Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain appears anxious over the prospect that Gulf Arab allies would retaliate for parliament’s decision not to join any attack on Syria. The London government has denied concerns that Saudi Arabia and the other five Gulf Cooperation Council states could retaliate for Britain’s refusal to join in any U.S.-led strike […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Jordan has been serving as a training ground for militaries operating in Afghanistan. Officials said Jordan has hosted NATO training for desert operations. The officials said eastern and southern Jordan were used to help Western air forces that operate in Afghanistan. “Clearly the main aim is to train and refresh […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — For the first time, Syria has expanded air force operations and confronted a NATO ally in the Mediterranean Sea. The British Defense Ministry confirmed reports that an air confrontation took place over the Mediterranean on Sept. 2. The ministry said unidentified combat aircraft, later deemed Syrian, entered the air space […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain has blocked dozens of arms exports to Egypt. The British government suspended 49 licenses for the export of military and security equipment to Egypt. The Business, Innovation and Skills Department said the suspension blocked the export of everything from small arms ammunition to radars. “This suspension will apply to […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain has determined that Al Qaida’s network in Yemen marked the most dangerous wing of the global Islamist insurgency movement. The House of Commons Intelligence and Security Committee asserted that Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula presented one of the greatest threats to Britain and other NATO allies. In its […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com WASHINGTON — While North Korea geared up for the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Korean War armistice, much of the western world was consumed by far happier news. “We’ve just received an important message from London,” said the pilot of a British Airways flight carrying me […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The European Union has agreed to designate what it termed the military wing of Hizbullah as a terrorist group. EU foreign ministers said Hizbullah’s military wing would be designated a terrorist entity, a classification meant to freeze the assets of the Shi’ite militia in Europe. They said the designation would […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has become a training center for foreign security forces. The Interior Ministry has overseen the training of hundreds of Western and Asian security forces in the state-owned Prince Nayef University for Security Sciences in Riyad. Officials said the training for officers from such countries as Austria, Britain, […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iraq, in wake of a British court ruling, still insists that the thousands of British-origin fake bomb detectors remain effective. The government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki continues to claim that the ADE-651 hand-held device can actually detect bombs. The claims have come from Al Maliki as well […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Joint Strike Fighter, designed as a low-budget fighter-jet, has now exceeded $150 million per unit. Britain, a leading partner in the JSF program, reported that the F-35 cost more than $150 million. British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said the rising cost could hamper his government’s procurement plans. “It’s [procurement] […]