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US State Department: Sending Syrian Fighters to Ukraine an Unjustified Escalation

First responders work in a building that was struck by a Grad rocket attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 15, 2022. Wolfgang Schwan | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
First responders work in a building that was struck by a Grad rocket attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 15, 2022. Wolfgang Schwan | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
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US State Department: Sending Syrian Fighters to Ukraine an Unjustified Escalation

First responders work in a building that was struck by a Grad rocket attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 15, 2022. Wolfgang Schwan | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
First responders work in a building that was struck by a Grad rocket attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine on March 15, 2022. Wolfgang Schwan | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

The United States considered the transfer of foreign fighters to participate in the Russian invasion of Ukraine an “unjustified” escalation, saying that Moscow must instead focus on ending the war.

A spokesperson from the US Department of State told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that Russian President Vladimir Putin's statements regarding sending Syrian and foreign fighters to Ukraine is an additional unjustified escalation against Ukraine.

The spokesperson, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that this attitude shows the Russian mentality and its destructive approach used in Syria, being brought to Ukraine as well.

He added that Russia’s focus should be put on ending the war instead of bringing more suffering to the Ukrainians.

Putin on Friday approved plans to recruit 16,000 fighters from the Middle East to take part in the war in Ukraine.

“If you see that there are people who want of their own accord — not for money — to come to help … then we need to give them what they want and help them get to the conflict zone,” Putin told Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu at a security council meeting in Moscow.

Observers in the US see the decision to summon "mercenaries" from the Middle East, namely Syria, is a clear indicator that Russia does not plan to back down on its military operations in Ukraine.

But Ukraine has succeeded in slowing down the Russian military advancement since Feb. 24 when Putin ordered the invasion. It also urged foreign volunteers to join Ukraine in its defense.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that more than 40,000 Syrian pro-regime fighters have registered to go to Ukraine to fight alongside the Russians.

"More than 40,000 Syrians have registered to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine so far," said SOHR head Rami Abdel Rahman.

Abdel Rahman said Russia had drawn Syrian army recruits from the 25th Special Mission Forces Division, once better known as the "Tiger Forces".

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World

Merz Says Disaster Narrowly Averted in Russia-Prepared Drone Attack at Airport

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz looks on during a debate at the German parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, 09 September 2026. (EPA)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz looks on during a debate at the German parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, 09 September 2026. (EPA)
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Merz Says Disaster Narrowly Averted in Russia-Prepared Drone Attack at Airport

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz looks on during a debate at the German parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, 09 September 2026. (EPA)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz looks on during a debate at the German parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, 09 September 2026. (EPA)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport had been prepared in Russia over an extended period and that a disaster was only narrowly ‌averted.

"This attack ‌was planned in ‌Russia ⁠for months and ⁠was specifically targeted at Germany, and only by pure chance was major material damage and harm to people ⁠prevented," Merz told the lower ‌house ‌of parliament.

Merz spoke after ‌the far-right Alternative for ‌Germany scored a major victory in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, running ‌on a platform that includes calls for ⁠closer ties ⁠with Moscow.

Russia has rejected any involvement in the drone incident at Leipzig airport, and its foreign minister has said these accusations were "the start of a real war".

World

UK Rejects Israel’s ‘Damaging’ Sanctions Retaliation

A view shows the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, 09 September 2026. (EPA)
A view shows the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, 09 September 2026. (EPA)
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UK Rejects Israel’s ‘Damaging’ Sanctions Retaliation

A view shows the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, 09 September 2026. (EPA)
A view shows the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, 09 September 2026. (EPA)

British foreign minister Ed Miliband on Wednesday condemned as "regrettable and damaging" Israel's decision to order the closure of the UK's consulate in Jerusalem as retaliation for London-led Western sanctions over settler violence. 

"We anticipated this might happen because we saw other countries, the Dutch, for example, who had announced sanctions, who had seen these reprisals from Israel. I think they're regrettable and damaging," Miliband told BBC Radio. 

Israel on Tuesday ordered the closure after 12 countries including Britain, Canada and France announced they would sanction trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, following a surge in settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. 

Israel said it would also expel British representatives at a center monitoring the US-brokered ceasefire plan in Gaza, bar British training for Palestinian Authority forces and ban 12 Britons, mostly members of parliament, from visiting the country. 

Miliband rejected suggestions that the sanctions would impact intelligence cooperation with Israel. 

"We have important intelligence and security relationships with Israel, and I'm confident they will continue," he said, declining to go into details. 

"And I was very clear yesterday that we do believe in working with our Israeli partners when it comes to the threats they face from Iran," he added. 

Miliband also dismissed the criticism of the sanctions by Britain's chief rabbi. 

Ephraim Mirvis on Tuesday called the measures "little more than political flag-bearing". 

He said it was a "truly a dark day for British Jews", predicting that the measures "will succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target". 

Several antisemitic attacks in London this year have targeted synagogues and other Jewish sites. 

World

Netanyahu Will Make Quick Trip to Speak at UN After Mamdani Urged His Arrest, Diplomat Says

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, speaks during the party's presentation of new team members for the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, Israel, 08 September 2026. (EPA)
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, speaks during the party's presentation of new team members for the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, Israel, 08 September 2026. (EPA)
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Netanyahu Will Make Quick Trip to Speak at UN After Mamdani Urged His Arrest, Diplomat Says

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, speaks during the party's presentation of new team members for the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, Israel, 08 September 2026. (EPA)
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party, speaks during the party's presentation of new team members for the upcoming elections, in Jerusalem, Israel, 08 September 2026. (EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a whirlwind 24-hour trip to speak at the annual UN gathering of world leaders this month because “there is no option” after New York’s mayor urged his arrest over the war in Gaza, Israel’s UN envoy said Tuesday.

Ambassador Danny Danon accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of “doing politics” when he called the prime minister a “war criminal” and called for his arrest, which he had to withdraw because New York City does not have authority to take Netanyahu into custody.

“You know, it became very trendy to do politics by blaming Israel,” Danon added. He stressed, “For us, it’s important the prime minister will come.”

Netanyahu has become an increasingly polarizing figure over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Mamdani, whose office did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Tuesday, has pointed to the arrest warrant issued by the world’s top war crimes tribunal against Netanyahu in November 2024, accusing him and another Israeli official of crimes against humanity.

The International Criminal Court warrant said there was reason to believe Netanyahu used “starvation as a weapon of warfare” by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeting civilians in the campaign against Hamas — charges Israel denies.

While New York City does not have legal authority to execute an ICC arrest warrant, Mamdani has encouraged the federal government to do so. The US and Israel are not members of the court, and the Trump administration has imposed a series of sanctions on ICC staffers in a campaign to dismantle the tribunal.

Netanyahu is scheduled to arrive in New York late on Sept. 23, address the UN General Assembly the afternoon of Sept. 24 and fly back to Israel that night, Danon said.

Danon noted that the meeting of leaders from the 193 UN member nations is taking place during the Jewish holidays and an election campaign as Netanyahu tries to keep his job as prime minister.

Danon said protests against Netanyahu would “create more chaos” on New York streets during the high-level meetings the week of Sept. 22-28.

Last year, there was a mass walkout from the UN General Assembly hall when Netanyahu started to speak from the podium. This year, Danon said, “I expect that there will be something like another show.”

But the ambassador said Netanyahu is experienced, “and I’m sure he will deliver his speech despite those attempts.”