Latest news with #MilitaryActivity
Al Mayadeen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Israeli incursions escalate in southern Syria near Quneitra villages
Military activity by the Israeli occupation escalated over the weekend in southern Syria, with new incursions into villages near the occupied Golan Heights, according to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). On Saturday morning, an Israeli force reportedly advanced into the outskirts of Sidah and the village of Abu Madhra'a, in the southern countryside of al-Quneitra, without encountering resistance or any formal response from Syrian government forces. Simultaneously, an Israeli patrol was spotted moving toward the village of Kudnah, again without clashes. Despite repeated Israeli military incursions, there has been no official statement from Damascus regarding these movements. Observers have questioned the apparent silence from the Syrian government, especially in light of the recurring nature of these violations along the Golan frontier. In a related development, the SOHR reported that on Friday, an Israeli unit comprising a tank, an armored personnel carrier, and roughly 30 soldiers advanced into the village of al-Samdaniyah al-Sharqiyah in eastern Quneitra. The troops searched several homes before withdrawing to Israeli-occupied positions. No arrests were reported during the operation. This follows a separate incident days earlier in northern Quneitra, where an Israeli force consisting of three tanks and six military vehicles entered the village of al-Hurriyah, sealing off several roads during the incursion. The Israeli occupation continues its systematic operations across southern Syria, particularly targeting rural areas in Quneitra and Daraa. These include frequent incursions, home raids, and detentions, as well as broader acts of aggression such as airstrikes against Syrian Army positions, critical infrastructure, and strategic facilities. These incursions have intensified in recent months, raising alarm about the implications for Syria's territorial sovereignty and regional stability in the aftermath of the state's weakened central control following years of war. Despite the lack of direct military confrontation during the latest movements, the expanding reach of the Israeli occupation's military activities on Syrian soil has triggered renewed scrutiny of its long-term objectives and the international community's muted response to these actions. On June 12, Israeli Army Radio reported that forces from the Alexandroni Brigade carried out a nighttime invasion into the Syrian village of Beit Jann, situated about 10 kilometers from the occupied border, where they detained several Syrians accused of "involvement in terrorism." Local sources told Al Mayadeen that the operation marked the farthest penetration by occupation forces into the southwestern Damascus countryside in recent years, as well as the first documented instance of Israeli troops entering Beit Jann's residential areas. Tensions escalated in the area after Israeli forces shot and killed a resident on Thursday morning, sparking calls for a mass demonstration in Beit Jann during the funeral procession as residents rallied against the killings and repeated military incursions. Sources stated that one of the targeted individuals was killed during a clash at a local gathering, allegedly after resisting detention, while the Israeli army had earlier announced the names of 10 individuals it is looking to detain through loudspeakers before detaining seven and fatally shooting one.
The Sun
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Satellite pics show Putin on the march as Russia masses troops 35 miles from Nato border with 2k soldiers & helicopters
SATELLITE images have revealed how Vladimir Putin is assembling Russian troops just 35 miles from the border with Finland. The photos show increased military activity at four locations inside Russia - Kamenka, Petrozavodsk, Severomorsk-2, and Olenya. 7 7 7 It is thought that Russia is building accommodation for troops and deploying helicopters and vehicles at the four military bases, according to analysts. At Kamenka - just 37 miles from the Finnish border - more than 130 military tents have been put up since February. The previously undeveloped area now looks as thought it could house up to 2,000 soldiers, according to SVT. At Petrozavodsk - around 109 miles from the border - three large storage halls, capable of holding around 50 armoured vehicles each, have been built. It is thought that the new structures may be intended to conceal the true number of vehicles stationed there. At Severomorsk-2 multiple helicopters can be seen at the base. And at Olenya there has been further military activity, as Ukrainian sources have suggested the base is responsible for a number of attacks on Ukrainian targets. The shocking images were obtained by Swedish broadcaster SVT from Planet Labs. And the photos have a chilling resemblance to images captured before the Russian tyrant launched his war on Ukraine. US officials raised the alarm after satellite images showing Russian troops massing on the border with Ukraine were revealed in November 2021. The Kremlin denied claims that they were preparing for war at the time. But less than four months later Putin invaded Ukraine, sparking three long years of brutal conflict. The increased military activity on the border with Finland comes after the arctic nation joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation two years ago. Finland has historically been a neutral nation - acting under the influence of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. But after the Kremlin's brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 Finland pushed for Nato's backing - despite having defended itself alone for many years. The arctic nation joined Nato in April 2023. And Sweden also joined the alliance in March 2024. What is Nato? By Lydia Doye NATO is an alliance of countries from Europe and North America which promises security for all its members. The alliance was formed in 1949 in response to fears of Soviet expansion during the Cold War. Nato now has 31 members including the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. The most recent country to join Nato is Sweden, which became a member on March 7, 2024. Finland joined the alliance in April 2023. On a basic level, Nato operates on the principle that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. 7 7 In response, Putin declared it would take the "necessary measures" to counter the aggressive decisions of Finland and its NATO allies. Russia has repeatedly accused Nato of acting as an aggressor and has vowed to defend itself by any means. Last month Finland's Deputy Chief of Defence Lieutenant, General Vesa Virtanen, raised concerns over Russia's actions on the border. He said that Russia is "deliberately testing NATO's unity" to see if it will trigger Article 5 - the alliance's collective defence clause. Sweden's Chief of Defence Michael Claesson said: 'When we applied for NATO membership, Russia said it would take such steps. "We are now seeing that happen.' In response, Russia appears to have been preparing for war by ramping up its facilities on the border. 7
