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Today: 77 articles and 310 comments as of 13:28.
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Area: WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion        Politix   
Triumphant Boris hails landslide win gives him ‘power to get Brexit done’
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 1: WoT Operations
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5 08:27 Rambler in Virginia [10] 
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Page 2: WoT Background
1 13:07 M. Murcek [7]
1 09:50 Frank G [6]
2 08:40 Bright Pebbles [5]
6 20:33 bbrewer126 [15]
2 06:25 Dron66046 [6]
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5 18:26 John Frum [9]
Page 3: Non-WoT
2 20:22 jpal [7]
2 19:19 SteveS [5]
11 20:34 bbrewer126 [5]
4 17:16 Bobby [1]
10 16:35 Lex [4]
4 19:21 SteveS [2]
7 22:56 Lex [8]
3 11:27 lord garth [1]
2 08:35 DarthVader [2]
2 07:30 AlanC [1]
4 20:42 James [8]
2 11:39 lord garth [2]
5 19:01 Frank G [1]
5 16:11 g(r)omgoru [9]
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5 05:15 Mike Kozlowski [2]
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1 08:26 Mercutio [3]
1 10:00 Frank G [2]
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5 15:20 Bobby Boucher [2]
6 13:43 Tom [5]
18 22:50 trailing wife [4]
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6 07:02 John Frum [4]
10 21:21 Alaska Paul [4]
27 21:10 Alaska Paul [9]
Page 4: Opinion
2 16:40 chris [3]
16 21:05 bbrewer126 [10]
1 03:53 g(r)omgoru [2]
13 19:56 Angeatch the Tiny7188 [10]
9 13:45 Lord garth [3]
3 14:07 gorb [4]
Page 6: Politix
7 20:11 Procopius2k [4]
15 17:28 JohnQC [5]
6 17:35 chris [4]
11 17:22 Silentbrick [5]
2 13:08 JohnQC [6]
6 17:23 JohnQC [5]
1 00:23 M. Murcek [5]
7 19:41 charger [8]
2 07:03 Lex [5]
2 20:33 jpal [5]
11 23:31 JohnQC [7]
9 21:15 James [4]
6 12:57 JohnQC [3]
-War on Police-
New York trooper kills man who struck him in the head with hatchet, state police say
[FOXNEWS] A New York state trooper fatally shot a man with mental health issues after the man struck him in the head with a hatchet, according to state police.

Trooper Ryan Mousaw responded to the residence of Daniel Condon, 55, in Arietta, N.Y., after a call about a person experiencing mental health issues. Condon was allegedly threatening people with a machete on Tuesday night after accusing them of stealing his money.

As Mousaw began to ask Condon questions, he noticed that the man started showing signs of instability. The trooper told Condon he would have to detain him and take him to a hospital, at which point Condon began to resist the officer.

Mousaw tried to deploy his Taser to stop Condon but was unsuccessful. Then Mousaw felt something hit the back of his head. He stepped back and saw Condon with the hatchet. Fearing for his life, Mousaw pulled out his gun and fatally shot at Condon, according to the Times Union.

Mousaw fire seven shots, Troop G Maj. Robert Patnaude said Wednesday. With blood gushing out of his head, Mousaw immediately called for help and tried to administer first aid and revive Condon with a defibrillator, police said.

It took help 15 minutes to arrive in Arietta, a rural area in Hamilton County.

Mousaw was taken to a local hospital and was treated for the head wound and a sprained arm and wrist.

"He needed several stitches in the head after the hatchet hitting him. He’s home right now. We don’t expect him back very soon, but he’s going to be OK," Patnaude said.

Patnaude said the hatchet incident in a remote Adirondack town demonstrated the kind of life-and-death decision a police officer must make.

"We have a continuum of force, so if a person is using their hands against us, we try to use our hands or pepper spray or a taser, but when a person uses a deadly weapon, I want our troopers to use their gun," he said. "That's the way for them to protect themselves and end the situation as quickly as possible."

Patnaude said the person who made the call to report Condon’s signs of instability had given Condon a ride earlier that day when he noticed the irrational behavior. State police had never encountered Condon before, but Hamilton County police have had many dealings with Condon throughout the past year.

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Always wondered if those Smokie-the-bear hats were armored.....
Posted by: Mercutio || 12/13/2019 8:35 Comments || Top||

#2  It ceases to be a mental health issue when it becomes a matter of life or death.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/13/2019 9:04 Comments || Top||


Afghanistan
12 Taliban Including Commander Killed in Badakhshan
[ToloNews] Weapons and vehicles of the Taliban
...mindless ferocity in a turban...
were also destroyed in the Arclight airstrike
...KABOOM!...
, MoD said.

At least 12 Taliban including commander "Qari Samiullah" were killed and seven others were maimed in an "Afghan air forces targeting airstrike" in the northeast province of Badakhshan province on Wednesday night, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement on Thursday.

The airstrike took place in Nusai district at a "Taliban recruitment center," the MoD said in the statement.

"In this airstrike, some weapons and vehicles of the Taliban were also destroyed," it said.

However,
Switzerland makes more than cheese...
the statement did not provide further details.

Taliban have not yet commented on the operation.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2019 00:08 || Comments || Link || [8 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Eight members of ISIS-K arrested during a clearance operation carried out by ANP in Achin district of Nangarhar
[TWITTER]

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


4 drug smugglers killed & 3 others wounded in a clash with CNPA in Ahangaran region, Firuz Koh City of Ghor
[TWITTER]

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Narcos


Huge cache of weapons & ammunition belonging to TB seized by ANP in Paktika
[TWITTER]

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Taliban


Africa North
Haftar orders his militia groups to advance on #Tripoli
[TWITTER]

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


All forces in #Tripoli are on high alert to repel any new attack by Haftar’s armed groups
[TWITTER]

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Arab Spring


Bangladesh
4 suspected members of 'Allahr Dal' held
[Dhaka Tribune] The Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) of police has arrested four suspected operatives of the banned turban outfit "Allahr Dal".
...banned only last month, Allahr Dal formed in 1995 under the leadership of Matin Mehedi alias Mominul Islam. In late 2004, the outfit merged with banned murderous Moslem organization Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB)...
They were arrested in the Dilkhola area of Khulna city around 10:30pm on Wednesday.

The arrestees are -- Raja Miah alias Nur Alam, 31, joint district nayek of the turban outfit; Akejul Islam, 24, Md Ahsan Ullah alias Nirab, 27, both being assistant district nayeks; and Abdul Hamid alias Hamid, 35, a member of the organization.

ATU's Superintendent of Police (SP) (media) Md Mahiduzzaman said acting on a tip-off, they conducted a raid in the area and arrested them.

In the raid, four mobile phones and books related to extremism were also recovered from their possession, he said.

During the primary interrogation, the arrestees admitted their involvement in the turban organization, he added.

They gathered at the place to plan to kill state and religious figures and damage state property, Mahiduzzaman said.

"They believe that the democratic system prevailing in the country is the system of devil. And they use technology to implement their plans," he added.

"Legal action has been taken against them," he said.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under: Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (IS)


Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
5 ISIS Plotters Arrested In Moscow
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Interior Ministry have detained five members of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), who plotted terrorist attacks, the FSB said on Friday.

An IS cell consisting of two Russian nationals and three citizens of Central Asian countries was exposed; they "planned to carry out subversive and terrorist acts," the statement said.

Communication devices with instructions from the international terrorist organization's emissaries were seized from the suspects during an operation in Moscow, TASS reported.

"An arms cache was found, which contained a Kalashnikov rifle, a Makarov pistol, ammunition and an improvised explosive device," according to the FSB. The defendants have been taken into custody, and a criminal case has been opened, the statement added.
Posted by: Dron66046 || 12/13/2019 12:47 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  In other news, the FBI and Homeland Security announced "known wolf" terrorists in the US will now be eligible for unlimited candy, twinkies and rubber stamped welfare benefit packages...
Posted by: M. Murcek || 12/13/2019 14:30 Comments || Top||

#2  of all the places too be arrested plotting terror attacks, Moscow would not be the place.
Posted by: chris || 12/13/2019 15:37 Comments || Top||

#3  ...or Beijing.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/13/2019 15:48 Comments || Top||


Europe
‘Frenchman’ gets 30 years for knife attack on soldiers guarding Nice Jewish center
[IsraelTimes] Judges say Moussa Coulibaly has shown ’little or no regret’ for assault, which came shortly after shootings at Charlie Hebdo
...A lefty French satirical magazine, home of what may well be the majority if the active testicles left in Europe...
, kosher supermarket.


A Gay Paree court on Thursday sentenced a jihadist to 30 years in prison over his February 2015 knife attack on three soldiers guarding a Jewish center in the Mediterranean city of Nice.

Moussa Coulibaly,
...known wolf who is probably not related to Mali-French Charlie Hebdo killer Amedy Coulibaly — Coulibaly is a common name in Mali...
now 35, staged his assault just weeks after the killing of 12 people at the Charlie Hebdo newspaper offices in Gay Paree, the beginning of a wave of terror attacks carried out in the name of the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
and other jihadist groups.

In the days following that shooting, four people were killed by a jihadist gunman at Hyper Cacher, a kosher supermarket during a hostage standoff with police. The assailant also killed a policewoman in the Montrouge suburb south of Gay Paree where authorities think he may have initially been targeting a nearby Jewish school.

In issuing its ruling, the judges noted that Coulibaly had shown "little or no regret" for the attack, in which two soldiers were maimed before a third wrestled Coulibaly to the ground.

They found "an almost fanatical determination" to apply IS calls for French citizens to carry out terror attacks on home soil.

The assault sparked criticism of the government’s security efforts after the Charlie Hebdo massacre, since Coulibaly was well known to police.

A few weeks earlier, French intelligence services had been alerted to the fact that he was trying to enter The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire...
‐ a key staging point for jihadists seeking to go fight in Syria ‐ and asked the country to expel him.

He was questioned upon his return but later released because of insufficient evidence to press charges.

After the Nice attack Coulibaly told Sherlocks he hated La Belle France as well as police, the military and Jews.

But in court on Thursday, Coulibaly said, "I’m now against violence. I would not do again what I did."
No doubt.

Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2019 03:13 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State

#1  Frenchman Moussa Coulibaly
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/13/2019 3:23 Comments || Top||

#2  Wonder if the French prisons have the same flavor of some American prisons, in that certain 'crimes' are punishable by the local population. I guess we'll find out.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/13/2019 6:40 Comments || Top||

#3  Pray remember Muslims are majority in French prisons, P2k.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/13/2019 6:43 Comments || Top||

#4  ..ah, another French No-Go zone.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 12/13/2019 7:29 Comments || Top||

#5  So, is he out of jail yet? I mean, in Europe, a "life" sentence means about 10 year; a 30 year sentence, with time served should mean he'll be out by Christmas, New Year's at the latest. /sarcasm
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 12/13/2019 8:27 Comments || Top||


Teen suspect in assault of Hebrew-speaking Israeli on Paris subway arrested
[Jpost] The teen has admitted to assaulting the Israeli student, but denied that he had antisemitic motivations.

Police have arrested a 17-year-old Madagascar
...Fourth World/economically undeveloped island east of the coast of sub-Saharan Africa, this former French colony is now on its fourth republic since independence in 1960. French is one of its official languages, and the population is divided into Christians, traditional native beliefs, and Islam as well as numerous tribes...
native in connection with the assault of an Israeli student speaking Hebrew on a Gay Paree subway.

The teen has admitted to assaulting the Israeli student, but denied that he had antisemitic motivations, Israel’s Kan national broadcaster reported. He has an arrest record in La Belle France.

The victim, identified as Yogev Burshtein, 30, entered the metro train at the Château d’Eau station on Monday morning and answered a phone call from his father speaking Hebrew. Two men, described as tall and of African origin, then "began to shout at him, helped by passengers who threatened him and pointed at him," according to a statement from La Belle France’s National Bureau of Vigilance Against antisemitism, or BNVCA.

One of the men attacked the student, striking him on the head, body and face. The student fainted, according to BNVCA, and was taken to a Gay Paree hospital after a fellow passenger called for assistance.

The alleged attacker escaped. He was identified though surveillance camera footage. He was arrested Wednesday evening on charges of racially motivated violence.

The police are searching for a second suspect who was on the train with the arrested teen.

BNVCA praised the arrest in a statement and said the attack should be considered a hate crime, saying "the [antisemitic] motive is clear and must be used against the attacker as an aggravating circumstance."

The antisemitism watchdog called for a harsh penalty despite the fact that the suspect is a minor.
The Times of Israel adds:
Yogev said that after his release from the hospital, he went to police to file a complaint but was told to return in six hours. He then reached out to Meyer Habib, a prominent Jewish lawmaker in France’s National Assembly, who said he asked the interior minister to immediately order a police investigation into the incident.

“This attack is another symptom of the new ‘daily’ anti-Semitism,” Habib said, according to Channel 12 news.

The incident comes amid a spate of anti-Semitic incidents in France, many of them in the east of the country.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2019 01:42 || Comments || Link || [3 views] Top|| File under:


Iraq
Mob kills, hangs alleged 'sniper' in Baghdad’s Wathba Square
[Rudaw] Protesters are said to have killed and hanged an individual who was believed to be shooting protesters in Wathba Square in Baghdad on Thursday.
A seventeen year old boy who just wanted them not to protest in front of his house. This is why I don’t like mobs.
Several videos and photos circulating on Iraqi social media channels show protesters dragging a body and hanging from a traffic light pole. Hundreds of protesters can be seen filming the event.

A masked protester in Wathba Square told Rudaw that the man executed reportedly killed dozens of protesters throughout the night.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2019 00:21 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


New rocket attack targets Iraq base housing US troops
[IsraelTimes] No casualties in overnight attack, the 10th since late October and days after another assault maimed six members of Iraq’s elite US-trained counterterrorism force in same camp.

Two rockets were fired at a military base near Baghdad airport housing US troops, the 10th such attack since late October, the Iraqi army said on Thursday.

There were no casualties in the overnight attack, which follows one on the same base on Monday that maimed six members of Iraq’s elite US-trained counterterrorism force, two of them critically, the army said.

Washington has expressed mounting concern about the flurry of attacks on US bases and diplomatic missions, several of which it has blamed on Shiite militia groups trained by its foe and rival for influence Tehran.

Security sources have linked at least one attack last week to Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite faction close to Tehran and blacklisted by Washington.

Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan, the abbreviation IRGC is a cognate form of Stürmabteilung (or SA), the term Supreme Guide is a cognate form of either Shah or Führer or maybe both, and they hate Jews Zionists Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
holds vast sway in Iraq, especially among the more hardline elements of the Hashed al-Shaabi, a paramilitary force largely made up of Shiite militias.

A US defense official told AFP the rocket attacks made the Hashed a bigger security threat to American troops in Iraq than the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group, the jihadist movement which the US has vowed to help Baghdad wipe out.

On Friday, the United States imposed sanctions on three senior Hashed figures.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iran Proxies


Iraqi forces destroy 5 ISIS bases
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Iraqi Security Forces announced on Thursday that their troops managed to destroy five Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that they were al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're really very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not really Moslems....
(ISIS/ISIS/IS/ISIS) dens during anti-terrorist sweep.

"A joint force from the 5th Division of the Federal Police, represented by the 15th Brigade, the 18th Brigade, and the 19th Brigade, in cooperation with the Intelligence Department, the Automatic Infantry Regiment, and drones, initiated a security operation to search and clear Wadi al-Kour from Sateeh village to Tel Khadijah al-Fakhira village, al-Sallab billage, and al-Lsaan in the villages located in the valley south of the Al Rashad district, within the Kirkuk sector," they said in a statement on Facebook.

The statement added: "The operation resulted in the discovery of 5 terrorist dens, 6 bombs, and 2 remote detonating devices, as well as a cycle of violence. The nests and bombs were destroyed and burned by the explosives handling detachment," they added.

Iraqi forces continue to search and pursue the remnants of ISIS across the country, as they work to ensure that the organization and its fleeing elements do not reappear, while the Popular Mobilization Forces are stationed on the border strip with Syria to address the infiltration attempts of the terrorist organization.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


#ISIS terrorist attack kills 7 Iraqi military personnel, 2nd attack kills 4
[TWITTER]

ISIS militants kill 11 PMF in Saladin attack: security officials

[Rudaw] Islamic State (ISIS) militants launched at least two suicide attacks on a brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, in Samarra, Saladin province, late on Thursday, killing at least 11, according to security officials.

“A suicide terrorist targeted a force, affiliated to Samarra operations, causing the martyrdom of seven members of Hashd al-Shaabi’s 313th Brigade and the injury of three others,” read an earlier statement from the Iraqi Security Media Cell.

The cell later released a second statement, claiming an explosives-laden car, driven by a suicide bomber, attacked the same PMF brigade, killing another four.

The PMF confirmed the first attack in a statement, saying its forces “responded” to an attack without mentioning casualties.

ISIS has not issued a statement claiming either attack, but is known to operate in the disputed area.

The attack comes just days after ISIS militants attacked the Iran-backed PMF in Diyala province, which has also seen an uptick in violence in recent months.

ISIS attacked PMF and Iraqi Army positions in Diyala on December 1, killing one Iraqi soldier and two PMF.

Several Kurdish security forces were recently killed in the Kolajo sub-district of Garmiyan.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Israel arrests several senior Hamas officials in West Bank raids
[IsraelTimes] Arrests in Hebron area include a former Paleostinian minister, as security forces prepare for upcoming anniversary events marking founding of terror group.

Israeli forces arrested a dozen senior figures in the Hamas, a regional Iranian catspaw, terror group overnight in a sweep of the West Bank city of Hebron and surrounding areas.

The arrests were a preemptive measure in preparation for coming Paleostinian celebrations over the weekend to mark the anniversary of the founding of Hamas in 1987, according to Hebrew-language reports Thursday morning citing the military.

Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to a Times of Israel request for comment.

The Hamas-linked al-Rai news site reported that unnamed "local sources" said the arrests included Issa al-Jabari, a former minister of local government for Hamas who has been in and out of Israeli prisons for years, and Abdel Khaliq al-Natsheh was identified as a Hamas leader.

Other arrested included Jamal al-Natsheh, Jawad al-Natsheh, Amr Qawasmi and Mazen al-Natsheh, according to al-Rai.

There were festivities between security forces and Paleostinians during the arrests but no injuries reported, according to Hebrew-language media.

Hamas front man Adbel Latif al-Qanou told Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamaswith about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
-based news site Sawa that the arrests constituted "an abortive attempt to harm [Hamas’s] young people and base and break the will of its leadership."

As part of the preparations for unrest expected over the coming days, security forces have been boosted in the West Bank and along the Gaza border area.

Hamas is the de facto ruler in the Gaza Strip, but maintains a smaller presence in the West Bank, which is ruled by rival Fatah. Israel’s security cooperation apparatus with the Fatah-dominated Paleostinian Authority often includes operations to crack down on Hamas, which is reportedly hoping to boost its presence in the West Bank via planned Paleostinian elections early next year.
Posted by: trailing wife || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under: Hamas


Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Turkey is transferring terrorists from Idlib to Libya: Jaafari
[ALMASDARNEWS] The leader negotiator for the Syrian at the Astana Peace Conference, Dr. Bashar al-Ja’afari, stated at the final session of the meeting on Wednesday that The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire...
was transporting holy warriors from Idlib to Libya.

"Turkey is transporting holy warriors from Libya to Idlib and from Idlib to Libya," noting that "the Idlib future is linked to the future of all of Syria."

This is not the first time that Dr. Ja’afari has accused Turkey of transferring jihadists from Idlib to Libya, he previously accused Ankara of moving moving these holy warriors to the aforementioned North African country to fight the Benghazi-based government.

Dr. Ja’afari continued by saying that the Syria does not have a Kurdish issue, pointing out that Syrian Kurds are an integral part of the country. "There is no Kurdish issue in Syria and the Syrian Kurdish component is part of our history."

In regards to the U.S. forces in Syria, Dr. Ja’afari accused them of looting Syrian oil and selling it to the Ottoman Turkish authorities. "The American occupation is looting Syrian oil and selling it to the Ottoman Turkish regime."

On Wednesday, the 14th round of the Astana Peace Conference concluded with no agreement between any of the participants.

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Sublime Porte


Iran’s IRGC allegedly surrounds US aircraft carrier near Strait of Hormuz
[ALMASDARNEWS] Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly surrounded a U.S. aircraft carrier group as it was transiting the imperative Strait of Hormuz.

According to reports, the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group was escorted by 20 small craft from the IRGC’s Navy.

The Defence Blog reported that one of the IRGC’s small craft was at one point within 400 yards of the aircraft carrier group.

The U.S. Navy has yet to comment on these allegations; however, if true, this would not be the first time that the IRGC’s Navy has surrounded a U.S. ship and escorted it through the Strait of Hormuz.

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Iraq

#1  Come a little closer, my dears. Want a cookie, little boys?
Posted by: Mercutio || 12/13/2019 8:43 Comments || Top||

#2  Should make Eddie Gallagher that ship's cook.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/13/2019 9:00 Comments || Top||

#3  Carrier groups at sea take up a lot of acreage.

Twenty small craft doesn't sound like a 'surround' condition.

More like hyenas circling a pride of lions.
Posted by: Mullah Richard || 12/13/2019 9:00 Comments || Top||

#4  ^Remember USS Cole.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru || 12/13/2019 9:04 Comments || Top||

#5  Thought experiment. What would have happened if the carrier attacked and called in a strike group on them citing hostile maneuvers and perceived threat ?
Posted by: Dron66046 || 12/13/2019 9:21 Comments || Top||

#6  I'd be surprised if the escort ships actually allowed them to get that close. Sounds like BS
Posted by: Frank G || 12/13/2019 9:31 Comments || Top||

#7  My take as well Frank. What naval flag officer would take a chance on something like that ?
Posted by: Besoeker || 12/13/2019 9:33 Comments || Top||

#8  It's one thing to get close to one of the destroyers/cruisers screening the carrier. It's quite another to get close to the carrier.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia || 12/13/2019 10:25 Comments || Top||

#9  I would consider the source. Of the report.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike || 12/13/2019 10:32 Comments || Top||

#10  i wouldnt be surprised if they managed to get between the escorts and carrier. from my experience, ship captains are almost too afraid to take a shit without getting permission from COMDESRON or higher. they are only there to put their 1 tour in as "Captiain" so they can check off that box box and then keep climbing the ladder pierside.

NOTHING happens without running it thru stateside first.
Posted by: Yosemite Sam || 12/13/2019 10:36 Comments || Top||

#11  400 yards from a carrier? Yeah I call bullshit. More warmongering propaganda trying to start a conflict.

America loses the moment we go kinetic with Iran. The only winning move is not to play.
Posted by: Herb McCoy || 12/13/2019 16:31 Comments || Top||

#12  Herb, it's an Iranian news agency, I think. Iran may be acting tough for the locals, but knows better than to try a stunt like that for real.
Posted by: gorb || 12/13/2019 18:02 Comments || Top||


Syrian gov’t says US evacuated over 300 family members of ISIS fighters to Iraq
[ALMASDARNEWS] The US military evacuated about 300 family members of gunnies of the ISIS* terrorist group from the al-Hawl camp in northern Syria to Iraq, Syrian state television
... and if you can't believe state television who can you believe?
reported on Wednesday.

"US military occupiers have taken out 300 family members of ISIS* gunnies of foreign origin from the al-Hawl camp to Iraq", the broadcaster reported.

Earlier in the month, US Secretary of Defence Mark Esper did not rule out sending additional troops to Syria despite having previously said that the total number of US troops on the ground would remain at around 600.

According to the UN, as of late November, about 69,000 people lived in the camp, of which 40 percent were Syrians, 45 percent were Iraqis and 15 percent were citizens of other countries.

The al-Hawl camp is controlled by the Arab-Kurdish troops of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. It has been in the international spotlight recently over the fact that it was overcrowded amid the escalation of violence in Syria.

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under: Islamic State


Syrian military launches new attack to retake eastern Idlib base
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Syrian military launched a new attack this afternoon to retake the abandoned battalion base in the eastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate.

Backed by Liwaa al-Quds
...the Jerusalem Brigade is a Paleostinian-Syrian pro-Government group that operates in Aleppo, formed in 2013. The group is composed of predominately Sunni Paleostinians from the al-Nayrab district as well as the former refugee camp Handarat. It is believed to be the largest Assadist auxilliary force operating in storied Aleppo....
(Paleostinian paramilitary) and the Russian Air Force, the Syrian Elite Republican Guard began their attack on Thursday by storming the abandoned battalion base’s eastern perimeter.

According to an army source near the front-lines, the Elite Republican Guard and Liwaa al-Quds are currently trying to crack the defenses of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, formerly al-Nusra, before that it was called something else
...al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, from which sprang the Islamic State...
, while their allies from the Russian Air Force heavily target the jihadist supply line to the base.

On Wednesday, the Syrian Arab Army launched a similar attack at the abandoned battalion base; however, they were later forced to withdraw after the jihadist rebels foiled their advance.

Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [12 views] Top|| File under: al-Nusra


Syrian Army blocks US military convoy from passing Qamishli Airport
[ALMASDARNEWS] The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) recently blocked a U.S. military convoy from passing their posts at the Qamishli Airport in northern al-Hasakah.

In a video that was captured on Thursday, the Syrian Army can be seen forcing the U.S. convoy to turn around, despite the possibility of a confrontation between the two forces.

Since the Syrian Army took over the al-Qamishli District, they have deployed their forces to several areas that were previously under the control of the U.S. Armed Forces.

While the U.S. military continues to carry out patrols in the al-Hasakah Governorate, the Syrian Army has become more aggressive in their approach when dealing with American troops in the region.
Posted by: Fred || 12/13/2019 00:00 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under: Govt of Syria



Who's in the News
47[untagged]
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4Govt of Pakistan
2Govt of Iran Proxies
2Taliban
2Arab Spring
2Govt of Iran
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1Govt of Syria
1Hamas
1Govt of Iraq
1Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (IS)
1Lashkar e-Taiba
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1Narcos
1Sublime Porte
1al-Nusra

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Two weeks of WOT
Fri 2019-12-13
  Triumphant Boris hails landslide win gives him ‘power to get Brexit done’
Thu 2019-12-12
  AMAL, Hizbullah Supporters Try to Storm Riad al-Solh, Repelled by Tear Gas
Wed 2019-12-11
  Iraqi protesters defiantly turn out in the capital Baghdad
Tue 2019-12-10
  Jersey City shooting - possibly 6 dead at JC Kosher grocery
Mon 2019-12-09
  Al-Shabaab Militants Kill 8 On Bus In Northern Kenya
Sun 2019-12-08
  At least 10 killed in Kenya bus attack claimed by al-Shabab
Sat 2019-12-07
  Baghdad operations commander orders the Iraqi army to move in Sinak and Khilani to protect the protesters
Fri 2019-12-06
  Naval Air Station Pensacola shooter who killed 3 was Saudi aviation student
Thu 2019-12-05
  Pelosi Asks House Judiciary Committee to Proceed with Articles of Impeachment
Wed 2019-12-04
  Anti-government protesters have set fire to the Iranian consulate in Najaf for the third time in a week
Tue 2019-12-03
  Burkina Faso: 14 people killed in gun attack at church during Sunday mass
Mon 2019-12-02
  40 to 100 Iranian protesters executed in a marsh.
Sun 2019-12-01
  At least 14 killed in bloody gunfight in northern Mexico
Sat 2019-11-30
  Thousands of Iraqi protesters are celebrating in Baghdad after Prime Minister Adil Abdel Mahdi pledges to resign
Fri 2019-11-29
  Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi says he will resign


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