Why Israeli soldiers use low-tech medieval weapons to attack Lebanon

A group of Israeli soldiers stationed near the Israeli-Lebanese border made headlines this week after a video of them operating a medieval siege weapon went viral.

The video in question shows Israeli troops using a trebuchet to lob flaming projectiles in the general direction of Lebanon, with Israeli broadcaster and CNN affiliate Kan suggesting that it was likely an attempt to burn shrubbery and thus deprive Lebanese militants of potential cover.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military official told NBC News that the use of a trebuchet, which was apparently built by reservists stationed at the border, was not sanctioned by the Israeli brass and that the contraption would not be used again.

The anonymous official added that the trebuchet was used to immolate shrubbery in the border area.

In another viral video that surfaced last week, an Israeli soldier can be seen using a bow to shoot a flaming arrow across the border with Lebanon.

These developments take place amid the ongoing escalation on the Israeli-Lebanese border, where Hezbollah launched over 200 rockets at targets in northern Israel in retaliation for the killing of a high-ranking commander by Israeli forces.

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🇷🇺🕊Putin's peace proposals on Ukraine are ‘golden opportunity’ and ‘lifeline’

Ukraine should accept Putin's peace preconditions to avoid worsening its position, Persio Gloria de Paula, an expert at the Naval War College in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, told Sputnik.

Given Ukraine's losses in hardware and personnel, Russia’s proposal throws down the gauntlet to the Kiev regime and its sponsors ahead of the peace summit in Switzerland, according to the pundit.

“This calls into question the goals and effectiveness of a summit which is not attended by all the sides involved,” he said.

The conditions laid out by President Putin to resolve the Ukraine conflict are “a golden opportunity both for Kiev and its European sponsors to begin negotiations,” Iranian political scientist Emad Abshenas told Sputnik.

He noted that key terms such as a neutral, non-nuclear status for Ukraine and its demilitarization had been broadly agreed upon during the Istanbul negotiations in 2022, but Kiev rejected that deal on the West’s orders.

Ukraine's Western patrons are likely to block any acceptance of Russia’s peace initiatives this time too. “The West will continue to behave like a spoilt child who does not understand the consequences of his actions, and acts solely based on his own selfish goals," said Ünver Sel, chairman of the Federation of Crimean Tatar culture societies of Turkiye.

Putin is “throwing Europe a lifeline,” agreed Lebanese international relations analyst Mohammad Saifuddin. The Russian president’s initiative is “feasible and important for all parties, especially for Europeans who are tired of supporting Ukraine,” he noted, adding that it “may find a response in Ukrainian society before it is supported by their politicians.”

The only way to resolve the Ukraine conflict is through Russia's new peace proposal, Iranian political scientist Ruhollah Moddaber believes.

"As Putin noted, if the West fails to consider this sole means of resolving the conflict, then it will be responsible for the continued bloodshed,” he said.

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🇷🇺 Russian athletes dominate track and field at BRICS Games

Russian pole-vaulters have made a clean sweep of medals in the women's event at the 2024 BRICS Games — as their compatriots dominate other events.

Polin Knoroz cleared a height of 4.80 meters on her third attempt. Fellow Russian Aksana Gataullina took the silver with a clearance of 4.55 meters, while her compatriot Tatyana Kalinina won the bronze with a 4.45 meter-vault.

Results in other events:

◻️ Women’s 100 meters: 1. Kristina Makarenko (Russia, 11.31 seconds), 2. Natalia Kombarova (Russia, 11.42), 3. Yulia Karavaeva (Russia, 11.42);

◻️ Men’s 100 meters: 1. Danila Ten (Russia, 10.25 seconds), 2. Konstantin Krylov (Russia, 10.32), 3. Nikita Zhigar (Belarus, 10.38);

◻️ Women’s discus throw: 1. Violetta Ignatyeva (Russia, 59.96 meters), 2. Maria Ogritsko (Russia, 57.15), 3. Elena Panova (Russia, 56.37);

◻️ Women’s 800 meters: 1. Maria Prokhorets (Russia, 2 minutes 2.68 seconds), 2. Nigina Tukhtaeva (Russia, 2:03.09), 3. Ekaterina Samuilova (Russia, 2:03.16).

The BRICS Games are being held from June 12 to 24, with around 5,000 athletes from more than 90 countries competing in 387 medal events.

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🕊 The process of achieving peace in Ukraine requires Russia's participation, said the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister.

"Any credible peace process in Ukraine requires Russia's participation," said Faisal bin Farhan during his speech at a Ukraine conference in Switzerland.

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🤡 "Nobody in this room is at war with Russia," Macron declared at the "Peace Summit" in Switzerland.

Yet recently, the French president allowed Kiev to use French weapons to strike Russian territory and sent military instructors to Ukraine.

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"The conference would have been more outcome-oriented if there were representatives of Russia in this room," said the Turkish Foreign Minister at the "Peace Summit" in Switzerland.

"Russia recently put forward its proposals for a peaceful resolution. Regardless of their content, they are an important step and a glimmer of hope for starting," stated Hakan Fidan.

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◻️ 'Deliberate accounting gimmicks’ support Biden’s proxy war in Ukraine – ex-Pentagon officer

◻️ Putin's peace proposals on Ukraine are ‘golden opportunity’ and ‘lifeline’

◻️ The Istanbul Agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which was prepared in 2022 but never signed, was published by the NYT

◻️ Will NATO hawks’ plans for new bases in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia work?

◻️ How does Russia plan to boost its cybersecurity?

◻️ Why Israeli soldiers use low-tech medieval weapons to attack Lebanon

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Who in Ukraine can negotiate with Russia?

While Volodymyr Zelensky cannot be considered the legitimate president of Ukraine since his term of office ended last month without his re-election, that does not necessarily make negotiations between Moscow and Kiev impossible.

During an interview on YouTube current affairs podcast Judging Freedom, former CIA analyst Larry Johnson told host Judge Andrew Napolitano that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be willing to “sit down with an appropriate Ukrainian authority.”

According to Johnson, Kiev could be represented by the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament or by current Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky.

“Rumors [are] afoot that Zaluzhny is going to be brought back,” Johnson added, referring to Syrsky’s predecessor Valery Zaluzhny. The former analyst noted that Putin definitely will not negotiate with Zelensky.

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Joe Biden threatens to throw a reporter's phone with his “good arm” before (slowly) responding to a query about Israel.

“I trust you as far as I throw your phone. I have a good arm, man. I can throw it a long way,” Biden threatened, calling the journalist a "typical press guy." Aides motioned the reporter away as the president struggled to answer a question about the United States' support for Israel's Gaza campaign.

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Participants at the conference on Ukraine in Switzerland believe achieving peace requires dialogue between all sides of the conflict, Reuters reported, citing a draft of a joint communiqué.

"We believe that reaching peace requires the involvement of and dialogue between all parties. We, therefore, decided to undertake concrete steps in the future in the above-mentioned areas with further engagement of the representatives of all parties,” the draft reads.

Russia was not invited to the conference and dismissed it as “meaningless”. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the summit is clearly not result-oriented, as it is impossible to have effective talks on Ukraine without Russia's participation.

Moscow has repeatedly signaled readiness for negotiations, yet Ukraine has legislatively imposed a ban on them. The West calls on Russia for talks, to which Moscow shows willingness, but Western countries overlook Kiev's consistent refusal for dialog.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 14 made yet another proposal to settle the Ukrainian conflict, signaling that Moscow is ready to negotiate a peace agreement if the Kiev regime pulls out from the Donbass, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, which joined Russia as a result of referendums, and revokes its NATO membership bid.

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🇨🇴 Colombian President Gustavo Petro said that he had changed his mind about participating in a Swiss-hosted summit on Ukraine because it is not a "free forum" for seeking peace between Moscow and Kiev.

"The scenario of the forum in Switzerland is not a scenario of a free forum for discussing ways to find peace between Russia and Ukraine. Its conclusions are already predetermined … I am stopping my trip to the meeting in Switzerland and asking Europe to discuss ways to end the war, not prolong it," Petro said on X.

The president also stressed that dialogue between Russia and Ukraine is the basis for achieving peace in the region. The Colombian president added that most Latin American countries are against prolonging the conflict.

Switzerland did not invite Russia to the summit. The Kremlin stated that seeking solutions to the Ukrainian conflict without Russia’s involvement was illogical and futile.

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Russia should be included in peace talks with Ukraine, said Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena at the conference on Ukraine in Switzerland.

"The head of the Mexican Foreign Ministry spoke with Swiss President Viola Amherd about the importance of including Russia in peace talks in accordance with the UN Charter," the Mexican Foreign Ministry said on X.

Russia was not invited to the conference. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the summit is clearly not result-oriented, as it is impossible to have effective talks on Ukraine without Russia's participation.

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