ISDEI Instituto de Seguridad, Defensa y Estudios Internacionales

The group behind a recent $500 million crypto heist that targeted the Japanese cryptocurrency exchange CoinCheck has been identified as a group of North Korean hackers,  new reports indicate . According to  a recent  Bloomberg  report , an unidentified South Korean lawmaker who wishes to remain anonymous is credited with having nabbed the hacker clan, which may have seized the digital money in an effort to secretly fund the Kim Jong-un regime’s ongoing nuclear missile program. If the intelligence thus far gathered is correct, this same hacker group was likely the culprit in the shutdown of the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange YouBit back in December. This attack followed by a theft reveals just how lacking security is at many crypto exchanges where traders do business. The CoinCheck breach could also be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, as reports indicate that it’s probably the largest theft of cryptocurrency to date – exceeding the amount stolen from Mt. Gox back in

Units of the Tiger Forces and other pro-government units are deploying for an expected military operation against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham and other militant groups in the Eastern Ghouta region, near the Syrian capital Damascus. 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 Click to see the full-size image Click to see the full-size image

On February 17, the Israeli military announced that one of its patrols had been hit with an IED near the security fence south of the Gaza Strip. Israeli sources revealed that the IED had detonated when the Israeli soldiers were trying to remove a Palestinian flag from the fence. According to the sources, at least three Israeli soldiers were injured in the IED attack. The Israeli Army said that its battle tanks had shelled an observation post of Palestinian forces in the southern part of the Gaza Strip in response to the attack. The situation does not usually escalate when the Israeli Army immediately fires back, like in this case. 20 h IDF ✔ @IDFSpokesperson Moments ago, an explosive device detonated on IDF troops adjacent to the security fence in the southern Gaza Strip IDF ✔ @IDFSpokesperson In response to the attack, an IDF tank targeted an observation post in the southern Gaza Strip 3:32 PM - Feb 17, 2018 285 120 people are tal

On February 14, the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) destroyed 11 hideouts of ISIS cells in Sinai Peninsula, according to an official statement of Egyptian Army spokesman, Colonel Tamer Rifai. Moreover, Col. Rifai said that the Egyptian Army had discovered and destroyed two depots with hundreds of tons of TNT and C4 explosive materials, a radio network and over 219 hideouts and tunnels of ISIS cells in the Sinai Peninsula. Egyptian Army soldiers also captured 15 ISIS fighters as well as destroyed 6 vehicles and 17 motorcycle of the terrorist group on the same day, according to Col. Rifai’s official statement. The Egyptian Ministry of Defense also revealed that the Egyptian Army and security forces had established 563 new joint checkpoints in the secured areas of the Sinai Peninsula. So far, 6 wanted ISIS fighters including a commander had been arrested on the new joint checkpoints. Since the beginning of  the Egyptian Army military operation against ISIS  on February 9, the ISIS-lin

The media hysteria over the alleged mass casualties among alleged Russian private military contractors in Syria ( MORE HERE ) is developing further. On February 14, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR)  released a report claiming  that “23 of the Russian security companies and members of al-Baqir Brigade [a pro-government militia]” had been killed in an explosion of the booby-trapped weapons depot at Tabiya Jazira in the province of Deir Ezzor. The SOHR argued that pro-government forces were in the area “to advance” on “the oil and gas fields on the eastern banks of Euphrates River”, i.e. the area controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. Then, the SOHR’s head Rami Abdel Rahman told Agence France-Presse that 15 of the 23 allegedly killed persons were Russians. “Fifteen Russians working for a Russian private security company were killed in an explosion at a weapons depot of the company in Tabiya Jazira in Deir Ezzor province,”  he said . The S

Written by  Arkady Savitsky ; Originally appeared at  strategic-culture.org As part of its ballistic missile defense (BMD) system, Russia  tested  a new interceptor missile at the Sary Shagan testing range in Kazakhstan on Feb. 11. It was its third straight successful BMD test. The preceding two trials took place in 2017. Much of the information about the new missile, dubbed the PRS-1M, is classified. It is reported to have a speed of up to  4   km per second . The weapon is lighter than its predecessors, such as the 53T6 (part of the A-135 missile system), and boasts an upgraded guidance system. Special equipment has been installed to overcome countermeasures employed by intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The PRS-1M will soon complete its testing and become operational. The missile is a component of the Nudol A-235 BMD system, which is in the development stage. Unlike the A-135, which protects Moscow, the A-235s could be deployed in many places, thus shielding the en

There are many legitimate reasons to be wary about the upcoming Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution. AI and automation technology threaten to ruin society in a number of different ways, one of which is by taking away jobs that are currently being done by human workers. But — and rather ironically — that’s just if you consider that AI could be used as a force for good. Yes, automating certain jobs will result in job losses to actual humans, but — at least from the perspective of businesses — it’s a totally logical and beneficial move. In short, there is a positive side, depending on how you look at it. But have you also considered the fact that certain groups with possibly nefarious interests could have access to AI as well? This is probably what was weighing on former Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s mind when  he revealed that he was “very concerned”  about the possible outcome if countries like China or Russia manage to win the worldwide race among countries for AI prominence. Spea

FILE IMAGE Snipers of the Houthis killed 135 fighters of the Saudi-backed forces in Yemen in January, the pro-Houthi Al Masirah TV channel reported on February 12. The media outlet added that Houthi snipers have killed “thousands” of Saudi soldiers and fighters of the Saudi-backed forces since 2015. In August 2017, the Houthis released a detailed report providing a look at most sniper rfiles used by them in the conflict.  MORE DETAILS HERE