Veteran journalist in Iran from Lucknow providentially 'escapes' an attack; many families in the city fear for stranded ones
Recently, a veteran journalist, Raavish Zaidi, had a providential escape when an Israeli missile struck his news channel's headquarters -- just 20 seconds after he stepped out of the building.
Sharing his agony, Raavish Zaidi's father, Amir Abbas Zaidi said his son could not attend his mother's last rites as she passed away just six days back in Lucknow.
'He is currently reporting from a war zone. Raavish has been in Iran for the last 15 years working as a TV journalist for the government news channel. Due to the ongoing conflict between Iran ad Israel, he could not come home,' says the worried father.
'I was continuously calling my son to inform him about his mother's demise, but the call wasn't connecting. Late in the evening, I somehow managed to speak to one of his friends. I was told that Israel had launched a missile attack on his news channel's office in Iran," said Zaidi.
"The entire office was destroyed. The anchor had to leave the live show and run away. After hearing this, I was very anxious. However, later I was told that my son is safe. The next day, when I spoke to him, he told me that he had left the office just 20 seconds before the attack,' Zaidi added.
Raavish Zaidi, currently working with the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN), survived a missile attack that struck his office in Iran during a live telecast.
The anchor presenting the news was seen fleeing mid-broadcast, and the footage quickly went viral across social media platforms.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
37 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Netanyahu accuses Australia of betrayal for recognising Palestinian State
Ties began taking a turn for the worse last week when Australia announced it would join France, the UK and Canada in recognizing a Palestinian state at next month's United Nations summit Bloomberg Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese of betrayal for planning to recognize a Palestinian state, in a rare public attack on a historically friendly nation. Ties began taking a turn for the worse last week when Australia announced it would join France, the UK and Canada in recognizing a Palestinian state at next month's United Nations summit. Tensions escalated this week after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke canceled the visa of Simcha Rothman, a member of Israel's far-right Religious Zionism party who had been scheduled to speak in Australia. Israel in turn revoked visas for Australian diplomats in the Palestinian territories, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar saying the decision was in response to Australia's plan to recognize Palestine and the barring of Rothman's visit. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called that action 'unjustified' and said the Netanyahu government is isolating Israel. A post then appeared on the X account of the Israeli prime minister late Tuesday saying, 'History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews.' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: History will remember Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews. — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 19, 2025 Australia, a long-time backer of Israel, threw its full support behind the Jewish state after Hamas' deadly attack on Oct 7, 2023, when militants rampaged through Israel killing 1,200 people and abducting 250. But as the conflict has dragged on, Israel has found itself increasingly isolated — aside from the US — over the mounting humanitarian toll in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry in the territory says more than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, while Israeli restrictions on aid have drawn warnings of worsening hunger from the UN and relief agencies. In Australia, anti-Israeli sentiment and antisemitic incidents have increased, with an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue. While Albanese's government has condemned these cases and called for social cohesion, local Jewish communities say they feel increasingly unsafe. Responding to Netanyahu, Burke described the comments as a 'lashing out' similar to those seen toward other countries that announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state. The home affairs minister noted that Albanese had telephoned Netanyahu as a courtesy ahead of the announcement on Palestine. 'Strength is not measured by how many people you can blow up or how many people you can leave hungry,' Burke said. 'Strength is much better measured by what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has done, which is when there's a decision we know Israel won't like he goes straight to Benjamin Netanyahu.' Israel's liberal Haaretz newspaper also criticized Netanyahu's comments, describing the post on X as 'deranged.' 'Netanyahu is not satisfied with Israel's seven war fronts over the last two years,' Haaretz said in an editorial. 'He seems very determined to declare war on the entire world.'
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Syrian, Israeli delegations meet in Paris as US pushes for normalisation
Syria's foreign minister held a rare direct meeting with an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday, talks that were brokered by the United States as part of a diplomatic push for Syria and Israel to normalise relations despite a recent surge in tensions between them. Syria's state-run SANA news agency said Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with Israeli officials to discuss de-escalating tensions and restoring a 1974 ceasefire agreement a deal that established a demilitarised separation zone between Israeli and Syrian forces and stationed a UN peacekeeping force to maintain calm. The statement gave no details on the outcome of the Paris meeting. But a senior Trump administration official, who was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, confirmed the talks. The United States continues to support any efforts that will bring lasting stability and peace between Israel and its neighbours," the official told The Associated Press, adding that the backing follows President Donald Trump's outlined "vision of a prosperous Middle East that includes a stable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbours including Israel. "We want to do everything we can to help achieve that, the official added. The long road to normalisation In the past, Syrian officials have acknowledged holding indirect talks with Israel to defuse tensions, but this was the first time they acknowledged taking part in direct negotiations. There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting from Israel. Tensions have soared between the two neighbours following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad in December in a lightning rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgents. Shortly after Assad's overthrow, Israeli forces seized control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone in Syria set up under the 1974 agreement and carried out airstrikes on military sites in what officials said was aimed at creating a demilitarised zone south of Damascus. Israel has said it will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves along the frontier, as Iranian-backed groups did during Assad's rule. It distrusts Syria's new government, which is led by former Islamist insurgents. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida commander who severed ties with the militant group years ago, has pledged to build a new country that respects the rights of minorities, but sectarian violence has erupted on a number of occasions, raising concerns about Syria's fragile transition. Sectarian clashes and Druze grievances Israel stepped up its intervention when violence erupted in Syria's Sweida province last month between Bedouin clans and government forces on one side and armed groups from the Druze religious minority on the other. During the fighting, some government forces allegedly killed Druze civilians, including a medical worker in a hospital in Sweida an incident that was caught on video and a US citizen. Other videos circulating online have shown fighters forcibly shaving the mustaches off Druze sheikhs, or religious leaders, and stepping on Druze flags and photographs of religious clerics. The Syrian government has said it is investigating the allegations. The conflict then prompted airstrikes against Syrian forces by Israel before a truce mediated by the US, Turkey and Arab countries halted most of the fighting. Israel said it was acting to protect the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority in Israel and often serve in the military. Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on convoys of Syrian forces around Sweida and struck the headquarters of the Syrian Ministry of Defence in the heart of Damascus, Syria's capital. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed the strategic plateau in a move that has only been recognised by the United States. The rest of the international community views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. A US envoy holds talks Earlier on Tuesday, US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack posted on X that he had held a warm and informative meeting with Moafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Druze in Israel, and that the two discussed "how to bring together the interests of all parties, de-escalate tensions, and build understanding. Tarif described the meeting as excellent and said the Druze want American assistance with an end to the blockade of Sweida and humanitarian aid for the people there, the return of the Druze who were kidnapped during the fighting, as well as American assurances of Druze security. Though the fighting has largely calmed down, Syrian government forces have surrounded the southern city of Sweida, named after the province, and the Druze have said that little aid is getting in, describing the situation as a siege. While the Druze in Syria have historically been wary of Israel, an increasing number are now open to seeking Israeli assistance. Hundreds demonstrated in Sweida on Saturday to demand the right to self determination for the Druze minority, with some protesters waving Israeli flags. Videos and photos of the spectacle circulating on social media sparked outrage from many other Syrians, who accused the protesters of being traitors.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Syria's top diplomat, Israeli delegation meet in Paris as U.S. pushes for normalising ties
Syria's foreign minister held a rare direct meeting with an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday (August 19, 2025), talks that were brokered by the United States as part of a diplomatic push for Syria and Israel to normalise relations despite a recent surge in tensions between them. Syria's state-run SANA news agency said Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with Israeli officials to discuss de-escalating tensions and restoring a 1974 ceasefire agreement — a deal that established a demilitarised separation zone between Israeli and Syrian forces and stationed a UN peacekeeping force to maintain calm. The statement gave no details on the outcome of the Paris meeting. But a senior Trump administration official, who was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, confirmed the talks. 'The United States continues to support any efforts that will bring lasting stability and peace between Israel and its neighbours," the official told The Associated Press, adding that the backing follows President Donald Trump's outlined "vision of a prosperous Middle East' that includes a 'stable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbours — including Israel.' "We want to do everything we can to help achieve that,' the official added. The long road to normalisation In the past, Syrian officials have acknowledged holding indirect talks with Israel to defuse tensions, but this was the first time they acknowledged taking part in direct negotiations. There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting from Israel. Tensions have soared between the two neighbours following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar Assad in December in a lightning rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgents. Shortly after Assad's overthrow, Israeli forces seized control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone in Syria set up under the 1974 agreement and carried out airstrikes on military sites in what officials said was aimed at creating a demilitarised zone south of Damascus. Israel has said it will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves along the frontier, as Iranian-backed groups did during Assad's rule. It distrusts Syria's new government, which is led by former Islamist insurgents. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida commander who severed ties with the militant group years ago, has pledged to build a new country that respects the rights of minorities, but sectarian violence has erupted on a number of occasions, raising concerns about Syria's fragile transition. Sectarian clashes and Druze grievances Israel stepped up its intervention when violence erupted in Syria's Sweida province last month between Bedouin clans and government forces on one side and armed groups from the Druze religious minority on the other. During the fighting, some government forces allegedly killed Druze civilians, including a medical worker in a hospital in Sweida — an incident that was caught on video — and a U.S. citizen. Other videos circulating online have shown fighters forcibly shaving the mustaches off Druze sheikhs, or religious leaders, and stepping on Druze flags and photographs of religious clerics. The Syrian government has said it is investigating the allegations. The conflict then prompted airstrikes against Syrian forces by Israel before a truce — mediated by the U.S., Turkey and Arab countries — halted most of the fighting. Israel said it was acting to protect the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority in Israel and often serve in the military. Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on convoys of Syrian forces around Sweida and struck the headquarters of the Syrian Ministry of Defence in the heart of Damascus, Syria's capital. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed the strategic plateau in a move that has only been recognised by the United States. The rest of the international community views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. A U.S. envoy holds talks Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack posted on X that he had held a 'warm and informative meeting' with Moafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Druze in Israel, and that the two discussed "how to bring together the interests of all parties, de-escalate tensions, and build understanding'. Mr. Tarif described the meeting as 'excellent' and said the Druze want American assistance with an end to the blockade of Sweida and humanitarian aid for the people there, the return of the Druze who were kidnapped during the fighting, as well as American assurances of Druze security. Though the fighting has largely calmed down, Syrian government forces have surrounded the southern city of Sweida, named after the province, and the Druze have said that little aid is getting in, describing the situation as a siege. While the Druze in Syria have historically been wary of Israel, an increasing number are now open to seeking Israeli assistance. Hundreds demonstrated in Sweida on Saturday to demand the right to self determination for the Druze minority, with some protesters waving Israeli flags. Videos and photos of the spectacle circulating on social media sparked outrage from many other Syrians, who accused the protesters of being traitors.
