Latest news with #DamienSymon
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Satellite Photos Show Where China Is Building World's Biggest Hydro Dam
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Satellite imagery gives a glimpse of the site where China has commenced construction on what will become the world's largest dam and China's most ambitious infrastructure project since the Three Gorges Dam. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Power Construction Corporation of China via email for comment outside of office hours. Why It Matters The mega dam will boost China's green energy output and put the country a step closer to achieving President Xi Jinping's goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060—although China remains the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The controversial project has raised environmental and geopolitical concerns due to its impact on one of Asia's most biodiverse river systems and the millions who depend on its water downstream in India and Bangladesh. What To Know The groundbreaking for the mega-project, which has an estimated cost of around $168 billion, took place on Friday at the southern reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Mainling, Nyinchi City, in the southwestern region of Tibet. Using images of the event published by Chinese state media, open-source intelligence analyst Damien Symon was able to geolocate the construction site, he wrote Tuesday on X. The site can be seen in the following images, captured by the ESA's Sentinel-2 satellites on July 11, 2025. Imagery captured by the ESA's Sentinel-2 satellites on July 11, 2025, shows the site of a groundbreaking ceremony where China's Medog mega dam—the world's largest hydropower project—will be built on the Yarlung Zangbo River in... Imagery captured by the ESA's Sentinel-2 satellites on July 11, 2025, shows the site of a groundbreaking ceremony where China's Medog mega dam—the world's largest hydropower project—will be built on the Yarlung Zangbo River in its southwestern Tibet region. More Copernicus China's No. 2, Premier Li Qiang, who attended Friday's ceremony, hailed the undertaking as the "project of the century" and stressed that measures must be taken to prevent ecological damage, state media reported. However, India and Bangladesh have expressed concerns that the dam will affect downstream water flows, fisheries, and flood risks. Indian officials have highlighted the potential threat to local livelihoods and regional stability if river flows are altered without consultation. The Yarlung Tsangpo River becomes the Brahmaputra in India and then the Jamuna in Bangladesh, serving as a critical freshwater source for millions. Imagery captured by the ESA's Sentinel-2 satellites on July 11, 2025, shows the site of a groundbreaking ceremony where China's Medog mega dam—the world's largest hydropower project—will be built on the Yarlung Zangbo River in... Imagery captured by the ESA's Sentinel-2 satellites on July 11, 2025, shows the site of a groundbreaking ceremony where China's Medog mega dam—the world's largest hydropower project—will be built on the Yarlung Zangbo River in its southwestern Tibet region. More Copernicus What People Are Saying Brahma Chellaney, professor of strategic studies at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, on X: "China's super-dam will disrupt the Brahmaputra's natural flow of nutrient-rich sediment from the Himalayas—a lifeline for the river's ecological health. "The super-dam will also disrupt the Brahmaputra's natural flooding cycle, which sustains fisheries and rejuvenates overworked soils. Without the seasonal delivery of silt, the floodplains of Assam and Bangladesh will lose their natural fertility." What Happens Next The Medog dam will comprise five cascade hydropower stations and is expected to begin operating sometime in the 2030s. Once it does, the project eclipses the output and scale of China's colossal Three Gorges Dam. The initiative, managed by the newly formed state-owned China Yajiang Group, aims to produce up to 300 billion kilowatt-hours of renewable electricity annually—on par with the amount of electricity in the United Kingdom last year.
Newsweek
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Image Shows China's Rival Strengthening Key Border Air Base
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Recent satellite imagery revealed major infrastructure upgrades in the Chabua Air Force Station, a key forward base near India's eastern frontier with China in the contested Arunachal Pradesh region. Newsweek has reached out to Indian and Chinese defense ministries for comment. Why It Matters The recent enhancements at Chabua reflect India's broader strategy to counter China's expanding military footprint along the Himalayan frontier. The airbase is located near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) — a 2,100-mile disputed border that has been the focus of sustained military tension since the deadly clashes in 2020. China criticized a previous visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Arunachal Pradesh, with China's foreign ministry described the boundary issue as "complicated," underscoring ongoing friction between the two sides. Drag slider compare photos What To Know A new satellite image shared by open-source intelligence analyst Damien Symon on X showed the Chabua air base in the state of Assam, pointing to sites of hardened aircraft shelters (NGHAS) and enhanced runway infrastructure—designed to shield combat jets and support rapid deployment near the contested India‑China border. Chabua Airbase, a critical Indian Air Force facility near the China border is being upgraded, recent imagery reveals rapid development activity in 2025 with multiple new hardened aircraft shelters now taking shape on site — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) July 21, 2025 China and India have been in a tense military stand-off with thousands of military personnel deployed along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto boundary that divides the two Asian superpowers. India has deployed portable air defenses and China's major upgrades include at Hotan Air Base in Xinjiang. In June 2020, a violent skirmish on part of the disputed border left at least 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers dead. They had fought with sticks and stones. In 1962, China and India fought a bloody war over the question of control over Arunachal Pradesh. Since then, New Delhi has maintained control of the region, which is now part of India despite Beijing's continuing territorial claims over the region it refers to as "South Tibet." In May, India rejected China's renaming of more than a dozen places in Arunachal Pradesh. Tensions have also recently increased with India accusing China of supporting Pakistan in the contested Kashmir region during a four-day conflict between the two countries in May. However, India and China held a rare meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where officials discussed ways to reduce tensions. Officials say they aim to advance stable ties by building on the momentum of a October 2024 meeting between President Xi Jinping and Modi at the BRICS Summit in Russia. What People Are Saying India's foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in May, according to Reuters: "Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India." China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in June: "The boundary question is complicated, and it takes time to settle it. The two countries have already established mechanisms at various levels for communication. We hope that India will work with China in the same direction, continue to stay in communication on relevant issue and jointly keep the border areas peaceful and tranquil." What Happens Next India and China are continuing diplomatic and military talks through established mechanisms. There is constant risk of a flare-up.
India.com
22-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
India Hit Pakistan's Nuclear Nerve Kirana Hills In Covert Warning During Operation Sindoor – Here's The Evidence
New Delhi: In May 2025, as skies crackled with fire between India and Pakistan, a peculiar hush followed one specific strike. A place that is always whispered about but rarely named aloud – Kirana Hills. Known in military circles as a suspected hideaway for Pakistan's nuclear warheads, this location now finds itself under a cloud of satellite speculation. An intriguing claim has surfaced, not from any anonymous source, but from a respected name in the world of open-source intelligence. Damien Symon, a geo-intelligence researcher who has spent years decoding satellite imagery and monitoring warzones from the sky, posted something that raised eyebrows. A few high-definition frames from updated Google Earth imagery. A note that something may have scorched the Kirana Hills. Not deep. Not destructive. But deliberate. Symon, who operates under the social media handle @detresfa, did not suggest a blast that ripped through mountain tunnels or crumbled bunkers. Instead, he spoke of a single blemish, an impact scar. One that does not disturb the fortified caves beneath but leaves a mark nonetheless. A message in smoke. A tap on the shoulder. As images from June 2025 surfaced, Symon pointed out two changes in Pakistan's Sargodha region. First, damage near the Kirana Hills. Second, runways at the nearby Sargodha airbase that had been patched up after Indian strikes. His interpretation? India may have chosen a strategic 'warning strike' on the Kirana Hills. A symbolic nudge. One that did not penetrate, but pointed straight at something precious. Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows - 1 - the impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025 2 - repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post India's strikes in May 2025 — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) July 18, 2025 The Indian government, meanwhile, maintains a denial. During a press briefing on May 12, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti made it clear, 'We have not hit Kirana Hills. Whatever is there, I did not brief that yesterday.' The message was firm. The military line has not budged. Around the same time, smoke columns caught the attention of digital sleuths. Videos posted online showed plumes rising near rugged hills. Analysts began digging. It hovered uncomfortably close to Kirana. Social media lit up. Threads speculated. Images floated. People claimed Kirana Hills were hit. Some saw it as proof of India calling Pakistan's nuclear bluff. Others saw clever psychological warfare, impact without incursion. Symon replied to a user's question about whether the imagery implied a deep strike. He was unequivocal, 'No. This along with earlier imagery indicates no underground penetration. Just one side of a hill. No critical assets nearby. Must have been a warning. The tunnels are farther away. No damage there.' To understand why this one strike matters, it is necessary to go back to how things unfolded in May. India launched precision strikes on May 7 in retaliation for a terror attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 innocent civilians lost their lives. The Indian response was swift and calculated. Eleven Pakistani military locations were hit. Among them were Nur Khan near Rawalpindi, Rafiqui, Murid, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur and Sialkot. The strike on Nur Khan airbase, near Pakistan's military nerve centre, drew global attention. Located alarmingly close to the Strategic Plans Division, which manages Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, the Nur Khan attack was seen as a game-changer. The New York Times quoted a former U.S. official who suggested that the strike could have rattled Pakistan's nuclear security nerves. The possibility of India demonstrating a decapitation capability was not ruled out. Satellite imagery later suggested that even the Mushaf airbase in Sargodha was hit with loitering munitions. This airbase is associated with underground bunkers said to store nuclear warheads – yes, the same facility closely tied to the Kirana Hills. The Indian military leadership has not confirmed this strike beyond general statements. But Symon's recent findings, if verified, add to the belief that India intended to send a direct signal – don't cross the line; we can reach wherever we want to. This is where Symon's credibility matters. Known for exposing doctored images and false claims, especially during periods of high tension, he is not easily dismissed. He flagged fake visuals spread by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR – the media and public relations wing of Pakistan's armed forces), confirmed hits on military targets and used tools like LANDSAT, KawaSpace and MazarVision to ground his assessments in visual proof. More than a show of firepower, Operation Sindoor was a mind game. A move-and-countermove battle played out in the skies and on screens, maps and strategic nerve centres. While India insists that Kirana Hills were left untouched, Symon's evidence continues to echo across defence circles. If the hit did happen, even if just a scrape, it was not meant for destruction, but for precision, posture and psychological dominance. Sometimes the loudest statements are made in silence. And sometimes, the deepest impacts leave no crater.
India Today
21-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
India hit Pak N-warheads depot Kirana Hills during Op Sindoor, claims OSINT expert
There is satellite imagery to suggest that India hit Pakistan's Kirana Hills, one of the storehouses of the country's nuclear warheads, according to renowned OSINT expert Damien Symon. However, replying to a query, Symon suggested that the image indicates it was a warning strike without any subterranean impact or the mini-war between India and Pakistan in May, India's retaliatory strikes, including those at Nur Khan airbase in Chaklala, made Islamabad call for a Indian military rejected that it had targeted Kirana Hills in Sargoda district of Pakistan's Punjab province. It is believed that reinforced caves within the mountains are one of the sites of where the Pakistani military stores its nuclear warhead."We have not hit Kirana Hills, whatever is there. I did not brief in my briefing yesterday," said Air Marshal AK Bharti on May 12 responding to a question from a journalist during a tri-services Symon shared Google Earth an image of Sargodha region of Pakistan that he claimed were from updated June 2025, saying that it showed the "impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025". Symon is a geo-intelligence researcher and Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) expert known for his work at The Intel is widely recognised for analysing satellite imagery and publicly available data to verify or debunk claims related to conflict zones, particularly in the India-Pakistan region."Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows -1 - the impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025. 2 - repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post India's strikes in May 2025," Symon posted on X on July 18.A user asked Symon if the scar indicated it was a deep strike."No, this along with earlier imagery, neither indicate any subterranean impact or penetration, it's just one side of a hill with nothing of value in its immediate vicinity, must've been a warning strike on India's part, tunnels etc are further away & don't show any damage," replied media was abuzz with chatter on how Kirana Hills might have been hit in Operation Sindoor. Handles have shared images, videos and maps claiming a blast at the Kirana Hills in showed dense plumes of smoke rising from the base of the rugged Kirana Hills. But high-resolution satellite imagery was by India Today's OSINT team placed the smoke near the hills, based on the footage posted on the day of the IS OSINT EXPERT DAMIEN SYMON?Operating under the handle @detresfa on X, Symon has garnered attention for exposing disinformation, such as manipulated images and false claims by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) during India's Operation Sindoor in May work includes confirming damage to Pakistani military installations, like the Sargodha airbase, and debunking fabricated narratives, such as doctored images of Indian uses tools like LANDSAT, KawaSpace, and MazarVision imagery to provide verifiable evidence, contributing to discussions on digital disinformation and military KIRANA HILLS HIT UNDER OPERATION SINDOOR?While the Mushaf airbase in Sargodha was confirmed as one of India's missile targets, Air Marshal Bharti denied reports of any strike on the facility at Kirana two sites are barely seven kilometres carried out strikes on terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) on May 7 after Pakistani terrorists on April 22 killed 26 people in Kashmir's Pakistan targeted Indian military and civilian sites, India struck 11 military sites deep inside Pakistan, using precision targets included critical airbases in Rafiqui, Murid, Nur Khan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur, and Sialkot, according to India's Ministry of attack on Nur Khan military base near Rawalpindi, the headquarters of Pakistan's military establishment, is the most strike on Nur Khan airbase in Chaklala, near Rawalpindi, was significant as it lies in close proximity to the headquarters of the Strategic Plans Division, the body overseeing Pakistan's nuclear New York Times quoted a former US official familiar with Pakistan's nuclear programme, noting, "Pakistan's deepest fear is of its nuclear command authority being decapitated. The missile strike on Nur Khan could have been interpreted... as a warning that India could do just that."Satellite imagery also indicated a strike on the runway of Mushaf airbase in Sargodha with loitering munitions. This base is reportedly linked to underground nuclear storage sites beneath the Kirana strikes at Nur Khan and Sargodha were meant to indicate India's capability to neutralise Pakistan's nuclear arsenal in case of further escalation in the called Pakistan's nuclear bluff with its attack during Op target sites and videos on social media gave a boost to the buzz that Kirana Hills had been hit in an indicative attack, revealing India's strike capability. Though Indian military denied there was any attack, OSINT expert Damien Symon has now claimed that Google Earth images, updated in June, indicate Kirana Hills in Sargodha region were hit in a "warnig strike".- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
20-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Just a warning strike...: Missile impact visible at Pakistan's Kirana Hills in new satellite images
Two months after the Indian government publicly denied targeting Kirana Hills during its May 2025 military operation against Pakistan, satellite images tell a different story. Captured by Google Earth in June and analysed by satellite imagery expert Damien Symon , the visuals appear to show clear signs of a missile impact in the Kirana region, located in Pakistan's Sargodha district, as reported by TOI. Symon shared the imagery on X, stating, 'Imagery update from Google Earth of the Sargodha region, Pakistan, captured in June 2025, shows — 1. The impact location of India's strike on Kirana Hills in May 2025; 2. Repaired runways at Sargodha airbase post-India's strikes in May 2025.' Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Product Management Cybersecurity others Healthcare Management Operations Management Finance Data Analytics Others CXO MCA PGDM Artificial Intelligence Digital Marketing Public Policy Leadership Technology Data Science Data Science Degree MBA healthcare Project Management Design Thinking Skills you'll gain: Creating Effective Product Roadmap User Research & Translating it to Product Design Key Metrics via Product Analytics Hand-On Projects Using Cutting Edge Tools Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Product Management Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Competitive Advantage Tactics Product Development Processes & Market Orientations Product Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making Agile Development, Design Thinking, & Product Leadership Duration: 40 Weeks IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Product Strategy & Roadmapping User-Centric Product Design Agile Product Development Market Analysis & Product Launch Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate in Product Management Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details — detresfa_ (@detresfa_) These new visuals have reignited a sensitive debate. Not just because of the suspected damage, but because of what Kirana Hills is believed to contain. The strike that was denied Operation Sindoor was launched on the night of 9 May following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that left 26 tourists dead. The Indian Air Force targeted key military infrastructure across Pakistan using around 15 BrahMos missiles and other precision-guided weapons. Live Events The official line from Delhi was firm: no strike was conducted on Kirana Hills. At a press conference on 12 May, Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, responded to a direct question about the Kirana site, 'Thank you for telling us that Kirana Hills houses some nuclear installations. We did not know about it. We have not hit Kirana Hills. I did not brief in my briefing yesterday.' — ANI (@ANI) That statement, however, came with a half-smile. It went viral, sparking widespread speculation over whether the denial was genuine or tactical. What satellite images actually show Damien Symon's analysis adds weight to the doubts. The imagery shows what appears to be an impact zone on one side of the hill, though not deep enough to suggest an underground strike. Symon clarified this in response to a question on X, 'No, this along with earlier imagery, neither indicate any subterranean impact or penetration, it's just one side of a hill with nothing of value in its immediate vicinity, must've been a warning strike on India's part, tunnels etc are further away & don't show any damage.' Alongside this, the images also reveal repaired runways at the nearby Sargodha airbase, now known as Mushaf airbase. This points to the airbase being hit during the operation, and its rapid restoration suggests high strategic priority. Why Kirana Hills matters Kirana is not a typical military site. The region is closely tied to Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme. Reports and expert assessments suggest it houses underground storage facilities and was used in the 1980s for subcritical nuclear testing. The area is also dotted with radar installations and military tunnels. Its location, close to the Sargodha airbase, adds another layer of strategic significance. That's why even the suggestion of an Indian strike on this area carries weight far beyond a regular border skirmish. Despite mounting visual evidence, there has been no official word from Pakistan. The Indian Air Force, too, has held to its earlier denial. But the satellite pictures have been circulating widely, fuelling renewed interest in what exactly happened on the night of the strikes. Symon, known for providing independent assessments, also played a role earlier in debunking Pakistan's claim that it had hit India's Adampur airbase. At the time, Pakistani media claimed a Su-30MKI had been damaged and an S-400 system destroyed. Symon countered this by sharing images from March 2025 showing a MiG-29 undergoing routine maintenance, long before the conflict. To put the matter to rest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi later visited Adampur and posed with security forces in front of a fully operational S-400 battery. The message was clear. India's Operation Sindoor reportedly damaged 11 out of 13 major Pakistani airbases. That scale of success likely took Pakistan by surprise. Satellite data now appears to confirm damage at both Kirana Hills and Sargodha airbase, despite official denials. It's also worth noting that shortly after the strikes, backchannel military talks were reportedly initiated at the DGMO level. Observers say this may have been a direct result of the extent of damage and the risk of escalation. While the Indian and Pakistani governments maintain their respective public positions, open-source intelligence is slowly filling in the blanks. For now, the silence from both sides speaks as loudly as the imagery itself.
