Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence community has warned against rapid development of Iraq’s military and security forces. The Defense Intelligence Agency assessed that the collapse of the Iraq Army and security forces would take years to overcome, Middle East Newsline reported. In an assessment submitted to Congress, DIA said Iraq continued to […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey, fighting infiltration from such neighbors as Iran, Iraq and Syria, plans to form a border security agency. Officials said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has approved plans for a border security enforcement agency. The officials said the agency, under the auspices of the Interior Ministry, would be […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has delivered the first F-16 multi-role fighter to Iraq. On June 5, Lockheed Martin delivered the first of 36 F-16 Block 52 aircraft to the Iraq Air Force. In a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, L-M said the F-16 was configured to meet the requirements of Iraq’s […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — A leading Al Qaida militia has established an operational presence in Turkey. Officials said Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and Levant has maintained a presence in several Turkish cities. They said ISIL appeared to be most concentrated in the Syrian refugee camps in southeastern Turkey as well as […]
Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — Egypt, Iraq and Jordan plan to launch a regional energy venture. On March 6, the three Arab states signed a memorandum of understanding that could result in the transfer of Iraqi natural gas to Jordan and Egypt. Officials said the MoU would focus on the construction of an $18 billion […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iraq and Kuwait have pledged to increase border security. Officials said the two Arab neighbors agreed to coordinate security arrangements along their joint border. The officials cited a recent mortar strike from Iraq on Saudi Arabia near the border with Kuwait. “Measures have been taken to prevent such incidents from […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has agreed to comply with international sanctions and reduce crude oil imports from neighboring Iran. Officials said Turkey’s oil refinery would reduce crude oil imports from Iran by 22 percent in 2013. They said Ankara would compensate through deliveries from Iraq and Saudi Arabia. “We have diversified crude oil […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iraq has signed a $1 billion contract with South Korea to develop a huge crude oil reserve. The Iraqi Oil Ministry signed a service contract with South Korea’s Samsung Engineering for Iraq’s West Qurna Phase 2 oil field. Officials said Samsung would contribute to initial development as part of a […]
Compiled by Bill Gertz, Geostrategy-Direct.com A former CIA officer told Congress last week that the apparent sloppy trade craft of an Iranian operation to assassinate Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States is not unusual. Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former CIA Iranian targets officer, in testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee, dismissed skeptics who […]
NEW: GEOSTRATEGY-DIRECT.COM ANKARA — Turkey has reported deep penetration inside Iraq in an effort to destroy Kurdish insurgency strongholds. Officials said the Turkish military has reached deep into northern Iraq in search for some 2,000 fighters of the Kurdish Workers Party. They said the Turkish operation was being coordinated with neighboring Iran, which has also […]