War

Russia’s Defense Ministry has reported that one of Russia’s top spies, Col.-Gen. Igor Sergun, has died aged 58 unexpectedly. The ministry have failed to give a cause of death, but say his death was sudden. Cbsnews.com reports: The military intelligence service, widely known by the acronym GRU, is believed to be Russia’s largest foreign intelligence operation. Ukraine has alleged that soldiers connected with the GRU have taken part in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where government forces and Russia-backed separatists have been fighting since April 2014.

Earlier today, in “Mid-East Melee: Sectarian Showdown Looms As Bahrain Cuts Ties With Iran, UAE Recalls Ambassador,” we brought you the latest from the war-torn Mid-East where a worsening spat between Saudi Arabia and Iran threatens to plunge the region into chaos.

Hezbollah in Lebanon has ambushed an Israeli patrol with a roadside bomb at its disputed border with Israel. The militant group has claimed retaliation for the death of one of their senior commanders, allegedly assassinated by Israel recently. The patrol supposedly included a senior Israeli officer that was targeted, according to the group. The Belfast Telegraph reports: Hezbollah said it set off a large explosive device as the patrol passed in the disputed Chebaa Farms area, destroying a vehicle and causing casualties among the soldiers inside.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack near Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Monday. A senior US official said the target was a convoy of American embassy guards, moving to a secure compound in Afghan capital. No one was killed, but 28 people were wounded. The country’s public health ministry says that at least 19 adults and 9 children were being treated in facilities around the city.

Two weeks ago, the IAF assassinated infamous Lebanese militant Samir Kuntar.

Kuntar was held by Israel for nearly three decades in connection with his role in a 1979 raid that killed four people including a four-year-old girl. He returned to Lebanon in 2008 in a prisoner swap with Hezbollah, which he subsequently joined.

To the Israelis, Kuntar is evil incarnate - the very embodiment of terrorism. For many in Iran and Lebanon, he’s something of a folk hero. Here he is with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah: