Middle East • Page 258 of 286 • The Defense Post

Mar- 2018 -

22 March

James Mattis, US Secretary of Defense, at the Pentagon in Washington DC

Saudi Arabia and US must pursue ‘urgent efforts’ for Yemen peace, Mattis tells Crown Prince

Saudi Arabia and the US must try to bring a peaceful end to Yemen's war, U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The leaders also discussed peace talks for Afghanistan

22 March

Staff Writer With AFP

1

First Syrian rebels leave Eastern Ghouta enclave under Russia-brokered deal

Syrian rebels and their families began leaving the shrinking Eastern Ghouta enclave outside Damascus under an evacuation deal brokered by regime ally Russia

22 March

Members of the Royal Jordanian Air Force Ground Defense, Jordanian Military Security, Aurora Police Department, the Colorado Air National Guard's 233d and 140th Security Forces Squadrons collaborate on tactics and procedures for base defense

Staff Writer With AFP

1

Jordan and US launch new counter-terrorism training center

Jordan and the United States unveiled a counterterrorism training centre south of Amman aimed at boosting the capacity of local forces in a region beset by conflict.

21 March

Staff Writer With AFP

1

Israel admits 2007 air strike on ‘nuclear reactor’ in Deir Ezzor, Syria

Israel admitted it was responsible for a top-secret 2007 air raid against a suspected nuclear reactor in Syria, a strike the intelligence minister says serves as a warning to Iran

19 March

Fergus Kelly

10

Erdogan says Turkey to expand military operation in Syria to Manbij, Kobane and Qamishli

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to expand Turkey's campaign in Syria to other Kurd-held territory up to the Iraq border, and again threatened a military operation against Sinjar in Iraq

18 March

Staff Writer With AFP

6

Kurds threaten guerrilla campaign after Turkey takes control of Syria’s Efrin

Turkish troops and their allies took control of the Syrian town of Efrin, while mainly Kurdish militias said they would now switch to a guerrilla campaign to avoid civilian casualties.

17 March

Wladimir Van Wilgenburg

3

Omar Alloush – murdered for building a shared future for Syria’s Arabs and Kurds?

Assassinated in his home, Alloush worked for reconciliation between Arabs and Kurds, focusing on stabilization projects in land liberated from ISIS. Syrian Kurds blame Turkey for his murder.

16 March

Fergus Kelly

1

US Pave Hawk helicopter crashes in western Iraq killing all aboard

A U.S. HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crashed in western Iraq on March 15 killing all personnel on board in an incident the Coalition said "does not appear to be a result of enemy activity."

14 March

Fergus Kelly

1

Qatar to acquire 28 NH90 military helicopters and 16 Airbus H125 training helicopters

Qatar has signed a contract to acquire 28 NH90 military helicopters in two configurations, as well as 16 H125 light helicopters in a deal valued at more than €3 billion ($3.7 billion).

14 March