A sophisticated spying device disguised as a rock, which was allegedly
planted by Israeli intelligence, was found by Lebanese Army troops on a
hill located a few miles from the Lebanese-Israeli border. The discovery
was reported early on Saturday by several Lebanese news websites,
including Al-Mayadeen and Al-Manar, which are closely affiliated with
Hezbollah. Al-Manar said
that the spy device had been found in the outskirts of Kfarchouba, a
predominantly Shiite Lebanese village, located in Arkoub, 100 miles
southeast of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. Kfarchouba’s location is
extremely strategic, as the village overlooks northern Israel on the
south and the Golan Heights on the east. It has been bombed by Israel
several dimes between the 1970s and today, and is remains heavily
militarized.
Reports from Lebanon said that a Lebanese
Army patrol found the device hidden inside a fake rock, which had been
placed on a hill outside Kfarchouba. The device had been placed in
direct view of a major Lebanese military outpost, known as Rawisat. As
soon as the device was detected, the patrol reportedly called in the
Lebanese Army’s intelligence corps for support. Technical experts soon
examined the discovery and determined that it contained a sophisticated
thermographic camera. Also known as infrared or thermal imaging cameras,
thermographic cameras capture images using infrared radiation, instead
of using visible light, as is the case with commonly used cameras. This
allows them to capture relatively clear images in the darkness, and are
thus used for military operations that require night vision. Some
Lebanese websites published photographs showing parts of the alleged spy device, which appear to bear writing in Hebrew.
This is not the first time that alleged
Israeli spy devices have been found in southern Lebanon. In September of
2014, one person was killed when a mysterious device found near the
Lebanese village of Adloun suddenly exploded as Hezbollah troops were
examining it. It was later suggested
that the device had been attached by Israeli troops to the
Hezbollah-owned telecommunications network that spans southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah said that the device had been remotely detonated by an Israeli
drone in order to prevent it from being reverse-engineered. Two other
devices found
by a Lebanese Army patrol in the same region in October of 2009
suddenly exploded, as Lebanese security personnel were approaching. A
Lebanese Army official said on Sunday that the device found in
Kfarchouba will be dismantled by Lebanese Army engineers.
A former director of Kazakhstan’s feared intelligence agency has been
given a lengthy prison sentence, as a ruthless power struggle between
rival factions surrounding the country’s president widens. From 2001 to
2006, Nartai Dutbayev directed the Kazakh National Security Committee
(KNB), a direct institutional descendant of the Soviet-era KGB. Founded
in 1992, the KNB is today directly controlled by Kazakhstan’s
authoritarian President, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Many officials serving in
senior KNB positions are members of the president’s family, or close
friends.
For many years, Dutbayev enjoyed
unchallenged power, which was afforded to him by way of his close links
to the presidential palace. But in 2006, he resigned from his top KNB
post in the aftermath of the murder of popular Kazakh opposition
politician Altynbek Sarsenbaev. Ten members of a specialist commando
unit within the KNB were found guilty of Sarsenbaev’s murder. He was
killed soon after he announced his decision to compete electorally
against President Nazarbayev. But Dutbayev was never personally censured
by the government. Then, in December of last year, Dutbayev was
arrested on charges of “divulging government secrets”. The former spy
chief’s trial began in July of this year, but was conducted in its
entirety behind closed doors.
This past Monday it was reported that Dutbayev was sentenced
to 7 ½ years in prison for espionage on August 24. It is not known why
Dutbayev’s sentence was announced to the country’s media more than two
weeks after it was formally imposed by the court. Additionally, Kazakh
authorities have said nothing about who Dutbayev is believed to have
divulged government secrets to, or why. Three alleged accomplices of
Dutbayev, including former senior KNB officials Erlan Nurtaev and Nurlan
Khasen, were also sentenced to between three and five years in prison
for espionage.
Many observers believe that the jailing
of the KNB officials is part of a broader power struggle that is
currently taking place between rival factions competing to succeed
President Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan’s leader has ruled the former Soviet
Republic with an iron fist since before its independence from the USSR
in 1991. The KNB appears to be a central player in the unfolding power
struggle between the country’s governing elites. Almost exactly nine
years ago, a Kazakh intelligence officer tried
unsuccessfully to abduct another KNB former director, Alnur Musaev, who
was living in self-imposed exile in Austria at the time. Many believe
that he was acting under Nazarbayev’s direct orders. In 2014, two Kazakh
men, believed to be KNB officers, tried unsuccessfully to abduct Viktor Khrapunov,
Kazakhstan’s former Minister for Energy and Coal, who also served as
mayor of Almati, before leaving Kazakhstan for Switzerland.
Dutbayev is reportedly already in prison.
He is believed to be sharing a cell with Serik Akhmetov, Kazakhstan’s
former prime minister, who is serving 11 years for alleged corruption.
A
US Air Force B-1B Lancer prepares for takeoff from Andersen Air Force
Base in Guam to conduct a mission with South Korean F-15, and Japan Air
Self-Defense Force F-2 fighter jets, July 7.
Three days after North Korea demonstrated its ability to hit the US
with long-range nuclear missiles, the US, South Korea, and Japan put on a
display of air power expressly meant to frighten Kim Jong Un.
Flying 10 hours from Guam to the Korean peninsula, US B-1 Lancer
bombers joined up with South Korean F-15s and dropped dud bombs at a
range near the demilitarized border between North and South Korea. On
the way back, Japanese F-2 fighters escorted the US heavy bombers.
"North Korea’s actions are a threat to our allies, partners and
homeland," Gen. Terrence O’ Shaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander,
said in a statement.
"Let me be clear, if called upon we are trained, equipped and ready to
unleash the full lethal capability of our allied air forces."
In the pictures below, see how the US and its allies train to respond to North Korea.
The B-1 was originally designed to carry nuclear
weapons but is no longer able to. But it can carry more conventional
bombs than any US Air Force plane and fly at mach 1.2.
US Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger
Due to tensions in the Pacific, the US maintains a constant bomber presence in Guam.
US Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob Skovo
Here's the US and South Korea sending a strong bilateral message to Kim Jong Un.
US Air Force B-1B Lancers fly with South Korean F-15 and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets over the Korean Peninsula, July 7.Republic of Korea air force
Inert weapons dropped from US Air Force B-1B Lancers practicing attack capabilities land on the Pilsung Range, July 7.US Army photo by Staff Sgt. Steven Schneider
On the way back, Japanese F-2s escorted the B-1s.
Two US Air Force B-1B
Lancers fly with a Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-2
fighter jet over the East China Sea, July 7
Moscow-based security company
Kaspersky Lab has denied working with Russian intelligence agencies,
following US media and government suspicion.
News website Bloomberg said it had seen emails showing Kaspersky had developed tools for Russia's intelligence agency.
And, on Tuesday, the US government's General Services Administration removed Kaspersky Lab from a list of approved vendors.
But the company has now insisted it has "no ties to any government".
Kaspersky Lab is known for its anti-virus software and provides cyber-security products to businesses.
Bloomberg
reported it had seen emails between chief executive Eugene Kaspersky
and senior Kaspersky staff, outlining a secret cyber-security project
apparently requested by the Russian intelligence service FSB.
In the emails Mr Kaspersky describes tools to "protect against attacks" and also engage "active countermeasures".
Bloomberg
suggested that the tools not only deflected cyber-attacks, but also
captured information about the hackers launching them, to pass on to
Russian intelligence services.
In the emails, Mr Kaspersky said the software could one day be sold to corporate customers worldwide.
Refuting the claims, Kaspersky Lab said: "The communication was misinterpreted or manipulated to try to make the media outlet's narrative work.
"Kaspersky
Lab is very public about the fact that it assists law enforcement
agencies around the world with fighting cyber-threats, including those
in Russia, by providing cyber-security expertise on malware and
cyber-attacks."
However, the US General Services Administration
said it had removed Kaspersky Lab from its list of government-approved
suppliers "after review and careful consideration".
In a further
statement, Kaspersky Lab said: "The company has never helped, nor will
help, any government in the world with its cyber-espionage efforts.
"Kaspersky
Lab believes it is completely unacceptable that the company is being
unjustly accused without any hard evidence to back up these false
allegations."
In the statement, Mr Kaspersky offered to meet US government officials and provide his company's software code for audit.
"Kaspersky
Lab, a private company, seems to be caught in the middle of a
geopolitical fight where each side is attempting to use the company as a
pawn in their political game," the company said.
The Trump
administration has been fighting allegations that it had contact with
Russian officials during the US election in 2016.
When North Korea launched its first intercontinental ballistic
missile in the early-morning hours of 4 July, US military and
intelligence personnel watched for a full 70 minutes, a source told The
Diplomat's Ankit Panda.
During that time, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un smoked cigarettes and strolled around the launchpad under the US's gaze.
The US knew North Korea was in the final stages of building an ICBM
after a recent rocket-engine test. The US knew North Korea liked to test
missiles on the American Independence Day to send a message. The US
knew this missile was different from any it had seen before, and the US
knew it could destroy it with a variety of precision-fire platforms in
the region. Importantly, the US also had Kim in its crosshairs for over
an hour — and did nothing.
Those facts speak volumes about the security climate in the Koreas.
While it's “fairly standard that the US didn't strike the missile
ahead of the launch,” Rodger Baker, the lead analyst of Asia Pacific and
South Asia at Stratfor, a geopolitical consulting firm, told Business
Insider, “the unusual aspect may be saying they were watching, or at
least allowing that to leak.”
Video of the launch clearly shows Kim on-site, sometimes feet away
from the missile. The next day, the US and South Korea put on a
blistering display of precision-guided firepower demonstrating they
could have both killed Kim and stopped the launch. But they didn’t.
By letting North Korea know it watched Kim as he prepared for one of
his country's most provocative missile tests ever, Baker says, the US
may have sent two powerful messages.
The decision fit with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's statement
that the US wanted “to bring Kim Jong-un to his senses, not his knees”
and that regime change was not the US's ultimate goal.
But regime security is the reason North Korea wants long-range nuclear weapons in the first place.
If the US demonstrates it's not intent on killing Kim, that could
communicate that there's “no need to continue” the missile programme,
according to Baker.
But “if the program is continued,” Baker said, the US showed it could
“strike it and Kim.” Though North Korea varies and tries to hide its
launch points, the US tracks them vigorously, and footage of the
launches always shows Kim nearby.
Perhaps rather than kill Kim and trigger a North Korean response,
which could be massive, the US elected to signal that the best path to
regime security would be to stay indoors and not play around near
dangerous rocket engines, which have a habit of blowing up.
With fears of more terror attacks still gripping Britain,
SAS troops have taken to our streets in a bid to prevent any further
bloodshed.
Special forces soldiers armed with Heckler
and Koch MP7 are disguised as beggars and road sweepers at key at key
positions in cities and poised to strike at a moment’s notice.
It is hoped the troops can stop any repeat of the London Bridge or Manchester attacks or at least try to restrict casualties.
One source said: “The view is there are so many homeless people out there undercover operators will remain safe and anonymous.
“Anyone
trying to pick on them would be extremely foolish and the public should
feel reassured that a lot is being done to minimise the effect of
another attack.”
A military source added: “The armed
units have been deployed for some time now and it is unlikely the
operation will be brought to a halt.
“The threat level is still assessed by the Joint Terrorism Analysis
Centre as severe and that means an attack is highly likely so we must be
ready.
Special forces soldiers armed with Heckler and Koch MP7 are disguised as tramps and road sweepers
"These soldiers provide a very good layer of immediate
response at least to minimise casualties or stop injuries or deaths if
they react quickly.
"The operation is police-led but the
director of special forces is kept in touch with developments and is
in touch with his men at all times.”
SAS soldiers from the regiment’s G-Squadron and Counter Revolutionary Warfare Wing have been drafted in for the operation.
Soldiers from the G-Squadron and Counter Revolutionary Warfare Wing have been drafted in They were deployed alongside police from the
Counter Terrorist Firearms Officer unit when the terror threat level
went to “critical” after the Manchester attack when Salman Adebi killed
23 people, including seven children, at an Ariana Grande gig in
Manchester.
The troops and police are stationed around transport hubs and in shopping centres.
They
are fed by comrades dressed as members of the public who on rotation
pass by and drop take-aways and drinks for them to keep up the
pretence.
As well as carrying the MP7 rifle the troopers and police
officers also have an emergency medical kit to help victims of an
attack.
The police-led drive was inspired by previous
armed operations such as the Millennium Dome robbery in East London
which was smashed by officers who used undercover observation posts.
SAS troops in the past have helped in large-scale surveillance operations, joining forces with MI5 and the police.
But in this latest role they are there specifically to open fire on terrorists targeting civilians.
Ordinary
police units are either told to avoid areas where there are undercover
teams or they steer clear of them if they are nearby.
An MoD spokesman said: “We do not comment on matters relating to special forces.”
At least seven people have been
killed and 48 injured in central London after attackers drove a van
into pedestrians before stabbing others nearby.
The vehicle was driven at high speed into people on
London Bridge just after 10pm on Saturday and then continued to Borough
Market.
There, the attackers, reportedly armed with foot-long knives, jumped
out of the white van and stabbed people, including a British Transport
Police officer who has serious but not life-threatening injuries to his
face, head and leg.
Within eight minutes, armed police confronted three male attackers, shooting them dead in Borough Market.
Metropolitan
Police commissioner Cressida Dick condemned the atrocity as "appalling"
and "ghastly". She said police believe all attackers had been
"neutralised".
Referring to the speed with which officers were
able to respond to the incident - in just eight minutes - she said: "We
were already at a very high level of alertness.
"Severe means that
an attack is highly likely and the threat level was at severe. We were
prepared potentially for an incident as we have been for some
considerable time."
Appealing to Londoners and visitors "to remain
calm, be very vigilant", she also warned: "The last thing we need is
people overreacting or take out there frustrations on other people in
other communities".
Asking people to contact police if they see
anything out of the ordinary, even if insignificant, she said where
possible "people should carry on with their normal lives".
The
injured were taken to five hospitals across London, according to the
city's ambulance service. More were treated at the scene for less
serious injuries.
France's President Macron said two of the victims were French citizens, with one in a serious condition.
Image:A man on the ground with canisters attached to his chest. Pic: Gabriele Sciotto
:: The moment police took down terrorists
The
Premier Bankside hotel was evacuated and three hospitals - Guy's, St
Thomas' and Evelina London Children's - went into lockdown "to keep
patients, relatives and staff safe".
Police also responded to an
incident in Vauxhall at 11.45pm but later said this was a stabbing
unrelated to the two terrorist incidents.
Image:People were told by police to leave the area with their hands up
:: Trump uses London attack to promote travel ban
Prime
Minister Theresa May has returned to Downing Street for security
briefings and will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency
response committee - Cobra - later today.
She said the "terrible incident" was being treated as a "potential act of terrorism".
National
campaigning in the General Election has been suspended by the
Conservatives and Labour in the wake of the attack, with the PM likely
to come under pressure to cancel or postpone Thursday's poll.
But
London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, who described the atrocity as a "barbaric
act", has insisted he is not in favour of delaying the election.
He said: "One of the things we can do to show we are not cowed is to vote in the General Election on Thursday."
Image:Police attend to an incident on London Bridge
Spectator journalist Will Heaven was at London Bridge shortly after
the incident and wrote on Twitter that he had seen casualties - one on
the pavement and one on the edge of the road.
He told Sky News:
"It was about 10.15pm. I was in the back of an Uber cab driving over
London Bridge...there was somebody down on the pavement with a small
crowd around them clearly very concerned.
"It looked like someone
had collapsed. We drove a bit further and noticed there was another
person on the right hand side of the bridge who was also not on the
pavement but in the road itself.
Was it a mistake to lower the UK terror threat?
"The
penny dropped something quite serious was happening. Suddenly the
traffic came to standstill. The driver said something bad is happening
here.
"We could hear sirens coming and the suddenly ahead of us we noticed another casualty in the road."
He
added that "it did not look like an accident", adding it was clear that
police "thought they were responding to something far more serious than
a road traffic accident".
A witness who gave his name as Jamie was in a restaurant near London
Bridge. He said: "We heard a fight and everyone got up and everyone
rushed out of the restaurant and we heard a massive, massive bang.
"Then we hid under the table and people came into the restaurant and knocked a bunch of stuff over, like the till.
"And
then we ran into the restaurant into the kitchen, where there was a
bunch of other people and a guy had been stabbed and he was cut and he
was bleeding quite a lot."
Image:Emergency services attend to an incident near London Bridge in London
:: Stars to sing at concert 'with greater purpose'
A
female companion said: "We were in the restaurant and we just saw three
guys come into the restaurant, stabbed someone in the face and someone
in the stomach.
"One of them had a big knife, then he came in and
walked around the restaurant, I guess they just kind of stabbed anyone
that they saw and knocked things on the ground and then we just hid."
Police
asked people to avoid the areas affected, with London Bridge being
closed in both directions.
London Bridge, Bank, Vauxhall and Borough
stations were closed, although Bank and Vauxhall have since reopened.
The attacks come less than two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 22 people at a concert in Manchester.
Ariana Grande, who had been performing that night, tweeted: "Praying for London".
::
Anyone concerned about friends or relatives who may have been caught up
in the attacks can call the police casualty bureau on 0800 096 1233 or
020 7158 0197.
