Thursday, December 18, 2025

Media Wire

Ex-Afghan president blames US for his govt. fall

Former Afghan President has blamed the United States for the collapse of his government. Ashraf Ghani said Washington sidelined him during the so-called peace talks with the Taliban. The militant group seized power in August after taking control of Kabul.

3 farmers wounded in Israeli attack on Gaza

Israeli forces opened artillery fire on two locations in the north of the Gaza Strip, injuring three people.

First Russia’s S-550 system enters combat service

Russia’s new S-550 air defense system has successfully passed state trials entering combat service, according to a source close to the Russian Defense Ministry.

MEP praises Gen. Soleimani role in defeating Daesh

An independent Irish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) has lashed out at Washington and its allies for supporting militant groups in Middle East. He said Iranian anti-terror commander martyr Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani played a major role in overcoming Daesh terrorists.

Palestinian president meets Israeli minister

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visited Israeli minister of military affairs on Tuesday during a rare trip for what Benny Gantz's department announced were talks on security and civil matters.

US says reedy to remove bans inconsistent with Iran nuclear deal

Washington is prepared to lift sanctions on Tehran that are inconsistent with the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the US State Department announced on Tuesday.

Russia urges west not set up ‘artificial deadlines’ for nuclear talks

Russia’s chief nuclear negotiator has pushed back on the need to establish a fixed deadline for the nuclear negotiations to conclude. Moscow’s envoy stressed now is not the time to threaten Tehran with greater pressure.

UN envoy: Civilians killed in air raids on Sana’a

Saudi coalition air raids on Sana’a have resulted in loss of civilian lives, and damaged civilian infrastructure and residential area, the special envoy of the United Nations secretary general for Yemen has confirmed.

Taliban forces open fire on protesting women

The Taliban militants opened fire on women participating in a rally in Kabul on Tuesday. The protestors came out on streets calling for ‘employment, freedom and food.’

Russia: ‘Indisputable progress’ in Vienna talks

The Russian envoy to the Iran nuclear negotiations in Vienna said on Tuesday the working group was making "indisputable progress”.

Kremlin: Russia and Iran preparing for highest level contacts

Moscow and Tehran are preparing contacts at the highest level, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Tuesday.

UN flights into Yemen capital resumes following air attacks

Yemen's Houthi forces have allowed the temporary resumption of UN flights into the capital Sanaa airport, a week after a halt due to Saudi-led coalition airstrikes.

Putin says concerned about insecurity along Afghan-Tajik border

The situation on Afghan-Tajik border causes concern and alarm, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a meeting with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon.

Bagheri: Reaching deal before Feb. depends on west seriousness

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani says reaching a deal in Vienna by the end of next January depends on the serious will and readiness of the other side on the removal of the Anti-Tehran sanctions.

Russia rules out joining NATO

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says there is no way that Moscow joins NATO, since the West does not want to have rivals comparable in influence at the global stage.

Syria says Israel attack caused ‘significant material damage’

An Israeli airstrike hit the Syrian port of Latakia on Tuesday, the second such attack in December, according to Syrian state media. The assault has caused extensive material damage, and fires erupted in the port's container storage area.

Iraq top court ratifies parliamentary election results

Iraq’s Supreme Court has ratified October’s parliamentary election results, rejecting complaints by some factions over ‘irregularities’ during the vote.

Military expert: Israel not capable of intercepting all Iran missiles

A Russian military expert says Israel’s missile defenses potentially can intercept some of the Iranian missiles but not all of them, particularly when it comes to the most advanced and precise items.

Baku says tensions with Tehran removed

Referring to the recent visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian to Baku, Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that the recent tensions between Baku and Tehran were resolved quickly.

Lebanon to hold parliamentary vote in mid-May

Parliamentary elections in Lebanon will be held on 15 May, while nationals living abroad will be able to cast their votes on 6 or 8 May, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said on Monday.

Russia: US realizes pressure on Syria not working

The United States has realized that the policy of rising pressure on Syria is not working, rather the situation in the war-ravaged country can be stabilized by providing humanitarian assistance, a Kremlin envoy told TASS.

Source: Saudi claims over Hezbollah role in Yemen war lie

A senior Yemeni source has refuted Saudi claims that fighters of Lebanon’s Hezbollah resistance movement are supporting the Yemeni forces in their fight against the Riyadh-led coalition.

Panjshir residents protest ‘murder of a man by Taliban’

Hundreds of residents of Annaba district of Afghanistan’s Panjshir Province took to the streets protesting the killing of a young man they claimed was shot by the Taliban affiliates.

Russia holds drills to practice repelling air raids

Russian forces have held a military exercise to practice repelling massive air strikes by adversaries. It comes amid a standoff between Moscow and the West over Ukraine's NATO ambitions.

Security official says Iraq not ‘launching pad’ for attacking others

Iraq needs to be steered clear of any regional war, Baghdad’s national security advisor said. Qasim al-A'raji emphasized that the Arab country’s territory won’t be used to attack other countries.

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