DefenceTalkSaudi Arabian special forces are involved in the military operation against Shiite Huthi rebels in neighboring Yemen, a Saudi adviser said Saturday. A Saudi-led coalition began air strikes on March 26 against the Iran-backed rebels, but says it has no plans for now to deploy ground forces. However, Saudi army and naval special forces have […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-special-forces-involved-in-yemen-ops-63734/

DefenceTalkPresident Barack Obama now has a framework nuclear deal with America’s Iranian foe, but as he tries to build it into a binding accord he faces enemies closer to home. Can he prevent the US Congress from torpedoing his diplomatic efforts to contain Tehran? “If Congress kills this deal, not based on expert analysis and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/obama-congress-tilt-over-iran-deal-63719/

DefenceTalkIran and six world powers agreed Thursday on the framework of a potentially historic deal aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear drive, marking a major breakthrough in a 12-year standoff after marathon talks in Switzerland. The framework, agreed between Iran and the West — which has long feared Tehran wants to build a nuclear bomb — […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-world-powers-agree-historic-framework-nuclear-deal-63717/

DefenceTalkCAIRO: For months, members of the Arab League have been calling for a joint military force to quell the violence engulfing the region. Now that member states have largely agreed, analysts say having the force materialize and preparing it to fight complex modern conflicts may be an insurmountable challenge. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi promised that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/analyst-joint-arab-military-force-poses-perilous-challenge-63703/

DefenceTalkPresident Obama has approved sending twelve [F-16] fighter jets, 20 Harpoon missiles and 125 [M-1] tank [modernization] kits to Egypt, the White House has said. The military aid had been suspended after the army seized power in Cairo in 2013. Washington decided to release the military equipment in an effort to help Egyptian forces in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/obama-unblocks-military-aid-for-egypt-63701/

DefenceTalkGlobal powers were due to gather with Iran Monday, seeking to slot into place the last pieces of a complex puzzle to curtail Tehran’s nuclear programme as diplomats said tentative agreement on some parts had been reached. US Secretary of State John Kerry will lead the team of six world powers — who hope an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-nuclear-talks-race-towards-deadline-63671/

DefenceTalkSaudi Arabia and a coalition of regional allies launched air strikes against Huthi rebels in Yemen, the start of a military operation to protect the government, the kingdom’s ambassador to the United States said Wednesday. “The operation is to defend and support the legitimate government of Yemen and prevent the radical Huthi movement from taking […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-arabia-starts-bombing-yemen-63635/

DefenceTalkUS military personnel stationed at Al-Anad airbase in southern Yemen have been evacuated over security concerns, a Yemeni military source said on Saturday amid fighting involving Al-Qaeda militants nearby. The troops left late Friday for an “unknown destination”, the military source at the Yemeni base in Lahj province told AFP. Members of Yemen’s anti-terror units, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-evacuates-troops-from-south-yemen-base-military-source-63617/

DefenceTalkSyria’s military has shot down a US drone over the coastal province of Latakia, a stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad, state media said on Tuesday. “Syrian air defences brought down a hostile US surveillance aircraft over north Latakia,” the official SANA news agency said in a breaking news alert. The agency gave no further details […]https://www.defencetalk.com/syria-air-defence-shoots-down-us-drone-state-media-63567/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon is unable to account for more than $500 million in U.S. military aid given to Yemen, amid fears that the weaponry, aircraft and equipment is at risk of being seized by Iranian-backed rebels or al-Qaeda, according to U.S. officials. With Yemen in turmoil and its government splintering, the Defense Department has lost its […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-loses-track-of-500-million-in-weapons-equipment-given-to-yemen-63555/