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NATO suspends its training mission in Iraq

NATO’s mission is continuing, but the training activities are currently suspended, acting NATO spokesperson Dylan White says

© EPA-EFE/Toms Kalnins

BRUSSELS, January 4. / TASS /. NATO has "suspended the work of its mission in Iraq to train personnel for the local army" due to growing instability in the country after the US airstrikes, acting NATO spokesperson Dylan White told TASS on Saturday.

"NATO is monitoring the situation in the region very closely. We remain in close and regular contact with the US authorities. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper spoke by phone following the recent developments," White said.

"The NATO mission in Iraq consists of several hundred personnel. At the request of the Iraqi government, they are helping to strengthen the Iraqi forces and prevent the return of ISIS (Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia). The safety of our personnel in Iraq is paramount. We continue to take all the precautions necessary. NATO’s mission is continuing, but the training activities are currently suspended," he said.

Middle East conflict

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Slovenian PM says Russia needs to participate in talks on Ukraine — newspaper

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Kiev uses Western chemical weapons under guise of smoke shells in Sudzha — top brass

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Russian troops seize control of fortifications in DPR's Ugledar

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Press review: Gaza conflict turns one year old and who could be Russia's next envoy to US

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Underground tunnels were built in Lebanon to attack Israel, envoy says

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Kremlin lauds Antonov’s diplomatic mission in US

The Russian embassy in the United States told TASS on October 5 that Anatoly Antonov had completed his mission as Russia’s ambassador to Washington

Buffer zone between Israel, Lebanon to be protected by peacekeepers — US official

"For a variety of reasons" UNIFIL and the Lebanese armed forces have been failing "to prevent Hezbollah from sitting in those areas just over the border from Israel and launching rocket strikes and other attacks against Israel.", US Department of State Spokesperson said

It’s up to Armenian, Azerbaijani leaders to decide if they want to meet at BRICS — Lavrov

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Russia to keep gathering evidence of Kiev’s use of toxic chemicals, diplomat says

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Probe underway in Spain into death of Russia’s female triathlete

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DPR head expects entire region to be liberated in foreseeable future

"For our part, we expect that the DPR will be liberated in the foreseeable future as part of efforts to achieve the goals set by the Russian president," Denis Pushilin noted

Realities for settlement in Ukraine have changed significantly — Lavrov

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IDF reveals number of enemy projectiles, drones launched toward Israel in past year

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Surprise was ‘key factor for success’ in Ugledar — battle group East’s deputy chief

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Iranian airports resume receiving, dispatching flights

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Russia’s FSB finds cache of chemical substances in DPR

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Gennady Gatilov emphasized that "on October 7, 2023, the world was shaken by a horrifying tragedy in Israel, which claimed the lives of nearly 1,200 people and shattered thousands of human fates"

Russian tank crews helped seize last Ukrainian army positions in Ugledar — top brass

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According to Ugandan Armed Forces Commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba, William Popp engaged in activities that are inconsistent with his diplomatic status

Russian stock indices falling on Monday — market data

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Ukraine not going to renew gas transit agreement with Russia — Ukrainian PM

The International Energy Agency earlier highlighted the significant risk for the full stop of Russian gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine after 2024, because the gas transit contract between the two countries expires at the turn of this year

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Over the past day, 9,395 people from Lebanon crossed the Syrian Arab Republic’s border via the checkpoints of Al-Arida, Al-Jawasiyeh, Al-Dabousiyah, Jisr Qamar and Jdaidet Yabous

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North Korea once again launches garbage balloons at South Korea

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Hungarian Prime Minister also praised Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, saying that in Hungary he was seen as a hero for securing Italy's borders and protecting Europe

Russia remains integral to ITER project — organization’s Director General

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Court in Moscow hands down lengthy prison sentence to 72-year-old US mercenary Hubbard

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Slovak prime minister calls for commemorating Soviet Marshal Ivan Konev

Marshal played a decisive role in organizing the operations carried out on section of the Soviet-German frontline in Slovakia, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said

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Russia rolls out first flight prototype of state-of-the art Okhotnik heavy strike drone

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Israeli Air Force attacks Hamas command centers in central Gaza Strip — army

IDF said that Shuhada al-Aqsa hospital were used to plan and execute attacks

Hezbollah fighters use paragliders in attempt to infiltrate Israel’s northern border — TV

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Russia may take part in construction of second NPP in Turkey — Deputy Prime Minister

According to Alexander Novak, successful joint work on the Akkuyu project opens up opportunities for expanding cooperation

Informal meeting of CIS leaders, EAEU summit planned in December 2024

"The meeting under the auspices of the EAEU is also linked to it," Yury Ushakov said

Finland suspends work of advisory council with Russia on Saimaa Canal

The main activities of the Advisory Board have mainly focused on determining the dates of the beginning and end of navigation along the Saimaa Canal, exchange of information on the situation in the Saimaa region

Eastbound coal shipments of Russian railways gain 3.2% in 9M 2024

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International system no longer effective in solving crises — Iran's ambassador to Russia

Kazem Jalali noted that that Iran's retaliatory action on October 1, 2024, in the form of a missile strike against some military and security facilities sites in the occupied territories of Palestine "was taken in the framework of legitimate defense"

Iran, its allies working toward pact to counter potential US, Israeli attack

The authors of the bill argue that Iran’s Security Council should be in charge of considering applications to join the Pact of Resistance

Settling conflict with Russia among Georgia’s top priorities — PM

Dwelling on the government’s foreign policy plans for the next four years, Irakli Kobakhidze cited resetting relations with the United States and the European Union as "the most important national ask"

SVR chief implicates US, Britain in Nord Stream sabotage

"While the investigation into this sabotage is ongoing in the West, "its course gives no hope that the real culprits behind the incident will ever be punished," Sergey Naryshkin stressed

Putin to celebrate his birthday in office

The Russian President turns 72

Case against Ukrainian militants: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 150 servicemen, three armored fighting vehicles, as well as two artillery pieces, four mortars and two vehicles

Clean Arctic volunteers begin mission in Eurasia's northernmost point

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Slovakia ready to host lower-level meetings for summit on Ukraine — prime minister

Slovakia, as Fico noted, is interested in continuing intergovernmental consultations with Ukraine

Israeli army declares closed military zone in coastal area on Lebanese border

The settlement of Rosh HaNikra is located near the Mediterranean coast on the very border with Lebanon

FACTBOX: CIS Summits

Currently, Commonwealth of Independent States brings together 11 post-Soviet countries, while two states have effectively suspended their work and cooperation within the CIS - Moldova and Ukraine

Israel to end operation in Gaza when hostages are released — Israeli diplomat

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7 after militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion on Israeli territory

Chinese-Russian relations withstand all tests, continue developing — Chinese ambassador

Over the past 75 years, our relations have survived the tests of the difficulties of the international situation and have always maintained vitality and energy

Russian troops liberate Grodovka community in Donbass region over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 410 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

CIS foreign ministers adopt statement on security in Eurasia — executive committee

The statement reaffirms the readiness of the Commonwealth countries "to make a practical contribution to the creation of an architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia, sustainable and long-term stabilization of the military and political situation, as well as the settlement of existing regional conflicts and the prevention of new ones"

IAEA chief warns against any attacks on employees of nuclear plants

"Any targeting of employees of nuclear power plants would constitute a blatant violation of this pillar fundamental for overall nuclear safety and security," Rafael Grossi said

Press review: Russia urges Israel to see reason and NATO at wits end on how to help Kiev

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, October 4th

Scientists Ambros, Ruvkun win Nobel Prize in Medicine for groundbreaking microRNA work

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Iran not going to allow Israel to launch new round of violence — envoy to Russia

According to Kazem Jalali, the behavior of Western countries is "surprising" in this context

NPP construction in Kazakhstan supported by 71.12% of citizens in referendum

The total number of citizens eligible to vote in the referendum was 12,284,487

Nuclear test ban organization says Iranian seismic event looks like earthquake — diplomat

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Iran’s province of Semnan southeast of the capital Tehran on October 5

Russia’s relations with CIS countries develop steadily, nothing threatens them — Lavrov

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Ukraine admits worsening of situation for its troops near Selidovo in DPR

According to spokesman for Ukraine’s 15th Kara-Dag brigade of operational assignment at the National Guard of Ukraine Vitaly Milovidov, the Russian military has intensified the suppression of Ukrainian firing positions

Ka-52M attack Ukrainian military near Kursk Region’s border

Helicopters carried out strikes against Ukrainian manpower and armored vehicles

Israel Defense Forces reports hitting Hezbollah intelligence headquarters in Beirut

Israel’s warplanes attacked Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley area in the early hours of Monday, striking weapons storage facilities, military infrastructure sites, and one launcher