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🇺🇸🇪🇺NATO ‘US tool to control Europe’ – expert
Although the US threat to withdraw from NATO is highly improbable, the threat itself carries a powerful strategic disruptive impact, Chinese expert Wang Peng tells Sputnik.
💬“NATO is not just a tool for the US to take control of Europe, but also a critical pillar of America's global hegemony,” Wang points out.
💬“The US leaving NATO would add to Washington abandoning its most important strategic legacy since World War II, undermining the alliance’s foundations and Russia winning a colossal geopolitical victory, which is an absolutely unacceptable consensus for the US establishment and top brass,” he wraps up.
12 years ago, Crimea returned home🇷🇺
See how it has changed: pre-2014 vs today👆🏻
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🚨🇷🇺Putin congratulates Russians on 12th anniversary of Crimea reunification
President Vladimir Putin congratulated Russians on the anniversary of Crimea’s reunification with Russia, marking 12 years since the March 2014 referendum
The referendum on March 16 2014 was followed by a treaty signed on March 18, which formally brought Crimea into the Russian Federation.
Key statements:
🔸 Putin called the choice of Crimea, Sevastopol and Donbass to be Russian a historic and decisive decision
🔸 Around 1.3 trillion rubles ($14 billion) has been invested over 12 years to develop Crimea and Sevastopol
🔸 More than 1,600 Crimean residents are registered in the republic’s free economic zone
🔸 Putin thanked those who helped restore historic Russian territories
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🇮🇷💪🏻Iran’s Haj Qasem missile: Patriot and THAAD's worst nightmare
Iran used the advanced Haj Qasem missile for the first time as they conducted the 59th wave of strikes against Israel, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
What’s known about the missile?
🟠 Range and payload: This 11-meter-long ballistic missile has an operational range of about 1,400 km and carries a high-explosive warhead weighing around 500 kg; the range is sufficient to cover strategic targets in the Middle East, including US bases
🟠 Performance: Solid-fueled seven-ton missile, the Haj Qasem can be quickly deployed and launched, and is classified by Iran as being capable of reaching hypersonic speeds of roughly Mach 11–12 (approximately 12,000–14,000 km/h)
🟠 Guidance and precision: Missile reportedly features an advanced guidance system aimed at "pinpoint" accuracy; its upgraded version reportedly utilizes an electro-optical sensor for the terminal phase, enabling the missile to hit targets without relying on satellite GPS
🟠 Maneuverability: Haj Qasem is designed to be highly maneuverable thanks to the missile being equipped with special aerodynamic rudders
🟠 Capability: It is capable of evading modern enemy missile defense systems such as THAAD and the Patriot, according to Iranian military officials
🟠 Missile was developed in 2020 and is named after Iran’s late top General Qasem Soleimani, assassinated by the US in January of that year
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🚨IRAN STRIKES BACK: Wave 62 hits US Bases and Israeli targets
▫️Following the killing of National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it launched wave 62 of Operation True Promise 4, targeting US bases across the region and key Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba.
▫️The IRGC said it fired advanced missiles like the Qadr, Khaibar Shekan, Emad and Haj Qasem, with hits on major US military bases including Al-Udeid in Qatar and the Fifth Fleet HQ in Bahrain.
▫️Tehran claims the missiles pierced US and Israeli air defenses, marking the third consecutive round of attacks on US bases.
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🚨🇷🇺 Kremlin: Russia sees no point in European involvement in Ukraine peace negotiations
Russia has received no signals from Europe on energy dialogue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added.
He stressed that Russia strongly condemns actions targeting the health—let alone the killing—of leaders of a sovereign state like Iran.
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🇵🇰 Russia is ready to supply discounted oil to Pakistan — provided that Islamabad formally requests it, Russian ambassador Albert Khorev anounced.
Pakistan is critically reliant on oil imports. Up to 80% of Pakistan's oil imports originated from the Persian Gulf region before the Iranian crisis began.
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🇮🇷💪 Iran war could shatter Mideast security architecture – expert
The escalation of the military conflict between the US and Iran can be seen as “a turning point capable of fundamentally changing the security structure in the Middle East,” Iranian expert Abbas Mirzai Ghazi tells Sputnik.
💬“The destruction of military and command infrastructure due to American aggression could greatly diminish the operational capabilities of all parties involved, potentially driving Gulf nations toward strategic autonomy and reducing their reliance on the US security umbrella to maintain stability,” Ghazi notes.
“The continued threat against Iran could turn the Strait of Hormuz into a cause of global super-crisis and increase the costs of securing maritime trade routes,” the expert sums up.
❌🇺🇸🇮🇱Hormuz crisis: Allies refuse to join US-Israeli 'war of choice' against Iran – professor
European NATO members and other US allies do not want to get involved in the war against Iran, Professor Mehran Kamrava from Georgetown University in Qatar tells Sputnik.
💬 "America's treatment of NATO has undermined America's standing not just globally, but particularly among America's traditional allies," Kamrava says. "It speaks volumes that they are refusing to involve themselves in America's war against Iran."
💬 "Washington didn't seem to account for the fact that despite repeated Iranian threats, Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz," Kamrava notes. "So that has become a very costly miscalculation and underestimation on the part of the US."
💬 "Washington was looking for a quick, symbolic or decisive victory and that has not happened," he said "The Iranians have been prepared for a prolonged war, and that is important."
💬"If more American troops start dying, the US would pay a heavy price," he notes. "And this is exactly what the Iranians are counting on, the fact that they want to grind down America's resolve over time."
⚔️ US underestimated Iran’s resilience as conflict escalates — reports
A State Department cable circulated by the US Embassy in Jerusalem shows that Israel privately assessed Iran’s leadership is “not cracking” and is prepared to “fight to the end,” despite the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and ongoing US-Israeli strikes, according to The Washington Post.
The document also indicates Israeli officials expected internal chaos after Khamenei’s assassination, but acknowledged in recent days that Iran has maintained control and continues launching missiles “everywhere they want to,” the report said.
🏳️ The report underscores what analysts describe as a broader miscalculation by the US and its allies, who appear to have underestimated the durability of Iran’s political and military system as the conflict enters its third week.
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📹🇱🇧 Israeli airstrikes hit residential areas in Beirut, kill six — Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health
The Israeli air force carried out a series of strikes on Beirut, targeting residential apartments in the Zouk Al Balat and Al Bast areas, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said the raids killed six people and injured 24 others, according to a preliminary count.
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🚨 Iranian missiles hit Tel Aviv — reports
Iran’s Fars News reported missiles striking and exploding in Tel Aviv.
Israeli Civil Defense said buildings and vehicles were damaged in the Afula area.
📹 Footage circulating online appears to show explosions and fires across parts of the city.
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🇮🇷🚀 Iran launches 61st wave of strikes targeting Tel Aviv — reports
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it carried out the 61st wave of its Operation True Promise 4, using multiple missile types to strike over 100 military and security targets in Tel Aviv, according to Tasnim.
The agency reported power outages in parts of the city following the attack and estimated initial casualties at more than 230 killed and injured.
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📹 Drone strike hits US embassy in Baghdad, fire breaks out — reports
The US embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone was hit, with smoke and flames seen rising from the compound, according to Naya.
The outlet also reported consecutive explosions and said the embassy requested medical assistance, while Iraqi security forces were being deployed around the area.
Footage from social media
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🚨🚆 Iranian strike damages Tel Aviv train station — reports
Footage circulating online appears to show damage to a train station in Tel Aviv following reported Iranian missile strikes.
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🚨🇵🇰Pakistan temporarily pauses military operations against Afghanistan
At the request of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye during the Eid al-Fitr period, Islamabad has paused military operations against Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said.
🗣“The pause will apply from midnight March 18–19, 2026, to midnight March 23–24, 2026. Pakistan offers this gesture in good faith and in keeping with Islamic norms,” he said.
💬“However, in the event of any cross-border attack, drone strike, or terrorist incident inside Pakistan, Operation Ghazab-lil-Haq will immediately resume with renewed intensity,” Tarar added.
💣 US-Israel war against Iran: March 16 round-up
Check out Sputnik's map tracking another day of strikes exchanged between the opposing sides.
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👀🇷🇺🇨🇳US oil blackmail could collapse as Russia–China axis redraws Mideast power map – analyst
"Washington continues to play the oil card against Beijing, while Venezuela and Iran are of strategic importance to the Chinese government,” Turkish political analyst Engin Ozer tells Sputnik.
"In recent years, the United States has moved away from its previous practice of influencing prices through pressure on OPEC+. The new approach involves more direct control over oil resources, the imposition of oil-related sanctions, and holding the assets of oil-producing countries in the US via the purchase of American bonds," Ozer notes.
"The presence of Chinese and Russian naval forces in the Middle East could contribute to restoring the regional balance of power. China's naval presence in Djibouti is one of the indicators of this process," Ozer wraps up.
🇮🇷 Due to Iran's strong structure, replacement for Larijani was found immediately – Iranian FM
Iran's system continues to work, and a replacement was immediately provided, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, commenting on the death of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani.
"The political system in Iran is a very strong structure … The system continued to work, and a replacement was immediately found. If someone else is killed, the same thing will happen. If the foreign minister is killed, eventually someone will take his position," Araghchi said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
🚨US and Israel strike Red Crescent ambulance in Lar area, Iran
An attack targeted rescue workers while they were carrying out a purely humanitarian mission, providing aid to the wounded, Fars News Agency reports.
Under international conventions, including Red Cross rules and humanitarian law, striking medical personnel, facilities, or ambulances is prohibited and constitutes a clear violation.
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🚨 Day 18 of US–Israel war with Iran: Latest updates
🔸 Iran has confirmed the death of Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani in an Israeli strike. His deputy, a daughter, son, and group of security guards were also killed
🔸 Iranian military used the Khorramshahr super-heavy missiles to launch strikes on northern and central Israel, as well as on American bases, including 5th Fleet facilities
🔸 During the massive retaliation strike on Tel Aviv, the Iranian military used Khorramshahr-4, Qadr, Imad, and Kheibarshekan missiles to destroy over 100 military targets, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
🔸 IRGC’s targets also included Jerusalem, as well as Israel’s Ashdod refueling center and the Rafael military complex
🔸 Explosions were reported at the US Embassy compound in Iraq's capital, Baghdad
🔸 US military used powerful "deep penetrator" bombs to hit Iranian missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM announced
🔸 US warship believed to be carrying Marines to the Middle East was nearing the Malacca Strait off Singapore as it made its way to the region, tracking data showed
🔸 Iran is not seeking a ceasefire and does not believe in it, but wants an end to the war, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed
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🚨 Israeli airstrike hits vehicle in Sidon, southern Lebanon
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😮 US Golden Dome could crumble against modern tech – analyst
The US Golden Dome missile defense system initiative is “reminiscent of the Cold War-era 'Star Wars' concept. But the current [geopolitical] situation is different,” South Korean political scientist Kim Dong-yup tells Sputnik.
The principles of waging modern warfare are changing, and ballistic missiles are no longer the sole or primary threat, according to Kim.
💬“Drones, networked forms of warfare, and attacks on infrastructure begin to play an increasingly important role. The question is whether a system like the Golden Dome can stop a massive drone attack,” the pundit points out.
🔸 Meet Iran’s Sejjil missile: faster and stealthier with further reach
🔸 Tankers begin moving through Strait of Hormuz — Hassett
🔸 US Operation Epic Fury lacks clear goal as objectives shift daily — analyst
🔸 What we know about Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, killed by Israel
🔸 Iran launches 61st wave of strikes targeting Tel Aviv — reports
🔸 Iranian missile strike on Tel Aviv sparks fires — reports
🔸 Fire breaks out at Libya’s Sharara oilfield, flows redirected — reports
🔸 Drone strike hits US embassy in Baghdad, fire breaks out — reports
🔸 Iranian strike damages Tel Aviv train station — reports
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🚨 Israeli strike completely levels building in Beirut, Lebanon
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📹 Iranian missile strike on Tel Aviv sparks fires — reports
Footage circulating online appears to show burning vehicles and flames rising in parts of the city after the strike.
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🇱🇾🇷🇺 Fire breaks out at Libya’s Sharara oilfield, flows redirected — reports
Libya’s National Oil Corporation said flows from the Sharara oilfield were rerouted through alternative pipelines after a fire caused by a leak on a crude export line, while production continues and no casualties were reported, according to Reuters.
💬 The company said the move would “significantly reduce losses,” with oil redirected via the El Feel pipeline to Mellitah port and to storage facilities in Zawiya.
📉 Engineers told Reuters that output was being gradually halted following an explosion, with maintenance expected to take around two days to assess the damage.
ℹ️ Sharara, one of Libya’s largest oilfields, produces up to 320,000 barrels per day and has faced repeated disruptions since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.
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📹🇱🇧 Israeli strike hits central Beirut, kills four — Lebanese authorities
At least four people were killed and seven injured in an Israeli airstrike on central Beirut, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.
Emergency services are operating at the scene, with the number of casualties expected to rise.
Footage circulating online shows damage to a multi-storey building, with two balconies destroyed and sirens heard in the area.
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💣 US strikes Iranian missile sites near Strait of Hormuz — CENTCOM
US Central Command said American forces used multiple 5,000-pound “deep penetrator” munitions against hardened Iranian missile positions along the country’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz.
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🚨🇮🇱 Casualties reported in Tel Aviv area after Iranian strikes
Footage circulating online shows the aftermath of Iranian shelling in Tel Aviv, with reports of casualties.
Israel’s ambulance service said two people were killed and several injured in Ramat Gan, south of Tel Aviv, following two missile attacks from Iran.
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