Qatar condemns Iranian missile strike on Al Udeid Base
Doha: Qatar has strongly condemned Iran’s missile attack on the US-operated Al Udeid Air Base, calling it a “blatant violation” of the country’s sovereignty and international norms.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said, “The IRGC’s strike on Al Udeid is a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty, its airspace, and the UN Charter.”
He further stated that “Qatar reserves the right to respond directly to this aggression in accordance with international law.”
Al-Ansari also noted that Qatari air defences had successfully intercepted the missiles launched by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), preventing any damage to the base.
The statement comes amid rising tensions in the region following Iran’s confirmed missile campaign targeting US bases in both Qatar and Iraq.
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Congress, UDF not against high-speed rail project, says Satheesan
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Congress leader V D Satheesan on Saturday said that his party and the UDF were not opposed to any high-speed rail project, provided it was environmentally sustainable and financially viable for the state.
Commenting on the ongoing debate between the state government, which is pushing for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), and 'Metroman' E Sreedharan, who has been advocating a high-speed rail project, Satheesan said Kerala required faster mobility solutions and that infrastructure development should proceed.
"We are not against any high-speed rail project, and it should come. But there should be proper environmental studies, and it should be financially viable for Kerala," the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly told reporters here.
He said his party would not object to such a project even if it was brought by the Centre or the state government.
"The RRTS project was announced towards the end of the government’s tenure, just before it is going to leave the office. It was announced without even a preliminary study. However, we will support any good project," he said.
Satheesan said the Opposition had opposed the K-Rail project only after studying its Detailed Project Report (DPR).
"We realised it would create an environmental disaster in Kerala and would destroy the state financially. That is why we objected to it," he said.
He said the party did not oppose the high-speed rail project proposed by Sreedharan, as it required more detailed studies.
Satheesan said after expressing his views, he was attacked by those who claimed that he opposed the state government’s K-Rail project but welcomed a project proposed by the Centre.
"I said, let the Railways announce the project. Sreedharan is behind it, and we will examine it. But people, including the Kerala Industries Minister, attacked me," he said.
Satheesan said recent comments by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had confirmed that the government was aware of Sreedharan’s proposal and had taken it to Delhi.
He also recalled that when the Oommen Chandy-led government was in power, the present Industries Minister P Rajeev, had led protests following a fake campaign claiming that Sreedharan was being removed from the Kochi Metro Rail project.
"Now they don’t like Sreedharan. I don’t know what this is," Satheesan added.
