Saudi King reacts to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death in helicopter crash
Tehran: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, considered a potential successor to the supreme leader, died in a helicopter crash in northern Iran, state media reported on Monday. He was 63.
The tragic incident occurred amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Last month, under the directive of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Raisi had overseen an unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel, further escalating regional unrest.
Raisi's death has prompted a wave of condolences from leaders around the world. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz expressed his sympathy in a message to the new acting Iranian President Mohammad Mokhber. The Saudi Press Agency quoted King Salman saying, “As we send you and the brotherly people of the Islamic Republic of Iran our deepest and sincere condolences, let us ask God Almighty to cover them with His vast mercy and forgiveness, and to grant them peace. May his soul rest in peace. We belong to God and to Him we shall return.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also extended his condolences following the deaths of Raisi and other Iranian officials in the crash. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sent a cable to Khamenei, expressing "deep regret and condolences" over the incident. Al-Assad described Raisi’s death as a “great loss” and lauded his efforts to strengthen the strategic relations between Syria and Iran. He recalled Raisi’s visit to Syria as a significant milestone in their bilateral ties, praising the visions and ideas he had presented to enhance cooperation between their nations.
Iran has been a steadfast ally of al-Assad’s government since the 2011 uprising in Syria evolved into a full-scale civil war. Iranian support has been crucial in turning the tide of the conflict in favor of al-Assad’s regime.
Ebrahim Raisi’s presidency was marked by his uncompromising stance on political dissent and his loyalty to the principles of the Islamic Republic. The impact of his sudden demise will likely reverberate across the Middle East, affecting geopolitical dynamics at a critical juncture.
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UP: Misled by GPS navigation, car falls into river from partially constructed bridge, 3 dead
Bareilly (UP), Nov 24: Three people died when their car fell into the Ramganga river from a partially constructed bridge here on Sunday, police said, adding that they suspect the driver was misled by its navigation system into taking the unsafe route.
The accident occurred around 10 am on the Khalpur-Dataganj road when the victims were travelling from Bareilly to Dataganj in the Badaun district, they said.
"Earlier this year, floods had caused the front portion of the bridge to collapse into the river, but this change had not been updated in the system," Circle Officer Ashutosh Shivam said.
The driver was using a navigation system and did not realise that the bridge was unsafe, driving the car off the damaged section, the police said.
There were no safety barriers or warning signs on the approach to the damaged bridge, leading to the fatal accident, Shivam said.
Upon receiving information, police teams from Faridpur, Bareilly and Dataganj police station rushed to the spot. They recovered the vehicle and the bodies from the river, Shivam added.
The circle officer said that bodies had been sent for post-mortem. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
— Bareilly Police (@bareillypolice) November 24, 2024
