Iran's Supreme Leader orders direct attack on Israel following Hamas leader's assassination: Reports
Tehran: Reports suggest that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued an order for a direct military strike against Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. This directive was given during an emergency session of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday, shortly after Iran confirmed Haniyeh's death in Tehran.
Haniyeh was reportedly killed at around 2 a.m. local time after attending a ceremony and meeting with Khamenei. His assassination has been attributed to Israel by Iran and Hamas, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement. The incident has sparked significant outrage in Iran, which views it as a severe breach of sovereignty.
Iran is contemplating a range of retaliatory actions, including coordinated strikes involving missiles and drones aimed at military targets near Tel Aviv and Haifa.
The attack on Haniyeh, which took place at a highly secure Revolutionary Guards facility, is seen as a major security lapse for Iran. Khamenei has emphasized the necessity of retaliation to deter further Israeli attacks and maintain credibility among regional allies.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, along with Iran's involvement, has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the Middle East.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bhopal gas tragedy: Effects of leak seen in next generation of survivors, says ex-forensic doctor
Bhopal (PTI): The effects of poisonous gases that leaked from the Union Carbide factory in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal 40 years ago were seen in the next generations of those who survived the tragedy, a former government forensic doctor has said.
At least 3,787 people were killed, and more than five lakh were affected after a toxic gas leaked from the pesticide factory in the city on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984.
Speaking at an event held by organisations of gas tragedy survivors on Saturday, Dr D K Satpathy, former head of the forensics department of Bhopal's Gandhi Medical College, said he performed 875 post-mortems on the first day of the disaster and witnessed 18,000 autopsies the next five years.
Sathpathy claimed Union Carbide had denied questions about the effects of poisonous gases on unborn children of women survivors and said effects would not cross the placental barrier in the womb in any condition.
He said blood samples of pregnant women who died in the tragedy were examined, and it was found that 50 per cent of poisonous substances found in the mother were also found in the child in her womb.
Children born to surviving mothers had the poisonous substances in their system, and this affected the health of the next generation, Sathpathy claimed and questioned why research on this was stopped.
Such effects will continue for generations, he said.
Satpathy said it was said that MIC gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant, and when it came in contact with water, thousands of gases were formed, and some of these caused cancer, blood pressure and liver damage.
Rachna Dhingra of Bhopal Group for Information and Action said Satpathy, who carried out most autopsies, and other first responders in the 1984 disaster, including the senior doctors in the emergency ward and persons involved in mass burials, narrated their experiences during the event.
Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, a poster exhibition covering every aspect of the disaster will be held till December 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.
An anniversary rally will be organised, with focus on global corporate crimes such as industrial pollution and climate change, she said.
