Turkey Reveals Extent of Illegal US Base Building in Syria
The US has built no fewer than eleven illegal military bases within Syria's borders
Thu, Jul 20, 2017
Turkey's state-owned Anadolu news agency has the locations of 10 US bases in northern Syria, many of them previously unknown to the wider public.
For Turkey revealing the extent of increased US support for the Kurdish YPG militia—which Turkey insists is one and the same with the Kurdish PKK group it faces at home—serves to mobilize its public against the US. Blowing the cover of the Americans is just a cherry on top.
The angle US media is centering on is just how for publishing this. Pentagon has asked US outlets not to reprint the information published by Anadolu and claimed doing so would endanger lives of US soldiers.
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Spokesmen for Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS, and for the U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, asked The Daily Beast not to publish the detailed information reported by Anadolu.
“The discussion of specific troop numbers and locations would provide sensitive tactical information to the enemy which could endanger Coalition and partner forces,” wrote Col. Joe Scrocca, coalition director of public affairs.
“Publishing this type of information would be professionally irresponsible and we respectively [sic] request that you refrain from disseminating any information that would put Coalition lives in jeopardy.”
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"While we cannot independently verify the sources that contributed to this story, we would be very concerned if officials from a NATO ally would purposefully endanger our forces by releasing sensitive information."
However, we'd like to point out there is a party that has far more reason to be upset than the US. That would be Syria itself.
Along with the the US now has at least 11 permanently manned installations on the territory of Syria — all of them illegal.
LOL delft did you quit in Al-Masdar-truth Thread, too?Ambassador Bhadrakumar - - referred me to:
source:A Cyclone-class patrol craft warded off an Iranian patrol boat that was approaching a U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser on Tuesday in the Persian Gulf, a Navy official told USNI News.
USS Thunderbolt (PC-12) fired “multiple warning shots” after an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy Nassar-class patrol boat came within 150 yards. The incident occurred at about 2 P.M. local time, or 7 A.M. EST.
Thunderbolt was operating with two Coast Guard cutters and a U.S. Army logistics vessel in a screen around the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) as part of a U.S.-only exercise when the formation was approached by the Iranian PC, the official said.
Iraq and Kuwait navy assets were operating nearby but were not involved in the encounter. It’s unclear how close the incident came to two Iraqi offshore oil terminals, Khor Al Amaya and Al Başrah.
in which an Iranian Houdong-class guided-missile boat came within 800 yards of a formation of amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5), guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG-67) and dry cargo ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE-11). The Iranian missile boat harassed the formation with a searchlight and a laser.
In March, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy patrol boat stopped short in front of the surveillance ship USNS Invincible (T-AGM-24).
In January, fired three warning shots to ward off four armed IRGCN attack boats coming at the ship at high speed.
Separate from the regular Iranian Navy, the IRGCN answers directly to the sectarian leadership of Iran and often violates maritime laws and standards, according to both the U.S. and U.K. Since 2007 the group has controlled Iran’s coastal defense.
Egypt has opened the largest military base in the Middle East close to the city of Alexandria.
On Saturday, July 22, 2017, Egypt has opened the largest military base in the Middle East, located close to the port city of Alexandria and the opening ceremony was attended by leading figures in the Arab world. The new base includes more than 1,100 buildings, 72 training fields, two residential complexes and a huge convention centre.
Egypt receives first single-seat Rafales
Egypt has received the first of eight single-seat Dassault Rafale C multirole combat aircraft, the country’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 26 July.
Two aircraft making up the fourth installment of Rafale deliveries (the previous three installments being made up of twin-seat Rafale B platforms) arrived in-country seemingly on the same day as the announcement that was made via the MoD’s official Twitter account.
With these latest arrivals, the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) has received into service 11 of the 24 Rafales that it ordered from France in February 2015. By the time deliveries are complete, the EAF will field 16 Rafale B two-seat and eight Rafale C single-seat Aircraft.
The Royal Air Force of Oman (Rafo) on Saturday received the first batch of Hawk trainers at Masirah Air Base.
The first batch is part of the deal the Sultanate signed with the UK-based BAE Systems.
The Hawk is an advanced jet trainer used in many areas of training for jet aircraft, which will undoubtedly contribute to the graduation of highly trained pilots. The aircraft is equipped with state-of-the-art systems that meet the training requirements of modern fighter aircraft.
The Hawk is an advanced trainer with a two-man tandem cockpit, a low-mounted cantilever wing and is powered by a single turbofan engine. They have high level of servicability, as well as lower purchasing and operating costs than previous-generation trainers.
The deal is part of the modernisation and development plans of Rafo.
The delivery of the first batch of Hawk training was attended by a number of senior officers and non-commissioned officers at Masirah Air Base.
Commander of the Royal Air Forces said: “This first batch of Hawk trainers comes in the context of the high care and attention given by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said to the Armed Forces to enhance and develop its combat capabilities in protecting this homeland.
“The Royal Air Force of Oman has been aiming to acquire the latest advanced technology including aircraft and equipment.
“Today, we celebrate the arrival of the first batch of Hawk, which is one of the most proven aircraft in the world,” he added.
Qatar Confirms Order for Air Defence Corvettes, LPD and OPVs from Fincantieri
Qatar confirmed today its order for seven vessels from Italian shipbulder Fincantieri following the signing of a . The deal consists in four air defence corvettes of over 100 meters in length, one amphibious vessel (LPD - Landing Platform Dock acting as mobile radar station for the corvettes), and two patrol vessels (OPV - Offshore Patrol Vessel)
We have signed a contract on behalf of the Qatari navy to acquire seven warships from Italy for five billion euros (5.9 billion U.S. dollars)," Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said at a Doha press conference with his visiting Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano.
The deal includes support services in Qatar for further 15 years after the delivery of the vessels. All the units will be entirely built in Fincantieri Italian shipyards starting from 2018, ensuring 6 years of work and an important impact on the main Italian defense companies.
Leonardo will be responsible for the integrated supply of the new naval units’ combat system, main radars and on-board sensors and defence sub-systems, including 76/62 medium calibre and 30mm small calibre weapon systems, the anti-torpedo protection system, the Thesan mine avoidance sonar.
MBDA will be supplying the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) with Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles as well as Aster 30 Block 1 and VL MICA air defence missiles.