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Middle East conflict

Iran refrains from attacking Israel despite Hezbollah’s request — media

An Israeli official told the news outlet that the government had instructed the Israel Defense Forces "to avoid steps that would give Iran a reason or a pretext to join the fighting"

NEW YORK, September 25. /TASS/. The Hezbollah Shia movement allegedly urged Iran to launch an attack on Israel but Tehran has so far refrained, the Axios news website reports, citing Western and Israeli diplomats.

According to the media outlet, the movement’s leadership urged Iran in recent days to conduct an attack in retaliation for the Israeli assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. "Iranian officials told their Hezbollah counterparts that ‘the timing isn't right’ for launching an attack against Israel because Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is currently in New York for the UN General Assembly," Axios notes.

An Israeli official told the news outlet that the government had instructed the Israel Defense Forces "to avoid steps that would give Iran a reason or a pretext to join the fighting."

The conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah movement escalated again after multiple explosions of communication devices occurred in Lebanon on September 17 and 18. Hezbollah blamed the explosions on Israel; the Jewish state’s authorities did not openly comment on what happened but announced increased military operations in the north. Later, the Israeli Air Force started to carry out massive strikes on the border areas in southern Lebanon and also attacked the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant later announced an expansion of strikes on Hezbollah military facilities across Lebanon. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, the attacks have killed over 550 people and left more than 1,800 injured.

Middle East conflict

Israeli military says it struck 60 Hezbollah intelligence sites

Infographics released by the IDF showed that most of the strikes targeted southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley in the east of the country

Press review: EP extends hand to Russia and Tehran ready to talk nuke deal with US

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 24th

Russia says its Lancet loitering munition destroys Ukrainian artillery in Sumy Region

According to the ministry, the artillery unit’s destruction was captured in a live-recording feed

Russian missile strike hits Ukrainian hardware in Zaporozhye — politician

According to Vladimir Rogov, the attack occurred right at the moment the equipment was being unloaded

Iran refrains from attacking Israel despite Hezbollah’s request — media

An Israeli official told the news outlet that the government had instructed the Israel Defense Forces "to avoid steps that would give Iran a reason or a pretext to join the fighting"

Russian economy counteracts challenges, including sanctions pressure — PM Mishustin

Mikhail Mishustin noted that despite the difficult conditions, it is possible to "support our citizens, businesses, and development projects, creating the basis for further growth"

FSB expands list of terrorist organizations

Overall, the list includes 54 terrorist organizations

Drones for export: Russian display at ADEX 2024 show in Baku

ADEX 2024 international defense industry show opened in Baku on September 24. The Russian display for the first time features Lancet-E kamikaze drone. TASS reports about the exhibits

Kremlin gives no info on Erdogan-Assad meeting in Kazan

Dmitry Peskov added that preparations for the summit in Kazan "are now in their final stages"

Telegram co-founder’s statement won’t lead to outflow of messenger’s users — expert

Pavel Pokrovsky noted that law enforcement agencies in almost all countries have the right to request user details, otherwise the services risk being blocked

Russia’s position on potential Western strikes explicitly outlined by Putin — Kremlin

On September 12, the Russian leader noted that NATO countries are currently not merely discussing whether to allow Ukraine to use their long-range weapons, but are essentially deciding whether to become directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict and noted that Moscow would make decisions based on the threats posed to Russia

Meeting of UNSC 'Big Five' leaders currently unrealistic — Kremlin

Vladimir Putin is open for interaction, Spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted

Iran's president ready to discuss conflict in Ukraine with Europe, US — AFP

Massoud Pezeshkian said his country had never approved of what he described as aggression against Ukraine

Kremlin spokesman says West ‘obsessed’ with fighting Russia until Ukraine runs out of men

Peskov was commenting on NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's recent statement that there is no need to be afraid of using Western weapons for strikes deep inside Russia

FSB makes public documents detailing brutal massacre of ethnic Ukrainians in 1945 Poland

The FSB published letters from engineer Nikolay Demyanchik, the son of a priest, addressed to Patriarch Alexy, of Moscow and All Russia, and Metropolitan John, of Kiev and Galicia, describing the details of the murder of his family and other residents of the village of Skopow

At least 11 killed by Israeli strikes at Bekaa Valley in Lebanon — report

All victims were civilians

Press review: Prognosing upcoming Zelensky-Biden meetup and Hezbollah ups ante with Israel

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, September 23rd

Kremlin says Russia won't be 'forced' into peace that runs counter to its interests

"Russia is all for peace, provided that its basic security is guaranteed and the special military operation’s goals are achieved," Dmitry Peskov underlined

Lavrov to hold talks with China’s top diplomat on the sidelines of UNGA session — envoy

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added that numerous multilateral events will be held on the sidelines of the UNGA session

Hezbollah suffered severe damage, Israel has more blows ready — Israeli defense minister

"Today’s Hezbollah is not the Hezbollah of a week ago," Yoav Gallant said

Trump calls Zelensky 'greatest salesman in history'

The politician added that Zelensky "wants them the Democrats to win this presidential election" because he receives financial aid from them

Special operation to end after Russia achieves its goals — Kremlin

"For us there is absolutely no alternative to achieving our set goals," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Biden, Zelensky to discuss strikes inside Russia — White House

According to National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby, US President has not made a policy change on topic

Vucic awards Russia’s envoy to UN with Order of Serbian Flag

The ceremony was held at Serbia's permanent mission to the UN in New York

Ukrainian command deploys foreign fighters in some areas of Kursk Region — commander

Apty Alaudinov pointed out that the foreigners are carrying out, among other things, raids

Total growth of Russia’s GDP in 2024-2027 may reach 13% — Economic Development Minister

In total, for 2024-2027, GDP will grow by 13%

Limited visas for Lavrov's pool journalists at UNGA contradict freedom of speech — MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, "it has nothing to do with US security or migration policy"

Press review: Israel unleashes fury on Hezbollah and UN bigwigs meet in New York

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, September 25th

Kiev moves reserves to Kharkov Region as Russian army pushes towards Kupyansk — official

Vitaly Ganchev specified that over the past two weeks, Russian troops had achieved certain success the Kharkov Region

Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states

US billionaire sees Zelensky’s 'victory plan' leading to third world war

David Sacks said hopefully Joe Biden can remember why he has rejected the points of the Ukrainian president’s plan

Hezbollah says it fired 50 rockets at Israel’s Dado military base

The base houses the headquarters of the Israel Defense Forces Northern Command, according to the group

Zelensky turns Ukraine into bankrupt nation — Ukrainian politician

According to Viktor Medvedchuk, not only has Zelensky turned his country bankrupt, the poorest one in Europe, and made its people poor, but he is now destroying the Western financial system, the foundations of the global financial order

Strategic submarines reduce risk of confrontation in Pacific, Russian Navy chief says

"Security as a whole - and we are talking about Russia’s security - is guaranteed by these weapons that Russia possesses, as well as by the readiness of these weapons," Admiral Alexander Moiseyev stressed

Serbian sniper says Russia fights against 50 countries led by UK, US, France

According to Dejan Beric, fighters from these countries and their equipment are directly involved in the conflict

Hezbollah confirms commander’s death in air strike on Beirut

Ibrahim Kobeissi was in charge of the group’s rocket and missile forces and air defense

Russia, US need to talk strategic stability — Kremlin

"Naturally, there should be a legal framework in the sphere of strategic stability, for which our countries are largely responsible," Dmitry Peskov said

Moscow reiterates will not test nukes if Washington refrains

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov drew attention "to recent media reports saying that the infrastructure on Novaya Zemlya is fully ready"

Kiev says already has plans in place to use long-range weapons in 2025

"Plans are in place, all we need now is support from our partners," Rustem Umerov explained

Finance Minister lists priority articles of Russia’s budget

According to Anton Siluanov, resources will be allocated for equipping the armed forces, paying wages and supporting enterprises of the defense industry sector

Hezbollah fires Fadi-3 missile in first such case as it shells Israel

The missile has a range of more than 100 kilometers

Zelensky fears US may change Ukraine policy after presidential election

"Therefore we need to prepare in advance," the Ukrainian President said

Hezbollah says it used ballistic missile against Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv

A series of wireless communications device explosions rocked the Arab republic on September 17 and 18

UN Secretary General to meet with Sergey Lavrov on Thursday — Spokesman

According to the Secretary General’s Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, the meeting has been planned for September 26

Russia creates multi-tier defense in Kursk Region — top brass

Apty Alaudinov stressed that even those units which the Armed Forces of Ukraine were trying to bring to this area were sustaining heavy losses

Russia strongly condemns Israel's large-scale attacks on Lebanon — Foreign Ministry

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized Russia's "principled position on the inadmissibility of indiscriminate attacks that target civilians"

FACTBOX: Ukraine's failed attacks, losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 360 servicemen and 13 armored vehicles, including an infantry fighting vehicle and 12 armored fighting vehicles

Ukrainian military more than 80% dependent on Western aid — Umerov

The Ukrainian Defense Minister said the ministry on a daily basis worked with partners including the UK, Germany, the US, France, the EU and NATO

Africa’s exclusion from UNSC must be addressed — African Union

African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed regret that discussions on the issue were dragging on, while the current developments required countries to take quick collective action

Middle East countries to increase share in global oil exports to 58% by 2050 — OPEC

At the same time, OPEC noted that OPEC's share in global exports could decline slightly by 2030 due to increased supply from Latin American countries, the United States, and Canada

IN BRIEF: Russian government completing draft federal budget

The document will be finalized and submitted to the State Duma, the lower house of the parliament, by October 1

Tourist flow in Russia in 2024 will approach 100 mln trips — Economic Development Ministry

According to Georgy Grusha, July 2024 was a record month when more than 10 mln people traveled within the country

Russian army liberates 12 villages in Kursk Region from Ukrainian forces — top brass

According to Major-General Apty Alaudinov, the Ukrainian military sustained heavy losses

Syrian air defenses repel Israeli airstrike at targets near Tartus

According to the report, the strikes come from the Mediterranean Sea

Burkina Faso’s PM to visit Russia on October 8-11

Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambelais is planning to meet with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin

Russia for the first time displays Lancet-E drone at ADEX show

"Due to rapid deployment, launch, guidance and interaction, Lancet-E is extremely effective in counterbattery warfare," Rosoboronexport said

Expert predicts ‘passport-based access’ to Internet following words of Telegram founder

"The situation is quite logical. Today we are observing a total de-anonymization of the Internet in all its manifestations," Anton Sergeyev noted

Global oil demand could reach 120.1 mln bpd in 2050 — OPEC

The organization also forecasts that oil demand would reach 112.3 mln bpd in 2029, an increase of 10.1 mln bpd from 2023

Two Russian strategic submarines arrive in Pacific fleet base

They were welcomed by Navy Commander-in-Chief Alexander Moiseyev and Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Fradkov

Two cases of new COVID XEC strain detected in Russia

This variant results in symptoms similar to FLiRT, an earlier Omicron subvariant

Anglo-Saxons always sought not only cold but also hot war with Moscow — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, in contrast to the Western approach, Moscow was very committed to ensuring that "the principles laid down in the UN Charter are really respected and put into practice"

Matviyenko re-elected for fourth term as chairperson of Russian upper house

As many as 155 senators backed Valentina Matviyenko's re-election, with no one voting against or abstaining

Turkey tends to view BRICS as a political trump card against the West — expert

Turkish economist Bartu Soral noted that when looking at "the global distribution of power, it is clear that huge changes have occurred since the early 2000s"

Israel strikes missile launcher in Lebanon from which missile was fired toward Tel Aviv

According to the IDF, the launcher was deployed near Nafakhiyeh in southern Lebanon

DPR head says fighting for liberation of Ugledar goes inside city limits

According to Denis Pushilin, the enemy already started to downplay the military importance of Ugledar in the public domain amid the accomplishments of the Russian military

Trump reminds supporters Russia ‘beat Hitler,' warns Ukraine next in line

Previously, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that if he is elected president, he will end the Ukraine conflict before his inauguration

Battlegroup Center makes Ukraine lose up to 580 troops in past day

According to the Defense Ministry, the battlegroup continued to move deeper into enemy defenses, hitting the troops and equipment of four Ukrainian brigades

Fine for propaganda promoting 'childfree' ideology could reach 5 mln rubles — Duma speaker

Vyacheslav Volodin noted that the fine was determined based on existing fines for spreading LGBT and gender reassignment propaganda

Macron calls for reviewing ties with Russia

The French president also called for bigger presence of "densely populated countries, which did not exist when the current world order was only forming" in international organizations

Kremlin refuses to comment on Hague arbitration case against Russia

"I would like to refrain from any comments. Our position on the entire Russian infrastructure is crystal clear, and we stand by this position," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia's newest satellites to change course of Ukrainian conflict — former UN inspector

According to Ritter this conflict would become "unsustainable for the Ukrainian sometime by the end of summer, early fall"

West prevents Ukraine from fair talks with Russia — Lavrov

As the Russian foreign minister stressed, "those who came to power in Ukraine following the coup d'etat declared their intention to ban the Russian language as their first act, certainly not representing Crimea, Donbass, or Novorossiya"

Israeli Air Force fires 2,000 munitions at 1,500 Hezbollah targets in past 24 hours

The strikes were carried out "in order to eliminate threats for Israeli civilians," the statement reads

Israel pushes Hezbollah 20 years backwards in past week — media

Officials believe that Israel has "significantly weakened" the movement by killing several senior commanders and impacting Hezbollah’s command and control structure

Lavrov blasts France’s idea to limit veto power in UNSC as shameless move

"Britain and France themselves generally play along with those who want to force the process," the Russian foreign minister pointed out

Testing intercontinental missiles is China's sovereign right — Kremlin

As the Chinese Defense Ministry said earlier, the launch was carried out on September 25 as part of a missile force exercise

Russian forces hit Ukrainian facility producing gas turbine engines for combat aircraft

Battlegroup Center continued to advance deeper into enemy defenses, hitting the troops and equipment of 12 Ukrainian brigades near Dzerzhinsk, Nelepovka, Rozovka, Krasnoarmeysk, Dimitrov, Grodovka, Ukrainsk, Gornyak and Kurakhovka of the Donetsk People's Republic

Russia to keep winning, West understands no other language — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister said that people have become united in the face of the war

Ukrainian army keeps attacking civilians in Kharkov Region, official says

Vitaly Ganchev specified that earlier, a civilian had suffered shrapnel injuries in a drone attack

DPR head reports recent liberation of town of Ukrainsk

According to Denis Pushilin, Kransnogorovka, Ukrainsk and Selidovo are the locations of Ukrainian strongholds in that area

Ukrainian military to inevitably lose Ugledar — Ukrainian expert

The Russian forces are interrupting the supply chains and hitting the Ukrainian military logistics

Top Russian diplomat arrives in New York for UN General Assembly

Sergey Lavrov will take part in several bilateral and multilateral high-level meetings

US secret services spied on Americans who might have fought on Kiev’s side — Politico

According to the newspaper, the US authorities have been monitoring Americans who traveled to Ukraine to fight, fearing some could become violent when they return home

Ukraine loses nearly 150 troops, several strongholds during counterattacks near Volchansk

In recent days, Ukrainian militants have been trying to stabilize the situation in the Kharkov region, military expert Andrey Marochko said

Ukraine’s General Staff admits frontline situation is difficult

Kharkov, Kupyansk and Liman are the most unfavorable directions

Russian GDP up 4.4% in 7M 2024 — PM Mishustin

According to the Russian Prime Minister, this is more than two times higher than last year’s level

Process to release Russians detained in Chad launched — envoy

"Chad is in contact with the Russian authorities on this issue," Adam Beshir Mahamoud said

Ukrainian army loses most of its resources in Kursk Region — Russian commander

"They have realized they cannot move forward no matter what they do," Major General Apty Alaudinov said

New Russian combat equipment in 2024

Hezbollah says it struck Israeli naval base

The attack was carried out with drones, which were able to hit the designated target

Russia advises its citizens to leave Lebanon for security reasons — Kremlin spokesman

"All measures are now being taken to recommend our citizens to leave the territory of Lebanon as soon as possible, using the available opportunities of commercial transportation," Dmitry Peskov said

Advanced Sarmat ICBM systems go on combat alert in Russia — Roscosmos head

The RS-28 Sarmat missile to replace the R-36M2 Voyevoda ICBM operational in the Russian Strategic Missile Force since 1988

IAEA chief plans to visit Iran soon — Reuters

Rafael Grossi stressed that preparations for potential talks need to start now in order to get more information about Iran’s activities

Russia rejects accusations of alleged violations of UN Charter — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that "of course, Russia is categorically opposed to double standards in the interpretation of international law"

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

Ukrainian forces carry out rotation in Kursk area — Russian commander

Russian investigators bust inmates that joined extremist group, plotted prison break

While in the colony, they developed an escape plan and prepared prohibited items for its implementation

Western companies still working in Russia, despite promises to leave — Bloomberg

It was noted that most of these companies rebranded instead of leaving the country

Wars, nuclear posturing make world ‘a powder keg’ — UN secretary-general

Antonio Guterres said humanity is going through a tremendous transformation, facing unprecedented challenges that require global solutions