🔎 How does the TOS-2 "Tosochka" heavy flamethrower system differ from its predecessors, TOS-1 "Buratino" and TOS-1A "Solntsepek"?

▪️The number of shells has gone down from 24 and 30 to 18, the firing range now reaches 14-15 km (according to experts);

▪️The area covered by fire has increased to 60,000 square meters (up to 40,000 in previous versions);

▪️Aiming and fire control are fully automated;

▪️"Tosochka" utilizes the wheelbase of the "Ural-63706" truck;

▪️TOS-2 has an electronic warfare system and its own crane for loading ammunition, which is an improvement from previous versions that required a special transport-loading machine.

Manufacturers suggest that the new version has great opportunities for export. While previous versions will be modernized, TOS-2 will eventually replace TOS-1 and TOS-1A.

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The head of the Israeli Directorate of Military Intelligence, Aharon Haliva, on Tuesday took responsibility for not preventing the October 7 attack on Israel carried out by Hamas, and admitted that the intelligence has failed.

“The Directorate of Military Intelligence under my command failed to warn of a terrorist attack carried out by Hamas. We failed in our main task, and as the head of the military intelligence department, I bear full responsibility for what happened,” Haliva said, as quoted by Times of Israel, adding that his department will carry out an investigation into what happened.

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❗️Key points of the Russian Defense Ministry briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️In the direction of Donetsk, the Russian army repulsed nine attacks by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian losses amounted to 485 soldiers and three armored vehicles;

▪️In the Zaporozhye region, Russian forces repelled four attacks by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian losses amounted to 110 servicemen, seven tanks and seven armored vehicles;

▪️In the Kupyansk direction, the Russian Army repulsed seven attacks by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian losses amounted to 270 servicemen, one tank and 10 armored vehicles;

▪️Near Krasny Liman, Russian troops repelled two attacks by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian losses amounted to 115 servicemen and three armored vehicles;

▪️In the direction of Kherson, Ukrainian losses amounted to 45 soldiers;

▪️Russian air defense systems shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force. Five operational-tactical missiles and four US GLSDB guided bombs were intercepted.

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A small number of US long-range ATACMS missiles have been secretly delivered to Ukraine in recent days, according to The Wall Street Journal

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Israel

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🇬🇧 The British public-funded broadcaster, the BBC, has temporarily taken six correspondents covering the Middle East off the air, following concerns regarding certain social media posts that appeared to be in favor of Hamas' actions against Israel.

Posts made or endorsed by BBC News Arabic journalists, some of whom are stationed in Egypt and Lebanon, seemingly voiced support for Palestine or challenged Israel’s viewpoint.

🗣 “We are urgently investigating this matter. We take allegations of breaches of our editorial and social media guidelines with the utmost seriousness, and if and when we find breaches we will act, including taking disciplinary action,” BBC stressed in a statement.

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The IDF and the Shin Bet eliminated one of Hamas' senior members who served as the commander of the central camp brigade of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Air Force claimed

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Version of ATACMS missile sent to Ukrainians is equipped with cluster munitions, according to New York Times

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New Russian drone to clear remotely controlled mines successfully tested

Igor Stukalo, who serves as technical director of the Defense Group, UTTA, said that the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Russian National Guard have already conducted tests of the Strekoza unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which demonstrated “positive results.”

According to him, the drone can be used in areas located as far as 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the frontline in the special operation zone.

Stukalo explained that if the remotely operated Strekoza detects a mine with a radioelectronic fuse, the drone, which carries a TNT block, will drop it on the target.

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#SputnikInfographics📊 🇨🇳 China marks 10th anniversary of Belt and Road initiative

Inspired by the Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes that spanned the Asian and European continents for about 1,400 years until the mid-15th century, the Belt and Road project was launched in 2013 by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

By June 2023, more than 150 nations had signed the BRI cooperation pacts with China. Over 140 countries and 30 international organizations are expected to participate in this year’s event. Among the leaders due in Beijing this week are the presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Laos, and Mongolia, as well as the chair of the Eurasian Economic Commission's board.

Explore Sputnik's infographics to find out more!

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 President Putin is the first to enter Xi Jinping's welcome banquet

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🇹🇭 Thai PM Srettha Thavisin dons pink socks when meeting with Vladimir Putin

Many social media users have wondered how common it is for state leaders to choose pink in their business attire? Perhaps the fact is that Thavisin was involved in business in the past: in this environment, bold accents in clothing are more easily accepted.

At the same time, some experts say that this choice may refer to the cultural characteristics of the Thai people: supposedly in Thailand, pink is the color of Tuesday, and different colors can have different religious meanings. This version is confirmed by the fact that the Prime Minister wore a pink tie to the meeting.

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Ukraine launched American ATACMS ballistic missiles at Russian targets for the first time. M74 cluster munitions from these missiles were found in Berdyansk, Zaporozhye region, after night strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Vladimir Rogov, a senior official of the Zaporozhye regional administration said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the first use of ATACMS missiles by Ukrainian forces.

“Our agreements with President Biden are being implemented. They are carried out very accurately - ATACMS have proven themselves,” Zelensky said.

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🇮🇱 Israel's national security adviser predicted on Tuesday that the US would get "involved" if the Gaza war escalated to the point where Iran and Hezbollah joined in on behalf of Hamas.

In a televised briefing, Tzachi Hanegbi noted expressions of support by U.S. President Joe Biden, which included U.S. naval deployments in the Mediterranean and a public warning to the Lebanese group and to Tehran to stay out of the fighting.

"He is making clear to our enemies that if they even imagine taking part in the offensive against the citizens of Israel, there will be American involvement here," Hanegbi said.

"Israel will not be alone ... A U.S. force is here and it is ready," he added, without elaborating.

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President Putin said on Tuesday, commenting on a recent remark of US President Joe Biden about the need to "put down" the Russian leader that the US need to learn to respect others and be able to find compromises, then no one will need to be suppressed.

In a recent interview with CBS, Biden said that he is sure about running for the second presidential term, inviting to imaging what will happen if the US unites "all of Europe and Putin is finally put down where he cannot cause the kind of trouble he's been causing."

"They need to learn to respect others and then no one will have to be suppressed. But the desire to suppress someone all the time for some reason or for no reason at all leads to problems. They, of course, with their usual brilliance, love and do it well - they smile during protocol events, pat everyone on the shoulder. But respect for other people, for other countries, for other peoples lies elsewhere, lies in taking into account their interests," Putin said.

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🗣 What's happening in the Middle East is much more dangerous than the Ukrainian conflict:

"I was worried about World War III when it was Russia and Ukraine. I'm about ten times more worried right now with the Israel situation", Daniel McAdams, Executive Director of the 'Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity, told the Fault Lines show.

👉 Watch the full episode of our show on Rumble

🎧 Listen to more of McAdams's analysis in our Fault Lines show

📻 Catch us at 105.5FM, 1390AM (Washington DC) and 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1140AM (Kansas City)

More than 500 people were killed in an Israeli strike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

❗️Ships of the Royal Navy have moved to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, the British Ministry of Defense said.

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After reports of a rocket hitting a hospital in Gaza, the Israeli army launched an investigation linking the incident to a failed Hamas rocket launch, according to media.

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