Kremlin says Turkey is not upholding its agreements on Syria

REUTERS FEBRUARY 12, 2020 12:58 The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Turkey was not upholding agreements it made with Moscow to “neutralize” militants in the Syrian province of Idlib and that militant attacks on Syrian and Russian forces were continuing in the region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow remained committed to the agreements it […]

Trump administration severs Palestinian security funding for 2021

Israel has reportedly requested the current US administration to amend their budget in order to continue security collaboration with the PA. ZACHARY KEYSER FEBRUARY 12, 2020 10:21 The Trump administration’s budget for the 2021 fiscal year released on Monday, excluded financing measures for Palestinian security forces – the first time in 27 years this class […]

Norway’s intelligence chief fears more accidents with Russia’s reactor-powered weapons systems

The new missiles and weapons systems under development in Russia. The Poseidon and Burevestnik are both powered by a small nuclear reactor. Illustration by the Norwegian Intelligence Service “We should expect development and testing of new, advanced weapons systems in the areas east of Norway. Several of these will have nuclear propulsion systems,” said Director […]

Iran urges IAEA to not be affected by political considerations

TEHRAN, Feb. 12 (MNA) – Iran nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi called on the International Atomic Energy Organization to not be affected by political considerations. Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Salehi made the remarks in a Tuesday meeting with IAEA’s newly appointed Director-General Rafael Grossi in Vienna. Salehi said that Iran […]

Inside Iran’s push to get Hezbollah to take a role in Iraq

Why is Hezbollah the go-to, with thousands of fighters and support base barely in the hundreds of thousands, when Iraqi Shi’ites number in the millions? By SETH J. FRANTZMAN FEBRUARY 12, 2020 09:49 After the US killed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi Kataib Hezbollah militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Iran […]

United States to Extend Waiver for Iraq to Import Iranian Energy: Iraqi Officials

by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff Gas flares from oil production platforms in the Soroush oil fields in the Persian Gulf, July 25, 2005. Photo: Reuters / Raheb Homavandi / File. The United States has agreed to extend a waiver for Iraq to import Iranian energy supplies, including gas, two Iraqi government officials said on Monday. […]

Israeli UN envoy: No progress toward peace as long as Abbas in office

Speaking after PA leader at Security Council, Danny Danon calls Trump proposal a ‘sane approach’ that should be given a chance Raphael Ahren11 February 2020, 7:49 pm Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday said peace will remain impossible as long as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas stays in office. “Let’s not beat around […]

Tehran-Backed Hezbollah Steps in to Guide Iraqi Militias in Soleimani’s Wake

Shortly after Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq, the Tehran-backed Lebanese organization Hezbollah urgently met with Iraqi militia leaders, seeking to unite them in the face of a huge void left by their powerful mentor’s death, two sources with knowledge of the meetings told Reuters. The meetings were […]

Netanyahu: US Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty is Certain

by Israel Hayom / JNS.org     Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the weekly cabinet meeting, in the Jordan Valley, on Sept. 15, 2019. Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/POOL. JNS.org – During a tour of the Jordan Valley on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his pledge to apply Israeli law there and in […]

US seeks to pivot to Turkey-first policy on Syria

The US hopes to push Turkey to greater action against the Syrian regime and Russia in Syria’s northern Idlib province SETH J. FRANTZMAN FEBRUARY 12, 2020 09:57 The US has come with strong words in support of Turkey’s policies in northern Syria, hoping to push Turkey to greater action against the Syrian regime and Russia […]