Monday, December 29, 2025
type here...
Home Blog Page 570

IRGC says Yemeni strikes changed Israel’s calculations

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Yemen Houthi

Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini, who is also the head of the IRGC’s Public Relations Department, made the remarks on Thursday amid the Israeli regime’s onslaught against Syria and Yemen’s constant air attacks on the occupied territories.

“The powerful measures by Yemen’s Ansarullah movement showed that the resistance front is self-reliant and independent in various fields and enjoys unparalleled capabilities to respond to the crimes of the Zionist regime,” he said.

He added that global media are targeting the resistance and disseminating propaganda against it in order to silence its voice.

The IRGC commander stressed the need to form a broad media front to confront movement opposing the resistance front in an innovative way.

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched its devastating war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, which has so far killed at least 45,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

Ansarullah has been also targeting ships linked to Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom to force an end to the Tel Aviv regime’s genocidal war on Gaza.

The Yemeni Armed Forces have stressed they will not stop their attacks until Israel’s ground and aerial offensives in Gaza end.

EU members skeptical about sending peacekeepers to Ukraine: RFE/RL

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Russia Ukraine War

“There are two reasons why you shouldn’t believe that European soldiers will be on Ukrainian territory. First, the Russians will not accept it. Second, it will be hard to sell this to the European population,” an unnamed EU diplomat told the news agency.

The diplomat added that sending Western troops to “die in Ukraine” would play into the hands of the “populists”.

RFE/RL quoted another unnamed EU official as saying the deployment of foreign soldiers remains a long shot.

“It is a good idea. However, it is enough to look at the skepticism in the Czech Republic and Poland – the countries expected to provide many soldiers – to see that it will be a hard sell,” the source said.

An EU diplomat told RFE/RL that Ukraine can expect “a rough landing” in the coming year.

“There are no good scenarios,” the source added, suggesting that the conflict is heading towards something similar to the 2014-2015 Minsk agreements, which temporarily ended the large-scale fighting in Donbass.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited Kiev’s failure to implement the Minsk accords as one of the root causes of the conflict. Both Russia and Ukraine have so far rejected the idea of an unconditional ceasefire.

According to multiple news reports, European leaders have discussed potentially dispatching peacekeepers after a ceasefire is reached.

Politico reported that presidents Emmanuel Macron of France and Donald Tusk of Poland planned to exchange views on the matter during a meeting in Warsaw earlier this month. Tusk later told journalists that Poland had no plans for such actions. French officials previously floated the idea of sending military instructors and personnel that could help with demining.

Russia has warned that it would treat Western soldiers in Ukraine as legitimate targets. Putin has stated that foreign military aid to Kiev is already tantamount to the direct participation of NATO in the conflict.

Biden directs Pentagon to ‘continue its surge’ of arms deliveries to Ukraine

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Joe Biden

Russia launched 78 missiles and 106 drones on Dec. 25, striking multiple cities and causing damage. Kharkiv endured “massive fire” from ballistic missiles, leaving six injured, according to local authorities.

Biden condemned the attacks and pledged continued support for Ukraine until it defeats Russian aggression.

“The Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety,” Biden said.

He added that hundreds of air defense missiles have already been sent to Ukraine in recent months, with additional deliveries underway.

Biden reaffirmed the US commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defenses.

“The United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in its defense against Russian forces,” he stated.

The strikes on Dec. 25 caused significant damage, prompting emergency blackouts in several Oblasts of Ukraine.

Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, confirmed that Russian strikes severely damaged equipment at thermal power plants, though the locations were not disclosed.

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, also criticized the assault, calling Christmas a “time of peace”.

Form president Khatami: Iran in critical situation; some trying to worsen problems

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Seyed Mohammad Khatami

In his message to the 10th Congress of the Union of Islamic Iran People Party on Wednesday, Khatami stated, “If steps are not taken to improve people’s livelihood and strengthen the hope that has been created, leading to changes both internally and externally, especially regarding people’s livelihoods and the hardships they face, we will all suffer.”

Khatami highlighted the need for dialogue within society, with other political groups, the world, and the government.

The reformist former president urged the party to continue its efforts to renew itself and involve future generations and called on the administration of President Massoud Pezeshkian to address generational differences.

Khatami highlighted internal and external threats but stressed “It is crucial that in this critical situation, we learn from the past and our mistakes, bravely find the right approaches, and identify opportunities or even turn many threats into opportunities.”

He specifically warned raising the issue of the Hijab bill in the country at the current critical juncture can backfire.

“Democracy means recognizing the people as the source of power and not limiting the definition of “people” to ourselves. It also entails understanding that in society, we interact with others who are different from us,” he noted.

VPN sellers still thriving in Iran amid partial lifting of internet restrictions, daily regrets

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Mobile Internet Iran

Jomhouri-e Eslami newspaper commented on its Thursday edition that the latest session of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace was attended on Tuesday by ranking officials to revise the years-long blocking policies.

It noted that the outcome of the meeting indicated that the complete lifting of internet filters has not yet been achieved, allowing VPN sellers to continue their lucrative business.

This is while, the current administration has time and again stressed filtering does not serve the best interest of the country, asserting that “Iranians deserve more than to be confined by the preferences of a self-proclaimed minority,” Jomhouri-e Eslami reminded.

The daily launched a vitriol, writing, “In recent decades, especially during these extremely sensitive times marked by social, economic, political, cultural, and international challenges, the public has had to bear the consequences of misguided and ineffective strategies imposed by a few who claim to be the guardians of the revolution and the voice of the people.”

“These individuals have not only failed to benefit the people but have also squandered opportunities and exposed the revolution and the country to security threats with their extremist and costly policies.” it concluded.

Turkey threatens to ‘bury’ Kurds in Syria

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Kurdish Militants

Speaking on Wednesday to lawmakers in Ankara, Erdogan promised to “eradicate the terrorist organization that is trying to weave a wall of blood between us and our Kurdish siblings”.

“The separatist murderers will either bid farewell to their weapons, or they will be buried in Syrian lands along with their weapons,” he declared, as quoted by Reuters.

Erdogan has repeatedly stated that the People’s Protection Units (YPG) poses a significant threat to Turkish security and vowed to prevent the establishment of a “terror corridor” near the country’s southern borders. He has criticized the United States for providing weapons and training to the YPG, a group Ankara views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Türkiye regards both as terrorist organizations.

The Turkish leader previously called on the US, its NATO ally, to reconsider its support for the YPG, and has urged its partners to choose between backing Türkiye or supporting Kurdish militants.

The YPG’s role in the US-led fight against the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS or ISIL) terrorist group has been cited by Washington as justification for the assistance, with American officials highlighting the group’s efforts in dismantling IS control in Syria. Kurds in Syria have long sought greater autonomy, with YPG leaders asserting their goals differ from the PKK’s armed insurgency within Türkiye.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), with the YPG at its core, have also called for a nationwide ceasefire in the war-torn country following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government. The SDF has urged the protection of Syrian territory from Turkish attacks and an end to what it regards as Ankara’s occupation of northern regions, saying Syrians must determine their future without foreign meddling.

Meanwhile, Türkiye has recently taken steps to foster ties with the new leadership in Damascus. Ankara is reportedly considering a joint military operation with Syria against Kurdish groups to address shared security concerns.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Damascus recently, where he called for the lifting of international sanctions on Syria, which have long crippled its economy. This outreach aligns with Erdogan’s reported plans to visit as well, signaling a significant shift in the Turkish approach to its southern neighbor. Erdogan has emphasized the need for collaboration with Syria’s government to ensure long-term security and mutual stability.

Russia may have downed Azerbaijani plane: Media

By
IFP Media Wire
-

The aircraft, carrying passengers from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny in Russia’s Chechen Republic, crashed near the coastal city of Aktau in Kazakhstan.

There were 67 people on board the aircraft, including 42 Azerbaijani citizens, 16 Russians, six Kazakhs, and three Kyrgyz citizens. Thirty eight people have perished in the crash, according to the latest information.

The potential use of air defense systems aligns with several media reports according to which Chechnya was attacked by drones on the morning of Dec. 25.

Footage of the plane shows traces of a large surface-to-air missile impact on the tail section of the plane, according to Russian independent media outlet Meduza. Similar-looking holes in the fuselage have reportedly been documented in numerous images and videos of military and civilian aircraft downed by surface-to-air missiles.

Survivors recalled hearing an explosion after failed landing attempts in Grozny, according to the independent Russian outlet Mediazona. The plane then turned back, crossing the Caspian Sea toward Kazakhstan. Upon attempting to land at Aktau Airport, it broke apart on impact and caught fire.

Meduza and Mediazona also cited Russian pro-war Telegram channels which showed photographs of the crash that suggested the plane had been shot at.

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) initially claimed that the plane collided with a flock of birds, prompting the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. During the maneuver, the aircraft “hit the ground”.

The black box has been recovered from the crash site, Azerbaijani media reported. Its analysis is expected to provide critical insights into the events leading up to the crash.

Five Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attack on central Gaza

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Gaza War

Five journalists from the Al-Quds Today channel were killed early Thursday when an Israeli air raid struck their broadcasting van near al-Awda Hospital in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Palestinian officials and media reports.

The journalists were covering events at the hospital when the vehicle, marked with the word “PRESS” in large red letters, was hit.

The victims have been identified as Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al-Ladah, Faisal Abu al-Qumsan and Ayman al-Jadi.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the deaths, calling for accountability.

More than 200 journalists have been killed in Israel’s war in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Israel has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed nearly 45,400 people, most of them women and children, since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

Russia says US stealing its money

By
IFP Media Wire
-
Kremlin

On Tuesday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmigal announced that the US had transferred the first installment of a $20 billion loan backed by interest earned from Russia’s immobilized assets. Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the US and its allies froze an estimated $300 billion worth of funds belonging to the Russian central bank.

In a post on X, Shmigal stated that Kiev expects that “all sovereign Russian assets will be confiscated and used to rebuild Ukraine”.

Reacting to the news on Wednesday, Peskov stated that “speaking in plain Russian, this money was stolen from us”, and added that Moscow’s assets were blocked “absolutely illegally,” against all norms and rules.

The spokesman added that Washington’s transfer of $1 billion to Kiev could in the future become the basis for legal proceedings and stressed that Russia intends to use “all [legal] possibilities” to protect its property and rights.

Of the $300 billion immobilized Russian assets, around $213 billion are currently held in the Brussels-based clearinghouse Euroclear. Last week, Polish President Andrzej Duda proposed at a meeting of EU leaders to use all of these assets to fund Ukraine, particularly if US President-elect Donald Trump chooses to slash Washington’s contributions to Kiev’s war chest.

The proposal was reportedly resisted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who was “exasperated” and became “irate” at Duda, arguing that such a move would undermine the stability of EU financial markets, according to the Financial Times.

The use of Russian assets to fund Kiev has previously also been criticized by other EU nations, including France and Italy, which have raised concerns that such a step would undermine the stability of the euro.

Moscow has repeatedly accused the West of “stealing” its money and has warned that tapping these funds would be illegal, and would set a dangerous precedent.

Last month, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov also warned that Moscow would respond in kind.

“We have also frozen the resources of Western investors, Western financial market participants and companies. The income from these assets will also be used,” the official said.

Tehran City Council: Bistoon Street won’t be named after Sinwar

By
IFP Editorial Staff
-
Yahya Sinwar

In an interview with IRNA on Wednesday evening, Alireza Nadali emphasized the importance of preserving names like Bistoon, which is historically significant and frequently mentioned in Iran’s ancient literature, as part of the council’s commitment to Iranian culture and identity alongside Islamic identity.

Nadali explained while there are plans to name a street after the Islamic resistance leader, the name of Bistoon Street will not be altered.

He acknowledged that despite the initial approval to rename only the last quarter of Bistoon Street, the decision has been sent back to the Naming Commission for further consideration, ensuring that a suitable street is chosen to honor Sinwar, who was martyred in the Gaza Strip in an Israeli strike on October 16.

The Bistoon Inscription, located on a cliff at Mount Bistoon in Kermanshah Province, western Iran, is a large, multilingual rock relief commissioned by Darius the Great (r. 522–486 BC).

This significant Achaemenid royal inscription played a crucial role in deciphering cuneiform due to its status as the longest trilingual inscription known, containing texts in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian.

1...569570571...5,021Page 570 of 5,021

© All Content by IFP News ( Iran Front Page ) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Us

Popular Articles

Editor Picks