U.S. building missile defense radar station in Qatar, reports sayJuly 17, 2012 - 21:27 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Pentagon is building a missile defense radar station at a covert location in Qatar, AFP reported citing The Wall Street Journal. The site will be part of a system intended to defend the interests of the United States and its allies against Iranian rockets, unnamed U.S. officials told the newspaper. The Journal also reported that Washington was preparing for its biggest-ever minesweeping exercises in the Gulf in September, calling them the "first such multilateral drills in the region." A similar radar has existed on Mount Keren in the Negev Desert since 2008 and another is installed in Turkey as part of NATO's missile defense shield. In addition, officials told the Journal that U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and South Asia, wants to deploy the first Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile system in the area in the coming months, possibly in the United Arab Emirates. Tensions with Iran -- which Western powers suspect of secretly striving to build nuclear weapons -- are rife in the Gulf region. An Indian fisherman was killed and three others wounded on Monday when a U.S. navy ship opened fire on their vessel near the United Arab Emirates port of Jebel Ali in the southern Gulf. U.S. defense officials said the fishing boat had ignored warnings not to approach the refueling ship USNS Rappahannock, and that sailors on board the American vessel feared it could pose a threat. The United States has warned Teheran about blocking the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, and has significantly bolstered its military presence there. Fears of a closure of the strait -- through which about a fifth of the world's traded oil passes -- intensified earlier this year after Iran threatened to close it if Western governments kept up efforts to rein in Tehran's controversial nuclear program by choking off its oil exports. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |