time, gaining 97.3 percent of votes in the referendum on election of the head of state. In May 2007, Assad got the presidential post for the second time, winning 97.62 percent of votes in the national referendum. In June 2014, Assad received 88.7 percent of votes and won the presidential elections, given this was the first time several candidates contested for the post. Since 2011, Syria has been in a state of civil war, with government forces fighting opposition groups who seek to overthrow Assad's government.

According to the United Nations, 300,000 Syrians died during the war.

A prominent Russian analyst said that the decisive battle to free the Northern city of Aleppo in Syria will soon start, adding that a round of hard talks on Syria will pursue the imminent capture of Aleppo.

Russian Analyst: Putin to Hit Final Blow at Obama before US Presidential Election
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950811001133

"I think that the Russian, Iranian and Syrian foreign ministers have also discussed the same issue during their recent meeting in Moscow," Sergei Markov said in an interview with the Russian Argumenti I Fakti magazine.

"I believe that the operations to regain Aleppo will kick off on November 7 or 8 before Obama leaves power and it will be a blow to the US president by Vladimir Putin before Obama's departure," he added.

Noting that media reports are speaking of the US plans in the Middle-East and its attempts to take control of the region, Markov said, "I, personally, believe that this is a big stupidity since the US already is drowning in problems in Syria."

He referred to Obama's past remarks who considered overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad as a piece of cake, and said it is not clear who has advised Obama to utter such words "but I believe that they (his advisors) are those who support alliance with Saudi Arabia since Washington entered Syria as Riyadh ally and attacked it to overthrow a government which supports Iran."

Citing an analysis by a Western intelligence service, UK media reported on Monday that Russia is expected to start a full-scale military operation in Syria's Aleppo this week to support the government forces.

The Times newspaper, citing the findings of the analysis, said the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, accompanied by seven warships and sailing in the Mediterranean, is expected to reach the Syrian coast between Wednesday and Friday to support the operation.

The media outlet also noted that three Russian submarines armed with cruise missiles are allegedly sailing to the Syrian coast.
A Western intelligence source told the newspaper that Moscow is "on the brink of a major military assault on Aleppo".

The publication assumes that Moscow seeks to exploit a pause in the United States on the eve of the presidential election in order to help Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Forces' secure a decisive victory in the Syrian largest city.

US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter claims that some fifty percent of young Americans do not know anything about US military service or opportunities it provides.

(Comment - Ask our "homeless VET's" if they can describe "the opportunities?" )

Half of Young Americans ‘Do Not Know Anything’ About US Military Service
https://sputniknews.com/military/201611011046973836-carter-amerikans-know-nothing-military/

Some fifty percent of young Americans do not know anything about US military service or opportunities it provides, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told an audience at the City College of New York on Tuesday.

"Because of the success of the all-volunteer force and no draft for forty years, surveys and focus groups we have done show that one-half of young Americans do not know anything about military service," Carter claimed.

Americans who join the military are more likely to come from rural areas, with most officers coming from the northern US states and a majority of enlisted personnel from southern states, Carter added. "Forty percent of those who join the military come from just six US states including New York," the secretary said.

By law, all US male citizens 18-25 years of age are required to register for selective service. Failure to do so is a violation of the Military Selective Service Act, and conviction for such a violation may result in imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine of up to $250,000.

A senior Syrian army commander disclosed that the terrorists have launched chemical attacks on the civilians in Aleppo with the US permission.

Syrian Commander: Terrorists Using Toxic Gases in Aleppo at US Order
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950811001405

"After the terrorists failed in the Great Epic Operation (Aleppo battle), the US allowed them to use toxic gases against the civilians," Mohannad Haaj, a member of the Syrian parliament and commander of al-Mahavir Battalion of the Syrian army, said on Tuesday.

"Based on evidence and the symptoms reported about the affected population, Jeish al-Fatah has used Chlorine in its chemical attacks this morning," the medical sources underlined.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Over 1,631 civilians have been hit in the face with pellets by Indian armed forces during the 115 days of uprising with 1,100 of them having injuries in eyes, a trauma that has cost them their vision partially or fully, records consolidated from Srinagar hospitals said.

Over 1,600 Civilians Hit by Pellets in Face, 1,100 Eye Injuries in Kashmir
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950811001495

Hundreds of pellet-hit people are still waiting for vision corrective surgeries in hope of undoing the damage caused by pellets perforating their eyes, News International reported.

SMHS Hospital and SKIMS Medical College Hospital in Srinagar revealed that at least 1,500 have been hit by pellets in and around their eyes. Of these 1,100 people have had pellet injuries right in their eyes, damaging their visual areas and resulting in visual impairment of varying degree.

As per records at the SMHS Hospital, 970 people with pellet injuries in the eyes had been received. Of these, 44 people had injuries in both eyes. In addition 524 people with pellet injuries around their eyes have also been treated during the same period at this hospital.

At the SKIMS Medical College Hospital in Srinagar, 131 people with injuries in the eyes have been admitted during the same period. All of these, doctors said, had grave injuries causing loss of vision.

The hospital has also admitted seven people whose both eyes had been hit by pellets. Besides, a few pellet-injured people have also been taken outside the territory, doctors at the two hospitals said. A handful of pellet-injured people preferred to travel outside the territory for treatment, a doctor at the SMHS Hospital said.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Crimea’s population is well-protected against emergencies — Puchkov

http://tass.com/politics/910136

Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov noted that Crimea had the risks of practically all natural disasters, including possible seismic activity

The indices of protection of the population against emergencies and the level of people’s security in Crimea and Sevastopol exceed the national average, Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov told TASS after his working trip to Crimea.

"The Russian Emergencies Ministry and all the federal structures in Crimea and Sevastopol have been working in unison over the past three years. This allows us to have stable indices of the protection of people’s lives and health and the provision of security for tourists. Today, the peninsula has better indicators than in other parts of Russia on average," the Russian emergencies minister said.

Puchkov noted that Crimea had the risks of practically all natural disasters, including possible seismic activity; sharp temperature difference and dangerous natural phenomena. "Besides, there are other artificial risks created by outside factors. Suffice it to remember last year’s blackout in Crimea," the Russian emergencies minister said.

At present, a new energy system is developing on the peninsula. "Reserve mobile generating capacities, which are constantly operational, have been created," Puchkov explained.

He added that the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations was reinforcing the potential of fire-fighting and rescue services in Crimea and Sevastopol. "The plans include the delivery of robotics and drones, which are already monitoring the fire-hazardous situation and can be used for searching lost tourists and for saving people on water," Puchkov noted. According to him, the firefighting and rescue units have been equipped with motorcycles, quads and other advanced homemade equipment.

"Crimea has applied most modern new approaches to the prevention of emergency situations and fires as well as to risk management. The crisis management center, which successfully operates in Crimea, has established direct contacts with the Crisis Management Center of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations and receives outer space information necessary for passing timely decisions on preventing and minimizing the consequences of emergency situations," Puchkov concluded.

My thoughts that crossed my mind as I watched the video a couple of days ago: :)

US Warns Russia “Aliens On Their Way, Will Be Here In 2017”

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

Russian Eastern Military District receives shipment of Sukhoi Su-34 bombers

http://tass.com/defense/910143

The new shipment of fighter bombers will be put in operation next year

An air force unit deployed to Russia’s Far Eastern region of Khabarovsk has received another shipment of the Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bombers, head of the Eastern Military District press service colonel Alexander Gordeyev told TASS on Wednesday.

"The new shipment of fighter bombers will be put in operation next academic year and will complete training and combat missions during air force drills," he said.

Gordeyev did not say how many fighter bombers were received by the air force unit.

The Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bomber is designed to hit ground targets as well as naval ones. It is capable of engaging even small mobile targets and aerial targets in daytime and at night, under favorable and adverse weather conditions.

Russia to Churn Out First Batch of Ka-52 Choppers for Foreign Customers in 2017

https://sputniknews.com/military/201611021046981432-russia-ka-52-export/

Russia will manufacture the first batch of hi-tech Ka-52 gunships for foreign purchasers in early 2017.

The first batch of Ka-52 helicopters manufactured for foreign purchasers will be ready for delivery in 2017, Russian Helicopters holding Deputy CEO Igor Chechikov said.

"Our factory is booked with export orders until 2020. We are planning to manufacture the first batch of Ka-52 Alligator helicopters [NATO reporting name: Hokum B] in the beginning of 2017," Chechikov told RIA Novosti in an interview.

On October 18, Anatoly Punchuk, the deputy director of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), said that Egypt had appealed to Russia to supply Ka-52 helicopters for Mistral helicopter carriers.

Russia's Ka-52 Alligator reconnaissance and combat helicopter is designed to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles. Ka-52 could also perform fire support operations, as well as patrol and escort missions.

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

Aircraft carrier’s voyage to Mediterranean is ‘show of flag’ — Russian MP

http://tass.com/defense/910120

Earlier, British daily The Times maintained that Russia was allegedly preparing a large-scale offensive on Aleppo

The voyage of the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov to the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea is ‘a show of the flag’ and also comes as part of the schedule to rotate troops, the chairman of the State Duma’s defense committee, Vladimir Shamanov, told Rossiya 1 television on Tuesday.

"The seamen have such a notion - ‘show of flag’. Let us consider this operation as ‘show of flag," he said.

"We have a rotation schedule there (in Syria). An aircraft grouping is approaching now, the arrival of other Naval groups is also planned when combat tasks will be trained," Shamanov said.

He expressed doubts that the Admiral Kuznetsov would be used in operations near Aleppo. "If intentions had been as such, there would have been at least two or three large landing ships in the group," he said in comments on media reports about a possible offensive on Aleppo with the participation of Russian military.

Earlier, British daily The Times maintained that Russia was allegedly preparing a large-scale offensive on Aleppo.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dismissed speculations by the British daily.

The Russian Northern Fleet’s aircraft carrier group began its voyage to the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea on October 15. According to data of the Northern Fleet’s press office, the group comprises the heavy aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, the heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky, the large antisubmarine warfare ships Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov and support vessels.

Putin orders 10-hour humanitarian pause in Aleppo on Nov. 4 – Russian military

https://www.rt.com/news/365047-aleppo-humanitarian-pause-corridors/

President Vladimir Putin has ordered a humanitarian pause in Aleppo from 9am to 7pm on November 4, the Russian General Staff has reported, while urging the armed groups to stop fighting in Aleppo and leave the city with their arms via two corridors.

General Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, said the militants failed to break through the blockade around the city last week and accept Russia’s proposal to leave eastern Aleppo through two specially designated corridors, while reiterating that they would be allowed to keep arms.

“Considering that our American colleagues were unable to separate the opposition from terrorists, we are addressing all militant leaders directly, urging them to cease hostilities and leave Aleppo with their arms,” he said. “Two corridors will be opened, from which Syrian troops and weapons would be pulled back.”

One of the corridors for the militants leads to the Turkish-Syrian border and another one to Idlib, the general said.

During Friday’s pause, six additional corridors will be opened for civilians wishing to leave the city, the general said.

A previous attempt to evacuate residents from the besieged city in order to minimize civilian casualties was derailed by militants who shelled the corridor to prevent them from leaving. A UN-led attempt to provide medical evacuations also failed.

The Russian military say they are attempting the same scheme again in light of the serious losses suffered by the militants during an attempt to break out last week. Moscow says by taking up the offer, the rebels could avoid needless deaths.

“All attempts by the militants by break through the blockade of Aleppo failed. The terrorists sustained serious loss of manpower, arms and vehicles. They no longer have any chance to break out of the city,” Gerasimov said.

Aleppo is divided between government-controlled and militant-controlled parts and is encircled by troops from the Syrian army and its allies. Russia and Damascus suspended airstrikes on militant-held east Aleppo two weeks ago. Amid the militant offensive last week, the Russian military asked for airstrikes to be resumed, but Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the request.

US Air Force to Test Laser Beam Control System by 2019

https://sputniknews.com/military/201611021046979595-usaf-laser-beam-control-system/

Northrop Grumman will develop a laser beam control system for the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Northrop Grumman will develop a laser beam control system for the Air Force Research Laboratory which will ultimately be housed in a pod attached to a fighter aircraft with flight testing expected by 2019, the defense giant said in a press release.

“Our Northrop Grumman-led team is integrating an innovative beam director with proven beam control technologies to help the Air Force define and successfully demonstrate a laser weapon capability for current and next generation aircraft,” Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems directed energy vice president Mark Skinner said on Tuesday.

Northrop Grumman is to develop and produce the beam control portion of an airborne laser weapon demonstration system that AFRL is developing under its Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program, the release added.

As the high energy laser beam propagates through the air to a target, atmospheric turbulence degrades the quality of the beam and reduces its effectiveness. The beam control system senses atmospheric disturbances that could distort the laser beam, acquires and tracks incoming targets, determines an aim point for the laser, then “shapes” and focuses the outgoing beam on the target.

LASER is the acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. LASER's are commonplace in bar code scanning, manufacturing and communications.

 

[angelburst29]

The chief of the Russian General Staff directly urged militant leaders in Aleppo to leave the embattled city. Two humanitarian corridors are open for them.

Russian General Staff Appeals Directly to Militant Leaders to Leave Aleppo
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611021046982897-russia-militant-leaders-aleppo/

Chief of Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov issued a direct appeal to militant leaders in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo to leave the city given the United States' inability to influence them.

"In view of our US colleagues' inability to separate the terrorists from the opposition, we appeal directly to all leaders of the armed groups to cease hostilities and withdraw from Aleppo with their weapons," Gerasimov said. To that end, he said that two corridors are opened with Syrian government troops and military hardware pulled out. One corridor leads to the Syrian-Turkish border to the north, while the other leads to the Idlib province southwest of Aleppo, Gerasimov specified.

Terrorists in Aleppo are distributing leaflets with demands that its citizens pay 300 dollars each in order to leave the city through humanitarian corridors, according to RIA Novosti.

Fee to Flee: Aleppo Residents Can Leave if They Fork Out $300 to Terrorists
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611021047001917-syria-terrorists-humanitarian-corridors/

The Supreme Military Council of Jaish al-Fatah, a jihadist-led coalition that includes al-Qaeda's official branch in Syria, initiated the distribution of leaflets in Aleppo which demand that its citizens pay 150,000 Syrian pounds (liras), or 300 dollars, each to leave the city through humanitarian corridors, RIA Novosti reported.

It quoted Jaish al-Fatah as saying that "our leadership is aware of the hardships suffered by civilians in Aleppo due to the bombing and the siege carried out by the Syrian Army." "After meeting our brothers, we will allow all those aged under 14 and over 55 to leave Aleppo if they each pay 150,000 Syrian pounds to support our brothers at the front," the leaflets read.

Sources close to the terrorist groups admitted that between 2,200 up to 2,500 militants have been killed or wounded in their large-scale offensive on government forces' positions in the Western and Southwestern parts of Aleppo city in the last few days.

Aleppo: Terrorist Groups Acknowledge Nearly 2,500 Casualties in Great Epic Operation
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950812001030

The Arabic service of RT quoted the sources as saying that the terrorist groups suffered between 2, 200 up to 2,500 casualties, including a large number of non-Syrian militants, in their Great Epic Operation on Army positions in Western and Southwestern Aleppo in the last 6 days.

Meantime, other sources said earlier today that days of attacks by around 16,000 militants under the Great Epic Operation to prevail over the government forces' positions and lift the siege of militants in Eastern districts of Aleppo ended in nothing but the most devastating failure for the terrorists since escalation of the crisis in Syria.

"The Great Epic Operation was the largest offensive of terrorists on government troops' position since the start of the crisis in Syria," the sources said.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Belarus, Russia signed over 20 arms deals in 2016 — defense minister

http://tass.com/defense/910219

Over the past 18 years, military educational establishments of the Russian Defense Ministry have trained 1,273 Belarusian servicemen

Russia and Belarus have signed over 20 contracts on the delivery and upgrade of military hardware while another several dozens of agreements are at the stage of approval, Belarusian Defense Minister Lieutenant-General Andrei Ravkov said on Wednesday.

"In 2016 alone, we have already signed over 20 contracts for the delivery and upgrade of military hardware. Several dozen more contracts are at the stage of approval or drafting," he said at a joint board session of the Russian and Belarusian defense ministries.

Arms deliveries are made on preferential terms, he added.

"I can’t but note cooperation in the military and technical sphere, which is developing dynamically. Russia is our basic partner in the delivery of military products, as well as the repairs and upgrade of armaments and combat hardware," the defense minister said. Over the past 18 years, military educational establishments of the Russian Defense Ministry have trained 1,273 Belarusian servicemen and another 383 are undergoing training at present, he added.

According to the Belarusian defense minister, both countries have a lot of other spheres of military cooperation, in which considerable results have been achieved, which has made it possible over many years to characterize interaction of the defense ministries as a benchmark for other ministries and departments of the Russia-Belarus Union State.

The Belarusian general said he hoped that today’s session of the defense ministries’ joint board "will become a new point of contact between the defense ministries on a whole number of issues of creating new and improving existing systems of ensuring security in the military sphere."

Russia and Belarus have held almost 100 joint measures in 2016, he went on.

"Summing up the results of implementing the plan of inter-departmental cooperation for 2016, I want to stress that the plan has been implemented in full and this means almost 100 joint measures," the defense minister said at a joint board session of the defense ministries from both countries.

The Russian-Belarusian exercises Zapad-2017 (West-2017) will be the main event of the joint training of military governance bodies and troops from both countries in 2017, he said.

"I want to emphasize full mutual understanding and the coincidence of the positions and the unity of opinions on all the issues discussed [at the joint board session]. Today we clearly see further prospects of our military cooperation. No doubt, the fulfillment of all the planned measures will make it possible to continue successfully strengthening the defense capability of our countries and the Union State as a whole," Ravkov said.

During the joint board session of the defense ministries, the Belarusian side also proposed holding two new contests on its territory as part of the 2017 International Army Games.

Shoigu: NATO leaves Russia and Belarus no choice but to respond

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/11/shoigu-nato-leaves-russia-and-belarus.html

November 2, 2016 - Fort Russ News -
RIA Novosti - translated by J. Arnoldski -

Russia is compelled to take defensive measures in response to NATO’s increasing activity on the western borders of the Union State of Russia and Belarus. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated this at a joint meeting of the Russian and Belarusian defense ministries.

At the NATO summit in Warsaw in July, the member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed to increase their military contingent in Eastern Europe: by 2017, four multinational battalions will be deployed in the Baltic counties and Poland.

In addition, NATO is constantly discussing strengthening its presence in the Black Sea region. The alliance justifies these actions by alleging a threat posed by Russia. Moscow has repeatedly stated that it will not go to war with any NATO member countries, but will not leave unanswered the organization’s increasing military presence near its borders.

“On the western borders of the Union State, the US and other NATO members are actively expanding their offensive capabilities by opening new bases and developing military infrastructure. They are not ceasing in attempts to impose their will on other countries through economic and political diktat as well as military force. An open information war is being waged,” Shoigu stated.

These actions, the defense minister noted, undermine strategic stability and force Russia to take responsive measures. Shoigu emphasized that the high level of cooperation with Belarus allows issues of strengthening the Union State’s defense potential to be successfully resolved.

“Such an approach is relevant now more than ever, as international mechanisms designed to resolve crisis situations are being stalled and tensions are very close to our borders,” the minister said.

In his assessment, Russia and Belarus’ military cooperation is actively developing. In September of next year, Russia and Belarus will hold the “West-2017” strategic exercises simultaneously in several training areas in both countries. Shoigu said that these war games will become “the main event in the joint preparation of our armed forces in 2017.”

The Russian defense minister stressed that the development of plans and scenarios for the war games will take into account NATO’s increased activity near the borders of the Union State.

In addition, he noted, Russia and Belarus are paying significant attention to realizing agreements on the joint defense of borders and the creation of a unified regional air defense system. In 2016, Russian enterprises completed a major overhaul of S-300PS anti-aircraft systems that were transferred to Belarus free of charge. “These measures allow violations of the Union State's airspace to be prevented,” Shoigu concluded.

Moscow Waiting for Response From NATO on Initiatives to Resume Cooperation

https://sputniknews.com/world/201611021047004926-russia-nato-cooperation/

Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow is concerned over NATO’s current course leading to deterioration of security situation in Europe, and is waiting for a concrete response from the alliance on Russia’s initiatives to resume the dialogue.

Moscow is concerned over NATO’s current course leading to deterioration of security situation in Europe, and is waiting for a concrete response from the alliance on Russia’s initiatives to resume the dialogue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

“We have repeatedly stated that we do not want to slam the door. There are no insoluble problems in our relations with the West under the condition that there is a will… we are waiting from NATO for a concrete response on our initiatives on resumption of cooperation,” Lavrov said in the University of Piraeus in Athens.

Lavrov stressed also that “NATO’s course of containing Russia causes great concern, as it leads to the disruption of strategic stability on the European continent.”

Lavrov hopes US will keep promise on separating Syrian opposition, terrorists

http://tass.com/politics/910177

Moscow calls to solve all issues not through regime change, but through an inclusive political dialogue between all ethnic and religious groups

Moscow still expects Washington to meet its commitments on the separation of opposition from terrorists in Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is currently on a two-day visit to Greece, said on Wednesday.

"I remember well that when we adopted this resolution (on Syria) John Kerry said that those who want to take part in the settlement should immediately break ties with terrorists. These were the golden words, and we still expect that they will be put into action and confirmed," Lavrov said at the meeting with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

Lavrov recalled that the UN Security Council resolution was passed after lengthy talks chaired by Russia and the US as part of the International Syria Support Group. The document outlined the comprehensive approach towards resolving the Syrian crisis.

"The resolution stipulates the immediate launch of political talks without preconditions, easing the humanitarian situation that in many parts of Syria is just critical and envisages uncompromising struggle against terrorists. Those opposition groups that want to take part in the political settlement should break all relations with ISIL (former name of IS terrorist group) and Jabhat Al-Nusra and separate themselves from them," he said.

At the height of the Arab spring, Moscow called to solve all issues not through regime change, but through an inclusive political dialogue between all ethnic and religious groups in Egypt, Libya and Syria, Russia’s top diplomat said. The situation later stabilized in Egypt, and Moscow backs this process. "In Libya, unfortunately, there is no state, it needs to be created from scratch. The UN is dealing with this issue, and we try to support this," he added.

Russia, US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey seek to solve Syrian crisis together

According to the diplomat, Russia continues its efforts to cooperate with the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey to solve the Syrian crisis.

"We continue to cooperate with the Americans, representatives of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, we are searching for an opportunity to solve this crisis," he noted.

"We have been trying to solve the Aleppo problem for several months, we even clinched some agreements with the US. Unfortunately, after the deal had been agreed on, the US in fact withdrew from it. We have been repeatedly initiating humanitarian pauses, however, neither Russian nor Syrian warplanes have been conducting airstrikes in the Aleppo area for two weeks now. Nevertheless, each time the extremists take advantage of the humanitarian pauses to swell their ranks and restock their weapons," the Russian minister emphasized.

According to Lavrov, Jabhat al-Nusra (terror group, outlawed in Russia) has been in control of eastern Aleppo, other armed groups that have been actually holding the civilians hostage, are subordinates, who take orders from al-Nusra.

Lavrov also noted that "those who have been violating the UN Security Council’s resolutions and indulging the terrorists unwilling to negotiate but just seeking to overthrow the Bashar al-Assad government, are now thwarting the peace process." "If the UN Security Council’s resolutions on a settlement for Syria had earnestly been implemented by all parties, then the situation would have been different, it would have changed for the better," Lavrov stated.

32-truck humanitarian aid convoy delivered to Inkhel, al-Harra and Jassem cities in Daraa

http://sana.sy/en/?p=92258

In cooperation between the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), a humanitarian aid convoy was delivered to cities in the northwestern countryside of the southern Daraa province.

The convoy includes 32 trucks loaded with 130 tons of aid supplies to the cities of Inkhel, al-Harra and Jassem.

Governor of Daraa province Khaled al-Hannous told the reporters that the aid came in the framework of the humanitarian response plan to cover all areas of the province.

He noted that about 8,000 families in Inkhel, al-Harra and Jassem will benefit from the assistance.

Head of the SARC Branch in Daraa Ahmad al-Masalmeh said that the assistance includes 5,000 food packages, 4,000 canned food packages and 3,000 health material packages.

Tens of Terrorists Killed in New Raid on Gov't Positions in Family House in Western Aleppo

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950812000889

Syrian army soldiers fended off terrorists' large-scale offensive on their positions in the Family House district, killing and wounding at least 250 terrorists.

Reports said that a large number of the slain terrorists in the Family House district were those militants, who once left Darayya and al-Mo'adhamiyeh and were dispatched to Idlib after the accepting peace plan with the Syrian Army.

Sources said earlier today that days of attacks by around 16,000 militants under the Great Epic Operation to prevail over the government forces' positions and lift the siege of militants in Eastern districts of Aleppo ended in nothing but the most devastating failure for the terrorists since escalation of the crisis in Syria.

"The Great Epic Operation was the largest offensive of terrorists on government troops' position since the start of the crisis in Syria," the sources said.

Jeish al-Islam terrorists launched a fresh round of attacks on government positions in Western part of Aleppo city on Tuesday afternoon.

The Syrian army repelled the terrorists' attacks in Jam'iyat al-Zahra and Assad Military-Engineering Academy, inflicting tens of casualties on them.

The terrorists used bomb-laden suicide vehicles in their attacks but army soldiers targeted most of them before they could approach their positions.

The Syrian army also fended off militants' offensive in Menyan region.

The army troops clashed with militants in Zahiyeh al-Assad district and its nearby areas and are now pushing back the terrorists from the district.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Russian Eastern Military District unit gets cutting-edge unmanned aircraft

http://tass.com/defense/910368

The unmanned aircraft unit of Russia’s Eastern Military District deployed to the Amur region has received a shipment of new Eleron-3 unmanned aircraft that will allow to conduct round-the-clock reconnaissance missions and transfer data via secured channels, Eastern Military District Spokesman Colonel Alexander Gordeyev told TASS on Thursday.

"The Eleron-3 unmanned aircraft is equipped with a low-noise electric engine and the GLONASS/GPS navigation devices. It has reduced optical, acoustic and radar signature and is designed to carry replaceable photo and video cameras, a thermal imager, a jamming station and other useful devices," Gordeyev elaborated.

The unmanned aircraft is capable of operating at various heights and in various temperatures over 50 kilometers away from the ground control station.

According to Gordeyev, operators for this unmanned aircraft have already been retrained at the Defense Ministry’s Training Center for Unmanned Aviation.

Russian Portfolio of Arms Orders Tops $45Bln

https://sputniknews.com/military/201611031047022152-russia-arms-export-portfolio/

The export portfolio of the Russian state arms exporter has surpassed $45 billion.

The export portfolio of Russian state arms exporter Rosoboronexport has grown to more than $45 billion, the joint stock company said in a statement Thursday.

"Through integrated marketing strategies, we have ensured that Rosoboronexport’s order book today exceeds US$ 45 billion,” Rosoboronexport CEO Anatoly Isaykin said in the statement dedicated to its 16 years of international cooperation.

Russian Navy commander to meet with Chinese Army commanders

http://tass.com/politics/910341

The Russian military delegation led by the Navy Chief Commander Vladimir Korolev has started its official visit to China, Igor Dygalo, spokesman for Russian Defense Ministry’s department of information and mass communications, said on Thursday.

"The visit of the Chief Commander of the Russian Navy Vladimir Korolev to the People’s Republic of China will last until November 6," Dygalo said.

He added that the Russian delegation will meet with commanders of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and of the Navy. Korolev will also visit the base of the Chinese Northern Fleet in Qingdao where he will examine military ships, pay a visit to the military school of Chinese divers and meet with the fleet’s commanders.

Dygalo noted that the visit is held in accordance with the plan on international military cooperation.

China remains one of biggest Russian weapons importers — official

http://tass.com/defense/910362

China’s portfolio of orders for Russia’s armaments has significantly grown of late exceeding $8 bln

China continues to be of the largest importers of Russian weapons, Sergei Kornev, the head of the delegation of the Russian state-run arms export agency, Rosoboronexport, at the Airshow China 2016 International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, informed TASS.

"China has long been one of the major importers of Russian weapons," he said. "At present, its share in the total volume of our delivery has somewhat declined. However, it continues to be among the largest importers of Russian weapons."

In 1990s - early 2000s, China and India were key importers of Russian armaments. Later Beijing began full-scale production of its platforms, though some were created with Russia’s participation which led to a certain decrease in weaponry imports starting from 2005. New contracts sealed in 2006 were worth just $200 mln while earlier annual deals had been estimated at up to $1.5 bln.

According to Vedomosti, China’s portfolio of orders for Russia’s armaments has significantly grown of late exceeding $8 bln.

According to Kornev, Rosoboronexport also maintains large-scale cooperation with India. "Our efforts are aimed at working with a number of other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. We are also expanding our presence in the Middle East and North Africa and in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member-countries," he stated.

"A true breakthrough in Latin America was the development of military-technical cooperation with Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. Besides, Russia is returning to African countries south of Sahara. Cooperation with these countries was scaled down significantly after the disintegration of the Soviet Union," Kornev added.

Premeditated' US Airstrike on Syrian Army in Deir Ez-Zor Supports Daesh - Assad

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611031047022913-us-airstrike-syrian-army-assad/

Syrian President Bashar Assad accused Washington of conducting a "premeditated attack", which supported Daesh, on September 17, when the US-led coalition's aircraft bombed the government troops in Deir ez-Zor, killing over 80 people.

Underscoring that the air raid on the Syrian Army was not a coincidence (the government troops were pounding Daesh), Assad said in in interview with Serbia's Politika newspaper, as quoted by Syrian news agency Sana Thursday:

"It was premeditated attack by the American forces, because ISIS [Daesh] was shrinking because of the Syrian and Russian and Iranian cooperation against ISIS [Daesh], and because al-Nusra which is al-Qaeda-affiliated group had been defeated in many areas in Syria, so the Americans wanted to undermine the position of the Syrian Army; they attacked our army in Deir ez-Zor."

US warplanes hit Syrian government troops near the eastern city of Deir ez-Zor on September 17, leaving over 80 people killed. The Pentagon said initially that the airstrike was a mistake and targeted Daesh militants.

He added that the attack on a large area near Deir ez-Zor airport lasted for over an hour and was accompanied by "many raids."

"So, it was a premeditated attack in order to allow IS [Daesh] to take that position, and IS [Daesh] attacked those hills, and took those hills right away in less than one hour after the attack," Assad reiterated.

Britain, Australia and Denmark confirmed their air forces' participation in the deadly airstrikes.

US, Allies Responsible for Ceasefire Failures in Syria

The United States and its Western allies bear the brunt of responsibility for the failure of the latest cessation of hostilities in Syria, Assaid said.

"West, mainly the United States… always ask for ceasefire only when the terrorists are in a bad situation, not for the civilians," Assad told Politika.

The leader of the Arab republic deplored the backers of opposition fighters for taking advantage of lulls in violence to provide logistic support, armament and other reinforcements.

"When it didn’t work, they ask the terrorists to make it fail or to start attacking again. So who's to blame? It’s the United States and its allies, the Western countries, because for them, terrorists and terrorism are a card they want to play on the Syrian arena, it’s not a value, they’re not against terrorists," he stressed.

Assad further pointed out that Washington wages a "war of attrition" against Syria, Iran and Russia, "that's how they look at it."

"That’s why not only this ceasefire; every attempt regarding ceasefire or political moving or political initiative, every failure of these things, the United States was to be blamed," he asserted.

Russia, US Unlikely to Join Forces to Eradicate Terrorism

Russia and the United States are not likely to join forces to counter terrorism because of differing values, the Syrian president said in the interview.

"We hope, but in reality, no, for a simple reason: because the Russians based their politics on values, beside their interest," Assad told Politika. "So, the Russians are very serious and very determined to continue fighting the terrorists."

He contrasted that approach to Washington's policy that he described as "we can use the terrorists."

"I mean the Americans, they wanted to use the terrorists as a card to play the political game to serve their own interests at the expense of the interests of other countries in the world," Assad stressed.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations such as Daesh and al-Nusra Front.

Since the war's beginning it has claimed lives of thousands of people and displaced millions more. The international community has undertaken steps to end the Syrian conflict and to solve the humanitarian crisis in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow launched a counterterrorist air campaign in Syria on September 30, 2015, at Assad's request.

Russian Experts Arrive in Aleppo to Take Samples in Chemical Attack Area

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611031047018313-russia-aleppo-experts-chemical-attack/

Russian military experts have arrived in the Syrian city of Aleppo to take samples in the area where chemical weapons were used by militants.

Russian military experts have arrived in the Syrian city of Aleppo to take samples in the area where chemical weapons were used by militants, spokesperson of the Russian Defense Ministry Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

"Militants who have been striving in the past days to break though the Syrian Army’s exterior defense ring of Aleppo at any cost, have used toxic substances multiple times," Konashenkov said on Thursday.

On October 30, terrorists shelled Hamdaniya, Dahiyat Al-Assad neighborhoods of western Aleppo using homemade shells with chemical substances. As a result, at least 35 people were poisoned, many of them were hospitalized.

"Experts of the Russian Defense Ministry are equipped with all the necessary technical means of carrying out an express analysis, filtering and delivering samples to the Russian Federation," Konashenkov stressed on Thursday.

The samples will be studied at the laboratory of the scientific center of the Russian Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence (RChBD), Konashenkov said. The laboratory is accredited by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

According to the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, there are only 19 such laboratories in the world, two of them in Russia.

In April and May shells with suffocating gas were dropped on the Kurdish neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo. The responsibility for the use of prohibited weapons was taken by the armed group Jaish al-Islam.

Numerous armed groups, including terrorists such as Islamic State (ISIL, also known as Daesh), as well as opposition factions, have been fighting in the Syrian civil war against forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

The internal conflict in Syria has lasted for about five years. A September ceasefire failed to hold, which resulted in intensified fighting between Syrian government forces and militants in Aleppo.

Hardcore Russian Team: Kalibr-Armed Frigate to Join Naval Group Near Syria

https://sputniknews.com/military/201611031047024502-admiral-grigorivich-syria-russia/

Russia is sending its advanced Frigate Admiral Grigorovich armed with Kalibr cruise missiles to reinforce the aircraft carrier group near Syrian shores.

Russia's Frigate Admiral Grigorovich armed with Kalibr cruise missiles will leave the port of Sevastopol to join the aircraft carrier group in Syria on Thursday, a source in Crimea's uniformed services told RIA Novosti.

"The Black Sea Fleet's latest missile frigate Admiral Grigorovich leaves the base today and heads to the Mediterranean Sea, where it will join the group of Russian ships on the Syrian coast," the source said.

On October 15, Russia's Northern Fleet's press service said that a group of warships headed by the Admiral Kuznetsov accompanied by the Pyotr Veliky battle cruiser, the Severomorsk and Admiral Kulakov anti-submarine destroyer and support vessels had been sent to the Mediterranean to hold drills and strengthen capabilities.

 

[bjorb]

Just like Putin, Assad always says it like it is. Everything directly quoted from the interview is set in bold, it's a lot but very worthwell to read.

Assad: US waging proxy war in Syria against Russia & Iran
https://www.rt.com/news/365202-assad-interview-serbian-media/

Despite claiming humanitarian motives, US actions in Syria are meant to undermine the power of Russia and Iran, with Washington trying to achieve this goal by directly supporting terrorists, Syrian President Bashar Assad has said.

The US’ secret collaboration with terrorists is the reason why all attempts at a ceasefire and political transition in Syria have so far failed, the Syrian leader told Serbian newspaper Politika. The interview was also published by the Syria’s SANA news agency.

“Supporting the terrorists is a war of attrition against Syria, against Iran, against Russia, that’s how they look at it. That’s why not only this ceasefire – every attempt regarding ceasefire or political moving or political initiative, every failure of these things, the United States was to blame,” the Syrian president said.

Assad was referring to the deal negotiated by the US and Russia in September, which it was hoped would pave the way for a lasting truce in Syria. In practice, the agreement was derailed by armed groups, which had rejected it from the very beginning. The US pledged to convince the so-called moderate opposition to stick to the bargain and separate from terrorists, who would then be legitimate targets for a joint Russian-American air campaign. Washington didn’t deliver on this promise, however.

According to the Syrian president, a lasting ceasefire was not what Washington sought from the deal in the first place.

“They always ask for ceasefire only when the terrorists are in a bad situation, not for the civilians. And they try to use those ceasefires in order to support the terrorists, bring them logistic support, armament, money, everything, in order to re-attack and to become stronger again,” he said.

Sometimes the US support for terrorist groups goes through its allies such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Assad believes, while occasionally they provide direct support even to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), a group that the Washington-led coalition was supposedly formed to defeat. An example of this came during an American attack on Syrian Army troops near Deir Ez-Zor, which happened while the US-Russian truce was in force, and which the US claimed was the result of a mistake.

“They attacked a very big area. They didn’t attack a building to say, ‘we made a mistake.’ They attacked three big hills, not other groups neighboring these hills,” he said. “In less than one hour, ISIS attacked those hills. It means that ISIS gathered their forces to attack those hills. How did ISIS know that the Americans would attack that Syrian position? It means they were ready, they were prepared.”

- Humanitarian mask, like in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan or Iraq

Western media are currently focusing on civilian suffering in Syria and alleged atrocities committed by the Syrian government and its allies to justify deeper involvement in the war by whatever means the White House chooses, Assad said in the interview.

“You have a black-and-white picture; very, very bad guy against very, very good guy. It’s like the narrative of George W. Bush during the war on Iraq and on Afghanistan,” he described.

“The war in your country has been portrayed in the same way; as a humanitarian war where the West wanted to intervene in order to protect a certain community against the aggressors from the other community,” Assad said, referring to the Balkan Wars and the partitioning of Yugoslavia. “So, many people in the world believe that story, the same in Syria; they use the same mask, the humanitarian mask.”

While stressing any wrongdoing on the part of the government forces, the West ignores whatever atrocities the opposition commits, the president said.

“The terrorists killed during the last three days more than 80 innocent civilians in Aleppo, and wounded more than 300. You don’t read anything about them in the Western mainstream media,” he said. “They only single out some pictures and some incidents in the area under the control of the terrorists just to use them for their political agenda in order to condemn and to blame the Syrian government, not because they are worried about the Syrians.”

“They don’t care about our children, or about innocents, and about civilization, about infrastructure,” he added. “But actually, they only care about using everything that would serve their vested interests.”

The Syrian president doesn’t expect the US approach to Syria to change, regardless of who wins the presidential election next week, he told the newspaper. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump would be bad for his country, he said.

“We don’t see any good signs that the United States is going to change dramatically its policy toward what’s happening in the world… or to obey the international law, or to care about the United Nation’s Charter,” he said.

“It’s not about who’s going to be president; the difference will be very minimal, each one of them is going to be allowed to leave his own fingerprint, just personal fingerprint, but doesn’t mean change of policies. That’s why we don’t pin our hopes, we don’t waste our time with it.”

- A year without interference to stop war

Assad reiterated his assessment that if Syria were left to settle its problems without foreign interference, it would take it no more than a year to end the conflict, saying that “it is not very complicated internally.”

“Of course, that looks not realistic, because everybody knows that the United States wanted to undermine the position of Russia as a great power in the world, including in Syria. Saudi Arabia has been looking how to destroy Iran for years now, and Syria could be one of the places where they can achieve that, according to their way of thinking,” he said.

“But if we say that we could achieve that situation where all those foreign powers leave Syria alone, we don’t have a problem in solving our problem.”

The president said Syria has existed as a multiethnic multiconfessional entity for centuries and has significant experience in overcoming differences.

“Without all different colors of the society – Christians, Muslims, and the different sects and ethnicities – you won’t have Syria. So, every Syrian citizen should feel fully free in practicing his rituals, his traditions, his beliefs. He should be free in order to have a stable country. Otherwise you won’t have Syria as a stable country,” Assad said.

The war has been a huge ordeal for Syrian society, but it has made Syrians as a nation more united, not less, he added.

“Many Syrians before the war didn’t tell the difference between being fanatic and being extremist, between being extremist and being terrorist. Those borders weren’t clear for many,” the president said. “Because of the war, because of the destruction, because of the heavy price that affected every Syrian, many Syrians learned the lesson and now they know that the only way to protect the country and to preserve the country is to be homogenous, to live with each other, to integrate, to accept, to love each other.”

“That’s why I think the effect of the war, in spite of all the bad aspects of any war like this war, but this aspect was positive for the Syrian society. So, I’m not worried about the structure of Syrian society after the war. I think it’s going to be healthier,” Assad added.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Zakharova says Syrian militants used humanitarian pause for regrouping forces

http://tass.com/politics/910449

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has confirmed that Russia circulated the "White Book" on Syria in the UN Security Council

Militants in Syria have used the humanitarian pause for regrouping forces and building up arsenals, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Thursday.

"The situation in Syria is very grave," she said. "Jabhat al-Nusra (now renamed to Fateh al-Sham) and the Islamic State (both outlawed in Russia) used the October 20-23 humanitarian pause, introduced for easing the position of civilians locked up in Aleppo.

"They have regrouped forces, built up reserves and then tried to break through the defenses of Syrian government forces by launching a major offensive on western Aleppo on October 28-30," Zakharova said.

"White Book" on Syria

Zakharova has confirmed that Russia circulated the "White Book" on Syria in the UN Security Council.

"These are photographic materials from the list of military actions by the US and its allies in Syria which lead to a big number of civilian deaths and destruction of civilian infrastructure," she said. "Theaw photographic materials underlie the White Book on Syria that the Russian side circulated in the UN Security Council," Zakharova added.

The diplomat called strange the reaction of the US Department of State which refused to comment on the document. "As things stand now, the State Department gives close attention to ‘sketched on the back of an envelope’ materials of such agencies as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights’ and other dubious nongovernmental organizations, but it refused to comment on a selection of documented evidence that was prepared officially and handed over to the UN Security Council as an official document," Zakharova said. "This is absolutely inexplicable," she noted.

US to Keep Open ‘Deconfliction’ Channel With Russia Ahead of Operation in Raqqa

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201611031047049998-us-russia-raqqa-deconfliction/

US operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. John Dorrian said that Washington will continue use coordination channel in deconflicting operations with the Russians over the campaign in Syria.

US forces in Syria will continue to use the so-called deconfliction channel established with Russia to prevent airborne encounters as the Washington-led coalition prepares for an operation to liberate the city of Raqqa from the Daesh terror group, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. John Dorrian said at a briefing Thursday.

"We do continue our coordination channel in deconflicting our operations with the Russians," Dorrian told reporters. "We would continue to do that, certainly."

Turkish Helicopter Alights Officers, Unloads Suspicious Boxes in Idlib

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950813000827

"The helicopter was carrying a number of Turkish officers and several boxes whose contents are not known, but sources said that they were full of advanced weapons which were unloaded," Hado said.

Also, Kurdish sources reported that the Turkish army fighter jets are now flying over the villages near al-Qahtaniyeh town in the Northeastern parts of Hasaka and are firing flares over the entire region.

This is while the Turkish army forces on board military vehicles have been deployed at Syria-Turkey bordering areas.

Reports said late last month that Ankara had sent several trucks of ammunition to the Fatah al-Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra) Front and Ahrar al-Sham terrorists stationed at a base near Atme border region.

The Turkish army sent 20 trucks loaded with ammunition for the terrorist groups in Northern Syria.

The trucks entered Atme two days ago through Bukulmez region which borders Deir Balut village in the Northwestern parts of Aleppo.

Relevant reports said in October that the terrorists of Fatah al-Sham Front had acknowledged that they recently received military training in camps in Turkish territories.

Syrian soldiers and popular in an ambush operation in Sheikh Saeed districts in the Southern part of Aleppo city captured a number of Fatah al-Sham terrorists recently.

The army said that the captured terrorists confessed that they had received advanced military training in a camp in Turkey.

Terrorists Use Chemical Weapons against Civilians in Aleppo Again

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950813001004

Syrian state news agency, SANA, cited a medical source in Aleppo's General Hospital saying that since the attacks by terrorists on Menyan district in Western Aleppo early Thursday at least eight chemically wounded people with suffocation symptoms have been brought to the hospital.

Five people were killed on Thursday and scores were injured in attacks by terrorists with chemically-armed shells and mortar rounds on government-held neighborhoods in Western Aleppo.

According to local reports, terrorists targeted the neighborhoods of Halab al-Jadida, al-Moukambou, al-Masharqa and the surrounding streets of the Literature Faculty in al-Furqan neighborhood with shells and explosive bullets, killing five people and injuring 46 others including an Al-Alam TV cameraman.

This is not the first time that terrorists in Aleppo used toxic gases against the civilians as a senior Syrian army commander, earlier this week, reported that the terrorists have launched chemical attacks on the civilians in Aleppo.

The commander, Mohannad Haaj, of al-Mahavir Battalion in the Syrian army said on Tuesday that the deployment of toxic gas in Aleppo has the US green light adding that After the terrorists failed "in the Great Epic Operation (Aleppo battle), the US allowed them to use toxic gases against the civilians".

Noting that the terrorists have failed in all their attempts, he said, "The so-called Great Epic Operation of terrorists has scandalously failed since the Syrian army's strategy is to allow the terrorists to enter a region first and then surround and annihilate them all."

Meantime, military sources revealed earlier on Thursday that the Syrian army forces had captured a number of terrorists during operations in a farm in Southern Hama, and seized weapons and ammunition containing toxic gases from them.

The source disclosed that the toxic gas containers seized from the terrorists included also a supply of aluminium, but declined to reveal any further details, including the affiliation of the terrorists.

Northern Hama is the scene of heavy clashes between the Syrian army and terrorists from nearly a dozen groups that mostly operate under Jeish al-Fatah coalition. The umbrella group is mainly comprised of al-Nusra Front (Fatah Al-Sham) terrorists as its backbone.

Back in September, Syria's Envoy to the UN Bashar Al-Jafari warned that the terrorist groups were planning to launch a chemical attack on the civilian population in Aleppo under a false-flag operation in near future.

"Militants from Ahrar Al-Sham are planning to use white phosphorus in an attack on civilians to later blame it on the Syrian armed forces," Jafari said, addressing a UN Security Council emergency meeting in New York on Sunday.

“I have information that Ahrar Al-Sham terrorists intend to mount attacks on civilian population using white phosphorus for the sake of fabricating accusations against the Syrian state and its army,” he added.

Jafari pointed to the suspicious activity by American experts who he reiterated had visited one of the chemical munitions depots in the terrorist-held town of Saraqib in the Northwestern Idlib province, and said, "Upon examining the site, the experts departed Syria for Turkey."

White phosphorus is an extremely poisonous toxic agent able to inflict severe burn injuries and is banned from use in civilian areas, according to international law.

It is only legitimate to deploy the chemical to create a smokescreen, make signals, or markings for friendly troops. The US has repeatedly used this loophole to use white phosphorus during Middle Eastern campaigns while claiming the indiscriminate weapon is only used as a smokescreen for advancing troops.

Army Seizes Chemical Weapons from Terrorists in Southern Hama

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950813000919

The source disclosed that the toxic gas containers seized from the terrorists included also a supply of aluminium, but declined to reveal any further details, including the affiliation of the terrorists.

Northern Hama is the scene of heavy clashes between the Syrian army and terrorists from nearly a dozen groups that mostly operate under Jeish al-Fatah coalition. The umbrella group is mainly comprised of al-Nusra Front (Fatah Al-Sham) terrorists as its backbone.

Other reports from Southern Hama also said that the Syrian fighter jets pounded Ahrar al-Sham terrorist group's positions in Hor Benafseh town which killed and wounded dozens of terrorists and smashed their military equipment and weapons.

Meantime, a military source in Northern Hama said that the army units, backed by the air force, attacked Jeish al-Fatah terrorists' positions in Taybat al-Imam, al-Buwaizeh, Tabarat al-Dabieh, Tal Huwair, al-Masaseneh, al-Zalaqiyat, Hasraya, Tal al-Mantar and Mourek which killed a large number of militants and destroyed their weapons and ammunition.

A senior Syrian army commander disclosed on Tuesday that the terrorists have launched chemical attacks on the civilians in Aleppo with the US permission.

"After the terrorists failed in the Great Epic Operation (Aleppo battle), the US allowed them to use toxic gases against the civilians," Mohannad Haaj, a member of the Syrian parliament and commander of al-Mahavir Battalion of the Syrian army, said.

Jeish al-Fatah coalition of terrorist groups launched chemical attack on residential areas under the control of the government troops in Aleppo city on Saturday, inflicting casualties on the civilian population in the region.

According to medical sources, Jeish al-Fatah fired chemically armed shells at government positions and residential areas in the Assad Military-Engineering Academy and 3,000-unit Housing Complex near the academy in Southwestern Aleppo city three times in the last several hours, leaving at least a civilian dead and 36 more vitally wounded.

"Heavy attacks of the militants have blocked ways to transfer the poisoned and injured civilians to medical centers," the medics said.

"Based on evidence and the symptoms reported about the affected population, Jeish al-Fatah has used Chlorine in its chemical attacks this morning," the medical sources underlined.

Late in September, the Russian Defense Ministry said that it had received information that terrorists were planning chemical attacks against the Syrian army and residential areas in Aleppo.

"It became known that terrorist groups are preparing provocative attacks by chemical weapons on Syrian army's positions and residential areas in the East part of Aleppo to accuse government forces of the attacks," said Lt. Gen. Viktor Poznikhir, the first deputy chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff.

The cessation of hostilities in Syria was undermined by militant groups that increased their activities, he added.

Also, late September, Syria's Envoy to the UN Bashar Al-Jafari confirmed earlier warnings that the terrorist groups plan to launch a chemical attack on the civilian population in Aleppo under a false-flag operation in coming days.

"Militants from Ahrar Al-Sham, a hardline Islamist group, are planning to use white phosphorus in an attack on civilians to later blame it on the Syrian armed forces," al-Jafari said, addressing a UN Security Council emergency meeting in New York.

“I have information that Ahrar Al-Sham terrorists intend to mount attacks on civilian population using white phosphorus for the sake of fabricating accusations against the Syrian state and its army,” he added.

Al-Jafari pointed to the suspicious activity by American experts who he reiterated had visited one of the chemical munitions depots in the terrorist-held town of Saraqib in the Northwestern Idlib province, and said, "Upon examining the site, the experts departed Syria for Turkey."

He voiced his astonishment over lodging "fabricated allegations" by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about violation of ceasefire by the Syrian government, and said, "They were the terrorists who repeatedly violated the ceasefire while UN secretary general accuses Damascus of not remaining committed to it."

Al-Jafari said that the terrorists plan to disguise in Syrian army uniforms as they deploy the banned substance to falsify the evidence and make their claims sound more credible.

"The imposters are going to put on Syrian army uniforms and film the whole incident on camera. He did not elaborate on the source of the intelligence," he added.

He reiterated that Syria has been acting in full compliance with the UN Charter and international law on warfare.

“We condemn the statements of several UN representatives that we are using banned weapons or targeting the civilian population,” he said while referring to the fact that the UN, at the same time, is turning a blind eye to the use of chemical weapons by the terrorists.

Report: Jeish Al-Fatah Sends More Forces to Western Aleppo

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950813000977

A Syrian military source was quoted by al-Masdar News as saying that a large number of Jeish al-Fatah fighters have reached al-Menyan and al-Assad regions in Western Aleppo.

Reports said that Jeish al-Fatah is preparing for a heavy attack in Western Aleppo in coming days.

Meantime, the sources said that the Desert Hawks and Tiger Force have also stationed several convoys of their forces in Western Aleppo in recent days.

Also, a large convoy of the Palestinian Liwa al-Quds force arrived in Aleppo on Thursday to help the Syrian army in its anti-terrorism operations in the Western parts of the Northern province.

Media reports said that hundreds of Liwa al-Quds forces have been deployed in Western Aleppo to participate in operations to establish security in al-Menyan, Jam'iyat al-Zahra, Dhahiyeh al-Assad and Assad Military-Engineering Academy regions.

The precise number of Liwa al-Quds forces stationed in Western Aleppo has not been declared but certain media activists have estimated the number to stand between 1,500 to 5,500.

Other field sources also said that almost 4,000 logistical forces have been sent to the Northern fronts of Aleppo.

Based on Thursday reports, fierce clashes erupted between the Syrian army forces and the terrorist groups in Jam'iyat al-Zahra and Assad Military-Engineering Academy regions.

The Syrian army also repelled the terrorists' offensives in New Aleppo, Menyan and Dhahiyeh al-Assad, killing and wounding tens of militants and destroying a number of tanks and military vehicles.

The army forces also blew up the terrorists' suicide cars in the aforementioned regions before approaching their positions.

Also, severe clashes were reported near Housing Project 1070 and 3,000-Unit Housing Complex between the militants and the army but the terrorists failed to make a tangible advance in the region.

Also, a field source dismissed reports claiming that the terrorists have occupied New Aleppo region.

Army sources said earlier this week that the Syrian army troops and popular forces repelled over a dozen massive offensives of over 16,000 militants on their positions in Western and Southwestern parts of Aleppo city in the last few days.

"Jeish al-Fatah has launched several rounds of attacks, codenamed the Great Epic Operation, with over 16,000 militants to break the army's siege of their comrades in the Eastern districts of Aleppo city but failed to do so," the sources said on Monday.

"The Syrian government forces have fended off the entire attacks of Jeish al-Fatah carried out from three flanks of Ramouseh, Assad Military-Engineering Academy and Artillery Academy Building," the sources added.

"16,000 militants of Jeish al-Fatah have launched a four-phased operation (the Great Epic Operation) to access and capture the Assad Military-Engineering Academy in Southwestern Aleppo in the first and second phases of operation, and then in the third phase they would carry out fresh offensives to capture Aleppo highway, while the last phase of the operation would focus on the removal of the siege on the militants in Aleppo city," they continued.

"Yet, they have failed to attain any of their objectives in the first three days of the operation," they went on to say.

Sources close to the terrorist groups admitted on Wednesday that between 2,200 up to 2,500 militants have been killed or wounded in their large-scale offensive on government forces' positions in the Western and Southwestern parts of Aleppo city in the last few days.

The Arabic service of RT quoted the sources as saying that the terrorist groups suffered between 2, 200 up to 2,500 casualties, including a large number of non-Syrian militants, in their Great Epic Operation on Army positions in Western and Southwestern Aleppo from Friday to Wednesday.