Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iraq, despite foreign military support, continues to struggle against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Officials said more than 5,000 troops have tried to invade the capital of the northern province of Salah Eddin, captured by ISIL on June 11. The officials said the Iraq Army force was backed […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Iran was said to have secretly supplied Russian-origin fighter-jets to Iraq. The International Institute of Strategic Studies stated that the latest delivery of Su-25 ground attack aircraft to Iraq stemmed from neighboring Iran. Institute analyst Joseph Dempsey, based on open-source data, said the arrival of the Russian-origin aircraft on July […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has launched a joint operations center in Iraq. Officials said the U.S. military opened a joint operations center in Baghdad to help the Shi’ite-led government stop the advance of Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The officials said 180 U.S. military personnel, members of […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel has been ringed by a growing presence of Al Qaida, a report said. The Institute for National Security Studies has asserted that Israel was surrounded by Al Qaida movements on all of its borders. The Tel Aviv-based institute cited Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as well […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has acknowledged delays in F-16 multi-role fighter deliveries to Iraq. Officials said the Defense Department expected a suspension in plans to deliver the first F-16 Block 52+ aircraft to Baghdad. The officials said the Pentagon would be unable to supply the F-16s amid the drive by Al […]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Iraq was expected to employ foreign pilots for its new fleet of Su-25 fighter-jets, a report said. The Royal United Services Institute asserted that the Iraq Air Force lacked the pilots and maintenance capability for the new Su-25 aircraft provided by Russia. In a report, the London-based institute said the […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has deployed combat unmanned aerial vehicles in Iraq. The Defense Department said the U.S. military has used both manned and unmanned aircraft amid the war against Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Pentagon said some of the unidentified UAVs were armed to protect […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has declared a state. ISIL said it changed its name to “Islamic State” and would be headed by Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi. The movement called for support from Islamists around the world. “He is the preacher and caliph for the Muslims […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Iraq has acquired its first fighter-jet in more than a decade. The government said the Iraq Air Force received the Su-25 fighter-jet from Russia. Officials said seven warplanes arrived in Baghdad on June 28-29 as part of a deal worth up to $500 million. “We are in urgent need of […]
Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — The Egyptian Army has again been struck hard in the turbulent Sinai Peninsula. Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency said four soldiers were killed on June 28 in northeastern Sinai. MENA said the soldiers were ambushed by suspected Islamic insurgents as they were driven in a pickup along the highway […]