Aletho News

ΑΛΗΘΩΣ

Palestine child deaths by Israel army triple in Occupied West Bank: UN

MEMO | November 21, 2024

The UN, on Thursday, reported a “three-fold” surge in Israeli killing of Palestinian children in the Occupied West Bank, Anadolu Agency reports.

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric indicated at a news conference that “children are bearing the brunt of the worsening situation in the West Bank”, and said that “since 7 October of last year, four Palestinian children have been killed every week on average in the West Bank – marking a three-fold increase compared to the first nine months of 2023.”

He noted illegal Israeli settler violence in the Occupied West Bank, adding that the violence continues to displace Palestinian children.

“Of the more than 1,700 Palestinians displaced by settler violence, intimidation and harassment in Bedouin and herding communities, nearly half were children,” he said.

Over the past few years, the Israeli military has conducted regular raids in the Occupied West Bank, which have escalated with the beginning of the onslaught in the Gaza Strip on 7 October, 2023. Palestinians have also been violently attacked by illegal Israeli settlers.

Nearly 795 Palestinians have since been killed and more than 6,450 injured by Israeli army fire in the Occupied Territory, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

In July, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark advisory opinion that declared Israel’s decades-long Occupation of Palestinian land “illegal” and demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , | Leave a comment

Nearly 400 Civil Defense personnel killed, wounded in the Gaza Strip

Al Mayadeen | November 21, 2024

The Civil Defense in Gaza announced that the number of martyrs among its crews has risen to 87 since the outset of the Israeli war on the Strip, due to direct targeting by the occupation forces.

In a statistical report detailing the toll on its personnel, it revealed that 304 members were injured, while 21 were arrested by the occupation.

The total number of Civil Defense centers and headquarters destroyed or damaged has reached 17, including 14 destroyed and three partially damaged.

Additionally, 56 vehicles were destroyed or damaged. The occupation forces directly targeted Civil Defense centers six times and attacked crews 18 times during field missions. It also confirmed that the occupation destroyed its stock of firefighting, rescue, and ambulance equipment, valued at $1.3 million.

It is worth stressing that the Civil Defense in Gaza Governorate is facing a severe crisis, with most of its vehicles out of service for the 15th consecutive day due to a lack of fuel needed to operate them. The Israeli occupation continues to prevent its system from working and detain its vehicles in the northern Gaza Strip for the 30th day.

The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip continues to deliberately target Civil Defense teams.

On Wednesday, Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in the Gaza Strip reported that 12 Palestinians were massacred and more than 10 others are missing after Israeli occupation forces bombed a house in Jabalia town, located in the northern Gaza Strip.

As Civil Defense teams worked to rescue survivors, retrieve the martyrs, and search for the missing under the rubble in the al-Sabra neighborhood, they became targets themselves.

Israeli airstrikes hit their teams during rescue operations, resulting in the martyrdom of one paramedic and injuries to three others.

The Civil Defense confirmed that its personnel were directly targeted by Israeli warplanes in the early morning hours. They emphasized that the IOF are deliberately obstructing efforts to rescue trapped civilians, contributing to the increasing death toll.

Heart-wrenching videos have emerged from Gaza, one of which shows a paramedic holding the amputated arm of his colleague, who was killed in a deliberate Israeli airstrike. The harrowing footage captures the emotional moment as the first responder mourns his fallen comrade.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | War Crimes | , , , , | Leave a comment

Brits will have to die defending Israel in war with Iran, says UK envoy to Tel-Aviv

MEMO | November 21, 2024

British military personnel will be put in “harm’s way” to defend Israel against Iran, the UK’s Ambassador to Israel has declared in a stark admission that could see British forces ordered to risk their lives defending the apartheid state.

Speaking to Israeli journalists at his Ramat Gan residence, Ambassador Simon Walters made the extraordinary commitment that “the United Kingdom will be a close ally and is prepared to put its own aircraft and its own personnel in harm’s way to defend Israel.”

Walters revealed that British forces have already been actively involved in military operations supporting Israel, noting that the Royal Air Force flew alongside Israeli and US pilots during Iran’s missile and drone attack in April. “Without going into detail, on October 1, the British armed forces again played a role in trying to disrupt the Iranian attack on Israel,” Walters disclosed.

These revelations come as an Al Jazeera investigation has exposed the extent of British military support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The investigation found that the UK and the US have established an air bridge crucial for sustaining Israel’s military campaign. In revelations that are highly controversial, British forces have conducted nearly half of all reconnaissance missions over Gaza since Israel’s assault on Gaza began. Reconnaissance carried out by the UK is said to have surpassed Israel’s own surveillance operations by more than double.

With Israel facing genocide charges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Gallant having been served arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity, Britain’s direct military support could expose London to allegations of complicity in international crimes. Under international law, states providing material assistance to forces committing serious violations can be held responsible as accomplices

Addressing the ongoing controversy over British arms sales to Israel, Walters acknowledged that the risk of violations of international law “is evidently present here”. He noted that UK NGOs are currently pursuing legal action against the government to force additional restrictions on arms exports to Israel, battles which the government is actively contesting in court.

The Ambassador also expressed concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners, pointing out that Israel has denied Red Cross access to detainees from Gaza. “Had the Red Cross visited regularly, it would provide reassurance of the conditions, it would not only protect the prisoners,” he stated, adding that such visits would also protect guards from accusations.

Israel is accused of torture and sexual abuse of Palestinians, including rape of detainees in prisons. Famous Gaza surgeon, Dr Adnan Al-Bursh, is the latest high-profile figure who was killed by Israel while in detention. Al Bursh is said to have been severely tortured. His body was left naked from waist down suggesting that he was also raped by the Israeli army.

On the situation in Gaza, Walters challenged the notion that military pressure alone could achieve Israel’s objectives. “I hear people calling for the continuation of the war until Hamas is destroyed and I think they are kidding themselves,” he said. “They are imagining an outcome that will never come.”

Walters also highlighted concerns about Palestinian rights in the illegally Occupied West Bank, particularly regarding restrictions around olive harvesting and attacks by Israeli extremists. “At the end of the day, this is an aspect of the Occupation, which many Israelis do not see and are not aware of,” he concluded.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Subjugation - Torture, War Crimes, Wars for Israel | , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Israel’ destroyed huge Gaza areas for crops; 90% of cattle killed: UN

Al Mayadeen | November 21, 2024

More than 90% of livestock in Gaza have perished, and around 70% of cropland has been destroyed or damaged since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, according to a UN study of satellite images.

Over half of the sheep and goat herds have been killed and more than three-quarters of the territory’s famed orchards have been destroyed or damaged, according to a September study.

Last week, Rein Paulsen, head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience, stated that local food production in Gaza has been “decimated”, telling the UNSC that vehicle tracks, razing, and shelling have caused significant damage to farmland, infrastructure, wells, and other productive infrastructure, increasing the risk of famine.

Before the outset of the war last year, farms covered around 40% of Gaza, producing enough vegetables, eggs, fresh milk, poultry, and fish to supply roughly one-third of local demand. Many families owned their own olive or fruit trees.

Faraj Jarudat, who was forced to evacuate his farm in northern Gaza, said his three cows and 60 sheep had perished, either due to Israeli bombing or a shortage of feed.

According to Jarudat, friends and former neighbors who visited the site informed him that his trees and houses once stood were uprooted and destroyed by Israeli soldiers. The region near Beit Lahia, where he lived, has seen intense violence in recent weeks.

“The farm and all of our homes – my home and homes of my children – were bulldozed,” he expressed.

Ismael al-Rahal, 49, a farmer from northern Gaza, said only a few of his 65 sheep survived, explaining how he had to move them with him each time he had to flee. He explained to the UN how food prices were extremely high, forcing his family to cut back on their food to feed the sheep.

According to Paulsen, in some areas of Gaza, farmers, fishermen, and livestock owners are risking their lives to continue producing. He told the UN how “the significant levels of damage … are exacerbating the humanitarian and hunger crisis on the ground and increasing the risk of famine. Food supply across [Gaza] has sharply deteriorated while food availability is at an all-time low.”

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with widespread displacement and destruction, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland warned on Monday.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East, Wennesland sounded the alarm on the dire conditions in Gaza, particularly in the north, describing the situation as marked by a “disturbing disregard for international humanitarian law.”

“As this Council has been briefed repeatedly, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as winter begins, is catastrophic, particularly developments in the north of Gaza with a large-scale and near-total displacement of the population and widespread destruction and clearing of land, amidst what looks like a disturbing disregard for international humanitarian law,” Wennesland said.

Wennesland highlighted the difficulties faced by humanitarian agencies in Gaza, citing a dangerous operational environment and access restrictions that hinder aid efforts. He stressed the need for unrestricted access to deliver aid and emphasized the importance of a political solution to address the root causes of the violence, warning that without it, the humanitarian situation will not improve.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, War Crimes | , , , | 4 Comments

Abusing its veto power, the US is undoubtedly ‘humanitarian disaster creator’ in Gaza

Global Times | November 21, 2024

Once again, the US has positioned itself in opposition to the international community. On Wednesday, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. This marks the fourth time the US has used its veto power on this issue, even as the death toll in Gaza now stands at around 44,000. The draft, put forward by the Security Council’s 10 non-permanent members, demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. Among the 15 members of the Security Council, the US was the sole opposing vote.

This US action once again raises the question: How many more innocent lives in Gaza must be lost to awaken Washington’s conscience? Now, nearly 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza, and the US still does not hesitate to use its veto.

Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced by the war, creating an unmeasurable humanitarian crisis. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the US is expected to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining global peace and stability. However, its actions – marked by the abuse of veto power – blatantly contradict global efforts to promote a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The US’ approach to the Palestine-Israel conflict has left it isolated on the international stage. Even the US media outlet The New York Times has acknowledged that this underlines Washington’s diplomatic isolation on the issue. France and the UK’s UN ambassadors have also openly expressed dissatisfaction with the US veto. Nicolas de Riviere, France’s UN representative, stated unequivocally: “There is an obvious urgency to implement an immediate and unconditional cease-fire. This is the only way to guarantee the protection of all civilians and the massive and unhindered delivery of emergency aid.”

Niu Xinchun, executive director of the China-Arab Research Institute of Ningxia University, told the Global Times that there is no doubt that the US’ unwavering support for Israel has not only caused domestic divisions but also created rifts with its allies on the international stage, leaving the US increasingly isolated in the UN.

Washington repeatedly claims to defend human rights; yet, it appears indifferent to the situation in Gaza. While the international community agrees on the need for the unconditional release of all hostages and an immediate cease-fire, the US continues to insist on preconditions for a cease-fire – even as Israel’s military operations in Gaza have long exceeded the scope of rescuing hostages. This stance effectively gives the green light to prolong the war and condone the continued killing.

The US’ repeated vetoes are not only the greatest obstacle to achieving a cease-fire but also the root cause of the dysfunction within the UN Security Council. As the world’s most authoritative international body, the Security Council is expected to speak on behalf of the global community and push for resolutions that pressure both parties to end the conflict. However, the US’ abuse of veto power has left the Council unable to act effectively. This has become a recurring issue that not only severely undermines the credibility and effectiveness of the UN, but also further erodes global confidence in the US.

In the face of death, poverty, and a profound humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the US continues to turn a blind eye to the lives of these people. In the future, when history reflects on this period, questions will inevitably arise: Where are the “human rights” and “humanitarian values” that the US so often proclaims? Is it really that “Palestinian Lives Don’t Matter”? In this tragedy, the US has not only forfeited its leadership and credibility but also plunged its international image into ruin.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism, Progressive Hypocrite, War Crimes | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

From Soros to USAID: How US Organized 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine

By Ekaterina Blinova – Sputnik – November 21, 2024

On November 21, Ukraine marks the so-called Dignity and Freedom Day, commemorating the US-backed 2004 Orange Revolution and 2014 Euromaidan, including the US-orchestrated “third round” election that overturned Viktor Yanukovich’s victory to install Viktor Yushchenko.

“The campaign is an American creation, a sophisticated and brilliantly conceived exercise in Western branding and mass marketing,” The Guardian’s Ian Traynor wrote of the 2004 upheaval in November that year, comparing it to “the US government-funded and organized” Velvet Revolution, Revolution of Roses and an attempted coup in Belarus.

How Much Did the Orange Revolution Cost?

The US and its allies reportedly spent $65–$100 million over two years to support Viktor Yushchenko-led opposition, with much of the funding allegedly covert and funneled through NGOs.

The US State Department:

  • in FY2003 and FY2004 officially allocated $188.5 million and $143.47 million, respectively, for “assistance programs” in Ukraine
  • $54.7 million (FY2003) and $34.11 million (FY2004) went specifically to “democracy programs” in Ukraine on the eve of the 2004 election
  • “Democracy program” funds were used for electoral and government reform, independent media, political development, and training for administrators, lobbyists, and NGOs
  • the money was channeled through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Eurasia Foundation, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), US Embassy in Kiev, and others.

USAID:

The Strengthening Electoral Administration in Ukraine Project (SEAUP), launched on December 15, 2003, with a $4.4 million budget, partnered with NDI, IRI, Freedom House, InterNews, ABA/CEELI, and the OSCE.

SEAUP‘s activities included:

  • training 100,000 polling station commissioners and mid-level election officials in 2004; publishing and distributing 450,000 training materials for 33,000 polling stations in 225 territorial election across Ukraine
  • engaging in their work three Justices of the Supreme Court of Ukraine that later blocked and annulled Yanukovich’s victory in the second round
  • facilitating the adoption of a “Special Law” in the Verkhovna Rada that framed the December 2004 “re-vote” to bring Yushchenko to power
  • facilitating the restructuring of Ukraine’s Central Election Commission prior to December’s “re-vote”

Freedom House, NDI, IRI:

Freedom House, NDI, and IRI funded ENEMO election monitoring, which cast doubt on Yanukovich‘s second-round victory.

George Soros’s International Renaissance Foundation

spent $1.65 million between Autumn 2003 and December 2004, supporting the ‘New Choice 2004’ and ‘Freedom of Choice’ coalitions of NGOs

NED, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Eurasia and George Soros’s Renaissance Foundation

Funded exit polls in all three election rounds, fueling “election fraud” claims and mobilizing opposition protests in Kiev’s Independence Square (the Maidan Nezalezhnosti)

German Marshall Fund of the United States, Freedom House and the Canadian International Development Agency

Provided $130,000 to Ukrainian youth group PORA, which led street protests, and reportedly received $5.3 million from foreign entities, per UCL Professor Andrew Wilson.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Corruption | , | Leave a comment

Putin: Russia Strikes Ukrainian Defense Facility With New Oreshnik Ballistic Missile

Sputnik – 21.11.2024

The Russian president announced that the country’s armed forces carried out a combined strike using the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile against a Ukrainian defense industry facility in response to US and British weapon strikes on Russian territory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Kiev’s use of long-range weapons will not affect the course of the special military operation, and all its objectives will be achieved.

Illusions about the possibility of delivering a strategic defeat to Russia, about the events currently unfolding in the zone of the special military operation, particularly in light of the use of long-range Western-made weapons against our territory [should not be held],” Putin said in his address on Thursday.

On the Response to Long-Range Weapon Attacks

The president reported that on November 19, Ukrainian forces attacked targets in the Bryansk region with six ATACMS missiles, followed by Storm Shadow system strikes in the Kursk region on November 21. Air defense systems repelled the attacks, resulting in no casualties or significant damage.

Putin emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine has acquired global dimensions after these attacks.

“From this moment, as we have repeatedly emphasized, the conflict in Ukraine, provoked earlier by the West, has acquired global characteristics,” he stressed.

He noted that the use of long-range munitions against Russia is impossible without specialists from the countries where they were manufactured.

“We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond equally decisively and symmetrically,” the president stated.

He added that Kiev’s use of long-range weapons will not affect the course of the special military operation, and all its objectives will be achieved.

On the International Security System

Putin likewise emphasized that the international security system was destroyed by the United States, which made a mistake by withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019.

“Let me stress once again that it was not Russia but the United States that destroyed the international security system, and by clinging to its hegemony, it is pushing the entire world toward a global conflict,” he noted.

Putin added that Moscow will respond decisively and symmetrically in the event of escalation. He stated that Russia always advocates resolving disputes peacefully but warned against underestimating its readiness for any developments.

The president also said that the deployment of Russian intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles will depend on the actions of the US and its allies. Targets for future tests of advanced missile systems will be chosen based on threats to Russia.

“Of course, when selecting targets for such systems as Oreshnik on Ukrainian territory as a necessary countermeasure, we will inform civilians and request citizens of friendly nations in those areas to leave dangerous zones in advance,” the head of state stressed.

“This will be done openly, publicly, and out of humanitarian considerations, without fear of opposition from the enemy,” Putin emphasized during his address.

NATO Actions Prompt Oreshnik Missile Tests

The Oreshnik missile system is being tested in combat conditions as a response to NATO countries’ aggressive actions against Russia, he announced.

“In response to the use of American and British weaponry on November 21 this year, Russian armed forces conducted a combined strike on one of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex facilities. This included testing one of Russia’s latest medium-range missile systems in combat conditions. In this case, a ballistic missile equipped with non-nuclear hypersonic technology, referred to as Oreshnik by our missile forces, [was used]” Putin stated during his address.

Modern air defense systems cannot intercept Oreshnik missiles, which attack targets at a speed of Mach 10—about 2.5-3 kilometers per second, Putin explained.

“Existing modern air defense systems worldwide, including the missile defense systems created by Americans in Europe, cannot intercept such missiles. It’s impossible,” Putin said in his speech.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Militarism | , , , , | Leave a comment

Russia unveils new weapon system as a warning to Ukraine and the West

By Scott Ritter | November 21, 2024

Russia has apparently launched a single RS-26 Rubezh road mobile missile against a target in Dnipro, Ukraine (Dnipropetrovsk).

According to Ukrainian authorities, the missile struck an unnamed industrial enterprise.

Dnipro is home to the Pivdenmash (former Yuzhmash) missile production facility.

Analysis of imagery of the attack indicates the RS-26 carried six independent warheads, each in turn deploying several submunitions.

This warhead package is exclusively for conventional attack.

Russia had not been previously assessed to outfit the RS-26 with a warhead of this design.

By unveiling the conventionally armed RS-26, Russia is changing the qualitative nature of the conflict, something promised by President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine and its Western allies must now evaluate the destructive potential of this weapon, and understand that Russia can deliver this warhead to any target in Ukraine or Europe knowing there is no defense against it.

The RS-26 is produced in Votkinsk. It is assessed that the production of the RS-26, which was halted in 2017, was resumed this past summer. With production rates estimated at 6-8 missiles per month, Russia could have accumulated an arsenal of between 30-40 RS-26 missiles. Although described as an intercontinental ballistic missile, the RS-26’s range actually depends on the warhead package. If armed with a single warhead, it can exceed the 5,000 kilometer threshold used to differentiate between intermediate and intercontinental range missiles. The RS-26 did not go into serial production because of this ambiguity; at the time, Russia was a signatory to the INF treaty, which prohibited intermediate range missiles.

It is assessed that the six warhead conventional warhead package used against Dnipro would have made the RS-26 used fall into the intermediate range for classification.
Donald Trump withdrew from the INF treaty in 2019.

If the United States had remained in the treaty, this version of the RS-26 would not have been available for use by Russia.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Militarism | , , , , | Leave a comment

US a fascist state – Tucker Carlson

RT | November 21, 2024

The US has become a fascist state under the administration of President Joe Biden, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has claimed in an interview with American journalist Glenn Greenwald which was published on his YouTube channel on Wednesday.

Carlson stated that Washington’s decision to allow Ukraine to use US-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia is “the most evil thing I’ve ever seen in my lifetime” and accused the outgoing government, which he described as a “lame duck administration” of trying to “leave the next administration with a world war.”

“In fact, it is our government that is the fascist state, not Russia,” Carlson said.

The journalist argued that Biden’s reported decision to lift restrictions for Ukraine, “a proxy state of the US,” to strike Russian territory using Western long-range missiles could provoke a nuclear war.

Carlson also suggested that the “reckless” moves by Washington, which have led to casualties among Russia’s civilian population, could leave Russian President Vladimir Putin with “no choice but to launch a serious response against Ukraine or some of NATO’s countries or possibly the United States.”

While Washington has not officially commented on the reports about Kiev being authorized to use Western long-range weapons against Russia, Moscow’s Defense Ministry has since claimed that ATACMS missiles have already been used in an attack on Bryansk Region.

On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address that six US-made missiles were launched at Russian territory on Tuesday. Two days later, the Ukrainian military also fired British-produced Storm Shadow missiles and American HIMARS at targets located in Bryansk and Kursk Regions, he added. Following the attacks, the Ukraine conflict has “acquired elements of a global nature.”

Moscow has warned that the move is a “clear sign” that the West wants to escalate the conflict, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov calling on Western leaders to closely examine Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine.

On Tuesday, Vladimir Putin officially introduced several changes to the country’s rules for using nuclear weapons, which give Moscow the right to consider the use of weapons of mass destruction in response to aggression being carried out by a non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear one. The new doctrine may also be triggered if Russia or Belarus are attacked using conventional weapons in a way that threatens their sovereignty or territorial integrity.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Militarism | , | 1 Comment

Putin warns of retaliation against countries providing weapons to strike Russia

RT | November 21, 2024

Moscow has asserted that it has the right to strike the military facilities of countries that allow the use of their weapons against Russian territory, President Vladimir Putin has said.

The head of state made the remarks during a public address on Thursday, promising a decisive response to any aggression.

“We will determine the targets during further tests of our newest missile systems based on the threats to the security of the Russian Federation,” Putin stated.

The president continued: “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities.”

According to Putin, the United States has ravaged the international security system, and now the entire world is being pushed towards global conflict.

The Russian president emphasized that Moscow has always favored a peaceful resolution and is now ready to resolve all contentious issues.

“But we are also ready for any development. Do not doubt it, there will always be a response,” he stressed.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Militarism | , , | Leave a comment

Putin reveals Russia has used its new ‘Oreshnik’ hypersonic ballistic missile

RT | November 21, 2024

The Russian military has launched a start-of-the-art intermediate-range ballistic missile against a Ukrainian target, President Vladimir Putin said in a public address on Thursday.

As part of what the president called a “combat test,” the hypersonic missile, dubbed ‘Oreshnik’ (‘Hazel’), successfully struck a military industrial facility in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk (also known as Dnipro in Ukraine), Putin added.

The strike was a response to Ukrainian attacks on military facilities located on internationally recognized Russian territory, the president stated. On Tuesday and Thursday, Kiev’s forces launched the attacks, using US-made ATACMS and HIMARS systems as well as British-made Storm Shadow missiles, he said.

Earlier, the Western media reported that Kiev had received approval from Washington and London for the use of Western-made long-range systems for strikes deep into Russia.

One of the strikes resulted in some casualties at a Russian command center in the Kursk Region but failed to disrupt its operations, the president said, adding that such developments have also drastically changed the nature of the Ukraine conflict, making it a more “global” one.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Militarism | , , , | Leave a comment

West has made Ukraine conflict ‘global’ – Putin

FILE PHOTO: Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). © Global Look Press / Keystone Press Agency / Defense Ministry
RT | November 21, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that long-range missiles supplied to Ukraine by the US and the UK have been used against targets within the internationally-recognized territory of Russia.

A volley of six US-made ATACMS rockets was launched at Bryansk Region on Tuesday, while a number of British-made Storm Shadow missiles were fired at Kursk Region on Wednesday, the president said.

“From that moment, the Ukraine conflict previously provoked by the West acquired elements of a global nature, just as we warned more than once,” Putin said on Thursday, in a televised address to the nation.

The US and its NATO allies have previously stated they would allow Kiev to use their weapons, Putin said, noting again that such attacks could not take place without the participation of Western military personnel.

The attack on the munitions depot in Bryansk was intercepted by air defenses, causing no casualties and only minor property damage. The second strike, on a military command post in Kursk, resulted in deaths and injuries among the security and support personnel, Putin said. However, the command staff was unharmed and continued to manage the expulsion of Ukrainian invaders from that region of Russia, he added.

In response to these attacks, Russia struck a Ukrainian military-industrial site in Dnepropetrovsk using a new, non-nuclear hypersonic missile dubbed ‘Oresshnik’ (Hazel), Putin revealed.

The use of Western-supplied missiles is not going to change the situation on the ground, where Russian forces are advancing all along the front line and intend to achieve all their objectives, the president concluded.

November 21, 2024 Posted by | Militarism | , , | Leave a comment