Paul Iddon

Erbil

Freelance Journalist and Columnist at Freelance

I write about stuff that interests me … mostly Middle East affairs, history, politics. Regular contributor to @BusinessInsider @forbes @The_NewArab & more

Articles

After Israeli strikes, how strong are Iran's air defences?

1 week ago | newarab.com | Paul Iddon

Amid heightened tensions with the United States, Iran has sought to emphasise the effectiveness of its air defences, which Israel hit with deadly airstrikes in October. Whether this is an attempt to save face on Tehran’s part or an objective reality is unclear.
QME: Why Israel Doesn’t Want Turkey Getting The F-35 Stealth Fighter

1 week ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

A recent report revealed what many have long suspected: Israel does not want Turkey to acquire the American F-35 Lightning II and has quietly lobbied Washington against selling Ankara the fifth-generation stealth strike fighter. There are several reasons Israel doesn’t want the only Middle Eastern member of NATO acquiring the sophisticated aircraft, foremost among them preserving its qualitative military edge over a heavyweight regional power it’s increasingly at odds with, especially in Syria.
As Trump Makes US Allies Reconsider F-35, Turkey Sees An Opportunity

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

Canada and some European countries are openly questioning the wisdom of acquiring America’s fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II stealth jet in light of the mercurial and unorthodox policies of the Trump administration. At the same time, another US ally banned from buying F-35s sees a unique opportunity to acquire them. However, some significant obstacles may prevent President Trump from signing any F-35 deal with Turkey.
Turkey’s Best Drones Are Being Shot Down Over Middle East And Africa

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

March 2025 is undoubtedly the worst month to date for Turkey’s indigenous Bayraktar Akinci drone, with at least two going down in Africa and the Middle East within a mere two weeks under different circumstances. Overnight, on March 31 and April 1, a drone fell out of the sky over the rural Tinzaouaten commune in northeast Mali, an area where the Malian military is fighting armed groups on the country’s border with Algeria.
Turkey’s Planned Syria Military Deployment Echoes Russia’s A Decade Ago

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

Turkey is reportedly making preparations to take control over a strategic airbase in central Syria. The planned deployment, coordinated with the new caretaker government in Damascus, has some noteworthy parallels with Russia’s deployment at the invitation of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which began just under a decade ago.
APKWS And Pantsir-S1s: Saudi Arabia Acquiring More Cost-Effective Defenses Against Drones

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

Saudi Arabia’s recent military acquisitions suggest that the kingdom is building more cost-effective air defenses against drones and other relatively cheap munitions, a completely understandable move given Riyadh’s experiences against the Houthis in Yemen during the 2015-22 war. A March 20, 2025, State Department Defense Security Cooperation Agency press release revealed that Saudi Arabia has requested 2,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems II for an estimated $100 million.
Inside Turkey's executive coup

3 weeks ago | newarab.com | Umut Özkırımlı |Paul Iddon

One thing is clear: the old Turkey is gone. The question now is whether the Turkish people will get to shape what comes next, writes Umut Özkırımlı [photo credit: Getty Images] It finally happened: Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul’s mayor and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s most formidable likely challenger in the 2028 presidential election, was formally arrested on flimsy corruption charges, after four days in custody.
A-10s To B-2s: How U.S. Middle East Force Posture Dramatically Changed

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

The U.S. Air Force and Navy are once again deploying a formidable array of air and firepower in and around the Middle East amid renewed conflict in Yemen and tensions with Iran. The large-scale deployments are a striking reminder of how dramatically U.S. force posture in the Middle East has changed over the past two years. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered an extended deployment of the aircraft carrier Harry S.
Turkey Unlikely Capable Of Contesting Israeli Air Supremacy Over Syria

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Paul Iddon

Recent Israeli airstrikes against airbases in central Syria have led some Syria analysts to speculate that Israel was signaling its firm opposition to Turkey establishing a military presence in Syria to the new caretaker government in Damascus and its Ankara backer. True or not, one thing is abundantly clear: Turkey would have its work cut out challenging Israeli air supremacy over Syria.
Trump's strengthened airstrikes on Houthi rebels — but it's likely to take months to tell if it makes a difference

3 weeks ago | businessinsider.com | Paul Iddon

US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets were part of the Trump administration's intensified strikes on the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been attacking commercial ships and Israel. Staff Sgt. Jackson Manske/US Air Force 2025-03-28T08:21:01Z Facebook Email X LinkedIn Copy link Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? .