<p>Only one in four Americans approve of the US strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, underscoring a sharp divide between public opinion and President Donald Trump’s forceful rhetoric. While Trump has portrayed the operation as decisive and widely welcomed, even inside Iran, the survey suggests significant domestic unease. Nearly half of respondents said they believe the President is too willing to use military force, raising fresh questions about the political cost of escalation.</p> <h2>Public Unease</h2> <p>The Reuters/Ipsos survey of 1,282 US adults found that just 27 per cent approve of the strikes, while 43 per cent oppose them. Support is heavily polarised along party lines: a majority of Republicans back the action, but only a small fraction of Democrats do. Notably, around one in four Republicans said they believe Trump is too ready to deploy military force to advance US interests.</p> <p>+++++++++++++</p> <figure class="image"><img src="https://ift.tt/SCMi0rz" alt="Poll Courtesy: Reuters" width="720" height="354" /> <figcaption>Poll Courtesy: Reuters</figcaption> </figure> <p>The findings point to a country wary of another prolonged overseas conflict, particularly one that risks wider regional escalation.</p> <h2>Triumphant Rhetoric</h2> <p>The polling stands in stark contrast to the President’s own language. Trump declared that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was dead, branding him “wretched and vile” and blaming him for the deaths of “hundreds and even thousands of Americans”. He claimed that crowds across Iran were celebrating the news and asserted that the country’s entire military command had been eliminated.</p> <p>According to Trump, senior Iranian figures are now seeking immunity, “calling by the thousands” in an effort to surrender.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/uAxTGrJisv">pic.twitter.com/uAxTGrJisv</a></p> — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/2028505632123326484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <p> <script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> </p> <p>The gap between that confident portrayal and the cautious mood reflected in polling data highlights a familiar tension in American politics: decisive executive action abroad does not automatically translate into unified support at home.</p> <p>With hostilities continuing and regional tensions mounting, the durability of public backing may prove as consequential as developments on the battlefield.</p>
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-claims-celebrations-after-khamenei-s-death-poll-shows-americans-not-happy-with-iran-war-1829531
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Monday, March 2, 2026
How Long Will The Iran-Israel War Last? Three Likely Scenarios Explained
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Iran-Israel war, now entering its opening phase after coordinated US-</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, has already reshaped the regional security </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">architecture. Iranian state media, including Tehran Times, has announced the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">killing of Ali Khamenei, though aspects of the situation remain fluid in </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">independent verification. Tehran has vowed retaliation. Washington says </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">objectives are limited. Markets have reacted sharply. The world is asking a </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">single question: </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">How long will this war last?</span></p> <p><em><strong>The answer depends on four key variables:</strong></em></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> military stockpiles,</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> political objectives,</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> regional escalation, and</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> external power involvement.</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These four key variables will create likely scenarios and let us take a look at </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">them one by one.</span></p> <h2><strong>Scenario 1: The “Four-Week” Window</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">US President Donald Trump has publicly suggested the active phase could </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">conclude in “four weeks or less,” potentially sooner if Iran accepts de-</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">escalation. That framing implies a concentrated air campaign rather than a </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">ground war, a model focused on:</span></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Targeted leadership strikes</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Missile-site destruction</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nuclear infrastructure degradation</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Strategic deterrence</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If that is the true ceiling of ambition, the conflict could remain intense but </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">brief, perhaps two to four weeks. However, wars rarely obey political </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">soundbites. And Donald Trump is known to be unpredictable and is likely to </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">shift the goal post as it may suit his nation’s purpose.</span></p> <h2><strong>Scenario 2: The “7 days To 2 Weeks” Possibility</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This conjecture is based on the hard math of missiles. Duration is constrained </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">by munitions. Tehran has been trying to appear resilient and says it has an </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Endurance Doctrine” in place. Iran’s official narrative rejects the idea that </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">leadership decapitation equals systemic collapse. Tehran-aligned commentary </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">describes the strike by the Israel-US forces as a “strategic mistake,” arguing </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">that martyrdom strengthens legitimacy and that institutional continuity </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">ensures survival.</span></p> <p><em><strong>Power in Iran is not vested in one office alone. It is distributed across:</strong></em></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Assembly of Experts</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clerical networks</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Proxy alliances across Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If succession consolidates quickly, the war may harden rather than dissipate. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead of collapse, the regime could double down, turning this into a </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">legitimacy war framed as resistance to foreign aggression. That extends </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">timelines. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Iran’s side e</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">stimates suggest Iran may hold between 2,000-3,000 long-range missiles. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, current retaliation appears rationed. Analysts believe sustained high-</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">intensity barrages could last days, not weeks, if Iran preserves inventory </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">strategically.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Measured retaliation indicates preparation for endurance, not spectacle. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">US-Israel Stockpiles </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Precision-guided munitions are finite. High-tempo campaigns can consume </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">inventories quickly. In previous short wars, interceptor systems depleted at </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">alarming rates.</span></p> <h2><strong>Scenario 3: “Low Intensity-Long Duration” 6+ months</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Considering the factors mentioned in scenario 2, means the first intense </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">exchange likely has a 7-14 day peak window, after which either:</span></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Resupply cycles kick in</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diplomacy intervenes</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Or the conflict shifts to lower-intensity modes.</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is the most unlikely of scenarios -as per the current state of affairs, and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">the reasons are explained under the points below. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Israel’s Layered Shield: A Duration Multiplier I</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">srael’s defensive architecture significantly shapes war length. It includes:</span></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air defense network</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Iron Dome (short-range rockets)</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">David's Sling (medium-range threats)</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arrow 2</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Arrow 3</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">US-Supplied THAAD</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Iron Dome interceptors cost roughly $50,000 per Tamir missile. David’s Sling </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">interceptors approach $1 million each. Arrow systems and THAAD are even </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">more expensive. Interceptors are not infinite.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If Iranian missile pressure forces Israel to expend large numbers of interceptors </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">daily, economic and logistical strain becomes a factor. Defensive resilience can </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">prolong the war by blunting impact, but it also imposes financial costs that </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">accumulate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Israel’s defence planners will also remember that during last year’s 12-day war </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">with Iran, the US nearly exhausted its THAAD interceptors. Two of America’s </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">seven THAAD batteries were deployed to Israel, firing more than 150 missiles, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">roughly a quarter of the Pentagon’s stock, exposing serious gaps in US missile-</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">defence inventories and the urgent need to scale up production for sustained, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">large-scale missile warfare.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But this time around, President Trump's top military adviser Retired Air Force </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lt. Gen. John Dan “Razin” Caine has warned that his country ability to defend </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">self and allies; interests must not be underestimated.</span></p> <h2><strong>What If Russia Or China Enter?</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Short answer: Low probability of direct intervention.</span></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Russia has condemned the strikes and called for UN action but remains </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">heavily engaged in Ukraine. Direct military involvement would risk </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">confrontation with the US. Moscow may benefit indirectly from higher </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">oil prices.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">China depends on Iranian energy imports and has expressed strong </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">diplomatic opposition to escalation. But Beijing traditionally avoids </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">direct military entanglement with Washington, especially amid Taiwan </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">and South China Sea tensions.</span></li> </ol> <p><em><strong>Both-Russia and China - are likely to:</strong></em></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Provide rhetorical backing</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Push for ceasefire resolutions</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Offer intelligence or economic support quietly</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">But direct military entry remains unlikely unless regime collapse appears </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">imminent.</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If either power were to intervene militarily, the conflict timeline would expand </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">dramatically, from weeks into potentially months or beyond. At present, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">indicators do not support that scenario.</span></p> <h2><strong>Regional Escalation: The Real Wildcard</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most significant timeline extender is proxy activation. Hezbollah in </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lebanon. Militias in Iraq. Houthi forces in Yemen. Maritime disruption in the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Strait of Hormuz. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">If the conflict spreads across multiple theatres, it stops being a “campaign” and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">becomes a regional war. Proxy wars rarely end quickly. That scenario pushes </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">duration toward one to three months minimum, possibly longer.</span></p> <h2><strong>What Is The US-Israel Goal: Regime Change vs. Containment?</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Duration ultimately hinges on strategic objectives. If the US-Israel goal is </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">containment and deterrence, a limited war is plausible. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">If regime change is the unstated ambition, history suggests airpower alone</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">rarely achieves it. Iran could absorb damage, reconstitute command, and shift </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">to asymmetric warfare, drones, cyber, maritime harassment. That produces a </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">long, grinding confrontation.</span></p> <h2><strong>Three Realistic Timelines</strong></h2> <p><strong>Scenario 1: 10-30 Days</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">High-intensity strikes, limited regional spread, negotiated cooling-off period.</span></p> <p><strong>Scenario 2: 1-3 Months</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Intermittent missile exchanges, proxy activation, economic disruption, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">diplomatic stalemate.</span></p> <p><strong>Scenario 3: 6+ Months (Low-Intensity Conflict)</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asymmetric operations, cyber warfare, maritime tension, periodic flare-ups </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">without formal war declaration.</span></p> <h2><strong>The Bottom Line</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wars end when cost outweighs strategic gain. But going by what the writing on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">the wall is at the moment:</span></p> <ol> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Iran signals endurance.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The US signals limited objectives.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Israel signals deterrence restoration.</span></li> <li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Russia and China signal diplomacy over confrontation.</span></li> </ol> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most probable near-term outcome is several weeks of high intensity </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">followed by a tapering phase, unless a major escalation event (mass casualty </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">strike, proxy invasion, Hormuz closure) alters calculations. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shock began this war. Stockpiles, succession politics, and escalation discipline </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">will decide how long it continues. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">And those variables move slower than missiles.</span></p>
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/how-long-will-the-iran-israel-war-last-three-likely-scenarios-explained-1829529
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/how-long-will-the-iran-israel-war-last-three-likely-scenarios-explained-1829529
Iran-Israel War Live Updates: Trump Warns Of ‘Long Operation’ Against Iran
<p><strong>Iran-Israel War Live Updates: </strong>US President Donald Trump has used a sweeping address on Iran to outline what amounts to a regime-change doctrine, as “Operation Epic Fury” enters its third day. Casting the past 48 to 72 hours as a decisive turning point, he detailed extensive American and allied strikes on Iranian military infrastructure and confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While presenting the campaign as a matter of national security, Trump’s call for Iranians to “take back” their country signalled ambitions that reach well beyond deterrence.</p> <p>Trump declared that Ayatollah Khamenei had been killed and described him as responsible for the deaths of “hundreds and even thousands of Americans”, as well as violence across multiple countries. He further claimed that crowds inside Iran had taken to the streets to celebrate the announcement.</p> <p>The US President also asserted that Iran’s entire senior military command had been eliminated. According to Trump, officials were seeking to surrender in exchange for immunity. “They’re calling by the thousands,” he said, suggesting fractures within the ruling establishment as military operations continue.</p> <h2>Regime Change Rhetoric</h2> <p>The tone of Trump’s address went beyond battlefield updates. By encouraging defections and directly appealing to Iranian “patriots”, he framed the campaign as an opportunity for political transformation in Tehran. While the White House has presented the offensive as necessary to neutralise security threats, the language used strongly implied a desire to see the current regime replaced.</p> <h2>Regional Tensions Escalate</h2> <p>Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had launched a missile at the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early on Monday. Israeli officials swiftly rejected the allegation as false, insisting there had been no successful strike. The claim nevertheless underscored the rapid escalation between the two long-time adversaries, as missile and drone exchanges intensify.</p> <p>In London, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned that Khamenei’s killing had not curtailed Tehran’s military activity but instead ushered in a more dangerous phase. Addressing Parliament, he said Iran’s retaliation had grown increasingly reckless, extending beyond strictly military targets.</p> <p>With hostilities expanding and rhetoric hardening on all sides, fears are mounting that the conflict could tip into a broader regional war.</p>
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-israel-war-live-updates-trump-warns-of-long-operation-against-iran-1829528
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-israel-war-live-updates-trump-warns-of-long-operation-against-iran-1829528
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Israel Launches Strikes Across Lebanon After Hezbollah Fires Rockets And Drones
<p>Israel’s military said Monday it had begun carrying out a series of strikes targeting Hezbollah positions "across Lebanon," following overnight rocket and drone attacks claimed by the Iran-backed militant group.</p> <p>The escalation marks another sharp turn in tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, as both sides traded accusations and military action in the early hours of the day.</p> <h2>Israeli Military Responds To Projectile Fire</h2> <p>In a statement, the Israeli military said the strikes were a direct response to incoming fire from Hezbollah.</p> <p>"Following Hezbollah’s projectile fire toward the State of Israel, the IDF has begun striking targets of the Hezbollah terrorist organisation across Lebanon," the military said.</p> <p>The statement indicated that Israeli forces were actively targeting locations linked to the group throughout Lebanese territory.</p> <h2>Hezbollah Claims Rocket And Drone Barrage</h2> <p>Earlier Monday, Hezbollah said it had launched rockets and drones toward Israel overnight.</p> <p>The group described the attack as a "barrage of missiles and a swarm of drones," saying the operation was carried out in retaliation for the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.</p> <p>In its statement, Hezbollah said the strikes were launched "in retaliation for the pure blood of… Ayatollah Imam Sayyid Ali Al-Husseini Khamenei," while also framing the attack as a response to what it called repeated Israeli strikes and as an act of defense for Lebanon and its people.</p> <h2>Rising Tensions Between Israel And Hezbollah</h2> <p>The exchange of fire underscores the ongoing volatility between Israel and Hezbollah, the powerful armed group backed by Iran and based in Lebanon. With rockets, drones, and retaliatory airstrikes now in play, the latest developments signal a further escalation in hostilities between the two sides.</p>
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-launches-strikes-across-lebanon-after-hezbollah-fires-rockets-and-drones-1829399
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-launches-strikes-across-lebanon-after-hezbollah-fires-rockets-and-drones-1829399
10 dead in protests at US missions across Pak cities over Khamenei's killing
<p> Islamabad/Karachi/Lahore, Mar 1 (PTI): At least 10 people were killed in firing when protesters tried to storm the US Consulate in Karachi as violent clashes and arson rocked different cities of Pakistan on Sunday over the killing of Shiite supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.</p><p> Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed on Saturday in a coordinated US-Israeli airstrike on Tehran with his death confirmed on Sunday, prompting an outburst of anger by Pakistan's Shiites, who are about 20 per cent of the 240 million population.</p><p> The US Embassy in Islamabad said it is monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the US Consulate General in Karachi and Lahore even as Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi requested the citizens not to take the law into their hands and “record their protest peacefully.” Apart from Karachi and Lahore, protests were also held in major cities, including Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta, where protesters clashed with law enforcement officers, who on several occasions resorted to shelling to disperse the crowds, The News International said in a report.</p><p> Violent clashes occurred in the coastal city of Karachi in Sindh province where angry proctors tried to attack the US Consulate building on Mai Kolachi Road and security personnel tried to stop them.</p><p> Dr Mohammad Sabir Memon, the executive director of Civil Hospital Karachi’s (CHK) Trauma Centre, told Dawn that 10 had died and 31 were injured in the wake of protests near the Consulate.</p><p> Senior police official, SSP Asad Reza, said after the crowd started attacking the police, they used tear gas shells and rubber bullets to control the situation.</p><p> The Express Tribune newspaper quoted an official statement by the Sindh government saying demonstrators breached the external security perimeter of the Consulate, entered the premises, and caused damage.</p><p> A large number of demonstrators had gathered around the Consulate, and police opened fire on them while they were attempting to break into the US Consulate.</p><p> Dr Sumaiya Syed, Police Surgeon, Sindh, said 10 bodies were brought to the Civil Hospital, and some appeared to have bullet wounds.</p><p> Syed said that around 30 injured persons are getting treatment at the hospital’s trauma centre. “The injured include four policemen,” she said.</p><p> Husain Mansoor, Spokesperson of the Sindh's Information Minister, expressed “deep grief” over the loss of lives in the clash.</p><p> “The protesters entered after breaching the security cordon of the US Consulate and committed vandalism,” he said in a statement.</p><p> Protests were also held in Gilgit and Skardu towns of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), which has a sizable Shiite population.</p><p> The situation in GB turned serious when protesters set the offices of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) on fire in Gilgit and Skardu.</p><p> They also set ablaze a school, the office of the superintendent of police, and the Agha Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) office.</p><p> The authorities imposed curfew in the Skardu district while the GB police in a statement said that the Pakistan Army had been called in under Section 245 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), Dawn said.</p><p> Protesters also blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) at multiple locations, it added.</p><p> In Lahore, hundreds of people surrounded the US Consulate with some of them attempting to force their way into the consulate building as well.</p><p> However, a couple of them who reportedly managed to enter the building, were caught by the security of the consulate and later handed over to the police.</p><p> “A large number of activists of a Shia organisation-- Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) -- started gathering outside the US Consulate Lahore following the confirmation of assassination of Khamenei. Not many policemen were deployed at the US Consulate at that time,” a senior Punjab police official said.</p><p> Later, a heavy contingent of police was rushed to secure the place, he said.</p><p> The protesters chanted 'Death to America' slogans and many of them were seen crying over the death of Iran's supreme leader holding his portrait.</p><p> The area was cordoned off by the police and protestors were allowed to have “a peaceful demonstration”, however, the situation around the consulate remained very tense as the protesters did not leave despite senior police officers' request as at 7 pm local time.</p><p> MWM leader and chief and opposition leader in the Senate Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, however, claimed 34 people were killed across the country during the clashes with law enforcers during protests.</p><p> In a post on X, Abbas claimed, 18 people were killed in Karachi, four in Islamabad, and six people each in Skardu and Gilgit.</p><p> However, there was no confirmation regarding the increased toll from the government as claimed by Abbas.</p><p> In Islamabad, protestors were stopped from moving towards the US Embassy even as the city administration banned all public gatherings by imposing Section 144 in the capital.</p><p> “Strict legal action will be taken in the case of any protest, demonstration or gathering,” the administration warned.</p><p> Similarly, in Peshawar, police prevented demonstrators from marching towards the US Consulate, The News International said.</p><p> The US Embassy, in a statement, said that it is monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, as well as calls for additional demonstrations at US Embassy Islamabad and Consulate General Peshawar.</p><p> “We advise US citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news and observe good personal security practices, including being aware of your surroundings, avoiding large crowds, and ensuring your STEP (Smart Traveller Enrollment Programme) registration is up to date,” it said.</p><p> Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a media interaction that after the “martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei,” every citizen of Pakistan is saddened in the same way as the people of Iran are grieving.</p><p> “We are all with the people of Iran. (But) we request the citizens not to take the law into their hands and record their protest peacefully,” he said.</p><p> Separately, Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him about the law and order situation.</p><p> Meanwhile, in Sindh, the provincial government set up a high-level joint investigation team (JIT) to “impartially review all aspects of the incident” and also determine “who was responsible” for the incident.</p><p> The government also requested citizens to “express their emotions only in peaceful and legal ways.” Sindh Minister for Interior Ziaul Hasan Langar requested details from the Additional IG Karachi, stressing that “No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands.” Langar called for enhanced security at sensitive installations. “Law enforcement agencies are fully alert and monitoring the situation closely,” the minister said.</p><p> He said a judicial inquiry had been formed to ascertain the entire incident, but rebuked suggestions that those killed in Karachi protests were hit by US Marines guarding the Consulate.</p><p> “What we know is that protesters turned violent and tried to break through the security cordon around the consulate and clashed with the police, and some of them were very violent due to which police had to respond accordingly,” he said.</p><p> The Express Tribune said Pakistani Shia scholar, Allama Syed Shahenshah Hussain Naqvi appealed for calm in the country following Khamenei's killing.</p><p> “On the occasion of this assassination, express your devotion keeping in mind the sorrow of Karbala,” Allam Naqvi said, in a video message, calling the protests outside the US Consulate in Karachi distressing.</p><p> MWM’s Abbas, in his post on X, strongly condemned the brutal repression of peaceful protests held across Pakistan as local police and law enforcement agencies in Islamabad, Gilgit and Skardu “resorted to firing on innocent protesters.” “Live ammunition against civilians cannot be justified under any doctrine of security. Diplomatic premises may be protected, but protection does not mean disproportionate force,” he added. PTI CORR/SH/MZ AMS NPK GSP</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/10-dead-in-protests-at-us-missions-across-pak-cities-over-khamenei-s-killing-1829397
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/10-dead-in-protests-at-us-missions-across-pak-cities-over-khamenei-s-killing-1829397
Beit Shemesh Death Toll Rises To 9; Iran Claims Strike On US Carrier Abraham Lincoln
<p>Explosions have rippled across the Middle East as the Israel-Iran War intensifies, leaving civilians dead and militaries claiming new targets in a rapidly expanding conflict. In Israel’s central town of Beit Shemesh, the death toll from a ballistic missile strike has risen to nine. Gulf cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha have also heard fresh blasts amid Iranian missile and drone attacks. Tehran’s Revolutionary Guards claim they have struck the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in the Gulf in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, raising fears of further escalation.</p> <h2>Iran Claims New Military Targets</h2> <p>Amid the widening war, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed it targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf, asserting the vessel was struck by multiple ballistic missiles. Although there has been no independent confirmation that the carrier was hit, the claim marks a significant escalation with potential strategic implications. Tehran framed the action as part of a broader campaign against American and Israeli interests in the region following joint strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.</p> <p>Iranian officials have also threatened continued operations against US military bases and assets throughout the Middle East, warning that “the land and sea will increasingly become the graveyard of the terrorist aggressors.”</p> <h2>Civilian Toll Mounts In Israel & Gulf States</h2> <p>In Israel, emergency services reported that at least nine people were killed in Beit Shemesh after an Iranian ballistic missile impact, underscoring the deadly reach of the conflict beyond its original theatres. Rescue teams continue operations, with wounded civilians being treated in local hospitals.</p> <p>Across the Gulf, explosions have been heard in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha as Iran’s retaliatory offensive unfolds. These blasts follow waves of missiles and drones launched south and west from Iranian territory targeting military and strategic locations, including major Gulf hubs previously considered insulated from direct hits. UAE and Qatari authorities have confirmed casualties and infrastructure damage in the wake of the strikes.</p> <h2>Regional Reaction & Risks Ahead</h2> <p>The escalation has provoked strong regional reactions. Gulf states, including the UAE, have condemned the strikes and urged Iran to “go back to enses,” warning that further attacks could deepen instability. In Israel and allied countries, authorities are reviewing civil defence protocols as missile intercepts and explosions strain emergency services.</p> <p>With airspace closures across the region and fears of broader confrontation lingering, both civilian populations and military strategists are bracing for potentially wider repercussions as the conflict evolves.</p>
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-iran-war-explosions-rock-dubai-abu-dhabi-and-doha-3-dead-in-uae-1-in-qatar-1829387
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/israel-iran-war-explosions-rock-dubai-abu-dhabi-and-doha-3-dead-in-uae-1-in-qatar-1829387
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Indian missions in Gulf advise nationals to 'exercise utmost caution' after joint US-Israel strikes
<p> Dubai, Feb 28 (PTI): The Indian missions in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan among other countries in the Gulf region on Saturday issued advisories for its citizens urging them to “exercise utmost caution” and follow advisories issued by local authorities diligently.</p><p> Several missions also said it is in touch with Indian citizens stranded at the airport or at other places as the two airports at Dubai, the largest aviation hub, shut down and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iraq closed their airspace, hours after the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran that escalated to region wide tension.</p><p> The Indian Embassy in Iran and the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, advised Indian nationals to register with it immediately to facilitate swift assistance to ensure the safety of Indian nationals residing in Israel and urging them to exercise “utmost caution” and “remain indoors”.</p><p> “Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential and unnecessary travel within Israel until further notice. Citizens are encouraged to monitor local news, official announcements, and emergency alerts regularly,” the Embassy at Tel Aviv said.</p><p> It posted on X contacts – a 24x7 helpline +972-54-7520711 and an email ID (cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in) – for Indian nationals to reach out to in case of any emergency.</p><p> In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Indian Embassy at Abu Dhabi urged all Indian nationals in the country “to avoid unnecessary travel, take due care, remain vigilant, follow safety guidelines and advisories as and when issued by the UAE authorities and the Embassy.” The Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai are continuing to function normally, it said in a post on X and also gave a Toll free number (800-46342) and a WhatsApp number (+971543090571) along with two email IDs (pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in and ca.abudhabi@mea.gov.in) for Indian nationals there to contact in case of emergency.</p><p> Later in the evening, another advisory said that the Embassy and the Consulate are in touch with the UAE authorities and airlines for taking care of the Indian passengers stranded at the airports in UAE due to temporary and precautionary airspace closure.</p><p> “The UAE government and airline authorities have reassured full support,” it said.</p><p> The joint US-Israel attack spread beyond Iran as its paramilitary launched drones and missiles targeting Israel. Bahrain said a missile attack targeted a US Navy fleet headquarters there while media reports said, quoting local witnesses, sirens and explosions could be heard in Kuwait, which is home to a base of US Army. Explosions could also be heard in Qatar. Iraq and the UAE said they have closed their airspace.</p><p> The Indian missions at Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Amman (Jordan), Manama (Bahrain), Ramallah (Palestine), Muscat (Oman), and Baghdad (Iraq) too issued similar advisories providing emergency contact details.</p><p> The Embassy of India at Riyadh asked all Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia “to remain vigilant” and strictly adhere to the safety guidelines prevalent in the country.</p><p> In a post on X, it also asked them to “follow advisories issued by the local authorities and the Embassy,” and asserted that the Embassy of India, Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah are continuing to function normally and will issue updates and advisories as and when necessary.</p><p> The Embassy's post also provided emergency contact 24*7 helpline numbers: 00-966-11-4884697, 00-966-542126748 (Whatsapp only) and 800 247 1234 (Toll-Free), apart from email Id (cw.riyadha mea.gov.in).</p><p> The Indian Embassy in Iraq, in its advisory, asked all Indian nationals in the country to “avoid unnecessary travel, take due care, remain vigilant, and follow safety guidelines and advisories” as and when issued by the embassy and the Iraqi authorities.</p><p> The Indian Embassy in Jordan said in its advisory, “In view of the prevailing regional situation, all Indian nationals and tourists in Jordan are advised to exercise utmost caution, stay safe and follow advisories issued by local authorities diligently.” The advisory, posted on the Embassy's social media channels, further advised all Indian tourists in Jordan to leave the country “immediately before operations of commercial flights get disrupted.” The Indian Embassy in Jordan also gave a contact number (00962-770 422 276) in case of any exigency.</p><p> The Embassy of India in Bahrain too advised all Indian nationals in Bahrain to take due care, and “follow news and advisories as and when issued by the Embassy & local authorities.” The Embassy said it is continuing to function “as usual” and also shared a 24×7 helpline number (00973-39418071) in view of the current regional situation.</p><p> The Representative Office of India to the State of Palestine at Ramallah advised all Indian nationals in Palestine “to remain vigilant” and observe locally advised safety and emergency procedures.</p><p> “Please exercise caution and avoid unnecessary movement,” it said in a post on X and gave contact details (+970592916418 or repoffice@mea.gov.in / cons.ramallah@mea.gov.in) in case of an emergency.</p><p> In Muscat, the Indian Embassy in Oman asked all Indian nationals in the Sultanate of Oman to avoid unnecessary travel, take due care, remain vigilant, and follow safety guidelines and advisories as and when issued by the Omani authorities and the Indian Embassy.</p><p> Indian nationals in Oman may contact the Embassy at the Toll Free Number (8007 1234), WhatsApp Number (+968 9828 2270) or can write a mail at (cw.muscat@mea.gov.in or cons.muscat@mea.gov.in).</p><p> The Indian Embassy in Qatar urged Indian nationals there to take due care, follow news and advisories as and when issued by the Embassy and local authorities “Our Embassy is continuing to function as usual. Embassy’s 24×7 helpline number is 00974-55647502 and email for addressing any query is cons.doha@mea.gov.in,” it said in a post on X.</p><p> Meanwhile, the consul general of India in Jeddah on Saturday held a virtual meeting with representatives of Indian air carriers in view of disruptions to air travel due to developing regional tensions.</p><p> Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri urged the airlines to extend full support to Indian nationals affected by travel disruptions in Saudi Arabia, the Indian Consulate General said in a social media post.</p><p> “The airlines assured that necessary measures are being undertaken, including timely communication regarding flight cancellations, dedicated helplines for updates and queries, facilitation of refunds, and other passenger assistance,” it said.</p><p> The US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran early Saturday, which came after days of build-up with US President Donald Trump ramping up the pressure on Tehran to agree to a new deal on its nuclear programme.</p><p> Ahead of the strike, US President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to take over the government. PTI NPK/AMS/HM GSP NPK GSP</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/indian-missions-in-gulf-advise-nationals-to-exercise-utmost-caution-after-joint-us-israel-strikes-1829278
source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/indian-missions-in-gulf-advise-nationals-to-exercise-utmost-caution-after-joint-us-israel-strikes-1829278
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