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'Can rise to extremism and violence!' - Shutdown enforced in Kashmir’s Srinagar after wave of protests against killing of Iran Supreme Leader

'Can rise to extremism and violence!' - Shutdown enforced in Kashmir’s Srinagar after wave of protests against killing of Iran Supreme Leader

"Authorities in India's Kashmir imposed a complete shutdown on Monday after a wave of protests erupted following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Footage filmed on Monday shows empty streets in Srinagar, as businesses remained closed at the start of the week. The only movement observed is security and police personnel, many of whom are holding weapons and using metal sheeting to barricade streets. "The whole of Jammu and Kashmir is closed, and a shutdown call has been imposed, and people are protesting and mourning the killing of the Supreme Leader of Iran," said political commentator Sheikh Yasir Rouf. The shutdown follows peaceful strikes called by the 'Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulama' (MMU). While shops, schools and universities remain closed as a precautionary measure to ‘maintain law and order’, internet services have also been restricted. "After the death of the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the situation has become grim, and the people are leaderless. And once the people become leaderless, they can be driven by emotions, and this situation can give rise to extremism and violence. The violence can spill over to a lot of places," Rouf added. Kashmir is home to an estimated 1.5 million Shia Muslims. Iranian state media reported the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the attacks, prompting Tehran to declare 40 days of national mourning and a seven-day public holiday, with all government offices and schools closed as the country prepares for funeral rites. This escalation followed a joint US-Israel military operation against Iran on Saturday, after which US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to 'destroy Iran's missiles.' According to the Iranian Red Crescent, more than 555 people have died since the start of the war, and at least 131 cities have been impacted at the time of publication. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced 'large-scale missile and drone attacks' targeting Israel. Reports also indicated that US military bases across the region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait, were struck amid the escalation."

We stand ready to defend regional partners! - FM Barrot after drone strike on French naval base in Abu Dhabi

We stand ready to defend regional partners! - FM Barrot after drone strike on French naval base in Abu Dhabi

"Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot called for de-escalation in the Middle East on Monday and said Paris 'stands ready' to defend its regional partners after a French naval base in the UAE was hit by an Iranian drone strike. "Yesterday, a hangar at our naval base in the Emirates was hit in a drone attack that targeted the port of Abu Dhabi, fortunately causing only limited material damage," Barrot said. "To the friendly countries that were deliberately targeted by missiles and drones <...> France expresses its full support and complete solidarity. It stands ready, in accordance with the agreements binding it to its partners <...> to participate in their defence," he added. Addressing the escalation in Lebanon, Barrot warned Hezbollah it had "made a grave mistake for which the population paid the price." "By joining a conflict into which both the authorities and the Lebanese people refuse to be drawn. It must immediately put an end to these operations. Lebanon must be preserved from regional conflagration," he added. It comes after the United States and Israel launched a joint strike on Saturday, with US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to 'destroy Iran's missiles.' In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said that 'widespread missile and drone attacks' against Israel were underway. US bases were also reportedly targeted in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait."