Middle Orient

Islamic State Under-Reporting in Central Syria: Misdirection, Misinformation, or Miscommunication?

The central media apparatus of the Islamic State group is mis-reporting on the activities of its cells in central Syria. Rather than exaggerating their capabilities, something that it is conventionally assumed to be doing all the time,1 its Central Media Diwan appears either to be deliberately under-playing them, or, less …

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Opposition Factions Bomb Government Forces in Northwest Syria

On Thursday, Turkish-backed Syrian factions intensified their artillery and missile attacks on the positions of Damascus government forces in the Idleb and Hama countryside, while the Syrian government bombed the opposition-held areas. Meanwhile, sources from Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room, which includes Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other armed groups, bombed …

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Iran: New Defense Minister Vows To Increase IRGC’s Military Power

The new defense minister of Iran pledged that his ministry will do its utmost to boost the capabilities of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. In a meeting with IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami in Tehran on Saturday, Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani reaffirmed the Defense Ministry’s full …

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Turkey among top 3 countries in world in combat drone technology

Turkey has risen to the world’s top three in combat drone technology, the Turkish president said on Sunday, reports Anadolu Agency. “With our unmanned combat aerial vehicle Akinci, Turkey has become one of the three most advanced countries in the world in this technology,” Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the …

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Report: Israel to call on US not to withdraw forces from Iraq, Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will today call on the US President Joe Biden not to withdraw American forces from Iraq and Syria, Israeli media reported. Bennett was scheduled to meet with Biden yesterday on his first visit to the White House as prime minister, but the meeting was postponed …

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Israel intel officials met with Libya candidate for President

Israeli intelligence officials met privately this month with the son of Libya’s top warlord to discuss his 2021 presidential candidacy, a signal that Israel is suppo rting his bid, a source familiar with the meeting told the Washington Free Beacon. Saddam Haftar has been quietly seeking Western backing for his …

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Taliban Delivers US Military Vehicles To Iran

A convoy of US military vehicles has been filmed being directed toward Tehran after the Taliban handed it over to Iranian authorities. “The loss of these vehicles is another embarrassment for the US, and could be damaging in the future if these vehicles are used to either extract valuable technical …

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Northern Cyprus president blasts US senator’s call for Turkish soldiers to leave island

Sen. Bob Menendez called on Turkish soldiers to leave Cyprus, according to Greek media. Northern Cyprus’ president is upset at a US senator for reported comments about the Turkish military on the disputed island. Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey visited Cyprus on Monday. During the trip, he reportedly …

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Israeli strikes said to target Syria; fragments from defense fire land in Israel

Errant Syrian air defense missile explodes over waters off coast of central Israel, fragments found in north Tel Aviv; no injuries or damage reported Israeli planes carried out airstrikes near Damascus early Friday, Syrian state media claimed, and sounds of explosions were heard in central Israel shortly after. The noise …

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Iranian tanker carrying fuel for Lebanon to dock in Syria

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah promised Iranian vessels would bring fuel to Lebanon amid its harrowing energy crisis. An Iranian ship carrying fuel for Lebanon will dock in Syria shortly. Iran’s semi-official Al-Alam news outlet reported that the tanker will reach Syria’s Mediterranean port in Baniyas Thursday evening or Friday morning. …

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