Russia claims it repelled one of war’s most serious cross-border attacks

A still image from video, released by Russia’s Defense Ministry, shows what it said to be an aerial attack of Russian armed forces against Ukrainian militants in the Belgorod region, at an unknown location, on May 23, 2023. (Reuters)
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Updated 24 May 2023
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Russia claims it repelled one of war’s most serious cross-border attacks

  • Russian army says it drove cross-border raiders out
  • Says it killed over 70 ‘Ukrainian nationalists’
  • Washington: US does not support strikes inside Russia

KYIV: The Russian military said on Tuesday it had routed militants who attacked a Russian border region with armored vehicles the previous day, killing more than 70 “Ukrainian nationalists” and pushing the remainder back into Ukraine.
In what appeared to be one of the biggest incursions from Ukraine since the war began 15 months ago, two purported anti-Kremlin armed groups employing Russians based abroad said they were responsible for the attack in Russia’s Belgorod region.
The Russian defense ministry, which blamed the Ukrainian authorities, said its forces had surrounded the enemy fighters and defeated them with “air strikes, artillery fire and active action by border units.”
A ministry statement said more than 70 Ukrainian fighters had been killed and four armored vehicles and five pick-up trucks destroyed.
“The remnants of the nationalists were pushed back to Ukrainian territory, where they continued to be hit by gunfire until they were completely eliminated,” the ministry added.
The Belgorod regional governor said one civilian had been killed “at the hands of the Ukrainian armed forces.”
Reuters was unable to verify the assertions.

The US is skeptical of reports that US-supplied weapons were used in an attack inside Russian territory, a State Department spokesman said on Tuesday, adding that Washington does not encourage or enable strikes inside Russia. 
One of the two fighting groups — the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) — said on social media: “One day we’ll come to stay.”
In a later statement, the group denied its forces had been routed. “The Russian Volunteer Corps has incurred no losses,” it said.
A second group, the Freedom of Russia Legion, said it had “demilitarised” a Russian motorized rifle company and destroyed armored vehicles. It said Russian statements about thwarting the incursion described “imaginary losses.”

Putin’s forces “have not distinguished themselves with any successes in the past day,” it said in a social media post, adding: “While they cowardly hide in the bushes, we will move forward to our goal — the complete liberation of Russia!“
Ukraine’s government had said it was watching the situation but had “nothing to do with it.” It said the same in March when one of the groups — which Moscow said consisted of far-right Russian extremists managed by Ukrainian intelligence — mounted an incursion into another border region.
Former President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said Kyiv’s denial was “lies” and that the attackers deserved to be exterminated “like rats.”

Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said he had canceled a “counter-terrorism operation” regime that had since Monday allowed authorities to introduce a host of restrictions on freedom of movement and communication.
Earlier on Tuesday, he had said the army and other security forces were still mopping up, and had urged residents who had been evacuated not to return yet.
He said an elderly woman had died while being evacuated and three people were being treated for injuries. Later he added, without providing detail, that a civilian had been killed.
The Freedom of Russia Legion is a Ukraine-based Russian militia led by Russian opposition figure Ilya Ponomaryov that says it is working inside Russia to overthrow President Vladimir Putin.
Ponomaryov is wanted in Russia, where the authorities have accused him of spreading false information about the army and designated him a terrorist.
The RVC, which claimed responsibility for the March incursion, was founded in August by Ukraine-based Russian nationalist Denis Kapustin, and announced on May 17 that it was joining forces with the Legion.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was conducting its “special military operation” in Ukraine in part to ensure that such incidents could not be repeated.
“This once again confirms that Ukrainian militants are continuing their activities against our country. This requires a great deal of effort from us, and these efforts are continuing.”
Kyiv and its Western supporters say Russia’s campaign is an unprovoked invasion to grab territory from Ukraine, independent since the 1991 Soviet collapse. Moscow says it is defending its own security from what it says is an ever-expanding NATO.
Asked about reports that the attackers were ethnic Russians rather than ethnic Ukrainians, Peskov said: “They are Ukrainian fighters from Ukraine. There are many ethnic Russians living in Ukraine. But they are still Ukrainian militants.”


German minister to Iran: never too late to negotiate

Updated 7 sec ago
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German minister to Iran: never too late to negotiate

“It is never too late to come to the negotiating table if one comes with sincere intentions,” Johann Wadephul said
Wadephul said Israel’s fear that Iran would develop nuclear weapons was justified

BERLIN: Germany’s foreign minister appealed to Iran’s leaders to make credible assurances that it is not seeking a nuclear weapon and to show it is willing to find a negotiated solution as fears mount of further military escalation between Iran and Israel.

“We are still ready to negotiate a solution. However, Iran must act urgently ... it is never too late to come to the negotiating table if one comes with sincere intentions,” Johann Wadephul said at a news conference with his Jordanian counterpart on Wednesday.

Wadephul said Israel’s fear that Iran would develop nuclear weapons was justified and it had a right to self-defense.

“The Israeli decision to do something against this threat is comprehensible,” he said, adding civilian deaths on both sides were regrettable after air attacks between Iran and Israel.

His ministry was arranging special flights later on Wednesday and on Thursday to each repatriate about 180 German citizens via Amman, he said.

Wadephul also said Germany had agreed to create an economic council with Syria to improve cooperation and boost prosperity and stability there.

Hegseth says the Pentagon has given Trump possible options for Israel-Iran conflict

Updated 6 sec ago
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Hegseth says the Pentagon has given Trump possible options for Israel-Iran conflict

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said ‘maximum force protection’ was being provided for US troops in the Middle East
  • He said that it is Trump’s decision whether to provide Israel a ‘bunker buster’ bomb to strike at the core of Iran’s nuclear program

WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers Wednesday that the Pentagon was providing possible options to President Donald Trump as he decides next steps on Iran but would not say whether the military was planning to assist with Israeli strikes, an action that could risk dragging America into a wider war in the Middle East.
Hegseth was on Capitol Hill for the last of his series of often combative hearings before lawmakers, who have pressed him on everything from a ban on transgender troops to his use of a Signal chat to share sensitive military plans earlier this year.
In questioning before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hegseth said “maximum force protection” was being provided for US troops in the Middle East and that it is Trump’s decision whether to provide Israel a ”bunker buster” bomb to strike at the core of Iran’s nuclear program, which would require US pilots flying a B-2 stealth bomber. He would not indicate what the US may do next.
“My job — our job, the chairman and I — at all times is to make sure the president has options and is informed of what those options might be and what the ramifications of those options might be,” Hegseth said, referring to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who was testifying alongside him.
The US has shifted significant numbers of refueling tanker and fighter aircraft to position them to be able to respond to the escalating conflict, such as supporting possible evacuations, or airstrikes. Hegseth said this week that was done to protect US personnel and air bases.
Hegseth, who is appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday, has spent vast amounts of time during his first months in office promoting the social changes he’s making at the Pentagon. He’s been far less visible in the administration’s more critical international security crises and negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and Iran.


Philippines struggles to evacuate nationals from Iran amid Israeli bombardment

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos speaks to reporters in Quezon City, June 18, 2025. (Radio Television Malacanang)
Updated 18 June 2025
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Philippines struggles to evacuate nationals from Iran amid Israeli bombardment

  • Some 700 Filipinos live in Iran, most married to Iranian nationals
  • Marcos says the government is looking for a route to ‘get them out’

MANILA: The Philippines is struggling to evacuate its nationals from Iran as exit routes are difficult to secure, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday, as an increasing number of them are seeking to leave amid growing destruction from Israeli bombardment.

The Philippine embassy in Tehran estimating that some 700 Filipinos live in Iran. Most are married to Iranian nationals and initially were not willing to leave when the attacks started last week.

“But now, some are saying they’re scared, so they’re asking for help to get out. The problem we’re facing in evacuating them is that — because of the war — many airports are closed,” Marcos told reporters in Quezon City.

“We’re looking for a route through which we can get them out.”

Following Israeli attacks, Iran has suspended flights at major airports. Neighboring countries such as Iraq and Jordan have also closed their airspace, making air evacuations nearly impossible

Some countries are evacuating citizens by land via Azerbaijan and Turkiye, but these journeys are long due to distance, heavy traffic, fuel shortages and potential Israeli strikes.

The Philippine government is also planning to pull non-essential personnel out of the embassy in Tehran and raise the alert level for nationals in Iran to “voluntary repatriation phase,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega told the Philippine News Agency.

“We cannot raise it to mandatory because most of the Filipinos there won’t go home anyway, they have Iranian families there,” he said.

Israeli attacks on Iran began on Friday, when Tel Aviv hit more than a dozen Iranian sites — including key nuclear facilities and the residences of military leaders and scientists — claiming it was aiming to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Daily attacks have been ongoing for the past six days after Iran retaliated with ballistic missile strikes against Israel.

The Israeli military has intensified its bombing of civilian targets, hitting Iran’s state broadcaster in Tehran and a hospital in Kermanshah. On Wednesday alone, it said it had hit 40 sites across the country.

According to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, at least 224 people have been killed and 1,481 wounded in the attacks since Friday; however, various media outlets report casualty numbers could be at least twice that many.


Mediterranean rescuers say saved 175,000 people since 2015

Updated 18 June 2025
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Mediterranean rescuers say saved 175,000 people since 2015

  • The majority had died in the central Mediterranean, waters between between Libya, Tunisia, Italy and Malta
  • In that area, the equivalent of five adults and one child lost their lives every day over the past decade

BERLIN: Maritime rescue organizations said Wednesday they had pulled more than 175,000 people from the Mediterranean over the past 10 years, as waves of migrants sought to use the dangerous sea route to reach Europe.

The group of 21 NGOS active in the region estimated that at least 28,932 people had died while trying to cross the sea since 2015.

The majority had died in the central Mediterranean – waters between Libya, Tunisia, Italy and Malta – Mirka Schaefer of German NGO SOS Humanity told a Berlin press conference.

In that area, the equivalent of five adults and one child lost their lives every day over the past decade, she said.

The number of unrecorded cases was likely to be “significantly higher,” she added.

Of the 21 organizations currently engaged in maritime rescue in the region, 10 of them are based in Germany. Between them the groups operate 15 boats, four sail ships and four planes.

The organizations have frequently clashed with authorities over their rescue operations, which were launched as Europe’s migration crisis broke out in 2015, when hundreds of thousands headed to the continent, mostly from the Middle East.

In Italy the current government has vowed to end crossings and attacked NGOs for creating a “pull factor” that encourages departures, something migration observers say is unproven.

Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right government has passed laws requiring rescue ships to return to a designated port, a measure NGOs say is contrary to maritime law.

“The pressure on us is growing,” Schaefer said, criticizing a lack of support from the German government.

The rescue organizations were calling on Berlin to support “an effective, coordinated sea rescue program, fully funded by the EU,” Sea Watch spokeswoman Giulia Messmer said at the press conference.

The proposal, which had been sent to the German government and to the European Commission, called for the EU to spend between €108 million-€240 million ($124 million-$276 million) a year on rescue patrols and arrival centers.


India’s commerce minister heads to UK to fast-track free trade deal

Updated 18 June 2025
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India’s commerce minister heads to UK to fast-track free trade deal

  • FTA talks started in 2022 and stalled over tariffs, mobility for services professionals
  • Deal-in-principle was announced by Indian, British PMs last month

New Delhi

India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has embarked on a two-day visit to the UK to accelerate talks on a long-pending bilateral free trade agreement, his office said on Wednesday.

Launched in January 2022, the FTA negotiations between India and the UK were set to conclude the same year, but despite more than a dozen formal rounds, talks have stalled over issues like tariffs, rules of origin and mobility for services professionals.

A deal-in-principle was announced in May by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart, Keir Starmer.

Goyal’s UK visit comes in the “backdrop of the announcement” and “aims to accelerate bilateral engagements and harness emerging opportunities,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement.

The minister is scheduled to meet UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to “review the progress made in the ongoing FTA negotiations and chart out a clear, time-bound road map for its finalization and implementation.”

If Goyal’s visit succeeds in producing an implementation road map with timelines, he would be able to start negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty with the UK, Anupam Manur, professor of economics at the Takshashila Institution in Bangalore, told Arab News.

“A working FTA for India is extremely important, especially in a scenario where global trade uncertainty is at an all-time high due to the trade war and tariffs imposed by President Trump,” Manur said.

“In this scenario, an FTA with the UK delivers greater certainty to India, provides market access to an important large economy, and will also act as a leverage point for trade negotiations with the US.”

India has so far signed 14 free trade agreements with 25 countries, along with several regional and preferential trade pacts covering additional nations. These include agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the UAE.

Talks are also ongoing with the Gulf Cooperation Council and the EU — with commitments to conclude talks in 2025.