🪖 Who has the strongest military in the Middle East?

The ongoing Palestinian-Israeli crisis has ramped up global concerns about a broad, regional escalation, with the United States not helping matters by sending warnings to Iran not to get involved, and sending additional warships, troops and aircraft to the Middle East.

In light of the tensions, Sputnik has complied a top five of the most powerful militaries in the Middle East. The ranking weighs raw numbers of troops and defense spending together with geostrategic and historical considerations, making it unique.

Which countries do you think made the top five?
👉 Check out our article for the answers

🌍 World Pneumonia Day: the global health crisis we can no longer ignore

Despite being a preventable and treatable disease, pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children. According to the UN, a child dies from pneumonia every 43 seconds.

Globally, there are more than 1,400 cases of pneumonia per 100,000 children, or 1 case for every 71 children, each year, with the highest incidence in South Asia (2,500 cases per 100,000 children) and West and Central Africa (1,620 cases per 100,000 children), according to UNICEF.

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🇪🇺🚜 European farmers reportedly see Ukraine's possible EU accession as a threat

Negotiations on Ukraine joining the EU have raised serious concerns among major European suppliers, who fear that once it joins the bloc, it will completely upset the agricultural and food environment among the old-time members, French daily L'Opinion reported.

According to the report, farmers in old agricultural Europe fear strong shake-ups in the intra-European competitive climate. Ukraine is already the second largest supplier organic products to the EU.

What also concerns EU is the likely need to rebuild and modernize Ukrainian agriculture once the conflict is over. These efforts will require large financial investments boosting Ukraine’s agricultural production.

Potential inclusion of a new nation in the EU will push the authorities to redistribute funds that remain relatively set. All the more because Ukraine has extensive agricultural areas, far more than other European farming powerhouses.

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🪖Ukrainian military claims general offensive is impossible due to a lack of ammunition and personnel

Ukrainian soldiers say they are low on ammunition and manpower on the ground in the conflict with Russia, which forces them to send drone operators and crews of armored vehicles to the frontline positions, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Due to a lack of ammunition and other issues, Ukraine has been unable to seize the initiative on the battlefield and had to shift to a defensive posture after months of counteroffensive operations, the report read.

💬"It's a trench deadlock ... A general offensive is impossible for either side. Neither side can break through," a senior Ukrainian security official was quoted as saying by The Wall Street Journal.

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US Bases in Eastern Syria Came Under Rocket and Drone Attack, Media Reports

A US base at the Koniko oil field in Deir ez-Zor province in eastern Syria has come under rocket fire, Al Mayadeen TV channel reported.

15 missiles were fired, causing heavy explosions at the US base, according to the report. The channel's sources note, the attack was a response to US strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria. The broadcaster also stated, citing a source, that several US soldiers were killed as a result of this rocket attack.

In addition, the US base in al-Shadadi, located in the northeastern Syrian province of Al Hasakah, was attacked with three drones, the report added.

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🇺🇸🇵🇸🇮🇱 The US does not want to see the Gaza Strip reoccupied or reduced in its size or have Gazans driven out of their homes, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said.

💬 "From our perspective, the way forward — the basic principles of the way forward are straightforward … No reoccupation of Gaza, no forcible displacement of the Palestinian people. Gaza can never be used as a base for terrorism in the future and Gaza's territory should not be reduced," he told CBS in an interview.

The US does want to see the reunification of control between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under the Palestinian leadership, Sullivan added. He insisted that the future of the exclave would be up to the Palestinian people and the United States would support the process.

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Pakistan-China Enhance Defence Ties, Conduct Naval Exercises

👤 Rear Admiral Liang Yang, representing Commander Qingdao Naval Base, graced the occasion with his presence, joined by Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi, Commander of the Pakistan Fleet.

◾️In his opening speech, Vice Admiral Muhammad Faisal Abbasi warmly welcomed the officers and personnel of the PLA Flotilla, highlighting the robust and strategic ties between Pakistan and China, particularly in the naval domain.

🇵🇰 🇨🇳 During his address, Rear Admiral Yang expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Navy for hosting Exercise Sea Guardian, expressing optimism for a mutually advantageous and professionally fulfilling experience during the collaborative drill.

🛥 Ahead of the commencement of the exercise, a Chinese Flotilla consisting of naval ships, submarines, a submarine rescue vessel, and a detachment of PLA (Navy) Marines arrived in Karachi.

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🇺🇸🇮🇱 The Biden administration is concerned that Israel is trying to provoke Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which could lead to a wider war in Lebanon, Axios reported, citing sources.

The Biden administration fears that escalation could draw the US and other countries further into the conflict and trigger another regional war, the report added.

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🇺🇸🇮🇷 The US has carried out strikes on facilities of Iran's IRGC and Iran-affiliated groups in eastern Syria in response to attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.

"The strikes were conducted against a training facility and a safe house near the cities of Abu Kamal and Mayadin, respectively," Austin said in a statement.

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🇷🇺☣️ What do you know about Russia’s Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops?

Monday marks the 105th anniversary of the creation of the RCBD Troops – the specialized Russian military force designed to protect the Armed Forces and the population at large from the effects of weapons of mass destruction and liquidate the consequences of their use.

You may have first heard of the RCBD Troops in 2022, when they started reporting on the extent of highly secretive US military-biological research activities in Ukraine. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as their activities are concerned.

👉 Find out more about what the RCBD Troops do here

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🇷🇺☣️ The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video marking the anniversary of the creation of the Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops

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🇷🇺🛩 Russia has begun preparations for the production of the first samples of the fifth-generation Checkmate light combat aircraft, the press service of the Rostec State Corporation told Sputnik ahead of the Dubai Airshow-2023.

The fighter’s payload exceeds seven tons, and it will be able to engage up to six targets simultaneously. The single-engine aircraft is designed to fly at Mach 1.8 to a range of 3,000 km.

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🇷🇺🪖 Russian drone crews seek out and eliminate Ukrainian infantry and a large armored vehicle in the Artyomovsk (Bakhmut) area

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🇺🇸🇨🇳 Reviving US-China military communication channels is one of the ‘priority’ issues that Joe Biden intends to take up with Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC Summit

“The Chinese have basically severed those communication links… President Biden would like to reestablish them. And he will look to this summit as an opportunity to try to advance the ball on that,” stated White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Beijing suspended top-level engagement between both nations’ militaries in response to the visit of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

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🇵🇸🇮🇱 Latest updates on the Palestine-Israel conflict:

▪️The negotiations between the Palestinian movement Hamas and Israel on the release of hostages have been significantly complicated by the parties’ uncompromising attitude, a diplomatic source in Ankara told Sputnik

▪️Another group of Russian citizens totaling around 90-100 people has been approved by all parties concerned for evacuation from the Gaza Strip on November 13

▪️Egypt has "politely refused" to receive humanitarian assistance from Iran intended for Gaza residents due to Israel's refusal to allow supplies of Tehran’s aid to the region, media reports said

▪️Israel will continue to conduct its military operation in the Gaza Strip and protect the country's security even if international support ceases

▪️Washington believes Israel should not conduct military operations at medical facilities in the Gaza Strip despite the fact that hospitals are used for military purposes by Hamas, Jake Sullivan said

▪️Death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has risen to 11,180

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🇺🇸 Jan. 6 ‘QAnon Shaman’ seeks to run for Congress

Last week, 35-year-old Jacob Chansley submitted paperwork expressing his intention to run as a Libertarian candidate for a seat in Arizona's 8th Congressional District in next year's election.

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🇷🇺🪖 The Ministry of Defense has released a video showing Russian reconnaissance eliminating Ukrainian servicemen in forests located in the Kupyansk area

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