Press TV News Headlines

Kabul explosion 

Afghanistan is reporting an explosion outside the military airport in the capital, Kabul. The spokesman for the Afghan Ministry said the blast caused civilian casualties, but he did not specify the exact number. The cause of the explosion was not immediately clear and an investigation is underway. The military airport is close to the Taliban's Interior Ministry's building. In the past few months, Afghanistan has witnessed an increasing number of security incidents, including explosions. Just three days ago, several people were injured in a blast that rocked the capital of the northern Takhar province. 

Iran army drills 

The Iranian Army’s air defense units have warned off several foreign spy aircraft flying near the area of the ongoing exercises in the Persian Gulf. That’s according to a statement by the media headquarters of the drills. The development came after a number of manned and unmanned foreign aircraft tried to approach the area of the drills to collect intelligence. In response, the Iranian Army units launched a Karrar drone after issuing radio warnings, forcing the intruding aircraft to leave the area. According to the statement, the Iranian air defense radars detected the foreign aircraft at an altitude of 23,000 feet. The Karrar drone is a turbojet-powered unmanned combat aircraft capable of delivering payloads comparable to manned aircraft. The Iranian Army is staging large-scale exercises in the Sea of Oman and north of the Indian Ocean. The drills are aimed at testing domestically-built military equipment and enhancing the country's preparedness against potential threats.

Russia-Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the West lied about peace and was preparing for aggression, provoking Russia to launch its military operation in Ukraine. He made the remarks in a New Year message aimed at rallying the Russian people behind troops in their 10-month-old war against Ukraine. Putin also described the war as a near-existential fight for the future of Russia. He said 2022 was a year of difficult and necessary decisions. The Russian president pledged victory over Ukraine’s 'neo-Nazis', accusing the West of being bent on destroying Russia. Putin rejected Ukraine’s calls for Russian troops to leave as a precursor to peace negotiations. He added that Russian troops are defending the people of Russia and its historical territory. Putin also slammed the opponents of the war at home, saying it has separated courage from cowardice. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also issued a New Year message, saying that 2023 will be about one thing and that is victory.

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