HC directs Panvel civic body to take action against encroachments at Jewish cemetery
Mumbai: Bombay high court on Monday directed the Panvel Municipal Corporation to take action against encroachments on a Jewish cemetery plot that includes a water tank for the ritual of cleansing bodies.
A bench led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe, while hearing a petition by the Jewish Heritage Trust, directed that the D ward officer should hear those who have put up the constructions or occupy it. If any person is found to be in unauthorised occupation or has raised any illegal construction, action shall be initiated for removal or demolition in accordance with the law. The exercise shall be completed within three months.
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Customised F-35s, F-15s and Spice bombs: How Israel took control of Iran skies
Israel claimed that it took 48 hours to gain aerial superiority over western Iran, including Tehran. Israeli authorities say that so far, one-third of the Islamic Republic's missile launchers have been destroyed. But how was this achieved? It's all courtesy of the Jewish nation's sophisticated air force comprising modified F-35 stealth fighter jets, fourth-generation F-15 and F-16s read more Israel has operated its F-35 stealth fighter jets and its fourth-generation aircraft, like the F-16 and F-15 to drop glide bombs on Iranian targets. Image Courtesy: @IDF/X It's been five days of fighting between Israel and Iran — both sides are exacting heavy losses and reeling from mounting death tolls. However, within 48 hours of Israel's Operation Lion, the Jewish nation announced that it had gained aerial superiority over Iran after battering the country's air defences in recent bombing runs. Israel military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Defrin said, 'Now we can say that we have achieved full air supremacy in the Tehran airspace.' In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported that Israel has achieved an objective that Russia hasn't been able to do in three-and-a-half years of war in Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We take a closer look at what exactly is in Israel's air arsenal and why air superiority matters in this conflict. What is Israel's claim of air superiority over Tehran? On Monday (June 16), the Israeli military said it gained air superiority over Iran with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stating it has degraded Iranian air defences and missile systems to the point that Israeli planes can now operate over Tehran without facing major threats. It said Israel now controls the skies from western Iran to Tehran. As of Monday, Israel had destroyed more than 120 surface-to-surface missile launchers with Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the United States, saying on social media: 'We have opened up the skies of Iran, achieving near-air superiority.' Defrin said that the IDF destroyed one-third of the Iranian regime's missile launchers. In addition, more than 20 surface-to-surface missiles were destroyed on Sunday night before they were about to be launched toward the State of Israel. ⭕️ The IDF completed several extensive strikes on military targets of the Iranian regime in western Iran, including: - Surface-to-surface missile storage sites - Launch infrastructure - Surface-to-air missile launchers - UAV storage sites — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 17, 2025 According to a New York Times report, Israel has continued to target Iran's air defences, carving out a pathway for Israeli fighter jets to reach Tehran freely. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview on Sunday that Israel had worked to 'peel off the layers of protection' of Iranian defences. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What this means is that Israel now has the capability of flying through much of Iranian airspace as easily as they could over Lebanon and Syria. 'Let's say I have a target that I missed or that I'm not happy with the result. I can go back tomorrow and the day after tomorrow again, again, and again,' said Zohar Palti, a former senior official in Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, to the Times. Iranian flags fly as fire and smoke from an Israeli attack on Sharan Oil depot rise, following Israeli strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran. Reuters How did Israel achieve air superiority over Tehran? But how did the Jewish nation achieve this objective? It's because of Israel's sophisticated air arsenal, which boasts of F-35 stealth jets, fourth-generation aircraft, like the F-16 and F-15, and SPICE (Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective) — bombs. According to reports, the initial airstrikes were carried out by Israel's fifth-generation stealth F-35 aircraft, enhanced with Israeli modifications. A report by Middle East Eye states that for this objective, the US and Israel altered the F-35 warplanes to extend their range without the need for refuelling or compromising on stealth. Israeli Air Force F-35 Lightning 'Adir' fighter jet lands in Israel. File image/Reuters And once the Iranian air defences were suppressed, Israel deployed its older warplanes such as F-15s and F-16s. Additionally, Israel also started dropping short-range JDAM and Spice guided bombs, which are cheaper and much more abundant than missiles, to devastating effect. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many defence analysts note that Israel has a far more superior air force than Iran. Frederik Mertens, strategic analyst with Dutch think tank, TNO, was quoted as telling Newsweek, 'Israel has one of the most experienced and capable air forces of the world. The Israeli air force has thoroughly trained personnel, modern aircraft, lots of support aircraft, as well as ample stocks of advanced ammunition and American logistics help.' In fact, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Israel has a total of 340 operational aircraft at its disposal. This includes fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighters, F-15s and F-16s. In comparison, Iran's aerial prowess pales. William Freer, a research fellow for national security at the UK-based Council on Geostrategy think tank, told Newsweek, 'The Iranian air force was already in a pitiful state before the current fighting began.' He added: 'To all intents and purposes, Iran did not really have an air force.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The IISS notes that Iran's air force comprises of ageing aircraft — a mix of Soviet-era jets such as the MiG-29 and American-made aircraft dating back to before the 1979 revolution and the establishment of an Islamic republic in Iran. An Israeli F16 fighter jet flies over the southern city of Ashdod. Israel's sophisticated air force has destroyed one-third of the Iranian regime's missile launchers. File image/Reuters What this means in the current conflict? For Israel, air superiority over Tehran is a game changer in the West Asia region. By striking missile launchers, it has reduced Iran's ballistic missile arsenal. It also gives Israel the ability to drop bombs from inside Iranian skies rather than relying on expensive long-range missiles. US Air Force General Timothy Ray (retired), a former US Global Strike Command commander, also told the Wall Street Journal, 'It's a numbers game, and it seems like Israel has the upper hand because they can now go after the missiles that are shooting at them with direct attack. After all, the best way to shoot a missile is on the ground while it's in a container, and not in the air while it's flying.' Expanding on this further, US Air Force Lt Gen David Deptula (retired), dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, also told Wall Street Journal, 'In the case of the Israel-Iran war, it allows them unhindered freedom to attack where they possess air superiority over segments of Iran.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Other experts also pointed out that the Israelis now have the ability to use their full range of offensive weapons against Iran, more efficiently. But despite Israel's attacks, Iran continues to fire missile after missile, causing significant damage. Justin Bronk, of the defence think tank Rusi, told the BBC that while Israel may now be able to claim air superiority over Tehran, it has still not achieved air dominance and the threat of short range missiles remain. With inputs from agencies
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First Post
3 hours ago
- First Post
What is bunker buster bomb that Israel needs from US to destroy Iran's nuclear sites?
In the conflict with Iran, Israel's top goal is to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. But that is no easy task. The Jewish nation might need the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb to damage these underground sites. But what do we know about the Boeing and US Air Force-made bomb? How effective is it? read more A B-52 releases a test version of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) during a test of the weapon over White Sands Missile Range, Image courtesy: US Department of Defence The Israel-Iran conflict is now in its fifth day. On Tuesday, Tehran launched strikes across central Israel. This came in the backdrop of Israel continuing to target sites in Iran including its military infrastructure. But even this isn't enough for Tel Aviv. Israel now wants to use the GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb against Iran's nuclear sites. But what do we know about the American-made bomb? How effective is it? Let's take a closer look STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Origins The GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator is designed by Boeing and manufactured by the US Air Force. It is said to be the most powerful non-nuclear bomb in the US Air Force's possession. Guided by GPS, it is designed to hit enemy bunkers deep beneath the earth. Work on designing the bomb began in the early 2000s – a joint venture of Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. However, the project was abandoned after financial and technical difficulties. Interest in the project picked up again after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator is designed by Boeing and manufactured by the US Air Force. Image courtesy: WIkimedia Commons This is after the us military discovered that that their bunker busting bombs were not performing up to par. The project kicked off again under the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). Initial testing began in 2004 after the DTRA joined hands with the Air Force Research Laboratory. The GBU/57B's first static detonation tests were done in 2007. The bomb was tested at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. In the meantime, Boeing had won the contract to integrate the bomb into aircrafts. From 2008 to 2010, the bomb was repeatedly dropped from B-52 and B-2 bombers. In 2011, the project was handed over to the US Air Force. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Technical Specifications The GBU-57A/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator weighs around 14,000 kilos – around two African elephants combined. It is around 20.5 feet long and has a diameter of 31.5 inches. Its warhead, a blend of AFX-757 and PBXN-114 explosives, weighs around 2,500 kilos. It is made of a special high-performance steel alloy. Estimates about the bomb's penetration capabilities vary. Some reports say that the MOP can reportedly pierce 200 feet of concrete. Others say it can penetrate around 60 meters of reinforced concrete with a strength of 5,000 PSIm as well as 40 meters of relatively hard rock and eight meters of reinforced concrete with a strength of 10,000 PSI. Estimates about the bomb's penetration efficacy range from about 60 metres to to 200 metres of concrete. Wikimedia Commons The MOP comes with a delayed-action smart fuse. This means the warhead does not detonate on impact, but rather does so only when it reaches a halt underground. The US is said to be working on a new smart fuse for the bomb, though details remain scarce. It uses the Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) system to find and lock on to its targets. It is said to be accurate to within a few meters STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The MOP can be launched only by the B-2 bombers. According to experts, this is because of the bomb's weight – It is considered too heavy to carry by the other aircraft. This is a problem because the US Air Force has just 19 B-2 bombers currently in service. The B-2 can carry two MOPs at once. The MOP itself has five variants including the GBU-57F/B, which is the latest version of the bomb. Details about the variants remain scarce and hard to confirm. Stockpile and efficacy The US is said to have a relatively small stockpile of these bombs. Till, 2015 Boeing had delivered just 20 of these bombs. However, there are reports that the us authorities are trying to scale up the MOP's production. The MOP uses the Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) system to find and lock on to its targets. Wikimedia Commons The bomb and its continued development is important to America because the US' adversaries including Russia, China, and Iran continue to build new facilities deep underground. However, it seems that America's enemies are already one step ahead of it. A report in 2023 noted that Iran's Natanz nuclear facility – which suffered damage only to its over ground enrichment building and none to its underground commercial Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) – may already be out of reach of the MOP after Iran made new additions to it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Even if Israel can get its hands on the MOP, it remains to be seen if it can hurt Iran with it. With inputs from agencies
United News of India
3 hours ago
- United News of India
Netanyahu says war against Iran has ignited a ‘light to freedom' for Iranians
Tel Aviv/Tehran, June 17 (UNI) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Israel's ongoing war with Iran a campaign to rid the country of its "evil rulers", stating that the regime's days were numbered, and 'a light' to 'freedom' has been lit. "A light has been lit — carry it to freedom,' Netanyahu told Iran International. Netanyahu said Israel's military campaign against Iran is giving its people a chance to topple the Islamic Republic, adding that the ruling system's days were numbered. 'This is the time,' he said. 'Your hour of freedom is near — it's happening now.' Calling the regime an enduring threat against Israel with its nuclear weapons ambitions and ballistic missile programmes, he said that the 'tyrants of Iran' would stop at nothing short of the complete destruction of the Jewish state. Stating that Iran's project for Israel's destruction was to be carried out in two stages, he said 'One is to rush forward with their nuclear programme to develop atomic bombs to destroy Israel. "Second, they've programmed to build a vast missile, ballistic missile arsenal … Each missile carrying a one-ton payload, just slamming into our cities, killing our women, our children.' 'They were going to build 20,000 of these,' he added. Netanyahu called Israel's ongoing campaign as both a defensive war and an opportunity for the leadership in Tehran to be overthrown. 'This is evil against good, and it's time for good people to stand up with the good, the good people of Iran, and good people everywhere against this madness foisted on all of us by this radical tyranny. It's about to end.' He went to add that while Tehran feared Israel, its biggest fear was its own people, due to the regime's massive unpopularity in the country. 'These dictators in Iran, sure they fear us — but they fear you, the people of Iran, even more,' he said. 'They understand that 80 per cent of Iranians despise them." Netanyahu said Israel's precision targeting had already knocked out key parts of Iran's nuclear infrastructure and missile production capabilities. '(We) knocked out their chief nuclear team, their nuclear sites… we're knocking out their ballistic missile production,' he said. 'We still have a way to go, but we'll finish it.' Netanyahu said Iran could be made "great again" and that Iran's people were its future. 'I believe in you. I respect you. I admire you. I know your achievements. I know your potential. I know that Iran can be great again. It was a great civilisation, and this theological thuggery that has kidnapped your country, will not stand for long, and you are the future, not them.' UNI ANV PRS
