Archive
Turkey hits targets inside Syria after border deaths
Several Syrian troops were killed by Turkish fire, activists from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Turkey’s border town of Akcakala was shelled, apparently by Syrian government forces, on Wednesday, killing a woman and three children.
The UN Security Council is due to meet later on Thursday to condemn Syria’s actions.
Ankara’s response marks the first time it has fired into Syria during the 18-month-long unrest there.
Turkey also asked the UN Security Council to take “necessary action” to stop Syrian “aggression”.
The request was made by Turkish envoy to the UN, Ertugrul Apakan, in a letter to the current president of the 15-member Council, Guatemalan ambassador Gert Rosenthal.
Meanwhile, Nato envoys held an urgent meeting in Brussels at the request of Turkey, who is a member of the military alliance.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19822253
Armada of British Naval Power Massing in the Gulf as Israel Prepares an Iran Strike
September 17, 2012
‘Battleships, aircraft carriers, minesweepers and submarines from 25 nations are converging on the strategically important Strait of Hormuz in an unprecedented show of force as Israel and Iran move towards the brink of war.
Western leaders are convinced that Iran will retaliate to any attack by attempting to mine or blockade the shipping lane through which passes around 18 million barrels of oil every day, approximately 35 per cent of the world’s petroleum traded by sea.
A blockade would have a catastrophic effect on the fragile economies of Britain, Europe the United States and Japan, all of which rely heavily on oil and gas supplies from the Gulf.’
Read more: Armada of British Naval Power Massing in the Gulf as Israel Prepares an Iran Strike
‘No Fly Zone’ War for Syria: Replicating The ‘Libya Scenario’
Monday, 20 August 2012
‘This is a clear-cut intention to repeat the Libyan scenario,” Dolgov says, referring to Clinton’s recent statement on a possible introduction of a no-fly zone over Syria, something that he says is little more than a call for an armed interference in Syria’s internal affairs. The no-fly zone stipulates destroying missile defense systems and launching air strikes, and it, in fact, means an armed invasion of Syria which can only be fulfilled without being endorsed by the UN. All the more so that Russia and China several times blocked the UN Security Council resolutions which paved the way for resolving the Syrian crisis through the Libyan scenario.”
Read more: ‘No Fly Zone’ War for Syria: Replicating The ‘Libya Scenario’
Chinese Destroyer Enters Mediterranean via Suez
Monday, 30 July 2012
‘A Chinese destroyer sailed through Egypt’s Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea, Egyptian daily Al-Shuruk reported on Sunday. The destroyer could be on its way to the Syrian coast, the Egyptian newspaper reported, adding that the warship is planning to hold naval maneuvers in the area.’
US Military Developing Insect Surveillance Drones
Sunday, 29 July 2012
‘According to various internet sources, a team of researchers at the Johns Hopkins University in conjunction with the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Arlington, Virginia, is helping develop what they are calling a micro aerial vehicle (MAV) that will undertake various espionage tasks.
The robotic insect can effortlessly infiltrate urban areas, where dense concentrations of buildings and people, along with unpredictable winds and other obstacles make it impractical. It can be controlled from a great distance and is equipped with a camera and a built-in microphone.’
Read more: US Military Developing Insect Surveillance Drones
Iran Begins Stockpiling Three Months Food Supply
Sunday, 29 July 2012
‘An Iranian news agency is reporting the country has begun to stockpile a three-month supply of foodstuffs for its population.
The Friday report by semi-official Mehr quotes deputy industry minister Hasan Radmard as saying the country has been buying wheat, cooking oil, sugar and rice for the food reserve.’
Turkey Deploys Ground-to-Air Missiles on Syria Border: Report
Monday, 23 July 2012
‘According to a Sunday report by the Turkish Anadolu Agency, Ankara also deployed troop carriers along the border with Syria. A train convoy transporting several missile batteries arrived in the southeastern province of Mardin on Sunday. The report comes at a time when relations between Ankara and Damascus have deteriorated.’
Read more: Turkey Deploys Ground-to-Air Missiles on Syria Border: Report
US, Israel Plotting to Overthrow Assad: Report
Friday, 20 July 2012
‘The New York Times reported on Wednesday that US officials worked on contingency plans for a collapse of the Syrian government, focusing particularly on the chemical weapons that “Syria is thought to possess.”
The talks focused on whether Israel might move to “destroy Syrian weapons facilities,” two US administration officials said.
An unnamed White House official also said US President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, Thomas Donilon, was in Israel over the weekend to discuss the Syrian unrest.’
US Ship Fired Without Warning, Surviving Indian Fishermen Say
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
‘The Indian fishermen who survived a deadly attack by a US Navy ship in the Persian Gulf say they received no warnings before a .50-caliber gun opened fire on their boat.
The incident occurred on Monday off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. “We had no warning at all from the ship, we were speeding up to try and go around them and then suddenly we got fired at,” 28-year-old Muthu Muniraj told Reuters from a hospital in Dubai on Tuesday.’
Read more: US Ship Fired Without Warning, Surviving Indian Fishermen Say
US Navy ship fires on boat in Gulf
July 16, 2012
A US ship has fired on a boat off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), US officials say.
The USNS Rappahannock fired on a vessel after it ignored warnings and rapidly approached the ship, the US Navy says.
There is no confirmation of casualties although a UAE official said an Indian fisherman had been killed and three more wounded.
The US has increased its presence in the Gulf after Iran renewed threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the US Navy in Bahrain said that a security team on board the refuelling ship fired on a small motor boat after it disregarded warnings and “rapidly approached” the US ship off the coast of Jebel Ali, near Dubai, UAE.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18862480
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