Category: Defense

Israel’s Concern Over Syria’s Rebels Remains

Despite the change in leadership in Syria, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warns that Israel still faces threats from the country’s rebels. This warning comes after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, leading to new military actions by Israel to protect its borders.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who now leads the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), claims that Israel is using fake reasons to justify its attacks in Syria. Although he says he wants to focus on rebuilding Syria rather than getting into new fights, he acknowledges the ongoing tensions.

Since the leadership change, Israel has entered a demilitarized area established after the 1973 war, including the Mount Hermon region that overlooks the capital, Damascus. Israel insists that its presence there is temporary, aimed at ensuring security and preventing attacks. They have conducted numerous airstrikes on military targets in Syria to eliminate weapons that could be used against them.

Some Arab nations, like Saudi Arabia and Jordan, have criticized Israel’s actions in the Golan Heights border area. Sharaa noted that Syria still needs to focus on recovery and stability instead of starting new conflicts, suggesting that diplomatic talks are the best path to peace.

On Sunday, Russia announced that its military has taken control of two important villages in eastern Ukraine. These advances bring them closer to the supply center of Pokrovsk and the industrial town of Kurakhove. The Russian defense ministry said in their daily update that they have “liberated” the village of Vesely Gai, located south of Kurakhove, and the village of Pushkine, located south of Pokrovsk, both of which are in the Donetsk region.

Russia is reducing its military presence in northern Syria, especially in the Alawite Mountains, but it will keep its main bases, according to four Syrian officials who spoke to Reuters. The future of these bases—Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and Tartous naval facility—is uncertain after President Bashar al-Assad’s fall. Satellite images show large cargo planes at Hmeimim, suggesting they were preparing to load equipment. One plane flew out to Libya.

Sources indicate that Russia is pulling back troops from the front lines and removing some heavy equipment and high-ranking Syrian military personnel. However, Russia has no plans to leave its key bases. Equipment and senior officers are returning to Moscow, but for now, the goal is to reposition forces as necessary.

According to a senior official with the new Syrian administration, discussions about the Russian military’s role in Syria will happen in the future, and the Syrian people will have the final say. The Kremlin said it is talking to the new Syrian rulers about the bases.

Since the cold war, Russia has supported Syria, recognizing its independence and establishing ties against Western influence. The Tartous naval base is crucial for Russia, serving as its only Mediterranean resupply hub, while Hmeimim supports military operations around Africa.

Experts believe cargo planes are traveling from Syria to Libya. A convoy of Russian military vehicles was seen traveling between Hmeimim and Tartous. Reports show Russian soldiers still active at Hmeimim, with jets present in the hangars. Citizens like Ali Halloum from Latakia express a desire for no foreign intervention, whether from Russia, Iran, or others. Recent satellite images confirmed activity in Russia’s Mediterranean fleet near Tartous.

A Dutch court has decided not to stop the Netherlands from sending weapons to Israel. The court said the government has some freedom in its choices and that the courts should not get involved too quickly. The ruling means that there will be no total ban on selling military and dual-use goods to Israel.

Ten pro-Palestinian groups asked the court to halt the weapon exports, arguing that the Dutch government, as a signatory of the 1948 Genocide Convention, must act to prevent genocide. They pointed out the many civilians hurt during Israel’s actions in Gaza, claiming that Dutch weapons are being used in the conflict.

Wout Albers, a lawyer for the NGOs, stated that Israel is committing genocide and apartheid. He also mentioned an earlier order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) asking Israel to stop acts of genocide in Gaza.

The NGOs were upset with the court’s decision. Shawan Jabarin, director of Al-Haq, called it a terrible injustice and blamed the Netherlands for ignoring important international laws designed to prevent issues like colonization and genocide.

This court ruling came just after an Israeli airstrike hit a residential area in Gaza, killing at least 40 Palestinians and injuring many others.

Last month, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These warrants accuse them of committing serious crimes during the conflict, including using starvation as a weapon by blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza and targeting civilians.

So far, Gaza’s health ministry reports that the fighting has led to the deaths of at least 44,805 people in Gaza since last October.

The Indian Navy is ready to welcome its newest survey ship, INS Nirdeshak, in a special ceremony at Visakhapatnam on December 18. This ship is unique because over 80% of it was made in India, showing the Navy’s commitment to self-reliance, called ‘Aatmanirbharta’. The Defense Minister, Sanjay Seth, will lead the ceremony, which will also have many important guests, including senior naval officers.

INS Nirdeshak, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata, is 110 meters long and can carry about 3,800 tonnes. It runs on two diesel engines and has advanced tools for exploring the ocean and studying the sea floor. This ship can help with nautical surveys, improve navigation, and assist in various sailing operations.

This new INS Nirdeshak is the second ship in the Survey Vessel (Large) Project and it takes its name from the old Nirdeshak, which served for 32 years before being retired in 2014. The ship can stay at sea for over 25 days and reach speeds of more than 18 knots.

With its mission to map India’s waters and support operations in the Indian Ocean Region, INS Nirdeshak will be important for India’s security at sea. The Navy revealed the ship’s crest, which calls it ‘the Pathfinder of the Seas’, symbolizing India’s strength in the ocean. The design also features the nation’s commitment to protecting its waters, using advanced technology to navigate and explore underwater.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has increased its efforts to stop anyone from entering the country illegally. A high-ranking officer announced that they are using more people and advanced technology to watch the borders all day and night. Recently, extra troops were sent to strengthen security because protecting the border is very important.

BSF Inspector General D K Boora held a press conference and said that two people trying to cross into India from Pakistan were shot, and two others were caught this year. This shows that the number of illegal crossings has decreased a lot. He also mentioned that the BSF seized around 7.6 kilograms of illegal drugs during the year.

When asked about an incident where two Pakistani terrorists were killed in September, Boora explained that they didn’t have details about how the terrorists entered Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that if there’s no information, it suggests that there hasn’t been any illegal crossing.

According to him, anyone who tries to come into India without permission is either captured or stopped by the BSF. He shared that winter brings challenges, like fog, but the BSF is well-prepared for these conditions. Boora said snowfall happens occasionally but isn’t a big issue right now, and they are ready to handle foggy weather.

He mentioned that the BSF is focused on ensuring no terrorists or intruders make it into India. They do not worry about how many terrorists are across the border because their goal is to stop all illegal entries. The officer emphasized that the most important job for the BSF is to keep the border safe and ensure that not even one person crosses it without permission. He believes they have the skills and resources to do just that, and they can handle any challenges posed by terrorists.

Israel has recently arrested around 30 mostly Jewish citizens who are accused of spying for Iran. This shocking news highlights Iran’s biggest efforts in years to gather intelligence against Israel.

According to Israeli security sources, the spies were part of nine secret groups. Some of their alleged goals included planning to assassinate an Israeli nuclear scientist and gathering information on military bases and air defenses. One father-son duo is accused of sharing details about Israeli military movements in the Golan Heights where they live.

Over the past two years, Iranian intelligence has been trying to recruit ordinary Israelis with offers of money for sensitive information. Shalom Ben Hanan, a former Israeli security official, noted the surprising number of Jewish citizens willing to work for Iran against their own country. Many of the arrested were not well-known figures but included recent immigrants, an army deserter, and even a convicted sex offender. Their activities mostly involved vandalizing property, such as spray-painting anti-government slogans and damaging cars.

The scale of these arrests has raised alarm in Israel, especially amid its ongoing conflict with Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza. On October 21, Shin Bet, Israel’s security service, warned that this espionage activity was one of the most serious challenges faced by the state.

After several assassination attempts and kidnappings connected to Iran in Europe and the U.S., Israeli security agencies decided to publicly share details about these plots to warn both the Iranian government and potential traitors.

Iran’s foreign ministry has not confirmed or denied plans to recruit Israelis, but a statement suggested that recruitment efforts would typically focus on non-Iranian and non-Muslim individuals. Iranian intelligence often finds recruits on social media, sometimes promising large sums of money for information, like $15,000 for certain details.

One of the arrested suspects, Vladislav Victorsson, 30, was detained for tasks like vandalism and had conversations with Iranians on the Telegram messaging app. He was reported to have agreed to carry out serious acts, like assassination and obtaining weapons

New Delhi: On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh urged Russia to speed up the delivery of the last two S-400 Triumf missile systems. He was in Moscow for important talks with his Russian counterpart, Andrey Belousov. Singh highlighted new chances for Russian defence companies to work with India on making different military equipment together.

Singh said that the relationship between India and Russia is strong and has proven to be a special and important partnership. He expressed India’s goal to boost its own defence industry by working together with Russia. The talks were part of an ongoing agreement between India and Russia to cooperate in military matters. Singh is on a three-day visit to Russia.

During the meeting, he asked Russia to quickly send the last two S-400 missile systems. Russia has already delivered three regiments of these systems, but there has been a hold-up due to the Ukraine crisis. Singh also suggested that maintenance for these systems should happen in India.

Singh showed confidence in the strong ties between the two countries and reaffirmed India’s commitment to this special partnership. The Russian defence minister expressed support for deepening relations, based on mutual trust. He also congratulated Singh on the commissioning of INS Tushil, a guided missile frigate that joined the Indian Navy recently during Singh’s visit to Russia.

Before the meeting, Singh inspected a guard of honour at the Russian defence ministry and laid a wreath at the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ in Moscow to remember Soviet soldiers who died in World War II.

BEML Limited, a government-owned company, announced on Tuesday that it has received a major order from the defence ministry to make a heavy-duty trailer worth Rs 83.51 crore. This trailer, which can carry up to 50 tonnes, is specially designed to transport battle tanks. It has 12 sturdy wheels that help it drive through tough terrains.

This new trailer can be towed by a BEML HMV 8×8 vehicle and comes with cool features like a turntable that can rotate 55 degrees in both directions. It also includes a special air brake system, emergency brakes, and parking brakes that work mechanically.

Shantanu Roy, the Chairman and Managing Director of BEML, expressed pride in this achievement. He said that this contract shows how capable they are of making high-quality products in India. BEML aims to keep supporting the defence sector and hopes to grow even more in this area.

BEML works in three main areas: defence and aerospace, mining and construction, and rail and metro systems. They have factories located in Bangalore, Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), Mysore, and Palakkad, along with research and development (R&D) facilities and a network for sales and services across the country.