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Middle East conflict

Israel attacks cause destruction in 39 Lebanese settlements since start of ceasefire

Lebanese lawmaker Ali Hassan Khalil said powerful explosions carried out by Israeli forces destroyed civilian residential cites

LONDON, April 20. /TASS/. Israeli military operations have caused destruction in 39 settlements in southern Lebanon since a ceasefire took effect on April 17, Reuters reported, citing Lebanese lawmaker Ali Hassan Khalil.

According to him, powerful explosions carried out by Israeli forces destroyed civilian homes, which amounted to "a clear war crime".

Earlier, the Israeli military issued orders to the residents of 55 settlements in southern Lebanon to stay away. Israeli Army Spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted a map on the X social media platform, indicating the settlements located four to ten km away from the Lebanese-Israeli border that civilians were barred from returning to. Adraee explained that the Israeli Defense Forces maintained positions in southern Lebanon in response to "the terrorist activities" of the Hezbollah Shia movement and warned Lebanese civilians against returning to their homes in the country's south "until further notice."

A ten-day ceasefire with Israel took effect in Lebanon at 12:00 a.m. local time on April 17. The agreement was reached by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the mediation of US President Donald Trump. The ceasefire deal is seen as the first step to negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, aimed at reaching a long-term agreement.

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Sergey Ryabkov said that Washington’s statements about a potential resumption of full-scale nuclear testing could trigger a self-sustaining chain reaction in this field

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Yevgeny Prigozhin said that in the past 24 hours, Wagner PMC forces advanced 230 meters in Artyomovsk

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to deliver a report during the session

Kiev recruiting EU citizens for terrorist attacks — FSB

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Progressive Bulgaria leads in parliamentary elections after 87% of ballots counted

Representatives of 14 political parties and 10 coalitions competed for 240 seats in the 52nd National Assembly

China urges US to honor nuclear disarmament commitments — Chinese MFA

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Iran in constant communication with Russia, China, grateful for their stance — MFA

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Russian air defenses down one HIMARS rocket, 568 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones in past day

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US diplomat says attacks on Iranian power plants will not be war crime

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Pablo Fernandez supported Madrid’s idea of suspending the EU association agreement with Israel

Iran plans future of its nuclear program within NPT framework — ambassador to Russia

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Houthis threaten to block Bab el-Mandeb Strait if US hinders peace

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Top Lithuanian diplomat says wants to establish good relations with Belarus

Kestutis Budrys hopes that one day Lithuania and Belarus will have perfect relations, after all the issues will be settled

Two civilians hurt in Ukraine’s drone attack on their car in Bryansk Region

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US Energy Secretary says sanctions against Russian oil will be resumed

Chris Wright said that the issuance of a license for operations with Russian oil and its extension were temporary measures

Belarus ready for big deal with US, but it needs to be prepared — president

Alexander Lukashenko emphasized that Western sanctions had not played their part

IN BRIEF: What we know about oil spill in Russia’s Tuapse after drone attack

The area of contamination of the Black Sea with oil products amounts to 10,000 square meters

Iran has no plans to discuss defense capabilities, missile program with — agency

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Iranian president, Pakistani PM discuss situation in Middle East

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