ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

© AFP 2017/ ANATOLII STEPANOV The UN has released a report  ( link )  covering a dramatic deteoration of the situation in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine as well as a pure human rights situation and a systematic use of torture practices in Ukraine. “The report covers the period from 16 February to 15 May 2017, during which the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) recorded 36 conflict-related civilian deaths and 157 injuries – a 48 per cent increase on the previous reporting period from 16 November 2016 to 15 February 2017.  There were daily ceasefire violations and routine use of small arms and light and heavy weapons in the conflict zone. Such attacks and the resulting damage to critical infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and water facilities, raise serious concerns for the protection of civilians, the report notes.  The report warns that, as summer approaches, there is a risk of further escalation in hostilities, as in previous years.” Yest

FILE IMAGE The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Thursday that the US militay deployed High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from Jordan to Syria. “ The US has redeployed two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems from Jordan to a US special operations forces base near the Syrian town of al-Tanf  [at the Syrian border with Iraq]. Deployment of any foreign weaponry to Syria, especially multiple artillery rocket systems, has to be coordinated with the sovereign state’s government”, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry added that these sytems cannot provide a support to the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces storming the ISIS stronghold of Raqqah. Instead, they pose a direct threat to government forces. “ The US-led anti-Daesh coalition has several times already attacked Syrian government forces fighting Daesh [ISIS] near the Jordanian border. It is possible to assume that similar strikes could be continued in the future, involving HIMARS from now on

Romeo Ranoco/Reuters According to a Philippines politician, Zia Alonto Adiong, residents fleeing Marawi City said they have seen hundreds of dead bodies on the front lines as they fled the city. According to the politician, at least 100 bodies were seen at the entrances to Marawi City. “Dead bodies, at least 100, are scattered around the encounter area,” Adiong said. From its side, the Philippine Army said it could not confirm or deny these reports. Philippines military sources said at least 290 people have been killed in more than three weeks of clashes, including 206 extremists, 58 soldiers and 26 civilians. Last week ISIS published a video from Marawi showing its fighters executing civilians in the city. This means that reports of massacres are often true. Yesterday, ISIS claimed the killing of five Philippines soldiers by sniper fire in Mabandi district in Marawi City, moreover they claimed killing three other soldiers during clashes in Moncado district. Spokesm