SOURCE: PTI

The US destroyed more than 80 UAVs and at least six ballistic missiles launched by Iran at Israel, the Pentagon said Sunday. This includes a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven UAVs destroyed on the ground in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen prior to their launch, the US Central Command said.

Iran fired more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, which Tehran said was in response to the April 1 strike on its consulate in Syria. Almost all Iranian drones and missiles were shot down by Israeli, US and allied forces before they reached their targets.

SOURCE: REUTERS

Iran warned Israel and the United States on Sunday of a “much larger response” if there is any retaliation for its mass drone and missile attack on Israeli territory overnight, as Israel said “the campaign is not over yet”.

The threat of open warfare erupting between the arch Middle East foes and dragging in the United States has put the region on edge as Washington said America did not seek conflict with Iran but would not hesitate to protect its forces and Israel.

SOURCE: REUTERS

Iran launched a swarm of explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first ever direct attack on Israeli territory, risking a major escalation as the United States pledged “ironclad” backing for Israel.

Sirens wailed and Reuters journalists in Israel said they heard distant heavy thuds and bangs from what local media called aerial interceptions of explosive drones. The ambulance service said a 10-year-old boy was critically injured.

SOURCE: AFP

People sit amid rubble during Eid al-Fitr, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Gaza City on April 11, 2024. File | Photo Credit: Reuters Residents reported heavy Israeli fire in central Gaza on April 12, with regional tensions soaring after Iran threatened reprisals over a strike in Syria this month that killed two Iranian generals.

As talks for a truce and hostage release dragged on, fears that Iran could soon launch an attack on Israel prompted the United States to announce it was sending reinforcements to the Middle East as a deterrent.

SOURCE: REUTERS

 Israel for the first time used a seaborne missile defence system to shoot down a drone approaching from the Red Sea that had set off sirens in the port city of Eilat, the military said on Tuesday.

Eilat has been a frequent target for launches by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen as a show of support for Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules Gaza and is also backed by Iran. Israel positioned missile boats in the Red Sea after the start of the war in Gaza, the military said. One of those missile boats shot down the drone with the new system called the C-Dome.

SOURCE: ANI

 Shabir Choudhry, a prominent writer and activist based in London, has issued a stark warning regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar connectivity project, predicting a bleak future for the Baloch people.

Hailing from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Choudhry cautioned that by 2024, Baloch could be on the path of becoming a minority population. “In Pakistan, CPEC has brought numerous challenges. It’s not just an economic corridor; it’s a military project. Who stands to benefit from CPEC? Ultimately, it’s China alone,” Dr Shabir emphasized in a video message on his YouTube channel.

SOURCE: ANI

The Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), a non-government organisation (NGO) from Pakistan, raised its voice on Sunday, for the protection of minorities, their properties, and worship places, the HRPF said in a statement.

The NGO expressed severe concern, highlighting the recent attacks on churches, Hindu temples, Ahmadiyya’s mosques, and minority towns and the grabbing of agricultural land, homes, graveyards, and worship places, among other properties.

SOURCE: REUTERS

 President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned in remarks aired on Saturday that Ukraine could run out of air defence missiles if Russia keeps up its intense long-range bombing campaign.

The Ukrainian leader’s starkest warning to date of the deteriorating situation faced by his country’s air defences follows weeks of Russian strikes on the energy system, towns and cities using a vast arsenal of missiles and drones.

SOURCE: AFI

Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) has reported that six F-16 fighter jets sustained minor damage during a powerful earthquake on April 3rd, 2024.

The 7.2-magnitude quake, the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years, struck the eastern coast near Hualien, where the ROCAF’s 5th Tactical Composite Wing is based. This wing operates a fleet of F-16Vs and F-5 fighter jets.

SOURCE: AP

A training aircraft of Bangladesh Air Force has made ‘an emergency landing’ in a rice field on a wetland in Narail. The incident occurred in the Tarashi Beel of Maizpara in Sadar Upazila around 2:40pm on Wednesday, said Sajedul Islam, an inspector at Narail Sadar Police Station. 

Two pilots on the aircraft were safe and taken to the Air Force’s base in Jashore, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence.  Md Afsar Uddin, a deputy assistant director at the fire service, said the aircraft took off from Bangladesh Air Force Base Birshreshtha Matiur Rahman in Jashore at 1:34pm. Farmers working in the Tarashi Beel rice fields saw the jet coming down later in the afternoon.

SOURCE: AFI

North Korea has recently made headlines by joining the exclusive club of nations possessing Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) with the unveiling of the Hwasong-16B. This significant development marks a milestone in the country’s missile capabilities, raising concerns among regional and global powers.

In simple terms, an HGV can be likened to an unmanned stealth bomber carrying a warhead, capable of flying at speeds exceeding Mach 5. What sets it apart is its ability to maneuver unpredictably, making it difficult for existing Ballistic Missile Defense Systems (BMDS) to intercept effectively.

SOURCE: AFI

The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) of Russia has secured a patent for a game-changing weapon: an air-launched attack drone designed to be deployed from the country’s top-of-the-line Su-57 fighter jet. This development signifies a potential leap forward in modern warfare strategies.

Details surrounding the drone remain classified, but leaked patent documents offer a glimpse into its capabilities. The drone is designed to function as a force multiplier for the Su-57, extending its reach and firepower. Some analysts believe it could fulfill a “kamikaze” role, taking on high-risk missions.

SOURCE: AP

Iran and one of its key proxies vowed Tuesday to respond to a strike widely attributed to Israel that demolished Iran’s consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus and killed eight people, including two Iranian generals.

Iran’s state TV reported Tuesday that the country’s Supreme National Security Council, a key decision-making body, met late Monday and decided on a “required” response to the strike. The report said the meeting was chaired by President Ebrahim Raisi, but provided no further details.

SOURCE: AFI

Military enthusiasts are abuzz after a clear image of China’s long-rumored Z-21 attack helicopter recently surfaced online. The photo provides the first detailed look at the aircraft, sparking debate about its design influences and potential capabilities.

While some design elements resemble the existing Chinese Z-10 attack helicopter, the Z-21 appears to share a greater number of features with Russia’s Mi-28 attack chopper. This has led to speculation about possible collaboration between China and Russia on the Z-21 project.

SOURCE: REUTERS

The U.S. in recent days authorized the transfer of billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel, two sources familiar with the effort said on Friday, even as Washington publicly expresses concerns about an anticipated Israeli military offensive in Rafah.

The new arms packages include more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, said the sources, who confirmed a report in the Washington Post.