File Photo of Israel's Iron Dome System.

The Daily Brief 2020-07-31

by · AMN

This is a summary of 21 AMN articles on the following subjects: Israel, US, Hama, Idlib, Latakia, Syria, Russia, China, India, Iraq, ISIS, Iran, IRGC, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Natanz, Hasakah, SAA, SDF, Baghdad, Ukraine.

Categories covered in this brief: Middleeast, World-News, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, North-Africa, Lebanon

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Table of Contents

Israel, US reach agreement on air defense cooperation

Published 2020-07-31 22:16:45 by News Desk in Middleeast, World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:00 P.M.) – The Israeli army announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with the U.S. regarding joint air defense projects. “After a hypothetical meeting, the Israeli Air Force and the U.S. Air Force signed a document specifying the interoperability between the American THAAD missile and the Israeli Iron Dome in the event of an emergency in Israel.” The American High Altitude Defense (THAAD) and the Israeli Iron Dome are both anti-ballistic missile defense systems, designed to intercept and shoot down short, medium and long-range air targets. The Israeli army also praised the long-term cooperation between Israel… Read on ->

Tags: Israel, US

Syrian Army steps up attacks in northwest Syria as offensive becomes imminent

Published 2020-07-31 22:05:09 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:45 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued to launch heavy strikes on the jihadist rebel positions in northwestern Syria this week, as their troops repeatedly struck the militant defenses in Idlib, Hama, and Latakia. According to a field report from the Latakia countryside, the Syrian Army launched several strikes on the jihadist defenses near the key town of Kabani, which has long been under the control of the Turkestan Islamic Party and their allied militants. Following the attack on Kabani, the Syrian Arab Army launched several artillery shells and missiles towards the jihadist defenses in the… Read on ->

Tags: Hama, Idlib, Latakia, Syria

Russian Su-27 scrambles to intercept US aircraft over Black Sea, 2nd time in 24 hours

Published 2020-07-31 21:44:25 by News Desk in World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 P.M.) – The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that its Su-27 fighter aircraft intercepted an American spy plane over the Black Sea waters. They said that the American plane moved away from the Russian border, as soon as Su-27 approached the aircraft. “On July 31, a U.S. aircraft approached Russia’s airspace and was discovered over neutral waters in the Black Sea, and a Su-27 fighter jet immediately set off to intercept it,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said. “The Russian fighter approached the air target at a safe distance, and identified it as the U.S…. Read on ->

Tags: Russia, US

Unverified satellite photos show deployment of elite Chinese forces near Indian border

Published 2020-07-31 21:33:46 by News Desk in World-News

India and China, both nuclear powers, have been engaged in military level talks to diffuse ongoing tensions following a violent clash on 15 June, the worst in nearly 50 years, that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese troops. China’s People’s Liberation Army has built a floating dock, tents and huts in the contested Pangong Tso district of Ladkah; unverified satellite images released by private agency Maxar Technology suggest. The satellite imagery shows 40 new prefabricated tents erected at finger 6 of the Pangong Tso, which is almost 8 kilometres inside India’s border… Read on ->

Tags: China, India

Iraqi airstrikes wipe out ISIS supply vehicles: photos

Published 2020-07-31 20:03:11 by News Desk in Iraq

BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:50 P.M.) – The Iraqi Ministry of Defense announced on Friday, that Iraqi warplanes carried out precise airstrikes, destroying vehicles belonging to the so-called Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh). The Iraqi Ministry of Defense released a statement that said their forces targeted the Islamic State’s movements in the Wadi Al-Shai area, as they sought to deliver supplies to their terrorist comrades. https://www.facebook.com/mod.mil.iq/posts/2921056494790503 The statement added, “The strikes resulted in the destruction of two Hyundai type wheels used by ISIS to carry out their terrorist operations. The pickup truck was destroyed, in addition to the destruction of a fuel tank for… Read on ->

Tags: Iraq, ISIS

Main purpose of Iranian war games was to protect islands: IRGC Navy

Published 2020-07-31 19:36:15 by News Desk in Iran

BEIRUT, LEBANON )7:15 P.M.) – The Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Navy, Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri, said on Friday that this week’s military exercises, which was dubbed the “Great Prophet 14”, was geared at protecting Iran’s islands in the Persian Gulf. Tangsiri said on that the main purpose of the recent military exercises has been to protect the Persian Gulf islands and deterring those who sow insecurity in the region. He also named “friendship and convergence of the Muslim countries in the region” as the other target of the war games in southern Iran. The commander… Read on ->

Tags: Iran, IRGC

Turkish fighter jets arrive in Azerbaijan as Armenian military goes on high alert

Published 2020-07-31 19:22:37 by News Desk in World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:00 P.M.) – Turkish F-16 fighters arrived in Azerbaijan on Friday to participate in the joint land and air exercises between the two countries. The Turkish fighters were received during a military ceremony before their participation in the air exercises between the two countries bearing the name “Turkish-Azerbaijani Eagle 2020”, the Anadolu News Agency reported. These exercises have caught the attention of neighboring Armenia, as the latter’s Ministry of Defense informed Sputnik News that they have placed their armed forces on high alert. https://twitter.com/aa_arabic/status/1289153839719997442?s=20 On Monday, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry issued a statement announcing that it was conducting… Read on ->

Tags: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey

Greece issues first statement about alleged purchase of Turkish drones

Published 2020-07-31 19:04:47 by News Desk in Turkey, World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:40 P.M.) – On Friday, the Greek Ministry of  Defense commented on the news reported about the purchase of drones from Turkey. “The Ministry of National Defense flatly denies the rumors and unconfirmed information reported by foreign media that claimed that the Greek army intends to purchase Turkish-made drones.” According to the Greek Ministry of Defense, there are “targeted leaks” that have appeared in the foreign and Greek media since the end of May, but have not been confirmed. “The information published on the Internet, especially on news sites, must be carefully verified before it is republished within… Read on ->

Tags: Greece, Turkey

No truth to Egyptian military deploying to Syria: source

Published 2020-07-31 18:36:54 by News Desk in North-Africa, Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:00 P.M.) – The Turkish media reported this week that dozens of Egyptian military personnel arrived in Syria, despite no official statement from either Cairo or Damascus about such a deployment. According to an army source in Damascus, the reports about the Egyptian military deploying to Syria are fabricated, pointing out that there would be no need for them to be in Syria at this time. The news about the Egyptian military sending dozens of soldiers to Syria first surfaced in the Turkish media, as newspapers close to the regime of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spread the claims… Read on ->

Tags: Egypt, Syria, Turkey

US slams Iran and Venezuela as ‘alliance of pariah states’

Published 2020-07-31 18:16:46 by News Desk in Iran

The new grocery store, which features over 2,000 products from Iran, was made possible after the Islamic Republic sent half a dozen cargo ships carrying fuel, food, medical supplies and spare parts for Venezuela’s oil industry to the South American nation last month, in defiance of US pressure. US acting assistant secretary for the US State Department’s bureau for Western Hemisphere affairs Michael Kozak expressed irritation over the opening of the first Iranian supermarket in Venezuela. “I would be surely surprised if Venezuela is able to obtain much benefit from Iran,” Kozak said, speaking to reporters on Thursday. “Iran is… Read on ->

Tags: Iran

Israeli military buildup along Lebanese border is largest since 2006 War

Published 2020-07-31 18:03:47 by News Desk in Lebanon, Middleeast

BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:45 P.M.) – An Arab newspaper revealed on Friday, a significant Israeli military presence along the Lebanese border, stating that this is largest building up since the 2006 War. According to the Kuwait-based Al-Rai newspaper, the situation along the Lebanese border is witnessing “the largest mobilization of the Israeli military on Lebanon border since 2006.” The article said that the Israeli army kept its forces on high alert, and that the border forces were reinforced with advanced artillery, intelligence units, and special forces, adding that the reinforcements come with direct orders from Defense Minister Benny Gantz, to prevent… Read on ->

Tags: Hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon

Armenian military placed on high alert along Azerbaijan border

Published 2020-07-31 17:47:07 by News Desk in World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (5:30 P.M.) – The Armenian Ministry of Defense announced on Friday, that the Armenian military forces on the border with Azerbaijan are on high alert, as part of the sudden inspection of the high military leadership and the conduct of military exercises by neighboring countries that may threaten the country’s public safety. “According to the 2020 combat training plan, the Central Military Command conducted a surprise examination regarding the combat readiness of the forces,” Shushan Stepanian, a spokesman for the Armenian Defense Ministry told Sputnik on Friday. He told the news agency: “This step included inspections of large… Read on ->

Tags: Armenia, Azerbaijan

Iran reveals new information about explosion at nuclear facility

Published 2020-07-31 17:33:48 by News Desk in Iran

Tehran does not consider that an incident that occurred on Iran’s Natanz advanced centrifuge plant in early July was the result of a drone or missile attack, Mojtaba Zonnour, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee in the Iranian parliament, said on Friday, adding that a reason should be found within Iran. “The investigation has shown that a source of the blast on the Natanz nuclear facility in the Isfahan province was caused by internal elements,” Zonnour said, as quoted by local news agency ISNA, adding that he cannot reveal any extra information. Tehran does not believe… Read on ->

Tags: Iran, Natanz

Iran ends massive war games in Strait of Hormuz, issues stern warning to enemies: photos

Published 2020-07-31 11:25:25 by News Desk in Iran

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 A.M.) – The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) issued a statement on Thursday, declaring the end of its massive drills, which were dubbed “Great Prophet 14”, and issued a warning to Iran’s enemies about testing their strength. “The exercises, which were held with the participation of the IRGC Navy and Aerospace Force in the general area of ​​Hormozgan province, the Persian Gulf and the west of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, ended successfully with the implementation of all plans and combined operational exercises on land, sea, and in the air and space,” the IRGC’s statement said, as… Read on ->

Tags:

Chinese warplanes take to skies above South China Sea for ‘high intensity training’: video

Published 2020-07-31 10:52:25 by News Desk in World-News

The spike in tensions in the strategic waterway comes amid a broader, multi-front rift in China-US ties on issues ranging from Hong Kong and Taiwan to trade, technology transfer and ideological questions. Xian H-6G and Xian H-6J strategic bombers have staged drills in the South China Sea, with the exercises including nighttime operations, long-range sorties and simulated attack on sea targets, China’s Defence Ministry announced on Thursday. The drills, described by Defence Ministry spokesperson Col. Ren Guoqiang as “high-intensity training,” were characterized as routine operations aimed at improving naval aviation’s combat readiness. Ren did not specify the drills’ precise location… Read on ->

Tags: China

Syrian Army seizes large amount of weapons being smuggled to militants in Idlib

Published 2020-07-31 10:38:38 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:20 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) managed to thwart an attempt by a group of militants to smuggle weapons through the government territories to the Idlib Governorate this week. According to the SAA, their forces were able to stop the transport before it could reach the militant lines in Idlib. The militants attempted to transport a large quantity of artillery shells, ammunition, and other military supplies, but were stopped by the Syrian Army in the Hama Governorate. This latest bust comes just days after a similar smuggling attempt was foiled by the Syrian Arab Army in… Read on ->

Tags: Idlib, Syria

Turkish military, militants amassing forces in northeast Syria after attacking Syrian Army, SDF

Published 2020-07-31 09:56:46 by News Desk in Syria

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:40 A.M.) – This week has seen a significant increase in the number of Turkish military personnel and allied militants in the Al-Hasakah countryside, as they continue to attack both the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the Abu Rasin area. According to an SAA field report, the Turkish military and their allied militants have moved more forces to the Abu Rasin front amid new attacks on the positions of the Syrian Army and SDF troops in Al-Hasakah. The report says the Turkish military’s shelling has targeted a number of areas inside Al-Hasakah, hitting… Read on ->

Tags: Hasakah, SAA, SDF, Syria, Turkey

New rocket attack targets Baghdad Airport

Published 2020-07-31 09:27:42 by News Desk in Iraq

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:20 A.M.) – The Iraqi security media cell announced that two rockets landed in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport last night. The cell said in a press statement, “Two Katyusha rockets landed in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport without causing any material or human losses.” They added, “The two missiles launched from two different locations near the international road in the Radwaniyah area, west of Baghdad.” No group has claimed responsibility for this latest attack on the Baghdad International Airport. It is noteworthy to mention that this is just one of several attacks that have been… Read on ->

Tags: Baghdad, Iraq

Iran agrees to pay compensation for Ukrainian aircraft shot down in January

Published 2020-07-31 08:49:05 by News Desk in Iran

In January, the crash of a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 killed all of the 176 people on board. Commenting on the tragedy, Tehran later said that the plane was mistakenly downed after the military confused it with a hostile target. Tehran has agreed to pay compensation for the January downing of a Ukrainian plane, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Thursday. “Iran agreed to pay compensation for the plane, but the implementation of this issue will take time and has various aspects from a technical and legal point of view”, Mousavi said, according to state-run news agency… Read on ->

Tags: Iran, Ukraine

Up close footage of Russian Su-27 intercepting 2 US military aircraft

Published 2020-07-31 00:47:50 by News Desk in World-News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:40 P.M.) – The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that a Russian Su-27 fighter aircraft intercepted two American reconnaissance aircraft, approaching Russian airspace over the Black Sea. The ministry said that the Russian fighter approached the two planes and determined that they were reconnaissance planes belonging to the U.S. Air Force. The ministry continued that the two aircraft are P-8A Poseidon and RC-135 for strategic surveillance. The ministry said that the Russian fighter “did not allow the two American planes to violate Russia’s airspace.” They emphasized that Su-27 had acted “in strict compliance with international rules.” Last week,… Read on ->

Tags: Russia, US

Greece to buy 50 drones from Turkey amid ongoing turmoil

Published 2020-07-31 00:25:09 by News Desk in Turkey, World-News

Turkish drone maker Assuva Savunma Sanayi announced on Tuesday the Greek Ministry of Defense had decided to buy 50 tactical drones made by the company which can be used for search and rescue missions as well as minesweeping. Assuva Savunma Sanayi said it had previously sent two of its Proton Elic RB-128 drones to Athens for evaluation tests. The six-rotor drone can be used for a wide variety of reconnaissance missions and can capture images from up to 1 kilometer away above ground or 50 meters away underground. China and Sri Lanka have bought the same systems from Assuva, according… Read on ->

Tags: Greece, Turkey

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