Global defense news, analysis and opinion

Turkey takes delivery of Russian-made S-400 missile defense system parts

Turkey took delivery of components for the S-400 air defense missile system from Russia

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Islamic State Turkey province video claims new wilayah in old turf

ISIS released a propaganda video from ‘Wilayah Turkey,’ showing a small group of militants pledging bayah, or allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The eighth in the “And the best outcome is for the righteous” series, the video is the first from this new province, but ISIS already has a complex presence in Turkey. The five-minute long video released on July 10 is typical of earlier bayah videos. It features three militants sitting in front of what appears to be a handmade, large black standard commonly used by ISIS. They are joined by two more when making the pledge of allegiance while a sixth presumably operates the shaking camera. The speaker is identified as Abu Qatada at-Turki, and he reaffirms the militants’ allegiance to Baghdadi while also threatening Turkey and America. A weapons researcher known as Calibre Obscura noted that the militants appear well-armed in comparison to fighters seen in other videos in this series. A Draganov sniper rifle, a PKM machine gun, an RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade launcher, two AKMS assault rifles, a Glock pistol, and some grenades appear throughout. Islamic State in Turkey The “And the best outcome is for the righteous” video series has included ISIS militants …

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Syria: Bomb explodes outside church in Qamishli Christian neighborhood

A car bomb detonated near a church in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in northeast Syria, wounding almost a dozen people

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Why America’s limited conflicts become ‘forever wars’

Interview with Donald Stoker, Naval War College professor and author of "Why America Loses Wars: Limited War and US Strategy from the Korean War to the Present"

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Libya: Casualties reported after car bomb in Benghazi

At least three people were killed and 15 wounded when a car bomb exploded in a cemetery of the Libyan city of Benghazi during an ex-army commander's funeral

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Sahel states need more support to fight extremism, UN chief Guterres says

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged international support for the G5 Sahel to help West Africa's fight against violent extremism

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EU pledges €138 million more to support G5 Sahel Joint Force

The EU is to give €138 million more to support the G5 Sahel Joint Force, including its police component, a joint statement said

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Sri Lanka negotiating military cooperation deal with US, prime minister says

Sri Lanka is negotiating a military cooperation deal with the US, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe announced as President Sirisena vowed to veto it

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France denies supplying Javelin missiles found at Libya rebel base

The French defense ministry said its missiles had been found on a base used by forces loyal to Libya's Khalifa Haftar, but it denied supplying them to the rebels

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Afghanistan peace talks end without Taliban ceasefire agreement

Talks between Afghan government representatives and Taliban insurgents – concluded with a "roadmap" for a peace deal but no ceasefire

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