DefenceTalkThe White House said Tuesday that NATO would not provide Patriot missile batteries to protect rebel strongholds in Syria, following a request from opposition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib. Khatib asked for an extension of the umbrella provided by Patriot positions on the Turkish border designed to intercept any missiles fired from the Syrian side, as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/white-house-no-patriot-missiles-in-syria-47281/

DefenceTalkJailed Kurdish rebel chief Abdullah Ocalan was set to call a “historic” ceasefire on Thursday, raising expectations for an end to a three-decade conflict with Turkey that has cost tens of thousands of lives. The widely anticipated ceasefire call is to come in a letter penned by the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-awaits-historic-ceasefire-call-by-kurdish-rebel-chief-47231/

DefenceTalkTurkey sent jets across its border with Iraq to strike separatists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a local military source said Thursday. The jets bombed 12 targets in the Kandil Mountains in the autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq on Wednesday, the source told AFP without providing any casualty figures. Pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkish-jets-strike-kurd-rebels-in-iraq-military-source-46901/

DefenceTalkAn Israeli air strike hit a military research centre near Damascus at dawn on Wednesday, the Syrian army said, denying reports that the raid targeted a weapons convoy near the Lebanese border. Residents who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, however, said the strike targeted a non-conventional weapons research centre some 15 kilometres (10 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/syria-says-israel-hit-military-research-center-46617/

DefenceTalkThales has achieved delivery of the first of three maritime surveillance aircraft under the Meltem II programme for Turkey. This aircraft will be operated by the Turkish Coast Guard from Izmir Air Base. Pierre Eric Pommellet, Senior Vice-President of Thales Group, officially handed over the aircraft at a ceremony held at the Turkish Aerospace Industry […]https://www.defencetalk.com/thales-delivers-first-maritime-surveillance-aircraft-to-turkey-46591/