Conflict in West Asia has intensified as Israel carried out a series of strikes on the Basij and internal security command centres in Tehran belonging to the Iranian regime. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a social media post that the targeted command centres were used by the Iranian regime to maintain control throughout Iran. The IDF also struck the regime’s missile launchers and other systems. The Israeli Air Force also said that Iranian soldiers who operated air defence systems against Air Force aircraft have been neutralised. Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported today that a mourning ceremony for Khamenei had been postponed and would be held later.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has said that 1,097 civilians have been reported killed in Iran since the 28th of February.
The Israeli Air Force has informed us that it has again begun attacking Hezbollah’s infrastructure in Beirut.
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, also warned today that whoever is chosen as Iran’s next supreme leader would be considered a target for elimination. Earlier yesterday, Israeli forces struck a building linked to the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader.
On the other hand, the commander of United States Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, has said that the US will not stop and Iran’s ability to hit back is declining rapidly. Briefing on Operation Epic Fury, the US commander said that in less than 100 hours of this operation, the US has already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. He said that Iran’s air defences were severely degraded and hundreds of Iran’s ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones were also destroyed.
The US Department of War said in a statement that 4 US Army Reserve soldiers supporting Operation Epic Fury were killed in Kuwait at the Port of Shuaiba during an unmanned aerial vehicle attack.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom and France are deploying warships and air defence assets in Cyprus after it was attacked during the ongoing conflict between Iran and joint US-Israeli forces in West Asia. In a social media post, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel based there. French President Emmanuel Macron also ordered France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to move to the Mediterranean.
Moreover, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, has said that there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb. In a social media post, Mr Grossi also said that Iran’s large stockpile of near-weapon-grade enriched uranium and refusal to grant inspectors full access are cause for serious concern.
Meanwhile, in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, the External Affairs Ministry has set up a Control Room. The Control Room can be contacted from 9 am to 9 pm at 1800118797 (Toll Free), or via 011-2301 2113, 011-2301 4104 and 011-2301 7905.
In addition, Indian embassies in the conflict region have set up 24×7 emergency helplines to assist in coordinating safety measures and potential evacuations.
