Author: Steven Sahiounie

A double attack involving drones and rockets, launched by Hezbollah, killed 4 Israeli soldiers and injured 67 others on Sunday. The attack targeted Haifa in northern Israel, marking the deadliest strike since the war began. The Israeli army confirmed in a statement that 4 soldiers were killed and 67 injured after a drone exploded in Binyamina, south of Haifa. However, the army did not specify whether all casualties were military personnel. Details of the Attack A senior Hezbollah leader told to media that the Binyamina operation was carried out using a swarm of explosive drones. He emphasized that Hezbollah’s resistance…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent request to remove UN peacekeeping forces (UNIFIL) from southern Lebanon stems from a broader strategy. This strategy targets the United Nations and its Secretary-General, António Guterres, while considering military factors on the ground. Israel’s Shift in Stance Towards the UN Political analyst Ali Shukr explained that Israel has moved from hostile rhetoric against the UN to taking direct actions. The presence of UNIFIL forces along the Lebanese-Israeli border plays a key role in this shift. These forces are stationed at strategic points that benefit the Israeli military by offering vital intelligence on Lebanese positions.…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On October 10, an Israeli Mekava tank attacked the UNIFIL headquarters in southern Lebanon, injuring two Indonesian peacekeepers who are recovering in hospital, although Israel is also bombing hospitals and killing paramedics in Lebanon.Indonesia, a steadfast supporter of Palestine, and critic of Israel, has about 1,232 personnel currently deployed with UNIFIL in Lebanon.The International community was united in strong condemnation of the Israeli breach of international law. Israel was aware of the location of the UNIFIL watchtower in Naqoura, and that the UN personnel are to remain safe from attacks. The Israeli Ambassador to…

21st CenturyWire correspondant Arnaud DEVELAY caught up with elected Member of the Russian State Duma and Ranking Member of the Duma’s Commission for International Affairs, Maria BUTINA. Q: Let us start with what has been a crackdown on free speech around the world with the raid on Scott Ritter’s house, the arrest of individuals in the UK for merely posting comments on social networks and the arrest in France of Telegram founder and CEO, Pavel Durov. What can you tell us about this worrying development? Maria Butina: I view it as purely political in nature. First of all, there’s a…

West Jerusalem could launch its retaliation against Tehran “at any time,” unnamed officials told the channel Israel’s retaliatory strike against Iran may come as early as this weekend, with the list of potential targets allegedly narrowed down to Tehran’s military and energy infrastructure, NBC News reported on Saturday, citing anonymous US and Israeli officials. Israel has yet to make a final decision on whether to target Iran’s nuclear facilities or carry out targeted assassinations, but so far there is “no indication” that West Jerusalem would go that far, US officials believe, according to the channel. The Middle East is on…

The conflict between Moscow and Kiev cannot be resolved with “more weapons,” Sahra Wagenknecht has said Berlin should make more active diplomatic efforts if it wants the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev to end, German MP Sahra Wagenknecht told Funke Media Group on Friday. “More weapons” for Ukraine would not bring peace to Europe, she argued. The veteran politician has repeatedly criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government over its stance on the Ukraine conflict, asserting that Berlin’s current policy only helps to fan the flames of war. “We need more diplomatic efforts,” said Wagenknecht, once of Left Party’s parliamentary faction…

International newspapers continue to discuss Israel’s indifference toward halting its aggression on Lebanon and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, highlighting how the United States is focusing on reshaping the region by force, while largely ignoring Israel’s desire to continue its war efforts. In its editorial titled “The Cowardly Abandonment of Lebanon,” Le Monde stated that Israeli authorities seem uninterested in stopping the fighting in Lebanon or Gaza. The French newspaper pointed out that the U.S. rarely addresses this issue compared to its emphasis on reshaping the region through force. Le Monde also noted how Israel “continues to enjoy complete impunity, from…

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has condemned Israel’s attack on a field hospital set up by the Iranian Red Crescent on the Lebanon-Syria border, calling it a “war crime.” Despite the bombing, the Iranian Red Crescent announced its plans to establish another mobile medical center to provide aid to Lebanese refugees and treat those injured by Israeli airstrikes. The Iranian Red Crescent’s affiliated newspaper, Shahrvand, reported that last Thursday, Israel bombed the field hospital, which had a capacity of 56 beds, on the Lebanon-Syria border. The attack caused a fire in the medicine and food supplies warehouse, destroyed medical equipment, damaged…

Alisher Usmanov earlier this month won a libel case against Germany’s public broadcaster ARD Russian metals tycoon Alisher Usmanov has filed a criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office in Cologne, Germany, after winning a libel case against German TV channel ARD, tabloid Bild reported on Friday, citing Usmanov’s attorney. The billionaire is seeking to hold a journalist with ARD criminally liable. Earlier this month, the District Court of Hamburg backed Usmanov in a libel case against German public broadcaster ARD, which had previously published two articles and one video report where journalist Hans-Joachim Seppelt accused the Russian businessman of being…

The specialists handle counter-terrorism operations and have trained divers within their ranks, Der Spiegel reports Germany’s Interior Ministry will permanently station a police tactical unit at the Baltic Sea port of Neustadt to ensure a rapid response to any potential attacks on “critical infrastructure,” Der Spiegel weekly reported on Friday. The move was reportedly prompted by the September 2022 Nord Stream pipeline blasts, which showed there was a “clear” danger of “acts of sabotage,” the media outlet said, citing security sources. GSG 9, the counterterrorism division of Germany’s Federal Police, features a maritime deployment unit, GSG 9/2, which has specially…