Soldier On
Russia’s ambassador to Turkey was shot dead in front of a crowd at a posh art gallery in the capital Ankara as the angry gunmen screamed “don’t forget Aleppo”. Police later killed the assailant on Monday night, Turkish station NTV reported. Andrey Karlov, 62, was several minutes into a speech at an embassy-sponsored photo exhibition … Read more
Russian Colonel Ruslan Galitsky has died of wounds in Syria when “opposition” militants shelled a residential area in Aleppo’s western part, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Dec. 7. “Colonel Ruslan Galitsky has died in hospital after being severely wounded. Russian military medics fought for his life for several days. The officer sustained injuries in … Read more
The “Pterodactyl” drones – expected to give Russian tanks the ability to scan up to 10 kilometres from their position – boosts Russian ground forces’ capabilities as the military bolsters its presence on Europe’s borders. The drones will be attached via cable to Russia’s Armata tanks, and will greatly increase the distance at which they … Read more
The eight suspected SIMI operatives who were killed in an alleged encounter after their escape from Bhopal Central Jail on October 31, dreamed of fighting for the terrrorist outfit Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), according to police sources. This was disclosed to the police by nine other SIMI activists who are lodged in … Read more
Though his liberal worldview may not have a platform in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, Democratic statesman George Mitchell offered some pragmatic, nonpartisan advice in an interview yesterday: Before Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he should first meet with our traditional European allies, especially those in NATO. After rattling the foreign policy establishment (along … Read more
President-elect Donald Trump will soon inherit America’s wars against ISIS. The U.S. is training and assisting Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the liberation of Mosul, the last major city in Iraq controlled by ISIS. The operation is six weeks old. Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend served in northern Iraq during the U.S. occupation 10 years ago, … Read more
ISIS militants’ first clash with their most dreaded enemy ended in the jihadists being wiped out. Four terrorists were killed after opening fire on an Israel Defense Force patrol on the Israeli-controlled section of the Golan Heights on Sunday. “We will not let Daesh elements or other hostile elements use the cover of the war … Read more
If the U.S. won’t fight terrorists in Syria, it should stop getting in the way, said Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry. Konashenkov was responding to the U.S. State Department’s calls to other countries to deny port access to Russian oil tankers heading to Syria. “If Washington cannot or does not want … Read more
The first member of the US military has been killed in Syria by an improvised explosive device (IED) laid by retreating Isis fighters. US Central Command said the blast occurred near the former militant stronghold of Ayn Issa, but gave no other details, adding it would release more information “as appropriate”. The unnamed man died of his wounds on … Read more
Russia is reportedly preparing to upgrade its Soviet-era T-80 battle tanks in order to bring them back into service. Up to 3,000 of the tanks, which entered service in 1976, will be updated to bring their combat power closer to the current T-90 model. “At present, the preparative works to start the modernisation of the … Read more
ISIS militants fleeing from Syria as their so-called caliphate crumbles could potentially use chemical weapons when they return to their countries of origin, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has warned. “It seems that one of the dangers that we need to face and have a response for – since Isis has learnt … Read more
MEPs in Strasbourg have voted on a non-legislative resolution which calls for the EU to “respond to information warfare by Russia.” RT and Sputnik news agency are alleged to be among the most dangerous “tools” of “hostile propaganda.” The EU Parliament’s resolution demonstrates “political degradation” in regard to the “idea of democracy” in the West, … Read more
Russia has successfully tested intercontinental ballistic missiles intended for its “nuclear trains” program. Tests on missiles for the Barguzin “railway-based combat rocket system” were carried out at the Plesetsk cosmodrome two weeks ago, the state-owned Interfax news agency reports. “They were fully successful,” a military source told the agency, “paving the way for further flight tests.” … Read more
The embarrassing crash of one of just four new MiG-29KR multi-role naval fighters deployed aboard the Admiral Kuznetsov earlier this month is being blamed on a series of events that occurred on the Russian carrier’s deck and the doomed jet’s loss of all engine power that followed. According to USNI News who quotes russian media statements, a … Read more
Russia has accused Ukraine of abducting two of its servicemen from the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. The Russian defence ministry said the men were “illegally detained” on Sunday. Ukraine says the pair are deserters, who defected to Russia from the Ukrainian military after Crimea was annexed in 2014. Russia called their arrest … Read more
Weapons meant for Western-backed rebels in Syria are ending up in the hands of so-called Islamic State in neighbouring Iraq – but how are they getting there? James Bevan and his small team step carefully into a residential house in Qaraqosh, not far from Mosul in Iraq. A long trail of blood by the entrance … Read more
The Russian aviation in Syria is currently engaged only in missions in the provinces of Idlib and Homs to prevent militants of the Islamic State group from crossing into Syria from Iraq, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. “Our aviation and the aviation of Syria work only in the provinces of Idlib and Homs in … Read more
Russia is breaching international conventions by dropping incendiaries similar to white phosphorus on to residential neighborhoods in the Syrian city of Aleppo in what is thought to be the prelude to a ground assault to retake the city from rebel forces, British national newspaper The Times reported. Video footage has emerged showing the glowing showers … Read more
The leaflets were dropped over the cities of Rastan and Tallish, which have been bombarded by Vladimir Putin’s warplanes and where Moscow claims 5,000 ISIS and al-Nusra terrorists are based. Russian-based media claimed a huge ground operation in the area driven by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s troops and reportedly backed by Russia from the air … Read more
US and Russian defense officials have discussed additional flight safety measures in Syria during a video conference, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service told Russian media. A video conference between top US and Russian defense officials was held at “the US’s initiative” and was focused on the “implementation of the October 2015 … flight safety … Read more