Fighting intensified around the Afghan city of Ghazni on Monday, as Taliban militants threatened to seize a second provincial capital after briefly occupying Kunduz in the north last month. The clashes around Ghazni, some 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Kabul, underlined the worsening security situation across Afghanistan. Source: Reuters
Turkey is preparing for potential U.S. sanctions over its purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defense systems as Ankara considers the acquisition a “done deal,” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Akar said the U.S. was still trying to dissuade Turkey from purchasing the Russian-made missiles but Ankara was determined to go through with the deal. Source: Daily Sabah
Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that Ankara has sent military personnel to Russia for training on the operation of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. “We sent our specialists to Russia for training on operating the S-400, training starts from today and will continue for several months,” he said. Source: Ehamedya
Eight Turkish military aircraft on Tuesday carried out 34 violations of Greek national airspace in the northeastern, central and southeastern Aegean, according to defense sources who reported one mock dogfight between Greek and Turkish aircraft. Source: Ekathimerini
