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Middle East conflict

Israeli foreign minister, Blinken discuss Gaza, Lebanon, hostage release

On January 4, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken set off on a Middle East tour that includes visits to Israel, Turkey, as well as a number of Arab states

TEL AVIV, January 9. /TASS/. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz reported that he and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and combating Hamas and Hezbollah.

"I met with my American counterpart Blinken. I thanked him for [US President Joe] Biden's support for Israel and outlined the goals of the war, which are the release of hostages, the defeat of the Hamas terrorist movement and the expulsion of Hezbollah from southern Lebanon in order to allow the residents of southern and northern [Israel] to return safely to their homes," Katz wrote on his X (formerly Twitter). "The secretary of state emphasized that the US is committed to Israel's security," the Israeli foreign minister added.

On January 4, Blinken set off on a Middle East tour that includes visits to Israel, Turkey, as well as a number of Arab states. In December 2023, the Axios portal quoted sources as saying that Blinken intended to discuss the settlement of the Middle East conflict with officials in the West Bank, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia at the end of the first week of January.

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 240 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.

Middle East conflict

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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

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

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Rome plans to arrange Ukraine conference with Russia's participation

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Moscow concerned with outgoing US President Biden’s escalation strategy — Kremlin

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

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

Ukrainians have never seen the promised freedom, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Ukraine abandons Selidovo, laying mines in wells — security services

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No one wins in trade war, says Chinese embassy in US

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Ukrainian forces indiscriminately shoot Selidovo passers-by — Russian envoy

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

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

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Retreating Ukrainian troops leave dozens of bodies behind in Chasov Yar

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Russian forces pound Ukrainian military airfields, energy sites over day — top brass

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Kremlin explains why Oreshnik missile came as surprise

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

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Anglo-Saxon special services involved in Nord Stream blasts, SVR chief says

Sergey Naryshkin recalled that Nord Stream was a joint Russian-European project "aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted supply of inexpensive Russian gas to Europe"

Austria ready to host Ukraine talks — chancellor

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

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Key energy facility in Ternopol Region almost completely destroyed

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Oreshnik becomes serious problem for Ukraine — Polish general

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

Russian diplomat doesn’t rule out missile deployment in Asia as response to US’ actions

Sergey Ryabkov warned Russia’s adversaries against settling into a "false sense of security"

Kabul counts on Moscow to help neutralize Western pressure

"We can assure you that the Islamic Emirate is a reliable economic partner," Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said

West attempting to stage color revolution in Georgia, Lavrov warns

According to the top Russian diplomat, the West actively uses an extensive network of non-governmental organizations "to create domestic instability in the countries of the Global South and the Global East"

Donbass was in danger of genocide from Ukraine, Serbian expert says

Dr. Predrag Ceranic pointed out that in Republika Srpska, everyone understands very well that Russia was compelled "to make this move in order to protect its people in Donbass"

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 fails to get seat at OPCW Executive Council — vote outcome

Russian Ambassador to the Netherlands, Permanent Representative to the OPCW Vladimir Tarabrin noted that the current situation regarding the participation in the Executive council "is clear evidence of the crisis that the Organization has fallen into"

Ukraine is a failed state, Russian foreign intelligence chief says

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

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

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

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North Korea dismantles power lines in Kaesong on border with South Korea

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

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Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

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

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Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

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US continues to plunder Afghanistan with impunity, says Shoigu

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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

Ukrainian officer says 90% of fellow servicemen have no desire to fight

According to Vyacheslav Khomenko, soldiers in his platoon don’t have required combat experience

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

Kiev forces lose over 450 troops in Battlegroup Center responsibility area in one day

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the enemy lost more than 450 servicemen, a tank, five vehicles, a 203-mm self-propelled gun Pion, a 152-mm howitzer Msta-B, 2 152-mm guns D-20 and 2 122-mm howitzers D-30

Europe resumes talks of troop deployment to Ukraine — newspaper

According to the sources, this is driven by the fact that Washington may scale back support for Ukraine after Donald Trump returns to office as US president on January 20, 2025

Moscow to respond promptly if London inflates British diplomat’s expulsion issue

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Turkey to investigate causes of Russian Superjet emergency at Antalya airport

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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

Emergence of new weapons changed canons of war, Medvedev says

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

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

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

Current rules to prevent Europe from winning 'future arms battle,' French admiral warns

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

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

Russian forces strike Ukrainian drone control centers near ZNPP

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Russian national Nikita Zhuravel sentenced to 14 years in prison for high treason

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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

NATO expanding presence in Arctic, Baltic, Black Sea, Caspian regions — FSB chief

According to Alexander Bortnikov, a US lab network is reportedly working to implement a program to create biological weapons of selective action, while citing the need to combat some "biological threats" as an excuse

Intel chief calls on West to embrace Putin's vision for resolving Ukraine conflict

"The sooner Western capitals realize [the need to accept] the Russian president’s conditions for a peace agreement and talks, the better it will be for Ukraine, Europe and Russia, too," Sergey Naryshkin noted

Russia’s launch of new missile illustrated assured retaliation capability, lawmaker says

Andrey Kartapolov also noted that the enemy currently has no defenses against the Oreshnik.

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

Kremlin confident Putin’s warning about strikes inside Russia was well heard in West

According to Dmitry Peskov, the position of the Russian Federation was outlined quite clearly by President Vladimir Putin

Top Indian defense official to visit Moscow, Kaliningrad on December 8-10 — source

Rajnath Singh will participate in the flag-raising ceremony of the Project 11356 frigate and its transfer to the Indian Navy," the source said

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

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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"

Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

"Ukraine should be forever grateful that President Putin is calm, rational and kind - because Zelensky is practically begging for his country to be flattened," American political commentator Jackson Hinkle said

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

Didier Reynders stressed that EU countries provided Ukraine with 45.5 billion euros for military needs and supplied "a wide variety of arms" from their stockpiles, including F-16 aircraft

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Kremlin spokesman advises those fearing nuclear escalation to review Russia’s doctrine

"You should listen to President Putin’s statements attentively and carefully assess the actions by the authorities of this or that country of the collective West that is directly involved in these conflicts," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Europe's 'hotheads' for sending troops to Ukraine, but there is no unity — Kremlin

"Earlier, of course, such ideas were heard from different European capitals, but various counterarguments were also voiced not in favor of this idea," Dmitry Peskov noted

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

Lithuania open to sending European troops to Ukraine — foreign minister

"It may become necessary for European soldiers to be deployed on Ukrainian soil, and Lithuania is always ready to consider such options," Gabrielius Landsbergis stated

No shelling attacks recorded in DPR for first time this year

A spokesperson for the Joint Center for Control and Coordination of Issues Related to Ukrainian War Crimes (JCCC), in turn, told TASS that the last day when no shelling attacks were reported in the region was in 2023

Anglo-Saxons secretly push Kiev toward nuclear terrorism — FSB head

"The minds of the Ukrainian population have been reformatted in a Russophobic way," Alexander Bortnikov stated

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

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

Scholz vows to continue supporting Ukraine following his chancellor nomination

The German chancellor listed supporting Ukraine at the top of his priorities should the SPD win and form a government

Ukrainian commander-in-chief reports threats to troops in Zaporozhye Region

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Biden team may escalate global tensions to highest level, FSB chief warns

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"