US airstrikes have targeted a Syrian rebel group with connections to Nusra Front, a Syrian watchdog reported. Syrian rebels, however, are reportedly upset with the change of strategy, saying it strengthens President Assad’s grip on power. US broadens bombing campaign in Syria, angers Western-backed rebelsThe Obama administration’s stated purpose for commencing an aerial campaign on Syrian territory – without Syria’s permission, not to mention that of Congress – was to deal a deadly blow to the Islamic State (also known as ISIS, or ISIL), the ultra-violent Islamic group that has cut a swath across northern Iraq and Syria. [...] On September 23, the United States, without its NATO allies, launched air strikes against IS in Syria with the stated aim of preventing the extremist group from grabbing more power in the embattled country. The anti-IS coalition includes the US, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

● Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird voiced deep concern over reports on the alleged movement of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border in what it described as “provocative actions by Russia.” Baird urged Russia to immediately withdraw its troops “from Ukraine’s sovereign territory” and stressed that Canada will continue to monitor the situation and “to work with partners and allies to maintain pressure on Russia to cease its aggression.”
● On Tuesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance witnessed Russian troops approaching the Ukrainian border and claimed that Moscow continues to train and arm independence supporters in eastern Ukraine. No evidence was ever presented, however.
● Russia has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the internal Ukrainian conflict and has no relation to the events unfolding in the country’s eastern regions. In particular, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that all the claims accusing Russia of escalating tensions in Donbas are groundless and the country’s Defense Ministry denied providing independence supporters with any sort of assistance, including military hardware and ammunition.

Florida police handed out citations and threatened to arrest two priests and a 90-year-old veteran volunteer for feeding the homeless. A recently passed city ordinance makes sharing food a citable offense. ● Fort Lauderdale police removed at least three volunteers, as well as the Sunday lunch they were serving to several dozen homeless people, citing a controversial new ordinance that prohibits food sharing. Passed in October, the measure was created to try to cut down the growing population of homeless people in Fort Lauderdale. In video footage from Sunday, three police officers arrive and interrupt the feeding program by removing 90-year-old Arnold Abbott, the Rev. Canon Mark Sims of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Dwayne Black of the Sanctuary Church. A chorus of protest erupts from the crowd and follows the officers as they take the men to their patrol cards – “Shame on you, arresting an elderly man!” someone in the crowd says. “The whole world is watching!” says another. Then, a police officer explains to the men: “Basically you are going to be cited for serving to the community without proper accommodations. Everything is explained in here. This is a citation. If you guys continue to come out here you will face arrest.”

RT.com: 90yo US WWII vet vows to defy arrest for feeding homeless

The International Criminal Court will not launch a prosecution over Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2010 in which 10 Turkish activists died, despite a "reasonable basis to believe that war crimes were committed". Chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that there would be no investigation leading to a potential prosecution because the alleged crimes, including the killing of 10 activists by Israeli commandos, were not of "sufficient gravity".

The Israeli regime has given the green light for the construction of 278 new illegal settler units in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) amid international outcry over Tel Aviv’s expansionist policies. ● According to Palestinian media reports, the so-called Israeli “Planning and Construction Committee” approved the new project on Tuesday. Based on the plan, 216 housing units are set to be built in Ramot settlement and 62 others in Jabal Abu Ghneim (Har Homa) settlement, Israeli sources reported. On Monday, Israeli activist group Peace Now said that the Israeli Interior Ministry gave the go-ahead for the construction of 500 new housing units in Ramat Shlomo settlement.

Philip Giraldi ■ Exceptionalism Rules in Tel Aviv and Washington

Members and supporters of the hacktivist group Anonymous have gathered at the headquarters of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in London to protest, inter alia, disinformation propagated by mainstream media, Press TV reports. ● The protesters gathered at the doorsteps of the BBC on Wednesday. “People read too many newspapers, [they] are brainwashed by the media. There is alternative media and we can get the truth and a lot of people are just brainwashed by the BBC,” a protester told Press TV. Another protester said the British people felt “robbed” and “misled” by politicians who have been selling a form of democracy that is in reality “an illusion of choice.” They also protested against government austerity measures, mass surveillance, and attacks on human rights.

RT.com: ‘Nowhere to hide, we're everywhere!’ Global Million Mask March as it happened - Videos
RT.com: ‘Courage is contagious’: Artist campaigns for Snowden-Assange-Manning monument

The Million Mask March is sweeping the globe across Wednesday as demonstrators protest against austerity, mass surveillance and oppression. Participants will obscure their faces to protect their identity.