MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : Turkey prepares to clash with Israel, Greece and EU over East Med
Turkey’s goal is to break up Israel’s relations. It has also sought to entice Egypt with claims of reconciliation in the last month.
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN JERUSALEM POST – MARCH 16, 2021 05:59 – Turkey has sent a diplomatic note to Greece and Israel claiming that the two countries must seek “its permission before assuming work on a proposed undersea power cable in eastern Mediterranean waters,” according to reports in Ankara on Monday night.
This comes days after Israel ended a naval drill with Cyprus, Greece and France. Turkey signed a deal with the embattled government in Libya in 2019 and has been threatening claims by Greece and Cyprus at sea over the last year.
MESOPOTMIA NEWS : Full chronology of naval tensions, attacks on cargo ships from Gulf to East med
Understanding the increase in attacks on ships in the Middle East – By SETH J. FRANTZMANRecent tensions at sea include allegations by Iran that Israel has carried out an attack on one of its cargo ships in the Mediterranean. Israel has accused Iran of attacking an Israel-owned ship in the Gulf of Oman. This builds on two years of attacks on ships and the seizing of ships by Iran and other countries. Here is a look back at the chronology of attacks. 2016 January 13 Iran releases 10 captured US Navy Sailors. 2017 August Iranian drone harasses USS Nimitz. 2018 October 26 Iranian fast boats harass USS Essex 2019 January 14 US President Donald Trump asks Defense Secretary Mattis for plan to strike at Iranian fast boats. February 21 Velayat Naval Drill. March 14 Massive Iranian drone drill and coaster drill called ‘road to Jerusalem’ April 27 Iran releases footage it took of USS Eisenhower. May 12 Four ships hit with mysterious explosions in Gulf of Oman. “Product tanker Andrea Victory suffered a gash in aft tank after an unknown object hit it on May 12, said tanker’s management company Thome Ship Management in a May 13 statement.” More details. Ships included: MV ALMARZOQAH – KSA Flag, MV AMJAD – KSA Flag, MVAMICHEL – UAE Flag and MV ANDREA VICTORY – Norway Flag. June 13 Two ships struck with mines in Gulf of Oman. Kokuka Courageous and Front Altair damaged. June 21 India deploys ships to Gulf to aid security. July 4 UK Royal Marines intercept the Adrian Darya 1 (Grace 1) off Gibraltar. It had left Iran in April, and is later released in August and arrives off Syria in late August. July 9 British Heritage tanker harassed by IRGC fast boats while underway near Strait of Hormuz, eventually has to shelter in Saudi Arabia waters. July 17 An Iranian UAV harasses the USS Boxer and the US defends against it. July 20 Iranian forces board UK-flagged Stena Impero August 5 UK joins the US in maritime security mission in Gulf. September British Flagged oil tanker Stena Impero released by Iran November 24 French Defense Minister Florence Parly says French naval base in Abu Dhabi will aid maritime security. November 25 USS Forrest Sherman seizes ship smuggling weapons from iran to Yemen December 27 Iran, Russia and China conduct joint naval drill Throughout 2019, three Israeli attacks on Iranian ships are alleged by WSJ report in March 2021. 2020 January 30 UK Royal Navy assumes command of International Maritime Security Construct to protect ship in Strait of Hormuz. February 9 USS Normandy seizes Iranian weapons on ship heading for Yemen. April 15 US releases photos of IRGC fast boats harassing US ships. May 24 Five Iranian tankers make their way to Venezuela from Iran: Forest, Fortune, Petunia, Faxon and Clavel. Fortune tanker arrives off Venezuela from Iran carrying petroleum. “If our tankers in the Caribbean or anywhere in the world face trouble caused by the Americans, they [the US] will also be in trouble,” Rouhani said in a telephone conversation with the emir of Qatar. July 2 Trump administration files a lawsuit to seize four Iranian gas takers headed for Venezuela. July 5 Gulf Sky tanker goes “missing” off Khor Fakkan near UAE. July 15 Gulf Sky found off Hormuz island near Iran, allegedly hijacked and moved to the new location with its crew on board. August 14 US says it seized oil from four ships travelling from Iran to Venezuela, including the M/T Bella with international maritime organization (IMO) number 9208124, the M/T Bering with IMO number 9149225, the M/T Pandi with IMO number 9105073, and the M/T Luna with IMO number 9208100. October 21 Crew of Gulf Sky still not paid after July ordeal. December 23 Israel sends submarine to Persian Gulf region amid Iran tensions, according to Washington Post. Throughout 2020 six Israeli attacks on Iranian ships are alleged. 2021 January 17 Emerald docks off Kharg island and is loaded with 112,000 tons of crude oil. February 1 Travelling with its AIS transponder turned off, the Emerald proceeds up the coast between Israel and Cyprus in February. It appears to spill oil between February 2 and 5. February 21 Oil spill from Emerald is said to be one of Israel’s worst in history as it hits beaches. February 26 MV Helios Ray damaged travelling from Saudi Arabia through Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman. February 28 Helios Ray docks in UAE after being damaged. March 1 Israel blames Iran for attack on Israeli-owned Helios Ray. March 3 Israel Environmental Protection Minister blames ship from Iran to Syria for oil spill off Israel’s coast. March 9 OSINT online report shows unusual pattern of planes over Mediterranean. March 10 Shahr E Kord damaged while travelling between Israel and Cyprus on the way to Syria. Recreation of the Shahr E Kord’s route and when it was damaged. March 11 Wall Street Journal report, based on US and “regional” sources alleges Israel’s attacks on Iranian ships. “The attacks attributed to the Israelis haven’t led to reports of any sunken ships, but the detonations have forced at least two ships to return to port in Iran…Among the dozen attacks on ships carrying Iranian oil are three such strikes in 2019, according to a shipping professional. Ships used by the Islamic Republic were targeted six times in 2020, according to a second shipping professional, in Tehran…In an episode last month, suspected Israeli operatives attached a limpet mine to attack an Iranian vessel as it anchored near Lebanon to deliver Iran oil to Syria, according to the first shipping professional. Israel’s military declined to comment on the incident.” One image in the article shows the Sabiti tanker. March 12 Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) says the Shahr E Kord was damaged. He says this on Friday, referring to a Wednesday incident. March 13, 2021 Iran accuses Israel of being “prime suspect” in “terror” attack of Shahr E Kord. Iran says that the US and Israel have “barred” cargo ships and oil from reaching Syria. |
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : NDR / SWR UND ANDERE SENDEANSTALTEN VERLIEREN MILLIONEN BEI GRENSILL DEPONIERTE ZWANGSGEBÜHREN
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MESOPOTAMIA NEWS “AFTER TRUMP!” : Biden Is Targeting Longstanding Alliances with Israel and Saudi Arabia to Curry Favor with Iran
By Dr. Frank MusmarMarch 15, 2021 ISRAEL – BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,966, March 15, 2021
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Biden administration’s targeting of the US’s longstanding alliances with Israel and Saudi Arabia in order to placate Iran is not only immoral but disastrously counterproductive.
The Islamic Republic of Iran appears to have concluded that the eagerness of the new US administration to reengage with it and resuscitate the nuclear deal gives it carte blanche to engage in violent acts of provocation. On February 15, 2021, for example, Tehran launched a missile attack on Erbil’s international airport, killing a contractor and wounding several US personnel and Iraqi civilians. On February 26, Iran attacked the Israeli-owned cargo ship MV Helios Ray in the Persian Gulf.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : Under orders from Erdogan, Turkey increases investments in PALESTINE
Ankara is investing $10 million in a new industrial zone currently under construction in the Palestinian city of Jenin, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to keep the Palestinian Authority happy alongside Hamas in Gaza.
By Dean Shmuel Elmas Israel Hayom Published on 02-16-2021 08:10
Last modified: 02-16-2021 08:13 – Turkey, under orders of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is seeking to strengthen its influence in Judea and Samaria and has invested $10 million in a new industrial zone currently under construction in the Palestinian city of Jenin. The investment is a significant step for Turkey, which normally investments in Gaza, due to Ankara’s warm relations with Hamas, and in east Jerusalem – due to Erdogan’s political calculations.
“There is a plan to build Turkish factories in the industrial area,” Palestinian Authority Economy Minister Khaled al-Osaily told Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : Türkei investiert in neue Industriezone im Westjordanland
15 März 2021 – ISRAEL HAYOM – Während die Türkei bislang eher Projekte in Gaza und Ost-Jerusalem finanziert hat, wendet sie sich nun in einem neuen Schritt dem Westjordanland zu und unterstützt Abbas‘ Autonomiebehörde.
Die Türkei versucht auf Anweisung von Präsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ihren Einfluss im Westjordanland zu stärken. Dazu hat sie 10 Millionen Dollar in eine neue Industriezone investiert, die derzeit in der palästinensischen Stadt Jenin gebaut wird. Diese Investition ist ein bedeutender Schritt für die Türkei, die normalerweise aufgrund der herzlichen Beziehungen Ankaras zur Hamas im Gazastreifen und – aufgrund von Erdogans politischem Kalkül – in Ost-Jerusalem investiert.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS Exklusiv – Spahns Maskendeals: Bund zahlte 189 Mio. Euro für Nebenkosten
CORONA TRINKGELDER AN ALLE !
Von der Beschaffung von Schutzmasken profitierten nicht nur die Lieferanten – und einzelne Abgeordnete. Geld floss auch an Logistikfirmen, Kanzleien und den TÜV. Mit Abstand größter Auftragnehmer: der Logistiker Fiege aus der Heimat des Ministers – von Thomas Steinmann CAPITAL – 11. März 2021
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS : Syrische Wirtschaft in ausländischer Hand: Werden sie das Defizit der syrischen Regierung decken oder ihre Schulden tilgen?
Enab Baladi-Sakina Mahdi 15 März 2021
Russland und der Iran, Verbündete des syrischen Regimes, stärken ihre wirtschaftliche Macht in Syrien zusätzlich zu ihrer militärischen Präsenz. Die beiden Länder ringen mit der Unterzeichnung langfristiger Verträge mit der syrischen Regierung um den Einfluss der Wirtschaft auf Energieressourcen und wichtige Finanz- und Industrieeinrichtungen. Diese langfristigen Verträge sichern ihre politischen und wirtschaftlichen Interessen in Syrien und decken einen Teil der Kosten und Ausgaben, die während der Kriegsjahre entstanden sind, wieder her.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS DEBATE : Institute Experts Urge Biden Administration to Clarify to Palestinian Authority Implications of Hamas Participation in Elections
Clear communication ahead of vote could avert major problems later
March 15, 2021 – The following statement on U.S. policy toward Palestinian Authority elections has been endorsed by Washington Institute experts on the Middle East peace process:
Elections are an important building block of democratic government, and the Biden administration should welcome moves toward the conduct of elections within the Palestinian Authority. However, should the PA decide to conduct elections with the participation of Hamas, this could have significant implications for the ability of the United States to engage constructively with the PA and to advance the cause of Palestinian-Israeli peace. While it is ultimately up to the PA to decide on whether, when, and how it will conduct elections, the United States has its own values, policies, and laws that will determine its willingness and even ability to engage with the PA after these elections. To avoid misunderstandings or miscalculations, the United States should clearly, and at a high level, convey to PA leaders its position on these issues.
MESOPOTAMIA NEWS INSIGHT : Upgrade of Greek-US relations will continue under Biden – Fiona Hill
- Kathimerini – Mar 15 2021 10:55 Gmt+3
Fiona Hill is not your typical member of the senior national security establishment in Washington. A British-born-and-raised American (she is the daughter of a coal miner and a midwife from County Durham, as her accent attests) she stands out among the grey middle-aged WASPS who dominate the space – and stood out even more with her powerful testimony in 2019 before the House of Representatives during the first impeachment of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Kathimerini spoke with Hill via Zoom about Greece, Turkey, Russia (a country she knows as few others) and the decline of American politics.
“The eastern Mediterranean has become more strategic, with the discovery of large gas reserves, the refugee crisis and Russia’s intervention in Syria,” said Hill, who between 2017 and 2019 was director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council and is currently a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
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