Syria begins airstrikes on Idlib; France prepares for 'Scalp War' with Britain
(Baonghean.vn) - The world over the past 24 hours has been filled with many events such as: The Syrian Air Force began airstrikes on the rebel stronghold of Idlib; The French Navy warned that it was ready for a 'Scalp War' with the UK; The South Korean special envoy will discuss denuclearization with North Korea; The US purchased modern radar from Ukraine...
Syrian Air Force begins airstrikes on rebel stronghold Idlib
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Location of Jisr Al-Shughour town recently hit by Syrian fighter jets. Graphics:BBC |
Syrian fighter jets took off from bases in Homs and Latakia provinces on the morning of September 4 to bomb targets in the western part of Idlib province, the last stronghold of rebels and opposition forces in the country, according toAlmasdar News.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, this was the first airstrike by the Russian-backed Syrian air force on Idlib in 22 days. For more than three weeks, Russia has been negotiating with Türkiye to reach a peaceful solution in Idlib but without success. In this airstrike, Syrian warplanes bombed the town of Jisr Al-Shughour controlled by the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), as well as several targets of the pro-Turkey Turkmen rebel group.
According to observers, this latest bombing could be a sign that a full-scale Syrian army offensive on Idlib will begin in the next few days.
British police arrest 3 suspects of assisting terrorism |
| British police. Illustration photo: THX/TTXVN |
A London police announcement on September 4 said that British Counter Terrorism Force police arrested a 16-year-old girl and two women, aged 26 and 53, on suspicion of aiding and financing terrorism.
The three suspects were taken to two different detention facilities in west London this morning. Meanwhile, questioning is taking place at a police station in south London. The identities of these suspects have not yet been released. Meanwhile, the search for other suspects is still underway.
South Korean envoy to discuss denuclearization with North Korea
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| North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in's special envoy, Chung Eui-yong. Source: Getty Images |
South Korean President Moon Jae-in's special envoy to North Korea, Chung Eui-yong, said he plans to discuss measures for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula when he visits Pyongyang this week, Yonhap/Xinhua reported on September 4.
Speaking at a press conference a day before starting his visit to Pyongyang, Mr. Chung Eui-yong, currently the South Korean National Security Advisor, said: "The special delegation plans to hold discussions on measures for complete denuclearization and establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula."
Chung Eui-yong will lead a five-person delegation to North Korea, including National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon and Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung.
Iran determined to export crude oil despite US sanctions
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| Photo: thewire.ing |
President Hassan Rouhani has said Iran will continue to export crude oil despite US efforts to prevent it through sanctions.
Speaking to a group of oil officials on September 4, President Rouhani said the US was targeting oil exports as part of efforts to reimpose sanctions on the Islamic republic. "We will continue to produce and export oil by all means. Oil is at the front line of confrontation and resistance," the Iranian leader said in a televised event.
With sanctions set to resume next November, the US wants to reduce Iran's oil exports to zero. However, it is unclear how much Washington's allies will cut their imports of Iranian oil.
US buys modern radar from Ukraine
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A Ukrainian 36D6M1-1 radar complex. Photo:Press TV. |
The US Defense Contract Management Agency has just received the 36D6M1-1 3D mobile radar system from a Ukrainian defense company,Defense Blog36D6M1-1 was developed by the Ukrainian Iskra Scientific and Production Complex for use in modern air defense and missile defense systems. The main function of this radar is to detect low-flying targets in conditions of active and passive jamming. The radar can also be used in military and civil air traffic control operations.
This mobile radar system has been used in many variants of the Russian S-300 air defense system and is in service with the air defense forces of many countries such as Russia, China and Iran. According to experts, the US military will likely study the system recently purchased from Ukraine to use it as an enemy simulator in training activities.
French Navy warns it is ready for a 'Scalp War' with Britain
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| Clashes between British and French fishermen off the coast of Normandy on August 28. Photo: France 3 Normandy |
French Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert said on September 4 that the French Navy is ready to intervene if clashes continue between French and British fishermen over access to scallop-rich seabeds in offshore waters.
In an interview with French news channel CNews, Mr. Travert stated: "We cannot continue this situation, we cannot continue such clashes. The French Navy is ready to act if there are more clashes, as well as to carry out patrols."
Minister Travert confirmed that he had spoken to his British counterpart and that discussions on the issue between the two sides took place on 29 August after French ships chased British ships out of the Baie de Seine area, off the coast of Normandy.
Donors pledge $2.5 billion for fight against Boko Haram
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| Panorama of the International Sponsors Conference on the Lake Chad region in Berlin, Germany. Source: AFP/TTXVN |
At the International Donors Conference held in Berlin (Germany) on September 3, participating countries pledged to contribute 2.17 billion euros (equivalent to 2.52 billion USD) to support countries around Lake Chad in the fight against Boko Haram - an Islamic rebel group that regularly conducts terrorist attacks and has become a major security threat in Africa.
The German Foreign Ministry statement said the pledge would be disbursed to four countries, Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and the Republic of Chad, over the next few years.
In addition to the above commitment, another 467 million USD will be disbursed in the form of preferential loans. In addition, Germany wants to provide 100 million euros in humanitarian aid to the region until 2020 and an additional 40 million euros for stabilization and conflict prevention activities.
Spain cancels contract to sell 400 bombs to Saudi Arabia
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| Illustration: en.wikipedia.org |
On September 4, Spain announced the cancellation of a contract to sell 400 laser-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, which was signed in 2015.
AFP news agency (France) quoted a spokesman for the Spanish Ministry of Defense confirming information on Cadena Ser. radio channel that the new government in this country plans to return more than 9 million euros (equivalent to nearly 11 million USD) that Saudi Arabia paid for a contract signed under the previous government.
The statement was made after the Saudi-led coalition against rebels in Yemen conducted an airstrike in August in Yemen that killed dozens of civilians, including 40 children.
