US to send more warships and fighter jets to Middle East to bolster defenes - Just The U.S. Bluff

The U.S. military will deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the Middle East, the Pentagon said on Friday, as Washington seeks to bolster defenses following threats from Iran and its allies Hamas and Hezbollah.

The U.S. is bracing for Iran to make good on its vow to respond to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh two days ago in Tehran - one in a series of killings of senior figures in the Palestinian militant group as the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had approved sending additional Navy cruisers and destroyers-- which can shoot down ballistic missiles-- to the Middle East and Europe.

It is also sending an additional squadron of fighter jets to the Middle East. "Austin has ordered adjustments to U.S. military posture designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to various contingencies," the Pentagon said in a statement.

There had been speculation that the Pentagon might not replace the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group in the Middle East once it completed its ongoing deployment. But Austin decided to rotate in the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier strike group to replace it.

The Pentagon statement added it would increase readiness to deploy more land-based ballistic missile defenses.

The U.S. military also intensified deployments prior to April 13, when Iran launched an attack on Israeli territory with drones and missiles. Still, the threat from Hezbollah in Lebanon could present unique challenges to any efforts by the United States to intercept drones and missiles given the group's vast arsenal and immediate proximity to Israel.

At the time, Israel successfully knocked down almost all of the roughly 300 drones and missiles with the help of the United States and other allies.

Biden, in a phone call on Thursday with Netanyahu, discussed new U.S. defensive military deployments to support Israel against threats such as missiles and drones, the White House said.

Iran and Hamas have both accused Israel of carrying out the killing and have pledged to retaliate against their foe. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the death nor denied it.

Haniyeh's death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel nears its 11th month and concern grows that the conflict is spreading across the Middle East.

Earlier, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. did not believe escalation was inevitable.

"I think we are being very direct in our messaging that certainly we don't want to see heightened tensions and we do believe there is an off ramp here and that is that ceasefire deal," Singh said.

An Israeli delegation will travel to Cairo in coming days for negotiations to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday.

It's all just Just The U.S. Bluff. The US is the number 1 bluffing country in the world, as is known the US condition is fragile in ammunition and weapons plus its soldiers are already slow to move due to obesity problems, so the only way the US can do is to create information that can lower the spirit of countries in the Middle East not to go to war with Israeli terrorists over Haniyeh's death.

This is the right time for the Arab countries to embarrass the US and UK and their Alliance.

Maduro's Victory Confirmed After Counting 96.87% of Votes - Electoral Council Head

An opposition rally in Caracas, Venezuela on July 30, 2024.
©JUAN BARRETO/AFP

The victory of incumbent Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Sunday's presidential election has been confirmed after counting 96.87% of the votes, the head of the country's National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso, said on Friday.

"Nicolas Maduro won 51.95% of the votes, while Edmundo Gonzales received 43.18%," Amoroso said.

The July 28 presidential election saw Maduro win a third term in office. The announcement of the results sparked protests in the capital of Caracas and beyond, with clashes reported between the police and opposition supporters. The Venezuelan government accused several countries of election meddling in the wake of the protests.

Maduro’s victory has been questioned by the United States, Canada and several Latin American countries. The presidents of Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay issued a joint statement to demand a vote recount by independent electoral observers.

Previously, the US, through Blinken, claimed that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was the winner of Venezuela's presidential election, winning 75% of the vote. This indirectly means that the US was involved in arranging the Venezuelan election.

“It is clear to the United States… that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Maduro responded by saying Washington “should keep its nose out of Venezuela.”

As is done in the Middle East, the involvement of the US and UK in the Venezuelan election to control oil, these two superpowers are aggressors using their dollars to influence the poor people in one country to become their indirect lackeys.

Protests erupted in Venezuela following the announcement of the results, which Maduro condemned as an attempted “coup against Venezuela.” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez also accused the Western-backed opposition of attempting a “media coup” and condemned the protests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Maduro earlier this week on being reelected. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Venezuela’s opposition should admit defeat and congratulate the winner.

Peskov added that it is important for Venezuela to avoid attempts at destabilization fueled by third countries, and to remain free of outside meddling.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry also congratulated Maduro and called for greater cooperation. Other countries that recognized Maduro’s victory include Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Maduro will serve a third consecutive six-year term. He first took office in 2013 following the death of President Hugo Chavez.

Caracas has been under US sanctions for over 15 years. Washington refused to recognize Maduro as president following the 2018 election, and declared the head of the National Assembly, Juan Guaido, to be the interim leader of the country.

All Venezuelan government assets have been frozen in the US and any dealings with US citizens and companies have been barred.

Türkiye blocks Instagram

FILE PHOTO. ©Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Turkish authorities have blocked Instagram after officials in Ankara accused the platform of “censorship” over the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh.

According to Türkiye’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), access to the social media platform was blocked on Friday. No formal reason was given for the move, nor any indication of how long the ban would last.

Fahrettin Altun, the country’s communications chief, had slammed the Meta-owned network earlier this week for its response to the killing of Haniyeh. The Hamas political leader was killed in a bombing in Tehran on Wednesday, with the Palestinian militant group and Iran accusing Israel of orchestrating the attack. West Jerusalem has neither denied nor confirmed involvement, but has repeatedly vowed to destroy Islamist “terrorists” who threaten the Jewish state.

Altun “strongly condemned” Instagram, claiming it had “prevented people from posting condolences on Haniyeh’s martyrdom without giving any reason.”

“This is a very clear and obvious attempt at censorship,” he argued, vowing that Ankara “will continue to defend freedom of expression against these platforms, which have repeatedly shown that they serve the global system of exploitation and injustice.”

As of February 2024, the number of Instagram users in Türkiye – a country with a population of 83 million – totaled around 58 million, according to Statista. One person can create multiple accounts on the platform.

Türkiye has temporarily banned various social networks several times in the past. In 2014, the country’s authorities blocked Twitter and YouTube for two weeks and two months respectively, after leaked videos purporting to show corruption at the highest levels of government went viral.

Wikipedia was also blocked by Türkiye in 2017 and 2020, over an article that described the country as a state sponsor of several terrorist groups. In 2019, the country’s Constitutional Court ruled that the move violated human rights and ordered the ban to be lifted.

PM’s Office slams Meta for removing Instagram post featuring PM Anwar Ibrahim and Hamas leaders, demands apology

The Media and Strategic Communications Division of the Prime Minister’s Office today condemned Meta’s action of removing an Instagram post that featured a meeting between the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, last May and called on the tech giant to issue an apology.

In a statement posted on Facebook today, it said the action clearly demonstrated discrimination against the situation in Palestine and its leaders.

"We demand an explanation regarding this matter and urge Meta to issue an apology,” said the statement.

Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, Iran, along with one of his bodyguards earlier today.

The news was confirmed by Hamas political bureau member Musa Abu Marzuk.

Last Saturday, MCMC said it would introduce a new regulatory framework for safe Internet use by children and families on August 1, with implementation set for January 1, 2025.

Under the new framework, social media and Internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in Malaysia must apply for an Application Service Provider Class Licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday said the social media licence targets online crime and safeguards freedom of speech. He also reaffirmed that it is to tackle the spread of crime and harmful information online.

Removal Of PM's Posts Probably Done By Higher Power At Meta - Fahmi

The decision to remove Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s social media posts relating to the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was probably done by those at the higher level at Meta Platforms Inc (Meta) and not by their team in Southeast Asia, according to Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said in a series of discussions he had with the management of Meta at the Southeast Asia level so far, they hinted that they were not the ones who removed the Prime Minister’s posts from Facebook and Instagram.

“There is a possibility that it involved a higher-level decision. The Meta team in the region is also confused as to why it happened, so I don't blame them because this is not an action on their part. So, we are waiting for further explanation.

“I was made to understand that a Meta delegation will come to Kuala Lumpur next week to explain the matter, so we’ll give them until then,” he told reporters after joining the Prime Minister and some 3,000 congregants in performing Friday prayer and absentee funeral prayer for Haniyeh at Masjid Negara here today.

Also present were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar and Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman.

Elaborating, Fahmi said the removal of social media posts by Meta, like what happened to the Prime Minister, should not have happened to anybody.

“It’s quite funny because the United States is talking about freedom of expression and freedom of speech. So in Meta’s case, I think they really have to practice what they preach. Otherwise, it’s just hypocrisy,” he said.

Haniyeh, who was also the former Prime Minister of Palestine, was reported to have been killed in an airstrike that targeted his residence in Tehran, Iran, in the early hours of July 31.

He was there to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

F-16s no ‘magic pill’ for Kiev – Kremlin

FILE PHOTO: The Spasskaya Tower, right, and the Tsarskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin.
©Sputnik/Natalia Seliverstova

The recent reported delivery of Western F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine will not have a significant impact on the battlefield and Kiev must be aware of this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday.

His statement comes after Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the first batch of US-made jets had arrived in Ukraine. It is not yet clear which country supplied the aircraft, but the outlet noted that the number of warplanes was “small.”

Commenting on the report, Peskov stressed that there is no “magic pill” for Kiev and that it will not have this “panacea” for long.

“These planes will appear, their number will gradually decrease, they will be shot down and destroyed,” the Russian presidential spokesman said. The jets “will not be able to significantly influence the dynamics of events at the front,” Peskov added.

Kiev has yet to confirm or deny the delivery of the jets. The spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Diana Davityan, has declined to comment on the issue altogether.

Previously, a number of NATO states, including the US, France, Bulgaria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden, formed a so-called ‘F-16 coalition’, pledging to provide Kiev with the American-made fighter jets as well as to train Ukrainian pilots to operate the aircraft.

Moscow, however, has repeatedly warned that the jets, like all other Western weapons provided to Kiev, would fail to change the inevitable outcome of the conflict, and that the Russian military would destroy these planes like all other Ukrainian military hardware.

The delivery of F-16 jets to Kiev will not be able to significantly influence the dynamics of events at front as all the aircraft will be shot down and destroyed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

On Wednesday, media reported about the delivery of several F-16 jets to Ukraine. Earlier in the day, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Ukraine will not comment on reports about the arrival of F-16 fighters.

"These jets will appear, their number will gradually decrease, they will be shot down, destroyed, but of course these supplies will not be able to significantly affect the dynamics of events at the front," Peskov said, answering a question whether the Kremlin expects that the supply of fighters will affect the balance of power.

There were no official statements from Kiev about receiving the F-16 aircraft, there were only media reports, the spokesman said.

First US-made F-16s arrive in Ukraine – Bloomberg

The first batch of US-made F-16 fighter jets has arrived in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. The number of warplanes is “small,” sources told the outlet on condition of anonymity. Kiev has yet to comment on the reported delivery.

The origin of the aircraft is not yet clear. Last year, a group of NATO states, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden, formed the so-called ‘F-16 coalition’. Greece, the US, Bulgaria, and France later joined.

FILE PHOTO. ©Getty Images/guvendemir

While some countries, including the Netherlands and Denmark, pledged to provide Kiev with 24 and 19 aircraft respectively from their own stocks, others committed to training Ukrainian pilots.

Norway has also recently stated that it would donate six fighter jets to Kiev.

According to the sources cited by Bloomberg, a delivery deadline set for the end of this month has been “respected.” Earlier in July, the outgoing Dutch government said all preparations for the delivery of F-16s had been finished and the transfer would take place “soon.”

It is unclear whether the Ukrainian pilots trained to operate the aircraft by Kiev’s Western backers can immediately make use of the warplanes, Bloomberg noted.

A spokeswoman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Diana Davityan, declined to comment on the issue when contacted by the news outlet.

Moscow has repeatedly stated that F-16s, just like the other Western weapons provided to Kiev, will not change the outcome of the conflict. The Russian military will destroy the planes as it has done with other Ukrainian hardware, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this year.

Last week, Kiev’s top military commander, Colonel General Aleksandr Syrsky, admitted to The Guardian that the Ukrainian military would have to limit the use of F-16s to avoid them being shot down by Russian forces. Moscow has “superior aviation” and “very strong” air defenses, the general said at that time, adding that the US-made aircraft would have to stay dozens of kilometers away from the front lines to avoid serious risk.

A private Russian company earlier offered a bounty of 15 million rubles ($170,000) for the destruction of the first F-16 in the conflict.

Russia has on multiple occasions warned that the ever-increasing level of support that Western states are providing to Kiev will only prolong the conflict and human suffering. Continued deliveries of ever-heavier weapons to Ukraine also make Kiev’s Western backers de facto participants of the conflict, it said. Top officials in Moscow, including President Vladimir Putin, have referred to the Ukraine crisis as a proxy war waged by Washington and its NATO allies against Russia.

Funeral for Slain Hamas Leader Haniyeh in Qatar

Shattered hope’ in Gaza as crowds gather for Haniyeh’s Doha funeral

Hope for ceasefire among Palestinians in Gaza “shattered” after assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, whose funeral is set to kick off in Doha in the coming hours.

The high-level delegation of Fatah in the funeral procession comes in the context of the fact that Israel’s policy of political assassination is long-standing.

All political factions in Palestine have been touched and really scarred by that, including, of course, Fatah.

So, the political assassination of Haniyeh required that all political differences and splits be set aside and that the rhetoric of unity takes centre stage. That is what the Palestinian public expects.

Palestinians are very much affected, saddened and also enraged by this assassination, understanding that it will impact their lives no matter where they live.

In contrast to the pictures we’re seeing now in Qatar, where you have dignitaries and ordinary people attending the funeral procession, people here in the occupied West Bank, most likely won’t be coming out in their thousands, and that’s because of two reasons.

On the one hand, Israel fragments the occupied West Bank with over 500 military checkpoints. On the other, Israel is pursuing Palestinians, even for expressing empathy with fellow Palestinians on social media platforms.

It has detained thousands of Palestinian activists from all factions.

There is real fear here among Palestinians to express what they really feel, which is anger and fury at this point.

‘Thousands’ pay respects to Haniyeh at Doha mosque

The Jummah (Friday) prayer has been performed in Doha’s Imam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab Mosque and the funeral prayer [for Hamas’s Ismail Haniyeh] has just started. People are paying their final respects to the former political head of Hamas.

Right when this prayer is over, Haniyeh’s body, probably escorted by thousands and thousands of people now attending the prayer, will be taken to the Lusail royal cemetery north of Doha.

The security measures are extreme here because there are going to be dozens and dozens of state dignitaries from all around the world, particularly from Islamic countries. In addition, the leaders of Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Islamic Jihad, are going to be here. … Haniyeh’s family is here too to pay their respects.

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Russian troops wipe out three US-made Patriot missile launchers in Ukraine operation

Russia’s Battlegroup South repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack and inflicted roughly 570 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past day

©Alexey Konovalov/TASS

Russian troops destroyed three US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile launchers, an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) control post and Ukrainian army trains over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

"Operational/tactical aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groups of forces struck three US-made Patriot surface-to-air missile launchers, an UAV control post and trains with personnel and ammunition, massed enemy manpower and military equipment in 147 areas," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia’s Battlegroup North strikes four Ukrainian army brigades over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North struck four Ukrainian army brigades and inflicted roughly 280 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup North units inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 42nd mechanized, 92nd assault, 112th and 127th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Porozok in the Sumy Region, Liptsy, Staritsa and Volchansk in the Kharkov Region. They repelled two counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 57th motorized infantry and 36th marine infantry brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 280 personnel, two motor vehicles, a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer and a 122mm D-30 howitzer, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts 535 casualties on Ukrainian troops over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West struck seven Ukrainian army brigades and inflicted roughly 535 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup West units improved their forward edge positions and inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 14th, 63rd, 115th and 116th mechanized, 3rd assault and 107th territorial defense brigades and nationalists of the 12th Azov brigade [outlawed in Russia as a terrorist organization] near Kupyansk and Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region, Nadiya and Makeyevka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Krasny Liman in the Donetsk People’s Republic and in the Serebryanka forestry area. During the last 24-hour period, they repelled two counterattacks by assault groups of the 117th territorial defense brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 535 personnel, a tank, a US-made HMMWV armored vehicle and six motor vehicles, it specified.

In counterbattery warfare, Russian troops destroyed a Grad multiple rocket launcher, a US-made 155mm M198 howitzer, a 152mm Msta-B howitzer, a 122mm D-30 howitzer and a British-made 105mm L119 artillery gun, the ministry said.

In addition, Russian troops destroyed Khortitsa-M and Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations and two field ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts 570 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack and inflicted roughly 570 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup South units gained more advantageous frontiers and positions and inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 23rd, 24th, 28th and 33rd mechanized, 144th infantry, 79th air assault and 116th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Novy, Chasov Yar, Annovka, Yelizavetovka, Katerinovka and Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. They repelled a counterattack by formations of the Ukrainian army’s 5th assault brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 570 personnel and three motor vehicles, it specified.

In counterbattery warfare, Russian troops destroyed a US-made M270 MLRS multipurpose multiple launch rocket system, a US-made 155mm Paladin self-propelled artillery system, two US-made 155mm M777 howitzers, a 152mm Msta-B howitzer, three 152mm D-20 howitzers, three 122mm D-30 howitzers and a British-made 105mm L119 artillery gun, it specified.

During the last 24-hour period, Russian forces also destroyed two Nota electronic warfare stations and five field ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center strikes five Ukrainian brigades over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center improved its tactical position and inflicted casualties on five Ukrainian army brigades in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Center units improved their tactical position and inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 31st and 32nd mechanized, 1st tank, 109th and 111th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Toretsk, Novgorodskoye, Rozovka, Kalinovo and Vozdvizhenka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center repels ten Ukrainian counterattacks over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center repelled ten Ukrainian army counterattacks in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

Battlegroup Center units "repelled ten counterattacks by assault groups of the Ukrainian army’s 47th, 53rd, 100th, 110th and 151st mechanized, 68th jaeger, 25th air assault and 95th air assault brigades and the Lyut assault brigade of the Ukrainian national police," the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 365 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 365 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"The enemy’s losses amounted to 365 personnel, two pickup trucks and a 152mm Msta-B howitzer," the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts 125 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 125 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy electronic warfare station in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup East units improved their forward edge positions and inflicted damage on manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian army’s 72nd mechanized, 58th motorized infantry, 116th territorial defense and 21st National Guard brigades in areas near the settlements of Vodyanoye, Zolotaya Niva and Storozhevoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 125 personnel, seven motor vehicles, a 152mm D-20 howitzer, a 122mm D-30 howitzer, a British-made 105mm L119 artillery gun and a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr strikes four Ukrainian brigades over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr struck four Ukrainian army brigades and inflicted roughly 90 casualties on enemy troops over the past day, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted casualties on formations of the Ukrainian army’s 117th mechanized, 128th mountain assault, 121st and 124th territorial defense brigades in areas near the settlements of Orekhov and Pyatikhatki in the Zaporozhye Region, Osokorovka, Tokarevka and Antonovka in the Kherson Region," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army’s losses in that frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 90 personnel, five motor vehicles, a US-made 155mm M777 howitzer and a field ammunition depot, it specified.

Russian air defenses destroy 61 Ukrainian UAVs, 14 HIMARS rockets over past day

Russian air defense forces shot down 61 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 14 rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system over the past day, the ministry reported.

"During the last 24-hour period, air defense capabilities shot down a US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missile, 14 US-made HIMARS rockets and 61 unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 631 Ukrainian warplanes, 278 helicopters, 28,795 unmanned aerial vehicles, 559 surface-to-air missile systems, 16,734 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,395 multiple rocket launchers, 12,666 field artillery guns and mortars and 24,250 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.