UNIPATH STAFF In late 2015, the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) had no helicopters on the ground. But with a plan to build a rotary-wing force consisting of the latest Apaches and Black Hawks, the SANG is now well on its way to assembling a fleet of 156 aircraft. With 36 helicopters as of February 2017, the SANG’s upgrades support Saudi Arabia’s 2030 modernization plan. The SANG began modernization efforts 44 years ago, with the U.S. Army playing a “train, advise, assist and modernize” role, said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Frank Muth, SANG modernization program manager. At its inception, the…
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United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Anticipation is in the air as six Soldiers crouch in silence with weapons poised outside a sealed building. Three of them are from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and three are peacekeepers from the French contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). At the signal, the Lebanese trio moves toward the door. On the whispered count of “three,” one of them yanks it open. Immediately they enter the room to search and secure it. Once they confirm it is clear, the trio of French peacekeepers enters the building and secures the…
UNIPATH STAFF As the coalition adjusts its military footprint in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan has stepped up to help ensure stability in Central Asia by contributing to the development of countries in the region. By providing food, humanitarian assistance, and financing for infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan aims to solidify regional security. “We believe this is a tangible contribution of our government to Afghan stabilization efforts in the international community,” said Kariat Umarov, Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the United States. Nearly 1,000 Afghan students have studied medical sciences, business management, engineering, agriculture and other specialties at Kazakh universities, thanks to a $50 million…
UNIPATH STAFF As part of a strategy to combat terrorist threats, mobile phone operators in Tajikistan have begun reregistering all SIM cards in the country. This new policy will promote security and assist investigators working to solve crimes, according to Alibek Beknazarov, a representative of Tajikistan’s communications agency. “There are subscribers who have several SIM cards and give them to their relatives, friends and acquaintances, who are sometimes living abroad, to use,” Beknazarov told Khovar, the state news agency. “Reregistering SIM cards is indispensable because of the dangers of terrorism. This measure will enable us to create a database of…
UNIPATH STAFF Egyptian border guards prevented more than 12,000 people from illegally entering or leaving the country in 2016, according to a January 2017 statement by the military. In recent years, a growing number of migrants have attempted the perilous sea crossing to Italy from the African coasts of Libya and Egypt. Crossings are often organized by migrant traffickers in rickety boats that capsize repeatedly, leading to many deaths. The military listed the “arrest of 12,192 people of various nationalities and a total of 434 cases of illegal migration” in a statement of its achievements from 2016. A boat carrying…
Staff Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil Arzouqi is a popular figure in the Iraqi military UNIPATH STAFF As the proverb says, “Adversity tests the mettle of men.” After the setback in Mosul in 2015, Soldiers of all ranks were removed for their failure to defend the homeland. But at the same time, many warriors emerged from the setback strengthened, their eyes filled with determination, fighting valiantly to defend their land and the dignity of the people. They smiled comfortingly to the women and children fleeing the clutches of terrorism, and they fixed their gaze on defeating the terrorist gangs in fierce…
Kuwait hosts the multinational Eagle Resolve exercise to counter regional threats UNIPATH STAFF PHOTOS BY KUWAIT ARMED FORCES Terrorists seeking to disrupt regional commerce and cause massive economic damage carefully chose their target: Kuwait’s Shuwaikh Port. Because Shuwaikh is one of the country’s largest industrial ports, the threat to this important asset prompted a swift and powerful multinational military response. Forces from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Peninsula Shield Force and the United States attacked the terrorists from land, air and sea. They decimated terrorists cowering inside buildings and captured others attempting to…
Iraqi commanders reveal how they succeeded in urban warfare against Daesh terrorists UNIPATH STAFF | PHOTOS BY iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service As the second largest Iraqi city, Mosul is home to some of the world’s most ancient sites. Iraqis refer to it as the city of two springs for its beautiful green foliage, fertile soil and unique climate. The city sleeps on the banks of the eternal Tigris River, which divides the city into east and west sides. Because Mosul has always been prosperous, it has been a common target for external invasions and attacks throughout history. Still, its recent destruction…
The United Arab Emirates leads the Gulf region in providing aid to war-torn societies UNIPATH STAFF | Photos by EPA The United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose gleaming financial towers and richly stocked shopping malls mark it as one of the world’s most prosperous nations, has donated billions of dollars to reconstruct societies torn by conflict. More than 154 schools rebuilt or renovated in Yemen’s Aden governorate. New maternity hospitals in Afghanistan. Enough food parcels, winter clothing and medical supplies to sustain thousands of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. His Royal Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the…
Rehabilitating children who escape from Daesh will help stabilize the Middle East UNIPATH STAFF | Photos by Reuters Kneeling down to kiss his father’s hand, 11-year-old Abu Imara al-Omri says a final goodbye before blowing himself up in a truck full of explosives. Daesh, which captured this chilling farewell in propaganda photos in January 2016, claimed at the time that the boy’s suicide helped to take the village of Ghazl near Aleppo, Syria, according to CNN. Daesh is not the first terrorist group to recruit children as soldiers, but recent studies suggest its use of children far exceeds that of…