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Middle East conflict

Israeli army eliminates two senior Hamas operatives in Gaza Strip

According to the statement, Rantisi was responsible for field intelligence in the Gaza Strip and participated in the planning of the October 7 attack on Israel

TEL AVIV, December 7. /TASS/. Two senior Hamas intelligence operatives have been eliminated in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA) said in a joint statement.

"A few days ago, <...> the IAF [Israeli Air Force] eliminated Abdel Aziz Rantisi, a senior terrorist operative from Hamas’ military intelligence unit," the statement reads.

"He was eliminated in an attack on Hamas’s central intelligence command center along with Ahmed Aiush, a terrorist operative from Hamas’ Carrara Battalion observation unit," the document added.

According to the statement, Rantisi was responsible for field intelligence in the Gaza Strip and participated in the planning of the October 7 attack on Israel. The command center "was responsible for compiling field intelligence from across the Gaza Strip and served as a significant strategic hub for Hamas to direct combat activities."

Tensions in the Middle East flared up again on October 7 after militants from the radical Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise incursion into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip, killing residents of border communities and taking over 200 people, including women, children and the elderly, hostage. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City. Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza and launched a military operation in the enclave, carrying out strikes on targets in the Strip, as well as on border areas in Lebanon and Syria in response to shelling attacks. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.

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

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

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EU Commissioner for Justice calls on members states to step up assistance to Ukraine

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West wants to use Kalinousky Regiment to destabilize Belarus — Russian intelligence chief

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According to Alexander Bortnikov, the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies will continue trying "to blatantly interfere in allied relations within the CIS, hinder integration processes, and undermine our joint efforts to ensure security and stability across the Commonwealth"

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Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

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

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British Ambassador to Moscow Nigel Casey was summoned earlier in the day by the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he was handed a note of protest

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Syrian defense ministry confirms Israeli attack on facilities in Homs governorate

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Blinken says hopes US support for Ukraine will continue under Trump

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The duration of a potential ceasefire will depend on how events will unfold, the Israeli Prime Minister said

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Past year was deadliest for humanitarian workers in Gaza — Russia’s UN envoy

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At least 15 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school — TV

According to the report, the attacked building had earlier been turned into a shelter for internally displaced person

Russian troops liberate Kopanki community in Kharkov Region over past day

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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"

France, UK may deploy troops to Ukraine following ceasefire — expert

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Putin has high hopes for cancer vaccine being developed in Russia

Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortskova briefed the Russian President on the vaccine's development

No int’l restrictions on deployment of Oreshnik systems — senior Russian diplomat

When asked if the 1998 Russian-US memorandum of understanding on notifications of missile launches remained in effect, Sergey Ryabkov answered in the affirmative

Ukraine abandons Selidovo, laying mines in wells — security services

The Ukrainian armed forces used various modified Western-made mines and improvised explosive devices during the process

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

No further details were provided

Europe bracing for influx of Ukrainian troops after conflict is over — agency

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Russian Agriculture Ministry weighs idea of growing bananas domestically

Oksana Lut highlighted the export potential of agricultural products, given that certain parts of the world do not have a climate conducive to growing things

US continues to plunder Afghanistan with impunity, says Shoigu

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Ukrainian forces indiscriminately shoot Selidovo passers-by — Russian envoy

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Moscow strips UK diplomat of accreditation over false data in documents — Russian agency

"Based on the aforementioned grounds, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the concerned agencies, made a decision to strip Wilkes Edward Pryor of accreditation, and he is ordered to leave Russia within two weeks," the statement reads

Ukraine supplies terrorists in Mali with white phosphorus munitions — website

The news portal pointed out that its source was an anti-government militiaman captured in the southern part of the country by the national armed forces

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

'Western vector' leaves Ukraine poorest country in Europe — politician

Ukrainians have never seen the promised freedom, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

US gives Ukrainian servicemen guidance on selecting targets for ATACMS — White House

The Ukrainian servicemen "are able to use ATACMS to defend themselves on an immediate need basis," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said

Public tribunal releases more testimonies exposing Kiev forces' atrocities in Selidovo

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

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

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Pentagon not yet assessed damage caused by use of Russia’s newest Oreshnik missile

"When we have more to provide, we will," Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said

Oreshnik becomes serious problem for Ukraine — Polish general

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

UK ambassador to Russia gets note of protest over false info on embassy’s officer

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, "Wilkes Pryor, deliberately stated false information about himself as he was seeking a permission to enter our country"

Ukrainian front collapsing due to lack of willing soldiers, Russian offensive — magazine

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

Kiev has ‘no chance’ of retaking lost territories — Blackwater founder

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

Talk of halting Ukraine conflict related to Russia’s initiative on battlefield — SVR

Sergey Naryshkin added that the Western capitals "stopped thinking about strategically defeating Russia and shifted to thinking about how to avoid such a defeat themselves"

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

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

Majority of Americans oppose further military support for Ukraine, poll shows

The poll, conducted on November 19-22, involved over 2,200 Americans