2021.12.24 國際新聞導讀-美伊核武談判無進展可言且可能以失敗告終、俄羅斯以民間安全承包商雇傭兵對付烏克蘭、美國前總統川普開始攻擊以色列前總理納唐雅胡之原因、美國對土耳其大量軍售陷入內戰之衣索比亞感不滿，土耳其2021年軍售衣索比亞9500萬美元軍用攻擊無人機

蘇老師講解國際新聞、中東與中亞歷史、中國事務、太空知識的頻道。 Diplomat's daily news review and history research on Middle East and Central Asia, China Affairs and Space Exploration

2021.12.24 國際新聞導讀-美伊核武談判無進展可言且可能以失敗告終、俄羅斯以民間安全承包商雇傭兵對付烏克蘭、美國前總統川普開始攻擊以色列前總理納唐雅胡之原因、美國對土耳其大量軍售陷入內戰之衣索比亞感不滿，土耳其2021年軍售衣索比亞9500萬美元軍用攻擊無人機
伊朗高級外交官：歐洲在核談判中的立場沒有建設性
週三，美國國家安全顧問傑克沙利文警告稱，與伊朗陷入困境的談判可能會在數週內結束。
通過路透
發佈時間： 2021 年 12 月 23 日 18:09
伊朗外交部長周四表示，歐洲談判代表在與世界大國挽救伊朗2015 年核協議的談判中沒有提出“新的實際倡議”，並且在 12 月 17 日暫停的最後一輪談判中沒有建設性。
俄羅斯和歐盟外交部周四早些時候表示，談判將於 12 月 27 日恢復，此前一天，美國國家安全顧問警告稱，與伊朗陷入困境的談判可能會在數週內結束。
“我們不認為一些歐洲國家的立場具有建設性，特別是法國的立場，”伊朗官方媒體援引外交部長侯賽因·阿米拉卜杜拉希安的話說。
“當他們說他們對伊朗核計劃的進展感到擔憂時，我們會大聲說：'如果你想讓你的擔憂得到解決，那麼必須取消所有製裁。'”
核協議於 2018 年開始瓦解，當時的總統唐納德特朗普讓華盛頓退出並重新對德黑蘭實施嚴格的經濟制裁，德黑蘭通過恢復並隨後加速其鈾濃縮活動作為回應，這是獲得核武器的潛在途徑。
上週在維也納舉行的 JCPOA 聯合委員會會議（來源：EEAS/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS）
伊斯蘭共和國否認尋求核武器，稱其只想為和平目的掌握核技術。
會談在強硬的伊朗總統易卜拉欣·賴西當選後中斷五個月後於本月早些時候恢復，但進展甚微。
俄羅斯最高特使米哈伊爾·烏里揚諾夫在宣布計劃下週恢復談判時在推特上寫道：“在這種特殊情況下，這表明所有談判代表都不想浪費時間並致力於盡快恢復（交易）。”
“參與者將繼續討論美國可能重返（協議）的前景，以及如何確保各方全面有效地執行協議，”歐盟外交服務聲明稱。
德黑蘭尋求改變在前六輪談判中形成的協議大綱，使他們基本上陷入僵局，而西方大國警告說，遏制伊朗快速發展的核活動的時間已經不多了。
英國、法國和德國的高級外交官對重振伊朗限制其有爭議的核計劃以換取美國、歐盟和聯合國經濟制裁解除的協議的努力持悲觀態度。
阿米拉布多拉希安說，伊朗“設法在下週討論的草案中讓（我們的）意見得到各方的口頭批准。” 他沒有詳細說明。
俄羅斯僱傭軍部署到烏克蘭東部 - 消息來源
俄羅斯向烏克蘭東部派遣了數万名正規軍，但克里姆林宮表示，這與俄羅斯在烏克蘭東部的正規軍無關。
通過路透
發佈時間： 2021 年 12 月 23 日 17:52
更新時間： 2021 年 12 月 23 日 17:57
上週，俄羅斯武裝部隊的一名手榴彈發射器操作員在靠近烏克蘭的俄羅斯羅斯托夫地區參加了戰鬥演習。
（圖片來源：SERGEY PIVOVAROV/REUTERS）
廣告
四名消息人士告訴路透社，隨著莫斯科與西方之間的緊張局勢加劇，俄羅斯僱傭軍最近幾週已部署到分裂主義控制的烏克蘭東部，以加強對烏克蘭政府軍的防禦。
最近幾週，俄羅斯已將數万名正規軍調往靠近烏克蘭的哨所，隨後要求西方提供緊急安全保證，莫斯科表示，旨在防止烏克蘭和其他鄰國被用作攻擊基地。它。
西方和烏克蘭則指責俄羅斯最早在下個月對其南部鄰國發動新的襲擊，莫斯科對此予以否認。
俄羅斯於 2014 年從烏克蘭吞併了克里米亞半島，並支持親俄分裂分子，他們於同年佔領了烏克蘭東部工業頓巴斯地區的大片地區，並繼續在那裡與烏克蘭政府軍作戰。
在四個消息來源中，三個描述了僱傭兵招聘人員提供的前往頓巴斯的提議。他們說招聘人員沒有透露他們代表的是誰。所有四名消息人士均拒絕透露姓名，理由是擔心他們的安全。
2021 年 9 月 8 日，烏克蘭頓巴斯地區解放 78 週年，在最近與烏克蘭政府軍的戰鬥中受損的戰爭紀念館 Savur-Mohyla 集會期間，一名激進分子高舉俄羅斯國旗。（圖片來源：路透社/亞歷山大·埃爾莫琴科）
三個消息來源中有兩個說他們已經接受了；第三個說他拒絕了。
“有一個完整的房子。他們正在召集每個有戰鬥經驗的人，”接受的兩個人之一說道。
他說，他之前曾在烏克蘭和敘利亞為俄羅斯安全承包商團體作戰，這些承包商的行動與俄羅斯的戰略利益密切相關。他拒絕透露承包商的身份。
這名戰士說，他計劃與俄羅斯一側與烏克蘭東部分離主義分子控制的盧甘斯克地區接壤的其他僱傭軍會合。
克里姆林宮表示，它與俄羅斯私人軍事承包商沒有任何關係，他們將其描述為與國家沒有任何關係的志願者。
克里姆林宮發言人德米特里佩斯科夫說：“這是我們第一次聽說這個，我們不知道這些斷言有多可靠。”
佩斯科夫說，烏克蘭東部沒有俄羅斯正規部隊或軍事顧問，而且從來沒有，莫斯科也沒有考慮派遣任何人。基輔對此提出異議，並表示俄羅斯正規軍隊在場。
特別訓練
代表俄羅斯承包商在中非共和國的非政府組織國際安全官員社區負責人亞歷山大·伊万諾夫表示，他“沒有任何確認”表明任何俄羅斯僱傭兵已被部署到烏克蘭。
其中三名消息人士表示，他們不知道俄羅斯有任何對烏克蘭發動新襲擊的計劃，也不知道有任何準備表明襲擊即將到來。
其中一名參與俄羅斯海外行動並已抵達烏克蘭東部的承包商表示，此次部署是出於防禦目的。第一傭兵也是這麼說的。
另一位消息人士稱，他沒有直接參與部署，但與正在接受特殊訓練的地面人員有聯繫。他說，部署的目的是他所說的破壞烏克蘭穩定的破壞活動。
在分離主義武裝分子控制了烏克蘭東部的一部分後，頓涅茨克人民共和國 (DPR) 於 2014 年宣布脫離烏克蘭獨立。在俄羅斯的支持下，其自稱的地位並未得到國際承認。
朝鮮前總理兼頓巴斯志願者聯盟負責人亞歷山大·博羅代說，他的組織沒有參與為烏克蘭東部招募任何僱傭軍。
他的組織成員之前曾在烏克蘭和敘利亞作戰。
“如果需要的話，我們會打電話給人們——但目前還沒有電話，”博羅代說，他也是俄羅斯執政黨統一俄羅斯黨的議員。
分離主義發言人愛德華·巴蘇林（Eduard Basurin）表示，他對俄羅斯最近向烏克蘭東部部署安全承包商一事一無所知。
烏克蘭軍事情報部門拒絕置評，而國家安全部門沒有回復置評請求。
Russian mercenaries deploy to eastern Ukraine - sources
Russia moves tens of thousands of regular troops to eastern Ukraine, but the Kremlin says it has nothing to do with Russian regular forces in eastern Ukraine.
By REUTERS
Published: DECEMBER 23, 2021 17:52
Updated: DECEMBER 23, 2021 17:57
A grenade launcher operator of the Russian armed forces takes part in combat drills last week in the Rostov region of Russia near Ukraine.
(photo credit: SERGEY PIVOVAROV/REUTERS)
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Russian mercenaries have deployed to separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine in recent weeks to bolster defenses against Ukrainian government forces as tensions between Moscow and the West rise, four sources have told Reuters.
In recent weeks, Russia has moved tens of thousands of regular troops to stage posts closer to Ukraine and followed up by demanding urgent security guarantees from the West designed, Moscow says, to prevent Ukraine and other neighboring countries from being used as a base to attack it.
The West and Ukraine have for their part accused Russia of weighing a fresh attack on its southern neighbor as soon as next month, something Moscow denies.
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Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 and backed pro-Russian separatists who seized a swathe of the industrial Donbas region of eastern Ukraine that same year and continue to fight Ukrainian government forces there.
Of four sources, three described their offers from mercenary recruiters to go to Donbas. They said the recruiters did not disclose who they represented. All four sources declined to be named, citing fears for their safety.
An activist holds Russia's national flag, during a rally at the war memorial complex Savur-Mohyla, damaged in the recent fighting with Ukraine's government forces,marking the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Donbas region,Ukraine September 8, 2021. (credit: REUTERS/ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO)
Two of the three sources said they had accepted; the third said he had refused.
"There is a full house. They are gathering everybody with combat experience," said one of the two who accepted.
He said he had previously fought in Ukraine and Syria for groups of Russian security contractors whose operations have been closely aligned with Russia's strategic interests. He declined to identify the contractors.
The fighter said he was planning to join up with fellow mercenaries on the Russian side of the border with the separatist-held Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine.
The Kremlin says it has nothing to do with private Russian military contractors whose operatives it describes as volunteers with no connection to the state.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "It's the first we've heard of this and we don't know how reliable these assertions are."
Peskov said there were no Russian regular forces or military advisers in eastern Ukraine and never had been, and that Moscow was not considering sending any. Kyiv disputes that and says regular Russian army forces are present.
SPECIAL TRAINING
Alexander Ivanov, head of the Community of Officers For International Security, a non-governmental group representing Russian contractors in the Central African Republic, said he had "not a single confirmation" that any Russian mercenary had been deployed to Ukraine.
Three of the sources said they were not aware of any plans for a new Russian attack on Ukraine or of preparations that would suggest one was coming.
One of the sources, a contractor who has taken part in Russian operations abroad and had already arrived in eastern Ukraine, said the deployment was for defensive purposes. The first mercenary said the same.
Another source said he was not directly involved in the deployment, but was in touch with people on the ground who were undergoing special training. He said the aim of the deployment was what he called sabotage activities to undermine stability in Ukraine.
The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) proclaimed its independence from Ukraine in 2014 after separatist fighters took control of a slice of eastern Ukraine. Backed by Russia, its self-proclaimed status has not been recognized internationally.
Alexander Borodai, ex-prime minister of the DPR and head of the Union of Donbas Volunteers, said his organization was not involved in the recruitment of any mercenaries for eastern Ukraine.
Members of his organization have previously fought in Ukraine and Syria.
"If and when it's needed, we'll call people - but there has been no call for now," said Borodai, who is also a lawmaker for Russia's ruling party, United Russia.
Separatist spokesperson Eduard Basurin said he knew nothing of any recent Russian deployments of security contractors to eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine's military intelligence service declined to comment, while the state security service did not reply to a request for comment.
以色列，內塔尼亞胡在蘇萊曼尼被殺事件中缺乏行動“令人失望” - 特朗普
特朗普還單獨攻擊了內塔尼亞胡，稱他“願意與伊朗作戰，直到最後一名美國士兵出現”。
通過耶路撒冷郵報STAFF
發佈時間： 2021 年 12 月 23 日 16:30
更新時間： 2021 年 12 月 23 日 16:59
卡西姆·蘇萊曼尼（左）和本傑明·內塔尼亞胡（右）
（照片來源：WIKIMEDIA COMMONS & MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/耶路撒冷郵報）
廣告
美國前總統唐納德·特朗普告訴沃拉記者巴拉克·拉維德，以色列被動參與 2020 年 1 月暗殺伊朗指揮官卡西姆·蘇萊曼尼的行動“令人失望”。
伊斯蘭革命衛隊（IRGC）聖城旅指揮官蘇萊曼尼在特朗普下令在巴格達國際機場發動的美國空襲中喪生。
現在，特朗普對以色列記者巴拉克·拉維德即將出版的書《特朗普的和平：亞伯拉罕協議和中東重塑》發表的評論為以色列和美國之間的緊張關係——或者更具體地說是特朗普和前總理本雅明內塔尼亞胡——之間的緊張關係提供了新的線索。暗殺。
特朗普告訴拉維德，以色列沒有在暗殺蘇萊曼尼中扮演更積極的角色，“沒有做正確的事”。
“我對以色列不得不處理那件事感到非常失望，”這位前總統說。“人們會在適當的時候聽到這個消息。”
去年，時任美國總統唐納德·特朗普在白宮向時任總理本傑明·內塔尼亞胡眨眼。（來源：BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS）
特朗普還單獨攻擊了內塔尼亞胡，稱他“願意與伊朗作戰，直到最後一名美國士兵出現”。上個月，特朗普針對內塔尼亞胡發表了一些爆炸性言論，因為他指責以色列反對派領導人在他與巴勒斯坦人達成和平協議的誠意方面欺騙了他。
一名以色列高級國防官員否認了特朗普的說法，稱以色列提議在暗殺行動中更加積極。據拉維德說，美國堅持要發動襲擊。
此外，多篇報導稱，以色列以不同程度參與暗殺，也對特朗普言論的合法性提出質疑。
週一，以色列國防軍軍事情報部門前負責人少將。塔米爾·海曼表示，以色列參與了暗殺行動。
今年 5 月，雅虎新聞報導稱，耶路撒冷允許華盛頓訪問多個手機號碼，以幫助刺殺蘇萊曼尼。
Israel, Netanyahu's lack of action in Soleimani killing 'disappointing' - Trump
Trump also attacked Netanyahu individually, stating he was "willing to fight Iran until the last American soldier."
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Published: DECEMBER 23, 2021 16:30
Updated: DECEMBER 23, 2021 16:59
Quassem Soleimani (L) and Benjamin Netanyahu (R)
(photo credit: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS & MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
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Israel's passive involvement in the January 2020 assassination of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was "disappointing," former US president Donald Trump told Walla reporter Barak Ravid.
Soleimani, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force commander, was killed by an American airstrike ordered by Trump at the Baghdad International Airport.
Now, comments made by Trump for Israeli reporter Barak Ravid's upcoming book Trump’s Peace: The Abraham Accords and the Reshaping of the Middle East shed new light on tensions between Israel and the US – or more specifically Trump and former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu – after the assassination.
Israel "did not do the right thing" by not playing a more active role in the assassination of Soleimani, Trump told Ravid.
"I was very disappointed in Israel having to do with that event," the former president said. "People will be hearing about that at the right time."
THEN-US PRESIDENT Donald Trump winks at then-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House last year. (credit: BRENDAN MCDERMID/REUTERS)
Trump also attacked Netanyahu individually, stating he was "willing to fight Iran until the last American soldier." A number of explosive comments aimed at Netanyahu by Trump have been released over the last month, as he accused the Israeli opposition head of deceiving him about his sincerity to make a peace deal with the Palestinians.
A senior Israeli defense official denied Trump's claims, stating that Israel proposed to be more active in the assassination. The US insisted on carrying out the attack, according to Ravid.
In addition, several reports stating Israel aided the US in the assassination with varying degrees of involvement also cast doubt on the legitimacy of Trump's comments.
On Monday, the former head of the IDF’s Military Intelligence Maj.-Gen. Tamir Hayman stated that Israel was involved in the assassination.
In May, it was reported by Yahoo News that Jerusalem gave Washington access to several cell phone numbers to help enable Soleimani's assassination.
美國擔心土耳其向受衝突影響的埃塞俄比亞出售無人機
埃塞俄比亞政府與北部提格雷地區領導人之間長達一年的戰爭已造成數千平民死亡，數百萬人流離失所。
通過路透
發佈時間： 2021 年 12 月 22 日 15:37
更新時間： 2021 年 12 月 22 日 15:44
2020 年 11 月 9 日，阿姆哈拉地區民兵成員乘坐卡車前往與埃塞俄比亞提格雷接壤的阿姆哈拉地區桑賈的提格雷人民解放陣線（TPLF）。
（圖片來源：路透社/TIKSA NEGERI）
廣告
美國當局就土耳其向埃塞俄比亞出售武裝無人機一事提出異議，兩名熟悉此事的消息人士稱，越來越多的證據表明政府曾使用這些武器對付叛軍。
一位西方高級官員表示，華盛頓對此次出售有“深刻的人道主義擔憂” ，這可能違反美國對亞的斯亞貝巴的武器限制。
埃塞俄比亞政府與提格雷北部地區領導人之間長達一年的戰爭是非洲最血腥的衝突之一，已造成數千名平民喪生，數百萬人流離失所。
美國國務院發言人表示，美國非洲之角特使杰弗里費爾特曼在上周訪問期間“提出了有關埃塞俄比亞使用武裝無人機以及隨之而來的平民傷害風險的報告”。
一位土耳其高級官員表示，華盛頓在幾次會議上表達了它的不安，而埃塞俄比亞軍方和政府沒有回應詳細的置評請求。
2020 年 12 月 16 日，在蘇丹東部卡薩拉州，埃塞俄比亞人在穿過蘇丹-埃塞俄比亞邊境的塞蒂特河後，帶著他們的財物逃離了提格雷地區正在進行的戰鬥。（圖片來源：MOHAMED NURELDIN ABDALLAH/REUTERS）
向歐洲、非洲和亞洲的幾個國家出售無人機的土耳其駁斥了對其在非洲發揮不穩定作用的批評，並表示正在與埃塞俄比亞各方保持聯繫以敦促談判。
上週，聯合國同意對埃塞俄比亞的侵犯人權行為進行獨立調查，此舉遭到埃塞俄比亞政府的強烈反對。
提格雷叛軍周一表示，在政府推進後，他們將從北部一些地區撤出，並在給聯合國的一封信中呼籲在提格雷上空設立無人機和其他敵對飛機的禁飛區。
美國國務院在 5 月份取締了埃塞俄比亞武裝部隊的國防產品出口。
9 月，白宮授權對那些參與甚至間接參與威脅穩定、擴大危機或破壞那裡的人道主義援助的政策的人實施制裁，儘管沒有跡象表明會立即對土耳其採取任何此類行動。
根據該行政命令擁有廣泛經濟制裁權的美國財政部拒絕評論制裁是否適用於土耳其。
這位土耳其高級官員表示，作為 2022 年預算計劃的一部分，外交部研究了無人機銷售可能如何影響美國的外交政策。
“美國已經表達了對土耳其無人機銷售的不滿……但土耳其將繼續遵循它在這方面製定的政策，”該人士告訴路透社。
來自國防部的另一位土耳其高級官員表示，安卡拉無意干涉任何國家的內政。
根據出口商大會的數據，土耳其對埃塞俄比亞的國防出口在 2021 年前 11 個月飆升至近 9500 萬美元，而去年幾乎為零。
無人機在行動
路透社在靠近戰爭前線的山坡小鎮加什納附近接受路透社採訪的埃塞俄比亞政府士兵說，在增援部隊湧入以及使用無人機和空襲瞄準提格雷陣地後，最近的政府進攻取得了成功。
路透社的一個小組在那裡發現了被毀壞的坦克和裝甲防空卡車。
一名駐埃塞俄比亞的外國軍事官員表示，衛星圖像和其他證據“清楚地表明”有人在使用無人機，估計有多達 20 架正在運行。目前還不清楚有多少可能是土耳其製造的。
“監視無人機正在產生更大的影響……並且非常有用，”該人士說，並補充說衝突的游擊戰性質使武裝無人機變得不那麼有用。
當被問及外國是否也提供了無人機操作員時，這位官員說：“我知道土耳其人員曾經在這裡。”
土耳其和埃塞俄比亞官員尚未公開證實無人機銷售，路透社於 10 月首次報導了這一消息，土耳其外交部沒有回應提供更多細節的請求。
它上週表示，美國特使費爾特曼和外交部副部長塞達特奧納爾討論了埃塞俄比亞、索馬里和蘇丹的事態發展。
埃塞俄比亞還從阿拉伯聯合酋長國購買了無人機，後者沒有回應有關美國可能擔憂的置評請求。費爾特曼還計劃於本月早些時候訪問阿聯酋。
土耳其擴張
在總統塔伊普·埃爾多安 (Tayyip Erdogan) 的領導下，安卡拉向非洲和中東注入了軍事裝備，包括在擁有基地的索馬里訓練武裝部隊。
土耳其軍方去年在敘利亞、利比亞和納戈爾諾-卡拉巴赫成功使用了 Bayraktar TB2 無人機，引起了全球買家對以美國、中國和以色列製造商為首的市場的興趣。
10 月，土耳其外交部發言人表示，埃塞俄比亞可以從任何地方自由採購無人機。外交部長梅夫魯特恰武什奧盧上週表示，與非洲的接觸是基於互惠互利的。
北約盟國華盛頓和安卡拉在幾個問題上關係緊張，包括土耳其購買俄羅斯導彈防禦系統，以及美國對敘利亞北部庫爾德戰士的支持。
國務院發言人表示，費爾特曼強調，“現在是所有外部行動者敦促談判和結束埃塞俄比亞戰爭的時候了”。
這位要求匿名的西方官員表示，安卡拉回應了美國的擔憂，稱其將人道主義條款附加到埃塞俄比亞協議中，並要求簽署承諾，概述將如何使用無人機。
US concerned over Turkey's drone sales to conflict-hit Ethiopia
The year-long war between Ethiopia's government and the leadership of the northern Tigray region has killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions.
By REUTERS
Published: DECEMBER 22, 2021 15:37
Updated: DECEMBER 22, 2021 15:44
Members of Amhara region militias ride on their truck as they head to face the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), in Sanja, Amhara region near a border with Tigray, Ethiopia November 9, 2020.
(photo credit: REUTERS/TIKSA NEGERI)
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US authorities have taken issue with Turkey over its sales of armed drones to Ethiopia, where two sources familiar with the matter said there was mounting evidence the government had used the weapons against rebel fighters.
Washington has "profound humanitarian concerns" over the sales, which could contravene US restrictions on arms to Addis Ababa, a senior Western official said.
The year-long war between Ethiopia's government and the leadership of the northern Tigray region, among Africa's bloodiest conflicts, has killed thousands of civilians and displaced millions.
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A State Department spokesman said US Horn of Africa envoy Jeffrey Feltman "raised reports of armed drone use in Ethiopia and the attendant risk of civilian harm" during a visit to last week.
A senior Turkish official said Washington conveyed its discomfort at a few meetings, while Ethiopia's military and government did not respond to detailed requests for comment.
Ethiopians, who fled the ongoing fighting in Tigray region, carry their belongings after crossing the Setit River on the Sudan-Ethiopia border, in the eastern Kassala state, Sudan December 16, 2020. (credit: MOHAMED NURELDIN ABDALLAH/REUTERS)
Turkey, which is selling drones to several countries in Europe, Africa and Asia, has dismissed criticism that it plays a destabilizing role in Africa and has said it is in touch with all sides in Ethiopia to urge negotiations.
Last week the United Nations agreed to set up an independent investigation into rights abuses in Ethiopia, a move strongly opposed by its government.
Tigrayan rebel forces said on Monday they were withdrawing from some northern regions after government advances and, in a letter to the UN, called for a no-fly zone for drones and other hostile aircraft over Tigray.
The US State Department clamped down in May on exports of defense products for Ethiopia's armed forces.
In September, the White House authorized sanctions on those engaged, even indirectly, in policies that threaten stability, expand the crisis or disrupt humanitarian assistance there, though there has been no indication of any such imminent action against Turkey.
The US Treasury, which has broad economic sanctions authority under that executive order, declined to comment on whether sanctions could apply to Turkey.
The senior Turkish official said the foreign ministry examined how the drone sales might impact US foreign policy as part of 2022 budget planning.
"The United States has conveyed its discomfort with Turkey's drone sales …but Turkey will continue to follow the policies it set in this area," the person told Reuters.
A second senior Turkish official, from the defense ministry, said Ankara had no intention of meddling in any country's domestic affairs.
Turkish defense exports to Ethiopia surged to almost $95 million in the first 11 months of 2021, from virtually nothing last year, according to Exporters' Assembly data.
DRONES IN ACTION
Ethiopian government soldiers interviewed by Reuters near Gashena, a hillside town close to the war's front, said a recent government offensive succeeded following an influx of reinforcements and the use of drones and airstrikes to target Tigrayan positions.
A Reuters team spotted destroyed tanks and armored anti-aircraft trucks there.
A foreign military official based in Ethiopia said satellite imagery and other evidence gave "clear indications" that drones were being used, and estimated up to 20 were operating. It was unclear how many might be Turkish-made.
"Surveillance drones are having a greater impact …and being very helpful," the person said, adding the guerrilla-warfare nature of the conflict made armed drones less useful.
Asked whether foreign countries had also supplied drone operators, the official said: "I know Turkish personnel were here at one point."
Turkish and Ethiopian officials have not publicly confirmed the drones sale, which Reuters first reported in October, and Turkey's foreign ministry did not respond to a request for further details.
It said last week that US envoy Feltman and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal had discussed developments in Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan.
Ethiopia has also bought drones from the United Arab Emirates, which did not respond to a request for comment about possible US concerns. Feltman was also scheduled to visit the UAE earlier this month.
TURKISH EXPANSION
Under President Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara has poured military equipment into Africa and the Middle East, including training of armed forces in Somalia, where it has a base.
The Turkish military used its Bayraktar TB2 drones last year with success in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting interest from buyers globally in a market led by US, Chinese and Israeli manufacturers.
In October, a Turkish foreign ministry spokesman said Ethiopia was free to procure drones from anywhere. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said last week that engagement with Africa was based on mutual benefit.
NATO allies Washington and Ankara have strained ties over several issues including the Turkish purchase of Russian missile defenses, and US support for Kurdish fighters in northern Syria.
The State Department spokesperson said Feltman had underscored that "now is the time for all outside actors to press for negotiations and end the war" in Ethiopia.
The Western official, who requested anonymity, said Ankara had responded to US concerns by saying it attaches humanitarian provisions to the Ethiopia deal and requires signed undertakings outlining how drones will be used.
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