Page 4 - West Asia

Israel hits Iran's Isfahan nuclear research facility, kills 3 commanders

Israel's military said Saturday it struck an Iranian nuclear research facility overnight and killed three senior Iranian commanders in targeted attacks as the war between the two nations continued into a second week. Early Saturday, smoke could be seen rising from an area near a mountain in Isfahan, where a local official said Israel had attacked the nuclear research facility in two waves. The target was two centrifuge production sites, and the attacks came on top of strikes on other centrifuge production sites elsewhere in recent days, according to an Israeli military official speaking on condition of anonymity under army guidelines to brief reporters. It was the second attack on Isfahan, which was hit in the first 24 hours of the war as part of Israel's goal to destroy the Iranian nuclear program. Akbar Salehi, Isfahan province's deputy governor for security affairs, confirmed the Israeli strikes had caused damage to the facility but said there had been no human casualties. Iran

Datanomics: Iran accounts for nearly 20% of Indian students in West Asia

From 2015 to 2025 so far, around eight countries in the world have experienced war-type conflicts

Impact of West Asia conflict on India Inc so far is limited: Crisil Ratings

CRISIL Ratings in its latest report said that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East so far did not have any significant impact on global trade of Indian corporates. However, if the uncertainties aggravate, some sectors might feel the impact, the report said. The uncertainties have impacted global crude markets, with the Brent crude hovering in the range of USD73 to USD76 per barrel over the past one week. During April and May, the Brent crude was hovering around USD 65 per barrel. Any escalation of the tensions could result in further spike in oil prices, the report said, adding that this will benefit upstream oil companies and margins for the downstream refiners will get squeezed, according to the report. It said India's direct trade with Israel and Iran, the two countries engaged in the conflict, is minuscule at less than one per cent of total trade. While India's major export to Iran is basmati rice, trade with Israel is more diversified, the report added. Any escalation of

Sensex rises 1,100 pts, Nifty tops 25,100: What's driving market rally?

Why are markets rising today? Sensex and Nifty gained over 1 per cent in trade; Sensex rallied 935 points and Nifty traded above 25,000; here's why

India's fuel exports face EU sanction risk amid West Asia oil crisis

The bloc's proposal on barring imports of diesel, gasoline & jet fuel derived from Russian crude oil in refineries is of concern because it does not require US or G7's cooperation for implementation

Iran war reflects a changed west asia and a new Israeli military doctrine

For years, Israel contained its conflicts with Tehran, Hamas and Hezbollah. The broad assault on Iran highlights a shift in strategy

Airports close across West Asia as Israel-Iran conflict shuts airspace

After Israeli strikes landed near the hotel where he was staying in the Iranian province of Qom, Aimal Hussein desperately wanted to return home. But the 55-year-old Afghan businessman couldn't find a way, with Iranian airspace completely shut down. He fled to Tehran after the strike Sunday, but no taxi would take him to the border as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensified. Flights, markets, everything is closed, and I am living in the basement of a small hotel, Hussein told The Associated Press by cellphone on Monday. I am trying to get to the border by taxi, but they are hard to find, and no one is taking us. Israel launched a major attack Friday with strikes in the Iranian capital of Tehran and elsewhere, killing senior military officials, nuclear scientists, and destroying critical infrastructure. Among the targets was a nuclear enrichment facility about 18 miles from Qom. Iran has retaliated with hundreds of drones and missiles. The dayslong attacks between the two

Israel stock market shrugs off war concerns as TA-125 trades near record

Israel's equity markets defy regional conflict, with TA-125 hitting record highs despite ongoing missile strikes with Iran

US 'could get involved' in Iran-Israel conflict, says President Trump

The US has jet fighters, ships and ground-based air-defense systems positioned near the warring countries to help counter any Iranian attack on American assets or people

Travel industry in turbulence amid worsening West Asia situation

Industry executives said closure of airspaces leading to longer routes and flight times has already led to a 12-15% hike in air fares on some routes

War clouds over West Asia: The risks of economic fallout are high

Since India has relations with both combatants and its economy stands to lose more than any other SCO member from this conflict, it has chosen to carve out an independent position

Putin, Trump discuss West Asia, Ukraine talks on phone call, says Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump held a 50-minute phone call Saturday to discuss the escalating situation in the Middle East and Ukraine peace talks, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said. During the conversation, Putin briefed Trump on his recent talks with the leaders of Iran and Israel and reiterated Russia's proposal to seek mutually acceptable solutions on the Iranian nuclear issue.

India distances itself from SCO statement on Israel-Iran conflict

India distances itself from an SCO statement criticising Israel's strikes on Iran, reiterates its neutral stance and calls for diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in West Asia

Tehran will burn if it continues firing missiles, warns Israel's def min

Israel's defence minister warned Iran on Saturday that Tehran will burn if it continues firing missiles. Speaking after an assessment meeting with the army's chief of staff, Defence Minister Israel Katz said that Iran will pay a heavy price for harming Israeli citizens. His comments come after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel overnight Saturday following Israel's attack on Iran's nuclear programme Friday morning.

Indian giants L&T, Afcons win big in West Asia's $235 billion infra push

L&T focuses on transport and energy in Saudi Arabia, UAE; Afcons eyes Dubai Sewerage Project and urban tunnels as West Asia's project pipeline booms

Capacit'e eyes Middle East market after Maldives foray, cites growth

Data centres and hospitals are key growth drivers for EPC firm Capacit'e Infraprojects as it enters global markets after its first international project in Maldives

West Asian stocks plunge as US tariff hikes, oil slump spark turmoil

Saudi Aramco - the world's biggest oil exporter - was one of the biggest losers in the region. The company at one point erased more than $90 billion from its market capitalization

US strikes Yemen airport, deploys second Navy carrier group to West Asia

US forces bombed the districts of Sahar and Kitaf in the northern province of Saada and carried out five air attacks on the central province of Marib

Hegseth increases US warship presence in West Asia with 2 aircraft carriers

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a rare move, is beefing up the Navy warship presence in the Middle East, ordering two aircraft carriers to be there next month as the US increases strikes on the Yemen-based Houthi rebels, according to a US official. It will be the second time in six months that the US has kept two carrier strike groups in that region, with generally only one there. Prior to that it had been years since the US had committed that much warship power to the Middle East. According to the official, Hegseth signed orders on Thursday to keep the USS Harry S Truman in the Middle East for at least an additional month. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing military operations. The ship has been conducting operations in the Red Sea against the Houthis and was scheduled to begin heading home to Norfolk, Virginia, at the end of March. And Hegseth has ordered the USS Carl Vinson, which has been operating in the Pacific, to begin steaming toward the

Oil prices hold near 2-week high amid West Asia risks, China stimulus

Oil prices have gained support from Trump's vow to continue the US assault on Yemen's Houthis unless they end their attacks on ships in the Red Sea