Eastern Mediterranean
- Thread starter Deltafan
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Russian Tu-22M3s have been sent to operate out of Syria, to patrol the Mediterranean, armed with anti-ship missiles. Their range will allow them to operate over vast distances, well into the Central Med around Malta and Sicily, thus threatening NATO's southern flank
www.thedrive.com
www.thedrive.com
www.thedrive.com
Their range virtually allows them to cover the Central Med, almost the entirety of the Arabian Peninsula and the Balkans.
It is somewhat chilling, being from the Med myself.
Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire Bombers Appear Over Syria And They Could Be There To Stay
Recent imagery suggests the swing-wing bombers are operating for the first time from a Syrian base.
www.thedrive.com
Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire Bombers Based In Syria Are Going To Patrol The Mediterranean
In a throwback to the days of the Cold War, the Russian swing-wing bombers will fly maritime missions in NATO’s “backyard.”
www.thedrive.com
Right On Cue, Russian Tu-22M3 Bombers Now Flying From Syria Brandish Anti-Ship Missiles
Less than two days after arriving in Syria, the bombers are flying patrols over the Mediterranean carrying Mach 4-capable anti-ship missiles.
www.thedrive.com
Their range virtually allows them to cover the Central Med, almost the entirety of the Arabian Peninsula and the Balkans.
It is somewhat chilling, being from the Med myself.
Blame Erdogan policies since 1999.
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UN tribunal for Lebanon may close after July due to financial crisis
A U.N. tribunal set up to prosecute those behind the 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and related cases said on Wednesday it will have to close after July if it is unable to resolve an acute funding shortage.
Erdogan certainly don't need Europe to be an a$$hole... to his own people, and to the rest of the world.
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Lebanese banks swallow at least $250m in U.N. aid
Unfavourable dollar exchange rates mean refugees and poor Lebanese got less aid, even as prices of essentials soared amid an economic crisis
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Lebanon's army could prevent the country's total collapse - if it can keep feeding its soldiers
Foreign governments are reluctant to give aid to a government widely condemned as ineffective and corrupt
www.telegraph.co.uk
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Libyan unity PM declares coast road open but eastern forces still block it
The head of Libya's unity government on Sunday declared the main coast road across its inactive front line reopened, but eastern-based forces allowed no traffic through, underscoring unresolved divisions that threaten a fragile peace process.
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Libya's foreign minister sees progress on removal of foreign mercenaries
Libya's foreign minister said on Wednesday international powers had made progress at talks in Berlin on the removal of foreign fighters from the country, although a final communique from the U.N.-backed conference specified no concrete new measures.
Probably pretty much doomed to failure.
Until election can take place... Then it will be hard for any mercenary force to go against the will expressed by the Lybian people. Don't forget that they have managed to overthrow their dictator, one that was even heavily backed by a well equipped army, after a hell of a fight. 2000, 3000 or whatever low thousands paid gunslingers won't last long, let's be realistic.
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Russia, Turkey Reach Agreement to Remove Troops From Libya: U.S. Official
The U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that the deal is not yet done, but each country is prepared to discuss an incremental withdrawal of about 300 troops by both sides.
www.newsweek.com
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We'll see how long that lasts....
apparition13
I really should change my personal text
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Yup. You can only dangle a carrot in front of someone for so long without giving it to them before they get fed up and say *&% you. Electing Erdogan was Turkey saying $%^ you.
Well - screw them then, if they are such idiots, better not to have them in Europe.
I have little patience or pity for people who vote for populists, whatever their country.
When you think about it is seems to be an universal idiocy trait among humans and eras.
At least that prevents me from being racist: no point in that other great criminal idiocy, really - as all humans are equals on that matter - unfortunately, in this case. Brazilians, americans, italians, french, indians, hungarians, turkish, russians... no exception.
That includes French people voting for Le Pen.
It is just beyond me.
"Country isn't right anymore. Something is wrong.
...
"We shall do something."
...
"Let's vote for the populist arsehole spewing loads of idiocies through his filthy mouth"
...
(facepalm)
Ok I'll stop here.
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TMA1
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Maybe some of them feel the complex systems are corrupt and deaf to regular people and so they give the middle finger thru the vote. The neocons/neolibs in power at the moment are cartoonishly clueless and and out of touch. Doesnt help that mainstream media has stopped even pretending to hold to some kind of objectivity.
I understand I am generalizing much here but come on the criticism of "populists" in today's madness seems strange to me. Soon I think I'll hear that they are antisocial extremists who are a "danger to Democracy". (Btw I love how systems/tools such as democratic process or scientific method are turned to Democracy or Science as if they are ideologies or belief systems)
I understand I am generalizing much here but come on the criticism of "populists" in today's madness seems strange to me. Soon I think I'll hear that they are antisocial extremists who are a "danger to Democracy". (Btw I love how systems/tools such as democratic process or scientific method are turned to Democracy or Science as if they are ideologies or belief systems)
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Italian forces kicked out of Middle East base over UAE arms embargo, lawmaker says
The United Arab Emirates is evicting Italian aircraft and personnel from a key military base in retaliation for an arms embargo slapped on the UAE by Rome in January, an Italian politician has told Defense News.
www.defensenews.com
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Russia launches Mediterranean drills amid rift with Britain
The Russian military has launched sweeping maneuvers in the Mediterranean Sea featuring warplanes armed with hypersonic missiles, a show of force amid a surge in tensions following an incident with a British destroyer in the Black Sea.
apnews.com
Turkey to train Qatari fighter pilots amid efforts to ease tensions with the Gulf and Egypt - Nordic Monitor
Levent Kenez/Stockholm
nordicmonitor.com
Interestingly, the only airframe that Quatar flies numbering 36... Is either the Rafale or their F-15QA.
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Russian MiG-31s Armed With Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles Join Tu-22M3 Bombers In Syria
The missile-armed aircraft could present a significant counter to HMS Queen Elizabeth and its strike group.
www.thedrive.com
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F-35B From British Carrier Flies Over Russian Forces Training To Sink Enemy Warships
Tu-22M3 bombers and MiG-31K fighters have also been brandishing their anti-ship missiles during the latest round of drills in the Mediterranean.
www.thedrive.com
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Biden airstrikes heat up debate over war powers
President Biden’s airstrikes over the weekend against Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have added fuel to a simmering debate in Congress over presidential war powers.Top Democrats have bac…
thehill.com
US troops come under fire in Syria after weekend airstrikes
U.S. forces in Syria came under fire on Monday, a day after the Pentagon launched airstrikes on Iran-backed militia groups on the Iraq-Syria border.Col. Wayne Marotto, spokesman for Opera…
thehill.com
Did Russia Test Hypersonic Missile From Syria? Israel May Know - Breaking Defense
Some Israeli observers say the missile test is part of Moscow's effort to gain a very strong presence in the Mediterranean. For example, they say that in recent days the Russian Air Force and the Russian Navy performed a joint combat drill just 30 km from the British aircraft carrier HMS Queen...
US adds Turkey to list of countries implicated in use of child soldiers
The US added Turkey to a list of countries that are implicated in the use of child soldiers over the past year, placing a NATO ally for the first time in such a list, in a move that is likely to further complicate the already fraught ties between Ankara and Washington.
amp.cnn.com
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Letter from Africa: Lamenting the Algeria-Morocco border closure
The Morocco-Algeria border has been closed for decades, despite close ties between the people.
www.bbc.com
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Hunter becomes hunted as Royal Navy helicopters hound Russian submarines
British aircraft drop specialist sonobuoys to search for vessels in the eastern Mediterranean that had been stalking Carrier Strike Group
Israel expected to shift to standoff weapons after Russia canceled their deconfliction effort toward Israel:
breakingdefense.com
Israel Shifts To Standoff Weapons In Syria As Russian Threats Increase - Breaking Defense
The change comes as Russia says it has stopped using a deconfliction line with Israel.
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Somewhat related:
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
Two British frigates to be gifted to Greece
HMS Monmouth and HMS Montrose, two Type 23 Frigates, will be given to Greece as part of efforts to 'sweeten the deal' to sell the Type 31.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk
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Meant to post these earlier:
www.wsj.com
www.reuters.com
Beirut Port Explosion Fuels Lebanon’s Collapse: ‘May God Save the Country’
One of the worst economic collapses in 150 years leads to widespread food shortages, brawls in supermarkets; depositors rush to get their money out.
www.wsj.com
EU adopts legal framework for Lebanon sanctions
The European Union said on Friday it has adopted a legal framework for a sanctions regime targeting Lebanese individuals and entities after a year of crisis that has left Lebanon facing financial collapse, hyperinflation and food and fuel shortages.
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Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel trade fire amid Iran tensions
The Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah fired rockets towards Israeli forces on Friday, drawing retaliatory fire from Israel into south Lebanon, in a third day of cross-border salvoes amid wider regional tensions with Iran.
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Canadian firm begins negotiations to buy Lebanese Hawker Hunter jets
Lortie Aviation was the only bidder for the Hawker Hunters in the third auction that was held Aug. 12.
www.defensenews.com
Carthage, Spain, France, Turkey, Germany, Russia and Libya had their historic moment in which they did to Europe all the damage they could... Not at all.
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At least 20 people killed when fuel tank explodes in Lebanon | CNN
At least 20 people were killed and 79 injured in a fuel tank explosion in the Akkar region in northern Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross said on its Twitter account early on Sunday.
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President hopes for Lebanon government in days as crisis bites deeper
President Michel Aoun said he hoped a new Lebanese government would be formed within the next couple days, as efforts to agree one were spurred on by a fuel crisis that has brought much of the country to a standstill and sparked warnings of anarchy.
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Cyprus on alert as Syrian oil slick spreads across Mediterranean
Modelling suggests fuel that leaked from a power plant last week will soon reach northern Cyprus.
www.bbc.com
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Lebanese state's permission not sought for Iranian fuel, minister says
The Lebanese government has received no request for fuel to be imported from Iran, the caretaker energy minister said on Wednesday, appearing to confirm that the Shi'ite group Hezbollah has bypassed the state with a move to import Iranian fuel.
Two tankers carrying Iranian fuel to Lebanon yet to depart -Tanker Trackers
Satellite imagery on Wednesday showed that two tankers carrying Iranian fuel to Lebanon have yet to depart, Tanker Trackers said on Twitter.
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Worst Tripoli fighting in a year shows limits of Libya peace push
Fighting broke out in Tripoli early on Friday between rival armed forces, the heaviest clashes in the Libyan capital since the conflict between eastern and western factions paused a year ago.
Egyptian AF:
1. French AF is training Egyptian M2K pilots in air refueling
2. Next buy of 30 Rafale by Egypt is to be budgeted and guaranteed by France
3. 2x A330MRTT could be acquired the same way (for a grand total with the above Rafale of €5.4B!)
4. French AF A330MRTT seen flying in formation with Egyptian Rafale
www.opex360.com
1. French AF is training Egyptian M2K pilots in air refueling
2. Next buy of 30 Rafale by Egypt is to be budgeted and guaranteed by France
3. 2x A330MRTT could be acquired the same way (for a grand total with the above Rafale of €5.4B!)
4. French AF A330MRTT seen flying in formation with Egyptian Rafale
L'armée de l'Air initie les pilotes égyptiens au ravitaillement en vol; Vers un nouveau contrat pour l'A330 MRTT? - Zone Militaire
La force aérienne égyptienne est sans nul doute l'une des plus puissantes du continent africain. Et elle n'a pas encore fini de se renforcer, avec la
www.opex360.com
