The conflict in the Middle East is threatening to expand dangerously following Pakistan's reaction to Iran. New US attack against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Meanwhile, on the Ukrainian front, numerous Russian drones were intercepted on the way to Odessa, while Moscow in turn reported Kiev drones in the capital's regions. Tensions are also rising between China and Taiwan due to Beijing's new overflight near the island
Ukraine: Lavrov, the risk of a clash between nuclear powers is growing
In the West, “there is increasing talk about the likelihood of a direct collision between nuclear powers and there are fewer and fewer deterrents in this regard.” This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a press conference on the 2023 budget. According to the head of Russian diplomacy, the goal of the United States is “clear” and is “to try to somehow ensure control over our nuclear arsenal.” to minimize the nuclear risks to oneself.”
Nevertheless, Moscow continues to strive to expand its influence in Africa
The Kremlin's efforts to expand Russia's influence in Africa continue through the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Afrika Korps controlled by the same ministry: This is what the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes on its website. According to the Main Directorate of Ukrainian Military Intelligence (GUR), the Russian army is training teams of “military instructors” for deployment in African countries, with personnel recruited in Russia and occupied Ukraine, particularly Crimea. The Afrika Korps aims to integrate the Wagner Group's operations in Africa, the US research center explains, emphasizing that Russian officials routinely refer to Wagner personnel present on the continent as “military trainers” despite their combat role on the continent. and “Advisor” means Central African Republic and Mali. According to Gur, Russia is particularly focused on recruiting Russian reservists specializing in the maintenance of air defense systems, former sailors and other specialists
Death toll in Iran rises to 9 after attack in Pakistan
The death toll from Pakistan's attack this morning in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balochistan rises to 9 in Iran. This was reported by the Iranian news agency “Fars”. Provincial deputy governor Alireza Marhamati said multiple explosions were heard at 4:30 a.m. local time in several locations around the southeastern city of Saravan. The deputy governor said four children, three women and two men were killed in the explosions. Pakistan said it had carried out a series of military strikes against alleged hideouts of separatist militants in Iran. The Pakistani operation comes a day after Iran attacked two headquarters of the terrorist group Jaish Al-Adl in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province.
Iran summons Pakistan's chargé d'affaires
Tehran Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani condemned Pakistan's attack on Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, which left at least nine people dead. “We officially sent our protest and request for an explanation to Islamabad after summoning the Pakistani charge d'affaires in Tehran at the Foreign Ministry,” he added, quoted by Mehr.
Wafa, the number of victims of the Israeli attack in Rafah rises to 19
The Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that the death toll from the Israeli airstrike on Rafah has risen to 19. The victims were “mainly children and women”. According to Al Jazeera, the attack occurred in an area declared “safe” by Israel.
Israel, army operations in the southern and northern Gaza Strip continue
The army continues its operations in the Gaza Strip, particularly in the south and north, against Hamas structures. The military spokesman said that “around 60 Hamas terrorists had been killed” in the last 24 hours. Of these – he added – 40 in Khan Yunis, where, among other things, “the residence of a terrorist” was hit, where “grenades, machine guns, military equipment and technical assets” were found. In the northern Gaza Strip – the spokesman continued – air strikes were carried out on “armed terrorists who posed a threat to soldiers, including some near a school.” “Soldiers also penetrated an Islamic Jihad compound in the north.”
Ukraine: “22 of 33 drones launched by Moscow shot down”
Ukrainian forces shot down 22 of 33 Shahed attack drones launched by Russia overnight. The Kiev Air Force reported this via Telegram, saying that the drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in southern Russia, off the coast of the Sea of Azov and from the Kursk region. At least two S-300 missiles were fired from Russia's Belgorod Oblast toward Kharkiv Oblast. The drones mainly targeted the northern and southern regions of Ukraine. Anti-aircraft missile units and mobile fire groups were deployed to repel the air attack. Drones were shot down over Sumy, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad and Khmelnytskyi. At least four of the 22 drones were shot down in northeastern Sumy Oblast, but they damaged a warehouse and several trucks.
China: “Ready for the role of mediator between Iran and Pakistan”
China said it was “ready to play a mediator role” between Iran and Pakistan after the two countries carried out missile strikes against “militant terrorist groups” based in their respective territories and pledged to attack Tehran and Islamabad. This was said by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning.
Netanyahu rejects the US idea of an agreement with Riyadh
Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyhau would have rejected a proposal from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to normalize with Saudi Arabia in exchange for a “pathway” for the creation of a Palestinian state. This was reported by Nbc News, Israeli media reported that Netanyahu said he was “unprepared” for an agreement of this kind on the Palestinian state. Blinken argued that Israeli leadership's unavailability on this dossier – as a US source confirmed to the Times of Israel – will result in history repeating itself. However, according to NBC, Netanyahu has agreed to curb attacks in Lebanon.
Houthis: “We will not give up targeting Israeli ships”
Yemen's Houthis say they will not stop their attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes despite increasing attacks by the US military. “We will not give up targeting Israeli ships or those heading to ports in occupied Palestine… We support the Palestinian people,” the group's spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam told Al Jazeera, adding that the Armed group will respond to new attacks on Yemen the United States and Great Britain. The Houthis had previously claimed to have attacked a US Navy ship in the Gulf of Aden and landed “a direct and precise hit”.
Ukraine, Kiev Air Force: 22 Russian-launched drones shot down during the night
Ukrainian Air Defense Forces shot down 22 of 33 Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched by Russia this evening. Ukrinform reports on this and explains that the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced this in a post on its Facebook page.
“On the night of January 18, 2024, the occupiers attacked with 33 Shahed-136/131 combat drones launched from the Primorsko-Akhtarsk region of Russia and the Kursk region, and also hit the Kharkiv region with two anti-aircraft missiles S- 300 were launched from the Belgorod region,” the post said.
Iran: At least 7 dead, including 4 children, after Pakistani attack on 'terrorists'
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry confirmed attacks on positions of suspected terrorist groups in Sistan and Balochistan province in southeastern Iran, leaving at least seven people dead, including four children. Islamabad had promised to respond to Iranian attacks on Tuesday against another terrorist group in Pakistan's Balochistan region, which borders the aforementioned Iranian province. “This morning, Pakistan carried out a series of highly coordinated and targeted precision military strikes against terrorist hideouts in the Iranian provinces of Sistan and Balochistan,” the ministry wrote on its website.
In addition, the deaths of “several terrorists” were confirmed during an intelligence operation called “Marg Bar Sarmachar”, which aimed to neutralize the self-proclaimed group “Sarmachars”, considered terrorist by Islamabad. For his part, the deputy governor of Sistan and Balochistan, Alireza Marhamati, reported an explosion near the city of Saravan at 4:30 a.m. (local time), in which three women and four children died. These are Iranian citizens, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA. Pakistan justified this bombing as Iran's “inaction” given its “grave concerns” about the amount of evidence of the presence of Pakistani terrorists on Iranian territory. “This action reflects Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to protect and defend its national security from all threats. Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The sole aim of today’s law was to pursue its own security and national interest,” Islamabad’s statement said.
Iran: Pakistan, terrorists killed in precision strikes
This morning's raids in Iran's Sistan and Balochistan province were “highly coordinated and targeted precision military strikes against terror hideouts,” Pakistan's foreign ministry said, citing local media. “This morning's actions were taken in light of credible information about impending large-scale terrorist activities by the so-called Sarmachars,” the Islamabad ministry said in a statement. “Several terrorists were killed during the intelligence operation codenamed 'Marg Bar Sarmachar',” the statement added.
Iran: Media, 3 women and 4 children killed in attack in Pakistan
Local media reported that at least three women and four children were killed in the Pakistani attack on the Iranian city of Saravan this morning. Videos posted on social media showed a number of buildings damaged by the attack as well as thick smoke. Some people got stuck under the rubble.
Iran: Media, several injured in Pakistan attack
The Iranian city of Saravan in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balochistan was hit by missiles and drones from neighboring Pakistan, Mehr news agency reported this morning, saying several people were injured in the attack. The raids came after Iran attacked Pakistani territory on Tuesday “to destroy the bases of the Sunni separatist group Jaish ul-Adl.” Pakistan yesterday condemned Tehran's actions and said several civilians were killed in the Iranian attack. Pakistan reserves the right to respond militarily against Iran.
Iran: Pakistan, attacks are carried out against militant groups
The Pakistani military carried out attacks in Iran today, an intelligence official in Islamabad said. “I can confirm that we have carried out attacks against anti-Pakistani militant groups in Iran,” the source said this morning, adding that a government statement on the matter would follow later. Shortly before, Iranian media had reported explosions in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balochistan on the border with Pakistan. Two days ago, Iran carried out attacks on Pakistani territory against what it described as “terrorist targets.”
Taiwan: 24 aircraft and 5 Chinese warships around the island
After the brief lull during the island's presidential election, in which Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate William Lai won on Saturday in autonomous positions and was accused by Beijing of being a “separatist”, China is increasing its military pressure “Taiwan vigorously resumed.” The Taipei Defense Ministry has detected more than 20 People's Liberation Army (PLA) fighter jets in the past 24 hours, including 11 crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait. After reporting a significant overnight resumption of activity last night, the ministry said 24 aircraft and five warships had been identified as of this morning. “Eleven of the aircraft detected had crossed the median line of the strait or entered the southwestern and northern parts of Taiwan (the air defense identification zone, Adiz),” the ministry said in a statement. China views the island as an “inalienable” part of its territory that can be reunified by force if necessary. The highest number of fighter jets sent around Taiwan in a 24-hour window was last September, when there were 103, including 40 beyond the median line. The constant flow of Chinese military activity is viewed by experts as a “grey zone” tactic based on aggressive actions that are not comparable to an armed attack but are useful in keeping the target under constant pressure.
West Bank: Israeli raid, 46 arrests near Bethlehem
Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera reports that Israeli forces have carried out raids and dozens of arrests in the West Bank in recent hours. According to local sources, 46 people from the same family were stopped in the Bethlehem area.
West Bank: More clashes in Tulkarem, death toll rises to 6
Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera reports that the death toll in clashes with Israeli forces in Tulkarem in the West Bank that began yesterday has risen to six Palestinians. According to local sources, the Israeli army also sent numerous reinforcements to the area this morning.
Yemen: US, 14 ready-to-launch Houthi missiles arrive
U.S. Central Command (Centcom) says the latest attack by U.S. forces in Yemen hit “14 Houthi missiles loaded for launch from areas controlled by Iran-backed rebels.”
Red Sea: Houthis, we will continue to attack ships
Houthi rebels have assured they will continue to attack ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with the Palestinians after American forces carried out a new series of raids in Yemen this evening. “We will continue to target ships heading to ports in occupied Palestine, regardless of the US-British aggression that tries to stop us,” a Houthi official told local broadcaster al-Masirah. “It is an open war and” our enemies “will have to endure shocking, powerful and overwhelming attacks and responses,” Houthi official Ali al-Qahoum wrote on Yemen”. .
Yemen: US launches new strikes against Houthi targets
US Defense Department sources cited by NBC say that in the latest attack, US forces fired Tomahawk missiles that hit rebel missile launch sites in Yemen. According to other American officials quoted by Arabic broadcaster Al Jazeera, the attack began around 1 a.m. Italian time. Yemeni media close to the Houthis also reported on the bombing: the al-Masirah broadcaster stated that “American-British aggression targeted the governorates of Hodeida, Taiz, Dhamar, Al-Bayda and Saada.”
Gaza: Media, Number of Israeli raids in Rafah rises to 20 dead
According to Arabic broadcaster Al Mayadeen, the death toll from the Israeli attack on a house in the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip last night has risen to at least 20. Previous reports said there were 16 victims, including several children.
Biden: “Approval of Kiev aid endangers US and NATO security”
Joe Biden called on the American Congress to “swiftly approve” his request for additional funding for Kiev and “send a strong signal of US resolve,” warning that by failing to do so “we will jeopardize the national security of the United States and the alliance between the two countries.” endanger NATO.” and the rest of the free world.” The US President said this in a statement released by the White House after meeting with leaders at the Capitol, adding that he also made it clear that “we must act now to address the challenge at the border” with Mexico “was encouraged by progress in bipartisan negotiations in the Senate.”
Ukraine: Moscow and Kiev fly over the capital and the Leningrad regions
Russia says its air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian drone over the Moscow region and intercepted another over the Leningrad region tonight. This was reported by the Tass news agency, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
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