📹 Russia's reconnaissance unit neutralizes Ukrainian FPV drone crew in Kupyansk region

During reconnaissance, the servicemen acquired intelligence about movement of an armed group of Ukrainian troops. After taking position, soldiers from the reconnaissance unit delivered a precise strike by Kornet ATGM at the enemy shelter.

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Russia's air defense systems intercepted a Ukrainian S-200 anti-aircraft missile that had been converted to hit ground targets over the Lipetsk region, the MoD reported.

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🇮🇱🇵🇸 Latest updates on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict:

▪️The number of victims of Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has exceeded 22,400, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health;

▪️Israel has dropped over 45,000 bombs and rockets on Gaza since October 7, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza;

▪️The Israeli army announced the liquidation of an Islamic Jihad commander in the Gaza Strip;

▪️Israeli shelling killed four people in southern Lebanon, Lebanese media reported.

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How could deadly Iran blasts affect Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

"It seems that there is a desire to have the Benjamin Netanyahu government expand the conflict beyond Gaza," Mahjoob Zweiri, a professor in contemporary politics and history of the Middle East, told Sputnik. "The Americans and other Europeans could intervene and basically transfer the whole conflict into a global conflict."

Powerful blasts killed 84 and left 211 injured in the Iranian city of Kerman on January 3 with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowing a "harsh response".

On Thursday, Daesh* claimed responsibility for the bombing. The New York Times remarked that the terrorists' announcement "dovetailed with American intelligence assessments."

Per Zweiri, those behind the explosions sought to force Tehran into overreacting. The professor believes Iran won't respond immediately but will focus on pushing for a Gaza ceasefire instead.

*Daesh is a terrorist organization banned in Russia and other countries.

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❗Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder confirmed on Thursday that US forces conducted a strike in Iraq targeting the Harakat-al-Nujaba leader Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari for his role in attacks on US troops in the region.

"I can confirm that on January 4, approximately 12:00 p.m. Iraq time, US forces took necessary and proportionate action against Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, aka Abu Taqwa, who is a Harakat-al-Nujaba leader. Abu Taqwa was actively involved in planning and carrying out attacks against American personnel," Ryder said during a press briefing.

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📹 Russia's D-30 howitzer crew destroyed a Ukrainian observation post on the Dnepr's right bank

Artillerymen of the Dnepr Battlegroup fired 122-mm high-explosive fragmentation shells at a target at a distance of about eight kilometers.

As a result of the strike, Ukraine lost over 15 soldiers who were installing a new observation post.

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🇺🇸Latest on Iowa school shooting:

🔹 Gunman was identified as 17-year-old student armed with a pump-action shotgun and small caliber handgun. Found deceased from self-inflicted gunshot wound

🔹 First responders found an IED inside the school but was subsequently rendered safe after specialists arrived on the scene

🔹 Early findings suggest gunman acted alone; however, motive remains unclear

🔹 Shooting resulted in the death of a sixth-grade student, five other victims (four students and one faculty member) have been hospitalized

DC think tank: Israel's Beirut bomb forces Hamas, Hezbollah & Iran to retaliate

Per the think tank, the odds of an Israeli-Hezbollah clash have risen in the short term. The two had already been exchanging artillery and rocket fire across the border.

"The drone that killed Arouri struck far from that border, in a portion of southern Beirut that is considered a Hezbollah stronghold," wrote Paul R. Pillar, a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute.

Pillar believes that the Hezbollah leadership is not seeking a repetition of the 2006 war with Israel, which led to significant human and material losses. However, given that the Shiite group has long committed to protect the Lebanese people from Israeli attacks, it "may have now been pushed closer to carrying out more of the threats of retaliation it has been voicing since Israel began its assault on Gaza," the scholar argued.

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IAF's Chopper Procurement Takes Turn: Russian Mi-26 Helicopters Replace Chinooks

🇮🇳 India's helicopter procurement strategy is undergoing a significant change as they decide against acquiring US-manufactured Chinook helicopters.

🇷🇺 Instead, they are showing preference for Russia's Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopters, which corresponds with the positive trajectory of their bilateral relations.

🚁 Furthermore, India's existing fleet of Mi-26 helicopters is scheduled for maintenance in Russia.

IAF Chief Hints at Stopping Import of Combat Helicopters

"The need for a very agile attack helicopter was felt immediately after the Kargil conflict, and this indigenous development of the LCH or Prachand has given a tremendous boost to our warfighting capability in this area of helicopter combat operations," AF chief Vivek Ram Chaudhari told reporters in New Delhi in November.

HAL's IMHR and Mi-26 to Form Bulwark of IAF's Heavy-Lift Chopper Fleet

🇺🇸 🚫 Instead of acquiring the American-made Chinooks, the IAF has reportedly opted for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH) being developed by state-owned aeronautics giant Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

▪Although the proposed IMHR would be slightly smaller than the Chinooks, it is being touted as India's next-generation helicopter.

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A report released by House Democrats on Thursday revealed that businesses owned by former US President Donald Trump were being paid millions of dollars by foreign governments and businesses.

According to the report, China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and others made payments to Trump-owned businesses, with China being the largest contributor by spending $5.5 million while Trump was in office.

The corruption alleged by the report is similar to accusations by Republicans against US President Joe Biden over foreign business deals made by his family members, including his son and brother.

👉 Read more in the full article

The United States is reportedly preparing contingency plans for the chance the war in Gaza turns into a regional conflict.

US officials are concerned that the risk of the Gaza conflict escalating into a regional conflict is growing, US media reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

US intelligence officials are reportedly looking into ways to deter attacks by ‘proxy militants’ against US forces in Iraq and Syria.

According to the sources, a possible escalation could result in President Joe Biden’s deeper involvement in the Middle East as his 2024 election campaign is seeking to focus on domestic issues. The insiders warned that the scenario of a wider conflict in the Middle East is “perilous” for Biden’s “reelection chances.”

👉 Read on for more details

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Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk asserted on Thursday in a social media post that the Biden administration is actively facilitating illegal immigration.

"At this point, there is no question that this administration is actively facilitating illegal immigration," Musk said. "The numbers speak for themselves."

Musk also said that the reason behind this was that the administration views the illegal immigrants as "potential Dem voters."

👉 Hit the link to get the full rundown

So-called "decapitation drills" held by South Korea and the US for a potential assassination of North Korea's Kim Jong Un suggest the Biden administration may be "looking to start another firefight," journalist and activist George Koo told Sputnik.

“All hell would break loose if they try it, whether they are successful or not. That is obviously a declaration of war,” Koo said, noting most northern US cities would be in range of a retaliatory ICBM attack.

👉 Read more in the full article

Pro-Palestinian activists protest near the home of Secretary Blinken in Virginia.

Local police told Sputnik that no arrests were made, and in the meantime a video of protesters pouring red paint over an official car has been published on social networks.

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🇦🇷The new President of Argentina, Javier Milei, believes that the positive results of his government's reforms will be visible in 15 years.

The presidential term in Argentina lasts 4 years (with the possibility of re-election 1 time)

"You will be able to see two thirds of the improvements in 15 years. So you will see them, your children will enjoy them, and your grandchildren will live wonderfully," Milei replied to the host of FM Delta radio station, who doubted that he would have time to see "a prosperous Argentina."

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📹 Crews of anti-tank missile systems "Fagot" and "Kornet" of Russian paratroopers destroyed the infantry of Ukraine in the Artemovsk region

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South Korea orders evacuation on Yeonpyeong Island over North's shelling – reports

"We announced the evacuation after receiving a call from a military unit saying it was carrying out a maritime strike on Yeongpyeong Island as it has a situation with a North Korean provocation," the official was quoted as saying.

Earlier it was reported that the North Korean military fired 200 artillery shells into its own territorial waters near South Korean islands of Baengnyongdo and Yeonpyeong.

No civilians or South Korean military personnel were reportedly injured, and the shells fell north of the de facto maritime border.

The shelling came in the wake of reports that the US and South Korean militaries were conducting "decapitation drills" - in other words, training to assassinate North Korean leaders, including Kim Jong Un himself.

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Germany has supplied another batch of military assistance to Ukraine, including ammunition for Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles, Skynex air defense system and other equipment, the German government said.

Germany's arms exports increased by 40% in 2023 and reached a record 11.71 billion euros ($13 billion) as of mid-December 2023, the DPA news agency reported, citing the German Economy Ministry. More than a third of approved arms exports, or 4.15 billion euros worth of weapons, were intended for Ukraine, followed by Norway with 1.2 billion euros, Hungary with 1.03 billion euros and others, the news agency reported.

Western countries, including member states of the European Union, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict.

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