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Middle East conflict

Israel pounds Gaza ahead of ground offensive

The strikes targeted military infrastructure and hundreds of armed Hamas radicals

TEL AVIV, September 16. /TASS/. Over the past week, the Israeli Air Force has attacked more than 850 targets in Gaza City to pave the way for ground forces to come in for a massive planned offensive, the army said.

The strikes targeted military infrastructure and hundreds of armed Hamas radicals "to weaken the Hamas terrorist infrastructure and prepare the area for the deployment of troops" of the Israel Defense Forces.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the start of a planned "ground offensive" on Gaza City, aiming for a full takeover. As noted by the Axios portal, the administration of US President Donald Trump is not going to hinder Israel and will allow it to make its own decisions in the conflict. The portal's sources noted that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Netanyahu that Washington supports the ground operation, but expects it to be carried out quickly and completed as soon as possible.

On September 8, Netanyahu said the army would soon launch a large-scale offensive on the Palestinian city of Gaza, and local residents should immediately leave it. Earlier, Israel announced a large-scale offensive operation in the Palestinian enclave with the aim of completely defeating the Hamas radicals there. The army's offensive plans were approved by Netanyahu in late August.

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Kiev, EU try to steer Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine off track — diplomat

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Senior Russian general killed in bomb blast in Moscow — Investigative Committee

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Ukraine talks progress, territorial issues: statements by US vice president

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Russia to define its response to West’s intermediate-range missile deployment — diplomat

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There were no casualties

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Russia no enemy of Europe — State Duma speaker

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Up to ten Oreshnik systems to be deployed in Belarus — president

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Putin offers condolences to Rahmon over death of Tajik boy at school in Moscow Region

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Top Turkish diplomat says phase two of Gaza deal may begin in early 2026

The transfer of power to the Palestinians is at the top of the agenda now, noted Hakan Fidan

Traces of US involvement in cyberattack on Venezuela’s oil, gas company — Politico

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Russia wants lasting peace for Ukraine, not temporary ceasefire — Russian senior diplomat

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Macron betrays Merz on expropriation of frozen Russian assets — FT

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Game developer behind Call of Duty and Battlefield killed in US car crash — NBC

Vince Zampella was 55 years old

Trump administration to recall 48 heads of diplomatic missions — NYP

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Putin’s envoy didn't brief Kremlin on Miami talks over phone — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitriev will report to President Vladimir Putin upon his arrival in Moscow, noted Dmitry Peskov

Top Russian diplomat voices support to Venezuela over developments in Caribbean

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Trump calls The New York Times ‘threat to national security’

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Press review: Russia-US dialogue eyed in 2026 and EU seeks retreat after summit failure

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Russia’s public debt among lowest in developed countries — PM Mishustin

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Trump says US needs Greenland for national security, not for minerals

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Special unit of Ukrainian International Legion neutralized — security forces

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Ukraine army attacks key ZNPP substation in Energodar with drones, artillery

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Christmas in Europe to be peaceful, but military threat remains — Hungarian leader

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Tanker seized by US near Venezuela towed to Texas port — TV

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Ural Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Ashgabat

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Russia-Armenia trade turnover totals $4.5 bln in first nine months of 2025

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Russia-US dialogue seeing slow progress — senior Russian diplomat

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Ukraine deal close, but most difficult issues remain unresolved — Finnish leader

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Globalist fake media machine attacks Trump, his peace efforts — Dmitriev

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Trump administration recalls heads of nearly 30 foreign diplomatic missions — news agency

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Merz finds himself in isolation in Europe due to position on Russian assets — newspaper

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Relations with US, nuclear arms, Russia's security: Ryabkov's statements

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