Current Events in Mideast-Africa

Russia Lifts Its Ban on Delivery of S-300 Missiles to Iran (Wall Street Journal)

http://www.janes.com/article/71519/iran-says-it-hit-targets-in-syria-with-zolfaghar-ballistic-missiles

Saudi-led coalition confirms missile attack on UAE ship (Jane's)

Three US warships and helicopter dazzled at night by Iranian laser, USS Bataan (LHD-5), guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) and dry cargo ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11), and a CH-53E. https://news.usni.org/2017/06/14/iranian-navy-ship-harasses-three-u-s-navy-ships-marine-helo-strait-hormuz

https://www.voanews.com/a/iranian-made-drone-targeted-coalition-patrol-syria/3894474.html

Satellite imagery shows Russian AWACS back in Syria (DefenseNews)

Death by Chemicals: The Syrian Government’s Widespread and Systematic Use of Chemical Weapons (Human Rights Watch)

Chemical Attack in Syria - National Evaluation presented by Jean-Marc Ayrault following the Defense Council Meeting (26 April 2017) (France Diplomatie)

First Egyptian Type 209 sub arrives in Alexandria (Jane's)

This almost certainly warrants its own thread.

First MiG-35 nears delivery for Egypt (Flight Global)

This could be transcedent by the game engine development, the possibility to add anti anti-air missile capability to some SAM/ABM missiles. This article doubts on the official version, and speculates on the possibility of a retaliatory SCUD launch by Syria against Israel (I doubt it, Syrian army rogue launches or Iranian militias lauches aside, because the fast response and chain of command autorization and issues): http://www.defensenews.com/articles/israels-arrow-scores-first-operational-hit-but-against-what

Al Madinah-class frigate (1985+) destroyed by Houthis near Yemen (Active defenses Crotale NG and 40mm Dardo Compact): https://twitter.com/NatDefFor/status/826127312190111746?s=04

Iran tested medium-range ballistic missile: U.S. official (Reuters) In direct contravention of UN resolutions and the Obama 'deal'

Israeli Satellite Imagery Shows Russian Nuclear-Capable Missiles in Syria (DefenseNews)

NATO hunting at least one Russian Navy Oscar II Class submarine that is chasing aircraft carriers in the Med (Aviationist)

France Says Egypt to Buy Mistral Warships (DefenseNews)

Contradictory news reports about the ex HSV-2 Swift total loss near Bab-El-Mandeb strait, after impacted (probably) by a shore launched Chinese C-802 SSM, fired by Houthis militias. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-emirates-security-yemen-idUSKCN1213B7 But this video shows the great fire after the impact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTNeEYlO3Iw After the ex HSV-2 Swift demise, we can reckon on the same impact in a Independence-class LCS ... (yes, I know Independence displacement is some 2607 tn and Swift only some 940).

How the Nuclear Deal Enriches Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (pdf, Foundation for Defense of Democracies)

USS Squall (Cyclone-class) fired warning shots at unidentified Iranian warship: http://uk.businessinsider.com/uss-squall-fired-shots-after-incident-iranian-navy-ship-2016-8