The Middle East and North Africa are generally seen as one of the least stable parts of the world. Indeed, the Institute for Economics and Peace ranks it the most violent region in its annual Global Peace Index.
That’s not surprising, given the civil wars in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, as well as the insurgency in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, intermittent violence in Israel and the neighboring Palestinian Territories, plus the occasional flare-ups in Iran and Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
Many of the larger conflicts have become venues for proxy wars in which regional powers are testing the abilities of their rivals. In Yemen for example, a coalition involving Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others is fighting to reinstate the government of president Abed Rabbou Mansour Hadi while Iran has been providing support to the main opposition group, known as the Houthi rebels. In Syria, elements of the armed forces of Iran, Turkey and others have been heavily involved alongside myriad rebel groups.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 11, 2918
Saudi Arabia nears Typhoon jet deal with BAE. -- BBC
Saudi Prince's Big Military Revamp Means Billions to Business -- Bloomberg
Missile sale from France to Egypt depends on US permission, Dassault head says -- Defense News
‘US won’t even sell us rifles’: Turkey’s FM explains purchase of Russian S-400 air-defense systems -- RT
Israeli Defense minister vows no compromise in coalition crisis over military draft law -- Times of Israel
US, Israel in ‘dress rehearsal‘ for joint response against Iran missile attack -- Defense News
ASEAN military chiefs push for peace in South China Sea -- Rappler
The Trouble With Bangladesh's Military -- The Diplomat
Eye on China: India's Army and Railways cranking up synergy for swifter mobilisation & operational logistics -- Times Of India
India, France sign strategic pact on use of each others military bases -- India Today
WATCH Russian Mig-31 Test-Firing the Hypersonic Missile Putin Announced -- Sputnik
Russia’s new hypersonic missile put through military tests (VIDEO) -- RT
Russia says it has successfully launched powerful new missile -- The Guardian
Skripal Provided MI6 With Entire Telephone Directory of Russia's GRU – Reports -- Sputnik
'Make-Up Under Camouflage': A Military Beauty Pageant in Russia -- Sputnik
Poroshenko: Ukraine Seeking NATO Membership Action Plan -- RFE
Canada being invited to take 'greater role' in Iraq mission, says NATO general -- CBC
Members of Canadian military banned from associating with outlaw bikers -- Toronto Star
Skripal poisoning case will be brought to NATO allies, British minister says -- UPI
US might tie NATO contributions to tariff exemptions -- Defense News/AP
How much do NATO member nations spend on defense? -- Defense News
US Defense Secretary Mattis says US-North Korea diplomacy is at delicate stage -- AP
Trump talks with North Korea not just 'theater,' CIA chief Pompeo says -- Reuters
Gen. Hyten wants more allies to fight alongside U.S. in space -- Space News
US Navy canceling program to turn gas-guzzling destroyers into hybrids -- Defense News
Huntington Ingalls contracted for further repairs on USS Fitzgerald -- UPI
Batteries, Bullets, & Drones: Commandant’s Wishlist For Infantry Task Force -- Breaking Defense
Here's How The U.S. Army Tests The Humvee's Replacement -- Jalopnik
Peter Thiel’s data company Palantir will develop a new intelligence platform for the US Army -- The Verge
New rotation headed for Norway as Marines keep eyes on a cold-weather fight -- Marine Times
Vets groups oppose new burial restrictions on Arlington Cemetery, but officials see few options -- Military Times
New Photos Appear in Military's Ongoing Revenge Porn Scandal -- Newser
Footage of mysterious UFO above ocean stuns military personnel -- News.com.au
A CEO’s Brief Guide to Intelligence: “Not Just for Three-Letter Agencies” -- The Cipher Brief
Curtain Call for the Aircraft That Helped Eliminate Terrorists -- Daily Signal
