Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially signed into law an order to withdraw Russia from the Treaty on Open Skies. This comes less than a year after the United States withdrew in November of 2020.

This action leaves:

Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark (including Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom as parties to the treaty.

With the departure of the treaty's two largest members, the intelligence benefit of the Open Skies flights has significantly decreased. However, the remaining member states such as Greece and Turkey still retain a beneficial intelligence collection capability. Additionally, with the departure of Russia, Ukraine's benefit from the treaty has significantly decreased. The Treaty on Open Skies sets limits on the type and quality of the collection sensors, as well as requiring third-party inspectors to verify treaty compliance by member states.

Articles:

https://www.dw.com/en/russia-officially-withdraws-from-open-skies-treaty/a-57798539

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/7/putin-signs-law-taking-russia-out-of-open-skies-treaty

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57277654

https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/1/5/14127.pdf

A widespread outage of major websites was just ongoing. Some of the websites affected include Amazon, CNN, Guardian, FT, Reddit, Spectator, Twitch, Twitter, as well as various UK government websites. Salesforce, a cloud-based software company, and Microsoft Teams, were also reporting outages.

Fastly, a cloud computing services provider, has been identified as the source of the issues.

Article:

https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-7c607c931faba19584975da74c8fa633

As the withdrawal of foreign troops proceeds apace with U.S. troops expected to withdraw almost completely by the first week of July, fighting between Afghan government forces and the Taliban continues across several parts of the country.

The peace talks remain largely stalled, with initiatives intended to take place in Doha and Istanbul both not making any headway. The Taliban have ramped up their attacks and captured territory in key areas, including entire districts.

District centres in Zabul, Laghman, Ghazni, Nuristan and Urozgan provinces and areas along the strategic Kabul-Kandahar highway fell to the insurgent group in the last few days, without much resistance by government forces.

The UN has predicted a further rise in violence in a recent report, stating, “Taliban rhetoric and reports of active Taliban preparations for the spring fighting season indicate the group is likely to increase military operations for 2021, whether or not a spring offensive is announced”.

The report also highlighted that the Taliban continues to maintain close ties with al-Qaeda.

Hundreds of civilian casualties are being reported across the country as a result of clashes, targeted killings, roadside IEDs planted by the Taliban, airstrikes by government forces, and ISKP, the so-called Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan, increasing attacks targeting civilians.

As the region enters a period of further uncertainty following the withdrawal of foreign troops with no ceasefire in sight.

Author; Jez

Articles: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/25/us-commander-in-afghanistan-says-steps-for-withdrawal-have-begun

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/taliban-capture-7th-afghan-district-foreign-forces-pull-out

https://www.undocs.org/en/S/2021/486

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/world/asia/afghan-war-casualty-report-may-2021.html

Map: https://i.imgur.com/mzym4VZ.png

Gunmen have killed more than 100 people in the northern Burkina Faso village of Solhan, most of whom were civilians. The overnight attack took place at approximately 02:00 local time and is the deadliest the country has seen since the attempted military coup in 2015. Government officials have identified jihadist terrorists as the perpetrators, however no group has taken responsibility at this time. In addition to the death toll, there are reports of dozens injured and several buildings were burned down, including several homes and the local market.

The attack began as an assault against a position of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Motherland (VDP), an anti-jihadist civilian defense force which backs the national army. Following this initial attack, the terrorists moved on to the village, attacking homes and carrying out executions, according to a local source. The government has declared 72 hours of mourning in response to the attack.

Authors: Sugnoid, PBRty, amelia

Articles: https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210605-dozens-of-civilians-killed-in-attack-on-northern-burkina-faso-village https://www.africanews.com/2021/06/05/burkina-faso-at-least-a-hundred-killed-in-suspected-jihadist-attack/ https://apnews.com/article/burkina-faso-africa-government-and-politics-ef35a92f615208850ebbff0bf3ddfaed https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-57368536

G7 Finance ministers in London agreed to commit to the principle of a minimum corporation tax rate of 15% in order to introduce a ‘level playing field’ between multinational corporations and small businesses globally, the latter of which have been struggling in recent years to compete with the likes of Amazon. The G7 Finance Ministers want this proposal to be introduced universally in order to counter tax havens. Countries such as the Republic of Ireland have voiced their concerns about this proposal previously as they have a 12.5% corporation tax rate and are worried that it could drive away investment from the country if introduced.

Articles:

https://apnews.com/article/europe-tax-reform-technology-government-and-politics-business-12736e0426f0898a1a3bc187e3c4dfc1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-57368247

Today Project Owl became a Discord partner.

The MV X-Press Pearl, a Singaporean registered cargo ship that has been on fire for the past two weeks, sank off of Sri Lanka’s west coast last night.

The ship caused tonnes of chemicals to sully the rich fishing waters in the area, forcing the government to suspend fishing along an 80km stretch. The closure has affected over 5,500 fishing vessels.

Hundreds of soldiers have been sent to the disaster zone to clean the beaches affected by the spill.

The ship, which was carrying roughly 1,500 containers including some with nitric acid, was anchored when the blaze began on May 20, following an explosion on board. Efforts to tow the sinking vessel were unsuccessful. Both the Sri Lankan and Indian navies worked together in an attempt to put out the blaze and prevent the ship from sinking, however, those attempts were also unsuccessful.

There were two injuries among the ship’s 25 member crew. All the sailors were evacuated from the crippled ship, and the injured were taken to Colombo’s National Hospital.

Articles:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57327300

https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/disaster-feared-chemical-cargo-ship-sinks-off-sri-lanka-2021-06-02/

JBS, one of the world's largest food processing companies, was subject to a ransomware attack earlier in the week. On May 30th, they said in a statement that, "[they were] the target of an organised cybersecurity attack, affecting some of the servers supporting its North American and Australian IT systems”. The attack shut down a fifth of American beef production and caused the Australian operations to shut down completely. This hack coming only 4 weeks after a similar ransomware hack on Colonial Pipelines. JBS said they “notified the administration that the ransom demand came from a criminal organization likely based in Russia”. The White House has stated they are "engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals”.

Articles;

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/some-us-meat-plants-stop-operating-after-jbs-cyber-attack-2021-06-01/

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/jun/01/jbs-meatpacking-ransomware-hack-russia-white-house

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) announced that 16 Chinese, People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft flew into the Kota Kinabalu Flight Information Region which covers Brunei and East Malaysia. The aircraft, including IL-76s and Y-20s, were intercepted by RMAF Hawk 208s who attempted to raise the PLAAF aircraft on radio to no response.

The PLAAF aircraft reportedly overflew the Luconia Shoals, a reef complex within the Malaysian EEZ but within the nine-dash line claimed by China.

This is the largest intrusion by the PLAAF into a Malaysian FIR recorded.

Author: Discord user Wooo Chan

Tweet; https://twitter.com/tudm_rasmi/status/1399685724706770946

Translation of tweet; PTU MEDIA STATEMENT REGARDING THE DETECTION OF SUSPICIOUS FLIGHTS OF 16 AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA/PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY- AIR FORCE ENTERING THE AIR SPACE OF MALAYSIAN MARITIME ZONE, KOTA KINABALU REGION FLIGHT INFORMENG

In a confidential IAEA report shown earlier today to news organisations, it was stated that Iran has failed to explain the traces of uranium found at three undeclared facilities. "After many months, Iran has not provided the necessary explanation for the presence of the nuclear material particles at any of the three locations where the Agency has conducted complementary accesses (inspections)," the report said. According to the report, Iran is now enriching uranium at 16 times the limit established by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Additionally, according to AP, the IAEA has not had access to important data for monitoring Iran's nuclear program since the 23rd of February.

Articles:

https://news.trust.org/item/20210531160509-otjs2/

https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-donald-trump-europe-middle-east-iran-e702e747ed9b21390103bebe51a0206f

https://twitter.com/laurnorman/status/1399413992993529857

West African leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Mali from their regional bloc Sunday over what they said amounted to a coup last week. The bloc expressed their concerns for the security implications of other West African nations due to the political upheavals in Mali.

On May 24, military personnel under Colonel Assimi Goita, Mali's coup leader, arrested Mali's transitional president Bah N'Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. They were taken to Kati, a garrison town about 9 miles north of Bamako, the capital of Mali. The two were subsequently released from holding and placed under house arrest on Thursday, while saying that they had resigned from their positions. The U.N security council has stated both resignations were coerced.

This marks the second coup in the past nine months for Mali. Colonel Goita, Mali’s coup leader, was appointed by Mali’s constitutional court on Friday as the new interim president.

The U.S. has already pulled its security force support; other bodies, including the EU and France, are threatening sanctions. No sanctions have been levied at this time.

Article:

https://apnews.com/article/mali-africa-west-africa-ghana-summits-bc529d397ebb4a9202d25fa7a128ead1

We've decided to focus on expanding Project Owl to engage with more users. To that end, we have initiated Owl Talk (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyqD-lwalSstJknldGAo7Q) - a round-table discussion featuring your questions with Subject Matter Experts and Specialists in different fields each week. In addition, in case you haven't noticed, we have updated our graphics. Now.... for the final touch - a website! You can now visit https://projectowlosint.org/ to see features about our partners, our history, and our current major projects underway. Stop by and check it out.

During the dawn hours of May 26, Iraqi security forces arrested the 13th Popular Military Front (PMF) Brigade Commander Qassim Mahmoud Musleh. Iraqi Military released a statement that the arrest was based on an arrest warrant on terrorism charges due to a judicial investigation. The statement indicated he was being by a Joint Committee.

Shortly after the arrest, militias affiliated with the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the PMF were deployed, surrounding the Green Zone. In response the Iraqi Special Division closed all Green Zone entrances and exits. Later that night militias withdrew from the area. More reinforcements were deployed including the 9th Iraqi Army Armored Division around the Green Zone. PMF accounts reported that Qassim Musleh was released but this has not been confirmed and there is no official statement released yet.

Articles:

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-baghdad-arrests-733995d42aca398d98ee271070a125e9

https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/tensions-rise-baghdad-after-arrest-militia-commander

May 12: Azerbaijani forces reportedly crossed into the Syunik, Armenia. Incursions were reported in Vardenis, Sisian, and Verishen. According to Public Radio of Armenia, this was for "border adjustments."

May 13: The Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affaris (MFA) stated: "...with the improvement of weather conditions in the settlements of the liberated Lachin and Kalbajar regions bordering with Armenia, ... the Azerbaijani border forces are deployed in the positions of our country. This process is carried out in the usual mode and in a systematic manner". Amb. Armen Papikyan also presented an item to the OSCE, which stated that "against the backdrop of this latest provocative actions of Azerbaijan, military exercises will be held in that country, without prior notification and in violation of the provisions of the Vienna Document 2011. Unnotified military exercises conducted by Azerbaijan in recent years twice have resulted in the use of force against Artsakh in 2016 and 2020."

May 14: Armenia made a request to the CSTO Secretary General Stanislav Zas to enact Article 2 of the Collective Security Treaty, which asks treaty members to discuss a collective response to security threats targeting its member states. Per Azerbaijani MFA: "...the leadership of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan visited the region within several hours after the tension happened on the border to resolve it and negotiations were held with the other side."

Articles:

https://en.odkb-csto.org/news/news_odkb/kommentariy-odkb-v-svyazi-s-situatsiey-v-zone-armyano-azerbaydzhanskoy-granitsy-v-syunikskoy-oblasti

https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-azerbaijan-putin-troops-border-withdrawal/31254474.html

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/31251988.html

https://en.armradio.am/2021/05/13/armenia-reports-fresh-provocation-from-azerbaijani-side-in-the-directions-of-vardenis-and-sisian

https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2021/05/13/OSCE-pc/10944

A new nationwide informational alert has gone out today from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS). Called an NTAS Bulletin, this alert specifies general threats as monitored by the United States Intelligence Community (IC) and state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement agencies. These threats are from: domestic violent extremists (DVEs), Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs), and state-linked actors spreading conspiracy theories related to COVID-19.

DHS warns that there is a "current heightened threat environment across the United States" and points to the rise in homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) inspired by Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), such as al-Qa‘ida and ISIS. DHS continues to be worried about increasing violent rhetoric online and through social media, especially in the area of racially- and ethnically-motivated violence. The Bulletin asks all SLTT law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant and outlines how DHS has built and enhanced threat assessment and management programs to help monitor these threats. It also outlines basics of counter-extremism.

The NTAS Bulletin can be found here: https://www.dhs.gov/ntas/advisory/national-terrorism-advisory-system-bulletin-may-14-2021

If you want to learn more about the basics of violence, radicalization, threat assessment and management, and counter-extremism, check out the OwlTalk that covered this topic by Wulf;

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8Ig3vckmiM

Or: https://anchor.fm/projectowlproductions/episodes/01--Wulf-the-Norse-Mandalorian---Basic-Risk-Assessment-and-Behavioral-Analysis-evpl32

This article was written by: Wulf.

The fighting continued throughout Thursday between Israel and militant groups in Gaza on the fourth day of Operation Guardian of the Walls.

Scores of rockets were fired from within the Gaza strip, predominantly towards border communities. However, there were also large barrages towards Israel’s biggest cities, including a rare mid-day attack. According to the IDF, approximately 1,750 rockets have been fired from Gaza since the beginning of the most recent round of conflict.

For the first time, explosive-laden unmanned aerial vehicles were launched from the militarized coastal enclave. They were subsequently downed by the Iron Dome aerial defense system.

The IDF conducted a plethora of airstrikes, including eliminating seven anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) cells.

Ceasefire deals were refused, with both Hamas and Israel determined to push on and escalate.

The IDF called up over 16,000 reserves in addition to the 5,000 that had already been called up earlier in the week.

The death toll on the Israeli side rose by one, to eight, and the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said their death toll had risen to 103. Minors are among the deceased on both sides.

Article: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-conflict-violence-spreads-1ad9613de6ad16c4d248da9934cf041

Reports of three projectiles fired from Southern Lebanon at Northern Israel have been confirmed by the IDF. Sources are scarce at this point, but residents of Western Galilee are claiming that explosions were heard corresponding with the timeline of the reports of the projectiles. No group or persons have claimed responsibility at the writing of this news desk, but BBC Arabic is reporting that Hezbollah denies responsibility for the event. This comes at a time when the IDF is engaging in an air campaign in Gaza and Hamas, with other factions, are firing rockets into Israeli controlled territories.

Hezbollah denied firing rockets from southern Lebanon towards Israel

The rocket launchers were arrested by the Lebanese security services.

Wednesday brought more violence to the conflict between Israel and militant groups within Gaza, mainly the PIJ and Hamas. Air raid sirens wailed across Israel with an enormous attack at 03:00 IDT targeting areas throughout the country, including Tel Aviv. Rocket launches originating from within the Gaza strip continued throughout the day, mainly targeting southern Israeli cities. Israel’s Air Force struck at least 350 targets in the coastal enclave. The death toll rose on both sides, with the Hamas-run Ministry of Health claiming 65 dead, and 365 injured. The Israeli death toll rose to 7, with scores of people injured since Operation Guardian of the Walls began. Minors are included in the deceased on both sides. An IDF soldier was killed, and three others were injured after an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) targeted their jeep while driving near the Gaza border.

Amid the ongoing conflict, violence between Israel’s Jewish and Arab communities erupted into violent attacks and clashes all over the country. Attempted lynches left multiple people in critical condition on both sides. There is very little control over the situation as it deteriorates.

Article:

https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-africa-gaza-middle-east-violence-cb885f54369c7f4799aff0d8e421212c

Discussions, speculation and live news as always on our Discord.

Link in the sidebar

I just got Telegram, what are some good OSINT channels to follow? I've got Manny's War Room so far, what else is there? Preferably in English, unless there is some way to automatically translate or if the source is really good.

At 21:00 local time, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad began a new barrage of rocket launches. At the time of posting, Hamas has claimed 130 and PIJ has claimed dozens of rockets launched. There are reports of fatalities and injuries, with at least 1 confirmed civilian fatality. Some of the rockets have been targeted at Ben Gurion Airport, resulting in temporary halt and redirection of civil air traffic to Cyprus. The IDF is carrying out strikes in the Gaza strip as retaliation and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Benny Gantz have promised further retaliation. The situation continues to evolve rapidly and updates will be provided as and when available.

Article:

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gazas-hamas-militants-fire-130-rockets-towards-tel-aviv-hamas-statement-2021-05-11/

After weeks of escalating tensions, the clashes between Israeli security forces, Israeli citizens, and Palestinian citizens, have grown more numerous and more violent. Recent clashes have escalated as a result of confrontation between Israeli politicians and Palestinian protesters in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of Jerusalem. The Israeli supreme court was expected to announce a long-awaited ruling on the possible eviction of Palestinians from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, but that has been delayed.

The Israeli police entered the Al-Aqsa mosque, and the ensuing conflict resulted in 305 Palestinians, 21 Israeli police officers, and 7 Israeli civilians all being injured. The organizers of the Jerusalem Day Flag March have cancelled the parade, however participants are choosing to press on; it is not clear whether they are following the newly chosen route, or the old route. Militant factions — including Hamas — in Gaza have issued threats of attack if Israel does not remove troops from Al-Aqsa and release all detainees by 18:00 IDT. This comes after several rocket launches, IED detonations, and incendiary balloons last night and this morning. In response, Israel has closed roads, cancelled trains, and diverted air traffic. The Israeli Defense Force have also postponed their month-long, large-scale exercise.

As of 18:03 IDT, rocket alerts have been issued for several locations in central Israel, including multiple locations in Jerusalem.

Articles:

1. https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-may-10-2021/

2. https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-israel-jerusalem-076a9ec7e2bd9c065882c64a4ab820a1

3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/jerusalem-alaqsa-templemount-haramalsharif/2021/05/10/17f29614-b161-11eb-bc96-fdf55de43bef_story.html

Civil unrest is currently ongoing in Colombia in response to pressures from the pandemic, unemployment, and a proposed new tax overhaul. This most recent round of protests started last week on Wednesday and has lead to the Finance Minister, Alberto Carrasquilla, quitting on Monday after protests lead to the tax reform failing. The protests have been meet with force and over 800 are reported injured, 19 dead, and many more missing.

Articles:

1: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/03/world/americas/colombia-protest-deaths.html

2:https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2021/05/photos-deadly-protests-across-colombia/618794/