How US Played Its Role To Counter Iran's Attack On Israel

Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel with hundreds of drones and missiles marked the culmination of a tense two weeks in which Washington engaged in whirlwind efforts to prepare for the expected violence.

American aircraft and planes downed dozens of drones and missiles when Iran launched the attack on Saturday, after Tehran repeatedly threatened to hit back in response to an Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus that killed two top officers at the beginning of the month.

Senior US officials detailed the role Washington played -- both militarily and diplomatically -- in countering the attack:

- Iranian attack -

Iran launched a barrage of more than 100 medium-range ballistic missiles, more than 30 land-attack cruise missiles and more than 150 attack drones at Israel, a senior US military official said.

Two American warships -- the USS Arleigh Burke and the USS Carney -- destroyed between four and six ballistic missiles, while US aircraft shot down more than 70 Iranian drones, the military official said.

A Patriot missile battery also shot down a ballistic missile that was headed toward Israel in the area of the northern Iraq city of Arbil.

President Joe Biden spent Saturday evening receiving real-time updates in the Situation Room at the White House as the attack unfolded.

"At one point, we knew there were over 100 ballistic missiles in the sky" and "the results of the defenses of course were unclear until all was said and done," a senior administration official said, describing the tense atmosphere.

- The catalyst -

Israel carried out a strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus on April 1, killing seven Revolutionary Guards including two generals and prompting warnings from Tehran that it would respond.

Top US officials were pulled aside and informed of details about the strike during a visit by the Israeli ambassador and defense attache at the White House, the senior administration official said.

"We were not a part of that strike" but "we knew that that would have repercussions," the official said.

A few days later, Biden instructed the government "to defend Israel to the maximum extent possible" and to ensure that all necessary authorities and assets were in place to do so -- a directive that sent officials into action.

- US preparations -

Ahead of the attack, US officials including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were in "constant, ongoing, continuous contact" with the Israelis, as well as with other countries in the Middle East.

General Erik Kurilla, the head of the US military command responsible for the region, was dispatched to the region and provided real-time updates as well as coordinating with the Israelis and other partners.

The United States was in touch with Iran as well, sending "a series of direct communications through the Swiss channel," the senior administration official said.

Washington also deployed additional military assets to the region "to bolster regional deterrence efforts and increase force protection for US forces," a US defense official said last week.

- What comes next? -

The US goal since the start of the latest round of conflict between Israel and Hamas six months ago has been to prevent it from spiraling into a broader regional conflict, and Washington is keen to lower the temperature in the region.

"We would not be a part of any response they do," the senior administration official said of possible Israeli action after the attack. "We would not envision ourselves participating in such an act."

Israel has meanwhile "made clear to us they're not looking for a significant escalation with Iran," but "a big question is not only whether, but what Israel might choose to do," the official said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Israel Says US, Allies Came Together For First Time To Counter Iran

Israel's army said Sunday Israel, the United States, Britain, France and other allies had come together as a "coalition" for the first time to counter Iran's unprecedented attack.

Iran launched a wave of missiles and attack drones against Israel overnight Saturday to Sunday in the first ever direct attack on its arch foe.

"Together we thwarted Iran's attack... This was the first time that such a coalition worked together against the threat of Iran and its proxies in the Middle East," said military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a televised statement.

"Iran launched over 350 threats, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, rockets and suicide drones towards Israel and also other countries in the region could have got that threat on the way."

Tehran's attack came in retaliation for a deadly air strike widely blamed on Israel that destroyed its consular building in Syria's capital early this month.

In a separate statement, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he had told his British and French counterparts that "Iran must pay a price".

"I told them -- it's your time to weaken the Iranian regime, to proscribe the IRGC (Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps) as a terrorist organisation, and to impose crippling sanctions on the Iranian missile project."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Worst Kind Of Bowling": Gavaskar Blasts Hardik After Dhoni's Fiery Knock

Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sunil Gavaskar was furious with Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya after he was hit for three consecutive sixes by MS Dhoni during the IPL 2024 match against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday. Hardik was the pick of the MI bowlers with two wickets but he was slammed for 20 runs by Dhoni in the final four balls of the CSK innings. Gavaskar slammed Hardik for his 'ordinary bowling and ordinary captaincy' and criticised the kind of deliveries that he produced.

"Probably the worst kind of bowling that I've seen for a long, long time. It almost looks like I've had this embrace with my hero. I've got a bowling kind of deliveries that he's gonna hit for sixes. One 6 is fine. The next one again a length ball when you know that this batter is looking for a length ball to hit. The third ball again, a full toss on the leg side and he's looking for it and hits it for a 6. Absolutely ordinary bowling, ordinary captaincy," Gavaskar said during his analysis in the mid-innings break.

Gavaskar also referred to the interaction that Hardik and Dhoni had just ahead of the match. Hardik ran to Dhoni and hugged the former India skipper in a moment that has gone viral on social media.

Coming to the match, Rohit Sharma's century went in vain as Mumbai Indians lost to Chennai Super Kings by 20 runs. Rohit played a brilliant knock but the hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals and an impressive four-wicket haul from Matheesha Pathirana ensured the victory for CSK.

Earlier, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube slammed half-centuries while Dhoni provided a late flourish against Hardik's bowling to take CSK's total to 206. Thanks to the victory, CSK remain in the third position while Mumbai Indians are eighth in the competition with just four points from six matches.

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Parties From These Nations Accept BJP Invite To Witness Its Poll Campaign

Diplomats posted in the country and 25 political parties across the globe have been invited by the ruling BJP to come and witness first-hand the party's campaign for the all-important Lok Sabha polls.

India starts voting in a seven-phase general election on April 19. Votes will be counted on June 4.

Confirmations to witness BJP campaign have come from 15 countries, which includes Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and some African countries.

"For the first time in the history of electoral politics of the country, BJP has invited various political parties across the globe to come to India and have a first-hand experience of BJP's campaign. We have invited more than 25 political parties and there's confirmation from 15 of them, mostly in the neighbourhood but also in some far-east Asian countries as well as from African countries," says Vijay Chauthaiwale, who leads the BJP's foreign affairs department.

Unemployment and inflation are the main concerns of Indian voters but Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong leadership and India's rising global stature will likely help his re-election bid, says The Hindu newspaper citing Lokniti-CSDS survey.

"Entire idea is to show the breadth and depth of BJP campaign that has resulted in the success of party in consecutive elections, be it assembly of Lok Sabha. We are looking forward to welcome them to India. They will be going to various parts of the country and we will show them various facets of BJP campaign," says Mr Chauthaiwale, who was part of PM Modi's 2014 election war room.

"In addition, we will also will be taking various diplomats in India from various countries and again we will show them BJP campaign. We had done this in past during assembly elections. But it will be first time for the Lok Sabha polls," he adds.

PM Modi's BJP, which is aiming to win a third term, won 303 of 543 seats in the 2019 general elections.

The BJP's push faces serious headwinds in the south. Holding repeated rallies across the south, PM Modi has sought to win new voters, offering his "topmost respect" to the south's Tamil culture and language.

In the last polls, the BJP won just over a fifth of seats -- 29 out of 129 -- across the five southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

In wooing the south, the BJP hopes to wrest the credentials of being a truly pan-India party from its already humbled rival, the opposition Congress Party.

PM Modi's image, bolstered by India's presidency of the G20 last year, has rested widely on his claims of steering the country into becoming one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

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Congress Fields Virbhadra Singh's Son Against Kangana Ranaut In Himachal

The stage is set for a battle royale in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi Lok Sabha seat as the Congress on Saturday pitted state minister Vikramaditya Singh, the titular king of the erstwhile princely state of Bushahr, against BJP candidate and actor Kangana Ranaut.

Himachal Pradesh PWD Minister Vikramaditya Singh is the son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh and Pratibha Singh, the sitting MP from Mandi and the Congress' state unit president.

Historically, the Mandi constituency has favoured scions of erstwhile princely states, electing royals in 13 out of 19 elections, including two bypolls since 1952.

Vikramaditya Singh, the two-time MLA from the Shimla (rural) assembly segment, is not new in the parliamentary constituency as his father and mother each won the seat thrice. In the 2021 Lok Sabha bypoll to the seat, Mr Singh had campaigned extensively for his mother.

Even before his candidature was announced, Vikramaditya Singh was involved in a spat with the actor-politician of Bollywood film 'Queen' fame with neither pulling any punches.

Last Thursday, Kangana Ranaut launched a blistering attack on Vikramaditya Singh and said, "This is not the estate of your father or grandfather that you will threaten me and send me back.

The BJP candidate's retaliation came in response to Vikramaditya Singh's jibe a few days earlier about her reported comments over beef-eating.

"I pray to Lord Ram to give her wisdom and hope she goes back pure from 'Dev Bhoomi' Himachal to Bollywood because she will not win the elections as she knows nothing about the people of Himachal," Mr Singh had said.

She asked why he was not showing evidence of her consuming beef.

"I have made my name in the film industry without the help of my father and mother... I want to join politics and serve the people," she said and asserted that politics is an expression of service and anyone from a king to a beggar is entitled to that expression.

The factors working in favour of Kangana Ranaut are former Himachal Pradesh chief minister and senior BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur's hold over Mandi and that the party has won all the nine assembly segments under the parliament constituency.

BJP leader Khushal Thakur, a Kargil war hero who lost to Pratibha Singh by a margin of 7,490 votes in Lok Sabha bypolls held in November 2021, has rendered his support to Ms Ranaut. "There are over one lakh ex-servicemen in this Parliament constituency", he had told the PTI earlier.

Moreover, BJP leader and the titular king of Kullu Maheshwar Singh, who earlier opposed Ms Ranaut's candidature, has extended his support to her.

Of the 17 assembly segments under the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, eight are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled castes.

Since 1952, the parliamentary seat has been represented by Raj Kumai Amrit Kaur of Kapurthala dynasty and Raja Joginder Sen Bahadur of the princely state of Mandi once each, Raja Lalit Sen of Suket twice, Virbhadra Singh and his wife Pratibha Singh thrice each and Maheshwar Singh thrice.

Three-time MP from Mandi and former Union minister Sukh Ram, two-time winner Ram Swaroop and Ganga Singh were the exceptions and did not hail from royal families.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Biden Says He Expects Iran Will Attack Israel "Sooner Than Later"

US President Joe Biden said Friday he was expecting Iran to attempt to strike Israel in the short term in retaliation for a strike in Syria but warned the clerical state not to attack.

"I don't want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later," Biden told reporters after an event.

Asked what his message was to Iran on striking Israel, Biden said, "Don't."

"We are devoted to the defense of Israel, we will support Israel, we will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed," he said.

Iran's clerical state has vowed retaliation after an Israeli strike on April 1 leveled an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus, killing seven members of the elite Revolutionary Guards including two generals.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Rahul Gandhi Turning Into Most Trustworthy, Credible Leader": AK Antony

Rahul Gandhi is a determined and courageous leader who is not swayed from his decisions by any adversity that comes his way, veteran Congress leader AK Antony said here on Friday.

Mr Antony said Rahul Gandhi, who had no interest in politics just like his father Rajiv Gandhi, was now fighting against the BJP not to become the Prime Minister, but to safeguard the basic structure of the Indian Constitution.

"He is turning into the most trustworthy and credible leader in India," he said.

The Congress stalwart was speaking at the release of a book on Rahul Gandhi by veteran mediaperson N Asokan.

Speaking at the event, which was held at Indira Bhavan here, Mr Antony fondly recalled the initial days of his political life, how he became close to the Nehru family and his memories about a young Rahul Gandhi whom he first saw at 'Shakti Sthal' memorial at Raj Ghat in Delhi, paying respects to Indira Gandhi after her assassination.

Mr Antony said the Nehru family is known for sacrificing their lives for the nation and both Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv were examples of it.

He said Indira Gandhi refused to remove her Sikh bodyguards despite being told that they posed a threat to her life.

"She gambled with her life to protect the secularism of our nation," Mr Antony said.

He further said Rajiv Gandhi was repeatedly asked by his wife Sonia Gandhi not to enter political life and take up the mantle of Congress leadership, but he did and, later, he too died tragically.

"I was AICC general secretary when I saw Rahul and Priyanka for the first time when they were paying respects at their grandmother's memorial. I saw them again, slightly more grown up, when they were paying respects to their father at his memorial," Mr Antony said.

He said that from a child, who lived like a bird in a cage surrounded by security personnel and experienced the grief of the untimely deaths of his grandmother and father, Rahul Gandhi has grown into the man he is now -- "determined and courageous." Antony said Mr Gandhi's determination was evident from how he took moral responsibility for the party's loss in 2019 and resigned as Congress president, refusing to return to that position despite entreaties from everyone, including his mother.

"It was also seen when he walked over 3,000 km from Kanyakumari to Srinagar as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and when he refused to return from Manipur without meeting the affected people and visiting violence-hit areas," the Congress stalwart said.

"Whatever be the adversity, once he takes a decision, he is not swayed from it. It is his determination that brought together 28 parties under the INDIA bloc. The Congress decided to contest only from 300 seats in the LS polls as he was of the view that it was more important to defeat BJP than winning more seats," Mr Antony added.

He urged everyone to buy the book and read it.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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