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Khamenei’s farewell ceremony postponed as conflict between US, Israel and Iran intensifies for fifth day
Iran has postponed the state funeral of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that was scheduled to take place in Tehran on Wednesday evening, state television reported, citing an expected unusually large public turnout.According to AFP, local Iranian media reported that “the farewell ceremony of the martyr Imam has been postponed. The new date will be announced later.”
Earlier in the day, authorities announced that a memorial ceremony would be held in the capital before Khamenei’s body would be transported to his birthplace, the holy city of Mashhad, for burial. The 86-year-old cleric was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli attack over the weekend.Tehran has faced sustained bombardment since Saturday, with missiles targeting military and government sites. Officials did not directly link the delay to the security situation.Also read: US assets strike across Middle East on fifth day of conflict; Israel launches new strikes on Iran, LebanonMohsen Mahmoudi, chairman of Tehran’s Islamic Development Coordination Council, which oversees the arrangements, said the delay was partly due to the millions of people expected to take part and the logistical preparations needed to accommodate those crowds.
What is YAK-130? Israeli Air Force F-35I Adil shoots down Russian-made Iranian aircraft in historic air-to-air battle
Israel Defense Forces (israel defense forces) confirmed that the Israeli F-35I successfully shot down an Iranian YAK-130 in the initial air battle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Iran. The information, disclosed at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, marked a major escalation and underlined Israel’s position as a leader in contemporary air warfare. However, confirmation from the Iranian authorities is still awaited.

This is the first time an F-35 has shot down a manned aircraft.
Furthermore, for the first time in about 40 years Israel The Air Force is involved in air-to-air combat with manned aircraft.
The last time an Indian Air Force jet engaged and shot down a manned enemy aircraft was on November 24, 1985, in Lebanese airspace. In that incident, an F-15 of the Indian Air Force successfully shot down two Syrian MiG-23 fighter jets.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, the F-35I, a stealthy multi-role fighter jet, successfully neutralized Iranian The aircraft sustained no damage, demonstrating the Israelis’ air superiority.
this is what happened
Earlier on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces launched an attack on Iranian fighter jets parked on a runway preparing to take off. Target aircraft included F-4s and F-5s. During Wednesday’s confrontation, YAK-130 attempted to launch a sortie. However, it was intercepted by an F-35I in mid-air, which highlighted the strategic acumen of the Israeli military.
What is YAK-130? Feature comparison with F-35I
F-35I: The Israeli F-35I “Adil” is a fifth-generation stealth fighter with a top speed of Mach 1.6 and a combat radius of 1,600 kilometers. The aircraft can carry up to 8,160 kilograms of ammunition, including air-to-air missiles and precision-guided bombs. Its advanced radar systems provide real-time intelligence to support battlefield operations. Currently, the Israeli Air Force has more than 30 F-35I aircraft, which shows that Israel has the most advanced air combat capabilities in the Middle East.
YAK-130: The YAK-130 is a Russian-made jet first introduced in the 1990s primarily as a training platform for pilots preparing to operate high-performance fighter aircraft such as the SU-57. While the YAK-130’s primary role is training, it is also capable of performing light attack missions, including close air support. Compared with older models such as Iran’s F-4 and F-5, the YAK-130 is a more modern and advanced option, but there is still a gap compared with the Israeli F-35.
In a conversation with Eurasia Info, a former F-35 pilot (who asked not to be named) highlighted the various factors that make these stealth aircraft useful when used in difficult situations.
“Operating these top-tier stealth fighters reduces resources. You have to balance the cost of keeping them running against the benefits they bring. That’s a big deal, especially when you’re in it for the long term.”
Evening news reports: Khamenei’s funeral postponed, BLA executes 7 Pakistani soldiers and one Pakistani soldier. more
- Tensions in Iran continue to rise, with Khamenei’s funeral postponed and Israel threatening his successor, with 101 people reported missing in an attack on an Iranian navy ship.
Gulf airspace closed Travel chaos as conflict in Iran escalates.- MS Dhoni was fined Rs 1,000 after being caught speeding in Ranchi.
- BLA claims to have executed seven Pakistani soldiers after failed prisoner swap
- Tensions remain high in Kashmir, with schools and universities remaining closed and protests over Khamenei’s killing continuing.
Here are the top 5 stories of the day
Iran tensions Deepening: Khamenei funeral postponed, Israel warns successor, 101 missing at sea
Tensions around Iran increased as state media said a farewell ceremony for slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei had been postponed. Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any future Iranian leader would be “targeted for elimination.”In addition, it was reported that an Iranian ship was attacked by a submarine in the waters near Sri Lanka, leaving 101 people missing. Follow real-time updates
‘Such a scary moment’: How Dubai’s stranded passengers used taxis, cash and detours to escape Iran crisis
Thousands of people have been stranded in Dubai and Gulf hubs as a missile exchange linked to the Iran conflict shuts down regional airspace. With flights grounded, travelers have resorted to improvising – renting taxis, crossing the border overland and paying thousands of dollars for last-minute flights. With interceptions overhead and explosions nearby, many described the scramble to get out as chaotic and deeply disturbing. Read more
MS Dhoni fined Rs 1,000 for violating traffic rules
Former Indian men’s cricket team captain MS Dhoni was found violating traffic rules near his home in Ranchi and was fined Rs 1,000 for speeding. The city’s automated traffic surveillance system recorded the vehicle speeding and issued an electronic seizure under Section 183 of the Traffic Act. motor vehicle act. Read more
‘Committed war crimes’: BLA says it executed 7 Pakistani soldiers captured in Operation Hrov II
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed to have executed seven Pakistani soldiers captured in Operation Khrov II last month. On February 14, the BLA captured 17 soldiers and released 10 of them because they were Baloch. The group recommended a prisoner swap with Islamabad in exchange for the remaining captives. Read more
Protests over Ayatollah Khamenei’s killing in Kashmir: Schools closed, Meta blocks media pages
The Jammu and Kashmir government extended the closure of schools and colleges in the Valley till Saturday following massive protests over the past two days over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Meanwhile, Mehta blocked several Silicon Valley newspaper accounts, prompting condemnation from political parties. Read more
‘I feel abandoned’: Indian-American CEO stranded in Dubai says India is rescuing citizens but US is doing nothing
An Indian-American CEO of US start-up SardineAI said that the United States has not taken any action to rescue citizens stranded in the Middle East. It is difficult to see other countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and India repatriating their citizens, while the US government abandons its citizens. Ranjan posted on The post added: “After four days of adrenaline and constant fear, I feel demoralized and abandoned by our governments. It saddens me to see other countries – the UK, Israel, Spain, Italy and India – repatriating their citizens or ensuring commercial flights continue to operate to bring them home.”“I became a naturalized U.S. citizen because I believe in the American dream and that in a crisis, America will never leave its citizens behind,” Ranjan wrote. “I saw the American dream shattered, not just for me but for tens of thousands of other stranded Americans.” He added that he had booked more than a dozen flights as the U.S. government has been urging people to leave Dubai, but all of them have been cancelled. Ranjan noted that commercial flights to the United States are being canceled while flights to other countries are still operating. The U.S. State Department is facing a huge backlash as the crisis enters its fifth day without any plans to evacuate citizens. The U.S. State Department has released a helpline number (1-202-501-4444) for assistance with departure options. The government also urges Dubai citizens to join the Smart Traveler Registration Program to receive the latest information. “I signed up for Step and received only generic messages. Also, when calling the number, the message you receive is: ‘Please do not rely on USG for assistance with departures or evacuations at this time. There are no evacuation flights at this time,'” Ranjan said. “With cuts to U.S. consulate funding and attacks on U.S. embassies in the region, Americans in the wider GCC region have no one to contact. Can we have a truly effective emergency hotline within the U.S. with someone logging more details?” the Indian-origin CEO wrote.
CNN’s Erin Burnett forced to take refuge as sirens sound in Tel Aviv amid US, Israel, Iran war: Watch
US-Israel vs Iran: Inside the ongoing conflict
president Donald TrumpThe 79-year-old authorized an attack on Iran that killed the Middle Eastern country’s top leader, sparking outrage across the political spectrum and among several Americans. Ali Khamenei,weekend. Following the U.S. military action, Iran retaliated by firing missiles at Israel, causing air raid sirens to sound across Tel Aviv and Israel deploying interceptors to counter the attack.
The death toll in the region continues to rise as Iran’s capital, Tehran, and its allies fight back against operations against Israel, Gulf neighbors and key targets linked to global oil and gas production.
Given the severity of the attack, Khamenei’s assassination and the apparent lack of a strategic exit plan, this suggests the conflict is likely to persist in the coming weeks.
U.S. and Israeli missile attacks have so far killed hundreds of people across the Middle East, while Iranian counterattacks have killed six U.S. service members.
Also read: Grief and tears grip Iran and Israel as people mourn loved ones lost in fierce war: Photos
Trump says action on Iran could be extended for weeks
trump card said on Monday that the military operation could last for weeks. “We expect it to take four to five weeks, but we have the ability to do it longer than that,” he said.
Trump and other officials in his administration said the U.S. launched the attack on Iran because of an imminent threat after nuclear talks failed to reach an agreement.
Some members of Congress expressed concern about that assessment and the scope of Trump’s authority to launch an attack on Iran without congressional approval. Democrats and some Republicans are preparing to launch a war powers vote aimed at limiting Trump’s ability to take more military action in Iran.
IND vs ENG: How India fared in T20 World Cup semi-finals
New Delhi: India are heading into their sixth T20 World Cup semi-finals in ten editions and will look to defend their title against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.Their journey in the tournament dates back to 2007, when they reached the semi-finals in the first edition. India beat Australia in Durban and then Pakistan in the final in Johannesburg to win the T20 World Cup for the first time.
Gautam Gambhir 75 runs were scored in the final and bowlers like RP Singh and Irfan Pathan played a key role under the captaincy MS Dhoni.After this, India failed to reach the semi-finals in 2009, 2010 and 2012. In 2014, they defeated South Africa and returned to the semi-finals. Virat KohliSri Lanka remained unbeaten with 72. However, despite Kohli’s 77 in the final, Sri Lanka chased down 131 and missed out on India.In 2016, India reached the semi-finals again at home, but lost to eventual champions West Indies in Mumbai.A big moment comes in 2022 as India face England in the knockout rounds for the first time. India posted 168/6 with Kohli and Hardik Pandya scoring 50 runs, but the England openers chased down India without losing a single wicket to win by 10 wickets to clinch the title.The race for 2024 continues. Batting first, India scored 171, led by Rohit Sharma57 points. This time, England lost by 103 runs and India won by 68 runs. They defeated South Africa in the final to win the T20 World Cup for the second time.Now, India and England will meet in the semi-finals for the third consecutive time. It is expected to add a new chapter to their increasingly fierce World Cup competition.
UAE Travel Alert: Air Arabia extends flight suspension until March 9, what passengers need to know | World News
Air Arabia has extended the suspension of flights to and from the UAE until 15:00 (UAE time) on Monday, March 9, 2026, while allowing a limited number of flights to be operated in coordination with the authorities.
Limited flights approved for operation
The airline confirmed it is currently operating only a limited number of flights. The services are being coordinated with relevant authorities and are still subject to operational and safety approvals.Air Arabia will contact passengers planning to travel on operating flights directly with further details.
Passengers are advised not to go to the airport
Air Arabia advises all other passengers not to travel to the airport unless they receive direct notification from the airline.The airline urged passengers to wait for official announcements before heading to the airport as most services remain suspended.
Rebooking and flight update guidelines
Passengers are asked to check flight status regularly through airline websites.Passengers who booked their tickets through Air Arabia’s direct channel can visit the airline’s website to select alternative travel options. Passengers who booked through a travel agent should contact their travel agent directly for rebooking assistance.
Airlines receive a flood of inquiries
Air Arabia said it is currently receiving a high volume of inquiries and asked passengers to be patient while it handles requests.Passengers are encouraged to follow the airline’s official website and communication channels such as social media for the latest travel updates.The airline is also reminding travelers to ensure their contact details are updated via the Manage Booking page so important notifications can be sent directly.Air Arabia added that as the situation continues to evolve, the safety of its passengers and crew remains its top priority.
