Search results

General

Type

Sector

Regions

Sort options

1,441 results found for your search

Subscriber

In a partial success for German and French diplomacy, this €2bn electronic security contract award is primarily a technological security decision for a project long coveted by Paris.

Saudi Arabia
Free

The US has spent $5.6trn on its wars in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan and related security initiatives over the past 16 years, according to newly released research by the Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs at Brown University. The figure is far higher than previous official estimates: the Department of Defense (Pentagon) has estimated the combined cost of the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria at $1.5trn to date.

Issue 953 - 07 September 2013

Disappointment for Saudi over Syria

Subscriber

It has been a disappointing week for Saudi Arabia, as Arab and western allies pulled back from intervening in Syria. Despite a strong appeal from foreign minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal for the Arab League to back military intervention, Arab foreign ministers meeting in Cairo on 1 September failed to go beyond a call for the United Nations (UN) and international community to “assume their responsibilities” under the UN charter and international law. Riyadh – which has recognised the lack of Arab capacity to deal with Syria – has given the strongest statement of support for a western military strike: before the League meeting, Prince Saud told reporters the international community should use “all its powers” to stop aggression against Syrians.

Saudi Arabia
Subscriber

Enhancements to the Islamic Republic’s armed forces have been unveiled, with deputy defence minister Reza Mozaffari-Nia on 16 July announcing plans to provide up to 800 new or modernised tanks for the Iranian Army (Artesh) and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). It is not clear over what timescale the tanks will be provided or what the split will be between new and refurbished models. Iran claims to build up to 60 tanks a year, with the most recent addition to the production line being the Karrar (Striker) tank, unveiled in March 2017.

Iran
Free

Two new domestically-produced military vehicles have formally entered service with the UAE Armed Forces. The Nimr N35 – which comes in both 4x4 and 6x6 configurations – and the Ajban special operations vehicle were both displayed for the first time during the UAE’s National Day parade on 5 December. The N35 is based on the RG35 model which Nimr bought from South Africa’s Denel Vehicle Systems in September 2015.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Subscriber

Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (NBH) was appointed secretary-general of the Supreme Defence Council (SDC) in a royal order by his father King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa on 5 July. It adds to a lengthening list of jobs, after NBH was named national security adviser last October. He is also Royal Guard Commander, the king’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs, and chairman of both the Royal Humanitarian Foundation and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.

Bahrain
Subscriber

The United States surprised passengers and airlines alike when, on 20 March, it set out tough new restrictions on direct flights from eight Middle East and North Africa (Mena) countries. Passengers will have to put any electronic device larger than a mobile phone into the hold, including everything from laptops to DVD players, cameras and games consoles. The Gulf airlines affected are Emirates, Etihad Airways, Kuwait Airways, Qatar Airways and Saudia. Flights on Royal Jordanian (RJ) from Amman, EgyptAir from Cairo, Turkish Airlines from Istanbul and Royal Air Maroc from Casablanca are also covered by the new rules.

Subscriber

With the Saudi-led campaign passing its third anniversary in March, it is increasingly clear the Yemen war has turned into a quagmire for Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition has failed to prevent the Houthi rebels from acquiring advanced military technology, which the coalition and the United States claim is being provided by Iran and delivered via Lebanon. During March and April, the Houthis fired missiles at Riyadh, Khamis Mushayt, Jizan and Najran; they threatened to continue firing ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia on a daily basis for as long as the conflict lasts.

Yemen
Issue 992 - 08 May 2015

UAE: MBZ inspects forces

Subscriber

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ) travelled to the King Fahd Air Base in Taif, Saudi Arabia, on 26 April, to inspect the UAE forces taking part in operations in Yemen. Welcomed by Saudi defence minister Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS), the Emirati delegation included the crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed, MBZ’s brothers Hazza, Nahyan, Said, Tahnoun and Diab, and a few ministers of state, military commanders and members of MBZ’s trusted inner circle.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Subscriber

The Iranian Armed Forces successfully tested a precision-guided medium-range ballistic missile in mid-April, Brigadier General Ali Abdollahi told the Tasnim news agency in a report published on 9 May. “We tested a missile with a range of 2,000km and 8 metres margin of error two weeks ago… [which] means full accuracy”, the deputy chief of staff was quoted as saying. “We can guide this ballistic missile”.

Iran
Subscriber

The two countries’ armed forces on 3 February began an 11-day military exercise in the UAE. The Joint UAE-Oman Military Drill is aimed at boosting individual and collective combat capabilities.

Oman | United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Issue 1014 - 07 May 2016

Saudi Arabia: Bisha shoot-out

Subscriber

Two suspects linked to attacks claimed by Islamic State (IS or Daesh) were killed, and another alleged jihadist, named as Oqab Al-Otaibi, was arrested in south-western Bisha province, Ministry of Interior spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki said on 1 May. Security personnel killed the two men on 29 April in an exchange of gunfire during a chase to thwart an “imminent” attack, Turki said in a televised statement. Turki said explosive belts and machine guns were found the men’s car.

Saudi Arabia
Issue 862 - 10 October 2009

The future shape of the IrAF

Subscriber

The IrAF plans to have 38 squadrons by the second half of the next decade. It currently has eight. Of the 30 unformed squadrons, aircraft orders and training account for 17 squadrons

Iraq
Issue 977 - 19 September 2014

Governments seek response to drug trade

Free

Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) and other regional trading centres have long been at the centre of the narcotics trade’s financial links to the world’s number one opium producer, Afghanistan. According to international organisations, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental body set up to combat money laundering, drug money is being laundered in jurisdictions such as the UAE, and opiates traded through the most open trade points – Dubai among them. The UAE – a stopover point for regional air passenger traffic – is also identified as a transit point for Asian cocaine.

Issue 1059 - 11 May 2018

UAE troops spark anger on Socotra

Subscriber

The UAE sparked a backlash from its putative allies in Yemen, after landing military forces on Socotra on 30 April and taking over the island’s airport and sea port. At least two infantry fighting vehicles and other military trucks were unloaded from C-17 transport aircraft at the airport. Several hundred UAE troops are also reported to have arrived.The deployment, which coincided with a visit by prime minister Ahmed Bin Daghr to the island, prompted protests on the streets.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)