Russia overrides Middle East cyber waves
The distance as the crow flies between Russia’s Syrian air base Al-Hmeineem near Latakia and its Iraqi host facility at Al Taqaddum Air base is 824 km (445 nautical miles). From the Latakia base to Israel, the distance is just 288 km or 155 nautical miles, a hop and a skip in aerial terms. Syria’s […]
Blair acknowledges ISIS stemmed from Iraq invasion, refuses to apologize for toppling Saddam
The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has acknowledged there are “elements of truth” in statements saying the rise of Islamic State was a direct consequence of the US-led invasion of Iraq, but refused to apologize for attacking the country. “I find it hard to apologize for removing Saddam. I think, even from today in […]
US-led invasion of Iraq played role in rise of ISIS, ex-British leader Tony Blair says
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq was partly responsible for the emergence of the Islamic State militant group in the Middle East. But he insisted that toppling dictator Saddam Hussein had been the right thing to do. Blair told CNN that “there are elements of truth” in […]
Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman arrives in Iraq for update on fight against ISIS
IRBIL, Iraq – The top U.S. military officer landed in Iraq Tuesday to get an update on the battle against ISIS militants, saying he sees no prospect right now for Russia to expand its airstrike campaign into the war-torn country. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was making his […]
Palestinians torch Joseph’s Tomb in West Bank as unrest continues
The fire was condemned harshly by Israeli politicians, with Avigdor Lieberman, a former foreign minister under Benjamin Netanyahu, proclaiming “This arson shows that the Palestinian Authority’s occupation is no different than that of [ISIS]”. He added that the rioters had been incited by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, first to kill Israelis with machetes and […]
Iraqi forces preparing for assault on IS-held Ramadi
Iraqi government forces say they have made significant advances around the Islamic State-held city of Ramadi and are preparing for a final assault. The Joint Operations Command for Anbar province said troops and militiamen had reached the Albu Farraj area, on Ramadi’s northern outskirts. It is thought that there are between 600 and 1,000 IS […]
Dutch Jews express ‘grave concern’ over refugee center
The Central Jewish Board, or CJO, an umbrella of religious and secular Jewish groups, sent a statement to the media on Monday about the center in Amstelveen, just south of the Dutch capital. “CJO and local Jewish organizations in Amsterdam and Amstelveen have grave concerns regarding the safety of the Jewish community following the […]
ISIS on ropes? Not so fast, say U.S. intel experts
Two former U.S. intelligence officials dispute a British terror expert’s belief that ISIS and its caliphate could be wiped out within hours now that Russia has begun airstrikes over Syria and will expand the bombing to Iraq. Afzal Ashraf of the London think-tank Royal United Services Institute recently told the London Express that with […]