Interesting but ambiguous video

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This video was supposedly made near Homs and supposedly shows a “large Russian aircraft and 4 escorts”.  Maybe.  The large aircraft could be either Il-76 (transport) or Il-78 (refueling).  The four smaller aircraft are not escorts, but probably SU-24, and if that guess of mine is correct, then this is interesting.    Careful now!  Iran also has Il-76 and SU-24s, so we don’t know for sure that these are Russian.  But if these are, indeed, Russian SU-24s that would significant as the Syrian Air Forces does not have such aircraft.

Iceland Counters US Military Claims of 'Russian Flights'

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Iceland's foreign ministry countered US defense department claims that Russia has increased activity around the country and that it is interested in "military cooperation."

The US government attempted to convince Iceland to accept a higher US military presence over what it called increased Russian military flights in the region, Icelandic media reported.

Iceland's foreign ministry released figures showing that Russian military flights anywhere near the country's airspace have actually decreased more than five times compared to 2007. None of the flights breached Icelandic airspace.

Operation Unthinkable 2.0? Pentagon Updating War Plans Against Russia

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According to State and Defense Department sources speaking to Foreign Policy, the Pentagon is "dusting off," reevaluating and updating its contingency plans for war with Russia. The publication explains why all of this is Russia's fault, and where things may go from here.

The article, written by well-known Russian politics critic and self-confessed Russophobe Julia Ioffe, explains this is "the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union" that the Pentagon has decided to review and update its contingency plans for war with Russia, based on revised appraisals of the country as a potential threat, rather than a potential partner, to NATO.

Athens Denies US Request to Close Airspace for Russian Aid to Syria

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Moscow requested and received Athens' permission to conduct flights to transport humanitarian aid to Syria in the period from September 1 to September 24, according to a diplomatic source.

 Greece denied on Sunday US request to close Athens airspace (FIR Athens) for the flights of Russian aircraft with humanitarian aid to Syria, a diplomatic source in Athens said.

US Requests Greece Close Airspace for Russian Aid Flights to Syria

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Athens confirmed Greece has received a request from the United States to deny the country's airspace for Russian aid flights to Syria, Reuters reports.

A spokesman for the foreign ministry in Athens said on Monday that the request was being examined.
A source in the Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed media reports that Athens had received a US request to close down its airspace to Russian aid flights into Syria.

The Economist Slams Party of Mandela for Speaking Truth on US in Ukraine

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London-based weekly news magazine The Economist is outraged over a recent policy document from South Africa's ruling African National Congress party, labeling the party of anti-Apartheid hero Nelson Mandela "clueless and immoral."

Suggesting at the outset that its criticisms mark the fact that the ANC and South Africa have "strayed from Nelson Mandela's legacy," the magazine proceeds to bash the party, citing a recent paper on foreign policy drafted ahead of a key policy conference next month.

SITREP: grenade attack in Kiev – a US PSYOP?

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Check out this interesting footage of the hand grenade attack against the security forces guarding the Rada in Kiev: I would like to add a couple of comments here:

Yemen Map of War, August 28 Update

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(For a full size map please go to: http://southfront.org/yemen-map-of-war-august-28-2015/)

The exclusive series “Maps of War” is released due to your support. Help produce interesting content and join our struggle by donating via PayPal: southfront@list.ru or via: http://southfront.org/donate/

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) continue to use Saudi-led coalition victories as leverage to increase their territorial control and recruitment in Yemen. Coalition forces have been attempting to strengthen Saudi-controlled President Abdu Mansour Hadi’s ability to govern and control recently captured territories in southern and eastern Yemen.

Protesters Attempt to Break Into Ukraine's Parliament, Clash With Police

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 The clashes come shortly after the Ukrainian parliament has approved President Petro Poroshenko's proposed constitutional amendments on decentralization in the first reading.

A blast has been heard during the protests near the Verkhovna Rada after several shots had been fired, 112.Ukraine TV channel reported. Local police told RIA Novosti that the reason of the incident is being investigated.

New Russian Spaceship to Be Ready Ahead of Schedule

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Russian space manufacturer RSC Energia said that the first prototype of a new Russian manned spacecraft for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) and the Moon may be created ahead of schedule.

 — The first prototype of a new Russian manned spacecraft for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) and the Moon may be created ahead of schedule, president of Russian space manufacturer RSC Energia Vladimir Solntsev told RIA Novosti on Saturday.
The International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS 2015 is currently underway in the town of Zhukovsky near Moscow, and is due to finish on Sunday.