- 5 hours ago
The West Asia conflict has intensified as Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Iraq.
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00:01Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:05I'm Akshra Tananthi Gopal. We've got lots lined up for you over the next one hour
00:09as we focus on the West Asia war.
00:12So what's coming your way in this edition of Super 6?
00:15We'll begin with what's happening in the Gulf nations, particularly the United Arab Emirates.
00:20It's been a rough week in the UAE with non-stop missile and drone strikes.
00:25This morning, two similar images that came to the fore.
00:28It leads to the question of why Iran is doing this.
00:31What about their own interests in the UAE?
00:33We're going to be breaking that down for you.
00:35But also coming up on the show at 6.30, we're going to be focusing on what's happening back home
00:40and the big political fight that's coming up in the U.S. Tanya, the Tamil Nadu elections.
00:45Vijay has announced that his party with no allies will go ahead and fight all two 34 seats alone.
00:53Is this something that works in Vijay's favour or not?
00:56We'll decode that for you.
00:57So lots lined up for you in this edition of Super 6.
01:00Let's begin with the headlines.
01:06Iran confirms top Mojtaba aid.
01:09Ali Lari Jani killed in Israel.
01:11Strikes Iran targets Tel Aviv with prohibited cluster warheads in retaliation.
01:16Massive funeral procession held in Tehran for Lari Jani.
01:25Missiles intercepted over Dubai.
01:27Debris falls are on Dubai Convention Centre.
01:30Sirens blare as missiles are intercepted.
01:32UAE says fighter jets intercepted all of the missiles.
01:41Israel pounds Lebanon's Beirut building crashes after Israel strikes.
01:45This is a part of the capital.
01:49India Today reports from the spot.
01:57After Bhupen, Bora and other Congress,
01:59Neta, Pradyut, Bordalai jumps ship to join BJP.
02:02Sources say Bordalai may contest from the dispersed seat in the upcoming Assembly elections.
02:15At least nine people, including children,
02:18charred to death in a fire in a four-storied building in Delhi's Palam area.
02:28The Runder frenzy takes box office by storm.
02:32A day ahead of release amasses $1.23 crore globally from the Premier and Day 1 bookings.
02:49Let's begin by telling you what's transpired in the last 24 hours in the West Asia war.
02:54For the last two weeks, we've seen this entire region on edge.
02:59Now, let's break down for you in the last 24 hours the nations who've been attacked.
03:04You've had, of course, Iran going ahead and firing a number of counter-strikes.
03:10As a result of which, you've got Israel facing strikes, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, Iraq.
03:17All of them have seen strikes all from Iran directed towards these countries.
03:23Now, constantly the question is, why are so many of these countries being hit?
03:27Previously, it was U.S. establishments, pockets in these countries that were being targeted.
03:32It's gone well beyond that right now.
03:36In the last 24 hours alone, the theatre of war, a term we've constantly referred to, continues to expand.
03:44And that's courtesy Iran.
03:45Even after the killing of one of their top leaders like Lari Jani, it hasn't stopped them.
03:50But interestingly, Iran's attacks on Gulf nations are also hurting Iran itself.
03:56What do I mean by that?
03:58You look at the example of Dubai.
04:00Iran's self-coals in Dubai for this very reason.
04:03For example, an attack on the Jebel Ali port disrupts Iran's re-export trade via Dubai.
04:10In the Dubai airport area, where we've seen at least three incidents of attacks so far,
04:14what Iran is also doing is hurting themselves with an indirect hit to supply chains of 8,000 plus Iranian
04:21firms.
04:21Let's be very clear that Iran has their own investments, own interests at stake in Dubai as well.
04:27The Palm Jumeirah Hotel's iconic location in Dubai, which is also targeted,
04:32over $300 billion, whopping number just there.
04:36$300 billion in assets are held by Iranian residents at risk of devaluation
04:41because of these strikes in the Dubai financial hub.
04:45There's a potential exodus that threatens its status as a global wealth haven.
04:51All of this doesn't augur well for Iran, which leads to questions of why then Iran is going all out
04:57against the UAE.
04:58So much so that there are more drone strikes actually on UAE than on Israel.
05:05Dubai has clearly caught the crosshairs of the war in West Asia.
05:09Several missiles were intercepted, thwarted by the UAE air defence system in the last 24 hours.
05:15And this even as the UAE is struggling with that perception image.
05:19Yes, these missiles are being intercepted, but it does damage their reputation.
05:23And so what are they doing?
05:24They're planning leniency on tax rolls for expats leaving the country to avoid the Iran conflict.
05:41Dubai reels under fire as Iranian strikes continue.
05:48Missiles streaked across the Dubai sky, which were intercepted by the UAE's air defence system.
05:54Burning debris rained near the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
06:00Interceptor missiles soared into the sky and fragments cascaded to the ground.
06:05Loud explosions echoed, leaving residents rattled.
06:10Authorities confirmed the sounds were from successful air defence operations, preventing any major damage.
06:17Meanwhile, Dubai is racing to calm nerves on the economic front.
06:22As per Financial Times, the UAE plans tax leniency for expats leaving amid the Iran conflict.
06:30The UAE is easing tax residency rules to encourage expats who left due to the Iran conflict to return.
06:38More days abroad will be allowed without losing residency.
06:41Standard requirements remain 183 days per year or 90 days for those who are employed or have permanent home.
06:50There are no blanket exemptions and applications will be reviewed case by case.
06:55These changes help retain wealthy expats and support Dubai's position as a leading financial hub.
07:05The Emirates economy is showing signs of strain.
07:08Real estate prices are tumbling, tourist numbers are down, oil prices surging and the ultra-rich are reconsidering investments.
07:18Dubai's dream run may be hitting turbulence as it balances security fears and economic stability.
07:25From glittering skylines to skies streaked with messiahs, Dubai faces a new reality where luxury and security are under threat.
07:35Bureau Report, India Today.
07:39So there's obviously reputational damage for the UAE and for so many countries in the Gulf who have been dragged
07:46into the West Asia conflict,
07:47whether they asked for it or not.
07:50But one question that's constantly asked is, if Iran is losing all of its leaders, including Ali Lari Jani, in
07:55the last 24 hours,
07:56who's actually calling the shots?
07:59Who's going ahead with these strikes?
08:00Pranay Upadia is with me to break that down.
08:02Pranay Upadia, how is this happening that even after an Ali Lari Jani, who was assumably in control after the
08:10death of Khamenei,
08:12even then the strikes continue by Iran.
08:15So who's calling the shots right now?
08:17This is typical Mosaic strategy, what you call in war terms or in terms of the technical defense or strategic
08:23defense.
08:23The Mosaic strategy is like it's a constellation of 31 provinces of Iran where individual commanders have standing instructions and
08:32they do not have to wait for any go ahead or a green light from the higher command.
08:36So they can go ahead with their instructions.
08:38They have targets.
08:40They have their ammunition and they can fire it in salvos.
08:44So this is the structure Iran has worked out for long.
08:46Look, this is a war, Akshita, which was in making, it was coming for years.
08:53Iran has prepared for this war.
08:54Israel and the United States have prepared for this war.
08:56And that's why, you know, Iran is so well prepared and Iran is so well entrenched with this strategy.
09:03And that's why, if you see the structure of Iran, one, it is a very complicated structure where there is
09:08an IRGC, there is Basij, there is a political command structure.
09:11All of these have been targeted, Pranay, in the sense that even in the last 24 hours, the Basij commander
09:16has also been assassinated.
09:17Absolutely right.
09:18So you would think the Basij is headless then, no?
09:20Basij is headless, Basij is not headless.
09:21Basij is a paramilitary force, by the way.
09:23Yeah, it's their theocratic paramilitary force.
09:25It's religious as well and a paramilitary force as well.
09:28But if you see, Iran has been losing their leaders for long.
09:32In last year, 12-day war, Iran lost its defense minister, its IRGC commander, and again, they replaced it.
09:39So there is a replacement structure in place.
09:41So one goes, another one comes.
09:44That one also goes, another one comes.
09:46So they have worked this out that till the last man, we are going to hold the fort.
09:51So when you hear rhetoric of we will wipe out the leadership, it's virtually impossible to do that?
09:57One, with the theocratic state, with an ideological state, it is very difficult to wipe out a state which is
10:03so ideological based by merely bombing and airstrikes.
10:07One, besides that, this is a well-entrenched structure.
10:11This goes up to the rural level.
10:13That imam-based structure which produces leaders can go up to the central level.
10:18So it is that well-entrenched.
10:20Besides that, they have that ammunition, they have the standing instruction, and every commander has identified targets.
10:27And that's why, that's why, you know, many things, many false flag operations also happened.
10:31Many misfires also happened.
10:33Yeah, which we have been seeing.
10:34But thanks very much, Pranay, for breaking that down for us.
10:37What's very clear from what Pranay just told us is that as far as Iran is concerned, this war isn't
10:42ending any time soon.
10:43They're in it for the long haul.
10:44And then you have Trump suggesting it will be prolonged.
10:47So then what next?
10:48I want to give you a sense right now also of tourism.
10:52It's shifting away from West Asia to Spain as a result of what we're seeing play out right now.
10:58And so tourism hotspot like the UAE, like Dubai, where so many people, including so many Indians, plan their holidays,
11:06their summer holidays, it's all cancelled.
11:08UK flights to Dubai have been cancelled.
11:10British Airways has diverted most of its flights.
11:13Very few that are even flying near UAE.
11:15Even to places like Abu Dhabi, they've cancelled all flights for the next many months.
11:19Tourists, therefore, are rerouting.
11:21They're finding places in Europe.
11:23And what's actually been reported is a bump up in tourism to Spain.
11:27Dubai's hotels, Dubai's beaches are empty.
11:30This isn't to suggest that Dubai has become a ghost town.
11:33The city is still very much alive.
11:35The people who live there are saying that we're going in and out for work.
11:38There's no problem.
11:39But tourism is a problem because flight ops are hit and there's a perception.
11:43West Asia tourism is down 11 to 20 percent, which is a big deal.
11:48Because many of these cities, countries actually thrive, survive on tourism.
11:54And so it hurts them, dents them badly that this particular conflict has hurt their image.
11:59Something that is damaged that will take months together to kind of get out of, to rebuild that image of
12:06being a safe tourist country.
12:08Now, the war has also hit India's booming medical tourism sector.
12:13Once a top destination for patients from West Asia, hospitals are now seeing a sharp drop in international inflows.
12:19And that's because the conflict has disrupted travel.
12:22Revenues across hospitals, therefore, are taking a hit.
12:28For years, medical tourism has thrived in India.
12:31Overseas patients from countries like Israel, Iran and the UAE.
12:35Well, the fallout of the prolonged war in West Asia is now being seen in Indian hospitals.
12:42Hospital chains are seeing a 50 to 75 percent drop in international inflows due to the Iran-Israel war.
12:49The drop in patient inflows has been seen from countries like Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq and Yemen.
12:56Fortis Healthcare expects a 15 percent to 20 percent revenue hit for March, a sentiment shared across the industry.
13:04Our time is, hospitals have already reported a 35 percent dip in revenue in its international segment.
13:09Well, the situation is worsened by widespread flight cancellations and closed airspace,
13:16which have driven up airfares by 15 to 25 percent and increased travel times.
13:22This is a setback for the entire medical tourism industry, whether it is India or European market, Turkey or even
13:30Southeast Asia.
13:32All the markets are getting equally affected.
13:34The medical tourism sector, valued at approximately 6 billion U.S. dollars in 2022,
13:41is projected to surpass 13 billion U.S. dollars by 2026, by the end of this year.
13:49India has emerged as one of the world's most sought-after medical travel hubs,
13:54thanks to its blend of advanced healthcare and affordable pricing.
13:58Medical tourism in India thrives for many reasons.
14:01First of all, is the availability of humongous clinical talent across the India,
14:08the great connectivity of Indian subcontinent with the rest of the world,
14:13and especially those developing countries where the healthcare facilities are already in shambles.
14:20Third, you know, the kind of quality care or excellence which is being delivered in India across various hospitals,
14:27it is available at a very affordable price, almost one-sixth to one-tenth of,
14:34if you compare with European or the American markets.
14:37The Ministry of Tourism says that medical tourism has contributed over $9 billion to India's economy in 2020.
14:45Patients world over contribute to this industry.
14:48Well, my wife had an eye problem, eyesight problem, so we checked.
14:54We had inquired about the hospital in Delhi.
14:58We were taken good care of by the attendants.
15:04Kamenga from Zambia.
15:05I came here with my son, Emmanuel Tengimohanga, who's been battling with sickle cell from the age of six months.
15:14I thought of seeking a permanent solution, which is bone marrow transplant.
15:18So that's when I thought of coming to India.
15:21The experience at Fortis has been awesome.
15:24So how does the industry now intend to deal with this challenge?
15:29As the war is progressing and it is opening up newer frontiers,
15:35it looks like it is a very uncertain scenario at this moment.
15:38Although, as I speak, there are still many patients who are still travelling.
15:43Traffic has reduced significantly by almost 50%,
15:46but still the critical illness patients are travelling.
15:49And I'm sure, I'm hoping that in times to come,
15:54you know, both the sides will call a truce
15:57and they are going to allow essential services,
16:00including not just the oil transportation, but also the healthcare services.
16:05In New Delhi, Sneha Mordani for India Today Television.
16:11So now, even as we're seeing an escalation of this conflict
16:15and obviously an impact being felt across the world,
16:18the question is also about what happens in Iran now.
16:23Considering that you've got most of their leadership eliminated,
16:26including Mojtabak Khamenei reportedly being injured,
16:29the supreme leader of Iran, some reports suggest, is even in a coma.
16:33So unable to call the shots, unable to take any decisions.
16:37Now we've got also Ali Lari Jani who's been killed, assassinated,
16:41and that confirmation has come in from Iran to a massive funeral
16:44that was held just about an hour ago.
16:47Oh, you also have the defence minister.
16:49And remember that in the first wave of strikes by US and Israel,
16:52the likes of the defence minister, the Revolutionary Guards commander,
16:55all of them were assassinated.
16:58So even in the government, even those calling the shots in the Revolutionary Guard,
17:02they've all been targeted by US and Israel.
17:06This is what I was referring to.
17:07The intelligence minister also, Khatib,
17:10has been assassinated in targeted strikes by US and Israel.
17:13They've identified where each of these leaders are based,
17:17particularly political and military leadership, and gone after them,
17:21including the Revolutionary Guards head, the chief,
17:24who was killed in the first wave of strikes when Khamenei was assassinated.
17:28He was killed too in those strikes because all of them were in one location.
17:32So many more names in this particular list of leadership who's been assassinated.
17:38The armed forces chief, which is separate from the Revolutionary Guards,
17:42is also no more, has been assassinated.
17:45And yet, the army is very much involved in the strikes that have been taking place.
17:49The police intelligence chief has also been killed.
17:53Now, who controls Iran?
17:54It's still very much the regime, the government in place,
17:57despite all of these leaders being assassinated, being eliminated.
18:03Now, let me also talk about how Trump has been kind of pushing for clearing up
18:08of the Strait of Ormuz.
18:09He's not getting support from his allies in NATO,
18:12but that hasn't stopped America from going all out,
18:16firing, in fact, a number of bombs, the most powerful in their arsenal,
18:22at some pockets of the Strait of Ormuz to target Iranian assets placed there,
18:27and therefore ensure that the Strait of Ormuz, from being choked, gets cleared up.
18:33Now, we've been hearing of the term of the bunker buster bomb.
18:36And these were used, if you remember, to also target some of the Iranian nuclear programs.
18:41These bombs have now also been used to ensure that all of Iranian locations
18:49and Iranian missile targets, all of the Iranian missile targets also,
18:56along the Strait of Ormuz, is also immediately wiped out.
19:01Now, does this free up the Strait of Ormuz?
19:03Absolutely not.
19:04It's going to take a lot more than that,
19:06especially because at this point, it's been completely choked up by Iran.
19:11As we get you all of these details,
19:14the U.S. Central Command has announced that it's fired multiple 5,000-pound-deep
19:19penetrator bombs on hardened...
19:35So, the bombs that I was just talking about,
19:38let's get you details about these bunker busters.
19:40They're precision-guided bombs.
19:42They're actually referred to as GBU-72.
19:46What we've done is kind of illustrated what these bombs actually look like.
19:50They're massive, they're hugely powerful,
19:52and they're used only when the target is also huge.
19:56These precision-guided bombs have been used by America
19:59along the Strait of Ormuz as well.
20:02Let's pull up the next point about these bombs.
20:04They're 5,000-pound bombs.
20:06So, you can imagine the impact of something like this when it's used
20:10and the state of the target once it narrows down and is used.
20:15These bombers, in fact, were carried by the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers
20:21and the F-15E carried the strike out.
20:25Remember, they're precision bombs,
20:27but it's through the air that they're fired at the exact location that they need to hit.
20:31Now, these particular bombs are built with hardened steel casing
20:35to rip right through and reach the core of the target,
20:38which is why underground locations,
20:40these bunker buster bombs, literally by the name you can understand what they do.
20:45They're designed to drill through reinforced ground.
20:48So, even if it's a tunnel underground several meters down,
20:51it goes right in and reaches the target.
20:54And so, it's been used to target underground storage silos as well.
20:58Iranian targets have faced the wrath of the bunker buster repeatedly.
21:05Let me bring in Gaurav Sawant on this broadcast for more details on these bunker buster bombs.
21:10Gaurav, you know, these are huge, huge, 5,000 pound bombs that have been used.
21:15But does that mean then that the Strait of Ormuz has been cleared by America?
21:20Well, step one taken indeed.
21:23And this is a very major signal that the United States is sending out.
21:26And not one, but a series of these bunker busters have been fired
21:29based on precise intelligence where Iran had stored its sea-skimming cruise missiles,
21:36anti-ship cruise missiles, the missile launchers,
21:39and those underground missile silos where they had the entire arsenal
21:43that was located at this location to protect the Strait of Ormuz.
21:47And should there be a requirement, take down those ships.
21:50Because do remember, the Strait of Ormuz, ships sail very slowly.
21:53It's barely 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest.
21:57And that is where ships are barely 15 to 20 nautical miles.
22:00A sea-skimming cruise missile, you know, it's flying so low
22:05that it cannot be spotted on a radar.
22:07It's a cruise missile, sea-skimming, barely above the surface of the sea,
22:13and goes and hits the hull of a ship.
22:15That is where these missiles were stored.
22:17And these huge ground penetrator bombs, you know, they explored at multiple levels.
22:24When they dropped off a B-2 bomber, the latest American stealths,
22:29they dropped, penetrated about 20 meters, and then explode.
22:34So, the first explosion took place.
22:36There were a number of sympathetic secondary explosions,
22:39which is where the Americans are confident
22:41that the bunker busters were able to destroy
22:43at least one major missile silo in this area.
22:47That just makes Strait of Ormuz a little safer.
22:49But does it make it safe entirely for sea lanes of communication?
22:52Not immediately.
22:54But perhaps similar operations will continue.
22:56Or, you know, that marine expeditionary unit
22:59that is coming into this region,
23:01will that be used in the Kharga Island operation?
23:03Will that be used to take out the nuclear material?
23:06Will that be used for other operations?
23:07Will more forces come in?
23:09These are multiple questions and a lot more will need to be done
23:12to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz is open
23:15for ships to pass through without a threat.
23:18As of now, the threat is extremely high, Akshita.
23:21And the worry is always of a hit back from Iran.
23:24They're not sitting pretty while these kind of strikes happen,
23:26which is the concern that there will be an escalation.
23:29Thanks very much, Gaurav, for joining us with those details.
23:32Let's cut across to a news break coming in.
23:41And now you've got Donald Trump once again doubling down on allies.
23:46And the fact that NATO countries have said that this is not our war,
23:49we will not be a part of it.
23:50Trump has taken to Truth Social to post, and I quote,
23:53I wonder what would happen if he finished off what's left of the Iranian terror state
23:57and let the countries that use it be responsible for the so-called strait.
24:02That would get some of our non-responsive allies in gear and fast.
24:07So now you've got a threat coming in from Donald Trump,
24:10suggesting essentially that if they clear up the Strait of Hormuz
24:15and then allow the countries around the strait to call the shots,
24:18would allies then step in?
24:20The suggestion here is Trump is saying that these countries, part of the NATO,
24:25also very much need America to finish off Iran for their own sake.
24:32But clearly at this point, no one's going ahead and biting the bait
24:35because none of these leaders of the allies of the NATO
24:38have spoken out of favour of the war or getting involved militarily.
24:49And Donald Trump is fuming over the fact that all the allies of America,
24:54many of them at least, have dumped him and left him cold in the midst of this war.
24:59The US sought support from NATO allies militarily in the Strait of Hormuz.
25:04France said no. Italy said no. Germany said no. Australia said no.
25:08Japan said no. UK said no. I can go on and on.
25:11And that's what's got Trump extremely miffed.
25:14He's now going on a tirade, social media, polls, news conferences,
25:18taking on these allies, even questioning what's the need to fund them anymore.
25:27Snubbed by allies, Donald Trump appears to have given up hope
25:31of receiving any help in securing the Strait of Hormuz.
25:38Trump's call for US allies to help reopen the strategic waterway
25:42was met with blatant refusal and a visibly miffed Trump
25:46has now said that Washington does not need any help from NATO allies
25:50because of US's own military success in Iran.
25:56Well, we don't need too much help, and we don't need any help, actually.
25:59In fact, we just put out a notice.
26:00I was watching over the last couple of weeks,
26:04and all of our NATO allies were very much in favor of what we did.
26:09They thought it was very important.
26:11We were just discussing it, actually.
26:13Very important that we take out the nuclear threat from Iran,
26:17and we've done that very strongly, very powerfully.
26:21We've wiped out their navy, wiped out their military in every aspect.
26:27This comes just a day after Trump reasoned
26:30that many global economies depend on the crucial energy corridor,
26:33reiterating that Europe, along with countries like Japan and South Korea,
26:38should help the US.
26:41Trump had also claimed that while some nations refused to get involved,
26:44many others told him they are on their way to assist.
26:49We strongly encourage other nations
26:51whose economies depend on the strait far more than ours.
26:55You know, we get less than 1% of our oil from the strait,
26:59and some countries get much more.
27:02Japan gets 95%.
27:04China gets 90%.
27:06Many of the Europeans get quite a bit.
27:09South Korea gets 35%.
27:12So we want them to come and help us with the strait.
27:17But Trump seems to have finally received the message
27:20that key US allies are reluctant to get involved.
27:23Germany has outrightly said this is not their war.
27:49Australia, Japan and France have all ruled out sending ships to the strait of Hormuz.
28:15Even the United Kingdom has ruled out joining the wider war.
28:18British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has asserted that the strait of Hormuz
28:22will not become a NATO mission and has instead called for a swift resolution to the war
28:26to bring down energy prices.
28:30We will protect our people in the region.
28:34Second, while taking the necessary action to defend ourselves and our allies,
28:41we will not be drawn into the wider war.
28:46And third, we will keep working towards a swift resolution
28:51that brings security and stability back to the region.
28:57But while Trump says he has achieved success in the war, Iran remains defiant.
29:03Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has said that the strait of Hormuz
29:06remains open from Tehran's perspective and is only close to enemies.
29:11He has also asserted that Tehran has not asked for a ceasefire,
29:15adding that the war must come to an end in a way that it will not be repeated again.
29:45With allies having thrown their hands in the air,
29:48Could U.S.'s military pressure be enough in making Iran lose its leverage in the strait of Hormuz?
29:55Bureau Report, India Today.
29:59And let's also talk about another big story of a major terror plot that's been foiled in India.
30:05The National Investigative Agency has arrested seven foreign nationals,
30:10six Ukrainians and one American, in a massive counter-terror operation.
30:13Now, investigators say that this group entered India on valid visas
30:17but later travelled into restricted areas of Mizoram
30:21before allegedly crossing into Myanmar and linking up with insurgent groups.
30:26Now, according to the NIA, these suspects were planning to train militant groups,
30:30supply weapons to them and therefore support terror activities.
30:34Among those arrested is an American national identified as Matthew Van Dyke,
30:39a former mercenary and security trainer who's now in NIA custody.
30:44What are his links to which agency is something that's being looked into right now?
30:49But the NIA has said that this group of the Ukrainians plus this American national
30:53was also involved in smuggling drones from Europe
30:55and providing training in drone warfare and jamming technology.
30:59Investigators are now analysing mobile data, tracing funding sources
31:03and tracking more possible accomplices linked to the network.
31:06The U.S. embassy has issued a statement saying it's aware of the situation
31:10but cannot comment on cases involving American citizens.
31:13Ukraine has strongly objected to the arrests,
31:16demanding the immediate release of its nationals
31:18and saying there's no proof of the involvement in terror activities
31:21while seeking full consular access to the detainees.
31:24But the NIA right now is investigating that one crucial question
31:27of who this group is linked to.
31:38And let's cut across to breaking news that's coming in
31:41after the assassination of Lali Jani by Israel.
31:45You've now got Iran cracking down on the spy network
31:50and one alleged Israeli spy has already been assassinated by Iran.
31:56Iran now in a statement has also claimed that that's the first step
32:00that essentially has been taken.
32:01That according to them this alleged Israeli spy before being assassinated
32:05did reveal details of the spy network of Mossad in Iran
32:10and so there's a crackdown on all of the Israeli spies,
32:13on all of the spies based in Iran who are helping the Israeli government.
32:18Iran full knows right now that the reason information is going through
32:22and real-time information of where their leaders are,
32:25what's their location is going through
32:26is because there's an active spy network in Iran
32:30which they're cracking down now on.
32:43And here's an India Today world exclusive.
32:45For the first time since the war began,
32:47the Lebanese ambassador to India has spoken out
32:50and what he says raises serious questions
32:53about who really is in control in Lebanon
32:55from admitting the country was dragged into a war it did not choose
32:58to acknowledging Hezbollah acted without state approval.
33:01This is for the first time you're hearing from a nation
33:05that's caught in the conflict.
33:07Here's an excerpt of that exclusive conversation.
33:11You've taken over as the ambassador of Lebanon to India
33:15but you've had a huge experience when it comes to your postings
33:21almost in five continents also.
33:25The fact that you have dealt with the situation in Lebanon also very closely.
33:30Let's begin with what's happening on the ground.
33:32We saw one building taken down.
33:34We are seeing civilians also impacted by the war.
33:37How is Lebanon looking at the situation right now?
33:41First, I would like to thank you for having me here.
33:45I would like to say that no, no war is good.
33:49Always wars are very bad.
33:52However, unfortunately, the war has started
33:55without even the will of the Lebanese government.
34:00We didn't decide to go into it.
34:02We were dragged into it, as you said.
34:06Unfortunately, we're suffering.
34:08As you know, the Israeli aggression
34:10and the destruction that they are doing into Lebanon
34:14is very huge.
34:16It's taking its toll on the number of martyrs and injuries.
34:23You said above 800.
34:25Now, it reached 912 martyrs, more than 2,200 injuries.
34:33We have more than 1 million displaced Lebanese.
34:36They are leaving their homes, their houses, their lands in the south.
34:41We are going to safer places, to shelters.
34:46The destruction is very vast.
34:49There are so many villages in the south.
34:51They have been destroyed, destroyed, and demolished.
34:54Many, many houses, buildings demolished completely.
34:59We hope that this will come to an end very soon
35:03with the help of the international community.
35:07Hopefully, we'll see it very soon.
35:09And India, of course, is one of the friendly countries to Lebanon.
35:13Ambassador Jabbar, you spoke about the civilians
35:17and the fact that the situation is dire.
35:20But there is a very important decision
35:22that was taken by the Lebanese cabinet on the 2nd of March.
35:27And that has to do with prescribing or banning an armed Hezbollah.
35:32But Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese government as well,
35:36or of the parliament.
35:39How does the government balance Hezbollah, which is armed,
35:44and Hezbollah being part of your political system?
35:48Actually, Hezbollah was a very important, crucial role
35:54in liberating the south of Lebanon until the year 2000.
35:59Unfortunately, after that period,
36:04Hezbollah has still had their independent entity,
36:09regardless of the country, of the government.
36:18Hezbollah has launched six rockets against Israel,
36:22without the willing or even informing anybody.
36:27And we all know that the effects of a few rockets against Israel will do nothing.
36:34It will only entail a huge destruction to Lebanon,
36:39knowing that Israel is a very brutal,
36:45they have a very brutal arsenal,
36:46and we have previous experiences with them,
36:49very bad experiences with them.
36:51So, we didn't want to go into this war.
36:55Let me bring in Geeta Mohan for more details
36:58on the exclusive conversation that she's had
37:01with the Lebanese ambassador to India.
37:03Geeta, first of all, congratulations on another exclusive.
37:06But just focusing really on, you know,
37:09what exactly the Lebanese envoy said,
37:11I think one of the biggest questions being asked right now
37:13is really who's calling the shots in Lebanon,
37:15and whether the state approval was there,
37:17not there for what's happening with Hezbollah.
37:20Well, absolutely.
37:21There are a few very important points that have been made, Akshita,
37:24and we'll be showing you the entire interview at 10.30 p.m.,
37:27but for now, a few things.
37:28One, that Hezbollah is acting on its own,
37:31and that the Lebanese government is rather upset
37:33about the fact that they're not taking orders
37:36or following orders of the government in Lebanon.
37:41Secondly, it's very clear that this is not Lebanon's war.
37:43They do not want to be involved.
37:45This is a war between Iran, Israel, and America,
37:48and Lebanon should have been left out of it
37:50because the one country that is suffering the worst is Lebanon
37:54after the attack and the banning and prescription of Hezbollah.
37:58It's because the displacement is about one million people from Beirut alone.
38:03And look at the loss in terms of land,
38:06because you're looking at sovereignty violated with Israeli forces entering Lebanon.
38:12So one country that has massively suffered at the hands of Israel,
38:17and because of the war is Lebanon.
38:19And we have the ambassadors talking about it,
38:21saying they don't want to be part of the war.
38:23They've condemned Iranian action against the Middle Eastern states, the Gulf states.
38:28They've also condemned the actions of Israel,
38:31not just when it comes to Iran,
38:33but also what Israel has done in Gaza and in Palestine,
38:38saying they need to go back.
38:39They need to find friends in the neighborhood
38:41because they cannot continue living like this.
38:44They will never be at peace.
38:46These wars don't help in finding peace and living peacefully.
38:50So that's the message of Lebanon.
38:52Not very happy about having been dragged into this war
38:55and absolute condemnation for any side
38:58that is using or choosing a military option rather than diplomacy.
39:03Thanks very much, Geeta, for giving us those details.
39:07Let's get you the latest updates coming in from Battleground Tamil Nadu.
39:11We're weeks away from what promises to be an intense election.
39:16And amid that, the focus is on the newcomer, TVK, Vijay.
39:20There's been a lot of questions about who he'll ally with,
39:23who's going to be on his side.
39:24What the TVK has confirmed now is that they're going solo.
39:28Zero alliance, no alliance is shaped up whatsoever
39:32in the run-up to this election.
39:33So all 234 seats, Vijay will contest.
39:36TVK will contest alone.
39:38Imagine this.
39:39Neither the DMK nor the AIA-DMK,
39:41who have been ingrained in Tamil Nadu politics
39:44for the last many, many years, for decades really,
39:47have never gone solo in the sense that they also ensure allies,
39:51all 234 seats, to fight for the DMK, AIA-DMK,
39:55even for them, is unheard of.
39:57And yet Vijay has said that he and his party
40:01will not ally with any side, not even smaller parties,
40:03because they've all essentially picked a side at this point.
40:06And now Vijay is left with no option but to fight all 234 seats.
40:10But this is a challenge for the TVK.
40:13Why?
40:14Because first of all, this is a new party
40:16where you're going to find candidates for all 234 seats.
40:20You don't have enough ground presence either.
40:23And that is one of the biggest challenges for the TVK.
40:26After all, boot level management is crucial in an election.
40:29They don't have any organisational base.
40:32A fan club, a fan association cannot transition
40:35into an election machine for a political party.
40:39There's also shortage of resources and campaign funds.
40:41There's one man essentially funding the entire political party
40:45and all 234 candidates to some extent.
40:48And so there is going to be a lack of resources as well.
40:52Ongoing legal battles could also distract from the elections,
40:55which is why even, for example, in the Karoor Stampede case,
40:58you've had a request from Vijay saying,
41:00let's further grilling by the CBI happen in Chennai.
41:03I have pole duties to look after.
41:05There's no ally to rely on.
41:07Also, star power, yes, works to some extent,
41:11but it doesn't necessarily translate into words.
41:13Now, what the ideal combination for a Vijay for TVK would have been,
41:17experienced party plus star power.
41:19In this case, he's choosing not to go with that combined,
41:22choosing only to rely on his star power
41:26and hope that that translates into him winning an election.
41:29234 seats all alone.
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