On Sunday, a series of earthquakes rocked the city of [...] leaving over 2,400 dead and 2,000 injured. The United Nations has approved a $5 million emergency reserve allocation from the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund to help with the relief efforts, and the death toll is expected to rise further. Donations are being urged to help provide food, shelter, medical assistance, and other essential services to those affected.
Posts tagged as “Syria”
Russian General Sergei Surovikin has been dismissed from his post as head of the country’s Aerospace Forces, following speculation about his involvement with the Wagner mercenary rebellion. Colonel General Viktor Afzalov is now temporarily acting as Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces, as Russia seeks to modernize its armed forces. It is unclear what role, if any, Surovikin will have in the future.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military contractor, has released a video of himself in military fatigues and holding a rifle, hinting at his location in Africa. The video appears to be a recruitment drive for the Wagner Group, and the exact whereabouts of Prigozhin remain unknown. The Wagner Group has been linked to the Kremlin and has been active in Syria, Ukraine, and other countries, and Prigozhin has been sanctioned by the U.S.
On Sunday, a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. hunter-killer drone over Syria, deploying a flare that damaged the drone's propeller. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich said the drone was on a mission to defeat ISIS and the Russian fighter's disregard for flight safety "detracts from our mission". This is the latest in a series of close encounters between U.S. and Russian aircraft in the region, with the U.S. accusing Russia of unsafe and unprofessional behavior.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group, a private military company, on June 29th. The meeting, which was attended by 35 people, could signal a possible reconciliation between the two men and have implications for the group's operations around the world, including the conflict in Ukraine.
The U.S. military has accused Russia of engaging in unsafe and unprofessional behavior towards U.S. Air Force drones over Syria. On Thursday, July 25th, two Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to Reaper drones carrying out an operation against Islamic State targets. This is the second instance of such behavior in two days and is likely to be a source of tension between the two countries. The U.S. has expressed concern and urged Russia to respect the safety of coalition forces operating in the region.
The U.S. has accused Russia of harassing its military drones in Syria, with Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich saying that three Russian fighter jets dropped parachute flares in front of the drones, forcing them to conduct evasive maneuvers. This is the latest in a series of similar incidents, with the U.S. accusing Russia of attempting to disrupt its operations in Syria. The U.S. has called on Russia to adhere to international norms and protocols in its interactions with U.S. aircraft, though it is unclear how the U.S. will respond to the latest incident.
Wagner Private Military Contractor Enters Rostov Without Resistance, Owner Yevgeny Prigozhin Reports
Wagner Private Military Contractor Enters Rostov Without Resistance, Owner Yevgeny Prigozhin Reports
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner private military contractor, recently announced that his forces had driven into the Russian city of Rostov without facing any resistance. Prigozhin also reported that Wagner camps had been struck by rockets, helicopter gunships and artillery fire, and that the troops were greeted by border guards as they moved into the Rostov region. Wagner is a Russian private military company that has been involved in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, and Libya, and is likely in the region to support the Russian military.