Headlines, March 5 edition
BACKGROUNDER Ukraine: From regime change to the threat of Russian intervention U.S. and Japan are quietly upgrading mutual defense guidelines China, Pakistan poised to sign a major deal for (more…)
IRGC to the rescue in Lebanon: Al Qaida took Hizbullah by surprise
NICOSIA — Iran’s elite military has been deployed to help protect Hizbullah in Lebanon. Diplomatic sources said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has deployed advisers and other personnel to (more…)
Russia establishes a fifth military command — for the Arctic region
Russia has announced its new Arctic military command, to be set up by year’s end. Russia is the world’s largest land country whose military structure is divided into four (more…)
Sources believe Turkey got missile assistance from China, Pakistan
ANKARA — Turkey was said to have reached the capability to produce and launch a medium-range ballistic missile. Officials said Turkey’s state-owned defense industry has completed a ballistic missile (more…)
Egypt: Surface-to-air missiles from China, Iran, Russia reached Sinai
CAIRO — Egypt has blamed the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip for supplying weapons that downed an attack helicopter in the Sinai Peninsula. Officials said the Gaza Strip has become a (more…)
Extradition clause gives Kuwait pause on ratifying Gulf security pact
ABU DHABI — Kuwait, amid a national debate, has delayed ratifying the Gulf Cooperation Council security cooperation accord. The parliament of the GCC sheikdom has been divided over whether (more…)
N. Korea poised to conduct another nuclear test, ICBM launch
Intelligence sources from major regional countries have concluded that North Korea is poised to conduct its fourth nuclear test and likely another ICBM launch. U.S.-based satellite monitoring facilities have (more…)
U.S. intel: Assad’s stressed military better after Iran-Russia boost
WASHINGTON — President Bashar Assad has overseen a stronger military but still under strain from the nearly three-year Sunni revolt in Syria. Officials said the U.S. intelligence community determined (more…)
Israel set to deploy Iron Beam laser missile defense system in 2015
TEL AVIV — Israel has been preparing for initial deployment of its laser missile defense system. Officials said Israel would deploy the Iron Beam high-energy laser defense system in (more…)