Middle Orient

US assists Iraq with $685m to enhance its navy

The Untied States is to donate USD 685 million to assist Iraq in enhancing its naval forces, US Consul General in Basra Win Dayton announced Wednesday. The donation will be in the form of equipment, maintenance services for the country’s infrastructure, and joint military exercise with other countries on protecting …

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US coalition carries on strikes against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria conducting 27 strikes, consisting of 32 engagements, inflicting major damage to radical Islamic forces and tactical units. These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and …

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Trump, Lebanon PM discuss region issues

Donald Trump labelled the juggernaut Lebanese militant group Hizbollah as “a menace to the entire region” as he stood next to Lebanon’s Prime Minister during their first official meeting. The U.S. President made the damning comments during a joint press conference with Saad Hariri following an 85-minute meeting between the …

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Iraq: Paramilitary troops kill 2 IS members

Pro-government paramilitary forces killed two Islamic State members and seized their ammunition truck west of Anbar on Tuesday, a security source was quoted saying. Alsumaria News quoted the source saying that a force from “Al-Jazeera Shield”, a regiment affiliated with the “Tribal Mobilization”, ambushed three IS militants at the Kilo …

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US confirms CIA is ending support for Syria rebels

The head of the U.S. military’s special operations confirmed Friday that the Central Intelligence Agency is shutting down its program to support rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar Assad. Gen. Tony Thomas denied that the 4-year-old operation was brought to an end as a way to placate Russia and earn …

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US to deploy 2,100 troops to Iraq

The U.S. Army announced Thursday that 2,100 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) will deploy to Iraq this fall. The soldiers from 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, based in at Fort Polk in Louisiana will replace the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, in a regular rotation …

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Iraqi FM to visit India

India is likely to seek from Baghdad the latest information on the fate of 39 Indians missing in Iraq for the last three years when Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari pays his first official visit to India from 24 July. These Indians, mostly from Punjab, were abducted by ISIS militants …

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Iraq paramilitary troops kill three senior IS leaders

Three senior Islamic State leaders were killed in Tal Afar town, west of Mosul, the Shia-led paramilitary troops said on Friday. A statement by Saraya al-Jihad militia, affiliated to al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) said troops “identified the bodies of IS members, who were killed on Thursday while infiltrating behind …

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Egypt launches largest military base in Middle East

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated on Saturday the largest military base of the Middle East in the coastal city of Alexandria. The president raised the Armed Forces flag on the new base in el Hammam city, west of Alexandria. The military base was named after late president Mohamed Naguib, …

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