Urge all sides to exercise restraint' - India on Middle East situation as US, Israel attack Iran

 Israel launched a daylight strike on Saturday targeting Tehran, the capital of Iran, with plumes of smoke seen rising from the city’s downtown area. The attack reportedly occurred near offices associated with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was not immediately clear whether the 86-year-old leader was present at the time. Khamenei has not appeared publicly in recent days amid rising tensions with the United States.

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz described the operation as “to remove threats,” but provided no further details. The strike comes as Washington has deployed a substantial fleet of fighter jets and warships to the region in an effort to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme. Tehran has warned that any escalation could result in attacks on American military personnel and bases across the region.

Witnesses in Tehran reported hearing the first blast near Khamenei’s office. Iranian state television later confirmed the explosion without specifying a cause. Following the strikes, Iran shut down its airspace, issuing warnings to pilots as additional explosions were reported across the capital.

Meanwhile, sirens sounded across Israel, prompting the Israeli military to issue a “proactive alert” and advise civilians to be ready for possible missile attacks. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Home Front Command warned citizens to stay close to bomb shelters and avoid non-essential travel, although it noted that immediate sheltering was not required.

The situation affected international travel as well. Passengers at Tel Aviv airport, including those on Air India flight AI 140 to New Delhi, were asked to abandon their baggage and rush to bomb shelters. Air India announced it will suspend operations on the sector for a week to monitor the evolving situation.

The attack marks a serious escalation in the region, reflecting ongoing tensions between Israel, Iran, and the United States. The full extent of casualties, if any, remains unknown, and both military and diplomatic responses are being closely monitored.