UN caves to demands from Israel, US, cuts size of UNIFIL force

August 29, 2020 Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan said Lebanon’s government “will bear full responsibility” if Hezbollah turns southern Lebanon “into a base for its terrorist activity under UNIFIL’s nose.” By Associated Press The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution Friday cutting the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon and expanding its mandate to […]

‘Unthinkable for Turkey to give up Aegean, East Med’

Greece playing with fire, being spurred on by France, says leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party 15:19 August 29, 2020 It is unthinkable for Turkey to give up its “historical interests” in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, the head of a Turkish political party said on Saturday. Greece is playing with fire and is being […]

MBS cancels meeting with Netanyahu, fears it was leaked – report

MBS’s condition was for the visit was that it would take place in total secrecy and that his presence in Washington would become known only once the meeting was underway. TOBIAS SIEGAL AUGUST 29, 2020 19:45 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/REUTERS) Saudi […]

Turkey says it did a Top Gun style dogfight with Greeks over East Med

Meanwhile Egypt and Greece ratified a maritime deal and the UAE sent F-16s to Crete last week. By SETH J. FRANTZMAN AUGUST 29, 2020 13:18 Turkey’s Defense Ministry published a video on Friday alleging to show that its F-16s confronted Greek F-16s as the Greeks were heading from Crete towards an area where Turkey had […]

Turkey, Iran and Russia unite to slam US oil deal in Syria

Iran, Turkey and Russia are part of the Astana process and they frequently discuss Syria. SETH J. FRANTZMAN AUGUST 29, 2020 12:54 Syrian President Bashar al Assad visits Syrian army troops in war-torn northwestern Idlib province, Syria, October 22, 2019 Turkey, Russia and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to Syrian “sovereignty” on August 26 and slammed […]

Gaza terror groups readying for joint long-term campaign against Israel – report

Sources tell Lebanese newspaper there is now coordination to increase the number and frequency of incendiary balloons launched toward border communities The military wings of terror organizations in the Gaza Strip are preparing for a long-term joint campaign against Israel, a Lebanese newspaper reported on Saturday. The pro-Hezbollah Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that sources in the […]

UAE Issues Decree Ending Israel Boycott After U.S-brokered Deal to Normalize Ties

The official order lays out ‘a roadmap toward launching joint cooperation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation’ The Associated Press Published at 11:56   U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meets with UAE’s National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates August […]

Turkey to hold military exercise off Cyprus amid Mediterranean tensions

Two weeks ago Greek and Turkish frigates shadowing Turkey’s Oruc Reis oil and gas survey vessel collided. REUTERS AUGUST 29, 2020 11:01 Turkey said it will hold a military exercise off northwest Cyprus for the next two weeks, amid growing tension with Greece over disputed claims to exploration rights in the east Mediterranean. The long-running […]

Eastern Mediterranean Brinkmanship Is a Clear and Present Danger

The United States and Europe cannot be complacent about the risk of conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean. Alongside the dangerous situation in the South China Sea, the deepening confrontation in the Aegean and in the waters off Cyprus, Crete, and Libya is arguably the most serious and immediate security flashpoint facing transatlantic partners today. The […]

U.S. has every right to snapback Iran sanctions

The United States is on course to restore all United Nations Security Council resolutions sanctions on Iran’s regime. This is known as the “snapback” mechanism. It is quite interesting how Obama loyalists and Europe are siding with the mullahs while knowing the regime has violated the 2015 deal from day one. First of all, for […]

Report: Hamas says it’s ready for a long military campaign against Israel

Published: 08.29.20 , 09:34 A Hamas source told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar on Saturday the military branches of the Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip are ready for a long-term military campaign against Israel. The source said the rocket fire at southern Israel on Friday morning was a response to an IDF attack earlier in […]