Agnes Helou

Agnes Helou is Breaking Defense's Middle East Bureau Chief, with close to a decade of experience in covering regional defense and strategic topics. She was the managing Editor of Security and Defense Arabia, an Arabic language defense website and magazine, and covered the Middle East and North Africa defense and security topics for Defense News for three years. Her reporting expertise covers the Gulf, North Africa, Middle East and Southern Europe.

Agnes has a master’s degree and is pursuing her PhD in media economics from the Doctoral School of Literature, Humanities & Social Sciences in Lebanon. Her interests include artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, air defense, maritime and border security regional strategic issues.

Posts by Agnes Helou

Global

Syria weighs joining the Mecca Pact, foreign minister says

“Discussions are currently under way to evaluate Syria’s entry into the Mecca alliance,” Syria’s foreign minister Asaad al-Shaibani said.

Global

Unmanned systems take center stage at Turkish Ateş Serbest military demonstration

The highlight of the exercise may have been the Turkish military showing off a new drone for the first time: Turkish Aerospace Industries’ Ayaz, a turbojet-powered one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle.

Global

Qatari Barzan unveils aerial drones, unmanned surface vessels at Milipol 2026

“This is a significant achievement, particularly as we continue to expand Qatar’s domestic defence and security capabilities in a year where we have had to rise to a number of regional challenges,” the company said in a statement.

Global

Turkey, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan ink defense cooperation MoU

The countries will seek developing “solutions and industries compatible with the development of modern defense systems,” pointing that the capabilities of the four countries are complementary.

Global

Turkish defense procurement spending proposed to rise 229% in 2027

Turkey’s proposed budget calls for $44.5 billion in defense spending and a separate $25.2 billion for internal security, pending parliamentary approval.

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Turkish Aerospace expands Anka 3 production with new line for upgraded drone

A company official said the first aircraft to be built on the new line is expected to roll out "soon" and undergo flight testing afterward.

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Thales looks to export new C2 platform to Gulf nations, says executive

“We do believe that there is an operational need and a solution based on our open standard, being able to address the sovereignty for the countries. We do believe that this solution is already fit for purpose regarding the Gulf,” Thales Vice President for Multi-Domain Operations Patrick Moreau told Breaking Defense.

Global

Moroccan startup unveils prototype UAV that operates without GPS signal

The prototype now under testing is a four-meter wingspan UAV, but the company is aiming for larger airframe to be able to reach 2,000 kilometers in range.

Global

Syria looks to end foreign military presence, have sovereignty over all bases: President

Damascus “very soon will not have the necessity to have any military or foreign military presence, and I believe we can go through the relations, diplomatic relations, and respect with all the countries in the neighborhoods and the friends of Syria," President Ahmad al-Sharaa said.

Global