The Syrian Foreign Ministry also issued a statement extending “its condolences to the families of the Syrian and American security personnel who were killed in the terrorist attacks that took place in Palmyra and northern Syria.” The statement reiterated Syria’s “firm commitment to fighting the Islamic State.” A US official told CNN that since the December 13 attack, US forces and partner forces have carried out 10 operations that resulted in the killing or arrest of approximately 23 individuals. On December 14, Syria’s Ministry of Interior said that its units carried out an operation in Palmyra to arrest five suspects accused of involvement in the killing of US service members in “coordination with the General Intelligence Directorate and the International Coalition forces.”
Archiv: internationale Kriegskoalitionen / Militärpakte / international war coalitions / military pacts
US launches retaliatory strikes in Syria on dozens of ISIS targets
Hegseth said „Operation Hawkeye Strike“ was carried out in Syria „to eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites in direct response to the attack on U.S. forces that occurred on Dec. 13 in Palmyra, Syria.
U.S. Central Command also confirmed in a statement that Jordanian fighter aircraft also participated in Friday’s strikes.
„This is not the beginning of a war — It is a declaration of vengeance,“ said Hegseth.
Not in that: PM says T&T not involved in US blockade against Venezuela
“They have asked for no assistance about blockading in Venezuela, no, they have not,” Persad-Bissessar said after attending the funeral for former colleague Daphne Phillips.
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When asked about Trinidad and Tobago’s position should any US military strikes occur, Persad-Bissessar stressed that the Government’s priority is to keep the country safe. She made it clear that T&T has no aggressive intent towards Venezuela.
“T and T first, that will always be our position. We have no intention of engaging in any war with Venezuela. I’ve always said we stand in solidarity with the people of Venezuela and we will continue so to do.”
US gets green light …Military aircraft to use local airports
“In keeping with established bilateral cooperation, the ministry has granted approvals for United States military aircraft to transit Trinidad and Tobago’s airports in the coming weeks,” Monday’s release stated.
Cooperative Security Locations
Caribbean CSL (Aruba-Curacao, The Netherlands Antilles)
The CSL is at two locations: Curaçao`s Hato International Airport and Aruba`s Reina Beatrix International Airport. The formal 10-year access agreement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands was signed in March 2000 and the Netherlands` parliament ratified the agreement in October 2001. Both CSL locations required minor construction improvements to include aircraft parking ramps, maintenance, and operations buildings. Counter-drug flights were made from these locations even as improvements were being made. To date, the Aruba CSL has seen limited improvement and use while the Curacao CSL has received all required improvements to include ramp space for two large, two medium, and six small aircraft, a fresh water rise facility, a maintenance hangar, and an operations building.
Aruba-Curacao provides effective, rapid response operations in the northern source zone, which includes the Guajira Peninsula of Colombia and the Venezuelan border region, as well as a large part of the transit zone. The U.S. Air Force handles day-to-day operations at the CSL.
„Outrageous“: JetBlue A320 Narrowly Avoids Mid-Air Collision With US Military Tanker Over Curaçao
To maintain a safe level of separation, the JetBlue aircraft halted its climb and leveled its altitude before eventually climbing again to cruising altitude. During communications between the aircraft and ATC, Curaçao‘s control center confirmed that the military tanker was not visible on their screens either.
With its transponder not switched on, the aircraft would also not have been visible to JetBlue‘s Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), which relies on transponder signals from nearby aircraft to warn of potential collisions. While this near-miss occurred during daylight hours, the situation could have been a lot worse if it happened at night during minimal visibility.
JetBlue plane near Venezuela avoids ‘midair collision’ with US Air Force aircraft
A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a US Air Force refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path.
“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. “They passed directly in our flight path. … They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”
The incident involved JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao, which is just off the coast of Venezuela, en route to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
US landing military aircraft in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo – The government of the Dominican Republic has authorised several United States military aircraft to land in the country in the coming days as part of an operational support deployment in the Caribbean.
The aircraft will have temporary permits to operate from restricted areas at San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport.
US military aircraft to arrive in Dominican Republic for deployment in the Caribbean
(December 13, 2025)
The C-130, in service since 1954, is one of the most successful military transport aircraft in history. Designed for rugged operations during the Cold War, it has been used in conflicts such as Vietnam and Desert Storm, as well as major humanitarian missions in Haiti, during Hurricane Katrina, and in global disaster zones.
The KC-130, introduced in the 1960s, serves as a tanker and logistics aircraft, enabling aerial refueling for fighter jets, helicopters, and drones.
It has supported operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, as well as nighttime special operations and personnel transport.
Dominican Republic to allow US to use facilities for anti-drug ops
(November 27, 2025)
The announcement came during a visit by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Santo Domingo, as the United States seeks to ramp up pressure on leftist Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, whom Washington accuses of heading a drug cartel.
„We have authorized the United States, for a limited time, to use restricted areas at the San Isidro Air Base and the Las Americas International Airport for logistical operations of aircraft,“ including refueling and the transport of equipment and personnel, President Luis Abinader told a news conference.
Guyana signs US military cooperation agreement
“The two countries also signed a Statement of Intent to expand joint military cooperation with full respect for the sovereignty and laws of both countries,” President Irfaan Ali said, following talks here with senior US officials, including US Senior Advisor to the Secretary of War, Patrick Weaver, and the Acting Assistant Secretary of War for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Joseph Humire on Tuesday.
Security experts reject PM’s claim that unflagged vessels can be attacked
(December 10, 2025)
Former director of the National Coastal Surveillance Radar Centre and National Transformation Alliance (NTA) political leader, retired Coast Guard commander Norman Dindial, said that the Prime Minister’s claim is legally unsound. He said flagless vessels are classified as stateless, not pirates, and cannot be considered lawful targets.
His comments follow renewed questions about the September 2 strike near Trinidad and Tobago’s waters, now under scrutiny for allegedly killing two survivors in a second hit. Speaking outside Parliament on Tuesday, Persad-Bissessar said the incident “had little to do with Trinidad and Tobago” and suggested the unregistered vessel may have been viewed as carrying pirates. Dindial dismissed that interpretation.
PM on US ‘double tap’ strike: Unflagged vessel treated as pirate ship
(December 10, 2025)
Asked Sunday about the “double tap” strike, Persad-Bissessar had asked for more time to research the matter.
Asked again yesterday outside the Parliament, the Prime Minister said, “I don’t see how it applies to me or what it has to do with me or Trinidad and Tobago. The United States is a sovereign nation and they are free to exercise their sovereignty in manners that they see or deem fit. I cannot be judge and jury here to determine whether they are right or whether they are wrong. Those are not within our jurisdiction or my remit.”
But Persad-Bissessar maintained that any vessel sailing without a national flag risks being classified as a pirate ship and, as such, would not be entitled to the same protections afforded to legitimate maritime vessels.
Dennis rejects US radar on Tobago
“We do not want it here.”
That was the message from PNM Tobago political leader Ancil Dennis in a video posted to social media as he rejected the US military radar now spinning at the ANR Robinson International Airport.
Dennis told Tobagonians the device was brought in without proper explanation and said the Government must “carry it back to Trinidad.”
He accused the Prime Minister, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and Tobago East MP David Thomas of misleading the public by giving different descriptions of the radar.
Resisted by Grenada, radar spotted in Tobago: As 4th US aircraft flies in
Yet another US Marine aircraft was detected overnight heading into Tobago, the fourth of its kind over the course of the past week, as imagery on the island appeared to depict a powerful air defence US radar system at the ANR Robinson international Airport.
The sightings come after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday confirmed the US military presence on the sister isle, backtracking on previous claims that previous military aircraft sighted on the island were only there to help the country with a “roadway.”
Prime Minister defends silence on US Marines in Tobago ‘I withheld work on radar details to protect national security’
On Wednesday, when a C-17 Globemaster with the words Air Force emblazoned on its side was spotted at Tobago’s airport, a picture of the aeroplane was circulated widely on social media, with several citizens questioning its purpose.
Later that day, outside the Red House, the Prime Minister explained that the aircraft had brought in US marines to assist in constructing a roadway. At the time, she said that, to her knowledge, there were no longer any marines in the country. However, US marines were later seen at a popular hotel in Tobago. The day after, the Prime Minister clarified that following further inquiries, she had been informed that marines were still in Tobago and were assisting with work on the runway, roadway, and radar system at Tobago’s airport.
Germany‘s Merz to visit Israel, meet PM Netanyahu
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will travel to Israel on December 6 and 7 for his first official visit since taking office, a German government spokesperson said on Friday.
Germany: Resumption of arms transfers to Israel reckless, unlawful and risks complicity in Israel’s international crimes
(November 24, 2025)
“Germany’s decision to lift its partial suspension of weapons shipments to Israel is reckless, unlawful and sends entirely the wrong message to Israel: that it can continue committing genocide, war crimes, and apartheid against Palestinians and unlawfully occupy the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza without fear of consequence.
“Germany is one of Israel’s major arms suppliers. The partial and long overdue suspension of arms transfers by Germany was one of the few forms of meaningful pressure applied by the international community to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
“Now is absolutely not the time to ease this pressure. On the contrary, this is the time to ensure that Israel stops its violations of international law, including its unlawful occupation as indicated by the International Court of Justice in July 2024 and agreed by the UN General Assembly. Regrettably, with this move, Germany is going down a dangerous path that must be immediately reversed and must not be followed by other states.
US Secretary of War visits region today; Maduro officials hold closed door talks
(November 25, 2025)
War Secretary Pete Hegseth will travel to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, today to meet the country’s top leaders, including President Luis Abinader, Minister of Defence Lt Gen Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre and other officials, the Associated Press reported yesterday.
The announcement came the same day that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met yesterday.
US military‘s Caine meets with Trinidad prime minister
(November 25, 2025)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine told Persad-Bissessar that the United States remained committed to working with Trinidad and Tobago to „address shared threats and deepen collaboration across the Caribbean,“ the Pentagon said.
US, UAE discuss Sudan after Trump vows to end war there
The top American and Emirati diplomat spoke Friday about the need to end the Sudan war, the US State Department said.
“The Secretary and the Foreign Minister continued discussions on our collective efforts to achieving a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said after a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.
Trump pledges to end Sudan war, marking major shift in US stance
(Novemeber 20, 2025)
Trump admitted that the devastating war between Sudan‘s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) was „not on my charts“ before Prince Mohammed bin Salman pushed him to get involved.
But Trump said he would now work to „stabilise“ the conflict with regional powers, notably including the United Arab Emirates, which denies accusations of backing the RSF with weapons and mercenaries.
Gonzales, Browne warn of hidden agenda behind US–T&T military exercises
He also accused the Government of withholding critical information, which he said continued to stir panic and unease among the public.
Gonzales also pointed to the absence of Minister of Defence Wayne Sturge and Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, especially as the media briefing involved matters related to the country’s security assets.
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Browne added that survivors of recent US kinetic strikes were taken briefly to the United States before being returned to their home countries without facing charges. He said the Government continues to encourage actions that the United Nations has found to violate international law and continues to presuppose that all those killed at sea were guilty. “It would appear that the guilt or innocence of these persons is predicated only on the basis of whether they are killed or whether they survive,” he said.
US Marines touch down for military exercises with T&T Defence Force …To train in urban, rural areas across the country
Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers says the US Marine Corps 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will be coming to this country to take part in military training exercises from November 16 to 21 with the local Defence Force.
His announcement came yesterday, one day after Attorney General John Jeremie told the UK’s Financial Times that the United States military is expected to intensify exercises in T&T.
US Military ramp-up coming to T&T, says AG
Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General John Jeremie has reportedly told the Financial Times that US’ military exercises would intensify in T&T in the coming days, with members of the US 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
The report comes on the heels of the arrival of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, led by the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)- the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the world- in Caribbean waters, as well as the US Department of War’s announcement of Operation ‘Southern Spear’.
T&T distances itself again
On Sunday, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)-European Union summit participants signed a joint declaration in Santa Marta, Colombia, which contains an article citing the “situation in the Caribbean and Pacific” and calling for dialogue and cooperation. Although present, T&T distanced itself from that specific point.
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Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has previously welcomed the US presence, promising the US unflinching access to the country’s territory in the event of a Venezuelan attack on neighbouring Guyana.
Imran may stay behind bars in 2026 and beyond
(October 25, 2025)
Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi’s appeals against their conviction in the Al-Qadir Trust case have not yet been scheduled for hearing by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Before that, the IHC must hear their plea seeking the suspension of their conviction, and there is no indication of when that will be taken up.
Under the policy announced by the IHC, such appeals are heard strictly in the order of filing. The IHC’s “Fixation Policy,” framed under the directions of the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC), gives priority to older and more serious criminal cases, particularly those involving death sentences and life imprisonment.
Imran Khan’s appeal in the Al-Qadir Trust case, in which he and his wife were sentenced to 14 years, was filed on January 31, 2024 has not been fixed for hearing as yet.
The Trial and Imprisonment of Pakistan’s Imran Khan
(November 6, 2025)
After a decade and a half of making little headway in politics, Khan aligned himself and his PTI with the military in the early 2010s, and eventually rose to power as prime minister in 2018. After some years of power-sharing, Khan fell out of favor with the military establishment and was ousted from office after a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Khan blamed the army and the United States for engineering his ouster, and led energetic protests demanding immediate, fresh elections. After he was briefly arrested in May 2023, his followers attacked Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi and the home of a senior military official in Lahore. Khan stands accused of instigating those attacks.
PM may have to account to the International Criminal Court, says Browne
“This represents the first time in our records that a prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago would have proudly and publicly associated this nation with violations of international human rights of the UN Charter and International law,” he said.
Browne said the Prime Minister of T&T has continued to double down and triple down, including very recently her public stance in support of these extra-judicial killings.
He said while the US is not one of the state parties to the ICC, Trinidad and Tobago is, having been one of the founders.
Yitzhak Rabin – The Last Speech (English Subtitles)
The last speech of prime minister and minister of defense Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by right-wing Israeli radical on November 4th 1995 in Tel Aviv.