Global defense news, analysis and opinion

Almost 400 Chechens return to Russia from deployment to Syria’s Aleppo

A Chechen military police battalion has returned to the Russian North Caucasus region after a 1.5-year deployment to the Syrian city of Aleppo.

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Syrian Kurds say Russia gave Turkey the green light to bomb Efrin after Coalition strikes in Deir Ezzor

Syrian Kurds suspect that the US response to an apparent attempt by Syrian government forces to take an oil field from the SDF played a role in Russia giving Turkey the green light to resume airstrikes on the Kurdish enclave of Afrin

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UPDATED: More than 200 Russians may have been killed in Coalition strikes against ‘pro-regime’ forces in Syria

More than 200 Russians may have been killed by Coalition and Syrian Democratic Forces strikes in Deir Ezzor, Syria, according to audio shared on Russian social media

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Egypt’s new Sinai campaign unlikely to achieve long-term stability

It is nearly inconceivable to think that the Egyptian military could support a sustained presence to the level it will demonstrate over the next days in Sinai, Allison McManus writes

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Turkish T129 ATAK helicopter shot down near Efrin-Turkey border

Kurd-led forces shot down one of a pair of Turkish T129 ATAK helicopters operating in the Rajo district of Efrin in Syria.

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Israeli F-16 crashes while attacking Iranian targets in Syria

An Israeli Defence Forces F-16 fighter jet crashed on Saturday while it was attacking Syrian and Iranian targets in Syria, the IDF and Syrian military said

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US Air Force orders more 30,000 pound GBU-57 bunker buster bombs

The US Air Force contracted Boeing to produce GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator precision-guided "bunker buster" bombs, a Department of Defense release said.

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Philippines’ Duterte cancels Canada Bell helicopter deal

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte abruptly cancelled a US$235 million contract to buy 16 helicopters from Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government ordered a review over human rights concerns.

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Book Review: The ISIS Apocalypse: The History, Strategy, and Doomsday Vision of the Islamic State

Review: The book “The ISIS Apocalypse” by Will McCants remains important for anticipating the future developments in the now global arena of terrorism

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Egyptian military launches major counterterror operation in North Sinai

Egypt launched a large-scale military operation aimed at eliminating terrorist groups in the Nile Delta and North Sinai

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