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Syrian army soldiers take full control over Aleppo’s Old City

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old-aleppoSyrian government forces have reportedly liberated the entire neighborhoods in Old City of Aleppo as part of a large-scale military operation to flush foreign-backed Takfiri militants out of the strategic northwestern city.

The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday that Syrian soldiers had established complete control over the historic area after militants withdrew in the face of army advances overnight.

The Britain-based monitoring group noted that the Takfiri terrorists “were forced to withdraw from the Old City neighborhoods of Aleppo for fear of being besieged.”

The Observatory said the militants withdrew from the last parts of the Old City after Syrian army units, in cooperation with allied fighters, restored security to Agyul and Bab al-Hadid neighborhoods of Aleppo, located some 355 kilometers north of the capital, Damascus, late on Tuesday.

The Syrian forces also secured the safe departure of more than 200 civilians from the liberated areas, and captured a number of terrorists there.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Syrian army had liberated Karm al-Dada, al-Sha’ar, al-Marjeh and al-Sheikh Lutfi districts in Aleppo as well as Tallet al-Shurta hill east of Aleppo.

The Syrian army and allied fighters from popular defense groups are now in control of more than 75 percent of eastern Aleppo.

Syria army vows ‘all possible means’ against Turkish forces

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syrian-armeny-turkeySyria has censured Turkey’s fresh attacks against the Arab country as “occupation,” pledging to use “all possible means” to deal with it.

In a Saturday statement, the General Command of the Syrian army said that the presence of Turkish troops on Syria’s soil was unacceptable and a “dangerous escalation and flagrant breach of Syria’s sovereignty.”

The statement came after activists and local officials said Turkish tanks and Turkey-backed militants were marching toward the northern Syrian town of Tal Rif’at, which is largely controlled by Kurdish forces.

Fighting has also been reported between Turkey-backed militants and Kurdish fighters near the town.

Meanwhile, Turkey’s military confirmed on Saturday that its rockets had targeted Kurdish fighters in northern Syria for the second time in less than 72 hours. The strikes hit 70 positions of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria on Friday.

Ankara views YPG and its allied Democratic Union Party (PYD) as terrorist forces linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has been fighting for autonomy in Turkey’s Kurdish-dominated regions for decades.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday that the country would be expanding its operations in north Syria, including entering the cities of al-Bab, Manbij and Raqqah.

Erdogan claimed that Turkey “had no choice” but to enter al-Bab, despite criticism from the international community, “because we need to prepare an area purged from terrorism. The same goes for Manbij.”

He added that if the so-called US-led coalition was ready to act jointly, Turkey would do “whatever is necessary’ against the Daesh terrorist group in Raqqah but would not work with the Syrian Kurdish fighters.

Turkey has been hitting Kurdish positions in northern Syria in the recent past without acquiring permission from the government in Damascus. Turkey has also been pounding Kurds in Iraq, which is also unhappy with the Turkish military operations on its soil.

On August 24, Turkish special forces, tanks and jets backed by planes from the US-led coalition launched their first coordinated offensive in Syria. On the same day, Damascus denounced the intervention as a breach of its sovereignty.

Turkey said the incursion was meant to engage the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the Syrian-Turkish border area as well as Kurdish fighters, who were themselves fighting Daesh.

Turkey has long been criticized for refusing to seriously fight Takfiri terrorists. The country stands accused of allowing potential militants to use its territory for travel and shipment of arms into Syria and buying smuggled oil from terrorists.

 

Armenian, The new Defence Minister has big plans for the army

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big-plan-for-armyArmenian armed forces should play a more important role in social and economic life of the country, said yesterday the new defense minister, Vigen Sargsyan.

Sargsyan spoke about building a “nation-army” in his first public comments as minister.

“Given the environment of our present condition and existing political, it is clear that a strong army must remain an important part of our reality,” he commented before the Armenian Parliament.

He continued: “Therefore, we must understand two important things. First, find out how to make the army ceases to be a very heavy burden for our state and our economy. “

“This means that the entire population, not just those who serve in the armed forces, should have many scientific projects, economic, industrial and other impediments to the army,” he said. “In this sense, the military can be a solution rather than a problem.”

“And the second factor is a demobilized soldier of the army should be more patriotic, more educated, stronger and ready for the fight that young people who are called by the armed forces,” said Sargsyan during the question-answer-to the national Assembly.

The Minister also said that President Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan agreed with his view of national defense.

Sargsian, 41, was appointed defense minister Monday as part of a government reshuffle following the resignation of Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan on September 8th. In naming him, President Sargsyan said the new minister should focus on a broader range of tasks, including the “political-military diplomacy”, military education and social security of military personnel.

Thursday, October 6, 2016,
Claire © armenews.com

Armenia wins 3rd spot at Army Scout Masters int’l contest

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armenian armyArmenian servicemen won the 3rd spot in the Novosibirsk-hosted Army Scout Masters international contest held in the framework of International Army Games.

At the contest, Russian team took the 1st spot, followed by representatives of China.

The contest included such stages as scout’s path obstacle line, contaminated area overcoming, eliminating the simulated enemy by throwing a knife, evacuation of the injured, simulated railway explosion.

 

Armenian tankers reach Int’l Army Games’ Tank Biathlon semifinals

Armenian tankers reached the semi-finals of the Russia-hosted International Army Games’ Tank Biathlon, Armenian Defense Ministry official Volodya Ter-Astvatcatryan told Rusarmninfo.ru.

In the 3rd stage of Tank Biathlon, Armenian team was represented by conscripts Gevorg Balayan, Sanasar Tsarukyan and Narek Sharoyan.

The Armenian team was also among the leaders of the first 2 stages; gaining the 3rd and 1st spot in stages 1 and 2 respectively.

Related links:

Rusarminfo.ru: Армянские танкисты вышли в полуфинал «Танкового биатлона».

NATO annihilates Bulgarian army

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AP Photo A military reform in Bulgaria threatens the country with total loss of sovereignty. Discontent grows among the military. -

AP Photo A military reform in Bulgaria threatens the country with total loss of sovereignty. Discontent grows among the military. –

Decision of the authorities to engage the Polish pilots into the Air Force instead of county’s own was the last drop. After such decision, Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force Major General Rumen Radev resigned, as he believes such step is a real occupation.

However, in Brussels they prefer to call rejection of countries’ own armies as ‘allied aid’.

‘For me, a General of the Bulgarian army and Commander of the military aviation, this idea is even more humiliating than the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine (according to which, Bulgaria being German’s ally during WWI, lost about 10% of its territory, had to pay reparation and possessed reduced army),’ General Radev claimed. Now he decided to go into politics. According to unofficial data, he is appointed as a presidential candidate by the Bulgarian Socialist Party.

It is noted, that agreement between Bulgaria and Poland should come into force in the nearest months. Then the Polish pilots will carry out air policing of Bulgaria.

Before that Bulgaria used to reject an advantageous South Stream project being pressurized by Brussels.

Pravda.Ru

source:  http://www.pravdareport.com/news/world/europe/02-08-2016/135191-bulgaria-0/#sthash.rU4YdHtW.dpuf

Turkey Whistleblower claims Turkish defense company trains secret armed organization for Erdoğan

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Erdogan the terrorist 1A Turkish whistleblower has claimed that a defense consulting company in Turkey has been training a secret armed organization to serve as an alternative army to Turkish Security Forces (TSK) and carry out bloody attacks on the orders of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Fuat Avni, a Twitter user with nearly 3 million followers, took on Twitter late on Saturday to report about the SADAT International Defense Consulting company, which he claims to be training a secret army to serve for Erdoğan’s purposes.

Avni has a credible record of uncovering corruption and irregularities rampant among the government officials. He claims to be in the inner circle of President Erdoğan.

He claimed in a series of tweets that a secret army as well as some Islamic State and the Levant (ISIS) members have been trained by SADAT defense company, which was founded by the retired Brigadier General Adnan Tanrıverdi as an illegal formation under legal disguise on the orders of Erdoğan in 2012.

The whistleblower says that the defense company once trained ISIS members but stopped when western intelligence organizations found out about it.

According to Fuat Avni’s tweets, the company now trains teenagers from the youth branch of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Osmanlı Ocakları (Ottoman Organization) – a movement whose members are open supporters of Erdoğan – as triggermen to stage bloody attacks in Turkey and abroad.

“People and organizations that speak out against the narcissist [Erdoğan] will not only be tried, but will also be targeted by this secret armed organization,” the whistleblower said, regarding the alleged organization as a building stone for a possible civil war in Turkey.

Source: turkishminute.com

Armenia FM: Triumphant army of Karabakh is fighting against new manifestations of fascism

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karabakh triumphantYEREVAN. – The liberation of Shoushi became a turning point in the war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh. And it is perhaps no coincidence that the acquired victory corresponds with the Day of Victory against fascism, Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian said in an interview with the Public Television of Armenia.

In his words, the victorious army of Artsakh is today fighting against new manifestations of fascism.

”Was it not fascism what we witnessed during the aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh in early April? Aren’t Baku’s statements – full of xenophobia, impatience and hostility from – fascism? Today’s holiday is a vivid evidence of what happens to fascism in the end,” Nalbandian stressed.

Syrian Army Plans to Launch Offensive on Deir Ez-Zor, Raqqa

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1038446765The Syrian armed forces plan to retake the city of Raqqa from Daesh, and Russian aviation is expected to support the operation, according to Russia’s UN Office envoy.

GENEVA (Sputnik) – The Syrian army is planning to launch an offensive on Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa with the support of the Russian air group deployed in Syria, Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva Alexei Borodavkin said.

“In line with UNSC [UN Security Council] Resolution 2254, the ceasefire regime in Syria does not apply to Daesh, al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups…As a result of operations by the Syrian armed forces with [the] support of Russian combat aircraft [the Syrian] city of Palmyra has been liberated, and now further offensive operations are being planned in the direction of Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa,” Borodavkin told reporters in Geneva.

Syria Ceasefire Mostly Holding but Some Forces Attempt to Disrupt It

“There are forces that are deliberately provoking the failure of the cessation of hostilities. We are constantly talking about the need to block the Turkish-Syrian border through which terrorist group fighters flow and weapons, military equipment and ammunition are smuggled. It is necessary to firmly curb this flow in order to strengthen the ceasefire regime,” Borodavkin stressed.

According to the Russian envoy, the United States and Russia are making joint efforts to put an end to the Syrian conflict.

“We are well aware that there are opponents of the cessation of hostilities and they will do everything they can to disrupt this regime, which is what is happening now,” Borodavkin said, adding nonetheless that “in general, the regime is being adhered to.”

A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27. Syria has been mired in civil war since March 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. The truce does not apply to terrorist groups such as Daesh and al-Nusra Front.

More Militant Groups Cut Ties With al-Nusra Front, Join Ceasefire

“The groups that want to join the cessation of hostilities must sign relevant documents, report their exact location and disengage from Nusra Front units because, at present, they are, unfortunately, heavily mixed on the battlefield,” Borodavkin told reporters.

According to Borodavkin, “certain progress” has been observed in the US work with illegal armed groups in Syria.

“Contacts and cooperation between Russian and US militaries have recently intensified. Phone conferences between Hmeymim [Russian air base in Syria], Amman, Moscow and Washington are regularly held. Our militaries are meeting at the negotiating table with maps and necessary intelligence data that help to prevent violations of the cessation of hostilities and strengthen it. I think that in the near future many issues will be resolved within this US-Russian military cooperation,” Borodavkin told journalists.

No Evidence Jaish al-Islam, Ahrar ash-Sham Join Truce

“We heard statements from these groups that they have allegedly joined the cessation of hostilities [in Syria] but we have no official confirmation [of these statements],” Borodavkin told journalists.

The envoy recalled that the leadership of Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar ash-Sham had repeatedly stated they were fighting “shoulder to shoulder” with al-Nusra Front militants and called on the jihadists to unite in their fight against government forces.

“If Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam are serious about finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria, they have to radically change their positions,” Borodavkin emphasized.

On Tuesday, Russia requested to add the two groups operating in Syria to the UN sanctions list that already contains Daesh. The Saudi-backed High Negotiations Committee (HNC) of the Syrian opposition includes representatives of both Ahrar ash-Sham and Jaish al-Islam.

Karabakh Update: army: Bodies of 2 soldiers were found

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Karabakh soldier bodySTEPANAKERT. – In accordance with the earlier achieved agreement, and by the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross of the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides and the field assistants of the Personal Representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Chairman-in-Office, search for casualties was conducted Friday, at the zone of contact between the Karabakh-Azerbaijani opposing forces.

As a result, the Armenian side found the bodies of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Defense Army military servicemen, Junior Sergeant Robert Abajyan (born in 1996), and Private Andranik Zohrabyan (born in 1996).

Press service of the NKR Ministry of Defense informed that violation of ceasefire agreements was not recorded during the search.

 

Azerbaijani army suffered over 200 losses Apr 1-2: #Karabakh

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209477The situation is extremely tense on the entire line of contact between the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan. Karabakh troops continue successfully conducting defensive battles.

According to the Karabakh Defense Army reports, at least 30 Azeri special forces soldiers were killed in Talish direction alone, two tanks and two unmanned drones were destroyed in Martakert direction, and a helicopter was downed in the northern direction of the contact line.

Battles are especially fierce in the southeastern direction. Using armored equipment, including BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, Azeris targeted not only Karabakh defense positions, but also civilian settlements, situated quite deep behind the frontline. Here, at around 12.30 pm, the Karabakh air defense units destroyed one Azerbaijani military helicopter and two more tanks.

The Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army estimates suggest that the Azerbaijani armed forces suffered more than 200 human losses on April 1-2.

On the night of April 1-2, Azerbaijani armed forces initiated overt offensive operations in the southern, southeastern and northeastern directions of the line of contact with Nagorno Karabakh, using artillery, armored fighting vehicles and air force equipment among other weapons.

Aside from the battles on the frontline, the rival has also carried out artillery strikes on civilian settlements and places of permanent deployment of several military units.

On April 2, at around 8:30 am, the rival used BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher in the Martuni direction of the contact line. 12-year-old Vaghinak Grigoryan was killed in the shelling, two more children were wounded.

Earleir, the Nagorno Karabakh special forces identified an Azerbaijani subversive group near the Levonarkh settlement and threw the saboterus back to their positions.

According to Armenia’s Defense Ministry, the rival troops retreated after suffering several human losses.