DefenceTalkFive coastal patrol ships assigned to Patrol Coastal Squadron (PCRON) One conducted a proficiency fire test of their MK 60 Griffin Missile Systems (GMS) July 18-20 in the Persian Gulf. Coastal patrol ships USS Tempest (PC 2), USS Squall (PC 7), USS Chinook (PC 9), USS Firebolt (PC 10) and USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) launched […]https://www.defencetalk.com/coastal-patrol-ships-conduct-test-fire-of-griffin-missile-system-in-persian-gulf-70242/

DefenceTalkThe unprecedented US downing of a Syrian regime warplane highlights the rapidly shifting dynamic in the six-year conflict where President Donald Trump has given American commanders a freer rein in the battlefield. The United States insisted Monday it wants no broader role in Syria’s civil war, and seeks only to destroy the Islamic State group, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/americas-widening-role-in-syrian-war-70173/

DefenceTalkTurkey’s decision to send up to 3,000 troops to Qatar further cements their growing ties, but it virtually eliminates a possible role for Ankara to mediate between Qatar and the Gulf states that have decided to isolate it for alleged support of terrorism. Both countries have found themselves increasingly isolated Turkey for the increasing authoritarian […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-agrees-to-send-up-to-3000-troops-to-qatar-70153/

DefenceTalkGermany has no choice but to pull its troops out of the key Turkish airbase of Incirlik, after failing to reach agreement with Ankara on visits by politicians, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Monday. The Incirlik base in southern Turkey, used for raids against the Islamic State group in Syria, has been at the centre […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-will-have-to-pull-its-troops-from-key-base-in-turkey-70114/

DefenceTalkThe United States on Tuesday began providing small arms to Kurdish fighters battling the Islamic State group in northern Syria, the Pentagon said, fulfilling a pledge that has infuriated Turkey. The weapons transfers have begun ahead of an upcoming offensive to recapture Raqa, the last major bastion for IS in Syria. “We have begun to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-begins-sending-arms-to-kurdish-fighters-in-syria-70103/

DefenceTalkPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Washington has added tens of millions of dollars in extra defence aid for Israel, a day after US President Donald Trump wound up a visit. He did not say over what timeframe the money would be disbursed. The addition comes on the heels of a weekend announcement of a massive […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-grants-israel-extra-defence-aid-netanyahu-70018/

DefenceTalkUS-led warplanes hit a pro-regime convoy in Syria that ignored warning shots, weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration launched America’s first strikes against Damascus forces in the war-torn country. The strike by the coalition fighting the Islamic State group happened on the same day IS jihadists killed more than 50 people in attacks on two […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-led-warplanes-hit-syrian-forces-69987/

DefenceTalkA huge blast which struck near Damascus airport early on Thursday was caused by Israeli missiles hitting a “military position”, Syria’s state SANA news agency reported. “A military position southwest of Damascus International Airport was targeted at dawn today by an Israeli aggression using several missiles fired from occupied territory, sparking explosions in the area,” […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israeli-missiles-hit-near-damascus-airport-69839/

DefenceTalkIt’s strange that the latest U.S. war is so rudderless, given that it was launched from a pair of Navy destroyers boasting rudders 14 feet high and wide. To anyone or anything hit by a Tomahawk cruise missile, its 1,000-pound warhead is deadly and destructive. But the 30 tons of firepower President Trump ordered fired […]https://www.defencetalk.com/waging-war-on-a-whim-69720/

DefenceTalkAny new US action in Syria “will not go unanswered”, Iran’s Defence Minister Hossein Dehgan warned Tuesday after America threatened to follow up a strike last week with more attacks. The United States last week fired a volley of cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack that killed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-warns-us-action-in-syria-wont-go-unanswered-69713/