February, 2021

• 20 February

  Amid endless exercises, Iran begins naval drill with Russia

  Tehran has been seeking to step up military cooperation with Beijing and Moscow amid regional tensions with the United States. Iran’s armed forces on Tuesday launched a joint naval drill with Russia in the north of the Indian Ocean designed to “enhance security” of maritime trade, state television reported.

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• 20 February

  US approves $200 million arms sale to ‘strategic partner’ Egypt

  The $197 million sale of 168 tactical Raytheon-made Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs) was requested by the Egyptian navy to improve defense in coastal areas and around the Red Sea, the State Department said. US President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday approved a nearly $200 million arms sale to Egypt, confirming …

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• 20 February

  As China’s Big Tech Hits America, Biden Signals Surrender

  There is no greater danger than that posed by Huawei Technologies, the world’s largest manufacturer of communications networking gear…. Huawei poses a mortal threat to the U.S. economy. Beijing has been using the company to steal data.

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• 20 February

  France Says No Troop Withdrawals from Sahel

  France says it will not draw down its troop presence in Africa’s Sahel region, despite earlier reports that it could bring home hundreds of soldiers following significant gains against extremists. Addressing via videoconference regional leaders from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad, French President Emmanuel Macron said there would …

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• 20 February

  Egypt – Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) Block 2 Tactical Missiles

  The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) Block 2 Tactical Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $197 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this …

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• 20 February

  US Air Force names first overseas-based F-35A squadron

  The 48th Fighter Wing has selected a new nickname for the first U.S. Air Force overseas-based F-35A Lightning II squadron. The wing solicited help from the public to name the unit. Suggestions were originally submitted in the fall of 2020, and were narrowed down from 700 unique names to five …

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• 20 February

  US Government to Stop Buying Chinese-made Drones

  In its latest move to address national security threats posed by Chinese-made drones, the U.S. federal government’s purchasing agency no longer will purchase drones from Chinese manufacturers. Citing the inherent threat in using Chinese-made drones, the General Services Administration (GSA) said in a January 12 blog post that it will …

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• 20 February

  Three Jewish terrorist suspects may be released by Friday

  How is the latest Shin Bet, Honenu battle panning out? A new battle has flared up between the Shin Bet and the right-wing legal aid group Honenu over the alleged actions of three Jewish West Bank residents.According to a joint Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and police statement, two separate …

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• 20 February

  Son of slain ‘collaborator’ sentenced to death by Hamas

  Shadi al-Sufi, 38, was found guilty of killing Jaber al-Qeeq, a former activist with the PLO’s Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). A Hamas court on Wednesday sentenced a Palestinian man to death by hanging after convicting him of killing an activist who murdered his father for allegedly …

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• 20 February

  Netanyahu says using ties with Putin to secure Israeli’s release from Syria

  The deal includes Israel releasing two Syrian prisoners in exchange for the release of the young woman who crossed into Syria’s border. Russia has been mediating a prisoner exchange between Israel and Syria, Israeli officials confirmed on Wednesday. The possible prisoner swap was the focus of the secret cabinet meeting …

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