According to the leaders of the Saudi-led Arab coalition, military operations have entered their final stage in the civil war-torn Arabian nation of Yemen, but senior Moscow-based analyst Maxim Shepovalenko believes the Houthis have no intention of giving up now. Earlier last week at the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ …
Read More »Yearly Archives: 2015
‘Underwater drone with explosives’ spotted near Baltic Nord Stream pipeline
An unmanned military underwater vehicle rigged with explosives was spotted on the seabed in the vicinity of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in the Baltics on Friday, Swedish media report. The device is expected to be disarmed on November 9. An abandoned expendable remotely-operated mine clearance underwater vehicle …
Read More »What it means if ISIS did bomb the Russian airliner
By Daniel Byman CNN and other media are reporting that U.S. and European intelligence suspect that ISIS or one of its affiliates used a bomb to bring down a Russian airplane over Sinai on Saturday, killing all 224 aboard. The reporting on this is early and it would …
Read More »Syria and Iraq Will Define the Future of the Middle East
The Iran nuclear deal was indeed a turning point in the balance of power in the Middle East. The impact of the deal was two folded. In reality, it gave Iran the opportunity to freeze its march towards a nuclear weapon for some 15 years, at best, in …
Read More »Syrian Peace Prospects Now Hinge on Long-Time Foes Saudi Arabia and Iran
Daniel R. De Petris Fighting in Syria cannot be resolved without some kind of accommodation between Riyadh and Tehran—both of whom have used proxies to prolong the war. A third comprehensive attempt by the international community to kick-start a series of peace negotiations aimed at ending the civil war …
Read More »Free Syrian Army to Meet Russian Defense, Foreign Ministries Next Week
Representatives of the Free Syrian Army have agreed to meet representatives of the Russian Defense and Foreign Ministries in Abu Dhabi at the end of next week. Representatives of the Free Syrian Army have agreed to meet representatives of the Russian Defense and Foreign ministries in Abu Dhabi at the end of next week, …
Read More »Russia Delivers Missile Systems to Syria to Avert Stealing of Warplanes
Russia has delivered missile defense systems to Syria in order to prevent the possibility of Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft from being stolen, as well as to return fire, Russian Aerospace Forces Commander Viktor Bondarev said Thursday. “We have taken into account all possible threats. We have sent not only …
Read More »With Russia’s Aerial Assistance, Syrian Army Lifts Aleppo Siege
Damascus-led forces assisted by Russian military aircraft have secured control over the main highway to Aleppo essentially freeing the strategic Syrian city which had been besieged for two weeks, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported. A team has already finished disarming explosive devices along the road. On Wednesday, authorities opened …
Read More »North Korea has developed nuclear-capable missiles capable of hitting the US
North Korea now has a range of ballistic missiles that are thought to be capable of hitting both the US mainland and American interests throughout the Pacific, The Heritage Foundation reports in its 2016 Index of US Military Strength. The annual report examines the strength of the US military, and also takes …
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