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Middle East conflict

Hezbollah commander killed by Israeli drone in Lebanon’s Al-Khiyam — media

According to the portal, Ali Assaf, reputed as an "ambush engineer," was one of Hezbollah's top commanders

BEIRUT, March 23. /TASS/. A Hezbollah militia commander, who was in charge of the defense of the city of Al-Khiyam in southern Lebanon, has been killed by an Israeli drone, the Janoubia news portal reported.

According to the portal, Ali Assaf, reputed as an "ambush engineer," was one of Hezbollah's top commanders. He was killed after three-week-long fierce fighting with the Israeli army.

Hezbollah confirmed his death.

Located between the Marjayoun Valley and the Arkoub area, Al-Khiyam is a strategic stronghold in the eastern border sector and a logistics hub for Hezbollah groups in the Beqaa Valley.

According to Janoubia, the seizure of this city was among the key objectives of Israel’s operation to establish a 10-kilometer buffer zone south of the Litani River. Israeli troops are reportedly blowing up houses used as firing sites by Hezbollah militants.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran

Israel hits Bir Abed and Ruwais on southern outskirts of Beirut

Strong explosions were heard in the entire city

Ukraine loses 1,275 troops over past 24 hours — Russian Defense Ministry

The Ukrainian army suffered the heaviest losses in the Krasny Liman area, losing a tank, an armored combat vehicle, 20 motor vehicles and four ammunition depots

Consultations between the US, Ukraine dedicated to settlement issues — special envoy

Steve Witkoff stressed that the delegations held constructive meetings

Kiev needs to sign ‘capitulation documents’ to end Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova stressed that any conflict was concluded by an agreement

US eyes taking over Strait of Hormuz as final Iran 'endgame' move — media

Such an operation may last "at least weeks," the newspaper reports

Ukrainian forces strike Miratorg facility in Bryansk Region, two employees injured

Operational and emergency services are working at the scene, regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz said

Trump’s threats against Iran raise concerns over lack of clear strategy — CNN

According to the publication, if the US president orders an attack on the plants, he is likely to trigger the most intense Iranian reprisals yet, which could pulverize global oil markets

Killings of Iranian leaders to have serious consequences — Kremlin spokesman

The killings of Iranian leaders are the reality that the world lives in, Peskov pointed out, saying he was hopeful that this would not become normality

Meeting between US, Iranian negotiators may be organized later this week — TV

According to the official, Washington is looking at appointing Vice President JD Vance the United States’ chief negotiator at the potential talks

US diplomat says Pentagon preparing scenarios of deploying troops to Iran

US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Mike Waltz refuted medial allegations about failures in the Pentagon’s military planning as "fake CNN reports"

One person killed in attack on Radio Center in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran

Another person was injured, Iranian state television reported

Russia ready to mediate in Middle East conflict — Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Russia's readiness to provide all possible assistance in resolving the existing contradictions in the Middle East by peaceful means, taking into account interests of all regional countries

US has no good options regarding Iran — The Economist

To almost everyone else it is clear that America entered this war with a "flawed strategy," the article said

PM Mishustin to hold talks with Vietnam’s prime minister in Moscow

Mikhail Mishustin and Pham Minh Chinh will discuss joint projects between Moscow and Hanoi in energy, industry, transport, agriculture, and other sectors

Many areas of Cuba remain without electricity for a second day after power grid failure

On March 21, Cuba’s national electric power system collapsed

Iran confirms attack on Diego Garcia island with ballistic missiles

According to its information, this launch demonstrates a "significant step" in the confrontation with the United States

Iranian authorities announce arrest of group cooperating with Israel

The police also said that the identification and arrest of agents and traitors is ongoing

Russia’s Battlegroup North destroys over 1,000 Ukrainian targets over past week

Troops carried out precision strikes on UAV control centers, ammunition and fuel and lubricant storage depots, river crossing sites, and command posts

More US troops dissatisfied with prospects of war with Iran — HuffPost

Military personnel, in particular, believe that a poorly planned operation exposes them to unnecessary danger without any visible strategic benefit

Ukrainian people can emerge from geopolitical slaughter only with Russia — expert

Viktor Medvedchuk believes that Ukraine’s neutrality will not be tolerated in the West, and therefore all talk "of some kind of neutrality criminally delays this process"

Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan acting as mediators between US, Iran — media

According to correspondent Barak Ravid, senior officials from the three countries held separate talks with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

US leader says ordered five-day delay on strikes against Iranian energy facilities

The US president said that "in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations" will continue throughout the week

Russia says silence on Arctic Metagaz attack makes Europe accomplice to Kiev's outrages

No European nation has condemned such actions of its Ukrainian wards, the statement says

Bosnian Serb leader says plans to attend Victory Parade in Moscow

Milorad Dodik attended celebrations of the 80th anniversary of VE-Day in Moscow in 2025

Trump slams Democratic Party as America’s "greatest enemy"

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on Saturday that Trump had not requested a Congress permission for strikes against Iran

EU last in line for Russian energy supplies — Putin’s envoy

Kirill Dmitriev commented on a post by the BRICS News account during Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Russia

Kremlin Spokesman’s words of energy crisis in Europe resonate with Europeans — news portal

Dmitry Peskov said on March 20 that the EU member-countries continue "shooting in the leg of their voters" by rejecting Russian energy resources

US military denies downing of F-15 fighter jet by Iran

The Iranian army said earlier in the day that an F-15 fighter jet had been attacked and shot down near Hormuz Island off Iran’s southern coast

Trump hopes for regime change in Iran

The American leader talked about Venezuela and stressed that the US were very successful there

Iran will act 'tit for tat' in conflict with US, Israel — ambassador to Germany

Majid Nili Ahmadabadi stressed that to de-escalate tensions, Iran required "guarantees that the atrocities committed by the US and Israel will not happen again," and called for compensation

Situation in Strait of Hormuz to normalize when conflict over Iran ends — Russian MFA

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said Everything that is happening in the Strait of Hormuz is a direct consequence of this illegal campaign

Tourist bus plunges off cliff in Peru, nine people killed

According to the report, 15 people were injured

Ukrainian forces shell DPR settlements four times over past day

Nine residential buildings and five civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged

Strait of Hormuz closed only for those who violate Iran’s borders — president

The illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation against the will of a history-making nation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said

Russia prioritizes strengthening relations with India — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, "New Delhi deserves the deepest respect for pursuing an independent foreign policy as part of its course toward strategic autonomy, consistently prioritizing the national interest"

Russia sends signals to US about danger of strikes on Iran’s Bushehr NPP — Kremlin

On March 21, US President Trump announced that the United States would destroy a number of Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened to navigation within 48 hours

US orders 22 B-2 strategic bombers, Trump says

Washington is using these aircraft in the current US-Israeli military operation against Iran

Russia’s air defenses down 526 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over past 24 hours

The Defense Ministry reported that artillery units of Russia’s Battlegroup North destroyed over 1,000 Ukrainian targets in the Kharkov and Sumy Regions over the past week

Fire in central Moscow extinguished, three people died

Fire and rescue units evacuated 19 people, including five children

Number of people injured in shelling of Israel’s Arad increases to 88

Ten of them are in the grave condition

Trump expects progress on halting hostilities with Iran within five days — TV

According to CNBC, the US leader also said that he considers a "regime change" in Iran to have already occurred

Consequences of US-Israeli aggression against Iran to last for long time — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, although some say that this time, history is being repeated as a farce, "it’s far from being a farce"

Press review: Washington plans Iran ground move as oil surge adds $41.5B to Russia

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

Fire in port of Primorsk, 249 UAVs: aftermath of attack on Russian regions

An apartment was damaged as a result of drone fragments hitting a multi-story building in the Tver Region

Israel believes US in contact with chairman of Iran’s Mejlis — TV

The source claimed that Israel was aware that several countries were making mediation efforts to start negotiations, but Israel was surprised by Donald Trump's statement that these contacts were progressing

Ukraine’s security chief Umerov says progress made in talks with United States

According to Rustem Umerov, the main focus was on reliable security guarantees and the humanitarian track

Top Iranian diplomat demands US, Israel compensate for damage to Iranian nuclear sites

Abbas Araghchi slammed the US and Israeli bombardments of Iranian nuclear facilities as an "act of aggression"

Russia maintains constant contact with IAEA over Bushehr NPP situation — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov added that Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev has repeatedly made serious statements regarding the strikes that have already been carried out

Iran retains drone production capacity despite US, Israeli strikes — expert

Gary Samore, however, doubts that Iran is still able to produce larger, longer-range ballistic missiles because the US and Israel have destroyed or disabled known production facilities

Putin congratulates Kim Jong Un on his re-election

The Russian president stressed that Moscow highly values Kim’s personal contribution to strengthening bilateral ties

Israeli airbase on Mount Meron attacked by Hezbollah

The base on Mount Meron in Upper Galilee has been attacked by kamikaze drones at least four times

Brent prices plummeting amid Trump’s statements on talks with Iran

Brent prices lost 14.43% to $96 per barrel first time since March 12, 2026

Iran to respond asymmetrically to threats against energy infrastructure

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that the United States would destroy a number of Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully opened for shipping within 48 hours

Situation at Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran difficult, but manageable — Likhachev

Rosatom CEO said that strikes against nuclear power plants should not be allowed, because "there is too much fissile material both in the reactor and in the holding pools and storage facilities"

Lavrov stresses unacceptability of attacks on Iranian nuclear sites

According to the Russian foreign minister, the strikes are fraught with catastrophic environmental consequences

Iran ready to allow Japanese ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz — foreign minister

Abbas Araghchi says that the strait is open

Iranian army delivers drone strike on Israel’s Ben Gurion airport — media

The Iranian attack largely involved Arash-2 drones that are an advanced and more destructive version of Kian and Arash-1 unmanned aerial vehicles

Russia, Vietnam sign agreement on nuclear plant construction

Prime Ministers of Russia and Vietnam Mikhail Mishustin and Pham Minh Chinh took part in the document signing ceremony, as well as CEO of the Russian state nuclear corporation Alexey Likhachev

US administration starts discussing opportunity of peace talks with Iran — Axios

Washington expects that combat operations will last for two - three weeks more

UAE fighter jets intercept cruise missiles launched by Iran — Defense Ministry

The UAE Defense Ministry has not yet provided information on the effectiveness of repelling the Iranian attack

Israel’s air defenses cannot withstand massive Iranian strikes — La Repubblica

Military observer Gianluca Di Feo said that eighty missiles were used to repel the first wave of Iran’s retaliatory strike, with another 50 or so used during the conflict last June

US in contact with ‘top person’ in Iran, but not supreme leader — Trump

According to the US President, information about the new contacts between the US and Iran probably "hasn't been conveyed" to the officials in the Islamic Republic who are denying it

Preps for Putin’s visit to China, new Ukraine talks: MFA statements

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Moscow is ready for negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement, but no specific dates have been determined yet

US wants to wind down Iran war by mid-April ahead of Trump's Israel Prize awarding — Ynet

The Americans have marked April 9 as the date for the end of the war, the source said

Iran denies possessing intercontinental ballistic missiles — diplomat

According to Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, the world has grown thoroughly exhausted with such tired and discredited ‘false flag’ storylines

Iran not to blame for Middle East conflict — Omani top diplomat

Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said that Oman is working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz

Slovenia’s opposition Democratic Party narrowly winning parliamentary elections

The ruling Freedom Movement of Prime Minister Robert Golob is coming second with 28.2% of votes

Some NATO countries working on measures to ensure security in Strait of Hormuz — Rutte

He also said that he maintains contacts with US leader Donald Trump, despite his criticism of NATO

Houthis reject as fake media reports about joining Iran in Middle East war — source

According to the source, statements of this nature have never been released

Moscow Military District receives new remote-controlled machine gun modules

The Trufel module is designed for remote operation of heavy machine guns and allows for real-time target observation and accurate fire at ranges of up to 2 km

Death toll from US-Israeli attack on Iran’s Khorramabad up to nine — agency

According to the agency, as many as 45 people were injured

Iran accuses US of hiding true death toll from aggression against republic

According to the spokesman for the Iranian Khatam-al Anbiya headquarters, Washington is staging a media circus

Three people killed in fire in central Moscow

Four others were injured

Airspace of Bahrain and Kuwait to remain closed for 24th consecutive day

The closure of airspace has been extended until 19:00 Moscow time

Conflicting reports on talks, pause in strikes on energy sites: statements from Iran, US

TASS has compiled the main statements by the parties

Gold price falls below $4,450 per troy ounce, first time since February 2, 2026

By 02:00 Moscow time, the precious metal slowed its decline and was trading at $4,504.5 per troy ounce

Proposals on Middle East de-escalation must be addressed to US — Iranian Foreign Ministry

According to the statement, Iran is not the side that started that war

China launches CentiSpace-2 satellite group from Yellow Sea site

The CentiSpace spacecraft are designed to provide augmentation signal services for global navigation satellite systems from low Earth orbit

Missile launched from Iran toward Israel may have landed in Lebanon — Ynet

According to the news portal, such an incident has been recorded for the first time since the start of Israel’s operation against Iran

Europe torn by disagreements but still unwilling to talk with Russia — Peskov

Europe still wants the war in Ukraine to continue and does not know how to pay for it, the Kremlin press secretary said

Iran has no tankers at sea, no surplus of oil to export — ministry

The statement was made in response to an option proposed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded into tankers

Kiev loses 8,500 troops, mercenaries in special op zone over one week — military expert

Andrey Marochko added that during this period, Russian forces destroyed more than 720 enemy combat vehicles

Russia hopes to resume cooperation within Russia-India-China framework — ambassador

Denis Alipov noted that the similarity of Russia and India’s approaches to the regional and international agenda, as well as their pursuit of foreign policy interests in mutual support, is underpinned by traditionally close bilateral cooperation

FACTBOX: Gasoline price surge, other key details on global market situation

Chinese authorities have announced a rise in retail prices for gasoline and diesel fuel within the country

Japan’s Nikkei index falls by 3.55% at Tokyo market open

Local analysts note that the continuing escalation in the Middle East remains the dominant factor behind the decline in stock prices

IN BRIEF: What is known about the detention of the tanker Deyna in the Mediterranean Sea

French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that the tanker was part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet

American sailors set fire to USS Gerald R. Ford to avoid fighting — Iranian army

On March 12, the US Naval Forces Central Command reported that a fire broke out on board the USS Gerald R. Ford

Russian troops liberate Potapovka community in Sumy Region over past day

Russian troops struck fuel and energy infrastructure used to support the Ukrainian army’s operations and enemy deployment areas over the past 24 hours, the ministry reported

Israeli top brass approves plan of ground operations in Lebanon — IDF

The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organization has only begun, Eyal Zamir said

Serious damage done to Iran’s power supply facilities in US, Israeli attacks — minister

According to the minister, attacks targeted "dozens of water supplies and desalination facilities and destroyed part of the strategic distribution grids"

Iran in no talks with US — media

According to the source, US President Donald Trump decided not to strike Iranian infrastructure because "Iran's military threats have become more convincing"

Adviser to Iranian parliament speaker says talks with US won't go on as previously

According to Ebrahim Rasouli, Iran doesn’t want the countries that "have sold themselves out to America" and Israel to "derive profit from the Strait of Hormuz"

IN BRIEF: President Putin’s key statements at a meeting on economic issues

The president said that Russia needs to return to a path of sustainable economic growth

Russian air defenses down over 70 UAVs over Leningrad Region — governor

According to Alexander Drozdenko, fire extinguishing operations around oil tanks at the port of Primorsk continue

Sustainable economic growth in Russia must occur with slowing inflation — Putin

"It's not easy, of course, but we must strive for it," the Russian president added

Slovenia’s ruling Freedom Movement winning parliamentary elections — exit poll

It received 29.9% of the votes

Fuel tank fire being extinguished at Primorsk port in Leningrad Region

Personnel have been evacuated, regional Governor Alexander Drozdenko said

Top Hungarian diplomat’s phone tapped by Ukrainian intelligence — Orban

Peter Szijjarto said he was shocked to learn that his phone was bugged based on a tip from a Hungarian journalist

American threats to strike Bushehr NPP in Iran pose great danger — Kremlin

On March 21, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would destroy a number of Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened to navigation within 48 hours

Iran’s internet outage one of longest on global record — web monitoring service

International connectivity remains unavailable to the general public, while authorities maintain a selective whitelist for global access

Ukrainian embassies recruit Latin American mercenaries for Kiev's army — ex-officer

According to a Colombian prisoner of war, he was promised that he would take part in volunteer work during his stay in Ukraine