Latest news with #OperationLion
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Iran Releases Photos Of Coffins Carrying Bodies Of Military Officials Ahead Of Mass Funeral
Last Updated: Ahead of the mass funeral, the Iranian state media have released the photos of the coffins carrying the dead bodies of military commanders and officials killed in the airstrikes. Iran-Israel Tensions: Two weeks after exchanging firings in a direct conflict with Israel, Iran will is scheduled to hold 'historic" funeral proceedings in Tehran for top military commanders and nuclear scientists killed during the 12-day war. Ahead of the mass funeral, the Iranian state media have released the photos of the coffins carrying the dead bodies of senior military commanders and officials killed in the airstrikes. The images purportedly show the coffins of Iran's top general Mohammad Bagheri; Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) chief commander Hossein Salami; Aerospace Force commander Amir-Ali Hajizadeh; Khatam al-Anbiya commander Gholam-Ali Rashid and his successor Ali Shadmani; IRGC Quds Force Palestine Corps chief Saeed Izadi; and Saeed Borji, who was known as the figure behind Iran's nuclear detonation technology. Iranian state media have released the first photos of the coffins of senior military commanders and officials killed in Israeli airstrikes, just two hours ahead of their mass funeral in downtown images purportedly show the bodies of Iran's top general Mohammad… — Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) June 28, 2025 AFP reported. The commemorations will be followed by a funeral procession to Azadi Square, about 11 km away. He added that Saturday, June 28, would be 'a historic day for Islamic Iran and the revolution." General Mohammad Bagheri, a major general in IRGC and the second-in-command of the armed forces after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in Israel strikes under Operation Lion. He would be laid to rest alongside his wife and daughter, a journalist for a local media outlet, the news agency said. Nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, who was also killed in the attacks, will be buried with his wife. Other high-ranking military officials will be buried in state-organised ceremonies in their home towns including Qom, Hamedan and Mashhad. Israel targeted and killed more than 20 high-ranking military officials during the 12-day war, some of them in their homes. It is expected that President Massoud Peseshkian will attend the funeral procession, but not the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Over 600 Killed In Iran Since June 13 The conflict between Iran and Israel broke out on June 13 when Israel launched strikes that it said were aimed at halting Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Over 30 top commanders of IRGC, including its commander-in-chief Hossein Salami and the head of its aerospace forces, Amirali Hajizadeh, were killed in the strikes. The Iranian health ministry has said that over 627 people have been killed and around 4,900 have been injured in the Israeli attacks. Meanwhile, 28 people have been killed in the Iranian strikes in Israel. First Published: June 28, 2025, 08:38 IST
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Air India plane crash, Iran-Israel conflict, Trump-Musk feud, and more: The week in 5 charts
(1) Israel-Iran conflict On June 16, Iran and Israel exchanged missile fire for the fourth day after Israel struck several targets in Iran targeting its nuclear facilities and military a couple days earlier. Israel's offensive also targeted Iranian military leaders and several nuclear scientists, killing top leaders in the military command structure. Israel-Iran conflict live updates Israel's 'Operation Lion' struck targets across Iran, with the International Atomic Energy Agency putting out a statement calling for a halt after Israel struck the Natanz nuclear facility. Iran's weakened proxies, damage to military bases and risking its global standing by not retaliating all put it in a tight spot. In this context, the pressure on Iran to come to a nuclear deal with the U.S. has increased. The attacks come after talks for a nuclear deal with the U.S. President Donald Trump fell into an impasse earlier this month. While the U.S. has denied its involvement in Israel's strikes, other reports suggest Mr. Trump knew of Israel's plans. (2) Air India plane crashes, leaving one survivor An Air India Boeing Dreamliner 787 planecrashed in Ahmedabad, killing over 200 passengers and crew on Thursday (June 12). The crash was one of the worst aviation accidents in recent times. The flight, headed to London, crashed shortly after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, reaching a height of over 600 feet before the signal was lost. The plane crashed into a hostel canteen area around 2 km away from the point of last contact, resulting in several casualties. The accident ended the Boeing variant's spotless safety record, making it the first crash for the 787 Dreamliner. While the exact cause for the crash remains unknown, the plane's landing gear not being retracted after take-off has raised concerns. The black box was recovered from the tail portion on June 13, and the voice recording from the cockpit retrieved on June 15. DNA samples have been given for testing and 86 victims have been identified through the results. (3) India's population reaches 146.39 crore India's population is estimated to have reached 146.39 crore by April, says a new UN demographic report, which adds that the country's total fertility rate (TFR) has declined to 1.9, falling below the replacement level of 2.1. The population is expected to grow to 170 crore before starting to dip in about 40 years, the report titled 'State of the World Population 2025: The Real Fertility Crisis' says. It calls India the 'world's most populous nation', while pegging former leader China's current population at 141.61 crore. The demographic indicators in the United Nations Population Fund report for 2025 are close to India's own projection of its population published in 2019 by a technical group of experts. According to these projections, India, as of 2025, is estimated to have a population of 141.10 crore. The UN report says that millions of people are not able to realise their real fertility goals. Calling this the 'real' crisis, and not overpopulation or underpopulation, the report calls for the pursuit of reproductive agency — a person's ability to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception and starting a family — in a changing world. India's youth population remains significant, with about 24% of the population in the age bracket of 0-14, 17% in age group of 10-19, and 26% in the age group of 10-24. Further, the report estimates that 68% of the population in India is of working age (15-64 years). (4) Telangana Cabinet expanded with three new ministers The Telangana State Cabinet has seen the first expansion 18 months after the Congress Government took over the reins in December 2023. Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered oath of office and secrecy to three new Ministers – G. Vivek Venkataswamy, Adluri Lakshman Kumar and Vakiti Srihari at a simple ceremony on Sunday (June 8, 2025). The strength of the Cabinet reached 15 with the addition of three more members and there is still space for accommodating few more. The three newly-inducted ministers in Telangana were assigned portfolios on Wednesday (June 11, 2025). According to the notification, G Vivek Venkata Swamy has been given charge of Labour and Mines and Geology, while Adluri Laxman Kumar has been assigned SC Development, Tribal Welfare, Minorities Welfare. Vakiti Srihari has been appointed Minister for Animal Husbandry, Sports and Youth Services. (5) How the Trump–Musk fallout unfolded Billionaire Elon Musk said on Wednesday (June 11, 2025) that he regrets some of the posts he made last week about U.S President Donald Trump, in a post on his social media platform X. Musk's statement came just days after Trump warned him of 'serious consequences' if he attempted to target Republicans backing a contentious spending bill. The two have been trading barbs on social media since last week, with Musk calling Trump's sweeping tax and spending proposal a 'disgusting abomination.'
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pentagon pizza monitor predicted frantic activity ahead of Israel's attack on Iran. What's the truth?
Pentagon Pizza mystery deepens Live Events — PenPizzaReport (@PenPizzaReport) — PenPizzaReport (@PenPizzaReport) Pentagon dismisses pizza index (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Does a surge in Pentagon's pizza orders signal an impending war? A frantic activity on the nights of June 12 and 13 thousands of miles away at pizza outlets in Arlington, Virginia was noticed as Israel prepared to attack Iran as part of its ' Operation Lion '. What is the connection? When Pentagon loads up on pizzas, does it signal a war is coming?A theory has gone viral online about the spike in deliveries of pizzas to the United States defence headquarters predicting the next global crisis and it is worth considering. According to a report in The Guardian almost an hour before Iranian state TV first reported loud explosions in Tehran, pizza orders around the Pentagon shot through the roof. The claim was made by a viral X account, formerly known as Twitter, claiming to offer 'hot intel' on 'late-night activity spikes' at the US military headquarters.'As of 6:59 pm ET nearly all pizza establishments nearby the Pentagon have experienced a HUGE surge in activity,' the account Pentagon Pizza Report posted on X account, Pentagon Pizza Index , now records and reports the activity on a regular basis, often indicating what's brewing in international politics. On Friday, roughly an hour before the first reports of Israeli strikes on Iran came in, pizza orders around the Pentagon reports surfaced on June 13. "With about an hour left before close, the 2nd closest Dominos to the Pentagon (about 8 min drive) is experiencing EXTREMELY high levels of traffic compared to a normal Thursday at about 11:00 pm ET," the account Pentagon Pizza theory is an unofficial theory which suggests that spike in orders of pizza or takeout food to government buildings such as the White House, Pentagon or CIA can hint at an major geopolitical events or crises. The quirky theory suggests that when government officials work late into the night-especially on urgent matters- such as military operations, coups or global conflicts- they order quick, convenient food items such as pizza to sustain long hours in the Pentagon Pizza Report posted the Google Maps activity of four pizza establishments near the Pentagon – We, The Pizza, District Pizza Palace, Domino's and Extreme Pizza. All these pizza takeaway spots showed a surge in orders around 6:59 pm ET (4:29 am IST).The concept dates back to the Cold War era when the Soviet operatives noticed the pizza delivery activity in Washington and reported to their bosses in Moscow if America was preparing for something big, reports August 1, 1990, a Domino's franchisee in Washington reported a massive surge in pizza deliveries to the CIA buildings. On August 2, Saddam Hussein's Iraq invaded Kuwait. A similar pattern was noticed ahead of Operation Desert Storm in 1991, The Guardian the years, the theory remained in place and has now made its way to social media. The Pentagon Pizza Index, among some of the other pages, used open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools, including Google Maps and real-time restaurant activity.A Pentagon spokesperson reacted to the Pizza delivery index of June 13 when Israel launched military attacks in Iran. The spokesperson clarified they do not need to order pizza as there are many pizza options inside Pentagon and also they have sushi, sandwiches, donuts, etc, reported TOI. "Nearly all pizza establishments near the Pentagon have experienced a HUGE surge in activity," the X account of Pentagon Pizza Report said. The Pentagon Pizza Report also said a gay bar close to the Pentagon had "abnormally low traffic for a Thursday night" as Israeli strikes were US President Donald Trump has several times made it clear that US was not involved in the attacks. "U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran," he posted on Truth Secretary of State and national security adviser, Marco Rubio, said Washington was not involved in this. "We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defence," he said.
NDTV
14-06-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Airspace, Oil Prices, All-Out War: 5 Major Impacts Of Iran-Israel Conflict
New Delhi: Major disruptions to commercial airlines costing millions of dollars, a spike in oil prices worldwide, and the risk of all-out war in the West Asia region, which could escalate into a global military conflict - these are among the top impacts of increasing Israel-Iran tension. Tel Aviv and Tehran have fired multiple volleys of missiles at each other starting with the former's 'Operation Lion' attack early Friday, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a "targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to (the) very survival" of his nation. Israel said its attacks targeted military installations, nuclear sites, commanders and nuclear scientists, and reportedly killed senior armed forces leaders, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief, Hossein Salami; and the Chief of Staff of the armed forces, Mohammad Bagheri. Iranian nuclear scientists were also among those believed to be killed. NDTV 10 Points | Middle East On Edge As Missiles Criss-Cross Israel, Iran Iran retaliated with a volley of missiles, some of which were reportedly intercepted by American defences, according to officials from that country. Most were neutralised by the Iron Dome but some snuck through, including one that may have hit the Israel Defense Forces HQ in Tel Aviv. 5 Big Impacts Of Iran-Israel Tension Oil Price Spike: The international oil market has reacted sharply to this latest West Asian conflict, jumping by over nine per cent Friday after Israel's first two rounds of missile attacks. Brent crude prices surged by over $6 to cross a five-month high of $78 per barrel. According to a report by Emkay Global, Iran produces around 3.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) of crude oil (i.e., around three per cent of global production) and exports around 1.5 mbpd, with China being the main importer (80 per cent), followed by Turkey. READ | Oil Prices Surge Worldwide Amid Fears of Iran-Israel Escalation Iran is also on the northern side of the Strait of Hormuz/Persian Gulf through which 20 mbpd+ of oil trade flows, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE among those also shipping through here. In the past Tehran has warned of blocking this route. For now oil markets remain well supported after another higher than expected production hike for July, meaning Iranian supply cuts can be tolerated for a while. Airspace Closure: After Israel's attack Friday, a timelapse video from flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed the immediate impact on the commercial aviation industry. This time-lapse of air traffic over the Middle East shows how civilian airspace cleared after Israel's operation against Iran began. — Brady Africk (@bradyafr) June 13, 2025 There were almost zero planes over Iran, with streams of passenger jets from Europe to Asia skirting around either side of the country. In fact, live visuals from the hours after the attack showed aircraft rerouting in real-time, turning out of Iranian skies for other corridors. Aviation Route Disruptions: The mass diversions, and the avoidance of Iranian airspace since, will likely have a ripple effect on international aviation, with longer flights, potential delays and increased fuel costs for multiple carriers operating in and out of West Asia and further east. As an example, an Air India Mumbai-London flight returned after three hours in the air. Air India said the situation in Iran and the closure of its airspace had led to the flight returning to origin. Air India also said over a dozen of its flights alone had been either diverted or returned. Both countries have declared a lockdown of their airspaces. Nuclear Talks With US "Dead": After Israel's Friday attacks Tehran called any dialogue with Washington over its nuclear programme "meaningless", and even accused the latter of 'authorising' the missile strikes on its territory. "The other side (i.e., the US) acted in a way that makes dialogue meaningless. You cannot claim to negotiate and at the same time divide work by allowing the Zionist regime (Israel) to target Iran's territory," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said. READ | 'Not Concerned About War, Gave Iran 60 Days', Today's 61st: Trump Iran had earlier accused the US of being complicit in Israel's attacks, but Washington denied the allegation and told Tehran at the United Nations Security Council it would be "wise" to negotiate over its nuclear programme. US President Donald Trump told Reuters that his team and he had prior knowledge of the Israeli attacks but declared they still saw room for an accord with Iran. Multiple War Fronts: What started with a horrific terrorist attack by Hamas gunmen on October 7 two years ago has spawned multiple war fronts across the West Asia region after Israeli attacks on Iran-backed armed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Nations across West Asia have called on all sides to stand down; Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry said Tel Aviv's attacks were a "clear violation of international laws and norms". Missiles, though, continue to be fired by both sides and the fallout is affecting neighbouring countries. Israel-intercepted Iranian missiles, for example, have exploded in southern Syria and Jordanian jets have been scrambled to deal with similar issues over their skies. If this conflict escalates it could even force the Americans to become involved, more directly than they already are; unnamed US officials have said they helped intercept Iranian missiles.
News18
13-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Operation Rising Lion: Why Did Israel Hit Iran's Nuke Sites And Which Are The Areas It Targeted?
Last Updated: According to Israeli officials, this marks the beginning of a sustained campaign intended to roll back what they describe as a mounting threat from Tehran. Israel carried out a large-scale military operation, christened Operation Lion, against Iran early on Friday, targeting critical nuclear and military infrastructure. The strikes were aimed at dismantling Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons, disrupt its missile capabilities, and neutralise top figures in its defence leadership. FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES HERE According to Israeli officials, this marks the beginning of a sustained campaign intended to roll back what they describe as a mounting threat from Tehran. Multiple explosions were reported across Iranian cities, with damage confirmed at several strategic sites, including nuclear facilities and military headquarters. Why Iran Was Hit: Inside Israel's 'Pre-emptive Strike' Israel launched sweeping airstrikes on Iran early Friday, in what it described as a pre-emptive military operation targeting nuclear facilities, ballistic missile sites, and top military commanders. The assault, part of Operation Rising Lion, marked the start of a prolonged campaign aimed at neutralising what Israel views as an 'existential threat" from Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a 'decisive moment" in the country's history, declaring that the strikes would continue 'for as many days as it takes" to remove the danger. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) stated that the decision to launch the attack stemmed from fresh intelligence indicating that Iran's nuclear weapons programme had reached the 'point of no return." In an official statement, the IDF labelled the assault a 'pre-emptive strike," prompted by fears that Iran — an openly hostile regime with missiles capable of striking anywhere in Israel — was on the brink of weaponisation. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the situation had crossed critical thresholds, and that Israel could no longer afford to wait. Iran's uranium enrichment has been accelerating, according to the UN's nuclear watchdog, adding further urgency to Israeli concerns. Netanyahu, in a prerecorded address released during the strikes, claimed Iran now possesses enough enriched uranium to build nine nuclear weapons. He also warned that Tehran was taking unprecedented steps toward assembling a nuclear bomb. However, a US official cited by Reuters indicated there had been no shift in Washington's intelligence assessment, which still holds that Iran has not restarted its nuclear weapons programme since it was shut down in 2003. Despite this, Israel's leadership felt compelled to act decisively to prevent what it described as a fast-approaching threat to its national survival. Where Israel Struck Israeli strikes reportedly hit dozens of locations across Iran, including key nuclear and military sites. Among the most significant targets was the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran, where explosions were reported by Iranian media and witnesses. Israel also struck the headquarters of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards in Tehran, killing its top commander, Hossein Salami. At least two nuclear scientists, Fereydoun Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, were also reportedly killed in strikes on Tehran. The offensive extended beyond air raids. According to Axios, citing Israeli officials, Mossad also led covert sabotage missions inside Iran, targeting missile sites and air defence systems. (With inputs from Reuters)
