ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

A screenshot from the video Yemeni forces have seized a US-made REMUS 600 autonomous underwater vehicle belonging to the Saudi Navy, according to pro-Houthi sources. The vehicle was seized inside the Yemeni territorial waters in the Red Sea. The REMUS 600 is often used to detect sea mines and to conduct reconnaissance in coast waters.

Illustrative image An intense fighting between government forces and Ahrar al-Sham is ongoing in the Armoured Vehicle Base area in Damascus’ Eastern Ghouta. The base is located near the town of Harasta. Ahrar al-Sham, supported by some units of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched a new offensive on positions of the Syrian Army in the area on December 29. Since then, the sides have been clashing for control over this strategic facility. The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) had repelled a major part of militant attacks and remained in control over the base. However, militants were able to capture some points in its vicinity. Some pro-militant media outlets even claimed that the base was fully encircled and separated from the rest of the government-held area. However, these reports were not confirmed. On January 1, reports appeared that the Syrian military had decided to deploy reinforcements to the area in order to stabilize the situation there. It’s important to note that Ahrar al-Sham r...

FILE IMAGE: MIM-23 HAWK missile system The Turkish military has deployed air defense systems near the town of Afrin in northern Syria. Afrin is controlled by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkish forces deployed at least one MIM-23 HAWK missile system and radars near the town of Dar al-Izzah. Dar al-Izzah is now de-facto controlled by the Turkish military and its local proxies. Some sources describe the Tukrish decision as a part of preparations for military operation against the SDF.

There is no doubt that the United States has dedicated, well-trained first responders who bravely risk their own lives when disaster strikes. We have only to view  images of the tragic events of 9/11  to realize how brave these men and women truly are. Nonetheless, a disturbing study by researchers from the  University of Georgia  recently found that the majority of U.S. first responders have received no training in how to deal with the aftereffects of a nuclear attack, and that many are so frightened of radiation that they would be unwilling to assist in the event of such a disaster. The study was published in the journal  Frontiers in Public Health . News Wise  reports  that experts have warned that “a radiological or nuclear event is inevitable,” and as such, it is vitally important that emergency workers be trained and ready to deal with this when it happens. The New Yorker  recently warned  that America’s relations with Nort...

North Korea has released stamps celebrating the November 28 launch of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). According tothe North, the ICBM is capable of reaching the US mainland. During the November 28 test launch, the missile reportedly reached an altitude of 4,475 km and flew 950 km. The flight lasted 53 minutes. The stamps were released by the State Stamp Bureau of North Korea. Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image

Written by  Brandon Turbeville ; Originally appeared at  Activist Post A familiar sight is  taking place  across Iran tonight and it has been for the last three days. Protests are taking place in numerous cities citing grievances and demanding that the Ayatollah and Iranian President step down. For a few days, the protests remained non-violent but  now violence has indeed flared up  as protesters have laid waste to a number of government properties and those belonging to “pro-government militias.” Neo-cons  in the  American media  and the U.S. President are all demanding that Americans stand with the “Iranian people” and the “protesters” in their “fight for freedom.” The reason this sight is familiar is because we have seen it in Egypt, Libya, and Syria in the past as well as in Iran itself in the late 2000s. Protests that turn violent, a subsequent crackdown that either is violent or is reported as such, and the weight of American pro...

In a New Year speech, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un vowed to accelerate mass production of nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles. “ The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, and a nuclear button is always on my desk. This is reality, not a threat ,” he said. “ This year we should focus on mass producing nuclear warheads and ballistic missiles for operational deployment. ” “It is necessary to activate large-scale production and practical deployment of nuclear warheads, ballistic missiles,” Kim said. “[Norh Korea] can cope with any kind of nuclear threats from the US and has a strong nuclear deterrence that is able to prevent the US from playing with fire.” Kim said that it is important that military tensions on the Korean peninsula be lowered and added that the path to dialogue with South Korea was open. According to the North Korean leader, Pyongyang was mulling the sending of a delegation to the Winter Olympics Games which are se...

SOURCE: TASS Written by  Sergei Ischenko ; Originally appeared  Svpressa , translated by  AlexD  exclusively for  SouthFront What the Departmental Board Meeting with the Participation of the President Showed Every New Year’s Eve, the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Defence turns red from all the generals’ stripes. At the annual extended board meeting in the last days of December the entire team of the Armed Forces, the General Staff, Arms and Services, military districts and fleets from across the country meet. And almost always, the President of Russia, members of the government and the Security Council of the Russian Federation and the representatives of the defence industry. Thus, the results of the past year are summarised from each participant and the challenges facing the troops in the near future. Those who for some time observe attentively this gathering would certainly notice that in the current 2017, all was similar but not quite. The expa...