Meet Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi, Iran's defense minister nominee Akhlaghi Ketabchi has been heavily involved in Iran's missiles programs, and it is not clear how much input Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had in the nomination process. Iran
Analysis Turkey revives F-16 talks with US amid Israel, Greece deterrence concerns Ankara’s renewed talks with Washington come as older aircraft near retirement while the Eurofighter and Kaan remain years from filling Turkey’s future air-power needs. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Exclusive Rights, faith groups urge Congress to block $2.8B bomb sale to Israel If the Trump administration moves forward with the transfer, dozens of groups are urging lawmakers to seek a joint resolution of disapproval. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Turkey to receive first 2 C-130J aircraft in December under $730M UK deal The aircraft are part of a 12-plane procurement deal from the United Kingdom as Ankara seeks to rapidly modernize its aging air fleet. Turkey
Analysis Why Netanyahu is distancing himself from Trump ahead of Israeli election By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Analysis LORA missile test reveals limits of Germany’s Gaza criticism of Israel By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Analysis With Hurjet test, Turkey seeks defense dominance beyond drones By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Massive war games light up Iran's skies Leaders of Iran’s armed forces said they were testing air defense preparedness in a large-scale exercise involving half of the country’s airspace. Iran
Armenia recalls Israel ambassador over arms sales to Azerbaijan The diplomatic rebuke came after an Azerbaijani official said Israeli-made drones were being put to use in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Israel
Intel: First Israeli Iron Dome battery arrives in US A second Iron Dome battery is expected to arrive by the end of the year. Israel
US Senator grills State Department official on potential F-35 sale to UAE Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Robert Menendez said the possible sale of the advanced fighter jet to the United Arab Emirates could undermine Israel's military superiority in the region. Originals
Israel, India advance on Phalcon AWACS megadeal India’s Cabinet is set to approve next week a $1 billion deal to purchase two Israeli Phalcon AWACS. Israel
What’s next for Russia-Iran military partnership? If the arms embargo on Iran ends in October, what arms might Tehran buy from Moscow? Russia
US to buy eight of Turkey’s F-35s from Lockheed Martin The decision comes after Turkey had been expelled from the fighter jet's production program over its purchase of a Russian air defense system. Originals
Intel: Senators berate Pentagon failure to sever F-35 cooperation with Turkey The Pentagon is still allowing Turkey to produce components for US F-35 fighter jets, violating a defense law that President Donald Trump signed in December. Turkey
Egypt boosts navy amid Turkish threats in the region Differences and conflicts between Egypt and Turkey have intensified, while Turkish threats became clear in the Mediterranean, which disturbed Cairo and prompted it to conclude armament deals for the Egyptian navy to face any military dangers from the Turkish side. Egypt
Intel: Key Republican questions Pentagon’s proposed military training program The Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is pushing back on a Pentagon proposal to train foreign military officers from the Middle East and elsewhere, arguing that it unnecessarily replicates an existing program run by the State Department. United States
Intel: State Department approves $1.4 billion upgrade for Kuwait’s missile defenses The US State Department approved Kuwait’s request for $1.425 billion in upgrades for the Gulf country’s Patriot missile defense systems. Kuwait
Intel: Trump administration pursues new Saudi arms deal despite investigation The Donald Trump administration is doubling down with a new arms deal for Saudi Arabia despite an investigation into last year’s $8 billion emergency weapons sale to Riyadh, a key Senate Democrat revealed in a CNN op-ed Wednesday. Saudi Arabia
![A British Royal Air Force Harrier GR7 groundcrew member cycles along the apron infront of a Patriot Missile defence system on his base in Kuwait April 6, 2003. [U.S. troops have a tight control on Baghdad airport and will move out from there in all directions, Jim Wilkinson, a spokesman for U.S. commander General Tommy Franks, said on Sunday.] - PBEAHUOQIBA](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2020/05/RTXLWAK.jpg/RTXLWAK.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=Rlh7RZgw)
