Latest news with #SecDef
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Business Standard
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Pete Hegseth speaks to Rajnath Singh, backs India's right to defend itself
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday evening spoke with his US counterpart Pete Hegseth, their first conversation after the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir that left 26 people dead. According to a statement from the ministry, US Secretary of Defence Hegseth expressed his deepest sympathies for the tragic loss of innocent lives in the April 22 terror attack, and reiterated that the US stands with India. He also reaffirmed that US supports India's right to defend itself and assured the US government's unwavering backing for India's ongoing battle against terrorism. "During the conversation, RM told the @SecDef that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations. He further said that it is important for the global community to explicitly and unequivocally condemn and call out such heinous acts of terrorism," a defence ministry statement posted on social media said. The call between Singh and Hegseth comes a day after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with his counterpart, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the Pahalgam attack. Jaishankar stressed the need for justice, stating, "Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack with US @SecRubio yesterday. Its perpetrators, backers and planners must be brought to justice." Rubio has reportedly encouraged dialogue between India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions between the two nations, and expressed his condolences for the lives lost in the attack while reassuring India of the US' commitment to strengthening anti-terrorism cooperation between the two countries. Both conversations comes amid rising tensions between the two neighbours, as both India and Pakistan continue to clash exchange fire across the Line of Control (LoC) in the J&K sector. On Wednesday, both countries' directors general of military operations (DGMOs) spoke over a hotline, addressing Pakistan's repeated ceasefire violations. India also reportedly warned Pakistan about the unprovoked breaches along the LoC and the International Border (IB). The Pakistan army has so far violated a ceasefire agreement between both countries at least seven times, including on Thursday. The Indian Army has responded appropriately to the firing across the LoC. Following the Pahalgam attack, India has taken a series of diplomatic measures against Pakistan, such as suspending the Indus Water Treaty, closing the Attari Integrated Check Post, and reducing the number of staff at Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi. On Thursday, it also closed Indian airspace for Pakistani carriers Earlier, Pakistan had closed overflight rights for Indian carriers, and had threatened to 'exercise its right' to suspend the Simla agreement as well as other bilateral treaties. It has also offered to conduct a neutral investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, a position backed by China, which has called upon both sides to exercise restraint. On April 29, PM Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, service chiefs, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, where it was decided that the Indian defence services would be given full operational freedom to respond to the ongoing terrorist threat, including the time, place, and scale of retaliation. Meanwhile, the international community is closely monitoring the situation as tensions continue to rise. At least three West Asian nations - Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait - have also urged restraint and dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
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First Post
01-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'You will pay the consequence at time, place of our choosing': Hegseth warns Iran over support to Houthis
'Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing,' Hegseth wrote on X read more US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday warned Iran that it will 'pay the consequences at the time and place of our choosing' for supporting the Houthis, even as the US has relaunched talks with Iran over its nuclear programme. Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Taking to X, Hegseth wrote, 'Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.' The US and Iran have so far held three rounds of indirect talks, mediated by Gulf state Oman, aimed at sealing a deal that would block Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon but also lift crippling economic sanctions imposed by Washington. The US and Iranian delegations are again set to meet in Rome on Saturday. US President Donald Trump, in a post reshared by Pete Hegseth on X, reiterated a March statement holding Iran responsible for Houthi attacks. Tehran maintains the Houthis operate independently. The group, which controls northern Yemen, has targeted Red Sea shipping in support of Palestinians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since March, the US has launched strikes on over 1,000 Houthi targets. In a show of force, the Pentagon has deployed six B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia and stationed two aircraft carriers in West Asia, along with repositioned air defence systems from Asia. While both sides claim to favour diplomacy, the core dispute — now spanning over two decades — remains unresolved. Trump, speaking to Time Magazine earlier this month, said a deal with Iran is possible but warned that military action remains on the table if talks fail. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"You Were Warned": Pete Hegseth Slams Iran's "Lethal Support" To Houthis
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth launched a tirade against Iran for its "lethal support" to Yemen's Houthi rebels and warned of "consequences". "Message to IRAN: We see your lethal support to The Houthis," Hegseth wrote on X. Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025 The warning comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East and days ahead of a fresh round of US-Iran talks in Rome focused on Iran's nuclear programme. Hegseth also reposted a March message from Donald Trump in which the US President vowed to hold Iran responsible for any Houthi attacks. — Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) May 1, 2025 On April 28, a US airstrike targeted Yemen's Saada governorate, a known Houthi stronghold. At least 68 people were killed and 47 others injured in the strike, which reportedly hit a facility housing around 100 African migrants, including Ethiopians, Reuters reported. On April 20, US forces conducted another series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas, including the capital Sanaa and the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, with reports indicating over 70 deaths from a prior strike in the same region. Since March, the US military has hit more than 1,000 Houthi-controlled sites, responding to the group's increased attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis have said their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians who are grappling with Israeli onslaught in Gaza. Despite Iran's repeated claims that the Houthis operate independently, US officials continue to cite evidence of Tehran's involvement through lethal support, military aid, and strategic direction. The latest military actions coincide with diplomatic efforts to revive stalled nuclear negotiations. The US and Iran have so far held three rounds of indirect talks, mediated by Oman, aimed at preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon in exchange for relief from US sanctions. The next round of talks is scheduled for Saturday in Rome. The Pentagon has increased its military presence in the region. Six B-2 bombers have been sent to Diego Garcia, an island in the Indian Ocean well-positioned for operations in the Middle East. The US has deployed two aircraft carriers and moved air defence systems from Asia to strengthen its forces. Trump, in an interview with Time Magazine earlier this month, said, "I think we're going to make a deal with Iran," but also said he was ready to take military action should diplomacy fail.
Powys County Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Hegseth warns Iran ‘will pay consequence' of supporting Houthis
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has threatened Iran 'will pay the consequence' of supporting Houthi rebels in Yemen. The US has been conducting strikes targeting rebels since March 15, while the British military confirmed on Wednesday it had launched an attack against the group. The strikes have drawn controversy in the United States over Mr Hegseth's use of the unclassified Signal messaging app to post sensitive details about the attacks. Early on Thursday, he directly threatened Iran in a message on the social platform X. Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025 'Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,' he wrote. 'You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.' The US is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea, targeting the Houthis because of the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The UK Defence Ministry described the site attacked as 'a cluster of buildings, used by the Houthis to manufacture drones of the type used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, located some 15 miles (25 kilometres) south of Sanaa.' Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s took part in the raid, dropping Paveway IV guided bombs, the ministry added. 'The strike was conducted after dark, when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced yet further,' the ministry said. The Houthis reported several strikes around Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. Other strikes hit around Saada. The joint UK-US strike follows an alleged US airstrike on Monday which hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The US military said it was investigating. On April 18, an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest known attack of the US campaign. The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran's self-described Axis of Resistance that is capable of regularly attacking Israel. The rebels began their attacks over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli decision to block the flow of aid to Palestinians.
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Hegseth warns Iran ‘will pay consequence' of supporting Houthis
The strikes have drawn controversy in the United States over Mr Hegseth's use of the unclassified Signal messaging app to post sensitive details about the attacks. Early on Thursday, he directly threatened Iran in a message on the social platform X. Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 1, 2025 'Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,' he wrote. 'You know very well what the U.S. Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.' The US is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea, targeting the Houthis because of the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The UK Defence Ministry described the site attacked as 'a cluster of buildings, used by the Houthis to manufacture drones of the type used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, located some 15 miles (25 kilometres) south of Sanaa.' Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s took part in the raid, dropping Paveway IV guided bombs, the ministry added. 'The strike was conducted after dark, when the likelihood of any civilians being in the area was reduced yet further,' the ministry said. The Houthis reported several strikes around Yemen's capital, Sanaa, which the group has held since 2014. Other strikes hit around Saada. The joint UK-US strike follows an alleged US airstrike on Monday which hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The US military said it was investigating. On April 18, an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest known attack of the US campaign. The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran's self-described Axis of Resistance that is capable of regularly attacking Israel. The rebels began their attacks over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli decision to block the flow of aid to Palestinians.
