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Middle East conflict

Updated at:

Five Palestinians killed in Israeli army attack in Gaza — TV

Several other people were seriously wounded

DUBAI, June 17. /TASS/. At least three people have been killed as a result of an Israeli strike on a residential building in Gaza City, Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV channel reported.

According to it, several other Palestinians were seriously wounded as a result of the shelling of a residential house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. The TV channel also quoted data on the intensive Israeli shelling of the eastern outskirts of the city of Deir el-Balah, located in the central part of the Gaza Strip.

Later the death toll from Israeli strikes in the area of Gaza City has risen to five people, over ten were injured, Al Jazeera reported.

Tensions flared up again in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian movement Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israeli territory from Gaza, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking over 240 hostages, including women, children and the elderly. 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. In response, Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians before the crisis, and has been delivering air strikes on Gaza as well as some parts of Lebanon and Syria. Clashes have also been reported on the West Bank.

News has been updated (6:50 Moscow time) - changed HL, added para 3.

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Protest in Georgial’s capital Tbilisi ends peacefully

At some point, the participants decided to leave the square in front of the parliament building, marching down Rustaveli Avenue towards the Tbilisi Opera building

NATO infrastructure near Russia’s borders could lead to any scenario, says CSTO chief

Imangali Tasmagambetov pointed out that NATO’s attempt to invade Russia and Belarus would be sheer foolishness

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Russia will respond to any provocations from outgoing US administration, diplomat says

According to Sergey Ryabkov, there is a lack of common sense in the West

US must focus on domestic issues without meddling in Belarusian affairs — embassy

The embassy noted that Minsk resolutely rejects Washington’s attempts to meddle in its domestic affairs by holding a "second strategic dialog" with opposition members residing outside Belarus

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Belarusian diplomats stressed, that the country’s leadership and government are "accountable to the Belarusian people only"

Russia won’t create special conditions for return of foreign companies — Putin

Meanwhile, the Russian president admitted that it will be fairly difficult for Western firms to get back as companies from other countries or Russian brands are actively tapping the niches that have been freed

Relations between Armenia, CSTO passed point of no return — Pashinyan

According to the Armenian Prime Minister, Yerevan suspended its participation in CSTO because of the absence of the "appropriate reaction" to the "external aggression at the borders of sovereign Armenia in 2021 and 2022"

VTB projects Russian agriculture exports to exceed $50 bln by 2030

In 2023, Russia’s agriculture exports increased to $43.5 bln

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In Antonio Tajani's opinion, reconciliation in Ukraine should be achieved in 2025

US seeks to preserve its occupation of northeast Syria — Russia’s UN envoy

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Russia's test of Oreshnik missile proves lack of trust in West — diplomat

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Russian forces mopping up Stariye Terny community in Donbass region, says official

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The head of state thanked the troops participating in Russia’s special military operation for rising up to defend the country this time

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Ukrainian front collapses as Kiev faces worst situation since conflict started — analyst

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Irakli Kobakhidze recalled that Salome Zourabichvili’s presidential term expires on December 29

Russia traps Ukrainian forces at Kurakhovo pipe plant — security services

The report clarified that the Ukrainian armed forces in this frontline area are being pressured by Russian troops from the north, south, and east

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Russia hammers Ukrainian military airfield infrastructure over past day — top brass

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Russian troops enter Novy Komar settlement in DPR — politician

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US journalist Carlson says he arrived in Moscow for interview with Russia’s top diplomat

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Lavrov’s interview with Tucker Carlson turns out very interesting — Russian diplomat

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Russia ready to bury the hatchet with Georgia, needs to see desire from Tbilisi — diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, Moscow hopes that traditional Georgian wisdom will win out

Russia's turn to global South and East has been gradual since 2000s — Putin

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Israeli army kills nearly 30 Palestinians in Gaza Strip over past day — Health Ministry

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Iran to join forces with Russia, China in its struggle against unipolar world — president

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Andrey Marochko noted that the enemy units have begun to rapidly reinforce their positions near the Pershotravnevoye-Raigorodka motor road

Tucker Carlson says US embassy in Kiev barred Zelensky from doing interview with him

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Zelensky softens rhetoric on territorial concessions to Russia — web portal

According to the report, the rhetoric has changed as Russian troops break through Ukrainian defenses on their increasingly rapid westward advance

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NATO may offer Ukraine deferred membership in 2025, top Portuguese diplomat says

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Trump's threats to BRICS states if they ditch dollar are untenable, says Indian expert

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Over the past 2-3 years, the Russian economy has fundamentally change, the Russian leader noted

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The Ukrainian army lost a total of more than 37,935 servicemen since the start of the hostilities

NATO chief says bloc needs to be sure Ukraine has enough people to send to fight

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No one can ban bitcoin — Putin

"Processes related to the use of other instruments are taking place naturally," the Russian president said

Syrian forces break through encirclement in coordination with Russian military

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Escalation in Syria clearly involves Ukrainians — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova ighlighted reports suggesting that the Kiev regime's security services are collaborating with terrorists, supplying them with drones and sharing expertise in their use

World is now closer to nuclear war than ever before — US journalist Carlson

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South Korea’s defense minister apologizes to citizens, resigns — media

According to media reports, it was Kim Yong Hyun who advised the president to impose martial law

Kadyrov admits Elon Musk did not present him with Cybertruck pickup

The Head of Chechnya revealed that the car was not his

Russia never rejected dollar — Putin

"We were denied of its use but the denial, as our saying goes - they got what they fought for," the Russian leader said

Russian forces take up positions in downtown Kurakhovo in DPR — activist

Vladimir Rogov told TASS earlier that Russian troops had moved past the city center in Kurakhovo to fight in the city’s west

Another anti-government rally held in Georgian capital

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Syrian airstrikes supported by Russia kill over 1,600 militants this week — TV

It was noted that the government forces "are widely supported" by Syrian citizens

Top Russian diplomat arrives in Malta to participate in OSCE Ministerial Council

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West seeks to shift blame for its Ukrainian madness onto Ukrainians — Russian diplomat

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US, Europe did not yet take last step to steal Russia’s assets — Putin

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Russian banks’ profit to lose 10-15% in 2025 — VTB chief executive

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Medvedev sounds alarm on AI’s potential in biological weapons creation

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NATO countries want Ukraine to fight until the last young soldier — Szijjarto

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Russian stocks close in the red on Wednesday

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Russia’s Usmanov steps down as president of global fencing

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Ukraine to make concessions to Russia under Trump’s plan — agency

It is reported that the US president-elect has yet to establish a working group to develop a peace plan for Ukraine

Georgian opposition figurehead Datunashvili detained at Tbilisi rally

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Russia-DPRK strategic partnership treaty enters force — KCNA

The treaty will have an unlimited duration

Russia 'making gains' along entire frontline, NATO chief says

Mark Rutte once again called on NATO countries to increase weapons supplies to Kiev

West does not share advanced equipment fearing it may end up in Russia — Ukrainian expert

Maria Berlinskay also recognized the superiority of the Russian army, calling it one of the "strongest armies in the world," and opined that none of the NATO countries would be able to withstand a confrontation with the Russian military

Putin urges to prevent dramatic fluctuations of banks’ loan portfolio

The 15th VTB Russia Calling! Investment Forum is being held on December 4-5 in Moscow. TASS is the information partner of the forum

Russian senior diplomat hopes Trump will be told BRICS does not want to replace dollar

Such an approach reflects the drive for "a polyphony world order," in which various economic systems may coexist, Ryabkov said, adding that Washington’s attempts to maintain a monopoly in the global financial system may have ominous consequences

Iran’s parliament: Iran to render military assistance to Syria at Damascus request

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IN BRIEF: What is known about the situation in South Korea

Earlier, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced the imposition of martial law

Israel’s top diplomat sees possibility of reaching deal on Gaza hostages soon

Gideon Sa’ar also "requested support on the matter" from newly appointed foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and the European Union in general

Pashinyan finds EAEU summit in Yerevan inexpedient, it will be held in Russia

"We asked the Russian side to solve this issue through a bilateral agreement, but we did not receive consent," the prime minister said

Trump reportedly has three plans for Ukraine, one drafted by VP-elect Vance — Reuters

According to the report, alongside Vance's plan, Donald Trump is reviewing settlement proposals from Keith Kellogg, whom he proposed as his assistant and special envoy for Ukraine and Russia

Georgian police detain opposition activist Elisashvili over fistfight

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Ukraine has lost its chance for NATO membership, a ‘normal’ peace treaty with Russia — MP

"Such things are done from a strong position. Now, Zelensky has led the country to a state where such a position has been lost, regrettably," the Ukrainian lawmaker said

Russian minister highlights difficulties in establishing depository links with China

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‘Desperation in the air’ — expert on Kallas’ statement on sending troops to Ukraine

According to Ralph Bosshard, "statements by leading European politicians will become more extreme as Ukraine’s defeat in the war draws nearer"

Senior Russian diplomat sees zero chance of compromise between Russia, Ukraine now

According to Sergey Ryabkov, "there might be openings and opportunities" in the future