Japan Explores War Scenarios with China

As Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party national defense task force announced on Jan. 8 that it would increase the nation’s defense budget by more than 100 billion yen ($1.15 billion), three of five scenarios explored by the defense ministry recently involve the Self-Defense Forces squaring off against the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

While contingencies involving North Korea’s ballistic missiles and Russia were among the scenarios the defense ministry explored, the top three all involved a crisis in the East China Sea.

Iran accuses US Navy of ‘illegal acts’ in Gulf

Iran has blamed the US Navy for “illegal and provocative acts” near its coastline, including violations of country’s airspace. Formal accusations of these charges were filed with both the UN chief and the UN Security Council.

The two identical letters to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the UNSC were delivered on Friday by Iran’s envoy to the United Nations, Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee.

Russia sends a detachment of ships to the coast of Gaza

Russia sent a detachment of ships of the Black Sea Fleet to the coast of the Gaza Strip in order to evacuate Russians in case of escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, a source in the main command of the RF Navy said.

Nov 23, 2012 - "The detachment of combat ships of the Black Sea Fleet, including the Guards missile cruiser Moskva, the patrol ship Smetliviy, large landing ships Novocherkassk and Saratov, the sea tug MB-304 and the big sea tanker Ivan Bubnov, got the order to remain in the designated area of the Eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea for a possible evacuation of Russian citizens from the area of the Gaza strip in case of escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict", - the Agency’s interlocutor said.

Israele: Netanyahu, 'sono pronto ad ordinare un attacco all'Iran'

TEL AVIV – Il premier israeliano Benjamin Netanyahu ha dichiarato lunedì di essere pronto in qualsiasi momento a lanciare un attacco militare contro l'Iran. 

"Sono chiaramente pronto a premere il pulsante se necessario", ha detto Netanyahu in una intervista con il secondo canale della televisione israeliana. 

Sudan blames Israeli Air Strike hit for Munitions Plant Blasts

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan said on Wednesday that an Israeli air strike had caused the huge explosion and fire at an arms factory in Khartoum that killed two people, but Israel's defense minister declined to comment.

Sudan, which analysts say is used as an arms-smuggling route to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip via neighboring Egypt, has blamed Israel for such strikes in the past, but Israel has either refused to comment or said it neither admitted or denied involvement.

Iran's Secret Plan to Contaminate the Strait of Hormuz

Iran could be planning to create a vast oil spill in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a top secret report obtained by Western intelligence officials. The aim of the operation is to both temporarily block the vital shipping channel and to force a suspension of Western sanctions.

 

If there is a man who brings together all the fears of the West, it is General Mohammed Ali Jafari, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

Israeli Jet Shoots Down Enemy Drone (VIDEO)

Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 

The Israeli air force shot down an unmanned aircraft shortly after it crossed into southern Israel Saturday, the military said. 

It’s not clear where the drone came from, reports the Associated Press. It marks the first time in at least six years a hostile aircraft has entered Israel’s airspace. The Israeli military released a video of what it said was the interception (available after the jump).

Obama: U.S. Will Do ‘What We Must’ To Block Iran Nukes!

President Obama warned Iran before the U.N. General Assembly today that the U.S. will “do what we must” to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“Time and again, it has failed to take the opportunity to demonstrate that its nuclear program is peaceful, and to meet its obligations to the United Nations,” he said.

Amid rising tension over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the president argued there is still “time and space” for diplomacy, but made clear “time is not unlimited.”

“We respect the right of nations to access peaceful nuclear power, but one of the purposes of the United Nations is to see that we harness that power for peace. Make no mistake: a nuclear-armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained,” the president said.