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India.com
15 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Iran Gets Russian ‘Brahmastra' India Uses, Conducts First S-400 Missile Defense Test – Here's Why Israel, US Should Worry
Tehran: Nearly a month after the guns fell silent in the skies between Israel and Iran, something stirred deep in the desert plains of Isfahan. On July 26, far from public view and even farther from media glare, Iranian military units reportedly conducted their first operational test of the Russian-made S-400 missile defence system. Outside Isfahan, the location was no accident. It is the same region where Israeli and American warplanes had bombed nuclear facilities only weeks earlier. Local defence outlet was the first to report the launch, citing unnamed sources close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Independent analysts later confirmed unusual radar emissions in the area, consistent with the S-400's massive tracking network. They described a 'Big Bird' radar sweep, officially known as the 91N6E, along with signs of the system's battle-tested Grave Stone engagement unit and multiple mobile launchers. Tehran has not confirmed the test. But for military observers in the Gulf and beyond, the message did not need a caption. The presence of the S-400 on Iranian soil is no longer hypothetical. It is real. And it is a direct response to the Israeli Air Force's June operation, where stealth F-35I jets reportedly crippled Iranian air defence sites, some of them even housing older Russian S-300 systems. 'The game has changed. You do not roll out an S-400 unless you want to close your skies to the world's most advanced fighter jets. That is what Iran is doing now,' a Gulf-based defence specialist told Defence Security Asia. According to leaked reports, the test involved the 48N6E3 interceptor missile, which is capable of striking targets up to 380 km away, with a more routine range of 250 km. This model is one of the most reliable in Russia's anti-air arsenal and forms the backbone of S-400 batteries deployed in sensitive theatres from Kaliningrad to Crimea. Why now? Some believe the move is about reputation. Iran's leadership took a hard hit after the June bombardments, especially with Israeli jets flying deep into its airspace. That loss of face had to be repaired. The S-400, a system once seen only in photos from Moscow or New Delhi, had to be activated. Back in Isfahan, where the missile reportedly took flight, the landscape bears the scars of a confrontation that has not truly ended. The skies may be quieter, but the ground tells a different story. New radars, new launch pads and now, new deterrence. And so, without a word from the Iranian defence ministry and without even a grainy video, a single missile test has redrawn the lines over the Middle East. The message is Tehran is fortifying its skies. And the next time someone comes knocking from above, the answer may come faster than they expect.
India.com
a day ago
- Politics
- India.com
Iran gets India's Russian superweapon, tests S-400 missile defence for first time, Israel and US will now...
New Delhi: Nearly a month after the end of the 12-day standoff with Israel, Iran has done something that could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East. Iran has reportedly conducted the first operational test of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system. Iranian defence media outlet has given this information. When did Iran conduct operational test of the Russian air defence system? According to the report, the operational test of the Russian air defence system took place on 26 July 2025 near the city of Isfahan, about 440 km south of Tehran. Isfahan is a strategically important city of Iran, where Israel and the US bombed the Iranian nuclear facility. This is the confirmation of the first actual deployment of the S-400 system on Iranian soil, which regional analysts have described as a clear message to Israel and the USA. Analysts say that now Tehran's airspace will not be easily intruded without paying a big price. Why is this new air defence system a threat to Israel and America? Earlier, during the war in June, Israeli planes claimed to have captured Iran's airspace. Israel destroyed Iran's air defence in air strikes. Even Russia's S-300 air defence system, possessed by Iran, was also targeted by Israeli attacks. But now, after the deployment of one of the world's most advanced long-range air defence systems in the form of S-400, it will not be easy to enter Iranian airspace. Which missile was tested? According to the report of Defense Security Asia, the missile defence system tested appears to be a complete S-400 battery, which includes 91N6E Big Bird acquisition radar, 92N6E Grave Stone engagement radar, centralized command-and-control unit and several 5P85TE2 transporter erector launchers. The missiles reportedly used in the operational exercise include the 48N6E3 missile with a range of up to 250 km, capable of destroying targets at a distance of 380 km. What does Iran say about the test? Although Iran's Defense Ministry has not yet released any official confirmation or footage of the test, OSINT platforms have confirmed abnormal emissions consistent with the S-400 radar profile. Defense Security Asia quoted a defense expert based in the Gulf region as saying, 'The test of the S-400 in Iran indicates a qualitative jump in its ability to prevent enemy access to critical infrastructure and military areas in front of Israeli fifth-generation platforms such as the F-35I.'
Canada News.Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
Ancient temple, center of fresh Thai-Cambodia military clashes
BANGKOK, Thailand: Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire across several disputed border zones on July 24, injuring at least three civilians and escalating an already tense diplomatic standoff. The clashes followed a rapid deterioration in relations between the two Southeast Asian neighbors, triggered by earlier violence and political retaliation. A livestream from Thailand showed panicked residents fleeing into bunkers as explosions rang out in the morning. Fighting was reported at multiple sites along the contested frontier. The first skirmish broke out near the ancient Prasat Ta Moan Thom temple, which straddles the border between Thailand's Surin province and Cambodia's Oddar Meanchey province. Both governments blamed each other for starting the shootout. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet claimed that Thai forces attacked army positions at both Prasat Ta Moan Thom and Prasat Ta Krabey, and that the conflict then expanded toward Cambodia's Preah Vihear province and Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani province. "Cambodia has always favored peaceful solutions, but this time we had no choice but to respond with force," Hun Manet said. Thailand's army reported that three civilians in Surin were injured when Cambodian artillery shells struck a residential area. Authorities said the residents were later evacuated. The gunfire came just a day after Cambodia announced it would downgrade diplomatic ties with Thailand, expelling the Thai ambassador and recalling its own diplomats from Bangkok. Thailand had already closed northeastern border crossings, recalled its ambassador, and expelled Cambodia's ambassador in protest over a land mine explosion that injured five Thai soldiers. One of the wounded lost a leg. Tensions between the two nations have been climbing since May, when a Cambodian soldier was shot dead during an earlier border skirmish. Both countries lay claim to several small but strategically sensitive patches of land. According to the Thai military, the latest violence began when an unmanned drone was spotted, followed by six armed Cambodian soldiers approaching a Thai position. Thai troops reportedly tried to defuse the situation by shouting, but were fired upon instead. Cambodia's Defense Ministry insisted that its forces acted purely in self-defense against what it called a "deliberate Thai incursion." In Phnom Penh, Senate President Hun Sen urged Cambodians not to panic and to trust the government and military. Meanwhile, the Thai embassy in Cambodia warned citizens to leave the country if possible and advised against unnecessary travel due to the risk of further escalation. The latest exchange follows a series of land mine blasts in disputed regions. Just a day earlier, a mine wounded five Thai soldiers, one seriously. A week before that, three more soldiers were hurt when one stepped on a mine and lost his foot. Thai officials blamed newly planted mines, allegedly Russian-made, in areas agreed to be safe zones. Cambodia dismissed the accusations, saying the region is littered with unexploded mines left from decades of past conflict. Nationalist sentiment in both countries is further stoking the situation. Thailand's Prime Minister was suspended from office on July 1 amid an investigation into alleged ethics violations over her handling of the border tensions. Border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia have long been a source of friction. The most sensitive flashpoint remains the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded the site to Cambodia—a decision Thailand has never fully accepted. More violence erupted around the temple in 2011, resulting in about 20 deaths and the displacement of thousands. Cambodia returned to the court in 2013, which reaffirmed its ownership—a ruling that continues to irritate Thailand. As tensions rise once again, the risk of broader conflict looms large, with both countries now on high alert along their volatile shared border.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Thailand and Cambodia agree to cease-fire talks after Trump steps in, but border clashes persist
Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday signaled their readiness to negotiate an end to a deadly border dispute following mediation efforts by US President Donald Trump. The fighting, now in its fourth day, has killed at least 34 people and displaced more than 168,000. Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and suggested he would not move forward with trade agreements with either country if the hostilities continued. Advertisement 6 Cambodian soldiers were spotted riding in a Russian-made BM-21 rocket launcher in the country's northern Oddar Meanchey province on Sunday. AFP via Getty Images He later said both sides agreed to meet to negotiate a cease-fire. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said Sunday his country agreed to pursue an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire.' Advertisement He said Trump told him that Thailand had also agreed to halt attacks following Trump's conversation with Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. 'This is positive news for the soldiers and people of both countries,' Hun Manet said in a statement. He said he tasked his deputy, Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate next steps with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to engage directly with Thailand's foreign minister to implement the ceasefire. Thailand expressed cautious support. Advertisement 6 Displaced Cambodians received water at the Battkhao Resettlement Camp in Oddar Meanchey Province on Saturday. AP Phumtham thanked Trump and said that Thailand agreed in principle to a cease-fire but stressed the need for 'sincere intention' from Cambodia, the Thai Foreign Ministry said. Phumtam called for swift bilateral talks to discuss concrete steps toward a peaceful resolution, it said. The fighting first flared Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Advertisement Both sides blamed each other for starting the clashes. 6 A Thai military mobile unit fired toward Cambodia on Friday. REUTERS Both countries recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia. Despite the diplomatic efforts, fighting continued Sunday along parts of the contested border, with both sides refusing to budge and trading blame over renewed shelling and troop movements. Col. Richa Suksowanont, a Thai army deputy spokesperson, said Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, including at civilian homes early Sunday. He said Cambodia also launched rocket attacks targeting the ancient Ta Muen Thom temple claimed by both countries, and other areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers. Advertisement Richa said Trump's efforts to mediate was a 'separate matter.' The battlefield operations will continue and a ceasefire can only happen if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added. 'Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law,' Thailand's Foreign Ministry said separately. 6 A 7-Eleven convenience store in Thailand was damaged in a fire caused by Cambodian artillery on Friday. AFP via Getty Images Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence with bombardment of Cambodian territory early Sunday, followed by a 'large-scale incursion' involving tanks and ground troops in multiple areas. Advertisement 'Such actions undermine all efforts toward peaceful resolution and expose Thailand's clear intent to escalate rather than de-escalate the conflict,' she said. Thailand on Sunday reported a new death of a soldier, bringing the total number of fatalities to 21, mostly civilians. 6 The convenience store was severely damaged in the fire. AFP via Getty Images Cambodia said 13 people have been killed. Advertisement More than 131,000 people in Thailand have evacuated to safe locations and over 37,000 people fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are mostly deserted, with many schools and hospitals shut. Pichayut Surasit, an air-conditioning technician in Thailand, said the sudden outbreak of fighting meant leaving his work in Bangkok to return home to protect his family. 'I didn't have the heart to continue with my work when I heard the news. I wanted to come back as soon as possible but I had to wait until the evening,' he said. Now at a shelter in Surin housing some 6,000 evacuees, Pichayut worries for his wife and twin daughters, hoping the conflict will end soon so they can return to their home in Kap Choeng district, one of the hardest hit by shelling. Advertisement 6 A Thai volunteer gave food to residents who fled their homes following the deadly clashes. AP Bualee Chanduang, a local vendor who moved to the same shelter Thursday with her family and pet rabbit, is counting on swift negotiations to end the violence. 'I pray for God to help that both sides can agree to talk and end this war,' she said. The UN Security Council has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the two members. Human Rights Watch has condemned the reported use of cluster munitions, weapons banned by International law, in populated areas, and urged both governments to protect civilians. The 500-mile frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades, but past confrontations have been limited and brief. The latest tensions flared in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Cambodia-Thailand conflict flares up even as Trump claims ‘ceasefire' in place
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia escalated dramatically early Sunday when Cambodian troops opened fire on Thai forces near the Ta Kwai temple in Thailand's Surin province, despite public statements from both countries signaling agreement to a ceasefire. The renewed fighting comes just hours after US President Donald Trump claimed to have brokered a peace deal through phone diplomacy. A Cambodian soldier stands on a truck carrying a Russian-made BM-21 rocket launcher travelling along a street in Oddar Meanchey province.(AFP) Cambodian troops fired on Thai soldiers near Ta Kwai temple in Surin province, Thailand early Sunday morning, reported local media outlet Khaosod. Thailand's foreign ministry announced late Saturday it had agreed 'in principle' to a ceasefire with Cambodia and expressed readiness to enter bilateral talks. However, Sunday's border skirmish casts doubt on the implementation of that agreement and has reignited fears of a prolonged conflict. Rising human toll The human cost of the clashes continues to mount. Cambodian officials confirmed 12 new deaths on Saturday, bringing their total to 13. Thailand's military reported the death of another soldier, increasing its total death toll to 20, the majority of them civilians. Mass displacement has also followed the violence. Cambodia's Information Minister Neth Pheaktra reported that more than 10,865 Cambodian families, roughly 37,635 people, have evacuated from three border provinces. Thai authorities have confirmed that over 131,000 civilians have been relocated from villages near the contested border. Trump steps in, again President Donald Trump, invoking his controversial approach to international diplomacy, inserted himself into the conflict late Saturday. In a series of posts on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed he had spoken with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and was about to call Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. 'Just spoke to the Prime Minister of Cambodia relative to stopping the War with Thailand... We do not want to make any [trade] deal with either Country, if they are fighting—and I have told them so!' Trump wrote. Drawing comparisons to his alleged involvement in the India-Pakistan standoff during Operation Sindoor, Trump added, 'Many people are being killed in this War, but it very much reminds me of the Conflict between Pakistan and India, which was brought to a successful halt.' Thailand's foreign ministry later confirmed the call with Trump and emphasized the country's commitment to resolving the crisis diplomatically. Phumtham reportedly requested Trump relay to Cambodia that Thailand was ready for immediate bilateral dialogue to implement ceasefire procedures. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, calling on both sides to 'immediately agree to a ceasefire' and offering UN assistance in facilitating dialogue. 'I am deeply concerned about the recent armed clashes... I remain available to assist in efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the dispute,' Guterres posted on X. Origin of the conflict The current clashes trace back to long-standing territorial disputes surrounding historic temple sites along the Thai-Cambodian border. The area, composed of remote jungle and agricultural land, has become a flashpoint for nationalistic rhetoric and military confrontation. Both nations have engaged in heavy artillery and rocket fire since the conflict reignited. Thailand, initially denying the use of controversial cluster munitions, later admitted they 'may be employed when necessary.' Human Rights Watch condemned the use of such weapons in civilian areas, citing the potential for long-term harm. Neither Cambodia nor Thailand are signatories to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, and both have previously been criticized for using them during the 2011 border conflict that killed 20 people.
