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Middle East conflict

Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza could lead to 'bloodbath' — media

Gian Gentile, a retired US Army colonel and military historian with the Rand Corp., said that the scope of Israel’s offensive was "obviously going to be much larger" than its operations in recent years

© Saeed Qaq /Anadolu/Reuters

WASHINGTON, October 16. /TASS/. The ground operation that Israel plans to carry out against Hamas militants in Gaza may lead to huge losses on both sides and drag other countries into the conflict, The Washington Post writes, citing experts.

"I think they’re going to go back in, heavy, and it’s going to be a bloodbath for everybody," retired US Marine Corps general Kenneth McKenzie Jr. said, as cited by the newspaper. According to him, the violence will be "dragged out over a much longer period of time" than the recent Hamas attack, "with the Israelis getting bogged down in the messy unpredictability of urban warfare."

Gian Gentile, a retired US Army colonel and military historian with the Rand Corp., said that the scope of Israel’s offensive was "obviously going to be much larger" than its operations in recent years.

Mick Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, told the paper that although the Israeli army had superior troops, weapons and equipment to those of Hamas, the group had "become very efficient" at fighting in urban terrain.

Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog confirmed to CNN on Monday that Israel was preparing a ground operation.

According to the New York Times, Israel’s ground operation in Gaza was expected to begin last weekend "but was delayed by a few days at least in part because of weather conditions that would have made it harder for Israeli pilots and drone operators to provide ground forces with air cover." Israel plans to send tens of thousands of troops to seize the city of Gaza and overthrow the enclave’s current authorities. "The assault is expected to be Israel’s biggest ground operation since it invaded Lebanon in 2006. It would also be the first in which Israel has attempted to capture land and at least briefly hold onto it since its invasion of Gaza in 2008, according to the three senior officers," the New York Times wrote. "The operation risks locking Israel into months of bloody urban combat <...> in a narrow and tightly packed sliver of land populated by more than two million people," the newspaper added.

Tensions in the Middle East flared up again after Hamas militants infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7. The Palestinian movement described its attack as a response to the actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza and started carrying out strikes on the Palestinian enclave, as well as on certain areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank. More than 2,800 Palestinians have been killed and about 10,900 have suffered wounds; in Israel, the death toll stands at about 1,500 and nearly 4,000 people have been wounded.

Senior Hezbollah commander alive following Israeli strike

According to the TV channel, Karaki, who was at the headquarters during the air strike, sustained wounds but was not killed

Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

The politician underscored that no one really needs a nuclear conflict - it is "a very bad story with a very difficult outcome."

Lavrov says he agrees with Trump about destructiveness of sanctions for US dollar

The Russian foreign minister stressed that, despite the continued dependence of many economies on the dollar, the risk of this phenomenon has already been recognized

Russian aerospace forces strike four terrorists bases in two Syrian governorates

They left the al-Tanf area, Oleg Igansyuk, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said

Russia to create counter-balance to US missiles in Asia — MFA

Ryabkov emphasized that Russia "cannot expect good and positive things from the United States"

Zelensky may be overthrown if Ukraine fails to hold elections — Ukrainian MP

Ukraine is still facing the question of the legitimacy of power in the absence of parliamentary and presidential elections, which cannot be held during martial law

Ukraine’s forces in Ugledar virtually encircled — sources

"Most positions around the city, including those at the most important sites and heights are Russian, the whole city is exposed to fire," the sources explained

Israeli army delivers extensive strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

According to the report, the strikes targeted rocket launchers quite close to civilian homes

Spacemen to return to Earth after longest mission in ISS’s history

The undocking has been scheduled for 11:37 Moscow time, the spacecraft is expected to land at about 15:00 Moscow time

Russia to display Supercam S350 drone at ADEX show

Supercam S350 is a light drone with video signal range of over 70 km

Senior Russian diplomat meets with UN coordinator for Gaza in New York

"The sides exchanged views on the current situation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict amid the continuing Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip," the press service of the Russian mission to the United Nations said

Hamas rejects latest US proposals about hostage deals — TV

According to the American and Israeli sources, Hamas claims that it is ready to discuss only the proposal introduced in May by US President Joe Biden

Conflicts in space to increase over time, German general predicts

"The enemy views our space capabilities, both civilian and military, as targets," Michael Traut, the head of Germany's Military Space Command, noted

Russian aviation hit 20 areas of deployment of Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region

Russian warplanes hit 13 settlement in the Sumy Region as well, the Russian defense ministry said

Russia says its Iskander missile destroys US-made HIMARS in Sumy Region

The crew of an Iskander tactical missile system of the Russian Armed Forces carried out a missile strike on the position of an M142 HIMARS of Ukrainian forces in the settlement of Shaposhnikovo

FIDE postpones decision on easing sanctions against Russian chess players

Sixty-six delegates voted in favor of consultations with the IOC and IPC on the partial qualification of Russian and Belarussian chess players

Russia's newest satellites to change course of Ukrainian conflict — former UN inspector

According to Ritter this conflict would become "unsustainable for the Ukrainian sometime by the end of summer, early fall"

Ukraine's accusation against Russia over violations in Kerch Strait has no grounds — MFA

Ukraine initiated a dispute on this matter on September 16, 2016

Israeli air force attacks 290 Hezbollah facilities in Lebanon in 24 hours

According to IDF, 180 targets were hit

IDF carries out massive strikes at Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

"The details will be published later," the press office said

Kiev’s plans and Ukrainian losses: latest update on situation in Kursk Region

Ukrainian troops are regrouping in the Kursk Region in an attempt to stage an attack at another location but Russian forces are in control of the situation, Major General Apty Alaudinov, deputy chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ Main Military-Political Department and commander of the Akhmat special forces commando unit, said

Russian expert sees Zelensky's trip to Pennsylvania as crude pressure on US voters

Vladimir Zharikhin noted that Zelensky was making this trip on instructions from Washington

Press review: Israel declares new phase of war and Russia boosts drone production

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 20th

Ukraine spends over $150 billion on military needs, but it's not enough — Defense Ministry

Rustem Umerov did not specify for what period exactly the specified amount was spent

Ukrainian minister says West pledged funds for making missiles, drones in Ukraine

We have developed a missile program, Ukrainian Defense Minister said

Ukraine's accusations against Russia over Crimean Bridge go beyond UN convention — MFA

"Just as it was in the UN International Court of Justice, Ukraine's accusations in this arbitration are not serious, they are nothing more than another example of systematic abuse of the international justice system for purely political purposes," Gennady Kuzmin emphasized

UN General Assembly has lost its viability, says Brazilian president

"The pandemic, conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the arms race, the climate crisis have revealed the limitations of multilateral formats," Inacio Lula da Silva said at the Summit of the Future at the UN headquarters

Russia ready for talks with Turkey on Su-35, Su-57 fighters

Russia earlier noted its readiness to participate in the program of developing the Turkish TF-X fifth-generation fighter

Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states

Harris will be unable to stop WWIII, Trump argues

Earlier, the politician also warned that the United States would head toward a third world war under a Democratic administration

Russian ambassador’s escort car drives into mine in Pakistan, policemen injured

Russian diplomats were not hurt

Russia considers Ukraine's accusations of obstructing navigation groundless — diplomat

The convention, Gennady Kuzmin noted, does not regulate inland waters, except in extremely limited circumstances

TASS flag at 900 m above sea level. About new Arctic pass

The Clean Arctic — Vostok-77 expedition initiated the idea to mark the 120th anniversary of Russia's first state news agency and to remember its journalists who have actively participated in Arctic expeditions

Israel wants to drag whole region into war, engages in terrorism, says Erdogan

The Turkish President said he would address the UNGA to ask the participants to remember "the need for taking action against genocide in the Gaza Strip and Israel's aggressive policies"

Ukrainian troops shell school with 106 children inside in Zaporozhye Region

There have been no casualties

Dangerous events in Lebanon confirm unprecedented escalation — Russian ambassador

Anatoly Viktorov urged all the sides to "immediately cease fire, show maximum restraint, and move to a political and diplomatic settlement of the situation"

India’s Modi expresses concerns over humanitarian situation in Gaza at meeting with Abbas

"Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening of the bilateral relations between India and Palestine," the Indian Foreign Ministry said

All restrictions on entry to Tikhoretsk lifted after Ukrainian attack

Two drones were downed on Saturday by Russian servicemen in the Tikhoretsky district of the Krasnodar Region, where the falling debris resulted in a fire, followed by the detonation of explosive items

Hezbollah fighters claim Merkava tank hit on Israeli border

The Al Mayadeen TV channel reported that the tank caught fire, two servicemen were killed and one got injured

Cosmonauts, astronaut move from ISS to Soyuz MS-25, close hatches

The crew will now don their spacesuits and take their seats for the journey back

UNGA member countries adopt Pact for the Future, despite Russia’s objection

Along with Russia, Belarus and Nicaragua, delegations from North Korea, Syria, Sudan, and Iran voted against

Crew of Russia’s Soyuz MS-25 leaves landing module

The module has made a vertical landing

Ukrainian troops retreat from village near Artyomovsk in DPR — Russian officers

The enemy fled from near Andreyevka where it has long been holding positions, it has retreated, law enforcement officers said

Israel verifying reports about Hamas leader Sinwar’s possible death

According to Kan, so far it is impossible to confirm these reports

Macron calls for reviewing ties with Russia

The French president also called for bigger presence of "densely populated countries, which did not exist when the current world order was only forming" in international organizations

Russian, Lao servicemen hold first joint exercise in Russia’s Far East — top brass

The Russian Defense Ministry pointed out that the first stage of the drills will begin on September 25

Press review: US shifts rhetoric on Ukraine and walkie-talkie explosions rock Lebanon

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, September 19th

Prime Minister Mishustin to speak at key microelectronics forum

The event will also be attended by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov and Minister of Digital Development and Communications and Mass Media Maksut Shadayev

Hezbollah attacks Israeli Ramat David air base for second time

Movement used two types of rockets: Fadi-1, with a range of 80 km, and Fadi-2, with a range of 105 km

Tensions flare up in North Caucasus since start of special military op — commander

Lieutenant General Vladimir Makeyev also mentioned the emergence of self-radicalized citizens, usually living abroad

Advanced Sarmat ICBM systems go on combat alert in Russia — Roscosmos head

The RS-28 Sarmat missile to replace the R-36M2 Voyevoda ICBM operational in the Russian Strategic Missile Force since 1988

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts roughly 105 enemy casualties in past day

Ukrainian military losses included an APC, four motor vehicles, two D-20 howitzers, three D-30 howitzers and a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery mount

Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

"We have warned from the beginning that those who help the Zelensky clique stay afloat will become our legitimate targets," Vasily Nebezya reminded

West to be ready for nuclear escalation in confrontation with Russia — expert

According to Glenn Diesen, NATO expansion that canceled inclusive pan-European security agreements with Russia was "the main manifestation of America's hegemonic ambitions after the Cold War"

Scholz speak in favor of reforming UN Security Council

At the same time, he said that he doesn’t understand Russia’s position on the Pact for the Future, which was adopted ahead of general discussion of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

Hezbollah handing out pagers hours before their detonation — agency

The sources said that the Shiite movement did not have any specific suspicions about these pagers and their "checks had been part of a routine 'sweep' of its equipment to find any indications that they were laced with explosives"

Kiev moves reserves to Kharkov Region as Russian army pushes towards Kupyansk — official

Vitaly Ganchev specified that over the past two weeks, Russian troops had achieved certain success the Kharkov Region

Europe's new security architecture yet to be built — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov noted that this would require great efforts in the future and be a matter of special concern for the Kremlin in order to ensure Russia's legitimate security interests

Press review: Prognosing upcoming Zelensky-Biden meetup and Hezbollah ups ante with Israel

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, September 23rd

FACTBOX: Breakthrough attempts repulsed: situation in Kursk Region

The Russian military repelled two enemy attempts to break through the border towards Novy Put

Moscow reiterates will not test nukes if Washington refrains

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov drew attention "to recent media reports saying that the infrastructure on Novaya Zemlya is fully ready"

Russia’s response to long-range weapons supplies to Kiev will be brutal — MFA

"The opponents in Washington, London, and other places clearly underestimate the degree of danger of the game they continue to play," Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Ryabkov said

Russia cautions Chisinau against involvement in Ukrainian conflict — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova drew attention to the speculations about Romania's plans for redirecting to Moldova the mobile maintenance stations for F-16 fighter jets received by Bucharest for their subsequent deployment at the Marculesti airbase

Kremlin reserved over articles about Zelensky plan, would study official version

Earlier, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that he had some kind of plan for ending the conflict

Kremlin spokesman says West ‘obsessed’ with fighting Russia until Ukraine runs out of men

Peskov was commenting on NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's recent statement that there is no need to be afraid of using Western weapons for strikes deep inside Russia

Russia to display Lancet-E kamikaze drone at ADEX show

"Our solutions provide protection against the whole range of internal and external security threats to regional countries," Rosoboronexport CEO Alexander Mikheyev said

Russia says battlegroup West struck 4 Ukrainian brigades

Enemy lost up to 420 troops

No details on Kursk Region residents taken away by Ukraine available — ombudswoman

Tatyana Moskalkova added that she had asked Ukrainian ombudsman Dmitry Lubints to provide information with a list of citizens who found themselves in the territories temporarily occupied by the Ukrainian Nazis

Soyuz MS-25 undocks from ISS

The spacecraft carrying Roscosmos cosmonauts Oleg Kononenko and Nikolay Chub, accompanied by NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, back to Earth is expected to land southeast of Jezkazgan, Kazakhstan, at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time

Kremlin concerned about rising tensions in the Middle East

Dmitry Peskov noted that the situation in the region was getting worse every day

BRICS countries must build a just world order together — Chinese politician

"The BRICS countries should firmly protect their rights to progress, encourage developing countries to evolve independently, as well as lay the foundation for consolidating multilateralism and building a more just and rational international order," Wang Gang said

Putin bids last respects to his demised first judo coach Rakhlin

Rakhlin has trained Vladimir Putin for 11 years

Russia's military to restore control of all districts of Kursk Region — Kremlin

"The situation in those areas which are under the control of the Ukrainian militants is extraordinary, of course," Dmitry Peskov stated

US billionaire sees Zelensky’s 'victory plan' leading to third world war

David Sacks said hopefully Joe Biden can remember why he has rejected the points of the Ukrainian president’s plan

Sri Lankan premier resigns following Dissanayake’s presidential win

Dinesh Gunawardena said he resigned "to create space" for the appointment of a new cabinet

Bundestag members address Cabinet with query regarding Ukraine’s attack on Kursk Region

The legislators are asking whether German weapons are used by the Ukrainian forces in their incursion into the Kursk Region

CERN's turn away from Russian scientists has positive aspects — Kurchatov Center chief

This is quite obviously a positive development for us in some respects, Kovalchuk said

Russian forces strike Ukrainian energy facilities, troops last night — top brass

Overnight, the Russian Armed Forces launched a group strike on energy facilities that supply electricity to Ukrainian defense plants and drone production cites as well as Ukrainian troops

Russia must respond to West's banditry — Peskov on limiting raw materials exports

We need to respond to — not just unfriendly, but thuggish — actions against us, he said

Decision on strikes into Russia unlikely to come after Biden-Zelensky talks — The Times

The newspaper noted that the decision on strikes deep into Russian territory is unlikely to change turn the tide of the conflict, because Russia has withdrawn its planes and missile systems from the range of Western-made weapons, used in the Ukrainian conflict

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry sapper dies in Kursk Region during mine clearance

Vyacheslav Tsoffka had to his credit than 10,000 detected and neutralized explosive items

Crew of Soyuz MS-25 return to Earth, completing longest ISS mission

Oleg Kononenko and Nikolay Chub spent more than 374 days onboard the ISS

Ukrainians sustain over 300 casualties in Kursk area in past day, Russia says

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian losses have amounted to over 300 troops and nine units of armored hardware, including an infantry fighting vehicle, two APCs, six armored combat vehicles, as well as six artillery guns

Four people dead, dozens injured in Alabama shooting — report

According to the report, two men and a woman died at the scene

Death toll in Israeli Air Force strike outside Beirut rises to 59

The media reported that several bodies, including those of women and children, were recovered from under the rubble following search and rescue operations on Sunday, September 22

Ukrainian troops hold up to 120 captured civilians in Russia’s borderline Sudzha

Rodion Miroshnik noted that as of now, 266 wounded and 56 killed civilians have been reported since the onset of the Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk Region

Russia wants no nuclear war — Lavrov

The foreign minister still assured that Russia possesses weapons "that will have serious implications for the handlers of the Ukrainian regime"

Ukrainian decoy drone meant for hacking air defenses seized in Kursk Region

Such drones are made of cheap components and carry no quality cameras or other additional radio transmitting devices

First submarine carrying unmanned vehicles Poseidon to be launched in spring

Poseidon is undergoing successful tests, the president stressed

Ukrainian howitzer Bogdana destroyed by Lancet munition in Sumy Region

Objective monitoring of the strike on the Ukrainian artillery piece was carried by air reconnaissance means in the real time mode

Poland accuses Russia of 'disinformation campaign' amid large-scale flooding

According to the police, 7 people died and over 6,000 people have been evacuated from the flooded area

Russia will not 'shoot itself in the foot' by halting gas supplies — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, for many decades, since the times of the Soviet Union, since the 1970s, Moscow has been establishing mutually beneficial cooperation in gas supplies

Telegram may hand over user data of rule violators to authorities

The Telegram team has removed all problematic content from there in recent weeks, Pavel Durov said, without giving any details

Putin, Berdimuhamedow discuss partnership, international meetings

Putin earlier sent a message with birthday greetings to the Turkmen president

Russian diplomat slams Pact for the Future as serious blow on UN

"The United Nations had infringed upon its own principles to pander to a group of delegations from the ‘beautiful garden,’ who have usurped the talks from the very beginning," Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said

Anura Kumara Dissanayake wins presidential election in Sri Lanka

According to the news portal Newsfirst, Dissanayake was supported by 5,740,179 voters after second ballot count

Elite Iranian army unit bans use of comm devices in wake of Lebanon blasts — media

Top officials are concerned about the incident, having requested the results of technical examination as well as several samples of detonated products from Hezbollah

Neglect of Russia’s interests makes lasting settlement in Ukraine impossible — MFA

At the same time, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained that Russian representatives "have not participated in any meetings within the framework of the ‘Buergenstock process’ and are not going to participate in any

IRGC says exposed network of 12 Israeli agents in 6 Iranian provinces

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has blamed Israel for seeking to spread the conflict onto Iran’s territory and destabilize the situation inside the country

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into