Why did CIA aim ‘smart bombs’ at China’s embassy in Belgrade in 1999?
The visit of China’s President Xi Jinping to Serbia coincided with the 25th anniversary of the infamous destruction of China’s embassy in Belgrade by US “smart bombs” on May 7, 1999.
By mentioning this tragedy in his article for daily newspaper Politika on the day of his arrival, Xi made the date of his visit a snub to the US.
“This we should never forget,” Xi wrote in his article. The Chinese foreign ministry called the bombing “a barbaric crime” which China will never allow to be repeated.
Two bombs hit the embassy, killing 20 people — three of whom were Chinese nationals. The bombs were dropped by a US Air Force bomber on a mission from its base in Missouri. They were GPS-guided precision bombs, the “margin of error” of which was limited to 13 meters.
The US called the destructive hit “an accident,” insisting its aircraft was actually targeting Yugoimport, an office of Yugoslav government located 440 meters away. Later, in July 1999, then CIA Director George Tenet acknowledged that the bombing was the only one of the war organized by his agency. He claimed that the crew was given the wrong coordinates for some reason.
China did not accept that version of events, saying the bombing could only be deliberate. Russia shared that view, also doubting the US explanation.
On October 17, 1999, British newspaper The Observer published an article stating that the bombing was deliberate. Two subsequent stories in The Observer and Danish newspaper Politiken cited evidence that the US and NATO had deliberately “punished” China for its “help” for Yugoslav leaders. The real reason, Beijing continues to asset, was China’s opposition to NATO’s war against Yugoslavia.
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The visit of China’s President Xi Jinping to Serbia coincided with the 25th anniversary of the infamous destruction of China’s embassy in Belgrade by US “smart bombs” on May 7, 1999.
By mentioning this tragedy in his article for daily newspaper Politika on the day of his arrival, Xi made the date of his visit a snub to the US.
“25 years ago, on May 7, 1999, NATO flagrantly bombed the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, killing three Chinese journalists – Ms. Shao Yunhuan, Mr. Xu Xinghu and his wife Zhu Ying.”
“This we should never forget,” Xi wrote in his article. The Chinese foreign ministry called the bombing “a barbaric crime” which China will never allow to be repeated.
Two bombs hit the embassy, killing 20 people — three of whom were Chinese nationals. The bombs were dropped by a US Air Force bomber on a mission from its base in Missouri. They were GPS-guided precision bombs, the “margin of error” of which was limited to 13 meters.
The US called the destructive hit “an accident,” insisting its aircraft was actually targeting Yugoimport, an office of Yugoslav government located 440 meters away. Later, in July 1999, then CIA Director George Tenet acknowledged that the bombing was the only one of the war organized by his agency. He claimed that the crew was given the wrong coordinates for some reason.
China did not accept that version of events, saying the bombing could only be deliberate. Russia shared that view, also doubting the US explanation.
On October 17, 1999, British newspaper The Observer published an article stating that the bombing was deliberate. Two subsequent stories in The Observer and Danish newspaper Politiken cited evidence that the US and NATO had deliberately “punished” China for its “help” for Yugoslav leaders. The real reason, Beijing continues to asset, was China’s opposition to NATO’s war against Yugoslavia.
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❗️Putin signed the Decree “On the national development goals of the Russian Federation for the period until 2030 and for the future until 2036.”
According to the decree, the main national goals of Russia's development are:
▪️The preservation of the population, the strengthening of health and the improvement of the well-being of individuals, as well as family support.
▪️The realisation of the potential of each individual, the development of their talents, and the education of a patriotic and socially responsible person.
▪️A comfortable and safe living environment.
▪️Ecological well-being.
▪️A sustainable and dynamic economy.
▪️Technological leadership.
▪️The digital transformation of state and municipal governments, the economy, and the social sphere.
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According to the decree, the main national goals of Russia's development are:
▪️The preservation of the population, the strengthening of health and the improvement of the well-being of individuals, as well as family support.
▪️The realisation of the potential of each individual, the development of their talents, and the education of a patriotic and socially responsible person.
▪️A comfortable and safe living environment.
▪️Ecological well-being.
▪️A sustainable and dynamic economy.
▪️Technological leadership.
▪️The digital transformation of state and municipal governments, the economy, and the social sphere.
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Sputnik International
Putin’s new ride: what we know about the president’s updated Aurus limo The Russian president arrived for his inauguration ceremony on Tuesday in a restyled Aurus Senat armored limousine. The refreshed vehicle features a number of immediately visible…
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Unveiling Aurus motorcycles: The sleek new addition to Putin's motorcade
During Russian President Vladimir Putin's swearing-in ceremony on May 7, a striking addition caught the eyes of onlookers. Alongside the Aurus Senat armored limousine, nine sleek Aurus motorcycles made their debut, ushering in a new level of sophistication to the presidential motorcade.
Here are some facts&figures about the Аurus Мerlon electric motorbike:
Development began in 2017, and the first prototype was revealed at the 2022 Innoprom International Industrial Exhibition. The bike features a high-endurance aluminum alloy space-frame and external panels made from Russian-produced composite materials.
The Aurus Merlon features a completely domestic-made high-voltage traction battery, electric motor, power control system (including software), touch-sensitive electronic instrument panel, LED optics, suspension elements, and thermostat system. This cutting-edge motorbike is designed as a rear-wheel drive, but can also operate in reverse.
Technical Characteristics:
🔺190 hp electric engine at 350 Nm of torque;
🔺Top speed of 240 km/h without sidecar;
🔺Accelerates to 100 km/h in under 4 seconds;
🔺The 21 kWh battery, when fully charged, provides enough energy to travel 200 km.
🔺Weight without sidecar totals 350 kg.
The motorcycle’s primary function is to provide year-round motorcade escort for top state officials and diplomatic missions. The Aurus Merlon is tailored to operate in temperatures ranging from -25º to +40ºC, and can travel at high speeds on slippery roads. With its low center of gravity, this domestic electric motorcycle offers reliable stability.
Mandatory features include:
🔺Anti-lock brakes
🔺Traction control
🔺Electric windshield
🔺Heated seats and steering wheel controls.
The Aurus Merlon electric motorcycle is currently being produced in limited quantities, but there is potential for a wider release to appeal to all bike enthusiasts in the future.
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During Russian President Vladimir Putin's swearing-in ceremony on May 7, a striking addition caught the eyes of onlookers. Alongside the Aurus Senat armored limousine, nine sleek Aurus motorcycles made their debut, ushering in a new level of sophistication to the presidential motorcade.
Here are some facts&figures about the Аurus Мerlon electric motorbike:
Development began in 2017, and the first prototype was revealed at the 2022 Innoprom International Industrial Exhibition. The bike features a high-endurance aluminum alloy space-frame and external panels made from Russian-produced composite materials.
The Aurus Merlon features a completely domestic-made high-voltage traction battery, electric motor, power control system (including software), touch-sensitive electronic instrument panel, LED optics, suspension elements, and thermostat system. This cutting-edge motorbike is designed as a rear-wheel drive, but can also operate in reverse.
Technical Characteristics:
🔺190 hp electric engine at 350 Nm of torque;
🔺Top speed of 240 km/h without sidecar;
🔺Accelerates to 100 km/h in under 4 seconds;
🔺The 21 kWh battery, when fully charged, provides enough energy to travel 200 km.
🔺Weight without sidecar totals 350 kg.
The motorcycle’s primary function is to provide year-round motorcade escort for top state officials and diplomatic missions. The Aurus Merlon is tailored to operate in temperatures ranging from -25º to +40ºC, and can travel at high speeds on slippery roads. With its low center of gravity, this domestic electric motorcycle offers reliable stability.
Mandatory features include:
🔺Anti-lock brakes
🔺Traction control
🔺Electric windshield
🔺Heated seats and steering wheel controls.
The Aurus Merlon electric motorcycle is currently being produced in limited quantities, but there is potential for a wider release to appeal to all bike enthusiasts in the future.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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Putin's next term will bring new dynamic to Russia's development
The West's expectation that Russia would collapse under sanctions and suffer a military defeat in Ukraine has proven futile, marking a complete failure of the Western strategy, said Mikael Valtersson, a former officer in the Swedish Armed Forces, commenting on Vladimir Putin's speech after inauguration.
The Swedish expert noted that even the US-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledged that the Russian economic growth in 2024 might be the highest among industrialized economies.
The resilience and growth of the Russian economy have highlighted the weaknesses of the Western-centered economic world order, which relies on sanctions and the dominance of the US dollar as tools to control other nations, according to Valtersson.
The expert noted that, based on Putin's previous speeches and interviews, The Russian president was likely to focus on increasing Russian economic and technological independence from the West, strengthening ties with non-Western countries, sustaining economic growth and resolving the conflict in Ukraine on favorable terms for Russia.
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The West's expectation that Russia would collapse under sanctions and suffer a military defeat in Ukraine has proven futile, marking a complete failure of the Western strategy, said Mikael Valtersson, a former officer in the Swedish Armed Forces, commenting on Vladimir Putin's speech after inauguration.
"The Russian economy grew by 3.6 percent during 2023 and the Russian economy has now surpassed the German economy in gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP)," Valtersson told Sputnik.
The Swedish expert noted that even the US-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) acknowledged that the Russian economic growth in 2024 might be the highest among industrialized economies.
The resilience and growth of the Russian economy have highlighted the weaknesses of the Western-centered economic world order, which relies on sanctions and the dominance of the US dollar as tools to control other nations, according to Valtersson.
The expert noted that, based on Putin's previous speeches and interviews, The Russian president was likely to focus on increasing Russian economic and technological independence from the West, strengthening ties with non-Western countries, sustaining economic growth and resolving the conflict in Ukraine on favorable terms for Russia.
"We are eagerly looking ahead, filled with confidence, and actively implementing new projects and programs to further enhance our development, making it even more dynamic and robust," Putin stated in his speech.
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A demonstration in support of Palestine is taking place in Paris, France
The demonstrators are chanting: "We are all children of Gaza", "Solidarity with mobilized students", "Long live the struggle of the Palestinian people!"; "Israel is a murderer, Biden is a murderer, Macron is an accomplice"; "They said "never again". Warsaw, Treblinka, and now the Gaza Strip."
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The demonstrators are chanting: "We are all children of Gaza", "Solidarity with mobilized students", "Long live the struggle of the Palestinian people!"; "Israel is a murderer, Biden is a murderer, Macron is an accomplice"; "They said "never again". Warsaw, Treblinka, and now the Gaza Strip."
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Large defense industrial base and combat-tested army keys to Russia’s ability to stand up to NATO
Russia's military benefits from "a massive military-industrial base capable of producing large quantities of arms and ammunition including highly capable advanced weapons, and a large professional fighting force,” military affairs expert and US Marine Corps vet Brian Berletic told Sputnik on the occasion of Russian Armed Forces Day Tuesday.
The observer stressed that throughout the Ukrainian conflict, Russia’s defense sector has proven able to expand and adapt more quickly than its Western counterparts to the needs of the front, and to produce weapons in greater quantities and at lower cost.
Berletic recalled that during the Second World War, the USSR was able to achieve victory over Nazi-occupied Europe in large measure due to its ability to out-produce the Nazis “across every metric.” And while the scale, circumstances and conditions of today’s conflict with NATO may differ, Russia is once again “confronting foreign aggression along its borders with a massive military industrial base able to out produce its adversaries,” the former soldier emphasized.
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Russia's military benefits from "a massive military-industrial base capable of producing large quantities of arms and ammunition including highly capable advanced weapons, and a large professional fighting force,” military affairs expert and US Marine Corps vet Brian Berletic told Sputnik on the occasion of Russian Armed Forces Day Tuesday.
“Backed by a significant nuclear deterrent, the Russian military is designed and demonstrably capable of defending what is the largest nation by land area in the world,” Berletic said.
“Russia’s political leadership has ensured that the military-industrial base and the fighting forces it arms and equips exists to underwrite the nation’s national defense rather than serve as an opportunity for private enterprise to enrich itself either through the procurement process and/or through military-backed expansionism overseas. These are the key factors that distinguish the Russian military from its Western counterparts and is why amid Washington’s proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, Russia has so far successfully outmatched the collective wealth, resources, and military power of the West,” Berletic said.
The observer stressed that throughout the Ukrainian conflict, Russia’s defense sector has proven able to expand and adapt more quickly than its Western counterparts to the needs of the front, and to produce weapons in greater quantities and at lower cost.
Berletic recalled that during the Second World War, the USSR was able to achieve victory over Nazi-occupied Europe in large measure due to its ability to out-produce the Nazis “across every metric.” And while the scale, circumstances and conditions of today’s conflict with NATO may differ, Russia is once again “confronting foreign aggression along its borders with a massive military industrial base able to out produce its adversaries,” the former soldier emphasized.
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Biden admin. might exploit the F-16 nuclear controversy as a provocation in Ukraine
"The primary and most likely nuclear weapon that the F-16 can carry is the B61[-12] gravity bomb – which has been continually maintained and improved for both accuracy and reduced yield, so smaller than its predecessors but able to be guided," retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former analyst for the US Department of Defense, told Sputnik.
Ukraine is slated to receive its first F-16s later this year, with Ukrainian pilots undergoing training to operate the fighter jets. Moscow has consistently cautioned against this deployment, raising concerns that the warplane can be equipped to carry nuclear bombs.
Kiev is expected to get its F-16s from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands. In October 2022, Politico reported that the US had expedited the deployment of B61-12s to NATO bases in Europe, lending credence to Russia's security concerns.
On December 13, 2023, The War Zone (TWZ) published a photograph of an F-16 at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands, seemingly carrying a training version of the B61-12 under its wing.
But she stressed that US president Joe Biden’s administration could use the controversy surrounding the nuclear-capable F-16 to create a crisis in a bid to tip the balance of the conflict in its favor and, possibly, delay a US election which the geriatric US leader could easily lose this November.
Even though the scenario seems fantastic, the Biden administration had no scruples about blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, Kwiatkowski remarked.
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"The primary and most likely nuclear weapon that the F-16 can carry is the B61[-12] gravity bomb – which has been continually maintained and improved for both accuracy and reduced yield, so smaller than its predecessors but able to be guided," retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, a former analyst for the US Department of Defense, told Sputnik.
Ukraine is slated to receive its first F-16s later this year, with Ukrainian pilots undergoing training to operate the fighter jets. Moscow has consistently cautioned against this deployment, raising concerns that the warplane can be equipped to carry nuclear bombs.
Kiev is expected to get its F-16s from Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands. In October 2022, Politico reported that the US had expedited the deployment of B61-12s to NATO bases in Europe, lending credence to Russia's security concerns.
On December 13, 2023, The War Zone (TWZ) published a photograph of an F-16 at Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands, seemingly carrying a training version of the B61-12 under its wing.
"If the F-16s are to be flown by Ukrainian pilots and manned by Ukrainian ground crews, they would not be allowed access to nuclear weapons by any NATO country," Kwiatkowski pointed out.
But she stressed that US president Joe Biden’s administration could use the controversy surrounding the nuclear-capable F-16 to create a crisis in a bid to tip the balance of the conflict in its favor and, possibly, delay a US election which the geriatric US leader could easily lose this November.
Even though the scenario seems fantastic, the Biden administration had no scruples about blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines in September 2022, Kwiatkowski remarked.
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Here's how The Mirror, a British newspaper, reported on the news of Vladimir Putin's inauguration: "Vladimir Putin's inauguration sees Kremlin leader issue chilling 10-word threat to the West"
Any guesses about what those scary 10 words are?
Putin said:"The destiny of Russia will be determined by ourselves only."
The West cannot even tolerate the idea that some nations would "impudently" want to determine their own fate without consulting the western "superiors."
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Any guesses about what those scary 10 words are?
Putin said:
The West cannot even tolerate the idea that some nations would "impudently" want to determine their own fate without consulting the western "superiors."
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🔺What do a former US intelligence officer, a former Swedish military officer, and a strategic analyst think about Putin's inaugural speech?
🔺Large defense industrial base and combat-tested army keys to Russia’s ability to stand up to NATO
🔺NATO's 1999 Chinese embassy bombing: Misguided Missiles or Misleading Excuses? And why did CIA aim ‘smart bombs’ at China’s embassy in Belgrade in 1999?
🔺Rafah offensive to disrupt ceasefire talks, amplify Gaza crisis
🔺Why the outgoing Russian government had hugely successful term?
🔺Biden admin. might exploit the F-16 nuclear controversy as a provocation in Ukraine
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
🔺Large defense industrial base and combat-tested army keys to Russia’s ability to stand up to NATO
🔺NATO's 1999 Chinese embassy bombing: Misguided Missiles or Misleading Excuses? And why did CIA aim ‘smart bombs’ at China’s embassy in Belgrade in 1999?
🔺Rafah offensive to disrupt ceasefire talks, amplify Gaza crisis
🔺Why the outgoing Russian government had hugely successful term?
🔺Biden admin. might exploit the F-16 nuclear controversy as a provocation in Ukraine
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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The conflict in Ukraine is headed towards a serious escalation, independent US presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. said.
Kennedy referenced several recent developments in the conflict, including the delivery of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine and NATO military advisers directly aiding the Kiev regime in the proxy war against Russia.
He also pointed towards UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s support of Ukraine using UK-provided weapons to strike Russian territory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that such a statement is a dangerous form of verbal escalation.
Moreover, Kennedy noted Russia’s recent exercises with tactical nuclear forces, which the candidate said Russia may use if threatened by NATO direct involvement in the conflict.
The US and its allies are playing a game of “chicken” with their foreign policy, Kennedy said.
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“The situation in Ukraine is on the brink of a calamitous escalation,” Kennedy posted on the social media platform X. “Do the military imperialists in Washington and their lackeys in Europe have any idea the danger they are courting?”
Kennedy referenced several recent developments in the conflict, including the delivery of long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine and NATO military advisers directly aiding the Kiev regime in the proxy war against Russia.
He also pointed towards UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s support of Ukraine using UK-provided weapons to strike Russian territory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that such a statement is a dangerous form of verbal escalation.
Moreover, Kennedy noted Russia’s recent exercises with tactical nuclear forces, which the candidate said Russia may use if threatened by NATO direct involvement in the conflict.
The US and its allies are playing a game of “chicken” with their foreign policy, Kennedy said.
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Berlin prosecutors have closed their investigation into inspector of the German Air Force Ingo Gerhartz over an intercepted conversation between Bundeswehr officers discussing a strike on the Crimean Bridge with long-range Taurus cruise missiles, local media reported.
In March, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group, published a leaked audio recording of high-ranking officers of the German Bundeswehr discussing "how they will bomb the Crimean bridge".
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In March, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group, published a leaked audio recording of high-ranking officers of the German Bundeswehr discussing "how they will bomb the Crimean bridge".
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Ukrainian forces attacked Lugansk as they shelled an oil depot in the city, the head of the Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik said.
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"Late at night, the enemy attacked peaceful Lugansk — shelled the oil depot located within the city. The emergency workers are deployed on the spot," Pasechnik wrote on his Telegram channel, adding that information about casualties is being verified.
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The Biden administration's report on whether Israel violated US law and international humanitarian law during its military operations in the Gaza Strip has been delayed indefinitely, Politico reported.
If the report determines that US and international law have been violated, the Biden administration would be expected to stop sending military assistance to Israel.
The administration emailed Congress notifying lawmakers that it will miss the deadline to submit the report but did not provide additional details.
Earlier on Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US government is trying very hard to meet the "self-imposed deadline."
On Monday night, some 200 attorneys, 27 of whom are currently in the Biden administration, sent a letter to top US officials arguing that sending weapons to Israel would be illegal.
The report's delay comes as Israel started a military operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where some 1.4 million Palestinians - are sheltering.
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If the report determines that US and international law have been violated, the Biden administration would be expected to stop sending military assistance to Israel.
The administration emailed Congress notifying lawmakers that it will miss the deadline to submit the report but did not provide additional details.
Earlier on Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the US government is trying very hard to meet the "self-imposed deadline."
On Monday night, some 200 attorneys, 27 of whom are currently in the Biden administration, sent a letter to top US officials arguing that sending weapons to Israel would be illegal.
The report's delay comes as Israel started a military operation in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where some 1.4 million Palestinians - are sheltering.
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The Judge in Trump's classified Documents case has indefinitely postponed the Florida trial, court documents show.
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"The Court also determines that finalization of a trial date at this juncture-before resolution of the myriad and interconnected pre-trial and CIPA issues remaining and forthcoming-would be imprudent and inconsistent with the court's duty...The Court therefore vacates the current May 20, 2024, trial date," wrote Judge Cannon in the documents.
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Sputnik International
Ukrainian forces attacked Lugansk as they shelled an oil depot in the city, the head of the Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik said. "Late at night, the enemy attacked peaceful Lugansk — shelled the oil depot located within the city. The emergency…
As a result of the Ukrainian strike on Lugansk, 5 employees of the oil depot were injured and hospitalized, the head of the Lugansk People's Republic Leonid Pasechnik said.
Power lines were damaged, houses near the oil depot were partially cut off from power and a high-pressure gas pipeline was on fire as a result of the attack, Pasechnik said.
Four ambulance crews arrived at the site of the shelling but it is difficult to provide first aid to the injured because of the heavy fire, the head of Lugansk People's Republic said.
Pasechnik claimed the Kiev regime presumably used Western-supplied ATACMS missiles to carry out the attack on the oil depot in Lugansk.
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Power lines were damaged, houses near the oil depot were partially cut off from power and a high-pressure gas pipeline was on fire as a result of the attack, Pasechnik said.
Four ambulance crews arrived at the site of the shelling but it is difficult to provide first aid to the injured because of the heavy fire, the head of Lugansk People's Republic said.
Pasechnik claimed the Kiev regime presumably used Western-supplied ATACMS missiles to carry out the attack on the oil depot in Lugansk.
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Hamas's delegation has returned to Cairo to continue discussing ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and to reach an agreement that will allow to end the ongoing conflict, the Palestinian movement said.
On Monday, Hamas informed Qatari and Egyptian mediators that it agreed to the terms of the ceasefire deal they had drafted. The proposal provides for three stages of 42 days, during which a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners are expected to be concluded.
Meanwhile, Israel declined the ceasefire proposal as unacceptable and started a military operation in eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, home to some 1.5 million Palestinians forced to flee the northern and central parts of the Strip.
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On Monday, Hamas informed Qatari and Egyptian mediators that it agreed to the terms of the ceasefire deal they had drafted. The proposal provides for three stages of 42 days, during which a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners are expected to be concluded.
"A Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya [Hamas deputy leader] recently arrived in Cairo from Doha to continue the efforts of the mediating brothers in Egypt and Qatar to reach an agreement to end the aggression against our people in the Gaza Strip," the movement said on Telegram.
Meanwhile, Israel declined the ceasefire proposal as unacceptable and started a military operation in eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, home to some 1.5 million Palestinians forced to flee the northern and central parts of the Strip.
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The “limited” Israeli military operation in Rafah has not crossed President Joe Biden's “red line” and therefore has not yet led to any changes in the US administration's policy towards its closest ally in the Middle East, Axios reported, citing two American officials.
On Monday, Israel declined the ceasefire proposal as unacceptable and continued its military operation in eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the operation would disrupt the ongoing humanitarian assistance delivery to Gaza and that the Biden administration continues to oppose it.
Biden does not view the Israeli operation to capture the Rafah Gate crossing, which the IDF considers to be a key target and one of Hamas' main strategic sites in Gaza, as a “breaking point” in relations with Tel Aviv, the report said.
But this could change if the limited operation broadens or gets out of control and Israeli forces enter the city of Rafah itself, where more than one million Palestinian refugees are taking shelter, the officials reportedly said.
The US officials have also confirmed that the Biden administration is ready to suspend weapons shipments to Israel or at least condition the use of specific US weapons systems if the Netanyahu war cabinet decides to go on a major military operation in Rafah.
Politico reported on Tuesday that the Biden administration has not yet signed off on a pending sale of Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) that can be converted to precision weapons, including Small Diameter Bombs.
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On Monday, Israel declined the ceasefire proposal as unacceptable and continued its military operation in eastern Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the operation would disrupt the ongoing humanitarian assistance delivery to Gaza and that the Biden administration continues to oppose it.
Biden does not view the Israeli operation to capture the Rafah Gate crossing, which the IDF considers to be a key target and one of Hamas' main strategic sites in Gaza, as a “breaking point” in relations with Tel Aviv, the report said.
But this could change if the limited operation broadens or gets out of control and Israeli forces enter the city of Rafah itself, where more than one million Palestinian refugees are taking shelter, the officials reportedly said.
The US officials have also confirmed that the Biden administration is ready to suspend weapons shipments to Israel or at least condition the use of specific US weapons systems if the Netanyahu war cabinet decides to go on a major military operation in Rafah.
Politico reported on Tuesday that the Biden administration has not yet signed off on a pending sale of Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) that can be converted to precision weapons, including Small Diameter Bombs.
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'Israel Doesn't want ceasefire': truce talks take back seat as Rafah attack surges
As ceasefire talks hung in the air on Monday, Israel began their aerial and ground attacks on Rafah, the largest city in Gaza where war refugees were once told to shelter in safety. Esteban Carrillo, a Beirut-based Ecuadorian journalist and current editor for The Cradle, joined Sputnik’s Fault Lines to discuss the ongoing attacks on Rafah.
“For weeks now, there's been this effort to make it seem like it's Hamas that doesn't want a deal, that they don't want to sit down at the table to accept Israeli demands. Where, in reality, it's the opposite,” Carrillo explained. “Hamas has been very steadfast in what they're asking for. And it's Israel who doesn't want a lasting ceasefire. This is really the crux of the issue here.”
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As ceasefire talks hung in the air on Monday, Israel began their aerial and ground attacks on Rafah, the largest city in Gaza where war refugees were once told to shelter in safety. Esteban Carrillo, a Beirut-based Ecuadorian journalist and current editor for The Cradle, joined Sputnik’s Fault Lines to discuss the ongoing attacks on Rafah.
“Rafah has been besieged already for weeks. For the past 24 hours, more than 24 hours at this point, this tiny strip of land has been coming under constant bombardment overnight, right after Hamas approved the ceasefire deal,” said Carrillo. “Israel deployed what they like to call a fire build bomb in an area, where 1.5 million people are huddling after being told to go there.”
“For weeks now, there's been this effort to make it seem like it's Hamas that doesn't want a deal, that they don't want to sit down at the table to accept Israeli demands. Where, in reality, it's the opposite,” Carrillo explained. “Hamas has been very steadfast in what they're asking for. And it's Israel who doesn't want a lasting ceasefire. This is really the crux of the issue here.”
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