DefenceTalkIran has removed the core of its Arak heavy water reactor and filled part of it with cement, a crucial step under a soon to be implemented nuclear agreement with world powers. A spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization told state television the work was done on Wednesday, paving the way for UN nuclear inspectors […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-says-reactor-core-removed-in-key-step-for-deal-66379/

DefenceTalkKuwait’s parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a request by the oil-rich Gulf state’s government for $10 billion in additional funds for military spending during the next 10 years. Defence Minister Sheikh Khaled Jarrah Al-Sabah said the money, which is to be placed in a special fund outside the budget, would be used to purchase new […]https://www.defencetalk.com/kuwait-approves-extra-10-bn-for-arms-66360/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force will delay retiring the A-10 — a stalwart attack aircraft beloved by ground troops — because of the ongoing fight against the Islamic State group, a military news site reported Wednesday. Plans to postpone the mothballing will be outlined when the Pentagon submits its 2017 budget request to Congress next month, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-shelves-warthog-plane-retirement-amid-isis-fight-66358/

DefenceTalkIslamabad: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, on Tuesday said Pakistan will not send ground troops to Saudi Arabia or any other country after having joined the 34-state Islamic military alliance led by Saudi Arabia. In a briefing to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee at the Parliament House, Aziz said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pakistan-will-not-send-ground-troops-as-part-of-saudi-military-alliance-66332/

DefenceTalkThe sailors are said to have been detained by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces after the vessels drifted into Iranian waters Two US Navy boats and up to 10 US Navy sailors have been taken into custody in Iran – according to reports. The AFP news agency has said the Pentagon is working to recover its […]https://www.defencetalk.com/two-us-navy-boats-and-10-crew-members-taken-into-custody-by-iran-66330/

DefenceTalkThe Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen on Thursday denied an accusation by Tehran that its warplanes had targeted the Iranian embassy there. An investigation found that “the allegations are false and that no operations were carried out around the embassy or near to it,” a coalition statement said. “It also confirms the embassy building […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-led-coalition-denies-bombing-iran-embassy-in-yemen-66301/

DefenceTalkSaudi Arabia intercepted a missile fired on its territory from Yemen’s rebel-held capital, the Saudi-led coalition announced on Sunday, in the latest cross-border attack on the kingdom. Saudi air defence forces intercepted “a Scud missile fired from Sanaa in Yemen towards the city of Najran” late on Saturday, said the coalition that has been battling […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-arabia-intercepts-missile-fired-from-yemen-capital-66180/

DefenceTalkA ceasefire in Yemen that has been frequently violated was due to be extended Monday night, as fighting persisted in the north and rebels vowed more missile attacks on Saudi targets. The truce was set to be renewed for one week, a day after the Saudi-backed government and Iran-backed rebels wrapped up peace talks in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/yemen-truce-fragile-as-rebels-threaten-saudi-arabia-66177/

DefenceTalkDamascus: The Syrian army, backed by Russian air strikes, captured a rebel stronghold in the northern province of Aleppo on Sunday, driving out the Islamists, a monitoring group said. State news agency SANA also said that army units and other pro-regime forces had seized control of Khan Tuman and neighbouring farms. Khan Tuman was the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/syrian-army-makes-strategic-gain-in-north-66152/

DefenceTalkMoscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin fired off an angry tirade against Turkey on Thursday, ruling out any reconciliation with its leaders and accusing Ankara of shooting down a Russian warplane to impress the United States. In comments littered with crude language, Putin dismissed the possibility that the downing of the warplane over the Turkey-Syria border […]https://www.defencetalk.com/putin-rules-out-reconciliation-with-turkey-66131/