Shiraz shrine terror attack
Iran's Leader says those responsible for the terrorist attack on a holy shrine in the southern city of Shiraz will undoubtedly be punished for what they’ve done. Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said firm action must be taken to identify and tackle the root causes of such heinous crimes. The Leader said all people and entities in the country are responsible in the face of seditious acts by the enemy, and the traitorous or ignorant stooges. He advised everyone to stay united against those undermining security and disrespecting sanctities. Separately, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi said recent riots in the country paved the way for the terrorist attack in Shiraz.
Palestinian killed in Nablus
Israeli forces have killed yet another Palestinian man in the West Bank despite facing condemnations over their deadly aggressions in the occupied territories. Forty-seven-year-old Imad Abu Rashid was fatally shot in his head and chest at an Israeli checkpoint, south of the city of Nablus. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, two others were critically injured in the Israeli attack. In a statement, the Israeli military claims its forces shot at two suspected vehicles after a passing car opened fire at the checkpoint. But the statement doesn’t mention any casualties among troops. Israel has stepped up its crackdown across the occupied territories in recent months under different pretexts. More than 120 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the start of this year.
Russia-Ukraine war
Russia says it has filed a complaint with the UN Security Council, demanding an international probe into the US' military biological activities in Ukraine. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said Moscow has obtained new evidence and material that show Washington is developing biological weapons in Ukraine. The accusation comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West. Shortly after the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia accused the US of funding biological research in Ukraine with the aim of spreading deadly infectious agents. Both Washington and Kiev, however, denied such claim, with the US calling it pure fabrication. Previously, Russia had also accused the US of secretly carrying out biological experiments in a lab in Georgia.