Military insiders have implied that Russia has shot down a US drone over the Black Sea as tensions continue to spike over Ukraine allegedly targeting the Crimean city of Sevastopol with a Washington-supplied ATACMS missile. | Meanwhile, the US is today expected to approve an additional £118 million ($150 million) in critically needed munitions to Ukraine, according to two unnamed US officials. The Fighterbomber Telegram channel cryptically suggested the US kit had been downed over the key strategic waterway, without providing any specific details. It posted: “Congratulations to everyone involved. There is now increased turbulence in the Black Sea."

■ ATTENTION. ️It is reported that an American reconnaissance UAV was shot down over the Black Sea, providing missile guidance to Crimea️ (Pravda-en.com)

■ Уничтожен американский БПЛА-разведчик над Чёрным морем (Pravda.ru) | "[Last] evening, there was information about the destruction of an American UAV-reconnaissance officer over the Black Sea. These drones scanned the entire operational situation on the territory of the Crimea. Today we expect details about this wonderful work of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation." [?]

■ Russia Declares United States a "Party to the (Ukraine) Conflict" (Hal Turner)

Drago Bosnic | Neo-Nazi junta's F-16s flying from NATO countries – great way to start WW3 | As NATO and its Neo-Nazi proxies coordinate their long-range strikes with terrorist attacks deeper within Russia (a threat they've already made on several occasions and are now fulfilling, as evidenced by the latest events in Dagestan), the belligerent alliance's eastern member states are preparing to effectively enter the conflict, albeit not officially. Namely, just like NATO ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) assets are used for long-range attacks on the Russian military in an "unofficial" capacity, the political West is hoping to get the chance to use F-16 fighter jets from airbases in Eastern Europe, where they would be "safe" from Russian counterattacks. In theory, of course, because nobody can really guarantee that Moscow will tolerate such actions. And yet, nobody in Europe is asking the most obvious question – what happens when the Kremlin does react?

■ Russia Declares United States a "Party to the (Ukraine) Conflict" (Hal Turner)

Dmitry Medvedev (Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council) (Дмитрий Медведев) |Bastards from the USA supply cluster-loaded missiles to the Banderites and help to target them. | The bastards in Kyiv target a beach with peaceful people and press the button. Both will burn in hell. Hopefully, not only in a sacred fire but even earlier in an earthly fire. ■ All that happened is not military action, but a despicable and heinous terrorist act against our people, committed on an Orthodox holiday, just like the massacre in Dagestan, which was organized by extremists. So now all of them - the American authorities, the Bandera regime, and crazy fanatics - are no different for us. ■ My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. (Translation: DeepL + Grammarly)

■ Russia Declares United States a "Party to the (Ukraine) Conflict" (Hal Turner)
■ U.S. Drone Appears to Have Provided Target Coordinates for Ukraine Strike on Russian Civilians at Beach
■ US Escalated Ukraine Conflict on New Level by Facilitating Terror Strike on Sevastopol (Sputnik News)
■ CIA Veteran: US and British Intel Agencies Likely Behind Dagestan and Sevastopol Attacks (Sputnik News)
■ Ukraine Broke International Law With Cluster Bomb Attack on Sevastopol - UN Human Rights Watchdog (Sputnik)
■ US lawmaker condemns attack on Crimea (RT.com)

The IDF’s “brute force” strategy makes no sense from a counterinsurgency perspective, Col. Jacques Baud has claimed | Israel’s tactics in Gaza go against all the rules of counterinsurgency and can only be explained as a deliberate effort to “eliminate the Palestinians,” former NATO analyst and Swiss intelligence officer Col. Jacques Baud has said. ● Speaking to ‘Going Underground’ host Afshin Rattansi on Monday, Baud said that Israel is “not trying to solve the problem [of Hamas violence] on the political side, as we normally should for a counterinsurgency.” ● “They are doing it by brute force, meaning that they destroy people and that’s the name of the game,” he added. ● In nearly nine months of warfare against Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has killed almost 38,000 people in Gaza, the majority of them women and children, according to the latest figures from the territory’s health ministry.

■ Israeli’s military again strikes an aid distribution site in southern Gaza (Al Jazeera)

German politician Manfered Weber is the “Beelzebub” behind this population replacement, the Hungarian prime minister has claimed

💬 "A “militant” faction of pro-migration politicians is overseeing the “replacement” of white European Christians with Muslim immigrants, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared. ● “In Europe there is an exchange of populations, the number of white, Christian, traditional – let’s say European – people is decreasing, the number of migrants being imported and the number of people belonging to the Muslim community born here is radically increasing,” Orban told Kossuth Radio on Friday."

German politician Manfred Weber, who leads the centrist European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament, is the “beelzebub” responsible for this alleged scheme, Orban continued, adding that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is Weber’s “little servant girl” responsible for its implementation. [...] Orban was criticized in the German media for his comments on Friday, with Munich’s Merkur newspaper accusing him of spreading “conspiracy myths” about immigration.

The UN's secretary general calls on both sides to commit to Security Council Resolution 1701, and adds that efforts by UN peacekeepers are being made across the Blue Line to defuse tensions. | Following threats by "Israel" to invade Lebanon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a warning against a larger conflict in the Middle East. ● In remarks to reporters in New York, the UN chief mentioned the daily exchanges of fire and verbal spats between the Lebanese Resistance and the Israeli occupation as evidence that there is a genuine chance for the crisis in the region to worsen. He expressed feeling “compelled” to voice his concerns about the situation between “Israel” and the Lebanese Resistance.

■ New war is coming – UN (RT.com)
■ Former Ombudsman Warns Netanyahu: ‘Israel’ Attack on Hezbollah Will Be Mass Suicide (Al Manar TV)
■ Ambassadors EVACUATING Lebanon; Outbreak of War Deemed "Imminent" (Hal Turner Show)
■ Israel will be the ‘ultimate loser’ in war with Hezbollah, Iran says (Al Jazeera)

Israel war on Gaza live: Israeli forces attack Gaza City, Rafah | Israeli forces launch air raids and artillery attacks on Rafah in southern Gaza, as Palestinian officials report five deaths in northern Gaza City following a series of attacks. The attacks follow a day of relentless bombings that killed at least 101 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip, marking the most violent day in the enclave since Israeli troops killed 274 people while freeing four captives in Nuseirat earlier this month.

■ ‘Human shielding in action’: Israeli forces strap Palestinian man to jeep (Al Jazeera)
■ Injured Palestinian Strapped to IDF Vehicle in Alleged 'Human Shield' Incident (Sputnik News)

A senior administration official tells CNN that US officials emphasized that the Biden administration would provide "Israel" with the necessary security assistance. | Senior US officials assured a delegation of top Israeli officials visiting Washington this week that the Biden administration is fully prepared to support its ally in case of a full-scale war with Hezbollah, CNN reported, citing a senior administration official. ● The Biden administration has consistently claimed that it wants to avoid a war between "Israel" and Hezbollah, advocating for diplomatic de-escalation. This week, US envoy Amos Hochstein was sent to the region in an attempt to supposedly help ease tensions. ● The media outlet noted that top Israeli officials, including Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and "National Security" Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, held meetings with Biden administration officials such as National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk. Sources revealed that the Israeli and American officials discussed various topics, including the situation along the border with Lebanon, Iran, and ceasefire and prisoner exchange negotiations.

■ New war is coming – UN (RT.com)
■ Former Ombudsman Warns Netanyahu: ‘Israel’ Attack on Hezbollah Will Be Mass Suicide (Al Manar TV)
■ Ambassadors EVACUATING Lebanon; Outbreak of War Deemed "Imminent" (Hal Turner Show)
■ Israel will be the ‘ultimate loser’ in war with Hezbollah, Iran says (Al Jazeera)
■ Is Cyprus about to be dragged into a war between Israel and Hezbollah? (Al Jazeera)
■ US State Dept. official on Israeli-Palestinian affairs resigns: WashPo (Al Mayadeen)
■ Hezbollah drones constitute 'new generation of unconventional threats' (06/20/24)

Ukrainian men expressed fear of dying in the "bloody trench warfare", the newspaper reported | Tens of thousands of Ukrainian men have gone into hiding as they avoid conscription for fear of dying in the conflict involving "bloody trench warfare," The New York Times reported on Friday. ● While it is not clear how many men are hiding from authorities, in big cities like Kiev and Lvov, social media groups alerting members to mobilization include tens of thousands of people, the newspaper wrote. ● Ukrainian men expressed fear of dying in the conflict, the NYT continued. According to the newspaper, Kiev has been sending troops without "sufficient training" to the front to replace combat losses. ● Military analysts agree that a lack of adequate training makes it difficult for Kiev to hold its lines, the newspaper concluded. ● Ukraine announced a general mobilization in February 2022, which it has extended periodically ever since, with the country’s authorities doing their utmost to prevent men of conscription age from dodging the draft, including a ban on male residents of Ukraine from leaving the country. On May 18, a law tightening mobilization rules came into force in Ukraine, allowing hundreds of thousands more Ukrainians to be called up into the army.

■ Kiev talking to EU about extraditing Ukrainian citizens – minister (RT.com)

Tarik Cyril Amar | Britain’s most scandalous PM, who turned 60 this week, left a dark footprint on the UK and the world… and he may yet return | Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, aka Boris Johnson, aka BoJo – former British prime minister, foreign secretary, mayor of London, leader of the Conservative Party (Tories), and, last but not least, member of Parliament – is hawking his forthcoming memoir. Under the title “Unleashed,” the publisher promises it will be like no other prime minister’s reminiscences before. That, for once, is something we could almost believe, even if it’s Johnson who says it. ■ Indeed, BoJo’s career in politics – which, unfortunately, we have no reason to consider over yet – has left the imprint of something badly “unleashed,” something, that is to say, in the worst style of a monster movie: Think “Godzilla Comes to London,” but without the charm of make-believe. Where to even begin? ■ Why not at the end: At this point, Johnson, the arch-Tory, is conspicuously absent from the ongoing British elections, although they are in full swing. Full swing, let’s not forget, toward a disaster for BoJo’s fellow Conservatives: Polling by The Economist predicts that the Tories will lose 179 seats of the 371 that they won in 2019; that is a reduction by almost half. Labour, on the other side, seems on track to win 381 seats or more. In other words, a historic landslide is looming, and it will bury the Tories. And yet, with a desperate battle for political survival afoot and despite half-hearted denials, Johnson is mostly silent, AWOL from the campaign trail.

Upon finishing his visits to North Korea and Vietnam, Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked by media what it means that the West continues to escalate the war in Ukraine, and openly calls for a "strategic defeat of Russia." His answer opened the door to a Russian nuclear first-strike against the West. | Asked what does it mean to Russia that the West keeps escalating the Ukraine conflict, President Putin's remarks went like this:

💬 "We see it. We observe it. As you said, they constantly raise the degree and escalate the situation. Apparently they expect us to be scared at some point. But at the same time, they also say that they want to achieve a strategic defeat of Russia on the battlefield. What does this mean for Russia? It means the end of its statehood. This is what it means. It means the end of the thousand year history of the Russian state. I think this is clear to everyone. And then the question arises, why should we be afraid? Isn't it better to go all the way, then? This is elementary formal logic, a course that I studied at the University for six months, but I remember it well. I even remember the teachers who taught this course. Therefore, I think that those who think so, and even more so, SAY SO, make another big mistake."

■ Kremlin explains Putin’s pledge that Russia willing ‘to go all the way’ (RT.com) | President Vladimir Putin’s statement about Russia’s intention to “go to all the way” referred to achieving its objectives in the Ukraine conflict, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. ● Peskov was asked for clarification about remarks the Russian leader made on Thursday during a press conference in Vietnam. Putin was asked by a reporter what intentions he believed Western nations had in escalating tensions with Moscow. ● “Apparently, they count on us to chicken out at some point. But at the same time, they say they want to achieve a strategic defeat against Russia on the battlefield,” he replied. Such an outcome would amount to the loss of Russian statehood, Putin argued. “The question then is: why would we be afraid? Would it not be better to go all the way?” he concluded.

Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled guns have been deployed in Kharkov Region, according to the tabloid | Ukraine has started using German weapons to conduct strikes on Russian soil, according to the tabloid Bild. ● German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled guns, which have a range of up to 40km, have been deployed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Kharkov Region, the outlet reported in an article on Friday. ● According to Bild’s correspondent, who visited the area, a German howitzer and its crew remain hidden in a dugout in a wooded area “not far from the Russian border.”

■ Border warfare, logistics strikes and hunt for aircraft: The week in the Ukraine conflict (VIDEOS) (RT.com)

Moscow has signaled that it is ready to adapt its nuclear doctrine to emerging geopolitical challenges. What changes could be made? | Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans for the further development of the Russian nuclear triad to guarantee strategic deterrence and ensure the balance of power in the world at a June 21 meeting with graduates of higher military educational institutions. ● Earlier, at a press conference in Vietnam, the Russian president noted that Moscow is considering possible changes to its national nuclear doctrine due to the West's attempts to lower the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons. Putin particularly referred to Western military experts discussing the idea of a limited use of low-yield nuclear arms. ● The president specified that Russia is not planning to include a preemptive nuclear strike in its doctrine, because the enemy would be definitely destroyed by a retaliatory attack.

■ Russia to modernize nuclear arsenal (RT.com)

 ■ At least 25 killed, 50 wounded in Israeli attack on tents of displaced people in Mawasi, says Palestinian Health Ministry.
 ■ Israeli tanks push deeper into western Rafah in south Gaza, firing shells at displaced people’s tents, with one armoured vehicle blown up by a Hamas-planted improvised explosive device.
 ■ The White House has described Benjamin Netanyahu’s criticism of the suspension of one US weapons delivery to Israel as “vexing” and “disappointing” as the public rift between the two allies intensifies.
 ■ Israeli forces have carried out deadly air attacks across Gaza over the past 24 hours, including a strike on a home that has killed eight people in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood.
 ■ United Nations experts have warned arms manufacturers against transferring weapons to Israel, saying they could be complicit in violations of international law carried out in Gaza.
 ■ At least 37,431 people have been killed and 85,653 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas-led attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.

Hanoi greeted the Russian president with sweltering heat | Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived at the Presidential Palace in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Vietnamese leader To Lam welcomed Putin who is on a state visit to the Southeast Asian country. Hanoi greeted the Russian president with sweltering heat. By midday, the temperatures rose to 35 degrees. Even the cloudy weather did not help the situation. However, the heads of state wore formal dark suits. Putin was accompanied by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, and a number of other senior Russian officials.

■ LIVE UPDATES: Putin, Vietnamese Head Start Bilateral Talks | According to official statistics, trade turnover between Russia and Vietnam has grown by more than 8% and will reach $5 billion in 2023. During the visit, the Russian and Vietnamese delegations will adopt a joint declaration and sign about 20 documents on joint cooperation. ● Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Vietnam for the first time since 2017. Ahead of his visit, Putin penned an article for Nhan Dan, the official newspaper of the Vietnamese Communist Party, in which he shared his views on Moscow-Hanoi relations. ● The president stressed that Russia and Vietnam share the same stance on building a new Eurasian security structure that will be equal, indivisible, inclusive and non-discriminatory. Moreover, Putin thanked the Vietnamese government for its balanced position on the situation around Ukraine and promised to work closely with Hanoi on key international platforms, including the United Nations. (Sputnik News)

■ Russia to Continue Developing Cooperation With Vietnam - Putin (Sputnik News)
■ Putin arrives in Vietnam after historic visit to North Korea (VIDEO) (RT.com)
■ Путин назвал Вьетнам одним из давних и надежных друзей России (Известия)
■ Обзор реакции мировых СМИ на визит Владимира Путина во Вьетнам (иноСМИ)

TASS collected the key provisions of the open-ended treaty | The Korean Central News agency has released the text of the North Korean-Russian treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership that was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to that country. The key provisions of the open-ended treaty are:

 ●  Immediate mutual assistance in case of aggression against any of the countries;
 ● In case of a threat of aggression, the countries agree on measures to coordinate their positions, cooperate to remove the;
 ●  Moscow and Pyongyang commit themselves not to enter into any agreements with third countries that may threaten their sovereignty and security;
 ●  Russia and North Korea will make efforts to boost bilateral trade and create favorable conditions for economic cooperation;
 ●  Moscow and Pyongyang agree to develop cooperation in the area of space exploration, peaceful use of nuclear energy, AI, and IT;
 ●  The countries will invigorate cooperation in the area of the mass media to counter disinformation and information provocations;
 ●  Russia and North Korea will create a system of measures to strengthen defense potential to prevent war and ensure peace.

■ North Korea, Shunned For Decades, Welcomed Into New Multipolar World (Sputnik News)
■ DPRK-Russia Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (KCNA)
■ Tradition of Friendship and Cooperation [That] Lasts Decade after Decade (KCNA)
■ Grand Ceremony Held to Welcome President of Russian Federation (KCNA)
■ Pyongyang welcomes Putin with spectacular ceremony (VIDEO) (06/19/24)
■ Russia’s Mutual Defense Pact With North Korea Is A Geopolitical Game-Changer (Andrew Korybko)

A new Washington Post report highlights how Hezbollah's drones can evade Israeli air defences and gather sensitive intelligence, significantly altering the strategic balance. | In a new report on Hezbollah's drones and the threat they pose to "Israel's" security, The Washington Post stressed their particular ability to evade Israeli air defense systems without being detected. ● The report stated that "For years, the standoff on Israel’s border was between the massive rocket stockpile" of Hezbollah and the "vaunted Iron Dome antimissile system that ably handled most incoming rockets and artillery." However, this equation changed after Hezbollah deployed drones that successfully bypassed Israeli air defense, which also constitutes the cornerstone of "Israel's national security strategy." These drones are characterized by their high speed and low altitude flight, allowing them to gather intelligence and drop explosives. ● In its coverage of the Hoopoe mission video released by the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon's Military Media on Tuesday, The Washington Post noted that "Israel" was shocked by what the drone captured of sensitive installations and sites in "Israel," and by the advanced military capabilities that the video showed Hezbollah possesses.

👉 Video| About Hezbollah’s Undetected Drones: All Israeli Installations Within Sight, Reach + HERE
👉 Resistance to know no bounds if Lebanon attacked: Sayyed Nasrallah (Al Mayadeen)
■ ‘No place’ is safe if Israel starts war – Hezbollah (RT.com)

Pyongyang welcomes Putin with spectacular ceremony | North Korea’s Kim Jong-un welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang with a spectacular ceremony on Wednesday, marking the Russian leader’s first official visit to the country since 2000. ● The two leaders began the official ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square in central Pyongyang at around noon on Wednesday. A military orchestra played the national anthems of the two nations, with artillery guns firing a welcoming salvo. The square, which can hold more than 100,000 people, was packed with local residents, who came to greet the Russian president. ● Ahead of President Putin’s visit, the streets of the North Korean capital were decorated with countless Russian flags, welcoming banners both in Korean and Russian, and portraits of the Russian head of state. Official talks between the two delegations began immediately after the ceremony, and the heads of state are expected to hold a one-on-one discussion later in the day.

■ Russia and North Korea agree on mutual aid against aggression – Putin (RT.com)
■ Warm welcome, bilateral agreements and a new comprehensive partnership treaty (RT.com)
■ WATCH Putin arrive in North Korea (RT.com)
■ President of Russian Federation Arrives in Pyongyang to Pay State Visit to DPRK (KCNA)
■ Putin Gets Lavish Welcome in North Korea with Vows of Support (english.aawsat.com)
■ Putin and Kim Jong Un start negotiations as part of delegations in Pyongyang (TASS)
■ Live Updates: Russia Appreciates North Korea's Full-Fledged Support for Russian Policy (Sputnik News)
■ Путин высоко оценил поддержку КНДР политики России (Известия)

Drago Bosnic | When Russia launched its special military operation (SMO) on February 24, 2022, it became the active part of the Kremlin’s strategic counteroffensive against crawling NATO aggression.

[...] Namely, NATO forces in Eastern Europe rely on the same offensive-oriented approach that the belligerent alliance usually uses in its aggression against the world. This means that there’s a significant focus on air superiority and rapid deployment of frontline troops, particularly airborne and special forces. It’s certainly a challenge to coordinate a dozen or so different countries in the region, particularly as they have highly diverging foreign policy frameworks. Namely, while the endemically Russophobic EU/NATO member states such as the Baltic republics and Poland are far more committed, others such as Slovakia and Hungary aren’t as thrilled to get into a confrontation with Russia. There are also those who don’t belong to either category, such as Romania, where the political leadership is decisively pro-EU/NATO, but the population is generally more ambivalent.
[...] Another clear indicator that the political West is preparing for a large-scale confrontation is the fact that the US House passed a bill automatically registering men aged 18-26 for the draft. And while American congressmen are insisting this measure serves “only to cut down on bureaucratic red tape and help US citizens avoid unnecessary legal issues”, the timing is far too peculiar. The draft, while mandatory, hasn’t been invoked in over half a century, particularly after the crushing defeat Vietnam inflicted on American occupation forces. This clearly indicates that the political West is becoming desperate to prevent Russia’s victory. However, as former US Army Colonel Douglas McGregor warned repeatedly, this will be met with a swift response from Russia, as its unrivaled hypersonic missiles will rain down and obliterate any large NATO troop concentrations.

He noted that the condition for Ukraine's entry into the military bloc will be its victory in the conflict with the Russian Federation, which means this will never happen | Ukraine will never join the North Atlantic Alliance, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS. ● Commenting on statements by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that the condition for Ukraine's entry into the military bloc will be its victory in the conflict with the Russian Federation, the deputy minister said: "This means this will never happen." "I hope Mr. Stoltenberg understands this," he added. 💬 "He knows better than I how the notorious decision of 2008 was prepared, when NATO leaders wrote at the highest level that Ukraine would become a member of NATO. This became the trigger for much of the entire crisis that we are observing today. If NATO members are ready to falling into the same trap again and history teaches them nothing, then they will get hit again and their bruises will get worse," he stressed. When asked if it means that Ukraine will never join NATO, Ryabkov reiterated: "I think that this is ruled out."

Israel’s military said it has “approved and validated” operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon as months of fighting with Hezbollah threaten to spiral into a full-blown war. | The military statement did not promise an imminent Israeli offensive in Lebanon — any plans must still be vetted by Israel’s leaders. But it appeared to indicate that after months of tit-for-tat fighting, the army wants to show it's prepared for tougher action. The military did not specify what the plans entailed. ● It came as the US tries to broker a diplomatic solution to the cross-border conflict and avert a major escalation. Amos Hochstein, a senior advisor to US President Joe Biden, was meeting with officials in Beirut Tuesday in an attempt to quell tensions. ● Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah have exchanged fire across the border almost daily since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October.

■ Israel ready for ‘all-out war’ in Lebanon (Al Jazeera)
👉 Video| About Hezbollah’s Undetected Drones: All Israeli Installations Within Sight, Reach + HERE
👉 Resistance to know no bounds if Lebanon attacked: Sayyed Nasrallah (Al Mayadeen)
■ White House cancels meeting, scolds Netanyahu in protest over video (Al Mayadeen)
■ Διαταγή στον IDF για στρατηγική νίκη επί της Χεζμπολάχ (War News 24/7)

The IDF had precise information about Hamas's intentions, but due to prevailing conceptions in the security establishment and possible negligence by officials, the warning signs were not acted on. | A newly surfaced document has revealed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and intelligence systems had detailed knowledge of Hamas's plan to raid Israel and kidnap 250 people weeks before the October 7 massacre. ● The document, which was compiled in the Gaza Division, outlined Hamas's intentions and was known to top intelligence officials, according to a report by Kan News. ● The document, titled "Detailed End-to-End Raid Training," was distributed on September 19, 2023, and described in detail the series of exercises conducted by Hamas's elite units.

■ OCTOBER 7 WAS AN INSIDE JOB (05/29/24)
■ October 7: An Israeli Inside Job? Former IDF Soldiers Speak Out (SPR) (05/01/24)(VIDEO)

A bulk carrier sank days after an attack by Yemen's Houthi militias believed to have killed one mariner on board, authorities said early Wednesday. | The Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned-and-operated Tutor sank in the Red Sea, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said in a warning to sailors in the region. ● “Military authorities report maritime debris and oil sighted in the last reported location,” the UKMTO said. “The vessel is believed to have sunk.” ● The Tutor came under attack about a week ago by a bomb-carrying Houthi drone boat in the Red Sea. John Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said Monday that the attack killed “a crew member who hailed from the Philippines.” ● The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killing four sailors. They've seized one vessel and sunk two since November, according to the US Maritime Administration. A US-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January. In March, the Belize-flagged Rubymar carried a load of fertilizer sank in the Red Sea after taking on water for days following a militia attack.

Mary Manley | A Harris Poll report published in February showed that a majority (70%) of Americans want to push Ukraine toward a negotiated peace deal with Russia, even as Western media seems prepared to continue beating their war drums. | An article published in Pearls and Irritations claims that US presidential elections are rigged because mainstream political opinion is shaped by the powerful and wealthy who “control the sources from which Americans have been trained to get their information”, writes Caitlin Johnstone, the author of the article. 💬 “So long as the rich and powerful can manipulate public opinion at mass scale through the corporate media, through Hollywood, and through Silicon Valley algorithm manipulation, they can rig elections however they want,” she adds.

■ APPLICATION OF THE CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE IN THE GAZA STRIP (ORDER OF 26 JANUARY 2024) (.pdf) + APPLICATION INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS (.pdf)
■ THE EXPRESSION OF HATRED FOR GENTILES (Richard Edmondson/Nahida Izzat) (10/04/14)

US Democrats support Israel arms sale following pressure from Biden administration | Israel’s bombing of several areas in central Gaza has killed at least 17 people overnight, according to local media reports. The attacks include a strike on the al-Rai family’s home in Nuseirat, which killed at least eight people. ● Palestine’s Wafa news agency also reported Israeli strikes on Rafah, southern Gaza, despite the Israeli army's announced "pause" in fighting to facilitate the flow of aid. The intense bombing of central Gaza comes as a senior Israeli negotiator told AFP that tens of hostages held by Hamas are alive “with certainty”. ● The negotiator, who spoke to the agency on the condition of anonymity, said that Israel cannot end the war before ensuring the release of all hostages as he believes Hamas could “breach their commitment... and drag out the negotiations for 10 years”.

■ At least 17 Palestinians killed in night of Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat (Al Jazeera)

Jens Stoltenberg has argued that Beijing must pay a price for helping Russia amid the Ukraine crisis | NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said China must pay a price for allegedly propping up Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, saying Beijing is “fueling” the conflict by supplying microelectronics and other key components to Moscow.

💬 “The reality is that China is fueling the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II,” Stoltenberg said on Monday in a speech at the Wilson Center in Washington. “At the same time, it wants to maintain good relations with the West. Well, Beijing cannot have it both ways. At some point, unless China changes course, allies need to impose a cost.”

Stoltenberg has repeatedly attacked China since the Ukraine crisis began in February 2022, arguing that Beijing was enabling Russia to fight against Kiev, a “European friend” of NATO. He has made such comments even as NATO states prolonged the conflict by providing hundreds of billions of dollars in economic and military aid to Ukraine.

■ China should pay for propping up Putin's war - Nato chief (BBC)
■ China urges NATO to 'stop shifting blame' over Ukraine war (aNews)
■ Repeated Western narratives of China’s nuclear ‘threat’ are what lead to a dangerous world (Global Times)

Biden freezes before Obama grabs his arm and leads him off stage. Yikes! 😳 pic.twitter.com/nCgAGitoQ6

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 16, 2024

Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit Pyongyang for the first time since 2000 | Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for its friendship and support and pledged to assist Pyongyang in its own struggle for independence and identity. ● Putin is scheduled to visit North Korea on Tuesday, for the first time since 2000. Ahead of his trip, the Russian president has written an article published by the leading DPRK daily, Rodong Sinmun.

💬 “Russia has continuously supported and will support the DPRK and the heroic Korean people in their struggle against the treacherous, dangerous and aggressive enemy, in their fight for independence, identity and the right to freely choose their development path,” Putin wrote.

The Russian leader thanked North Korea for its “unwavering support” of the military operation in Ukraine, international solidarity, and “willingness to defend our common priorities and views” at the UN.

💬 Putin also described Pyongyang as “our committed and like-minded supporter, ready to confront the ambition of the collective West to prevent the emergence of a multipolar world order based on justice, mutual respect for sovereignty and consideration of each other’s interests.” ● The “rules-based order” the US has been trying to impose on the world is “nothing more than a global neo-colonial dictatorship that relies on double standards,” Putin noted.

■ What to Expect From Putin’s Official Visits to North Korea, Vietnam (Sputnik News)
■ Russia, North Korea to Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement (Sputnik News)
■ Putin hails N. Korea's support for Ukraine war ahead of Pyongyang visit (aNews)

The West must show to the world, including Russia and China, that it has a deterrent capability, the bloc’s chief has said | NATO members are debating putting more of their nuclear weapons on standby mode amid tensions with Russia and China, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said. ● In an interview with the Daily Telegraph on Sunday, Stoltenberg stated that NATO is in talks about taking nuclear assets out of storage and making them ready to use, since the US-led military bloc must clearly convey to the outside world that it has a strong deterrent potential.

■ NATO state’s president calls for ‘decolonization’ of Russia (RT.com)
■ At "Peace Conference" in Switzerland, Poland **PROPOSES** Breaking-up Russia into 200 Ethnic states (H. Turner)
■ Denmark: Government asks citizens to stock up for nuclear war (Pronews.gr)
■ Russia: West Responsible for Bloodshed if Putin's Peace Proposal Is Rejected (Financial World)