Category: Defense

President Bashar al-Assad has been fighting rebel forces in Syria with the help of Russia and Iran for many years, but he never fully defeated them. This has made him vulnerable, especially as his allies are busy with other conflicts. Recently, the rebels made a quick advance in western Syria, creating a serious threat to Assad’s long rule. Statues of his father and brother have been torn down, and posters of him have been vandalized.

Assad has been president since 2000, following his father’s death, and he has tried to keep control in a country where most people are Sunni Muslims, while he belongs to the Alawite sect. His time in power was shaped by the civil war that began in 2011. It started when people wanted democracy but faced brutal attacks instead. In 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump called him an “animal” for using chemical weapons, which Assad denied.

With help from Russian airstrikes and Iranian-backed fighters, Assad managed to take back many territories from the rebels. Although there has been a bit of calm over the years, many areas are still not under his control, and the country’s economy is struggling due to sanctions. Some Arab countries that had turned against him are beginning to reconnect.

Assad has not spoken publicly since the rebels captured Aleppo last week but told Iran’s president that the conflict aimed to serve Western interests. In 2012, he said he was like a surgeon saving a patient, even if his hands were “covered in blood.”

As the conflict continued, he declared, “We will hit them with an iron fist,” but much of Syria is still at war. The number of deaths is over 350,000, and many Syrians have fled the country.

Some Syrians support him because they believe he is protecting them from extremist groups. While he claims Syria is a secular state, the conflict has become increasingly sectarian, with Iranian fighters supporting him and Sunni countries backing the rebels. Iran sees Assad’s survival as very important.

However, the United States failed to respond strongly when Assad used chemical weapons, even though there is evidence showing he did. Assad often laughed off accusations against him, including using barrel bombs that caused a lot of destruction.

Despite sanctions and being viewed as a bad leader by many in the West, some Arab nations are starting to warm up to him again. In 2022, he was welcomed in the United Arab Emirates, showing a shift in relationships.

Bashar Assad used to be an eye doctor in London before becoming president after his father passed away in 2000. Initially, he seemed to bring some hopeful changes, releasing political prisoners and trying to open the economy. However, these positive signs quickly faded, leading to a failed promise of reform.

The economy struggles while many people suffer, creating tension and protests that contributed to the ongoing conflict. Tensions grew with the West after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, and public pressure mounted on Assad after the assassination of a Lebanese leader in 2005.

In Jermana, a suburb near Damascus, protesters took down a statue of Hafez al-Assad, the late father of current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The crowd, mostly from the Druze community, demanded that President Assad step down. They walked towards government buildings, calling for security forces to leave their neighborhood. Ryan Marouf, an activist, mentioned that unlike other parts of Syria, the government has mostly ignored protests from the Druze. This time, demonstrators even removed posters of Assad, challenging the strong support he and his father usually receive.

The night before, there were fights in Suweida, another Druze city, where local militias attacked a police station, freeing many prisoners. In Deraa, west of Suweida, people celebrated by taking down a statue of Assad and firing their guns in the air. These events show a growing spirit of freedom among people who want change in Syria’s government.

Iran is planning to send missiles and drones to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad fight against rebel groups. An Iranian official, who didn’t want to share their name, told Reuters that Iran is ready to send military equipment and increase the number of its military advisers in Syria. Right now, Iran is already giving help in the form of intelligence and satellite support.

Assad is an important ally for Iran, as he is part of a group they call the “Axis of Resistance” against Israel and U.S. influence in the Middle East. Recently, rebels have been gaining ground in their fight against Assad, which is a big worry for both Iran and Syria.

The official mentioned that Iran and Russia are working together to help Assad. They believe that Syria has not asked for ground troops from Iran yet, and instead, they want to focus on increasing airstrikes with Russia’s help.

At the same time, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Iran, and Russia are set to meet in Doha to talk about the situation with the rebels. Turkey supports the opposition to Assad. Iran has urged Turkey not to align with the U.S. and Israel because they think these countries want to weaken Iran and its allies.

Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will also be meeting with the foreign ministers of Iraq and Syria in Baghdad to discuss how to handle the situation in Syria. Iran and Iraq are even looking at working together on defense projects through various groups and military forces.

The Syrian army has pulled back from the city of Hama after rebels managed to break through its defenses. This is a significant setback for President Bashar Assad. The army reported that they moved their troops outside the city to keep civilians safe. Hama, which is Syria’s fourth-largest city, is one of the few cities that still remained fully under government control during the ongoing conflict that started in March 2011 after a popular uprising.

Rebels, including the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, have been pushing an offensive to take control of more territory. Recently, they also captured much of Aleppo, the largest city in Syria, which marked a major win for Assad’s opponents. Fighting in Hama had been ongoing for three days before the rebels announced they had entered the city early Thursday.

The Syrian army admitted that several soldiers were killed during the fighting and blamed the rebels for using suicide attacks to breach their defenses. If the rebels fully take over Hama, it could signal a serious decline in Assad’s power. The next target for the insurgents may likely be Homs, the third-largest city in Syria, which is located about 40 kilometers south of Hama.

Hama is important because it connects Syria’s center with its north, east, and west. It is also close to the coastal region of Latakia, where Assad has strong support. The city is remembered for a tragic event in 1982 when thousands were killed by security forces to destroy a rebel uprising.

With tensions escalating once again in Syria’s long civil war, many people have had to flee their homes since the renewed violence began. Rebel commanders have claimed that their forces have entered Hama and are moving towards the center.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, for spreading a lot of false information. Blinken blamed Russia for making the war in Ukraine worse. Both men were in Malta for a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). This was Lavrov’s first visit to a European Union country since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Blinken expressed disappointment that Lavrov had left the meeting room without listening to others speak, saying, “It would have been nice if he stayed to listen to us.” He warned everyone not to be fooled by Lavrov’s lies, saying this war has nothing to do with Russia’s safety. It’s really about Russian President Putin wanting to erase Ukraine entirely.

Blinken also discussed the idea of “escalation” in the conflict. He pointed out concerns like North Korea sending troops to help Russia and ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s energy, which could impact every country in the room. Despite the tensions, Blinken and Lavrov were not scheduled to meet directly in Malta.

In 2025, the Border Security Force (BSF), which protects the borders between India and Pakistan as well as India and Bangladesh, is set to have around 2,500 women officers. According to information shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Parliament, the recruitment of women in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam Rifles is being boosted, with a total of 4,138 women being hired this year.

The BSF will hire the most women with 2,419 positions, followed by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which will add 818 women. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), responsible for securing the India-China border, will recruit 456 women. Additionally, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will get 242 new female officers, while the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) will hire 103. The Assam Rifles (AR), which protects the northeastern borders, will welcome 100 women.

The MHA noted, “We are constantly working to increase the number of women in CAPFs. The number of women in these forces has jumped from 15,499 in 2014 to 42,190 in 2024.”

Currently, women make up about 4% of the total workforce in CAPFs and AR. The CISF has the highest percentage of women at over 7%, while the CRPF has only 3.38%. The recruitment of women in CAPFs and AR is growing slowly, with 835 women hired so far. This includes 276 women in the CRPF, 209 in the CISF, 152 in the BSF, 128 in the SSB, 62 in the ITBP, and 8 in Assam Rifles.

Right now, the Assam Rifles has 42 job openings for women. The BSF will soon recruit 1,849 women, while the CISF has 2,344 job openings available. The CRPF is looking to add 216 more women, and the ITBP has 960 open spots for women recruits, with the SSB needing to fill 58 positions.

People in Churachandpur, a town in Manipur, joined together in a big protest. They were upset about the government’s decision to remove special fences along the India-Myanmar border. These fences were important because they helped protect their lands and homes. The protesters held signs and shouted slogans, expressing their worries about safety and the impact of this decision on their community. They want the government to think again and keep the fences to avoid problems. Many families joined the protest, hoping their voices would be heard.

India is changing how it buys defense equipment. The country used to get a lot of its weapons from Russia, but now it’s buying more from countries like the United States and those in Europe. Indian officials say that plans to develop and make helicopters and advanced fighter jets with Russia were put on hold a while ago. Also, an idea to rent a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia for training purposes is unlikely to happen, as India is working on building its own submarines.

Currently, the only items India is waiting for from Russia are two warships and parts for a missile defense system that were ordered before the war in Ukraine started. Last year, only 36% of India’s arms came from Russia, which is a big drop from 76% in 2009, according to a report from a think tank called SIPRI. This shift reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal to rely less on Russia, even though India still buys affordable energy from them and supports President Putin diplomatically.

India, which is the largest arms buyer in the world, is now purchasing more from Western companies and is looking to create its own weapons with help from the US and France. Since 2018, India has signed contracts worth nearly $20 billion for US-made weapons. Recently, it approved a deal for $3 billion for 31 long-range drones made by General Atomics, a major defense company from the US.

India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is about to finalize a deal with General Electric to produce advanced jet engines for new fighter planes. While Russian-made weapons tend to be cheaper, they often require frequent repairs, making them more expensive in the long run.

Experts say India’s military is getting more comfortable with Western technology. The shift away from Russia shows Modi’s foreign policy focus, which tries to balance relations with both America and Russia. The ongoing war in Ukraine has also pushed India to buy fewer Russian weapons.

India still relies on Russia for some military equipment, mainly spare parts for older weapons, which will continue to be used for many years. Additionally, India needs Russian support for nuclear submarines, as Russia is the only country that offers them. Until both sides can discuss nuclear issues, India’s partnership with the West will be incomplete.

New Delhi, India, December 3 – The Indian Army has received a delivery of 480 new high-tech drones, called loitering munitions. These drones were made by a defense company in Nagpur and have over 75% of their parts made in India.

The drone, named Nagastra-1, is light and easy to carry. It’s meant to help soldiers make precise attacks when needed. The company, Solar Industries, is also creating better versions of this drone called Nagastra-2 and Nagastra-3, which will be even more advanced.

Solar Industries is working on new types of drones called Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones, which can fly for a long time and are great for watching areas from above. Many other Indian companies are also trying to make these MALE drones to help the Indian military. The goal is to create a strong drone industry that can produce advanced drones at lower costs. The Army plans to buy 97 of these MALE drones for better surveillance.