Middle East conflict

18 Mar, 14:29

Israel conducts strikes on Gaza to force Hamas to negotiate hostage deal — media outlet

Israel is no longer willing to accept the release of hostages in small groups and aims to release the maximum number of captives at once, the source said

TEL AVIV, March 18. /TASS/. The resumption of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip is aimed at forcing the radical Palestinian movement Hamas to return ‘to genuine negotiations’ on the release of hostages held in the enclave, The Times of Israel wrote, citing sources.

Israel has a concrete plan to continue its military campaign in Gaza, yet it can be halted if there is a change in the Palestinian radicals’ position, the newspaper wrote, citing an Israeli official. "If at any point the other side decides to go back to genuinely negotiating, and we go back to genuine talks, then we will stop [conducting strikes on the enclave]. At the moment, we are left without any choice," the source noted.

Another Israeli official told the Israel Hayom newspaper that Israel’s goal in the renewed military campaign in Gaza is to push Hamas to agree to a proposal for hostage talks provided by US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. The plan presupposes the extension of ceasefire through the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (which ends on March 29 this year) and the Jewish holiday of Passover (which will be celebrated from April 12 to 19 in 2025). The outline would see half the hostages released and half of the bodies returned at the beginning of the ceasefire extension. The rest of the captives would be released if an agreement is reached on ending the war.

According to the Israel Hayom interlocutor, Israel is no longer willing to accept the release of hostages in small groups and aims to release the maximum number of captives at once. "Without small releases of hostage and without games, the goal is to get everyone out. Israel waited three weeks for Hamas to begin serious talks on the Witkoff outline. That did not happen," the official said.

On March 18, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported extensive strikes on Hamas strongholds in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that Israel had relaunched military operations in Gaza after Hamas rejected the US proposals put forward by mediators and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. The office stated that the Israeli military had resumed strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza to secure the hostages' release and that the army would intensify its campaign in the enclave.

The radicals have blamed the United States for the resumption of Israeli aggression. They said that Hamas was devoted to the ceasefire agreement until the last moment.

State Department believes world is just a ‘breath away’ from full ceasefire in Ukraine

Spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated 'that is what America has helped facilitate'

Yesterday, 18:59

EU protracts conflict in Ukraine at any cost, ignoring calls for peace — European MP

Harald Vilimsky added that "the European Union is treating Hungary as if it does not exist"

Yesterday, 03:09

Russian Battlegroup East eliminates 5 Ukrainian drone control centers

During the day, the enemy lost a MaxxPro armored combat vehicle

Yesterday, 14:13

Putin orders mandatory health screenings for migrants in Donbass, Novorossiya

In addition to the HIV-free certificate, foreigners will also need a similar document for infectious diseases that pose a danger to others

Yesterday, 13:12

Israel believes Iran won’t be able to defend itself in case of air attack — media

The magazine recalled that Israeli authorities said in April and October 2024 that the country's armed forces destroyed four air defense systems located near key sites in different parts of Iran

UK discusses options for its military presence in Ukraine — prime minister

Keir Starmer argued that Russia could allegedly violate any future agreements, so Western countries should work on security guarantees for Ukraine

Yesterday, 19:49

Israel chose war in Gaza Strip — Russia’s UN mission

Dmitry Polyansky went on to say that despite a new round of escalation, a "diplomatic solution is not just possible, it remains the only realistic option"

Yesterday, 08:41

Package attached to car bottom found near Legislative Assembly of Sevastopol

According to the Directorate for the Development of the City's Road Transport Infrastructure, some buses and trolleybuses are altering their routes due to the temporary closure of Lenin Street

Yesterday, 18:02

Russian stock market closed in the red on Thursday - market data

The MOEX Russia Index lost 0.21% to 3,223.14 points, while the RTS Index edged down by 2.03% to 1,203.1 points

Yesterday, 17:15

EU-Ukraine military integration aims to throw wrench in Russia-US dialogue — diplomat

"This is undoubtedly also a provocation to create an aggressive 'noise' that is meant to confuse," Maria Zakharova added

Yesterday, 16:16

Trump fully supports Israel’s current military operation in Gaza — White House

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that previously Donald Trump threatened Palestine’s radical movement Hamas with tough measures if Israeli hostages are not released

Yesterday, 14:26

Russia to invite US to meeting of high representatives on security issues — Shoigu

Sergey Shoigu noted that representatives from over 100 countries had already confirmed their participation in the upcoming meeting

Slovakia insists on free will principle for EU military aid to Kiev — PM

Robert Fico noted that the republic will not send a single cent to arm Ukraine

Yesterday, 05:49

Russian Volga cities of Saratov, Engels come under most massive drone attack — governor

According to Roman Busargin, more than 30 private homes and summer houses in Engels were damaged in the attack

Yesterday, 10:02

Kremlin says Europe becomes 'war party'

"The main signals from Brussels and the European capitals now relate to the plans for militarization of Europe, which is clearly at odds with the mood of the presidents of Russia and the United States to seek ways out for a peaceful settlement process," Dmitry Peskov said

Yesterday, 15:04

Russia has no plans to attack Germany — MFA on Merz's remarks

"If Berlin makes such claims, it means that Germany may have such plans itself; but in that case, Berlin needs to call things by their proper name," Maria Zakharova stated

Two days ago, 13:39

Putin speaks on imminent Ukrainian defeat in Kursk at Prosecutor Office board meeting

The Russian president noted that the number of complaints received by the Prosecutor's Office increased by 10% in 2024

US intends to hold Russia-Ukraine ‘proximity’ talks in Riyadh — envoy Kellogg

According to US Special Envoy for Ukraine, 'it, basically, shuttle diplomacy'

Putin confused why G7 known as 'big' seven

The GDP growth in the G7 countries for 2024 was just 1.9%, while the BRICS countries saw a growth rate of 4.9%, the Russian leader noted

Yesterday, 19:47

Russian MFA says no hidden meaning in differing statements on Putin-Trump talks

Maria Zakharova emphasized that while there are certain "nuances" in both statements, they do not contradict each other

Yesterday, 11:41

Russian forces strike military train with Ukrainian ammo, armament over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 240 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Yesterday, 15:40

Ukraine’s military stored foreign munitions in civilian hospital in Kursk Region

According to the report, the hospital itself suffered severely in the battles and its first floor burnt out

Yesterday, 05:00

Houthis report new attack on US aircraft carrier in Red Sea

According to Yahya Sarea, "the operation successfully reached its target"

Yesterday, 18:37

EU diplomacy chief's statements on helping Kiev show union war-minded — MFA

"It seems that Brussels is still incapable of clearly answering certain questions, including what specific role the EU could play amid the shifting dynamics of the Ukrainian crisis," Maria Zakharova noted

Yesterday, 14:59

Kick-sharing services resumes operations in Moscow

E-scooters rental is available for users in mobile apps

Yesterday, 00:01

Hungary wants to resumes its exports to Russia — PM

The Hungarian Prime Minister spoke to journalists in Brussels after a meeting of the leaders of the parties that formed the Patriots of Europe faction

Trump is confident that Ukrainian conflict will be resolved

Speaking at the White House, the American leader noted that he had previously held telephone conversations with Russian President state Vladimir Putin, as well as with Vladimir Zelensky

Yesterday, 19:47

No Foreign Ministry delegates to March 24 talks in Riyadh — spokeswoman

The Russian delegation will be led by senator Grigory Karasin and the adviser to the FSB chief, Sergey Beseda

Yesterday, 13:46

Russia's international reserves rise by $2.8 bln over week to $641.9 bln

As of March 7, total reserves amounted to $639.1 bln

Yesterday, 16:57

Zelensky admits Ukraine no longer being invited to NATO

At the same time, the Ukrainian president denied saying that he was ready "to discuss the question of Ukraine’s neutral status"

Summit on Ukraine to be held in Paris on March 27 — Macron

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that leading EU countries, including Germany, France and Poland, as well as non-EU countries Canada and the UK, will hold a new summit in Paris next week to discuss the situation around Ukraine

Yesterday, 18:14

Rosneft produced 87.5 bln cubic meters of gas in 2024

"As of the end of 2024, Rosneft maintained the status of the largest independent gas producer in Russia," the company said

Lebanon to hand over 700 imprisoned Syrians to Damascus authorities

According to Asharq al Awsat newspaper, this is the first group of 2,000 Syrians held in Lebanese prisons to be deported to their homeland under a bilateral agreement

Yesterday, 11:53

EU summit to mull €5 bln in military aid to Ukraine, €40 bln off table — diplomacy chief

Kaja Kallas cited "worries with budget deficits" across the eurozone

EU summit participants support White Paper on the EU defense

The meeting participants instructed the European Commission and the EU Council to begin implementing the European Commission's proposals in practice

Yesterday, 16:39

US attacked over 60 Houthi sites in Yemen since March 15 — TV

The source added that strikes will continue on a daily basis until Houthis stop their attacks on commercial ships and US vessels in the Red Sea

Yesterday, 14:51

US arms deliveries to Kiev contradict intentions to achieve peace in Ukraine — diplomat

"Anyone who wants peace will naturally support an end to the militarization of the terrorist gang," Maria Zakharova stated

Yesterday, 09:02

Russian forces push Ukrainians out of Zherebyanki in Zaporozhye region — official

On March 12, the politician told TASS that Russian forces had liberated around 5 square kilometers of land near the rural settlements of Zherebyanka and Kamenskoye in the Zaporozhye Region

Yesterday, 06:58

Medvedev says return will be challenging for companies that left Russia

"Life has proved that those were true words. We did not chase anyone off, they left themselves, someone under pressure from their governments, someone out of fear, someone in solidarity with the neo-Nazis," the politician said

Yesterday, 19:51

Erdogan accuses opposition of playing up Istanbul mayor’s detention for political gain

"The opposition’s attempt to present its internal conflicts or problems with the law as the country’s most pressing problem is the height of hypocrisy," the Turkish President said

Almost whole Kursk Region has been liberated — Russian commander

Russia’s military advance gave strong results, with almost all settlements taken at once, and the enemy’s personnel destroyed, Akhmat Special Forces Commander Lieutenant General Apty Alaudinov added

Yesterday, 08:36

Several EU diplomats criticize top diplomat's plan on Ukraine aid — media

It is noted that the plan will not be approved at the European Council summit set to take place in Brussels on March 20

Yesterday, 16:11

Russia hopes Serbia back to normal soon — MFA

Maria Zakharova emphasized that normalization entails the resumption of the educational process in universities and schools, the observance of law and order, and the return of political representatives to work in Parliament and other bodies

Yesterday, 14:05

FSB makes public archived evidence exposing Nazi atrocities in Dnepropetrovsk Region

According to the FSB’s public relations center, among the documents there is a special message from the chief of the counterintelligence directorate Smersh of the 3rd Ukrainian Front, addressed to the Military Council of the 3rd Ukrainian Front and dated February 1944

US, Ukraine to sign minerals deal soon — Trump

US president also said he has just signed an executive order to "dramatically increase" production of rare earth minerals

Yesterday, 18:01

Paris should tackle terrorism in France before hurling accusations at Russia — diplomat

Russia has remained resolute in its denunciation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, regardless of when, where and by whom terrorist acts are committed, Maria Zakharova emphasized

Yesterday, 17:59

Armenia to lose many privileges if it joins EU — Russia’s top security official

Sergey Shoigu recalled that money transfers from Russia into Armenia amount for approximately 15% of the country’s GDP

Yesterday, 16:02

Macron's talk of sending 'peacekeepers' to Ukraine shows disconnect from reality — MFA

"We have repeatedly said that introduction of so-called peacekeepers into Ukraine in practice would mean a foreign military intervention that further escalates the conflict," Maria Zakharova stated

Yesterday, 13:00

Orban says other EU states quietly support Hungary's stance against Ukrainian accession

In recent days, the Hungarian prime minister has repeatedly warned that Hungary will not allow Ukraine's immediate accession to the EU, claiming this would cause irreparable damage to the European economy

Yesterday, 19:51

Citizens rally in support of mayor Imamoglu in Ankara, Istanbul

Large groups of young people and students are taking part in the rally

Yesterday, 18:50

Sales of new premium cars in Russia dip twofold in February — statistics

"Avtostat agency experts note that premium cars made up 8.8% of total car sales in Russia last month," the report said

Houthis claim missile strike on military target in Tel Aviv

Movement's military spokesman Yahya Saria added that ships linked to Israel will also be attacked in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden until it ends its operation in the Gaza Strip

Yesterday, 04:46

Houthis say they attacked Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport with hypersonic missile

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier that a missile launched from the Yemeni territory had been intercepted before it reached Israel’s airspace

Yesterday, 12:17

By attacking Russian energy facility, Kiev wants to disrupt peace initiatives — diplomat

As Maria Zakharova stressed, it is absolutely clear that it was a deliberate, pre-planned provocative action

Yesterday, 20:08

Russia stresses risk of rogue Ukrainian military groups disrupting any agreement with Kiev

They don't listen to Vladimir Zelensky, Russian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large for the Kiev regime's crimes Rodion Miroshnik said

Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: Israel restarts Gaza operation while US mulls lifting sanctions on Russia

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, March 20th

Yesterday, 18:11

Death toll in Gaza since March 18 rises to 591, another 1,000 injured — authorities

The officials' statement emphasized that many bodies remain under the rubble of destroyed buildings and rescuers have not yet been able to remove them

Yesterday, 19:52

Senior diplomat briefs BRICS ambassadors in Moscow on advancing Russia-US dialogue

The diplomats pointed out that the meeting participants urged increased efforts to resolve the conflict over Ukraine and expressed readiness to provide appropriate assistance

Yesterday, 16:55

Since March 12, 544 people have been evacuated from Sudzha District of Kursk Region

"Over the course of the day, more than 200 people contacted the hotline of the main department of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Kursk Region, with nearly all inquiries focused on locating relatives," the statement reads

Kiev fears Trump may agree to cede Odessa to Russia — media

The US president did not specify which specific regions he was referring to, but the White House has already made it clear that Russia is expected to maintain control over territories "that its troops already command," the newspaper said

Ukrainian army withdraws in area in DPR — army general

Sergey Nayev earlier served as commander of the Ukrainian Joint Forces

Yesterday, 10:03

Russia developing Caspian flotilla infrastructure — top brass

"At present, work to construct a complex of hydrotechnical facilities, including the northern and southern piers spanning more than 2 kilometers, as well as berths and coastal infrastructure is ongoing in Kaspiysk," the ministry stated

Yesterday, 15:25

Russia-China cooperation in military sphere is developing in all directions — Shoigu

The secretary of the Russian Security Council highlighted that Russia and China conduct joint strategic air patrols in the Asia-Pacific region and regularly hold naval exercises together

Two days ago, 03:59

Previous US administration deceived and destroyed Ukraine — Russian diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, Ukraine was an "emerging democracy" plagued with "corruption, graft and nationalism"

US and Ukraine to sign resource agreement in near future — Trump

US president did not indicate when or where exactly the agreement would be signed

Yesterday, 11:27

Released Russian POWs report widespread torture, secret jails in Ukraine, Kursk — MFA

According to the report, the existence of these facilities is well known at all levels of the Ukrainian government

Yesterday, 14:04

European Council fails to approve 5-billion-euro plan to supply weapons to Kiev

The final statement of the meeting makes no mention of the 40-billion-euro military aid package, proposed by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, or its reduced variant

Yesterday, 16:24

Surprisingly EU does not see nuclear umbrella rhetoric as saber rattling — Russian MFA

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union's External Action Service has "abandoned its diplomatic tools as ineffective and opted for aggressive rhetoric"

Foreign mercenaries target retreating Ukrainian troops, POW says

According to Nazar Valechenko, he had initially paid five thousand dollars to stay in the rear and guard a factory in the Poltava Region, which was later destroyed by Russian troops

Two days ago, 09:20

Ukrainian soldiers stunned by Russia’s Operation Pipeline — Russian commander

Operation Pipeline involved a joint assault unit comprising soldiers from the 11th Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade, the 30th Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division, the Akhmat special forces unit, and volunteers from the Veterans and Vostok V assault brigades

Yesterday, 08:50

Kiev sees Trump’s idea of US control of Ukrainian nuke plants as unworkable — newspaper

According to the newspaper, Kiev and Washington "did not seem in sync about what plants were at issue"

Kiev already broke US-proposed ceasefire — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova noted that attacking an energy facility in this context is understandable, 'because everything began with the energy sector in 2022'

Yesterday, 20:08

Top Polish general says Europe weighing scenarios for ground operation in Ukraine

In Wieslaw Kukula's words, general staffs of European countries will be involved in the planning

Yesterday, 16:29

Poland’s exit from Ottawa Convention shows disregard for int'l obligations — Zakharova

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman stressed that "Western countries are ready to abandon their international legal obligations at literally any moment - whenever they feel like it, whenever it suits them"

Yesterday, 07:36

Medvedev urges to feel free to follow Trump’s example in protecting domestic brands

Russian companies quickly reacted to the withdrawal of Western brands, taking free niches, well done to them, the politician added

Yesterday, 15:14

Russia takes Macron's nuclear remarks very seriously — security official

According to Sergey Shoigu, "the very fact that a leader of a nuclear power is rattling weapons is a direct threat to the entire world community"

Oreshnik gives Russia upper hand in confrontation with NATO — US expert

Decker Eveleth said that the Oreshnik is the perfect weapon for attacking dense targets like air bases, where its conventional submunitions can deal significant damage

Yesterday, 10:08

Slovakia's prime minister says he may veto EU sanctions against Russia

Robert Fico reportedly made this statement before departing for Brussels, where he will attend a European Council meeting

Yesterday, 00:44

Trump’s course toward cooperation with Russia beginning to 'bear fruit' — US expert

In his words, the phone call between the US and Russian leaders "call marks a substantive first step on what will be a long and winding road to a negotiated peace"

Press review: Russia, US discuss ceasefire as the West forms new NATO alliances

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, March 18th

Yesterday, 08:02

Trump says United States should build relations with Russia — Breitbart News

On March 18, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Ukraine, conditions for preventing escalation, and some international topics by phone

Yesterday, 18:41

China tops box office sales for Russian movies in 2024

In Europe and the US, "the door is open a crack" for the Russian film industry, noted Dmitry Kabanov, industry relations and international b2b events director of the Russian state-owned audiovisual product company Roskino

Russian ambassador plans to depart to US ‘one of these days’ — ministry spokeswoman

Alexander Darchiyev, who headed the Russian Foreign Ministry’s North Atlantic Department, was appointed as Russia’s new ambassador to the United States by a presidential decree in early March

Yesterday, 08:33

FACTBOX: What we know about Ukraine's drone attack on Russia's Saratov Region

Air defenses downed 132 Ukrainian drones over Ukrainian regions overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Ukraine's own air defenses shoot down half of Kiev's aircraft declared lost — Rada MP

Maryana Bezuglaya noted that the findings of the investigation into the loss of one of the first F-16 fighter jets delivered to Ukraine last August have yet to be made public

Two days ago, 17:17

Freezing conflict in Ukraine unacceptable — Russian delegation in Vienna

Acting head of the Russian delegation Yulia Zhdanova highlighted that, on March 18, during high-level contacts between Russia and the United States, the Russian side outlined key points regarding the US initiative to introduce a 30-day ceasefire

Yesterday, 16:01

Israel kills Hamas internal security chief in Gaza — IDF

The statement also says that "in an additional strike, the IDF and ISA eliminated Ismail Abd al-Aal"

Yesterday, 16:21

OPEC receives surplus oil production compensation schedules

Compensations until July 2026 will total 4.203 mln barrels per day

Yesterday, 10:14

Russia-US technical groups may discuss Ukrainian settlement — Kremlin

"[Other aspects] related to the Ukrainian settlement that the parties deem necessary may also be discussed," Dmitry Peskov added

Yesterday, 17:45

Putin congratulates Coventry on her election as IOC president — Kremlin

The Russian leader is confident that Kirsty Coventry's personal athletic experience and interest in the real promotion of noble Olympic ideals will contribute to the success in such a responsible job

Two days ago, 01:22

UK policy may lead to total destruction of Ukraine — Russian ambassador

In his words, the United Kingdom has chosen to go into confrontation

Yesterday, 02:54

27 Chinese planes approach Taiwan — defense ministry

Taiwan’s defense agency has regularly recorded the approach of Chinese warplanes and warships of late

Russia-US relations at recovery stage, diplomat says

Maria Zakharova pointed to the fact that these contacts received a new impetus thanks to the initiatives of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump

Yesterday, 18:12

Rosneft reports 14.4% drop in IFRS net profit for 2024

Company’s expenses for paying interest on loans increased by 1.5 times, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said

Yesterday, 15:56

Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry becomes first female IOC president

The two-time Olympic champion will take office on June 24

Yesterday, 12:20

Failure of Kiev’s offensive in 2023 was conflict’s turning point — National Interest

"When the Ukrainian armed forces launched their offensive, they fell on Russia's defensive works - the largest and most comprehensive defensive line seen in Europe since the end of World War II," the magazine stated

Yesterday, 20:07

Over 15,000 Syrian refugees take refuge in northern Lebanon — UN

The Lebanese authorities and civil society organizations are providing assistance, shelter, warm clothes, food and medicine to the displaced

30 Dec 2020, 12:26

First newly-built Tu-160M to make maiden flight in 4th quarter of 2021

The decision to resume the production of the upgraded version of the Tu-160, the Tu-160M, was made in 2015

Yesterday, 14:29

Russia to boost arms exports after special military operation — Security Council

This refers to air defense systems, strike drones and upgraded armored vehicles, Sergey Shoigu said

Yesterday, 16:20

Leader of Iran calls on world to unite in opposing new Israeli attacks on Gaza

"The US also shares responsibility for this tragedy," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stressed

Yesterday, 17:30

UN chief ready to mediate Ukraine talks — deputy spokesperson

According to Farhan Haq, Antonio Guterres "made clear to his various interlocutors the willingness of the UN to make available its good offices, if the parties accept"