Iran Quds Force head Qassem Soleimani killed in Baghdad strike — Iraqi TV

Powerful leader of Iranian expeditionary force killed in bombing at airport in Iraqi capital, head of Iran-backed militia also assassinated TOI staffToday, 3:16 am Qassem Soleimani, the powerful head of Iran’s Quds Force, was killed in an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport, Iraqi TV and three Iraqi officials officials said Friday The officials said the […]

A Crisis of Truth – by Steve Schmutzer

A Crisis of Truth – by Steve Schmutzer “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it.” Remember that sham? How about this one? “Read my lips: no new taxes.” Yeah – that one was a doozy too. Here are some more lies to churn your gut: “I did not have sexual relations […]

Videos: Rockets Strike Near Iraq’s Baghdad Airport, Popular Mobilization Forces Leader Among Dead

Three or four rockets landed on the edge of Baghdad International Airport in the Iraqi capital early Friday morning, causing explosions, according to local reporters. At least 12 Iraqi servicemen were injured and several leaders of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, including head of protocol affairs Mohammed Rida al-Jabri, were killed. The attack reportedly targeted […]

Iran Says ‘Not Afraid Of War’ After Trump ‘Threat’

Iranian military leaders have warned Washington against threatening military action after U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran would be held responsible for anti-U.S. protests in Iraq. “We are not leading the country to war, but we are not afraid of any war and we tell America to speak correctly with the Iranian nation,” Brigadier General […]

Rockets hit military base in Baghdad

Rockets hit military base in Baghdad Four rockets hit military base near the airport in the Iraqi capital amid US-Iran tensions.   Elad Benari, 03/01/20 00:50   Four rockets hit a military base near the airport in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Thursday night, local police said. Local media reported that sirens were activated in […]

Israel Could Be Key to 2020 Middle East Geopolitics

By Frank Musmar January 2, 2020 BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,389, January 2, 2020 Israel’s geographical position means it must stay agile and manage complex relations with its Muslim neighbors through quiet collaboration and smart use of its technological and economic advantages. Over the past two decades, Israel has discovered offshore gas, begun extensive […]

Regional Affairs: : Iraq blows up in America’s face

Iran is using Baghdad to threaten the region, and it may be too late to do anything about it SETH J. FRANTZMAN JANUARY 2, 2020 21:43 The US policy in Iraq for more than 10 years has been to ignore the reality on the ground in the hopes that a reliable Iraq will emerge that […]

Turkey slams gas pipeline deal signed between Israel, Greece and Cyprus

Published: 01.02.20 , 23:20 Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday harshly criticized the deal sighed earlier by the leaders of Israel, Greece and Cyprus for an undersea pipeline that would carry gas from new offshore deposits in the southeastern Mediterranean to continental Europe. The signature of the agreement on the EastMed natural gas pipeline project is […]

Israel inks mega gas pipeline deal with Greece, Cyprus

Netanyahu hails signing of EastMed agreement, which will see billions of cubic meters of gas pumped to Europe, as a ‘big day’ for country, says it’ll boost economy By AFP and TOI staff Today, 8:30 pm Israel, Greece and Cyprus on Thursday signed an agreement for a huge pipeline project to ship gas from the […]

Turkey to back Libya deployment bill but troops unlikely for now

JANUARY 2, 2020 14:40 Turkish lawmakers are set to back a bill on Thursday that allows troop deployment in Tripoli, but that is likely to begin with military support, training and drones in the air rather than boots on the ground. President Tayyip Erdogan, whose ruling party’s alliance has a majority but faces opposition to […]