Puppet MastersS


Attention

UN reports 'staggering loss of civilian life' during US-backed siege of Raqqa


RT
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 13:53 UTC
Internally displaced people flee Raqqa
© Rodi Said / Reuters Internally displaced people flee Raqqa, Syria on May 19, 2017.
The ongoing siege by Syrian Kurdish militia supported by airstrikes of the US-led coalition on terrorist stronghold Raqqa is marred by many civilian casualties and displacement of some 160,000 people, a UN commission says.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a group of militias dominated by ethnic Kurds, launched their offensive on Raqqa last week amid weapons and military hardware supplies from the US. The effort is taking a serious toll on civilian residents of the city controlled by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry into the Syrian conflict said on Wednesday.
"We note in particular that the intensification of airstrikes, which have paved the ground for an SDF advance in Raqqa, has resulted not only in staggering loss of civilian life, but has also led to 160,000 civilians fleeing their homes and becoming internally displaced," Paulo Sergio Pinheiro told the UN Human Rights Council, Reuters reports.
The official didn't give an estimate for civilian casualties in the city.

Comment: Is the UN finally seeing the truth about Syria? UN notes Syria safe zones lead to 'discernible reduction in levels of violence'

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Attention

Iranian General claims Daesh militants staging attacks under US, Saudi guidance


Sputnik
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 13:47 UTC
Burned ISIS flag
© Sputnik/ Andrey Stenin
The Islamic State (Daesh) terrorist group stages attacks in the region under the guidance and with the support of the United States and Saudi Arabia, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri said Tuesday.
"Today, we are witnessing the destructive outcomes of state-sponsored terrorism backed by Saudi Arabia, the United States and some (other) reactionary regional countries in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Yemen and elsewhere, including in some European countries," Jazayeri said as quoted by the Tasnim news agency.

Comment: More from Iran: Allegations intensify: Iran's supreme leader calls US' fight against ISIS 'a lie'

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Map

UN notes Syria safe zones lead to 'discernible reduction in levels of violence'


Sputnik
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 13:42 UTC
Syrian flag in Aleppo
© REUTERS/ Omar Sanadiki
The de-escalation zones in Syria, agreed on during the Astana talks, led to a a discernible reduction in levels of violence near Idlib and western Aleppo, chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic Paulo Sergio Pinheiro said Wednesday.
"The de-escalation zones agreed by Russia, Iran and Turkey, the guarantors of the last round of the Astana talks, have resulted in a discernible reduction in levels of violence in the zones around Idlib and western Aleppo," Pinheiro said speaking before the UN Human Rights Council, as quoted by the organization.
However, hostilities continue unabated in Homs, Damascus and Daraa, he added.
"The establishment of de-escalation zones is a step in the right direction. They potentially help to support the conditions necessary for more comprehensive political discussions within the Geneva framework led by [UN] Special Envoy [Staffan] de Mistura," Pinheiro noted.
The chairman of the commission underlined that only an inclusive political settlement of the Syrian conflict would lead to achievement of sustainable peace in the country.
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Info

US troops near jihadist-besieged Philippines city 'not allowed to fight' militants


RT
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 13:32 UTC
Black smoke comes from a burning building in a commercial area of Osmena street in Marawi city
© Romeo Ranoco / Reuters Black smoke comes from a burning building in a commercial area of Osmena street in Marawi city, Philippines June 14, 2017.
Philippine officials say US troops are on the ground near the besieged city of Marawi, which fighters linked to Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) have occupied for more than three weeks.

Philippine military general Brigadier General Restituto Padilla said in a news conference on Wednesday that the US troops are operating in a support role and are not involved in fighting the militants.
"There are some US personnel who are operating equipment to provide information on situation awareness to our troops," Brigadier General Padilla said, according to Reuters.

"I do not know the exact number and the specific mission. They are allowed to carry rifles for self-defense. But they are not allowed to fight, they only provide support," he added.
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Radar

Why Iran sends its warships to the Gulf of Aden?


Sputnik
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 13:22 UTC
Iran navy ship
© AP Photo/ Fars News Agency, Mahdi Marizad
On Sunday, Iran's 47th Navy flotilla, comprised of Alborz destroyer and Bushehr logistic warship, set sail on its voyage to Oman. It will further go to the north of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. Sputnik Persian talked to Iranian political analysts, who explained why Tehran is demonstrating its naval military might.

On June 11, the naval fleet left the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas for Oman after a ceremony attended by Iran's Navy commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari.

The move, which comes amid a crisis in the Persian Gulf after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar for allegedly supporting "extremism," has sparked heated reaction of the Gulf of Aden littoral states.
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Snakes in Suits

Former Tory PM John Major speaks out against May's 'fragile' DUP deal


RT
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 12:27 UTC
John Major
© Brian Lawless / ReutersJohn Major
Former Tory Prime Minister John Major has spoken out against Theresa May's intent to prop up a government with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

He said he is "wary" about the "fragile" deal between the prime minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster as it might undermine Northern Ireland's peace process, which he claims may "unwind."

Major's comments come as May is due to discuss the terms of a"confidence and supply" deal with Foster at Downing Street on Tuesday, which would mainly entail the DUP backing the government on confidence votes and budget requests.
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Info

Libyan officials claim UK's 'poor counter-terrorism cooperation' behind Manchester attack


RT
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 12:27 UTC
Salman Abedi
© Greater Manchester Police / ReutersSalman Abedi
The Manchester Arena suicide bombing occurred partly because of poor UK security cooperation with Libyan authorities, security officials from the North African state claim.

Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a homemade device at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in May, which killed 22 and wounded scores more.

Abedi, who also died in the blast, was of Libyan origin. He and his father Ramadan were known to have ties with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), which is linked to Al-Qaeda.

Comment: Further reading: Manchester Attack Briefing: Blurring the lines between 'blowback' and complicity

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Propaganda

Propaganda Alert: MSM grossly misrepresents "anti-opposition" barricades in Moscow

Inessa Sinchougova (Translator)
Fort Russ
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 12:27 UTC
Russia Navalny opposition protests
Originally at Rusvesna

Yesterday, opposition protests were held, which were organised by US-paid Alexei Navalny. They were held purposely on the same date as Russians celebrating their national day - Russia Day, on June 12th.

The editor of the American publication The Financial Times Neil Buckley, posted this picture on his Twitter , with the caption "Most countries use anti-tank against the invaders. In Moscow, they used against their own people." (repost from Alexei Venediktov, host of CIA funded radio station, Echo Moscow)
Russia Navalny opposition protests
What the image shows is a reenactment of anti-tank traps during the battle of Moscow in WWII. It was especially set up for Russia Day, as a historic reenactment of the sacrifices made for the city in the past.
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Attention

New Zealand general confirms US-led coalition used white phosphorus in Mosul amid mounting criticism


RT
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 11:54 UTC
white phosphorus munitions in Raqqa
© YouTubeAlleged deployment of white phosphorus munitions in Raqqa as reported by ISIS-linked Amaq news agency.
A New Zealand general has confirmed that the US-led coalition fighting in Mosul has used munitions loaded with white phosphorus. It comes amid mounting criticism over the use of the multipurpose weapon, which can be extremely dangerous to civilians.

Over the past few weeks an increasing number of claims have pointed to the use of white phosphorus munitions by the US-led coalition in Mosul, Iraq and Raqqa, Syria - the two strongholds of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). The use of the weapons in Mosul was confirmed by New Zealand's Brig. Gen. Hugh McAslan.
"We have utilized white phosphorous to screen areas within west Mosul to get civilians out safely,"
he told the US broadcaster NRP, in what appears to be the first confirmation of its kind. Previously the coalition reported using white phosphorous munitions in rural areas of Iraq, but not in densely populated cities.

Comment: More on the US-coalition use of white phosphorous:

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HAL9000

Washington worried about Chinese investments in Silicon Valley


RT
Wed, 14 Jun 2017 11:48 UTC
New Apple campus
© Noah Berger / Reuters
The United States is weighing restrictions on Chinese investment in artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley, Reuters reports quoting current and former US officials. There are concerns China may get access to technology vital to US national security.

In particular, Washington is concerned about Beijing's interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning, which have raised Chinese capital recently. The technology could bolster China's military capabilities, US officials worry.

The US government considers strengthening the role of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), according to Reuters.

"We're examining CFIUS to look at the long-term health and security of the US economy, given China's predatory practices" in technology, a Trump administration official told Reuters. The official was not authorized to speak publicly.
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