(1/9) DOES ISRAEL REALLY DICTACE US MIDEAST POLICIES?

The US may be eager to leave Syria after the latter was neutralized as “an important pillar in the Axis of Resistance” and became vulnerable to the Israeli land grab, Middle East observer Sonia Mansour tells Sputnik. (2/9) This week, a US Department of State delegation visited Syria to hold talks with the head of the country’s new transitional government, a man on whose head the US government previously placed a now-removed $10 million bounty.

(1/6) LESSONS NEVER LEARNED: HOW US PUSHES TAIWAN’S MILITARIZATION

Taiwan has received a first batch of 38 US-made Abrams tanks. Let’s delve into what other military equipment Washington sold to Taipei under outgoing US President Joe Biden and what American weapons Taiwan plans to purchase. (2/6) Already bought (approved deals are worth about $7 billion):

Three National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), 29 M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and undisclosed number of MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS);

(1/7) HOW THE US USES SPY CRAZE TO CRACK DOWN ON CHINESE HIGH-TECH FIRMS.

US authorities have become increasingly prone to accusing Chinese companies of posing a threat to their national security. (2/7) Router manufacturer TP-Link has become one of the latest victims of this trend as US authorities investigate allegations of TP-Link supplying routers containing security flaws that supposedly allow malicious actors use them to conduct cyberattacks.

NOBODY KNOWS WHY ORESHNIK MISSILE IS NAMED THAT WAY, BUT PINK FLOYD LEGEND MAY HAVE A CLUE

The new Russian missile was called “Oreshnik” (hazelnut tree) apparently because it drops several “nuts” when hitting the target, Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters told Sputnik.

👇🧵

https://twitter.com/SputnikInt/status/1862103480535543863

🔸HAZELNUT TREE RESEMBLANCE (2/4)

He apparently referred to the nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missile’s submunitions, which resemble clusters of hazelnuts.

Waters added jokingly that he cannot think of another reason for a missile to be named after a tree.

(1/9) PEPE ESCOBAR ON PUTIN'S ART OF COMPROMISE AND ORESHNIK DUEL

"President Putin’s end of the year Q&A contains enough substance to be unpacked for weeks, if not months," writes Pepe Escobar, a geopolitical analyst and veteran journalist, in his Sputnik column. (2/9) According to Escobar, the US-driven "forever wars" in West Asia and Ukraine have now been united in "an omni-war", which fails time and again to render Russia defeated.

(1/6) ORESHNIK VS WESTERN MISSILE DEFENSES: WHO WOULD WIN?

None of the currently-available Western missile defense systems are capable of intercepting Russia’s Oreshnik, military analyst Alexey Leonkov tells Sputnik. (2/6) The vaunted US THAAD and the Israeli Arrow 3 missile defense systems, which probably could take on first-generation Russian hypersonic missile such as Kinzhal and Zircon, have a snowball’s chance in hell to intercept Oreshnik, a second-generation hypersonic weapon, he says.

(1/9) What's the US deep state and how could BRICS stop it?

The US deep state is "essentially a philosophy where a few profit at the expense of the majority," Lillie Ferriol Prat, a researcher at South Africa's DUT BRICS Research Institute, tells Sputnik. (2/9) She traces its origins back to the establishment of the US Federal Reserve System, which was authorized to print money, while its co-founders, American and European financial dynasties, laid the groundwork for future liberal globalism.

🧵RUSSIA’S INVINCIBLE ORESHNIK HAS LEFT WEST IN THE DUST - EX-DOD ANALYST

The West is in denial about Russia’s Oreshnik missile, Michael Maloof, former senior security policy analyst in the Pentagon, told Sputnik.

Find out why (1/5)👇

https://twitter.com/SputnikInt/status/1869686185762992212

(2/5) Russia’s multi warhead, nuclear capable Oreshnik has left the US in the dust, Maloof noted, adding:

“The US not only does not have a hypersonic offensive system - it doesn't even have a defensive system that has any hope of stopping Oreshnik.”

(1/8) IS DEEP STATE TARGETING MUSK AHEAD OF TRUMP'S INAUGURATION? 🧵

Tesla CEO Elon Musk seems to have become a target of the outgoing Biden administration.

"Deep state traitors are coming after me using their paid shills in legacy media," he tweeted. What did Musk mean? (2/8) Musk's tweet came in response to a New York Times report that the Pentagon had launched at least three reviews into him and his company SpaceX, for alleged violations of security reporting rules.

🧵EVIDENCE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF: UKRAINE’S DIRECT ROLE IN RUSSIAN CHEM DEFENSE CHIEF’S MURDER

(1/7) The suspected murderer of Igor Kirillov was recruited by Ukrainian intel, promised $100,000 and relocation to the EU, said Russia's FSB.

Facts that point the finger at Ukraine:🔎 (2/7) Ukraine pulled the strings: An booby-trapped explosive device was placed on a scooter parked near the entrance to Kirillov's building. Online footage from a camera installed in a car was broadcast to the plot’s ringleaders in Dnepr, said Russia’s Investigative Committee.

🧵MASS MURDER OF CIVILIANS IN SELIDOVO: REPORT EXPOSES UKRAINIAN FORCES' ATROCITIES

(1/10) The International Public Tribunal has released a report on mass shooting of civilians in Selidovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic at a press conference in Moscow.

What's in it? 👇 (2/10) Residents testified that Ukrainian forces carried out widespread killings of civilian before and during their retreat.

🧵WHAT WERE SOME OF SLAIN RUSSIAN GENERAL KIRILLOV’S MOST DAMNING PENTAGON-RELATED REVELATIONS?

Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Radiological Chemical and Biological Defense Forces, has been killed in Moscow.

Check out his eye-opening Pentagon-linked findings (1/5) 👇 (2/5) On illegal US bioresearch: The US Department of State played a direct role in the Biosecurity Engagement Program, which was initiated by ex-President Barack Obama. The program's priority areas for implementation include the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Ukraine, and Africa.

🧵(1/9) LEGACY OF TRUTH: REMEMBERING GENERAL KIRILLOV WHO EXPOSED PENTAGON-RUN BIOLABS IN UKRAINE
Kirillov, 54, led Russia’s efforts to expose alleged US biological activities, citing documents found in Ukrainian laboratories during the special military operation. Check out his key findings. (2/9) In March 2022, he presented documents claiming Pentagon-funded biolabs in Ukraine were developing biological weapons using bats and birds.

🧵UKRAINE’S TOP 10 MINERALS: A STRATEGIC TREASURE TROVE?

(1/10) Ukraine is courting the incoming Trump administration with offers concessions on its vast $11.5 trillion mineral reserves.

What are the top 10 natural resources and why are they so important? 👇 (2/10) LITHIUM
With 500,000 tons of lithium oxide, Ukraine is key to the EV revolution. But major lithium sites are now under Russian control in the Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions.

🧵❔WHAT’S KNOWN ABOUT ISRAEL’S STRIKES ON SYRIA?

Check out Sputnik’s thread to learn more about Israel’s massive strikes unleashed against Syria amid the regime change there. (1/7) (2/7) Israel's air force struck military bases in western Syria's Latakia and Tartous overnight, according to local sources. The Israeli airstrikes set off explosions in the central Syrian provinces of Hama and Homs.

GREATER ISRAEL: FACT, FICTION OR REGIONAL POWER PLAY?

(1/9) Israel's recent actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria have reignited speculation about its territorial ambitions. Curious about the roots of the "Greater Israel" concept? Let’s dive in (2/9) The concept of "Greater Israel" originates from the Torah, describing the Land of Israel as stretching from the Euphrates to the “river in Egypt” (interpreted as the Nile). This includes modern-day Israel, parts of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Gaza, and the West Bank.

HOW UKRAINE’S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE BECAME A TICKING TIME BOMB

(1/6) Ukraine’s energy system is collapsing. How did it come to this? Let’s break down the factors driving the crisis. (2/6) Since the USSR’s collapse, Ukraine hasn’t built a single new power plant. All of its energy infrastructure - nuclear, hydro, and thermal - dates back to Soviet times, making it vulnerable to damage and outdated for current needs.

🧵👇(1/10) RUSSIA WARNED FIVE YEARS AGO: US MERCS PROFIT FROM SYRIAN OIL
The US is maintaining its military presence in Syria's oil-rich northeast region, claiming its major aim is to keep the oil out of ISIS* hands. However, the reality appears more complex.

*a terrorist organization banned in Russia and other countries 🧵(2/10) Takeover of Deir ez-Zor: US-allied Kurdish militias seized Syria's largest oil field, Al-Omar, located in Deir el-Zour province along the border with Iraq, from ISIS and then expanded their control over the oil-rich region.

(1/10) PRE-EMPTIVE PARDONS FOR CLINTONS: HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Former President Bill Clinton has indicated he is open to discussing a "pre-emptive pardon" for his wife, Hillary Clinton, with Joe Biden. What's behind it? (2/10) This development was anticipated, according to Wall Street analyst Charles Ortel, who tells Sputnik that Bill Clinton is also likely to seek a pardon for himself and his daughter.

🧵WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF DEIR EZ-ZOR?

(1/8) Syrian militants have seized the city of Deir ez-Zor from US-backed Kurdish militants.

Dr Lorenzo Trombetta, a UN Consultant on Middle East, explained the province’s significance: 👇 (2/8) "Deir ez-Zor is a crucial hotspot between central and eastern Syria," the pundit said, and "the main hub along the Euphrates River running from Turkiye towards the Gulf."

🛢 HOW COULD THE SYRIAN CRISIS CHANGE MIDDLE EAST ENERGY MAP?

While Syria's oil reserves are small, its strategic location makes it a key logistical hub for Middle Eastern oil and gas producers. What energy routes are proposed to run through Syria? (1/10)🧵 🌊 "FOUR SEAS STRATEGY": Then-Syrian president Bashar Assad aimed to link the Mediterranean, Caspian, Black Sea and Persian Gulf into an energy network, positioning Syria as a key energy hub. (2/10)