DefenceTalkYemeni rebels said on Monday they shot down a fighter jet as Saudi-led coalition air strikes intensified a day ahead of a hoped-for five-day humanitarian truce. Morocco announced that one of its warplanes taking part in operations against the rebels was missing along with its pilot, and that a search was underway. Coalition air strikes […]https://www.defencetalk.com/yemen-rebels-say-coalition-jet-downed-as-raids-heat-up-64132/

DefenceTalkThe White House and Saudi Arabia scrambled to quell talk of a diplomatic rift Monday, after King Salman pulled out of a summit with President Barack Obama at the eleventh hour. Senior US and Saudi officials appeared in public to insist the Gulf royal’s decision was not a snub nor part of a deeper crisis […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-saudi-arabia-play-down-rift-64124/

DefenceTalkThe Saudi-led coalition bombing rebels in Yemen has been using US-supplied cluster munitions in its air campaign, Human Rights Watch said Sunday, warning of the long-term dangers to civilians. The widely banned bombs contain dozens of submunitions, which sometimes do not explode, becoming de facto landmines that can kill or maim long after they were […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-led-coalition-using-cluster-bombs-in-yemen-64103/

DefenceTalkUS-led air strikes targeting the Islamic State group killed at least 52 civilians in a village in northern Syria, a monitoring group said on Saturday. “Air strikes by the coalition early on Friday on the village of Birmahle in Aleppo province killed 52 civilians,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human […]https://www.defencetalk.com/52-civilians-dead-in-coalition-strikes-in-syria-monitor-64088/

DefenceTalkThere are many ways to measure the Persian Gulf military balance, but one key indicator is to look at the relative size of Persian Gulf military expenditures and the size and nature of Gulf arms imports and transfers of military technology. The Burke Chair has prepared a detailed comparison of key estimates of both military […]https://www.defencetalk.com/military-spending-and-arms-sales-in-the-persian-gulf-64006/

DefenceTalkArmy chiefs from Arab League nations on Wednesday began work on building a region-wide military force aimed at combating jihadists including the Islamic State group. The regional bloc agreed in March to set up the force, with member states given four months to decide on its composition, precise rules of engagement and required budget. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/arab-army-chiefs-begin-work-on-building-regional-force-63939/

DefenceTalkSaudi Arabia and Egypt are considering holding large-scale military exercises after launching air strikes on Yemeni rebels who have been slapped with a UN arms embargo and sanctions. In a possible sign the Saudi-led air campaign against the Shiite rebels might expand into a ground operation, Cairo said it and Riyadh were mulling the drills […]https://www.defencetalk.com/egypt-saudi-mull-drills-as-pressure-builds-on-yemen-rebels-63866/

DefenceTalkMoscow: President Vladimir Putin on Monday lifted a ban on supplying Iran with sophisticated S-300 air defence missile systems after Tehran struck a landmark framework deal with the West over its nuclear program. While Iran welcomed the development, it sparked strong condemnation from Israel and triggered concern in Washington. A decree signed by Putin gave […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-lifts-ban-on-supplying-s-300-missiles-to-iran-63821/

DefenceTalkUnder the terms of a U.S. FMS contract announced in March, Lockheed Martin will provide the Turkish Air Force with electronic warfare modernization on board its fleet of F-16s. The contract, valued at $13.98 million, has a period lasting through the conclusion of December 2017, and will fit the ALQ-211(V)9 Advanced Integrated Electronic Warfare System […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-gets-enhanced-airborne-ew-63805/

DefenceTalkYemeni rebels made new gains in the battleground southern city Aden Sunday as a Saudi-led coalition trying to halt their advance faced growing calls for a humanitarian pause in air strikes. The Red Cross has appealed for an immediate truce to allow families to seek water, food and medical assistance, describing the situation as “dire”. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/yemen-rebels-advance-in-battleground-aden-63739/