Kerala Chief Minister Raises Concerns Over Gulf Situation Impacting Migrants
Kerala's Chief Minister Expresses Alarm Over Gulf Conditions
On Sunday, Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan voiced serious concerns regarding the current situation in the Gulf countries and its potential repercussions for the state's expatriates. He mentioned that he has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the central government to take necessary diplomatic actions to safeguard the interests and security of Indian citizens residing in the Gulf, particularly those from Kerala. The Chief Minister emphasized that the prevailing circumstances in these nations are extremely worrying, given the significant number of expatriate Indians living there. Therefore, he has requested the Prime Minister's intervention to address these concerns.
Recent Military Actions in the Region
On February 28, under Operation Epic Fury/Lions Roar, the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, resulting in the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Additionally, reports from the Tasnim news agency confirmed the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military commanders in these attacks. A statement indicated that among those killed during an Iranian defense council meeting were Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Pakpour, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Secretary of Iran's Defense Council Ali Shamkhani, and Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh.
Iran's Retaliation and Regional Tensions
In retaliation, Iran launched extensive missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli-occupied territories and U.S. bases in the region. Iranian President Masoud Pajeshkian stated that the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by U.S. and Israeli forces was a declaration of war against Muslims. Meanwhile, Bahrain's National Communications Center announced that the country's air defense systems successfully intercepted a new wave of ballistic missiles and drones fired by Iran, as reported by Gulf Times.
Condemnation of Iranian Attacks
The publication also noted that Qatar condemned Iranian attacks targeting an oil tanker near Oman’s Duqm port and offshore. Officials labeled these assaults as violations of Oman's sovereignty and described them as "unacceptable tensions," emphasizing that the attacks were directed at a nation actively mediating to resolve the crisis between Iran and the international community.
Kuwait's Defense Response
According to Gulf Times, the Kuwaiti air defense forces successfully engaged multiple hostile aerial targets on Sunday morning. A spokesperson from the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry stated that these operations were conducted in the southern part of the country with "efficiency and capability."
UAE's Defense Ministry Reports
The United Arab Emirates' Defense Ministry reported that its defense systems detected and destroyed 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones aimed at the country. Officials confirmed that two individuals lost their lives and several others were injured due to falling debris. The Israeli Defense Forces released video footage of the attacks, showing large plumes of smoke rising over Tehran as the strikes reached their targets.