— 🇸🇾 NEW: Sectarian tensions are reported in Damascus, with HTS-backed protests demanding the expulsion of Shia Muslims from the city: 'Out with the Shias! Out, out!'

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— 🇺🇸 WATCH: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarifies that President Trump's promise of 'at least $2,000 tariff dividends' can come in 'lots of forms,' such as tax cuts.

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—❗️🇸🇾 NEW: HTS-backed anti-Shia sectarian protests intensify in Damascus

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—❗️🇸🇾 NEW: The HTS-backed anti-Shia crowds are marching towards the Holy Shrine of Sayyeda Zainab, the revered grand daughter of the Prophet Muhammad ‎ﷺ

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—❗️🇸🇾 BREAKING: HTS-backed Sunni gangs have opened fire upon Shia civilians in the Sayyeda Zainab area of Damascus

This is in response to the Shia community opening a Husseiniya (religious centre) in the neighbourhood for gatherings.

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No injuries are reported so far.

The gunfire quickly stopped, luckily.

— 🇮🇱 NEW: Hebrew media reports that this morning, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, former Chief Lawyer of the IDF, was 'rushed to the hospital' after her release from house arrest. This incident is being suspected as her second failed suicide attempt.

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— 🇮🇱 NEW: The Jerusalem Post reports that according to a new peer-reviewed study published in the 'Archives of Sexual Behavior' medical journal (under Springer), 33% of Israeli men pay for sex

As noted before, sexual deviations are extremely common in Israeli society.

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— 🇵🇸/🇮🇱 NEW: Israeli airstrikes target areas east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

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—❗️🇮🇱/🇷🇺/🇮🇷 BREAKING: Former Mossad Chief Yossi Cohen, in his new book, writes that he visited the Kremlin and got permission from Russian President Vladimir Putin to strike Iranian arms shipments in Syria and Iraq headed for Hezbollah and various Iran-backed militias

The Russian and Israeli Deputy Chiefs of Staff decided to set up a direct phone line, coordinating every strike, with Russia explicitly giving the green light for Israeli attacks.

Cohen says this Russian cooperation was 'essential' in dismantling Iranian supply networks in the region, because Russian-operated S-300 and S-400 systems in Syria would have been a threat to Israeli aviation.

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— 🇷🇺/🇮🇷 OPINION:

Unfortunately, as I've always said, Russia is not Iran's ally, it is simply a strategic partner. When it suits the Russians, they cooperate with us, but when it's not in their interests, they don't. It's as simple as that.

I don't think this is 'betrayal', nor do I think Russia is inherently dishonest. They simply put their own national interests first, no matter what. And I don't blame them; isn't that what every country is supposed to do?

I would love it if Russia supported Iran based on some shared ideology or worldview, but that simply is not the case. Russia is pragmatic, Iran is ideologic; Russia works with whomever suits their interests best, Iran works mainly with ideological allies; Russia is flexible, Iran is consistent.

At the very least, Russia is honest about its pragmatic approach, unlike the United States which constantly pretends that it is acting from a values-based worldview and then violates those very same values (democracy, human rights, freedom etc.) on a daily basis.

When working with a country like Russia, it is important to realize and understand that cooperation will only go as far as shared interests. Anything beyond that is uncertain, and should not be relied upon, much less taken for granted.

The same is true for China. Long gone are the days that China operated from an ideology-based worldview. Their foreign policy is once again very simple: Do whatever benefits China the most.

It is in Russia's vital interests to support Iran at least to the extent of keeping its government stable and enabling its military to endure basic hostilities, but not much more than that. In case of any fundamental threat to the continuity of the Iranian government, do not count on Russia's support; they will already be busy making deals with the 'new guys in town', like they did with Jolani during the fall of Assad in late 2024.

And like I said, from a 'realpolitik' perspective this pragmatic approach makes perfect logical sense. Why waste billions in military support when you can just preemptively forge ties with the new government-to-be?

Anyways, all I'm trying to say is, the illusion that Russia will ever come to Iran's aid are long gone. I have always respected the Russians and will continue to do so, not based on false notions of a shared ideological perspective but rather based on an approach of cooperation founded on mutual interests.

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— 🇱🇧/🇮🇱 NEW: Israel carries out two major controlled demolitions of civilian buildings in the eastern neighborhood of Hula town, southern Lebanon.

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— 🇱🇧/🇮🇱 NEW: A car was targeted in an Israeli airstrike in al-Baisarieh near Sidon early this morning, resulting in one casualty.

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— 🇱🇧/🇮🇱 NEW: Israeli airstrikes target the Jarmaq area, while Israeli drones and aircraft are reported to be operating over various regions across Lebanon.

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— 🇱🇧/🇮🇱 NEW: A series of Israeli airstrikes are ongoing in the al-Rayhan mountain area in southern Lebanon.

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—❗️🇵🇸/🇮🇱 BREAKING: The IDF has launched an unannounced large-scale military operation in the West Bank, with Israeli sources indicating it could last for several days.

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— 🇵🇸/🇮🇱 NEW: Israeli forces destroy a residential complex in the Shujaiyya neighborhood east of Gaza City.

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— 🇺🇸/🇻🇪 NEW: U.S. forces conduct two lethal kinetic strikes against vessels allegedly involved in narcotics smuggling in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in six casualties according to an official statement.

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— 🇱🇧/🇮🇱 NEW: An Israeli drone targets a pickup truck with a missile on the Hadi Nasrallah Highway in Hermel, near the Al-Mabarra school.

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