NATO airbase in Turkey to assume a central role in a possible war on Syria

 

By: Cem Ertür

Source: Global Research

http://www.globalresearch.ca/nato-airbase-in-turkey-to-assume-a-central-role-in-a-possible-war-on-syria/5310474

According to plans prepared by the US and Turkey, Pirinclik Air Base (*) , which is the closest NATO air base to Syria, will assume a central role in the event of an operation against Syria; reports Hurriyet daily.

A delegation of 20 officials from the United States European Command (EUCOM) inspected the air base in Diyarbakir for two days to assess its current readiness for a possible military action.

(*) Hurriyet’s report refers to the NATO base in Diyarbakir as “2nd Air Force Command” [headquarters], instead of ‘Pirinclik Air Base’. Although the US Department of Defence announced the return of the Pirinclik Air Base to the Turkish Armed Forces in 1997, the base is still being used as one of the 24 NATO bases across Turkey and hosts NATO’s early-warning radar system.

It is also worth noting that another NATO’s Incirlik Air Base in Adana (southern Turkey) is in a similar proximity to Turkey’s border with Syria. Incirlik is currently being used as a command center of NATO-led covert operations against Syria.

Sources:

1) Operasyonel mekanizmada ilk adım

[The first step through the operational mechanism]

Hurriyet, 31 October 2012

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/21820659.asp

2) Turkish military denies presence of US troops in Diyarbakır

Today’s Zaman, 31 October 2012

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=296791

[Notes: Excerpts from Hurriyet’s report have been translated and edited by Cem Ertür. Today's Zaman is the English version of the Turkish newspaper Zaman]

 

Iran starts mass-producing 2 new missiles

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=118011&sectionid=351020101

Iran has launched production lines for two new missiles as a part of its plans to boost defensive capabilities against any possible attack.

Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi on Saturday inaugurated the production line for an anti-armor missile Toofan-5 and an anti-helicopter missile Qaem.

"By the mass production and delivery of these modern weapons to the armed forces, the country's defense capabilities will increase both in ground and aerial war," the minister said.

The Toofan-5, which is among the most advanced of anti-armor missiles, is equipped with two warheads and can destroy armored vehicles, tanks and personnel carriers, Vahidi said.

The Qaem missile is also of a class of semi-heavy guided missiles and can destroy low-altitude aerial targets that fly at low speed. Being laser guided, the Qaem missile is also resistant to electronic warfare, Vahidi pointed out.