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Middle East conflict

Israel to rebuild areas along Gaza border after victory over Hamas, PM pledges

Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would first need to complete the military operation in the Gaza Strip, the stated objective of which is to destroy the military and political structure of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas

TEL AVIV, January 16./TASS/. Israeli authorities plan to fully rebuild the settlements located along the border with Gaza and safely bring back local residents, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a meeting with the leadership of administrations in the borderline areas.

"We are determined to rebuild the communities and the kibbutzim, in what is called 'the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip,' to return the residents to their homes and bring about a much greater prosperity than there was before the war," Netanyahu was quoted by his office as saying.

He emphasized that Israel would first need to complete the military operation in the Gaza Strip, the stated objective of which is to destroy the military and political structure of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas.

"To this end, we need - first of all - to achieve victory over Hamas, but also to carry out the necessary actions in the civilian sector; therefore, we have convened the War Cabinet today, together with the team of ministers," the prime minister went on to say.

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.

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Benjamin Netanyahu

Middle East conflict

Israeli conducts strike on military targets on Syria-Lebanon border, army says

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Kiev's defeatist rhetoric may be masking planned attacks on Russia — expert

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Press review: CSTO discusses Russian weapons as US and Russia continue prisoner talks

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Ukrainians flee from Kiev regime to regions reunited with Russia — politician

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Serbia lauds development of bilateral ties with Russia — Serbian parliament

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Defense Minister notes active expansion of Russia-North Korea military cooperation

"We look forward to close and fruitful cooperation with our Korean comrades," Andrey Belousov said

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Harald Vilimsky noted that the joint deployment of European troops will further escalate the security situation in Europe

North Korean leader sees missile strikes inside Russia as Western involvement in conflict

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Britain’s MI6 chief admits London's involvement in covert operations in Ukraine

According to Richard Moore, the cost of supporting Kiev was "well known"

Niger receives delivery of military equipment from Russia — TV

The report also stated that this delivery highlights the strengthening of military-technical cooperation between Russia and Niger

Russia's opponents see Finland as springboard in case of open conflict — politician

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Putin slams election mudslinging against Trump’s family as 'vile'

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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

Rosneft produced 193.4 mln tons of hydrocarbons in 9M 2024 — company

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West deploying troops to Ukraine to up ante in fight with Russia — senior diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin described such plans as provocative and noted that they "confirm the West’s intention to continue its profound engagement in a direct standoff with Russia"

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

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Romania, Poland, Germany, UK plan to divide Ukraine — Russia's foreign intel

"A total of 100,000 so-called peacekeepers are planned to be sent to Ukraine," the SVR noted

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Russia to continue gathering evidence about Kiev’s chemical crimes — diplomat

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Russian troops liberate four communities in Donetsk area, Kharkov Region over week

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Belarusian President Lukashenko points to 'NATOfication' of Europe, entire world

"The arms race is rapidly gaining momentum," Alexander Lukashenko underlined

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Russia-North Korea partnership pact reaffirms their interest in developing ties — Belousov

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Putin believes that US President-elect Trump’s life may be in danger

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Aeroflot reports difficulties with purchases, returns of tickets

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Banning import of food from New Zealand won’t affect Russia — watchdog

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Russian Embassy in Argentina monitors situation with malfunctioning ocean liner

The diplomatic mission said that they are in touch with the company organizing the cruise as well as with the Russian citizens onboard the vessel

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

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Russian scientists to develop computer working at ‘speed of light’ by 2027 — researcher

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Peacekeepers deployment in Ukraine possible only with consent of all conflict parties

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said in a statement earlier in the day that the West may seek to achieve its objectives in Ukraine by implementing an actual occupation, deploying a so-called peacekeeping contingent of 100,000 personnel, with plans to divide the country among Romania, Poland, Germany, and the UK

Senior Russian diplomat points to risk of nuclear exchange

But Moscow will do everything possible to prevent it, Sergey Ryabkov said

Leonardo booking system’s functionality restored — Rostec

Aeroflot airline said earlier that the issue and the return of tickets and provision of extra services in all sales channels were temporarily complicated due to the system’s failure

Putin apologizes to Merkel over labrador incident

The president said that he "wanted to create a casual, friendly atmosphere" and did not know that the former German chancellor was afraid of dogs

Russia winning in Ukrainian conflict, Polish national security chief says

"The Russian side unquestionably holds both the initiative and the advantage on the battlefield," Head of the Polish National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera said

Western handlers beginning to dump Zelensky — Ukrainian politician

"Polls are now emerging where Zelensky is no longer at the top but in second or even third place," Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Presidential aide blames West for attempts to harm Russia at sea

Nikolay Patrushev said that in a situation like this Russia should firmly defend its position and prepare tools for the "comprehensive management of maritime activities aimed at ensuring national interests"

Medvedev says Zelensky's fate won't be pretty if Ukraine faces second Maidan

The Russian senior official was indignant over the fact that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry "condemned the crackdown on protests in Georgia"

Ukrainian servicemen abandon military units due to fear of Russian army — official

Kiev is constantly losing control over populated areas because "tens of thousands of tired and desperate Ukrainian servicemen are leaving their positions to flee in an unknown direction," the agency reported

Hungarian PM sounds alarm over presence of US, French troops in Ukraine

Additionally, the news that Russia used its latest Oreshnik high-precision ballistic missile, which has significant destructive power, to destroy Yuzhmash, a Ukrainian defense plant in Dnipro (previously known as Dnepropetrovsk), is alarming, Viktor Orban stressed

Kim Jong Un, Russian defense minister discuss development of partnership — KCNA

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Design of super-heavy rocket to be finalized based on new technologies — Roscosmos

"The development of a super-heavy class rocket exposed a need for introducing innovative solutions, including new materials and engines," the press service said

List of new BRICS partner states to be released before end of year — Russian MFA

"I cannot name these countries at this point because it will be at odds with the course of action that we agreed on with other BRICS members," Sergey Ryabkov said

IN BRIEF: How Russia responded to Kiev’s strikes deep into its territory

Here are the key points about the strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities

Western analysts describe Russia's Oreshnik as longest-range weapon ever used in Europe

The recent strike on the Yuzhmash missile-producing plant in Ukraine demonstrated Russia’s "real military capability", a nuclear nonproliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies said

Paris grants Netanyahu immunity for Lebanon ceasefire role, French magazine says

The report indicates that shortly after the ICC issued its warrant, Macron had a phone conversation with Netanyahu, in which he acknowledged that Paris was obliged to respect the ICC and cooperate fully

West refuses to accept proof of Ukraine’s use of chemical weapons — Russian envoy

Vladimir Tarabrin noted that instead, the West is trying to present Russia as violating the Chemical Weapons Convention

Elite units of Syrian troops deployed to Aleppo to defeat gangs — newspaper

Earlier, Syrian servicemen eliminated dozens of Jabhat al-Nusra militants during clashes in northern Aleppo

US funds 'Nazis, maniacs' in Ukraine, Israel — American journalist

Jackson Hinkle also pointed out that the US authorities are no friend of "freedom-loving American patriots"

Foreign fighters involved in terrorist attacks in Aleppo, Idlib provinces — Syrian army

The Syrian Armed Forces’ General Command warned that "terrorist organizations are spreading misleading information, news and videos on their platforms aimed at intimidating citizens"