Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli has said he assured US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis that an S-400 missile defense system Turkey purchased from Russia would not be integrated with NATO systems and would not threaten or target any NATO aircraft including F-35 fighters, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Continue reading
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Iran’s Rouhani wants more talks with Russia about U.S. nuclear deal exit
QINGDAO, China (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday he wanted more talks with Russia about what he called the “illegal” U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Continue reading
Daesh Continues Resistance in Syria Only in US-Controlled Areas
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Pockets of resistance of the Daesh* terrorist group in Syria are located only in areas controlled by the United States, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday. Continue reading
Tim Sebastian interviews Mevlut Cavusoglu
Tim Sebastian interviews Mevlut Cavusoglu
US warns of ability to take down Chinese artificial islands
Washington (CNN) – The Pentagon on Thursday ratcheted up rhetoric about China’s militarization of islands in the South China Sea, even as the Trump administration presses China for cooperation on North Korea. Continue reading
Netanyahu wanted IDF to prepare for Iran strike on 15-day notice in 2011 – ex-Mossad chief
Back in 2011, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to get ready to strike Iran with only a two-week preparation period, former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo revealed. Such a strike would have resulted in open war. Continue reading
Turkish Fighter in TuRAF Inventory Beyond 2030s
In order to meet Turkish Air Force (TurAF) requirements beyond the 2030s, a unique design and development program has been launched by the Turkish Government which aims to replace the aging F-16 fleet of the TurAF. Continue reading
Bashar Assad: ‘We were close to direct conflict between Russia & US inside Syria’
Syrian President Bashar Assad says Moscow deterred the West from launching a devastating country-wide air strike last month, and believes that Damascus has nearly won the seven-year war, despite continued US “interference”
Russia Holds the Key to Washington’s ‘Face-Saving Exit’ From Syria
Sooner or later Washington will be forced to pull out of Syria and Iraq, political analyst Ghassan Kadi told Sputnik, suggesting that Russia has become a powerful broker in the Middle East that could provide the US with a “face-saving exit.” Continue reading
Strike Capabilities of Russia’s New Stealth Fighter Su-57
Following the deployment of Russian Su-57 fifth generation fighters to military facilities in Syria in February 2018, the aircraft have reportedly been operating under combat conditions to test their capabilities for the very first time. Continue reading
Russian FM Lavrov: All Foreign Troops, Including Iran’s, Must Leave Syria
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday said all non-Syrian forces should withdraw from southwestern Syria as soon as possible, echoing his calls from earlier this week in an attempt to cool tensions between Israel and Iran. Continue reading
Moving US troops ‘to frontline with Russia’ in Poland ‘makes sense’ – Bloomberg
A permanent US military base in Poland, which would tear down a key Russia-NATO agreement and likely make Poland a target for Russian nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles is a really good idea, believes a Bloomberg columnist. Continue reading
Trump Lost the First Round of His Trade War With China!
by Ivan Danilov
Donald Trump is waging a trade war on China. He once claimed that such a war would be “easy to win.” So far, it looks like he’s losing, chiefly because of internal conflicts within his party and the fact that the US media is fighting against him. Continue reading
Washington ‘Hopeful’ to Resolve S-400 Row With Turkey Before Delivering F-35s
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States is hopeful it can resolve some operational problems over Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system before sending F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Turkish Air Force, Secretary of the US Air Force Heather Wilson said. Continue reading
Netanyahu: We’ll Strike at Iran Anywhere in Syria
Israel has continuously stated that it would never accept any Iranian military presence in Syria, whereas Tehran insists it only has military advisers in the Arab Republic.
“We will continue to act against [Iran’s] intention to establish a military presence in Syria opposite us, not just opposite the Golan Heights but anywhere in Syria,” Netanyahu said. Continue reading
China anger over US ‘provocation’ in South China Sea
China’s defence ministry has protested against what it called “provocation” after US warships sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by Beijing. Continue reading
Genocide vote infuriating Turkey pulled from Israeli parliament’s agenda
The expected vote on recognizing the killings of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 as a “genocide” was removed from the Knesset’s agenda for the week as of May 29, Israeli media has reported. Continue reading
Flotilla carrying Gaza wounded breaks ‘unbearable’ siege
Gaza, Palestine – A flotilla carrying at least 25 patients, students and activists have broken Israel’s imposed boundary off the coast of the Gaza Strip, the first time in more than a decade. The group set sail on Tuesday morning from the besieged Gaza Strip, hoping to break Israel’s debilitating siege on the enclave that has trapped more than two million Palestinians since 2006. Continue reading
Downgraded Version for Turkey? Israel and U.S. Hold Talks on Withholding Vital F-35 Software From Ankara
Amid deteriorating relations between Turkey and Israel, which have come as Ankara increasingly distances itself from the Western bloc in its foreign policy, Washginton and Tel Aviv have held talks regarding the provision of the F-35 to the Turkish Air Force. Continue reading
Poland offers $2bn for permanent US base, Moscow warns of ‘dangerous’ consequences
Poland is reportedly willing to pay $2bn for permanent presence of US troops in the country. Moscow called the initiative “dangerous”, saying it won’t benefit European security. The document dubbed ‘Proposal for a US Permanent Presence in Poland’ by the country’s Defense Ministry was leaked online by local media and Politico Europe group at the weekend. Continue reading
Hurriyet: The new ‘Great Game’: What awaits us?
by Mehmet Öğütçü
New players who were on the sidelines of the Cold War’s bipolar global order have now rejoined the fray. Despite the global financial crisis, the “Middle Kingdom” has conquered a place on almost all of the world’s playing fields. Beijing has positioned itself to challenge the dollar as the global reserve currency and extend its position of power throughout the world. This has led to the prediction of a new bipolarity, in the words of the late former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, a “G-2 World.” Continue reading
Israel raises concerns over F-35 jet delivery to Turkey – Haaretz
Israel is concerned about a deal to provide F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey and has been discussing with the United States delivering jets without performance-enhancing software, Hareetz reported on Sunday. Continue reading
Iran nuclear deal collapse to affect economic cooperation – Beijing
Sputnik – Non-compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the Iran nuclear deal, will affect economic cooperation between the parties to the agreement, Zhang Hanhui, director-general of the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s Department of European-Central Asian Affairs, said on Monday. Continue reading
U.S. Intelligence Reports Russia Recently Test Fired S-500 System
Just days after Russian President Putin called for the country’s next generation air defence system, the Almaz Antey S-500, to enter mass production quickly, U.S. intelligence reports have indicated that the Russian military has conducted a test firing of the new weapons system. Continue reading
Palestinians to launch flotilla from Gaza on Tuesday
The Supreme Committee of the “March of the Return” in Gaza announced Sunday that a flotilla would leave from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday morning, aiming to break Israel’s sea blockade of the Gaza Strip that was imposed 10 years ago. Continue reading
Russian Military Police Soldiers arrested Syrian Soldiers
Senators look to block F-35 delivery to Turkey…
Exclusive: U.S. warships sail near South China Sea islands claimed by Beijing
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two U.S. Navy warships sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by China on Sunday, two U.S. officials told Reuters, in a move likely to anger Beijing as President Donald Trump seeks its continued cooperation on North Korea. Continue reading
Turks get Le Point ad removed from billboard in France
A group of Turks in Avignon, France, succeeded in the removal of a publicity poster for the French magazine Le Point, which in its latest issue described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a dictator. Continue reading
Russia vaunts Su-57 operation in Syria: In answer to F-35 over Beirut?
Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu disclosed on May 25 that the fifth-generation Russian Su-57 stealth fighter took part in a battle over Syria in February and fired Kh-59MK2 cruise missiles. DEBKAfile’s military sources describe this missile as a new Russian product endowed with stealth features for evading radar. Continue reading