Former intel chief: U.S. misses the point on Moscow’s ‘highly effective’ operations

Former intel chief: U.S. misses the point on Moscow’s ‘highly effective’ operations

by WorldTribune Staff, August 5, 2016 U.S. politicians and media are seemingly oblivious to what Russia has in its sights – “nothing less than the democratic fabric of American society and the integrity of the system of Western liberal values,” the former head of Estonia’s intelligence service said. Writing for the European edition of  Politico, […]

Russia called better friend than U.S. for allowing Israel to attack targets inside Syria

Russia called better friend than U.S. for allowing Israel to attack targets inside Syria

by WorldTribune Staff, July 29, 2016 Israeli jets are being allowed to attack targets inside Syria despite Russia’s “anti-aircraft umbrella,” an Israeli analyst said. Most recently, the Israel Air Force attacked a Syrian target in Kuneitra after mortar fire “leaked out” from the Syrian civil war to Israel’s Golan Heights. Israel “could have been heavily […]

Assad says U.S. ‘not serious’ about defeating ISIL; Kerry in Moscow with ‘final offer’ on Syria

Assad says U.S. ‘not serious’ about defeating ISIL; Kerry in Moscow with ‘final offer’ on Syria

by WorldTribune Staff, July 14, 2016 The United States is offering Russia a new military pact against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and Al Qaida in Syria, according to a leaked U.S. proposal, but analysts say the U.S. had no choice but to cooperate with Russia on Moscow’s terms after Russia’s show of […]

Rice complains as U.S. pledges largest military aid package in history to Israel

Rice complains as U.S. pledges largest military aid package in history to Israel

by WorldTribune Staff, June 7, 2016 National Security Advisor Susan Rice scolded Israel while at the same time pledging a record U.S. military aid package to the Jewish state. Rice, in an address to the American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum on June 6, said that “even in these days of belt-tightening, we are prepared to […]

Why Russia’s Syria pullout is not what it seems

Why Russia’s Syria pullout is not what it seems

Special to WorldTribune.com Russia’s withdrawal from Syria “should not be taken at face value,” a former senior Israeli military official said. While President Valdimir Putin announced the pullout earlier this week, Moscow has decided to maintain major combat platforms in Syria, including the S-400 air and missile defense system. “We should remember the difference between […]

Red line: Israel tells Putin it won’t allow Iran on Israel-Syria border

Red line: Israel tells Putin it won’t allow Iran on Israel-Syria border

Special to WorldTribune.com Israeli President Reuven Rivlin told Russian counterpart Valdimir Putin that Israel will not allow Iran and Hizbullah to operate on the Israel-Syria border. The two met in Moscow on March 16 after Putin announced Russia’s withdrawal from Syria. Rivlin laid out Israel’s “red lines” in Syria, telling Putin the presence of any […]

Syrian jihadists’ morale ‘sky high’ as Russia withdraws

Syrian jihadists’ morale ‘sky high’ as Russia withdraws

Special to WorldTribune.com Anti-Assad regime rebels, jihadists and activists received a huge morale boost with the surprise withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria. Moscow’s move is also seen by the opposition as a major blow for the Damascus regime. “Our morale is sky high. The regime will not be able to survive alone,” said Raed al-Elewi, […]

Russia reassures Israel over implications of Syria pullout

Russia reassures Israel over implications of Syria pullout

Special to WorldTribune.com After the surprise announcement of its intent to withdraw from Syria, Russia on March 15 sought to reassure Israel that the two countries’ coordination on Syria would remain intact. Israel wants assurances that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s anti-Israel allies Iran and Hizbullah would continue to be restrained after Moscow’s pullout. “We will […]

Following talks with Israel, Putin freezes S-300 sale to Iran

Following talks with Israel, Putin freezes S-300 sale to Iran

Special to WorldTribune.com Russia has halted Iran’s order of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system, a report said. The move was made after Russian President Vladimir Putin consulted with Israeli officials who protested the sale, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida. In discussions with Putin, Israel said it feared that at least some of the S-300 […]

Obama’s failed policy in Ukraine: Putin ‘has paid no price’ for invasion

Obama’s failed policy in Ukraine: Putin ‘has paid no price’ for invasion

Special to WorldTribune.com U.S. President Barack Obama’s policy in Ukraine of threatening Russian President Valdimir Putin but taking no substantial action has failed miserably, lawmakers and analysts say. Two years after protests toppled Ukraine’s pro-Moscow government, Obama’s policy languishes amid Putin’s heavy-handed determination, the headline-stealing conflicts in Syria and Iraq and wavering support from European […]