00:05Hello and good morning. I am Gersheen Garland and you're watching First Post where we bring
00:09you the expanding coverage on West Asia crisis and more. Let's get started.
00:18We continue to track the latest from West Asia. The Iran war is spilling over.
00:23Today marks the third day of escalation.
00:27Israel has expanded its campaign to hit Hezbollah, the Iran-backed proxy group in Lebanon.
00:32Reports say blasts were reported in Beirut and in southern Lebanon.
00:36Civilians fled as explosions hit the country.
01:11Lebanon's prime minister condemned the Israeli aggression and promised to protect civilians.
01:16Hezbollah fired drones and rockets towards Israel, saying it was in response to killing of Khamenei.
01:21This was Hezbollah's first claimed attack since the November 2024 ceasefire.
01:27So more countries are being dragged in. New fronts on the battlefield are opening.
02:04Then came Tehran. Today the Israeli military struck the Iranian capital.
02:09The Israeli military announced large-scale strikes on the Iranian capital.
02:13The targets hit were military facilities, regime-linked command centers, intelligence and internal security hubs.
02:20The U.S. military also announced a major blow.
02:23It said it had destroyed the headquarters of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
02:29U.S. Central Command declared that the IRGC no longer has a headquarters in Washington.
02:35President Donald Trump escalated the rhetoric.
02:37He vowed to avenge the deaths of three U.S. soldiers killed during operations.
02:42Earlier today, CENTCOM shared the news that three U.S. military service members have been killed in action.
02:50As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
02:58Even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of
03:07the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen.
03:14And sadly, there will likely be more.
03:18Before it ends, that's the way it is.
03:21Likely be more.
03:22But we'll do everything possible where that won't be the case.
03:27But America will avenge their deaths and deliver the most punishing blow to the terrorists who have waged war against
03:34basically civilization.
03:38He warns that more casualties were likely.
03:40He called on Iranians to rise up, saying America is with you.
03:44He also warned Iran's Revolutionary Guards to surrender or face certain death.
03:50Trump said he envisaged a four-week military operation.
03:54Top U.S. officials are also said to brief the Congress making the case for the campaign against Iran.
04:00Several Arab allies have condemned Iran for launching strikes on Gulf states hosting U.S. troops.
04:05In a joint statement, they called the targeting of civilians and non-combatant countries reckless and destabilizing.
04:13The Gulf Cooperation Council members also met via video link.
04:17They vowed to defend themselves and respond if necessary.
04:21In Jerusalem, seven people were injured after another missile barrage from Iran.
04:26Emergency services rushed to the scene.
04:29Beyond the battlefield, global concerns also mounted.
04:32Shipping giant Marsec has suspended transit through the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal for safety reasons.
04:41The move followed Iran's Revolutionary Guards, declaring the strait closed.
04:45The European Union warned of the heavy cost of prolonged war.
04:49The EU foreign policy chief, Kaya Callas, cautioned that a drawn-out conflict could threaten not just West, but Europe
04:57and beyond.
04:58The EU is reinforcing its naval mission in the Red Sea with additional vessels.
05:03The United Kingdom stepped in as well.
05:06Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he allowed the U.S. to use the U.K. bases for defensive strikes, targeting
05:11Iranian missiles.
05:12Prime Minister Keir Starmer's traditional military bases brigades roверs with nuclear weapons.
05:41PFTING
06:06The United States has requested permission
06:11to use British bases for that specific and limited defensive purpose.
06:21We have taken the decision to accept this request
06:27to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region,
06:32killing innocent civilians, putting British lives at risk
06:36and hitting countries that have not been involved.
06:41The basis of our decision is the collective self-defence
06:47of long-standing friends and allies and protecting British lives.
06:54That is in accordance with international law
06:58and we are publishing a summary of our legal advice.
07:04We are not joining these strikes but we will continue with our defensive actions
07:11in the region and we will also bring experts from Ukraine together with our own experts
07:18to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them.
07:23But he stressed Britain was not involved in the initial offensive
07:28and would not join offensive action.
07:30A supreme leader killed, missiles over Jerusalem, Beirut under fire.
07:36So what began as targeted strikes has now become a multi-front confrontation.
07:42And now to get us more perspective on this, we are being joined by Ross Harrison,
07:47who is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, joining us live from D.C.
07:52Ross, how is Iran's foreign policy evolving amid the spreading regional war with the U.S. and Israel?
07:57What do you think are the implications of the post-Karmany era?
08:01Well, I think Iran's foreign policy can be defined or characterized as a fight for survival at this point.
08:08I mean, they were attacked by Israel and the United States.
08:13Their leadership, this top tier of their leadership, was basically decimated with the death of Ali Khamenei,
08:19the supreme leader.
08:20And so what they're trying to do is trying to inflict as much pain on the United States and Israel
08:26in particular
08:27in order to raise the cost and possibly bring some kind of end to the conflict.
08:33I think it's also to demonstrate that the regime is still intact, something that they have to worry about.
08:38So in terms of its regional implications, as you have said, I mean, Hatsbollah is now involved in the mix.
08:43Iran has lobbed missiles at our allies in the region,
08:48countries that they had had a reasonably, not a warm relationship,
08:52but a functional relationship with, over the last number of years, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and even Oman.
08:58So they're trying to basically send a message to the region that the cost of this conflict,
09:04if it continues in a protracted way, is going to be great, not just for Iran,
09:08not just for Israel, the United States, but also for the entire region.
09:12Speaking alongside the cost of the conflict, as Israel and Hezbollah trade fire amid U.S. strikes on Iran,
09:19how does President Trump plan to avenge U.S. troop deaths? Is there more to come?
09:24Well, I think right now the operation is, you know, the operation is continuing.
09:28I mean, so it's hard to distinguish retaliation or, you know, getting, seeking revenge for the deaths of the American
09:37servicemen.
09:38It's hard to distinguish revenge from just their normal operation.
09:42So it's not clear to me.
09:43I mean, I think, I think President Trump said even before the deaths were announced that there were going to
09:48be some casualties.
09:49So I think this is, this is, unfortunately, it's a normal course of any conflict,
09:54is both sides are going to lose, lose innocence, innocent men and women.
09:58In this case, these were soldiers, to my knowledge.
10:01But I think we also have to acknowledge that there have been deaths on the Iranian side in even greater
10:07numbers.
10:07So I don't know how we can distinguish revenge from just the normal operations that are designed to try to
10:13bring down this regime.
10:14So it's a, it's a hard question to answer.
10:17President Trump has also said that he's open to talks with Iran.
10:21What do you think will be the result of it if talks do happen?
10:26Well, it depends on the problem that the Iranians have,
10:30aside from the fact that they're being asked to, to, to negotiate or have conversations in the middle of war,
10:35is what the goal of the United States is.
10:38Remember, they were talking, the, the Iranians were talking to the United States,
10:42both in the lead up to the June 2025 war, and the lead up to this war.
10:48So I think the question becomes, is, is, is, is, are the talks essentially going to require the Iranians to
10:56capitulate and surrender?
10:57If that's the case, I, I don't see that necessarily happening.
11:01I think if there is, if there is enough momentum for some kind of off-ramp for the United States,
11:09by the way, the off-ramp for the United States is probably going to be a different off-ramp than
11:14it is for Israel.
11:15But if there is a desire for an off-ramp and there is a new leadership emerging under the,
11:21under the tutelage or leadership of Ali Larajani, the, the, the, the head of the Supreme National Security Council and
11:28President Peshagian,
11:29if there is a sort of a rethink of what Iran's red lines are and they come to the table
11:36with some kind of an agreement on the nuclear issues,
11:38that's a possibility. But I don't think, I think in Tehran, I think there is tremendous distrust of this administration
11:46in Washington.
11:47And so I, I, I think my, my general sense is, and listen, we, I could be wrong five minutes
11:53from now because events are moving so rapidly on the ground.
11:56But my sense is that this is not the time, um, for any kind of negotiation. Um, I think the
12:03Iranians are busy at this point trying to consolidate,
12:06uh, plan for a succession and trying to put the, the, the, the, the most brave face they can on
12:13a regime that has been under siege.
12:16Interesting point you make over there, Ross Harrison. Thank you for your sharing insights with First Post.
12:20Of course.
12:21As war engulfs West Asia, India has stepped firmly into the diplomatic lane.
12:27Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the President of the United Arab
12:34Emirates,
12:34Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. The Indian Prime Minister positioned New Delhi as a voice for de-escalation as the conflict
12:41spirals across West Asia.
12:43In his call with Netanyahu, Prime Minister Modi conveyed India's deep concern over the rapidly worsening situation.
12:50While acknowledging Israel's security challenges, New Delhi drew a clear line.
12:54Civilian safety must remain paramount. India reiterated its call for an early secession of hostilities.
13:02Now this comes as the United States and Israel have expanded strikes deep inside Iran, targeting Revolutionary Guard infrastructure and
13:11Iran's retaliatory missile and drone campaign.
13:14That now stretches across West Asia, including the UAE's Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
13:19And that's where Prime Minister Modi's second call becomes crucial.
13:24In his conversation with the UAE, President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Prime Minister Modi strongly condemned the attacks on the
13:31Emirates and expressed condolences for the lives lost.
13:35The outreach wasn't just symbolic. Nearly 3.5 million Indians live and work in the UAE.
13:41This is among India's largest community anywhere in the world.
13:46It contributes about 20 percent of India's foreign remittances, 11 percent of India's oil imports and absorbs 39 billion dollars
13:55of Indian exports.
13:57The Indian embassy has confirmed that one Indian national was injured in the attacks.
14:02The embassy says the person is out of danger and that it is in touch with hospital authorities, rendering all
14:09possible assistance.
14:11Meanwhile, thousands of passengers, including Indians, remain stranded at Dubai International Airport.
14:17Among those stranded in Dubai is India's ace shuttler, P.V. Sindhu, who said authorities in the UAE are taking
14:23care of those affected, even as flight operations remain disrupted.
14:27The Prime Minister also thanked the UAE leadership for taking care of the Indian community, a significant reassurance at a
14:34time when drone strikes have hit strategic sites and disrupted civilian life.
14:40India's messaging across both calls has been consistent.
14:43De-escalation, regional peace, security and stability.
14:47Prior to his outreach to Israel and the UAE, Prime Minister Modi chaired a late-night meeting of the Cabinet
14:53Committee on Security.
14:55This is India's highest decision-making body on national security and strategic affairs.
15:01The top-level meeting reviewed the rapidly evolving situation in West Asia, assessing its implications for India's security, energy supplies
15:09and the safety of Indian nationals in the region.
15:14For India, the war is not distant.
15:16It threatens the safety of millions of Indian citizens in the Gulf.
15:20As missiles fly across West Asia, New Delhi is leaning on diplomacy, urging restraint, protecting its people and walking a
15:28careful strategic tightrope.
15:33That's all for now.
15:34Thank you for joining us.
15:35I am Gushin Gala.
15:36And for more updates, stay tuned to First Post.
15:45Power doesn't end quietly.
15:49Some deaths are not accidents.
15:52They are messages.
15:54A gunshot.
15:56A crowd.
15:57A country frozen.
15:59The killer disappears.
16:02The questions don't.
16:04This is not just about who died.
16:06It's about what followed.
16:09Governments fell.
16:11Armies moved.
16:12History rewrote itself.
16:15Five leaders.
16:17Five moments.
16:19One pattern.
16:21The assassination.
16:36Five moments.
16:37Four moments.
16:38One
16:38One.
16:39Five moments.
16:39Five moments.
16:43Four moments.
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