Current Events in Mideast-Africa

From Defense Aerospace NATO Shifts to Civilian-Friendly Tactics in Afghanistan (Source: Deutsche Welle German radio; issued July 30, 2007) NATO soldiers fighting Islamist Taliban rebels will deploy smaller bombs in the future to cut down on civilian casualties after Afghan leaders criticized the military alliance for a rise in collateral damage. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), acknowledged on Monday that efforts in Afghanistan had been hurt because of a recent rise in civilian casualties. Afghan President Hamid Karzai had accused the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) …

From Australian ABC news service https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-10/australia-to-provide-military-support-to-gulf-states/106435248?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Find it here. Harriers Complete Combat Runs in Afghanistan Marine Corps News | Capt. David E. Nevers | September 25, 2006 Aboard USS Iwo Jima - The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s AV-8B Harriers flew the last of 136 combat missions over the skies of Afghanistan Sept. 21, ending a short but productive stint in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Using just four of its jump jets per day, the MEU’s Harrier detachment dropped a total of 17 precision-guided bombs over 13 days on behalf of NATO forces battling a resurgent Taliban in southern Afghanistan. With the MEU and the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group positioned in the Arabian Sea, and with NATO…

From Defence Talk France in talks to sell Rafale jets to Morocco Reuters | Apr 26, 2007 PARIS: France is negotiating to sell Rafale combat aircraft to Morocco, constructor Dassault Aviation said on Wednesday. The planemaker, which has until now declined to confirm the talks, is seeking the first export customer for the multi-role aircraft, which made its combat debut in Afghanistan this month. "I can't answer your question because the matter is being discussed the governments of (France and Morocco)," Edelstenne told LCI television, asked whether a sale could happen after the next round of French presidential elections on May 6. France was reported la…

From DefenseNews EU3 Mull Compromise in Iran Nuke Talks, Diplomats Say By LOUIS CHARBONNEAU, REUTERS, VIENNA France, Britain and Germany are considering letting Iran keep nuclear technology that could be used to make bombs, an apparent move towards a compromise with Tehran, diplomats said March 30. However, they said such a step would lead to a clash with Washington, which has backed European Union talks with Iran on condition Tehran permanently renounce all activities that could produce nuclear fuel. Sharing U.S. suspicions that Tehran may be planning to develop nuclear arms, the EU trio has offered Iran political and economic incentives to scrap its ura…

From Defence Talk Iran can make 'nowhere safe' for US Agence France-Presse | Apr 27, 2007 TEHRAN: Iran has the capacity to fire tens of thousands of missiles at American targets and make "nowhere safe" for the United States, a top security official said on Wednesday. "Iran has long-range missiles that can make nowhere safe for America," said Mohammad Baqer Zolqader, deputy interior minister for security affairs and former deputy head of the Revolutionary Guards, according to the official IRNA news agency. "Iran is able to fire tens of thousands of missiles per day at American targets on a daily basis and, with its long-range missiles, can threaten Israel …

From Flight International Lockheed tempts India with F-35 access By Siva Govindasamy Lockheed Martin is dangling the carrot of future access to its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme to India, with industry observers saying that the strategy could be a way of enticing New Delhi to choose the company's F-16 for its ongoing F-X competition. The company has long eyed a potential market for the F-35 in India from 2015, possibly to replace its British Aerospace Harriers and some land-based fighters, says Tom Burbage, F-35 vice-president. The F-16 and F-35 will not be formally linked in a package deal, but Lockheed officials are emphasising that the former ser…

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

From RIA Novosti Admiral Gorshkov contract in jeopardy over lack of funds - paper 14:18 01/ 08/ 2007 MOSCOW, August 1 (RIA Novosti) - The overhaul of a Russian-made aircraft carrier sold to India under a 2004 contract will be delayed indefinitely due to insufficient financing and poor management of the project, a Russian daily said Wednesday. The contract to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India, which state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed with the Indian Navy in January 2004, covers the modernization of the ship and equipping it with modern weaponry, including the MiG-29K Fulcrum aircraft and Ka-27 Helix-A and Ka-31 Helix-B anti-su…

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Russia Threatens To Derail Iran Talks Over Ukraine (Breaking Defense)

From DefenseNews Posted 09/27/07 14:15 Israel again scrambles warplanes over ‘false alert’ By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, JERUSALEM Israeli fighter pilots scrambled warplanes on Sept. 27 for the third time in a week after concern was raised about activity over Syrian airspace, a military official said. The alarm was raised after assault helicopters were spotted on Israeli radar before eventually landing. ”This was a routine measure,” the official said. “The planes returned to base after it was determined the flight did not have aggressive intentions.” Last Saturday, an alert was sparked after a blip from an aircraft over Syria disappeared from radar screens, public…

DefenseNews U.S. Arms Sales to India Could Destabilize Region: EU Report By BROOKS TIGNER, BRUSSELS The European Union should quickly pursue a strategic relationship with India to strengthen political ties and counter the effects of potentially destabilizing U.S. arms sales to the region, according to a new report by the European Parliament. Adopted Sept. 29 by a large majority during the parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, the 30-page report, “EU-India Relations: A Strategic Partnership,” was authored by Emilio Menéndez del Valle, Spanish Socialist member of the European Parliament (MEP), who sits on the legislature’s Foreign Affairs Committee. I…

From Defence Talk Israeli PM warns of 'severe steps' against Iran Agence France-Presse | Jan 25, 2007 HERZLIYA, Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday warned that if the world's diplomatic efforts to stop Iran's nuclear programme fail, then "much more severe steps" should be taken. "It is clear to everyone that a diplomatic solution to the Iranian issue is the preferred solution. We also prefer such an outcome," Olmert said in a keynote speech on the last day of the annual conference on Israel's national security in the town of Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv. If the world turns "a blind eye now, while ignoring reality... those of us who wish…

From Aviation Week New Israeli Recon Sat Targets Iran Jun 25, 2010 By Michael A. Taverna Israel’s newest reconnaissance satellite is seen as boosting the country’s intelligence capabilities against Iran. With the observation satellite Ofeq-9 placed in low Earth orbit June 22, Israel now has six operational remote sensing satellites in space: the Ofeq-5 and 7 military observation satellites; ImageSat’s commercial/military EROS-A and EROS-B1, and Israel Aerospace Industries’ (AIA) TechSAR day/night all-weather synthetic aperture radar satellite, now designated Ofeq-8. “From now on, no country in the region will be able to conduct clandestine activities at …

Iran warns Saudi, US against hindering Yemen aid ship (Stars and Stripes)

From DefenseNews Pakistan To Buy Four Warships from China By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ISLAMABAD Pakistan will buy four frigates for its navy from long-time ally China, the defense ministry said April 4, ahead of a visit by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. “Pakistan and China have signed four contracts for the construction of four F-22P frigate ships for Pakistan Navy,” a Pakistani defense ministry statement said. The frigates will be equipped with anti-submarine helicopters, surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and other defense systems, the statement added. “These ships, after construction, will be inducted into Pakistan Navy which would not only e…

From Flight International DATE: 21/03/08 SOURCE: Flightglobal.com Cancer-causing substance halts F-16I training flights By Stephen Trimble Fears about a cancer-causing substance in the cockpit has prompted the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to suspend training flights for its 62-aircraft fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16I Sufas. “According to tests the substance is formaldehyde that recently was defined as causing cancer above certain concentration,” says the IAF spokesman. Formaldehyde is a known by-product of jet engine exhaust, but it’s not clear if the IDF detected uniquely high levels in the cockpit of the F-16I. By contrast, the IAF’s fleet of 125 F-16C/D…

The Middle East Has Four Minutes To Act If Iran Fires a Missile (Defense One)

Qatar to buy Eurofighter Typhoons (Jane's)