Welcome to our Middle East News Feed. The contents of this feed are provided for your own perusal and analysis in order to keep watch on developments in Middle East affairs. The regular updates are from several different sources, which are neither affiliated to nor endorsed by thebookofrevelation.net The feeds are provided for your information and evaluation. This part of the blogs is closed to public comment, however, if you have a news item that is valuable to share, then please use the contact form by clicking here.

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Report: Bashar al-Assad and the Devil’s Gambit

The Syrian leader has become a de facto U.S. ally. How’d he do it? Assad

(30/08/2014)

A year ago, Bashar al-Assad, the president of Syria, was reeling from an entrenched insurgency and facing the prospect of war against the United States and its allies. After Syrian government forces used chemical weapons to kill more than 1,000 civilians in August 2013, Barack Obama threatened air strikes against Damascus—before a last-minute deal to destroy Syria’s chemical stockpiles averted a conflict.Click HERE to read the full article.

Report: Saudi Arabia to Obtain Pakistani Nukes as Last Resort

Evidence the Gulf state has a ‘Plan B’ in the event of Iranian nuclear proliferation, which could mark the start of a nuclear arms race.

Pakistani PM Yusuf Raza Gilani meets Saudi deputy FM Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah

(07/11/2013)

An agreement between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan could see the Gulf state deploy ready-made nuclear warheads in the event that Iran crosses the nuclear threshold.That’s according to a report by BBC Newsnight, which cites “multiple sources” suggesting “generous” Saudi aid for Pakistan’s nuclear own program was given as part of an understanding by the two countries that, if and when Saudi Arabia required use of nuclear warheads, the Pakistanis would provide it to them.Click HERE to read the full article.

US Air Force will also target Syria’s air force, ballistic missiles and sections of its air defences

(07/9/2013)

The reports coming out of Washington in the last 24 hours indicate that US President Barack Obama has resolved not just to degrade Syria’s chemical capabilities but also to take down Bashar Assad’s air force, destroy his air bases and knock out his ground-to-ground ballistic missiles, using giant B-52 bombers and B-2 stealth bombers. Some of the bombers will fly in directly from the US; others from the Al Udeid base in Qatar. F-22 Raptor fighter-bombers are also scheduled to take part in the US air offensive. Obama decided to expand the scope of the US operation for Assad’s use of chemical warfare against civilians on Aug. 21, when his experts advised him that these additional blows would dramatically diminish the Syrianj ruler’s military edge over rebel forces without toppling him. These air raids could moreover be conducted from afar without American aircraft coming within range of Syrian air defense batteries.Click HERE to read the full article.

Gloating Syria Hails ‘Historic Retreat’ by US

Syrian officials say Obama showed “hesitation” and is looking for a way to “get down from the tree he climbed.”

Faisal Mekdad

(01/9/2013)

Syrian officials and official mouthpieces are gloating over what they say is a retreat by US President Barack Obama from his threats of military action against Syria. “Obama announced yesterday, directly or through implication, the beginning of the historic American retreat,” Syria’s official al-Thawra newspaper said in a front-page editorial..Click HERE to read the full article.

Syria: If U A top Syrian official said Monday that if attacked, his country would react – against Israel. S Attacks Us, We’ll Attack Israel

A top Syrian official said Monday that if attacked, his country would react – against Israel.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

(27/8/2013)

As talk and rumors of an impending Western attack against Syria mount, a top Syrian official said Monday that if attacked, his country would react – against Israel.Speaking to an Arabic-language radio station operated by the United States, Syria’s Deputy Information Minister Halaf Al-Maftah said that Israel would face not only Syria in the event that the US, Britain and France attempted to unseat Bashar al-Assad. A coalition consisting of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria would respond to any attack against Assad with a response against Israel. In addition, terrorist groups in Syria and Lebanon would attack Israel with full force.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Egypt gripped by deadly clashes

At least 30 people have been killed in fighting between supporters and opponents of ousted president Morsi.

(06/7/2013)

Clashes between supporters and opponents of the ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi have continued through the night, resulting in at least 30 deaths in Cairo and various other parts of the country.Violence erupted as thousands of pro-Morsi supporters took to the streets on Friday to protest against the ouster of the country’s first democratically elected president in a military coup.The death of three Morsi supporters – reportedly killed by gunfire as they tried to march towards the military barracks where Morsi is believed to be held – triggered the ongoing mayhem.Morsi supporters blamed the military for the incident, a claim rejected by the army.Tens of thousands of people marched across the country in what Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement called a “Friday of Rage” to demonstrate against the military coup.Rival groups also clashed in Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square. The overnight fighting……..

Click HERE to read the full article.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Leaders Arrested,

Army Moves In

Senior Muslim Brotherhood officials are placed under house arrest. The military is securing strategic facilities, Egyptian sources say.

(03/7/2013)

Egyptian sources report that senior officials in the Muslim Brotherhood have been placed under house arrest and the military is securing strategic facilities across the country.The Islamist group that backed President Mohamed Morsi in last year’s successful bid to win the nation’s first democratic election is also now being scrutinized for corruption in the ranks.The group’s funding structure and records are being probed, according to a report posted Wednesday by the Egyptian Al-Ahram newspaper.The report also claimed the Egyptian Army has begun to hermetically seal strategic installations across the country in accordance with a military “road map” plan……

Click HERE to read the full article.

G8: Russia Won’t Back Anti-Assad Syria Call

Russia tells Sky News it will not agree any G8 statement which demands a transitional government to replace Syria’s Assad regime.

Barack Obama meets with Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen

(19/6/2013)

A joint statement on the conflict in Syria is set to be agreed by leaders at the G8 summit – but will not call for the removal of Bashar al Assad’s regime.Russian President Vladimir Putin has become increasingly isolated over his continued support of Syria’s leader, with the other seven members of the G8 keen to push through a communique on the issue by the end of the two-day summit.While it is understood a compromise is likely to be reached, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told Sky News his country would not sign up to any statement that demanded Mr Assad relinquish power.”We do think that it’s completely the decision of the Syrian parties themselves to decide on both the composition of the transitional body with full authority and also on the future of any person including President Assad,” he said.Officials from one western nation told AFP news agency that the statement was likely to focus on less contentious issues such as the need to push for a peace conference in Geneva and on humanitarian aid.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Report: Israeli Pilots Training for Syria, Lebanon Threats

Israeli air force pilots are training daily to meet threats posed by instability in neighbouring Syria and Lebanon.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz

(13/6/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

Yaalon: We’ll Know what to Do If Syria Gets S-300

Defence Minister hints Israel has a plan of action, if advanced missiles reach north eastern neighbour.

F-16i takes off at sunset

(28/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

Russian arms ‘to deter foreign intervention in Syria’

Russia says it will go ahead with deliveries of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, and that the arms will help deter foreign intervention.

(28/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

More centrifuges fitted at Iran’s Natanz plant, says UN

Iran has installed hundreds of new centrifuges at its Natanz plant, the UN’s atomic agency says in a report.

Natanz uranium enrichment plant

(22/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

U.S. to keep Assad in the picture to avoid threat of all-out Mideast war

Due to the lack of U.S. policy on Syria, encouraging a negotiated solution between Assad and the rebels now appears to be the West’s least dangerous course of action.

Syria conflict

(22/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

Report: Syrian Army Aiming Missiles at Tel Aviv

The Syrian army is aiming advanced surface-to-surface missiles at Tel Aviv, according to the Sunday Times.

Tel Aviv

(19/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

US scolds Russia for sending arms to Syria

Senior military officer says weapons transfer will “prolong suffering” amid push for international peace conference.

(18/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

UN condemns Syrian government for violence

General Assembly approves Qatari-drafted move condemning alleged rights abuses by government amid continued violence. (click on the video below)

(16/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

Obama and Cameron discuss Syria crisis

Meeting in White House, US president and UK prime minister pledge to work together to increase pressure on Assad regime.

(13/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

Israel ‘Fully Determined’ to Halt Syria Missile Deal

PM is “fully determined” to halt sales by Russia of advanced missiles to Syria, Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom said on Sunday. Pantsyr S1 close-range air defence system

(13/5/2013)

Click HERE to read the article.

Syria will ‘Respond Immediately’ to More Israeli Strikes

“Our retaliation will be strong and will be painful against Israel”

Click HERE to read the article.

Hezbollah head says Syria will supply ‘game-changing’ arms

Nasrallah claims resistance groups set to open front against Israel on Golan Heights

Click HERE to read the article.

Report: Russia to Sell Syria Advanced Missiles, Keep Assad Going

Israel has warned the United States that Russia plans to sell advanced weapons to Syria, a report in the Wall Street Journal said Click HERE to read the article. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Iran Ready to ‘Train’ Syria Army, Says Commander

Iran is ready to help “train” the Syrian army if Damascus seeks such assistance, said commander of Islamic republic’s army ground forces.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad walks among supporters

Click HERE to read the article.

Syria: ‘Israeli strike’ hits army centre

State television says Israel targeted military base on the outskirts of Damascus; no comment from Israeli army.

Click HERE to read the article.

Israeli warplanes ‘launch air strike inside Syria’

Click HERE to read the article.

Syria is being destroyed while Assad displays remarkable staying power

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad visits an electricity station in Damascus

Click here to read the article.