The United States, its allies and partners will continue to defend commercial vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel attacks, Navy Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of Naval Forces Central Command, said in a Department of Defense statement. His remarks follow a Thursday incursion by Iran-backed Houthis, who flew and detonated a maritime drone...
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Category: Middle East
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Ukraine War Boosts German Arms Exports to $12.8B Record High
Germany’s 2023 arms exports hit a record $12.8 billion as of mid-December, with the bulk of sales going to Ukraine, according to preliminary figures for the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, as reported by Defense News. Total exports included weapons valued at $6.6 billion and $6.2 billion listed as “other defense articles.” The previous record...
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US, Qatar Extend Al Udeid Air Base Operation for 10 Years
The United States has reached an agreement with Qatari officials to maintain American military presence at Al Udeid Air Base, people familiar with negotiations confirmed. The agreement grants Al Udeid, which can house over 10,000 American troops, another 10 years of operations. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III visited the site in December and thanked...
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US, Allies Condemn Increased Production of Enriched Uranium in Iran
The United States has condemned the increased production of enriched uranium in Iran. Together with international allies France, Germany and the United Kingdom, the U.S. addressed in a statement a recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which warned that the Middle Eastern nation has been generating 9 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium a...
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US OKs Israeli Purchase of More M107 Ammunition
U.S. State Secretary Antony Blinken has approved an amended ammunition sale to Israel, calling for additional M107 155 mm ammunition ancillaries, which increases the estimated cost to $147.5 million from the initial $96.51 million order. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the Department of State skipped congressional review for the added procurement after Blinken determined...
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Treasury Issues New Round of Sanctions Over Houthi Attacks in Red Sea
The Department of the Treasury has imposed new sanctions against entities aiding Iran in providing financial assistance to Houthi forces in Yemen. In a press release posted on Thursday, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Nabil Ali Ahmed Al-Hadha pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which prohibits transactions with terrorists. According to OFAC, Al-Hadha serves...
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Intel Wins $3.2B Incentives for $25B Israeli Chip Factory
The Israeli government is providing a $3.2 billion incentive for Intel’s new $25 billion chip factory in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, where the company already has a chip-making facility. According to a statement, Intel’s Israeli plant expansion is an important element in its effort to promote “a more resilient global supply chain,” which also includes manufacturing investments...
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US Approves Sale of $1B Defense Training to Saudi Arabia
The Department of State has approved the potential foreign military sale of training and related equipment to Saudi Arabia. The proposed sale covers a range of training offered by the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force, including flight training for the Royal Saudi Air Force and other Saudi military services. The possible foreign...
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Treasury Sanctions Entities for Export of US-Made UAV Components to Iran
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is imposing sanctions on companies and individuals based in the Middle East and East Asia for the export of American and foreign-made components to support Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle production. In a notice published Tuesday, OFAC named Iran-based Hossein Hatefi Ardakani, Mehdi Dehghani Mohammadabadi...
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BAE Systems Selects AMS to Repair, Restore Ukraine’s Artillery Systems
BAE Systems has signed an agreement with AMS Integrated Solutions to provide artillery systems support within Ukraine. Under the deal, finalized in Kyiv, the partner companies will repair BAE-built artillery systems donated by the United Kingdom to the Ukrainian armed forces. The arrangement calls for AMS to use its existing maintenance facilities in Ukraine to...