Ukraine ‘has ceased to exist’ – ex-commander

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian servicemen of 24th brigade.
©Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Ukrainian state has essentially ceased to exist, is plagued by endemic institutional failure and corruption, with Kiev's troops continuing to hold on by sheer will alone, a former commander has argued. He also warned that Ukraine’s defenses could collapse, allowing Russia to march all the way to the Dnieper River.

In an interview with Novyni Live on Monday, Vladimir Shylov, former commander of the 3rd Company in the 134th Separate Territorial Defense Battalion, lashed out at Ukraine’s political leadership, stating that the country has “ceased to exist” as a functional state due to widespread graft and mismanagement.

Shylov expressed concern that these woes could allow Russian forces to increase their gains, warning that they may be able to overrun frontline positions in Donbass and reach as far as the Dnieper River. The advances could be facilitated by internal chaos, he added, stating “In our country, everything is a mess...the front is holding only thanks to the Ukrainian people.”

Ukrainian leaders have transformed the nation into a “concentration camp,” Shylov claimed, highlighting systemic failures across all branches of government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial sectors.

Shylov also specifically criticized the country’s leader, Vladimir Zelensky, for what he described as a blatant neglect of his defense responsibilities, alleging that his government had ignored Western warnings of a Russian offensive prior to the special military operation, resulting in the inadequate preparation of Kiev’s forces.

The ex-commander went on to comment on Ukraine’s ongoing incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, portraying it as a political ploy without any real strategic military value. He argued that the Ukrainian offensive had turned out to be a symbolic gesture which does not compensate for the substantial territorial losses Ukraine has suffered, particularly in Donbass.

Over the past several months, Russia has made significant gains in Donbass and elsewhere, with President Vladimir Putin noting that regular advances now amount to kilometers rather than hundreds of meters.

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said earlier this month that Ukraine had lost one million service members since February 2022, with more than half of that number in 2024 alone, adding that Moscow’s forces are in full control of the strategic initiative.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian battlefield commanders continue to complain of a critical shortage of manpower, despite Kiev implementing stricter mobilization rules and lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 this spring.

Murdered Russian general who exposed US biolab grabs Indonesian media attention

General Igor Kirillov ©RIA Novosti

The assassination of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who played a key role in unveiling covert US biological research programs in the country, grabbed the interest of Indonesian media this week.

Kirillov, who was the commander of the Russian Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Forces, and his aide were murdered in an explosion in Moscow on Tuesday. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), which had previously labeled the general as an “absolutely legitimate target” for assassination, claimed responsibility for the attack.

During his time as the commander of the military branch responsible for protecting troops and civilians from chemical and biological weapons, Kirillov had on numerous occasions reported on Washington’s biolabs in various parts of the world, primarily in Ukraine. However, he has also pointed to other similar facilities in other countries, including Indonesia.

In his report in 2022, Kirillov specifically mentioned the US Navy’s NAMRU 2 lab in Jakarta, claiming that it had been used to conduct suspicious biological research in Indonesia up until it was closed in 2010 after the Indonesian Health Ministry designated it as a “threat to Indonesia’s sovereignty.”

Kirillov’s report prompted Indonesian media to launch their own investigations into US biological research in the country. In April 2022, the Detik news outlet released a report suggesting that, despite the lab ban, the US had continued conducting illegal research in the country under the cover of military exercises

In his report in 2022, Kirillov specifically mentioned the US Navy’s NAMRU 2 lab in Jakarta, claiming that it had been used to conduct suspicious biological research in Indonesia up until it was closed in 2010 after the Indonesian Health Ministry designated it as a “threat to Indonesia’s sovereignty.” 

Kirillov’s report prompted Indonesian media to launch their own investigations into US biological research in the country. In April 2022, the Detik news outlet released a report suggesting that, despite the lab ban, the US had continued conducting illegal research in the country under the cover of military exercises. 

According to documents obtained by the outlet, in 2016, American naval surgeons performed operations on 23 local patients on board the USNS Mercy hospital ship without coordination with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health. US military personnel were also alleged to have secretly exported blood samples taken from dozens of Indonesian patients and transported three rabid dogs from Padang – an area where rabies is endemic – without Jakarta’s permission. Local health officials also told Detik that the Americans had wanted to obtain samples of the dengue fever virus from local mosquitoes.

As for NAMRU 2, the lab was closed after then-Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari raised concerns over the facility’s operations and questioned its efficacy. Speaking to RT’s Indonesian Bureau Chief, Denis Bolotsky, in 2022, she noted that the results of the lab, which had been operating for nearly 40 years and was supposedly focused on studying malaria and tuberculosis, “were not significant.”

Supari’s attempts to close the NAMRU lab had reportedly become a big problem for Washington, which, according to memos leaked by Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks in 2010, held multiple meetings on the issue and discussed ways to “manage” the minister and pressure her into keeping the facility open.

It’s the biolabs, stupid: Is this why Ukraine murdered a Russian general?

The shocking assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s Radiological, Chemical, and Biological Protection Forces, reverberates far beyond the streets of Moscow. On December 17, 2024, Kirillov was killed in a brazen bombing, an act the Russian government has denounced as terrorism. While the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) – Kiev’s successor to the Soviet KGB – via ‘anonymous sources’ cited in multiple media outlets, has claimed responsibility, labeling Kirillov a war criminal, the truth about his death is likely far more complex – and far more chilling.

Kirillov’s death was not just an attack on a prominent Russian official; it was an attack on the truth. For years, he had been at the forefront of investigating and exposing alleged US-funded biolabs in Ukraine, claiming they were part of a broader Western biological warfare agenda. His assassination raises a deeply unsettling question: Was this a deliberate effort to silence him and prevent his revelations from coming to light?

Kirillov and the biolabs investigation

Kirillov’s work was controversial, but his allegations deserved scrutiny. He repeatedly accused the United States of funding clandestine biological laboratories in Ukraine, purportedly operating under the guise of public health initiatives. According to Russian reports, these labs were involved in the development of pathogens that could potentially target specific populations, a claim Washington and Kiev vehemently denied.

Throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Kirillov presented what he claimed were classified documents and intercepted communications proving the existence of such facilities. He argued that the labs represented a serious threat not only to Russia but to global security. Though his assertions were often dismissed in the West as propaganda, they stirred debate and distrust among nations already skeptical of US military and scientific activities abroad.

The targeting of a truth-seeker?

The timing and method of Kirillov’s assassination are too conspicuous to ignore. A bomb concealed on an electric scooter detonated as he left for work, killing him and his assistant. The sophistication of the attack suggests involvement by professionals with substantial resources. The SBU’s admission of responsibility and Russia’s subsequent arrest of an alleged Ukrainian agent may seem to provide a tidy explanation. However, there are reasons to believe that more powerful actors had a vested interest in Kirillov’s demise.

Kirillov’s investigations threatened to unveil a shadowy intersection of science, warfare, and geopolitics. If even a fraction of his claims about the US biolabs in Ukraine were accurate, they would implicate powerful institutions in serious breaches of international law, including violations of the Biological Weapons Convention. Such revelations would have provoked outrage among non-aligned nations and could have seriously undermined the credibility of the United States and its allies.

Cui bono – who benefits?

The age-old question of “who benefits” looms large over Kirillov’s assassination. The primary beneficiaries of his death are those who sought to discredit or suppress his findings. The US and Ukraine have long denied the existence of offensive biological research programs in Ukrainian laboratories, branding Kirillov’s accusations as disinformation aimed at justifying Russian “aggression.” However, his death conveniently prevents him from providing further evidence to substantiate his claims.

Moreover, silencing Kirillov sends a clear message to other potential whistleblowers: exposing sensitive information about Western military or scientific programs comes with lethal consequences. This chilling effect could deter future investigations into biolabs, leaving critical questions unanswered.

A broader pattern of suppression

Kirillov’s death is not an isolated incident. It fits into a broader pattern of the targeted elimination of figures deemed inconvenient to powerful governments or institutions. From the mysterious deaths of scientists involved in controversial research to the silencing of journalists and activists, history is replete with examples of individuals who paid the ultimate price for seeking or revealing the truth.

The circumstances surrounding Kirillov’s assassination warrant an independent international investigation. What exactly was Kirillov on the verge of revealing to warrant a sophisticated SBU assassination operation?

The need for transparency

In the absence of transparency, conspiracy theories will inevitably flourish. Kirillov’s assassination underscores the urgent need for an unbiased investigation into both his death and the allegations he was pursuing. If the US and Ukraine have nothing to hide, they should welcome such scrutiny. Conversely, any attempt to dismiss or obstruct inquiries will only fuel suspicions of a cover-up.

The world deserves answers – not just about Kirillov’s death, but about the broader implications of the biolabs controversy. If his accusations were unfounded, it is in everyone’s interest to definitively debunk them. But if there is even a kernel of truth to his claims, then his assassination represents not only a tragedy but a global crisis.

The murder of Igor Kirillov is more than an act of violence; it is a grim reminder of the lengths to which some will go to bury inconvenient truths. Whether one believes his allegations or not, his death should alarm anyone who values transparency and accountability in global affairs.

Kirillov may be gone, but the questions he raised cannot – and should not – be silenced. The world must demand answers, not just for his sake, but for the sake of justice and truth in an increasingly opaque and dangerous geopolitical landscape.

Bloodshed, Chaos and US Manipulation: Putin Paints Grim Global Picture at Defense Meeting

©Sputnik/Sergey Guneev/Go to the mediabank

President Vladimir Putin addressed the Russian Defense Ministry board, summing up the year’s developments in the military operation in Ukraine. He also discussed the global situation and outlined other measures to ensure the country’s security.

Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined key objectives for strengthening the country’s defense capabilities and advancing the Armed Forces during an expanded session of the Defense Ministry board.

He also highlighted significant achievements and ongoing challenges faced in 2024.

"Today, we will review the main results of work over the past year, define tasks for strengthening defense capabilities and further develop the Armed Forces," Putin stated.

He stressed the importance of improving the armed forces' combat readiness and capacity.

"We are paying serious attention to improving the combat structure of our Armed Forces and increasing their potential," Putin said.

Advances Against Ukraine

Reflecting on 2024, Putin called it a pivotal year in achieving the goals of the special military operation.

"This year, 189 settlements were liberated," he said, noting that Russian forces hold the strategic initiative along the front line.

"Thanks to the professionalism and courage of our soldiers, the heroic work of defense industry workers and the nationwide support for our army and navy, our troops maintain firm control over the strategic initiative," the president said.

He expressed deep gratitude to those on the front lines and in supporting roles.

"I want to sincerely thank our heroes — soldiers and officers — who fight selflessly on the front lines, as well as the personnel of the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard and special services," Putin said. "They carry out even the most difficult tasks without sparing themselves or their lives for victory and for the Motherland."

The president underscored the need for continued vigilance and unity, reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring the country's security and achieving its strategic goals.

Turning to external challenges, Putin accused the United States of fueling the conflict in Ukraine by supplying weapons, funds and military advisors.

"In an effort to weaken our country and inflict a strategic defeat, the US continues to pump weapons and money into the illegitimate regime in Kiev, encouraging further escalation of the conflict," he said.

US Aspirations for World Dominance

Putin described the global military-political climate as both challenging and unstable, pointing to ongoing conflicts and heightened tensions in multiple regions.

"Today, the military-political situation in the world remains challenging and unstable," Putin stated during an expanded session of the Defense Ministry board. He highlighted the persistent violence in the Middle East and the growing risk of conflict elsewhere.

"The bloodshed in the Middle East does not cease, and there is significant conflict potential in several other parts of the world," Putin noted.

He also accused the US of waging covert warfare and enforcing a policy of containment against nations it calls its opponents, including Russia.

"The US imposes its so-called 'rules' on the international community, constantly changing and manipulating them as it sees fit," the Russian leader said. "For them, the only stable rule is that there are no rules."

"We see the US administration and the collective West relentlessly trying to preserve their dominance, pushing their rules on the global community and manipulating them as they see fit," Putin said.

He also noted the formation of new military-political alliances, driven by the US, which he argued are undermining decades-old security frameworks.

"The US is initiating the creation of new alliances that disrupt the established security architecture," he said.

Putin expressed concern over NATO’s growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region and its preparations to deploy ground-based missiles with a range of up to 5,500 kilometers.

"The alliance is expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific, and there are already plans to deploy these missile systems in Europe and the Asia-Pacific," he warned. The president stressed that those actions pose significant risks to global stability, further eroding trust and cooperation on international security.

US Stokes Russian Threat Fears

Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined the US tactics toward Russia of pushing the country to its limits while frightening its own people with imaginary threats.

"Under the pretext of a so-called Russian threat, [the US] frightens its population by claiming we are planning to attack someone," Putin said. "The tactic is simple: they push us to the red line, beyond which we cannot retreat, and when we respond, they escalate fears of a Russian threat."

He also stressed that Russia’s updated military doctrine maintains a policy of nuclear deterrence, dismissing accusations of nuclear saber-rattling.

"We have clarified the basic principles for the use of nuclear weapons, as outlined in the updated foundations of state policy in the area of nuclear deterrence," Putin stated. "Let me stress again: we are not rattling nuclear weapons — this is a policy of deterrence."

Russia to End INF Limits if US Deploys Missiles in Europe or Asia

Putin warned that Russia would lift its self-imposed restrictions on deploying medium-range missiles if the US begins deploying such systems.

"We have repeatedly warned that the termination of this treaty would negatively impact global security," Putin stressed. "Russia has voluntarily refrained from deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles as long as American systems of this type are not stationed anywhere in the world."

If Washington goes ahead with those deployments, Moscow will "remove all voluntary restrictions," he vowed. Putin also emphasized the importance of ensuring the military’s readiness to detect and intercept intermediate-range missile launches if the US deploys them.

"We have already discussed the risks of US deploying intermediate-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific," he added. "We will respond comprehensively to such threats, with the priority being the timely detection and interception of missile launches."

Russia Needs to Create Single Hub for Intel and Retaliation

Putin said it was necessary to establish a single hub for processing intelligence and launching attacks.

"Now, due to the introduction of advanced developments in the defense industry, it is necessary to form a single information space as soon as possible, combining intelligence and destruction tools at the strategic, operational and tactical management level," Putin said.

US Fuels Conflict in Ukraine by Sending Mercenaries, Advisers

The US is encouraging the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine by sending mercenaries and military advisers there, the president noted.

"In their effort to weaken our country and deliver a strategic defeat, the US continues to supply the regime in Kiev that is in fact illegitimate with weapons and money, while sending mercenaries and military advisers, thereby encouraging further escalation of the conflict," Putin said.

The US government tries to frighten its people with claims that Russia plans to attack other nations, Putin added.

Mass Production of Oreshnik Missile to Begin Soon

Mass production of the Oreshnik missile complexes will be ensured in the near future, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"We pay serious attention to improving the combat strength of the armed forces, increasing their capabilities," Putin said.

"It is necessary to tweak all issues of mass production and deployment of such domestic strike systems, including hypersonic ones.

He pointed out that the medium-range Oreshnik ballistic missile, recently combat-tested in Ukraine was Russia's newest weapons, and assured that it would enter mass production. Russia needs to increase the production of UAVs, the president added.

"It is necessary to increase the production of robotic complexes and unmanned systems of various classes and types," Putin said.

Russian froces receive several thousand drones every day, he added.

Russia Will Not Let Arms Race Stop Economic Development

Russia is getting involved into a full-scale arms race to the detriment of socio-economic development, Vladimir Putin said.

"Given the growing geopolitical tension, we are forced to take additional measures to ensure the security of Russia and our allies," Putin said. "We do this carefully and thoughtfully, without getting drawn into a full-scale arms race to the detriment of the socio-economic development of our country."

Tracking of the launch of medium-range missiles and intercepting them was now crucial to Russia's defense, the president added.

West backing terrorists in Syria – Russia

Russia has reports that the US and the UK might be implicated in supporting the al-Qaeda-affiliated militants currently on the offensive in Syria, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Islamist militants pose outside the captured Military College in the city of Aleppo, December 1, 2024, Syria.
©Anas Alkharboutli/picture alliance via Getty Images

Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group, previously known as Jabhat al-Nusra, launched a surprise attack from Idlib last week and has since taken Aleppo and Hama. US journalist Tucker Carlson asked Lavrov who was supporting the terrorists in Syria, during the interview that aired on Thursday.

”Well, we have some information,” Lavrov said. “The information which is being floated and it’s in the public domain, mentions, among others, the Americans, the Brits. Some people say that Israel is interested in making this situation aggravated so that Gaza is not under very close scrutiny.”

“It’s a complicated game. Many actors are involved,” the Russian diplomat added.

Lavrov explained to Carlson that Russia, Iran, and Türkiye brokered a ceasefire in Syria in 2017 and again in 2020, calling this Astana Format “a useful combination of players.”

“The rules of the game are to help Syrians to come to terms with each other and to prevent separatist threats from getting strong,” the diplomat said. “That’s what the Americans are doing in the east of Syria when they groom some Kurdish separatists using the profits from oil and grain sold, the resources which they occupy.”

“We would like to discuss with all our partners in this process the way to cut the channels of financing and arming” the terrorists, he added.

Lavrov has already spoken with his Turkish and Iranian colleagues, he told Carlson, and intends to meet with them again on Friday at a conference in Qatar. Russia will push for “strict implementation” of the deal concerning Idlib because that province of Syria is where the terrorists emerged from.

“The arrangements reached in 2019 and 2020 provided for our Turkish friends to control the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone and to separate the HTS from the opposition, which is non-terrorist and which cooperates with Türkiye,” Lavrov said.

Military and security leaders of all three countries are also in contact with each other, Russia’s top diplomat added.

Carlson sought a meeting with Lavrov, saying he was appalled that the US and Russia are inching closer to an open war over Ukraine. He also tried to get an interview with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky but this was blocked, reportedly by the US government.

Magnitude 7 quake strikes off California, tsunami warning canceled

Broken bottles are scattered on the floor inside E&J Liquors after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, Dec. 5, 2024, in Rio Dell, California.
Savana Robinson via AP

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off California on Thursday morning, briefly triggering a tsunami warning for the coast of Northern California and southern Oregon.

The quake occurred at around 10:44 a.m. and originated about 62 miles west of Ferndale, California, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The tsunami warning was issued for coastal areas from Davenport, California, to the border between Douglas and Lane counties in Oregon. The Tsunami Warning Center canceled the warning at about 11:55 a.m.

In Humboldt County, the area on land closest to the epicenter, about 10,000 people lost power, but no injuries or deaths were reported.

Some Californians scrambled to get to higher ground after today's tsunami warning was issued, but a damaging wave never materialized. That sequence of events suggests that the warning system needs improvement, said Lori Dengler, an expert on tsunamis and the Mendocino fault zone, where this quake occurred.

Officials with @Cal_OES are actively responding to the earthquakes this morning in Northern California.

Californians should follow guidance from local emergency responders. Get earthquake safety tips ➡️ https://t.co/gIKZPSxNaV https://t.co/Hf8DjEN3aj

— Governor Newsom (@CAgovernor) December 5, 2024

The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center issued the tsunami alert at 10:49 a.m. PT, then canceled it more than an hour later, at 11:54 a.m. PT.

“We need to work hard at reducing unnecessary alerts,” said Dengler, an emeritus professor in geology at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. “We need to know within 5 to 10 minutes if a tsunami was produced, and at present, it was kind of crazy having a tsunami warning in place for so long.”

NOAA uses a network of buoys and seafloor sensors, called DART, to help detect tsunamis. Dengler said the system needs to be expanded to give forecasters a better chance of receiving the data they need to make quicker and more reliable decisions about tsunami forecasts.

“The closest DART systems are hundreds of miles away” from today's earthquake epicenter, Dengler said. “You really need more ocean bottom instruments to detect what’s happening near the source quickly.”

Shake alerts in the USGS's earthquake early warning system were delivered as far north as Lincoln City, Oregon, and as far south as Salinas, California, the agency said.

"System was activated and performed as designed. Still trying to ascertain how much warning people received," the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of any damage.

The earthquake was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. As Thursday afternoon, at least 40 aftershocks have been recorded by USGS in Northern California following

UN condemns attacks on aid workers, the ‘last lifeline’ in Gaza

Palestinians inspect a car covered in bullet holes after the Israeli army killed four young men in the occupied West Bank village of Sair, south of Jenin on Sunday [Jaafar Ashtiyeh/AFP]

Muhannad Hadi, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, has called for accountability after Israeli forces killed four more humanitarian workers in Gaza on Saturday.

The victims included three staff members from World Central Kitchen, who were killed in an attack on their vehicle in southern Khan Younis. A staff member for Save the Children was killed in a separate air strike.

“Humanitarian workers in Gaza represent the last lifeline for over two million Palestinians who are enduring unimaginable conditions,” Hadi said, noting that more than 330 humanitarian workers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

“Their work is not just critical; it is indispensable,” he said.

UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory Muhannad Hadi stressed that, since October 2023, over 330 humanitarian workers have been killed in the embattled enclave.

Yesterday, 4 humanitarian workers in #Gaza were killed by Israeli airstrikes.
Humanitarian workers represent the last lifeline for over two million Palestinians who are enduring unimaginable conditions.
Statement by Humanitarian Coordinator Muhannad Hadi: https://t.co/p6rUU8oTYQ

— OCHA OPT (Palestine) (@ochaopt) December 1, 2024

"Yesterday, another four humanitarian workers in Gaza were killed by Israeli airstrikes. Three World Central Kitchen staff members were killed when their vehicle was struck at a distribution site in Khan Younis. The fourth, a staff member of Save the Children, was killed in a separate air strike in southern Khan Younis," he noted in a statement published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

He also stressed that, since October 2023, over 330 humanitarian workers have been killed in the embattled enclave. "Humanitarian workers in Gaza represent the last lifeline for over two million Palestinians who are enduring unimaginable conditions—without adequate food, water, sanitation, shelter, health care, or education, and living under the constant threat of violence. Their work is not just critical; it is indispensable," the official emphasized.

"The continued killing of humanitarian workers is an unacceptable violation of international law and further intensifies the catastrophic humanitarian situation," Hadi concluded.

The situation in the Middle East escalated dramatically when, on October 7, 2023, armed Hamas supporters from the Gaza Strip breached Israeli territory, killing residents of border settlements and seizing more than 240 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a military operation in the enclave to destroy the military and political structures of Hamas and liberate all the hostages. The hostilities in the Gaza Strip continue to this day.

Israeli strikes kill at least six people, including children

Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least six people overnight, including two children, ages 6 and 8, in their family's tent, medical officials said Sunday.

The strike in the Muwasi area, a sprawling coastal camp housing hundreds of thousands of displaced people, also wounded their mother and 8-month-old sister, according to nearby Nasser Hospital. An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies, which were buried in the sand.

A separate strike in the southern city of Rafah, on the border with Egypt, killed four men, according to hospital records.

The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in either location. Israel says it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians, but its daily strikes across Gaza often kill women and children.

In a separate development, a projectile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen set off air raid sirens in central Israel. The Israeli military said it intercepted the projectile before it entered Israeli territory.

Former defense minister accuses Israel of war crimes A former top Israeli general and defense minister has accused the government of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces have been waging their latest offensive against Hamas.

The army has sealed off the towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya and the Jabaliya refugee camp and allowed almost no humanitarian aid to enter. Tens of thousands of people have fled. The United Nations estimates up to 75,000 remain.

Anti-NATO protesters burn cars in Canada - Video

At least three people have been arrested after anti-NATO and pro-Palestinian protesters rioted on the streets of Montreal, torching cars, vandalizing shopfronts, and clashing with police. The Francophone Canadian city hosts NATO’s annual summit this weekend.

A crowd of anti-NATO demonstrators assembled at a park in the center of the city on Friday afternoon, before converging with an anti-Israel demonstration held nearby, police told local media.

Although initially peaceful, police said that the protest turned violent after the anti-Israel contingent burned an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and began hurling flares and projectiles at riot officers.

Montreal right now.

Understand that they want this for every single Jewish person on Earth, but use the word "zionist" to cloak their intentions.@JustinTrudeau are you proud of the sh*thole you've reduced Canada to in just 10 years?

https://t.co/P6qNufC6Hd

— 𝗡𝗶𝗼𝗵 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴 ♛ ✡︎ (@NiohBerg) November 23, 2024

A group of masked rioters then made their way down Rene-Levesque Boulevard, smashing windows along the busy commercial thoroughfare. Two vehicles were set ablaze before police officers used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Three people were arrested for allegedly assaulting officers, a police spokesperson said.

#Palestine #NATO protest in #Montreal

Protesters smash windows at the Palais des Congres and @tvanouvelles journalist @hassinhadi get assaulted and hit with some foam. #polcan #polqc #manifencours pic.twitter.com/A2X005v7tQ

— ProtestMTL (@MtlProtest) November 23, 2024

CHAOS AU CENTRE-VILLE
Voiture incendiée, vitres fracassées, journaliste aspergé de peinture: la manifestation contre l’OTAN à Montréal dégénère; voyez les images en cliquant sur le lien👇https://t.co/QYHHQKRVYq pic.twitter.com/EW7BLSYO09

— TVA Nouvelles (@tvanouvelles) November 23, 2024

The protests took place as hundreds of NATO delegates arrived in Montreal for the bloc’s annual summit. Running from Friday through Monday, the summit will include high-level talks on missile defense, climate change, and “supporting Ukraine until victory,” according to NATO’s website.

Vladimir Zelensky spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this month, after which the Ukrainian leader announced that Canada would send a NASAMS air defense system to Ukraine by the end of the year.

One day before the protests, groups of pro- and anti-Israel demonstrators clashed at Montreal’s Concordia University, where tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian students went on strike and refused to attend classes. One of the left-wing student groups leading the strike said that it was times to coincide with the summit, accusing NATO of backing the “ongoing genocide” in Gaza.