Tag Archive for NATO

| February 25, 2013
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Merkel: Russia & China realize Assad’s time is up

Both Security Council Super Powers have always blocked attempts by the West to mount pressure on the Syrian president to end the violence in the nearly 2 year civil war that has killed some 70,000 people.

By Reuters

 

China and Russia are increasingly realizing that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s time is up, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday, as she visited German troops stationed with NATO Patriot missiles close to the Turkish-Syrian frontier.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan address the media after talks in Berlin October 31, 2012. – Photo: Reuters

Merkel, beginning a two-day trip to Turkey, said the missiles, provided at NATO member Turkey’s request, were a signal that the alliance would not tolerate Damascus dragging its neighbors into its conflict. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , ,
| January 27, 2013
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1st Patriot missile battery to defend Turkey against Syria is operational

Germany, Holland & the U.S. are each sending 2 batteries to Turkey & up to 400 soldiers to operate them after Ankara asked NATO for protection.

By Reuters

 

The first of six Patriot missile batteries being sent by NATO countries to defend Turkey from possible attack from Syria went operational on Saturday.

Dutch military trucks carrying NATO's Patriot Missile Defense System to protect Turkey

Dutch military trucks carrying NATO’s Patriot Missile Defense System to protect Turkey – Photo by AP

The United States, Germany and the Netherlands are each sending two batteries to Turkey and up to 400 soldiers to operate them after Ankara asked NATO for help. The Patriots are capable of shooting down hostile missiles in mid-air. Continue Reading »

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| January 7, 2013
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Iran Claims Turkey’s Request for Patriots Is Meant to Protect Israel

Tehran charges Turkey’s deployment of Patriot missiles in is strategically designed to protect Israel from Iranian threats.

By Elad Benari

 

The deployment of Patriot missiles in Turkey is designed to protect Israel from Iranian threats, Iran charged on Sunday, according to the Turkish daily Hurriyet.

Patriot missile

Patriot missile – AFP photo

Speaking to Lebanon’s Al-Manar TV station, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as having said the missiles were “placed by NATO and the West to protect Israel” against possible incoming Iranian missiles.

Iran believes Turkey would not permit its airspace to be used in an attack on the Islamic Republic, Mehmanparast said, but added that the control of the Patriots was not in the hands of Turkish authorities. Continue Reading »

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| December 23, 2012
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Israel to join NATO activities for 2013

Israel’s addition into the 2013 NATO activities follows granting Turkey’s request for deployment of Patriot missiles along their border with Syria.

By HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, JPOST CORRESPONDENT

 

WASHINGTON – Israel has received approval to participate in NATO activities in 2013 that had been held up amid tensions with Turkey, Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post.

The officials said the approval had come as Turkey’s request that NATO station Patriot missile batteries along its border with Syria was granted, leading them to assess that NATO was using the deployment as leverage to induce Ankara to thaw its relations with Israel. Continue Reading »

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| December 15, 2012
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Iran warns NATO that Patriot missiles in Turkey could lead to ‘world war’

Islamic Republic officials cautioning that the stationing of NATO missiles could cause conflict in the Middle East and Europe

By Reuters

 

The planned deployment of NATO Patriot missiles along Turkey’s border with Syria could lead to a “world war” that would threaten Europe as well, Iran’s military chief of staff was quoted as saying on Saturday.

Patriot missile launched in the Negev desert

A Patriot missile launched in the Negev desert, February 4, 2003 during a joint U.S. and Israeli exercise codenamed “Juniper Cobra.” – Photo by Reuters

Turkey asked NATO for the Patriot system, designed to intercept aircraft or missiles, in November to help bolster its border security after repeated episodes of gunfire from war-torn Syria spilling into Turkish territory. Continue Reading »

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| December 14, 2012
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Pentagon to send Patriot batteries, US soldiers to defend Turkey against Syria

Panetta signs deployment order to Turkey from Afghanistan, calling for 400 U.S. soldiers to operate two Patriot batteries at undisclosed locations in Turkey.

 

Germany & the Netherlands have already agreed to provide 2 batteries of the U.S.-built defense systems & send up to 400 German & 360 Dutch troops

By Reuters

 

The U.S. will send two batteries of  and 400 troops to Turkey as part of a NATO force meant to protect Turkish territory from potential Syrian missile attack, the Pentagon said Friday.

Turkey asks for NATO missiles

Patriot anti-missile batteries installed at the Diyarbakir military airport in southeastern Turkey. March 11, 2003 – Photo by AFP

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta signed a deployment order en route to Turkey from Afghanistan. Continue Reading »

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| December 7, 2012
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NATO to station Patriot missiles to protect Turkey from spillover

After the alliance’s decision to station defensive missile system to protect Turkey from spillover, Russia accuses NATO of embroiling itself into Syrian affairs.

By REUTERS

 

BRUSSELS – Russia accused NATO on Friday of moving towards involvement in the Syrian conflict, three days after the alliance decided to station Patriot missiles to protect Turkey from spillover from the violence.

Patriot anti-missile battery site

Patriot anti-missile battery site – Photo: Reuters

The charge came from Russia’s new ambassador to NATO, and came in spite of NATO assurances that the Patriots, which will be placed near Turkey’s border with Syria, are intended purely for defensive purposes.

“This is not a threat to us, but this is an indication that NATO is moving towards engagement and that’s it,” Alexander Grushko told reporters. Continue Reading »

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| December 5, 2012
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NATO Agrees to Turkey’s request of Patriot Deployment

NATO approves Turkey’s request to deploy US-made Patriot missiles along their border with Syria.

By Elad Benari

 

NATO on Tuesday agreed to deploy Patriot missiles along the border of member state Turkey as requested by Ankara to help it defend its territory against threats from Syria, AFP reports.

Patriot missile

Patriot missiles – AFP photo

“NATO has agreed to augment Turkey’s air defense capabilities in order to defend the population and territory of Turkey and to contribute to the de-escalation of the crisis along the alliance’s border,” a statement quoted by AFP said.

Turkey formally asked its NATO partners to deploy the U.S.-made Continue Reading »

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| November 25, 2012
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Iran, Syria and Russia Object Placement of NATO Missiles on Turkish-Syrian Border

Moscow, a heavy benefactor of Damascus joined Iran in opposing the deployment of the NATO Patriot missile battery,  which called the Turkish request “provocative.”

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Iran is doing everything it can to fight the placement of Patriot defense missiles along the Turkish-Syrian border. So is Syria, Iran’s beneficiary, backed by Russia, its other benefactor.

Turkey, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has requested deployment of the Patriot anti-missile defense system. Ankara has been looking for ways to beef up defenses along Turkey’s 900-kilometer (560-mile) border with Syria.

The request came during talks over how best to prevent further spillover from the ever-intensifying civil war between the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition forces. Continue Reading »

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| November 7, 2012
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Turkey Seeking Patriot Missiles from NATO on its Syrian Border

Report from Ankara: Turkey is planning to ask NATO for American Patriot Missiles to help defend its southern region from Syria

By Chana Ya’ar

 

Turkey is planning to ask NATO for Patriot missiles to help defend its southern region from Syria, said an Ankara source quoted by international media.

The missile defense battery would be stationed  along the country’s 910 kilometer (560 mile) border with Syria, said a senior Turkish foreign ministry official.

“An imminent official request is to be made,” the source told a reporter on condition of anonymity. “The deployment of these type of missiles as a step to counter threats is routine under NATO regulations,” the official said. Continue Reading »

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| May 21, 2012
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IDF Hosting NATO’s Surgeon-Generals

For first time, IDF Medical Corps hosting senior medical officers from NATO member countries.

As part of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Committee of the Medical Chief of Military Medical Services (COMEDS), the IDF Medical Corps is hosting Surgeon Generals and senior medical officers from NATO member countries from Monday until Friday this week.

IDF rescuers in Haiti after January 2010 Quake disaster

IDF rescuers in Haiti after January 2010 Quake disaster - Photo: IDF

The IDF Website reports that COMEDS is chaired by Brig. Gen. Dr. Rob Van Der Meer from the Netherlands. COMEDS promotes international cooperation between NATO member countries and their partners in the fields of military medicine, disaster medicine and humanitarian medicine. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| May 14, 2012
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NATO Ousts Israel from Upcoming Chicago Summit

Israel will not be invited to the upcoming NATO summit that is scheduled to take place May 20-21 in Chicago, the alliance’s top official said Friday.

The official denied that Turkey had blocked Israel’s participation and claimed that NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the reason is because Israel does not participate in NATO’s military missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, the Associated Press reported.

NATO Summit

NATO Summit - Reuters

According to reports, however, Turkey has blocked Israel’s participation in the summit and has maintained that NATO–Israel relations cannot be restored until Turkey-Israel relations are normalized.

Relations between the two countries became increasingly hostile following the Mavi Marmara flotilla incident in 2010, when Israeli commandos bordered the vessel in an attempt to prevent IHH terror activists from breaching Israel’s borders and endangering the country’s national security. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| March 16, 2012
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Strained ties with Turkey hurt Israeli defense contract with U.S. firm

Boeing apparently weighing other suppliers after Israel’s Elta ordered by Defense Ministry to hold components to be fitted in AWACS planes purchased by Turkey.

 

An Israeli refusal to supply components to be fitted in an airborne early warning and control (AWACS) craft purchased by the Turkish military is straining ties between Israeli defense suppliers and American giant aerospace Boeing, Defense News reported on Thursday.

Boeing AEW&C

A Turkish Air Force Boeing AEW&C Peace Eagle. Photo by: Boeing

According to the report, the Defense Ministry ordered Elta, the firm contracted to supply the components, to hold two shipments over Israel’s reluctance to see Israeli-made security equipment being used by Turkey.

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