Author: Steven Sahiounie

Over 450 people have been killed in Iraq since mass protests started in the country in early October; demonstrators accuse the political system of being “corrupt”. Protesters broke into an oil field in the city of Nassiriya in southern Iraq on Saturday, forcing employees to cut off electricity from its control station, Reuters reported, citing sources. The oil field produces 90,000 barrels of crude per day. The protesters chanted “no homeland, no oil” as they broke into the facility, the agency quotes sources as saying. Although protesters had previously blocked entrances to refineries and ports, this is the first time…

According to the Russian Reconciliation Center, terrorists attacked Syrian Army ‘ positions twice in Idlib, with each time involving up to 50 militants. The province remains a major stronghold of terrorist from various factions. Syrian army have repelled terrorist attacks in the province of Idlib, the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation reported on Saturday. According to the Russian military, up to 30 terrorists have been killed or wounded. There are no casualties among the Syrian military. “Militants from the terrorist group Tahrir al-Sham [ormerly known as the Al-Nusra Front*] with the support of the Syrian National Army launched two attacks…

China, Iran and Russia kicked off four days of joint naval drills starting on Friday in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean. The exercise is aimed at “deepening exchanges and cooperation among the navies of the three countries, and demonstrating the goodwill and capability of the three sides to jointly safeguard world peace and maritime security,” a statement by the Chinese Defense Ministry said. A detachment of Baltic Fleet ships consisting of the Yaroslav Mudry Neustrashimyy-class frigate , the Yelnya tanker, and the Viktor Konetskiy sea tugboat stopped at the Iranian port of Chahbekhar to participate in Russian-Iranian-Chinese maneuvers. This…

Algeria will become the first country to procure an expert version of Russia’s Su-57E (E – export) fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter jet, Algerian media outlet “MenaDeefense” repoted on December 27. According to the report, the delivery contract was already signed. Under the contract, Algeria will reportedly receive 14 Su-57E fighter jets, 14 Su-34 fighter-bombers, and Su-35 multi-role fighters. The contract is allegedly set to be implemented by 2025. The decision to obtain Su-57E jets was reportedly made by the Algerian leadership during the 2019 MAKS-2019 Air Show (Aug 27, 2019 – Sep 1, 2019). In 2018 and 2019, Su-57 fighter jets…

On December 27, Russia’s Gazprom said that it has paid Ukraine $2.9 billion under the decision of the Stockholm court, as a part of wider gas agreements deal reached by the sides earlier in the month. On December 20, Russia and Ukraine announced the terms of new gas transit agreements, under which Russia will supply Europe for another 5 years via Ukraine and pay a $2.9 billion settlement to Kiev to end a legal dispute. In exchange, Ukraine is set to drop another legal claim. Moscow and Kiev are set to formalize the agreements and sign the final deal in…

The Turkish Armed Forces are ready to be deployed to Libya if necessary, media reported on Friday, citing National Defence Ministry Spokeswoman Nadide Sebnem Aktop. The Turkish military is able to conduct operations in and outside Turkey, as required, the Anadolu news agency reported, citing the spokeswoman. In late November, Turkey and the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli signed an agreement on military cooperation. Both sides have already ratified the deal, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that Ankara would support the GNA in the fight against the Libyan National Army (LNA). Libya…

A concerted effort by radical anti-government demonstrators to disrupt Hong Kongers’ access to shops over the holiday season has resulted in a significant drop in seasonal revenue, as well as arrests by the dozens. Thursday marked the end of Hong Kong’s three-day Christmas break and the third day of protests carried out by masked, black-clad protesters. “Unprecedented violence, reckless and organized destruction became the norm,” Hong Kong city officials said in a statement issued Thursday, reported The Guardian. Chief Executive Carrie Lam also commented on the matter, asserting that protesters ruined Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. According to the outlet,…

The Libyan National Army (LNA) announced on Friday that it had taken control of roads leading to the Tripoli airport and was set for major battles for main areas of the Libyan capital. The news comes a day after information surfaced that the rival Tripoli-based government has officially requested military aid from Turkey. “The LNA is advancing after violent clashes on roads that lead to the center of the capital. The GNA retreated leaving bodies lying on the road to Tripoli airport”, the LNA wrote on Facebook, as quoted by Al Arabiya. LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari, in turn, told the…

The base is located 15 km northwest of Kirkuk and houses US military forces alongside Iraqi forces, Reuters said, citing security sources. Several rockets have hit Iraq’s K1 military base near the city of Kirkuk on Friday, Reuters has reported, citing a statement by the Iraqi military. The base, which lies 15 km northwest of Kirkuk, houses US military forces as well as Iraqi forces from the Federal Police and Counter-Terrorism Service, the agency says, citing security sources. No casualties have been reported so far. Security forces found a launchpad for Katyusha rockets inside an abandoned vehicle near the base,…

The Chinese government has scathingly lambasted as “gross interference” in China’s domestic affairs the contents of the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. Wu Qian, spokesman for Ministry of National Defense of China, on Thursday referred to the articles of the document that dealt with Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang’s affairs, saying Washington “has openly meddled” in these “internal affairs.” The 738-billion-dollar NDAA, signed into law by President Donald Trump on December 20, contains articles that support protests in Hong Kong, boost Taiwan’s military capabilities through extensive military exchanges and arms sales, and require the compilation of regular and…