Russia and Turkey broker ceasefire in Syria’s Idlib – Russian report

REUTERS June 12, 2019 23:20 Russia and Turkey have brokered a complete ceasefire in Syria’s Idlib province between Syrian government forces and rebels, Russian news agencies cited the Russian military as saying on Wednesday. The Russian military said the ceasefire applied to the so-called Idlib de-escalation zone and had led to a significant reduction in […]

Iraqis remember ISIS massacres five years later

The shocking takeover of a large part of central and western Iraq by Islamic State in 2014 haunts people today across the country. Seth J. Frantzman June 12, 2019 14:52 The shocking takeover of a large part of central and western Iraq by Islamic State in 2014 haunts people today across the country. With fires […]

Iran to ask Japan’s Abe to mediate over U.S. oil sanctions: officials

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran will ask Japan to mediate between Tehran and Washington to ease oil sanctions imposed by the United States, Iranian officials said on Wednesday, as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in the country for a two-day visit.   Abe, the first Japanese leader to visit Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, […]

Russian Expert Mirzayan: ‘Dumping’ Iran Would Be Mistaken, Since Russia Doesn’t Know What The US Will Offer In Return

Russian Middle East expert Gevorg Mirzayan wrote an article in the Russian pro-Kremlin online newspaper Vzglyad, titled “Why Russia Is Handing Over Iran”, about the consequences of the upcoming trilateral US-Russia-Israel meeting in Jerusalem, which is expected to focus on Iran’s role in the Middle East region.[1]According to Mirzayan, it would be a mistake for […]

Israel scrambles jets as drone from Lebanon enters Israeli airspace, turns back

Military says aircraft was under Israeli military surveillance the entire time; aerial infiltration follows reports of Israeli strike on Hezbollah site in Syria By JUDAH ARI GROSS Today, 2:02 pm     ILLUSTRATIVE — In this July 11, 2018 file photo, a drone equipped with a thermal camera flies over the plants at the Pennsylvania Department of […]

Report: Hezbollah planned huge, game-changing attacks on Israel targets globally

Israeli intel official says vast ammonium nitrate cache found in 2015 in London, as reported this week, was part of terror group’s planned ‘revenge’ against Israel in case of war By TOI STAFFToday, 2:22 pm   Fighters of the Shiite Hezbollah terror group attend the funeral in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Hatta of a comrade […]

U.S. sanctions Iraq-based company, says it backs Iran’s IRGC

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday sanctioned an Iraqi company and two of its associates, which it said had helped Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds force evade sanctions by smuggling hundreds of millions of dollars worth of weapons. “Treasury is taking action to shut down Iranian weapons smuggling networks that have been used […]

Lavrov: Moscow, Damascus to Hand Crushing Response to Terrorists in Idlib

Created on Tuesday, 11 June 2019 23:23 Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow and Damascus will give a “crushing” response to militants launching attacks in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, the last major stronghold of foreign-backed terrorists in the country, according to Press TV. Lavrov said at a news conference on Monday that “terrorists […]

IDF general: Lebanon to pay heavy price in next Israel-Hezbollah war

Head of IDF’s Northern Command Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram says Beirut “cooperating” with Shi’ite terror group. Anna Ahronheim June 12, 2019 15:50 Supporters of Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah carry pictures of Hezbollah’s late military leader Imad Moughniyah as Nasrallah appears on a screen to speak at an event to commemorate the deaths of six […]

A Hizballah drone flies over Israel’s Shlomi, is not intercepted

Israeli aircraft were scrambled Wednesday afternoon when a Hizballah drone infiltrated northern Israel over the small town of Shlomi 3 km from the Lebanese border – but did not shoot it down. The intruding drone returned to Lebanon unscathed. The IDF in a laconic communique reported that Israeli forces had spotted the intruding UAV when […]

Erekat pleads with Arab states: Do not undermine Palestinian cause for your gain

Senior Ramallah official tells ToI economic workshop in Bahrain will be an ’embarrassment’ for Kushner, but admits White House has rendered him less relevant in eyes of his people By ADAM RASGON and JACOB MAGIDToday, 8:02  Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat at a press conference following an emergency meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, August 11, […]

Turkey slams U.S. letter on removal from F-35 program

Published:  06.12.19 , 14:42 Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar says the language in a U.S. letter regarding Turkey’s removal from the F-35 fighter jet program does not suit the spirit of alliance.   Akar also says Turkey is preparing a response to be sent to the U.S. in the coming days.