What F-35? Turkey scoffs US and goes for Russian Su-57

Only weeks after Russia announced that it would be giving its dying fifth generation fighter a new lease on life (in the form of plans to actually produce 76 of the aircraft), Russian President Vladimir Putin has been spotted peddling the fighter to Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This sales pitch has been seen by […]

Victory for Trump as UK and France pledge to increase troops in Syria

The magazine Foreign Policy (FP) is reporting the United Kingdom, France and some Baltic and Balkan states have agreed to increase special forces elements in Syria. It comes as a major victory for the Trump administration after it decided to pull troops out of Syria. Officially, the U.K. and France do not acknowledge having any […]

A new star is born: Meet the Hellenic Joint Special Operations Command

After years fraught with disputes and skepticism, the Greek government has decided to establish a new Joint Special Operations Command (ΔΔΕΠ). The new Hellenic JSOC will answer directly to the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) and will most likely be comprised of two components: a “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” component (these […]

With ISIS Routed in Syria, Assad Is the Big Winner in the Civil War

Opinion: The US-led coalition which supported the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) have routed the Islamic State’s (ISIS) fighters out of Baghouz which was the last bastion of their self-proclaimed “caliphate” in Syria and Iraq. And while the SDF, supported by U.S. airstrikes continues to pound the remnants of the ISIS fighters in the tunnels and […]

US special operators to integrate with Greek SOF units?

Could American special operators be integrated into the Greek Special Operations Forces (SOF)? According to reports in the Greek media, the European Special Operations Command (SOCEUR) and the U.S. embassy in Greece have proposed the idea to the Hellenic Ministry of Defense. The initiative would attach U.S. SOF officers and non-commissioned officers to various Greek […]

Turkey puts pressure on US to extend Iranian oil waiver as operations in Syria ramp up

With operations in Syria ramping up, Turkey’s Trade Minister, Ruhsar Pekcan, told reporters on Thursday that she expected the United States to extend the current waiver which allows the country to buy Iran’s crude oil. In November, the US placed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, but granted several exemptions to the Gulf state’s biggest customers, allowing […]

Opinion: Republicans are dusting off old liberal narratives about Mattis to protect Trump

Over the years, I’ve been accused of all sorts of political bias. Some days, I’m a closeted communist for suggesting that Donald Trump’s aggressive approach to foreign policy actually reduces America’s diplomatic leverage over its allies. Others, I’m a Trump-humping fascist for pointing out that, despite the media spin, Trump’s emphasis on space defense is […]

Trump: Mission accomplished — all US troops to immediately withdraw from Syria

“We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency,” he said in a tweet. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that all American troops currently in Syria will be withdrawn. There are currently around 2,000 U.S. troops inside Syria fighting ISIS alongside the Kurds and Syrian rebels. “We’ve […]

Meet NATO’s top pilot: Greek Captain Kosmas Xalaris

A Hellenic Air Force (HAF) pilot has been named NATO’s Best Warrior for 2018. Captain Kosmas Xalaris was voted by his NATO colleagues as the best overall pilot in the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP). The competition happened between September 10 and October 4, during the 3rd Air Training Series for 2018. The Greek pilots participated […]

Meet NATO’s top pilot: Greek Captain Kosmas Xalaris

A Hellenic Air Force (HAF) pilot has been named NATO’s Best Warrior for 2018. Captain Kosmas Xalaris was voted by his NATO colleagues as the best overall pilot in the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP). The competition happened between September 10 and October 4, during the 3rd Air Training Series for 2018. The Greek pilots participated […]

Watch: Insane footage of Turkish attack helicopters unloading 20mm cannons on target

Footage of Turkish T-129 attack helicopters unleashing their 20mm cannons on a training target have found their way onto social media. These attack helicopters have been in service in Turkey’s military since 2014, and have seen action on at least two occasions: once within Turkey’s borders in counter-terror operations, and again earlier this year in […]