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Bashir Discusses with Russia Setting up Military Base on Red Sea

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) meets with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir in Sochi on November 23, 2017. PHOTO | SPUTNIK | MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV | AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) meets with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir in Sochi on November 23, 2017. PHOTO | SPUTNIK | MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV | AFP
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Bashir Discusses with Russia Setting up Military Base on Red Sea

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) meets with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir in Sochi on November 23, 2017. PHOTO | SPUTNIK | MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV | AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) meets with his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir in Sochi on November 23, 2017. PHOTO | SPUTNIK | MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV | AFP

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said he had discussed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin setting up a military base on the Red Sea, adding that he had asked for providing Sudan with Russian defensive weapons to upgrade the army.

“We are not willing to attack any country, but want to protect ours,” Bashir said. “I discussed with the Russian president and minister of defense the possibility of setting up a military base on the Red Sea,” he added.

Bashir expressed content over the visit’s outcome, which started on Thursday in response to Putin's invitation that is the first of its kind. He also stated that a breakthrough was made in Russian-Sudanese ties in various fields: politics, economy, trade, culture and specially military.

He leaked information about US intentions to divide Sudan into five states, in case protection wasn't provided, complaining over “huge pressure and a US conspiracy” against Sudan.

During his talks with Putin on Thursday in Sochi, the Sudanese president stated that the separation of south Sudan in 2011 resulted from the US policy. He called on Putin to tackle the US intervention in the Red Sea from the standpoint of setting up a Russian military base in the region.

In other cooperation fields, Sudanese president affirmed signing an agreement with the Russian side on the use of nuclear energy to produce electrical energy.

In a first reaction over the Sudanese-Russian talks on possibility of setting up a military base on Red Sea, Frants Klintsevich, First Deputy Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of Russia's Federation Council, said that there are no reasons for Russia to reject this.

Yet, he pointed that such decision is taken by the Russian president who is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

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Arab World

Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
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Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)

Israeli forces have launched their largest ground incursion into southern Lebanon since the conflict began, reaching the outskirts of the Litani River near Deirmimas.

They entered the town’s edges in an effort to separate Nabatieh from Marjayoun and prepare for an attack on the town of Taybeh from the west and north.

This move also aimed to neutralize Taybeh hill, which overlooks the Khiam plain, where Israel plans to extend its operations and capture the city of Khiam.

Lebanese media reported that Israel set up a checkpoint at the Deirmimas junction, cutting off Marjayoun from Nabatieh.

They also blocked the western entrance to Deirmimas near a fuel station using earth mounds, with Israeli military vehicles stationed there. Reports also said Israeli forces prevented UNIFIL and the Lebanese army from passing toward Marjayoun.

Lebanese sources following the battle in the south reported that Israeli forces advanced five kilometers west from the town of Kfar Kila, moving through olive groves. This advance took advantage of the absence of Hezbollah fighters in Christian areas like Qlayaa, Bir al-Muluk, and Deirmimas.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that this allowed Israeli forces to reach the outskirts of the Litani River for the first time since 2006, cutting off Nabatieh from Marjayoun. Israeli artillery had previously targeted this route several times, and drones had carried out strikes there.

Israel supported its ground advance with heavy artillery fire. Lebanese security sources said Israeli artillery targeted hills overlooking Deirmimas throughout Thursday night into Friday, hitting locations like Beaufort Castle, Arnoun, Yihmour, Wadi Zawtar, and Deir Siryan.

This fire typically provides cover for infantry advances. The sources also confirmed that Israeli ground movements were backed by airstrikes and drones for added security.

They speculated the advance followed a route from Kfar Kila through Tall al-Nahas and Bir al-Muluk toward Deirmimas, which is almost empty of residents and has no Hezbollah presence.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli forces in the area, with three statements confirming the targeting of Israeli positions and vehicles near Deirmimas.

Media reports mentioned multiple rocket strikes on Israeli targets in Khiam and near Tall al-Nahas, as well as a guided missile attack on Israeli movements near oil groves close to the Marqos station at Deirmimas’ edge.

A photo shared by Lebanese media showed an Israeli tank behind an exposed hill east of Qlayaa, protected from the west and north. To the south, Israeli forces entered the town of Deirmimas, which overlooks the position.

Military expert Mustafa Asaad said the image, showing a bulldozer behind a tank at the Qlayaa-Marjayoun-Deirmimas junction, suggests that infantry units secured the area—either on foot or in fast vehicles—before entering Deirmimas.

The town’s mayor confirmed to local media that Israeli forces made a “small incursion” into Deirmimas, advancing through olive groves from Kfar Kila.

Hezbollah has stated it does not have military positions in Christian or Druze areas in southern Lebanon, as these communities oppose its presence. Sources close to Hezbollah say this is due to political reasons and security concerns.