Latest news with #DamienSymon
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Satellite Imagery Captures Chinese Aircraft Carrier in Contested Waters
Satellite imagery appears to have captured a Chinese aircraft carrier transiting waters near the Philippines and Taiwan-both allies and partners of the United States-in the Pacific. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry confirmed to local media that the Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning was off Taiwan's southeast coast. Newsweek has reached out to both the Chinese Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for comment by email. The Liaoning has been underway since leaving its home port on China's Yellow Sea coast over the weekend. It sailed southward into the East China Sea, later transiting the Miyako Strait near Japan's southwestern islands, and arrived in the Philippine Sea on Tuesday. The aircraft carrier is part of China's naval fleet of more than 370 vessels, the largest in the world by hull count. China has been employing its navy to further expand its military reach and presence, challenging America's naval dominance in the Pacific Ocean. Facing China's rapid naval buildup, the U.S. aims to restrict the East Asian power's access to the broader Pacific Ocean in a future conflict by using the so-called First Island Chain-a maritime containment strategy involving U.S.-aligned Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. Damien Symon, an open-source intelligence expert, posted a satellite image on X (formerly Twitter) showing the Liaoning underway in the Philippine Sea, approximately 430 nautical miles (494 miles) southeast of Taiwan, accompanied by two escorting ships on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, told Newsweek that satellite imagery indicated the Liaoning-led naval task group was 290 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of the Philippines' Luzon Island on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether the Chinese navy had dispatched the aircraft carrier and its strike group for exercises in the western Pacific Ocean. Taiwanese media have claimed that the Chinese military may be about to conduct drills in waters east of Taiwan starting on Friday. While the Liaoning-China's first operational aircraft carrier-was underway, the country's second aircraft carrier, CNS Shandong, has yet to return to its home port on Hainan Island in the South China Sea since leaving around Monday, according to another satellite image. Taiwan Security Monitor, a research initiative at George Mason University in Virginia, wrote in a post on X that both of the Chinese commissioned aircraft carriers are now at sea. The dual Chinese aircraft carrier deployment comes as two American carriers were reported to be underway simultaneously in the western Pacific Ocean. USS Nimitz was operating in the South China Sea, while its sister ship, USS George Washington, was operating near Japan. Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday: "What I can tell you is that China's military vessels' activities in relevant waters are fully consistent with international law and international practice." Colonel Su Tung-wei, deputy head of the Taiwanese Defense Ministry's General Staff Operations and Planning Department, said on Wednesday: "We will also react accordingly to safeguard national security." The Pentagon's Chinese military power report 2024 wrote: "The [People's Republic of China] is in the beginning stages of operating its 'multi-carrier force.'" It was not immediately clear whether the two Chinese aircraft carriers would conduct joint operations in either the South China Sea or the Philippine Sea to stage a show of force. Related Articles Marco Rubio Announces New Plan to Revoke Chinese Student VisasChina's Military Presence Grows on Doorstep of New U.S. PartnerU.S. Ally Looks to Buy Chinese J-35 Stealth JetsNew Chinese Military Technology Could Defeat Trump's 'Golden Dome' 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Imagery Captures Chinese Aircraft Carrier in Contested Waters
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 appears to have captured a Chinese aircraft carrier transiting waters near the Philippines and Taiwan—both allies and partners of the United States—in the Pacific. The Taiwanese Defense Ministry confirmed to local media that the Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning was off Taiwan's southeast coast. Newsweek has reached out to both the Chinese Defense Ministry and the Armed Forces of the Philippines for comment by email. Why It Matters The Liaoning has been underway since leaving its home port on China's Yellow Sea coast over the weekend. It sailed southward into the East China Sea, later transiting the Miyako Strait near Japan's southwestern islands, and arrived in the Philippine Sea on Tuesday. The aircraft carrier is part of China's naval fleet of more than 370 vessels, the largest in the world by hull count. China has been employing its navy to further expand its military reach and presence, challenging America's naval dominance in the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, front, sails with other ships during a drill in the East China Sea in April 2018. The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, front, sails with other ships during a drill in the East China Sea in April 2018. AFP via Getty Images Facing China's rapid naval buildup, the U.S. aims to restrict the East Asian power's access to the broader Pacific Ocean in a future conflict by using the so-called First Island Chain—a maritime containment strategy involving U.S.-aligned Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. What To Know Damien Symon, an open-source intelligence expert, posted a satellite image on X (formerly Twitter) showing the Liaoning underway in the Philippine Sea, approximately 430 nautical miles (494 miles) southeast of Taiwan, accompanied by two escorting ships on Wednesday. Chinese navy aircraft carrier Liaoning CV-16 was operating approx. 430-Nautical miles south east of Taiwan in the Pacific Ocean as of 2025-05-28 02:21:52 UTC — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) May 28, 2025 Meanwhile, a Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic, told Newsweek that satellite imagery indicated the Liaoning-led naval task group was 290 kilometers (180 miles) northeast of the Philippines' Luzon Island on Wednesday. It remains unclear whether the Chinese navy had dispatched the aircraft carrier and its strike group for exercises in the western Pacific Ocean. Taiwanese media have claimed that the Chinese military may be about to conduct drills in waters east of Taiwan starting on Friday. While the Liaoning—China's first operational aircraft carrier—was underway, the country's second aircraft carrier, CNS Shandong, has yet to return to its home port on Hainan Island in the South China Sea since leaving around Monday, according to another satellite image. Taiwan Security Monitor, a research initiative at George Mason University in Virginia, wrote in a post on X that both of the Chinese commissioned aircraft carriers are now at sea. #LandSat9 imagery from this morning confirms that PLAN CNS "Shandong" has not returned to base after departure around 5/26. Its current location is not clear. Both of the PLAN's commissioned carriers are now at sea, with CNS "Liaoning" spotted operating SE of Taiwan by… — Taiwan Security Monitor (@TaiwanMonitor) May 28, 2025 The dual Chinese aircraft carrier deployment comes as two American carriers were reported to be underway simultaneously in the western Pacific Ocean. USS Nimitz was operating in the South China Sea, while its sister ship, USS George Washington, was operating near Japan. What People Are Saying Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday: "What I can tell you is that China's military vessels' activities in relevant waters are fully consistent with international law and international practice." Colonel Su Tung-wei, deputy head of the Taiwanese Defense Ministry's General Staff Operations and Planning Department, said on Wednesday: "We will also react accordingly to safeguard national security." The Pentagon's Chinese military power report 2024 wrote: "The [People's Republic of China] is in the beginning stages of operating its 'multi-carrier force.'" What Happens Next It was not immediately clear whether the two Chinese aircraft carriers would conduct joint operations in either the South China Sea or the Philippine Sea to stage a show of force.
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Satellite pics show how India targeted underground complex at Pak's Murid base
India's May 10 airstrike on Pakistan's Murid Air Base during Operation Sindoor may have targeted a suspected underground facility, newly released high-resolution satellite images imagery captured by Maxar Technologies shows a nearly 3-metre-wide crater just 30 metres from the entrance of a heavily fortified sub-complex within the Murid Air Base—an area protected by double fencing, watchtowers, and tight security to Damien Symon, geo-intelligence researcher at the Intel Lab, the crater's proximity to what is believed to be an underground structure has raised speculation that India aimed to strike deep-buried assets, possibly linked to command-and-control functions or drone operations. The strike appears to have breached the perimeter defences of this high-value zone, hinting at the use of precision-guided munitions and deep-penetration targeting. If confirmed, this would be the first known instance of India attempting to disable subterranean military infrastructure in on the base, damage is visible to the roof of what appears to be a command-and-control building adjacent to a UAV complex and hangar. The roof shows clear signs of impact, with indications of internal damage, suggesting a direct strike, said Symon. advertisement Meanwhile, Maxar images of Nur Khan Air Base, also hit during Operation Sindoor, reveal a broader than initially estimated damage images captured a week after the strikes shows the demolition of a building complex near what was initially assessed to be India's primary target. While preliminary observations on May 10 indicated the destruction of special-use trucks, Symon said the follow-up imagery indicates structural devastation that may have rendered parts of the base inoperable and beyond repair.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Satellite Pics: Did India Target Underground Facility at Pak's Murid Air Base?
New Delhi: New high-resolution satellite images, accessed by NDTV, show extensive damage to the Murid air base of Pakistan, showing a three-metre-wide crater just 30 metres from an underground facility of the Pakistan Air Force and damage to the rooftop of a structure adjacent to unmanned aerial vehicle hangars. The first image shows a massive crater at the air base after strikes. "The Strike is visible at the most guarded complex within Murid Airbase. The approximately three-meter-wide munition impact crater is just 30 meters north of one of the two entrances to a likely underground facility," says Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher associated with the Intel Lab, known for his work analysing satellite imagery to monitor military and infrastructure developments. "This complex is heavily protected with double fencing, its own watchtowers and access control indicating its high-value nature as a target. The earth-protected entrances suggest this site might serve as storage for special equipment or as a hardened operational shelter for personnel, capable of withstanding heavy bombardment," he added. NDTV accessed an image from April 16 (Image 1), showing the undamaged building at Murid, a Forward Operating Base of Pakistan. The post-strike (image 2) from May 10 shows damage to the building. Mr Symon said, "Structural damage is evident at this facility, believed to serve as a command-and-control node near the UAV complex of the airbase. A portion of the roof has collapsed inward, and the outer walls also exhibit visible deterioration, likely from impact-related stress. A strike like this could've also caused damage within the upper floors of the building as well." The Murid air base is 150 kilometres from the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Pakistan's Chakwal, supporting the Sargodha air base and the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi. Both were struck by India on May 10, along with eight other bases. India struck deep inside Pakistan, its response was "measured and calibrated." New Images Of Nur Khan Air Base Nur Khan is a strategic air base situated between Rawalpindi and Islamabad - the two nerve centres of Pakistan. The former is the headquarters of the Pakistan military, and the latter is the political power centre of the country. Satellite imagery from April 25, taken almost two weeks before the strikes, shows the facility and the undamaged trucks, says Mr Symon. Satellite imagery from May 10 shows two trailer trucks, believed to be command and control facilities, having been destroyed by a pinpoint-accurate Indian strike. Post-strike image from May 17 indicates that Pakistani authorities cleared the area around the site of the attack, he added. The image from May 17, taken a week after the strikes when a ceasefire was declared, shows Pakistan's clean-up operation at the air base. Mr Symon, explaining the extent of damage, said, "Previously, only two special-purpose trucks were assessed as damaged here, but the demolition of the adjoining 7,000 sq ft facility indicates India's strike had deeper consequences. The structures part of this demolished complex likely suffered extensive internal and structural damage, making repairs unviable for the Pakistan Air Force. The Maxar high-resolution images, earlier accessed by NDTV, showed extensive damage to Pakistan's Sargodha, Nur Khan (Chaklala), Bholari, Jacobabad, Sukkur and Rahim Yar Khan. Also read: At the Jacobabad air base, a hangar was damaged after Indian strikes, and debris was visible in the satellite images. Hangars are structures built at an air base to protect aircraft, primarily for maintenance and repair. During India's precision strikes, Bholari air base was chosen as a target, and India struck the hangar, causing severe damage to its roof, as shown in an image from May 11. Sukkur air base, located in the Sindh province, is a strategic air base for Pakistan, which lies west of the International border with Rajasthan. A satellite image from May 10 shows severe structural damage at the base and massive debris on the side. There was vegetation burn that may have been caused by fire after the strike, with a possible burn/strike scar next to the damaged structure. The Rahim Yar Khan air base, located in the Punjab province of Pakistan, was targeted, and a large crater was formed on the runway after the Indian strikes. During Operation Sindoor, Indian strikes damaged the runway at two locations of the Mushaf airbase (earlier known as Sargodha) - One at an intersection and the other on the main runway. The images from May 10 show the runway being cratered after Indian strikes at the two locations.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
New Satellite Images Reveal Greater Damage to Pakistan Airbase After India Strike
New satellite imagery suggests India's missile strike on Pakistan's Nur Khan airbase earlier this month may have caused significantly more destruction than initially assessed. The images, shared by open source intelligence researcher Damien Symon, reveal that a major operations complex at the Rawalpindi-based airbase has been completely demolished. The facility, targeted during India's Operation Sindoor, sits near some of Pakistan's most sensitive military and nuclear infrastructure. The scope of the damage now appears broader than previously believed, hinting at a deeper strategic impact from the Indian strike. Newsweek has reached out to the foreign ministries of Pakistan and India for comment. The Nur Khan airbase is one of Pakistan's most strategically important facilities, housing transport aircraft and surveillance systems, and located just miles from the Strategic Plans Division and Pakistan Army headquarters. Its proximity to these institutions gives the airbase outsized importance in Pakistan's military ecosystem. The demolition of an entire operations center would suggest the strike had penetrated a critical node in Pakistan's defense infrastructure. Symon posted the new satellite images on social media, showing that the 7,000-square-foot operations complex near the site of the May 10 strike has been dismantled. Earlier imagery showed damage to two specialized military trucks, but the full teardown of the facility points to deeper internal damage. Symon told Hindustan Times that the decision to demolish the complex indicates restoration was "uneconomical or not viable," likely due to extensive structural and systemic damage. Its proximity to the blast zone may have compromised essential components such as wiring, internal systems, and the building's physical integrity. The strike on Nur Khan was part of India's broader retaliation under Operation Sindoor, launched after a deadly attack in the Kashmir town of Pahalgam on April 22. That attack, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants, killed 26 civilians and was among the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years. In response, India launched strikes on eight Pakistani airbases using air-launched cruise missiles. A four-day military confrontation followed, involving drones, long-range artillery, and missile systems, before both sides agreed to halt operations. India's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha of Jammu and Kashmir said: "Terrorism and dialogue cannot go hand in hand. Our soldiers have the capability to respond to any challenge and eliminate the threat to ensure the safety and peace of our people." Pakistan's Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations stated: "These blatant acts of aggression by India reflect the paranoia within the Indian mindset which continues to grow after the failure of each of its acts." The new evidence of extensive damage may prompt Pakistan to reassess its airbase resilience and trigger broader regional concerns over escalation control and strategic deterrence. Related Articles China Fast-Tracks Stealth Jets to Pakistan to Counter India: ReportSuicide Bomber Hits School Bus, Pakistan Accuses IndiaMap Shows Countries That Prefer China to the USPakistan's $10bn High-Speed Rail Project Raises Questions 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
