Israel pushes ahead with controversial settlements plan

Source: ISRAEL - FRANCE 24

Israel on Monday said it was pushing forward with plans to build hundreds of homes in a Jewish settlement of east Jerusalem, risking renewed tensions with the Palestinians and its Western allies over the contentious project. The announcement was part of a new Israeli settlement push announced earlier this month as retaliation for the Palestinians’ success in winning U.N. recognition for a state at the United Nations. Israel was widely criticized internationally for the settlement plans, though actual construction would be far in the future. An Interior Ministry committee on Monday approved an intermediate stage of planning for the construction of 1,500 apartments in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, a part of the city Palestinians claim for a future capital. The plan had been in the pipeline since it was first announced in 2010 during a visit to Israel by Vice President Joe Biden, causing a major diplomatic rift with Washington that took months to mend. Ministry spokeswoman Efrat Orbach said the project still must go through several additional planning stages, and it could be years before final approval and construction.

Russia Warns Against NATO Missiles on Syrian Border

Source : RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, November 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Ministry cautioned Thursday against Turkey's intention to deploy NATO Patriot missiles on its border with Syria.

"The militarization of the Turkish-Syrian border would be an alarming signal," said ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich. "It would do nothing to foster stability in the region."

"Our advice to our Turkish colleagues is to use their influence on the Syrian opposition to draw them closer to dialogue, instead of flexing their muscles and taking the situation down a dangerous path," he added.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Wednesday that Turkey's request to deploy the missiles would be considered soon. Ankara says the missile system is necessary to protect its border with conflict-torn Syria.

US Patriot surface-to-air missiles were last deployed to Turkey in 1991 and 2003, during the two Gulf Wars.

Turkey has opened fire several times in recent weeks across its border with Syria in retaliation for Syrian shelling, which killed five Turkish civilians in October. It has also provided shelter to refugees fleeing the violence in Syria and has been one of President Bashar al-Assad’s harshest critics during the almost 17-month revolt against his rule.

Tensions between Turkey and Syria flared dangerously this summer after Damascus shot down a Turkish fighter that had violated its airspace. Turkey threatened retaliation if there was any repeat of the incident, although it admitted the plane had mistakenly strayed slightly into Syria.

Lukashevich also denied Russian media reports that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was planning to meet on November 26 with the Syrian opposition.

The Syrian conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the start of an uprising against Assad in March 2011, according to various Syrian opposition groups.

Russia - along with China - has drawn heavy Western criticism for its refusal to sanction UN sanctions against Assad's regime, Moscow sole remaining ally in the Arab world. Moscow said the proposed UN resolutions betrayed a pro-rebel bias and would do nothing to bring peace.

Putin vowed earlier this year not to allow a repeat of the “Libya scenario,” which saw the ouster and murder of long-time Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi after a NATO military campaign.

But Moscow has denied it is supporting Assad in the conflict and says it will respect the will of the "Syrian people

Islamic Jihad: Gaza ceasefire not end of battle

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

GAZA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The armed wing of Islamic Jihad movement said Thursday that the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip does not mean an end to the conflict.

"The battle with the enemy has not ended," declared a masked gunman from al-Quds brigades.

"Our choice in fighting and getting weapons to defend our people is going on," he told at a press conference in Gaza City.

The ceasefire announced Wednesday night ended a week of cross- border violence between Israel and Palestinian armed groups led by Islamic Hamas movement, which controls Gaza.

The gunman noted that his group lost 10 fighters in the Israeli aerial offensive and fired 620 rockets and missiles towards Israeli cities.

Hamas took the credit for firing more rockets, including several that reached the outskirts of Jerusalem and some Israeli cities.

The Israeli attacks killed 162 Palestinians, more than 40 of them children. Five Israelis were dead from the Palestinian rocket fire.

Shooting near Sinai peacekeeping camp kills one

Source : Egypt Independent

Anonymous gunmen fired at a car owned by international peacekeeping forces in Si Thursday. The incident occurred several hours after a Bedouin was killed and anot injured by security forces near the peacekeepers' camp in the Goura area of North Sinai.

Authorities are searching for the shooters.

The observer mission is stationed in Sinai to monitor the 1979 peace treaty with neighbor Israel. Dozens of Bedouins staged a sit-in outside the mission's camp to protest Israeli ra on the Gaza Strip.

A military source in North Sinai said security forces at a checkpoint near the camp return fire when protesters shot toward the checkpoint and that the observer mission was responsible for the shooting. Armed Forces spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali told Al-Ma Al-Youm that 40 Goura area residents gathered outside the local airport to demand t convictions their relatives had received in absentia be dropped. The protesters then fi toward a checkpoint and security forces fired back.

Protester Gihad Mosallam Selmy was shot dead and Selmy Salem Saeed was injured, Masry Al-Youm quoted an informed source as saying.

Bedouins drove a convoy of about 10 trucks to the site and set tires on fire in front of camp.

Bedouins have protested outside the camp on several occasions. In a recent incident, th stormed the camp, smashed the control tower and injured three Colombian soldiers.

Fiji, New Zealand, Colombia, Uruguay, Canada, Australia, Norway, Italy, France, Hungary a the US contribute troops to the force.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Feature: Gazans celebrate cease-fire with massive rallies

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

GAZA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Sirens of ambulances and fire engines were howling over Gaza streets late Wednesday, but at this time, they were not rushing to rescue victims, but celebrating the end of Israel's aggression which has left 162 Palestinians killed.

Egypt declared that a cease-fire was reached between Israel and Gaza's Palestinians. As soon as clock indicator pointed at 9:00 p. m. local time (1900 GMT), ambulance crews and firefighters in the Gaza Strip firstly started the rallies, apparently because they can have a respite after eight days of nonstop work.

"It's time to go home, I will see my family," said an ambulance driver amid crowds of cars and people dancing on the streets, who are waving flags, firing in the air and chanting slogans commending the "Palestinian resistance." However, the driver said he would keep his mobile on and keep alert.

People are also hugging each other and congratulating each other for surviving the eight-day violence.

Yousef Zahar, the general chief of the civil defense, was celebrating outside Gaza's al-Shifa hospital, with his florescent red jacket.

"I was confident that this day will come," he said, adding that "They (Israel) lost the war... Our next battle will be in Jerusalem," he shouted loudly.

For him, Hamas has made a notable progress in lifting the blockade that Israel imposed on Gaza, though the implementation of the agreement is still unclear.

Not far from al-Shifa hospitals, families which took shelter in school were packing stuff and some of them who have cars or donkey carts started to return their homes with their mattresses on the roofs of their vehicles.

But inside the hospital, exactly outside the morgue, some sad people didn't join the celebrations. They were the relatives of the victims who were killed in the last day of the Israeli attacks.

Ceasefire Between Israel, Hamas Comes Into Effect

Source : RIA Novosti

TEL AVIV, November 22 (RIA Novosti) – An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas Islamist group has come into effect, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Wednesday evening.

Both sides praised the agreement, in line with which, Israel has to end hostilities and targeted killings in the Gaza Strip, and Hamas has to stop launching rockets into Israel. Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr said Wednesday the ceasefire has been achieved starting at 7:00 p.m. GMT on Wednesday.

The IDF said it has completed objectives for its Operation Pillar of Defense against the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave of 1.7 million that has been governed by Hamas since 2007. The operation started on November 14 with an airstrike that eliminated the head of the military wing of Hamas, Ahmed Jabari. The airstrike came after a reported surge in rocket attacks on Israeli border towns from Gaza.

“A short while ago, a ceasefire agreement regarding the fighting in the south, came into effect. Following eight days of operations, the IDF has accomplished its pre-determined objectives for Operation Pillar of Defense, and has inflicted severe damage to Hamas and its military capabilities,” the IDF said on its website.

“As a result of IDF operations, the command and control apparatus of Hamas was significantly struck,” it said, adding that broad terrorist infrastructure, facilities and military bases were also targeted and dozens of smuggling and explosive tunnels destroyed.

Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal called the truce deal a victory for Palestinians. In line with the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza, all border crossing points linking the Palestinian enclave with the outside world have to be opened 24 hours since the ceasefire came into effect, which, according to Meshaal, means an end to Gaza’s blockade.

“Israel committed itself to lift blockade of the Gaza Strip and stop killings,” Meshaal said. “The latest Israeli aggression showed that resistance is the ideal choice for establishing a Palestinian state. The results we have achieved are a victory for all Palestinians and a victory for the Arab nation,” he said.

Before the ceasefire was agreed, at least 18 people were injured when an explosion hit a bus in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Hamas said it welcomed the bombing as a "natural response" to the Israeli bombardment of Gaza, but said it was not behind the attack.

Around 160 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's eight-day air and naval attack on Hamas-ruled Gaza, officials say. Gaza’s health ministry says many children are among the Palestinian dead.

Palestinian rockets hurtled toward Israeli towns and cities on Wednesday, but most were knocked down by the sophisticated Iron Dome air defense system. Israel says five people have been killed by Palestinian rockets in the last eight days and 240 have been injured.

The EU and UN welcomed the ceasefire.

Israel’s last invasion of Gaza, in 2008-2009, killed 1,400 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians. Thirteen Israelis died in the 22-day-long Operation Cast Lead.

 

Al Jazeera studio in Cairo set ablaze after angry protest

Source : Reuters

(Reuters) - A studio used by the Al Jazeera TV network in Cairo was set on fire on Wednesday in an attack that an employee said was carried out by a mob that had been chanting slogans against the Qatari-owned station.

The studio overlooks Tahrir Square and is located near the scene of violent clashes between youths and the security forces this week in which dozens of people have been injured. Those confrontations grew out of protests to mark the first anniversary of lethal street battles in the same area.

The first-floor office used by Al Jazeera Mubasher Misr, a station set up after the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, was badly damaged by fire.

The studio's windows were smashed and two empty bottles, which had apparently been converted into fire bombs, were found inside the office.

The channel was dedicated to covering Egyptian affairs.

The Interior Ministry described the perpetrators as "trouble makers" who had attacked po officers when they had arrived to investigate, the state news agency reported. The public prosecutor has ordered an investigation.

"There were 200 to 250 people gathered outside the studio chanting against the channel," Ahmed Dessouki, a producer with the channel, told Reuters television.

(Additional reporting by Reuters TV; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

Israeli police in manhunt after Tel Aviv terror bombing

Xinhua | English.news.cn

JERUSALEM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A small bomb exploded on a crowded city bus in Israel's central city of Tel Aviv Wednesday noon, wounding at least 15, and the police is searching the area for suspects.

Four who sustained serious wounds were evacuated to the nearby Ichilov Medical Center, said Eli Bean, CEO of the Magen David Adom Emergency Service.

As roadblocks are set up and forensics probe is also underway, police sources declared the event a terror attack, saying two individuals set the bomb in the center of the vehicle and then fled either on foot or in a vehicle. A suspect apprehended by security forces in the vicinity earlier was released.

A city official told Xinhua that "Upon receiving news of the bombing, municipal teams were dispatched to the scene, including welfare, psychologists and social services to assist families of the victims."

Security forces are trying to keep onlookers from thronging the area, due to the possibility of more hidden bombs detonating, and also for the possibility of rocket attacks out of Gaza into the scene of the attack.

An Israeli government official told Xinhua that the prime minister's office is reassessing the operation in Gaza in light of the bombing.

"We are bolstering security in and around the city in order to prevent further attacks," Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told Xinhua soon after the blast.

Gaza militants on Tuesday evening fired a rocket into an apartment building in the nearby suburb of Rishon L'Tzion, wounding at least one person who did not manage to enter the building's protected room after hearing the warning siren.

Other rockets in recent days hit within and around Tel Aviv.

The bombing took place on the heavily traveled Shaul Hamelech boulevard, not far from the Defense Ministry headquarters and a major shopping center and office complex.

The bombing comes amid international efforts to achieve a cease- fire between Israel and Hamas, and as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the country for deliberations with top officials.

On Wednesday morning, Hamas renewed rocket fire into Israel, with Israeli army forces pounding militant targets in response in order to quell the steel rain.

Hamas in the Gaza Strip had warned that it would begin a series of suicide bombings in revenge for Israel's military strikes on the Islamist group.

Tel Aviv has been witness to over two dozen similar bombings, particularly in the mid 1990's and in the first few years of the 21st century, which killed nearly 100 and wounded hundreds more. Hamas took responsibility for most of the attacks, including one outside of a dance club along the shore which killed 21 teens.

Israel Confirms “Direct Hits” in Syria

Source : RIA Novosti

TEL AVIV, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Israel’s armed forces have opened tank fire on Syria confirming direct hits after a mortar shell from Syria landed in Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported on Monday.

“A short while ago, a mortar shell hit an open area in the vicinity of an IDF post in the central Golan Heights, as part of the internal conflict inside Syria, causing no damage or injuries,” the IDF said on its website.

“In response, IDF soldiers fired tank shells towards the source of the fire, confirming direct hits,” it said.

“The IDF has filed a complaint with the UN forces operating in the area, stating that fire emanating from Syria into Israel will not be tolerated and shall be responded to with severity,” the IDF said.

There was no immediate comment from Syrian officials.

On Sunday, the Israeli military reported that IDF soldiers “fired warning shots” toward Syria after “a mortar shell hit an IDF post in the Golan Heights adjacent to the Israel-Syria border.”

These were apparently two separate incidents on Sunday and Monday rather than different reports of one exchange of fire.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over reports of clashes on the Syrian-Israeli border in the area of Golan Heights, urging both countries to exercise restraint.

Israel and Syria have enjoyed peace since the Yom Kippur War of 1973, a brief conflict in which the Israeli forces defeated an Arab coalition led jointly by Syria and Egypt. Israel has controlled the strategically important Golan Heights since the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, though Damascus has never acknowledged the loss of this territory.

zionist Israel to install reconnaissance systems on Turkish aircraft

An Israeli firm has decided to resume the production of equipment meant to be installed on Turkish reconnaissance planes.

Informed sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the English-language Hurriyet Daily News newspaper on Friday that Elta Systems Ltd. has decided to restart production of electronic measuring systems (EMS) for four Turkish Boeing 737 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.

Elta’s decision to renew the project may mean that Israel is putting an end to its two-year defense exports ban on Turkey.

The Israeli company is the single producer of EMS systems for Boeing’s 737 aircraft, which are to be used as part of Turkey’s NATO forces.

In 2002, Turkey’s Under-secretariat for Defense Industries, the procurement agency, ordered four Boeing 737-700 AEW&C aircraft, a ground radar and control systems, plus ground control segments for mission crew training, mission support and maintenance support.

Elta Systems Ltd. was commissioned to manufacture EMS systems for the four planes. The deal reportedly costs more than $100 million.

But the Israeli defense ministry suspended the project six months ago, after Elta had already completed two of the devices.

AEW&C is a radar system designed to detect aircraft, ships and vehicles at long ranges and control and command the battle space in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack aircraft strikes.

Used at a high altitude, the radars on the aircraft allow the operators to distinguish between friendly and hostile aircraft hundreds of miles away.

The system is used offensively to direct fighters to their target locations and defensively in order to counter attacks by enemy forces, both in the air and on the ground.

Israel warns Assad over stray Syrian fire on Golan

Source : Maan News Agency

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israel warned Syrian President Bashar Assad on Friday to prevent his anti-insurgency sweeps from spilling over into the Israeli- occupied Golan Heights, saying it was prepared to defend itself.

The Golan, lost by Damascus in the 1967 Middle East war and mostly quiet for decades, was repeatedly hit by what the Israelis described as stray Syrian ordnance this week.

No one was hurt but nerves were jangled in Israel, which has tried to keep out of the conflict ravaging its old enemy next door.

"We see the regime in Syria as responsible for what is happening along the border," Israeli Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon said in a statement.

Referring to the 19-month-old Syrian civil war, he said: "If we see that it is spreading in our direction, we will know how to defend the citizens of the State of Israel and the State of Israel's sovereignty."

Yaalon said Syria had previously "conducted itself appropriately" after receiving such messages. "I hope that in this case, too, there will be someone in Syria who takes matters in hand."

Israel annexed the Golan in 1981 in a move not recognized internationally. In all past peace talks with Israel, Syria has insisted on the strategic plateau's return. The two countries signed a disengagement agreement in 1974, a year after another Arab-Israeli conflict, but are still technically at war.

Asked about a mortar bomb that landed in a Golan settlement on Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak linked the incident to Syrian military operation against rebels nearby.

"We have made clear via UNDOF that we intend for there not to be shells falling on us," Barak told Israeli television, referring to a United Nations observer group on the Golan.

Barak did not elaborate on Israel's plans, saying only: "I hope this will not continue, and that the rebels will win in Syria, that Assad will fall and that, at long last, a new stage in the life of Syria will begin."

Afghan Diplomat Warns of US Massive Military Presence in Afghanistan after 2014

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- A senior Afghan diplomat warned on Saturday that Kabul and Washington plan to start their so-called security talks in one week to sign a security pact which will pave the way for the US massive presence in Afghanistan after 2014.

Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Jawed Ludin said a high-ranking US delegation will travel to Kabul this week.

"The Afghan and American officials had held two rounds of unofficial talks on signing a security pact between Kabul and Washington, according to which the US will have extensive presence in Afghanistan after 2014," Ludin said in an interview with Afghan Arezu television.

In late May, Afghanistan's parliament approved a strategic pact between Kabul and Washington, clearing the way for the US presence in the country for at least a decade after most of the US-led foreign troops leave Afghanistan in 2014. The pact had earlier been signed by Afghan and US presidents.

On Monday, Afghan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Janan Mosazai lambasted the US for its continued violation of the strategic pact between the two countries, saying that Washington has violated the treaty in numerous cases.

"Afghanistan has repeatedly criticized the US for its lack of commitment to the contents of the strategic pact signed between the two countries," Mosazai said in his weekly press conference in Kabul.

He further mentioned Afghan President Hamid Karzai's recent criticism of Washington's silence on "Pakistan's missile attacks against Afghanistan" as among the same instances displaying Kabul's anger at Washington's disloyalty to the security pact.

In May, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the civilian casualties inflicted by the NATO was convincing his country to give up the strategic pact he had just signed with US President Barack Obama in early May.

Also in May, Karzai summoned US General John Allen, commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, and US Ambassador Ryan Crocker to his palace to discuss the civilian deaths, a longstanding thorn in ties between Karzai and his Western backers.

"Karzai signed the strategic pact with the United States to avoid such incidents (civilian casualties) and if Afghans do not feel safe, the strategic partnership loses its meaning," a presidential palace statement, issued following the meeting, said, referring to an agreement setting out a long-term US role in Afghanistan.

The statement added that dozens of civilians had been killed in the Eastern provinces of Kapisa and Logar, Northwestern Badghis province and the Southern Taliban stronghold of Helmand over the past three days in NATO air strikes.

Obama swooped into Afghanistan for the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death on May 2 and signed the strategic partnership

Top Commander: Armed Forces to Repel Any Invasion against Iran's Airspace

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Armed Forces repel any aggression against the country, senior Iranian military officials said, after Pentagon claimed that Iranian fighter jets have opened fire on a US drone over the Persian Gulf.

"The defenders of the Islamic Republic of Iran give decisive response to any aerial, ground or sea aggression," Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for Cultural Affairs and Defense Publicity Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri told FNA on Friday, responding to a question about a Thursday report that two Iranian warplanes allegedly opened fire on a US Air Force drone over international waters.

"If any kind of alien flying object wants to enter our country's airspace, our armed forces will confront it," Jazayeri added, although he did not mention if the incident has happened or not.

His remarks came after Pentagon claimed on Thursday that on November 1 Iranian warplanes fired at a US drone in international airspace but did not hit the aircraft.

According to the timeline provided by the Pentagon, two Iranian SU-25 "Frogfoot" aircraft intercepted the American drone at about 4:50 a.m. EST (0850 GMT) as it conducted a routine, but classified, surveillance mission over Persian Gulf waters about 16 nautical miles off the Iranian coast.

Pentagon spokesman George Little said the aircraft fired multiple rounds at the Predator drone and followed it for at least several miles as it moved farther away from Iranian airspace.

"We believe that they fired at least twice and made at least two passes," he said. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was quickly notified of the incident, as were members of Congress and the White House, Little added.

Political analysts believe that if the story proves to be true, it seems that the Iranian fighters intended to just shoo away the American predator.

The United States also sent Iran a warning through diplomatic channels, saying it would defend its military assets and would keep sending aircraft on such surveillance operations.

"There is absolutely no precedence for this," Little said. "This is the first time that a (drone) has been fired upon to our knowledge by Iranian aircraft."

American officials said that the Iranian SU-25s were flown by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as the IRGC is responsible for protecting security over the Persian Gulf.

Ahmadinejad Wants Direct Talks with US on Iran Nuclear Issue

Source :  RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said problems related to his country’s nuclear program must be discussed directly with the United States, IRNA news agency reported.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

“We believe in friendly relations between peoples and governments and Iran hails all relations based on justice and mutual respect,” Ahmadinejad said commenting on the possible talks with the United States.

Ahmadinejad reiterated that all nuclear facilities in Iran are always open for international monitors.

“Official representatives of other countries may inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities, since Iran is the only country, which opened doors of its nuclear facilities for world media,” the president said.

Speaking further about Tehran’s relations with Washington, Ahmadinejad said it is “necessary to launch investigation to determine who and why broke off relations with Iran 33 years ago.”

The United States and Iran have had no direct diplomatic relations since April 1980. Ties were cut by Washington some five months after radical Iranian students seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 U.S. diplomats hostage for 444 days.

Syria opposition fighters fire at Assad’s palace, shell military airport

Source : Alarabiya.net Mobile |

A handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency shows a destroyed car early on November 7, 2012 in the Damascus district of Mazzeh after it was target by mortar fire. (AFP)

Opposition fighters reportedly fired at the Syrian presidential palace, but missed, and shelled the Mazzeh military airport and intelligence headquarters in Damascus, Al Arabiya TV reported on Wednesday.

The attacks were an indication of the violence moving increasingly from the suburbs into districts of the Syrian capital.

A car bomb exploded overnight in the southern Qadam neighborhood, causing at least one death, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based watchdog that relies on a network of activists and medics on the ground.

Wednesday's attempted mortar strike on Assad's palace drew comparisons with a bomb attack in a highly guarded district of Damascus in July that killed four of the president's top lieutenants.

In the Mazzeh district, home to many embassies and offices of the security services, three civilians were killed and 12 wounded from mortar fire, it said.

Opposition fighters, meanwhile, clashed with pro-regime Palestinian forces in the southern Hajar al-Aswad district and the nearby Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmuk, AFP reported, which has become a new focal point of violence.

10 members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), a faction loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, were killed by rebel fighters, Reuters reported.

Home to some 148,000 residents, the camp has been the scene of fierce fighting between the rebels and the PFLP-GC.

Wednesday’s violence followed bomb attacks in the suburbs of Damascus on Tuesday, including three explosions in the western Qudsaya area, that killed 19 people and wounded more than 50, according to the Observatory.

Elsewhere in the country, regime air power kept up strikes over northern Aleppo and the surrounding region on Wednesday as rebels continued their months-long battle for control of the commercial hub.

The violence on Tuesday left 150 dead, including 79 civilians, 48 soldiers and 23 rebels, said the Observatory, which says 36,000 people have died since the outbreak of the revolt against Assad’s regime in March 2011.

Cameron visits Syrian refugee camp

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday toured a desert refugee camp for Syrians in northern Jordan, walking down a dusty road between the tents before visiting a U.N.-run school.

“Right here in Jordan I am hearing appalling stories about what has happened inside Syria so one of the first things I want to talk to Barack about is how we must do more to try and solve this crisis,” he said in an official statement released in London.

His comments came in a message of congratulations to U.S. President Barack Obama on his re-election.

Dressed casually in black trousers, a grey shirt and a sporting a Remembrance poppy, Cameron took time to speak to some of the more than 36,000 Syrians housed in tents and caravans in the Zaatari refugee camp near the Syria border.

The British premier arrived in Jordan on Tuesday night on the last leg of Middle East visit that also took him to the United Arab Emirates and to Saudi Arabia.

On arriving at the camp early morning, Cameron headed to offices of the United Nations, which runs the camp, before touring the facility.

Crowds of excited kids played football but did not seem to know who the visitor was.

“Is he the king?” one of them asked.

Inside the school, a group of children sang to Cameron in Arabic. The prime minister left the camp after visiting the school and was later to hold talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah.

The visit to the camp comes after Cameron told Al Arabiya on Tuesday he would support granting Assad a safe passage out of Syria to end the nation’s bloodshed.

Jordan says it is hosting more than 200,000 Syrian refugees, who have fled violence ravaging their homeland since a popular uprising erupted more than 19 months ago.

2 policemen, 6 militants killed in N. Afghanistan

Via : Trend.Az

to six Taliban militants and two policemen were killed following a clash between the police and militants in Afghanistan's northern province of Faryab overnight, the police said Wednesday, Xinhua reported.

"A group of armed militants, numbered around 20, launched an armed attack against Afghan Local Police (ALP) checkpoints in Shirin Tagab district, sparking a gun battle lasting for hours Tuesday night," acting-provincial police chief, Nabi Mullahkhil, told Xinhua.

He said the fighting left two ALP cops and six militants dead in the province 425 km northwest of Afghan capital Kabul.

"A Taliban deputy shadowy district chief for the district named Qari Firoz was among the dead and the ALP also arrested three militants besides seizing weapons after the clash," he added.

In addition, a Taliban key commander named Qari Hizatullah was killed by Afghan police in Chardara district in northern Kunduz province Tuesday evening, provincial police chief Samiullah Qatra told Xinhua earlier Wednesday.

The police official said that Hizatullah was responsible for several subversive activities and ambush-style attacks on Afghan and NATO- led coalition forces in the province 250 km north of Kabul.

However, the Taliban insurgent group, which announced the launching of an annual rebel offensive from May 3 against Afghan government and some 100,000 NATO-led coalition forces, has not to make comments yet.

Bahrain revokes nationality of 31 Bahraini Shiites

Bahrain revokes nationality of 31 Bahraini Shiites - Xinhua | English.news.cn

English.news.cn 2012-11-07 16:32:47

MANAMA, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Bahrain revoked the nationality of 31 Bahraini Shiites, including a woman and two former members of parliament, on Wednesday for security reasons, according to a statement by the interior ministry.

The ministry called upon those related to seek court assistance, and pointed out that the decision comes as those Bahrainis violated Clause 10 of the nationality law, which stipulates rights for the revocation of Bahraini nationality to ensure the state security.

Among them, some got British political asylum years back, like Saeed Al Shahabi and Ali Mushaima. Mushaima's father, Hassan Mushaima, is serving a life sentence along with others for foiled attempt to overthrow the regime in 2011.

The list also includes two brothers who were former MPs and leading members of the opposition group "Al Wefaq National Islamic Society", Jalal and Jawad Fairouz, and a woman named Marriam Al Sayed Ibrahim Hussain Redha.

The statement highlighted that the interior ministry will take required actions for the implementation of the decision according to Bahrain's commitment to the protection of national security and international agreements.

North Sinai’s police chief fired after Saturday’s attack

Source : Alarabiya

Aug. 5 attack - the deadliest in Sinai since Egypt’s 1973 war with Israel - prompted the government to send in hundreds of troops backed by tanks, armored vehicles and helicopters in a joint operation with police to raid militant hideouts. (Al Arabiya)

North Sinai police chief was sacked on Sunday after three policemen were killed by gunmen yesterday in the northern city of al-Arish.

The dismissal followed a meeting between the interior and defense minsters with the police protesters, who sieged the Security Directorate building late Saturday in response to the accident.

The minister of interior accepted the policemen’s calls of assigning General Samih Bashadi as North Sinai’s new police chief, replacing Major General Ahmad Bakr, according to an Egyptian news website.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s defense minister arrived in Sinai Sunday morning to review the security measures in the peninsula.

Both minsters met with Sinai’s police and military members, along with the peninsula’s tribal leaders, to convince police protesters to resume their job and have listed to their complains, the website reported.

On Saturday, a number of Egyptian policemen protested in front of North Sinai's Arish Security Directorate after gunmen attacked a police patrol and shot three officers earlier on the day.

The protesters later blocked the Arish-Rafah road as well as other critical roads in the peninsula, according to Egypt Independent.

Protesters said they have been left “without protection to face militants’ attacks,” reported the newspaper.

The demonstrating policemen left their locations and sieged the Security Directorate building.

The policemen blamed the country’s ministry of interior for not combating armed gangs in the peninsula, saying they are not allowed to take any action against gunmen without direct instructions from the ministry.

A group of revolutionary youth gathered in front the North Sinai governorate late on Saturday to support the police protest. The group called for firing the current governor and dismissing the minister of interior.

Militants suspected in Sinai’s Saturday attacks

A security source said on Saturday that the three policemen were probably attacked by militants who, Egyptian forces have been hunting since the ambush killing of 16 border guards on Aug. 5, the biggest security crackdown Sinai has seen in decades.

“Armed men who might belong to a jihadist group attacked a police vehicle and fired on its passengers before fleeing,” he told AFP.

Two policemen died at the scene of the attack on the suburbs of al-Arish, the administrative center of North Sinai, while one of the other two injured died at the hospital later after the attack, medical and security sources said.

The Aug. 5 attack - the deadliest in Sinai since Egypt’s 1973 war with Israel - prompted the government to send in hundreds of troops backed by tanks, armored vehicles and helicopters in a joint operation with police to raid militant hideouts, arrest suspects and seize weapons.

Efforts to impose central authority in the lawless desert region are complicated by the indigenous Bedouin population's ingrained hostility to the government in Cairo.

Rival Libya militias clash near Tripoli security building

Source : Reuters

(Reuters) - A gunbattle between two Libyan rival militias raged around a Tripoli security headquarters building on Sunday, highlighting the precariousness of peace in the capital more than a year after a popular armed revolt ousted Muammar Gaddafi.

At least five people were wounded in the clash, and a bullet pierced into a nearby hospital, causing panic.

Residents in the south Tripoli district of Sidi Khalifa said the fight erupted just after midnight on Sunday when two militia units authorized by the official Supreme Security Committee got into an argument over a detained member of one of the militias.

"We called the police early in the morning to help us stop the shooting, but no one came," resident Khaled Mohamed told Reuters.

A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was fired at the SSC base, damaging the building. The militia based in a post office building returned fire with another RPG.

Gunfire rang through the neighborhood as civilians were forced to block off the al-Zawiya street where the fighting raged, to prevent cars from driving into the battleground. Many civilians went home to get their own private arms.

A bullet shot through the building caused panic at the nearby Tripoli Central Hospital, with doctors and nurses running for cover. Dr. Khaled Ben Nour said five casualties from the fighting had been brought in.

"We have real patients with real needs. These rogue militias need to leave us in peace so we can do our jobs," Ben Nour said.

Libya's rulers have struggled to control semi-official armed groups who are competing for power and outgun the police and army in the north African country a year after Gaddafi's fall.

(Writing by Hadeel al-Shalchi; Editing by Peter Graff)

BBC News - Pakistan's Imran Khan says US questioned him on drones

Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan says he has been stopped by US immigration officials and questioned about his views on US drone strikes in his country.

He says he was taken off his flight from Toronto to New York on Friday.

As leader of the Pakistan Movement for Justice party (PTI), he has campaigned for an end to drone strikes against suspected militants in Pakistan.

He says the strikes kill many civilians and foster support for militants.

"I was taken off from plane and interrogated by US Immigration in Canada on my views on drones. My stance is known. Drone attacks must stop," he wrote on Twitter.

He was said to have been questioned for about one hour, and said the delay meant he missed his flight and a party fundraising event in New York, but said "nothing will change my stance".

The US immigration authorities say they cannot divulge any information on particular cases due to privacy laws, according to the Toronto Sun.

"Our dual mission is to facilitate travel in the United States while we secure our borders, our people, and our visitors from those that would do us harm like terrorists and terrorist weapons, criminals, and contraband," one official said.

Earlier this month, Mr Khan led thousands of supporters on a march to the edge of the restive tribal areas where drone strikes target militants.

Sudan Says Israel Targeted Sudanese Military Capabilities

Source : RIA Novosti

The government of Sudan condemned an alleged attack of Israeli warplanes on arms factory in Khartoum saying it was targeted to undermine defense capabilities of the sovereign country.

A fire broke out late on Tuesday at the Yarmouk arms factory in the south of Khartoum following a series of explosions that the Sudanese authorities believe were caused by an air strike delivered by four Israeli warplanes. At least two people were killed in the incident.

“The attack of Israel on the factory was carried out with the aim to deliver a strike on the military power of Sudan,” said a statement adopted at the extraordinary session of the government on late Wednesday night.

The statement said that Yarmouk is not a secret facility, is not a subject to international sanctions and “specialized in manufacturing traditional weapons.”

Thousands of Sudanese people gathered at the building of the government during the extraordinary session.

Sudan, which some analysts claim to be an arms smuggling cond for Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, has blamed Israel for such attacks in the past.

In May, Khartoum held Israel responsible for an air strike that killed one person in a car near the city of Port Sudan.

A blast resembling an Israeli missile strike killed two people in Western Sudan last year, the Sudanese authorities claim.

In keeping with past practice, Israel has not commented on the current accusations by the Sudanese authoritie

Israel not informed about U.S.-Iran talks: Netanyahu

Source :  Xinhua | English.news.cn

JERUSALEM, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel was not aware of any talks between the United States and Iran, after a report by the New York Times stated that both countries had agreed to one-on-one talks.

The New York Times said Saturday that the United States and Iran were set for talks to negotiate Tehran's nuclear power and put an end to the rift between Iran and the Western powers.

According to reports by U.S. media on Sunday, White House has denied such talks.

Netanyahu said he could not confirm if these alleged contacts took place.

"Israel doesn't know about these contacts and I can't confirm that they've actually taken place," he said, speaking at the Home Front Command drill in Holon, near Tel Aviv.

"I can say that Iran used the talks and negotiations with the five powers to drag its feet and to gain time to advance its nuclear weapons program," he said, warning that Tehran is only trying to gain time in order to achieve full nuclear power.

Netanyahu also added that the best way to deter Iran's nuclear program is through "halting uranium enrichment, removing all enriched uranium and dismantling the underground installation in Qom," and a mix of sharper sanctions and military threat.

"I can say that as long as I am the prime minister of Israel, Israel will not allow Iran to reach a military nuclear capability, " he said.

Netanyahu made the remarks while attending a drill for regional war, tsunami and earthquake in central Israel, amid raising tensions with Iran. Israeli and U.S. military and rescue forces are putting their skills to the test in coping with these situations in a joint exercise that will last for three weeks.

Former Mossad chief says dialogue with Iran essential

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

JERUSALEM, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Former head of the Israeli Mossad Efraim Halevy called on the Wes to open a dialogue with Iran, following the weekend's report of direct talks between the U. S. and Iran.

"I realized that dialogue with the enemy is essential, there is nothing to lose," Halevy said during a Sunday evening talk with a U.S. website, Al monitor.

"The claim is that if you talk with them you legitimize them. However, by not talking with them yo don't delegitimize them," Halevy added.

He added that engaging in direct talks does not mean removing the sanctions just yet.

"The goal of the sanctions is not to lay the groundwork for military action but to convince the Iranian leadership to abandon its nuclear program," Halevy said.

Halevy, who spoke in the past against a military action against Iran, also criticized the foreign policy views on that subject by the American Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney.

Over the weekend, the New York Times reported that the U.S. and Iran have agreed to embark on direct talks after the November 6 elections.

In an additional interview Monday morning with Israel radio, Halevy said that Romney leaves no room for negotiations with Iran, but only leaves the military action as the only choice.

At the same time, Halevy praised U.S. President Barack Obama for handling the Iranian situation, specifically commanding the sanctions that have led to a severe economic crisis in Teheran. "The goal of economic sanctions is to convince Iranian leaders to abandon their nuclear drive, not to prepare the ground for a military strike," Halevy told the radio on Monday.

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister denied any knowledge of any sort of agreement in principle for direct talks between the two nations.

"I have no information about such contacts and I cannot say whether there is truth to that report. can say though that Iran has used negotiations before to buy time with America," he added.

However, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon told Israel Radio that Jerusalem has known for some time there are behind-the- scenes contact between U.S. and Iran, and that it has no objections.

In the past several months, Israeli leaders have publicly discussed the option of a military strike against Iran if it does not stop with its nuclear program, which it claims is for peaceful purposes.

While Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak frequently talked about the possibility of such an attack, several Israeli defense and security officials objected to such an attack.

US offers $12 million for Iran-based al Qaeda financiers

Source : The Express Tribune

The United States posted a reward of up to $12 million on Thursday for Muhsin al-Fadhli and his deputy Adel Radi Saqr al-Wahabi al-Harbi. PHOTO: FILE

The United States posted a reward of up to $12 million on Thursday for help in tracking down two Iran-based al Qaeda financial backers, accused of funneling money to extremists in Syria.

The State Department named the men as Muhsin al-Fadhli and his deputy Adel Radi Saqr al-Wahabi al-Harbi, saying both “facilitate the movement of funds and operatives through Iran on behalf of the al Qaeda terrorist network.”

“Al Qaeda elements in Iran, led by Fadhli, are working to move fighters and money through Turkey to support al Qaeda-affiliated elements in Syria,” the department said in a statement.

“Fadhli also is leveraging his extensive network of Kuwaiti jihadist donors to send money to Syria via Turkey.”

Fadhli, 31, was among the few al Qaeda leaders who was given advance notice that the group planned to strike the United States on September 1, 2001.

He is also alleged to have raised money to fund the October 2002 attack on the French ship MV Limburg off the coast of Yemen in which one person was killed, and four crew members injured.

“Fadhli reportedly has replaced Ezedin Abdel Aziz Khalil (better known as Yasin al-Suri) as al Qaeda’s senior facilitator and financier in Iran,” the statement said, offering up to $7 million for information on his location.

Fadhli is on Saudi Arabia’s most wanted list after a series of al Qaeda attacks in the Gulf kingdom.

Harbi, 25, a Saudi national, was put on the Saudi list in 2011 charged with traveling to Afghanistan to join al Qaeda and providing Internet support to the group. The US is offering up to $5 million for his arrest.

The Treasury Department also slapped sanctions on Harbi, banning US nationals and companies from carrying out any transactions with him.

“Today’s action, which builds on our action from July 2011, further exposes al Qaeda’s critically important Iran-based funding and facilitation network,” said David Cohen, under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

“We will continue targeting this crucial source of al Qaeda’s funding and support, as well as highlight Iran’s ongoing complicity in this network’s operation,” he said.

Fadhli, who was born in Kuwait, is also wanted by Kuwaiti authorities after being convicted in his absence and sentenced to five years on charges of providing funding and training to terror groups in Afghanistan.

US, Israel to hold major missile defense exercise

Source : Maan News Agency

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- The United States and Israel will hold a major missile defense exercise in Israel this month, sending a message of close cooperation as both countries weigh their options over Iran's nuclear program.

The three-week exercise, the largest the allies have ever held, will simulate a variety of long and short-range missile attacks that Israel could face during a regional conflict, said the commanders in charge.

Asked whether it sent a message to Iran, which has warned of an all-out war should Israel try to strike its nuclear facilities, Israeli Brigadier General Nitzan Nuriel said: "Anybody can get any type of message from this exercise."

"The fact that we are practicing together and working together is a strong message by itself," Nuriel said during a conference call with reporters.

Offering a more guarded response, his US counterpart, Lieutenant General Craig Franklin said the exercise, "is not there to send a message", adding that it has been in planning for more than two years.

"This exercise will improve the cooperative missile defense of Israel and will promote regional stability and help ensure our military edge," he said.

More than 3,500 US personnel will take part in the drill, about 1,000 of them in Israel, Franklin said. The US will spend $30 million dollars and Israel about 30 million shekels ($7.90 million) on the exercise.

The weapons will include US Patriot missile batteries and an AEGIS ballistic missile defense ship, along with the multi-tiered missile defense system that Israel has been developing. All but one of the launches will be simulated.

Martin Dempsey, the US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will observe part of the drill, said Pentagon spokeswoman Lieutenant Commander Wendy Snyder.

Dempsey confounded some Israeli leaders in August when he told reporters the United States did not want to be "complicit" in an Israeli attack on Iran.

He also warned that go-it-alone military action risked unraveling an international coalition that has applied progressively stiff sanctions on Iran, which insists that its ambitious nuclear project is purely peaceful.

An Iranian military commander said last month the Islamic Republic would make no distinction between US and Israeli interests and will retaliate against both countries if attacked.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing the United States to set Iran an ultimatum or risk seeing Israel launch unilateral strikes. Washington says it will not allow Tehran to obtain nuclear weapons, but has not set out its own red lines.

 

China urges substantial progress in Palestinian-Israeli peace talks

Source : Xinhua | English.news.cn

China on Monday urged Palestine and Israel to adopt concrete measures, start peace negotiations at an early date and make substantial progress.

China's Permanent Representative to the UN Li Baodong made the statement while addressing an open Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East.

China is deeply worried about the long-standing stalemate in the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks and also concerned about the economic and humanitarian difficulties faced by the Palestinian people, Li said.

"China urges Palestine and Israel to adopt practical measures, remove obstacles to the peace talks in order to seek an early restart of the talks and achieve substantial progress," he said.

"Israel should assume the responsibility of taking the first step," said the Chinese ambassador. "W urge Israel to immediately halt the building of the settlement, lift the blockade on Gaza, release detained Palestinians and improve their medical and living conditions and actively coordinate the international community in peace making efforts so as to create conditions for re-launching peace talks with Palestine."

The international community should increase its sense of responsibility and urgency for advancing the Middle East peace process and work actively to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table for building mutual trust, Li noted.

"China hopes the Quartet on the Middle East will play a positive role and come up as soon as possible with a concrete proposal for resuming the peace talks between Palestine and Israel, " he said.

As for the situation in Syria, Li said that China is opposed to any solution to the Syrian crisis imposed by the outside forces or pushing for a so-called "regime change."

"The political settlement is the only viable way out for defusing the crisis in Syria," he said. "The priority is to stop as quickly as possible the terrorist and violent activities in all forms, stop all practices that encourage and connive resort to military means and to start a political transition led by the Syrian people."

China calls upon all parties in Syria and the international community to coordinate and support th UN-Arab League Joint Special Envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi in his mediation efforts for seeking political solution to the Syrian crisis, Li added.

US Urges Russia to Take More Action on Syria

Source : RIA Novosti

United States wants Russia to get more involved in the settlement of the Syrian conflict, US State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

“Our view is that the Russians should be applying maximum pressure and maximum influence on [President Bashar] Assad and his regime,” Nuland told a daily press briefing on Monday.

“They have influence that we don’t have, since they have had these military relationships for so long, and we’d like to see them use it to pressure Assad to stop, starting by declaring that they will not ship any more weapons or any other things to this regime,” she said.

“We would like to see the Russian side do more… The Russians have been concerned that this situation devolves into a deeper civil war, a proxy war, that it spills beyond borders, that extremists hijack the situation,” Nuland said.

“All of those concerns have been expressed to us by the Russian side; and our message back is that if you don’t help us put more pressure on Assad, that’s exactly what we’re going to have, and that if you don’t want that situation to occur, then join us in the Security Council in putting pressure on the regime,” she said.

The Syrian conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, according to various Syrian opposition groups. The UN puts the death toll at 20,000-30,000 people.

The West is pushing for President Assad’s ouster while Russia and China are trying to prevent outside interference in Syria, saying that the Assad regime and the opposition are both to blame for the bloodshed.

Muslims Stage Protest against Anti-Islam Movie Outside Google Office in London

Source : Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Thousands of UK residing Muslims, in a peaceful demonstration, took to the street in front of Google headquarter in London to oppose the recent release of a US-backed movie insulting holy Prophet of Islam by YouTube.

The demonstrators congregated outside the Google headquarters in London because YouTube directors, a subsidiary of Google, has refused to remove the movie from its website.

The 10,000-strong rally organized by Muslim Action Forum was held to force Google to remove the sacrilegious movie from YouTube video-sharing website.

"Our next protest will be at the offices of Google and YouTube across the world. We are looking to ban this film," organizer Massoud Alam told press tv.

"This is not freedom of expression; there is a limit for that. This insult of the Prophet will not be allowed," he added.

Muslim Action Forum, which was created in response to the release of the insulting film, says in its manifesto that it "unreservedly condemns the preposterous film vilifying Islam and desecrating the sanctity of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)" and calls for a "Campaign for Global Civility" in response to the video.

The protesters outside Google headquarters carried placards reading "Campaign for Global Civility" and "Don't they teach manners in Google" in line with the group's manifesto.

The rally that was the third of its kind in a month comes ahead of a planned millions-strong march against the sacrilegious film in Hyde Park, central London, in the coming weeks.

The film called "Innocence of Muslims", previously called Desert Warriors and Innocence of Bin Laden, is a 2012 anti-Muslim movie which insults Muslims' Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

The film has been financed by more than 100 Jews and produced by an American- Israeli man in the US.

The film has been widely condemned across the globe including Iran, Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, etc.

Iran builds new bomber drone capable of carrying expolosives

Trend.Az

Commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Air Defense Base Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili said the country's experts have built a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with bombing abilities, Press TV reported.

Esmaili said the new drone, named "Hazem", is a long range aircraft which can be used in air defense operations.

He noted that the drone will be used in targeting and identification operations, and for carrying cargo whenever needed.

The Iranian commander added that "Hazem" is not designed for carrying missiles, but "we can mount explosives on them".

In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in its defense sector and attained self-sufficiency in producing essential military equipment and systems.

"Karrar", Iran's first indigenous long-range drone unveiled in August 2010, is capable of carrying a military payload of rockets to carry out bombing missions against ground targets, flying long distances at a very high speed, and gathering information.

The country's indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Shahed 129, unveiled in September, 2012, can carry out combat and reconnaissance missions with its 24-hour nonstop flight capability.

Tehran has repeatedly assured other nations that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that the Islamic Republic's defense doctrine is entirely based on deterrence.

U.S. Submarine, Cruiser Collide Off Eastern U.S. Coast

U.S. Submarine, Cruiser Collide Off Eastern U.S. Coast | World | RIA Novosti

U.S. Navy submarine collided with an Aegis cruiser during routine operations off the coast of the Eastern United States, Navy officials said on Sunday.

The collision between USS Montpelier (SSN 765) and USS San Jacinto (CG 56) occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight time.

No personnel aboard either vessel were injured while overall damage to both ships was being evaluated.

The submarine’s propulsion plant was unaffected by the collision and both ships are currently operating under their own power.

Turkey confiscates suspected "military materials" in Syrian plane

Source : Xinhua

ANKARA, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Turkey seized Wednesday suspicious cargo on board a Syrian civilian plane after intercepting the aircraft which was flying on the way from Moscow to Damascus.

"Military materials" were detected during the investigation, a Turkish official told Xinhua. The plane is waiting for Turkish Foreign Ministry's approval to take off again.

There were "objectionable" materials aboard, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters during his visit to Athens.

"We keep the materials for examination and further operations," Davutoglu added.

The Syrian passenger plane was forced to land in the Turkish capital of Ankara earlier on Wednesday over intelligence of "non- civilian cargo," Davutoglu said earlier in a televised interview.

The Damascus-bound plane had given "lacking notification" or " misinformation" about its cargo, Davutoglu said a few hours after the plane was forced by two F-16 warplanes to land at Esenboga Airport in Ankara.

Turkey scrambled F-16 fighter jets after the Airbus A-320 type plane, which took off from Moscow, entered into Turkey's airspace, and forced it to land in Ankara, according to earlier report.

Turkey is determined to stop any transfer of weapons to Syrian government through its territory, Davutoglu noted.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry has also instructed Turkish aviation companies to stay away from Syrian airspace and use other routes, the minister said, citing security threat in Syria

Russian Defense Minister Departs for India

Source: RIA Novosti

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov has departed for India where he will attend a meeting of the Russian-Indian intergovernmental commission for military- technical cooperation.

The key issues to be discussed include the refit of the Vikramaditya aircraft carrier, construction of frigates for India’s Navy, as well as licensed production of Russian Su- 30MKI (Flanker-H) fighters and T-90S battle tanks in India, Serdyukov’s spokeswoman Irina Kovalchuk said.

She added that the commission may also discuss prospects of interaction in upgrade programs for Indian Air Force aircraft, infantry fighting vehicles and tanks and other issues.

Kovalchuk said the sides will sum up their joint activity and sign a relevant protocol.

India may seek more than $100 million in penalty payments from Russia for delays in handing over the refitted aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, India's Economic Times reported on Tuesday citing its Defense Ministry source. However, another source said New Delhi would be unlikely to impose sanctions, as “it would negatively affect bilateral military-technical cooperation.”

The carrier - already years past its original 2008 delivery date - was supposed to have been handed over on December 4, 2012, but sea trials in September revealed the ship's boilers were not fully functional. Repairs to the ship's boilers could mean the handover is delayed until fall 2013, a United Shipbuilding Corporation commission investigation said last month.

The Vikramaditya was originally built as the Soviet Project 1143.4 class aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov. The Project 1143.4 carriers and a class of destroyers with the same engines suffered a history of boiler failures during their lives.

The ship has a displacement of 45,000 tons, and an endurance of 13,500 nautical miles (25,000 km) at a cruising speed of 18 knots. It will have an air wing consisting of Russian-made MiG-29K jet fighter planes and Kamov Ka-31 early warning radar helicopters.

Baghdad to Rethink Allowing Turkish Military Bases in Iraq

Via: StratRisks

Committee member Mahdi al-Musawi told Azzaman yesterday [Oct. 6]: “Committee member Safia al-Suhail — in the presence of officials from both the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and from the central government [in Baghdad] — said that 16 Turkish military bases exist on Iraqi territory. No one denied these claims.”

Suhail explained that “the committee is implementing several measures to deal with this issue. These include communicating with the KRG to review and re-examine the agreements that the former regime had previously signed with Turkey regarding Turkey’s presence inside Iraqi territory.

These measures also involve discussions with senior military and armed-forces leaders to find out why the KRG is silent regarding the presence of these camps.”

Musawi explained that “northern areas are constantly subjected to Turkish attacks,” adding that “such behavior is not new, as we have seen these problems for a long time. The central government was engaged in a dialogue with the KRG and expressed its readiness to mobilize the army to these areas in order to protect them from attacks. However, the KRG has some reservations.”

Suhail noted that the committee “will keep communicating with the foreign ministry and the relevant officials,” adding that next week, it “will see intensive steps aimed at resolving the problem of Turkish military incursions.”

Musawi said, “The KRG did not deny the presence of these forces. Moreover, some non- governmental officials and figures from civil-society groups said that the KRG is familiar with these military camps on the border, and that this is why the KRG is not taking any action against them.

Turkey and Egypt to Conduct Drills in Eastern Med

Source: Turkisweekly

The navies of Turkey and Egypt will conduct a joint exercise between Oct. 7 and 14 in the eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish navy announced as President Mohamed Morsi addressed a large crowd to highlight his achievements in his first 100 days in office.

The exercise, called “Sea of Friendship” (Bahr al-Sadaka), will be hosted by Egypt. The Turkish Naval Forces will participate in the exercise with two frigates, two fast attack craft, one replenishment tanker, two landing ships, one marine infantry company, two helicopters and one special forces team. The navies of the two countries held the Sea of Friendship exercise last year, too.

The event aims to develop mutual cooperation and interoperability between the two navies. The exercise will come after Egypt’s new president strongly defended his performance in his first 100 days in office, speaking to a crowd of tens of thousands at Cairo’s largest sports stadium on Oct. 6.

Morsi presented his achievements since he took power in late June as Egypt’s first freely elected president, facing down criticism that little has been achieved even as he acknowledged that his administration has not fulfilled all of his promises and that much work lies ahead, the Associated Press reported.

Critics, however, say Morsi has not accomplishe as much as he could have since winning elections and accuse the president’s Muslim Brotherhood-backed party of mimicking the former regime by going after critics and stuffing government posts with loyalists. Oct. 6’s event, which included a military parade as part of a ceremony to mark the anniversary of Egypt’s 1973 war with Israel, was also a show of force for the Brotherhood, the Islamist movement tha has emerged as the country’s most powerful political group. In his speech, Morsi acknowledged that he has not fully delivered on key promises to fix Egypt’s garbage problem, its traffic problems and energy crisis. But he said many of the basic issues he set out to fix first in his first 100 days in office – which ended yesterday – such as reducing Cairo’s notoriously snarled traffic, have shown improvement.

‘No interest’

Morsi said he had achieved 70 percent of his goals. Egypt has asked the International Monetary Fund for a $4.8 billion loan to help bolster the economy, and officials said the IMF had asked Egypt to restructure its subsidies system as one of the prerequisite for the loan.

He also reiterated that he would abide by Islamic banking laws and not accept interests on the loan, telling the cheering crowd that “we’ll go hungry before we eat off of interest.” He also said his government had cracked down on a “mafia” of officials working in the Petroleum Ministry who were siphoning off millions of dollars in corrupt deals.

“We were in a phase where there was a lot of corruption. We want this corruption to stop,” Morsi said. “We will uncover all corruption,” he vowed, Agence France-Presse reported.

Monday, 8 October 2012

Hurriyet Daily News

Israel Under Fire From Gaza Militants

Via: RIA Novosti

At least 20 rocket rounds were launched into southern Israel from Gaza on Monday morning, Israel Defense Force radio reported.

Islamic Jihad, the armed wing of the HAMAS movement, claimed responsibility for the attacks.

No information has been released about casualties as a result of the rocket attacks.

The group said it was a response to a special operation by Israeli forces the previous evening, when eleven Palestinians were injured by Israeli bombing in the town of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli bombing was aimed at a motorcyclist in southern Gaza, in which one militant was injured.

Israel Defense Force radio said the operation was aimed at Palestinian militants who taken part in attacks against Israel from Egypt in June and were involved with militant Islamic groups

Taliban mock US as Afghan war enters 12th year

Source: The Express Tribune

KABUL: America’s longest war entered its 12th year Sunday, with the anniversary marked by a Taliban statement claiming that Nato forces are “fleeing Afghanistan” in “humiliation and disgrace”.

The US led the invasion on October 7, 2001 to topple the Taliban government for harbouring al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

The Taliban were quickly routed, but launched an insurgency that grew in strength over the years until NATO had some 130,000 troops from 50 countries defending the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.

The troops have now begun pulling out and all foreign combat forces will be gone by the end of 2014 according to a withdrawal schedule agreed by the US and Nato.

“With the help of Allah, the valiant Afghans under the Jihadi leadership of Islamic Emirate defeated the military might and numerous strategies of America and Nato alliance,” the Taliban said in a statement Sunday.

“And now after eleven years of unceasing terror, tyranny, crimes and savagery, they are fleeing Afghanistan with such humiliation and disgrace that they are struggling to provide an explanation”.

A total of 3,199 Nato soldiers have been killed in the war, more than 2,000 of them Americans. Most deaths occurred in the past five years as Taliban attacks escalated, according to icasualties.com.

This year, official statistics showed that deaths in the Afghan security forces are running five times higher than those for Nato, as the Afghans take on increasing responsibilities before the Western withdrawal.

The US and Nato say Afghan forces will be capable of taking over the fight against the Taliban after 2014, but many analysts predict a bloody new multi-factional civil war.

Israeli soldiers teargas Palestinian farmers | Al Akhbar English

Israeli soldiers fired teargas to force Palestinian farmers to abandon their orchards near Hebron on Saturday, according to medics cited by the International Middle East Media Center.

Several farmers had to be treated by field medics after inhaling the fumes as they were picking their olive trees.

The IMEMC cites a Palestinian Red Crescent official, Abdul-Halim al- Jaafra, who said over 50 farmers were forced to flee after the army ordered farmers and residents to leave the orchard located near the illegal Adora Israeli settlement, west of Hebron.

Settlers and soldiers routinely destroy Palestinian olive orchards, often using tractors to uproot their main source of livelihood.

On Friday, settlers uprooted 100 newly-planted olive saplings and at least 60 vine trees on private Palestinian land in Al-Khader village near Bethlehem.

The coordinator of the local anti-wall committee, Ahmad Salah, said he noticed the vandalism while he was on a regular tour monitoring the town's fields on Friday.

He approached a field belonging to Abdul-Hakim Salah in an area known locally as Mustasi or Wadi al-Shami, near the illegal Israeli settlement of Newe Daniyyel, to find out that more than 100 saplings had been cut from the root or ripped from the ground.

He added that when he entered an adjacent grape field, he discovered that more fruit trees were also cut down.

"This vandalism is clear evidence that settlers are devoid of any human characteristic. They attack every Palestinian property including trees and stones."

Since 1967, 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted by Israeli forces, resulting in a loss of around $55 million to the Palestinian economy, according to a report by the Palestinian Authority Ministry of National Economy and the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem.

(Ma'an, Al-Akhbar)

Russian, Central Asian Pilots in Air Defense Drills

Source: RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russian and Central Asian military pilots are carrying out joint exercises to repel missile strikes over Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Russian Defense Ministry Air Force spokesman Lt. Col. Vladimir Deryabin said on Friday.

The Clear Sky 2012 military exercises get underway on Friday an run through October 16, with planned scenarios including intercepting cruise missile attack.

MiG-31 log-range interceptors, A-50U airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft, Il-76 heavy transport planes, as well as anti-aircraft missile systems and radio equipment will be used in these training exercises.

Iran building new naval vessels: admiral

Source: Tehran Times

TEHRAN – The commander of the Iranian Navy has announced that the country’s experts are building new destroyers, submarines, and missile-firing warships. In an interview with the Persian service of IRNA published on Wednesday, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said that the projects to build destroyers of the Jamaran class, semi-heavy and light submarines, and missile-firing warships are well underway. The Jamaran is the first domestically manufactured destroyer. It can carry helicopters and is equipped with torpedoes. It is 94 meters long and weighs over 1,500 tons. The warship is capable of engaging in surface, air, and undersea warfare. Velayat destroyer to be launched by March 2013 Sayyari also said that the second domestically manufactured destroyer, named the Velayat, will be launched during the current Iranian calendar year, which ends on March 20, 2013. The Velayat destroyer is highly advanced and differs greatly from the Jamaran, he said. He added that other destroyers of the Navy have also been equipped with new radar, propulsion, communications, and surveillance systems and weapons. Elsewhere in his remarks, the admiral said that the Navy has planned to expand its presence on the open seas, adding that the scope of Iran’s naval operations is beyond the country’s borders. AM/PA

President Putin: Russian military bases to ensure stability in Central Asia after NATO leaves Afghanistan

President Putin: Russian military bases to ensure stability in Central Asia after NATO leaves Afghanistan - Via: Trend.Az

Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 20 / Trend V. Zhavoronkova/

Russian military bases will ensure stability in the Central Asian region after NATO withdraws from Afghanistan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during his visit to Kyrgyzstan, RIA Novosti reported.

He mentioned that Russia established military bases in Kyrgyzstan due to Kyrgyz request to ensure the region's stability.

Putin added that those who want to destabilize the situation in the region should know that the forces needed to prevent this present in the region.

He said that the presence of Russian military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will play a role of stability providing factor.

Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az

No US Intervention in Syria - State Department

No U.S. Intervention in Syria - State Department | World | RIA Novosti

WASHINGTON, October 3 (RIA Novosti)

Tags: Victoria Nuland, United States, Syria

The United States does not plan to use military force in Syria, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday.

When asked by reporters what the department’s reaction would be to Russia having “warned the West from intervening in Syria or creating a buffer zone or no-fly zone,” Nuland said: “I think we’ve made clear what we’re looking at in terms of U.S. support for the opposition. We’re talking about nonlethal support.”

“We’re talking about training. We’re talking about trying to help those in Syria who are trying to manage and provide for people in parts of Syria that have now been liberated from regime dominance,” she said.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry earlier on Tuesday called on Western countries to avoid military intervention in Syria.

A week ago, the emir of Qatar called for Arab military intervention in Syria.

The Syrian conflict has claimed up to 20,000 lives according to estimates by various Syrian opposition groups. The UN estimates the death toll at over 18,000 people. The Syrian authorities say 8,000 were killed.

The West is pushing for President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster while Russia and China are trying to prevent outside interference in Syria, saying that the Assad regime and the opposition are both to blame for the bloodshed.

Syrians under fire during attempt to infiltrate into Lebanon

Syrians under fire during attempt to infiltrate into Lebanon - Xinhua | English.news.cn

Syrians under fire during attempt to infiltrate into Lebanon

English.news.cn 2012-10-02 05:06:17

BEIRUT, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- A Syrian citizen was injured and two others went missing after they went under fire during an attempt to infiltrate into southern Lebanon through Mount Hermon, a Lebanese security source told Xinhua Monday.

The source said three Syrian citizens were caught under fire from non- Lebanese gunmen, who staged an ambush on the Syrian- Lebanese border in the Tallet El Zarka crossing.

The source added that the Syrian citizens, who came from the Beit Jin village, were fired upon by gunmen with light machine guns. One Syrian named Khair Mohammad Badawi was injured in the attack and was later sent to a Bekaa hospital by the villagers.

Meanwhile, two other Syrians named Ahmad Haidar and Abdallah Ak Safadi went missing during the incident, said the source.

White House Confirms Cyber Attack On One Of Its Computer Networks : The Two-Way : NPR

The AFP, Politico and Fox News quote a unnamed administration officials saying the network hit did not contain any classified information and there was no indication any data was stolen.

The AFP reports:

"The US official said the attack was against 'an unclassified network' and was a case of 'spear phishing,' in which a spoofed email tricks a user into clicking through to a website where a hacker can install malicious software or gain control of another computer.

"'These types of attacks are not infrequent and we have mitigation measures in place,' the official said.

"'In this instance, the attack was identified, the system was isolated, and there is no indication whatsoever that any exfiltration of data took place. Moreover, there was never any impact or attempted breach of any classified system.'"

The White House was responding to questions that arose from a report published by the Free Beacon, a conservative website, this weekend.

The Free Beacon reported that Chinese-linked hackers "broke into one of the U.S. government's most sensitive computer networks, breaching a system used by the White House Military Office for nuclear commands, according to defense and intelligence officials familiar with the incident."

The White House, notes Fox News, downplayed that report saying it did not involve nuclear systems.

"In this instance the attack was identified, the system was isolated, and there is no indication whatsoever that any exfiltration of data took place. Moreover, there was never any impact or attempted breach of any classified system," Fox quotes an unnamed White House official as saying.

What I Way'? This is N It's a pla breaking and for just too too ente pass up It's also convers news; w you to k But plea discussi diving in Above t Acciden Disaste America Busines Podcas blog The Two News E mail Print omments () 

Anti-Muslim filmmaker arrested

Via Strategic Culture Foundation Source: The Voice of Russia The filmmaker of the provocative trailer and "supposed" film "The Innocence of Muslims" Nakoula Basseley Nakoula was arrested on Thursday in Los Angeles according to the local city prosecutor's office which released a statement reading: “The creator of the film is in custody and has to appear before a federal court." It is noted that Nakoula was previously convicted and serving time for crimes of a financial nature and is suspected of violating the conditions of his early parole from prison. According to Reuters, he was released from prison in 2011, with the condition that he would not use the Internet without the permission of the authorities and that he was forbidden from using pseudonyms. During his court hearings it will be decided whether these conditions were violated. Nakoula Basseley Nakoula says that he is not the creator of the film, but was only dealing with organizational matters for the company which produced the film which enraged Muslims worldwide.

Iran Defense Missiles can reach the entire of Persian Gulf coastline (US Bases)

Iranian missiles can destroy large naval vessels and reach the entire Persian Gulf coastline and U.S. bases that lie beyond it, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said. The commander of the IRGC's navy issued that assessment after concluding the final stage of a Persian Gulf missile drill, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported Tuesday. In the drill, the navy fired four missiles at a mock sea target, sinking it in 50 seconds, said Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi. Iran started mass production of its Persian Gulf anti-ship missile, designed to destroy targets at sea, in early 2011. The supersonic projectile, which carries a 1,400-pound warhead, is immune to interception and features high-precision systems, Fars said. Last week the Revolutionary Guard displayed the country's air defense shield.

Newsfeed - Iran: IRGC Rear Admiral Fadavi: "Dark Days await US forces in case of an Attack against Iran

Via Breaking News.com Asenior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps says dark days await US forces in case of an attack against Iran. Referring to the mine-sweeping drill held by the United States near the Persian Gulf, IRGC Navy Commander Rear-Admiral Ali Fadavi said, “We keep a moment-by-moment watch on every move of the Americans.” “Over the past years, we have not neglected to enhance our naval capabilities, particularly in the field of mines, and these capabilities are unimaginable to the Americans,” the Iranian commander added. “Our missile-equipped speedboats are only a small part of our naval capabilities and each of these vessels can be effective in fighting huge US warships,” Fadavi said. Fadavi added that only Britain, France, Japan and the United Arab Emirates have joined the US in the Persian Gulf maneuver and other countries merely attend the meetings and conferences related to the exercise. He said the latest estimates suggest that 64 US vessels are present in the region, adding that the Americans claim, however, that 20 of the vessels are participating in the drill. He added that Six British, French, two Japanese and two Emirati ships are also taking part in the maneuver. The US anti-mine exercises began on September 16 and are scheduled to wrap up on September 27. The US Navy claims that the exercises are purely defensive and not directed at any country.

FSA Militants from Syria enter Lebanese Terretories

By Almanar Broadcasting Lebanon Militants from Syria Enter Lebanese Territories, Attack Army Post Local Editor Militants of the so-called “Free Syrian Army” violated the Lebanese border, before they attacked a checkpost for the Lebanese army in theborder town of Arsal. "Overnight a large number of insurgents attacked a Lebanese army post in the Arsal region. This was the second time in less than a week that the Free Syrian Army has entered Lebanese territory," an official statement said on Saturday. "Army reinforcements were dispatched to the area and began to pursue the gunmen, who fled after the attack towards the mountains and several border towns and villages" inside Lebanon. "The army leadership will not allow any party to use Lebanese territory to implicate Lebanon into events in neighboring countries, and reaffirms its determination to protect Lebanese territory," the statement added.

Islamic Iran unveils newest air defense system Date and Ti

By Islamic Invitation Turkey 09-21-2012 iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has displayed the country’s latest domestically-manufactured air defense system. Raad air defense system was displayed during the Friday parade of the Iranian Armed Forces in the capital city, Tehran, marking the 32nd anniversary of eight years of defense against Iraq’s invasion of the country under executed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein The mid-range system which is equipped with Taer 2 missiles is capable of intercepting targets at a range of up to 50 kilometers and at the height of 75,000 feet. Raad is the optimized version of the Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile system. The Friday parade also showcased the latest achievements of Iran’s Armed Forces in defense and military hardware. In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems. Iran has repeatedly stated that its military might poses no threat to other countries, reiterating that its defense doctrine is based on deterrence.

Mursi Stressses Importance Of IRAN, EGYPT'S Unity In Facing Global Challenges

Via FARS NEWS AGENCY TEHRAN (FNA)-Egyptian President Mohammad Mursi said Iran plays an important role in resolving he regional crises, and underlined that Tehran and Cairo should be united in dealing with global challenges. When the follower of unrighteousness are united in their nrighteous path, why should not we go united in our right osition when dealing with global challenges". Mursi said in a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Cairo on Tuesday. Stressing that Egypt assumes Iran's stability as its own stability, he said, "There is no problem between Iran and Egypt." The Egyptian president also underscored the important role of Iran's assistance to the settlement of problemsin the region, and announced Cairo's readiness for any kind of regional cooperation with Tehran. After the collapse of Hosni Mubarak's regime, the Iranian and Egyptian officials voiced their interest in the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries and Salehi officially invited the then Egyptian counterpart Nabil Al-Arabi to pay a visit to Tehran. Later, the Iranian foreign minister and his former Egyptian counterpart also held a meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Also, during the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran late August, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Egyptian counterpart conferred on ways to promote the bilateral relations between Tehran and Cairo, and stressed the need for continued consultations in this regard.

EU calls on Muslim Governments to Protest Embassies

BRUSSELS, September 15 (RIA Novosti) Tags: "Innocence of Muslims", Christopher Stevens, Catherine Ashton Chief EU diplomat Catherine Ashton strongly condemned the attacks on Western diplomatic missions in several Muslim countries and urged the local authorities to ensure their security. "I have been following the development with great concern and urge the national authorities of the affected countries to quickly ensure the safety of diplomatic missions and to protect diplomatic personnel," she said in a statement to RIA Novosti. Riots erupted across the Muslim world this week in response to an American anti-Islam video, "Innocence of Muslims," posted to the Internet on Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three others were killed in Benghazi on Tuesday in one of the first of several such riots, which have since spread to Tunisia and Sudan, among other predominantly Muslim countries. About 5,000 rioters also attacked the Embassies of Germany and the U.K. in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.

Iran unveil Meshkat medium-range cruise missile

Via Islamic Invitation Turkey "Meshkat cruise missile, which God willing will be unveiled soon, has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers. It will be the upper hand of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi, who is also the director of Defense Ministry’s Aerospace Organization, said on Sunday. “Meshkat cruise missile will have submarine-, ground-and air-launched properties and could also be fired from a warplane,” the general said. Farahi said the Iranian Defense Ministry has already produced five cruise missiles, namely, Zafar, Nasr, Nour, Qaser and Ghadir, adding that the development of nine more cruise missiles is under study. He went on to say that Iran is upgrading the “precision, radar-invasiveness, tactical aspects and durability” of its missiles. The general, however, noted that the development of cluster warheads does not lie within Iran’s defense strategies, stressing that the country has done a lot in tweaking missile warheads, which is an important factor in upgrading ballistic missiles. Farahi played down the US deployment of missile defense systems in the region, saying they could never overpower Iranian missiles. “We hope that nothing would happen. But if any confrontation is to take place, they will see how their claims will turn out to be groundless.” In recent years, Iran has made great achievements in the defense sector and gained self-sufficiency in essential military hardware and defense systems. Iran has repeatedly assured other nations, especially regional neighbors, that its military might poses no threat to other countries, insisting that its defense doctrine is merely based on deterrence.

The Tug-of-war over the South China Sea

The tug-of-war over the South China Sea is seen mainly as a struggle among rival claimants -China, Taiwan and several South-East Asian states -for control of valuable fisheries as well as sea bed oil, natural gas and mineral resources. China's claim to about 80 per cent of the 3.5 million square kilometre sea and its hundreds of atolls, rocks and reefs, has also alarmed outside seafaring and trading nations, including the United States, Australia and Japan. They regard the South China Sea as an international maritime highway with free navigation for seaborne trade, unimpeded movement of naval vessels, and unfettered over-flight for military aircraft. But recent developments in China's nuclear weapons program suggest there is another important dimension to China's increasing assertiveness in enforcing its claimed jurisdiction in the semi-enclosed sea: protecting a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines armed with atomic warheads and based at Sanya on China's Hainan Island. Okazaki Institute in Tokyo special research fellow Tetsuo Kotani says, ''Without understanding the nuclear dimension of the South China Sea disputes, China's maritime expansion makes little sense.'' One of the new generation subs was first spotted by a commercial satellite at Sanya in 2008. It was tied up to a pier that analysts said was China's first and so far only demagnetising facility for submarines. Demagnetisation is conducted before deployment to remove residual magnetic fields in the metal of a sub to make it harder to detect by hostile submarines, surface ships and anti-submarine aircraft. Initially, these new generation Chinese subs and the nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles they could launch while submerged would be able to target potential adversaries in the Asia-Pacific and US bases in the region. Eventually, with longer-range intercontinental missiles, they could cover the whole of the US from launch points in the deep waters of the South China Sea without having to venture too far from their rock shelter tunnels bored into a mountain that forms part of the Sanya naval base for China's South Sea Fleet. . This would give China a more effective deterrent against nuclear attack, one that operated from under the sea in addition to land-based nuclear missiles. In recent years, China has built up a relatively small but increasingly impressive arsenal of approximately 140 nuclear ballistic missiles either concealed in silos or mounted on special launch vehicles and moved around to different hiding places on land. Each carries a single nuclear warhead. But earlier this month, a newspaper controlled by the ruling Chinese Communist Party reported that China was developing the capability to do what Russia and the US have the technology to do -put multiple warheads on its intercontinental ballistic missiles, each capable of hitting different targets. This could greatly increase the number of China's operational nuclear weapons and overwhelm any missile defence system. At the same time, China is building a fleet of new JIN-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), known as Type-094. Two are in operation, a third is under construction and may already have been launched, and at least two more are expected to be built. Meanwhile, China is hoping to complete testing of the JL-2 nuclear-tipped missile for the Type-094 sub, which can carry 12 of the missiles. The US Defence Department's annual report to Congress in May on China's armed forces and military strategy noted that the while the JL-2 program had faced repeated delays, it ''may reach initial operating capability'' within the next two years, giving the Chinese Navy "caredible sea-based nuclear'' deterrent. In addition to adding a nuclear dimension to China's interests in the South China Sea, having a sea-based nuclear deterrent may pose serious control problems for the Central Military Commission which supervises the country's nuclear arsenal. The commission and the Chinese Navy have no experience in operating SSBNs in either peacetime or during a crisis. Yet remaining submerged and out of communication for lengthy periods is essential if SSBNs are to remain undetected. So for the foreseeable future, China's land-based nuclear missile force is expected to be the mainstay of the country's deterrent and retaliatory strike capability against the continental US or other faraway targets. But that will be cold comfort for any regional adversary of China that might soon be targeted by a new SSBN fleet armed with nuclear ballistic missiles. The writer is a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of