National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides

The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS

Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent

India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh

Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?

How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?

Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition

‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal

Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch

Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine

Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states

Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions

Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy

Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS

'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia

Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside

Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift

New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot

RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress

Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'

IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act

Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott

Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances

Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation

New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know

India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims

Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed

US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance

Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built

Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH

Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school

Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report

<p>Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Dubai is offering gold at massive discounts while prices have surged to record highs of around Rs 1,60,000 per 10 grams. Indians are therefore looking at importing the safe-haven metal from the United Arab Emirates. Here are the laws and taxes levied by Indian authorities if you are looking to bring gold from Dubai.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>For years, Indian passengers were restricted by a dual cap on gold jewellery: a specific weight limit and a rigid rupee value limit. Under the old 2016 rules, a woman could bring 40 grams of gold, but only if its value did not exceed Rs 1,00,000. As gold prices hover around Rs 1,50,000 per 10 grams in 2026, that old value cap effectively criminalised anyone carrying more than 7 grams of gold.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Baggage Rules 2026 have officially abolished these value caps. For eligible passengers (Indian residents or tourists of Indian origin who have resided abroad for more than one year), the duty-free allowance is now governed strictly by weight:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Female passengers</strong>: 40 grams of gold jewellery</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Male passengers</strong>: 20 grams of gold jewellery</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Children (under 15)</strong>: 40 grams of gold jewellery</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This change means a female passenger can now carry jewellery worth approximately Rs 6,00,000 entirely duty-free, provided it stays within the 40-gram limit. “Jewellery” under these rules includes ornaments made of gold, silver, or platinum, including those studded with precious stones.</p><h2>Strict regulations for raw Gold</h2><p>While jewellery rules have been relaxed, the stance on raw gold remains stringent.</p><p>If you have been abroad for less than one year, you must include any new jewellery within your General Free Allowance (now Rs 75,000 for Indian residents).</p><h2>Gold bars, coins, and biscuits carry no duty-free allowance</h2><p>Whether you are carrying a 1-gram coin or a 100-gram bar, it must be declared at the airport’s Red Channel. The duty structure for raw gold is tiered based on your stay abroad:</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Concessional rate (stay more than six months)</strong>: &nbsp;Eligible passengers can bring up to 1 kg of gold by paying a concessional duty of approximately 6% (comprising 5% Basic Customs Duty and 1% AIDC). This must be paid in convertible foreign currency.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Standard rate (stay less than six months)</strong>: Short-term travellers or those who do not meet the residency requirement are charged a much higher “hand baggage” rate, typically around 38.5%.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Compliance and Digital Declaration</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>To speed up clearances, the Ministry of Finance has integrated these rules with the ATITHI mobile app. Passengers are encouraged to file a digital declaration before landing. Upon arrival, those with items to declare must proceed to the Red Channel.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It is vital to carry original purchase invoices for all gold items. Failure to declare gold exceeding the weight limits, or any amount of raw gold, can lead to severe consequences, including heavy fines, seizure of the metal, and prosecution under the Customs Act, 1962.</p>

As airspace over the Gulf has been partially closed due to the war in West Asia, triggering a logistical bottleneck, Dubai is offering gold at massive discounts while prices in India remain at record highs.

Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Dubai is offering gold at massive discounts while prices have surged to record highs of around Rs 1,60,000 per 10 grams. Indians are therefore looking at importing the safe-haven metal from the United Arab Emirates. Here are the laws and taxes levied by Indian authorities if you are looking to bring gold from Dubai. For years, Indian passengers were restricted by a dual cap on gold jewellery: a specific weight limit and a rigid rupee value limit. Under the old 2016 rules, a woman could bring 40 grams of gold, but only if its value did not exceed Rs 1,00,000. As gold prices hover around Rs 1,50,000 per 10 grams in 2026, that old value cap effectively criminalised anyone carrying more than 7 grams of gold. The Baggage Rules 2026 have officially abolished these value caps. For eligible passengers (Indian residents or tourists of Indian origin who have resided abroad for more than one year), the duty-free allowance is now governed strictly by weight: Female passengers: 40 grams of gold jewellery Male passengers: 20 grams of gold jewellery Children (under 15): 40 grams of gold jewellery This change means a female passenger can now carry jewellery worth approximately Rs 6,00,000 entirely duty-free, provided it stays within the 40-gram limit. “Jewellery” under these rules includes ornaments made of gold, silver, or platinum, including those studded with precious stones. Strict regulations for raw Gold While jewellery rules have been relaxed, the stance on raw gold remains stringent. If you have been abroad for less than one year, you must include any new jewellery within your General Free Allowance (now Rs 75,000 for Indian residents). Gold bars, coins, and biscuits carry no duty-free allowance Whether you are carrying a 1-gram coin or a 100-gram bar, it must be declared at the airport’s Red Channel. The duty structure for raw gold is tiered based on your stay abroad: Concessional rate (stay more than six months): Eligible passengers can bring up to 1 kg of gold by paying a concessional duty of approximately 6% (comprising 5% Basic Customs Duty and 1% AIDC). This must be paid in convertible foreign currency. Standard rate (stay less than six months): Short-term travellers or those who do not meet the residency requirement are charged a much higher “hand baggage” rate, typically around 38.5%. Compliance and Digital Declaration To speed up clearances, the Ministry of Finance has integrated these rules with the ATITHI mobile app. Passengers are encouraged to file a digital declaration before landing. Upon arrival, those with items to declare must proceed to the Red Channel. It is vital to carry original purchase invoices for all gold items. Failure to declare gold exceeding the weight limits, or any amount of raw gold, can lead to severe consequences, including heavy fines, seizure of the metal, and prosecution under the Customs Act, 1962.

<p>As airspace over the Gulf has been partially closed due to the war in West Asia, triggering a logistical bottleneck, Dubai is offering gold at massive discounts while prices in India remain at record highs.</p>

How much gold can Indians bring from Dubai as West Asia war sparks gold rush?

<p>The Iranian Crown Jewels, also known as the Imperial Jewels of Persia, are one of the largest and most valuable collections of jewellery in the world. It is also the largest state-owned collection of royal jewellery in the world, featuring more than 50,000 gemstones collected by monarchs since the 16th century. The collection is housed in the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran, which also includes the 182-carat Darya-e Noor diamond, the Gem-studded Globe, and the Kiani and Pahlavi crowns.</p><p><br>The collection spans over 2,500 years of Iranian monarchy, with major additions from the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. It is widely considered the most valuable and historically significant jewellery collection in the world. It is so immense that it has been used as a legal reserve to back the Iranian national currency (the Rial) since 1937.</p><h3>Key highlights of the collection</h3><p><strong>Darya-ye Noor (Sea of Light):</strong> The crown jewel of the collection, it is the world's largest known pink diamond, weighing approximately 182 carats.<br><strong>The Jewelled Globe:</strong> A 34-kg solid gold sphere encrusted with over 51,000 gems. Emeralds represent the oceans, while rubies and diamonds mark the landmasses.<br><strong>The Pahlavi Crown:</strong> Used for the coronations of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it contains 3,380 diamonds, 369 pearls, and a 100-carat emerald at its apex.<br><strong>The Peacock Throne (Sun Throne): </strong>An enormous, jewel-encrusted platform-style throne commissioned in the early 19th century, containing over 26,000 gems.<br><strong>Samarian Spinel:</strong> The world's largest spinel, weighing 500 carats.</p><h3>How much are Iran’s Crown Jewels worth?</h3><p>If the value of Iran’s Crown Jewels is talked then there is no officially declared amount, but if an inestimable value, with unofficial estimates, is considered, then it is worth between $20 billion and $50 billion. However, several experts fail to capture their true worth.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The interesting part of Jewels is that it also backs a currency that gives something solid to lean on. As we know, today, no other nation uses its royal treasures in quite this way. Britain's crown jewels shine in the Tower of London, and Russia's imperial regalia lies behind glass cases, but Iran's collection plays a significant role for its country, as it is treated as money.<br>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/historian-says-this-470-year-old-book-was-owned-by-galileo-his-habit-of-praying-was-a-dead-giveaway-1772703188041">Historian says this 470-year-old book was owned by Galileo. His habit of praying was a dead giveaway</a></p>

The collection of Iranian Crown Jewels spans over 2,500 years of Iranian monarchy, with major additions from the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. It is widely considered the most valuable and historically significant jewellery collection in the world. 

The Iranian Crown Jewels, also known as the Imperial Jewels of Persia, are one of the largest and most valuable collections of jewellery in the world. It is also the largest state-owned collection of royal jewellery in the world, featuring more than 50,000 gemstones collected by monarchs since the 16th century. The collection is housed in the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran, which also includes the 182-carat Darya-e Noor diamond, the Gem-studded Globe, and the Kiani and Pahlavi crowns. The collection spans over 2,500 years of Iranian monarchy, with major additions from the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. It is widely considered the most valuable and historically significant jewellery collection in the world. It is so immense that it has been used as a legal reserve to back the Iranian national currency (the Rial) since 1937. Key highlights of the collection Darya-ye Noor (Sea of Light): The crown jewel of the collection, it is the world's largest known pink diamond, weighing approximately 182 carats. The Jewelled Globe: A 34-kg solid gold sphere encrusted with over 51,000 gems. Emeralds represent the oceans, while rubies and diamonds mark the landmasses. The Pahlavi Crown: Used for the coronations of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, it contains 3,380 diamonds, 369 pearls, and a 100-carat emerald at its apex. The Peacock Throne (Sun Throne): An enormous, jewel-encrusted platform-style throne commissioned in the early 19th century, containing over 26,000 gems. Samarian Spinel: The world's largest spinel, weighing 500 carats. How much are Iran’s Crown Jewels worth? If the value of Iran’s Crown Jewels is talked then there is no officially declared amount, but if an inestimable value, with unofficial estimates, is considered, then it is worth between $20 billion and $50 billion. However, several experts fail to capture their true worth. The interesting part of Jewels is that it also backs a currency that gives something solid to lean on. As we know, today, no other nation uses its royal treasures in quite this way. Britain's crown jewels shine in the Tower of London, and Russia's imperial regalia lies behind glass cases, but Iran's collection plays a significant role for its country, as it is treated as money. Also read: Historian says this 470-year-old book was owned by Galileo. His habit of praying was a dead giveaway

<p>The collection of Iranian Crown Jewels spans over 2,500 years of Iranian monarchy, with major additions from the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. It is widely considered the most valuable and historically significant jewellery collection in the world.&nbsp;</p>

How much are Iran’s Crown Jewels worth? Inside the priceless royal treasure

<p>A retired Air Force major general, considered an expert on UFOs, has been missing since February 28. An investigative journalist has warned that William Neil McCasland's disappearance is a "grave national security crisis". He left his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home on Saturday and has not been heard of ever since. McCasland did not take his cellphone with him and walked out of the home. The FBI has also gotten involved in the matter and has launched a search operation, The New York Post reported. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Silver Alert to locate him. The notice adds that law enforcement officials are concerned for his safety because of his medical issues. What has concerned others is the fact that he is rumoured to be in on most of the information that the US holds on extraterrestrials. He is an Air Force retiree who was assigned to the research wing at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Journalist Ross Coulthart said on his “Reality Check” podcast that the role had McCasland working on classified space weapons programs.</p><p>Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-orders-release-of-files-on-ufos-aliens-after-accusing-obama-of-making-a-big-mistake-1771554725270"><strong> Trump orders release of files on UFOs, aliens after accusing Obama of making a ‘big mistake’</strong></a><br>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/epstein-files-distraction-trump-admin-reportedly-agrees-to-disclose-alleged-alien-secrets-at-us-bases-1770350889695"><strong>Anything to distract from Epstein files? Trump admin reportedly agrees to disclose alleged alien secrets at US bases</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Gen. Neil McCasland knew about alien information&nbsp;</strong></h2><p>The US government is said to be hiding pieces of extraterrestrial vehicles at this base near Dayton, Ohio, that were collected from Roswell in New Mexico, a famous UFO hotspot. “The fact that Gen. Neil McCasland has disappeared off the face of the earth is a grave national security crisis for the United States of America. This is a man with some of the most sensitive secrets of the United States in his head," Coulthart said. His disappearance comes at a time when President Donald Trump has announced that all information gathered on alien visits to Earth will be released in the coming days. As per the order, the Pentagon will disclose anything related to "alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs)."</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/files-on-secret-alien-and-ufo-programs-vanish-hours-after-trump-s-order-deletion-not-corruption-1771922604653"><strong>3.8bn Black Vault files on secret alien and UFO programmes vanish hours after Trump's order: 'Deletion not corruption'</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Notably, this is the second time a suspicious event has happened since Trump's announcement. Last month, Black Vault, &nbsp;an archive containing declassified US government files on UFOS, was wiped clean overnight. The vault is an online location that anyone can access. It contains files on alien discoveries and conspiracy theories over the last 80 years gathered by ufologist John Greenewald Jr. He said that nearly 3.8 million files were removed from the database on February 20. They contained military base reports and witness testimonies on aliens. The website hosting provider told him that the files were deleted and were not corrupted. Since he had backed up all the data, everything was restored.</p>

William Neil McCasland has gone missing days after Trump ordered the release of all files on extraterrestrial visits to Earth, aliens and UFOs. He is a retired Air Force major general who also worked on America's classified space weapons program.

A retired Air Force major general, considered an expert on UFOs, has been missing since February 28. An investigative journalist has warned that William Neil McCasland's disappearance is a "grave national security crisis". He left his Albuquerque, New Mexico, home on Saturday and has not been heard of ever since. McCasland did not take his cellphone with him and walked out of the home. The FBI has also gotten involved in the matter and has launched a search operation, The New York Post reported. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has issued a Silver Alert to locate him. The notice adds that law enforcement officials are concerned for his safety because of his medical issues. What has concerned others is the fact that he is rumoured to be in on most of the information that the US holds on extraterrestrials. He is an Air Force retiree who was assigned to the research wing at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Journalist Ross Coulthart said on his “Reality Check” podcast that the role had McCasland working on classified space weapons programs. Also Read: Trump orders release of files on UFOs, aliens after accusing Obama of making a ‘big mistake’ Also Read: Anything to distract from Epstein files? Trump admin reportedly agrees to disclose alleged alien secrets at US bases Gen. Neil McCasland knew about alien information The US government is said to be hiding pieces of extraterrestrial vehicles at this base near Dayton, Ohio, that were collected from Roswell in New Mexico, a famous UFO hotspot. “The fact that Gen. Neil McCasland has disappeared off the face of the earth is a grave national security crisis for the United States of America. This is a man with some of the most sensitive secrets of the United States in his head," Coulthart said. His disappearance comes at a time when President Donald Trump has announced that all information gathered on alien visits to Earth will be released in the coming days. As per the order, the Pentagon will disclose anything related to "alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs)." Also Read: 3.8bn Black Vault files on secret alien and UFO programmes vanish hours after Trump's order: 'Deletion not corruption' Notably, this is the second time a suspicious event has happened since Trump's announcement. Last month, Black Vault, an archive containing declassified US government files on UFOS, was wiped clean overnight. The vault is an online location that anyone can access. It contains files on alien discoveries and conspiracy theories over the last 80 years gathered by ufologist John Greenewald Jr. He said that nearly 3.8 million files were removed from the database on February 20. They contained military base reports and witness testimonies on aliens. The website hosting provider told him that the files were deleted and were not corrupted. Since he had backed up all the data, everything was restored.

<p>William Neil McCasland has gone missing days after Trump ordered the release of all files on extraterrestrial visits to Earth, aliens and UFOs. He is a retired Air Force major general who also worked on America's classified space weapons program.</p>

Man in charge of classified space weapons program who knew all about America's UFO secrets is missing

<p>Dubai streets have been flooded with dogs, kittens and rabbits as pet owners in the country are reportedly abandoning their animals while rushing to depart amid the escalating Middle East crisis. Veterinarians in the city confirmed receiving continuous requests from owners asking about euthanising their pets, while others have been leaving cats and dogs on the streets.</p><p><br>The UAE is home to over two million pets. In Dubai and across the country, cats significantly outnumber dogs, with about 64.98 per cent of pet owners preferring cats. The K9 Friends Dubai, an organisation that helps rehome dogs in the UAE, reported a rise in such incidents.</p><p><br>According to a report by The Telegraph, Dubai-based pet boarding service 'The Barking Lot' said it is trying to remain as flexible as possible, but shelters are already overcrowded. Volunteers at rescue centres say the number of abandoned pets has surged, pushing many shelters to their limits and leaving some unable to care for additional animals.</p><p><br>Several images and videos of dogs left on the streets, tied to poles with no owners around, have surfaced on social media. Meanwhile, several reports indicated that pets are being left alone in the desert after residents who were prevented from taking them over the UAE border while leavening region via Oman.</p><p><br>Other reports mention pets being left stranded in the desert after residents who attempted to leave the region via Oman were prevented from taking them over the UAE border. One resident in Al Ain even found a cat with four kittens left on her doorstep with a note from the owner explaining they were unable to take their pets with them as they fled.</p><p><br>"Kitten 4 and mama cat inside the box. I am travelling back to my country because of the situation going on here. I tried to call, but no one picked up my calls, so I got to know your locations. I am so sorry for keeping in front of your gate," a resident found a note with a cat and four kittens left on her doorstep from the owner.</p><h3>How is the Dubai government solving the problem?</h3><p>Recently, Dubai Municipality has come up with AI-powered smart devices to track stray animals, which is known as 'Ehsan Stations', the first-of-its-kind initiative. The initiative includes the installation of 12 devices across multiple important locations, which include ten units in public parks and two within facilities operated by Dubai Holding.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The stations will use tech to find out stray animals and collect relevant data along with dispense food accordingly. "supports a more organised and sustainable approach to feeding stray animals," Dubai Municipality said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-footage-shows-us-tomahawk-missile-striking-base-near-iran-school-says-report-1773049432597">New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school, says report</a></p>

Volunteers at rescue centres in Dubai stated that the number of abandoned pets has surged, pushing many shelters to their limits and leaving some unable to care for additional animals.

Dubai streets have been flooded with dogs, kittens and rabbits as pet owners in the country are reportedly abandoning their animals while rushing to depart amid the escalating Middle East crisis. Veterinarians in the city confirmed receiving continuous requests from owners asking about euthanising their pets, while others have been leaving cats and dogs on the streets. The UAE is home to over two million pets. In Dubai and across the country, cats significantly outnumber dogs, with about 64.98 per cent of pet owners preferring cats. The K9 Friends Dubai, an organisation that helps rehome dogs in the UAE, reported a rise in such incidents. According to a report by The Telegraph, Dubai-based pet boarding service 'The Barking Lot' said it is trying to remain as flexible as possible, but shelters are already overcrowded. Volunteers at rescue centres say the number of abandoned pets has surged, pushing many shelters to their limits and leaving some unable to care for additional animals. Several images and videos of dogs left on the streets, tied to poles with no owners around, have surfaced on social media. Meanwhile, several reports indicated that pets are being left alone in the desert after residents who were prevented from taking them over the UAE border while leavening region via Oman. Other reports mention pets being left stranded in the desert after residents who attempted to leave the region via Oman were prevented from taking them over the UAE border. One resident in Al Ain even found a cat with four kittens left on her doorstep with a note from the owner explaining they were unable to take their pets with them as they fled. "Kitten 4 and mama cat inside the box. I am travelling back to my country because of the situation going on here. I tried to call, but no one picked up my calls, so I got to know your locations. I am so sorry for keeping in front of your gate," a resident found a note with a cat and four kittens left on her doorstep from the owner. How is the Dubai government solving the problem? Recently, Dubai Municipality has come up with AI-powered smart devices to track stray animals, which is known as 'Ehsan Stations', the first-of-its-kind initiative. The initiative includes the installation of 12 devices across multiple important locations, which include ten units in public parks and two within facilities operated by Dubai Holding. The stations will use tech to find out stray animals and collect relevant data along with dispense food accordingly. "supports a more organised and sustainable approach to feeding stray animals," Dubai Municipality said. Also read: New footage shows US Tomahawk missile striking base near Iran school, says report

<p>Volunteers at rescue centres in Dubai stated that the number of abandoned pets has surged, pushing many shelters to their limits and leaving some unable to care for additional animals.</p>

Iran war: Dogs tied, kittens left in boxes as residents rush to leave Dubai amid crisis

<p>Latin American nations are reportedly bracing for future impact as the US bulldozes its way through a counter-cartel alliance, for which the Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth led a conference recently. What exactly is the counter cartel alliance, and what is its scope of operation? Given the history of failed ‘wars on drug’, will it be different this time? Here is what you should know.</p><h2>What is Pete Hegseth-led Counter Cartel Coalition?</h2><p>The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC) is a US-initiated and US-led ‘alliance’ for combating drug cartels and transnational crime groups across the Western Hemisphere. Spearheaded by Hegseth, the alliance is a pivot from traditional law enforcement to aggressive military action against drug cartels in the Americas, treating them as "narco-terrorists" similar to Islamic State or al-Qaeda terror groups.</p><p>Formally launched at the first Americas Counter Cartel Conference on March 5 at US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters in Doral, Florida, the initiative is the latest move in President Donald Trump's long-standing promises to dismantle cartels.</p><h2>How is the new US-led anti-cartel initiative different?</h2><p>The new initiative is an escalation from previous operations like US military strikes on alleged drug-carrying vessels in international waters, and joint actions in countries like Ecuador and Venezuela.</p><p>During his remarks at the conference, Hegseth positioned the counter cartel operation as a revival of the Monroe Doctrine. He described Western Hemisphere as "America's neighbourhood" that must be protected from external threats, including Chinese influence and drug flows poisoning American communities.</p><p>The Florida event brought together defence ministers and representatives from over a dozen Latin American and Caribbean nations. They were mainly from conservative, pro-Trump governments. Hegseth's keynote speech set the tone for what to expect from the coalition: A stress on American "hard power" and lethal force as opposed to criminal justice approaches. He warned bluntly that if the allies did not step up, the US would act unilaterally.</p><p>Speakers like Stephen Miller compared cartels to terrorist groups and called for ruthless treatment.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-southcom-ecuador-joint-operation-narco-terror-1772598897743">US SOUTHCOM conducts joint land operation with Ecuador against narco-terror groups</a></p><h2>Joint defence operations against drug cartels in the offing?</h2><p>A joint declaration of the conference, signed by 18 countries, made a commitment to intelligence sharing, joint military operations, border security enhancements, and offensive actions against cartels.&nbsp;</p><p>It talked about building "the most effective fighting force" to dismantle the drug networks. President Trump signed a proclamation endorsing the coalition on March 7.</p><p>The coalition is a step forward from earlier US moves like the Operation Southern Spear, which saw its military strike on alleged narco boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing dozens of people.</p><h2>Who is in, who is out of counter-cartel coalition will determine how it will pan out</h2><p>Hegseth firmed up the coalition after visits to countries like the Dominican Republic, making it almost a personal crusade and signature reform for him. &nbsp;</p><p>But a look at who is in, and who is outside the coalition could be an indication of the divisions in the region on how to tackle narcos.</p><p>The nearly 18 signatories of the joint declaration are mostly from right-wing governments that admire and support Trump's "iron fist" approach to organised crime and drug cartels. They include Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago. Leaders like El Salvador's Nayib Bukele are vocal supporters, drawing parallels to their own anti-gang crackdowns at home.</p><p>But notable exclusions are mostly from left-leaning or adversarial governments. Most of them were reportedly deliberately left out, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Nicaragua.&nbsp;</p><p>This brings up a key question as these excluded countries are major cartel strongholds: Will the US-led coalition conduct military operations in their countries, &nbsp;threatening their sovereignty? A look at the tactics the coalition could use is an indication of future tensions.</p><h2>The counter cartel ops could include military attacks on cartel assets, international waters</h2><p>The ACCC's aim is to “crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe”. Its joint military operations could include US-led strikes on cartel assets like boats, labs and leaders. The operations could take place in international waters too. Much of this has already been done by the US in the past six months.</p><p>Intelligence and resource sharing is another major aspect. The coalition will engage in enhanced coordination via mechanisms like Joint Task Force Southern Spear, led by units such as the II Marine Expeditionary Force.</p><h2>Border security and ‘protecting christian civilizations’</h2><p>The coalition is seeking to make border protection an issue of national security. There were calls made to &nbsp;"defend Christian civilization" against transnational threats like narco-terrorism.</p><p>There is also talk about countering Chinese and Iranian influence in the region, as part of a "Donroe Doctrine" mentioned by Trump.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/opium-to-precursor-chemicals-money-laundering-weapons-how-china-is-involved-in-mexico-drug-cartels-over-a-century-el-mencho-cjng-1771998850039">China is involved in Mexico drug trade for over a century: From opium to precursor chemicals to money laundering and cartel weapons</a></p><h2>Necessary escalation or agression?</h2><p>According to multiple reports, there's consternation and confusion in several national capitals. The supporters of the initiative, however, point to tens of thousands killed annually by cartels, both as a result of overdose from drugs like fentanyl and violence. They see that previous policies failed, even as cartels have developed their own armies, in some cases better-armed and trained than the national militaries.</p><p>For critics, &nbsp;the aggressive posturing is bound to worsen violence and tensions, and is an echo of the failed US interventions in Latin American drug trade in the 1980s and 1990s.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-six-killed-in-latest-strike-on-alleged-drug-boats-1773025171212/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-six-killed-in-latest-strike-on-alleged-drug-boats-1773025171212/embed</a></p><h2>Will the counter drug cartel ops drag Latin America into needless wars?</h2><p>From a survey of recent analyst opinions, that appears to be the case. ACCC could drag participating Latin American countries into escalated conflicts. Past US-backed anti-drug campaigns fueled violence, while failing to eradicate the problem. Hegseth's violent rhetoric explicitly called for ‘offense’ and unilateral US action. This might pressure the allies into hosting US troops or joining strikes, which in turn will make them targets of cartel counterattacks. The &nbsp;US operations in Ecuador already was a joint military action, &nbsp;setting a template for broader interventions.</p><p>Nations like Mexico - which host most of the violent of cartels - might resist external action, leading to cross-border tensions or proxy conflicts.</p><h2>Millions displaced, tens of thousands killed: How the past US-led drug wars panned out</h2><p>The 1980s Contra wars or Plan Colombia did not succeed fully. These mostly military initiatives displaced millions and intensified violence. Most failed to fully dismantle cartels. Since 1971, &nbsp;the so-called US War on Drugs cost more than $1 trillion, with Latin America bearing most of the brunt. Even after that failed war, Mexico alone saw more than 400,000 deaths from cartel violence since 2006.</p><p>The military focus of the counter cartel coaliton risks repeating the same mistakes. History shows that cartels usually adapt to the situation by arming up or shifting operations. Often, the attacks on cartels lead to civil unrest or insurgencies in fragile states like Honduras or Bolivia.</p><h2>Unilateral threats of counter cartel coalition risk backlash&nbsp;</h2><p>If the US strikes civilian areas or provokes retaliations like cartel attacks on allied governments, it could lead to an all-out, asymmetrical war. Such a war will be low-burning and prolonged, dragging smaller nations in the region and draining their resources. This is a war they can't afford. We already have examples of how American involvement in Afghanistan or Iraq spiralled into decades-long quagmires.<br>Hegseth and Trump allies are framing the coalition as an urgent national security issue, citing more than 100,000 annual deaths due to fentanyl and other drugs, linked to cartels.</p><p>If successful, the war could help bring about regional stability. Perhaps Bukele's El Salvador crackdown could be a model, in which heavy-handed tactics reduced homicide rates by 70 per cent.</p><h2>The real issue is US drug abuse</h2><p>Analysts noted that no drug war will be successful unless the demand side issues are resolved, namely the drug addiction in American cities and inner cities. If not, the counter cartel coalition could end up only as a costly, cosmetic operation without curing the underlying American drug problem. The militarised approach to counter narcotics operations could once again entangle Latin American nations into conflicts they did not sign up for.</p>

The US-led Americas Counter Cartel Coalition seeks to combat drug cartels through joint military action across Latin America. This is already raising fears of a new regional drug war that could escalate tensions. Violence, displacements and threats to sovereignty could follow

Latin American nations are reportedly bracing for future impact as the US bulldozes its way through a counter-cartel alliance, for which the Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth led a conference recently. What exactly is the counter cartel alliance, and what is its scope of operation? Given the history of failed ‘wars on drug’, will it be different this time? Here is what you should know. What is Pete Hegseth-led Counter Cartel Coalition? The Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (ACCC) is a US-initiated and US-led ‘alliance’ for combating drug cartels and transnational crime groups across the Western Hemisphere. Spearheaded by Hegseth, the alliance is a pivot from traditional law enforcement to aggressive military action against drug cartels in the Americas, treating them as "narco-terrorists" similar to Islamic State or al-Qaeda terror groups. Formally launched at the first Americas Counter Cartel Conference on March 5 at US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters in Doral, Florida, the initiative is the latest move in President Donald Trump's long-standing promises to dismantle cartels. How is the new US-led anti-cartel initiative different? The new initiative is an escalation from previous operations like US military strikes on alleged drug-carrying vessels in international waters, and joint actions in countries like Ecuador and Venezuela. During his remarks at the conference, Hegseth positioned the counter cartel operation as a revival of the Monroe Doctrine. He described Western Hemisphere as "America's neighbourhood" that must be protected from external threats, including Chinese influence and drug flows poisoning American communities. The Florida event brought together defence ministers and representatives from over a dozen Latin American and Caribbean nations. They were mainly from conservative, pro-Trump governments. Hegseth's keynote speech set the tone for what to expect from the coalition: A stress on American "hard power" and lethal force as opposed to criminal justice approaches. He warned bluntly that if the allies did not step up, the US would act unilaterally. Speakers like Stephen Miller compared cartels to terrorist groups and called for ruthless treatment. Also read: US SOUTHCOM conducts joint land operation with Ecuador against narco-terror groups Joint defence operations against drug cartels in the offing? A joint declaration of the conference, signed by 18 countries, made a commitment to intelligence sharing, joint military operations, border security enhancements, and offensive actions against cartels. It talked about building "the most effective fighting force" to dismantle the drug networks. President Trump signed a proclamation endorsing the coalition on March 7. The coalition is a step forward from earlier US moves like the Operation Southern Spear, which saw its military strike on alleged narco boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, killing dozens of people. Who is in, who is out of counter-cartel coalition will determine how it will pan out Hegseth firmed up the coalition after visits to countries like the Dominican Republic, making it almost a personal crusade and signature reform for him. But a look at who is in, and who is outside the coalition could be an indication of the divisions in the region on how to tackle narcos. The nearly 18 signatories of the joint declaration are mostly from right-wing governments that admire and support Trump's "iron fist" approach to organised crime and drug cartels. They include Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago. Leaders like El Salvador's Nayib Bukele are vocal supporters, drawing parallels to their own anti-gang crackdowns at home. But notable exclusions are mostly from left-leaning or adversarial governments. Most of them were reportedly deliberately left out, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Nicaragua. This brings up a key question as these excluded countries are major cartel strongholds: Will the US-led coalition conduct military operations in their countries, threatening their sovereignty? A look at the tactics the coalition could use is an indication of future tensions. The counter cartel ops could include military attacks on cartel assets, international waters The ACCC's aim is to “crush the cartels, stop the poison, and keep America safe”. Its joint military operations could include US-led strikes on cartel assets like boats, labs and leaders. The operations could take place in international waters too. Much of this has already been done by the US in the past six months. Intelligence and resource sharing is another major aspect. The coalition will engage in enhanced coordination via mechanisms like Joint Task Force Southern Spear, led by units such as the II Marine Expeditionary Force. Border security and ‘protecting christian civilizations’ The coalition is seeking to make border protection an issue of national security. There were calls made to "defend Christian civilization" against transnational threats like narco-terrorism. There is also talk about countering Chinese and Iranian influence in the region, as part of a "Donroe Doctrine" mentioned by Trump. Also read: China is involved in Mexico drug trade for over a century: From opium to precursor chemicals to money laundering and cartel weapons Necessary escalation or agression? According to multiple reports, there's consternation and confusion in several national capitals. The supporters of the initiative, however, point to tens of thousands killed annually by cartels, both as a result of overdose from drugs like fentanyl and violence. They see that previous policies failed, even as cartels have developed their own armies, in some cases better-armed and trained than the national militaries. For critics, the aggressive posturing is bound to worsen violence and tensions, and is an echo of the failed US interventions in Latin American drug trade in the 1980s and 1990s. https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-six-killed-in-latest-strike-on-alleged-drug-boats-1773025171212/embed Will the counter drug cartel ops drag Latin America into needless wars? From a survey of recent analyst opinions, that appears to be the case. ACCC could drag participating Latin American countries into escalated conflicts. Past US-backed anti-drug campaigns fueled violence, while failing to eradicate the problem. Hegseth's violent rhetoric explicitly called for ‘offense’ and unilateral US action. This might pressure the allies into hosting US troops or joining strikes, which in turn will make them targets of cartel counterattacks. The US operations in Ecuador already was a joint military action, setting a template for broader interventions. Nations like Mexico - which host most of the violent of cartels - might resist external action, leading to cross-border tensions or proxy conflicts. Millions displaced, tens of thousands killed: How the past US-led drug wars panned out The 1980s Contra wars or Plan Colombia did not succeed fully. These mostly military initiatives displaced millions and intensified violence. Most failed to fully dismantle cartels. Since 1971, the so-called US War on Drugs cost more than $1 trillion, with Latin America bearing most of the brunt. Even after that failed war, Mexico alone saw more than 400,000 deaths from cartel violence since 2006. The military focus of the counter cartel coaliton risks repeating the same mistakes. History shows that cartels usually adapt to the situation by arming up or shifting operations. Often, the attacks on cartels lead to civil unrest or insurgencies in fragile states like Honduras or Bolivia. Unilateral threats of counter cartel coalition risk backlash If the US strikes civilian areas or provokes retaliations like cartel attacks on allied governments, it could lead to an all-out, asymmetrical war. Such a war will be low-burning and prolonged, dragging smaller nations in the region and draining their resources. This is a war they can't afford. We already have examples of how American involvement in Afghanistan or Iraq spiralled into decades-long quagmires. Hegseth and Trump allies are framing the coalition as an urgent national security issue, citing more than 100,000 annual deaths due to fentanyl and other drugs, linked to cartels. If successful, the war could help bring about regional stability. Perhaps Bukele's El Salvador crackdown could be a model, in which heavy-handed tactics reduced homicide rates by 70 per cent. The real issue is US drug abuse Analysts noted that no drug war will be successful unless the demand side issues are resolved, namely the drug addiction in American cities and inner cities. If not, the counter cartel coalition could end up only as a costly, cosmetic operation without curing the underlying American drug problem. The militarised approach to counter narcotics operations could once again entangle Latin American nations into conflicts they did not sign up for.

<p>The US-led Americas Counter Cartel Coalition seeks to combat drug cartels through joint military action across Latin America. This is already raising fears of a new regional drug war that could escalate tensions. Violence, displacements and threats to sovereignty could follow</p>

Americas Counter Cartel Coalition: Will the US drag Latin America into another needless ‘war on drugs’?

<p>Donald Trump has ordered attacks or issued terrifying ultimatums to at least eight countries in just two years of his tenure as US president. A cover of the TIME magazine is going viral for being a depiction of his brutal actions in foreign countries, some of which had never been attacked before. The cover of the upcoming issue of the magazine accompanies the feature story “Trump's War” and talks about how his MAGA slogan has extended to his foreign policy. The picture shows eight red MAGA caps, but with the names of eight countries, including Iran, Venezuela, Nigeria, Iraq and Syria. The report says that Trump has ordered more individual airstrikes in just 2025 than the past presidents did over four years. The other three countries named on the illustration of the caps include Yemen, Ecuador and Somalia. In his second term as president, Trump has authorised attacks in eight nations.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-tricked-iran-into-believing-idf-was-on-holiday-then-missiles-from-space-killed-khamenei-1772780247757"><strong>Israel tricked Iran into believing IDF was on holiday. Then missiles from space killed Khamenei</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Donald Trump's military action against foreign countries</strong></h2><p>This includes airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and joint military operations in Ecuador in the name of hitting "designated terrorist organisations". His biggest operation in 2025 came against Venezuela when he captured President Nicolas Maduro. He ordered Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, as part of which Iran’s most critical nuclear sites - Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan - were targeted. On February 28, the US, together with Israel, launched attacks on Iran once again, this time killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump's policies have also targeted Somali immigrants, while the US conducted at least 111 airstrikes in Somalia.<br>He also ordered aerial and naval strikes against Houthi radar systems, air defences, and launch sites in Yemen. In Syria, he authorised massive airstrikes comprising over 100 munitions in the first wave alone, targeting ISIS infrastructure. On December 25 and 26, 2025, the US military launched heavy airstrikes in northwest Nigeria, specifically targeting Sokoto State. Trump also authorised "selective military operations" against Iran-aligned militias within Iraq.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/iran-war-could-go-on-till-september-just-like-nostradamus-prophesied-seven-months-great-war-1772777018935"><strong>Iran war could go on till September, report suggests, just like Nostradamus prophesied - ‘Seven months great war’</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-israel-war-with-iran-iraqi-oil-production-collapses-with-the-strait-of-hormuz-blocked-1773031485272/embed</p><h2><strong>Trump's ‘no new wars’ promise</strong></h2><p>The cover and the article are based on the premise that Trump based his presidential campaign on the promise of “no new wars” and then completely went against it. The TIME cover captures this duality. Meanwhile, the cover has been interpreted in a diametrically opposite manner by his followers and those against his actions. While MAGA supporters see it as a celebration of his accomplishments, others see his interference in eight foreign nations. A user wrote, "Trump delivers. Like him or not, you can’t say this about many other Presidents before him. Kudos to Trump." Another stated, "I love all of the MAGA Cult members who think TIME is praising him here."&nbsp;</p>

Donald Trump has ordered military action against at least eight nations since returning as US president. This, after he promised that the country would not start any new wars under him. A magazine cover showing his duality has gone viral.

Donald Trump has ordered attacks or issued terrifying ultimatums to at least eight countries in just two years of his tenure as US president. A cover of the TIME magazine is going viral for being a depiction of his brutal actions in foreign countries, some of which had never been attacked before. The cover of the upcoming issue of the magazine accompanies the feature story “Trump's War” and talks about how his MAGA slogan has extended to his foreign policy. The picture shows eight red MAGA caps, but with the names of eight countries, including Iran, Venezuela, Nigeria, Iraq and Syria. The report says that Trump has ordered more individual airstrikes in just 2025 than the past presidents did over four years. The other three countries named on the illustration of the caps include Yemen, Ecuador and Somalia. In his second term as president, Trump has authorised attacks in eight nations. Also Read: Israel tricked Iran into believing IDF was on holiday. Then missiles from space killed Khamenei Donald Trump's military action against foreign countries This includes airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and joint military operations in Ecuador in the name of hitting "designated terrorist organisations". His biggest operation in 2025 came against Venezuela when he captured President Nicolas Maduro. He ordered Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025, as part of which Iran’s most critical nuclear sites - Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan - were targeted. On February 28, the US, together with Israel, launched attacks on Iran once again, this time killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump's policies have also targeted Somali immigrants, while the US conducted at least 111 airstrikes in Somalia. He also ordered aerial and naval strikes against Houthi radar systems, air defences, and launch sites in Yemen. In Syria, he authorised massive airstrikes comprising over 100 munitions in the first wave alone, targeting ISIS infrastructure. On December 25 and 26, 2025, the US military launched heavy airstrikes in northwest Nigeria, specifically targeting Sokoto State. Trump also authorised "selective military operations" against Iran-aligned militias within Iraq. Also Read: Iran war could go on till September, report suggests, just like Nostradamus prophesied - ‘Seven months great war’ https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-israel-war-with-iran-iraqi-oil-production-collapses-with-the-strait-of-hormuz-blocked-1773031485272/embed Trump's ‘no new wars’ promise The cover and the article are based on the premise that Trump based his presidential campaign on the promise of “no new wars” and then completely went against it. The TIME cover captures this duality. Meanwhile, the cover has been interpreted in a diametrically opposite manner by his followers and those against his actions. While MAGA supporters see it as a celebration of his accomplishments, others see his interference in eight foreign nations. A user wrote, "Trump delivers. Like him or not, you can’t say this about many other Presidents before him. Kudos to Trump." Another stated, "I love all of the MAGA Cult members who think TIME is praising him here."

<p>Donald Trump has ordered military action against at least eight nations since returning as US president. This, after he promised that the country would not start any new wars under him. A magazine cover showing his duality has gone viral.</p>

After a 'no new wars' campaign, Donald Trump ordered strikes on 8 countries in just 2 years

International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 annually, as a global day to recognise the achievements of women and advocate for gender equality. In India, several landmark laws under the BNS Act provide powerful protections. Here are the top laws every woman should know:

International Women’s Day 2026: Key legal rights every woman in India must know

<p>As the war in West Asia rages, the United States and Israel have targeted five oil facilities with overnight strikes in and near Iran’s capital. Video shared on social media showed massive fires in several parts of Tehran, with smoke blanketing the city. This comes as the conflict in the region widens, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowing that his country will not surrender despite US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats. Meanwhile, a toxic rain warning has been issued in the country following the explosions.</p><p>“Last night, four oil depots and a petroleum products transport centre in Tehran and the Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft,” the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, Keramat Veyskarami, told Iranian state TV on Sunday (Mar 8). He added that Iran’s oil depots had “sufficient gasoline reserves”.</p><p>“Four of our personnel, including two oil tanker drivers, were killed in the incident,” he said, adding that the facilities were damaged but the “fire was brought under control.”</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fires still burning at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a>&#39;s Shahran oil depot in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tehran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tehran</a> after overnight <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/US?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#US</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Israeli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Israeli</a> strikes <a href="https://t.co/ziUrD84qmY">pic.twitter.com/ziUrD84qmY</a></p>&mdash; Cryptọ Wọọɗyz (@CryptoWoodyz) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoWoodyz/status/2030568862287077786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CRAZY FOOTAGE 🔴<br><br>Apocalyptic scenes coming out of Tehran right now <a href="https://t.co/VVejLZfaVq">pic.twitter.com/VVejLZfaVq</a></p>&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/2030405527272837219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WATCH: 🔴<br><br>Oil is reportedly flowing into the sewers as fires burn across parts of the streets in Tehran, Iran.<br><br>This comes as the U.S. and Israel conducted airstrikes across the capital. <a href="https://t.co/0TjpjBmCha">pic.twitter.com/0TjpjBmCha</a></p>&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/2030442212245319780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Massive destruction at Tehran’s oil storage facilities. <a href="https://t.co/Kdc3pmL2W0">pic.twitter.com/Kdc3pmL2W0</a></p>&mdash; Open Source Intel (@Osint613) <a href="https://twitter.com/Osint613/status/2030380987742339085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>According to an AFP report, residents reported the smell of burning ligering in the air. Many people in Tehran said that the air appeared dark even as the sun rose, and there was rainfall in the city.</p><h2><strong>Acid rain warning in Tehran</strong></h2><p>The Iranian Red Crescent has warned of acid rain in Tehran due to the release of toxins in the air following oil depot explosions. It said that the blasts have resulted in the release of “significant quantities of toxic hydrocarbon compounds, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides” in the air.</p><p>“In the event of precipitation, the resulting rain is extremely dangerous and highly acidic,” it said in a statement, cautioning residents of skin burns and severe lung damage.</p><p>Iran’s environmental authorities have urged people to remain indoors to avoid respiratory issues and other health problems.</p><p>On February 28, the US and Israeli military launched strikes on Iran, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and several other top Iranian officials. The operation was named ‘Epic Fury’ by the US and ‘Lion’s Roar’ by Israel. The attacks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and ongoing talks over Iran’s nuclear program. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks on Israel and US military bases in the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Azerbaijan.</p><p><i>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.</i></p>

US and Israeli strikes hit oil facilities in Tehran, killing four and sparking massive fires. Toxic fumes raised fears of dangerous acid rain, prompting Iranian authorities to urge residents to stay indoors.

As the war in West Asia rages, the United States and Israel have targeted five oil facilities with overnight strikes in and near Iran’s capital. Video shared on social media showed massive fires in several parts of Tehran, with smoke blanketing the city. This comes as the conflict in the region widens, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowing that his country will not surrender despite US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats. Meanwhile, a toxic rain warning has been issued in the country following the explosions. “Last night, four oil depots and a petroleum products transport centre in Tehran and the Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft,” the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, Keramat Veyskarami, told Iranian state TV on Sunday (Mar 8). He added that Iran’s oil depots had “sufficient gasoline reserves”. “Four of our personnel, including two oil tanker drivers, were killed in the incident,” he said, adding that the facilities were damaged but the “fire was brought under control.”

<p>US and Israeli strikes hit oil facilities in Tehran, killing four and sparking massive fires. Toxic fumes raised fears of dangerous acid rain, prompting Iranian authorities to urge residents to stay indoors.</p>

Toxic acid rain warning in Iran? Tehran burns after US, Israel strikes on oil facilities | VIDEO

<p>Operations at Dubai International Airport were briefly halted on Saturday (March 7) after a suspected drone incident near the runway, as tensions from the ongoing US-Iran conflict in the region continued to escalate into its eighth day. Footage widely shared on social media appeared to show a powerful blast followed by a thick cloud of smoke rising near the airport area. The clip, which has not been independently verified, suggested that a drone may have struck close to the runway.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The video was also broadcast by Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, further drawing global attention to the incident. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates later clarified that the situation was linked to an interception carried out by the country’s air defence systems. According to officials, the explosion was caused by debris that fell after an aerial threat was neutralised.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING <br><br>🚨 Exclusive:<br><br>Dubai 🇦🇪 — Airport ✈️<br><br>Moment of the strike by an Iranian-Russian Geran‑2 drone 🛸 on the airport. Reports say the impact occurred just a few dozen meters from a crowded terminal 🏢. Passenger evacuation from planes 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ is also reported.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dubai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dubai</a> 🇦🇪… <a href="https://t.co/11HoQr96cm">pic.twitter.com/11HoQr96cm</a></p>&mdash; RusWar (@ruswar) <a href="https://twitter.com/ruswar/status/2030177601978089481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>In response to the incident, airport authorities temporarily suspended flight operations to ensure passenger safety, which was later resumed. Dubai’s government communication office confirmed the precautionary shutdown in a statement.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Operations at Dubai International (DXB) have been temporarily suspended to prioritise the safety of passengers, airport personnel, and airline crews,” the Dubai Media Office said, adding that all actions were being taken in accordance with established safety procedures.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The airport later announced that some services had resumed shortly after the brief suspension. Flights began operating again from both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), though schedules remained disrupted. Passengers were advised not to head to the airport unless their airline had confirmed their flight status, as many departures and arrivals continued to change.</p><h2>UAE government response</h2><p>In a separate statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence described the episode as a “minor incident” caused by debris from an intercepted aerial threat. Officials confirmed that no casualties were reported. “The air defence systems of the United Arab Emirates are currently responding to missile and drone threats originating from Iran,” the ministry said, though it did not specify which locations had been targeted. Flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 showed several aircraft circling above Dubai during the disruption, indicating that planes were placed in holding patterns while authorities managed the situation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Dubai International Airport briefly suspended operations after debris from an intercepted drone or missile threat caused an explosion nearby. Flights later resumed, though disruptions continued as UAE air defences responded to regional tensions.

Operations at Dubai International Airport were briefly halted on Saturday (March 7) after a suspected drone incident near the runway, as tensions from the ongoing US-Iran conflict in the region continued to escalate into its eighth day. Footage widely shared on social media appeared to show a powerful blast followed by a thick cloud of smoke rising near the airport area. The clip, which has not been independently verified, suggested that a drone may have struck close to the runway. The video was also broadcast by Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, further drawing global attention to the incident. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates later clarified that the situation was linked to an interception carried out by the country’s air defence systems. According to officials, the explosion was caused by debris that fell after an aerial threat was neutralised.

<p>Dubai International Airport briefly suspended operations after debris from an intercepted drone or missile threat caused an explosion nearby. Flights later resumed, though disruptions continued as UAE air defences responded to regional tensions.</p>

WATCH | Footage shows moment when Dubai airport was hit by drone amid Iran war

Iran’s president said the country will not surrender to the US or Israel and apologised to neighbouring nations for recent attacks. However, hours earlier, Iranian drone and missile strikes had targeted several regional countries hosting US bases.

West Asia war: Hours before apologising, Iran struck THESE neighbours

<p>Gold traders in Dubai are offering bullion at steep discounts after the conflict in the Middle East disrupted flights and stranded shipments in one of the world’s key trading hubs.</p><h2><strong>How much discount is Dubai offering on Gold?</strong></h2><p>According to a Bloomberg report citing traders familiar with the situation, some dealers are selling gold at discounts of up to $30 an ounce compared with the global benchmark set in London. The unusual pricing reflects mounting logistical problems as suppliers struggle to move bullion out of the region.</p><p>Many buyers have paused new orders for now. With air travel disrupted and delivery timelines uncertain, traders say customers are unwilling to pay higher shipping and insurance costs without a clear guarantee the gold will arrive on time.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-reveals-secret-3-month-head-start-on-exquisite-class-weapon-production-to-fuel-operation-epic-fury-against-iran-bae-lockheed-and-raytheon-1772844959324"><strong>Trump reveals secret weapon production started 3-months before Iran war</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Flights grounded, shipments delayed</strong></h2><p>Several gold shipments were still stuck in Dubai as of Friday, traders said. Some cargo began moving again only in the middle of the week as limited flights resumed.</p><p>The United Arab Emirates, and particularly Dubai, plays a central role in the global gold trade. The city is a major refining and export hub for bullion moving to buyers across Asia and also handles shipments arriving from Switzerland, the UK and several African producers.</p><p>But airspace in the region has been partially restricted amid a wave of Iranian missile attacks during the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran.</p><h2><strong>Gold Shipments Stranded</strong></h2><p>Gold is usually transported in the cargo holds of passenger planes. With flights severely limited, traders have been reluctant to move high-value shipments overland to airports in neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia or Oman, citing security and logistical risks.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistani-man-asif-raza-merchant-conviction-trump-assassination-plot-soleimani-revenge-irgc-hitman-joe-biden-nikki-haley-napkin-plan-1772855367186"><strong>Pak man found guilty of Iran Revolutionary Guard backed revenge plot to assassinate Trump</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Why is the discounted gold bad news for Indians?</strong></h2><p>The disruption has been felt in India, one of the biggest destinations for gold shipped out of Dubai.</p><p>Renisha Chainani, head of research at Augmont Enterprises Ltd., said "several cargo shipments have been delayed or stranded, leading to short-term tightness in the availability of physical bullion in India".</p><p>For now, however, Indian buyers appear in no hurry. Chirag Sheth, principal consultant for South Asia at Metals Focus, said India's domestic inventories remain comfortable after heavy imports in January. "As of now, there is ample stock," he said. "But if this drags on for a few months, then there will be a problem."<br>&nbsp;</p>

Why are gold traders in Dubai suddenly offering heavy discounts? Bullion is reportedly selling up to $30 per ounce below global prices amid the Iran war.

What does this mean for global markets and Indian buyers? Scroll down to read.

Gold traders in Dubai are offering bullion at steep discounts after the conflict in the Middle East disrupted flights and stranded shipments in one of the world’s key trading hubs. How much discount is Dubai offering on Gold? According to a Bloomberg report citing traders familiar with the situation, some dealers are selling gold at discounts of up to $30 an ounce compared with the global benchmark set in London. The unusual pricing reflects mounting logistical problems as suppliers struggle to move bullion out of the region. Many buyers have paused new orders for now. With air travel disrupted and delivery timelines uncertain, traders say customers are unwilling to pay higher shipping and insurance costs without a clear guarantee the gold will arrive on time. Also read | Trump reveals secret weapon production started 3-months before Iran war Flights grounded, shipments delayed Several gold shipments were still stuck in Dubai as of Friday, traders said. Some cargo began moving again only in the middle of the week as limited flights resumed. The United Arab Emirates, and particularly Dubai, plays a central role in the global gold trade. The city is a major refining and export hub for bullion moving to buyers across Asia and also handles shipments arriving from Switzerland, the UK and several African producers. But airspace in the region has been partially restricted amid a wave of Iranian missile attacks during the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran. Gold Shipments Stranded Gold is usually transported in the cargo holds of passenger planes. With flights severely limited, traders have been reluctant to move high-value shipments overland to airports in neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia or Oman, citing security and logistical risks. Also read | Pak man found guilty of Iran Revolutionary Guard backed revenge plot to assassinate Trump Why is the discounted gold bad news for Indians? The disruption has been felt in India, one of the biggest destinations for gold shipped out of Dubai. Renisha Chainani, head of research at Augmont Enterprises Ltd., said "several cargo shipments have been delayed or stranded, leading to short-term tightness in the availability of physical bullion in India". For now, however, Indian buyers appear in no hurry. Chirag Sheth, principal consultant for South Asia at Metals Focus, said India's domestic inventories remain comfortable after heavy imports in January. "As of now, there is ample stock," he said. "But if this drags on for a few months, then there will be a problem."

<p>Why are gold traders in Dubai suddenly offering heavy discounts? Bullion is reportedly selling up to $30 per ounce below global prices amid the Iran war.</p><p>What does this mean for global markets and Indian buyers? Scroll down to read.</p>

Amid Iran war Dubai selling gold at discount, but it’s bad news for India. Here’s why

<p>Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, on day eight of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-reveals-secret-3-month-head-start-on-exquisite-class-weapon-production-to-fuel-operation-epic-fury-against-iran-bae-lockheed-and-raytheon-1772844959324">Iran war</a> (Saturday, Mar 7) with the US and Israel, apologised to neighbouring countries for attacking them. In a speech broadcast by Iranian state TV, Pezeshkian said, “I apologise... &nbsp;to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran”. He also said that Tehran would not attack a neighbour unless first attacked by them. Pezeshkian also rubbished US President Donald Trump's warning about an “unconditional surrender” and insisted, Iran's enemies “must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves.”</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/economy/amid-iran-war-dubai-gold-at-discount-of-30-but-it-s-bad-news-for-india-here-s-why-gold-prices-latest-1772863560146"><strong>Amid Iran war Dubai gold at discount, but it’s bad news for India. Here’s why</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Tehran vows not to attack neighbours</strong></h2><p>Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that the country's neighbours will not be targeted unless attacks are launched from them during the war with Israel and the United States. Apologising for the attacks during the first week of the US-Israel-Iran war, he said, “I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran.”</p><p>He noted that the decision was taken by the leadership council, which has been leading the nation since last week's killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries," he said.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/america-s-deadliest-war-crime-investigation-finds-us-likely-responsible-for-devastating-school-strike-that-killed-150-iranian-girls-1772766411530"><strong>Probe finds US likely behind horrific Iran school strike that killed 150+ girls</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Which neighbours did Iran attack?</strong></h2><p>As of March 7, 2026, as the United States and Israel continue their joint military strikes under Operation Epic Fury and Operation Lion's Roar, Tehran's retaliatory strikes have targeted numerous neighbouring countries, particularly those hosting US military assets. These include direct drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Disclaimer: </strong><i>WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.</i></p><p><br>&nbsp;</p>

Why is Iran apologising to its neighbours in the middle of the war? On day seven of the conflict with the US and Israel, Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran regrets attacks on neighbours and promised they won’t be targeted unless they launch strikes first. Scroll down to read more.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, on day eight of the Iran war (Saturday, Mar 7) with the US and Israel, apologised to neighbouring countries for attacking them. In a speech broadcast by Iranian state TV, Pezeshkian said, “I apologise... to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran”. He also said that Tehran would not attack a neighbour unless first attacked by them. Pezeshkian also rubbished US President Donald Trump's warning about an “unconditional surrender” and insisted, Iran's enemies “must take their wish for the unconditional surrender of the Iranian people to their graves.” Also read | Amid Iran war Dubai gold at discount, but it’s bad news for India. Here’s why Tehran vows not to attack neighbours Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said Saturday that the country's neighbours will not be targeted unless attacks are launched from them during the war with Israel and the United States. Apologising for the attacks during the first week of the US-Israel-Iran war, he said, “I must apologise on my own behalf and on behalf of Iran to the neighbouring countries that were attacked by Iran.” He noted that the decision was taken by the leadership council, which has been leading the nation since last week's killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "The interim leadership council agreed yesterday that no more attacks will be made on neighbouring countries and no missiles will be fired unless an attack on Iran originates from those countries," he said. Also read | Probe finds US likely behind horrific Iran school strike that killed 150+ girls Which neighbours did Iran attack? As of March 7, 2026, as the United States and Israel continue their joint military strikes under Operation Epic Fury and Operation Lion's Roar, Tehran's retaliatory strikes have targeted numerous neighbouring countries, particularly those hosting US military assets. These include direct drone and missile strikes on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

<p>Why is Iran apologising to its neighbours in the middle of the war? On day seven of the conflict with the US and Israel, Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran regrets attacks on neighbours and promised they won’t be targeted unless they launch strikes first. Scroll down to read more.</p>

'I apologise...': Iran President Pezeshkian expresses regret for attacking neighbours amid war with Israel and US

<p>US President Donald Trump on Friday (Mar 6) claimed that major US defence companies have agreed to quadruple production of ‘exquisite’ advanced weapons, amid the ongoing war between the US, Israel, and Iran. Taking to Truth Social on the seventh day of his war against Tehran, the POTUS wrote, "The largest US Defense Manufacturing Companies" have "agreed to quadruple Production of the 'Exquisite Class' Weaponry." Here's what it means for the war in West Asia.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/america-s-deadliest-war-crime-investigation-finds-us-likely-responsible-for-devastating-school-strike-that-killed-150-iranian-girls-1772766411530"><strong>US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls</strong></a></p><h2><strong>'Exquisite Class' Weaponry'</strong></h2><p>The US president said that he had a “very good meeting” with the biggest US Defense Manufacturing Companies and that Production and Production Schedules were discussed. The companies he met, as per the post, are BAE Systems, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Missile Solutions, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon.</p>

<p>“They have agreed to quadruple production of the “Exquisite Class” weaponry in that we want to reach, as rapidly as possible, the highest levels of quantity,” he said. The term 'Exquisite Class Weaponry' apparently refers to advanced, high-precision military hardware. Trump said that the expansion actually began three months before the meeting, i.e., three months before the US and Israel launched joint "preemptive" strikes against Iran under what Washington calls Operation Epic Fury and Tel Aviv refers to as Operation Lion's Roar.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-it-s-a-question-of-time-trump-vows-to-turn-us-focus-to-cuba-once-iran-conflict-is-finished-israel-tehran-carribean-island-1772759431337"><strong>'It's a question of time': Trump vows to turn US focus to THIS neighbour once Iran war is 'finished'</strong></a></p><h2><strong>What is 'Exquisite Class' Weaponry?</strong></h2><p>In the 2026 defence landscape, this refers to high-tier systems such as the LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles), hypersonic glide vehicles, and Next-Gen Interceptors used to counter Iranian saturation strikes.</p><h2><strong>How much ammo does the US have to fight a war against Iran?</strong></h2><p>Amid reports and warnings from high-level military officials about the US's depleting ammunition stockpiles, Trump once again insisted that the nation has “virtually unlimited supply” of Medium and Upper Medium Grade Munitions. These, he said, were used in Washington's recent offensives against Iran and Venezuela.</p><p>Even as he flaunted the “virtually unlimited” supplies, he said that America has “also increased Orders at these levels” and claimed that “States all over the Country are bidding for these new plants”. He also noted that he would meet the CEOs of the defence firms again in two months.</p>

What is “exquisite class” weaponry and why does it matter in the Iran war?

Donald Trump says top defence firms like Lockheed Martin and Boeing will quadruple production of advanced weapons. How could this change the battlefield? Scroll down to read more.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Mar 6) claimed that major US defence companies have agreed to quadruple production of ‘exquisite’ advanced weapons, amid the ongoing war between the US, Israel, and Iran. Taking to Truth Social on the seventh day of his war against Tehran, the POTUS wrote, "The largest US Defense Manufacturing Companies" have "agreed to quadruple Production of the 'Exquisite Class' Weaponry." Here's what it means for the war in West Asia. Also read | US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls 'Exquisite Class' Weaponry' The US president said that he had a “very good meeting” with the biggest US Defense Manufacturing Companies and that Production and Production Schedules were discussed. The companies he met, as per the post, are BAE Systems, Boeing, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Missile Solutions, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon.

<p>What is “exquisite class” weaponry and why does it matter in the Iran war?</p><p>Donald Trump says top defence firms like Lockheed Martin and Boeing will quadruple production of advanced weapons. How could this change the battlefield? Scroll down to read more.</p>

Trump reveals US had secret 3-month head start on 'exquisite class' weapon production before Iran war

In a devastating blow to White House's Operation Epic Fury narrative, US investigators now admit that American forces likely carried out the February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school. The incident, which killed 150 children, is being flagged by the UN as a potential war crime.

US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls

<p>A cancer patient in Gibraltar was operated upon by an expert surgeon in London, 1,500 miles away, with the assistance of a robot specialised for the task, marking a major success for remote robotic surgery. The surgical procedure involved prostate removal that helped save the life of 62-year-old cancer patient and football fan Paul Buxton.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the operating theatre at St. Bernard’s Hospital, the only hospital in the British overseas territory, a high-tech four-armed robot equipped with a 3D camera carried out the removal of Buxton’s prostate, guided by the surgeon in London. The British patient has lived in Gibraltar for four decades.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Prof. Prokar Dasgupta, a leading urology specialist who leads the robotic centre of excellence at The London Clinic, remotely conducted the surgery from about 1,500 miles away in London’s Harley Street district.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-iran-using-decoys-to-fool-enemies-internet-says-israel-bombed-a-helicopter-painting-1772792063782"><strong>Is Iran using decoys to fool enemies? Internet says Israel bombed a helicopter painting</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>With the help of technology services provider Presidio, Dasgupta used a console in London to guide the Toumai Robotic System, made by Microport, through an intricate sequence of steps to successfully give Buxton a prostatectomy, a surgical removal of the prostate gland.</p><p>The procedure went to plan with a lag of only 0.06 seconds between the surgeon in London and the robot in Gibraltar. Buxton said he felt “fantastic” within days of the unique experience.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-hand-over-power-immediately-without-violence-reza-pahlavi-tells-iranian-officials-1772726613022"><strong>‘Hand over power immediately, without violence’: Reza Pahlavi tells Iranian officials</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“And it is pioneering for Gibraltar, because you don’t need to leave Gibraltar. Normally, any major surgeries, apart from minor stuff, maybe hernias and things like that, you end up having to go to either London or Madrid.”</p><p>He added: “It’s been a privilege to be part of medical history.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Buxton said many people questioned whether he would really go ahead with the procedure.&nbsp;</p><p>“A lot of people actually said to me: ‘You’re not going to do it, are you?’” Buxton said. “I thought, I’m giving something back here.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-home-to-india-s-silicon-valley-to-ban-social-media-for-children-under-16-cm-siddaramaiah-1772795908734"><strong>Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, to ban social media for children under 16</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“I love football – we’ve gone from being in the Championship to the Champions League as far as surgeons are concerned.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Buxton, who is originally from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, said it was a “no-brainer” for him to decide, telling the Press Association that he was happy to be the “guinea pig”.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After his cancer diagnosis, Buxton had expected to join the NHS waiting list and travel to England because of the complex nature of the operation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/balendra-shah-s-gen-z-backed-rsp-headed-towards-landslide-victory-in-nepal-1772807169582"><strong>Rapper-mayor Balendra Shah’s Gen Z-backed RSP headed towards landslide victory in Nepal</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But then he got the opportunity to undergo the surgery remotely and jumped at the chance.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“If I hadn’t gone for the telesurgery in Gibraltar, then I would have had to have flown to London, I would have had to go on the NHS waiting list, get the procedure done and I would have probably been in London for three weeks. So I thought: ‘This is a no-brainer,’” Buxton said.</p>

The procedure went to plan with a lag of only 0.06 seconds between the surgeon in London and the robot in Gibraltar. The cancer patient Paul Buxton, a football fan, said, “We’ve gone from being in the Championship to the Champions League as far as surgeons are concerned.”

A cancer patient in Gibraltar was operated upon by an expert surgeon in London, 1,500 miles away, with the assistance of a robot specialised for the task, marking a major success for remote robotic surgery. The surgical procedure involved prostate removal that helped save the life of 62-year-old cancer patient and football fan Paul Buxton. In the operating theatre at St. Bernard’s Hospital, the only hospital in the British overseas territory, a high-tech four-armed robot equipped with a 3D camera carried out the removal of Buxton’s prostate, guided by the surgeon in London. The British patient has lived in Gibraltar for four decades. Prof. Prokar Dasgupta, a leading urology specialist who leads the robotic centre of excellence at The London Clinic, remotely conducted the surgery from about 1,500 miles away in London’s Harley Street district. Also Read: Is Iran using decoys to fool enemies? Internet says Israel bombed a helicopter painting With the help of technology services provider Presidio, Dasgupta used a console in London to guide the Toumai Robotic System, made by Microport, through an intricate sequence of steps to successfully give Buxton a prostatectomy, a surgical removal of the prostate gland. The procedure went to plan with a lag of only 0.06 seconds between the surgeon in London and the robot in Gibraltar. Buxton said he felt “fantastic” within days of the unique experience. Also Read: ‘Hand over power immediately, without violence’: Reza Pahlavi tells Iranian officials “And it is pioneering for Gibraltar, because you don’t need to leave Gibraltar. Normally, any major surgeries, apart from minor stuff, maybe hernias and things like that, you end up having to go to either London or Madrid.” He added: “It’s been a privilege to be part of medical history.” Buxton said many people questioned whether he would really go ahead with the procedure. “A lot of people actually said to me: ‘You’re not going to do it, are you?’” Buxton said. “I thought, I’m giving something back here. Also Read: Karnataka, home to India’s Silicon Valley, to ban social media for children under 16 “I love football – we’ve gone from being in the Championship to the Champions League as far as surgeons are concerned.” Buxton, who is originally from Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, said it was a “no-brainer” for him to decide, telling the Press Association that he was happy to be the “guinea pig”. After his cancer diagnosis, Buxton had expected to join the NHS waiting list and travel to England because of the complex nature of the operation. Also Read: Rapper-mayor Balendra Shah’s Gen Z-backed RSP headed towards landslide victory in Nepal But then he got the opportunity to undergo the surgery remotely and jumped at the chance. “If I hadn’t gone for the telesurgery in Gibraltar, then I would have had to have flown to London, I would have had to go on the NHS waiting list, get the procedure done and I would have probably been in London for three weeks. So I thought: ‘This is a no-brainer,’” Buxton said.

<p>The procedure went to plan with a lag of only 0.06 seconds between the surgeon in London and the robot in Gibraltar. The cancer patient Paul Buxton, a football fan, said, “We’ve gone from being in the Championship to the Champions League as far as surgeons are concerned.”</p>

Surgeon in UK guides robot to perform prostate removal surgery in Gibraltar

<p>US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Mar 5) indicated that he wanted to start from scratch in Iran and "clean out" the leadership. He hinted that he had some names in mind for a "good leader" who could take over from the Iranian leadership. Who does the POTUS want to lead Tehran? Here's what we know.</p><h2><strong>Step 1: "clean out everything"</strong></h2><p>In a telephonic interview with NBC News, Trump revealed US plans for Iran and said, "We want to go in and clean out everything". The US president said that they "don’t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period".</p><p>He described the leader as "good" and said that they "have some people who I think would do a good job".</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/america-s-deadliest-war-crime-investigation-finds-us-likely-responsible-for-devastating-school-strike-that-killed-150-iranian-girls-1772766411530"><strong>US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls</strong></a></p><h2><strong>But who does Trump want in power in Iran?</strong></h2><p>Trump coyly refused to take any names but said that he was making sure that the people he had in mind survive the ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran. "We are watching them, yeah," he said.</p><p>Previously, he told NBC that while he doesn't know who would lead Iran next, "but at some point they’ll be calling me to ask who I’d like".</p><p>A power vacuum in Iran</p><p>Iran faces a power vacuum since the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint strike by Israel and the US. Khamenei's assassination was part of the coordinated airstrikes by Washington and Tel Aviv, with Israel calling the campaign Operation Lion’s Roar and Washington naming it Operation Epic Fury.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-no-matter-where-he-hides-israeli-defence-minister-threatens-to-assassinate-any-successor-to-iran-s-khamenei-new-supreme-leader-mojtaba-khamenei-1772613368778"><strong>'No matter where he hides': Israeli Defence Minister threatens to 'assassinate' any successor to Iran's Khamenei</strong></a></p><p>Khamenei's death was confirmed on March 1. The joint strikes which took him out also killed several senior Iranian figures.</p><p>Recent reports suggested that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as the next Supreme Leader by Iran's Assembly of Experts. However, Iran on Mar 4 rubbished the reports. In a post shared via the Consulate General in Mumbai X account, Iran said that the "reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied."</p>

Is the US planning a regime change in Iran after the war? Donald Trump says he wants to “clean out” Iran’s leadership and hinted he already has people in mind to lead the country after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. But who could replace him? Scroll down to read more.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Mar 5) indicated that he wanted to start from scratch in Iran and "clean out" the leadership. He hinted that he had some names in mind for a "good leader" who could take over from the Iranian leadership. Who does the POTUS want to lead Tehran? Here's what we know. Step 1: "clean out everything" In a telephonic interview with NBC News, Trump revealed US plans for Iran and said, "We want to go in and clean out everything". The US president said that they "don’t want someone who would rebuild over a 10-year period". He described the leader as "good" and said that they "have some people who I think would do a good job". Also read | US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls But who does Trump want in power in Iran? Trump coyly refused to take any names but said that he was making sure that the people he had in mind survive the ongoing war between US-Israel and Iran. "We are watching them, yeah," he said. Previously, he told NBC that while he doesn't know who would lead Iran next, "but at some point they’ll be calling me to ask who I’d like". A power vacuum in Iran Iran faces a power vacuum since the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint strike by Israel and the US. Khamenei's assassination was part of the coordinated airstrikes by Washington and Tel Aviv, with Israel calling the campaign Operation Lion’s Roar and Washington naming it Operation Epic Fury. Also read | 'No matter where he hides': Israeli Defence Minister threatens to 'assassinate' any successor to Iran's Khamenei Khamenei's death was confirmed on March 1. The joint strikes which took him out also killed several senior Iranian figures. Recent reports suggested that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been elected as the next Supreme Leader by Iran's Assembly of Experts. However, Iran on Mar 4 rubbished the reports. In a post shared via the Consulate General in Mumbai X account, Iran said that the "reports circulating on media regarding potential candidates for leadership selected by Iran's Assembly of Experts have no official source and are officially denied."

<p>Is the US planning a regime change in Iran after the war? Donald Trump says he wants to “clean out” Iran’s leadership and hinted he already has people in mind to lead the country after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. But who could replace him? Scroll down to read more.</p>

'Clean out': Trump wants Iran’s leadership removed, says THIS is his Khamenei successor pick. Find out who!

<p>US Central Command on Thursday (Mar 6) said that it struck an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier. This comes as the military operation against Iran marked its sixth day. CENTCOM added that US forces were not holding back on Operation Epic Fury “to sink the entire Iranian Navy. On February 28, the US and Israeli military launched strikes on Iran, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and several other top Iranian officials. The operation was named ‘Epic Fury’ by the US and ‘Lion’s Roar’ by Israel.</p><p>Sharing the video on social media, CENTCOM wrote, “U.S. forces aren’t holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy. Today, an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier, was struck and is now on fire.”</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">U.S. forces aren&#39;t holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy. Today, an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier, was struck and is now on fire. <a href="https://t.co/WyA4fniZck">pic.twitter.com/WyA4fniZck</a></p>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2029725370371424476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>In another post, CENTCOM said that USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, is “dominating” Iran.</p><p>“The world’s largest aircraft carrier is part of the team of U.S. forces dominating the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. Around-the-clock operations are keeping U.S. Navy F/A-18s in the fight,” the post read.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The world&#39;s largest aircraft carrier is part of the team of U.S. forces dominating the world&#39;s largest state sponsor of terrorism. Around-the-clock operations are keeping U.S. Navy F/A-18s in the fight. <a href="https://t.co/8qKoZm6Tad">pic.twitter.com/8qKoZm6Tad</a></p>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2029757603459326084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>The attacks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and ongoing talks over Iran’s nuclear program. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks on Israel and US military bases in the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.</p><p>Khamenei’s death was confirmed on March 1, with Iran vowing strong revenge over the killing of its supreme leader and warning that US bases in the region would be treated as American territory. Gulf states have cautioned against further escalation, even as Washington and Tel Aviv signal that operations could continue for weeks.</p><p>As the conflict escalates, Iran-aligned groups have joined the fight. International leaders have called for de-escalation as some condemned the US-led action, while most NATO allies voiced support for Washington.</p><p><i>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.</i></p>

US Central Command said US forces struck a massive Iranian drone carrier during Operation Epic Fury as the conflict with Iran entered its sixth day. The US said its forces, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, are intensifying operations.

US Central Command on Thursday (Mar 6) said that it struck an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier. This comes as the military operation against Iran marked its sixth day. CENTCOM added that US forces were not holding back on Operation Epic Fury “to sink the entire Iranian Navy. On February 28, the US and Israeli military launched strikes on Iran, killing Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and several other top Iranian officials. The operation was named ‘Epic Fury’ by the US and ‘Lion’s Roar’ by Israel. Sharing the video on social media, CENTCOM wrote, “U.S. forces aren’t holding back on the mission to sink the entire Iranian Navy. Today, an Iranian drone carrier, roughly the size of a WWII aircraft carrier, was struck and is now on fire.”

<p>US Central Command said US forces struck a massive Iranian drone carrier during Operation Epic Fury as the conflict with Iran entered its sixth day. The US said its forces, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, are intensifying operations.</p>

‘Mission to sink entire Iranian Navy’: CENTCOM video shows how US struck WWII-sized aircraft carrier – WATCH

<p>In a devastating blow to White House's Operation Epic Fury narrative, US investigators, as per reports, now believe that American forces likely carried out the February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Iran's Minab. The incident, which killed over 150 school children and injured dozens more, has been flagged as a potential war crime at the UN. This comes as the White House insisted that the devastating attack on the elementary school in Minab was carried out by Iran.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>What you need to know:</strong></p><p><strong>Incident: </strong><i>Strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School.</i></p><p><strong>Location: </strong><i>Minab, Southern Iran.</i></p><p><strong>Casualties: </strong><i>150+ children (Ages 7–12).</i></p><p><strong>Latest: </strong><i>Pentagon admits "Likely US Role" despite White House denials.</i></p><h2><strong>US hands red with the blood of young Iranian schoolgirls?</strong></h2><p>Speaking to Reuters, two US officials who are familiar with the investigation said that investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for the apparent strike that killed scores of children on the first day of the war (Feb 28).</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/america-s-deadliest-war-crime-investigation-finds-us-likely-responsible-for-devastating-school-strike-that-killed-150-iranian-girls-1772766411530"><strong>US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls</strong></a></p><p>For now, many details remain unclear. Investigators have not confirmed what type of weapon was used, who authorised the strike or why the school may have been targeted.</p><p>The officials told Reuters that the investigation was ongoing and new evidence may emerge that absolves the US and points to another party.</p><h2><strong>What happened in Minab?</strong></h2><p>On Day 1 of the joint US-Israel attack, an apparent air strike at the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Iran's Minab killed over 150 students and injured dozens more. Iranian authorities initially blamed Israel for the attack.</p><p>This attack was the largest single loss of civilian life so far reported in the conflict. According to Iranian authorities, as many as 175 individuals, most of them schoolgirls between the ages of seven and 12 years old, were killed.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/days-after-khamenei-assassination-cryptic-post-on-his-x-account-warns-of-khorramshahr-moments-what-does-it-mean-1772755931543"><strong>'Khorramshahr moments on the horizon': Dead Supreme Leader Khamenei’s account issues cryptic warning</strong></a></p><h2><strong>What did the US say about the Iranian school attack?</strong></h2><p>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier this week claimed that the Iranian regime was behind the tragic attack. "While the Department of War is currently investigating this matter, the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States ​of America," she said.</p><p>This was echoed by Marco Rubio, who told reporters that the United States would not intentionally strike a school. He said any confirmed US role would be investigated by the Pentagon. "The Department of War would be investigating that if that was our strike, and I would refer your question to them."</p><p>Meanwhile, the United States Department of Defense, when asked about American involvement in the attack on an Iranian girls' school, referred questions to the United States Central Command. Centcom spokesperson Capt. Timothy Hawkins said, "It would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation".</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

Internal Pentagon investigation now shows that US forces likely carried out the devastating February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Iran's Minab. The incident, which killed over 150 children aged 7 to 12 years, marks the most devastating death toll of US-Israel-Iran war.

In a devastating blow to White House's Operation Epic Fury narrative, US investigators, as per reports, now believe that American forces likely carried out the February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Iran's Minab. The incident, which killed over 150 school children and injured dozens more, has been flagged as a potential war crime at the UN. This comes as the White House insisted that the devastating attack on the elementary school in Minab was carried out by Iran. What you need to know: Incident: Strike on Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School. Location: Minab, Southern Iran. Casualties: 150+ children (Ages 7–12). Latest: Pentagon admits "Likely US Role" despite White House denials. US hands red with the blood of young Iranian schoolgirls? Speaking to Reuters, two US officials who are familiar with the investigation said that investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible for the apparent strike that killed scores of children on the first day of the war (Feb 28). Also read | US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls For now, many details remain unclear. Investigators have not confirmed what type of weapon was used, who authorised the strike or why the school may have been targeted. The officials told Reuters that the investigation was ongoing and new evidence may emerge that absolves the US and points to another party. What happened in Minab? On Day 1 of the joint US-Israel attack, an apparent air strike at the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' elementary school in Iran's Minab killed over 150 students and injured dozens more. Iranian authorities initially blamed Israel for the attack. This attack was the largest single loss of civilian life so far reported in the conflict. According to Iranian authorities, as many as 175 individuals, most of them schoolgirls between the ages of seven and 12 years old, were killed. Also read | 'Khorramshahr moments on the horizon': Dead Supreme Leader Khamenei’s account issues cryptic warning What did the US say about the Iranian school attack? White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier this week claimed that the Iranian regime was behind the tragic attack. "While the Department of War is currently investigating this matter, the Iranian regime targets civilians and children, not the United States of America," she said. This was echoed by Marco Rubio, who told reporters that the United States would not intentionally strike a school. He said any confirmed US role would be investigated by the Pentagon. "The Department of War would be investigating that if that was our strike, and I would refer your question to them." Meanwhile, the United States Department of Defense, when asked about American involvement in the attack on an Iranian girls' school, referred questions to the United States Central Command. Centcom spokesperson Capt. Timothy Hawkins said, "It would be inappropriate to comment given the incident is under investigation".

<p>Internal Pentagon investigation now shows that US forces likely carried out the devastating February 28 strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls' school in Iran's Minab. The incident, which killed over 150 children aged 7 to 12 years, marks the most devastating death toll of US-Israel-Iran war.</p>

Operation Epic Fury’s darkest day? US investigation points to America's role in Minab girls' school massacre

<p>Israel fooled Iran into believing that it was safe for their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to leave his safe house and visit the palace for a meeting with his senior officials before they rained down a barrage of missiles, which killed him. These included Blue Sparrows, which travel to the edge of space before hitting their targets. Israel deployed a deceptive tactic in Tel Aviv to give Tehran a false sense of security. The Israel Defense Forces knew that if Iran spotted a build-up of activity around its central military complex in Tel Aviv, it would be alerted that a major operation was in the works. The idea was to take Khamenei and other officials by surprise. So they hatched a plan. Israeli leaders gave the impression that they were taking the week off for Shabbat celebrations. The military said, "On the Friday of the attack, the IDF deliberately gave the impression that the military was shutting down for the weekend. We released photos and information suggesting that IDF personnel and top leadership were going home for Shabbat dinner."</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/iran-war-could-go-on-till-september-just-like-nostradamus-prophesied-seven-months-great-war-1772777018935"><strong>Iran war could go on till September, report suggests, just like Nostradamus prophesied - ‘Seven months great war’</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Blue Sparrow missiles went to space and shot back at Khamenei</strong></h2><p>High-ranking officials ensured that Iran saw them leaving the premises and returning to their homes. However, soon after, they returned to the headquarters in disguise. They initiated the operation just as Khamenei came to the palace for a meeting. Israeli jets took off at 7:30 am Iran time and got into position. At 9.40 am, they launched Blue Sparrow missiles, 30 of which struck the Ayatollah's compound. Detecting and intercepting these missiles made in Israel is extremely hard since they leave Earth's atmosphere, enter space and then return to strike the target. These missiles are inspired by the USSR Scud missiles and the Iranian Shahab-3 missiles.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/astrologer-who-accurately-predicted-timing-of-middle-east-crisis-warns-of-volatile-energies-in-india-and-pakistan-1772770776778"><strong>Astrologer who accurately predicted timing of Middle East crisis, warns of 'volatile energies' in India and Pakistan</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Israel hacked cameras in Tehran to check guard movement</strong></h2><p>Additionally, the IDF interfered with more than a dozen mobile phone towers near Pasteur Street to make the phones appear busy to prevent Khamenei's security from receiving warnings of the strike. Earlier reports stated that Israel also had access to all the cameras in Tehran that the regime uses to spy on its own population. They used them to track the movement of his bodyguards. The information was transmitted back to Tel Aviv and southern Israel and used by Mossad to determine each of their address, schedules and who they were assigned to guard.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-saudi-arabia-says-missile-launches-towards-its-air-base-1772768685152/embed</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One angle allowed them to see where these guards parked their personal cars when arriving at Khamenei's compound. "We knew Tehran like we know Jerusalem," the Financial Times reported, citing an Israeli intelligence official. All this data, combined with Israeli AI tools and algorithms, helped Israel trace Khamenei's exact location, ultimately leading to his end.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p>

Israel deceived Iran into believing that it was perfectly safe for Khamenei to come out of his hiding space since all IDF officials had gone home for the weekend. They then returned in disguise and rained down missiles on his palace.

Israel fooled Iran into believing that it was safe for their Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to leave his safe house and visit the palace for a meeting with his senior officials before they rained down a barrage of missiles, which killed him. These included Blue Sparrows, which travel to the edge of space before hitting their targets. Israel deployed a deceptive tactic in Tel Aviv to give Tehran a false sense of security. The Israel Defense Forces knew that if Iran spotted a build-up of activity around its central military complex in Tel Aviv, it would be alerted that a major operation was in the works. The idea was to take Khamenei and other officials by surprise. So they hatched a plan. Israeli leaders gave the impression that they were taking the week off for Shabbat celebrations. The military said, "On the Friday of the attack, the IDF deliberately gave the impression that the military was shutting down for the weekend. We released photos and information suggesting that IDF personnel and top leadership were going home for Shabbat dinner." Also Read: Iran war could go on till September, report suggests, just like Nostradamus prophesied - ‘Seven months great war’ Blue Sparrow missiles went to space and shot back at Khamenei High-ranking officials ensured that Iran saw them leaving the premises and returning to their homes. However, soon after, they returned to the headquarters in disguise. They initiated the operation just as Khamenei came to the palace for a meeting. Israeli jets took off at 7:30 am Iran time and got into position. At 9.40 am, they launched Blue Sparrow missiles, 30 of which struck the Ayatollah's compound. Detecting and intercepting these missiles made in Israel is extremely hard since they leave Earth's atmosphere, enter space and then return to strike the target. These missiles are inspired by the USSR Scud missiles and the Iranian Shahab-3 missiles. Also Read: Astrologer who accurately predicted timing of Middle East crisis, warns of 'volatile energies' in India and Pakistan Israel hacked cameras in Tehran to check guard movement Additionally, the IDF interfered with more than a dozen mobile phone towers near Pasteur Street to make the phones appear busy to prevent Khamenei's security from receiving warnings of the strike. Earlier reports stated that Israel also had access to all the cameras in Tehran that the regime uses to spy on its own population. They used them to track the movement of his bodyguards. The information was transmitted back to Tel Aviv and southern Israel and used by Mossad to determine each of their address, schedules and who they were assigned to guard. https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-iran-war-saudi-arabia-says-missile-launches-towards-its-air-base-1772768685152/embed One angle allowed them to see where these guards parked their personal cars when arriving at Khamenei's compound. "We knew Tehran like we know Jerusalem," the Financial Times reported, citing an Israeli intelligence official. All this data, combined with Israeli AI tools and algorithms, helped Israel trace Khamenei's exact location, ultimately leading to his end.

<p>Israel deceived Iran into believing that it was perfectly safe for Khamenei to come out of his hiding space since all IDF officials had gone home for the weekend. They then returned in disguise and rained down missiles on his palace.</p>

Israel tricked Iran into believing IDF was on holiday. Then missiles from space killed Khamenei

<p>The United States is reportedly preparing to fight the Iran war till September, a timeline that aligns with Nostradamus' seven-month war prophecy. According to Politico, the Pentagon has increased the number of intelligence officers at its Florida headquarters to support operations in Iran for at least 100 days, which could even stretch to September. Earlier, President Donald Trump had said that the war in Iran would last for four to five weeks. However, the military is apparently working with a longer timeline in mind as the conflict spirals and spreads to Gulf countries. On Saturday (February 28), Israel and the US launched an attack on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with strikes on the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and even Azerbaijan. It has been targeting US bases in these countries, triggering concerns that the war could spread to a wider region.</p><h2><strong>Nostradamus predicted a seven-month war</strong></h2><p><br>French psychic Nostradamus had warned in his book Les Propheties, which was published in 1555, of a seven-month war. "Seven months great war, people dead through evil / Rouen, Evreux the King will not fail," a passage reads. If the war goes on till September, his prophecy would come true, as the world would witness a seven-month war, just like he predicted.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nostradamus-prophecy-on-us-iran-war-suicide-drones-1772686098998"><strong>People think THIS Nostradamus prophecy is linked to suicide drones being used in US-Iran war</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Iran war has been termed illegal</strong></h2><p><br>Trump's aggression against Iran has been termed illegal since he went ahead with the attacks without Congress's approval. On Wednesday, a legislation known as war powers resolution was put to a vote, offering an opportunity to demand congressional approval before further attacks on Iran. However, Senate Republicans voted it down by a 47-53 vote tally. “Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/astrologer-who-accurately-predicted-timing-of-middle-east-crisis-warns-of-volatile-energies-in-india-and-pakistan-1772770776778"><strong>Astrologer who accurately predicted timing of Middle East crisis, warns of 'volatile energies' in India and Pakistan</strong></a></p><p><br>The Iran war will cost the US a bomb, with reports suggesting that $5 billion of taxpayer money went down the drain within the first three days. Considering that the Pentagon sees the crisis continuing till September, the costs could add up to $100 billion to $180 billion. Representative Joe Morelle, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, had warned that each day the Iran war goes on, the US's pockets will get lighter by $1 billion. The US is also holding midterm elections this year to decide who controls Congress. &nbsp;Republicans are in a majority in both the Senate and ​the House of Representatives, but only by a whisker. If the Iran war continues till September, it might not augur well for the Republicans, as the American population would not be happy that the government is spending its money on another war.</p>

The Iran war could go on till September, according to a report, despite what Donald Trump said about it lasting four-five weeks. This is eerily similar to what Nostradamus predicted - a seven-month war. His followers believe this prophecy is for 2026 and about the Middle East crisis.

The United States is reportedly preparing to fight the Iran war till September, a timeline that aligns with Nostradamus' seven-month war prophecy. According to Politico, the Pentagon has increased the number of intelligence officers at its Florida headquarters to support operations in Iran for at least 100 days, which could even stretch to September. Earlier, President Donald Trump had said that the war in Iran would last for four to five weeks. However, the military is apparently working with a longer timeline in mind as the conflict spirals and spreads to Gulf countries. On Saturday (February 28), Israel and the US launched an attack on Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran has retaliated with strikes on the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and even Azerbaijan. It has been targeting US bases in these countries, triggering concerns that the war could spread to a wider region. Nostradamus predicted a seven-month war French psychic Nostradamus had warned in his book Les Propheties, which was published in 1555, of a seven-month war. "Seven months great war, people dead through evil / Rouen, Evreux the King will not fail," a passage reads. If the war goes on till September, his prophecy would come true, as the world would witness a seven-month war, just like he predicted. Also Read: People think THIS Nostradamus prophecy is linked to suicide drones being used in US-Iran war Iran war has been termed illegal Trump's aggression against Iran has been termed illegal since he went ahead with the attacks without Congress's approval. On Wednesday, a legislation known as war powers resolution was put to a vote, offering an opportunity to demand congressional approval before further attacks on Iran. However, Senate Republicans voted it down by a 47-53 vote tally. “Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted with forever wars in the Middle East or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said before the vote. Also Read: Astrologer who accurately predicted timing of Middle East crisis, warns of 'volatile energies' in India and Pakistan The Iran war will cost the US a bomb, with reports suggesting that $5 billion of taxpayer money went down the drain within the first three days. Considering that the Pentagon sees the crisis continuing till September, the costs could add up to $100 billion to $180 billion. Representative Joe Morelle, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, had warned that each day the Iran war goes on, the US's pockets will get lighter by $1 billion. The US is also holding midterm elections this year to decide who controls Congress. Republicans are in a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, but only by a whisker. If the Iran war continues till September, it might not augur well for the Republicans, as the American population would not be happy that the government is spending its money on another war.

<p>The Iran war could go on till September, according to a report, despite what Donald Trump said about it lasting four-five weeks. This is eerily similar to what Nostradamus predicted - a seven-month war. His followers believe this prophecy is for 2026 and about the Middle East crisis.</p>

Iran war could go on till September, report suggests, just like Nostradamus prophesied - 'Seven months great war'

<p>As war ravages the Middle East, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis refuses to end, people are urgently looking up psychic prophecies and doomsday warnings that were made centuries ago. Modern-day astrologers have also jumped in, predicting by looking at the stars which region could witness the next catastrophe. A travel astrologer warned travellers going to the Middle East two days before the Iran war started to avoid the trip if possible for the week. “Middle East is a hotbed for uncertainty this week - those travelling to UAE, Oman and Iran especially - please be careful!” she wrote last week, along with a video. As the Iran war ravages the Middle East, clips of her forecast have started circulating online, and people are shocked by the accuracy. However, what is catching the eye most is her latest warning about Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Natalia, a self-described expert in astrocartography and locational astrology, has warned that the planetary alignments suggest heightened tensions in parts of Central and South Asia later this year.</p><h2><strong>Astrologer predicts volatile period for Central Asia</strong></h2><p>Natalia cites two planets - Mars and Uranus - as being the problem. She says in the video that the planets will form a "square" in early December, creating volatility. However, before that, the same conjunction will move slightly east and create problems in "Central Asia". She says in the video, "So around the 4th of July, Mars and Uranus—our favourite duo, which just caused a lot of havoc here—they’re going to move slightly to the east. So the energies during a conjunction are going to be quite similar, like very volatile, and it’s going to hit Central Asia." She tells people to be careful while travelling through “India, Pakistan and Afghanistan” around these dates.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/nostradamus-prophecy-on-us-iran-war-suicide-drones-1772686098998"><strong>People think THIS Nostradamus prophecy is linked to suicide drones being used in US-Iran war</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Watch the videos below</strong></p>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVNy3ZGCSk5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVNy3ZGCSk5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVNy3ZGCSk5/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Natalia | Astrocartography &amp; Locational Astrology✨ (@astronatofficial)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVYEgYwiVTK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVYEgYwiVTK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVYEgYwiVTK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Natalia | Astrocartography &amp; Locational Astrology✨ (@astronatofficial)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

<p>It won't end in July, and in December, Mars and Uranus will once again create tensions in the region. “And then on the 5th of December this year, we are going to have another Mars and Uranus square," she says, adding that things could heat up "near Karachi, Pakistan, and Afghanistan." She cites the current violence that has shrouded the region, with Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in a conflict. "All I’m saying is it’s going to culminate around this date." The two dates she specifies are July 4, 2026 - when a Mars–Uranus conjunction passes through Uzbekistan and areas west of Karachi and Kabul - and December 5, 2026 - when the same conjunction affects "Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Muscat (Oman), Afghanistan and Pakistan, maybe India too."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Natalia further states that conflicts in this region may already have begun, and that these dates indicate their peak periods. She added that the military might not just fight the war, but since “Uranus will be in Gemini", it could lean towards "more technology or information-based conflicts."</p>

An astrologer who predicted the Iran war has warned of a conflict in Central Asia. She has forecast two dates when India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan could go through a period of turmoil, warning travellers to be mindful while going through these regions near these two particular dates.

As war ravages the Middle East, and the Russia-Ukraine crisis refuses to end, people are urgently looking up psychic prophecies and doomsday warnings that were made centuries ago. Modern-day astrologers have also jumped in, predicting by looking at the stars which region could witness the next catastrophe. A travel astrologer warned travellers going to the Middle East two days before the Iran war started to avoid the trip if possible for the week. “Middle East is a hotbed for uncertainty this week - those travelling to UAE, Oman and Iran especially - please be careful!” she wrote last week, along with a video. As the Iran war ravages the Middle East, clips of her forecast have started circulating online, and people are shocked by the accuracy. However, what is catching the eye most is her latest warning about Central Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Natalia, a self-described expert in astrocartography and locational astrology, has warned that the planetary alignments suggest heightened tensions in parts of Central and South Asia later this year. Astrologer predicts volatile period for Central Asia Natalia cites two planets - Mars and Uranus - as being the problem. She says in the video that the planets will form a "square" in early December, creating volatility. However, before that, the same conjunction will move slightly east and create problems in "Central Asia". She says in the video, "So around the 4th of July, Mars and Uranus—our favourite duo, which just caused a lot of havoc here—they’re going to move slightly to the east. So the energies during a conjunction are going to be quite similar, like very volatile, and it’s going to hit Central Asia." She tells people to be careful while travelling through “India, Pakistan and Afghanistan” around these dates. Also Read: People think THIS Nostradamus prophecy is linked to suicide drones being used in US-Iran war Watch the videos below

<p>An astrologer who predicted the Iran war has warned of a conflict in Central Asia. She has forecast two dates when India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan could go through a period of turmoil, warning travellers to be mindful while going through these regions near these two particular dates.</p>

Astrologer who accurately predicted timing of Middle East crisis, warns of 'volatile energies' in India and Pakistan

<p>As war spreads across West Asia, the Iranian government has cut off its citizens from the internet, rights groups have said that the blackout increases the risk of worsening the human toll of the war. Reportedly, Iranians are enduring the US and Israeli bombardment in the dark, with no information about where the strikes have happened, which medical facilities were affected, and where the next wave of attacks is about to happen.</p><p>The civilians were more at risk as state media broadcasts provide limited information about airstrikes, with most civilians having no knowledge of evacuation orders from countries attacking Iran.</p><p>“Information barely gets through,” an Iranian, who couldbriefly connect via VPNs or Starlink terminals, told the Guardian. “If there’s no internet, we know absolutely nothing. Not about other cities, not even about what’s happening a few streets away.”</p><p>“There’s this belief going around that this time only military bases are being targeted, not residential areas,” the person added. “I honestly don’t know how true that is. I doubt it.”</p><p>The near-complete internet shutdown came hours after the US and Israeli forces began attacks on Iran on Saturday (Feb 28). Internet freedom monitor NetBlocks on Thursday (Mar 5) said that Iran’s internet traffic was “around 1 per cent of ordinary levels”.&nbsp;</p><p>This comes after the US and Israeli military launched strikes on Iran on Saturday (Feb 28), killing Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and several other top Iranian officials. The operation was named ‘Epic Fury’ by the US and ‘Lion’s Roar’ by Israel. The attacks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and ongoing talks over Iran’s nuclear program. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks on Israel and US military bases in the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.</p><p>Khamenei’s death was confirmed on March 1, with Iran vowing strong revenge over the killing of its supreme leader and warning that US bases in the region would be treated as American territory. Gulf states have cautioned against further escalation, even as Washington and Tel Aviv signal that operations could continue for weeks.</p><p>As the conflict escalates, Iran-aligned groups have joined the fight. International leaders have called for de-escalation as some condemned the US-led action, while most NATO allies voiced support for Washington.</p><p><i>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.</i><br>&nbsp;</p>

Iran’s internet blackout during US-Israel strikes has left civilians without critical information on attacks, evacuation warnings, or damaged hospitals, raising fears among rights groups of a worsening humanitarian toll.

As war spreads across West Asia, the Iranian government has cut off its citizens from the internet, rights groups have said that the blackout increases the risk of worsening the human toll of the war. Reportedly, Iranians are enduring the US and Israeli bombardment in the dark, with no information about where the strikes have happened, which medical facilities were affected, and where the next wave of attacks is about to happen. The civilians were more at risk as state media broadcasts provide limited information about airstrikes, with most civilians having no knowledge of evacuation orders from countries attacking Iran. “Information barely gets through,” an Iranian, who couldbriefly connect via VPNs or Starlink terminals, told the Guardian. “If there’s no internet, we know absolutely nothing. Not about other cities, not even about what’s happening a few streets away.” “There’s this belief going around that this time only military bases are being targeted, not residential areas,” the person added. “I honestly don’t know how true that is. I doubt it.” The near-complete internet shutdown came hours after the US and Israeli forces began attacks on Iran on Saturday (Feb 28). Internet freedom monitor NetBlocks on Thursday (Mar 5) said that Iran’s internet traffic was “around 1 per cent of ordinary levels”. This comes after the US and Israeli military launched strikes on Iran on Saturday (Feb 28), killing Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei and several other top Iranian officials. The operation was named ‘Epic Fury’ by the US and ‘Lion’s Roar’ by Israel. The attacks came amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and ongoing talks over Iran’s nuclear program. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks on Israel and US military bases in the region, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Khamenei’s death was confirmed on March 1, with Iran vowing strong revenge over the killing of its supreme leader and warning that US bases in the region would be treated as American territory. Gulf states have cautioned against further escalation, even as Washington and Tel Aviv signal that operations could continue for weeks. As the conflict escalates, Iran-aligned groups have joined the fight. International leaders have called for de-escalation as some condemned the US-led action, while most NATO allies voiced support for Washington. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, the US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

<p>Iran’s internet blackout during US-Israel strikes has left civilians without critical information on attacks, evacuation warnings, or damaged hospitals, raising fears among rights groups of a worsening humanitarian toll.</p>

‘We know nothing’: Internet blackout puts Iranians in dark amid US-Israeli bombings

<p>The famous Oracle of Delphi, Pythia, who lived at the temple of the god Apollo in southern Greece, told believers their future, and even advised Alexander the Great on important matters regarding his state and financial affairs. However, turns out she was just making it all up since her trance was induced by a gas named ethylene that was being released from the ground below. According to ancient records, she inhaled a "sweet-smelling gas" (called pneuma), which led her to enter a trance and act strangely. She got into a strange physical state and even collapsed sometimes. Ancient writers like Plutarch, who was a priest at Delphi, she was a vessel for power coming from Earth. He wrote that the temple was built around a natural spring, and the water and fissures in the rock released pneuma.</p><h2><strong>Absence of cracks in the ground under the temple of Delphi</strong></h2><p>On certain days, the priestess would stand over the pneuma and inhale it to enter a trance. She became hysterical and cried loudly, making it a tough ordeal. The temple closed down in 393 AD, and for years, modern scientists didn’t believe it was real because of the absence of volcanoes at the site, since most underground gases come from them. No large cracks were found in the floor during excavations, and the story was dismissed as a myth. However, turns out that it was a true story. Yes, she was inhaling gases and entering a trance, but everything the priestess said was just made-up stories.</p><p>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-say-african-cellar-is-emitting-ancient-material-it-has-a-deadly-leak-1772541932224"><strong>Scientists say African cellar is emitting ancient material. It has a deadly leak</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Proof of a fault line hinted at a gas that could induce trance</strong></h2><p>A geologist and an archaeologist discovered two major geological fault lines intersect directly under the temple. Archaeologist John Hale said that Dutch-American geologist Jelle Zeilinga de Boer found in the 1980s that a fault line passed directly under the temple of Delphi. This is a place where Earth’s tectonic plates collide against one another, and this event triggers earthquakes. However, they can also cause the emission of gases. Hale told Popular Science that de Boer wondered whether the pneuma mentioned in the records could be “a light hydrocarbon gas” coming from permeable limestone. When researchers tested the rock and water, they found traces of ethylene. This gas has a sweet smell, just like the one described in the records. Inhaling it in small amounts can produce a "floating" sensation and alter the state of mind, leading one to act “space out”.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This is apparently the gas the oracle was inhaling, and making up everything. The position was shared by several women over centuries since it was a physically demanding job, but also considered a great honour.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p>

Alexander the Great took advice from the Oracle of Delphi, who lived in the temple of the god Apollo in Delphi, Greece. She would enter a trance and tell him and several others their future. But we now know that she was lying the entire time.

The famous Oracle of Delphi, Pythia, who lived at the temple of the god Apollo in southern Greece, told believers their future, and even advised Alexander the Great on important matters regarding his state and financial affairs. However, turns out she was just making it all up since her trance was induced by a gas named ethylene that was being released from the ground below. According to ancient records, she inhaled a "sweet-smelling gas" (called pneuma), which led her to enter a trance and act strangely. She got into a strange physical state and even collapsed sometimes. Ancient writers like Plutarch, who was a priest at Delphi, she was a vessel for power coming from Earth. He wrote that the temple was built around a natural spring, and the water and fissures in the rock released pneuma. Absence of cracks in the ground under the temple of Delphi On certain days, the priestess would stand over the pneuma and inhale it to enter a trance. She became hysterical and cried loudly, making it a tough ordeal. The temple closed down in 393 AD, and for years, modern scientists didn’t believe it was real because of the absence of volcanoes at the site, since most underground gases come from them. No large cracks were found in the floor during excavations, and the story was dismissed as a myth. However, turns out that it was a true story. Yes, she was inhaling gases and entering a trance, but everything the priestess said was just made-up stories. Also Read: Scientists say African cellar is emitting ancient material. It has a deadly leak Proof of a fault line hinted at a gas that could induce trance A geologist and an archaeologist discovered two major geological fault lines intersect directly under the temple. Archaeologist John Hale said that Dutch-American geologist Jelle Zeilinga de Boer found in the 1980s that a fault line passed directly under the temple of Delphi. This is a place where Earth’s tectonic plates collide against one another, and this event triggers earthquakes. However, they can also cause the emission of gases. Hale told Popular Science that de Boer wondered whether the pneuma mentioned in the records could be “a light hydrocarbon gas” coming from permeable limestone. When researchers tested the rock and water, they found traces of ethylene. This gas has a sweet smell, just like the one described in the records. Inhaling it in small amounts can produce a "floating" sensation and alter the state of mind, leading one to act “space out”. This is apparently the gas the oracle was inhaling, and making up everything. The position was shared by several women over centuries since it was a physically demanding job, but also considered a great honour.

<p>Alexander the Great took advice from the Oracle of Delphi, who lived in the temple of the god Apollo in Delphi, Greece. She would enter a trance and tell him and several others their future. But we now know that she was lying the entire time.</p>

Oracle of Delphi told Alexander the Great his future. Turns out, the 'spaced-out' woman was lying to him

<p>Days after threatening a "friendly takeover" of Cuba, US President on Thursday (Mar 5) ominously announced that he had an unspecified project in mind for the Caribbean island already facing a US energy blockade. This comes as the United States, for the sixth day, continues to be engaged in a conflict against Iran alongside Israel.</p><h2><strong>When will the US target Cuba?</strong></h2><p>Speaking at a White House reception, Trump revealed that his plans for Cuba will be executed after the US finishes with the Iran war. "We want to fix, finish this one first, but that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba," he said.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-threatens-friendly-takeover-of-another-us-neighbour-here-s-all-you-need-to-know-cuba-us-cuba-nicolas-maduro-1772259439086"><strong>Trump threatens 'friendly takeover' of another US neighbour. Here's all you need to know</strong></a></p><p>Previously, on Friday (Feb 27) Trump floated the idea of a "friendly takeover" of another neighbouring country. While leaving for Texas, the "America First" POTUS suggested that the US could take over Cuba, a Caribbean Island nation which is facing its worst economic collapse in years. Trump's alarming statement comes almost two months after the US carried out an operation codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.</p><h2><strong>'A place called Cuba'</strong></h2><p>Turning to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, Trump cryptically added, "You've been doing a fantastic job on a place called Cuba".</p><p>Cuba, a communist-ruled island nation, has seen its fuel stocks plunge in recent days. Following the US Capture of Venezuela's president, Maduro, Cuba suffered a severe humanitarian and energy crisis.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/days-after-khamenei-assassination-cryptic-post-on-his-x-account-warns-of-khorramshahr-moments-what-does-it-mean-1772755931543"><strong>'Khorramshahr moments': Supreme Leader Khamenei’s account issues cryptic warning</strong></a></p><p>Maduro's capture severed the island nation's primary economic and strategic lifeline. Cuba depended on Venezuela for roughly one-third of its fuel needs, but the nation has now been plagued by widespread power blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day. According to reports, the island nation faces the threat of a potential total blackout by late February 2026.</p><p>The US, meanwhile, has implemented a naval blockade and has threatened sanctions on other suppliers like Mexico, which is further contributing to an exhaustion of Cuba's fuel supplies.</p><p>According to the BBC, hospitals in the nation are in darkness, with only emergency cases being admitted. Schools are often shuttered.</p>

Is the US preparing to target Cuba after the Iran war? Donald Trump hinted at an unspecified plan for the island, saying action could come once the conflict with Iran is “finished.” 

What exactly did Trump say and what could this mean for Cuba? Scroll down to read more.

Days after threatening a "friendly takeover" of Cuba, US President on Thursday (Mar 5) ominously announced that he had an unspecified project in mind for the Caribbean island already facing a US energy blockade. This comes as the United States, for the sixth day, continues to be engaged in a conflict against Iran alongside Israel. When will the US target Cuba? Speaking at a White House reception, Trump revealed that his plans for Cuba will be executed after the US finishes with the Iran war. "We want to fix, finish this one first, but that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba," he said. Also read | Trump threatens 'friendly takeover' of another US neighbour. Here's all you need to know Previously, on Friday (Feb 27) Trump floated the idea of a "friendly takeover" of another neighbouring country. While leaving for Texas, the "America First" POTUS suggested that the US could take over Cuba, a Caribbean Island nation which is facing its worst economic collapse in years. Trump's alarming statement comes almost two months after the US carried out an operation codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. 'A place called Cuba' Turning to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, Trump cryptically added, "You've been doing a fantastic job on a place called Cuba". Cuba, a communist-ruled island nation, has seen its fuel stocks plunge in recent days. Following the US Capture of Venezuela's president, Maduro, Cuba suffered a severe humanitarian and energy crisis. Also read | 'Khorramshahr moments': Supreme Leader Khamenei’s account issues cryptic warning Maduro's capture severed the island nation's primary economic and strategic lifeline. Cuba depended on Venezuela for roughly one-third of its fuel needs, but the nation has now been plagued by widespread power blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day. According to reports, the island nation faces the threat of a potential total blackout by late February 2026. The US, meanwhile, has implemented a naval blockade and has threatened sanctions on other suppliers like Mexico, which is further contributing to an exhaustion of Cuba's fuel supplies. According to the BBC, hospitals in the nation are in darkness, with only emergency cases being admitted. Schools are often shuttered.

<p>Is the US preparing to target Cuba after the Iran war? Donald Trump hinted at an unspecified plan for the island, saying action could come once the conflict with Iran is “finished.”&nbsp;</p><p>What exactly did Trump say and what could this mean for Cuba? Scroll down to read more.</p>

'It's a question of time': Trump vows to turn US focus to THIS neighbour once Iran war is 'finished'

<p>Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's account on Friday (Mar 6) posted a cryptic message along with a picture of a missile, raising concerns over what it means or the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran. The caption simply reads: “Khorramshahr moments are on the horizon...” But what does it mean?</p><p>With the March 1 assassination of Supreme Leader Khamenei confirmed, who is currently operating his account? Khamenei was killed in joint strikes that also claimed the lives of multiple high-ranking Iranian figures. Here's all you need to know.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/is-operation-epic-fury-a-desperation-move-by-trump-to-win-the-us-midterms-ex-us-commander-says-1772698348173"><strong>Op Epic Fury a 'desperation move' by Trump to win US midterms? Ex US commander</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Does the post say anything else?</strong></h2><p>Yes, the image carries text in Persian which, when translated to English, reads: “Made by the hands of young Iranians... it was able to penetrate deep into some of the important centres of the Zionist regime and destroy them. These missiles were made by young Iranians... This is the making of young Iranians, this is the identity card of young Iranians.”</p><h2><strong>What is Khorramshahr?</strong></h2><p>Khorramshahr, named after the city of Khorramshahr in Iran, is a medium-range ballistic missile that was tested by Iran in January 2017. With a range between 1,000 and 2,000 km, it can carry a 1,800 kg warhead and is 13 m in length.</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/fact-check-is-united-states-using-indian-naval-bases-to-attack-iran-under-operation-epic-fury-1772684291682"><strong>Fact-check: Is United States using Indian naval bases to attack Iran?</strong></a></p><p>Just a day earlier, on Thursday (Mar 5), the Iran's Revolutionary Guards had confirmed that the missile was used to target Israel's Ben Gurion airport and an air force base in the area.</p><p>"The heavy Khorramshahr-4 missiles carrying one-tonne warheads were launched at dawn today ... &nbsp;toward the heart of Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion airport and the base of the Israeli air force's 27th squadron located at the airport," the Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Disclaimer: </strong><i>WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.</i></p><p><br><br>&nbsp;</p>

Why did Ali Khamenei's X account post a cryptic missile message amid the US-Israel war with Iran? His account warned that “Khorramshahr moments are on the horizon,” referencing one of Iran’s powerful ballistic missiles.

What exactly does this mean? Scroll down to read more.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's account on Friday (Mar 6) posted a cryptic message along with a picture of a missile, raising concerns over what it means or the ongoing war between the United States, Israel and Iran. The caption simply reads: “Khorramshahr moments are on the horizon...” But what does it mean? With the March 1 assassination of Supreme Leader Khamenei confirmed, who is currently operating his account? Khamenei was killed in joint strikes that also claimed the lives of multiple high-ranking Iranian figures. Here's all you need to know. Also read | Op Epic Fury a 'desperation move' by Trump to win US midterms? Ex US commander Does the post say anything else? Yes, the image carries text in Persian which, when translated to English, reads: “Made by the hands of young Iranians... it was able to penetrate deep into some of the important centres of the Zionist regime and destroy them. These missiles were made by young Iranians... This is the making of young Iranians, this is the identity card of young Iranians.” What is Khorramshahr? Khorramshahr, named after the city of Khorramshahr in Iran, is a medium-range ballistic missile that was tested by Iran in January 2017. With a range between 1,000 and 2,000 km, it can carry a 1,800 kg warhead and is 13 m in length. Also read | Fact-check: Is United States using Indian naval bases to attack Iran? Just a day earlier, on Thursday (Mar 5), the Iran's Revolutionary Guards had confirmed that the missile was used to target Israel's Ben Gurion airport and an air force base in the area. "The heavy Khorramshahr-4 missiles carrying one-tonne warheads were launched at dawn today ... toward the heart of Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion airport and the base of the Israeli air force's 27th squadron located at the airport," the Guards said in a statement carried by Tasnim news agency. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

<p>Why did Ali Khamenei's X account post a cryptic missile message amid the US-Israel war with Iran? His account warned that “Khorramshahr moments are on the horizon,” referencing one of Iran’s powerful ballistic missiles.</p><p>What exactly does this mean? Scroll down to read more.</p>

'Khorramshahr moments on the horizon': Dead Supreme Leader Khamenei’s account issues cryptic warning

<p>Iran is probably winning the cost asymmetry of the current conflict with Israel and the US. One example is the claims that a suicide drone from Iran reportedly destroyed a billion-dollar radar in Qatar, operated by the US to help friendly Gulf states in intercepting incoming projectiles. Here is why it matters.</p><h2>When a $20,000 Shahed drone attacked a billion-dollar radar</h2><p>Now, let us take the reports with a pinch of salt. Some say a Shahed-series kamikaze drone from Iran, which costs as little as $20,000 per unit, struck the AN/FPS-132 Block 5 Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Other reports say it was a costlier Iranian missile that hit the radar. There are also reports that it was a combined drone-missile attack.</p><p>One thing is more or less certain: The UEWR did suffer severe damage.</p><p>Operated by the US Space Force, this radar is a critical component for ballistic missile early warning and tracking across the Middle East. It feeds data into integrated US and allied interception systems such as THAAD and Patriot batteries, which are used by some Gulf nations to intercept incoming projectiles from Iran.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/live-blog-us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-donald-trump-benjamin-netanyahu-ali-khamenei-mojtaba-khamenei-new-supreme-leader-assembly-of-experts-march-2026-1772669756946">US-Israel-Iran war LIVE updates: Jaishankar speaks with Iranian FM Aragchi again, as West Asia war escalates</a></p><h2>How badly hit was the US radar in Qatar?</h2><p>Claims vary, as Iranian state media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the radar was “completely destroyed”. However, American and independent assessments described it as ‘significantly damaged’. One or more phased-array panels of the radar were reportedly lost, making it inoperable or severely degraded without immediate repairs. Satellite imagery appeared to show visible impact damage.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/qatar-dismantles-iranian-spy-cells-amid-rising-gulf-tension-1772583273183/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/qatar-dismantles-iranian-spy-cells-amid-rising-gulf-tension-1772583273183/embed</a></p><h2>The operating cost of the Qatar radar was over $1 billion</h2><p>According to multiple reports, the AN/FPS-132 UEWR system is worth around $1.1 billion, including development, deployment, training and operational costs.</p><p>This estimate is only for the radar component. Associated interception systems, such as THAAD missile batteries, can add $1–1.8 billion per unit when integrated with the radar.</p><h2>How was the Qatar radar being used by Gulf states for collective defence against Iran?</h2><p>The radar hosted by Qatar at Al Udeid Air Base provides early warning and tracking data for ballistic missiles over a range of up to 5,000 km, supporting US Central Command (CENTCOM) operations and allied defences in the Persian Gulf region.</p><p>The radar helps Qatar and several other Gulf countries by integrating with their air defence networks, which in turn rely on it for direct early warning against Iranian threats to airspace and infrastructure.</p><p>The United Arab Emirates (UAE) uses data from the radar for its THAAD and Patriot missile defence systems to intercept projectiles from Iran. In recent days, hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones targeting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and oil facilities of UAE have reportedly been intercepted with the help of this radar.</p><p>The radar is critical for Saudi Arabia, helping it defend Riyadh, Jeddah, and eastern oil fields, integrating with US-supplied Patriot missiles to counter ballistic missiles.</p><p>In Bahrain, the radar supports US Naval Forces Central Command and aids in intercepting threats to Manama and naval assets in the Gulf.</p><p>To a lesser extent, the radar provides regional coverage for Kuwait and Oman, mainly for border defence and the security of oil export routes, primarily through data sharing.</p><p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iran-launches-fresh-retaliatory-strikes-on-israel-us-bases-in-dubai-qatar-iraq-bahrain-1772349293169">Iran launches fresh retaliatory strikes on Israel, US bases in Dubai, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman</a></p><h2>The cost arbitrage of the war: Why the damage to US-supplied radar matters</h2><p>The cost asymmetry of this warfare - as seen in the radar attack - could eventually be a deciding factor in how long it drags on and who wins.&nbsp;</p><p>Iran has essentially used cheap, mass-produced drones and missiles to overwhelm or bypass high-cost US defences. For instance, the Patriot missiles used by some Gulf states in their interceptor systems cost about $4 million each.&nbsp;</p><p>There are already reports that many missile interceptors in the Gulf states— for which the Qatar radar is a crucial early warning system — have been depleted.&nbsp;</p><p>This raises questions about how dependable current air defence networks are.</p><p>The loss of the Qatar radar will reduce real-time detection capabilities for ballistic threats. This could embolden Iran and its proxies. Damage to or destruction of the radar also puts pressure on Gulf allies to seek an immediate ceasefire even as their interceptor stockpiles are depleting. At the current usage rate, Qatar’s Patriot missiles could last only a few more days, according to some reports.</p><p>Doubts are now being raised about the effectiveness of US-supplied missile shields against 'saturation attacks' by Iran.</p><p>The US has sold billions of dollars’ worth of these missile defence systems to Gulf states over the past decades. But it appears that it's a costly solution that can be breached by a cheap projectile such as an Iranian drone.</p><p><i><strong>Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.</strong></i></p>

An Iranian strike damaged the $1.1 billion US radar at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. This is highlighting the cost asymmetry of the conflict, where cheap drones or missiles can threaten expensive missile defence systems.

Iran is probably winning the cost asymmetry of the current conflict with Israel and the US. One example is the claims that a suicide drone from Iran reportedly destroyed a billion-dollar radar in Qatar, operated by the US to help friendly Gulf states in intercepting incoming projectiles. Here is why it matters. When a $20,000 Shahed drone attacked a billion-dollar radar Now, let us take the reports with a pinch of salt. Some say a Shahed-series kamikaze drone from Iran, which costs as little as $20,000 per unit, struck the AN/FPS-132 Block 5 Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Other reports say it was a costlier Iranian missile that hit the radar. There are also reports that it was a combined drone-missile attack. One thing is more or less certain: The UEWR did suffer severe damage. Operated by the US Space Force, this radar is a critical component for ballistic missile early warning and tracking across the Middle East. It feeds data into integrated US and allied interception systems such as THAAD and Patriot batteries, which are used by some Gulf nations to intercept incoming projectiles from Iran. Also read: US-Israel-Iran war LIVE updates: Jaishankar speaks with Iranian FM Aragchi again, as West Asia war escalates How badly hit was the US radar in Qatar? Claims vary, as Iranian state media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the radar was “completely destroyed”. However, American and independent assessments described it as ‘significantly damaged’. One or more phased-array panels of the radar were reportedly lost, making it inoperable or severely degraded without immediate repairs. Satellite imagery appeared to show visible impact damage. https://www.wionews.com/videos/qatar-dismantles-iranian-spy-cells-amid-rising-gulf-tension-1772583273183/embed The operating cost of the Qatar radar was over $1 billion According to multiple reports, the AN/FPS-132 UEWR system is worth around $1.1 billion, including development, deployment, training and operational costs. This estimate is only for the radar component. Associated interception systems, such as THAAD missile batteries, can add $1–1.8 billion per unit when integrated with the radar. How was the Qatar radar being used by Gulf states for collective defence against Iran? The radar hosted by Qatar at Al Udeid Air Base provides early warning and tracking data for ballistic missiles over a range of up to 5,000 km, supporting US Central Command (CENTCOM) operations and allied defences in the Persian Gulf region. The radar helps Qatar and several other Gulf countries by integrating with their air defence networks, which in turn rely on it for direct early warning against Iranian threats to airspace and infrastructure. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) uses data from the radar for its THAAD and Patriot missile defence systems to intercept projectiles from Iran. In recent days, hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones targeting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and oil facilities of UAE have reportedly been intercepted with the help of this radar. The radar is critical for Saudi Arabia, helping it defend Riyadh, Jeddah, and eastern oil fields, integrating with US-supplied Patriot missiles to counter ballistic missiles. In Bahrain, the radar supports US Naval Forces Central Command and aids in intercepting threats to Manama and naval assets in the Gulf. To a lesser extent, the radar provides regional coverage for Kuwait and Oman, mainly for border defence and the security of oil export routes, primarily through data sharing. Also read: Iran launches fresh retaliatory strikes on Israel, US bases in Dubai, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman The cost arbitrage of the war: Why the damage to US-supplied radar matters The cost asymmetry of this warfare - as seen in the radar attack - could eventually be a deciding factor in how long it drags on and who wins. Iran has essentially used cheap, mass-produced drones and missiles to overwhelm or bypass high-cost US defences. For instance, the Patriot missiles used by some Gulf states in their interceptor systems cost about $4 million each. There are already reports that many missile interceptors in the Gulf states— for which the Qatar radar is a crucial early warning system — have been depleted. This raises questions about how dependable current air defence networks are. The loss of the Qatar radar will reduce real-time detection capabilities for ballistic threats. This could embolden Iran and its proxies. Damage to or destruction of the radar also puts pressure on Gulf allies to seek an immediate ceasefire even as their interceptor stockpiles are depleting. At the current usage rate, Qatar’s Patriot missiles could last only a few more days, according to some reports. Doubts are now being raised about the effectiveness of US-supplied missile shields against 'saturation attacks' by Iran. The US has sold billions of dollars’ worth of these missile defence systems to Gulf states over the past decades. But it appears that it's a costly solution that can be breached by a cheap projectile such as an Iranian drone. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, US, Gulf nations and non-state actors like Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Islamic State, and others. Claims and counterclaims, disinformation and misinformation are being made online and offline. Given this context, WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

<p>An Iranian strike damaged the $1.1 billion US radar at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. This is highlighting the cost asymmetry of the conflict, where cheap drones or missiles can threaten expensive missile defence systems.</p>

trending

How much gold can Indians bring from Dubai as West Asia war sparks gold rush?

How much are Iran’s Crown Jewels worth? Inside the priceless royal treasure

Space weapons program in-charge who knew all about America's UFO secrets missing

Dogs tied, kittens left in boxes as residents rush to leave Dubai amid crisis

Counter Cartel Coalition: Will US drag Latin America into another war on drugs?

After a 'no new wars' campaign, Trump ordered strikes on 8 countries in 2 years

International Women’s Day 2026: Key legal rights every woman in India must know

Toxic acid rain warning in Iran? Tehran burns after US, Israel strikes

WATCH | Footage shows moment when Dubai airport was hit by drone amid Iran war

West Asia war: Hours before apologising, Iran struck THESE neighbours

Amid Iran war Dubai selling gold at discount, but it’s bad news for India

'I apologise': Iran President expresses regret for attacking neighbours amid war

Trump reveals secret weapon production started 3-months before Iran war

US investigation admits America may be responsible for devastating school strike that killed over 150 Iranian girls

Surgeon in UK guides robot to perform prostate removal surgery in Gibraltar

Trump says he wants Iran’s leadership removed, hints at his preferred successor

CENTCOM video shows how US struck WWII-sized aircraft carrier – WATCH

US investigation points to America's role in Minab girls' school massacre

Israel duped Iran with a holiday plan. Then missiles from space killed Khamenei

Iran war could go on till Sep, report suggests. Just like Nostradamus prophesied

Astrologer forecast Middle East crisis accurately. Her next is about India, Pak

Internet blackout puts Iranians in dark amid US-Israeli bombings

Greek Oracle entered a trance and told people their future. She was just high

Trump vows 'friendly takeover' of THIS neighbour once Iran war is 'finished'

'Khorramshahr moments': Supreme Leader Khamenei’s account issues cryptic warning

Iran's $20,000 drone struck $1.1 bn radar that helps intercept missiles?