Biden may order direct strike on Iran after drone attack on US base in Jordan, Bloomberg reports
A deadly strike on a US base in northeastern Jordan may prompt a stronger response from Washington than it has taken so far since the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7, Bloomberg quoted unnamed sources as saying.
The sources argued that one option could be a covert US strike on Iran, while another possibility could see the Biden administration directly targeting Iranian officials, as it did in 2020 when then-US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
Meanwhile, an Iranian militia group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for Monday's drone strike, which killed three US soldiers and wounded 30 others.
In a statement in the immediate aftermath, Biden said Washington was "still gathering the facts of this attack" and vowed: "We will respond."
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A deadly strike on a US base in northeastern Jordan may prompt a stronger response from Washington than it has taken so far since the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on October 7, Bloomberg quoted unnamed sources as saying.
The sources argued that one option could be a covert US strike on Iran, while another possibility could see the Biden administration directly targeting Iranian officials, as it did in 2020 when then-US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.
"Regardless of the outcome, the [potential] attack presents [President Joe] Biden with a decision that will be one of the most consequential of his presidency," something that "could put the US in direct confrontation with the leadership in Teheran," according to Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, an Iranian militia group known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for Monday's drone strike, which killed three US soldiers and wounded 30 others.
In a statement in the immediate aftermath, Biden said Washington was "still gathering the facts of this attack" and vowed: "We will respond."
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The second round of the presidential election will be held in Finland on February 11, as none of the candidates received even half of the votes in the first round.
A little about those who made it to the second round:
▪️Alexander Stubb, 55, is an active supporter of the country's membership in NATO, stands for Finland's "Euro-Atlantic choice" and cooperation with the US. Stubb calls for the refusal of full diplomatic relations with Russia until it "withdraws troops from the occupied territories". He questioned whether Finland, as the OSCE chair in 2025, would be able to mediate a peaceful solution "if there is a chance for peace in Ukraine".
▪️Pekka Haavisto, 65, is running as an independent candidate with the support of the Green Party. If he wins, he could become Finland's first "green" president. Haavisto believes that the influx of migrants from third countries at Finnish border crossings is an "organized Russian operation" and calls for "keeping the border closed as long as necessary."
During the election campaign, both candidates advocated the continuation of the anti-Russian course and support for Ukraine. At the same time, both expressed their readiness to enter into dialogue with Russia and improve relations "under certain conditions".
President Vladimir Putin, in connection with Finland's accession to NATO, said that its rejection of the traditional policy of neutrality and the country's entry into the alliance was a mistake, since there were no threats to its security.
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A little about those who made it to the second round:
▪️Alexander Stubb, 55, is an active supporter of the country's membership in NATO, stands for Finland's "Euro-Atlantic choice" and cooperation with the US. Stubb calls for the refusal of full diplomatic relations with Russia until it "withdraws troops from the occupied territories". He questioned whether Finland, as the OSCE chair in 2025, would be able to mediate a peaceful solution "if there is a chance for peace in Ukraine".
▪️Pekka Haavisto, 65, is running as an independent candidate with the support of the Green Party. If he wins, he could become Finland's first "green" president. Haavisto believes that the influx of migrants from third countries at Finnish border crossings is an "organized Russian operation" and calls for "keeping the border closed as long as necessary."
During the election campaign, both candidates advocated the continuation of the anti-Russian course and support for Ukraine. At the same time, both expressed their readiness to enter into dialogue with Russia and improve relations "under certain conditions".
President Vladimir Putin, in connection with Finland's accession to NATO, said that its rejection of the traditional policy of neutrality and the country's entry into the alliance was a mistake, since there were no threats to its security.
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▪️ The number of soldiers affected by the attack on the US base has risen to 34.
▪️ US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin promised retaliation for the attack on American troops in Jordan.
▪️ North Korea successfully tested cruise missiles in submarine launch, Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction with the result of the test.
▪️ Belarus, Russia are going to build 2 twin-engine passenger planes jointly by 2026.
▪️ The EU may sabotage Hungarian economy if Budapest doesn’t lift its veto on aid to Ukraine.
👇 More stories:
▪️ An overview of the US role in the Middle East following a deadly attack on an American base near Syria-Jordan border.
▪️ 👻 The Russians are under the bed: Pelosi says Moscow is funding pro-Palestine protests.
▪️ The Biden Administration in two minds on the amount of military assistance to Israel.
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▪️ US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin promised retaliation for the attack on American troops in Jordan.
▪️ North Korea successfully tested cruise missiles in submarine launch, Kim Jong Un expressed great satisfaction with the result of the test.
▪️ Belarus, Russia are going to build 2 twin-engine passenger planes jointly by 2026.
▪️ The EU may sabotage Hungarian economy if Budapest doesn’t lift its veto on aid to Ukraine.
👇 More stories:
▪️ An overview of the US role in the Middle East following a deadly attack on an American base near Syria-Jordan border.
▪️ 👻 The Russians are under the bed: Pelosi says Moscow is funding pro-Palestine protests.
▪️ The Biden Administration in two minds on the amount of military assistance to Israel.
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Sputnik International
The European Union will cease all funding to Hungary if Budapest does not lift its veto on providing military aid to Kiev by the bloc at a summit in Brussels on February 1, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Monday, citing an EU document. In December…
Hungary will not give in to blackmail and will not allow coercion in the issue of aid to Ukraine, said János Bóka, the country's EU Affairs Minister.
Earlier, the Financial Times wrote about Brussels' plans to undermine the Hungarian economy if Budapest refuses to agree on financing for Ukraine.
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Bóka emphasised that the EU was using access to its funds to exert political pressure. He added that Hungary "does not establish a connection between support for Ukraine and access to EU funds, and rejects other parties doing so... and will continue to participate constructively in the negotiations.".
Earlier, the Financial Times wrote about Brussels' plans to undermine the Hungarian economy if Budapest refuses to agree on financing for Ukraine.
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📹 Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reviewed the progress of modernization of experimental bases of the Defense Ministry's research institutes stationed in the Moscow region.
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Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence under Trump, criticized both Joe Biden and Lloyd Austin over the drone strike on a US base in Jordan.
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"Biden and Austin claim they won't tolerate attacks on the US. Biden's threats aren't credible and our enemies know it," Grenell wrote on his X-Page.
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💥📹 Crews of D-30 howitzers destroyed Ukrainian forces in the Kupyansk region
The artillerymen hit the camouflaged platoon strongpoints of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with 122-mm high-explosive fragmentation shells.
As a result of the fighting, about 30 nationalists were killed.
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The artillerymen hit the camouflaged platoon strongpoints of the Ukrainian Armed Forces with 122-mm high-explosive fragmentation shells.
As a result of the fighting, about 30 nationalists were killed.
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Key messages from Sergei Naryshkin, Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), on US attempts to politicize sports
▪️ The US administration is deeply unnerved that their crusade to isolate Russia in high-performance sports is failing.
▪️ International sports federations are expressing their reluctance to align with the US’s position on preventing Russian athletes from participating in competitions.
▪️ Several countries in the Global South are eager to participate in Russia's Games of the Future, BRICS Sports Games, and World Friendship Games.
▪️ To maintain its dominance, the US is ramping up efforts to disrupt sports events organized in Russia.
▪️ The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is seen as crucial in this effort, with its president Witold Banka potentially seeking a lucrative position after his term with WADA ends in 2025.
▪️ Banka unleashed an aggressive campaign to discredit the competitions organized by Russia. This effort also targeted foreign athletes planning to participate in these events, which stoked fears among those athletes about their future careers in Olympic sports potentially being ruined, particularly during the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.
▪️ What's more, Banka's blatantly pro-American activities, which hamper the development of world sports, are increasing becoming an annoyance in professional circles.
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▪️ The US administration is deeply unnerved that their crusade to isolate Russia in high-performance sports is failing.
▪️ International sports federations are expressing their reluctance to align with the US’s position on preventing Russian athletes from participating in competitions.
▪️ Several countries in the Global South are eager to participate in Russia's Games of the Future, BRICS Sports Games, and World Friendship Games.
▪️ To maintain its dominance, the US is ramping up efforts to disrupt sports events organized in Russia.
▪️ The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is seen as crucial in this effort, with its president Witold Banka potentially seeking a lucrative position after his term with WADA ends in 2025.
▪️ Banka unleashed an aggressive campaign to discredit the competitions organized by Russia. This effort also targeted foreign athletes planning to participate in these events, which stoked fears among those athletes about their future careers in Olympic sports potentially being ruined, particularly during the upcoming Summer Games in Paris.
▪️ What's more, Banka's blatantly pro-American activities, which hamper the development of world sports, are increasing becoming an annoyance in professional circles.
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Houthi fighters claim missile attack on US warship in Gulf of Aden
Yemen's Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) has launched a missile attack on the US Navy ship USS Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden, the movement’s spokesman General Yahya Sarea told the Al-Masirah news channel.
The US has not commented on the matter yet.
The purported attack comes as Houthi militants continue targeting Israel-bound vessels in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. On December 18, the US launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational effort to counter Houthi attacks in the area.
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Yemen's Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) has launched a missile attack on the US Navy ship USS Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden, the movement’s spokesman General Yahya Sarea told the Al-Masirah news channel.
He claimed that the warship provided logistical support to American forces that earlier hit Houthi targets in Yemen.
Sarea also said the attack on the USS Lewis B. Puller was "part of a military response to defend Yemen and support the oppressed Palestinian people."
The US has not commented on the matter yet.
The purported attack comes as Houthi militants continue targeting Israel-bound vessels in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. On December 18, the US launched Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational effort to counter Houthi attacks in the area.
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It's hard to ignore the sense of desperation in Ukraine's corridors of power, writes The Washington Post.
As the newspaper notes, US officials and their Western counterparts expect a lean year ahead, in which Ukraine's increasingly depleted forces will focus more on shoring up their defenses than on mounting a counteroffensive.
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As the newspaper notes, US officials and their Western counterparts expect a lean year ahead, in which Ukraine's increasingly depleted forces will focus more on shoring up their defenses than on mounting a counteroffensive.
"The best window of opportunity for a clear and quick Ukrainian victory had disappeared," the newspaper reports.
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Russian engineers installed the 'Fagot' ATGM on the drone.
The video shows firing both while hovering in the air and standing on the ground, using the drone as a mobile platform.
The Fagot system that the drone will carry is an anti-tank missile system. The integration of this system with a drone opens up new tactical possibilities, allowing armored vehicles or fortifications to be targeted directly from the air.
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The video shows firing both while hovering in the air and standing on the ground, using the drone as a mobile platform.
The Fagot system that the drone will carry is an anti-tank missile system. The integration of this system with a drone opens up new tactical possibilities, allowing armored vehicles or fortifications to be targeted directly from the air.
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⚡️Russian forces liberated the village of Tabaevka in the Kharkov region, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
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❗️The Russian air defense forces shot down 34 Ukrainian drones and one HIMARS MLRS missile during the day.
🇷🇺🪖 Other statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:
▪️ In the Donetsk region, Russian forces repelled six attacks by Ukrainian assault groups. Ukrainian losses amounted to 210 soldiers;
▪️ In Krasny Liman, Ukrainian losses amounted to 280 servicemen;
▪️ In the Kupyansk region, Russian troops repelled three attacks by Ukrainian forces;
▪️ The Russian forces hit Ukrainian Armed Forces rocket and artillery warehouses.
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🇷🇺🪖 Other statements from the Russian Ministry of Defense briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:
▪️ In the Donetsk region, Russian forces repelled six attacks by Ukrainian assault groups. Ukrainian losses amounted to 210 soldiers;
▪️ In Krasny Liman, Ukrainian losses amounted to 280 servicemen;
▪️ In the Kupyansk region, Russian troops repelled three attacks by Ukrainian forces;
▪️ The Russian forces hit Ukrainian Armed Forces rocket and artillery warehouses.
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🗣 It's time for the American president, in the best traditions of his predecessor Obama, to declare “Texas must go” and assemble an international coalition to liberate its inhabitants in the name of democracy - Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
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What are Russians saying about the events in Texas? Here are a few memes that went viral on social media:
Pic.1 "Sobyanin announced the construction of a new Moscow-Texas metro line."
The photo shows Sergey Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, "presenting a new metro line from Moscow to Texas". Moscow is famous for its metro system, which is one of the most beautiful in the world.
Pic.2 "We are open! Vkusno - i Tochka"
Vkusno - i Tochka" (lit. Tasty, period.) is a Russian fast-food restaurant chain created on the model of "McDonald's" after its closure in Russia due to anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the West.
Pic. 3 Biden says "Ostanovites" (lit. Stop)"
This is a reference to a popular meme featuring former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych saying "Stop", calling for an end to the unrest that took place in Ukraine in 2014.
Pic. 4 Texas. Tequila. Perestroika
The photo shows Mikhail Gorbachev, the last general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, known for implementing the course of "perestroika" (lit. - reconstruction), aimed at cardinal changes in the economic and political structure of the USSR.
Pic. 5 The People's Republic of Texas
If you know, you know 😉.
Pic. 6 Kennedy on the phone
The 35th President of the United States is somehow calling into the future and asking his descendants how things are going. After "getting the information" he asks: "What do you mean by 'waging war in Texas'? Against whom?"
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Pic.1 "Sobyanin announced the construction of a new Moscow-Texas metro line."
The photo shows Sergey Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, "presenting a new metro line from Moscow to Texas". Moscow is famous for its metro system, which is one of the most beautiful in the world.
Pic.2 "We are open! Vkusno - i Tochka"
Vkusno - i Tochka" (lit. Tasty, period.) is a Russian fast-food restaurant chain created on the model of "McDonald's" after its closure in Russia due to anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the West.
Pic. 3 Biden says "Ostanovites" (lit. Stop)"
This is a reference to a popular meme featuring former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych saying "Stop", calling for an end to the unrest that took place in Ukraine in 2014.
Pic. 4 Texas. Tequila. Perestroika
The photo shows Mikhail Gorbachev, the last general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, known for implementing the course of "perestroika" (lit. - reconstruction), aimed at cardinal changes in the economic and political structure of the USSR.
Pic. 5 The People's Republic of Texas
If you know, you know 😉.
Pic. 6 Kennedy on the phone
The 35th President of the United States is somehow calling into the future and asking his descendants how things are going. After "getting the information" he asks: "What do you mean by 'waging war in Texas'? Against whom?"
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Texas authorities announced their intention to install barbed wire fences along the entire length of the state border with Mexico (more than 3,000 km).
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Federal authorities will need "a lot of wire cutters" to cut all this barbed wire, said Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
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