Iraq’s former PM Maliki joins chorus against US Iran policy

Maliki was the leader of Iraq during a period of intense sectarianism, when pro-Iranian forces were largely seen as increasing their hold on Baghdad. By Seth J. Frantzman May 11, 2019 15:28   1 minute read. Iraq’s former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki released several statements in the last week warning the US against making Iraq […]

Islamic Jihad leader warns of escalation if Israel doesn’t meet understandings

Khaled al-Batsh says his group can ‘obligate’ Israel to fulfill its side of a truce agreement brokered by Russia, Egypt and Qatar By TOI STAFFToday, 2:51 pm  0 0shares Fighters from the Al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad terror group’s military wing, take part in a military march in the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip […]

US ready to go for Iran’s Guards bases if Iraqi Shiite proxies attack Al Tanf garrison

US-Iranian tensions this week were ramped up by intelligence of a plot for Iran’s Iraqi proxies to attack the American Al Tanf garrison in E. Syria, which commands the strategic Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border intersection. DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources, reporting this exclusively, reveal that Tehran’s master-plotter is Qais al-Khazail, head of the Iraqi Kataib Hezballah militia, […]

Why is pressure mounting between the U.S. and Iran?- analysis

The Trump administration sees Iran’s behavior as another instance of why it pulled the U.S. out of the deal in the first place: the Iranian regime is not trustworthy. RON KAMPEAS/JTA May 11, 2019 00:53 WASHINGTON (JTA) – Iran announced this week that it is changing a key term of the Iran nuclear deal — […]

Defensible borders in the Middle East

Posted on: May 10th, 2019 Defensible borders’ key feature, in the Middle East, must be the capability to confront the shifty, volcanic and violent reality of the region, which has been top heavy on worst-case scenarios, highlighting clear and present lethal threats. Realistically, Israel’s defensible borders should not be based on well-meaning, peaceful coexistence (best-case) scenarios […]

Erdogan Crashes the Mediterranean Gas Party

Last week Turkey sparked another crisis by starting drilling in Cypriot waters. That’s a problem not just for Cyprus but for Israel, too Davd Rosenberg  May 08, 2019  Even the most avid Erdogan watcher has to work hard up with all the crises the Turkish leader has wrought. This week the No. 1 crisis was […]

US moving Patriot missile battery to Mideast to counter Iran

The Pentagon decides to move the missile battery – meant to intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircrafts – into the region after receiving intelligence that Iranian military is planning an attack on US targets and interests in the area Associated PressPublished:  05.11.19 , 09:32 The US will move a Patriot missile battery into […]

The Trump Doctrine 2.0: Searching for results in crises

After two years of major unilateral decisions, the White House faces numerous crises that it has kindled in the hope that at least one will turn out in its favor. Seth J. Frantzman May 11, 2019 03:34 On Friday the Trump administration raised tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese exports. At the same time the […]

US Ambassador Warns Germany Not to Do Business With Iran

The statement comes a few days after the US slapped a new round of sanctions on Iran’s steel, iron, aluminium and copper sectors following Tehran’s move to suspend some of its obligations under the nuclear deal in light of Washington’s decision to intensify restrictive measures. Speaking to Bild newspaper, US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell warned that […]

Pompeo to Meet Putin in Sochi on 14 May

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had met his US counterpart at the Arctic Council in in Rovaniemi, Finland, where they discussed strategic stability. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Russia on 12-14 May, where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the State Department said in a statement. “Secretary […]

US forces attack Syrian gov’t oil transport in Euphrates region

By News Desk 2019-05-10   .td_uid_6_5cd5defd5828b_rand.td-a-rec-img{text-align:left}.td_uid_6_5cd5defd5828b_rand.td-a-rec-img img{margin:0 auto 0 0} BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:20 P.M.) – The U.S. military and their allies from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) opened fire on a Syrian government ferry that was attempting to transport oil in the Euphrates River Valley. According to the pro-SDF Deir Ezzor Media Center page on Facebook, […]

Nasrallah’s daughter: He doesn’t live in a bunker

Hezbollah leader’s daughter claims her father is a modest, sensitive man and vows: Israel will soon be erased from the map.   Ben Ariel, Canada, 11/05/19 01:47   Hassan Nasrallah Reuters An Iranian television channel on Thursday interviewed Zainab Nasrallah, daughter of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who lives in Tehran. The daughter said that her […]

U.S. Marine Corps eyeing Israel’s Iron Dome system

Announcement comes after the system intercepted 240 out of 690 rockets launched from Gaza towards Israel over the weekend. Anna Ahronheim May 10, 2019 20:23 Less than six months after the US Army purchased Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system, the US Marine Corps is now looking for follow suit. According to a report in […]

Iran seeks to exploit internal U.S. disputes to defeat Washington – analysis

The US use of “messages” to Tehran only works if Iran believes the messages Seth J. Frantzman May 10, 2019 20:25 US Iran fans at 1998 World Cup 390. (photo credit: REUTERS) The US is sending “messages” to Iran through its latest moves and statements. National Security Advisor said the dispatch of B-52s and naval […]