Mil News Middle East Military News

[rtomedic]

Israel Says Troops Kill 3 Men In Gaza Border Breach Attempt
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops shot and killed three Palestinians who tried to breach the Gaza border fence, the military said on Sunday, adding that an axe and a wire cutter were found in their possession.

Soldiers fired tank shells and machine guns at the men, according to a Palestinian medic, Izzat Shatat. He said the men had been close to the border fence, but that he was not sure if they actually crossed into Israel.

The attempted breach came at a time of heightened tension on the Gaza-Israel border, including more than a month of weekly mass protests near the fence. Gaza’s Hamas rulers have said the marches would continue until a decade-old blockade of the territory by Israel and Egypt is lifted. More protests are expected on Friday, as well as on May 14 and 15.

On May 14, the United States is to move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, whose Israeli-annexed eastern sector is sought for a Palestinian capital. The move is seen by Palestinians as a U.S. breach of long-standing promises to help negotiate a fair arrangement for the contested city.

On the following day, Palestinians mark the “nakba,” or catastrophe, to commemorate the anniversary of their mass uprooting during the 1948 war over Israel’s creation. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were expelled from what is now Israel, and the border protests are also billed as a “Great March ...MORE

https://inhomelandsecurity.com/isra...omisrael-gaza-border&utm_campaign=20180507IHS

 

[rtomedic]

Netanyahu To Meet Putin Amid New Round Of Syria Strikes
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Moscow on Wednesday, where he and President Vladimir Putin will discuss military coordination amid new strikes in Syria blamed on Israel.

Syrian state media said Israel struck a military outpost near the capital, Damascus, on Tuesday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the missiles targeted depots and rocket launchers that likely belonged to Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard in Kisweh, killing at least 15 people, eight of them Iranians.

Tensions between Israel and Iran are high over Iran’s efforts to expand its military presence in Syria, where it is a key ally of President Bashar Assad. Repeated airstrikes attributed to Israel have killed Iranian fighters and prompted threats of reprisal from Tehran. President Donald Trump’s announcement Tuesday that the U.S. would withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran has triggered uncertainty and threatened to spark more unrest in the Middle East.

“The meetings between us are always important and this one is especially so,” Netanyahu said ahead of his departure. “In light of what is currently happening in Syria, it is necessary to ensure the continued coordination” between the two militaries ...MORE

https://inhomelandsecurity.com/neta...und-of-syria-strikes&utm_campaign=20180509IHS

Israeli Forces on High Alert Over 'Unusual Spike in Iran's Activity' in Syria
The Israeli leadership have been for a long time accusing Iran of having military presence in Syria and even having a base there, claims that Tehran has strongly refuted as groundless, though admitting sending military advisors to train troops loyal to Damascus.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has deployed its defence systems and are "on high alert for an attack," after identifying what it said was "irregular activity of Iranian forces in Syria".

The IDF has also ordered local authorities in the Golan Heights, controlled by Israel, to "unlock and ready ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/israel/israel-180508-sputnik01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2286.ph0ao0037n.23sl

 

[rtomedic]

Coalition, Partner Forces Look to Deal Final Blow to ISIS in Syria
WASHINGTON -- Coalition and partner forces are focused on eliminating the remaining Islamic State of Iraq and Syria terrorists in Syria, a top official at Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve said today.

"The coalition will relentlessly pursue ISIS wherever they are until they are defeated," Maj. Gen. Felix Gedney of the British army, the task force's deputy commander for strategy and support, told Pentagon reporters in a video briefing from Baghdad.

The Syrian Democratic Forces announced May 1 their renewed push to defeat ISIS, he said. The coalition has since conducted 40 strikes against eight ISIS-held buildings, six logistical assets, two explosive factories and two weapons caches, he added.
"This increased defensive action to destroy ISIS marks the beginning of Operation Roundup," he said. That is the coalition name for the operations "to destroy ISIS in the final areas where they hold ground east of the Euphrates River and liberate the last of their fake caliphate," he explained.

The global coalition of 71 nations and four international organizations remains "absolutely committed to the defeat of ISIS," he said.

"This increased defensive action to destroy ISIS marks the beginning of Operation Roundup," he said. That is the coalition name ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...08-afps01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2286.ph0ao0037n.23s6

 

[rtomedic]

Saudi Arabia to build nuclear bomb if Iran does so: FM
Praising the US for abandoning the Iran nuclear deal, the Saudi foreign minister has threatened that the kingdom will make nuclear bombs if the Islamic Republic moves to develop an atomic weapons program.

"We have made it very clear that if Iran acquires a nuclear capability we will do everything we can to do the same," Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said in an interview with CNN.

"We support and welcome the withdrawal of the United States from Iran nuclear deal, support the decision to reinstating economic sanctions on Iran, and continue to work with our partners to address the dangers," he said.

"I believe that if Iran restarts its nuclear weapons program, beyond what it has right now, that should trigger the snapback provisions and cause all the other P5 countries to abandon the deal and re-impose sanctions on Iran," Jubeir pointed out. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2288.ph0ao0037n.23u0


United States and United Arab Emirates Disrupt Large Scale Currency Exchange Network Transferring Millions of Dollars to the IRGC-QF
Washington – Today the United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) jointly took action to disrupt an extensive currency exchange network in Iran and the UAE that has procured and transferred millions in U.S. dollar-denominated bulk cash to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to fund its malign activities and regional proxy groups.

Specifically, the U.S. Department of the of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated nine Iranian individuals and entities. Iran's Central Bank was complicit in the IRGC-QF's scheme and actively supported this network's currency conversion and enabled its access to funds that it held in its foreign bank accounts. This network of exchangers and couriers has converted hundreds of millions of dollars.

"The Iranian regime and its Central Bank have abused access to entities in the UAE to acquire U.S. dollars to fund the IRGC-QF's malign activities, including to fund and ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...reasury01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2288.ph0ao0037n.23uk


Israel Claims Iranian Missiles Struck Golan Heights, Prompting Retaliation
Israel's military says it targeted "dozens" of Iranian military sites in Syria with missile strikes after the Golan Heights were struck with about 20 rockets in an attack it said was ordered by the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant General Jonathan Conricus told reporters in Jerusalem early on May 10 that Israel's army targeted sites used by Iranian intelligence, logistics, storage, and vehicles, as well as the suspected site where the missiles aimed at Israel were launched.

Conricus claimed that the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Qassem Soleimani, ordered the missile attacks on the Golan Heights, which he said caused no serious damage or casualties in Israel.

"It was ordered and commanded by Qassem Soleimani, and it has not achieved its purpose," he said. ...MORE

https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-claims-iranian -missiles-struck-golan-neights-prompting- retaliatory-strikes/29218395.html

 

[rtomedic]

Russia in Flurry of Diplomatic Activity Over Iran Deal
In the wake of President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Russia unleashed a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at keeping Iran and other remaining signatories committed to the agreement.

But behind Russia's diplomatic maneuvering, analysts see the Kremlin chasing rewards from transatlantic divisions over the Iran issue while facing risks of deeper entanglement in Middle East affairs.

"Without doubt we will make sure firstly that this does not destroy the JCPOA," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, referring to the Iran nuclear deal's formal abbreviation following a meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Moscow last week. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...513-voa01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2290.ph0ao0037n.23wt


Tehran to remain in JCPOA if other parties ensure Iran's interests: Rouhani
Tehran (ISNA) – Iranian President stressed that if the other five parties to the nuclear deal live up to their commitments and ensure the interests of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran will remain in the agreement.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani described relations between Iran and Sri Lanka developing in all fields, stressing that the two countries have reached good agreements in economic fields of mutual interest to both.

Stressing that Iranian companies are ready to provide technical-engineering services to Sri Lanka, President Rouhani said on Sunday in a joint press conference with his Sri Lankan counterpart, "Relations between the two great Iranian and Sri Lankan nations go back to centuries ago".

"Iran and Sri Lanka have had close political relations with each other for tens of years," he continued, adding, "In today's meetings, we discussed various issues such as selling oil, petrochemicals, construction materials and technical-engineering services".

He added, "I hope that in the 12th Joint ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...13-isna01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2290.ph0ao0037n.23wy

 

[rtomedic]

Iraqis Await Results Of Election Marred By Low Turnout
Iraqis are awaiting results from a national election that was relatively peaceful but was marred by low turnout and which could help decide whether the country continues its close ties to the West or turns closer to Iran.

The country's election commission on May 12 put turnout at 44.5 percent, far below the 60 percent recorded in the previous election and the lowest since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Some 22.5 million people were eligible to vote.

Authorities reported no major security incidents, but tensions simmered in oil-rich Kirkuk Province, where the governor demanded a manual recount of electronic votes and declared a curfew to prevent ethnic or sectarian clashes between the Kurdish
Arab, and Turkoman communities.

And residents and officials said two Kurdish groups exchanged rifle fire in the northern city of Sulaymaniyah amid allegations of ballot rigging.

The vote was the first parliamentary election since Baghdad declared victory over Islamic State (IS) militants and routed the extremist group from most Iraqi territory last year.

Official results were expected to be announced on May 14, and the prime minister will be chosen through negotiations to form a governing coalition, which could ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...3-rferl01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2290.ph0ao0037n.23xd

 

[rtomedic]

Israel Celebrates US Embassy, Boosts Border Force
Israel on Sunday kicked off festivities to celebrate the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, even as it bolstered its forces along the Gaza border and in the West Bank in anticipation of mass Palestinian protests of the move.

A day before the embassy’s formal opening, Israel hosted a gala party at its Foreign Ministry with President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka, her husband, Jared Kushner, and other American VIPs.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s “bold decision” in upending decades of U.S. policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “It’s the right thing to do,” a smiling Netanyahu told the jubilant crowd.

Trump announced his decision on Jerusalem in December, triggering a joyous reaction from Netanyahu’s nationalist government.

The move infuriated the Palestinians, who claim Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem as their capital.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas halted ties with the Trump administration and declared it unfit to remain in its role as the sole mediator in peace talks.

The rival Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, has been staging a series of weekly demonstrations against a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the territory. ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/israel-celebrates-us-embassy-boosts-border-force-learn-videos/

 

[berkut76]

Identities of Ukrainian pro-Russian collaborators and their Russian commander who are now ply their trade in Syria as employees of "Wagner" security company.

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https://petrimazepa.com/spisok_rtgr_karpaty_kogo_iz_boevikov_ldnr_rekrutirovali_v_rossiiskuu_cvk_vagnera_2&edit-text=&act=url

 

[rtomedic]

Violence Engulfs Gaza as US Opens Embassy in Jerusalem
Dozens of Palestinians were killed and more than 2,000 wounded in clashes with Israeli forces Monday along the Gaza border as thousands demonstrated against the opening of a new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.

While U.S. and Israeli officials celebrated at the new American diplomatic outpost, violence raged less than 100 kilometers away. The Israeli military said more than 40,000 people protested, with Palestinian health officials saying 52 demonstrators were killed by live gunfire and tear gas.

It was the deadliest day of violence in Gaza since 2014 during the war with Israel.

As the death toll mounted throughout the day, some countries, including U.S. allies France and Britain, called for restraint on Israel's part to curb the bloodshed.

But the U.S. did not join the call for Israel to limit its response to the protests and laid the blame for the violence on the militant group Hamas that controls Gaza. "We shouldn't lose sight that Hamas is responsible for the entire situation," White House spokesman Raj Shah said. He accused Hamas of "engaging in cynical ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...514-voa01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2291.ph0ao0037n.23xq


World leaders warn US embassy relocation would escalate Mideast tension
Both friends and foes of the United States have voiced criticism after Washington relocated its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds, saying the controversial move would ignite tensions across the Middle East region.

Britain in a statement on Monday reiterated that the administration of Prime Minister Theresa May had no plans to move its mission to Jerusalem al-Quds and still disagreed with the US decision.

"We disagree with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem [al-Quds] and recognize Jerusalem [al-Quds] as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement," a spokesman for May said in the statement.

"The British embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv and we have no plans to move it."

France also spoke out against the US move, saying along with many other critics that it violated "unambiguous" international law and UN Security Council resolutions.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in a statement called on the Tel Aviv regime to act with caution in the use of force against Palestinian protesters. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...presstv02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2291.ph0ao0037n.23xv

 

[rtomedic]

Iran, Russia, Turkey meet on Syria crisis in Astana amid growing regional fears
Iran, Russia and Turkey have held talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, with the aim of making progress towards a political solution to the Syria crisis as diplomatic tensions fan out across the region.

Anuar Zhainakov, a spokesman for Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, confirmed on Monday that delegations from the three countries, which act as guarantors of the Syria ceasefire, as well as the Syrian government were locked in closed-door talks.

An opposition delegation and UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura
The two-day negotiations are set to discuss "further steps to advance the process of resolving the crisis" in Syria, the ministry added.

The Astana peace talks began in January 2017 with the mediation of Russia and Iran as well as Turkey, which backs several armed opposition groups operating against Damascus.

The presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey on April 4 reaffirmed their commitment to work toward achieving a sustainable ceasefire between the warring sides in Syria and bringing peace and stability to the country, were expected to arrive on Monday ahead of Tuesday's plenary session concluding the meeting, the spokesman wrote on Telegram ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2291.ph0ao0037n.23yk

 

[Wallensi]

U.N. sets up human rights probe into Gaza killings, to Israel's fury

Israel railed against the U.N. Human Rights Council on Friday as it voted to set up a probe into recent killings in Gaza and accused Israel of excessive use of force.
The resolution to send a commission of inquiry to investigate was rejected by the United States and Australia, but backed by 29 members of the 47-state U.N. forum. Another 14 countries, including Britain, Germany and Japan, abstained.
Israel’s ambassador in Geneva, Aviva Raz Shechter, castigated the council for “spreading lies against Israel” during “five hours of ludicrous statements”.
“Simply put, with this resolution, this council has reached a new height of hypocrisy, and the lowest standards of credibility,” she said.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it totally rejected the resolution, adding the entire purpose of the council was “not to investigate the truth but to compromise Israel’s right to self-defense and to single out the Jewish state for demonisation”.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki welcomed the U.N. decision.
More here=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...o-gaza-killings-to-israels-fury-idUSKCN1IJ0UU

 

[BravoZulu]

Congress reviewing sale of precision munitions to Saudis, UAE

The Trump administration, working to increase exports of U.S.-made weapons, has asked the U.S. Congress to review the sale of more than 120,000 precision-guided munitions to allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, sources said on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump has thrown his political weight behind the arms export push to help job growth at home. Last year, his administration approved the sale of about $7 billion of the precision-guided weapons to Saudi Arabia.

That deal raised concerns from some members of Congress over American weapons being used in the Saudi-led campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen and the deaths of thousands of civilians there since March 2015.

The value of the transactions under review now could not immediately be determined.

Raytheon Co is the largest maker of the PGMs in the United States. A company official declined comment.

Administration and congressional sources confirmed that the informal 40-day review period to sell the munitions to the two countries was under way.

The Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees have been briefed, and lawmakers have asked the administration for more information, which one congressional aide said had not yet been provided.

Committee spokespeople declined comment.

Saudi and UAE officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. State and Defense Departments do not comment on planned arms sales before formal notification is sent to Congress.

The issue is likely to come up this week when Trump’s secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, testifies before the Foreign Relations and Foreign Affairs panels for the first time since the Senate confirmed the former CIA director in his new position last month.

Trump views weapons sales as a way to create jobs in the United States and has announced billions of dollars in arms sales since taking office in January 2017.

He has at times taken a personal role in pushing through foreign sales of U.S. arms, underscoring his determination to make the United States, already dominant in the global weapons trade, an even bigger arms merchant to the world, despite concerns from human rights and arms control advocates.

Key members of Congress, including the leaders of the two committees, are allowed to informally review major foreign arms sales, and at times they have objected to sales and held them up for months.

Senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of Foreign Relations, blocked major sales to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf nations for much of last year over a dispute with Qatar, lifting his “hold” only early this year.

However, if a president wants a sale to go through despite lawmakers’ objections, it can only be stopped if Congress passes legislation blocking the sale. No such measure has ever passed Congress.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...munitions-to-saudis-uae-sources-idUSKCN1IO032

 

[BravoZulu]

Israel:

Israel’s first-ever use of the F-35 during airstrikes over the Middle East may help the jet fight off persistent criticisms that it’s a boondoggle that can’t hack it in combat.

But don’t expect immediate changes to manufacturer Lockheed Martin’s bottom line or for other F-35 users to rush the plane into warzones, experts told Defense News.

Israel Air Force head Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin announced on Tuesday during an IAF conference that the aircraft had already participated in two airstrikes over the Middle East, making Israel the first country to operate an F-35 in combat.

“The Adir planes are already operational and flying in operational missions. We are the first in the world to use the F-35 in operational activity,” he said, according to a tweet by the Israel Defense Forces’ official Twitter account. Adir is the IAF’s designation for its F-35s and means “Mighty One.”

Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst with the Teal Group, called the IAF’s use of the F-35 in combat “the best endorsement the F-35 can get” and said it would be particularly useful going forward in Syria.

“The Syria conflict calls for careful targeting and maximum survivability, the F-35’s two strongest attributes. It has its limits, but in this contingency it should excel,” he said. “It certainly provides other users and potential customers with a high level of confidence that the aircraft and its systems work in real world conditions.”

Israel has a long history of sending its aircraft into combat soon after it becomes operational. Legendary IAF pilot Moshe Marom-Melnik became the first person to shoot down an enemy aircraft with the F-15 in 1979, FlightGlobal reported. Meanwhile, it took until Operation Desert Storm in 1991 for the U.S. Air Force to do the same.

When Israel has a new platform, it uses it as rapidly as possible so pilots can increase their skills, said Abraham Assael, a retired IAF brigadier general and CEO of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.

“It’s a great platform with a lot of capabilities. So we try to get the maximum of it. And I feel they are doing the upmost to do it well and professionally, because it’s a process to learn the machine and induct it within the air force. It’s not an easy task,” he said.

Aboulafia said the F-35’s real-world experience could have an impact for Lockheed Martin in markets like Canada, Japan or the United Kingdom, which are publicly or reportedly considering alternatives to the F-35.

However, Assael said he didn’t know whether the milestone would have much of an affect on F-35 sales to Israel. The country is still deciding whether to expand its F-35 order beyond the 50 jets under contract or to buy more F-15s.

“There is a discussion nowadays within the air force and within the IDF [on] where is the best investment,” he said. “And I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2018/05/24/israel-just-showed-that-the-f-35-can-fight-so-whats-next/

 

[rtomedic]

Leader: Nuclear agency must get ready for enrichment up to 190,000SWU as of tomorrow
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has ordered the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to make preparations for enrichment of uranium up to a level of 190,000SWU without any delay.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a ceremony held at the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum in south Tehran to commemorate the 29th anniversary of the passing away of the founder of the Islamic Republic while talking about Iran's nuclear deal with the P5+1 group of countries, which is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"It seems from what they say that some European governments expect the Iranian nation to both put up with sanctions and give up its nuclear activities and continue to observe limitations [on its nuclear program]. I tell those governments that this bad dream will never come true," the Leader said. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2308.ph0ao0037n.24hw



IAEA Renews Call For Iran's 'Timely, Proactive Cooperation' In Nuclear Inspections
RFE/RL June 04, 2018

The UN nuclear watchdog has reiterated its call for Iran to provide "timely and proactive cooperation" on inspections that are part of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Yukiya Amano made the call in Vienna on June 4 as the agency's board of governors kicked off a four-day meeting amid uncertainty over the fate of the nuclear agreement following the U.S. decision to abandon it.

"Timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access would facilitate implementation of the Additional Protocol and enhance confidence," Amano said, referring to the so-called complementary access inspections under the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which Iran is implementing under the nuclear accord. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...4-rferl01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2308.ph0ao0037n.24i1

 

[rtomedic]

Israel takes part in major NATO drill near Russia for first time
Israel will for the first time take part in US-led NATO military exercises that kicked off in the alliance's eastern flank near Russia, amid tensions between Moscow and Tel Aviv over Syria.

Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported on Monday that several dozen Israeli paratroopers were being dispatched to Eastern Europe to take part in the Saber Strike for the first time.

The unprecedented move follows Moscow's condemnation of Israeli airstrikes in Syria, amid a relentless fight to recapture remaining territories still under the control of foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists and other militants.

NATO officials marked the beginning of the Saber Strike maneuvers in a ceremony in the ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2308.ph0ao0037n.24ib


US, Turkey Agree on Roadmap to Resolve Dispute Over Syria Town
The United States and Turkey have agreed on a roadmap to resolve the future of the northern Syrian city of Manbij, an issue that has become a major source of tension between the NATO allies.

The agreement came during a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Washington on Monday.

In a joint statement, Pompeo and Cavusoglu said their countries would take steps "to ensure the security and stability in Manbij."

"They endorsed a roadmap to this end and underlined their mutual commitment to its implementation, reflecting agreement to closely follow developments on the ground," the statement said, adding that the two sides agreed to hold further meetings to resolve outstanding ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...604-voa01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2308.ph0ao0037n.24ig

 

[rtomedic]

US Warns Allies on Business Ties to Iran
U.S. allies and partners will face "very significant risks" if they continue to do business with Iran, including the possibility of getting hit with sanctions from Washington.

The U.S. Treasury Department warned Tuesday that Iran's use of shell companies and illicit financing to fund malign activities continued unabated, even after it signed the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. U.S. officials said they expected Tehran to ramp up such activities.

"The Iranian regime will deceive your companies, undermine the integrity of your financial systems and put your institutions at risk of our powerful sanctions, all to fund terrorism, human rights abuses and terrorist groups like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis," said Sigal Mandelker, undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence.

"We continue to see Iran use deceptive tactics, including front and shell companies to exploit markets in numerous countries," Mandelker said during a speech at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...605-voa01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2309.ph0ao0037n.24ji


Iran begins working on infrastructure to build advanced centrifuges
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says the country has begun work to prepare the infrastructure for building advanced centrifuges at its Natanz enrichment facility, while respecting its commitments under 2015 nuclear deal.

"Yesterday, we took the first step and submitted a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the start of certain activities, but we started to take the necessary practical measures today," Ali Akbar Salehi, the AEOI chief, told a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday.

If conditions are ripe, I may explain tomorrow night at Natanz one of the projects we have in mind, which is a center for the production of new centrifuges," he added.

He made the announcements less than a day after Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei urged preparations for a potential collapse of the Iran deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) following the US's withdrawal. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv06.htm?_m=3n.002a.2309.ph0ao0037n.24jn

 

[rtomedic]

Operation Roundup in Syria Continues to Target ISIS Terrorists
In Syria, Operation Roundup is in its 36th day of targeting and destroying remnants of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, Army Col. Thomas Veale, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, told Pentagon reporters today via teleconference from Baghdad.

"The increased operational tempo under Operation Roundup includes 225 coalition partner strikes in May," the spokesman said. "That's a 304 percent increase over March and a 123 percent increase over April strikes. We and our partners have pounded ISIS remnants from the ground and air in relentless pursuit of their leaders and fighters."

Sagging ISIS Morale

ISIS' morale is low and its leaders are scurrying for their lives, he said, noting that thanks to increased coalition and partner pressure, quite a bit of ISIS traffic is now flowing west toward Syrian regime-held territory. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2018/06/mil-180605-afps01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2309.ph0ao0037n.24js


Turkey to look for alternatives if US reneges on F-35 deal: Cavusoglu
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says the Ankara government will engage in diplomacy with other nations to beef up its air force and even increase efforts to manufacture its own fighter aircraft in case the United States does not stand committed to its F-35 deal with Turkey.

"There are currently no delays, cancellation regarding the sale and handover of F-35 fighter jets. Even though it's a very low probability, Turkey will look for alternative aircraft from other countries and accelerate efforts to build its own if the US breaks F-35 deal," he said. regarding its defense procurements, referring to its plan to buy S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia.

Last month, a senior Israeli military official revealed that the Tel Aviv regime is engaged in talks with the United States over delivery of F-35 single-engine stealth fighter jets to Turkey without performance-enhancing software.

The top Turkish diplomat also reminded Washington that Ankara would not accept threats ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/turkey/2018/turkey-180605-presstv01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2309.ph0ao0037n.24jx

 

[rtomedic]

Iran's IAEA envoy: Tehran to restart nuclear activities if JCPOA fails
Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the country will restart its nuclear activities if the 2015 nuclear deal or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) fails.

Reza Najafi made the remarks in an address to reporters in Vienna on Wednesday in response to questions about Iran's letter to the IAEA concerning preparatory work on the start of certain activities.
These are the preparatory works for a possible scenario; if in an unfortunate situation the JCPOA fails, then Iran can restart its activities without any limits that already (exist) under the JCPOA," he said as he summarized to reporters his statement to the IAEA Board of Governors.

He said the first preparation was the restart of the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in Isfahan for the production of UF6, while another preparatory work concerned the infrastructure for the possible production of new centrifuges. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2310.ph0ao0037n.24kf


Iraq lawmakers order manual recount for parliament election votes
The Iraqi parliament has voted in favor of a manual recount of votes in the country's May 12 parliamentary elections.

On Wednesday, lawmakers also voted for the suspension of Iraq's Independent High Elections Commission (IHEC) and its replacement by nine judges
.
"The Independent High Elections Commission shall commit to a manual recount in all voting centers in Iraq under the supervision of the Supreme Judicial Council and with the attendance of representatives from political groups and the United Nations," said an amendment issued by the parliament.

It also annulled the results from overseas votes and those from internally displaced voters in Anbar, Salahudin, Diyala and Nineveh provinces.

The amendment also voided the future use of electronic vote-counting devices. The votes were initially counted with an electronic system that was meant to stop fraud but is now being blamed for irregularities. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...presstv01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2310.ph0ao0037n.24kz

 

[BravoZulu]

Israel:
The Israeli Navy last week concluded a drill aimed at testing its vessels’ ability to respond to an attack on one of the country’s offshore oil and gas platforms.

The drill was led by the Haifa-based 3rd (missile boat) flotilla and joined by Sa’ar 4,5 corvette INS Kidon and Sa’ar 5 corvette INS Lahav.

Two major objectives of the exercise were to test the ships’ missile-firing capabilities.

The drill was also an opportunity to verify the recent radar upgrades undertaken on the INS Kidon which was fitted with the IAI-Elta developed ELM 2258 Advanced Lightweight Phased Array (ALPHA) radar. The radar is also referred to as Fire Sickle by the Israeli Navy and guides the Barak-1 surface-to-air missiles.

In a video shared by the Israeli Navy, INS Kidon can be seen launching a Barak-1 missile after detecting a drone target launched from what appears to be a ship flight deck. Seconds later, the drone target is destroyed by the missile close to the water surface.

INS Lahav, the other ship taking part in the exercise, successfully struck a target simulating an attacking boat with a Harpoon missile.

The Israeli Navy is constantly improving its abilities to protect its offshore oil and gas zone which is often under threat from Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The navy’s newest Sa’ar 6 corvettes which began construction in February this year will carry two Iron Dome launchers to counter the threat from Hezbollah’s shore-launched rockets.
https://navaltoday.com/2018/06/06/w...-down-drone-in-gas-rig-attack-drill/?uid=5430

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[rtomedic]

Ballots From Iraqi Election on Fire in Baghdad Amid Recount Campaign - Reports
CAIRO (Sputnik) - A fire broke out on Sunday at a warehouse in Baghdad, where ballots from the recent Iraqi parliamentary elections are stored, amid a nationwide campaign to recount the results of the vote, local Al Sumaria TV channel reported citing municipal authorities of the Iraqi capital.

According to the mayor's office, the boxes with the ballots from Baghdad's Rusafa district burned out.

The Iraqi Independent High Elections Commission rented the site from the Iraqi Trade Ministry. The security at the building has been stepped up, the outlet added.

Earlier in the day, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council nominated judges who would take ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...sputnik01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2313.ph0ao0037n.24o5


US Envoy, Palestinian Official Engage in New Fight over Peace Effort
The U.S.'s chief Mideast envoy and a key Palestinian official engaged in a sharp exchange of words Sunday over Israeli-Palestinian peace prospects and the role the United States is playing in trying to settle the decadeslong dispute.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat set off the verbal warfare with a recent opinion article in Israel's Haaretz newspaper in which he accused the U.S. of acting as "spokespeople" for Israel and assailed the U.S. for moving its embassy in Israel last month from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital, and the Palestinians hope to do the same if a Palestinian state is eventually created.

Erekat said the violence that left dozens of Palestinians dead in fighting along the Gaza-Israel border on the day the ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/mili...610-voa02.htm?_m=3n.002a.2313.ph0ao0037n.24oa


Turkish Military Already in Iraq, Ready to Advance on Kurdish Base - PM
According to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, Turkish forces are currently based dozens of kilometers inside northern Iraq and could push further to attack the Kurds in the Qandil Mountains. This is where the stronghold of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey, is reportedly located

The prospect of a massive military operation emerged less than three months after the Afrin campaign, codenamed Olive Branch, was finalized, with Ankara announcing that the northern Syrian city is under the full control of Turkish troops.

Now Turkey is set to shift its attention to the PKK bases, essentially "to prevent infiltrations and terror activities there," Yildirim stated. He went on to blast the PKK for carrying out "provocations and traps," adding that Turkey will pursue further actions if the PKK persists in its operations.

"Every option (on Qandil) is on the table," he added.

Yildirim notably reiterated what President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday night: the head of state had threatened, at the time, a strike on Qandil and the Sinjar area to the west if Iraq failed to clear the region of the PKK units. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/...sputnik01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2313.ph0ao0037n.24op