https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-israeli-arab-military-chiefs-secretly-meet-discuss-cooper

US, Israeli, Arab military chiefs secretly meet: WSJ

Both US and regional officials held a secret meeting in March of top military officials from "Israel" and Arab countries to discuss how they could coordinate against Iran's growing missile and drone capabilities, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The previously undisclosed talks in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, were the first time such a high-ranking group of Israeli and Arab officers met under US military auspices to discuss how to defend against "a common threat."

The meeting brought together top military officers from "Israel", Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan, and came as "Israel" and its neighbors, according to officials cited by WSJ, are in the early stages of discussing potential military cooperation.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain both sent representatives to the meeting. The US was represented by Gen. Frank McKenzie, then the head of the US Central Command.

Such military cooperation was not thought to be possible for decades. US commanders in the Middle East attempted to persuade Arab states to coordinate their air defenses without involving "Israel," which was viewed as an adversary by much of the Arab world at the official level.

Several changes facilitated the talks, including what WSJ described as shared fears of Iran, improved political ties signaled by the normalization agreement with "Tel Aviv", and the Trump administration's decision to expand Central Command's area of coverage to include "Israel" in January 2021.

Arab access to Israeli airspace

Another factor driving increased military cooperation is the normalizing Arab regimes' desire for access to Israeli air defense technology and weapons at a time when the United States is shifting its military priorities to counter China and Russia, according to WSJ.

In a statement, Col. Joe Buccino, a Central Command spokesperson, didn’t acknowledge the Sharm El Sheikh meeting but said the command “maintains a firm commitment to increasing regional cooperation and developing integrated air and missile defense architecture to protect our force and our regional partners.” He claimed that Iran “is the primary destabilizing factor across the Middle East.”

Spokespersons for "Israel" and Arab countries, with the exception of the UAE, declined or did not respond to requests for comment on the meeting. The UAE did not comment on the talks but did address the issue of cooperation in general.

“The UAE is not party to any regional military alliance or cooperation targeting any specific country,” the government there said in a statement. “Furthermore, the UAE is not aware of any formal discussions relating to any such regional military alliance.”

States to counter "air threats"

The Sharm El Sheikh talks came after secret discussions in a lower-level working group among representatives from Middle Eastern countries about how they could collaborate to detect and defend against air threats, Marine Maj. Gen. Scott Benedict, the Central Command's then-chief planning officer, was a member of the working group, said to WSJ.

According to people familiar with the Sharm El Sheikh talks, participants reached an agreement in principle on procedures for rapid notification when "aerial threats are detected."

For the time being, such notifications would be sent via phone or computer rather than through high-speed digital data sharing akin to that used by the US military. Officials also discussed how decisions about which nations' forces would intercept aerial threats might be made.

According to people familiar with the meeting, those understandings were not legally binding. The next step is to secure political leaders' support for codifying notification arrangements.

Biden to visit "Israel" and KSA

In mid-July, President Biden plans to visit "Israel" and Saudi Arabia. A spokeswoman for the National Security Council said the White House supported what it called "broadening and deepening Arab-Israeli ties," but gave no further details.

For decades, the US has hoped to build an integrated air defense shield in the Middle East, one that would connect radars, satellites, and other sensors across the region.

Arab Gulf countries' efforts to foster such cooperation have long been hampered by their unwillingness to share sensitive data that could expose their own vulnerabilities, as well as their fears that Saudi Arabia would dominate such a partnership.

This coincides with the recent military exercises by the Israeli occupation forces over the Mediterranean Sea that simulated attacks and airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The drill, an official statement by the IOF read, included "long-range flight, aerial refueling, and striking distant targets."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/us-expects-nato-to-have-strong-language-on-china—white-hou

US expects NATO to have 'strong' language on China - White House

The updated NATO strategic concept, which will be adopted at the upcoming summit in Madrid, will include some "strong" language on China, according to a White House official.

“So just as teams are continuing to work here on the G7 document teams are continuing to make final tweaks on the strategic concept. So those conversations are ongoing. I think we're very confident we're gonna get to a good place. And then we're gonna have strong China language in the NATO Strategic Concept, which will be I think, you know, a significant improvement or change from 2010 when China was not mentioned and Russia I think was called a strategic partner or something,” the official told journalists.

The official stated that China will be heavily discussed at the G7 summit in Germany, which takes place from Sunday to Tuesday.

“They touched on China, which I think is going to continue to be a broad theme for this trip. A year ago, you remember China was mentioned in the G7 leader statement was also mentioned for the first time in the NATO leader statement. We expect that that's going to be echoed and enhanced in meetings this week, starting at the G7 and then continuing on at NATO including in the strategic concept,” the official said.

Active arms control talks with China

Last month, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries voiced their support for more wide-scope efforts involving China in active dialogues over arms control to promote nuclear disarmament.

"The G7 supports and encourages wider efforts towards an active arms control dialogue involving China," the foreign ministers said in a joint communique after a meeting in Weissenhaus, Germany.

The ministers also stressed that they welcome efforts by the G7 Nuclear Weapons States to promote effective measures that are critical toward progress on disarmament under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

>>16528630

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israel-to-request-more-funding-for-laser-weapons-from-biden

"Israel" to request more funding for laser weapons from Biden

When US President Joe Biden visits "Israel" next month, he will be greeted by a new prime minister and a request for a special budget for the development of laser weapons that will work in tandem with operational air security systems such as the Iron Dome.

The US supplies "Israel" with $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) per year, including $500 million for cooperative missile military initiatives. The latest proposal is intended to boost that component of the FMF, and military sources estimate that it will request roughly $300 million in additional funding.

Biden will be visiting the Middle East from July 13- July 16. He has recently said his visit to "Israel" will be to address "security issues".

Rafael and Elbit Systems, two Israeli businesses, are developing laser systems for the interception of missiles and drones, but additional funding is required to finish the work.

Biden is now planning to stop at an Israeli air force facility, where prototypes of the laser systems will be presented, according to the travel plan revealed by officials.

Despite the political upheaval caused by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's decision on Monday to dissolve the cabinet and step down, the request, as well as "Israel's" military goals in general, are still likely to remain on the table. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid will be prime minister by the time Biden visits, with an election looming in the backdrop of the conversations.

A senior Israeli source told Breaking Defense that "the relations between the U.S and Israel are solid. The issues that will be on the table during the visit are of utmost importance to both the US and Israel. I’m confident that the talks will be fruitful for both sides.”

Giora Eiland, former head of the Israeli National Security Council, stated that the interests of both the US and "Israel" "are symmetrical in the main issues like Iran and Gulf, so it is simply not relevant who is the Israeli prime minister that will discuss the issues with Biden.”

Saudi nuclear power

Another topic that Israelis are anticipated to raise with Biden during his visit is Saudi Arabia's continuous ambitions to attain nuclear power, Breaking Defense reported.

The Saudis are promoting a project to build a nuclear reactor to generate electricity and recently stated that the primary candidates for winning the project are a Russian firm, a Chinese company, and a South Korean company.

The exclusion of the American corporation Westinghouse from the competition has caused alarm in Washington.

Biden is anticipated to discuss the matter during his visit to Riyadh since Washington does not want firms from its two main rivals to win such a critical deal with its Gulf ally. "Israel" has similar worries, but according to Israeli government sources, the Saudis are dissatisfied with two US criteria for dealing with the American company: a Saudi vow not to enrich uranium on its soil and signature of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

According to security officials, "Israel" is concerned that a Saudi nuclear program would evolve into a military nuclear program - which "Israel" already has - sparking a regional arms race with Tehran.

An Israeli report last year by the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) detailed that the Kingdom's interest in the nuclear realm is "not new, nor is the concern that under certain circumstances and conditions, Riyadh could pursue a military nuclear course. Senior leaders in the kingdom have referred to the issue on more than one occasion and have stated that the kingdom will acquire nuclear capability if Iran does so and that the kingdom seeks control over all of the components of the nuclear fuel cycle.”

>> I thought the Iron Dome worked perfectly during the battle of Seif al-Quds. Kek!

>>16528752

>>16528768

It's all part of the plan.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-excavations-threaten-al-aqsa-undermine-historic-feat

Israeli excavations threaten Al-Aqsa, undermine historic features

Relevant institutions and authorities have revealed that excavations made by "Israel" under Al-Aqsa Mosque are threatening its foundations, revealing that new cracks have appeared in the floor of the Holy Mosque.

The cracks appeared near the Islamic Museum and the Mughrabi Gate adjacent to Al-Buraq Wall all the way to the Umayyad palaces area.

On its part, the Council of Endowments, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Sanctuaries in the occupied city of Al-Quds said it is following the dangerous activities of "Israel" in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa.

The council stated that the "Israel" Antiquities Authority and the "Elad" settlement association have been conducting suspicious and mysterious excavations in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially from the southern and western sides adjacent to the mosque's external foundation, in the areas of Al-Buraq Wall and the Umayyad palaces.

The Council also indicated that it has been monitoring for a while a group of workers using bulldozers and heavy excavating machinery working at an extremely suspicious fast pace in the said areas.

According to the Council, the works included digging the sand out and making holes in the walls adjacent to the southern wall of the mosque.

Observers have also monitored continuous crushing for months of important huge archaeological stones, which are converted into smaller stones in order to hide their traces and are removed in the guise of mounds intended for rubbish.

The Council of Endowments, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Sanctuaries warned "against continuing to tamper with, sabotage and change the historical and religious landmarks of these historical endowment sites."

On its part, Hamas said the Israeli excavations in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque are a "direct threat to the foundations and walls of the mosque," in occupied Al-Quds.

Hamas said in a statement a few days ago, "The continuous excavations carried out by the Zionist occupation authorities in the areas of Al-Buraq Wall and the Umayyad palaces are a direct threat to the foundations and walls of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque." The movement added that "the excavations are an attempt to obliterate the features of the Islamic and historical city of Jerusalem," and warned the occupation that it would be held "fully responsible for the repercussions of these dangerous violations."

Hamas called on the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Jordan to "move urgently to stop these malicious colonial schemes, in order to protect Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque…"

>>16528800

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-settlers-storm-al-aqsa-mosque

Israeli settlers storm Al-Aqsa mosque

Israeli settlers stormed the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday morning under the strict protection of Israeli occupation forces, amid calls from the people of Al-Quds to perform seclusion in the Mosque during the first ten days of Thul-Hijjah.

Dozens of Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque through the Morocco Gate earlier today and performed Talmudic rituals in its courtyards, sources reported.

The settlers' continuous incursions are part of "Tel Aviv's" attempts to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque and obliterate its identity.

During a storming, the IOF expel Palestinians from the eastern part of Al-Aqsa in order to facilitate the incursion. The storming takes place over two phases; the first one takes place during the morning and the second during the noon prayers with facilitation by the Israeli occupation.

Palestinian netizens have called on the people of Al-Quds and Palestinians all over occupied Palestine to station themselves at the Mosque and perform seclusion there during the month of Thul-Hijjah to deter Israeli aggression and desecration of the holy site.

Hamas has repeatedly underlined the importance of Palestinians stationing themselves at the Mosque in order to protect it and foil the Israeli occupation's plans to desecrate and attack it. The movement has called on the Palestinian people all over occupied Palestine to defend Al-Quds and support those stationed there.

Hamas underlined that the Israeli occupation's attempts at driving the Palestinian people away from Al-Aqsa were futile and would fail in their goal of diminishing the role of the Palestinian people in resisting the Israeli occupation.

The Council of Endowments, Islamic Affairs, and Holy Places revealed earlier today that excavations made by "Israel" under Al-Aqsa Mosque were threatening its foundations, revealing that new cracks have appeared in the floor of the Holy Mosque.

The Council stated that the "Israel" Antiquities Authority and the "Elad" settlement association have been conducting suspicious and mysterious excavations in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially from the southern and western sides adjacent to the mosque's external foundation, in the areas of Al-Buraq Wall and the Umayyad palaces.

Hamas called on the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Jordan to "move urgently to stop these malicious colonial schemes to protect Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa Mosque."

The Resistance faction also said the Israeli excavations in the vicinity of Al-Aqsa Mosque were a "direct threat to the foundations and walls of the mosque," in occupied Al-Quds.

>> Perfectly shaping the narrative.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/biden-says-g7-nato-must-stay-together-against-russia

Biden says G7, NATO must "stay together" against Russia

US President Joe Biden on Sunday praised Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his role in the wake of the war in Ukraine and urged the West to stay united.

"We have to stay together," Biden told Scholz at a meeting ahead of the G7 summit in the German Alps.

Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been hoping "that somehow NATO and the G7 would splinter," but "we haven't and we're not going to."

The US President met his German host in the picturesque Elmau Castle where the G7 - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the US - was holding a three-day summit dominated by the Ukraine war.

Biden addressed Scholz, telling him: "I want to compliment you for stepping up as you did when you became chancellor."

"The way you had a great impact on the rest of Europe to move, particularly relating to Ukraine," the US President said.

A senior US official said that Washington has been "investing very heavily" in the relationship with Germany since Biden took office almost two and a half years ago.

Their talks Sunday were “a good opportunity to affirm the deep and enduring ties between our two countries. In terms of the meeting agenda, expect that Russia and Ukraine are going to be at the top of the list, including our continued close coordination on the political and diplomatic front,” the official indicated.

It is noteworthy that earlier, four G7 countries - the UK, Canada, Japan, and the US, banned Russian gold imports in a new bid to force Moscow into fully absorbing the repercussions of the sanctions imposed on the country in light of the Ukraine war by stopping it from buying the metal to avoid the brunt of the restrictive measures, London said.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/lapid-to-borrell:-tehran-visit-strategic-mistake

Lapid to Borrell: Tehran visit 'strategic mistake'

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid strongly criticized EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, over a visit to Tehran with an aim to revive talks over the Iranian nuclear deal, which the Israeli occupation has long opposed, POLITICO revealed.

The website mentioned that "Borrell reached out to Lapid ahead of his visit to Tehran, where on Saturday Borrell said he had secured an agreement to resume talks."

Lapid accused Borell of disregarding allegations that Iran was planning to kill Israeli civilians in Turkey.

A diplomat briefed on the exchange told POLITICO that “Borrell sent a message to Yair Lapid before the trip to Tehran in which he described his attempt to bring Iran back to the nuclear agreement negotiations, and to remove the last obstacles.”

“In response to the message, Lapid replied to Borrell that his position was very disappointing, especially after the removal of the cameras and the condemnation [by the] IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] board,” the diplomat revealed.

Lapid told Borrell that “this is a strategic mistake that sends the wrong message to Iran,” and that “Talking about the great potential in the Iranian context, while Iran is trying to murder Israeli citizens throughout the world and especially in Turkey, indicates a worrying lack of care for the lives of Israeli citizens,” the diplomat indicated.

According to POLITICO, "an EU official noted that Borrell traveled to Iran in his facilitator role, as the neutral coordinator of negotiations, and that he had succeeded in securing the agreement of the Iranians to resume “proximity talks” with U.S. negotiators in coming days."

It is noteworthy that at the end of his meeting in Iran, Borrell said that “The negotiations were stalled — no prospects of restarting — and thanks to these discussions, in the coming days they will start again, with close contacts between the United States and the Iranians.”

>>16528936

Don't bother. Baker is discriminating against anon and against Mayaddeen website.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/lpr-forces-liberate-250-civilians-from-azot-plant-in-severod

LPR forces liberate 250 civilians from Azot Plant in Severodonetsk

Soldiers from the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) evacuated about 250 more civilians, including children, from the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk on Sunday, according to LPR ambassador to Russia Rodion Miroshnik.

"Fighters of the LPR People's forces have evacuated about 250 more people, including children, from the territory of the Azot plant in Severodonetsk. About 200 civilians were evacuated from Azot yesterday," Miroshnik said on Telegram.

On Saturday, Ramzan Kadyrov, the president of Russia's Chechen Republic, announced that the Russian forces had liberated the Azot plant's territory, adding that up to 800 civilians had been evacuated from the plant's underground facilities, where they had been held hostage to serve as a "human shield" by Ukrainian militants.

The Azot chemical plant takes up nearly half of the territory in Severodonetsk. The plant had been under Ukrainian militant control for several weeks after they were pushed and encircled there when Russian and LPR forces took control of the city.

The Russian victory came after Ukrainian troops were forced to retreat from Severodonetsk, a regional governor, after weeks of the city being a key battleground between the Russian and Donbass republics' forces on one hand and the Ukrainian forces on the other.

"Ukrainian armed forces will have to retreat from Severodonetsk. They have received an order to do so," Lugansk governor Sergiy Gaiday said on Telegram, as Severodonetsk falls within the LPR.

"Remaining in positions that have been relentlessly shelled for months just doesn't make sense," he explained. The city has been "nearly turned to rubble" by frequent bombardment.

>>16528964

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/thousands-protest-in-madrid-against-nato-summit

Thousands protest in Madrid against NATO summit

Thousands of people protested in Madrid on Sunday, carrying the former Soviet Union's hammer and sickle flags, against a NATO summit scheduled for next week in the Spanish capital.

Leaders of member countries will meet in Madrid on June 29-30, amid tight security, as the organization faces the unprecedented challenge of the war in Ukraine.

NATO is expected to consider Finland and Sweden's membership bid, which is opposed by alliance member Turkey.

"Tanks yes, but of beer with tapas," sang demonstrators, who claimed that an increase in European defense spending advocated by NATO was a threat to peace.

"I am fed up (with) this business of arms and killing people. The solution they propose is more arms and wars and we always pay for it. So, no NATO, no (army) bases, let the Americans go and leave us alone without wars and weapons," said Concha Hoyos, a retired Madrid resident, told Reuters.

Another protester, Jaled, 29, stated that NATO was not the solution to the war in Ukraine. The march was attended by 5,000 people, according to organizers, but authorities in Madrid put the figure at 2,200.

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in a newspaper interview published on Sunday that the summit would also focus on the threat from Europe's southern flank in Africa, in which he said: "Russia posed a threat to Europe."

"The foreign ministers' dinner on the 29th will be centred on the southern flank," he told El Pais newspaper.

>> The Spanish get it

>>16529051

>>16529092

>>16529180

At the ready.

>>16529214

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/liberation-victory-imminent-unlike-what-traitors-believe:-ha

Liberation, victory imminent unlike what traitors believe: Haniyeh

The peoples of West Asia are today in the age of victories and major shifts in power that the people and resistance of Palestine, Lebanon, and the region are creating, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said on Sunday during a festival in Sidon, Lebanon.

"The normalizers and those who betrayed the Palestinian cause see that victory and liberation are far-fetched, and we see it as imminent," Haniyeh said. "The blockaded Gaza that underwent wars and battles is preparing, with its people and resistance, for a strategic battle with the enemy."

In the case of any Israeli aggression on Gaza or occupied Palestine, Haniyeh said, 150 rockets will strike the Israeli occupation within five minutes.

"From the Lebanon of resistance, we will crush your dreams. You have no place in Al-Quds and Al-Aqsa; Al-Quds belongs to our Arab and Islamic Ummah," he told the Israelis.

Seif Al-Quds made a shift in the struggle

Haniyeh hailed Lebanon, its resistance, and its people, which he said have embraced the Palestinian people and accompanied them through pain and hope. "The normalizers and traitors see that Al-Aqsa is far away, and we see it as close."

"Following years of security cooperation and conspiracies from those far and near, Jenin is once again uprising and raising the banner of resistance," Haniyeh added in reference to the occupied West Bank. "Gaza, which is embargoed by land, sea, and air, has been in battles and wars, and it raised the sword of Al-Quds in the face of the occupation. Through its resistance and people, it is preparing for a strategic battle with ['Tel Aviv']."

"The battle of Seif Al-Quds caused a shift in the struggle against the Zionist enemy […] the occupation, armed with all sorts of weapons, has the rockets of Al-Qassam [Brigades] and the resistance from Gaza falling over its head," Haniyeh stressed.

Al-Quds and the West Bank, he added, have fallen under the pressure of depriving the Palestinian people of their right to resistance and their land. "The people of the [West] Bank and Al-Quds have foiled the [Israeli] plans to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque."

The strategic choice for liberation is comprehensive military resistance

In his speech to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Haniyeh said: "Prepare yourselves; the return [to Palestine] is so close."

On the Lebanese energy resources, Haniyeh expressed "full solidarity with Lebanon against the Israeli attacks on its wealth" and stressed that "the enemy has no right whatsoever in Lebanon's water resources and wealth, just as it has no right in Palestine and its land," pledging "not to abandon the gas of Gaza, as it belongs to the people of Gaza."

The Hamas chief continued to say, "We never interfere in the affairs of Arab countries, and Lebanon will always be in the right place," stressing the need for "Lebanon's security and stability, as they are part of Palestine's."

The head of Hamas' Political Bureau pointed out that the movement "adheres to joint action with all national and Islamic forces here in Lebanon and is open to all options," adding that "the right to return is sacred and will never be waived, neither for resettlement nor for an alternative homeland." Haniyeh stressed that "this right is the most prominent one in our struggle with the enemy."

Haniyeh stressed that the most strategic choice for liberation is comprehensive resistance, especially armed resistance, stressing that "there is no alternative for Palestine but Palestine, and when we demand our brothers in Lebanon to improve the conditions of the people of the [refugee] camps, it comes in the form of a fraternal human right demand."

He concluded by saying, "We know that Lebanon never failed and will never fail the Palestinian refugees in its camps, especially that there are US attempts to place a spoke in UNRWA's wheels," noting that the UN organization bears witness that the Palestinian people do indeed want to return to their homeland.

>> Posted in (LB). Ignored by discriminating baker.

>>16529248

Hey Tinkerbelle Jew fucker. That's me. Bring it on, you and your discriminating pal baker.