DefenceTalkPENTAGON: The United States maintains a base in southern Syria that limits Iranian forces’ ability to move through Syria’s al-Tanf border crossing, U.S. officials and experts tell VOA. “Our mere presence there accomplishes that, whether it’s a goal or not,” Army Maj. Josh Jacques, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), said. The base was […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-base-in-southern-syria-sends-signal-to-iran-71766/

DefenceTalkIsrael shot down a Syrian fighter jet with surface-to-air missiles Tuesday after the plane infiltrated airspace it controls, the military said, in a rare incident that could provoke tensions. Israel signalled that the plane’s infiltration may have been the result of internal fighting in Syria’s civil war, but stressed it would enforce the ceasefire lines […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-says-shoots-down-syrian-warplane-71758/

DefenceTalkUS Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday there would be no cooperation with the Russian military in Syria — at least for now. After US President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Moscow last week put forward plans to Washington to cooperate on the safe return of refugees to Syria. Secretary […]https://www.defencetalk.com/no-military-cooperation-with-russia-in-syria-for-now-mattis-71756/

DefenceTalkDOHA: Qatar’s defence minister said on Tuesday that his country’s long-term strategic “ambition” is to join the Western military defence alliance NATO. Speaking on the anniversary of a year-long bitter Gulf diplomatic dispute, which has seen Qatar separated from its former regional allies, Khalid bin Mohamed Al-Attiyah said Qatar wanted to become a full member […]https://www.defencetalk.com/qatar-says-it-wants-to-join-nato-71710/

DefenceTalkToday, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Acting Defence Minister, held negotiations with Colonel General Sedki Sobhy, the Defence Minister of Egypt. “We see stable progress of expanding cooperation in military sphere. We salute Egypt’s aspiration to equip its armed forces with modern armament and military hardware made in Russia”, Sergei Shoigu stressed. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-and-egypt-strengthen-and-expand-military-relations-71689/

DefenceTalkPresident Emmanuel Macron asserted Sunday that Paris had convinced Donald Trump to stay engaged in Syria “for the long-term”, adding that French air strikes did not amount to a declaration of war against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. A day after France joined the United States and Britain in launching unprecedented strikes against regime targets, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-convinced-trump-to-stay-in-syria-says-macron-71634/

DefenceTalkIran’s Revolutionary Guards today rejected claims that the country is supplying weapons to Yemeni rebels after they fired several missiles into Saudi Arabia. “The aim of such claims by Saudi Arabia is to divert public opinion from the atrocities (they) are committing in Yemen,” said Yadollah Javani, a political officer for the Revolutionary Guards, according […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-guards-deny-supplying-missiles-to-yemen-rebels-71593/

DefenceTalkWeapons imports to the Middle East and Asia have boomed over the past five years, fuelled by war and tensions in those regions, a new study showed on Monday (Mar 12). In the period between 2013 and 2017, arms imports to the conflict-ridden Middle East more than doubled, jumping by 103 per cent compared with […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sipri-conflicts-fuel-weapon-deliveries-to-middle-east-asia-71561/

DefenceTalkThe first coalition live-fire exercise for the Iraqi Forward Air Controller course took place at Besmaya Range, Iraq, March 4-8, 2018. The Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, in conjunction with the Coalition Aviation Advisory and Training Team, coordinated the exercise to certify newly trained Iraqi Forward air controllers. The exercise showcased the progress the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/coalition-live-fire-exercise-enhances-iraqi-combat-capabilities-71558/

DefenceTalkCountries selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and its allies must answer for “war crimes” being committed in Yemen, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani told his French counterpart in a phone call on Sunday. “In Yemen we are witnessing war crimes and countries that provide weapons for Saudi Arabia and the Arab coalition must be answerable in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/arms-exporters-must-answer-for-yemen-war-crimes-irans-rouhani-71541/