The Prophecy is much more than seeing into the future. For the Prophecy sees without the element of time. For the Prophecy sees what is, what was, and what always shall be. 11:11 LLC
The United States Geological Survey says the 3.3 magnitude quake hit several mikes south of the town of Ormstown, Quebec a little after 5:30 A.M. There are some slightly conflicting reports, as the Montreal Gazette reports that the quake was a 3.6 magnitude. Ormstown is located around 20 minutes north of the New York border.
The Times Union says the quake was felt as far south as the town of Ticonderoga in Essex County, and as far west as the city of Ogdensburg on the New York-Ontario border. The effects were also felt as far north as Montreal.
Some strike even closer to home. In April 2017, a 1.3 tremor occurred around two and half miles west of Pawling. In early 2016, an even smaller quake happened near Port Chester and Greenwich, CT. In the summer of 2019, a quake struck off the New Jersey coast.
Listen to Middays With Hopkins weekdays from 10AM to 2PM on 101.5 WPDH. Stream us live through the website, Alexa-enabled device, Google Home or the WPDH mobile app.
By Will Stewart and Christian Oliver 03:51 EST 15 Feb 2023 , updated 04:49 EST 15 Feb 2023
has flown two supersonic nuclear bombers over the Norwegian Sea, to the north of Shetland, in a stark warning to the West.
The moves are seen as a display of military strength to the West as Russia prepares to mark the first anniversary of the disastrous war in Ukraine on February 24.
The giant Tu-160 White Swan flights follow ominous warnings from the Putin regime and its propagandists over the use of if he loses the conventional war.
It comes as to discuss Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, and their commitment to defence spending.
Russia flies pair of Tu-160 nuclear bombers over Norwegian Sea
A still image published by the Russian Defence Ministry appears to show a Tu-160 strategic bomber during a flight over the Norwegian Sea, February 14, 2023 Russia has flown two supersonic nuclear bombers over the Norwegian Sea, to the north of Shetland, in a stark warning to the West
The planes patrolled the Norwegian and Barents Sea in a 13-hour mission which included in-flight fuelling, said the Russian defence ministry.
‘Two Tu-160 strategic bombers have performed a scheduled flight in the airspace above neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian seas,’ it said a statement.
In a rise in nuclear tension, the Norwegian Intelligence Service announced in its annual report that for the first time in three decades Russia began deploying ships with tactical atomic weapons in the Baltic Sea.
The nuclear-armed vessels are from Putin’s Northern Fleet, says reports.
The Tu-160 – NATO reporting name Blackjack – Russian supersonic variable-sweep wing strategic missile-carrying bomber dating from the Soviet era.
Along with the Tu-95MS bombers, these planes are the mainstay of Russia’s long-range aviation.
The Tu-160M is designed to strike enemy targets in remote areas with nuclear and conventional weapons.
Putin is enraged at the West’s supplies of weapons to Ukraine.
His war has cost the lives of more than 100,000 Russians, it is estimated.
NATO Defence Ministers meet at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 14, 2023 Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, February 14, 2023 The giant Tu-160 White Swan flights follow ominous warnings from the Putin regime
Earlier this week, two NATO fighter jets scrambled to intercept a formation of three Russian military aircraft near the Poland border.
‘The then unknown aircraft approached the Polish NATO area of responsibility from Kaliningrad,’ the ministry said.
Kaliningrad is a Russian Baltic coast enclave located between NATO and European Union members Poland and Lithuania.
‘After identification, it turned out to be three aircraft: a Russian IL-20M Coot-A that was escorted by two Su-27 Flankers. The Dutch F-35s escorted the formation from a distance and handed over the escort to NATO partners.’
The Il-20M Coot-A is NATO’s reporting name for the Russian Ilyushin Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft while the Su-27 Flankers are NATO’s reporting name for the Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft.
The Netherlands’ defence ministry said that eight Dutch F-35s are stationed in Poland for February and March.
Muawiyah is reportedly the most expensive Arab TV drama series in history at a cost of $75 million.
“Broadcasting such series is contrary to the new, moderate policies pursued by the brotherly country of Saudi Arabia,” Mr Al Sadr wrote on Twitter on Tuesday evening.
“There is no need to hurt the feelings of your Muslim brothers in the east and west of the earth.”
MBC Group is the biggest broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa. The show marks the directorial TV debut of Palestinian-Egyptian director Tariq Al Arian and is scripted by journalist Khaled Salah.
Production began in July in the Tunisian city of Hammamet with other scenes filmed in Kairouan, also in Tunisia.
The character of Muawiyah is played by Syrian actor Loujain Ismail, after veteran Palestinian artist Ali Suleiman withdrew from the role.
Actresses attached to project include Asma Jalal, Aisha bin Ahmed and Jamila Chihi, playing Muawiyah’s wives. Jordanian actor Iyad Nassar portrays Imam Ali bin Abi Talib.
The Umayyad Caliphate ruled a large part of what is now the Middle East from 660 to 750 and was ruled under the first caliph Muawiyah. His son Yazid bin Muawiyah ruled as the second Umayyad caliph — the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Imam Hussein, protested against his caliphate.
Ramadan TV series Farouk Omar, broadcast in 2012, focused on the life of Omar ibn Al Khattab. Photo: MBC Group
Although MBC has yet to respond publicly to Mr Sadr’s statements, MBC Media Solutions (MMS), the commercial arm of MBC Group, announced the company’s highly anticipated Ramadan 2023 line-up this week in Riyadh and Dubai.
“We all know by now the impact and reach of Ramadan and we are proud of our role as MMS in enabling brands to be a part of this special season’s stories and narratives year on year,” said MMS chief executive Ahmed Al Sahhaf in Riyadh.
Shows focusing on early Islamic figures following the Umayyad and Rashidun dynasties have been dramatised for TV in the past. Directed by the late and influential Syrian filmmaker Hatem Ali, MBC broadcast Saqr Quraish in 2002, tracing the rise and fall of the 7th and 8th-century Umayyad dynasty.
In 2012, MBC produced and broadcast the pan-Arab production Farouk Omar based on the life of Omar ibn Al Khattab, the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate.
Iran has launched at least 228 ballistic missiles since signing its nuclear deal with world powers in 2015, according to a new report about the Islamic Republic’s missile program.
The report, titled “Arsenal: Assessing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ballistic Missile Program,” revealed that Iran launched more than 100 ballistic missiles in 2022 alone, more than triple the number of launches in 2021.
Written by Behnam Ben Taleblu, a Senior Fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, the report highlighted that the ballistic missile launches are part of flight tests, drills, and military operations.
The 2022 launches include a ballistic missile strike in Iraq that killed an American citizen. Taleblu noted that as Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities improve, the regime may be more inclined to use them.
The Middle Eastern country has significantly improved its core capabilities, including missile range, precision, and mobility, as well as growing its underground storage depots and bases, according to the report.
“Improvements in ballistic missile precision, range, mobility, warhead design, and survivability (including the creation of underground missile depots) imply an increasingly lethal long-range strike capability in the hands of the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism,” the report said.
“Ballistic missiles offer Tehran the means to deter, punish, and coerce adversaries,” the report noted. “They compensate for Iran’s conventional warfighting deficiencies and keep the door open for nuclear weapons.”
Iran’s ballistic missile gives the Islamic Republic “the confidence and security to pursue its revisionist foreign policy with less fear of military reprisal,” according to the report. “This may lead to increased risk-taking, including battlefield use of its arsenal. Failure to deter Iran will likely guarantee more missile use.”
The report also highlighted Iran’s provision of ballistic missiles to its proxies in Iraq, Syria Lebanon and Yemen and the threats that it poses to Gulf states, Israel and US forces in the region.
The report argued that Iran is unlikely to curb its missile program without sustained pressure.
“Western policymakers must reach consensus on how to counter the Iranian missile threat,” it said. “Absent Western unity and resolve, the regime is certain to best the West at the negotiating table. Washington should adopt policies that disrupt, deter, devalue, and, when necessary, defang the Iranian missile program through diplomatic, informational, military, and economic means.”
An Iraqi Shia scholar, militia leader and the founder of the most powerful political faction in the country right now, Muqtada al-Sadr rose to prominence after the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein government.
The Iraqi parliament Wednesday was stormed by hundreds of protesters chanting anti-Iranian slogans. The demonstration was against the announcement of the prime ministerial nominee, Mohammed al-Sudani, selected by the Coordination Framework bloc, a coalition led by Iran-backed Shiite parties and their allies.
The majority of the protesters, who breached Baghdad’s Parliament, were followers of influential populist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Sadr, a shia himself, is fighting against former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s plans to reinstate his Iran-affiliated leaders at the elite posts in the government.Supporters of Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr protest against corruption inside the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq July 27, 2022. (Reuters Photo: Thaier Al-Sudani)
So, who is Muqtada al-Sadr, the founder of the Sadrist movement and the master of mass mobilisation in the current Iraqi political system?
Muqtada al-Sadr and the Sadrist movement
An Iraqi Shia scholar, militia leader and the founder of the most powerful political faction in the country right now, Muqtada al-Sadr rose to prominence after the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein government.
In the recent incident, after his followers occupied parliament, al-Sadr put out a statement on Twitter telling them their message had been received, and “to return safely to your homes”. After which, the protesters began to move out of the Parliament building with the help of security forces. His ability to mobilise and control his large grassroot followers gives him a strong advantage over his political rivals.
Back in 2016, in a similar manner, al-Sadr’s followers stormed the Green Zone and entered the country’s Parliament building demanding political reform. The US worries Iranian dominance in the country because its influence can alienate the Sunni communities. Although al-Sadr right now looks like the only viable option to have in power in Iraq for the US, back in the day, he was enemy number one after the fall of Saddam.
Back in 2004, The Guardian quoted Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez saying, “The mission of US forces is to kill or capture Muqtada al-Sadr.” The Sadrist and the affiliated militia (Mahdi army) started a resistance against the US troops following the country’s invasion in 2003. These militias under al-Sadr are now called the “peace companies”.
However, the growing influence of al-Sadr could cause problems for both the US and Iran. He has demanded for the departure of the remaining American troops and has told the Iranian theocracy that he will “not let his country go in its grip”.
The Sadrist movement, which is at its strongest right now in Iraq, was founded by al-Sadr. A nationalist movement by origin, the Sadrist draws support from the poor people of the Shiite community across the country.
News agency Reuters in a report claimed that over the past two years, members of the Sadrist Movement have taken senior jobs within the interior, defence and communications ministries. They have had their picks appointed to state oil, electricity and transport bodies, to state-owned banks and even to Iraq’s central bank, according to more than a dozen government officials and lawmakers.
Iraq’s political turmoil
Iraq has been unable to form a new government nearly 10 months after the last elections, this is the longest period the political order has been in tatters since the US invasion. The deadlock at the centre of Iraqi politics is largely driven by personal vendettas of elites. The storming of the Parliament Wednesday was just a message to al-Sadr’s opponents that he cannot be ignored while trying to form a new government.
The fight, majorly between the Shia leaders al-Sadr and al-Maliki, is due to the nationalist agenda. Al-Sadr, challenges Iranians authority over Iraq while the former PM derives great help from the country.
Having great religious influence, al-Sadr’s alliance won the most seats in October’s Parliamentary election, but political parties failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pick a president. After the negotiations to form the new government fell apart, al-Sadr withdrew his bloc from Parliament and announced he was exiting further talks. Expectations of street protests have prevailed in Baghdad since he quit the talks.Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr chant slogans during an open-air Friday prayers in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, July 15, 2022. (AP/PTI Photo)
On the other hand, Al-Maliki, al-Sadr’s arch rival heads the Coordination Framework alliance, a group led by Shiite Iran-backed parties. With al-Sadr’s withdrawal, the Framework replaced his resigned MPs from the Iraqi Parliament. Although the move was within the law, it was also provocative, and provided the Framework with the majority needed in Parliament.
Iraq’s former labour and social affairs minister, Mohammed al-Sudani’s announcement as the PM nominee, is seen by al-Sadr loyalists as a figure through whom al-Maliki can exert control. The former PM Al-Maliki wanted the premiership for himself, but audio recordings were leaked in which he purportedly was heard cursing and criticising al-Sadr and even his own Shiite allies.
At the moment, neither the al-Sadr nor the al-Maliki factions can afford to be cut-off from the political process, because both have much to lose. Both the rivals have civil servants installed in Iraq’s institutions, deployed to do their bidding when circumstances require by halting decision-making and creating bureaucratic obstructions.
Iran’s role
The Islamic Republic of Iran shares a 1,599 km-long border with Iraq, which provides the former with a clear added advantage over the war-torn country. After the fall of Hussein, the border helped Iran to send militias to take power and resist the US forces, as the result right now, the country’s top ruling elite are Shiites, fighting among themselves for power.
Iran currently is trying to work behind the scenes, just like Lebanon, to stitch together a fragmented Shiite Muslim elite. The nomination of al-Sudani is evidence of Iranian efforts to bring together the Shiite parties in the alliance. However, the electoral failure of the Iranian-backed parties in the recent elections has marked a dramatic turnaround.
According to a report by the Associated Press, Esmail Ghaani, commander of Iran’s paramilitary Quds Force, has made numerous trips to Baghdad in recent months. The Quds Force is a part of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which is answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Working on the already established network of his predecessor, Qasem Soleimani, Ghanni is trying to help the parties in Iraq to stay united and agree on a PM candidate.
One Israeli was killed in the nationalistically motivated violence.
By Jonathan Hessen and Erin Viner
22-year-old IDF First Sergeant Asil Suead was murdered while manning the Shuafat crossing between the West Bank district of Judea and the periphery of Jerusalem by a knife-wielding Palestinian.
The fallen officer, a a member of a Bedouin tribe in northern Israel, was fatally stabbed in the head after boarding a bus to check identification and authorization of passengers into the Israeli capital.
According to Israel Border Police Assistant Commissioner Amram Nidam, an on-site civilian security guard inadvertently further injured Suead after opening fire on the assailant.
The First Sergeant was evacuated in critical condition to an area hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The 13-year-old Palestinian assailant was captured and taken into custody.
In a separate attack earlier, a 14-year-old Palestinian stabbed and wounded a 17-year-old Israeli teenager near the Chain Gate entrance into the Old City; before fleeing the crime scene.
Following an ensuing manhunt by Israeli security forces, the suspect was discovered hiding on the Temple Mount holy site.
The injured Israeli teenager was given emergency medical care near the Western Wall, prior to being rushed to hospital in light-to-moderate condition.
Israel has undertaken extensive efforts to counter Palestinian terrorism.
It was announced earlier today that in response to the murderous terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Jerusalem municipality have agreed on a joint plan to increase the sense of personal security of residents of the city. The plan includes reinforcing security and police units, concentrating intelligence and operational efforts and improving civilian protection particularly at bus stops in the city.
“In light of the recent spate of difficult incidents, throughout the country in general and in the capital in particular, my government has been working day and night in order to restore the sense of security to the citizens of the State of Israel,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier today.
“As part of this, and pursuant to Security Cabinet decisions and additional actions that we have taken, we have decided to immediately reinforce hundreds of bus stops that are defined as high priority in what is merely the first stage in reinforcing all bus stops in Jerusalem,” he added.
Funds have already been allocated for the immediate reinforcement of 300 bus stops, while the remaining 700 will be bolstered during the next stage in the near future.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the PMO staff for the rapid response in finding a solution for capital residents, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion pledged that the work to safeguard the stops will begin immediately.
Leaving the video message of ‘Don’t fall in love’, a brainwashed youth rammed up an explosive laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy killing 40 CRPF personnel in Jammu and Kashmir on Valentine’s Day on February 14, 2019.
-A militant rammed an explosive led vehicle into a CRPF convoy of around 78 vehicles in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir on 14 February 2019. The terror attack killed 40 personnel. The attack took at Lethaporra in the Pulwama district of J&K.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the CRPF soldiers who lost their lives during the Pulwama terror attack on 14 February, 2019
– Remembering the sacrifice of the CRPF personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed on the Pulawama terror attack.Taking to Twitter, the PM said, “Remembering our valorous heroes who we lost on this day in Pulwama.”
-The terror attack filled the nation with anger and led to the countrywide demand of action on terrorist and the nation breeding them, ie Pakistan.
Following the terror attack, whole nation saw the protests demanding action against the terrorists.
-In a retaliation to the terror attack in Kashmir, Indian Air Force conducted an air strike on a terrorist camp in Balakot region of Pakistan. In the attack, India claimed to have killed several terrorist.
-Pakistan also launched air strikes the following day, during which MIG-21 fighter jet pilot Abhinandan Varthaman shot down Pakistan’s PAF’s F-16. However, his fighter jet was crashed and he landed in Pakistani territory. In addition to the crash of Mig-21, another IAF aircraft was crashed in near Budgam, Srinagar on that day.
– The captive, IAF officer, Abhinandan Varthaman was taken in by the Pakistani Army after his plane was crashed in the Pakistani territory. He was later interrogated by the Army, and handed over to India within a week. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was later conferred with third highest gallantry award, Kirti Chakra.
-India’s retaliation to the attack received huge support from the Indians. However, there was a big question about how such a massive amount of explosive managed to escape the security in the region and was used to carry out the attack. A 12-member team of the National Investigation Agency was formed to conduct the investigation in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Police.
-As part of the initial investigation, the car was carrying more than 300 kilograms(60 lbs) of explosives, including 80 kg of RDX. NIA named a total of 19 accused in its charge-sheet and was able to identify the attacker. But the investigation could not reveal the source of the explosive.
-Mentioning about the Balakot airstrike’s episode in his book, Former US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, said that he spoke with his then Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj who informed him that the Pakistan is preparing to launch a nuclear attack against India. “I do not think the world properly knows just how close the India-Pakistan rivalry came to spilling over into a nuclear conflagration in February 2019. The truth is, I don’t know precisely the answer either; I just know it was too close,” Pompeo writes.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/PIAVJZVTPXJX2N7NUXINURNBIU.jpg)
Supporters of Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr protest against corruption inside the parliament building in Baghdad, Iraq July 27, 2022. (Reuters Photo: Thaier Al-Sudani)
Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr chant slogans during an open-air Friday prayers in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, July 15, 2022. (AP/PTI Photo)
The Prophecy Blog 