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Was Irans Supreme Leader Khamenei A Target In Recent Conflict? Israeli Defence Minister Katz Reveals…

India.com

13 hours ago

Politics
India.com

Was Irans Supreme Leader Khamenei A Target In Recent Conflict? Israeli Defence Minister Katz Reveals…

Israel-Iran Conflict: After days of tensions in the Middle East, as Israel and Iran exchanged several attacks, a ceasefire was reached. Meanwhile, several media reports had earlier claimed that the United States had vetoed the plans to kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. On the other hand, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has revealed the intentions of his country regarding the assassination. ANI reported, citing Al Jazeera, that Katz said that Israel wanted to assassinate Khamenei during the recent 12-day conflict. Speaking to Israel's Channel 13, he stated on Thursday that his country did not require Washington's permission to carry out the operation. This claim of the Israeli Defence Minister countered the reports of a US veto on assassination plans. He said, "We wanted to eliminate Khamenei, but there was no operational opportunity." As per Al Jazeera, Katz asserted that Israel had a "green light" from Trump to strike Iran again should its nuclear activities resume. "I do not see a situation where Iran will restore the nuclear facilities after the attack," he said. Was Khamenei Aware Of Plan? Al Jazeera also reported that Katz further claimed that Khamenei was aware of the threat and went into deep hiding, cutting communication with commanders who had replaced Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leaders killed in the initial Israeli strikes. The Iranian Supreme Leader reportedly released video messages during the Israel-Iran conflict, but there has been no confirmation yet that he was cut off from the military commanders. The plan, if executed, would have resulted in a major escalation of the tensions between the two West Asian nations. Iran's Regime Change According to Al Jazeera, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had earlier hinted that the war could lead to regime change in Iran. Trump had posted on social media that the conflict could "MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN." The remarks came amid reports of damage to Iran's nuclear infrastructure following US strikes on key sites including Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Meanwhile, as per ANI, Khamenei on Thursday said that the US had "exaggerated" the extent of the damage. The 12-day war concluded with a US-brokered ceasefire following Iran's retaliatory missile attack on Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base.

Israeli soldiers ordered to shoot at unarmed aid seekers in Gaza

Express Tribune

14 hours ago

Health
Express Tribune

Israeli soldiers ordered to shoot at unarmed aid seekers in Gaza

Thousands of Palestinians have gathered there daily in the hope of receiving food rations, as famine looms across Gaza after more than 20 months of war. PHOTO: REUTERS Israeli soldiers have revealed that they were instructed to shoot at unarmed Palestinians who were waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza, Israeli media reported. The soldiers, speaking to Haaretz - an Israeli publication, described how they were ordered to open fire on crowds of aid seekers, even though these individuals posed no threat, Al Jazeera reported. According to the report, rather than using non-lethal crowd control measures such as tear gas, the soldiers were told to deploy heavy weaponry like machine guns, grenade launchers, and mortars on the crowds. One soldier described the situation as a "killing field," adding that between one and five people were killed every day in these operations. The Israeli military prosecutor's office has reportedly requested an investigation into possible war crimes, following accounts from soldiers who detailed their experiences at the aid distribution hubs in Gaza. Since the aid centres began operating in late May, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 549 people have been killed in the vicinity of these sites. Read: Israel halts aid into Gaza Despite these reports of violence, the US government recently approved $30 million in funding for the group overseeing these humanitarian efforts, amid concerns raised by human rights organisations regarding the potential complicity of aid staff in these incidents. Malnutrition crisis Meanwhile, a Gaza health official has warned that the worsening situation in the region has left 17,000 children suffering from malnutrition, with many facing the risk of death unless urgent action is taken. In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic, the director of medical relief in Gaza highlighted the severe shortage of medical supplies and staff, causing many surgeries to be delayed. Read more: Netanyahu, Trump reportedly agree on ending Gaza war within two week He stressed the need for international pressure on the Israeli occupation to allow the delivery of essential items such as baby formula and medicines. Without immediate intervention, he stated, a significant number of children could die from malnutrition. Israel halts aid Israel has stopped aid from entering northern Gaza but is still allowing it to enter from the south, two officials said on Thursday after images circulated of masked men on aid trucks who clan leaders said were protecting aid, not Hamas stealing it. A video circulating on Wednesday showed dozens of masked men, some armed with rifles but most carrying sticks, riding on aid trucks. Swift resolution Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have reportedly agreed on a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to Israel Hayom newspaper, quoting an unnamed source, reported that Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call this week on a rapid end to the war in Gaza, potentially within two weeks.

Tariff Rollbacks Won't Bring Instant Price Relief

Int'l Business Times

16 hours ago

Business
Int'l Business Times

Tariff Rollbacks Won't Bring Instant Price Relief

The recent U.S.–China trade agreement brought down tariffs from their peak highs—U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports now sit at about 55%, with China's tariffs at roughly 10%. While these numbers are lower than the previous peaks of 145% and 125%, respectively, the economic reality on the ground is far from a simple rollback. According to experts cited by Al Jazeera, businesses and consumers should not expect immediate or dramatic price drops. The tariff cuts are just one factor in a complex web of costs that continue to drive prices up. Supply Chain Rebuilding: A Slow, Costly Process Over the last few years, many companies have restructured their supply chains to avoid the worst of the trade war's impacts, shifting manufacturing to countries like Vietnam, Mexico, and India. These changes involve new contracts, investments in different infrastructure, and learning curves that cannot be reversed overnight. As noted by a logistics specialist interviewed by The Scottish Sun, "Even with tariffs reduced, many companies can't simply return to their old suppliers because the costs of switching again are prohibitive." Consumers Will Feel the Pinch for a While What does all this mean for everyday shoppers? Price reductions on imported goods—electronics, appliances, and even clothing—are likely to be gradual. High tariffs acted like hidden taxes that increased costs at every step of the supply chain, and those increased costs have been passed down to consumers. As explained by analysts in the Times of India, the legacy of these tariffs is still embedded in the price tags, and inflationary pressures worldwide only amplify the effect. The Bigger Picture: A Temporary Pause, Not a Full Reset While the tariff reductions are being presented as a win, the current arrangement includes a 90-day review window, meaning tariffs could rise again if further negotiations stall. This temporary nature leaves businesses in a cautious stance, hesitant to fully commit to long-term supply chain strategies involving China. Experts quoted by Al Jazeera point out that this deal represents more of a tactical pause than a true resolution—highlighting the lingering uncertainty and costs in global trade. Lower tariffs provide some breathing room but don't erase years of economic shifts and financial burdens. For consumers, price relief will be slow to come. For businesses, the supply chain landscape remains complex and costly to navigate. The U.S.–China trade deal's tariff rollback is a step forward—but a cautious one that still carries a heavy price.

Al Jazeera

17 hours ago

Health
Al Jazeera

War and Waste in Gaza

In Gaza, if civilians are not killed by bombings or attacks, they're killed by diseases caused by hazardous Jazeera's digital investigation team, Sanad, captures just how widespread waste sites are across Gaza, highlighting an environmental and health risk brought on by the war.

Iran's nuclear capabilities: What we actually know