New Hezbollah chief says open to truce with Israel if offer is made

BEIRUT, Oct 31: Hezbollah's new leader, Naim Qassem, stated on Wednesday that the Lebanese militant group could agree to a ceasefire under specific conditions, as Israeli forces escalated their bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds. This development comes amid discussions within Israel's security cabinet regarding potential terms for a truce.

Qassem, who assumed leadership following the assassination of his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah last month, expressed Hezbollah's readiness to resist Israeli military actions for an extended period. However, he acknowledged the possibility of a negotiated ceasefire if Israel presents a credible offer.

"If the Israelis decide that they want to stop the aggression, we say we accept, but under the conditions that we see as appropriate and suitable," he remarked during an interview with Al-Jadeed.

Israeli forces have intensified operations, targeting the eastern city of Baalbek, which is known as a Hezbollah stronghold. Recent Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed a senior Hezbollah commander and caused significant casualties, with Lebanon's health ministry reporting at least 19 deaths in Baalbek alone.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati expressed "cautious optimism" about the possibility of a ceasefire, noting that U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein suggested that an agreement could be reached before the U.S. elections on November 5.

Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen confirmed ongoing discussions within the security cabinet about potential truce terms, which may include a 60-day halt to hostilities, contingent upon Hezbollah's withdrawal from areas near the Israeli border.

As explosions rocked Baalbek, Israeli military officials stated they were targeting Hezbollah's "command and control centers." The increased hostilities have resulted in significant casualties on both sides; a tally indicates at least 1,754 deaths in Lebanon since the conflict reignited in September.

On the international front, the U.S. State Department announced that President Biden's Middle East adviser and Hochstein were en route to Israel to push for progress on ceasefire negotiations in both Lebanon and Gaza. This follows a series of deadly strikes in Gaza that have drawn global condemnation.

As the situation evolves, the potential for a ceasefire hangs in the balance, with diplomatic efforts intensifying amid ongoing violence.

North Korea confirms launch of ICBM in longest-ever ballistic missile test

SEOUL, Oct 31: North Korea has confirmed it launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) towards waters off its eastern coast in what was the longest flight time yet for a North Korean missile, authorities in South Korea and Japan said, raising fears of advanced weapons development by Pyongyang.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was present at the missile test launch on Thursday and issued a warning to his enemies, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

“The test-fire is an appropriate military action that fully meets the purpose of informing the rivals, who have intentionally escalated the regional situation and posed a threat to the security of our Republic recently, of our counteraction will,” Kim was quoted as saying by KCNA.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement the missile launched towards the East Sea, which is also known as the Sea of Japan, was detected at about 7:10am (22:10 GMT) and was fired on a “lofted trajectory”.

The JCS said later that initial analysis points to a possible use by North Korea of a newly developed solid-fuel booster for its long-range missiles.

Japan’s Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said the missile, which splashed down about 300km (190 miles) west of Japan’s Okushiri Island, off the country’s northern Hokkaido region, had flown the longest time of any of Pyongyang’s past missile tests.

Netanyahu lays out war strategy in Gaza and Lebanon, says top goal is preventing Iran from going nuclear

JERUSALEM, Oct 31: Speaking at the end of an IDF combat officers training course at Bahad 1 near Mitzpe Ramon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israeli freedom to stop Hezbollah attacks is more important than ceasefire agreements in Lebanon.

“The agreements, the papers, the proposals, the numbers [UN Security Council Resolution] 1509, 1701 — all these have their place, but they are not the main thing,” he says, hours after meeting and making a similar point to top White House Middle East aides.

“The main thing is our ability and our determination to enforce security, to thwart attacks against us and to act against the arming of our enemies as much as is necessary despite all the pressures and constraints — that is the main thing.”

Amid chants of “Bibi, Bibi” and regular applause, Netanyahu says Israel attacked Iran’s “soft underbelly” in its recent strikes.

“The brash words of the leaders of the regime in Iran cannot cover up the fact that Israel has greater freedom of action in Iran today than ever before. We can reach anywhere in Iran as needed.”

Last week, the Israeli Air Force attacked anti-aircraft batteries and radar sites in Iran in retaliation for a massive Iranian ballistic missile attack on October 1.

The IDF’s supreme goal is stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, the premier says.

“I have not removed, we have not removed and we will not remove our eyes from this goal. For obvious reasons, I cannot detail our plans for achieving this supreme goal.”

Netanyahu says that the fight against the Iranian axis is guided by the “total victory concept.”

“I am not establishing a date for the end of the war, but I am establishing clear goals for victory in the war,” he says.

Seemingly pushing back against criticism that the military effort since October 7, 2023, has been mismanaged, the premier says: “There is a path, there is a direction. There are clear goals.”

“We chose to focus initially on pounding Hamas militarily in Gaza, and not to divide our forces between two main efforts at the same time,” Netanyahu explains.

“After we destroyed Hamas’s organized force, after 90 percent of the residents returned home safely in the south, we focused our efforts on the north.”

Israel is “changing the strategic reality in the Middle East,” he boasts, but warns that Israel is still “in the eye of the storm.”

“I really, really appreciate the support of the US,” says Netanyahu. “When possible — I say yes. When I have to — I say no.”

Netanyahu blasts “those who pushed for a premature diplomatic arrangement in Lebanon before we destroyed the tunnel network on our border, before we eliminated [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah and his replacement, and his replacement’s replacement. Before we destroyed much of Hezbollah’s rocket arsenal.”

He notes that more than half of the hostages taken in Hamas’s October 7 onslaught have been brought home from Gaza, and adds that Israel is working to get the rest back, but contends that this is a matter for action behind the scenes rather than talking about publicly.

Netanyahu also goes out of his way to praise IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.

Germany shuts down Iran’s consulates after execution of dual national

BERLIN, Oct 31: Germany ordered the closure of all three Iranian consulates in the country on Thursday in response to the execution of Iranian-German prisoner Jamshid Sharmahd, who had lived in the United States and was abducted by Iranian security forces in Dubai in 2020, a news agency reported.

Sharmahd, 69, was executed in Iran on Monday on terrorism charges, according to the Iranian judiciary, following a 2023 trial that Germany, the US, and international human rights groups condemned as a sham. The decision to close Iranian consulates in Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich, announced by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, leaves the Islamic Republic with only its embassy in Berlin.

The German Foreign Ministry had already summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires on Tuesday to protest Sharmahd’s execution. German Ambassador Markus Potzel also conveyed his objections to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, before returning to Berlin for consultations.

Sharmahd was one of several Iranian dissidents abroad who were either lured or abducted back to Iran in recent years, amid Tehran’s increasing reprisals following the collapse of its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, including Germany.

Iran accused Sharmahd, who lived in Glendora, California, of planning a 2008 attack on a mosque that killed 14 people — including five women and a child — and injured over 200 others, as well as plotting further attacks through the little-known Kingdom Assembly of Iran and its Tondar militant wing.

Additionally, Iran accused Sharmahd of “disclosing classified information” on missile sites of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard during a television appearance in 2017. His family disputed these allegations and campaigned tirelessly for his release.

Iran dismissed Germany’s objections. Araghchi posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, saying, “a German passport does not provide impunity to anyone, let alone a terrorist criminal.” He accused Baerbock of “gaslighting” and added, “your government is complicit in the ongoing Israeli genocide.”

Germany, a strong ally of Israel, has condemned Iranian attacks on Israel as tensions escalate over the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

The closure of consulates, a rare diplomatic measure for Germany, signals a significant downgrade in already strained relations. Last year, Berlin instructed Russia to close four of its five consulates in Germany after Moscow limited the number of German staff at its embassy and related bodies in Russia.

On Tuesday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated that “the execution of a European citizen is seriously harming relations between Iran and the European Union.” He added, “In view of this appalling development, the European Union will now consider targeted and significant measures,” without further elaboration, AP reported.

Sharmahd had been in Dubai in 2020, planning to travel to India for a business deal related to his software company, attempting to catch a connecting flight amid pandemic-related travel disruptions. Sharmahd’s family received their last message from him on July 28, 2020. Although details of the abduction remain unclear, tracking data showed Sharmahd’s phone moving south from Dubai to Al Ain on July 29, then crossing the border into Oman. By July 30, the phone signal appeared in the Omani port city of Sohar, where it subsequently stopped.

Spain flood death toll soars to 158, rescuers say

MADRID, Oct 31: Spain mourned at least 158 deaths on Thursday and authorities told people in flood-stricken regions to stay at home as rescuers raced to find survivors in the rare disaster.

An exceptionally powerful Mediterranean storm from Tuesday unleashed heavy rains and torrents of mud-filled water that swept away people and wrecked homes, with the eastern Valencia region hit hardest.

The body coordinating rescue work in the Valencia region announced that 155 bodies had been recovered there by Thursday afternoon.

Officials in Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia had announced a combined three deaths in their regions on Wednesday.

With many people still missing and some areas remaining inaccessible to rescuers, government ministers had warned Wednesday's provisional toll of 95 was likely to rise.

"Please, stay at home... follow the calls of the emergency services," pleaded Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

"Right now the most important thing is to save as many lives as possible," Sanchez told residents of the eastern Valencia and Castellon provinces.

King Felipe VI warned the emergency was "still not over" and national weather service AEMET put parts of eastern and southern regions on high alert levels for rain on Thursday.

Flags flew at half-mast on government buildings and minutes of silence were observed nationwide at the start of three days of national mourning after Spain's deadliest floods in decades.

Eliu Sanchez, a resident of a suburb of Valencia city, recalled how the merciless currents snatched a man who tried to take refuge on a car.

"I have been told of people who were clinging to trees, but the force made them let go and they were carried away, calling for help. Trucks, everything was going from here to there," said Sanchez, 32.

Iran will be hit very, very hard if it retaliates, says Israel's military chief

JERUSALEM, Oct 30: Amid the ongoing conflict, the Israeli military on Tuesday warned Iran that it would be hit "very, very hard" if it retaliated against Israel for its attacks on Tehran last week.

Israel's military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi warned that if Iran again launches ballistic missiles at Israel, then the military will respond using “abilities we didn’t use” in the strikes last week.

"If Iran makes the mistake and launches another barrage of missiles at Israel, we will once again know how to reach Iran, reach even with capabilities that we did not use this time, and hit very, very hard both the capabilities and in places that we left aside this time," Halevi said to air crews at the Ramon Air Base.

He said that certain targets had been set aside “because we may be required to do this again.” "This event is not over; we are still in the midst of it," Halevi added, according to a statement issued by the military.

On Saturday, Israeli fighter jets attacked Iranian military targets and missile production facilities in retaliation for a major ballistic missile attack by Tehran earlier this month.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran was seeking to develop a "stockpile" of nuclear bombs aimed at destroying his country. "Iran is striving to develop a stockpile of nuclear bombs to destroy us, equipped with long-range missiles, intercontinental missiles that Iran is trying to develop," Netanyahu said.

Israel and Hezbollah have been fighting across the Lebanese border since the war in Gaza erupted after Hamas attacked Israeli towns on October 7, 2023.

Taliban Ban Afghan Women 'From Hearing Each Other': Report

KABUL, Oct 30: Taliban in Afghanistan have reportedly issued a new decree imposing further restrictions on women, now prohibiting them from praying aloud in each other's presence.

According to The Metro, the Taliban have banned women's voices from being heard amongst other women. Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's minister for virtue, has said it was forbidden for adult women to allow their voices to be heard. He emphasised they must not perform an Islamic prayer or recite the Quran. The Taliban have also forbid female healthcare workers from meeting with their patients's male companions.

"When women are not permitted to call takbir or athan [the Islamic call to prayer], they certainly cannot sing songs or music," he said in remarks reported on Saturday.

"Even when an adult female prays and another female passes by, she must not pray loudly enough for them to hear... How could they be allowed to sing if they aren't even permitted to hear each other's voices while praying, let alone for anything else?" Hanafi was also quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

A woman's voice is considered awrah, meaning that which must be covered and shouldn't be heard in public, even by other women, the minister said.

In October this year, Afghanistan's Taliban morality ministry pledged to implement a law banning news media from publishing images of all living things, with journalists told the rule will be gradually enforced.

It comes after the Taliban government recently announced legislation formalising their strict interpretations of Islamic law that have been imposed since they swept to power in 2021.

Israeli strikes reportedly kill more than 150 in northern Gaza and Lebanon

JERUSALEM, Oct 29: More than 150 people are reported to have been killed in Israel’s latest attacks in northern Gaza and Lebanon.

At least 93 Palestinians were killed when an Israeli attack flattened a five-storey residential building housing displaced people in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya on Tuesday, the head of Gaza’s Government Media Office said. Overnight, at least 60 people were killed in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.

Israel carried out the attacks as the humanitarian situation in both Gaza and Lebanon deteriorates. Conditions in northern Gaza, which has been under an Israeli siege since early October, are particularly harsh.

Despite the high death toll and worsening plight of those still living in northern Gaza, ceasefire talks that have resumed in Qatar are not expected to achieve a breakthrough while Israel has moved to halt the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is the main lifeline for most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people.

Hezbollah names Naim Qassem as new chief to replace Nasrallah

BEIRUT, Oct 29: Hezbollah has announced Naim Qassem as its new head. Qassem, whose promotion from deputy leader was announced on Tuesday, replaces Hassan Nasrallah as secretary-general of the Lebanon-based armed group.

Nasrallah was killed in Beirut in late September by an Israeli strike. Many other senior Hezbollah officials have also been targeted since Israel turned its focus on the group that month.

In a statement, Hezbollah said Qassem was elected to take up the position due to his “adherence to the principles and goals of Hezbollah”.

It added that the group would “[ask] God Almighty to guide him in this noble mission in leading Hezbollah and its Islamic resistance”.

As Mossad head goes to Doha, Egypt proposes 2-day ceasefire for release of 4 hostages

JERUSALEM, Oct 28: Mossad chief David Barnea flew to Doha on Sunday to discuss attempts to move toward a hostage release deal with CIA Director Bill Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the officials will discuss “the various possibilities to restart negotiations for the release of hostages from Hamas captivity, based on recent developments.”

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by IDF troops earlier this month, a development Israeli and Western leaders have described as an “opportunity” to make progress on a deal that would see the release of some or all the hostages held in Gaza.

Hamas will not be involved in this round of meetings, said an Israeli official, but could potentially join a subsequent round, with mediators shuttling between the terror group and Israeli negotiators.

Qatar hosts a number of top Hamas leaders on its territory.

Israel is exploring the possibility of a small deal designed to kick-start talks with Hamas about a comprehensive deal, said the official, and to understand Hamas decision-making after Sinwar’s death.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said in a Cairo press conference on Sunday that his country had proposed a two-day ceasefire in Gaza to exchange four Israeli hostages for some Palestinian prisoners.

The Egyptian proposal — which would include 10 days of negotiations after the release of the 4 hostages — was presented by Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar last week to the national security cabinet, Channel 12 reported. Though most of the ministers and all the security chiefs present supported the idea, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir opposed it, according to the news outlet.

According to Al Arabiya, Hamas is willing to accept the Egyptian proposal as long as it is incorporated into its July 2 demands for a hostage deal. It also wants guarantees that Israel will commit to the Egyptian proposal being part of a comprehensive deal.

Hamas will present negotiators with a comprehensive deal for an immediate end to the war and a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of a certain number of Palestinian detainees in return for the release of all Israeli hostages at once, Hamas officials told the Saudi channel Asharq News.

The offer is expected to be submitted following the meeting in Doha on Sunday.

Israel says it eliminated 3 top Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon

TEL AVIV, Oct 27: Israel on Sunday said it eliminated three commanders of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

“The Commander of Hezbollah’s Bint Jbeil Area, Ahmed Jafar Maatouk, was eliminated in an IAF strike. A day later, the IAF also eliminated his successor and Hezbollah's head of artillery in the Bint Jbeil area,” the Israel Defence Forces said in an X post.

“These three terrorists directed and carried out numerous terrorist attacks from the Bint Jbeil area including launching anti-tank missiles toward Israeli civilians and IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon,” the IDF added.

Israel on Sunday bombarded Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, a day after its airstrikes on Iran.

According to a report, the Israeli military said it killed 70 Hezbollah fighters and struck 120 targets in southern Lebanon and carried out "precision strikes" on weapons factories and storage facilities in the Iran-backed group's southern Beirut stronghold over the past day.

Smoke hung over the suburbs of Beirut after overnight strikes, which came after the Israeli military issued new evacuation warnings.

The Lebanese news agency reported bombing in the southern cities of Tyre and Nabatiyeh.

The war has left at least 1,615 people dead in Lebanon since September 23, according to a tally based on official figures, though the real number is likely to be higher due to gaps in the data.

Th Israeli military said four of its soldiers were killed in southern Lebanon, bringing to 36 the total number of Israeli soldiers killed since the start of ground operations on September 30.

In another development, Hezbollah said it fired rockets at a military base in northern Israel, a day after it declared several areas in the region a "legitimate target" due to the presence of Israeli troops.

The Iran-backed group said it targeted a "military industries base north of Haifa... with a large rocket salvo", after it issued an evacuation warning on Saturday for large swathes of northern Israel.

Israel's attack should neither be downplayed nor exaggerated, says Iran's Khamenei

TEHRAN, Oct 27: Iranian officials should determine how best to demonstrate Iran's power to Israel after the Israeli attack on Iran two nights ago, Iran's official IRNA news agency cited the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying on Sunday.

"The evil committed by the Zionist regime (Israel) two nights ago should neither be downplayed nor exaggerated", IRNA cited Khamenei as saying.

Iran on Saturday played down Israel's overnight air attack against Iranian military targets, saying it caused only limited damage, as US President Joe Biden called for a halt to escalation that has raised fears of an all-out conflagration in the Middle East.

Scores of Israeli jets completed three waves of strikes before dawn against missile factories and other sites near Tehran and in western Iran, Israel's military said.

Khamenei said Iran's power should be demonstrated to Israel, adding that the way to do so should be "determined by the officials and that which is in the best interest of the people and the country should take place".

Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei Seriously Ill, Son Likely To Be Successor: Report

NEW YORK, Oct 27: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is reportedly “seriously ill” and a quiet battle of succession has emerged. This comes as the country mulls its response to the Israeli strikes early on Saturday

According to a report published by The New York Times, Khamenei’s second oldest son, Mojtaba Khamenei (55), is likely to succeed him. The 85-year-old’s condition is said to be serious, with even the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps weighing to have a say in who will succeed him.

Khamenei has served as the supreme leader since 1989 after the death of Ruhollah Khomeini. There have been concerns over the succession after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash last year. The Times said there has been “internal disquiet” over the possible succession ever since Raisi’s death.

The leader’s illness makes the situation more complicated in the aftermath of Israel’s response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack on military sites. Iranian officials have said they do not want any further escalation. Not only Iran, Israel has also struck targets in Iraq and Syria.

Hence, Iran’s dilemma is now acute with faltering allies, a failing economy and, now, an ailing supreme leader prompting a succession battle.

Iran’s military issued a carefully worded statement on Saturday night suggesting a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon trumps any retaliation against Israel. While saying it had the right to retaliate, the statement suggested Tehran may be trying to find a way to avoid further escalation.

Iran’s military further said Israel used so-called “stand-off” missiles over Iraqi airspace to launch its attacks, and that the warheads were much lighter in order to travel the distance to the targets they struck in three provinces in Iran. The statement said Iranian military radar sites had been damaged, but some already were under repair.

Israel Conducts 'Precise Strikes' On Iran, Explosions Heard Around Tehran

JERUSALEM, Oct 26: Israel has launched targeted strikes against Iran, with its military saying the strikes are in response to the October 1 missile attack, during which Iran fired approximately 200 ballistic missiles at Israel.

"In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel, the IDF is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran," the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement. Israeli officials have clarified that these attacks are justified as measures of self-defence. IDF's spokesperson Daniel Hagari also urged Israeli citizens to "remain alert and vigilant."

The United States confirmed it was informed of the impending strike, although no US personnel or assets were involved in the operation. Sean Savett, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, termed Israel's actions as "an exercise of self-defence and in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack against Israel."

Iranian state TV reported "strong explosions" around Tehran on Saturday morning, without specifying their cause. The semi-official Tasnim News Agency noted that no rockets or aircraft were reported in the skies over Tehran at the time of the explosions.

Iranian state TV claimed that the blasts heard around Tehran were due to the "activation of the air defence system." "The loud blasts heard around Tehran were related to the activation of the air defence system against the actions of Zionist regime which attacked three locations outside of Tehran city," state TV reported

Iranian authorities suggested the noises could be related to defensive measures, hinting at the possibility that Iran's air defence systems had been activated.

In addition to Tehran, residents in the nearby city of Karaj reported hearing blasts. Iranian authorities say that operations at critical sites such as the Imam Khomeini International Airport, Mehrabad Airport, and a prominent oil refinery south of Tehran were "normal" and unaffected by the strikes. However, several military bases near Tehran were reportedly targeted by Israeli forces, according to Iran's Fars News Agency.

Reports of explosions from Syria's state news agency SANA noted that Syrian air defences were activated in response to "hostile targets" near the capital, Damascus. While there was no official statement connecting the Syrian incidents directly to the Israeli strikes in Iran, explosions were heard in Damascus and central regions.

In recent weeks, Israel has intensified operations against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon - both allies of Iran - following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
This brutal assault, labelled the deadliest attack in Israel's history, has triggered relentless Israeli offensives across Gaza and heightened security measures along Israel's northern border with Lebanon to counter Hezbollah's influence.

100 Israeli jets hit Iran's military, drone facilities

TEL AVIV, Oct 26: Israel strikes Iran: A total of 100 Israeli fighter jets carried out the attacks in three waves on 20 missile and drone facilities of Iran. Here are the inside details of how 'Operation Days of Repentance' unfolded.

A total of 100 fighter jets carried out the attacks in three waves on 20 missile and drone facilities of Iran. The first wave of attacks was on Iran's radar and air defence facilities, clearing the path for following strikes on military bases. Iran's missile and drone facilities were targeted in the second and third wave.

The fighter jets carried out the strikes in groups of 25-30. While 10 jets conducted the coordinated missile strikes, the others provided cover and diversion. During the strikes, called 'Operation Days of Repentance', Israeli and US air defences were on high alert to handle retaliatory missile strikes.

The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel's retaliation for the ballistic-missile barrage carried out by Iran on October 1. Israel had to postpone its retaliatory strikes due to weather conditions. Since its missiles use camera seekers to hit the targets, Israel was waiting for clear weather to carry out the operation.

However, Iran said its air defence system successfully countered Israel's attacks in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam with "limited damage" to some locations. Iran and its neighbour Iraq closed their respective airspace following the attacks.

India reiterates call for ‘restraint’ after Israeli strikes on Iran

NEW DELHI, Oct 26: India on Saturday expressed concern over the tensions in Middle East after Israel carried out attacks on Iran.

In a statement, the ministry of external affairs said,"We are deeply concerned by the evolving escalation in West Asia and its ramifications for peace and stability in the region and beyond. We reiterate our call to all concerned to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy."

“The ongoing hostilities are to nobody’s benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer. Our Missions in the region are in contact with the Indian community,” the MEA statement added.

Hamas Says Ready To Stop Fighting If Israel Accepts Gaza Ceasefire

JERUSALEM, Oct 25: Israel said Thursday its spy chief will attend Gaza ceasefire talks and Hamas vowed to stop fighting if a truce is reached, as long-stalled efforts to end the war appeared to gain momentum.

Previous bids to stop the year-long war have failed, though the United States has voiced hope the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week could serve as an opening for a deal.

A senior Hamas official said that a delegation from the group's Doha-based leadership discussed "ideas and proposals" related to a Gaza truce with Egyptian officials in Cairo on Thursday.

"Hamas has expressed readiness to stop the fighting, but Israel must commit to a ceasefire, withdraw from the Gaza Strip, allow the return of displaced people, agree to a serious prisoner exchange deal and allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza," the official said.

The talks in Cairo were part of Egypt's ongoing efforts to resume ceasefire negotiations, he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he welcomed Egypt's readiness to reach a deal "for the release of the hostages" still held by militants in Gaza.

After the Cairo meeting, Netanyahu directed the head of Israel's Mossad spy agency to leave for key mediator Qatar on Sunday to "advance a series of initiatives that are on the agenda," the prime minister's office said.

Earlier on Thursday, the United States and Qatar said Gaza ceasefire talks would resume in the Qatari capital.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Qatar's leaders in Doha on Thursday on his 11th trip to the region since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel sparked the Gaza war.

During the trip, which comes less than two weeks before US elections, Blinken said that mediators would explore new options.

He said they were seeking a plan "so that Israel can withdraw, so that Hamas cannot reconstitute, and so that the Palestinian people can rebuild their lives and rebuild their futures".

Qatar said that US and Israeli teams would fly to Doha, with Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani adding that Qatari mediators had "re-engaged" with Hamas since Sinwar's death.

Ahead of Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha, top Israeli negotiator David Barnea holds talks in Egypt: Report

TEL AVIV, Oct 25: Ahead of the ceasefire talks in Qatar later this week, Israel chief negotiator David Barnea has met with Egyptian spy chief Hassan Rashad, according to a report.

Barnea, the chief of Israeli external intelligence agency Mossad, is the pointsman for talks for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and release of hostages. As Israel and Hamas do not directly engage with each other, Egypt and Qatar mediate the talks with facilitation from the United States.

While talks have been stalled for over two months over the extreme positions of both Israel and Hamas, there has been a renewed push for a deal to end the war after the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar earlier this month.

Israeli Hebrew-language outlet Ynet reported that Barnea returned to Israel after holding talks with Rashad on Friday.

Barnea and Rashad discussed at length a new outline for a hostage deal and its advancement as well as closer cooperation in thwarting terrorism, said Ynet, according to an English translation of the news story.

Israeli sources told the outlet that the Barnea-Rashad meeting was in a good spirit.

The Barnea-Rashad meeting comes ahead of the meeting of US, Qatari, and Israeli negotiators in Doha on Sunda. US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director William Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani will be part of the meeting.

Earlier, Rashad had held a meeting with Israeli internal intelligence agency Shin Bet’s chief Ronen Bar.

While Egypt will not be part of the talks on Sunday, it has been closely involved in efforts to get the negotiating process up and running again, according to The Times of Israel.

North Korea claims ‘troop deployment to Russia’ conforms to international law

SEOUL, Oct 25: North Korea said Friday that any troop deployment to Russia would be in line with international law, state media reported, but stopped short of confirming it had sent soldiers.

"If there is such a thing that the world media is talking about, I think it will be an act conforming with the regulations of international law," said Kim Jong Gyu, vice foreign minister in charge of Russian Affairs, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.

Seoul and Washington have accused the nuclear-armed North of sending thousands of troops to Russia, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saying they could be sent into battle as early as Sunday.

Seoul, which has long accused the North of sending vast shipments of weapons to Russia, has pointed to videos circulating online which appear to show North Korean soldiers in Russian uniforms at military bases in the Far East.

North Korea's representatives at the United Nations have dismissed the claims.

In the first mention of the issue in North Korean state media, vice foreign minister Kim Jong Gyu said he had "heeded the rumour of the dispatch of Korean People's Army troops to Russia".

North Korea's Foreign Ministry "does not directly engage in the things of the Ministry of National Defence, and does not feel the need to confirm it separately," he said.

Were it to exist, "it will be an act conforming with the regulations of international law," he said.

"There will evidently exist forces which want to describe it as illegal one," Kim added.

South Korea has slammed the deployment of troops, calling on Russia to stop "illegal cooperation" with Pyongyang, and warned it would review its stance on providing weapons directly to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Domestic policy bars Seoul from selling weaponry into active conflict zones, but the country -- a top arms exporter -- has already sold billions of dollars of tanks, howitzers, attack aircraft and rocket launchers to Poland, a key ally of Kyiv.

Hezbollah arms factories hit in south Beirut strikes: Israel Army

TEL AVIV, Oct 24: The Israeli military said on Thursday it hit several Hezbollah weapons production facilities in overnight strikes on the group's south Beirut stronghold.

"Overnight, the IAF (air force) conducted intelligence-based strikes on several weapons storage and manufacturing facilities belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation in the area of Dahiyeh," the military said in a statement.

Lebanese state media reported that six buildings were levelled in at least 17 Israeli strikes during the night.

The military said that the sites it hit were "located by Hezbollah under and inside civilian buildings in the heart of populated areas".

'Border Peace, Mutual Trust And Respect Should Be Priority': Modi To Xi

KAZAN, Oct 23: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi todayme Chinese President Xi Jinping here today and said that it was his belief that the importance of India-China relations was not just for the citizens of the two countries, but also very significant for peace, stability, and progress for the entire world.

The first bilateral meeting between the two leaders happened since 2019. Ties between India and China had taken a severe hit since the military stand-off in Ladakh as a result of Beijing's "unilateral" actions of violating the Line of Actual Control, the de-facto boundary between the two countries.

The bilateral talks between Modi and Xi took place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in the city of Kazan in Russia. It happened less than 72 hours after a breakthrough in talks - both at diplomatic and military levels - ensuring that the status quo returns to what it was before May 2020, when the stand off in Ladakh began with the military clash in Galwan.

The breakthrough in the patrolling arrangement comes four years after the Galwan Valley clash and signals a move towards de-escalation in a region where both countries stationed tens of thousands of troops.

The meeting underscored the upturn in the India-China relation following a consensus on patrolling arrangement along the Line of Actual Control that had faced multiple hiccups over the last few years.

The Prime Minister said:

"Excellency, I am happy to meet you, and like you mentioned, this is a formal meeting between us after five years. It is my belief that the importance of India-China relations is not just for the citizens of our two countries, but also very significant for peace, stability, and progress for the entire world.

Excellency, We welcome the consensus reached on the issues that have arisen in the last 4 years along the border. It should be our priority to ensure there is peace and stability along our border. Mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual sensitivity should be the basis our bilateral relations. Today, we have got an opportunity to speak about all these issues and I trust that we will hold these talks with an open mind and that our talks will be constructive going forward. Thank you."

What Xi said:

"Mr Prime Minister, it is my great pleasure to meet you here in Kazan. It is the first time for us to have a formal (bilateral) meeting in five years time. Both the people in our two countries and the international community are paying close attention to our meeting.

China and India are both ancient civilisations, major developing countries, and important members of the Global South. We are both at a crucial phase in our respective modernisation endeavours. It best serves the fundamental interest of our two countries and two peoples for both sides to keep to the trend of history and the right directions of our bilateral relations.

It is important for both sides to have more communication and cooperation, properly handle our differences and disagreements, and to facilitate each others pursuit of development aspirations. It is also important for both sides to shoulder our international responsibility, set an example for boosting the strength and unity of the developing countries, and to contribute to promoting multipolarisation and democracy in international relations.

Mr Prime Minister, I am prepared to exchange views with your excellency on our bilateral relationship and issues of mutual interest."

Hezbollah Confirms Nasrallah's Likely Successor Killed In Israeli Strike

BEIRUT, Oct 23: Hezbollah confirmed Wednesday that Israel killed Hashem Safieddine, the apparent successor of its ex leader Hassan Nasrallah, in a strike, without saying when or where it happened.

The announcement came a day after Israel said he was killed along with other Hezbollah leaders in an air strike in Beirut's southern suburbs three weeks ago.

"We mourn... the head of the Executive Council of Hezbollah, his eminence the scholar Sayyed Hashem Safieddine," the Iran-backed group said in a statement, adding he was killed by "a criminal and aggressive Zionist raid" alongside other Hezbollah fighters.

The deeply religious Safieddine, a cleric with family ties to Nasrallah, had been widely viewed as the most likely candidate for the party's top job after the assassination of Nasrallah on September 27 in a huge Israeli air strike on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Safieddine, a member of the group's governing Shura Council, had strong ties to Iran after undergoing religious studies in the Islamic republic's holy city of Qom.

The United States and Saudi Arabia had put him on their respective lists of designated "terrorists" in 2017.

2 Terrorists And 4 Civilians Killed, 14 Injured In Turkey Terror Attack

ISTANBUL, Oct 23: Four people were killed and 14 others wounded in an attack on the headquarters of a top Turkish defence firm near Ankara, Turkish officials said Wednesday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was holding talks in Russia with Vladimir Putin at the time, confirmed the toll, and condemned what he said was a "heinous terrorist attack" at state-run Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said three of the injured were in critical condition and that two attackers "a woman and a man, have been neutralised".

He said work was under way to determine their identities but did not say whether there were any other attackers still at large.

Local media broadcast footage showing clouds of smoke and a large fire raging at the site in Kahramankazan, a small town some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Ankara.

The incident happened as Erdogan was meeting Vladimir Putin at a summit in Kazan, with the Russian leader expressing his condolences over the attack.

Media outlets which had been showing live footage from the scene were forced to halt their broadcasts after Turkey's media watchdog ordered a blackout of images from the site.

Haberturk TV said there was an ongoing "hostage situation" without giving further details, while the private NTV television spoke of gunshots after the blast, which took place around 4:00 pm (1300 GMT).

There was no immediate claim for the attack but the justice minister said an investigation had been opened.

NTV spoke of a suicide attack, saying "a group of terrorists" had burst into TAI's headquarters and one of them blew themself up.

Images shown by Haberturk suggested one attacker was a woman, while Sabah newspaper published a CCTV image from cameras at the building's entrance of a black-clad young man with a moustache carrying a rucksack and what appeared to be an assault rifle.

The attack drew condemnation from Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu as well as opposition leader Ozgur Ozel, who heads the CHP.

"I condemn the terrorist attack against TAI facilities in Kahramankazan... I condemn terrorism, no matter who or where it comes from," Ozel wrote on X.

According to TAI's website, the state-run company, which is also a major arms producer, employs 15,500 people and has a vast production site covering an area of five million square metres.

In Meet With Putin, Modi's Push For Peaceful Solution To Ukraine War

KAZAN, Oct 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that India believes in peaceful solutions to conflicts, referring to the Russia-Ukraine issue. Both leaders met, and hugged each other, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit today.

The summit of the informal group of states comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) is being held in Russia's Kazan.

Modi congratulated the success of the BRICS grouping over the fact that many other nations want to join it.

"We have been in touch with all sides in the Russia-Ukraine problem. It has always been our position that all conflict can be solved with dialogue. We believe there should be peaceful solutions to conflicts. India is always ready to help bring peace," Modi said.

There will be a 'Kazan Declaration' at the end of the summit, when five new BRICS members will be formally added.

The BRICS Summit visit is PM Modi's second visit to Russia this year. He had been to Moscow in July to attend the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit where he held a bilateral meeting with Putin. He was also conferred with Russia's highest civilian award, the Order of St Andrew the Apostle at the Kremlin.

India and Russia share a 'special and privileged strategic partnership'.

"Russian-Indian relations have the character of a particularly privileged strategic partnership and continue to actively develop," Putin told Modi.

India is also a big customer of Russian oil, much to the West's chagrin. The US and its western allies have been supporting Ukraine and working to hurt Russia in trade. India has said it will buy oil from anywhere it gets a good deal, which will benefit the citizens of India.

Russia has touted the BRICS Summit as a diplomatic triumph that shows Western attempts to isolate Moscow over the Ukraine conflict have failed.

The US has dismissed the idea that BRICS could become a "geopolitical rival" but has expressed concern over Moscow flexing its diplomatic muscle as the Ukraine conflict rages.

Blinken arrives in Israel as US looks to renew cease-fire efforts

TEL AVIV, Oct 22: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Tuesday with Netanyahu as part of his 11th visit to the region since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. After Israel’s killing last week of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Blinken is trying to revive efforts to secure a cease-fire in Gaza. So far, both Israel and Hamas appear to be digging in.

Netanyahu called his meeting with Blinken, which lasted more than two hours, “friendly and productive.”

Blinken landed hours after Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets into central Israel, setting off air raid sirens in populated areas and at its international airport, but causing no apparent damage or injuries.

Nearly 50 flights receive bomb threats on October 22; around Rs 600 crore loss likely for airlines in 9 days

NEW DELHI, Oct 22: Nearly 80 domestic and international flights received bomb threats in less than 24 hours that later turned out to be hoaxes, keeping thousands of passengers and security agencies on tenterhooks.

The estimated losses incurred by airlines due to the disruptions would be around Rs 600 crore, according to two former airline officials.

On Tuesday alone, around 50 flights, including 13 each of IndiGo and Air India received bomb threats. Akasa Air got the threats for over 12 flights and as many as 11 flights of Vistara also received the threats, the sources in the know said.

Around 30 flights of IndiGo, Air India and Vistara got bomb threats on Monday night, they added.

In nine days, more than 170 flights operated by Indian carriers have received bomb threats, mostly through social media, that also forced the diversion of some of the international flights.

On average, disruption to a domestic flight would cost around Rs 1.5 crore while the expenses would be around Rs 5-5.5 crore for an international flight, said an official, who has worked in the finance department of a domestic airline.

A back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that the average cost of disruption caused to domestic and international flights would be around Rs 3.5 crore, and for more than 170 flights, the total expenses or loss for the airlines would be around Rs 600 crore.

The figures are broad based since many other factors like narrow-body and wide-body planes, and duration of a flight also need to be taken into consideration.

Another official, who has served in the finance department of another domestic airline, said the operational costs are higher for wide-body planes compared to narrow-body planes. Apart from direct expenses such as fuel and airport parking charges, there are also indirect costs like impact on overall flight network, due to disruptions, the official added.

Blinken to make another push to defuse conflicts in Middle East

WASHINGTON/BEIRUT, Oct 21: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make another push for a ceasefire when he heads to the Middle East on Monday, the State Department said, seeking to kick-start negotiations to end the Gaza war and also defuse the spillover conflict in Lebanon.

Blinken's latest trip to the region, his eleventh since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas that triggered the Gaza war, comes as Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza and in Lebanon against the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia.

The U.S. is trying to resolve complex interlocked conflicts after Israel raised the stakes by assassinating the leaders of Hezbollah, including its veteran secretary-general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza while showing no sign of reining in its ground and aerial offensives.

Killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week after a year-long search was a major victory for Israel. But its leaders say the war must go on until the Islamist group is eliminated as a military and security threat to Israel.

Iran and its allies have said Sinwar's death in a gunbattle with Israeli soldiers in Gaza will strengthen their resolve.

Israel has a long history of assassinating Hamas leaders which dealt heavy setbacks to the group but did not destroy it.

Blinken will discuss with regional leaders the importance of ending the war in Gaza, ways to chart a post-conflict plan for the Palestinian enclave, as well as how to reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the State Department said in a statement.

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein held talks with Lebanese officials in Beirut on Monday on conditions for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah after Israel struck branches across Lebanon of a financial institution linked to the group.

He said that it was "not enough" for both sides to commit to U.N. resolution 1701, which ended the last round of conflict between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in 2006 and which calls for southern Lebanon to be free of any troops or weapons other than those of the Lebanese state.

Hochstein said that neither Hezbollah nor Israel have adequately implemented the resolution, and that while it would be the basis for the end to current hostilities, the U.S. is seeking to determine what more needed to be done to make sure it was implemented "fairly, accurately and transparently."

"We are working with government of Lebanon, the state of Lebanon, as well as the government of Israel to get to a formula that brings an end to this conflict once and for all," he said.

Israel launched a ground campaign over the past month after a year of border clashes touched off by Hezbollah rocket fire into Israel in support of Hamas in Gaza.

"Strike, strike, strike with planes and drones, and we don’t know who they are targeting and who will die each day," said Micheline Jabbour, who works in a Beirut pastry shop.

The Israeli military said before its overnight attacks that it was targeting the Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association, a financial institution with over 30 outlets across Lebanon which the U.S. has said is used by Hezbollah to manage its finances.

There was no immediate statement from the organisation, Hezbollah or the Lebanese government.

The ground outside Al-Qard Al Hassan branch in the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon, which was struck, was strewn with rubble, shattered glass and scattered papers.

Amid the debris was a large yellow poster leaning against the building featuring Nasrallah with a message: "You promised us victory, and we will win."

India, China reach agreement on patrolling along LAC

NEW DELHI, Oct 21: India and China have reached an agreement on border patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), marking a major breakthrough in the four-year-long standoff in the Eastern Ladakh region.

The ministry of external affairs said on Monday that both sides have reached an agreement on patrolling along the LAC, potentially leading to disengagement in the area.

"I can share with you that over the last several weeks, Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact with each other. As a result of these discussions, an agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along LAC in the border areas, leading to disengagement and resolution of the issues that arose in these areas in 2020," foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters.

It is understood that the agreement pertains to patrolling in Depsang and Demchok areas.

The announcement on the breakthrough comes a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Russian city of Kazan for the BRICS Summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping will also attend the summit.

India and China have been locked in a tense border standoff in eastern Ladakh since the 2020 Galwan valley clash. The clash, the worst in 40 years, led to the death of 20 Indian troops and an undisclosed number of Chinese soliders.

According to the report, the progress included exploring options for a possible solution that factors in the respective pre-April 2020 positions of both the sides.

It said that the decision would grant Indian troops access to certain patrolling points that had been restricted amid the ongoing dispute.

Indian troops were not able access specific patrolling points along the LAC since they were either blocked by Chinese forces or due to the implementation of buffer zones created in the backdrop of disengagement at specific friction points.

US defense chief says THAAD missile defense battery is now ‘in place’ in Israel

WASHINGTON, Oct 21: The US military has rushed its advanced anti-missile system to Israel and it is now “in place,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday.

THAAD, or the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, is a critical part of the US military’s layered air defense systems and adds to Israel’s already formidable anti-missile defenses.

“The THAAD system is in place,” Austin said, speaking to reporters before he arrived in Ukraine on Monday.

He declined to say whether it was operational, but added: “We have the ability to put it into operation very quickly and we’re on pace with our expectations.”

The missile defense battery was sent by the US military to protect Israel in case of an Iranian reaction to an expected Israeli reprisal attack following Tehran firing 200 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month.

Austin told reporters on Monday that “it’s hard to say exactly what [Israel’s] strike will look like.”

“At the end of the day, that’s an Israeli decision, and whether or not the Israelis believe it’s proportional and how the Iranians perceive it, I mean those may be two different things,” Austin added.

“We’re going to do — continue to do — everything we can… to dial down the tensions and hopefully get both parties to begin to deescalate. So, we’ll see what happens,” he added.

Austin’s comments came a day after two reports indicated that the THAAD system was already operational on the ground in Israel.

The Kan public broadcaster reported Sunday evening that the missile defense battery had begun operations in Israel, citing two Israeli sources, while the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya outlet quoted sources saying that three batteries were functioning.

Around 100 US troops were expected to be deployed to operate the system, which is considered a complementary system to the Patriot system but can defend a wider area, capable of hitting targets at ranges of 150-200 kilometers (93-124 miles).

The Pentagon said last Tuesday that an advance team of US military personnel and initial components necessary to operate the system had arrived in Israel a day earlier.

Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said at the time that additional US military personnel and THAAD battery components would continue to arrive in Israel over the coming days.

Ryder added that the air defense battery would be fully operational and capable in the near future, but the exact timeline would not be announced due to security concerns.

“The deployment of the THAAD battery to Israel underscores the United States’ commitment to the defense of Israel and to defend Americans in Israel from any ballistic missile attacks by Iran,” Ryder said last week.

Iran has been bracing for retaliation after its October 1 attack on Israel that included firing some 200 ballistic missiles — which it said came in response to Israeli strikes in Lebanon last month that killed the top leadership of the Hezbollah terror group, an Iranian proxy, and a July blast in Tehran that killed Hamas politburo head, Ismail Haniyeh.

The deployment of the US system in Israel, including US personnel on the ground, deepens the United States’ involvement in the conflict after a year of it largely offering support from outside the country’s borders.

US ships and warplanes have helped defend Israel from the Iranian attacks, but the deployment of the battery puts US troops — as well as the system itself — on the ground in Israel and more directly in harm’s way.

The THAAD system — developed in the 1990s, with the first battery activated in 2008 — is operated by 95 soldiers and consists of six truck-mounted launchers with eight interceptors each, a radar, and a fire control component, according to the US Congressional Research Service.

The Pentagon announcement of its deployment came the same day that a letter was publicized from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Israeli officials, warning that Jerusalem has one month to implement significant improvements to the humanitarian situation in Gaza or jeopardize the continued supply of US weapons.

Over the past week, Israel has said that dozens of aid trucks have entered Gaza via Israel. COGAT, the Defense Ministry body in charge of overseeing such aid, said Monday that 114 aid trucks entered Gaza via the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings a day earlier, and that approximately 600 trucks worth of aid are waiting for collection on the Gaza side.

Israel Hits Beirut, Gaza After 'Assassination' Attempt On Netanyahu

TEL AVIV, Oct 20: Israel on Saturday said it hit Iran-backed group Hezbollah's arms facilities in Beirut and "Hamas terror target" in Gaza after a drone was launched towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence.

Benjamin Netanyahu's office said a drone was launched towards his residence in the central town of Caesarea, which is about 20 kilometres south of the Haifa city area, which Hezbollah has regularly targeted.The Israeli PM and his wife were not home at the time of the attack and there were no injuries.

"The attempt by Iran's proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Hours after the drone attack, Israel said it struck Hezbollah arms facilities in southern Beirut after the Lebanese armed group fired rockets into northern Israel.

The Israeli military said the strikes targeted "a number of Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a Hezbollah intelligence headquarters command centre".

Israel and Hezbollah have been fighting across the Lebanese border since the war in Gaza erupted after Hamas attacked Israeli towns on October 7 last year.

Later on Saturday, Israeli strikes killed at least 73 people in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. Gaza's civil defence agency on Saturday said that a sweeping Israeli military operation had killed more than 400 people in two weeks in the territory's north.

The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Wednesday has further escalated tensions in the Middle East. Israeli planes on Saturday dropped leaflets over southern Gaza with a picture of Sinwar and the message: "Hamas will no longer rule Gaza".

Xi Jinping Asks Troops To Prepare For War As Battle Drills Intensify Around Taiwan

BEIJING, Oct 20: Chinese President Xi Jinping called this week for troops to strengthen their preparedness for war, state media reported today, just days after Beijing staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan.

Xi made his comments while visiting a brigade of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force on Thursday, according to state-run broadcaster CCTV.

Xi said the military should "comprehensively strengthen training and preparation for war, (and) ensure troops have solid combat capabilities", state media CCTV reported.

Soldiers must "enhance their strategic deterrent and combat capability," Xi said

China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, has stepped up its shows of force around the self-ruled island in recent years.

On Monday, Beijing had deployed fighter jets, drones, warships and coast guard vessels to encircle Taiwan -- its fourth round of large-scale war games around the democratic island in just over two years.

China's communist leaders have insisted they will not rule out using force to bring Taiwan under Beijing's control.

Xi on Thursday said the Chinese military must "strongly safeguard the country's strategic security and core interests", according to the CCTV report.

The dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to a civil war in which the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek were defeated by Mao Zedong's communist fighters and fled to the island in 1949.

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since then.

War Can End Now If Hamas Lays Down Arms, Returns Hostages: Netanyahu After Killing Of Yahya Sinwar

TEL AVIV, Oct 18: Hours after Israel confirmed the killing of Hamas chief and mastermind of October 7 attacks, Yahya Sinwar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the people of Gaza, saying the war can end as soon as tomorrow, if Hamas agrees to lay down its arms and return the hostages.

Sharing a video on X, Netanyahu said, "Yahya Sinwar is dead. He was killed in Rafah by the brave soldiers of the Israeli defence forces. While this is not the end of the war in Gaza, it's the beginning of the end. To the people of Gaza, I have a simple message - this war can end tomorrow. It can end if Hamas lays down its arms and returns our hostages."

The Israel Defence Forces revealed on Thursday that Sinwar, along with two other terrorists have been eliminated by Israel.

Netanyahu revealed that Hamas is currently holding 101 hostages in Gaza, comprising citizens from 23 different countries, including Israel.

"Hamas is holding 101 hostages in Gaza who are citizens of 23 countries, citizens of Israel, but citizens of many other countries. Israel is committed to doing everything in our power to bring all of them home. Israel will guarantee the safety of all those who return our hostages," he said.

The Israeli PM issued a stern warning to those holding Israeli hostages, vowing that Israel will relentlessly pursue and bring them to justice.

"But to those who would harm our hostages, I have another message - Israel will hunt you down and bring you to justice. But to those who would harm our hostages, I have another message - Israel will hunt you down and bring you to justice. I also have a message of hope to the people of the region - the axis of terror that was built by Iran is collapsing before our eyes," he said.

Netanyahu in his message also highlighted the elimination of key Hezbollah leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah, and asserted that the reign of terror imposed by the Iranian regime on its own people and those in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen will "come to an end."

"Nasrallah is gone, his deputy Mohsen is gone, Haniyeh is gone, Deif is gone, Sinwar is gone. The reign of terror that the Iranian regime has imposed on its own people and on the peoples of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, too will come to an end," Netanyahu said.

He added, "All those who seek a future of prosperity and peace in the Middle East should unite to build a better future. Together, we can push back the forces of darkness and create a future of light and hope for all of us."

Hamas launched a horrific terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. About 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing more than 1200 people, including citizens of more than 30 countries, and also took over 250 people as hostages.

In response, Israel launched a strong counter-offensive in the Gaza Strip, while vowing to "completely eliminate" Hamas.

However, the mounting civilian toll has raised global concerns over humanitarian situation in the Strip. United Nations and other big nations have repeatedly called for a ceasefire, return of hostages and increased assistance for the civilian population in Gaza.

'Good Day For World': Biden Praises Israel's Killing Of Hamas Chief

WASHINGTON, Oct 18: US President Joe Biden on Thursday hailed Israel's killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a "good day" for the world, saying it also removed a key obstacle to a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee in November's US election, added that Israel's killing of the mastermind of the October 7, 2023 attacks was a chance to "finally end the war in Gaza."

Canadian opposition leader asks govt to revoke Khalistani terrorist Nijjar’s citizenship

TORONTO, Oct 18: A senior Canadian opposition leader has asked the Justin Trudeau-led coalition government to posthumously revoke the citizenship of slain Hardeep Singh Nijjar and accused the Prime Minister of using the Khalistani separatist’s murder to divert attention from other controversies surrounding him.

Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People’s Party of Canada, said the Canadian government must posthumously take away the citizenship of Khalistani extremist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, asserting that he (Nijjar) was a “foreign terrorist” who was inexplicably granted Canadian citizenship in 2007.

Bernier said Nijjar, the central figure in the India-Canada diplomatic row, used fraudulent documents to claim asylum in Canada several times and was somehow granted citizenship in 2007

“One myth should be dispelled though: That the central figure in this controversy, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Khalistani militant who was murdered last year, was a Canadian. He was actually a foreign terrorist who used fraudulent documents to claim asylum in Canada several times starting in 1997. His claims were rejected but he was nevertheless allowed to stay in this country and was somehow granted citizenship in 2007,” he said.

Bernier said Canada should have deported Nijjar after his first fake asylum claim. “He (Nijjar) was not a Canadian. Canada should perhaps posthumously take away his citizenship to right this administrative error,” he asserted.

“All this is happening because Canada has for decades deliberately invited these foreigners and their tribal conflicts into our country. We should recognise this major blunder and work with the government of India to find solutions instead of jeopardising our relations with a rising world power and an important ally over this issue,” he added.

The Canadian politician’s remarks came days after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Monday said it had six Indian diplomats, including the Indian High Commissioner, as “persons of interest” in Nijjar’s June 2023 assassination. The RCMP claimed to have uncovered evidence of an intensifying campaign against Canadians by agents of the Indian government.

Commenting on the allegations, Bernier said; “if true, allegations made by the RCMP and the Liberal government that Indian diplomats participated in criminal activities on our territory are very serious and should be dealt with.”

However, he asserted that the Trudeau government has not given any substantial proof so far and the PM is “clearly using this crisis to divert the attention from other controversies”.

Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar Eliminated: Israel

JERUSALEM, Oct 17: Israel said Thursday its forces killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar in a Gaza operation, dealing a massive blow to the group it has been fighting since the October 7, 2023 attack.

"The mass murderer Yahya Sinwar, responsible for the massacre and atrocities of October 7, was eliminated... by IDF (Israeli military) soldiers," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

The military later confirmed that "after a year-long pursuit", soldiers "eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organisation, in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip" on Wednesday.

Hamas has not confirmed his death.

Israel accuses Sinwar of masterminding the October 7 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, and had been hunting him down since the start of the Gaza war.

He rose through the ranks of the Palestinian group to become first its leader in Gaza, then its overall head after the killing in July of political chief Ismail Haniyeh.

Israel's announcement on Sinwar comes weeks after it assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a massive strike in Lebanon, where the Israeli military has been at war since late September.

A slew of other Iran-backed operative commanders have also been killed in recent months.

Israel said earlier this year that it had killed Mohammed Deif, Hamas's military chief, though the Palestinian group has not confirmed it.

Deif stood accused of planning, with Sinwar, the October 7 attack.

With Hamas massively weakened more than a year into the Gaza war, Sinwar's death could deal a seismic blow to the organisation.

Before the Israeli foreign minister confirmed Sinwar's death, the military said in a brief statement that during "operations in the Gaza Strip, three terrorists were eliminated", with the Hamas leader possibly one of them.

An Israeli security official said that the military was conducting a DNA test on a operative's body to confirm whether it was Sinwar's.

In a post on X, Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the country would "reach every terrorist and eliminate them".

US President Joe Biden was briefed aboard Air Force One while heading to Germany and was being kept informed of developments, a US official said Thursday.

Take Canada's allegations seriously, US to India

NEW DELHI, Oct 16: The United States has called on India to cooperate with Canada's investigation into "extremely serious allegations" linking "agents" of the Indian government with the killing of Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in June last year.

At a press briefing in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US had made it clear that Canada's allegations "need to be taken seriously".

"When it comes to the Canadian matter, we have made clear the allegations are extremely serious. We wanted to see the Government of India cooperate with Canada... obviously they have not chosen that path," Miller said in response to a US reporter's question on 'round two' of the Delhi-Ottawa crisis.

The US - discreet since the row erupted in September last year - was similarly restrained Tuesday, only emphasising the need for cooperation between the two countries.

"I do not have any further comment beyond what the two countries have said publicly. We have urged them to cooperate and will continue to urge them to do so," Miller said.

New Delhi has not yet responded to these comments but has repeatedly rejected the "absurd" and "motivated" allegations. Delhi has repeatedly asked for evidence and also pointed out the charges come as Trudeau's popularity tanks before next year's general election.

'Bishnoi Gang Linked To Indian Government Agents': Canadian Police

NEW DELHI, Oct 15: In an explosive allegation Monday, Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police claimed that "agents of the Government of India" use criminals - referring specifically to the Bishnoi gang - to "target (the) South Asian community... specifically pro-Khalistani elements" in that country.

The charge - by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duhene and his deputy, Brigitte Gauvin - follows a sharp escalation in a row that has been festering since Ottawa last year accused "agents" of Delhi of involvement in the killing of Canadian citizen and Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar.

"It (the Indian government) is targeting the South Asian community... but they are specifically targeting pro-Khalistani elements in Canada. What we have seen, from an RCMP perspective, is that they use organised crime elements," Assistant Commissioner Gauvin told reporters.

"It has been publicly attributed and claimed by one organised crime group in particular - the Bishnoi gang. We believe the group is connected to agents of the Government of India."

When asked specifically if "agents of Indian government" were being accused of "homicide, extortion, intimidation, and coercion", Duheme replied with a categorical "yes".

The Indian government has strongly rejected what it calls "preposterous imputations", including those by Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accusing New Delhi of "supporting criminal activity against Canadians" and "coercive behaviour targeting South Asian Canadians".

A statement from the External Affairs Ministry also rejected claims by Ottawa that Sanjay Kumar Verma, posted as the Indian High Commissioner, and five of his staff, are 'persons of interest'.

They have been linked to claims some Indian diplomatic staff work with organised crime elements in Canada to "collect - through questionable and illegal means - information on Canadian citizens... (that is fed to criminal organisations) that would then take violent actions from extortion to murder".

Hours after the RCMP officers' press conference Trudeau spoke to reporters and doubled down on charges against the Indian government.

"I think it is obvious the Government of India made a fundamental error in thinking they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians, here on Canadian soil. Whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts, it is absolutely unacceptable," he said.

The allegations coincide with sliding support and tanking popularity ratings; last week he survived a second parliamentary confidence vote in as many weeks ahead of the 2025 election.

India, Canada Expel Diplomats In Tit-For-Tat Move Amid Deepening Rift

NEW DELHI, Oct 14: India on Monday asked Canadian diplomats in New Delhi to leave the country by Saturday after Ottawa said it was investigating its Indian ambassador and other diplomats as "persons of interest", after the killing last year of a Sikh separatist leader.

In a tit-for-tat move, Canada too has asked six Indian diplomats to leave the country after its police collected evidence they were part of an Indian government "campaign of violence".

"The Government of India has decided to expel the following 6 Canadian Diplomats: Stewart Ross Wheeler, Acting High Commissioner; Patrick Hebert, Deputy High Commissioner; Ms. Marie Catherine Joly, First Secretary; lan Ross David Trites, First Secretary; Adam James Chuipka, First Secretary; Ms. Paula Orjuela, First Secretary. They have been asked to leave India by or before 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 19, 2024," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press statement.

Earlier today, India had summoned Canada's Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and conveyed that the baseless targeting of the Indian High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials in Canada was completely unacceptable.

Withdrawing its own diplomats, New Delhi stated it has "no faith in the current Canadian Government's commitment to ensure their security" after strongly dismissing Ottawa's allegations linking the envoy to an investigation into the killing of Sikh extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in a major downturn in already frosty ties between the two nations.

New Delhi said their envoy, Sanjay Kumar Verma, a former ambassador to Japan and Sudan, was a respected career diplomat and that accusations against him were "ludicrous and deserve to be treated with contempt".

It said it was underlined to the Canada's Charge d'Affaires that in an atmosphere of extremism and violence, the Trudeau Government's actions endangered their safety and the government had decided to withdraw its High Commissioner to Canada and other targeted diplomats and officials.

The government conveyed that India reserves the right to take further steps in response to the "Trudeau Government's support for extremism, violence and separatism against India".

"Prime Minister Trudeau's hostility to India has long been in evidence. In 2018, his visit to India, which was aimed at currying favour with a vote bank, rebounded to his discomfort. His Cabinet has included individuals who have openly associated with an extremist and separatist agenda regarding India. His naked interference in Indian internal politics in December 2020 showed how far he was willing to go in this regard," the Ministry said.

Nijjar -- who immigrated to Canada in 1997 and became a citizen in 2015 -- had advocated for a separate Sikh state, known as Khalistan, carved out of India. He had been wanted by Indian authorities for alleged terrorism and conspiracy to commit murder.

The relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of a "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.

Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June last year. New Delhi had rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".

Netanyahu Vows 'Merciless Strikes' On Hezbollah, Including Beirut

JERUSALEM, Oct 14: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday vowed to strike Hezbollah without mercy, a day after the Iran-backed group's deadliest strike on Israel since the start of the war in late September.

Hezbollah's drone attack on an Israeli base killed four soldiers on Sunday, while another 60 people were injured, according to the Israeli volunteer rescue service United Hatzalah.

"We will continue to mercilessly strike Hezbollah in all parts of Lebanon -- including Beirut," Netanyahu said as he visited the base near Binyamina, south of Haifa.

Hezbollah said it launched the "squadron of attack drones" in response to Israeli attacks, including one last week that Lebanon's health ministry said killed at least 22 people in central Beirut.

Since Israel on September 23 escalated its bombing against targets in Lebanon the war has killed at least 1,315 people, according to a tally of Lebanese health ministry figures, though the real toll is likely to be higher.

Israel Eliminates Hezbollah Radwan Force Commander In Southern Lebanon After Deadly Strikes In Beirut

TEL AVIV, Oct 11: The Israeli forces said it had ‘eliminated’ another high-ranking official associated with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah during a targeted strike in Southern Lebanon on Friday.

Araeb el Shoga, a commander in the Hezbollah Radwan Forces’ Anti-tank Missile Unit in southern Lebanon, was eliminated, said the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), adding that El Araeb was responsible for numerous anti-tank missile attacks in northern Israel.

It comes after a senior Hezbollah official escaped an Israeli assassination attempt as the Israeli strikes pounded central Beirut on Thursday and the UN said its peacekeeping headquarters were targeted in Southern Lebanon.

The Lebanon Health Ministry said that Israeli airstrikes on central Beirut killed 22 people and wounded dozens, further escalating Israel’s bloody conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

The air raid on central Beirut, the deadliest in over a year of the war, targeted two residential buildings in separate neighbourhoods simultaneously. It brought down one eight-story building and wiped out the lower floors of the other.

After the strikes, Hezbollah sources claimed that an attempt to kill Wafiq Safa, a top security official with the group, had failed. It said that Safa had not been inside either of the targeted buildings.

Earlier on Thursday, a Lebanese security source claimed that Israeli airstrikes on central Beirut targeted at least one senior official in Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Top 5 Nuclear Nations To Meet In New York Amid Nuclear Tensions Between Russia And The West

MOSCOW, Oct 10: A group of five nuclear weapons states will hold a meeting in New York in the next two weeks, Russian state media quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Thursday.

The group brings together Russia, the United States, China, France and Britain, all of which are nuclear-armed states and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Ryabkov did not announce a specific date or say what level of officials would attend.

The meeting is potentially significant because of a significant escalation in nuclear tensions between Russia and the West since the start of the Ukraine war.

President Vladimir Putin last month announced changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine, saying Moscow was extending the list of scenarios that could prompt it to consider firing a nuclear weapon.

In January 2022, weeks before Putin sent his army into Ukraine, the "nuclear five" issued a joint statement saying they considered the avoidance of war between nuclear powers and the reduction of strategic risks to be their foremost priorities.

"We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," they said at the time.

US Warns Israel Not To Repeat Gaza Destruction In Lebanon

WASHINGTON, Oct 10: The United States urged its ally Israel to avoid Gaza-like military action in Lebanon, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it could face "destruction" like the Palestinian territory.

Israel's military chief, Herzi Halevi, vowed to keep bombing Hezbollah targets, a campaign that has killed more than 1,200 people since September 23, "without allowing them any respite or recovery".

The comments came after a phone call between Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, their first in seven weeks. The White House said Biden told Netanyahu to "minimise harm" to civilians in Lebanon, particularly in "densely populated areas of Beirut".

"There should be no kind of military action in Lebanon that looks anything like Gaza and leaves a result anything like Gaza," said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

‘INDIA-ASEAN friendship important amid global conflicts’: Modi

VIENTIANE, Oct 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called 21st century as the century of India and ASEAN nations, adding that the INDIA-ASEAN friendship was important at a time when parts of the world are facing conflicts and tensions.

At the 21st India-ASEAN Summit here, the prime minister also said he had announced the Act East Policy 10 years ago and in the past decade it had given new energy, direction and momentum to the historic ties between India and ASEAN nations.

"India-ASEAN friendship, coordination dialogue and cooperation is very important at a time when several parts of the world are facing conflicts and tensions," he said.

Calling ASEAN nations as neighbours and partners in the Global South, Modi said,"We are peace-loving nations and respect each other’s national integrity and sovereignty, and are committed to the bright future of the youth of the region."

Highlighting the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiatives in 2019, Modi said, "last year, maritime exercises were started for regional security and stability,” and added that India's trade with ASEAN nations has nearly doubled to more than USD 130 billion over the past decade.

During the summit, the prime minister announced a 10-point action plan to strengthen ties with the region.

According to an external affairs ministry statement, the Prime Minister announced that the year 2025 will be celebrated as the ‘ASEAN-India Year of Tourism’ for which India would provide $5 million for joint activities.

Modi also announced celebrating a decade of Act East Policy through several “people-centric activities” including Youth Summit, Start-up Festival, Hackathon, Music Festival, ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks and Delhi Dialogue.

The action plan includes organising ASEAN-India Women Scientists Conclave under ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund.

The prime minister announced doubling the number of scholarships at Nalanda University and provision of new scholarships for ASEAN students at Agricultural Universities in India. He also called for a review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement by 2025.

Enhancing Disaster Resilience for which India would make available USD 5 million, initiating a new Health Ministers’ track towards building Health Resilience, a regular mechanism of ASEAN-India Cyber Policy Dialogue towards strengthening Digital and Cyber Resilience and a workshop on Green Hydrogen were some of the announcements made by Modi.

The prime minister invited ASEAN Leaders to join ‘Plant a Tree for Mother’ campaign towards building climate resilience.

Netanyahu confirms Hezbollah’s Safieddine killed, says terror group at its weakest point in many years

TEL AVIV, Oct 8: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirms that Israel assassinated the projected new Hezbollah leader Hashem Safieddine, who was targeted in an airstrike in Beirut last Thursday, and claims Israel has also killed Safieddine’s replacement, without saying who this would be.

In an English-language video message to the Lebanese public, Netanyahu says that Israel has “degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities; we took out thousands of terrorists, including [longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah himself, and Nasrallah’s replacement, and the replacement of his replacement.”

“Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it has been for many many years,” says the premier.

He spends much of the message urging the public to take the country back from Hezbollah control.

“Now you, the Lebanese people, you stand at a significant crossroads. It is your choice,” he continues.

Lebanese citizens, Netanyahu says, “can now take back your country. You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity.”

If they don’t, he argues, “Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense.”

He says that the Lebanese “deserve to restore Lebanon to its days of tranquility; you deserve a Lebanon that is different.”

“One Country — One Flag — One People,” he says, borrowing from the original US Pledge of Allegiance. “Don’t let these terrorists destroy your future any more than they’ve already done.”

He exhorts the Lebanese to “stand up and take your country back.”

“Free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end,” he says.

“Free your country from Hezbollah so that your country can prosper again, so that future generations of Lebanese and Israeli children will know neither war nor bloodshed, but will finally live together in peace.”

Israel Hits Over 120 Hezbollah Targets 'Within An Hour'

JERUSALEM, Oct 7: The Israeli military said it struck more than 120 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon within a 60-minute period as part of extensive strikes on Monday.

"The IAF (air force) conducted an extensive aerial operation and struck over 120 terror targets in southern Lebanon within an hour," the military said in a statement, adding the targets belonged to the group's elite Radwan forces and other units.

India Signs Currency Swap Agreement To Help Maldives On Forex Reserves

NEW DELHI, Oct 7: India and Maldives on Monday sought to reset - boosted by a US$400 million - ₹ 3,000 crore currency swap deal - a relationship fractured by two diplomatic squabbles over the past 12 months, including last year when three Maldivian ministers made critical comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The deal was announced as Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu made his first State visit to India.

Muizzu arrived in Delhi Sunday evening and, after a day's rest, was accorded a ceremonial welcome by President Droupadi Murmu and the Prime Minister, after which he paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and then went into a huddle with Modi.

At a joint statement after the two leaders met, Modi underlined New Delhi's position as a "close friend" of the island nation, emphasising his 'neighbourhood first' foreign policy that has seen India act as a 'first responder' to emergencies affecting Male, including supplying Covid vaccines.

"Be it essential commodities, vaccines during Covid, or drinking water... we have played a good neighbour," he said, adding India had today also virtually inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport on the Haa Dhaalu Atoll and, earlier, handed over 700 social housing units, as well as set up a drinking water and sewerage project to serve nearly 30,000 people across 28 Maldivian islands.

The Maldives, the PM then said, also has an important role - to help ensure the security of the Indian Ocean Region. This is an issue that was red-flagged by many within the government after Muizzu - seen as a 'pro-China' leader - won last year's election on what was called an 'India out' platform.

That platform included requesting Delhi to withdraw 90 military personnel in the Maldives to maintain and operate three aviation platforms for humanitarian and medical aid.

These three - two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft - were a gift from India.

After talks, Delhi replaced military personnel with "competent technical" staff.

Apart from the ejection of the military staff - of which Mr Muizzu has said he simply "did what the people of Maldives asked of me" - February's docking of a Chinese spy ship masquerading as a research vessel also raised eyebrows after similar vessels docked at Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port.

On these points, and the claimed 'India Out' agenda, which was seen as one of Muizzu's key poll promises, he insisted India remains a key partner in his efforts to secure regional stability and denied any 'India out' agenda. He said it was simply the case that "Maldives does not want a foreign soldier".

Meanwhile, as part of resetting of ties, India and the Maldives announced a currency swap - a financial agreement that sees two parties exchange the principal and interest of a loan in different currencies over a set period of time - to help Male overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.

This is seen as critical as Delhi looks to ward off China's influence over Male and in the Indian Ocean Region, which includes Sri Lanka. India has also granted a US$100 million rollover of Treasury bills.

"I am also thankful for India's decision to provide support - ₹ 30 billion in addition to US$ 400 million bilateral currency swap - which will be instrumental in addressing forex issues right now," he said.

Other bilateral measures announced are the launch of the RuPay card issued by the National Payments Corporation of India, a financial services firmed owned by a consortium of Indian banks.

India is also assisting the Maldives with an infrastructure project for the Greater Male area.

Overall, both sides seem satisfied with the outcome of Muizzu's first bilateral visit to this country, the agreements signed and comments made reflect the growing bonhomie after the diplomatic spats.

2 Chinese nationals killed in Karachi airport blast

ISLAMABAD, Oct 7: China on Monday condemned the massive blast outside the Karachi airport in southern Pakistan that killed two of its nationals and injured another, urging the Pakistani government to “severely punish” the perpetrators. The Chinese embassy and consulates general in Pakistan, in a statement, also advised its citizens living in Pakistan to remain vigilant.

“The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan have launched an emergency plan immediately, requesting the Pakistani side to thoroughly investigate the attack, severely punish the perpetrators, and take all necessary measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens, institutions and projects in Pakistan. It reminds Chinese citizens, enterprises and projects in Pakistan to be vigilant, pay close attention to the security situation, strengthen security measures, and make every effort to take safety precautions,” the statement read.

The Embassy termed the explosion a “terrorist attack” and also expressed condolences over the loss of the lives of the victims.

“The Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in Pakistan strongly condemn this terrorist attack, express deep condolences to the innocent victims of both countries and sincere sympathies to the injured and families, and are making every effort to handle the aftermath together with the Pakistani side,” it said.

According to the Chinese embassy statement, the incident took place on Sunday night when a convoy carrying Chinese staff of the Port Qasim Electric Power Company (Private) Limited was attacked near the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. Some other Pakistani citizens were also injured in the attack.

Rockets From Gaza Cross Into Israel Day Before Hamas Attack Anniversary

TEL AVIV, Oct 6: The Israeli military said that rockets fired from northern Gaza crossed into southern Israel on Sunday, a day ahead of the first anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack.

"Several projectiles were identified crossing from the northern Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. One projectile was intercepted, and the rest fell in open areas," the military said in a statement, with Israeli forces on alert for attacks ahead of the grim anniversary of Palestinian militants' unprecedented attack.

Maldivian president Muizzu arrives in India

NEW DELHI, Oct 6: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, accompanied by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, arrived in India on Sunday, marking the start of a crucial state visit aimed at mending diplomatic relations between the two South Asian nations.

Muizzu arrived at the Air Force Station Palam in New Delhi at around 4.30 pm.

During this visit, President Muizzu will hold meetings with President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials.

The visit signals a thaw in the previously strained ties, as the Maldives seeks to balance its foreign policy between regional powers India and China.

Muizzu's rise to power in 2023 came on the back of an "India Out" campaign, which advocated for the removal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. At the time, Muizzu expressed concerns over foreign troops operating in the strategically important Indian Ocean archipelago. However, the aircraft remained and are being operated by a civilian Indian crew.

The relationship has shown signs of improvement in recent months, with both nations taking steps to bridge the diplomatic gap. In May, Maldivian foreign minister Moosa Zameer visited India, and external affairs minister Jaishankar reciprocated with a trip to the Maldives in August. India also helped the Maldives avoid a potential default on Islamic bond payments by extending the subscription of treasury bills worth $50 million for another year, a gesture that underlines India’s commitment to supporting its maritime neighbour.

Muizzu, known for his pro-China stance, has walked a tightrope in recent months, dialling down the rhetoric against India while maintaining his country’s strategic ties with Beijing. During a visit to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly last month, he clarified that the Maldives' concerns were focused solely on the presence of foreign military personnel, not on any one particular nation.

Canada Reaffirms Support For India's Territorial Integrity

OTTAWA, Oct 6: Canada has said its position on the territorial integrity of India is absolute -- the first such statement since the wedge driven between the two nations last year over President Justin Trudeau's allegations about the "potential" involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. One of India's most-wanted terrorists, Nijjar was also a Canadian citizen.

Appearing before the foreign interference commission in Ottawa over the weekend, Canada's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs David Morrison said: "Canada's policy is very clear that India's territorial integrity must be respected. There's one India, and that's been made very clear".

Regarding the activities of pro-Khalistan elements living in Canada, he, however, said it was "awful but lawful". There are things that "many of us want not to see" but that are protected under Freedom of Speech rights.

The declaration about One India, however, was meant to clarify Ottawa's position on the stance of Khalistanis, many of whom are Canadian citizens. The comment is also seen as a signal to put India-Canada relations -- which have been on a free fall -- on an even keel.

Canada has been sending feelers to India since the Lok Sabha election earlier this year when Prime Minister Narendra Modi got elected for a historic third term.

Trudeau had said that talks with India can now resume on "some very serious issues around national security and keeping Canadians safe and the rule of law".

Last year, India had rejected Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated" and expressed concern about Canada becoming a hub of pro-Khalistan Sikhs. Canada had not acknowledged it. Instead, Trudeau had said Canada will always "defend freedom of expression... conscience and peaceful protest". It will also prevent violence and push back against hatred, he had amended.

Bilateral relations, subsequently, had plummeted, and trade talks between the two nations had got derailed.

In June this year, the Canadian parliament had observed a moment of silence in the memory of Nijjar. India had responded with a memorial service in Vancouver to pay tribute to the 329 victims of the Air India flight bombed by Khalistani terrorists in 1985.

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen on June 18 last year outside a gurdwara in Surrey.

Canada has arrested four Indian nationals in course of their investigations. India had said there are "political interests at work" and reiterated that separatists have been given political space in the country.

Israel Plans Strong Reply To Iran Missile Attack, Doesn't Rule Out Strikes On Nuke Sites

TEL AVIV, Oct 5: The Israeli military is planning a significant response to Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack, which involved nearly 200 missiles and caused damage to dozens of locations across Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the attack, which occurred earlier this week, will “have consequences.”

While the military reported damage from the missile strikes, it confirmed that no aircraft or critical infrastructure were directly hit. Israeli officials have stressed that their forthcoming response will be “serious and significant,” as tensions escalate in the region, The Times of Israel reported.

Israel has not yet assured the United States that it will avoid targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities in response to recent Iranian missile strikes, a senior State Department official told CNN on Friday.

“It is really hard to tell,” the official said when asked about Israel’s potential actions. Several US officials have expressed support for Israel’s right to respond to Iran’s missile attacks. President Joe Biden earlier this week said that the US would not endorse an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear program, suggesting that if he were in Israel’s position, he would consider alternatives to targeting oil fields.

Later on Friday, the outgoing US President advised Israel against striking Iran’s oil facilities, saying he was trying to rally the world to avoid the escalating prospect of all-out war in the Middle East. During a surprise first appearance in the White House briefing room, Biden said that Netanyahu “should remember” US support for Israel when deciding on next steps.

“If I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields,” Biden told reporters, when asked about his comments a day earlier that Washington was discussing the possibility of such strikes with its ally. Biden added that the Israelis “have not concluded how they’re, what they’re going to do” in retaliation for a huge ballistic missile attack by Iran on Israel on Tuesday.

Hezbollah chief Nasrallah’s potential successor Hashem Safieddine ‘killed’ in Israeli strike: Report

BEIRUT, Oct 5: The potential successor to Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been missing since Friday following an Israeli airstrike, a Lebanese security source revealed on Saturday, however as per a report by Saudi news outlet Al Hadath, Hashem Safieddine is dead along with his companions in the airstrike.

The strike reportedly targeted Safieddine, the rumoured successor, during Israel’s campaign against the Iran-backed Lebanese group.

Late on Thursday, Israel launched a major airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area known as a Hezbollah stronghold. According to three Israeli officials cited by Axios, the strike aimed at Safieddine, who was believed to be in an underground bunker.

Since the attack, rescue workers have been unable to search the site due to continued Israeli strikes on Dahiyeh, the residential suburb in southern Beirut where Hezbollah has a significant presence, confirmed by multiple Lebanese security sources.

Hezbollah has not yet issued any statement regarding Safieddine’s status.

On Friday, Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani stated that the military was still assessing the results of Thursday night’s airstrikes, which he said targeted Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters.

Should Safieddine’s death be confirmed, it would mark another significant blow to Hezbollah and its ally Iran. Over the past year, Israeli strikes across the region have intensified, and in recent weeks, they have increasingly targeted Hezbollah’s leadership, significantly weakening the group.

600 people shot dead within hours by Al Qaeda in Burkina Faso: Report

OUAGADOUGOU, Oct 5: Nearly 600 people were killed within a few hours in Burkina Faso by terrorists linked to Al Qaeda, according to a report by France's top intelligence agencies. The incident took place on August 24, when the terrorists attacked Barsalogho town in Burkina Faso.

The attack, in which most of the victims were women and children, was one of the worst in the West African country's history, which has been grappling with a terror movement waged by rebels affiliated with Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group that spilled over from neighbouring Mali in 2015.

The members of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate based in Mali and active in Burkina Faso, shot down villagers as they swept into the outskirts of Barsalogho on bikes.

While the United Nations estimated a death count of around 200, the terror group in a statement said it had killed nearly 300 "fighters". However, citing a French government security assessment, CNN reported that up to 600 people were shot dead in the attack.

Eyewitnesses describe the horrific scene as the terrorists swept into the outskirts of Barsalogho on motorcycles, shooting down villagers who were digging trenches to defend their town. Videos of the attack showed some of the villagers lying on the ground and playing dead as the attackers opened fire.

A series of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger has led to the departure of French and American forces, creating a power vacuum that has allowed jihadist groups to thrive.

250 Hezbollah Fighters, Group's Communications Chief Killed In Israel's Lebanon Ops

TEL AVIV, Oct 4: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday said that around 250 Hezbollah fighters, including a number of battalion and company commanders have been killed since the start of its ground operation in Lebanon earlier this week.

It further said that the chief of Hezbollah’s communication networks, Mohammed Rashid Skafi, was killed in the latest airstrike on Beirut.

“Over the last 4 days, the IDF has eliminated 2,000+ military targets and 250 Hezbollah terrorists. Among them: 5 battalion commanders, ⁠10 company commanders and 6 platoon commanders have been eliminated. The Israeli Air Force is also conducting preemptive strikes during these intelligence-based operations in southern Lebanon,” the IDF stated in a post on X.

“Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Communications Unit, was killed during a precise, intelligence-based strike in Beirut yesterday,” the IDF had said in an another post on X.

According to the Israeli military, Sakafi was “a senior Hezbollah terrorist who was responsible for the communications unit since 2000” and was “closely affiliated” with high-up Hezbollah officials.

Israel conducted a series of large airstrikes overnight in the southern suburbs of Beirut and targeted another area that cut off the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, a key route for tens of thousands of people fleeing the Israeli bombardment.

The strike, which Israel has not commented on, follows the recent exodus of 310,000 people, mainly Syrians, fleeing the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon to seek safety in neighbouring Syria.

Earlier today, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Israel has “more surprises in store” for Hezbollah as ground operations continue in southern Lebanon, according to a report by the Times of Israel.

“Hezbollah is receiving very severe blows, one after the other. We eliminated [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah and we have more surprises in store, some of which have already been carried out and some of which will be carried out,” Gallant said during a visit to the 36th Division’s headquarters in northern Israel.

Gallant further added that the IDF is “carrying out an operation today in several villages, and this process will continue wherever necessary to destroy all the infrastructure from which Hezbollah planned to carry out attacks.”

'Israel Won't Last Long': Iran's Khamenei's First Public Sermon In 5 Years

TEHRAN, Oct 4: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel "won't last long" as he backed the Palestinian and Lebanese movements against Israel in his rare Friday sermon.

Addressing tens of thousands of supporters at a mosque in Tehran, Khamenei justified its missile strikes on Israel as a "public service".

A gun kept by his side, the Iran leader declared that Israel would not prevail against Hamas or Hezbollah as chants of "we are with you" from the crowd echoed in the vast mosque grounds.

Khamenei's first Friday sermon in five years marks a crucial show of defiance amid threats to the supreme leader's life. He remains a top target for Israel, which has vowed to retaliate after Tuesday's missile attacks.

In his speech, he also praised Hassan Nasrallah, the former chief of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last week.

"Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is no longer with us, but his spirit and his path will continue to inspire us forever. He was the high-standing flag against the Zionist enemy. His martyrdom will further increase this influence. The loss of Nasrallah is not in vain. We must stand up against the enemy while strengthening our unwavering faith," Khamenei told the gathering.

Khamenei also called Hezbollah a "blessed tree" that grew steadily under the leadership of Nasrallah.

"It is the duty and responsibility of all Muslims to help the blooded people of Lebanon and to support Lebanon's jihad and the battle for al-Aqsa mosque," he declared.

Iran's supreme leader, who backs the Palestinian Hamas group, called their October 7 attacks on Israel the "correct move".

"No international law has the right to object and protest against the Lebanese and Palestinians for standing up for themselves against the occupation," he told the crowd.

Khamenei, who spoke after a prayer ceremony for Nasrallah, also called Israel a "tool" for the United States "to take control of all the lands and resources in the region."

"There is no doubt that the Zionists and the Americans are dreaming - the Zionist entity will be uprooted from the ground, it has no roots, it is fake, unstable, and exists only because of American support," said Khamenei.

Khamenei, the supreme leader who holds the highest authority in Iran, had last delivered a Friday sermon five years ago. His sermon comes just three days after Iran launched 180 missiles targeting crucial infrastructure in Israel and three days before the first anniversary of the Israel-Gaza war.

The Iran leader had last led Friday prayers in January 2020 after a missile attack on a US army base in Iraq in response to the killing of top Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani.

Iran supports both Hamas and Hezbollah, who are fighting Israel on its southern and northern fronts.

US airstrikes target Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen after threats to Israel

SANAA, Oct 4: The US military launched airstrikes against several Houthi targets in Yemen, targeting weapons systems, bases, and other equipment belonging to the Iranian-backed rebel group. A US official confirmed the strikes, noting that aircraft and naval vessels were involved in the operation, which was still concluding at the time of reporting.

Houthi media reported that seven strikes targeted the airport in Hodeida, a key port city, and the Katheib area, which houses a military base controlled by the Houthis. Additional strikes were conducted in Seiyana, the capital Sanaa, and Dhamar province, with reports of three air raids in Bayda province as well.

These military actions follow recent threats from the Houthis, who warned of "escalating military operations" against Israel after claiming to have downed a US military drone over Yemen. Just last week, the group also took responsibility for an attack on American warships.

In a bold offensive, the Houthis launched more than a dozen ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles, along with two drones, targeting three US ships navigating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. All incoming threats were intercepted by US Navy destroyers, the report said.

Since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict last October, the Houthis have targeted over 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones. This campaign has resulted in the seizure of one vessel, the sinking of two others, and the deaths of four sailors.

While the group claims to focus on ships associated with Israel, the US, or the UK to halt Israel's actions against Hamas, many vessels attacked have no direct links to the conflict, including those heading for Iran.

Jaishankar To Visit Pak for SCO meet

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: S Jaishankar will visit Pakistan later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, becoming the first External Affairs Minister to do so in nine years. The last visit was by Sushma Swaraj in 2015.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday that Jaishankar will lead a delegation to Pakistan to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting.

"The External Affairs Minister will lead our delegation to Pakistan to participate in the SCO summit which will be held in Islamabad on October 15 and 16," Jaiswal said, emphasising that the visit will be limited to attending the summit. Pakistan had invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the meeting in August.

The decision to send Jaishankar to Pakistan for the summit is being seen as a major one by the Union government given the chill in ties between the two countries since the Pulwama terrorist attack in February 2019, which was followed by the Balakot air strikes, in which India targeted a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp. The relationship got even more strained after Pakistan vociferously opposed India's removal of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

India has repeatedly slammed Pakistan's interference on the issue and reiterated that it is an internal matter.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly last week, Jaishankar had warned Pakistan that its policy of cross-border terrorism could never succeed and also alluded to its economic crisis.

"Many countries get left behind due to circumstances beyond their control. But some make conscious choices with disastrous consequences. A premier example is our neighbour, Pakistan. Unfortunately, their misdeeds affect others as well, especially the neighbourhood," the minister said.

Given all of this, the fact that Jaishankar will attend the summit in the country is being seen as a display of India's commitment to the SCO which, it believes, has been playing a vital role in boosting regional security cooperation. Sushma Swaraj had visited Pakistan in 2015 to attend a conference on Afghanistan.

Apart from India, the SCO has China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as member countries and is an influential economic and security bloc as well as one of the largest transregional international organisations.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and India was an observer country for the first time in 2005. It became a permanent member, along with Pakistan, in 2017.

India was the chair of the organisation in 2023 and hosted the SCO summit in the virtual format in July of that year.

The SCO Council of Heads of Government conclave, which Jaishankar will be attending, is the second-highest platform in the grouping while the Heads of State Summit is the top-most forum and is generally attended by the Prime Minister.

Rawhi Mushtaha, Hamas govt head in Gaza, ‘eliminated’ in airstrike: Israeli military

TEL AVIV, Oct 3: The Israeli military announced Thursday that it had "eliminated" Rawhi Mushtaha, the head of the Hamas government in Gaza, along with two senior security officials, during airstrikes carried out three months ago.

According to an Israeli military statement, the strike targeted an underground compound in northern Gaza, which served as a command and control centre.

Mushtaha and commanders Sameh al-Siraj and Sami Oudeh were reportedly taking refuge there when the strike hit.

"Mushtaha was one of Hamas' most senior operatives and had a direct impact on decisions relating to Hamas' force deployment," said the military in a statement.

Sameh al-Siraj held the security portfolio for Hamas's political bureau.

Mushtaha was described as a close associate of Yahya Sinwar, the top Hamas leader, who is believed to have helped mastermind the October 7 attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing war. Sinwar is thought to be alive and in hiding within Gaza.

Separately, Hamas media and medics said Israel had killed Abdel-Aziz Salha, a West Bank Hamas militant, in an airstrike earlier on Thursday. Salha, jailed for life for his role in the 2000 lynching of two Israeli reservists in Ramallah, was released in a 2011 prisoner swap. Medics said Salha was killed in a strike on a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians inside Al-Aklouk School in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza.

The 2000 killings took place in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where a mob set upon the two Israeli reservists who had been seized at a Palestinian checkpoint and taken to a police station, choking and beating them to death.

After Iran's Missile Attack On Israel, US' 'Severe Consequences' Warning

TEL AVIV, Oct 2: Iran launched a barrage of 181 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday night, triggering nationwide air raid sirens and forcing nearly 10 million Israelis into bomb shelters. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that a large portion of the missiles was intercepted by the country's advanced missile defence systems, including the Iron Dome and Arrow systems. However, several projectiles managed to penetrate the defence shield, leading to minor damage and light injuries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, stating that Iran had made a "big mistake" and warned Tehran that it "will pay for it."

The missile salvo is the second direct attack by Iran on Israel this year, following a similar offensive in April, which was quickly subdued by Israeli and allied defences. Tuesday's strikes, according to Iranian officials, were in retaliation for the recent killing of senior Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Israeli military operations.

In response to the attack, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that the missile strike represented a "significant escalation" and that there would be "severe consequences."

During a press briefing at the White House, Sullivan pledged that the US would stand by Israel and support any retaliatory measures.

US President Joe Biden echoed this sentiment, expressing full support for Israel and indicating that military discussions were underway to determine an appropriate response. Biden assured that the US military would assist in Israel's defence and intercept any further Iranian missile strikes. Asked about the scope of US involvement, Biden commented that discussions on a joint response were "active" and "ongoing."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the missile assault, targeting three Israeli military bases near Tel Aviv. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declared the attack concluded unless Israel escalated further. The IRGC warned that any Israeli retaliation would result in "crushing attacks."

Although the majority of missiles were intercepted, there were scattered reports of damage and injuries. In Tel Aviv, two civilians were lightly injured by shrapnel, while in the West Bank city of Jericho, a Palestinian civilian was killed by debris from one of the missiles, news agency AFP reported. The Israeli military quickly announced that the immediate threat had passed, and civilians were allowed to leave bomb shelters after an hour.

Tehran's missile strike comes amid growing fears of a broader regional conflict. In a related escalation, Israeli forces conducted ground raids in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah positions. Lebanese authorities reported that the latest Israeli airstrikes had killed at least 55 people, adding to the mounting casualties since the conflict intensified in early October.

Lebanon's health ministry stated that over 1,800 people had been killed since the conflict began, with hundreds of thousands displaced across the region. The potential for further escalation between Israel and Iranian-backed groups in Lebanon and Gaza has raised alarms across the international community.

'Israel's Chance To Change Face Of Middle East': Ex PM After Iran Offensive

TEL AVIV, Oct 2: Iran's missile offensive against Israel was a "terrible mistake" and Tel Aviv has its greatest opportunity in 50 years to change the face of the Middle East, former Israel Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has said.

In a post on X after Tehran fired ballistic missiles targeting Israel last night, the former Prime Minister said Israel must act now and destroy Iran's nuclear programme and energy facilities.

"Israel has now its greatest opportunity in 50 years, to change the face of the Middle East. The leadership of Iran, which used to be good at chess, made a terrible mistake this evening. We must act *now* to destroy Iran's nuclear program, its central energy facilities, and to fatally cripple this terrorist regime," Bennett wrote.

A former commando in Israel's elite Sayeret Matkal unit, Bennett leads the New Right party and served as Prime Minister from June 2021 to June 2022. He succeeded Benjamin Netanyahu after he was ousted as Prime Minister in 2021.

Bennett described Iran as the head of the octopus of terror. "To strike the head of the octopus of terror, that, in its cowardice, sent its tentacles (Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, etc.) to murder us, while the Ayatollahs sat safely in their palaces in Tehran. The octopus's tentacles are temporarily paralysed - now comes the head. We must remove this terrible threat to our children's future," he said in the post.

"We can grant the Iranian people an opportunity to rise up and shake off the regime that tyrannizes its women and daughters," the former Prime Minister added.

Iran's missile offensive against Israel followed the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Israeli military operations. While Tel Aviv's advanced defence systems intercepted many of the missiles launched by Tehran, many others landed. There have been no casualties in Israel though.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the attack was "in accordance with the United Nations Charter" and followed "a period of restraint" following an "attack on the sovereignty" of Iran -- a reference to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July. The IRGC said the missiles targeted "three military bases" around Tel Aviv as well as air and radar bases.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Iran made a "big mistake" and warned that it "will pay for it".

In his post on X, Bennett said, "We have the justification. We have the tools. Now that Hezbollah and Hamas are paralyzed, Iran stands exposed. Over this last terrible year, Iranian tentacles murdered our families. Raped our daughters. Kidnapped our children. Ransacked our towns. Burned our fields. Fired on our ships. Terrorized children in Kiryat Shmona, Kfar Aza, and Sderot. Emptied out whole regions of our land. Humiliated us."

"Now is the moment. A Nation of Lions has united and proven its strength over the last year. It has yearned for a change, for action, for so very long. There are times when history knocks at our door, and we must open it. This opportunity must not be missed," the former Prime Minister added.

World leaders call for de-escalation after Iran's missile attack on Israel

NEW YORK, Oct 1: World leaders have urged Iran and Israel to step back from the brink after Tehran fired a barrage of rockets at its arch-rival.

Tehran said the attack on Tuesday – which took place as Israel said it was mounting a ground offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon – was in response to the killings of Iran-backed militant leaders.

It was the second time Iran has directly attacked Israel, after a missile and drone attack in April in retaliation for a deadly Israeli air strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

As the attack unfolded, President Joe Biden ordered the US military to “aid Israel’s defence against Iranian attacks and shoot down missiles that are targeting Israel”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the attack was “totally unacceptable”.

“Initial reports suggest that Israel, with the active support of the United States and other partners, effectively defeated this attack,” Blinken said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the Iranian strikes and called for an end to the “spiral of violence” blighting the Middle East.

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that Madrid was issuing “a new call to all the actors, obviously including Israel, to show restraint and not escalation”.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock demanded Iran end its missile attack on Israel: “I condemn the ongoing attack in the strongest possible terms.”

“Iran must stop the attack immediately” as it was “leading the region further towards the abyss”, she added.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Iran’s attacks against Israel “in the strongest possible terms”, adding that France had “mobilised” its military resources in the Middle East to counter Tehran.

Macron also demanded that “Hezbollah cease its terrorist actions against Israel and its population”, and asked Israel to “put an end to their military operations as soon as possible”.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Iran’s attack “in the strongest terms”.

During a call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, Starmer also “expressed the UK’s steadfast commitment to Israeli security and the protection of civilians.”

Japan’s new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said missile attacks by Iran on Israel were “unacceptable”.

“We will condemn this strongly. But at the same time, we would like to cooperate (with the US) to defuse the situation and prevent it from escalating into a full-on war,” he said.