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F-16s being sent to Gulf this weekend in response to Iran ship seizures: Pentagon


Washington has been flying A-10 fighter jets over the Strait of Hormuz for the last week and it will be sending a new fleet of F-16s to the Gulf this weekend in response to the recent uptick in Iranian efforts to seize oil tankers, a senior US military official said Friday.

Meanwhile, the official voiced US concern over the increasingly close ties between Russia, Iran and Syria, saying that the three countries were looking to push the United States out of Syria.

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The latest announcement by the US military comes just weeks after they dispatched a fleet of F-22 Raptors to the Middle East due to Russia’s unsafe and unprofessional behavior in the skies over Syria.

“A-10s have been flying over the Strait of Hormuz and over the broader [Gulf] areas for about a week and a half now. And we are starting to fly f-16s this weekend, as well, to further robust that presence,” the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters.

The new air presence will allow the US to have “really good visibility” on what ships are in the region, what they carry, and who owns them. “And that kind of lets us assess what vessels might be at risk,” the official said.

Just last week, Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, firing shots at one of them, the US Navy said.

With the A-10s, the senior US military official said they would complement the naval component. The official added that the jets were outfitted with munitions, including laser-guided bombs, that would be useful to go against fast boats.

The A-10 has proven capable with that in a permissive environment, according to the official, who said this particular aircraft was effective where there is no concern over air threats or a surface-to-air missile threat.

“There are limitations; we don’t just protect everyone. We protect vessels that we have a national interest to protect,” the official said.

Russian threats

Last week alone, Russian fighter jets harassed US drones three separate times while on anti-ISIS missions over Syria and dropped flares in front of them in some instances.

The top US military general in the Middle East warned that Russia’s repeated violations were becoming a significant safety concern in the region.

The senior US military official told reporters on Friday that another similar incident took place early Friday.

F-16 fighter jets accompany the F-22 Raptors heading to the Middle East. (US Central Command)

F-16 fighter jets accompany the F-22 Raptors heading to the Middle East. (US Central Command)

According to the agreed-upon protocols between the US and Russians in Syria, both sides are supposed to stay about three nautical miles away from each other’s aircraft all the time.

Russia has violated that dozens of times over the last several months.

Asked about potential Russian motives behind their provocative behavior, the official said that as Russian and Iran were pulling themselves closer together, “there is interest on both sides to push us out of Syria, to put a pressure campaign on us to have us leave.”

The official also said the Assad regime “certainly wants us gone” as they seek to reassert sovereignty over the war-torn country.

“The Russians are somewhat beholden to Iran,” the official said. “Iran wants us gone so they can complete the Shia crescent to continue to move lethal aid that might threaten Israel and push that over to Lebanese Hezbollah.”

The official added: “And my assessment is that there’s a degree of cooperation, collaboration, planning, where they potentially are looking at how would they pressure us over time to push the US out.”

But the US will not cede territory to the Russians, Iranians or anyone else as it continues to push ahead with its mission to defeat ISIS. The official said Washington was not looking for any escalation but warned that the US would respond if a real threat were sensed.

The other motive for the Russian activity is their effort to fly surveillance reconnaissance missions over the Al-Tanf garrison in Syria, which houses US troops.

For now, the military official played down the Russian threat and compared them to a “gnat that we have to swat away every once in a while.”

Read more: Analysis: Joint military drills showcase US commitment to Middle East

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Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

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At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

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US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM

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