(B2) During the summit dedicated to the Top Chef, Sunday and Monday, the world did not stop. On the contrary. B2 has counted no less than five events that would have deserved at least a glance. A fairly 'ordinary' day on the world stage which should sound like a warning to the ears of Europeans. The world is no longer waiting for Europe today
firing during the Tobruq Legacy 19 exercise (credit: MOD Poland - B2 archives)
It is a paradox, the more the world tempo accelerates, the more conflict reigns, the less Europeans are interested in things of the world and lament their own fate. Knowing who will be 'caliph in place of the caliph' is undoubtedly important. But devoting a few hours to the international situation, to the war in Syria, the conflict in Iran, the situation off Cyprus, to the conflict in Libya, to the peace process in Afghanistan would not be a luxury.
Sunday, June 30: American strike in Syria
Le US Central Command (or CentCom) announces that it carried out a strike on an al-Qaida training camp in Syria. A statement that seems out of step with President Donald Trump's recent self-congratulations on the eradication of the Islamic State in the civil war-torn country.
Sunday June 30: Libyan General Haftar threatens Turkey
As the European Council begins in Brussels, a Turkish drone is shot down « on the runway of the military zone of Mitiga airport in Libya, reports Franceinfo. A direct consequence of Khalifa Haftar's order to his troops to target Turkish ships and arrest Turkish nationals in Libya as tensions between Libya and Turkey escalate. The marshal accuses the Turkish authorities of supporting his enemy, Fayez al-Sarraj. Turkey had also, a few hours before the drone attack, denounced the arrest of six of its nationals in Libya. Which were finally released, announced the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday morning (July 1). It is the revelation in broad daylight that an ally of the Atlantic Alliance is engaged on the ground with men and equipment.
Monday, July 1, at dawn: a missile crashes into northern Cyprus
In the early hours of the morning, a missile " Russian made crashed in the Tashkent region, northeast of the Cypriot capital of Nicosia - without causing any casualties - according to the authorities of the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The explosion was said to have been caused by air defense in Syria during an Israeli airstrike “Explains the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kudret Ozersay, relayed by Le Monde. The missile featured inscriptions identical to those found on an S-200 type missile that fell in Turkey in July 2018 ". The fall of the object coincides with an Israeli raid near Damascus on the night of Sunday to Monday which would have activated the Syrian anti-aircraft defenses, which are " in particular equipped with Russian systems ».
Monday, July 1, at dawn: attack in Kabul
A car bomb driven by a suicide bomber explodes in the center of the Afghan capital. Result: six dead and more than 65 injured, most of them schoolchildren. Attack which targeted 'a logistics and engineering center of the Ministry of Defense', according to the Taliban who claimed responsibility for the attack. We are just hours after German and American negotiators announced a new meeting between Afghan officials and the Taliban on Sunday in Doha, Qatar, as reported France 24 with AFP.
Monday July 1, 15 p.m.: Iran pulls out the nails and issues an ultimatum
Iran announces that it has exceeded the 300 kg limit [of low-enriched uranium]," said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, according to theIslamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). Tehran had already warned the Europeans (Read: Instex operational. Iran nuclear deal saved: for how long?). He drives the point home. Its Supreme National Security Authority gives “ 60 days for countries remaining in favor of this pact (Germany, China, France, Great Britain and Russia) to operationalize their commitments, particularly in the oil and banking sectors »
