Eurasia

Israel Targets Iranian Cells in Golan, Kills Hezbollah Operatives

An Israeli drone targeted a leader close to Lebanon’s Hezbollah in the town of Hader, according to al-Souria Net. On Wednesday, an Israeli drone targeted a leader close to Lebanon’s Hezbollah in the town of Hader in the northern countryside of Quneitra, Israeli media reported. Israel’s Channel 13 said that …

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Syrian Islamic Council: Mufti’s Meeting with Haniyeh to Discourage Hamas from Normalizing with Regime

The Syrian Islamic Council said it rejects the Iranian axis, but also normalization with Israel, according to Syria TV, The Syrian Islamic Council issued a video statement read out by its spokesman Sheikh Moutee’ al-Bateen, explaining the leaked recording in which the (opposition) Grand Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic, …

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Turkey Shelves Syria Offensive after Russian Objection

Ankara said there was “no need to hurry” a military operation in Northern Syria, according to Arab News. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that Turkey is in no rush to stage a new military operation against armed Kurdish militants in Northern Syria.

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Lebanese Minister Insists on Repatriation Plan, Visit to Syria Soon

The UN has rejected the plan by the Lebanese government, according to al-Souria Net. Lebanese caretaker Minister of Displaced Persons, Issam Sharaf al-Din, said that Lebanon is determined to move forward with plans to repatriate Syrian refugees currently residing in Lebanon. On Wednesday, the Lebanese government news service the National …

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Cavusoglu, Lavrov discuss Ukraine, food security ahead of G20 meeting

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov have a thorough exchange of views on international and regional affairs with particular emphasis on the situation in Ukraine. Turkish and Russian foreign ministers have held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 ministerial meeting in Bali, …

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Elective Affinities: Iran, India and China’s Responses to the Ukraine War

Iran, India and China have found themselves dragged into the crisis in Ukraine, as their wagons remain hitched to the invading power for complicated reasons. 'Sooner or later Russia will be back, and we do not know what kind of Russia that will be. It may fall subject to some …

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NATO Must Back Lithuania Against Russian Coercion

Increasing provocations from Moscow in response to Lithuania’s decision to enforce sanctions on goods transiting its territory need to be dealt with strongly by the Alliance. At last month’s summit, NATO promised to improve its military readiness in the future. But storm clouds are gathering over the Baltics right now. …

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Lebanon: Collapse, Uncertainty, Rejuvenation – or the Next Big War?

It could get much worse, and more violent, before it gets better. Lebanon has never been in a worse state outside wartime. Historically unstable by imperial design, its region is now rocked by the same waves of strategic competition, destabilisation and malign influence as the rest of the developing world. …

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Russian Ruble Drops 17% Amid Falling Exports, Rumored Intervention

The Russian ruble extended a recent slump Thursday, declining 17% against the U.S. dollar in 48 hours to reach its lowest level since late May. The ruble hit 64.5 against the greenback during morning trading on the Moscow Exchange as the Russian authorities apparently intervened in currency markets to stop …

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Lavrov Walks Out of G20 Talks as West Presses Moscow on Ukraine

Russia’s top diplomat stormed out of talks with G20 foreign ministers meeting in Indonesia on Friday as Western powers criticized Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Washington and allies condemned Russia’s assault ahead of the meeting before Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov faced what U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called …

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