Current Events in Mideast-Africa

Probably shoot-down by very long range SAM (S-400?) when chasing after Iranian drones: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43014081

Source: Tactical Reports http://www.tacticalreport.com/view_news/Li...rocurement/2442 Recently appointed Chief of Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces Major-General Yusef Al-Manqoush is said to have no intention of putting any obstacles before any European country trying to place offers with the Libyan Air Force (LAF) for fighter jets. He provided his views regarding the Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and Mirage 2000-9. (rmks: It looks like the reconstituted LAF will court EU aircraft suppliers - almost a no-brainer in defense circles. These procurments will likely act a shot-in-the-arm for European aircraft companies). What are the thoughts of the forum? FWFS, …

White House fact sheet (DefenseNews, Intercepts blog) Two sides already interpreting it differently (DefenseNews, Intercepts blog)

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

From CTV [excerpt]

From Voice of America [excerpt]

Hurriyet Daily News link

From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Aussie sailors repelled Iran attack, BBC says By Philip Ewing - Staff writer Posted : Friday Jun 22, 2007 12:11:06 EDT Iranian naval forces tried to capture an Australian boarding team in the Persian Gulf — even before they seized and held 15 British sailors and Marines — but where the British sailors were taken captive, the Australian sailors repelled their attackers, BBC News reported Thursday. The Australian and British incidents were very similar, according to what British military sources told the BBC: An Royal Australian Navy team had been searching a cargo ship in the northern Persian Gulf when Iranian operatives approached in small boats. But the Auss…

Chicago Tribune April 9, 2007 Musharraf Opposition Galvanizes As protests grow and support weakens for Pakistan's president, the U.S. faces possible loss of crucial ally By Kim Barker and Bay Fang, Tribune correspondents ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- For 27 years, Anwar Khan Afridi served in the Pakistani army. But the retired colonel now plans to mail his eight medals back to the government. He also wants to return his army pension of two plots of land and $313 a month. "I will no longer write anything using the name 'colonel,'" said Afridi, 58, holding his military decorations as he joined 4,000 other protesters outside Pakistan's Supreme Court last week.…

From Stratfor The NIE Report: Solving a Geopolitical Problem with Iran By George Friedman The United States released a new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Dec. 3. It said, "We judge with high confidence that in the fall of 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program." It went on to say, "Tehran's decision to halt its nuclear weapons program suggests it is less determined to develop nuclear weapons than we have been judging since 2005." It further said, "Our assessment that Iran halted the program in 2003 primarily in response to international pressure indicates Tehran's decisions are guided by a cost-benefit approach rather than a rush to a weapon irr…

Apparently 4xC-704 anti-ship missiles. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defe...d-ship-1.349410

From Defense Update Mystery Shrouds Air Strike in Sudan A convoy of trucks carrying weapons destined for the Hamas in Gaza through Sudan was attacked and destroyed January 2009 but no country has assumed responsibility on this attack. Sudanese State Minister for Highways, Mabrouk Mubarak Saleem confirmed that a "major power bombed small trucks carrying arms, burning all of them. According to Sudan-Tribune the attack launched from a US base in Djibouti took place in a desert area northwest of Port Sudan city, near Mount al-Sha'anun and destroyed all 17 trucks in the convoy killing 39 people, among them Sudanese, Eritreans and Ethiopians. The totality of the att…

CV32: That didn't take long! From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz is said to have intention to reactivate a project to buy submarines for the Saudi Navy. Source: Tactical Reports http://www.tacticalreport.com/view_news/Sa..._programme/2408 Here's a nugget to get the juices flowing on some potential "what-if" scenarios. Wow, the RSNF with submarines! FWFS, Greg Emerson, DM1(SW), USN-Retired Renton, WA, USA

A bit of free advertising for Clash of Arms' new wargame Persian Incursion ... And their rather good briefing on the subject matter: Israel and a Nuclear Iran (PDF)

I say "no", it's only a very bad ejecuted mock-up, absurd intake, absurd wings and wings tickness, absurd canopy .... http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshow/18305497.cms

Several of the wire services are carrying a report that Turkey may be in the process of requesting NATO long-range PATRIOT surface-to-air missile batteries to be deployed in its border areas to enforce Turkish air sovereignty, guarantee the refugee camps, and possibly to create a undeclared no-fly-zone in Syrian airspace. It would be interesting to see if it was a European deployment of PATRIOT, which I think would be a first; or if the US would deploy units. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/syria-crisis-turkey-border-idUSL5E8M8BWP20121108

From Jane's A new line of defence: Iran's naval capabilities By Hossein Aryan 27 January 2009 Iran has signalled its intention to increase its naval presence along the coast of the Gulf of Oman and up to the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil conduit, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The commander of the navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran Military (IRIM), Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, said: "A new line of defence has been established to the east of the Strait of Hormuz ... and if necessary we can prevent any enemy ship from entering the Persian Gulf." Adm Sayyari was speaking at the October 2008 opening ceremony of a new naval base at…

Russian Planes Sold To Syria JERUSALEM — Israel is concerned about reported Russian deliveries of advanced MiG-31 fighter planes to its enemy Syria as part of an armaments drive, the topselling Hebrew daily reported yesterday. The MiG-31, considered one of the best fighters in the world, can carry guided missiles with a range of more than 125 miles and is capable of striking 24 targets simultaneously, Yediot Aharonot said. A Russian newspaper reported yesterday that Russia has begun delivering five MiG-31E interceptors to Syria and that Moscow also plans to sell Damascus its MiG-29M/M2 dual-role fighters.