The Daily Brief 2020-08-25

by · AMN

This is a summary of 27 AMN articles on the following subjects: Germany, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Israeli Artillery, Lebanon, UK, Yemen, Hamas, Palestine, China, India, Iran, UAE, ISIS, Russia, Syria, Norway, US, Idlib, Homs, Assad, President Assad, Gaddafi, Libya, Belarus, Lithuania, Iraq, Hatami, Gaza, Erdogan, Beirut.

Categories covered in this brief: Turkey, World-News, Lebanon, Middleeast, Yemen, Palestine, Gulf, Iran, Syria, North-Africa, Iraq

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— The AMN Live Team

Table of Contents

Confrontation between Turkey and Greece reaching ‘very critical state’: German FM

Published 2020-08-25 23:49:22 by News Desk in Turkey, World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:40 P.M.) – German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned on Tuesday, that the confrontation between Turkey and Greece in the eastern Mediterranean has reached a “very critical” stage, but stressed that the two sides appear ready for talks. After holding meetings in Athens and Ankara, Maas said, as quoted by the AFP, “There is no doubt that the situation is very critical. Nobody wants to solve this issue in a military way, and there is a willingness on both sides for dialogue.” The German Foreign Minister said that Greece and Turkey want to calm military tensions in the… Read on ->

Tags: Germany, Greece, Turkey

Israeli forces fire flare bombs along Lebanese border

Published 2020-08-25 23:40:27 by News Desk in Lebanon, Middleeast

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:20 P.M.) – The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fired several flare bombs along the Lebanese border this evening, local activists reported from the Nabatieh Governorate. According to the reports, the Israeli Defense Forces fired the flare bombs near the town of Mais Al-Jabal, which was then followed by what is believed to be light artillery. At the same time, locals reported that the Israeli Defense Forces have closed the roads in the area, with several IDF soldiers now concentrated in the area around the occupied Golan Heights and Mount Hermon (Jabal Al-Sheikh). For its part, the Israeli army… Read on ->

Tags: Israel, Israeli Artillery, Lebanon

British soldier under investigation for protesting Yemen War and arms sales to Saudi Arabia

Published 2020-08-25 22:48:41 by News Desk in Yemen

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:30 P.M.) – A British soldier of Yemeni descent is under investigation by the Royal Military Police for protesting the arms sales to Saudi Arabia and ongoing war in Yemen. According to Declassified U.K., the British soldier, who was identified as Ahmed Al-Babti, said: “I’d rather sleep peacefully in a cell than stay silent for a paycheck.” Babati was reportedly filmed outside the Ministry of Defense building in London on Monday before he was apprehended by the Royal Military Police. Declassified U.K. said the Ministry of Defense has not commented on the matter. However, the publication said Babati… Read on ->

Tags: UK, Yemen

US ‘strongly objects’ to Turkey hosting Hamas leaders

Published 2020-08-25 21:24:57 by News Desk in Middleeast, Palestine, Turkey

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:20 P.M.) – On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department expressed its “strong objection” to the recent meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul with the leaders of the Palestinian Hamas Movement. The State Department warned Ankara that this step would lead to “isolating” Turkey internationally. Theystated in a statement that “Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.” Last Saturday, Erdogan received a delegation from Hamas led by the head of the movement’s political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh. Among the delegation was Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of the Hamas political… Read on ->

Tags: Hamas, Palestine, Turkey

Indian troops armed with Russian air defense missiles deploy near Chinese border

Published 2020-08-25 21:08:47 by News Desk in World-News

Indian troops armed with Russian-made Igla portable shoulder-launched air defence systems have been deployed near the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh amid alleged Chinese helicopter flights along the disputed border area, Asia News International has reported, citing unnamed sources. “Indian troops armed with Russian-origin Igla air defence system have been deployed on the crucial heights along the border to take care of any enemy aircraft trying to violate Indian air space here,” one of the sources said. In addition to the portable surface to air missile systems, India is also said to have deployed radar and other air… Read on ->

Tags: China, India

Israel cannot protect UAE, normalization threatens region security: Iranian commander

Published 2020-08-25 20:57:51 by News Desk in Gulf, Iran, Middleeast

BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:45 P.M.) – The Deputy Commander of the Quds Force in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Brigadier General Muhammad Hijazi, said on Tuesday, that Israel is unable to protect itself and cannot buy and bring security to the Emirates and the Gulf countries. Brigadier General Hijazi said, in statements to Al Masirah TV, that “the Emirati-Israeli normalization has no value. The overt normalization has lifted the veil from the Emirati face and highlighted the nature of their disagreement with the Iranian Republic and the path they followed.” He pointed out that it is certain that the normalization policy “will… Read on ->

Tags: Iran, Israel, UAE

Syrian, Russian forces killed over 300 ISIS terrorists in central Syria

Published 2020-08-25 19:28:37 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), alongside the Russian Army, carried out a large-scale operation to combat the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) terrorist organization from August 18th to 24th, which resulted in the killing of 327 militants. A spokesman for the Russian forces in Syria said on Tuesday: “The bombing by the Russian Air Force and the Syrian Air Force, as well as artillery shelling in the ‘White Desert’, resulted in the liquidation of 327 militants, the destruction of 134 shelters, 17 observation points, 7 stores of ammunition and 5 underground warehouses for weapons and ammunition.” The… Read on ->

Tags: ISIS, Russia, Syria

Russian MiG-31 scrambles to intercept Norwegian aircraft

Published 2020-08-25 19:17:57 by News Desk in World-News

Earlier this week, a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept military aircraft from the US, Germany and Sweden over the Baltic Sea. Russia’s MiG-31 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a Royal Norwegian Air Force plane over the Barents Sea, the National Defence Management Centre said. The jet did not let the Norwegian aircraft violate the Russian border, it added. “On August 25, Russian air control systems detected an air target approaching the Russian state border over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea. … a MiG-31bm fighter from the air defence forces of the Northern Fleet… Read on ->

Tags: Norway, Russia

US aircraft entered China’s no-fly-zone

Published 2020-08-25 17:06:12 by News Desk in World-News

The Chinese military announced on Tuesday that a U.S. spy plane entered the no-fly zone of the Chinese Northern Military District, which they described as a “naked provocation.” According to the ministry’s spokesman, which was reported by Sputnik, China has lodged a “stern representation” with the United States after a U.S. U-2 reconnaissance plane flew into a no-fly zone during Chinese military drills. The U.S. has yet to respond to these allegations from China; however, tensions between the two super powers have recently increased, amid a trade war, sanctions, human rights violations and disagreements over territories in Asia. In a… Read on ->

Tags: China, US

Russia accuses US of exploiting terrorist attacks against Syria to justify presence

Published 2020-08-25 16:52:50 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:40 P.M.) – A spokesman for the Russian forces operating in Syria announced on Tuesday, a noticeable increase in militant activity in central Syria. The spokesman said, “The terrorists impede the return of social and economic life in Syria by their actions, as well as the establishment of relations between the local Arab tribes and Damascus. This is a situation that benefits the United States first, and will allow it to justify its presence in eastern Syria.” The spokesman continued, “The militants are working to destabilize the situation in the region by sabotaging transportation lines and oil installations… Read on ->

Tags: Russia, Syria, US

Russian warplanes fly over Idlib after jihadists attack military patrol

Published 2020-08-25 15:53:54 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:35 P.M.) – Russian jets and reconnaissance planes are currently flying at low and medium altitudes over the Idlib and Latakia governorates, as the situation in northwestern Syria remains tense following the attack on the Russian patrol. According to reports from northwestern Syria, Russian jets and reconnaissance aircraft are concentrated on the western region of Idlib, which is located near the administrative border of Latakia. This region is incredibly important for the Russian Air Force because it is controlled by hardline groups like Hurras Al-Deen, Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), and the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP). However, Tuesday’s attack… Read on ->

Tags: Idlib, Russia, Syria

Syrian Army kicks off massive desert operation to eliminate ISIS cells

Published 2020-08-25 15:32:10 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a massive desert operation in the Badiya Al-Sham region of Homs on Tuesday, as they attempt to eliminate the large number of Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) sleeper cells in the country. Backed by Palestinian-led Jerusalem Brigade (Liwaa Al-Quds) and National Defense Forces (NDF), the Syrian military stormed several areas in the Badiya Al-Sham region to destroy these terrorist sleeper cells. According to a field report from the area, the operation has thus far been a success, as the army has eliminated some cells and captured weapons hidden inside caves used… Read on ->

Tags: Homs, ISIS, Syria

Iranian forces seize US-made weapons being smuggled across western border

Published 2020-08-25 15:19:35 by News Desk in Iran

BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:00 P.M.) – The Iranian border guards in the Western province of Kermanshah discovered and seized tens of U.S.-made guns from smugglers. “After receiving tips on a possible transit of a weapons and ammunition cargo by smugglers into the country, a team of border guards and intelligence forces at Salas Babajani border area were immediately sent to Chafteh border checkpoint (in Kermanshah province),” an informed source told Fars News on Monday. The Fars News source said that the border guards traced the smugglers with the help of electro-optical equipment as they were crossing the borderline, noting that the… Read on ->

Tags: Iran

Syria’s Assad calls on Prime Minister to form new gov’t

Published 2020-08-25 15:06:15 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:00 P.M.) – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has ordered Prime Minister Hussein Arnous to form a new government, as the parliamentary elections have since concluded. The Syrian Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday that “President Bashar al-Assad issued Decree No. 210 for the year 2020 mandating Mr. Hussein Arnous to form the ministries of the Syrian Arab Republic.” Arnous, who was appointed to the premiership in June, will now be tasked with forming the first government since accepting his current role. Among the chief concerns for the new government will be the ongoing economic crisis, which has… Read on ->

Tags: Assad, President Assad, Syria

Large demonstration held in support of Gaddafi family in northern Libya: video

Published 2020-08-25 14:54:52 by News Desk in North-Africa

BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:35 P.M.) – Supporters of the Gaddafi family have once again gathered in Sirte, the birthplace of the former president, Muammar, to show their support for them amid ongoing turmoil between the two largest political blocs in Libya. According to Ouais Hasairi, the Libyan National Army (LNA) clashed with members of the Gdadfa Tribe, which is the tribe of Muammar Gaddafi, over the arrest of 50 civilians in the city of Sirte. The incident, according to Hasairi, took place in the coastal city of Sirte on August 24th, as the demonstrations in support of the Gaddafi family continue… Read on ->

Tags: Gaddafi, Libya

Belarus intercepts ‘balloons’ along Lithuanian border: video

Published 2020-08-25 14:30:44 by News Desk in World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:20 P.M.) – The Belarusian news site, “Military-Political Review”, published a video clip of the Belursian forces intercepting ‘balloons’ along the Lithuanian border. The footage captured from the helicopter’s cockpit shows how the Mi-24 flies into a group of balloons, to which the white and red flag used by the Belarusian opposition was attached to it, after which the video was cut off. As reported by the portal, after the approach with the Mi-24, the balloons were ‘scattered’ in the Luji village area. https://youtu.be/yLU1WLhVPSs Earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Belarus announced an attempt by the Lithuanian side… Read on ->

Tags: Belarus, Lithuania

Greece vows to defend sovereignty after Turkey’s warnings

Published 2020-08-25 14:21:33 by News Desk in Turkey, World-News

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias issued a warning to Turkey on Tuesday amid the ongoing escalation of tensions over the territorial dispute in the Mediterranean, stressing that Athens is prepared to “defend its sovereign rights,” and accusing Ankara of continuing to violate its commitments. Dendias suggested that his country is prepared to hold a dialogue with Turkey on the gas drilling dispute, but “not under threats” from its government. The foreign minister added that Germany and the European Union are “standing in solidarity” with Greece in the dispute. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas is expected to visit both Athens and… Read on ->

Tags: Greece, Turkey

Russia confirms casualties within ranks after militant attack in Syria’s Idlib

Published 2020-08-25 13:11:13 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:00 P.M.) – The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a Russian armored vehicle was targeted, Tuesday, by militants during a joint Russian-Turkish patrol in Syria. The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the armed men targeted a Russian-Turkish patrol using a grenade launcher on the M-4 highway in the Syrian governorate of Idlib. The ministry pointed out that as a result of the accident, two Russian soldiers were wounded, as well as damage to an armored personnel carrier belonging to the Russian Military Police. They added that the joint patrol with the Turkish forces was… Read on ->

Tags: Idlib, Syria

ISIS attack kills 4 Iraqi soldiers in Kirkuk

Published 2020-08-25 12:49:42 by News Desk in Iraq

BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:30 P.M.) – On Monday, the Iraqi security information cell announced that eight soldiers were killed and wounded in an attack by the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) terrorist organization in northern Iraq. The Iraqi security forces said that “a station belonging to the 3rd Regiment of the 20th Brigade of the 5th Division was subjected to an armed attack in the Daquq district on the main road to the Kirkuk Governorate.” They added, “The attack killed four soldiers and wounded four others.”

Tags: Iraq

Iranian defense chief reveals purpose of Russia visit

Published 2020-08-25 12:16:46 by News Desk in Iran, Middleeast

BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 P.M.) -Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami stated that Tehran and Moscow have set a precise program to strengthen defense relations, after the arms embargo imposed on his country was lifted. In an interview with Iranian TV, Hatami said that important discussions were held with the Russian side in the fields of regional and international cooperation and military relations. The Iranian Minister of Defense confirmed that he was briefed on the most important Russian military achievements during his visit to Moscow. Furthermore, he visited the International Military-Technical Forum “Jeremiah-2020” held in Russia, and discussed Iran’s preparations and creating… Read on ->

Tags: Hatami, Iran

Greece to expand border fence with Turkey

Published 2020-08-25 11:54:43 by News Desk in Turkey, World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:30 A.M.) – The Greek government said Monday that it will press ahead with plans to increase the length of a cement and barbed wire fence it built in 2012 on its northern border with Turkey to prevent migrants from entering the country. Cabinet spokesman Stelios Petsas said the conservative government made the decision this year after tens of thousands of asylum seekers tried to enter the European Union member state in late February when Turkey said it would not try to stop them. Greece is Europe’s gateway to people fleeing conflicts in the Middle East and other… Read on ->

Tags: Greece, Turkey

Russia to supply Belarus with advanced air defense systems amid presidential turmoil

Published 2020-08-25 11:14:10 by News Desk in World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 A.M.) – The Belarusian Ministry of Defense said on Monday that Russia will supply advanced types of air defense systems to Belarus, among other weapons. The ministry said, in a statement published on its website, that the supply of these systems will be based on the cooperation plan for the period between 2021 and 2025, which the Belarusian military delegation signed with the Russian company “Almaz-Ante” specialized in the manufacture of weapons. The statement indicated that the delegation headed by Deputy Defense Minister Sergey Simonenko, during its visit to Russia, was briefed on the advanced types of… Read on ->

Tags: Belarus, Russia

Israeli warplanes launch several strikes over southern Gaza

Published 2020-08-25 10:56:32 by News Desk in Palestine

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:45 A.M.) – The Palestinian media said at dawn on Tuesday, that  Israeli warplanes bombed targets in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian activists confirmed that an explosion was heard east of the city of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, coinciding with the entry of the Israeli warplanes into the airspace of the city. They reported that Israeli reconnaissance aircraft were flying intensively in the airspace of Gaza before bombing a number of areas. In the same regard, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a statement that “IDF aircraft and tanks raided military sites and… Read on ->

Tags: Gaza, Israel, Palestine

Syrian Army shoots down Turkish drone over Idlib: photos

Published 2020-08-25 10:41:32 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:20 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) recently shot down a Turkish military drone that was flying over their positions in northwestern Syria. According to ANNA News reporter, Aleksandr Kharchenko, the Syrian air defense forces were “tired of watching it fly over their heads” before they shot it down. The drone, which was identified as a Turkish Bayraktar TB2, has been seen flying over the Syrian Army’s positions in Idlib and Hama on several occasions over the last few weeks. https://twitter.com/301_AD/status/1297995616417714178?s=20 According to Kharchenko, “Turkish artillery is increasingly shelling Syrian positions. Several Syrian army soldiers die from… Read on ->

Tags: Idlib, Syria

Russia military comes under attack by militant forces in northwest Syria

Published 2020-08-25 10:03:52 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:40 A.M.) – The Russian military was conducting a patrol along the Aleppo-Latakia Highway (M-4 Highway) this morning, when their forces were attacked by militants inside the Idlib Governorate. The militant forces aligned with Turkey posted a photo of the Russian military convoy after it came under attack this morning; it shows one of the vehicles partially on top of a median along the Aleppo-Latakia Highway. The attack was believed to have been carried out by the militant forces that are currently in control of several areas along the Aleppo-Latakia Highway, especially near the administrative borders of Latakia… Read on ->

Tags: Idlib, Syria

Erdogan warns Greece: ‘We will not back down in Mediterranean’

Published 2020-08-25 09:34:23 by News Desk in Turkey, World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:20 A.M.) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday, criticized the Naftex notice that Greece issued to ships in the eastern Mediterranean, saying that Athens would be responsible for the conflicts in the region. In his speech after chairing a government meeting, Erdogan described the Greek Naftex notification as an act that threatens the coastal and navigation safety of all ships in the region. He continued that “Greece has thrown itself into chaos that it cannot get out of, through the Naftex declaration issued by it in the eastern Mediterranean, and its violation of international law and… Read on ->

Tags: Erdogan, Greece, Turkey

Nearly 80 containers of dangerous chemicals found at Beirut Port

Published 2020-08-25 09:16:05 by News Desk in Lebanon

Lebanese military specialists and their French colleagues have found 79 containers with dangerous chemicals in the port of Beirut, where a deadly blast occurred earlier this month, the Lebanese army informs. “During the period between August 14 and 22, 25 containers with hydrochloric acid were found, as well as 54 containers that contained other chemicals, the leakage of which could be catastrophic,” the Lebanese army said in a Monday statement. On 4 August, the Lebanese capital was rocked by an exceptionally powerful blast which sent shock waves miles away from its epicenter in the port of Beirut. Entire districts adjacent… Read on ->

Tags: Beirut, Lebanon

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