Yearly Archives: 2021

Historical contract for the acquisition of 80 Rafale F4 by the United Arab Emirates

In the presence of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Vice-Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, signed a historical contract with Tareq …

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Islamic State carries out another attack on Iraqi Kurdish forces

The Islamic State has attacked the security forces in Iraqi Kurdistan in recent days. The Islamic State (IS) attacked Kurdistan Region forces and civilians in northern Iraq today, according to local media. IS fighters fired rocket-propelled grenades at villages in the town of Makhmour. There were casualties among members of …

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Investigation finds militias involved in Iraqi post-election violence

A special committee implicates militias in causing violent clashes on Nov. 5 A committee charged with investigating violence between Iraqi security forces and pro-militia demonstrators released its report Dec. 1 on the Nov. 5 clashes that occurred as demonstrators protested election results. The committee was formed by Prime Minister Mustafa …

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Sudan-Ethiopia border dispute deepens internal chaos for both

The Ethiopia-Sudan border conflict has hit the headlines once again, with their armed forces renewing bloody clashes at a time when the two countries are going through unprecedented internal turmoil. Clashes have renewed between the Sudanese and Ethiopian troops in the disputed border area. This latest escalation came at a …

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Shiite leaders gather in Baghdad to break political deadlock

In order to break the political deadlock resulting from Iraq’s recent elections, Shiite leaders gathered to find a solution to forming the next government. Leaders of Shiite political parties gathered in Baghdad at the home of Fatah Alliance leader Hadi al-Amiri on Dec. 2 to discuss solutions to the country’s …

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Iran accuses Israel of poisoning nuclear talks

Iran’s sharp rebuke followed reports that Israel had shared intelligence with Western partners alleging that Iran’s nuclear enrichment has nearly reached weapons-producing levels. The “Israeli regime … is trumpeting lies to poison Vienna talks,” tweeted Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh on the eve of the fourth day of nuclear …

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Oil workers killed in Islamic State attack in Syria

Syrian state media said IS fighters ambushed buses carrying the employees in the eastern Deir ez-Zor province. Several oil workers were killed by the Islamic State (IS) in eastern Syria today. IS fighters ambushed two buses carrying the workers back from work in the al-Kharata oil field in the southwest …

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Iran denies having military base in Yemen

The Saudi-led coalition claimed it bombed a secret facility used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Yemen. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied Saudi claims that Tehran has a military facility in Yemen yesterday. “Such baseless declarations are made to deflect the nations of the region and the world’s public …

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Libyan court rules Gadhafi’s son eligible to run for president

The court’s decision comes a week after Libya’s electoral commission disqualified Seif Al-Islam Gadhafi and 24 other candidates for president. A court in Libya ruled Thursday that the son of late dictator Moammar Gadhafi is eligible to run for president in the war-torn country’s upcoming election. On Thursday, the Sabha …

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Patronage marginalizes qualified Turkish diplomats

Increase of unqualified personnel and self-serving political appointees has harmed Ankara’s ability to conduct international affairs, experts say. Once considered the cream of the bureaucracy, Turkey’s foreign ministry is in decline as it becomes marginalized in policy-making and turns into an outlet for government loyalists waiting to be rewarded. This …

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