Austin in a phone call with Gallant makes it clear that Israel could count on full US support amid escalation with Iran, Pentagon says.

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Militants from the Ukrainian unit of the 25th separate airborne brigade surrendered to the Russian Battlegroup Tsentr near Avdeyevka

Nine paratroopers of the elite Ukrainian brigade took the opportunity to surrender near the village of Vodyanoye. They turned to the Russian military and laid down their arms.

All of them note poor planning of combat operations, poor qualification of commanders, colossal losses in manpower and equipment, and panic in the units.

According to the prisoners, they were used as cannon fodder, regardless of the colossal losses. “The commanders leave us to die, like waste material, while they themselves are somewhere on the sidelines,” admits Valery, a captured serviceman of the 25th Ukrainian brigade.

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Channel 7 reports that the hero who stood up to the knifeman alone, known as "Bollard Man," was indeed a Russian-speaking man, as was previously reported by some eyewitnesses.

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🇮🇱 Schools in Israel will be closed starting Sunday morning due to threats of an Iranian attack, the IDF announced Saturday night. 

Israel is "closely monitoring a planned Iranian attack" against it and Tehran's allies in the region, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, without giving further details on the threat.

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🇮🇱 Israeli security establishment still believes Iran will target military rather than civilian sites in retaliation for the recent strike in Damascus, which killed several IRGC members, including two generals, Channel 12 reports.

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The US believes that there is a high probability that Iran will attack Israel on Sunday morning, April 14, Al Jazeera reports.

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VDV for export: What Russia has to gain by helping other countries build powerful airborne forces

“The airborne forces have always been considered the elite of armies around the world, the most trained and best units,” veteran journalist, author and war correspondent Aleksei Borzenko told Sputnik, commenting on Russia’s plans to offer foreign militaries comprehensive training, equipment and support to create powerful airborne forces.

“Who can send trainees today? Well, firstly, the countries of Africa – the former French colonies which have now freed themselves from units of the French Foreign Legion and begun a path of independent development without French pressure. These countries will now try to create their own armies, and most likely will send their officers to train with us,” the observer said.

There are also other potentially interested countries in the Middle East (such as Syria and Egypt), as well as in Asia and Latin America, Borzenko believes.

“It must be said that any military training (and the United States also conducts such training for its friendly armies), results in countries starting to buy weapons. This is how Soviet weapons were sold during the Soviet period. And the same interest is now being shown for Russian weapons,” Borzenko said.

Foreign units sent to Russia will be trained on Russia’s training grounds, and in the case of the airborne troops, at the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School, and possibly in Pskov with the 76th Guards Air Assault Division, the observer believes.

“Naturally, such training will contribute to the formation of a grouping, to one degree or another, of friendly countries that are well disposed toward us. We are not talking here about military blocs, but about cooperation, about the sale of weapons and other areas in which other countries can help us themselves,” the veteran journalist summed up.

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🇮🇱 Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly headed to the defense ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv for a war cabinet meeting amid reports about Iran's intention to attack Israel.

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🔺How Ukraine's 'anti-terrorist operation' in Donbass turned into bloodbath against its own people

🔺Which countries have laser weapons?

🔺Game over? Persian Gulf monarchies refuse to give US access to bases for anti-Iran attacks

🔺What drones does Ukraine’s military have?

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🔺Angara 5's launch opens door to Moon, Venus and Mars for Russians

🔺VDV for export: What Russia has to gain by helping other countries build powerful airborne forces

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The Israel Air Force's defense and attack systems have been put on alert, dozens of aircraft are in the sky, and coordination with the US is underway, the IDF said.

At the same time, Jordanian authorities decided to temporarily close airspace from 23:00 local time (GMT 20:00)

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Israel will close the country's airspace since 01:00 am local time (GMT 22:00) on April 14 amid an expected Iranian attack.

Israel will alos close Ben-Gurion Airport overnight for three hours amid the threat of an attack by Iran, Israel TV Channel 12 reported.

Iran has launched dozens of kamikaze drones toward Israel, Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported, citing his sources.

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A large number of Iranian drones have crossed the airspace in southern Iraq, Al Arabiya reported, citing a source.

Israel confirms that dozens of drones were launched from Iran, Israeli radio station Kan reported

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The US is aware of reports of Iran launching drones toward Israel, the Pentagon told Sputnik.

Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari officially recognized the launch of the attack on Israel

"A short time ago, Iran launched an unmanned aerial vehicle from its territory towards the territory of the State of Israel," the statement reads.

He noted that the IDF is on high alert and forms a situation picture at all times.

He also asked Israeli public to listen and adhere to the instructions of the Home Front Command and the official announcements of the IDF spokesperson on the subject.

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