Turkey

The use of soft power in foreign policy is often aided by the knowledge that should it not be effective, military (hard) power is waiting in the wings. Following this argument, it seems logical to conclude then that when boots are on the ground, soft power has come up short. The military’s mission is to […]

Turkish troops are now being deployed to Libya, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced. This follows an earlier parliamentary vote, which took place during the first days of the new year, whereby 325 Turkish lawmakers voted in favor of the move, with 184 voting against. According to the Turkish president, their mission will be to bolster […]

With Washington and Tehran nearing the brink of war, the rest of the world looks on nervously. But which U.S. allies would actively back the United States should a full-scale war break out? More supportive would most likely be some of the Gulf monarchies such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Many of these countries house […]

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated publicly that his country would shutdown two strategic military bases in the country, currently used by the United States, if Washington decides to implement sanctions for Ankara’s decision to purchase S-400 missile systems from Russia. Erdogan specified that “if necessary, we’ll close Incirlik and also Kurecik,” and that if […]

The handwriting was on the wall and now the ongoing flap between the United States and Turkey over the U.S threatening to impose sanctions on Ankara, for buying a Russian missile system, is reaching a tipping point. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to close two strategic U.S. airbases at Incirlik and Kurecik over these […]

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles has becomes commonplace on the battlefields of today. But more often than not, the types of drones seeing widespread use in combat are of the high-flying, reconnaissance or air-strike launching variety. However, multiple programs all around the world have begun surfacing in recent months with the aim of using […]

While Turkey’s decision to purchase Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense system may have cost them access to America’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, it’s are already moving ahead with testing the Russian weapon system against U.S. made F-16s. Some American officials have already voiced concerns over the possibility that Russia will gain access to target acquisition […]

A Cypriot operator assigned to the Special Operations Company of the Cypriot National Guard — not an equivalent of the U.S. National Guard — during a military parade. He is carrying an FN SCAR–H TPR (Tactical Precision Rifle). This rifle has been based on SOCOM’s MK-20 SSR. 

On Saturday night, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi chose suicide over death or capture at the hands of the Delta operators of A Squadron. The operation, however, had begun months before the Delta shooters came in knocking at the leader of ISIS’ door. The story behind the tracking of the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) is […]

Just weeks after President Trump ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Northern Syria, troops have returned to defend oil facilities from falling into the hands of the Islamic State. There were approximately 1,000 American troops in Northern Syria when President Trump announced, “It’s time to come back home,” earlier in October, but with this […]

Last Saturday night, approximately 70 special operators hailing from Delta Force’s A Squadron and the 75th Ranger Regiment stormed a compound in the Idlib Province of Northeast Syria with orders to kill or capture ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The mission has been hailed as a complete success, with no American troops lost and one […]

In recent months, Turkey announced plans to purchase Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense system, a decision that cost them their opportunity to purchase America’s premier fighter, the F-35. Since then, speculation has run rampant about what fighter platform Turkey will procure in its place, with initial rumors pointing toward Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57. These rumors were […]