New Delhi: As the world grapples with the Strait of Hormuz crisis, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday compared it with the 1956 Suez Canal crisis and highlighted the central role played by India’s then UN envoy VK Krishna Menon in diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue.Menon later served as India’s defense minister but resigned after the defeat in the 1962 China War.“The world is grappling with the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Seventy years ago, it faced the so-called Suez crisis,” Ramesh posted on X.“On July 26, 1956, Egyptian President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. This caused a huge stir in the West and clouds of war loomed. The central figure in the diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis was none other than VK Krishna Menon. He achieved admirable success, but only for a while,” he added.Ramesh recalled that Britain, France and Israel launched an invasion of Egypt on October 29 but had to abort it within days after an “angry” US President Dwight Eisenhower intervened.“The irony is that three years ago this is the man who approved a joint U.S.-British campaign to overthrow Iran’s democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mossadegh, who nationalized Iran’s oil industry,” the congressman said of Eisenhower.After the cessation of the Egyptian invasion, UN emergency forces remained stationed on the Sinai-Gaza border until early June 1967. “This force consisted of ten countries including India and was active till 1967. Its commander from December 1959 to January 1964 was Lieutenant General PS Gyani and from January 1966 to June 1967 it was led by Major General Inder Jit Rkye,” he said.He further pointed out that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru himself had addressed an Indian contingent in the Gaza Strip on May 20, 1960. After the withdrawal of the United Nations emergency forces, a six-day war began.Ramesh also shared pictures of Menon with Nasser, Anthony Eden and Selwyn Lloyd in an intense diplomatic effort.These memories come as the world grapples with the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Worried about the global energy crunch, only a handful of ships pass through the vital waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil is typically transported. Iran’s attacks on merchant ships have slowed shipping and sent oil prices sharply higher, forcing Washington to take action to ease pressure on consumers and the global economy.Iran effectively blocked the waterway in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli attacks that sparked the current Middle East crisis.
Iran war fallout: Sri Lanka switches to 4-day work week to save fuel
Amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, Sri Lanka has declared every Wednesday a public holiday to save fuel as the island nation grapples with possible fuel shortages following a war between the United States and Israel with Iran.“We must prepare for the worst but also hope for the best,” President Anura Kumar Dissanayake said at an emergency meeting with senior officials on Monday. The announcement is part of a series of preventive measures implemented by several Asian countries since the conflict began.The war has disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage that carries millions of barrels of oil from the Gulf to global markets. Nearly 90% of oil and natural gas is shipped to Asia, the world’s largest oil importing region.Other Asian countries have also taken reciprocal measures to deal with the escalating energy crisis. In Thailand, authorities are urging citizens to switch from formal attire to short-sleeved shirts to reduce reliance on air conditioning. Myanmar restricts alternate-day use of private vehicles based on license plate numbers, the BBC reported. Bangladesh has declared a holiday for universities during Ramadan and implemented planned power outages to save electricity. In the Philippines, some government agencies have asked staff to work from home at least one day a week, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has banned non-essential public sector travel. Vietnam encourages citizens to stay at home, use bicycles, carpool or take public transportation, while limiting unnecessary vehicle use.In Sri Lanka, new public holidays affect not only government offices but also schools and universities. Essential services, including health and immigration authorities, will continue to operate. Officials chose Wednesday as a rest day to avoid having government offices closed for three consecutive days.In addition, motorists must now register for a National Fuel Pass to purchase fuel in rationed quantities. The quota is 15 liters for private cars and 5 liters for motorcycles. The rationing system was first introduced in 2022 at the height of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, when the country depleted its foreign exchange reserves and struggled to import essential goods including fuel.Since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran late last month, global oil prices have soared, hovering around $100 a barrel. The war has heightened concerns about supply disruptions in the region, prompting Asian countries to take different measures to deal with the crisis.
Where is Iran’s new supreme leader? How Mojtaba Khamenei escaped the Blue Sparrow attack that killed his father
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei narrowly survived a deadly airstrike targeting his family and top leaders of the Islamic Republic’s leadership. Mojtaba Khamenei was targeted in the same attack that killed his father, Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other members of the Islamic Republic’s leadership, according to an audio obtained by The Telegraph.
On February 28, minutes before an Israeli Blue Sparrow ballistic missile struck Mojtaba’s home, Mojtaba went for a walk in the garden of his father’s compound. Mojtaba survived with only minor leg injuries as he briefly left the building.The audio was recorded by Mazaher Hosseini, chief of protocol at Ali Khamenei’s office, during a speech to senior clerics and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders on March 12.Click here for live war updates It provides the first detailed account of what happened inside the supreme leader’s compound during the strike. Hosseini revealed that Mojtaba’s wife Zahra Haddad-Adel and their son Bagher were killed in the strike. Husseini said the body of Mohammad Shiraz, the head of Khamenei’s military bureau, was “blown to pieces.” According to him, the purpose of this strike is to eliminate the entire Khamenei family. Mojtaba lived with his father in the same compound, which also contained a religious hall where Ali Khamenei gave speeches and residences for other children. Hosseini explained that the missiles struck multiple locations simultaneously, some of which directly targeted the residence of the supreme leader.“God’s will was that Mojtaba had to go into the courtyard to do something and then come back. He was outside and about to go upstairs when they hit the building with missiles. His wife Ms. Haddad was immediately martyred,” Hosseini said in the audio. His brother, Mustafa Khamenei, and his wife were also at another nearby home when the attack occurred. Dust and rubble partially obscured them from harm.In addition to Ali Khamenei, the attack killed senior officials, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Chairman Mohammad Pakpour and Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, who were meeting in the building. Husseini said the attack on Mohammad Shiraz was aimed at disrupting succession plans because Shiraz is an important link between Iran’s military command and the supreme leader. “The enemy knows that in striking the Supreme Leader they also strike at him because they know he will replace those who were killed and when the new [commanders] After being introduced, they have the opportunity [influence] Thugs and infiltrators and do something. He was blown to pieces – they couldn’t find anything on him and eventually they found several kilograms of flesh and confirmed it was his body,” Hosseini said.Missiles also hit the upper-floor residence of Mojtaba, the residence of Misbah and the residence of Mustafa and his wife.The audio comes amid speculation about Mojtaba Khamenei’s injury and leadership abilities. Previously, multiple media reported that Mojtaba was seriously injured in an air strike and is currently in a coma.An Iranian official told The Telegraph that military commanders were unaware of his current condition. “Mojtaba was chosen, but against the wishes of the supreme leader and perhaps against his own wishes. We still have not heard anything from him.” Mojtaba first came to public attention in March 1985 when 17-year-old Mojtaba disappeared for a week while serving on the front lines of the Iran-Iraq War.Although he survived the conflict, IRGC commanders initially considered him inexperienced.None of Ali Khamenei’s other children have been seen in public since the strike, and Mojtaba’s only communication has been in written messages read out on state television.
Dubai News: Dh2.8 billion raised: Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed’s ‘Edge of Life’ campaign exceeds target to fight child hunger | World News
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced that the Edge of Life campaign has exceeded its target by the end of 2019 Ramadan and was successful, raising over AED 2.822 billion. An estimated 44,208 donors, including individuals, businesses and prominent humanitarian and charitable organizations, have contributed to the campaign, which aims to free 5 million children from hunger.
“Edge of Life” event
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the campaign on February 13, 2026, with the aim of raising at least AED 1 billion to contribute to the global fight against child hunger. “As the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close, we conclude the ‘Edge of Life’ campaign, which aims to save 5 million children from hunger and prevent 30 million people from life-threatening malnutrition. The campaign has raised more than Dh2.8 billion thanks to the generosity of 44,000 donors. These include individuals, institutions, humanitarian organizations and major donors,” the ruler said in a statement. Led by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative (MBRGI), the campaign operates through seven simple channels such as the campaign website, call center, transfer via SMS to its official bank account, DubaiNow app, YallaGive.com and Dubai community contribution platform Jood.
secure the future
The event is organized in partnership with UNICEF, Save the Children, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and Action Against Hunger. It received huge donations totaling Dh2.115 billion from partners and other organizations. MBRGI, UNICEF and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) announced a major new partnership worth US$300 million as part of a joint effort to deliver the campaign. In addition, UNICEF will leverage a joint contribution of $100 million from MBRGI and CIFF and raise an additional $200 million to expand life-saving nutrition programs around the world.
UAE’s contribution to eradicating world hunger
Mohammed Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of MBRGI, said the event is a profound example of the UAE’s approach to promoting a culture of giving and its commitment to supporting humanitarian issues, especially child hunger.The event is an extension of the hugely successful Ramadan campaign previously launched by the Ruler of Dubai. These include the 10 Million Meals campaign launched in 2020, which donated more than 15.3 million meals, and the 100 Million Meals campaign launched in 2021, which distributed 220 million meals to 30 countries around the world. The 2022 “Billion Meals”, the 2023 “Billion Meal Donations”, the 2024 “Mothers Donate Campaign”, the 2025 “Fathers Donate Campaign” and other similar events will follow.
Why Trump may find it difficult to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has asked allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. But even if he is able to assemble a major coalition, ending Iran’s blockade may be difficult.Iran sits on one side of the narrow strait and has used drones, missiles and mines in response to U.S. and Israeli attacks, making the vital waterway unsafe.Why cut off the strait now?Threats to the strait have been made many times before, in 2011, when a commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that cutting off the strait would be “easier than drinking a glass of water.” Analysts have viewed closing the strait as a last resort because of the potential for retaliation against its own energy sector. The killing of Iran’s supreme leader changed that. Iranian officials say the war is an existential matter.
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Why is security so difficult?The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. The channel is only two nautical miles wide and ships must turn across Iranian islands and mountainous coasts that provide cover for Iranian forces, according to shipping broker SSY Global. Retired Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharp said that Iran’s conventional navy has been basically destroyed, but the Iranian Revolutionary Guards still have many options, including fast attack boats, small submarines, mines and even motorboats filled with explosives. The Center for Information Resilience, a research group, said Tehran has the capacity to produce about 10,000 drones per month.Using seven or eight destroyers to provide air cover and escort three or four ships a day through the strait is feasible in the short term, but continuing for months would require more resources, Sharp said. Adel Bakhavan, director of the European Institute for the Middle East and North Africa, said that even if Iran’s ability to deploy ballistic missiles, drones and floating mines was destroyed, ships would still face the threat of suicide operations.
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What does Trump want?Trump said on Sunday he expected many countries to send warships and asked them to do so, adding that his administration was in contact with seven countries for help. A week ago, he ordered the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide insurance and guarantees for shipping companies.What other bottlenecks are there?Yemen’s Houthis are allied with Iran but have a much smaller military arsenal at their disposal. Despite efforts by U.S. and EU navies, Yemen’s Houthis have closed most traffic through the Red Sea for more than two years. Most shipping lines still use the longer route via the southern tip of Africa. The EU-led force has been more successful in combating piracy off the coast of Somalia, but the forces it faces are far less well-equipped than the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.Are there any other options?The UAE and Saudi Arabia have been seeking to bypass the strait by building more oil pipelines. But these options are not currently operational, and the Houthi militia’s attack on the Saudi east-west pipeline in 2019 showed that these alternatives are also fragile. (This is a Reuters report)
NMC fines 7 medical colleges Rs 1 crore each for not disclosing intern stipends
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore each on seven medical colleges across the country for non-disclosure of stipends paid to MBBS trainees and postgraduate residents despite repeated directions.The move comes in the wake of non-compliance with an earlier directive requiring all medical institutions to publicly disclose stipend details on their official websites and ensure transparency in payments to interns and residents.The institutions sanctioned include Akash Center for Medical Sciences and Research in Devanahalli, Karnataka; Dumka Medical College, Jharkhand; Government Medical College, Barmer, Rajasthan; Government Medical College Ongole, Andhra Pradesh; RKDF Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh; Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh; and Pt. BD Sharma Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana.According to a notification issued by the National Medical Center Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), some institutions failed to provide the required information despite giving adequate time and reminders. The committee said this inaction breached regulatory obligations under the National Medical Council Act and relevant medical education regulations.The directive was issued following a court order requiring transparency in payment of stipends to interns and residents. The NMC said the continued non-compliance was a serious breach, especially in view of the Supreme Court directive requiring payment of stipends to cadets.The regulator warned that continued breaches could result in further disciplinary action, including restricting enrollment, suspending licenses or other regulatory measures against offending universities.The committee had earlier directed medical colleges to disclose stipend details on their websites to ensure transparency and uniformity in payment to interns and residents. The NMC said that failure to comply with this provision will result in regulatory and criminal action under applicable medical education regulations.
Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan: Attack on Kabul drug treatment center kills 400; Park says military infrastructure targeted – 10 things you need to know
The airstrike killed at least 400 people and injured nearly 250 Pakistan A drug rehabilitation hospital in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul was attacked late Monday night.Authorities in Kabul said the attack hit a large rehabilitation facility around 9pm local time, destroying much of the 2,000-bed complex and sparking fires as rescuers struggled to search for survivors in the rubble.The attack was codenamed “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” according to security sources. Afghan officials blamed Pakistan for the attack on the hospital. Islamabad insists its forces carried out precision airstrikes against militant infrastructure and military installations linked to groups it said were responsible for attacks in Pakistan.Here are ten things to know about the latest escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan:
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What are the top priorities for de-escalating tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan?
Afghanistan blames Pakistan for attack on Kabul hospital
afghanistan Taliban The government said airstrikes hit a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, killing hundreds of people, many of them patients being treated at the facility.Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the attack caused widespread damage throughout the complex and the casualty count continued to rise as rescue teams combed through the rubble. He said that rescue work is currently underway. Videos circulating on social media and local television showed thick smoke billowing from the building as rescue teams carried out operations.Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the attack, calling it a violation of humanitarian principles and accusing Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian sites.ALSO READ | Taliban claims Pakistani airstrike on Kabul hospital kills 400, injures 250 He said most of the dead and injured were patients receiving treatment in hospitals, calling the incident a “crime against humanity.”“We strongly condemn this crime and consider it a violation of all recognized principles and a crime against humanity,” he wrote in a post on X.
Pakistan rejects accusations of civilian casualties
Pakistan denied targeting any civilian facilities in Kabul, saying the airstrikes targeted infrastructure used by armed groups that carry out cross-border attacks against Pakistani troops and civilians, Dawn reported.Pakistan’s Information Minister Atala Talal said the military carried out “precision air strikes” on technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan.ALSO READ | WATCH: Flames and huge plume of smoke seen after Pakistani airstrike on Kabul hospital, killing 400“All were targeted precisely at infrastructure used by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to support its multiple terrorist proxies,” he wrote in a post on X.The targeted websites were used by militant networks allegedly backed by the Afghan Taliban to plan attacks against Pakistan, according to Pakistani officials.
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Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Spokesperson Shehbaz SharifMosharraf Zaidi dismissed the accusations as baseless and said no hospital in Kabul had been targeted.Authorities in Islamabad also insisted the attack was carefully planned to avoid civilian casualties and accused the Taliban government of spreading misinformation to divert attention from its alleged support for militant groups near the border, AFP reported.
Operation ‘Ghazab lil-Haq’ behind latest attack
Pakistani security sources said the attacks were part of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, which was launched in late February after Islamabad said Afghan Taliban militants opened fire unprovoked from across the border.According to Pakistani officials, the operation involved coordinated air strikes on logistics infrastructure, drone assembly workshops and weapons storage facilities linked to armed groups.
In Monday night’s attack, Pakistani troops reportedly targeted Kabul and multiple locations in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province.According to Dawn newspaper, security sources said that multiple military installations and technical support facilities used by the militants were destroyed during the operation, and drone assembly workshops and weapons stockpiles were also attacked.
Cross-border conflict enters third week
The latest attack came hours after Afghan officials said the two countries exchanged gunfire along their shared border, killing at least four people in Afghanistan.The clashes are part of a wider conflict that began on February 26 and has intensified over the past three weeks.The confrontation began after Afghanistan launched cross-border attacks in response to earlier Pakistani airstrikes that Kabul said killed civilians in Afghanistan. The clashes also disrupted a ceasefire brokered by Qatar after fighting last year between the two sides.The two countries have since carried out artillery fire, airstrikes and drone strikes along the border, raising concerns about a wider confrontation between the neighbors.
Conflicting accounts of casualties and attack
Pakistan and Afghanistan have posted very different casualty figures in their ongoing conflicts.Pakistani officials say their forces have killed hundreds of Afghan Taliban militants in recent operations. However, Afghan authorities dispute these figures and claim that Pakistani troops suffered heavy losses.Pakistani leaders also accuse the Taliban government of allowing militant groups to operate in Afghanistan.Officials in Islamabad said these groups, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have carried out repeated attacks against security forces and civilians in Pakistan.
Pakistan says Taliban crossed ‘red line’
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari accused the Afghan Taliban government of crossing a “red line” last week by deploying drones that injured several civilians in Pakistan.Islamabad said the attacks prompted further military operations targeting militant infrastructure in the border areas.Afghanistan’s Taliban government has repeatedly denied the accusations and insisted it would not allow any group to use Afghan territory to launch attacks on other countries.
Pakistan denies Taliban claims, calls them ‘distortions of facts’
Pakistan’s Information Ministry also denied claims that a drug rehabilitation hospital was targeted.“The statement made by the so-called spokesman of the disgraced Taliban regime is yet another distortion of facts aimed at misleading public opinion,” the ministry said in a post on X.The statement added: “On the evening of March 16, Pakistan precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure, including Afghan Taliban and Fitna al Khawarij technical equipment storage and ammunition storage in Kabul and Nangarhar, which were used against innocent Pakistani civilians. The explosion of stockpiled munitions used by terrorist agents following the attack also completely disproves this false claim.” “Pakistan’s targeting is precise and careful to ensure no collateral damage is caused. This misrepresentation of facts is intended to inflame emotions and conceal illegal support for cross-border terrorism. The statement is rejected as false and misleading.”
Pakistan denies rejecting China’s mediation offer
Pakistan’s foreign ministry also refuted reports that Pakistan was rejecting China’s mediation efforts to ease tensions in Afghanistan.Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi said the claim was baseless.Pakistan and China remain trustworthy partners and close friends, and both sides maintain regular and close communication on all issues of common concern and common interest.“Therefore, any unnecessary speculation or fabrication of facts in this regard is unfounded,” he said.China urges both sides to return to the negotiating tableChina called on both countries to avoid further escalation and resume dialogue.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said preventing the conflict from expanding was a top priority.“The top priority is to avoid the expansion of the war and get the two countries back to the negotiating table as soon as possible,” he said.“China is willing to continue to make efforts to achieve reconciliation and ease relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he added.
Security concerns grow across region
Since the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan has historically been a center of armed activity, the escalating conflict has attracted international attention.The United Nations Security Council recently called on the Afghan Taliban authorities to step up efforts to combat terrorism and condemned terrorist activities in the region.The Security Council also extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan by three months as tensions between the two countries continued to rise.The International Human Rights Foundation also condemned the strike. In a statement, the organization called for an “independent investigation” into the incident. Meanwhile, in another incident in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at least two people were abducted and later killed, Dawn reported.
Mark Levin, Megyn Kelly feud: Candace Owens weighs in on Trump splitting MAGA; ‘You’re too…’
The world of Make America Great Again (MAGA) social media is certainly curious. Especially after this incident iran isA social media army that usually follows Trump’s defense found itself divided.
Donald Trump even took sides on two MAGA influencers in their social media feud in a 300-word post late Sunday on Truth Social.
For those who don’t know, a feud broke out on X between Megyn Kelly and Mark Levin, two famous MAGA voices with millions of fans. Levine took issue with Kelly’s criticism of Trump during the U.S.-Israel and Iran wars. The argument quickly escalated into personal attacks.
Former Fox News host Kelly broke with Trump over the current conflict. middle East. She had previously been one of the loudest supporters of Trump, endorsing the president in 2024.
Candace Owens weighs in
Candace OwensAnother far-right influencer, although not a MAGA brand, has also weighed in on the feud between Megyn Kelly and Mark Levin. While Trump endorsed Levine and called him a “great patriot,” Owens expressed support for Kelly.
Among her many barbs with Levine, Kelly called him “Mark with a small penis,” and Levine in turn commented on Kelly’s appearance, calling her “slutty.” As the feud continued, Laura Loomer spoke out in support of Levine, calling Kelly “Grandma Groiper.”
During this time, Owens lashed out at Loomer, saying: “I say this with the utmost respect, but you are too ugly to comment on Megyn Kelly’s appearance. Objectively speaking, she looks at least ten years younger than you, Larry. Respectfully submit.”
Marjorie Taylor Greene supports Megyn Kelly
Other high-profile supporters of Kelly include U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor GreeneBefore becoming a legislator, she was also a prominent spokesperson for MAGA.
“I wholeheartedly support Megyn Kelly telling the world that Mark Levine has a small penis. It’s the most deserved insult and I don’t care if it’s vulgar,” she wrote.
“Trump’s vigorous defense of Levin only angers the base more. People are screwed. MAGA was destroyed by micro-penis Mark Levin.”
‘I stand with my people’: Rashid Khan on Pakistan airstrikes in Kabul
afghan cricket star Rashid Khan Strongly condemns the recent air strikes in Kabul, which reportedly caused numerous civilian casualties and extensive damage to public infrastructure. The Afghan spinner took to social media platform“I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties caused by Pakistani air strikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure, whether intentional or unintentional, is a war crime. This complete disregard for human life, especially during Ramadan, is sickening and deeply concerning. It only fuels division and hatred. I call on the United Nations and other organizations human rights Agencies thoroughly investigate this latest atrocity and hold those responsible accountable. I stand with the people of Afghanistan during this difficult time. We will heal and we will rise as a nation. We do this all the time. Allah!
what happened in kabul
Controversy erupts after Afghanistan charges Pakistan An airstrike was launched on March 16, 2026, reportedly hitting a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul. According to Afghan officials, the attack killed more than 400 people and injured about 250 others, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the city in recent years.The 2,000-bed treatment facility was largely destroyed and emergency services struggled to cope with the aftermath as casualties mounted. Pakistan, however, denied deliberately targeting civilian sites and claimed the airstrikes targeted militant infrastructure allegedly operating on Afghan soil.The incident is part of escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with both sides blaming cross-border militancy and security threats.
‘Trying to sow discord’: J.D. Vance pushes back on disagreements with Trump on Iran
US Vice President Vance on Monday (US local time) refuted what he called an attempt to “drift” between him and the president. Donald Trump About the war in the Middle East.He emphasized that members of the Trump administration are in “complete harmony” on foreign policy.Vance’s relative silence on the ongoing conflict, combined with his earlier comments against military action in the Middle East, has fueled speculation that he and Trump are at odds.ALSO READ | The US-Israel war with Iran: Where is J.D. Vance? The mysterious case of the “missing” vice president“You’re trying to drive a wedge between members of the administration, between me and the president. What the president has said since 2015 – and I agree with him – is that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon,” he told reporters at the White House alongside Trump.When asked if he had reservations about U.S. involvement in the war with Iran, Vance reiterated his support and said he believed Trump “can get the job done,” CNN reported.ALSO READ | Is J.D. Vance hesitant about Iran attack? Trump reveals vice president’s position“We have a smart president, and we’ve had dumb presidents in the past. I’m confident that President Trump will get the job done, do a good job for the American people, and make sure that the mistakes of the past are never repeated,” he added, contrasting the current commander in chief with his predecessor.Vance’s earlier stance on U.S. involvement in foreign conflictsBefore joining the administration, he had expressed skepticism about U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts. In a 2023 column, he wrote that Trump owes his success in part to “avoiding war.”In 2024, Vance also said that a war with Iran would not be in the interests of the United States and would “greatly divert resources.”The Marine Corps veteran had earlier warned of a potential “escalation” in 2020 following the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani during Trump’s first term. He also privately expressed doubts about the U.S. attack on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to private messages that emerged during last year’s “Signalgate.”Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command spokesman Timothy Hawkins reported that about 200 U.S. troops in seven Gulf countries were injured in the ongoing military operations against Iran.Most of the injuries were minor, and more than 180 soldiers have returned to duty.According to CNN, 13 U.S. service members have been killed in action so far.(With ANI input)