Will Middle East face new refugee crisis as thousands flee Lebanon amid Israeli bombings?

As Israel continues to carry out airstrikes on Lebanon, thousands of people are fleeing southern parts of the country, including in the direction of Syria, which is going through a severe crisis itself.

What is known so far about the new refugee wave?

◻️ The recent escalation between Israel and Lebanese movement Hezbollah has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis, the UN Refugee Agency stated on Wednesday. The agency noted it's mobilizing resources to support displaced communities.

◻️ Tens of thousands of people in Lebanon have fled their homes since Israel expanded its air strikes in the neighboring country, UN refugee agency spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh said on September 24, noting that the numbers continue to grow.

◻️ More than 16,500 have been displaced in Lebanon, according to the government, including from both the southern part of the country and the suburbs of Beirut hit by Israeli airstrikes.

◻️ According to other estimates, 27,000 displaced people had already been settled in temporary shelters across the country.

◻️ In Beirut and Saida, Lebanese authorities quickly repurposed schools to receive the newly displaced from southern provinces on September 20. These cities have become the main destination for those fleeing the bombing of the country.

◻️ According to Syrian media reports, about 2,000 Lebanese citizens had entered Syria by September 25, with about the same number still awaiting completion of entry procedures. About 3,000 Syrian citizens have also returned to Syria from Lebanon.

◻️ The recent displacement is the largest the country has experienced since war erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.

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❗️US House Oversight Committee opens investigation into Zelensky's visit to Pennsylvania

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❗️The nuclear triad remains the most important guarantee to ensure the security of the state and citizens, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

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⚡️ Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union State, Putin stated.

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❗️Key statements by Vladimir Putin at the meeting of the standing conference of the Russian Security Council on nuclear deterrence:

◾️It is necessary to adapt the principles of state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence to current realities

◾️A deep and comprehensive analysis of Russia's approaches to the possible use of nuclear forces and their possible adjustments was conducted

◾️Russia has always approached the issues of using nuclear forces with the utmost responsibility, this is an extreme measure to protect the country's sovereignty

◾️It was proposed to introduce a number of clarifications in terms of defining the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons by Russia

◾️The modern military-political situation is changing dynamically, the Russian Federation is obliged to take this into account, including the emergence of new sources of military threats

◾️Russia has always sought to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and their components

◾️Russia may consider the use of nuclear weapons after reliable data on a massive launch of missiles and UAVs have crossed the border

◾️Aggression by a non-nuclear state with the participation of a nuclear state is proposed to be considered as a joint attack on Russia

◾️Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression, including if the enemy, using conventional weapons, creates a critical threat

◾️The draft principles of Russia's state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence expands the category of countries and military alliances, supplements the list of military threats

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Hungarian FM calls lack of Nord Stream investigation 'scandalous' two years after attack

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told RIA Novosti that it is "scandalous" and "outrageous" that two years after the Nord Stream sabotage, no serious investigation has taken place to date.

"It’s also truly scandalous that after two years, no one has a say, and no serious investigation has taken place. The so-called investigations that are happening now seem more like a joke or a tragedy from this perspective. If a real, serious investigation had occurred, there should have been some outcome by now. What’s happening is unserious, and it’s outrageous," Szijjarto said in an interview on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The Nord Stream pipelines, built to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, were hit by explosions on September 26, 2022. Denmark, Germany and Norway have left Russia out of their investigations into the attack, prompting Moscow to launch its own probe on charges of international terrorism.

Russia has repeatedly requested data on the explosions from the European countries, but has never received it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

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Full video: Putin outlines changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine amid new global threats

President Vladimir Putin outlined plans to update Russia's nuclear doctrine, the Fundamentals of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence.

The core principle of nuclear weapon use remains the same: they are a last resort to protect sovereignty.

However, the changing geopolitical landscape and emerging military threats have required adjustments.

At the regular Security Council meeting on nuclear deterrence, Putin highlighted key elements of the revised document.

The draft is ready, but the president has yet to approve it for it to take effect.

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Zelensky's plan is about dragging NATO directly into war with Russia – US military veteran

"[Volodymyr Zelensky] wants to get people to support his 'victory plan', which really is not a victory plan," Earl Rasmussen, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel and international consultant, tells Sputnik, commenting on Zelensky's trip to the US.

The Ukrainian politician arrived in the US on September 22 to present his war plan to US President Joe Biden and make his case in separate meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Zelensky is pushing ahead with the idea of striking deep inside Russia with NATO long-range missiles, something that Western leaders have so far had cold feet about.

"Let's face it, when he goes deep into Russia, those weapons systems basically need intelligence from the United States - NATO and specifically the US," Rasmussen says. "The intelligence information provided, the targeting, the programing, all is not done by Ukrainians. So, basically, the West becomes a full participant in the conflict then, which would basically then open up the avenue for escalation."

In fact, Zelensky's plan is nothing but a US neocon grand design, according to the military veteran: it's about NATO's expansion, weakening Russia and containing China as well. Rasmussen notes that neocons have been rolling out their Ukraine strategy for quite a while, seeking to install a military base in Crimea, maintaining secret bio-labs in Ukraine, and undermining any peace effort Russia has pursued over the past decade.

What's more, the proposal is absolutely unrealistic, being a one-sided attempt to coerce Russia into surrendering under Ukraine and the West's conditions, the pundit continues.

"They're basically trying to dictate to Russia the terms of whatever agreement there is. And that's unrealistic. It's a non-nonstarter. It's not real negotiations. It's not a proposal for real peace. It just stretches the conflict on," he concludes.

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▪️Full video: Putin outlines changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine amid new global threats

▪️Zelensky's plan is about dragging NATO directly into war with Russia – US military veteran

▪️Will Middle East face new refugee crisis as thousands flee Lebanon amid Israeli bombings?

▪️Qader-1: Hezbollah's new missile used to attack Tel Aviv

▪️Race for Africa: Biden to visit Angola as the nation's ties with China are burgeoning

▪️Top dog no more: Britain loses status as one of world’s industrial leaders

▪️Who is promoting childfree ideology and why?

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Updating nuclear deterrence policy could cool zeal of enemies - Medvedev

Changing the doctrine guiding the use of nuclear weapons could cool the tempers of some opponents of the Russian Federation said Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council.

"The mere change in the regulatory conditions for the use of our country's nuclear component may cool the zeal of those opponents who have not yet lost their sense of self-preservation," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.

On Wednesday evening, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a session of the permanent meeting of the Russian Security Council on nuclear deterrence, where the update of the Fundamentals of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence was discussed.

The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council called the president's outlining of approaches to the new version of the doctrine "an event that was awaited."

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🏃 Fearful of tough questions, Zelensky flees Russian reporter

“Why don't you want to negotiate with Russia? Can you explain? What's the problem with having a chat, having a phone call?” a correspondent for a Russian television broadcaster asked Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, causing him to quickly leave the scene.

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📹 In Rome, the road near the Colosseum is still flooded after heavy rains, making it difficult for people and vehicles to move.

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The United States is preparing $8 billion in additional security assistance packages for Ukraine in light of Volodymyr Zelenksy's visit to the White House this week, Reuters reported

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he is planning to announce a series of actions aimed at accelerating support for Ukraine’s military.

Russia has repeatedly warned NATO countries that arms supplies to Ukraine would be considered legitimate targets. Moscow has accused NATO countries of "playing with fire" by arming Ukraine, emphasizing that such actions hinder the possibility of Russia-Ukraine negotiations.

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Israeli strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon on Wednesday killed at least 72 people, injuring 392 others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said

Israel began carrying out massive strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday. The death toll from the bombardments reportedly exceeded 560. Hezbollah fighters, in turn, fired dozens of rockets toward northern Israel. This escalation was preceded by a series of explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon from September 17-18, which killed over 40 people and injured nearly 3,500 others.

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