Explosion in Syria. The death of a Russian major-general

The press service of the Russian Defense Ministry reported that as a result of the explosion of an IED in Syria, a Russian military adviser, Major-General Vyacheslav Gladkikh, died. 2 more Russian servicemen were injured as well. The commander of the Syrian national defense of the city of Al-Meyadin, Muhammad Taysar Az-Zahir, and 4 of his subordinates died as well. 3 others were injured — the ‘Russian Spring’ news website reported. It was specified that the explosion took place when a Russian convoy was returning from a humanitarian action, 15 km away from the city of Deir ez-Zor. The IED exploded on the side of the road while the vehicles were moving nearby. «As a result of the explosion, 3 Russian servicemen were injured. During the evacuation and medical assistance, a Russian senior military adviser, major-general, died from the wounds» — the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

The Syrian state-run news agency ‘SANA’ reported that the US Air Force launched an airstrike against a Syrian army checkpoint in the Tell Zahab area, to the south-east from the city of Qamishli, in the province of Hasakah. According to the SANA — the airstrike was launched after the Syrian military did not allow an American patrol to pass through a checkpoint. It was reported that as a result of the airstrike, 1 Syrian soldier died and 2 were injured. The newspaper ‘Al-Watan’ noted that one of the wounded is an officer. A bit later, the Syrian Defense Ministry added that the airstrike was made by 2 American helicopters. The Pentagon has denied the information about an air strike at a checkpoint in Syria.

The protests in Minsk ended on Monday evening with a march to the buildings of 2 pre-trial detention centers, where the people, arrested for the participation in the demonstrations against the results of the presidential elections, are still detained. The TASS news agency reported that the rallies took place at the gates of the detention center No. 1 on the ‘Volodarsky Street’, where, as the opposition representatives believe, blogger Sergei Tikhanovsky is being held. The rally took place near the pretrial detention center on the ‘Akrestsin Street’ as well — all the people, arrested after the first clashes between the protesters and the police at the beginning of the last week, were taken there. Most of them were released. Those who received a formal administrative case are serving their sentences. The representative of the detention center told to the protesters that there are no political prisoners in the detention center. This information was confirmed by a confidant of Tikhanovskaya — Olga Kovalkova. It was noted that the protesters began to disperse after Olga Kovalkova recommended to gather at that exact place in the morning. The police did not interfere with the demonstrators

A military coup took place in Mali. On Tuesday, the army units, located in the suburbs of the capital of Mali — Bamako — revolted and headed to the capital. It was reported that the government ministers, the heads of the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Finances, the speaker of the parliament, the prime minister, and the president of the country, were arrested. The Mali Armed Forces General Staff is also under control of the rebels. A number of military leaders were arrested as well. Following the arrest, the President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, announced his resignation on Wednesday night. The Mali military, who staged the mutiny, announced the creation of the »National Committee for the Salvation of the People». It was reported that the elections will be held in the country «within a reasonable time». The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force of Mali, Colonel Ismael Wage, announced that the »National Committee for the Salvation of the Malian People» has ordered the closure of all external borders of the country, and a curfew for the night time. He also invited all the opposition groups in Mali, who called for reforms, to join the negotiation process, which should lead to the new elections. The UN, the EU, the African Union and the Economic Community of West Africa denounced the coup.

The IDF reported on Twitter that 7 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at Israel on Friday night. 6 of them were intercepted by the ‘Iron Dome’ air defense system. In response to the rocket attack — the IDF carried out a «strike against the Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip, including their underground infrastructure» — the IDF reported. Earlier, the IDF attacked the Hamas military targets in the Gaza Strip in a response to the launch of explosive balloons at Israel. The IDF press service reported that the Israeli military intercepted 3 rockets, launched by the Palestinian radicals. The Israeli Air Force responded by attacking a Hamas facility in the Gaza Strip.

Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.