//The Wire//2100Z July 3, 2024//

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//BLUF: BORDER CLASHES EMERGE BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIA. ITALY INTERCEPTS SHIPS CARRYING CONCEALED CHINESE DRONES.//

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-International Events-

Middle East: Turkey has reportedly closed border crossings with Syria following an outbreak of violence over the past few days.

Mediterranean: Italian customs authorities have reported the seizure of Chinese drones in the process of being transferred from two Chinese cargo ships, to other vessels bound for Libya. The UAS platforms were the larger Wing Loong II variant, and were discovered concealed inside six shipping containers upon entry to the Italian port of Gioia Tauro where they were camouflaged among wind turbine equipment. The drones have been confiscated due to the UN embargo restricting the shipment of military arms to Libya.

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Analyst Comments: Tensions have been slowly escalating between Turkey and Syria following an influx of Syrian refugees in Turkey, which has become increasingly more of a problem for Turkey over the past few years. Turkish citizens have adopted a more anti-migrant stance following the arrest of a Syrian man for the abuse of a child a few days ago. After the atrocious act was made public, ethnic Turks rioted in condemnation of ethnic Syrians, to include property damage within Syrian communities in Turkey. Consequently, Syrians counterprotested, which included limited small arms engagements between Syrians and Turkish border guards. So far, local media reports 4x fatalities, with 20x others wounded as a result of the latest border skirmishes.

Analyst: S2A1

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