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Middle East conflict

Updated at:

Islamic Jihad’s military wing says Israeli woman held hostage in Gaza is dead

It is reported that the death was caused by "delay on the part of Israel"

BEIRUT, November 22. /TASS/. A spokesman for the Al-Quds Brigades (Saraya al-Quds), the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) radical movement, reported late on Tuesday that an Israeli hostage whom the group was earlier ready to release for humanitarian reasons, has died.

"We report the death of Hannah Katzir, an Israeli resident whom we earlier offered to release for humanitarian reasons. The [Israeli] enemy’s procrastination has led to her death," spokesman Abu Hamza said in a statement on the Al-Quds Brigades Telegram channel on Tuesday.

The statement says that "amid [Israel’s] barbaric bombings of every inch of the Gaza territory," the group is "renouncing all responsibility towards [Israeli] hostages."

According to the IDF, there are at least 242 military and civilian persons currently being held captive in the Gaza Strip. They are being held not only by Hamas, but by other radical groups, including Islamic Jihad. Negotiations on the release of hostages and captives are underway with mediation from Qatar, with additional mediation efforts exerted by Egypt, Turkey and Lebanon.

In a video address, posted on Telegram on November 9, Abu Hamza said that the Al-Quds Brigades were offering to release a woman and a boy child, who were taken hostage in early October. He said the group was ready to release them "for humanitarian reasons" because of the group’s inability to provide them with necessary medical assistance and medicines.

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, killing many Israeli kibbutz residents living near the Gaza border and abducting more than 200 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly. Hamas described its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ aggressive actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria, as well as a ground operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.

US Presidential Election 2024

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The US Vice President-elect noted that persecution against Trump has always been political

Iran challenges US, UK, France military capabilities, IRGC general says

"The entire military potential of the US, UK, and France was mobilized to prevent Iran's operation, but the IRGC completed its mission," Ali Fadavi said

Russia’s top diplomat says ‘still a long way to go’ to diplomatic solution in Ukraine

According to Sergey Lavrov, 'carrying out strikes deep inside Russian territory contributed to this escalation'

Russian air defenses repulse drone attack over Black Sea, Sevastopol

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US no longer objects to use of S-400 air defense systems by Turkey, Defense Minister says

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Trump considers direct negotiations with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un — Reuters

According to the report, his team believes that this step could reduce the risk of an armed conflict

Citizens of Poland, Germany, Italy apply for residence permit in Lugansk Republic

The decisions will be made in response to these applications in the near future

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According to the report, Ukrainian forces are known to have killed at least a hundred civilians

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Erik Prince noted that it was necessary to end the Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible

Russia’s Medvedev warns Europe could face 'catastrophic damage' from Oreshnik missile

The Russian Security Council deputy chairman also commented on Vladimir Zelensky’s "resilience plan"

UK Foreign Office warns about response to ‘baseless’ expulsion of its diplomat

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Ukraine requests UN Security Council meeting on November 27 — Russian mission

According to Dmitry Polyansky, "the Kiev regime keeps fighting windmills and does not abandon attempts to persuade the world community this struggle is very serious"

Israel’s national security minister calls ceasefire in Lebanon ‘historic mistake’

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Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, the West is directly involved in the use of long-range weapons against Russia, as not a single missile could be launched without its involvement

Hamas ready for ceasefire in Gaza following truce in Lebanon

Earlier, the Israeli war cabinet approved a plan for a ceasefire in Lebanon

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Ukrainian forces attempt to assassinate Novaya Kakhovka head, his deputy with drones

Ukraine tracked two service cars and dropped munitions on them after the vehicles approached the administration building

Germany orders closure of Russia’s Channel One bureau in Berlin

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British mercenary taken into custody and Ukraine's losses: situation in Kursk Region

The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 250 troops, four tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, three armored combat vehicles, eight motor vehicles and two mortars in the past day

Russia’s nuclear potential is powerful 'security blanket,' US admits — top researcher

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NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

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Ukraine demolishes buildings with soldiers inside as Russian forces advance — DPR leader

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Two Ukrainian infantry groups eliminated near Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

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Russian troops liberate Novaya Ilyinka community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West repelled four Ukrainian counterattacks and inflicted roughly 450 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

US continues to plunder Afghanistan with impunity, says Shoigu

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British military instructor captured, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost more than 35,510 troops since the fighting began in the region

Israeli warplanes deliver seven powerful strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs

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Potential handover of nuclear arms by US to Kiev ‘act of treason’ — US congresswoman

Marjorie Taylor Greene suggested that the Biden administration is "trying to start a nuclear war and use it as the reason to stop the transfer of power to Donald Trump"

West tired of Ukrainian conflict, while Russia ready to continue it — magazine

The article noted that the West "no longer has the political will to help Ukraine win by military means" and is trying to achieve peace through negotiations with Russia"

PREVIEW: Russia to hand over BRICS presidency to Brazil

The meeting in Yekaterinburg will provide an opportunity to sum up the results of Russia’s presidency and outline future plans

West receives Putin’s message about weapons, Russian senate speaker says

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Russia developing echeloned system for air and missile defense — expert

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Russian Agriculture Ministry weighs idea of growing bananas domestically

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Robert Fico pointed out that "the Red Army and the peoples of the former Soviet Union made the greatest contribution to the defeat of fascism and the victory in World War II"

US sanctions against Gazprombank leading to energy price growth in Europe — investor

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Ukraine is a failed state, Russian foreign intelligence chief says

Sergey Naryshkin stressed that Moldova is "following in its footsteps"

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Vyacheslav Negoda noted that a power shortage will remain in the region for a long time

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Russian forces entrap Ukrainian troops near Svatovo in LPR — military expert

Ill-thought-out command and control of Ukrainian troops has demoralized enemy forces and increased the number of desertions among its personnel in that frontline area, Andrey Marochko said

Russia rejects Korean scenario for freezing Ukraine conflict — foreign intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin recalled that the only way to ensure peace is to eliminate the root causes that triggered the Ukrainian conflict

Russia files terrorism charges against Ukrainian militants, reports enemy losses in Kursk

Over the past day, Ukraine has sustained over 250 casualties, losing two tanks, an infantry fighting vehicle, an armored personnel carrier, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles and a mortar gun

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Additionally, Ukraine "does not have enough weapons, munitions or hardware," the news outlet said

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US base in Syria’s Dei ez-Zor governorate comes under missile attack — TV

No further details were provided

NATO seeking to escalate conflict in Ukraine to hinder Trump — Russian envoy to Belgium

"There is a clear effort by NATO to push the conflict to even higher levels of confrontation, making it as difficult as possible for the next US administration to take any steps toward normalizing the situation and resolving the conflict," Alexander Tokovinin said

West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, this represents the "confrontational logic" of the West

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He is expected to discuss various cooperation aspects and take part in the summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization

Russian forces strike Ukrainian drone control centers near ZNPP

According to Vladimir Rogov, the ZNPP personnel continues working routinely

NATO pledges to continue supporting Ukraine following Russia’s launch of Oreshnik missile

NATO said in the statement that Russia’s deployment of the missile called the Oreshnik will not change the course of the conflict

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According to the agency, the European intelligence community is preparing for potential threats, namely the possibility of Ukrainian troops flooding the continent and arms trafficking

Zaluzhny, not Zelensky, would become president if Ukraine held election today — poll

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West acts irresponsibly by discussing transfer of nuclear weapons to Kiev — Indian general

According to Deependra Singh Hooda, the recent decision by the US and the UK to use long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia from Ukraine and Russia's use of the Oreshnik missile in response to these actions have already raised concerns about a possible escalation of the conflict

Trump’s team, Biden administration sign memorandum of understanding

This engagement allows to begin critical preparations for transition of power

Proposal to give Kiev nuclear arms highly extremist — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that this is an absolutely irresponsible line of reasoning from those with a poor grasp of reality

FACTBOX: Overview of Ukraine's ATACMS strikes on Kursk Region

The Ukrainian armed forces have delivered two strikes using Western-made long-range missiles on sites in the Kursk Region over the past three days

Russian military repels Ukrainian attack, destroys two targets over Sevastopol waters

According to Mikhail Razvozhayev, all services are on high alert

Putin arrives in Astana for state visit

Throughout the day, the leaders are to work together, holding private talks as well as discussions with delegations

Press review: Russia to mass-produce Oreshnik missiles and EU gas prices reach record high

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, November 25th

Moscow, Astana working to expand branch of North-South route via Kazakhstan — Putin

The list of parties to the agreement expanded to 14

Lebanese premier approves roadmap for ceasefire with Israel

The implementation of the agreement will help to bring stability to the region, Najib Mikati said

No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

Europe's inability to resolve Ukrainian conflict on its own 'is a disgrace' — expert

Ab Gitelink noted that Europe "needs a right-wing conservative businessman in the White House in order to put an end to the war on European territory"

Russia expects US to continue warning about ballistic missile launches as well — diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, such mutual notifications are a "stabilizing factor in the current extremely dangerous situation"

Ukraine loses 500 troops near Dzerzhinsk in DPR in past ten days — Ukrainian officer

On November 24, 2024, Denis Pushilin, the head of the DPR, said that the Russian Armed Forces were advancing in Dzerzhinsk

Trump focused on solution to Ukrainian conflict — national security adviser

Mike Waltz compared the scope of the tragedy to World War One, describing it as "trench warfare" with hundreds of thousands of victims

Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Russian troops liberate Kopanki community in Kharkov Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 440 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy ammunition depots

Oreshnik becomes serious problem for Ukraine — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, satellite reconnaissance failed to detect the launch and flight of this missile

Kiev failed to inform Ottawa Convention signatories about its plans to violate it

The Ukrainian delegation has not yet informed on this development, the convention’s Secretariat said

Kiev troops attempted to kill British mercenary who surrendered to Russians — officer

In his words, they fired conventional 120mm mortar rounds, silent munitions and at least one FPV drone with a fragmentation charge

US, NATO on brink of being recognized as parties to conflict with Russia — diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, the West harbors a dangerous delusion that it can defeat Russia strategically

Drones to replace fighter jets in future wars, Musk says

At the end of September, Elon Musk predicted battles between "drone swarms" in the future

France, UK will have to pay for their helping Ukraine strike inside Russia — diplomat

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said that what has been done by the White House is very dangerous

Senators support Putin's decision to launch Oreshnik missile — speaker

Valentina Matviyenko noted that the Federation Council is willing to further support actions aimed at protecting Russia

US needs Ukraine's rare earth metals, including lithium — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister noted that American companies had already bought up most of the fertile land

Iran ready to escort foreign ships in Red Sea — navy commander

According to Admiral Shakhram Irani, Iranian military ships always escort the republic’s trade vessels at sea, not because of concerns that the Houthis may attack them, but to protect them from pirates

Press review: Israel approves US ceasefire agreement and Georgia's new parliament convenes

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 26th

Russia ‘shows teeth’ with launch of Oreshnik missile while avoiding escalation — media

"Russia has shown that it has a weapon, previously unveiled, and was prepared to use it," the report says

Putin publishes article on Russian-Kazakh relations ahead of visit to Astana

Simultaneously, Russia’s Izvestia newspaper published an article by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Russian military engaged in tough battles with Ukrainians in Kharkov Region — official

"Our forces continue their coordinated efforts to liberate the Kharkov Region from the enemy," Vitaly Ganchev said

No requests yet for CSTO assistance from Russia over ATACMS strikes — secretary general

Imangali Tasmagambetov also stressed that the agenda for the CSTO session does not specifically address the matter of the ATACMS strikes on Russian territory, but member states will discuss the situation in the CSTO responsibility zone and on its borders

Federation Council approves bill on Russia’s federal budget for 2025-2027

The decision was taken at a meeting of the upper house of the Russian parliament unanimously

Russia may soon push Kiev troops out of Kursk Region — Ukrainian battalion commander

It is noted that Russia has about three times as many men as the Ukrainians in the Kursk Region and six times as many explosive drones

Ukrainian media reports plant in Lvov Region destroyed

The plant specializes in manufacturing bits for drilling artesian, oil, and gas boreholes

Press review: Russia to avenge Kiev's new strike as experts analyze US-EU trade risks

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 27th

NATO disregards all etiquette in discussing possible preemptive strikes on Russia — Lavrov

NATO Military Committee Chairman Rob Bauer earlier called for producing more weapons for precision strikes inside Russia in case a conflict broke out

Emergence of new weapons changed canons of war, Medvedev says

According to Russian security council deputy chairman, this primarily concerns drones

West seeks to destabilize global order, Russia’s intelligence chief says

"Euro-Atlantic elites are trying to convince the rest of the world that the only alternative to Western power is chaos, and for this purpose, they deliberately seek destabilization in key regions of the planet," Sergey Naryshkin said

Mideast situation keeps deteriorating due to Israel’s aggressive policies — Lavrov

In his words, Israel’s desire to ensure its security at the expense of the security of others, while benefiting from the unwavering support it gets from the United States, leads nowhere