Jordan: Expanded 2014 exercise will include 13,000 troops from 24 nations

Jordan: Expanded 2014 exercise will include 13,000 troops from 24 nations

Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — Jordan has disclosed plans for a major military exercise in May 2014. The military said it would host a multi-national exercise called Eager Lion scheduled for May 25. The two-week exercise would contain more than 13,000 troops from 24 countries. The latest edition of Eager Lion, organized by Jordan and […]

U.S. Africa Command strengthens ties with Djibouti as Al Qaida targets region

U.S. Africa Command strengthens ties with Djibouti as Al Qaida targets region

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States plans to enhance military cooperation with Djibouti. Officials said Djibouti and the United States agreed to bolster their strategic relationship in an effort to stabilize the Horn of Africa which has contended with the influx and migration of Islamist fighters. The officials said the agreement was reached […]

Obama lifts ban, allows Egypt to buy Apache helicopters to counter Al Qaida

Obama lifts ban, allows Egypt to buy Apache helicopters to counter Al Qaida

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has reversed its position and will end the suspension of attack helicopter deliveries to Egypt. The administration of President Barack Obama said Egypt would receive 10 AH-64D attack helicopters from U.S. prime contractor Boeing. Officials said the administration determined that the Apaches, expected to arrive by May, […]

U.S. plans ‘more prominent’ role for United Arab Emirates amid tensions with Saudis

U.S. plans ‘more prominent’ role for United Arab Emirates amid tensions with Saudis

Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — The United States has intensified a defense dialogue with the United Arab Emirates. Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama was focusing on expanding defense relations with the UAE amid the U.S. rift with Saudi Arabia. The officials said Washington was considering expanding the U.S. military presence in […]

Iran tops agenda as Obama prepares for trip to Riyad

Iran tops agenda as Obama prepares for trip to Riyad

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia’s new deputy defense minister has been reviewing U.S. arms projects. Prince Salman Bin Sultan has conducted his first visit to the United States as Saudi Arabia’s new deputy defense minister. [See also: Saudi defense minister talks strategic ties with Beijing in advance of Obama trip] Salman, who spent […]

Netanyahu: Weapons ship ‘was organized by Iran, dispatched by Iran, financed by Iran’

Netanyahu: Weapons ship ‘was organized by Iran, dispatched by Iran, financed by Iran’

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel has determined that Iran financed a weapons ship for the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Officials said the Israeli intelligence community assessed that the Teheran regime sponsored a ship laden with missiles and rockets to supply the Gaza Strip. The officials said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps supplied the M-302 […]

Obama cuts $200 million from Israeli missile defense partnership

Obama cuts $200 million from Israeli missile defense partnership

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has slashed U.S. contributions to Israel’s ballistic missile defense programs. The Obama administration has proposed a reduction of nearly $200 million in joint U.S.-Israel BMD programs. The 2015 budget would hamper such existing programs as Israel’s Arrow-2, Arrow-3 and David’s Sling. “This is very disappointing and it […]

Israeli dismisses U.S. security proposal for W. Bank as ‘non-starter’

Israeli dismisses U.S. security proposal for W. Bank as ‘non-starter’

Special to WorldTribune.com JERUSALEM — Israel is said to have rejected a U.S. security regime in the West Bank as part of the establishment of a Palestinian state over the next year. Israeli sources said Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon dismissed a plan by U.S. Gen. John Allen that envisioned an interim Israeli military presence in […]

In bow to Iran, U.S. kept carrier away from Gulf ‘to give space’ for nuclear deal

In bow to Iran, U.S. kept carrier away from Gulf ‘to give space’ for nuclear deal

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States, in what was seen as a gesture to Iran, has kept its aircraft carrier group out of the Gulf. U.S. Navy records showed that the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier group was kept away from the Gulf for most of the last six months. The aircraft […]

Kerry threatens Israel with international boycott

Kerry threatens Israel with international boycott

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has raised the prospect of an international boycott of Israel. The administration of President Barack Obama has warned that Israel would be de-legitimized should the United States fail to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank. A senior official rejected Israeli criticism of heavy pressure by […]