Gaza paradigm

Kochavi’s frank comments revealed what has long been known – Israel is negotiating a deal that will end violence in Gaza and bring a semblance of quiet to the South. JPOST EDITORIAL DECEMBER 28, 2019 19:31 Amid warnings that a conflict with Iran is imminent and looming on the horizon, Israel seems to be working […]

Iran hopes naval drill will show US is not a global power – analysis

“Iran befriends the powerful because it has strategic ambition.” SETH J. FRANTZMAN DECEMBER 28, 2019 19:33 It wasn’t exactly the largest naval exercise in the world, or even a very significant one in terms of firepower. But when Iran, Russia and China gathered ships at Chabahar in southeastern Iran on Friday, they were sending a […]

Report: Iran-backed militia in Iraq seek to transfer missiles to Baghdad

Iran’s sway within Iraq has been one of the key grievances behind the months-long unrest One of the few Iranian-backed militias operating in Iraq is trying to conceal the ballistic missiles it received from Tehran, a senior Iraqi military officer was cited by the Arabic-language Al-Khura on Saturday as saying. The officer, who spoke on […]

Iran says it’s working with Russia, China for ‘full security of shipping lines’

During unprecedented three-way naval exercise, Tehran officials say countries cooperating to counter ‘common maritime threats’ TOI staffToday, 5:23 pm As Iran held a major, unprecedented naval drill with Russia and China in the northern part of the Indian Ocean on Saturday, a top Iranian navy official said the three countries sought to establish “full security […]

Dozens of Saudis killed in ballistic missile strike, Yemeni rebels say

Attack ‘came as a response to Saudi crimes’ against civilians, Houthi spokesperson says A special unit of Yemeni Houthi rebels launched Badr-1P ballistic missiles toward a Saudi military camp, killing dozens, spokesperson of the Houthi Armed Forces Yahya Sare’e said on Friday as cited by Almasirah Yemeni TV channel. Saudi Arabia has yet to comment on the report. The […]

Iran could take ‘provocative actions’ in Middle East – US Navy official

“I think they’re going to continue to perform provocative actions over there… and I think they’ll look at every opportunity they can to do that,” US Navy Secretary Thomas Modly told Reuters. DECEMBER 28, 2019 07:38 WASHINGTON – Iran could carry out “provocative actions” in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere in that region in the […]

France summons Iran’s ambassador over detained researchers

French government demands release of Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal, expresses ‘extreme concern’ about the health of the former after she launches hunger strike France’s government has summoned Iran’s ambassador to demand the release of two French researchers held in a notorious Tehran prison, and to express “extreme concern” about the health of one who […]

Iran’s hostage taking now targets French academics – analysis

Iran targets academics because it views them as the soft underbelly of western countries. SETH J. FRANTZMAN DECEMBER 28, 2019 10:30 France condemned as “intolerable” the detention of two academics in Iran. Tehran has held Fariba Adelkhah and Roland Marchal since June, according to France 24. They are just some of several academics Iran has […]

Trump in a corner after rockets kill US contractor, wound forces

The rocket attack comes amid a political crises in Iraq where the prime minister has resigned and president has threatened to resign SETH J. FRANTZMAN DECEMBER 28, 2019 11:37 A US civilian contractor was killed and several US service members and Iraqi personnel wounded during a rocket attack on the K-1 base near Kirkuk on […]

Trump in a corner after rockets kill US contractor, wound forces

The rocket attack comes amid a political crises in Iraq where the prime minister has resigned and president has threatened to resign A US civilian contractor was killed and several US service members and Iraqi personnel wounded during a rocket attack on the K-1 base near Kirkuk on Friday night. It is the most serious […]

Pompeo Says Iranians Have Right To Mourn Victims of Protests

On Friday U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the Iranian people should be able to mourn the protesters slaughtered during the protests in November, after security forces cracked down on commemorative gatherings on Thursday. “The Iranian people have the right to mourn 1,500 victims slaughtered by Khamenei during Iran protests. The regime fears its […]

Preliminary Tests of New-Generation S-500 Air Defence System to Begin in 2020 – MoD

The S-500’s technical specifications remain shrouded in secrecy, although reports speculate that the system will be capable of destroying targets from distances of up to 600 km away. Preliminary tests of the S-500 air defence system will begin in 2020, and deliveries are planned beginning from 2025, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexei Krivoruchko said. “Next […]

Top ten things to look out for in the year ahead

As we usher in a new decade on Tuesday, one can’t help but wonder what the next year will hold for the Middle East. 2019 was a year of immense tension, upheaval and change. The world sat at the edge of its seat as protesters took to the streets of countries in the Middle East, […]

An American killed, 4 injured in heavy Iraqi Shiite rocket strike on US K-1 base near Kirkuk

Dec 28, 2019 @ 11:33Dec 28, 2019 @ 11:33 At least 30 rockets launched against the US K-1 base near the oil city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq on Friday, Dec. 27, killed an American civilian contractor and injured 4 US soldiers. Some 11 to 14 exploded inside the base; the rest outside. They were […]