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https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-january-8-2018-syrian-army-liberates-large-area-key-town-in-southern-idlib/ Last weekend, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s defense collapsed in southern Idlib. The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Tiger Forces liberated the important town of Sinjar and the nearby villages including al-Nasiriyah, Jabal al-Kafi, Lubaida, Hawa, Sheikh Barakeh, Umm Mweilat, Tell Amara, Rasm Saaed, Kafrayya and Mutawassitah. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) did little to defend its positions in the area but released a statement accusing
by Ramin Mazaheri for the Saker blog I would like extend my thanks and appreciation to the World Socialist Web Site for publishing a response to my critical analysis of their coverage of the recent economic protests in Iran. I think readers appreciate open dialogue between journalists. Open dialogue is the foundation of diplomacy, and thus also the foundation of politics. Dialogue means increasing understanding – not bickering – and
On the Saving Nativity According to the Flesh of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ This is the Festival of the virgin birth! Our address must be exalted therefore in accordance with the greatness of the feast, and enter into the mystery, as far as this is accessible and permissible, and time allows, that something of its inner power might be revealed even to us. Please strive, brethren,
https://southfront.org/winter-protests-in-iran-2017-2018/ Today, the influence of the Iranian state and its set of values is growing in the Middle East and around the world. In late December, anti-government protests sparked across the country. Over 20 people were killed, hundreds injured and thousands detained because of clashes between security forces and the protestors. The protests emerged due to internal economic factors and the activity of foreign adversaries of Iran. The main factors
2018/01/06 01:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of the issues of the day. The ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’ will have two new open threads each week. The Saker stated moderation policy will apply eg ‘no caps’, no obscenity … etc to all post. The Cafe is now open for
https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-january-5-2018-militants-retreat-from-more-villages-in-southern-idlib/ On January 4, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Tiger Forces, backed up by the Russian Aerospace Forces, captured the villages of Rsm al-Abid, al-Fhail, Rubaida, Msheirfeh, al-Qasr al-Abyad, Rabeeah Musa, Haqiyah and Umm Rjaim Hill in southeastern Idlib. According to pro-government sources, at least 7 militants were killed and a vehicle was destroyed during the SAA advance. On the same day, the Sham Legion reportedly destroyed a
Rumors are starting to flow about an alleged attack on the Russian Aerospace Forces airbase in Khmeimin Syria. I have been parsing the Russian news sources and here is what I can say so far: an attack did indeed take place it was a combined multiple rocket launcher and mortar attack the rockets were all intercepted and destroyed the mortars did land and inflict damage the original report was based
by Ramin Mazaheri for the Saker blog When perhaps the top daily-news leftist website – the World Socialist Web Site – has the phrase “brutally exploited Iranian working class” in their first sentence, something is clearly out of balance. Because if Iran’s working class is “brutally” mistreated, then what is the working class in, say, the United States? Do they call it the “astronomically, incredibly, stupendously, racially exploited US working
https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-january-4-2018-russian-forces-suffer-casualties-in-khmeimim-shelling/ The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the National Defense Forces (NDF), the Tiger Forces and other pro-government factions, supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, have achieved a notable progress against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) in southern Idlib. Government troops have liberated the villages of Rajmel Mashraf, Umm Sehrij, Dreibiyeh, Mashrafat al Khanazir, Ard az-Zurzur, Sham al-Hawa, Umm al-Khalakhil, Qulayat at Tuwaybah and Niha
by Kakaouskia for the Saker blog Greetings to the Saker community and readers. For some time now, US and its vassal states and Russia are engaged in an economic war. The first salvo was when VISA and MasterCard – which are US based banking institutions – were forced to stop accepting transactions performed by cardholders of certain Russian banks. The latest indication, as Saker has mentioned in the near past
by Peter Koenig for the Saker blog On 21 September 2017, the Supreme Leader of the Iranian Islamic Revolution, spoke to the head and the members of the Assembly of Experts with kind of a State of the Nation Speech. http://english.khamenei.ir/news/5142/Angry-at-Iran-s-Victories-and-Their-Own-Defeats-is-the-Reason. He addressed many issues from internal affairs, competing factions within the Islamic Revolution, to external relations – and the economy. He also referred to The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
by Jimmie Moglia for the Saker blog I first read Freud’s writings when, probably unconsciously, I believed that if everybody says the same thing, it must be true. Freud’s extraordinary theories and mystifying lingo had many admirers and promoters. Just as one example, Eugene Goodheart, professor at Brandeis University, says, “Freud’s sheer power of narration provides a kind of emotional truth that we could ill afford to forego.” And, “Freud’s
2018/01/02 13:30:03Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of the issues of the day. The ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’ will have two new open threads each week. The Saker stated moderation policy will apply eg ‘no caps’, no obscenity … etc to all post. The Cafe is now open for
by GH Eliason for the Saker blog In 2014, villages, towns, and sections of cities were destroyed near the front line in LNR (Lugansk People’s Republic) and DNR. Early on, a lot of people were forced to stay because the banks disappeared overnight. Your savings was gone and the banks were closed. Starting from what you would consider a normal life, imagine waking up without any access to your own
Introductory note: I wanted to touch upon this subject for a long, long while, because it is one I care about a lot. However, it is also totally off-topic for this blog. However, since in Russia there is a lull (that is putting it mildly) between New Year and the Orthodox Nativity, I decided to “squeeze” it here in between those dates and while our usual topics are a little
by Ramin Mazaheri for the Saker blog I am on vacation and trying to stay away from politics to recharge my batteries, but a sane voice on Iranian politics in English is almost impossible to find, so…. Despite the Western media’s slobbering at the minor protests in Iran, there is no need to fear that Iranian democracy is about to “fall”. Allow me to get right to the heart of
Dear friends, First, my sincere thanks to all those who have sent their contribution to my work. This winter fundraiser is now over and even though it had a difficult start, I want to thank those who replied to my appeal and made it a success: your help is absolutely crucial and it will make a huge difference for me and my work on this blog. Second, big news: my
2017/12/30 02:00:01Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of the issues of the day. The ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’ will have two new open threads each week. The Saker stated moderation policy will apply eg ‘no caps’, no obscenity … etc to all post. The Cafe is now open for
https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-december-29-2017-militant-defense-collapses-near-abu-dali/ On December 28, government forces liberated the villages of Ad Dajaj, Tamat al-Khalifah and Mushayrifah and reached the southern vicinity of the militant-held village of Abu Dali. Abu Dali is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and is one of the key militant defense points in the area. If Abu Dali falls into the hands of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the
[Note: this post of mine is temporarily located in the ‘guest section’ because of the current fundraiser. Once the fundraiser is over, I will place it back in the correct section. This analysis was written for the Unz Review. The Saker] If the first months of 2017 were a time of great hopes following the historical defeat of Hillary Clinton, the year is ending in a sombre, almost menacing manner.
