Russia arrests would-be terrorists

October 11, 2015 By administrator

Russian security forces (file photo)

Russia’s National Anti-terrorism Committee says it has arrested a group of people preparing to carry out a terrorist attack in Moscow.

The counter-terrorism agency said that it detained suspects during raids carried out in various parts of the capital, Moscow, on Sunday.

The anti-terrorism body said that an improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered at one of the apartments and was defused.

“At the flat where the bandits were hiding, an improvised explosive device was found and defused,” TASS news agency quoted the committee as saying in a statement on Sunday.

The Russian security forces have not immediately released details about the identities of the suspects.

TASS cited sources as saying that the target of the terrorist attack was to be in the Moscow.

Russian forces have been carrying out security operations against purported al-Qaeda-linked militants in the Northern Caucasus during the past two decades.

Russia has been targeted by terrorist attacks many times in the past.

The developments come as senior authorities in Russia say hundreds of Chechens have left for Syria to join Takfiri Daesh militants since the beginning of the conflict in the Arab country in 2011.

France Protects al-Qaeda Affiliates, Should Help Russia Instead Le Pen

October 9, 2015 By administrator

Instead of helping Russia to crash Islamic militants in Syria, France is doing the opposite – helping al-Qaeda-linked terrorists, said Marine Le Pen, the leader of French National Front party.
Le Pen criticized the French government, stating that it sides with the duplicitous policies of the United States. One can’t trust Washington’s policies anymore, Le Pen said on her Twitter account.

While Russia is fighting ISIL, trying to solve the Syrian crisis, France is “protecting” al-Nusra fighters, who represent the al-Qaeda terrorist organization in Syria, the French politician argued.

Instead of doing this senseless job, France should have been fighting ISIL alongside Russia in the Middle East, Le Pen said.
Meanwhile, Russia started precision airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria on September 30, following a request from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.As of Friday, the Russian Air Force has carried out about 140 strikes against terrorist positions, destroying command centers, training camps and ammunition depots. Russian warships in the Caspian Sea also fired 26 cruise missiles on ISIL targets on Wednesday.
Currently, Le Pen’s National Front party has the largest number of seats in the European parliament among all French parties.
Earlier this week, Le Pen accused French President Francois Hollande of failing to stand for France’s national interests and following orders of Washington and Berlin.

Source: sputniknews.com

“psychological warfare” or “FACT” CNN report Russian Missiles Aimed at Syria Crashed in Iran,?

October 8, 2015 By administrator

However, Iranian state media made no immediate mention of the reports on Thursday, but one semi-official outlet, the Fars News Agency, noted the CNN report and called it an example of American propaganda against the Russians. They also called it “psychological warfare.”

Iranian Twitter and Facebook users did not immediately note any explosions in the area between the Caspian Sea and the Iraqi border.

Egypt President Sisi Praises Russian Role in Syria Stabilization

October 8, 2015 By administrator

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi gave a positive assessment of the actions taken by the Russian armed forces in Syria, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi has described in a phone call with President Vladimir Putin Russia’s contribution to the stabilization of the situation in Syria as positive, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

According to Peskov, Sisi called the Kremlin on Wednesday to congratulate Putin on his birthday.

“The sides also discussed the Russian military operation in support of the Syrian army,” Peskov said.

“Sisi gave a positive assessment of the actions taken by the Russian armed forces [in Syria],” he stressed.
Russia’s Sukhoi Su-25, Su-24M and Su-34 attack aircraft, with the support of Su-30 jets, commenced precision airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria on September 30, following a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad.
On Wednesday, Russia launched a total of 26 cruise missiles from combat ships in the Caspian Sea against ISIL targets.

Source: sputniknews.com

Syria: Combat report: Russian jets strike 27 terrorists’ facilities in Syria overnight

October 8, 2015 By administrator

Russian warplanes hit 27 terrorist targets in the course of 22 sorties carried out in Syria overnight, the Defense Ministry said Thursday, adding that terrorist strongpoints and training camps were destroyed.

The [Russian] bombers… targeted eight militant strongholds in the province of Homs. The militant fortifications were completely destroyed by the strikes,” said Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Russian planes hit 11 Islamic State training camps in the Syrian provinces of Raqqa and Hama, he added.

“The infrastructure used by terrorists for training has been eradicated.”

The Russian air support allowed the Syrian government forces launch a massive offensive against the terrorists early Thursday.

On September 30, Russia launched its Air Force anti-terror operation in Syria at the request of Assad’s government.

Since the start of the operation, the Russian military have destroyed over a hundred terrorist targets, including command posts, ammunition depots, training camps and armored vehicles belonging to jihadists.

On Wednesday, Russia first employed its Navy in the operation with four warships firing a total of 26 missiles at ISIS positions in Syria from the Caspian Sea

Russia: More than 70 percent of Russians support Moscow’s bombing campaign in Syria: Poll

October 8, 2015 By administrator

MOSCOW – Agence France-Presse

More than 70 percent of Russians support Moscow’s bombing campaign against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria but the danger of getting sucked into a protracted war is not lost on the public, a new poll showed Oct. 8.

The study conducted just days after President Vladimir Putin secured permission from parliament to launch air strikes in Syria found that most Russians approve of his latest decision to use force abroad.

The launch of strikes in Syria is Russia’s first major military involvement outside former Soviet Union territory since the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

Seventy two percent of respondents said they approved of the bombing campaign and 46 percent said they agreed with the decision of the rubber stamp parliament’s upper house to allow Putin to use force abroad, said the independent Levada Centre.

Russia, CSTO have great military power – Vahan Shirkhanyan

October 8, 2015 By administrator

All those underestimating the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) as a security structure have seen an entirely opposite picture when Russia accurately fired missiles at the Islamic State from its warships in the Caspian Sea, Armenia’s ex-minister of defense Vahan Shirkhanyan told Tert.am.

“It was said by certain people getting orders and grants, who were ordered to describe the CSTO as a weak and disunited structure incapable of anything, for people to think of what could happen in case of threats. Quite the opposite has been proved now – the Russian and CSTO armed forces are powerful,” he said.

He is not surprised Russia, a CSTO member, has such military potential.

“I knew about the CSTO’s power long ago and I am not surprised that it used the Caspian Fleet. It is natural and the decision is to neutralize the Islamic State’s threats, and Russia is consistently progressing toward the aim. A new approach is that Russia will destroy the terrorist group in Iraq as well if that country applies,” Mr Shirkhanyan said.

Armenia’s policy of national security under Russian auspices is right, and the criticism of the lack of any actions amid the border tensions is artificial.

“The CSTO issued a most serious statement on the inadmissibility of ceasefire violations – not like the President of the European Council, who said that the media should provide wider coverage of the conflict. So I do not see any discrepancies and I am sure that the CSTO is our security structure, with our strategic ally Russia playing a major role. We are going to be a CSTO member for a long period, and the Armenian armed forces will grow stronger in cooperation with this structure.”

Syria: 4 Russian warships launch 26 missiles against ISIS from Caspian Sea

October 7, 2015 By administrator

Russian warships have launched a total of 26 cruise missiles at Islamic State facilities, destroying all targets.
Russian warships have attacked Islamic State targets in Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday during a meeting with President Putin.
“Besides using aviation to destroy militants, this morning ships from the Caspian Flotilla were brought in, four destroyers launched 26 Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles at 11 targets,” Shoigu told Putin in a meeting televised by Rossiya-1.
All targets were destroyed, Shoigu said. “The fact that we launched high-precision [cruise] missiles from the Caspian Sea at approximately 1,500 kilometers [932 miles] and hit all of the targets says much about the good training in the military-industrial complex and good skills of the staff,” he added.
President Putin expressed his gratitude to the pilots operating in airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria. “Special thanks is due to the pilots who are operating in Syria, as well as the sailors from the Caspian Flotilla for their use of high-precision weapons,” he said.
Putin praised the Russian military operation against ISIL in Syria, but warned against early conclusions. “We know how difficult such anti-terrorism operations are, and, of course, it is too early to draw conclusions. But what has been done so far certainly deserves a highly positive assessment, both the work of the Ministry of Defense as a whole, the work of General Staff experts, and our officers, soldiers operating on the scene,” he said.

On September 30, Russia began airstrikes on ISIL in Syria following Syrian President Bashar Assad’s request for military assistance.
“From September 30 to this day, airstrikes have been carried out against 112 targets, their intensity is increasing,” Defense Minister Shoigu said.
“Twenty-three strike aircraft this morning continued to carry out airstrikes against militant positions. Since the 30th [of September], 19 command controls, 12 arms depots, 71 pieces of hardware, plants and shops for manufacturing explosive devices that are packed in vehicles. Six of these shops have been destroyed,” he specified.

Russia Deploys Mi-24 Helicopter Gunships to Syria Anti-ISIL Operation

October 6, 2015 By administrator

Russia has deployed Mi-24 helicopter gunships to Syria as part of its operation against ISIL targets.
Russia has deployed its notorious Mi-24 helicopter gunships to Syria, where they are part of the operation against Islamic State terrorist targets.
According to Colonel Igor Klimov of the Russian Air Force in Hmeymim Air Base in Syria, the Mi-24 helicopters are currently being used for patrolling the area around the airfield and for potential search and rescue missions. The Mi-24 is considered to be one of most deadly and versatile helicopters in the world.
“The Mi-24 accelerates up to 300 kilometers per hour and rises to an altitude of up to 4.5 kilometers,” Klimov told RIA Novosti.
Each Russian Mi-24 helicopter in Syria is also armed with four blocks of 20 unguided air-to ground rockets and a 30-millimeter cannon.
The helicopters are said to currently be patrolling the area of the Hmeymim air base where Russia’s air force is stationed, although their use could be expanded.
In addition to the Mi-24 helicopters, Russia has deployed Mi-8AMTSh “Terminator” transport and combat helicopters to Syria.

Source:: http://sputniknews.com

Last Armenians of Raqqa escape to Aleppo, Latakia

October 6, 2015 By administrator

Situation in Syria’s Raqqa drastically deteriorated on September 30, forcing 5-6 Armenian families to flee the city for Aleppo and Latakia, Arevelk.am reports.

Raqqa faces drinking water, electricity problems, as well as complete cut-off of telecommunication and Internet connectivity. People are in dire need of medical aid – dozens of doctors fled the city leaving the population unattended.

Russian jets are constantly carrying out air strikes against IS command centers, the website reports citing sources familiar with the matter.

To avoid air strikes, the terrorists use people’s apartments as hideouts; several major militant groups are said to be headed for Iraq.

Since the Battle of Raqqa in 2013, ISIL has been increasing its control over the city, gaining the upper hand over Free Syrian Army and the Al-Nusra Front.