Breaking Defense reports on the prospects for fighter jet deals, missile defenses, and peace talks in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026. The US has allowed Saudi Arabia to purchase F-35s, while Turkey may rejoin the program after removing sanctions.
Breaking Defense reports on the most significant news stories from the Middle East in 2025, including Turkey's Steel Dome air defense system, Saudi Arabia's potential deal with General Atomics, Egypt's military drills with China, UAE's satellite launch plans, and the Middle East defense industry's growing presence in SIPRI's Top 100. The region's defense landscape is characterized by increased investment, cooperation, and competition, reflecting the complex web of alliances and rivalries that shape global security.
Libya's army chief of staff, Gen. Mohammed Ali Ahmed al-Haddad, has been confirmed killed after the Dassault Falcon 50 business jet carrying him crashed near Ankara, Turkey, on December 23, 2025.
Turkey's Ministry of National Defense reported shooting down a UAV approaching its airspace over the Black Sea. According to AeroTime, Turkish authorities scrambled F-16 fighter jets on an alert mission after detecting the air track as part of routine monitoring procedures.