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Middle East conflict

Israel to retaliate so suddenly that Iran won't have time to realize anything — minister

Yoav Gallant reiterated that the Iranian attack did not damage the Israeli Air Force's capabilities

TEL AVIV, October 9. /TASS/. Israel is not abandoning plans to retaliate against Iran’s missile attack, its response will be "deadly and unexpected" so that the Iranians will not have time to understand anything, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said.

"The Iranian attack was aggressive but inaccurate. In contrast, our attack will be deadly, pinpoint accurate, and most importantly, surprising. They (the Iranians - TASS) will not know what happened or how it happened. They will just see the results," Channel 12 quoted the top defense official as saying at a meeting with one of the Israeli army's intelligence units.

Gallant reiterated that the Iranian attack did not damage the Israeli Air Force's capabilities. According to him, all air bases are operating normally and no aircraft were damaged. He also pointed out that Israel's entire military and political leadership - from the soldier to the prime minister - is working together to plan a strike against Iran. "The entire chain of command is in line and focused around this issue," Galant emphasized.

On the evening of October 1, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, the elite unit of Iran’s armed forces) launched a massive ballistic and hypersonic missile attack against Israel in retaliation for the deaths of top leaders of the Hamas, Hezbollah and IRGC groups. Tehran said that 90% of the missiles successfully hit their designated targets. Israel, in turn, said that Iran had fired some 180 missiles into the country, most of which were intercepted.

The Israeli Chief of the General Staff vowed to "choose the right time" to surprise Iran with an attack, while Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Hebrew warned that attacks on Israel will be ramped up.

Middle East conflict

IDF claims elimination of Hezbollah militia member in Syria

According to the press office, the Israeli Air Force attacked and eliminated Azam Jahout

UK conceals evidence of Kiev’s use of banned toxic substances — Russian embassy

The embassy noted that the introducing unilateral restrictions on Russia had become a routine for London, which was focused on confrontation

US assessed chance of Russia using nuclear arms in Ukraine at 50% in 2022 — US journalist

According to a new book by Bob Woodward, an American veteran investigative journalist and an associate editor of The Washington Post, in 2022 there was a phone call between Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, and the then Russian defense minister Sergey Shoigu

Russian defense minister hold talks with Burkina Faso’s PM

According to the ministry, the sides discussed areas of cooperation between the two countries

Iran warns countries helping Israel down Iranian missiles about its ‘crushing response’

According to the Iranian lawmaker, Israeli allies’ efforts proved to be futile as they "were unable to stop the operation and bar it from reaching its goals"

EU approves new sanctions regime against Russia for 'hybrid activities'

It specifies that this mechanism is aimed against certain "Russia’s destabilizing actions abroad"

Nobel Prize in physics awarded for discoveries in machine learning

"Although computers cannot think, machines can now mimic functions such as memory and learning," the Nobel Committee said

Iran not going to allow Israel to launch new round of violence — envoy to Russia

According to Kazem Jalali, the behavior of Western countries is "surprising" in this context

FACTBOX: Putin highlights payments in national currencies, growth of CIS weight

The weight of the CIS as the regional integration association is steadily growing, the Russian leader noted

Hurricane Milton may fall under hypothetical Category 6 — Newsweek

According to the report, gusts of wind brought by Milton reached the speed of 80 meters per second at some point, while Category 5 hurricanes envisages winds of up to 70 meters per second

Western Balkans should join EU, no consensus on other candidates — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister emphasized the importance of Serbia’s accession to the EU

Zelensky needs to initiate talks with Russia, Ukrainian lawmaker says

Alexander Dubinsky is confident that Western leaders will put indirect pressure on the Ukrainian president

Putin presents highest state award to Belarusian president

The Russian leader signed a decree on awarding the order to Lukashenko on August 30, when the Belarusian leader turned 70

Israel fears full-scale conflict with Iran — newspaper

Israel is likely to give up the idea of striking nuclear sites in Iran, the Jerusalem Post said

Putin to meet with Belarusian counterpart

The Russian leader will give Alexander Lukashenko Russia’s highest award, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called

Ukraine’s NATO membership impossible, most members understand it — top Hungarian diplomat

Peter Szijjarto said most of his NATO counterparts share his opinion in private conversations behind closed doors

Russia repels enemy attacks, hits reserves, Kiev loses troops: situation in Kursk area

Russia’s battlegroup North continued offensive operations and defeated the Ukrainian troops near Daryino, Lyubimovka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Novy Put and Plekhovo

Pantsir-S on round-the-clock duty in Kursk region — Russian Defense Ministry

The crews constantly change positions

Russian embassy slams US vice president’s remarks about Putin as outrageous

According to the statement, "such a boorish language has become a habit among the current so-called American statesmen"

2016 World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan

Sports include eagle hunting, bone throwing and kok-boru, a Central Asian form of polo in which two teams battle for control of a decapitated goat carcass

Syrian foreign ministry slams Israeli’s strike on civilian building in Damascus

The ministry once again underscored "the need for urgent measures to restrain" the Jewish state

Beirut port’s administration tries to evacuate cargo amid looming Israeli strikes — head

"Commercial vessels are still arriving at the port, practically as usual," Omar Itani said

Two settlements liberated: situation in Kursk Region

Units of the battlegroup North continued offensive operations and liberated the settlements of Novaya Sorochina and Pokrovsky in the Kursk Region

Ukrainian conflict can end in 15 days without Western support for Kiev — Borrell

In that case, Russian President Vladimir Putin would have achieved his goals, the EU top diplomat said

IRGC confirms destruction of numerous Israeli F-35s in Iranian missile strike

It was earlier reported that more than 20 Israeli Air Force F-35 aircraft were hit during an IRGC missile strike on Israel

Iranian embassy condemns Israel’s strike on Damascus

The embassy condemns this act of terror and says that no Iranian citizens were among the victims

Israel demands that Hezbollah lay down weapons in exchange for ceasefire — TV

"Israel demands that Hezbollah lay down its weapons and retreat to the north from the Litani River in exchange for a ceasefire in Lebanon," Al Arabiya said

Second conference on Ukraine not to be held in November — presidential office

According to Darya Zarovnaya, so far, "thematical conferences on each provision of the 'formula' (the so-called peace formula proposed by Zelensky - TASS) are being held" and yield communiques

Press review: Putin takes meetings in Kremlin and Russia's ace in the hole for peace talks

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, October 9th

Some 3,000 Ukrainian troops may be trapped near Seversk in DPR — expert

"We have recently received information that we broke the line of defense and approached Serebryanka and Grigorovka, so it could be said that the fight for these settlements has already started," Andrey Marochko said

Situation in Ugledar remains tense as Ukrainian troops continue shelling attacks

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Ugledar on October 3

Ukrainian servicemen loot apartments of Ugledar residents before fleeing — top brass

The ministry emphasized that the Ukrainian troops tried to literally knock people out of the town

Russian forces destroy two Ukrainian armored vehicles in Kharkov Region by FPV drones

It is reported that after an analysis of reconnaissance data received, the Russian military command made a decision to strike both armored vehicles of the Ukrainian army

Ukrainian attacks kill 70, injure 300 civilians in Kursk Region — envoy

"The significant part of these people are those injured on the territory controlled by the Kiev militants," Rodion Miroshnik said

Kaspersky Lab starts winding down UK office operations

Kaspersky Lab announced gradual winding down of its office in the US in July, amid personal sanctions

Israeli official confirms that HAMAS leader Sinwar still alive — portal

According to the source, Sinwar sent a number of messages to HAMAS mediators in Qatar recently

Armenian PM praises active political dialogue with Russia at meeting with Putin

While in Moscow, Nikol Pashinyan will take part in the Commonwealth of Independent States summit

Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for work with proteins

While Baker has designed an entirely new kind of proteins, Top7, "that was unlike any other protein," Hassabis and Jumper have developed an AI model called AlphaFold2, which enabled them to predict the structure of over 200 million proteins identified in other living organisms

Not all aspects of Israel-HAMAS deal worked out yet — Harris

"And so there has been some progress," US Vice President said

Hungary opposes transition to 3-year freeze of Russian assets in EU — Finance Minister

The amount of the Bank of Russia’s sovereign assets blocked in the EU countries’ jurisdictions in 2022 is about 220 billion euros

Kalashnikov gunmaker to launch serial production of upgraded AM-17 assault rifle

The AM-17 assault rifle is set to replace the AKS-74U submachine gun accepted for service in 1979

Trump criticizes $300-bln aid to Ukraine amid hurricane in US

US Republican presidential candidate also criticized the government’s post disaster response in certain US states, most notably North Carolina

Stoltenberg could face life imprisonment for his crimes — lawyer

"We are talking about very serious charges," Philippe Vanlangendonck pointed out

Putin to receive CIS leaders in Kremlin

During the summit, the leaders will discuss key cooperation tasks of the Commonwealth, as well as topical regional and international problems and outline main areas of work in the future

Defense contractor delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russia’s Aerospace Forces

The bombers have undergone a series of ground and flight tests

Just like Biden, Blinken cancels foreign trips amid hurricane — Department of State

According to Miller, Blinken "was planning to join the President in Germany and Angola, but given this postponement now expects to return home to Washington from Laos"

Press review: Russia urges Israel to see reason and NATO at wits end on how to help Kiev

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, October 4th

Group of Russian climbers found dead in Nepal — mountaineering community

One of the climbers began to feel symptoms of altitude sickness and was forced to descend to a lower camp, Spokeswoman Anna Piunova said

Nuclear test ban organization says Iranian seismic event looks like earthquake — diplomat

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Iran’s province of Semnan southeast of the capital Tehran on October 5

Russia hammers Ukrainian military airfields by Kinzhal hypersonic missiles

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberated the community of Zoryanoye Pervoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day, the ministry reported

Kiev, allies start to realize need for negotiations with Russia — FT

The article says that "the mood is shifting" in "Washington and some western capitals," as well as "in the corridors of" the Kiev government

CIS leaders see their duty in protecting world from new war

"Our common duty is to sacredly honor the memory of those who died for freedom and peace on Earth, to defend with all our might the just cause for which they fought and gave their lives, and to strengthen in every possible way the unity of all people of good will in the fight against any manifestations of Nazism and neo-Nazism, as well as the threat of a new world war," the statement reads

Russian paratroopers storm Ukrainian strongholds, liberating Kursk Region’s Pokrovsky

The Russian Defense Ministry quoted servicemen as saying that "the enemy troops were frightened, abandoned their positions, even dropped their documents"

Russia has proof of US’, UK’s involvement in sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines — diplomat

The publication of the evidence will depend on how the situation around the investigation unfolds, Maria Zakharova said

Putin says he expects Pashinyan to attend BRICS summit in Kazan

The Russian leader stressed that the BRICS summit is expected to encompass "lots of contacts"

Liberation of Ugledar paving way to large lithium deposit — expert

"Full-scale lithium production on already explored reserves can be an important element of replenishing the budget of the Donetsk People’s Republic and significantly help the Western countries in making the energy transition," Nikolay Novik noted

Ukraine pulls back troops to western outskirts of Dzerzhinsk — security agencies

According to the report, there is currently a mop-up operation ongoing, targeting the remaining pockets of resistance in the center of Dzerzhinsk

China wants stronger cooperation with Russia in BRICS, SCO — Chinese State Councilor

"We are ready to proudly carry the banner of multipolarity, defend international equity and justice, increase cooperation within international platforms, unite the Global South, and contribute to forming a community with a unified course for humanity," Shen Yiqin said

US faith in Zelensky puts world on brink of WW3 — politician

Viktor Medvedchuk argued that Americans no longer come to Ukraine and other countries to find solutions or seek ways to normalize situations, but rather to dictate who is good and who is bad

Russian assets frozen in the Netherlands melt to 97.2 mln euros from 660 mln — newspaper

According to the publication, "Russian assets worth more than half a billion euros were apparently released with the approval of the ministry"

Kremlin dismisses reports of Putin holding seven phones calls with Trump after 2021

Dmitry Peskov commented on the allegations which veteran US journalist Bob Woodward made in his new book

Russian military distributes humanitarian aid in Syria’s Damascus governorate

A total of 600 sets of food weighting 5.9 metric tons in total were distributed among those in need

Ramstein group meeting likely to take place in Brussels on October 17 — source

It is reported that the possibility to hold consultations at the working level is currently under consideration

Winner of Nobel Prize in chemistry to be announced in Stockholm

Clarivate company projects that this year’s award may go to David Baker of the United States and his UK colleagues John Jumper and Demis Hassabis

Armenia, Azerbaijan agreed to speed up work on peace deal draft document — Armenian PM

"Foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement recently to intensify the work on finalizing the draft peace treaty," Nikol Pashinyan said

US military base in eastern Syria comes under missile attack — TV

No data about casualties and damage was provided

US journalist describes Russia’s liberation of Ugledar as "major setback" for Kiev

In Stavros Atlamazoglou opinion, now the Ukrainian military will have to ensure that the Russian forces don’t take advantage of the fall of Ugledar "and create an operational breakthrough in the wider area"

Ruling Georgian party accuses EU ambassador of interference in election process

Earlier, Pavel Gerchinsky criticized the ruling party's election videos, which showed footage of the destruction brought by the fighting in Ukraine in contrast to the views of peaceful Georgia

Liberation of western DPR could collapse Ukraine’s defenses up to Dnieper River — adviser

According to Igor Kimakovsky, Russian forces have almost encircled Kurakhovka and Selidovo

Discord messenger blocked in Russia for violation of laws — regulator

Discord was included into the register of social networks, which obliged it to find and block unlawful content on its own

At least 36 killed in Israel’s strikes on Lebanon in past day — ministry

According to the Lebanese Health Ministry,150 more were wounded

High-level Ramstein meeting on Ukraine put off indefinitely

Earlier, the White House said that US President Joe Biden was canceling a visit to Europe, including to attend the Ramstein event in Germany

Mobilized Ukrainian welder cuts hole in border bridge

He fled to Hungary, Ukrainian journalist Vitaly Glagola said

Group of Iranian lawmakers asks Security Council to authorize creation of nuclear weapons

Since 2003, a fatwa by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has outlawed the production of nuclear weapons as contradicting Islam

Ukrainian army starts using FPV drones to attack individual soldiers — Russian sapper

Ukrainian drones are often used for remote mine-laying

Berlin wants to explore all options to achieve peace in Ukraine — source

At the same time, Berlin believes that "Russia should not achieve its goals" in Ukraine, and "Ukraine should not lose"

Belarus hails Russia’s adjusted nuclear doctrine as reinforcing mutual stance

Alexander Lukashenko pledged that Belarus would never unilaterally use nuclear weapons, even if these weapons were its own

North Korea to speed up steps toward becoming military super power, Kim says

"The military alliance of the United States and the Republic of Korea, as flouted by the puppets themselves, has become completely nuclear-based, and we need to keep our military preparedness at an endlessly high level," Kim Jong Un added

FACTBOX: What is known about the death of Russian climbers in Nepal

On the morning of October 6, the group of climbers left the camp to climb, and after that contact with them was lost

Russian forces strike Ukrainian army’s fuel supply sites over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 650 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy ammunition depot in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

CIS leaders adopt numerous documents, approve Interparliamentary Assembly’s work

The national leaders also approved the Cooperation Program on De-radicalization for 2025-2027, developed on the Uzbekistan’s initiative

Shipbuilders to deliver Project 22800 missile corvette Rzhev to Russian Navy

All the work was carried out in compliance with the construction schedule and large-size equipment and weapons systems were mounted on the ship

Russian authorities discussing diesel fuel export restrictions, sources say

The Ministry of Energy and oil producers are concerned of the situation that may lead to further price growth on the commodity exchange, the sources said

Russian troops gain better positions along front line in Kamenskoye — politician

Russia’s forces are advancing in two directions at a time

Press review: Israeli reprisal against Iran looms and Iraq bets on Russia amid US exit

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, October 3rd

Hungary wants to reform EU, not quit it — premier

Viktor Orban said he would like to see the European Union as an alliance of strong and independent nations, rather than as "the United States of Europe"

Russian aircraft strike two terrorists’ bases in two Syrian governorates

The command of the Syrian armed forces, backed by the Russian taskforce, continues reconnaissance and rescue operations in desert and mountainous areas in the Homs and Deir ez-Zor governorates

Kiev uses Western chemical weapons under guise of smoke shells in Sudzha — top brass

These munitions in the amount of 3,800 shells were supplied to Ukraine in September 2023 under a military assistance package, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov pointed out

50 French nationals contact Russian embassy after decree on support of traditional values

The embassy noted that the procedure for provision of visas and residence permits, as well as Russian citizenship for French nationals has existed for years

Press review: West's new NATO angle for Kiev and Putin plans powwows with regional bigs

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, October 8th

Desertion epidemic reaches massive proportions in Ukraine — journalist

Accoridng to Vladimir Boiko, the total number of deserters now stands at 170,000 people

New EU sanctions against Russia to remain in effect until October 9, 2025 — document

At present, although some mechanisms of the EU are approved for one year, the main sanction measures against Russia in the EU are revised every six months

About 180 rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon since midnight — IDF

The largest attack was a rocket strike toward Haifa and the neighboring cities in northern Israel

Ukraine topic 'fading' at UN, no desire to resolve conflict there — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Vershinin, the UN General Assembly’s 79th session "widely discussed ultimatums for Russia, including Zelensky's so-called peace formulas, which are obviously unacceptable"

Russian exports to the US lowest since January 1993 — statistics

Exports of US goods to Russia contracted to $54.5 mln this August

Response measures to be in effect as soon as West approves long-range strikes — Lavrov

Commenting on Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s remark that the upcoming October 12 Ramstein-format meeting of the contact group on military aid for Kiev will become special, and the entire next week will become "historic in many ways," the top Russian diplomat noted that he "does not follows their meetings"

Russian aircraft target construction site of Ukrainian stronghold in Zaporozhye Region

"The fortified area in the Orekhov District, where they are digging in and installing concrete structures, will not help the enemy," Vladimir Rogov said

NATO's eastern flank ramps up defense spending to Soviet-era levels — Bloomberg

Defense officials in eastern NATO member states emphasize that after upgrading military equipment, their countries faced a lack of skilled personnel

Scholz open to phone call with Putin, 'no taboo' on talks — government source

However, it is pointed out that the chancellor would only initiate contact with Putin if "the moment is right"

Russia’s Su-25 ground-attack aircraft foil rotation of Ukrainian troops in Kursk region

After the use of aviation weapons, the crews performed a maneuver, released decoy flares, and returned to the departure airfield

Russian embassy rejects Mi-5 claims about alleged Russian sabotage

The scare tactics Director of MI-5 Ken McCallum "seeks to employ are clearly aimed at sustaining the ebbing public support for the Kiev regime which is quickly draining the UK's finances and arsenals," the embassy added