Author: Steven Sahiounie

Kiev is betraying its own fighters by not giving the order to lay down arms, Moscow says Russia’s Defense Ministry has extended the offer to surrender for the remaining Ukrainian forces holed up at the Azovstal steel plant in the Black Sea port city of Mariupol after they refused to leave through a humanitarian corridor on Tuesday. Those present at the location may still exit the facility from 14:00 Moscow time on Wednesday without any arms or ammunition on them, officials said in a statement late on Tuesday. “The Russian leadership guarantees the preservation of life, complete safety and provision of qualified medical…

According to Israeli Ambassador to Russia, Israel would consider it “a great honor” to host possible talks between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents Israel confirms its readiness to host a possible meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Vladimir Zelensky of Ukraine, Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alexander Ben Zvi said in an interview with TASS. “Certainly,” he said in response to a question. “However, they (Putin and Zelensky) need to make a decision,” the envoy added. According to him, Israel would consider it “a great honor” to host possible talks between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents. “We will be…

US occupation forces have carried out an airdrop in Marqada township in Hasaka southern countryside, and kidnapped three civilians. Local sources told SANA that three US occupation’s helicopters carried out an airdrop this morning with support of a group of SDF militiamen in Marqada township, south of Hasaka city, and kidnapped three civilians and took them to an unknown destination. US occupation forces carry out frequent airdrops in the areas they occupy in cooperation with SDF militia in the Syrian Jazeera, during which they kidnap civilians and take them to unknown destinations and sometimes destroy the houses which they storm.…

The world’s richest man wants to take the microblogging platform private Elon Musk is reportedly willing to spend between $10-15 billion of his own money to take Twitter private, and is planning to launch a tender offer, according to two sources familiar with the matter as quoted by the New York Post. The bid will be made in about 10 days, the daily reported on Tuesday, adding that the billionaire has tapped Morgan Stanley to raise another $10 billion. Musk, who had previously purchased 9.1% of Twitter’s shares, may also be willing to borrow against his current stake if necessary,…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator While the world is focused on the Ukrainian conflict, Turkish jets, helicopters, and drones were pounding Kurdish targets in Iraq and Syria on Monday. Targets were camps, ammunition warehouses, and civilian homes caught in the cross-fire. In the northeast of Syria, in the countryside of Hasaka, the villages of Abu Rasin, Tal Tamer, al-Mabqir, Qabour al-Gharajneh, and Tel Shanan, Tal al-Ward, Rabi’at, Dada Abdul, al-Nuwaihat, al-Assadiya, Khadrawi, and Mushairfa were attacked with intensive artillery and airstrikes. The Turkish Army, along with the Radical Islamic terrorist mercenaries they employ, caused massive destruction of many houses…

The Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas, and rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinians and press staff in the area, according to Al Mayadeen. Confrontations erupted in Burqa, a Palestinian village in the Nablus Governorate, northern occupied West Bank, following an Israeli far-right extremist march to the illegal Israeli settlement of “Homesh”, which is built on occupied Palestinian land, amid heavy deployment of Israeli occupation forces. Al Mayadeen correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation forces fired tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets at Palestinians and press staff in the area. Local sources told WAFA news agency dozens of young Palestinian men confronted the occupation…

Terror group urges members to strike while the West is distracted Terrorist group Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has called on its members and supporters to wage jihad against Europe and Israel while the West is distracted by the situation in Ukraine, according to an online message posted cited by the Times on Monday. Jihadists should strike while those the group considers “crusaders” are fighting each other, IS’ new spokesman Omar al-Muhajir said in the message, released to coincide with Islam’s holy month of Ramadan. The terror group’s mouthpiece told followers to arm themselves, calling for a campaign of revenge…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously announced that the battle for Donbass has begun Russia’s military operation in Ukraine is entering a new phase, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has told Indian media. In an interview aired on Tuesday, Lavrov said the goals of the military action in Ukraine had been declared by Moscow from the start, and one of those goals was the capture of the entire territory claimed by the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics as their sovereign territory. “This endeavor will continue. Another stage of this operation is beginning,” he confirmed. “And I am sure this will be…

Ukrainian instructors will travel to third country to receive training on American tools, such as howitzers and radar The Pentagon intends to provide training to Ukrainian soldiers so they can use the howitzers and radars contained in the latest batch of weapons and equipment President Joe Biden has ordered to be sent to Kiev, the US military said on Monday. The training will reportedly take place in another country. Last week, the US announced it would deliver $800 million worth of weapons to the east European state. In addition to anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, this batch includes armored vehicles, artillery pieces, and…

The final stage of the mop up operations in Mariupol began. The seaport and the Illich plant are under the Russian control. The last stronghold of the Ukrainian nationalist militants in the city is the large Azovstal plant. The AFU fortifications at the Azovstal plant are constantly shelled by Russian forces. On April 17, the members of the nationalist Azov regiment blockaded in the Azovstal were once again offered to surrender. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation offered them to surrender, guaranteeing security. No one left the plant along the provided humanitarian corridor. Kiev ordered the fighters in…