CHICAGO, 29 August 2022, (TON): The newly appointed commander of US military forces in southwest Asia on praised Saudi Arabia and Qatar for the support they provided in the fight against Daesh, Iran, and international terrorism.

Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, commander of the Combined Forces Air Component and US Central Command, Southwest Asia, also said “the US continued to maintain its military readiness and strength in the wake of providing more than $5.3 billion in military support to defend Ukraine.”

The southwest Asia region includes most of the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan, and North Africa, and Grynkewich emphasized that the US worked in close cooperation with all of its southwest Asia partners in deterring Iran, maintaining regional security, and countering violent extremists.

WASHINGTON, 29 August 2022, (TON): Two US warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the American navy said, the first such transit since China staged unprecedented military drills around the island.

In a statement, the US Navy said “the transit demonstrates the United States’ commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Tensions in the Taiwan Strait soared to their highest level in years this month after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei.

Beijing reacted furiously, staging days of air and sea exercises around Taiwan. Taipei condemned the drills and missile tests as preparation for an invasion.

BEIRUT, 29 August 2022, (TON): Satellite imagery showed widespread destruction at a giant military facility in western Syria targeted in a recent Israeli airstrike, and the head of a Syrian opposition war monitor said “the strike targeted a depot housing hundreds of middle-range missiles for Iran-backed fighters.”

Syrian state media reported after the Thursday night attack near the cities of Tartus and Hama that two people were wounded and fires were sparked in nearby forests.

It added that the missiles were fired from over the Mediterranean and most of them were shot down.

Syrian opposition activists at the time said the strike targeted an arms depot and a scientific research center near the central town of Masyaf, a government stronghold. Masyaf is almost half way between the coastal city of Tartus and the central city of Hama.

RIYADH, 29 August 2022, (TON): Sudanese officials praised King Salman’s directive to deliver 250 tons of humanitarian, relief, and shelter aid to victims of flooding in Sudan through an air bridge.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said “the number of deaths in Sudan resulting from torrential rains and flooding over the past month has risen to 89, while 50,000 homes across the country have either been completely or partially destroyed.”

Saudi Press Agency reported “a member of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Taher Abu Bakr Hajar, expressed his appreciation for the great efforts made by the Kingdom to help Sudan in all fields.”

The first two flights of Saudi aid provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center arrived in Khartoum.

CAIRO, 29 August 2022, (TON): On the sidelines of the eighth summit meeting in Tunisia of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly discussed with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, bilateral relations.

During the video conference meeting with Kishida, Madbouly offered his condolences on the death of Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated, stressing Egypt’s solidarity with Japan and praising the contributions made by Abe that had a great impact in deepening relations between the two countries.

Madbouly affirmed the Egyptian state’s appreciation for the support provided by the Japanese side in many important development projects, especially the Grand Egyptian Museum.

He said “Egypt was looking forward to Japan taking executive steps to establish a Japanese industrial zone in the Suez Canal economic zone in a way that achieved the common interests of both sides.”

Madbouly said “the Japanese private sector can invest more in Egypt and benefit from legislative and structural reforms approved in the context of stimulating the business environment and improving the investment climate, particularly in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.”

JERUSALEM, 29 August 2022, (TON): An official said “the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency will visit the United States in early September for talks on the possible revival of the Iran nuclear deal.”

The announced visit is the latest in the Jewish state’s push to sway Western powers from a deal to return to the landmark 2015 deal with Tehran.

Israel says a deal would facilitate the funding of Iran-supported militants, while not preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon a goal Iran has always denied.

A senior Israeli official told “Mossad chief David Barnea will be visiting Washington in a week to participate in closed door meetings in Congress on the Iran deal.”

Prime Minister Yair Lapid said “Israel’s diplomatic fight against the deal included its national security adviser and defense minister holding recent meetings in the United States.”

ISTANBUL, 29 August 2022, (TON): Turkey alleged fellow NATO member Greece has used a Russian-made air defense system to harass Turkish jets on a reconnaissance mission, calling it a hostile action.

Turkish defense ministry sources said “the incident took place on August 23 when Greece’s S-300 missile system deployed on the island of Crete put a lock on Turkish F-16 jets flying at 10,000 feet west of Rhodes.”

The sources added “that was incompatible with the spirit of alliance and amounted to hostile acts under the NATO rules of engagement.”

“Despite this hostile action, jets completed their planned missions and returned to their base safely.”

LONDON, 29 August 2022, (TON): The UK is to send £1.5 million in aid to Pakistan in the aftermath of devastating floods.

A state of emergency has been declared across much of the country, with nearly 1,000 people killed in the country since June and 700,000 homes destroyed after the annual monsoon season arrived unusually early.

The southern provinces of Sindh and Balochistan have been hardest hit by the deluges, with the former experiencing rainfall 800 percent higher than expected in August.

Millions are now thought to be homeless and in need of aid, with the UN set to launch a global appeal early next week.

WASHINGTON, 29 August 2022, (TON): A senior Israeli official told reporters “Mossad director David Barnea will visit Washington next week for talks on the emerging deal to restore the Iran nuclear agreement.”

Why it matters: Barnea is the most hawkish official on Iran within the Israeli security establishment and intelligence community.

The organization he leads is highly respected in Washington and cooperates closely with the CIA.

State of play: The U.S. and Iran have moved much closer to a deal to restore the 2015 nuclear accord in recent weeks, but a few key Iranian demands remain unresolved.

UNITED NATIONS, 29 August 2022, (TON): The UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Amir Abdulla reported that the exports of Ukrainian grain and other foodstuffs, under a landmark agreement amid the ongoing war, have surpassed one million metric tonnes.

He said “this remarkable achievement was made possible through the collective efforts and hard work of the Joint Coordination Centre, referring to the Istanbul-based mechanism that monitors ships’ movements to ensure their compliance with the Initiative.”

The JCC brings together representatives from Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye and the UN – the signatories of the landmark agreement.

Operations began on August 1, and the JCC has already enabled dozens of voyages through the Black Sea.