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Middle East conflict

Israel will not end war in Gaza until it eliminates Hamas, Netanyahu reiterates

"Victory will be achieved when we eliminate the military and Hamas's governing capacity, freeing our hostages, removing the threat of Gaza from Israel, and return our residents of the south and north safely to their homes," Israeli Prime Minister said

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

TEL AVIV, July 14. /TASS/. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip will not end until all armed units of Hamas are completely eliminated.

"Many of you are asking when this war will end. My answer is clear and unequivocal - it will end only when we achieve all our goals, and not a moment earlier. Victory is not an empty word. Victory will be achieved when we eliminate the military and Hamas's governing capacity, freeing our hostages, removing the threat of Gaza from Israel, and return our residents of the south and north safely to their homes. This is a victory that will restore Israel's deterrent posture and send a clear signal to all our enemies that the cost of harming us will be unacceptable to them," the prime minister said at a press conference.

Netanyahu's speech concerned the Israeli army's operation in the Gaza Strip, aimed at eliminating the head of the military wing of Hamas, Mohammed Deif. The prime minister confirmed that this was the purpose of the strike on the sector, and acknowledged the lack of confirmation of the elimination of Deif. However, he expressed the opinion that the operation, in any case, is a turning point in the military campaign in the enclave and serves as a signal to Iran and "all its satellites" in the region.

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 16 times in past day

Apart from that, six shelling attacks by terrorist groups were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone

Kiev moving combat medics from near Kharkov to Sumy region — Russian military expert

Andrey Marochko suggested that the move comes as Kiev was not prepared for heavy "sanitary and irretrievable losses" when it planned its attack on the Kursk Region

Japan informs IAEA of radioactive water leak

"The leaked water flowed into the drain on the floor connected to the water collection pit (floor sump) located in a room of the first basement floor," the IAEA added

Russian Energy Ministry to discuss mechanisms in support of coal companies

"The coal industry facilitates development of regions, creation of jobs and infrastructure - construction of railroads and roads, power and social facilities," Minister Sergey Tsivilev noted

Bank of Russia increases dollar rate to 88.91 rubles for August 17-19

The official euro rate was lowered by 48 kopecks to 97.839 rubles

Press review: Berlin's Nord Stream probe smells fishy and Putin tables peace proposal

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 15th

UN opposes display of Nazi symbols, racist rhetoric — secretary-general’s office

Deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Farhan Haq said it, commenting on a video showing Ukrainian military wearing Nazi symbols on their uniform

Mirra Andreeva of Russia advances to Round of 16 of WTA Cincinnati Open

She defeated Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic

Compensation of more than 600 Sber managers totaled $311 mln in 2023

The bank determined the perimeter of key management personnel and senior management, according to the document

Attack on Kursk Region to deplete Ukrainian elite forces — expert

It is reported that the attack on the Kursk Region could be compared to Nazi Germany’s 1944 attack on the Western front, which surprised the Allies

Kiev’s forces start digging in in Kursk area to escape destruction — Russian commander

Apty Alaudinov stressed that Russian troops would soon launch an all-out offensive to destroy the remaining enemy forces

EU keeping quiet about Ukraine's Kursk attack for fear of negative consequences — media

According to the unnamed European diplomat, the EU leaders’ silence is rooted in "curiosity multiplied by trepidation and anticipation" of the consequences of the Ukrainian attack

In Russia’s Kursk Region, Ukraine suffers losses and captured soldier gives testimony

In the Kauchuk area, Ukrainian mobile groups riding armored vehicles were stopped as they attempted a breakthrough into Russian territory

Anti-Russian sanctions to remain for decades no matter how Ukrainian crisis resolved — MFA

More than 20,000 sanctions have already been imposed, including personal, sectoral and freezing of assets, Dmitry Birichevsky noted

Putin’s trust rating inches upward — poll

The government’s approval rating stands at 50.3% (-0.2%), while Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s stands at 51.9% (-2.7%)

Russian army destroys 10 combat vehicles, 5 pickups of Ukrainian forces in Kursk direction

In the Kursk direction the enemy "is throwing all the forces and means that it has," said Major-General Apty Alaudinov, the deputy head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Defense Ministry, commander of the Akhmat commando unit

Channel One host Simes says FBI could have used foreign-agents law to raid his US home

According to the political scientist, the problem with this justification of the raid would be that the law implies efforts by the suspect to influence US policy or legislation

Ukrainian troops targeting cars used to evacuate people from Sudzha district — authorities

According to Alexander Bogachev, the situation in the district is difficult

Trump holds four-point advantage over Harris, poll shows

The poll, which was conducted online and on the phone on August 8 and 11-14, involved about 1,900 potential voters

Russian paratroopers destroy Ukrainian army’s Starlink satellite antennas in Kherson area

Russian forces carry out combat operations in the daytime and at night using thermal imagers installed on quadcopters

Russian Mi-28NM helicopters destroy massed Ukrainian troops, equipment in Kursk area

The strike was delivered by Vikhr missiles against reconnoitered targets

Dozens of experts urge NATO not to admit Ukraine — Politico

Kiev’s membership may trigger NATO’s Article 5, they said

FACTBOX: Power outages in Primorsky Region

The preliminary cause of the power outage in the Primorsky Region is a technological failure of the equipment of the Primorskaya regional power station of the Siberian Generating Company, the enterprise reported

Russia unlikely to face defeat in Ukraine, US needs to offer compromise — experts

The alternative to that would be "fighting an endless war to a bloody stalemate in Ukraine," Michael Cohen, Christopher Preble and Monica Duffy Toft stressed

Bridge across Seim River destroyed in Russia’s Kursk Region — official

According to the report, overland evacuation from a part of the Glushkovsky District is now cut off

FACTBOX: Russian troops take Krupets back: situation in Kursk Region

Kiev lost up to 340 servicemen and 19 armored vehicles, including five Bradley infantry fighting vehicles throughout the day

Moldova endures worst crisis in 30 years of independence — Gutul

Yevgenia Gutul pointed out that major foreign investors, who employed thousands of people, have left the country

Ukrainian military attacked Sudzha with cluster munitions, Grad MLRS — eyewitness

Ukraine’s massive attack on the Kursk Region began on August 6

Kursk attack may get Ukrainian army in more trouble on eastern front — newspaper

The paper points out that in order to carry out the attack, Ukraine "transferred troops and weapons from its already-creaking front lines," which "risks making a bad situation worse"

Russian army destroys Ukrainian tank with Lancet in Kursk border area — Defense Ministry

The drone strike was confirmed by live video footage

FBI raids Virginia home of Russian political commentator Dimitri Simes — media

Simes told the news portal that he was out of the country

Kiev troops will be forced to retreat from Russia after attack on Kursk region — expert

According to Monica Duffy Toft, Kiev’s surviving troops and equipment "will be redistributed, after rest and refit, to other critical areas of Ukraine’s front with Russia"

Many in Ukraine unhappy about moving elite troops from Donbass to Kursk — newspaper

On August 6, Ukraine launched a major offensive in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

US researching how to weaponize monkeypox — Russian Defense Ministry

Igor Kirillov recalled that working with this virus is only allowed in two institutions - the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the USA and the Vector state scientific center in Russia

Roscosmos, NASA work together to address Starliner crew return delays, chief says

The Starliner was initially expected to spend eight days in orbit, but NASA has repeatedly extended the mission of astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita Williams

Zelensky, Duda could agree to sabotage Nord Stream pipelines — former intelligence chief

August Hanning noted that Poland's refusal to participate in the investigation and the departure from the country of one of the suspects also indicate the involvement of Polish authorities in the sabotage

Russian troops testing modified FPV drones in special military operation area

The tests run in conditions maximally close to a combat environment

West involved in planning of attack on Russia’s borderline Kursk region — Kremlin aide

Nikolay Patrushev dismissed the US Department of State’s claims of non-involvement into the matter

Attack on Kursk Region won’t allow Ukraine to regain lost territories — expert

Bruno Macaes pointed out that the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the Kursk Region is inevitable, also because it will be very difficult for the Ukrainian authorities to justify to their citizens the price they will have to pay for continuing this operation

Situation in Kursk Region: elimination of Ukrainian mobile groups, HIMARS launchers

Ukraine’s overall losses in the course of combat operations stand at up to 2,860 troops

Ukraine could fall prey to vulture funds, face bankruptcy — former PM

According to Nikolay Azarov, who served as Ukrainian prime minister from 2010-2014, if this happens, it will mean that Ukraine's assets will be sold at a price that is many times lower than their nominal value

Kiev admits Russian offensive not slowing down amid Ukraine’s attack on Kursk Region

Military experts quoted by the newspaper even suggested that Russia would send forces not involved in the special military operation to suppress the Ukrainian attack

Russia actively uses experience of partners that have long been sanctioned — MFA

"We naturally have a close political dialogue with those countries, cooperation through intergovernmental commissions, cooperation between companies," Dmitry Birichevsky said

Iran debating whether to use force against Israel or run covert operation — CBS

British, US and French troops stationed in the Middle East helped Israel in downing Iranian projectiles

Two People's Front activists killed in shelling of Kursk Region

It is reported that the evacuation team included three people - two of them died on the spot, one was wounded

Over 3,000 people visited VOIN Center's booth at Army Forum

In the Tactical Medicine space visitors practiced algorithms of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation and stop bleeding using interactive mannequin simulators

Russian forces conduct massive strike on Ukrainian communication systems in Kherson Region

Vladimir Saldo pointed out that Russian paratroopers had used quadcopters loaded with explosives to wipe out a large number of Starlink antennas on the right bank of the Dnieper

Implementation of Russian, North Korean agreements ensures regional stability — Putin

Russian leader noted that two countries pay tribute to the soldiers of the Red Army and the Korean patriots who fought shoulder to shoulder

No formal request yet from Russia for military assistance over situation in Kursk — CSTO

The Collective Security Treaty Organization emphasized that it closely monitored the developments

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 16 times in past day

Apart from that, six shelling attacks by terrorist groups were reported in the Idlib de-escalation zone

US wants Russians, Ukrainians to die in conflict — Lukashenko

At the same time, the Belarusian president once again urged to start negotiations on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, in the continuation of which only the West is interested

Protest voiced to Italian ambassador over reporters’ illegal entering Kursk Region

The Italian correspondents blatantly violated Russian laws and elementary rules of journalistic ethics and used their stay in the territory of our country whitewash the propaganda support for the Kiev regime’s crimes," the statement reads

First polio case confirmed in Gaza — Palestine’s health ministry

The patient is a ten-month baby who has receives no vaccine dose, the ministry said

Iskander missile systems successfully destroy key Ukrainian military targets — producer

"This precision weapon is very powerful and highly intelligent," it said

NATO invades Russia in Kursk Region, ex-US intel officer says

Scott Ritter noted that the Russian army was learning from the situation in the Kursk Region and would use that experience in the future

Western instructors played first fiddle in planning attack near Kursk, Ukrainian POW says

Sergey Bochenko also told of large numbers of eliminated hardware and servicemen he saw once he and his fellow servicemen crossed the border into the Kursk Region

Pilot of Tu-22M3 bomber that crashed in Irkutsk dies

Governor Igor Kobzev expressed his condolences to the pilot’s friends and family

Kiev plans to strike Zaporozhye, Kursk NPPs to accuse Russia

Military reporter Marat Khayrullin also said that Kiev is preparing a nuclear provocation, citing Ukrainian sources

Senior Russian, Chinese diplomats discuss arms control, nonproliferation

Sergey Ryabkov and Ma Zhaoxu also touched upon topics of cooperation within BRICS

Germany should not send weapons to Kiev if it is behind Nord Stream sabotage — MP

Sahra Wagenknecht said that it is "absolutely evident that the federal government has no plans of investigating" the act of sabotage

Sappers examine 5 hectares of Kursk Region in past 24 hours — Ministry

Previously, the Ministry announced that the sappers manage to examine about 2 hectares per day on average

Press review: Bern makes pitch to ref on Ukraine and global actors jockey for Gaza truce

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 16th

Mediators demand Israel stop escalation to ensure Gaza talks success — TV

According to the source, next week the Cairo consultations will focus on issues of humanitarian deliveries to the Gaza Strip and the opening of crossings

Zelensky’s time gone, pragmatic politicians are to replace him — opposition politician

"Zelensky is a master of political shows, but he cannot count money, resources, anticipate potential situations," Viktor Medvedchuk added

Republika Srpska to withdraw from Bosnia and Herzegovina, president says

According to Milorad Dodik, remaining within Bosnia and Herzegovina "is synonymous with the loss of time and opportunities" for Republika Srpska

Diplomat blasts international organizations that failed to condemn murder of volunteers

Maria Zakharova underscored that the killed volunteers were what the West calls "humanitarians," they were aiding civilians

American family escapes moral decline in US, seeks asylum, better life in Russia

Irina Volk noted that Leo and Chantel Heyer were born and raised in New York

Russian troops liberate Ivanovka community in DPR over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 470 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two US-made armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility

Russia’s strategic advantage intact amid Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region — agency

According to the report, "to conduct the Kursk operation, Kiev deployed battalions drawn from multiple brigades, some of which were pulled from the hottest parts of the frontline"

Russian Defense Ministry sets up coordination council for security in border areas

According to Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, its purpose is to improve the efficiency of comprehensive support for battlegroups that are engaged in guarding the state border

Future radio-electronic warfare systems to have automatic frequency selection feature

Laboratory PPS CEO Denis Oslomenko noted that this function could be developed in the next six months

All four pilots of Tu-22M3 crashed in Irkutsk Region found alive — governor

Igor Kobzev said that that two pilots are in satisfactory condition, while the other two are currently being examined

Russian company announces bonus of about $170,000 for first F-16 jet shot down in Ukraine

The company earlier announced cash prizes for destruction of West-supplied tanks in Ukraine

Thailand’s parliament approves Shinawatra as country’s next prime minister

The candidate secured 247 votes in her support as 128 lawmakers voted against her and 22 others abstained

Ukrainian forces unprepared for Russia’s resistance in Kursk Region — Chechen commander

Apty Alaudinov noted that Ukrainian combat hardware is currently under attack by a large number of Russian units

Outcome of Doha talks do not comply with previous agreements, Hamas says

A new round of consultations kicked off on August 15 in Doha

Free trade agreements between EAEU, partners in Middle East, Asia nearing finalization

Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov also suggested that the possibility of cooperation between BRICS and EAEU be considered

Finnish PM says it’s too early to reopen crossings on border with Russia

It would be in the interests of both countries to open the border but now there are no conditions for that, Petteri Orpo said

Lukashenko boasts Belarus’ readiness to counter any threats

The Belarusian leader added that control over the country’s border with Ukraine had been strengthened following the recent Ukrainian drone incident

Ukrainian troops trained in UK one month before attack on Kursk Region — newspaper

It is reported that the Ukrainian attack was poorly organized, with a shortage of medical vehicles for evacuation

Putin discusses new military hardware developments with Security Council

The Russian president specified that Defense Minister Andrey Belousov was at his command post

FBI confirms raiding home of political pundit Dimitri Simes

The American political scientist said that he had not been officially notified of the FBI search at his Rappahannock County, Virginia property

Russian ministry says Kursk Region incursion run, coordinated by Western special services

According to an analyst and former adviser to the Russian Defense Ministry Andrey Ilnitsky, the strategy of Western countries is to destroy Russia as an independent sovereign state

Expert calls Kiev’s attack on Kursk 'strategic blunder which will accelerate its defeat'

According to John Mearsheimer, the Ukrainian armed forces "lost many soldiers and a huge proportion of their equipment" while "the key determinant of success in a war of attrition is the casualty-exchange ratio, not capturing territory"

Fouga Magister two-seater plane crashes during air show in France

Rescue teams carry out an operation at sea; they have been unable to locate the pilot yet

Kerch authorities recognize risk of municipal emergency after missile attack

There is no information about the damage from the missile attack, but it is reported that examination and repair work will be carried out, which will restrict the city traffic

Old man near Kursk goes missing after being ridiculed by Neo-Nazis, Russia launches probe

The directorate said that as a result of the preliminary investigation the identity of the elderly man, who was abused by Ukrainian soldiers, was established

Kadyrov reveals number of Chechen fighters involved in Ukraine special operation

Fighters from the Chechen Republic have been successfully coping with their assigned missions since the first days of the special military operation in Ukraine

Kursk attack fails to turn tide of hostilities in Ukraine's favor — newspaper

The journalist pointed out that "Russian patriotism shouldn’t be underestimated - especially when the fight is on home soil"

Press review: Putin, Abbas talk Middle East and Kiev looks for outside help to fly F-16s

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 14th

West wants to strip Russia of access to Baltic Sea — Kremlin aide

It is using NATO’s new members to turn it into an ‘inland sea’ of the alliance, Nikolay Patrushev said

High-ranking Russian generals a priority target for Ukrainian troops — deputy minister

Vladimir Kubyshko also noted that an attack attempt on him took place during one of his trips to Kherson

Russia delivers 17 strikes at Ukrainian military sites, airfields over week — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 14,560 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the week

Russia’s Su-34 hits Ukrainian personnel, hardware in borderline Kursk Region — top brass

Pilots successfully returned to their home base

Ukraine shells ZNPP every day, power supply for Energodar complicated — governor

"We continue to promptly restore the damage and ensure the safety of the power plant," Yevgeny Balitsky stressed

Russian Defense Ministry publishes losses of Ukraine’s National Guard

On April 18, the Defense Ministry made public the first lists containing personal data of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action

Russian, Chinese naval drills in Gulf of Finland in line with international law — China

According to the report, such activities by China and Russia "are in line with international law and practice, not directed against any specific targets and are not related to the current situation in the region"

TCS Holding establishes control over 99.4% in Rosbank

TCS Holding purchased 1.42 bln shares in Rosbank that amounts to 91.89% of total shares in the credit institution

Belarusian defense minister warns provocations by Kiev highly probable

Viktor Khrenin pointed out that Ukraine was constantly conducting reconnaissance with unmanned aerial vehicles

Lukashenko says he won’t use tactical nuclear weapons unless enemy crosses border

The Belarusian leader stressed that "red buttons" had already been pressed around the perimeter of Belarus and Russia

IN BRIEF: What we know about Ukrainian attack on shopping mall in Donetsk

According to the latest data, at least two people have been killed and 11 others sustained wounds