Syria has declared four chemical weapons facilities it hadn’t mentioned before, a special representative of the UN secretary-general has told the Security Council. The news heightened concerns that the Syrian government hasn’t been fully open about its chemical weapons program. Diplomats said Sigrid Kaag told them during closed consultations that …
Read More »NATO chief says the alliance can deploy its forces wherever it wants
New NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that the Western alliance could deploy its forces wherever it wants, apparently calling into question post-Cold War agreements that have been shaken by Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine. Stoltenberg was visiting NATO member Poland to reassure it that NATO would provide the protection it sought against its former communist …
Read More »Erdogan says IS, PKK are the same
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist group is not different from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday. “For us, the PKK is the same as ISIL. It is wrong to consider them as different from each other,” Erdoğan told reporters …
Read More »Turkey to send troops on ground in Syria only to target Assad regime
Ground troops can be used in the operation targeting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as part of a comprehensive strategy also targeting the Bashar al-Assad regime, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has reportedly said. Davutoğlu also reportedly said Turkey will join the coalition against ISIL “only with a …
Read More »Syrian opposition takes control of new areas in south of country
Opposition forces on Monday seized control of new sites in the governorate of Daraa, south of Syria, as part of a plan to open a way to break the siege on western Ghouta areas, on the outskirts of Damascus. The regime’s troops, meanwhile, controlled Al-Dakhakniya neighborhood on the capital’s outskirts.
Read More »NATO chief, Polish leaders discuss Ukraine situation
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Monday stressed that NATO would defend every Ally, according to an NATO press release. “NATO’s most important task is to protect and defend our nations against attack. We will defend our Allies, all Allies,” Stoltenberg said after meetings with Polish President Bronis law Komorowski and …
Read More »US, Ukraine discuss military cooperation
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held talks in Kiev with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland, local media reported Monday. The talks focused on ways of developing bilateral relations, particularly in the military field, Ukrainian News Agency said, adding that the two sides also …
Read More »Dozen of troops killed in Benghazi clashes, attacks
Dozens of soldiers were killed and more than 70 wounded in car bomb attacks and clashes between troops and Islamists around Benghazi airport, a Libyan army spokesperson said on Friday, as the UN threatened sanctions. “Thirty-six soldiers were killed on Thursday in three car bomb attacks, followed by fighting between …
Read More »Clash on Kashmir border leaves 9 dead
At least nine civilians were killed and 37 others wounded Monday on both sides of Kashmir border dividing India and Pakistan, officials said. The fresh clash between India’s border guards of Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers broke out early Monday along the international border (IB) in Kashmir at Arnia …
Read More »France to increase the number of air patrols over Iraq
The French Ministry of Defense says Paris is going to step up its military presence in Iraq by increasing the number of air “patrols” over the crisis-hit country. “We will increase the rate of our patrols,” said French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Sunday, adding, “With nine Rafale (aircraft) in the …
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