DefenceTalkIran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei restated his red lines for a nuclear deal with world powers in a sudden intervention Tuesday after discord surfaced between his government and lawmakers. Khamenei, who will have the last word for Iran in its talks with the West, stepped in hours after Iran’s parliament passed a bill on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-leader-restates-red-lines-on-nuclear-deal-64676/

DefenceTalkParis: France said Wednesday it would look into building two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia as part of a multi-billion-euro package of deals, days before the deadline of nuclear talks with the kingdom’s rival, Iran. A feasibility study will be carried out to build two European Pressurised Reactors in Saudi Arabia, French Foreign Minister Laurent […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-to-study-building-nuclear-reactors-in-saudi-arabia-64667/

DefenceTalkWASHINGTON: Anti-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces have made significant gains in northern Syria, which will have positive effects in Iraq as well, a senior U.S. Central Command official said today. During a telephone conference from Southwest Asia with Pentagon reporters, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve Chief of Staff Marine Corps Brig. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/general-significant-gains-made-by-anti-isil-forces-in-northern-syria-64598/

DefenceTalkSoldiers, from the 76th Iraqi Infantry Brigade, received M16A2 rifles and infantry equipment sets, May 24-26, as part of the fielding of combat brigade equipment sets supplied to Iraqi Security Forces from the United States to support the fight against Daesh. Under the direction of the 3rd Sustainment Brigade Forward Support Element on Fort Stewart, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-supplies-critical-weapons-to-iraqi-forces-in-fight-against-isil-64533/

DefenceTalkThe leader of Al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen was targeted in a CIA drone strike last week, though US officials would not immediately confirm he had been killed, The Washington Post reported Monday. Nasir al-Wuhayshi’s group, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, is behind several plots against the United States, including an attempt to blow up a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cia-drone-strike-targets-top-al-qaeda-leader-in-yemen-report-64511/

DefenceTalkA top Iranian official, in an unusual declaration Saturday, said there remains no trust between Tehran and world powers and either side could yet abandon a nuclear deal after signing. In comments that laid bare a paradox of long-running negotiations between Iran and the West, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said an agreement — due […]https://www.defencetalk.com/no-trust-in-iran-nuclear-talks-top-negotiator-64417/

DefenceTalkTwenty civilians were among at least 45 people killed in Saudi-led air strikes on the rebel-held armed forces headquarters in the Yemeni capital on Sunday, a medic said. The raids on the army headquarters in central Sanaa came a day after the kingdom’s air defences shot down a Scud missile fired from the war-torn country. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/45-dead-in-saudi-led-raids-on-yemen-capital-64403/

DefenceTalkIraq’s leadership was indignant after US accusations that its forces lack the will to fight but assessments of the army’s ability suggest the rank-and-file have reasons to shy from battle. Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Sunday, a week after the loss of Ramadi to the Islamic State group, that there was “an issue with the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/litany-of-problems-keep-iraqi-army-weak-64352/

DefenceTalkThe United States said Wednesday it plans to sell thousands of bombs and missiles to Israel as well as 10 Seahawk helicopters to Saudi Arabia, in deals worth about $1.9 billion each, officials said Wednesday. The US State Department informed Congress of the proposed arms sales to two allies in the Middle East that are […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-sell-bombs-to-israel-helicopters-to-saudis-64266/

DefenceTalkTurkish fighter jets on Saturday shot down a Syrian helicopter that crossed into Turkey’s airspace in the south of the country, the government and army said. The incident marked a new spike in tensions between Turkey and the Damascus regime of President Bashar al-Assad, whose overthrow Turkey believes is essential to solve the Syrian crisis. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-says-it-shot-down-syrian-helicopter-64231/