This weeks World news briefing looks at the escalation of war with Russia as Putin offers final warning to the West. Staying with important news from Europe, the decision of Georgia to postpone its ascension to the EU. As well as the horror of the Lebanese returning home after the second day of a cease fire and why Gaza didn’t get a ceasefire.
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Putin offers final warning to the West
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised message Thursday that Moscow has the right to strike the military targets of countries who have supplied weapons to Ukraine to hit Russia.
“We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities,” he said. “And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond resolutely in a mirror way.”
The escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, instigated by the West, continues with the United States and its NATO allies previously announcing that they authorise the use of their long-range high-precision weapons for strikes inside the Russian Federation. Experts are well aware, and the Russian side has repeatedly highlighted it, that the use of such weapons is not possible without the direct involvement of military experts from the manufacturing nations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Putin is sending a final warning to the west, that he will target NATO bases if they continue to supply long range missiles. He said ‘we consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities, and in case of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in mirror-like manner.’
More than 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, with some reports suggesting the figure is closer to half a million. The US is urging Ukraine to lower its recruitment age, whilst Boris Johnson is urging Brits to join the Ukrainian army.
Putin’s address on TV was not reported on any MSM websites or newspapers.
Lebanese returning home to theft and defection by Israeli soldiers
The Israeli prime minister says that he ordered the military to be prepared for an intense war in Lebanon if the ceasefire framework is violated during an interview with Israeli Channel 14.
There is growing unrest in Israel, the amount of dead soldiers returning in the conflict is alarming the public. Local politicians have started losing their appetite for war as Michael Kabesa, mayor for the northern community of Hatzor Haglilit ‘saying this ceasefire feels like a defeat’. The ceasefire also demonstrates that Israel is not used to fighting against an army that can fight back, unlike in Gaza, where it has been fighting a civilian population armed with sticks and stones.
Ceasefire broken by Israel
Lebanon has already stated that Israel of violating the ceasefire, which came into effect yesterday.
The Israeli military launched multiple attacks on southern Lebanon breaking the ceasefire deal.
In a brief statement on X, the Israeli army has said it detected “terrorist activity” at what it claimed was a facility belonging to Hezbollah that hosts medium-range rockets in southern Lebanon. But verified reports from Lebanon dispute that claim saying it Israel has killed civilians in the ceasefire.
Politicians will jump on any bandwagon to claim any kind of victory, despite how disingenuous it may seem.
A tale of armies; Returning to the south of Lebanon
Displaced Lebanese people who are returning to Nabatieh Faqwa after months of bombing are coming back to mixed reactions. Some return to find only rubble and others find apology notes from the Lebanese fighters promising to help them rebuild and a payment for the goods they used.
In contrast where the Israeli army invaded the the homes ransacked and looted with missing jewels and money. You see defecation and urination all over the homes with vile graffiti on the walls, saying ‘we are taking your home, pack up and leave, before we come back.’
Why is there no ceasefire in Gaza?
Why is there no ceasefire in Gaza? Well that is because the conflict in Lebanon started with a different objective to Gaza. The objective was to entice Lebanon into a conflict to garner wider support globally, to support the idea that ‘Israel was fighting the great war’. That backfired and worsened when Israel start using UN staff as human shields and killing them UN aid agencies personnel.
In Gaza, the situation is very different. The objective is push all Palestinians out of the Gaza strip. The Israelis were banking on Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon to open their borders and let the displaced Palestinians in.
But they haven’t, so now, Israel will kill as many Palestinians as possible and then with the remainder create a refugee zone next to Egyptian border. Allowing Israel to take control of the Gaza strip and move in.
As the Israelis are working to a deadline, with Trump coming into power, you can see the level of attacks in Gaza have intensified.
This conflict mirrors what America did to the Native Americans and it will play out in the same way.
The negotiations for peace, will inevitably be a concession by the Palestinians, to give up land whilst not being at the negotiating table.
What’s happening in Georgia?
Georgia is suspending its accession to the EU until 2028, due to the financial implications on its economy. Georgia Dream is a nationalist party and have a mandate that moves Georgia away from EU membership.
What’s happening in Georgia is also heavily influenced by the conflict in Ukraine. If Georgia continued in its current accession plan it would have to abide by the EU blocs rules on energy supply, growth and GDP targets, which, frankly, it is miles off. 3 years ago before inflation crisis it had a chance, but since the pandemic, it has no hope.
The average salary is $400 and the oil and gas is imported from Russia at a half the price the EU would charge. Joining the EU would cause hyperinflation with those prices doubling in cost and the sanctions on Russian imports would have to be met.
For all Eastern European countries this has been the trend, the tradeoff of higher prices domestically surrendering to commercialism, for the chance of higher wages and migration to other EU countries.
When a country joins the EU bloc
When a country joins the EU bloc it must raise its key financial metrics to match the levels of the EU zone, it is why you see a consistency in prices of oil, food and energy supplies across the EU zone. At present the cost of domestic food produce and energy in Georgia is a fraction of what EU companies charge.
Houthis to continue striking Israel, says group’s leader
Yemen’s Houthi rebels will keep up their attacks on Israel, their leader says, after the Israelis have intensified their attacks on the Gazan population.
“The operations from the Yemeni front to support the Palestinian people with missiles and drones towards the Israeli enemy are continuing,” Abdel-Malik al-Houthi said on the rebels’ Al Masirah TV channel.
