Middle East conflict

11 Feb, 17:46Updated at: 18:13

Israel to resume Gaza hostilities if Hamas fails to release hostages by February 15 — PM

Benjamin Netanyahu did not specify the number of hostages Israel demands be released

© AP Photo/ Abdel Kareem Hana

TEL AVIV, February 11. /TASS/. The Israeli army will resume hostilities in the Gaza Strip if the radical Palestinian movement Hamas does not release Israeli hostages by noon on February 15, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after a four-hour war cabinet meeting.

"The unanimous decision that I passed in the cabinet is as follows: if Hamas does not return our hostages by Saturday noon, the ceasefire will end the Israel Defense Forces will resume intense fighting until the final defeat of Hamas.," the Prime Minister's Office quoted Netanyahu as saying.

At the same time, he did not specify the number of hostages Israel demands be released by Saturday.

Speaking about the war cabinet meeting, Netanyahu noted that all participants "expressed outrage over the shocking state" of the three Israeli hostages released on February 8. "We all welcomed [US] President [Donald] Trump's demand to release our hostages by Saturday noon as well, and we all welcomed the president's revolutionary vision for the future of Gaza," the prime minister added, commenting on the US leader's proposal to relocate Palestinians from the enclave to other countries.

Netanyahu also said that following Hamas' announcement to suspend the hostage release process, he ordered the Israeli army last night to "amass forces inside - and surrounding - the Gaza Strip." "This action is being carried out at this hour and will be completed very soon," he said, accusing the radicals of violating the agreement.

US military launches large-scale operation against Houthis in Yemen

The operation includes a series of precision strikes on Houthi targets

China successfully launches Siwei Gaojing remote sensing satellite

The Changzheng-2D carrier rocket blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northern China at 12:11 a.m. local time

Yesterday, 07:14

Ukrainian troops suffering heavy losses near Sudzha in attempt to evacuate NATO equipment

The Ukrainian army has repeatedly attempted without any success to break through into the Sumy Region on armored personnel carriers, armored combat vehicles and pickup trucks

Putin says armed conflict in Ukraine forced on Russia

"The entire law enforcement sector and its key link, the Interior Ministry, should certainly build all their activities based on these threats, which undoubtedly arise in today's situation," the Russian president said

Civilian death toll in clashes in western Syria reaches 1,500 — TV

The highest death toll was recorded in the Latakia governorate in northwestern Syria

Yesterday, 17:02

Ukrainian army committed crimes against civilians in Kursk Region — Putin

"As I have already said, these acts are classified by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation as terrorism," the head of state said at a meeting with members of the Security Council

Yesterday, 14:34

Trump calls discussions with Putin on Thursday 'very good and productive'

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Putin met visiting US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff late on Thursday but did not say what the two were talking about

Yesterday, 14:04

Russian troops liberate 33 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 1,585 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 19 enemy artillery guns and 15 electronic warfare stations in its area of responsibility over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

Merkel views Russia as a strong nuclear power that captures Trump’s admiration

Commenting on the notorious clash between Trump and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky in the White House, Merkel recalled thinking that she never wanted to see anything like this again

Russian forces start demining border areas of Kursk Region

The ministry also said that the sappers have a lot of work to do

Trump says Islamic state’s leader eliminated in Iraq

US President also noted that the operation was conducted in coordination with the government of Iraq and the authorities of the Iraqi Kurdistan

Death toll in explosion in Syria's Latakia rises to 10 — Health Ministry

Earlier, four people were reported dead

Yesterday, 18:40

Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region will be destroyed, if refuse to surrender — Medvedev

The politician noted that the coming hours will show whether the Kiev regime will use the chance to save its soldiers

31 Aug 2017, 12:12

Forbes reveals this century’s 100 most influential Russians

The Forbes list stated that Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and current Russian President Vladimir Putin had the same amount of votes

Almost 380 people missing in Russia’s Kursk region found alive, acting governor says

As residents have been returning en masse, search efforts are ongoing, Alexander Khinshtein added

Two days ago, 18:48

Trump sees no threat of Russia attacking NATO

"I think what this [the special military operation in Ukraine] gets done, it’s done. They're going to all want to go home and rest," the US president added

Yesterday, 20:52

Trump says sure that Putin will agree to ceasefire in Ukraine

US President says he knows Russian Leader "pretty well"

Yesterday, 17:06

Putin guarantees life to Ukrainian troops if they lay down arms

The Russian president made the statement as he opened a meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council

Crew Dragon ship with Russian cosmonaut Peskov on board on its way to ISS

The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with the ISS on Saturday evening

Yesterday, 08:31

US envoy Witkoff already left Moscow, TASS source confirms

Earlier, Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with Witkoff would take place when everything’s ready for it

Yesterday, 16:43

Russian regulator extends restrictions on flights to Israel at nighttime

Russian air carriers Red Wings and Azimuth make direct flights from Russia to Israel

Britain does not want peace in Ukraine because of its interest in Odessa seaports — expert

Vladimir Karasev further elaborated that the British authorities were also interested in Ukraine's resources, which have been handed over to them by Vladimir Zelensky under a 100-year agreement

Maritime Security Belt 2025 international drills kick off in Iran’s Chabahar

The drills involve warships of the Russian, Iranian, and Chinese Navies

Yesterday, 14:59

Danish lawmaker believes annexation of Greenland would cause war against US

Rasmus Jarlov referred to the meeting US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the White House on March 13

Europe at risk of ‘engaging in civilizational suicide’ — US vice president

According to JD Vance, the policy of open borders and the limitations of citizens’ rights are becoming a serious issue for European countries

Yesterday, 17:04

Putin doesn’t expect restoration of relations with US to be easy process

The Russian president recalled that he had spoken with US President Donald Trump over the phone and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had had first contacts with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Time running out for Ukrainian troops in Kursk area to lay down arms — Kremlin

Putin thus responded to the call of US President Donald Trump, who offered to "spare" the Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region

Yesterday, 18:21

No war, so feared by West, in Europe in five years — Lukashenko

The president said the leadership of Belarus would have known about the plans to attack Europe

Yesterday, 00:43

Russia sentences at least nine foreign mercenaries for a role in Ukraine’s Kursk incursion

British national James Scott Rhys Anderson, arrested in the Kursk Region, was given 19 years behind bars following a court trial

Yesterday, 19:01

Ukraine, Russia’s potential concessions yet to be seen — Rubio

According to the top US diplomat, there can be "no military solution" to the hostilities in Ukraine

Two days ago, 16:12

Kursk situation under Russia’s control, Ukrainian battlegroup blocked — Putin

"This is full isolation and full gunfire control," the Russian leader stressed

US military launches large-scale operation against Houthis in Yemen

The operation includes a series of precision strikes on Houthi targets

Yesterday, 20:38

Trumps says was sarcastic when promising to settle Ukrainian conflict in 24 hours

During his election campaign, Trump repeatedly said that he would settle the conflict in Ukraine in 24 hours

Western leaders' meeting on Ukraine kicks off

Starmer cited three main goals for today's meeting: "to strengthen Ukraine, to be prepared to defend any deal ourselves through a ‘coalition of the willing,’ and to keep that pressure on Russia at this crucial time"

Yesterday, 12:32

Fundamental changes in Russian trade routes affect at least 40% of exports and imports

ACRA noted that the share of BRICS countries in foreign trade turnover increased from 20-25% in 2022 to 45-55% in 2024

Yesterday, 20:22

Trade war between US, China may adversely affect Sino-Russian trade — expert

US duties in respect of Canada, Mexico, China and the EU may lead to GDP growth deceleration in these countries and across the globe in general, CEO of US-based Navigator Principal Investors Kyle Shostak said

Trump authorizes military action against Houthi rebels in Yemen

Nine people have been killed and nine others injured in joint US and British airstrikes on Yemen, Al Mayadeen television reported

Yesterday, 23:36

Engineering troops begin demining liberated areas of Russia’s Kursk Region

According to the acting regional head Alexander Khinshtein, the Ukrainian armed forces continue to shell settlements in the Kursk Region using cluster munitions fired by multiple rocket launchers

Security forces detain Ukrainian soldiers disguised as Russian troops in Kursk border area

"They immediately inform the Russian military about suspicious persons," the source said.

Pope Francis to stay in hospital for time being — Vatican sources

Pope Francis' condition "continues to be stable," the source said

Yesterday, 14:24

Ukrainian forces destroy 48 churches, architectural monuments in Russia’s Kursk region

According to Alexander Khinshtein, not a single war criminal who committed atrocities on the Kursk land should escape deserved punishment

Yesterday, 12:05

Kursk Region’s border buffer zone should be at least 20-30 km wide — expert

Oleg Ivanov also highlighted that the Russian military had already made significant progress in establishing a security zone by liberating populated areas in the Sumy Region from enemy control

Musk announces Starship spacecraft mission to Mars with humanoid robot

If flights to Mars with the robot are successful, he said, ships with humans could be sent in 2029

Yesterday, 06:08

Russian troops complete clearing of woods west of Kurilovka — security agencies

Russian marines note that the remaining Ukrainian forces are putting up fierce resistance, as many servicemen are still unaware of the defeat of the Ukrainian grouping in the occupied territories

17 May 2023, 18:47

Kinzhal missile wipes out Patriot air defense system in Kiev — Russian Defense Ministry

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian Armed Forces hit a US-made Patriot system in Kiev with a Kinzhal hypersonic missile

Yesterday, 12:19

Russian, US leaders to decide on talk timing after Witkoff’s report to Trump — Kremlin

"Both parties recognize that this dialogue is needed," Dmitry Peskov added

Yesterday, 12:55

Russian airports boost passenger traffic to 216.4 mln in 2024 — air regulator

Almost all regional airports set records by the number of serviced passengers, Dmitry Yadrov noted

Novgorod-made FPV drone Prince Vandal causes $300 mln damage to NATO

Earlier, the CEO of the research and production center Ushkuynik, Alexey Chadayev, said that the drone for the first time would begin to be manufactured in several regions of Russia

Russian stocks close in the green on Tuesday

Freedom Finance Global projects the MOEX Index at 3,150-3,250 points on Wednesday

Leaders of Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan call Azeri president at informal meeting — Kremlin

Aliyev expressed his gratitude for Putin’s invitation to attend the May 9 events in the Russian capital, the Azerbaijani leader’s press service said

Russian forces hit energy facilities that support Ukraine's military-industrial complex

According to the ministry, Russian air defenses shot down seven JDAM bombs, three HIMARS rockets and 170 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones

Trump expects Russia to agree to Ukrainian settlement deal

The US has had some pretty good news coming out of Russia, the American leader said

Trump concedes NATO at war against Russia in Ukraine

US president made the statement at a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin

Yesterday, 16:53

Russia understands Trump's call to "spare" Ukrainian troops near Kursk — Putin

"We understand President Trump's call to be guided by humanitarian considerations in relation to these servicemen," the Russian leader said

Yesterday, 13:10

Kursk Region has transformed into a Kursk fortress — acting governor

According to Alexander Khinshtein, both the Russian military, who are liberating the region, and volunteers, who are assisting residents of border areas, are part of such a fortress

Yesterday, 09:56

Net profit of Russian banks in 2026 to reach $37-44 bln — regulator

"The year of 2025 won’t see a profit record again as the cost of credit risk and the margin of banks will return to their historical levels," the Central Bank said

Macron's intention to protect everyone with France's '3-4 nuclear bombs' is funny — Lavrov

The minister also noted that Macron is now trying to present the situation as if Russian President Vladimir Putin did not want to implement the 2015 Minsk agreements

Yesterday, 09:06

EU offers Kiev membership for ongoing conflict with Russia — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban elaborated that Ukraine’s rushed accession to the EU would cause irreparable damage to European countries in areas such as the economy, labor market, healthcare, public security, and border protection

Russian forces liberate Rubanshchina, Zaoleshenka in Kursk Region

The ministry also emphasized that the Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 67,600 servicemen in total during the fighting in the Kursk Region

Serbia withdraws vote in favor of anti-Russian UN resolution on Ukraine — top diplomat

Marko Djuric stressed that all responsibility regarding the country’s vote on the resolution "lies primarily" with him

Yesterday, 12:22

Russia’s S-500 missile defense system seen as top-notch by US analysts — media

The S-500, produced by the Almaz-Antey defense manufacturer, was designed to destroy all existing and future aerospace attack weapons of a potential enemy across the entire range of altitudes and speeds

Yesterday, 17:16

Putin says aware of Trump's call to spare Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region

The Russian leader said that the Ukrainian army had committed crimes against the civilian population in the Kursk Region, which "are classified by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation as terrorism"

Traffic in Belgrade paralyzed, thousands of protesters arrive in city center

The protesters are carrying Serbian flags, using drums, vuvuzelas and whistles

Foreign companies double voyages along Northern Sea Route since 2023

This situation is a precondition to launch the Northern Sea Route as a full-fledged transport corridor, Gadzhimagomed Guseynov said

Conference on Syria in Paris to be held at ministerial level — French foreign ministry

According to the French diplomat Christophe Lemoine, neither religious nor ethnic groups will be represented at the meeting

Russian, Belarusian citizens to face significant limitations of entry to US — newspaper

According to The New York Times, Washington will not close its borders for Russians and Belarusians completely

Ukrainian attacks on Russian regions kill 652 — top investigator

There were 23 children among them, Alexander Bastrykin said

Chechen leader says Operation Pipeline near Sudzha was daring, incredibly effective

Kadyrov also shared a video featuring the Akhmat units’ commandos moving through the gas pipeline as they advanced into enemy territory

Yesterday, 15:38

FACTBOX: Russia liberates settlements in Kursk, charges Ukrainian mercenaries

Over the past day, the enemy lost more than 260 military personnel, five armored personnel carriers, two armored combat vehicles, five automobiles, four artillery pieces, two mortars, as well as three unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control sites

Two days ago, 15:39

Kiev tried to pass off Ukrainian army’s panic escape from Sudzha as regrouping — expert

"And, naturally, after such slaughter, they would hardly want to continue their service under the direction of the Ukrainian military command and Zelensky," Andrey Marochko said

Britain opposes any increase in the availability of nukes, PM Starmer says

"On the question of nuclear weapons, obviously our position is that we will do everything we can to prevent any increase in the availability of nuclear weapons," Starmer said

Two days ago, 16:36

It is becoming impossible for Kiev troops to break out of encirclement near Kursk — Putin

"They are leaving their military equipment behind, because there is no way to evacuate it," the president added

Russia's coexistence with West to depend on its readiness to recognize mistakes — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat emphasized that the past three years have marked a "moment of truth"

25 Dec 2024, 09:28

Scientists present Russia's first 50-qubit cold atom quantum computer — MSU

The experiment that allowed testing the supercomputer prototype took place on December 19, the Moscow State University said

5 May 2022, 07:02

Russia seeking to be good neighbors with Central Asia, Lavrov says

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, Russia can see trade with Central Asia growing dynamically despite "the turbulent geopolitical situation"

Yesterday, 14:21

Man shot dead in Odessa helped set fire to Trade Union building in 2014 — report

Ganul is a neo-Nazi and the former security chief of the Odessa cell of Right Sector (designated extremist and banned in Russia), and also the leader of the Street Front grassroots initiative

Yesterday, 10:26

Putin met Trump’s special envoy Witkoff late on Thursday — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov did not specify the topics that Putin and Witkoff had discussed

Yesterday, 18:27

Rosatom considering layout variants for new nuclear plants in Belarus

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said earlier today that Belarus requested Russia to build the second nuclear power plant in the country

Trump congratulates Kellogg on his appointment as special envoy to Ukraine

Earlier, Kellogg served as Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia

Yesterday, 16:46

US contacts Russia on possible cooperation with Gazprom — Bloomberg

It is reported that negotiations between the American and Russian sides on this issue are at an early stage

Yesterday, 14:12

Bloomberg links strengthening of anti-Russian sanctions to Treasury Secretary’s position

This refers to License 8L of the US Treasury that authorized transactions of such kind by March 12 of this year

Many residents of liberated villages in Kursk Region need medical assistance — sources

Russian servicemen continue to evacuate civilians

Two days ago, 10:09

Russian strikes on logistics, not US, behind halt in Ukrainian ATACMS attacks — politician

Two days ago, 19:50

US discussing with Ukraine what territories it will concede — Trump

In the US President's words, "phase one [in the reconciliation process] is the ceasefire"

Death toll from apartment building explosion in Syria’s Latakia rises to four — TV

Earlier reports said three people were killed and 12 others sustained wounds

Yesterday, 20:04

US restarting trade relations with all foreign partners — Rubio

Washington is not aiming at waging trade wars, said Secretary of State

Yesterday, 17:40

Belarus ready to put into service 2 Oreshnik launchers by end of year — Lukashenko

According to the president, it has not yet been decided where in Belarus to deploy the systems

Yesterday, 07:27

Kursk operation turns into a ticking time bomb for Kiev, Russian official says

Igor Kimakovsky explained that the deployment of Ukrainian forces to the Kursk Region had made it possible for Russian troops to advance in the most tactically crucial areas

Two days ago, 23:31

People considered missing in Russia’s Sudzha among evacuees, Russian commander reveals

According to Akhmat Special Forces Commander Major General Apty Alaudinov, lists of killed civilians will be prepared

West can send troops to Ukraine without Russia’s consent — Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron claimed to be a military observer mission

Yesterday, 17:15

President Putin says situation with Russia-US relations is 'on the move'

"We will be dealing with this issue today. We have two reporters on it and they are [Russian Foreign Minister] Sergey Lavrov and [chief of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service] Sergey Naryshkin," the Russian leader said

Two days ago, 13:25

ECHR finds Ukraine guilty of failing to take steps to prevent 2014 tragedy in Odessa

Also, it is said that the Kiev authorities did not conduct a proper investigation of the events

Yesterday, 19:50

Moscow ready to host peace treaty signing for Armenia, Azerbaijan — Russian MFA

The statement came as the countries wrapped up negotiations to finalize the text of their peace agreement

Yesterday, 16:55

Western nationals unable to register real properties in Donbass by 2028

This decree expands and complements norms established in December 2024

Yesterday, 16:54

Kiev should order military near Kursk to surrender — Putin

"In order to effectively implement the call of the US president, an appropriate order is needed from the leadership of Ukraine to its military units to lay down their weapons and surrender," the Russian leader said

Macron does not rule out more Mirage 2000 fighter jet deliveries to Kiev

French leader "did not rule out" such a move amid statements from Ukraine’s armed forces saying that they had successfully used one such combat aircraft

Yesterday, 14:20

Russian defense industry holding creates separate company for civilian motor transport

The team that worked earlier on the E-Neva electric car project moved to the new company

Two days ago, 17:01

Russia, Belarus trading in national currencies by more than 90% — Putin

Russia accounts for about 60% of the Belarusian foreign trade turnover, the Russian leader noted

Russian forces start liberating Shcherbaki in Zaporozhye Region — politician

Earlier, Rogov told TASS that the Russian armed forces had advanced in the Zaporozhye Region, approaching the settlements of Shcherbaki and Malye Shcherbaki from the south

Yesterday, 11:57

Population of snow leopards increases from 10 to 87 in Russia over ten years

Ali Uzdenov noted that today the snow leopard resides in four regions of Russia: the Altai Republic, Tuva, Buryatia, and the Krasnoyarsk region

Serbia’s police issue final warning to protesters in central Belgrade

Some of the protesters have attempted to provoke policemen by throwing firecrackers and bottles at them