Agnes Helou

Middle East Bureau Chief

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.

Stories by Agnes Helou

Bahrain’s Viper attack helo makes debut at BIAS 2022, whole fleet expected by 2023

Bahrain’s Viper attack helo makes debut at BIAS 2022, whole fleet expected by 2023
Bahrain’s Viper attack helo makes debut at BIAS 2022, whole fleet expected by 2023

The gulf nation will get 12 birds, munitions and related parts in a $911 million deal.

INTERVIEW: Thales exec on Middle East expansion through localization

INTERVIEW: Thales exec on Middle East expansion through localization
INTERVIEW: Thales exec on Middle East expansion through localization

Thales Middle East Vice President Emmanuel de Roquefeuil told Breaking Defense the French firm plans to double its staff in the region in five years.

Tunisian Air Force receives first of 8 T-6C trainers from Textron

Tunisian Air Force receives first of 8 T-6C trainers from Textron
Tunisian Air Force receives first of 8 T-6C trainers from Textron

Tunisian pilots are currently training with the new aircraft in the US ahead of transfer to the North African nation.

Bahrain to receive first batch of Block 70 F-16s in early 2024

Bahrain to receive first batch of Block 70 F-16s in early 2024
Bahrain to receive first batch of Block 70 F-16s in early 2024

Royal Bahraini Air Force commander said delivery had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With shows, acquisitions and partners, UAE hopes to emerge as cybersecurity, secure comms hub

With shows, acquisitions and partners, UAE hopes to emerge as cybersecurity, secure comms hub
With shows, acquisitions and partners, UAE hopes to emerge as cybersecurity, secure comms hub

Two sprawling defense organizations announced cybersecurity expansions as region sees evolving threats.

With a new patrol vessel and a new deal, Abu Dhabi Ship Building makes waves in Indonesia

With a new patrol vessel and a new deal, Abu Dhabi Ship Building makes waves in Indonesia
With a new patrol vessel and a new deal, Abu Dhabi Ship Building makes waves in Indonesia

The unveiling of the new vessel in Jakarta was evidence of the Gulf firm’s interest in the Indo-Pacific market, a company official said.

How an Iran nuclear deal would (and wouldn’t) change Gulf security stances

How an Iran nuclear deal would (and wouldn’t) change Gulf security stances
How an Iran nuclear deal would (and wouldn’t) change Gulf security stances

As the fate of a renewed nuclear deal is undecided, experts weigh in on how other regional powers would react.

As Asian firms compete for Egyptian military aircraft deals, Cairo eyes local production

As Asian firms compete for Egyptian military aircraft deals, Cairo eyes local production
As Asian firms compete for Egyptian military aircraft deals, Cairo eyes local production

India and South Korea are competing on a light attack deal that analysts say could boost Egypt’s domestic production and knowledge base.

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