Special to WorldTribune.com Saudi Arabia and Turkey are considering sending ground troops into Syria to support rebels fighting the Russia-backed Bashar Assad regime, analysts say. “The Saudis believe that the chance of a peaceful solution for the Syrian crisis is very limited,” said Mustafa Alani of the independent Gulf Research Center. “They don’t see that […]
Special to WorldTribune.com The U.S.-led coalition has begun dropping ammunition to rebel forces via parachute in northern Syria. The Pentagon announced last week that it was changing its strategy from training moderate rebels to arming rebel groups already on the ground and engaged in fighting ISIL jihadists. Col. Steve Warren, the Baghdad-based spokesman for the […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Islamic State of Iraq and Levant has been operating anti-aircraft batteries stolen from the Iraqi military. Officials said the U.S. military has determined that ISIL deployed an unspecified number of anti-aircraft artillery to counter Western air strikes in northern Iraq. Western diplomatic sources said ISIL struck at least one U.S. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States, concerned over Islamic State of Iraq and Levant infiltration, has bolstered force protection in Iraq. Officials said the military, supported by President Barack Obama, has requested additional forces to protect the U.S. presence in Iraq. The officials said the troops would be required to secure the U.S. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, with control over large parts of Iraq and Syria, has set its sights on North Africa. Islamist sources said ISIL has intensified recruiting in several countries in North Africa. They said the recruitment was now meant to help establish sleeper and operational cells in […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has deployed commandos to assess the Iraqi military and its ability to combat Al Qaida. Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama would send up to 400 special operations troops to Iraq. They said the soldiers, the first of whom arrived on June 24, would review […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Geostrategy-Direct.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military no longer sees the Arab-Israeli conflict as a priority. The military’s Central Command, in contrast to that of the administration of President Barack Obama, has not designated either the Arab-Israeli or Israeli-Palestinian dispute as a key threat to U.S. interests or regional stability. In a briefing […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Al Qaida has disproved the claim by the United States that the Islamist network was defeated. Leading U.S. analysts, including former military commanders, acknowledged that Al Qaida defied the assessment of the intelligence community and President Barack Obama. In early 2013, Obama announced that Al Qaida was declining and a […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military remains encouraged by its relationship with Egypt. U.S. Central Command has determined that Egypt’s military remained a professional force amid nationwide unrest against the new Islamist regime of President Mohammed Morsi. Centcom said the Egyptian military, which receives $1.3 billion in annual U.S. aid, retained support of […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has deemed Jordan one of the most dependable allies in the Middle East. U.S. Central Command, responsible for the Middle East and much of Asia, determined that Jordan remains committed to Western peacekeeping and stabilization efforts, particularly in Afghanistan. Officials said Jordan has also played a key […]