Russia warning over NATO expansion
Russia has warned Finland and Sweden of "undesirable consequences" of joining NATO. The Kremlin cautions it will consider security options if the US-led military alliance keeps closing in on Russia’s western borders. The deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council also warned that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, the case of a nuclear-free Baltic region will be off the table. The warnings come against the backdrop of reports that NATO is set to introduce a fast-track mechanism for admitting the two countries as members. Finland says it will decide in the coming weeks rather than months whether to apply for membership. The country is mulling changes to its foreign and security policies in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. And the Swedish government is also reportedly reviewing its perspective on security. Moscow is implacably opposed to NATO’s eastward expansion and views it as a security threat.
Israeli atrocity
Another Palestinian has been shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, bringing to six the number of Palestinians killed across the occupied territory in the past 24 hours. The Palestinian Health Ministry says Fawaz Hamayel succumbed to his injuries a day after being shot when regime forces raided the town of Beita, south of Nablus. Two other Palestinians were killed early on Thursday, while three were fatally shot the day before. Meantime, Palestinians held funerals for the two who were killed in the West Bank district of Jenin today.
Iran Israel warning
The head of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps says Iran will harshly confront Israel wherever it deems necessary. Brigadier General Esmail Qa’ani said if an act of aggression is done against Iran’s interests anywhere in the world, the Islamic Republic’s response would be decisive. The Iranian general brought up as an example a recent operation against an Israeli base in the Iraqi city of Erbil. Qa’ani said Iran had the base in the cross hairs and struck it at the right time. The Iranian commander said the regime is too tiny to confront the Islamic Republic. Qa’ani said Iran would support any group that stands up against Israel, adding that the annihilation of the regime is getting accelerated.