The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has prepared plans to enhance the U.S. military presence in eastern #Syria. The White House aims to secure Syria’s largest oil and gas fields (al-Omar and Conoco) against resurgent ISIS cells and the pro-governmental forces, by sending half of an U.S. Army armoured brigade combat team (ABCT) battalion. OPERATION […]
The Republic of China (ROC or Taiwan) will proceed to overhaul its 142 F-16 A/B multi-role fighter jets. The modernization program “Phoenix Rising” was repeatedly delayed due to a shortage in manpower at Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC). Defense Minister Yen Teh-fa said that the problem was solved, after the AIDC hired 200 additional […]
Vice President Mike Pence announced that the US and Turkey reached a deal to suspend the Turkish military offensive in Northeastern (NE) Syria. After tense negotiations in Ankara, Turkish President Erdogan agreed to a 120 hour long ceasefire on Thursday. The ceasefire grants the Kurdish “Peoples’ Protection Units” (or YPG) 120 hours to withdraw 32 […]
18 October 2019
Buffer zone, Donald Trump, Erdogan, M4 highway, Mike Pence, NE Syria, Ras al Ayn, SDF, SNA, Syrian Civil War, Tel Abyad, turkey, US, YPG
As part of an agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Assad regime, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) will secure the cities along the Manbij-Malikyah line. According to multiple local reports, SAA soldiers have already moved from their positions in Al-Arimah into Manbij, after US troops vacated Aleppo province. If confirmed, the […]
14 October 2019
Northern Syria, Opposition groups, SDF, syria, Syrian Army, Syrian Civil War, Syrian Kurds, turkey, US forces, YPG
US troops in the vicinity of Kobani (Ayn al Arab) came under artillery fire from Turkish positions around 9 AM (local time) on October 11, 2019. Turkey used T-155 Firitna 155mm self-propelled howitzers and/or 120mm mortars to attack SDF/YPG positions on Mashtenour hill (SE Kobani), our assessment finds. The Turkish artillery fire fell several meters […]
12 October 2019
artillery, attack, SDF, syria, Syrian Civil War, Syrian Kurds, turkey, US, YPG
In preparation for a ground assault, Turkish F-16s and artillery units have attacked more than ten positions controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria on October 9, 2019. The SDF returned fire with rocket attacks on Turkish border towns. Despite international pressure, Turkish President Erdogan has announced that the Turkish military and […]
9 October 2019
Akçakale, Al-Nusra, Ceylanpınar, Operation Peace Spring, Ras al Ayn, SDF, syria, Syrian Civil War, Syrian Kurds, Syrian National army, Tel Abyad, turkey, US, YPG
During a press briefing in Riyadh, the Saudi Defense Ministry revealed wreckage recovered after the air attack on the petrochemical facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais. The physical evidence suggests that the weapons used in the attack were a mix of Iranian land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs) and expendable unmanned aerial vehicles (XUAVs). According to the Defense […]
21 September 2019
cruise missile, Delta Wave, delta-wing, Iranian Regional Activities, Iranian weapons, Kh-55, Patriot, Quds-1, Saudi Defense Ministry, Soumar, UAV, Ya-Ali
American and Saudi investigators have concluded that the air attack on the Abqaiq and Khurais petrochemical facilities originated directly from Iran – not Yemen or Iraq – sources say. The cruise missile and/or drone attack was likely staged from Iran’s Khuzestan province. As unidentified flying objects (UFOs) were spotted in Kuwait just before the attack, […]
18 September 2019
Abqaiq, attack, cruise missiles, drones, Houthi, Iran, Iranian Regional Activities, iraq, IRGC, Khurais, Khuzestan province, Patriot air defense system, Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, US, Yemen
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that it is devising retaliation plans for the drone attacks on its oil refineries, which have been claimed by the Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. In a call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on Saturday, United States President Donald Trump offered support for Saudi self-defense. According […]
15 September 2019
Abqaiq, Aramco, energy security, Houthis, Iran, Iranian Regional Activities, iraq, IRGC, Khurais, oil trade, Quds-1, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Sumar
The Iranian very large crude carrier (VLCC) M/T Adrian Darya-1 was spotted anchoring off the Syrian coast. The oil tanker, previously known as “Grace-1,” was seized by British Royal Marines in July, as it was suspected of breaching EU sanctions by transporting oil to the Syrian regime. Panama, the Grace-1’s flag country, deleted the tanker […]
7 September 2019
Adrian Darya-1, European Union, Grace-1, Iran, Iranian Regional Activities, oil tanker, sanctions, syria, United Kingdom, United States