9/7/2013 IsraelDefense

According to various reports, Syria will receive the first of the advanced S-300 antiaircraft missile systems in the coming weeks

The first of the advanced S-300 antiaircraft missile systems are expected to arrive from Russia to Syria over the course of the next few weeks. The systems will be accompanied by Russian technicians and experts who are meant to turn them operational as soon as possible.

Israel is presently preparing for a last diplomatic effort to prevent the arrival of the missiles, which could severely limit the activity of the Israeli Air Force in the region, and may also reach the hands of Iran and Hezbollah.

11 juillet 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

NEW YORK (Nations unies) - La Russie a accusé jeudi les occidentaux de propager des accusations peu crédibles et des scénarios bizarres à propos de l'utilisation d'armes chimiques en Syrie.

L'ambassadeur russe auprès de l'ONU Vitali Tchourkine a réaffirmé devant la presse que Moscou avait la preuve d'une utilisation de gaz sarin par l'opposition armée en mars à Khan al-Assal. Cette attaque a tué 16 soldats syriens, selon Damas qui a demandé une enquête de l'ONU.

La Maison Blanche a immédiatement rejeté cette thèse, affirmant n'avoir encore vu aucune preuve qui appuie cette affirmation.

La Russie a transmis ses preuves à l'ONU ainsi qu'aux puissances occidentales (Etats-Unis, France, Royaume-Uni).

Celles-ci ont de leur côté accusé l'armée syrienne d'avoir eu recours à plusieurs reprises à des armes chimiques contre l'opposition, notamment à Homs (centre) en décembre 2012, et demandent que les experts de l'ONU se penchent aussi sur ces incidents.

Tout en admettant que les experts devaient pouvoir enquêter sur toutes les accusations crédibles, M. Tchourkine a vivement critiqué ses collègues occidentaux. Nos collègues occidentaux, a-t-il dit, essaient de produire le maximum d'accusations (contre Damas) avec le minimum de crédibilité afin, semble-t-il, de créer le maximum de problèmes.

Il a aussi accusé des diplomates occidentaux, qu'il n'a pas nommés, de vouloir accréditer l'idée que l'incident de Khan al-Assal était dû à une erreur de tir de l'armée syrienne qui aurait touché ses propres soldats, parlant de théorie naïve et de scénario bizarre.

Il a répété que selon les experts russes qui ont relevé des échantillons à Khan al-Assal, le projectile et le gaz sarin qu'il contenait n'étaient pas de fabrication industrielle, ce qui tend à prouver selon lui que l'attaque avait été menée par l'opposition et non par l'armée syrienne.

Le gouvernement syrien insiste pour que les enquêteurs onusiens se concentrent sur l'attaque de Khan al-Assal, attribuée par Damas à l'opposition, au détriment des autres incidents attribués par Londres, Paris et Washington à l'armée syrienne et qui ont eu lieu à Khan al-Assal ainsi qu'à Homs (centre), le 23 décembre 2012.

Cette divergence a empêché jusqu'à présent la mission d'enquête mise en place en mars par l'ONU, et dirigée par le suédois Ake Sellstrom, de se rendre sur place. Pour M. Tchourkine, on a voulu imposer à Damas une formule d'enquête à l'Irakienne, une référence aux accusations sur les armes de destruction massive portées contre l'Irak de Saddam Hussein.

L'ONU a accepté mercredi une invitation adressée par le gouvernement syrien au Dr Sellstrom et à Angela Kane, haute représentante de l'ONU pour le désarmement, à venir à Damas pour des discussions sur l'utilisation présumée d'armes chimiques dans le conflit.

M. Tchourkine a souligné que Moscou avait joué un rôle dans cette initiative.

Selon le porte-parole des Nations unies, Martin Nesirky, l'ONU espère que cette visite aura lieu dès que possible. Il a réaffirmé qu'elle n'avait pas pour objectif d'enquêter mais de mener des consultations sur les modalités d'une éventuelle enquête. Il n'y a pas d'autre solution qu'une enquête sur place pour prouver l'utilisation d'armes chimiques, a-t-il répété.

July 11, 2013: Strategy Page

Most of Israel’s neighbors are undergoing violent upheavals. Lebanon has increasing violence between Sunni and Shia supporters of their respective factions in neighboring Syria. There, the civil war between the Sunni majority and the Shia minority dictatorship has killed over 100,000 people in two years and grinds on. In Egypt the uprising that overthrew the decades old Mubarak two years ago repeated itself when the disappointing and very unpopular Morsi government that replaced Mubarak was shut down by the army.  The 2011 uprising was against corruption and debilitating misrule. Egyptians have noticed that while many other nations have prospered in the last half century Egypt has stagnated. This sense of loss was behind all the Arab Spring uprisings, but most have subsequently suffered from new governments dominated by Islamic conservatives. This was because the dictatorships were able to stifle rival political parties to maintain their rule, but could not shut down what went on in the mosques or religious schools. Here opposition politicians who were Islamic conservatives (or radicals) could survive and reach large numbers of dissatisfied people with the message that Islamic law (Sharia) and politicians who were devout Moslems were the solution. History, both recent and ancient, has shown this to be a false hope but for most Moslems it was the most convenient alternative once the dictatorship was overthrown. In Egypt there had been active Islamic political groups for most of the last century. The main one was the Moslem Brotherhood, which was suppressed by the succession of army dominated governments (that pretended to be democratic but rigged the elections) that began in the 1950s. The Brotherhood split over this, with most of them returning to Mosque based politics and doing what they could to improve the lives of Egyptians. A minority of Brotherhood members went radical and were crushed in the 1990s, after a major outbreak of terrorism. Some of the leaders fled Egypt, and one of them now is the head of al Qaeda. Several of these Moslem Brotherhood leaders (and many followers) helped organize al Qaeda.

The 1990s experience left many Egyptians hostile to Islamic radicalism and suspicious of the Moslem Brotherhood in general. This all played out after the Mubarak government fell in early 2011 and the army helped organize the first honest elections seen in Egypt for decades. The Moslem Brotherhood was the only political force that was organized, experienced and allowed to participate (all the pro-Mubarak parties were banned). The Egyptian middle class (small businessmen and those with an education, even if poor) could not organize in time and the generals knew it. For a year after the uprising the army, and its many corrupt officers, ran a caretaker government and because the unrest had caused higher unemployment (because tourists have stopped coming and foreign and local investment has slowed down a lot because of the uncertainty) any new government would have to take quick action to revive economic activity. Fearing that the Islamic conservatives, who won most of the seats in the new parliamentary elections, would prosecute corrupt army officers and dismantle the economic empire the army has built over the last few decades, the military actively attacked demonstrators, journalists and organizations that advised on how to make a democracy work.  The urban democrats were uneasy about the Islamic conservative political parties and the possibility of a religious dictatorship. But Islamic conservatives, especially the Moslem Brotherhood insisted that this would not happen.  The foreign pro-democracy activists were helping Egyptians more effectively demonstrate against the army, and the army struck back. But Egypt depended a lot on foreign aid, much of it going directly to the army. These aid donors did not like seeing their citizens (foreign aid workers) locked up, and pressured the Egyptian generals to let them go. The army did not have to worry because the Moslem Brotherhood dominated government was beholden to other, often more radical, Islamic groups and imposed rules that hurt tourism and hinted at an attempt to establish a religious dictatorship. The military leaders knew that a religious dictatorship had not been good for their contemporaries in Iran and refused to do anything about the growing anti-government demonstrations and collapsing economy.

Then the army demanded that the Moslem Brotherhood dominated government resign and allow a new one, not dominated by the Islamic conservatives and radicals to be formed. President Morsi refused and was arrested. This was greeted with cheers by the millions of demonstrators still in the streets. Morsi and the Moslem Brotherhood are held responsible for the economic depression since the Arab Spring began two years ago and for generally ignoring the needs of the people. In practice, Morsi attempts to improve the economy were most often stymied by the wealthy (and largely pro-Mubarak) families that do not favor a real democracy, but rather an oligarchy (government controlled by the wealthiest families). It was these families and the army leadership that have the most to fear from a truly democratic government (that would and could punish the corrupt officials, businessmen and generals who profited the most from supporting Mubarak). The unspoken message to any post-Morsi government is that if you don’t mess with the families or the generals, perhaps we can get the economy going again. But the economy will never get into high gear as long as so much of it is controlled by corrupt factions that care more for their own power and wealth than for the overall prosperity of Egypt.

The revolution in Egypt is far from over. While all this unrest next door is uncomfortable for Israelis, it is not a major threat. The Egyptian military does not want war with Israel (which the generals know they would lose, big time, along with billions in American aid), nor do most Egyptians. The Islamic radicals, including Hamas in Gaza, do wish harm to Israel. But the Islamic radicals are anathema to most Egyptians and even the Morsi government was forced to crack down. The problem (or advantage) with Islamic radicals is that tend to turn on those who actually support them and hasten their own demise. Better relations with Israel would be of great economic benefit to Egypt but that is not likely to happen until the malign effects of generations of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic propaganda are tended to. That would take years and Egypt hasn’t even considered going there yet. What any new Egyptian government will have to do is show some economic results, and fast.

The Moslem Brotherhood and other Islamic conservative groups that supported the Morsi government are now organizing protests. Some of the more radical Morsi supporters are planning terror attacks. All this will only increase the popular dislike for the Brotherhood and Islamic radicals. There will always be Islamic conservatives in Egypt, but the memories of the 1990s linger, on both sides of this political fence.

The ouster of Morsi is bad news for Hamas in Gaza. Because Morsi favored Islamic radical beliefs, Hamas saw Morsi as a friend. Morsi, however, insisted that Hamas help control the Islamic radicals in Gaza who considered Morsi “too moderate.” Hamas was happy to comply, because these radical groups considered Hamas too mainstream as well. With the departure of Morsi, the political winds have shifted and not in favor of Hamas. To be on the safe side Hamas has not criticized the Egyptian Army for overthrowing Morsi and is hoping for the best, while bracing for the worst.

Israel has increased military training exercises on the Lebanese and Syrian borders. Reserve units are being prepared for any possible spillover of violence into Israel. On the Egyptian border Israeli cooperation with their Egyptian counterparts improved during the year of Morsi rule and that has not changed with the overthrow of Morsi. Most Egyptians, especially those in the security forces, are hostile to all forms of Islamic extremism.

The pro-Islamic government in Turkey was not happy with the overthrow of Morsi, who was not seen as an ally of Turkey, but at least a kindred (Islamic) spirit. Some Turkish Islamic conservatives blame Israel for the fall of Morsi, but then these guys blame Israel for everything bad. Turkey is suffering from anti-government demonstrations. Not because the government has hurt the economy (quite the opposite) but because there is growing fear that the Islamic conservatives that dominate the government are becoming less democratic and more dictatorial.

In the last two months anti-Israel violence in the West Bank is down by about two-thirds. Most of the violence consisted of throwing rocks or fire bombs (bottles full of flammable liquid) at soldiers, police and Israeli civilians. After the November 2012 “war” with Hamas in Gaza many Palestinians in the West Bank wanted to start another major wave of violence and the amount of such violence in the West Bank started to climb. But the Israelis identified and jailed most of the leaders and organizers of the increased violence and eventually even the Palestinian government in the West Bank agreed to cooperate as the increased violence and Israeli response (more movement restrictions) angered most Palestinians, who saw nothing good coming from it.

July 10, 2013: Although the Egyptian military role in overthrowing the Morsi government was technically a coup (by American definition) and U.S. law bans military aid to any country that suffers such a coup, the U.S. is continuing to deliver military aid to Egypt. The Americans cannot ignore the fact the Morsi was unpopular and his removal was very popular in Egypt. So the American lawyers and politicians are scrambling to create some plausible reason to continue aid to Egypt.

The army is using Moslem Brotherhood organized demonstrations and violence as justification to order the arrest of more Brotherhood leaders. The army is doing what it did two decades ago to cripple Brotherhood capabilities.

July 8, 2013: The military revealed that it had activated a new military Cyber War units dedicated to monitoring networks for Internet based attacks and organizing a quick response. Photos of the operations center for this new unit were shown.

For the first time since the F-16I was introduced in 1998, one suffered an engine failure and crashed. The two man crew ejected and were picked up off the coast. The air force temporarily grounded all its F-16s and F-15s until it could be determined that there was not some common problem at fault.

In Egypt the army opened fire on a demonstration by Islamic radicals and Morsi supporters, killing over fifty of the demonstrators and wounding over a hundred. The army said some of the demonstrators opened fire on the soldiers.

July 7, 2013: The government repeated warnings to Israelis to stay out of the Sinai Peninsula unless it was absolutely necessary. The government noted that Islamic terrorists are more active in the Sinai, as are Egyptian troops and police trying to control the situation.

Hamas revealed that its police had broken up a gang that was counterfeiting Israeli currency and getting it into circulation via Gaza market places. The 100 Shekel ($27.65) notes were good enough to fool some merchants but the counterfeiting was soon noted and the hunt for those responsible was on. The three arrested counterfeiters had already created about $5.5 million worth of these fake notes.

July 5, 2013: There was a large explosion at the Syrian naval base at Latakia. Syrian rebels said this was probably an Israeli missile attack on the warehouse holding new anti-ship missiles recently received from Russia. These high-speed P-800/Yakhont missiles have a range of about 300 kilometers and a 200 kg (440 pound) warhead.

In the Sinai Islamic terrorists made four attacks on security personnel, killing one soldier and wounding three. The attackers were believed to have come from Gaza, so the main border crossing from Gaza to Egypt at Rafah was closed indefinitely.

In Cairo there was a large demonstration by Islamic radicals and Morsi supporters. One demonstrator was killed.

The Egyptian military shut down parliament until new elections.

July 4, 2013: Explosions were heard near the Israeli city of Eilat (at the northern end of the Red Sea.) It was later discovered that at least one 122mm rocket was fired from the nearby Egyptian Sinai Desert. A week later Israeli troops found 122mm rocket fragments outside Eilat. The last such attack was last April. These attacks are launched by Islamic terrorists operating in the Sinai Peninsula.

July 3, 2013: President Morsi was arrested by the army and his government was replaced by military rule until new elections could be held.

Jul. 10, 2013 – Defense News (AP)

WASHINGTON — The U.S. is moving ahead with plans to deliver four F-16s to Egypt despite the ongoing debate about the military’s overthrow of President Mohammed Morsi and whether it legally constitutes a coup that could shut off aid to the country.

Defense officials say senior administration leaders discussed the delivery and decided to let it continue. The fighters are part of a $1.3 billion package approved in 2010 that included 20 F-16s and some M1A1 Abrams tank kits. About half of the aid package has been dispersed, officials said.

Eight of the F-16s were delivered in January, the next four are expected to be delivered in the coming weeks and the final eight will be sent later this year.

News of the impending weapons delivery to the Egyptian military came as the administration continued to make the case that it is staying neutral in the crisis.

The White House and State Department reiterated the view Wednesday that it would not be in the United States’ national security interests to interrupt U.S. aid to Egypt, including to the armed forces, as would be required by law if Morsi’s ouster is determined to have been a coup.

“We do not believe it is in the best interests of the United States to make immediate changes to our assistance programs,” White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters, adding that the administration is going to take its time to make any determinations about the removal of Morsi from power.

At the State Department, spokeswoman Jen Psaki noted that aid to Egypt “has been around for quite some time and has a range of reasons as to why we do it.”

The comments come after a week of violence and widespread demonstrations and as Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other U.S. leaders make repeated calls to their counterparts in Egypt urging an end to the violence and a quick transition to a civilian government. Hagel has spoken to Egypt’s defense minister, Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, eight times in the last nine days, with one phone call lasting as long as 45 minutes.

U.S. officials have expressed satisfaction with the military-backed interim government’s plans to restore democratically elected civilian leaders.

Members of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement have denounced the ouster and have demanded Morsi’s release from detention and reinstatement.

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee and Josh Lederman contributed to this report.

10.07.2013 Shir Aharon Baram - iaf.org.il

In the Aerial Defense Division, soldiers have learned lessons from the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) that penetrated Israeli territory last October and April of this year: In addition to the courses on airplane identification the soldiers pass, there is also a course on UAV identification. From now on, the soldiers of the division will be able to deal with the new, developing threat

The Aerial Defense Division is currently putting forth a plan to train combat soldiers to deal with the threat of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The combat fighters and interceptors will learn how to detect UAVs of different kinds and to distinguish between them. "The threat of UAVs is a very relevant threat, along with our classic mission against manned aerial vehicles", says Commander of the Aerial Defense Division, Brigadier General Shahar Shohat, in an interview with the IAF journal.

Identification rates of airplanes are of great importance to the Aerial Defense Division, as its soldiers are required to identify an aircraft at a high altitude and determine quickly whether it is friendly or hostile. Through distinguishing the types of inlet cones, canopies, undercarriages, and non-stop memorization of blueprints and different points, the soldiers responsible for the task of defended the airspace succeed in distinguishing between a every type of plane and helicopter in the area.

In recent years, the State of Israel has realized the threat is not limited to just manned aerial vehicles, but includes also unmanned aerial vehicles, a developing threat among terror organizations that will no slip past the watchful eyes of the soldiers of the division: In their lessons, they will learn how to distinguish between offensive UAVs, UAVs for intelligence purposes, and other types of UAVs available in the field.

In the last year, the IAF has dealt with the threat of UAVs: Last April, a UAV was intercepted off the coast of Haifa by a fighter jet, and half a year before this incident, in October, a UAV from the terrorist organization, Hezbollah, was intercepted in midair over the northern Negev.

MOSCOU, 10 juillet - RIA Novosti

L'opposition syrienne ne recevra probablement pas d’aide militaire américaine dans un avenir proche. Du moins officiellement - car les rebelles reçoivent déjà depuis longtemps des armes de l'Otan d'une manière officieuse, écrit le quotidien Rossiïskaïa gazeta du 10 juillet 2013.

Les comités pour le renseignement des deux chambres du Congrès américain se sont une nouvelle fois opposés au président Barack Obama en décidant de bloquer son initiative d’aide militaire directe à l'opposition syrienne. Leur argument? Ils n'ont pas envie de dépenser de l’argent pour ça. Leur décision s'explique par une crainte - tout à fait justifiée - de l'avenir de cet armement : ce dernier pourrait facilement tomber entre les mains des terroristes, y compris des combattants liés à Al-Qaïda. Moscou a déjà plusieurs fois prévenu Washington d'une telle éventualité.

Les parlementaires ont pris leur décision en fonction d’informations secrètes. Ces informations étaient-elle donc inaccessibles à Barack Obama quand il a annoncé sa volonté sincère d'aider les séparatistes à renverser le régime de Bachar al-Assad?

Les experts américains soulignent que ces limitations suffisent pour empêcher les livraisons d'armes en Syrie. Mais il semble évident qu’en jugeant ainsi la situation ils prennent leurs désirs pour des réalités: nul n'ignore l'existence des "caisses noires" de la CIA et d'autres services américains qui ont assez d'argent pour financer plus d'une guerre régionale.

Jul 9, 2013 Awad Mustafa - thenational.ae

ABU DHABI // UAE Air Force chiefs are this week meeting with a European defence consortium as part of a possible deal to buy 60 of their fighter jets.

Representatives from BAE Systems, Eads, Eurojet and MBDA, the companies behind the Eurofighter Typhoon, have been locked in discussions with Air Force officials this week.

Tony Gilchrist, BAE Systems' vice president for air programmes who is leading discussions on behalf of the consortium, said: "We have been in dialogue for several months with the Air Force.

"We have also started talking with the Department of General Procurement at the Air Force and the discussions are in a good place, amicable and there is a mutual understanding between us."

The UAE has been in talks with a number of nations to procure advanced multi-role aircraft, including the French manufacturer Dassault for its Rafale fighter.

Mr Gilchrist, in Abu Dhabi to attend the Tawazun Economic Council and BAE Systems industrial workshop, said the UAE Air Force's demands for the new jets included installing sophisticated weapons systems.

"What is being discussed is the most advanced Typhoon when compared to the existing fleet or any orders that have been made," he said. "An extremely capable and very advanced fighter jet has been asked of us by the Air Force."

Alan Sparkes, the director of cooperative programmes at MBDA, the missile systems maker for the Eurofighter, said the UAE's requirements included the most advanced weapons in the world placed together in one aircraft.

"These capabilities include a beyond visual range air-to-air missile with high accuracy," Mr Sparkes said.

Although the demands put forward by the UAE are challenging, Mr Gilchrist said he was confident they could be delivered.

"The UAE Air Force's capability requirements are highly ambitious but deliverable because of the strength of the European partnership and its expertise," he said.

There are more than 700 Typhoons in air forces around the world, with 571 aircraft on order by seven nations including Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Part of ongoing discussions in the fighter deal is training, education and technology transfer with the UAE, Mr Gilchrist said.

BAE Systems Middle East and Africa and Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi already operate a programme to train students.

A major structural component of the jets will be developed by UAE company Tawazun Precision Industries.

"We are trying to get kids straight out of school into apprenticeships within our consortium," said Mr Gilchrist.

"Education and training in technology, aerospace and engineering for Emiratis is a key focus for us."

He added that the consortium is looking for Emiratis to form part of a highly capable workforce to participate in research and development.

Saif Al Hajeri, chief executive of Tawazun Economic Council, said its strategy was aligned with the UAE's vision for economic diversification and aimed to develop technology transfer from leading experts to help build national capabilities.

"Through such forums, TEC aims to provide a platform to both local industry and international partners to communicate best practices, to exchange knowledge, and to look into potential strategic initiatives and cooperation opportunities," Mr Al Hajeri said.

This year the Eurofighter lost out to Rafale over a US$10 billion (Dh36.7bn) contract in India for 126 jet fighters.

Mr Gilchrist said that despite the Rafale being given the L1 rating by the Indian ministry of defence, which means they would be first to present and offer a contract, his company was closely watching the negotiations between Dassault and the Indian government.

"If the L1, Rafale, is not able to fulfil the negotiation demands, then Eurofighter would be given the chance," he said.

"We are still optimistic in India. This is by no way a done deal for our French friends. We are ready to re-enter discussions."

juillet 9, 2013 Tsahal.fr

Ils sont la crème de la crème bien qu’ils n’aient pas le physique le plus athlétique de Tsahal. Au fond, ils n’en ont pas besoin. Ils sont les ‘tankistes experts’, les hommes des tanks et de l’artillerie.

C’est une belle journée ensoleillée. Environ 40 soldats et leurs commandants ont monté une tente au milieu du désert qui s’étend à perte de vue. Ces ‘tankistes experts’ sont sur le point de finir leur formation d’une durée de deux semaines. Ils étaient déjà commandants de tanks mais à la fin de leur entraînement, ils retourneront dans leurs compagnies en tant qu’experts, chargés d’enseigner à leur compagnie respective la subtilité de la grande guerre des armes à feu.

Aujourd’hui, ils s'entraînent pour les urgences qui peuvent survenir au cours d'une bataille de chars. Chaque ‘tankiste expert’ apprend à se préparer à toute situation.

“Feu!”, est hurlé dans le haut-parleur. Rapidement, les jumelles sont pointées vers le haut et ceux qui n’avaient pas mis leurs boules Quies se bouchent les oreilles avec leurs mains. Six tanks sont alignés à environ 140 mètres et de l'un d’entre eux une flamme et de la fumée s’échappent brusquement du canon. Presque instantanément, un énorme nuage de poussière apparaît deux kilomètres plus loin. L’obus se déplace à approximativement 1200 mètres par seconde.

“Cible atteinte!” On se sert la main et on applaudit de tous côtés. Le commandant Barak Assaf retire la paire de jumelles de ses yeux, le regard satisfait. Ceci est loin d'être son premier tir, mais il ne semble pas être lassé de voir que la cible ait été atteinte. Il est passé suivre le déroulement du cours similaire aux Etats-Unis qui est de dix semaines de plus que le sien. "Nous n'avons pas plus de temps à accorder. Pourtant, nous excellons comme les Américains et parfois même, nous les dépassons dans certains domaines”, dit le commandant.

Il y a six tanks mais de trois modèles différents - le Merkava 2, 3 et 4. lls sont tous différents, c’est ce que disent les ‘tankistes experts’ - certains sont d’anciens modèles, d’autres sont plus récents - mais chaque équipe a son propre modèle.

Sans exception, chacun des six tanks a touché sa cible éloignée de deux kilomètres. Les célébrations se poursuivent, les tankistes sortent de leurs tanks et brandissent leurs poings en l’air, il y a vraiment un sentiment de camaraderie bien que chacun d’eux viennent de brigades différentes.

“Silence!”, crie le commandant Assaf. Les ‘tankistes experts’ se calment. “Maintenant, nous allons viser des cibles situées à 4600 mètres de nous - juste un peu plus de challenge.”

Le premier tir vers la cible très éloignée retentit et ceux scrutant avec les jumelles se regardent l’air déçu : “ils ont manqué de beaucoup.” Le commandant, un peu déçu, s’adresse à ses élèves, proches de lui et dans les tanks, et les corrige. “Vous avez manqué la cible de beaucoup et sur la droite. Arrangez ça : 1.5 et 1.5”, explique-t-il, ajustant ainsi l’inclinaison des canons.

“Cible atteinte!” hurlent les ‘tankistes experts’ une fois le premier obus tiré. Mais cette fois, les célébrations ne se font pas entendre. Les jumelles sont toujours pointées vers les cibles. Deux autres échouent et le commandant se tournent vers ses élèves.

“Ce sont des cibles assez petites”, dit-il. Un soldat sort un petit instrument pour mesurer la vitesse du vent. “2,2 mètres (par seconde)”, crie-t-il. Les corrections à apporter sont indiquées aux équipes dans les tanks. Eloignées de plus de 4500 mètres, les cibles sont atteintes. Des applaudissements se font désormais entendre depuis les tanks victorieux.

Devenir un ‘tankiste expert’

Pour devenir un ‘tankiste expert’, vous devez évidemment être choisi pour la formation. Vous devez aussi être connaisseur de tout ce qui concerne les tanks. Vous apprendrez beaucoup comme par exemple comment la vitesse du vent a-t-elle une quelconque influence et même les effets qu’à la température de l’air sur la trajectoire. Et encore, ce n’est pas parce que vous y êtes invités que vous irez. Devenir un ‘tankiste expert’ ajoute de très nombreuses responsabilités puisque vous conservez vos impératifs de commandant de tanks. Ceux qui font le choix d’y entrer sont ceux qui croient au slogan des tankistes de Tsahal : “l’homme dans le tank vaincra”.

Le sergent-chef Ran Fuhrman est un tel croyant. Il parle de chars avec beaucoup d'enthousiasme.

“Il y a quatre personnes dans un tank : le soldat qui tire, celui qui est responsable des munitions, le conducteur et le commandant”, explique-t-il. “Quand nous ne sommes pas ‘tankistes experts’, nous sommes commandants dans le tank.”

Interrogé sur la possibilité des chars de disparaître un jour des combats, il est très catégorique : les chars ont un atout unique. "Le tank est l’ultime arme. Il y a des munitions pour chaque type de situation et le tank sera toujours le plus précis dans les tirs".

Par dessus tout, la formation pour devenir ‘tankistes experts’ est faîte pour que ces experts en tanks transmettent leur savoir. Trois jours sont réservés à la pédagogie et lorsque la formation s’achève, ils devront eux-mêmes organiser les exercices auxquelles ils avaient participé. C’est ce qui a poussé le sergeant-chef Fuhrman à y entrer.

    "A la fin de la journée, c’est important que nous formions à notre tour”, dit-il. “Si nous gagnons face à l’ennemi, c’est grâce aux tanks. Les chars sont les plus importants - c’est la force aérienne de la terre.”

08 juillet 2013 Ouest -France

Le prince héritier d’Abou Dhabi, cheikh Mohamed Ben Zayed Al-Nahyane, s’est entretenu lundi avec le ministre français de la Défense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, en visite à Abou Dhabi, de la coopération militaire entre les deux pays.

Cheikh Mohamed, commandant en chef adjoint des forces armées de la fédération des Emirats arabes unis,et Jean-Yves Le Drian, ministre français de la Défense, ont examiné « plusieurs secteurs de la coopération bilatérale, notamment dans les domaines militaire et de défense, et les moyens de les développer dans l’intérêt » des deux pays.

Promouvoir la Défense française

Selon le journal économique français La Tribune, M. Le Drian devait notamment tenter de convaincre cheikh Mohamed Ben Zayed d’acquérir deux satellites d’observation proposés conjointement par Astrium (groupe EADS) et Thales Alenia Space (TAS), soit un contrat de plus de 500 millions d’euros.

07/02/2013 By Maytaal Angel and Jonathan Saul - thereporter.com (Reuters)

LONDON — Exploiting a loophole in Western sanctions, Iran is importing a high grade of refined alumina ore from several European countries including Germany and France that Tehran could be using to make armor parts and missile components.

Western measures imposed on Iran over its disputed nuclear program have hit many sectors of its economy including steel and other metals, where it is heavily dependent on imports. Tehran says its atomic work is peaceful.

The refined ore has been excluded from European Union sanctions, but tightened U.S. sanctions that came into effect on July 1 seek to close the loophole. According to a U.S. Treasury briefing, the latest measures will cover "raw or semi-finished metals" that include aluminum.

"After July 1, new sanctions will blacklist metals trade with Iran including aluminum, coal, steel, gold, silver and platinum amongst others, and should include alumina," said Mark Dubowitz, who has advised President Barack Obama's administration and U.S. lawmakers on sanctions.

Alumina is a refined version of the raw ore bauxite. It is typically used to make aluminum, but in its high purity or 'chemical grade' form, it has non-metal applications that have sensitive military uses.

Export data from independent firm Global Trade Information Services showed that between January 2012 and March 2013, around 4,000 metric tons of alumina had been sold to Iran mostly from Germany and France, but also from Slovenia, Italy, Hungary and Belgium.

Experts and traders say the high price paid of $700-$1,000 a metric ton (1.1023 tons) and relatively low amounts involved indicated the exports were most likely high purity chemical grade alumina.

Mark Gorwitz, previously with the U.S. Department of Defense and now a consultant specializing in nuclear and missile-related technologies, says Iran is able to manufacture weapons grade ceramic composites using chemical alumina.

"Iran definitely has the ability to manufacture missile parts locally. They've done quite a bit of work on ceramic composites made with alumina, and used for manufacturing armor parts and missile components like nozzles and radomes," he said.

Gorwitz cited an academic paper seen by Reuters on the scientific properties of alumina armor, published in 2011 by researchers at Malek Ashtar University, an entity listed by the EU in 2008 as linked to Iran's nuclear activities.

Chemical alumina, a powder, has to be combined with other materials to make ceramic composites for missiles and armor.

David Albright, a former UN weapons inspector now president of U.S.-based think-tank the Institute for Science and International Security, said Iran had been studying the use of chemical alumina for years, citing three scientific journal papers published by Iranian academics between 2008 and 2009.

"The documents show that there's an interest in mastering the use of chemical alumina for a broad set of uses which include military," he said.

Chemical alumina can also be used to make transparent ceramics used in lasers and night vision devices. But its use in protective cones for missiles potentially links it to Iran's nuclear program.

"In general, Iran has been trying for three decades to develop ballistic missiles," said Michael Elleman with the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

"Transparent ceramics are a type of sapphire made using chemical alumina. Sapphire can be used as a missile component. Whether the missile carries explosive or nuclear warheads is not the point; most missiles are dual capable."

A spokesman for Tehran's UN mission in New York said sanctions were "counterproductive in terms of confidence building between Iran and some members of the Security Council who level some allegations against my country".

"Iran has never violated its international commitment and always remains committed to its obligations," he said.

Data from the International Aluminum Institute showed Europe produced 2.38 million metric tons of chemical grade alumina between January and June 2013, accounting for about a third of the total chemical alumina produced globally.

"None of the military and defense-related applications use particularly large tonnages of alumina," a Western specialist familiar with alumina processes said.

Iranian military commanders regularly announce what they say is significant progress in the manufacture of defense systems and missiles, which are tested during regular drills and war games. But western analysts say their real capabilities cannot be independently verified.

A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the export of all forms of crude aluminum products as well as other aluminum products were prohibited under EU sanctions.

"Whereas the export of aluminum ore - alumina - is not," the spokesman said. "It is an area that may be looked at in the future."

As of July 1, however, the tightened U.S. sanctions might hamper the alumina trade with Iran as companies involved, who also have U.S. interests could be targeted by Washington.

"Any European companies found selling alumina, for example, will face the full weight of U.S. law. Alumina previously has sailed past the radar under previous U.S. and EU sanctions and should not be overlooked again as an important target of pressure," Dubowitz said.

New president

Earlier this year, Switzerland-based commodities giant Glencore Xstrata said it had done nothing wrong when they engaged in alumina-for-aluminum swap deals with Iran. Another Swiss group Trafigura was involved in similar deals.

One industry source said at present alumina made in Europe was reaching Iran via middlemen operating from the Middle East Gulf who transport the cargoes on barges from the United Arab Emirates. Alumina can be shipped in general cargo vessels.

"There's a number of small-time traders in Dubai dealing with alumina from Europe. They buy it from Europe and ship it to (Iran's major cargo port) Bandar Abbas," said a Europe-based alumina player familiar with the trade.

"It's a lucrative market ... these small guys have not got that much reputation to lose even if they get caught."

The surprise victory of moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani in Iran's presidential election last month has raised hopes for an easing of tension in the decade-old nuclear dispute, although he is not expected to opt for dramatic change, given his ties with the religious leadership.

"It seems unlikely that the presidential elections will have a significant effect on Iran's military program - at least in the short term," said Hannah Poppy at consultancy Risk Advisory.

"Military spending is a long-term budgetary issue, and the President's control over the military is limited. Also, Iran has invested a considerable amount to support its regional allies Syria and Hezbollah, so a major reduction in military aid or rhetorical support would be counter-intuitive."

03 juillet 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

ANKARA - La Turquie a convoqué le chargé d'affaires de l'ambassade des Etats-Unis sur des allégations d'espionnage révélées par la presse européenne et réclamé des explications, a annoncé mercredi le ministère des Affaires étrangères.

Les allégations publiées dans la presse européenne (...) qui concernent 38 pays, dont la Turquie, sont inquiétantes, précise un communiqué, soulignant que la Turquie a demandé au diplomate américain des explications sur ces révélations d'écoutes et de surveillance des communications mondiales.

Le chef de la diplomatie turque, Ahmet Davutoglu, s'est entretenu mardi de cette question avec son homologue américain, John Kerry, en marge d'un sommet Asie-Pacifique au Brunei, note le document qui souligne les rapports d'alliance (au sein de l'Otan) entre la Turquie et les Etats-Unis remontant loin dans l'Histoire et bâtis sur la transparence, la confiance mutuelle et la coopération.

La Turquie évaluera cette question à la lumière des réponses qui seront obtenues de la part des autorités américaines, ajoute le communiqué.

L'hebdomadaire allemand, Der Spiegel a révélé dimanche que l'agence américaine NSA espionnait des bâtiments officiels de l'Union européenne aux États-Unis, mais aussi à Bruxelles, depuis de longues années.

Selon le quotidien britannique The Guardian, 38 pays ont été surveillés par l'agence américaine.

03 juillet 2013 Romandie.com (AFP)

LE CAIRE - Les chefs de l'armée égyptienne tenaient mercredi une réunion d'urgence, quelques heures après que le président islamiste Mohamed Morsi a rejeté tout départ anticipé, comme réclamé par des manifestations monstres, a indiqué à l'AFP une source proche de l'armée.

Cette réunion intervient alors que dans une déclaration diffusée lundi à 16H30 (14H30 GMT), l'armée a donné 48H00 au président Morsi pour satisfaire les revendications du peuple, faute de quoi elle présenterait une feuille de route visant à sortir de la crise.

Ils sont en discussions sur les détails de la feuille de route, a précisé cette source à l'AFP.

Au début de la réunion, les chefs militaires ont juré de défendre l'Egypte au prix de leurs vies.

Nous jurons devant Dieu que nous sacrifierons notre sang pour l'Egypte et son peuple, contre tous les (groupes) terroristes, extrémistes et ignorants, ont-ils affirmé dans une prestation de serment conduite par le chef de l'armée, le général Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, selon la même source.

L'armée devrait publier un communiqué après l'expiration de l'ultimatum, a précisé cette source.

Des éléments de la feuille de route envisagée par l'armée ont été publiés mercredi par le quotidien gouvernemental al-Ahram, laissant entrevoir une période de transition sous étroite supervision de l'armée.

Le projet, selon le journal, prévoit notamment la nomination d'un conseil présidentiel de trois personnes dirigé par le président de la Haute cour constitutionnelle, et une suspension de la Constitution pouvant durer jusqu'à un an.

Un gouvernement de technocrates apolitiques serait formé pour la période de transition sous la direction d'un des chefs de l'armée, écrit le journal.