Iran gains Mediterranean bases in Italy and Syria

 

As part of Iran’s drive to rule the strategic waves of regional waters, Tehran has negotiated a naval exchange deal with Rome for its warships to be berthed in Italian ports, debkafile’s military sources reveal.

In this context, the US Pentagon and Navy chiefs once again urged Israel to update and enlarge its war fleet, which they said was “full of holes” to catch up with the rapidly changing conditions opposite its shores, where Russia, Iran and Egypt are building up armadas of warships that are bigger and more advanced than ever before. Continue reading

Moscow gives France until end of November to deliver warship

Moscow (AFP) – Russia on Friday warned France of “serious” consequences unless Paris delivers by the end of this month a Mistral-class assault warship whose handover has been delayed by concerns over Moscow’s role in the Ukraine crisis, a report said.

“We are preparing for different scenarios. We are waiting until the end of the month, then we will lodge serious claims,” the state news agency RIA Novosti quoted an anonymous high-ranking Moscow source as saying. Continue reading