Middle East Informant (from an ordinary citizen in the cloud): October 2021

Saturday, October 30, 2021

Latest News in the Middle East (Oct 31, 2021)

UAE pulls diplomats from Beirut in row over Saudi-led Yemen intervention

http://jordantimes.com/news/region/uae-pulls-diplomats-beirut-row-over-saudi-led-yemen-intervention

G20 leaders endorse tax deal, pledge more vaccines for the poor

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1958101/business-economy

Saudi crown prince announces Riyadh’s bid to host World Expo 2030

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1957751/saudi-arabia

Thursday, October 28, 2021

Latest News in the Middle East (Oct 29, 2021)

Steps to expel 10 ambassadors had started: Çavuşoğlu

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/steps-to-expel-10-ambassadors-had-started-cavusoglu

Iran to continue nuclear negotiations in Vienna next month

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/iran-to-continue-nuclear-negotiations-in-vienna-next-month

Tehran meeting: A roadmap for prosperous Afghanistan

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/466422/Tehran-meeting-A-roadmap-for-prosperous-Afghanistan

Lebanon, Syria and Jordan reach final deal to transfer electricity, ministers say

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1957191/middle-east

Lebanese parliament confirms elections will be held in March

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1957131/middle-east

US sanctions two Lebanese businessmen and a member of parliament

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1957221/middle-east

Israel gives final green light to 1,800 West Bank settler units

http://jordantimes.com/news/region/israel-gives-final-green-light-1800-west-bank-settler-units

Putin orders Gazprom to up EU gas supplies in November

http://jordantimes.com/news/business/putin-orders-gazprom-eu-gas-supplies-november

Turkey’s Lake Tuz dries up due to climate change, farming

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1957171/middle-east

Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Latest News in the Middle East (Oct 27, 2021)

Sudan general declares state of emergency, dissolves gov't after 'coup'

http://jordantimes.com/news/region/sudan-general-declares-state-emergency-dissolves-govt-after-coup

Sudan's toppled prime minister released, escorted home

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/africa/sudans-toppled-prime-minister-released-escorted-home

Egypt’s President El-Sisi ends state of emergency after more than four years

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1955236/middle-east

Bahrain, US team up for first Gulf drone drills

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/bahrain-us-team-up-for-first-gulf-drone-drills

* Refer to 'Military deployment of drones (UCAVs) in the Middle East'

Cyberattack disrupts fuel distribution in Iran

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/466386/Cyberattack-disrupts-fuel-distribution-in-Iran

MBS spoke of killing sitting monarch to make father king: Saudi dissident

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/mbs-spoke-of-killing-sitting-monarch-to-make-father-king-saudi-dissident

* Refer to 'Falling Saudi Arabian Diplomacy Part2: MbS who was a stalled fixer'

Sunday, October 24, 2021

Latest News in the Middle East (Oct 25, 2021)

Turkey to expel US envoy and nine others, Erdogan says

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1953756/middle-east

Arab coalition: Over 200 Houthis killed in strikes on Juba and Al-Kasarah

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1954271/middle-east

Senior Al-Qaeda leader killed in US drone strike in Syria: Pentagon

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1953406/middle-east

* Refer to 'Military deployment of drones (UCAVs) in the Middle East'

King Salman to head Saudi Arabia’s delegation at G20 meeting in Italy

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1954326/saudi-arabia

Israel set to OK 3,000 West Bank settler homes this week

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1954081/middle-east

Saudi Arabia to reach net zero carbon by 2060: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1953441/business-economy　

Saudi Arabia plans to be world’s biggest hydrogen producer

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1954046/business-economy

Lebanon’s negotiations with IMF likely to start in November: minister

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1954431/business-economy

Nissan ex-chair Carlos Ghosn says his story is ‘far from finished’

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/automotive/nissan-ex-chair-carlos-ghosn-says-his-story-is-far-from-finished

* Refer to 'Beirut was not heaven but hell: In case of Carlos Ghosn'

Friday, October 22, 2021

Latest News in the Middle East (Oct 23, 2021)

Turkish counter-espionage against foreign spy networks leads to multiple arrests

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1953161/middle-east

Turkey to recoup money paid to US for F-35s ‘one way or another’

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/turkey-to-recoup-money-paid-to-us-for-f-35s-one-way-or-another

First full Friday prayers at Two Holy Mosques

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1953391/saudi-arabia

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Latest News in the Middle East (Oct 21, 2021)

Russia, China, Iran to work with Taliban towards 'regional stability'

https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/9/435260/World/International/Russia,-China,-Iran-to-work-with-Taliban-towards-;.aspx

Egypt, Greece, Cyprus sign power linkage agreement in Athens

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/434142.aspx

Abu Dhabi crown prince receives call from Syrian president

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1951896/middle-east

Iran, Qatar discuss relations

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/466249/Iran-Qatar-discuss-relations

Israel approves residency for 4K Palestinians for 1st time in 12 years

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/mid-east/israel-approves-residency-for-4k-palestinians-for-1st-time-in-12-years

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Military deployment of drones (UCAVs) in the Middle East (2)

Development and export of UCAV in Turkey and Iran

(Turkish UCAV Bayraktar TB2)

According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) database, Turkey is the 16th largest arms exporter in the world, and the top in the Middle East. Recently Turkey is enthusiastic about the development of UCAV. Bayraktar TB2, the latest UCAV model of Baykar, has the huge inquiries from various countries. Bayraktar TB2s have been delivered to Ukraine, Qatar, Azerbaijan and Poland[1]. Poland is a member state of the EU and NATO. Ukraine plans to purchase an additional 24 sets[2]. It is reported that more than 10 countries including Saudi Arabia are interested in to purchase Turkish UCAVs.

Iran officially cannot export UCAVs due to US economic sanctions. However, Iran supplies its UCAVs to anti-American or pro-Shiite sects in the Middle East including the Yemeni Houthi faction. Their typical model is Mohager-6. (photo)

The United States is nervous about UCAVs by Turkey and Iran. The US Congress warned of exporting Turkish UCAVs to other countries[3], and the commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) tells that Iranian UCAV threatens the security in the Middle East[4].

UCAVs flying over the Middle East

Wherever the conflicts take place between states, ethnicity or religion, people require weapons. Unfortunately, armed conflict never stopped in the Middle East. Once the Arab Spring in the early 2010s delivered the illusion that the Arab would change in peaceful and democratic society. However, it was disillusion and political turmoil has deepened. Yemen and Libya are such example.

Formerly, UCAV was monopolized by the United States. But when IT and AI technology became popular, Iran and Turkey got their own UCAV. Gulf oil-producing countries, which has no own technology but has abundant money, procured UCAVs from other countries. UCAV is much cheaper than F-35 stealth man-piloted bomber of $ 100 million. They can easily buy UCAVs. Cost of the US made UCAV Reaper MQ-9 is approximately $ 13 million. That is about one tenth of the F-35. Gulf oil-producing countries don’t mind the price tag of Reaper MQ-9. UAE bombed the Libyan government forces with the Reaper MQ-9 when they join the rebel Haftar corps in the Libyan civil war.

More and more countries are procuring Turkish or Iranian UCAVs, which are much cheaper than the Reaper MQ-9. The Quds Forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps explained that UCAVs were a major pillar of military operations outside Iran[5].

China, the world's fourth-largest arms exporter, is focusing on selling its own UCAV Wing Loong as a promising export product[6]. China is the world's largest exporter of UCAV.

(Photo; Wing Loong made in China)

When offensive-type UCAV becomes popular, defensive-type UCAV is inevitably be developed. Turkey is developing Fedai. Fedai searches for enemy’s UCAV soaring at high altitude, and catch and explode the object. They call Fedai as Kamikaze UCAV[7]. (Photo: Fedai)

The development of the offensive UCAV as a spear and the intercepting UCAV as a shield is accelerating. This is an endless war.

By Areha Kazuya

E-mail: Arehakazuya1@gmail.com

[1] SIPRI Military Expenditure Database

https://www.sipri.org/databases/milex

[2] Unprecedented demand pours in for Turkey’s combat drone

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/unprecedented-demand-pours-in-for-turkeys-combat-drone

[3] Ukraine to buy 24 more Turkish Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/ukraine-to-buy-24-more-turkish-bayraktar-tb2-ucavs

[4] US Congress alarmed by Turkish drones' global success, capability

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/us-congress-alarmed-by-turkish-drones-global-success-capability

[5] Mideast plays key role in Chinese export of armed drones, report says

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1422101/business-economy

[6] Can Iranian drone tech shift Middle East’s strategic balance of power?

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1864131/middle-east

[7] Drones main pillar of Iran's Quds forces overseas ops: opposition

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/426458.aspx

الانتشار العسكري للطائرات بدون طيار في الشرق الأوسط (2)

(Translated from English version to Arabic by Google Translate)

Oct, 2021

تطوير وتصدير الطائرات بدون طيار في تركيا وإيران

(التركية UCAV Bayraktar TB2)

[1], [2]

وفقًا لقاعدة بيانات SIPRI (معهد ستوكهولم الدولي لأبحاث السلام) ، تحتل تركيا المركز السادس عشر في تصدير الأسلحة في العالم والأولى في الشرق الأوسط. تركيا في الآونة الأخيرة متحمسة لتطوير الطائرات بدون طيار. Bayraktar TB2 ، أحدث طراز من الطائرات بدون طيار من Baykar ، لديه استفسارات ضخمة من مختلف البلدان. تم تسليم Bayraktar TB2s إلى أوكرانيا وقطر وأذربيجان وبولندا. بولندا هي دولة عضو في الاتحاد الأوروبي وحلف شمال الأطلسي. أوكرانيا تخطط لشراء 24 مجموعة إضافية. يُذكر أن أكثر من 10 دول بما في ذلك المملكة العربية السعودية مهتمة بشراء طائرات بدون طيار تركية.

لا تستطيع إيران رسميًا تصدير الطائرات بدون طيار بسبب العقوبات الاقتصادية الأمريكية. ومع ذلك ، تزود إيران طائراتها بدون طيار للطوائف المناهضة للولايات المتحدة أو الموالية للشيعة في الشرق الأوسط بما في ذلك فصيل الحوثي اليمني. نموذجهم النموذجي هو Mohager-6.

(صورة فوتوغرافية)

الولايات المتحدة قلقة بشأن الطائرات بدون طيار من قبل تركيا وإيران. حذر الكونجرس الأمريكي من تصدير طائرات تركية بدون طيار إلى دول أخرى ، ويخبر قائد القيادة المركزية الأمريكية (CENTCOM) أن الطائرات بدون طيار الإيرانية تهدد الأمن في الشرق الأوسط.

[3], [4]

الطائرات بدون طيار تحلق فوق الشرق الأوسط

أينما وقعت النزاعات بين الدول أو العرق أو الدين ، يحتاج الناس إلى أسلحة. لسوء الحظ ، لم يتوقف الصراع المسلح في الشرق الأوسط. بمجرد أن أعطى الربيع العربي في أوائل عام 2010 الوهم بأن العرب سيتغيرون في مجتمع سلمي وديمقراطي. ومع ذلك ، فقد كانت خيبة أمل واشتدت الاضطرابات السياسية. اليمن وليبيا مثال على ذلك

في السابق ، كانت الطائرات بدون طيار تحتكرها الولايات المتحدة. ولكن عندما أصبحت تكنولوجيا تكنولوجيا المعلومات والذكاء الاصطناعي شائعة ، حصلت إيران وتركيا على الطائرات بدون طيار الخاصة بهما. اشترت دول الخليج المنتجة للنفط ، التي ليس لديها تكنولوجيا خاصة بها ولكن لديها أموال وفيرة ، طائرات بدون طيار من دول أخرى. الطائرات بدون طيار أرخص بكثير من قاذفة القنابل الشبح الموجهة من طراز F-35 والتي تبلغ 100 مليون دولار. يمكنهم بسهولة شراء الطائرات بدون طيار. تبلغ تكلفة UCAV Reaper MQ-9 المصنوعة في الولايات المتحدة حوالي 13 مليون دولار. هذا هو حوالي عُشر F-35. لا تمانع دول الخليج المنتجة للنفط في دفع ثمن ريبر إم كيو 9. قصفت الإمارات قوات الحكومة الليبية بطائرة ريبر إم كيو 9 عندما انضمت إلى فيلق حفتر في الحرب الأهلية الليبية.

تشتري المزيد والمزيد من الدول طائرات بدون طيار تركية أو إيرانية ، وهي أرخص بكثير من Reaper MQ-9. أوضح فيلق القدس التابع للحرس الثوري الإيراني أن الطائرات بدون طيار كانت ركيزة أساسية للعمليات العسكرية خارج إيران.

[5]

تركز الصين ، رابع أكبر مصدر للأسلحة في العالم ، على بيع طائرة UCAV Wing Loong الخاصة بها كمنتج تصديري واعد. الصين هي أكبر مصدر في العالم للطائرات بدون طيار

[6]

(الصورة ؛ وينج لونج صنع في الصين)

عندما تصبح الطائرات بدون طيار من النوع الهجومي شائعة ، يتم تطوير UCAV من النوع الدفاعي حتمًا. تركيا تطور فداي. يبحث Fedai عن UCAV للعدو وهو يحلق على ارتفاع شاهق ويلتقط الجسم ويفجره. يطلقون على فداي اسم Kamikaze UCAV

[7]

(الصورة: فداي)