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Moscow, April 19 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday declared an Easter truce for the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The ceasefire will be in effect from 18:00 Moscow time on April 19 until 00:00 Moscow time on April 21 - a total of 30 hours, the Russian media reported.

It was announced by Putin following a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

Moscow said it hopes that Kyiv will follow its example and also cease fire.

"Ukraine's reaction will show how sincerely it wants and is able to participate in peace talks," Putin noted.

The Kremlin, according to Russian news agency Tass, maintained that since the earlier moratorium on attacks on energy facilities declared for 30 days from March 18 was violated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces "more than 100 times", the Russian forces must be ready to repel attacks if Ukraine violates the Easter truce.

"I order that all military actions be stopped for this period. We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. Russian troops must be prepared to repel possible violations of the ceasefire and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions. We know that the Kyiv regime has violated the agreement not to strike energy infrastructure more than 100 times, as you reported to me," said Putin after his meeting with Gerasimov.

On Friday, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a telephonic conversation with the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US President Donald Trump said that he expects to get Russia's response on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine over the weekend.

"We're going to be hearing from them this week, very shortly, actually. I think we're getting close, but we'll let you know very soon," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to continue collaborative efforts with American counterparts to comprehensively address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.

Secretary Rubio, who was in Paris, informed the Russian side about the recent engagements that he and US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had in the French capital.

"These discussions involved representatives from Ukraine, France, and several other European nations. It was underscored that these contacts were in alignment with the framework of ongoing consultations between Washington and Moscow, including the recent dialogue between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff in Saint Petersburg," read the statement.

Russia's envoy to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, meanwhile, said that a ceasefire in Ukraine is "unrealistic" at this point, as Kyiv fails to honour the moratorium on striking energy infrastructure.

"We had an attempt at a limited ceasefire concerning energy infrastructure, which was not observed by the Ukrainian side. Under these circumstances, it is simply unrealistic to talk about a ceasefire at this point," he told reporters.

--IANS

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Dhaka, April 18 (IANS) In yet another incident of violence against minorities in Bangladesh, a Hindu leader in Dinajpur's Biral upazila was abducted and brutally assaulted to death, as confirmed by the local police and family members.

The deceased, Bhabesh Chandra, was a prominent leader of the Hindu community in the area who also acted as the Vice-President of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, local media reported.

Speaking to Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star, Chandra's wife Shantana Roy said that four men arrived on two motorcycles and abducted Bhabesh from their residence on Thursday. Several witnesses also reported seeing the assailants taking Bhabesh to Narabari village, where he was brutally beaten.

Later that day, the attackers dropped Bhabesh's unconscious body back at his home in a van. He was immediately rushed to the Biral Upazila Health Complex. Subsequently, he was transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

The officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station said that police are working to identify and arrest the suspects involved, and preparations are underway to file a case.

Last month, a report of the Dhaka-based human rights organisation, Ain O Salish Kendra (AsK), highlighted that there are reports of a total of 147 incidents of vandalization of houses, temples, and business establishments of the Hindu community across Bangladesh.

Some 408 households were vandalised in these incidents, including 36 cases of arson. Besides, there have been reports of 113 incidents of vandalising business establishments owned by the minority community, 32 incidents of attack on temples and mosques of the Ahmadiyya sect, and 92 incidents of vandalising idols in 92 temples.

In September 2024, the country's leading Bengali daily Prothom Alo reported that after the fall of the Awami League government, there have been several incidents of attacks on the minority communities all over the country, particularly on the Hindu community. In many areas, houses, business establishments, and places of worship of Hindus still continue to come under attack.

Bangladesh has been grappling with violence and protests after the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus came to power in August, last year. The situation of Hindus has worsened drastically under Yunus-led interim government. There are several reports on an alarming rise in gang rapes, murders, and desecration of temples of Hindu minorities.

India has time and again raised concerns against the atrocities of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, during his meeting with Yunus, held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.

"On the question of minorities, this particular issue came up for discussion. We have conveyed our concerns regarding the treatment of minorities and the kind of violence that has happened against them. We have been raising this in several of our conversations, including our meeting in Bangkok, that this violence and atrocities against minorities cannot simply be wished away or dismissed as political reasons or media agitations. We hope that the Bangladesh government will take strong action against those responsible for these atrocities," Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a media briefing recently.

--IANS

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Dhaka, April 18 (IANS) High-level discussions and evaluations are currently underway in Islamabad after Bangladesh's financial claim to the tune of USD 4.32 billion from Pakistan as a fair share from the assets of undivided Pakistan before 1971.

Further, Bangladesh has also demanded USD 200 million received as foreign aid from countries and agencies to then East Pakistan during the extremely deadly November 1970 Bhola cyclone.

The demands were raised during the sixth round of Foreign Secretary-level bilateral consultations between the two countries - held after a hiatus of 15 years - in Dhaka on Thursday.

Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin and Pakistan counterpart Amna Baloch led their respective delegation at the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held at the State Guest House Padma.

Several sensitive issues between Bangladesh and Pakistan remain unresolved, including a formal apology from Pakistan for the genocide committed by the Pakistani armed forces in 1971; repatriation of stranded Pakistanis currently residing in Bangladesh; Dhaka's rightful share of the undivided assets of Pakistan; transfer of foreign aid sent for the victims of extremely deadly November 1970 Bhola cyclone, etc.

Pakistan did not allocate Bangladesh its share of $200 million in foreign aid after the 1970 Bhola Cyclone and instead transferred the fund from the Dhaka branch of the State Bank of Pakistan to its branch in Lahore during the Liberation War.

Reportedly, Pakistan had utilized the funds to procure modern military equipment for its own use. Recently, Islamabad has expressed interest in transferring some of these military assets to Bangladesh as a form of settlement of its outstanding dues.

Pakistan may deploy these military assets within Bangladesh subject to mutual understanding.

These matters are now under continuous bilateral discussions and diplomatic engagement between both countries with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also scheduled to pay an official visit to Dhaka on April 27-28.

The interim government in Bangladesh has formed a working group with the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka to finalise the agreements that will be signed during Dar's visit.

Evaluations are currently going on through various meetings to formulate a coordinated strategy regarding financial dues and the military equipment proposal and to prioritise national interests and regional diplomatic balance on the issue of historical entitlements.

During her visit, Baloch held separate meetings with Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain, where they discussed issues of mutual interest.

Yunus, after his meeting with the visiting Pakistani Foreign Secretary, called for strengthening ties with Pakistan to boost mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials.

"There are certain hurdles. We have to find ways to overcome those and move forward," Yunus said after Baloch called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday.

--IANS

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Jerusalem, April 18 (IANS) Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Friday that he is committed, along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all parties, to leading a "clear course of action" to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Katz noted that when appointed defence minister in November last year, he pledged to achieve two main goals: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and winning the multi-front war.

"The military is currently fighting for victory in all arenas," he said, adding, "We will not allow threats of annihilation against Israel."

His remarks echoed a Thursday statement from Netanyahu's office, which insisted that Israel would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, Xinhua news agency reported. The Israeli rhetoric came ahead of the second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, which will be held this weekend in the Italian capital of Rome.

The first round of indirect talks was held in Oman's Muscat last week, with both sides describing the talks as "constructive".

Oman's Foreign Ministry will continue to mediate the second round of nuclear talks between US and Iranian officials scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry said the Italian capital was chosen as the new site for the talks due to logistical reasons, expressing hope that the discussions could make further progress toward reaching a just, binding, and sustainable agreement.

Oman also expressed appreciation to the Italian government for its cooperation and support in hosting the upcoming meeting.

With Oman's mediation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi engaged in a first round of "indirect" discussions with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Muscat on April 12, focused on Iran's nuclear programme and the potential removal of US sanctions.

The talks in Muscat, described by both sides as "constructive," followed US President Donald Trump's statement in early March that he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders, delivered through the United Arab Emirates, proposing negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. Iran later agreed on indirect talks.

--IANS

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Moscow, April 18 (IANS) Russia is ready to facilitate potential nuclear deal agreements between Iran and the US, provided that such accords respect Iran's interests, country's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

"We welcomed the willingness, as far as we can see, to achieve objective and mutually acceptable agreements, including those that are being discussed by Iran and the United States," Lavrov said in a joint press conference following talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.

"Russia is certainly ready to facilitate this process and will do its best to support the agreements that would take Iran's legitimate interests into account," he added.

Addressing the press conference, Araghchi said that the indirect talks between Iran and the US, are set to continue in Rome on Saturday. "We are waiting to hear the viewpoints of the American side. If there is enough seriousness and determination, it is likely that a deal can be achieved," he said.

The Iranian Foreign Minister emphasised that Tehran will approach the talks on Saturday with seriousness and full determination, despite "serious doubts" about the intentions of the other side.

"We are fully prepared for a peaceful solution to Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, and if there is a similar will on the other side and they do not make unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is possible," said Araghchi.

The Foreign Minister also expressed Iran's appreciation for Russia's role in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and expressed hope that Moscow would continue its supportive role in any new agreement.

"We will continuously keep our friends in Russia, and of course China, informed about the developments," Araghchi said, emphasising his confidence that constructive feedback will contribute to progress on this path.

Araghchi and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are scheduled to hold the second round of their indirect talks on Saturday. The talks mainly center on Iran's nuclear programme and the removal of the US sanctions on the country.

In the first round of Muscat talks held last week, Araghchi engaged in "indirect" discussions with Witkoff, facilitated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. The talks focused on Iran's nuclear programme and the potential removal of the US sanctions.

The talks were proposed by US President Donald Trump, who threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme.

Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States — in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

However, the US withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have not achieved substantial progress.

--IANS

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Kathmandu, April 18 (IANS) The foundation stone for the construction of a school building being built with the Indian government's financial assistance at a project cost of Nepalese Rs 28.10 million was laid in the Morang district of Nepal, on Friday.

India's grant under 'Nepal-India Development Cooperation' is being utilised for the construction of the triple-storied building of Shree Panchayat Secondary School and other allied facilities at Sundarharaicha Municipality in the Morang district of Nepal.

The foundation stone was laid jointly by Nepal's Minister of Social Development for Koshi Province Panchakarna Rai, Sundarharaicha Municipality Mayor Kedar Prasad Guragain and Second Secretary at the Embassy of India Garima Nautiyal.

Political representatives, government officials, social workers and teachers of the school, students, and their parents were also present on the occasion.

The project is being taken up as a High Impact Community Development Project (HICDP) and is being implemented through Sundarharaicha Municipality, Morang.

The officials from Nepal, the school management, and other stakeholders appreciated the developmental support being provided by India to the people of Nepal.

They expressed confidence that the infrastructure being created would help in providing better education to the students of Shree Panchayat Secondary School in Morang. It would also help create an improved environment for learning and contribute to the overall development of the education sector in the region.

Since 2003, India has taken up over 573 HICDPs in Nepal in various sectors and completed 495 projects. Amongst these, 91 projects are in Koshi Province, including 16 projects in Morang. In addition to these, the Government of India has gifted 1009 ambulances and 300 school buses to various hospitals, health posts, and educational institutions in Nepal. Amongst these, 146 ambulances and 48 school buses have been gifted in Koshi Province. Out of these, 21 ambulances and 15 school buses were gifted in Morang.

As close neighbours, India and Nepal are engaged in wide-ranging and multi-sectoral cooperation. The implementation of HICDPs reflects India's continued support in bolstering the efforts of Nepal government to boost growth and development by augmenting infrastructure in priority sectors.

India is the largest developmental donor of Nepal with the major portion of developmental assistance focussed on large-scale infrastructure projects under grants, necessary for the rapid development of Nepal, in the field of priority sectors such as health, education, and connectivity.

Earlier this month, Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said that he had “extremely fruitful and positive” discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.

"Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Bangkok. India attaches immense priority to relations with Nepal. We discussed different aspects of India-Nepal friendship, especially in sectors like energy, connectivity, culture, and digital technology. We also talked about some of the key positive outcomes from this year’s BIMSTEC Summit, especially in areas of disaster management and maritime transport," PM Modi posted on X after the meeting.

--IANS

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Sanaa, April 18 (IANS) Yemen's Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi has said his group had launched 26 attacks against Israel and 33 strikes on the US aircraft carrier and warships in the Red Sea since March 15.

In a televised speech aired by the group's al-Masirah TV on Thursday, the Houthi leader said the attacks on Israel were carried out using "30 ballistic missiles and drones," while those targeting the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier and its escorts involved "122 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones".

However, the Israeli military has reportedly intercepted many of the Houthi projectiles before they reached targets, Xinhua news agency reported.

The US Central Command dismissed the Houthi claims of daily attacks on the US aircraft carrier as "outlandish" in a post on the social media platform X.

Meanwhile, the Houthi leader noted that the US military had conducted more than 900 airstrikes against his group's positions across northern Yemen during the past 30 days.

Tensions between the Houthi group and the US military have escalated since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15 to deter the group from attacking Israel and US warships in the Red Sea.

The Houthis, which control much of northern Yemen, said their attacks aim to press US-backed Israel to stop the offensive against the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave.

Israel's Channel 12 News reported last Saturday that a Yemeni drone was intercepted near the Dead Sea within the Jordanian airspace before it could reach Israel.

The Jordanian army confirmed later last week that an unidentified drone entered Jordanian airspace and crashed in the Ma'in area of Madaba governorate, near the Dead Sea, and no casualties were reported.

Even since Israel renewed its intensive strikes in March across the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have been launching frequent attacks against Israeli and US targets.

Earlier last week, the Houthi military spokesperson claimed fresh attacks against the US aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman, and other US warships in the northern Red Sea.

On March 15, the US military resumed airstrikes against Houthi targets to deter the group from launching attacks against Israel and US warships in the Red Sea.

--IANS

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Muscat, April 18 (IANS) Oman's Foreign Ministry has confirmed that it will continue to mediate a second round of nuclear talks between US and Iranian officials scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday.

A spokesman of Oman's Foreign Ministry "confirmed that Rome will be the venue this Saturday for the second round of talks between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America," the Omani Foreign Ministry said on Thursday in a statement on X.

In a statement, the Ministry said that the Italian capital was chosen as the new site for the talks due to logistical reasons, expressing hope that the discussions could make further progress toward reaching a just, binding, and sustainable agreement, Xinhua news agency reported.

Oman also expressed appreciation to the Italian government for its cooperation and support in hosting the upcoming meeting.

With Oman's mediation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi engaged in a first round of "indirect" discussions with US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, in Muscat on April 12, focused on Iran's nuclear programme and the potential removal of US sanctions.

The talks in Muscat, described by both sides as "constructive," followed US President Donald Trump's statement in early March that he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders, delivered through the United Arab Emirates, proposing negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. Iran later agreed on indirect talks.

President Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's nuclear programme if a deal isn't reached.

Iranian officials have increasingly warned that they could pursue the development of a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

Wednesday's announcement came as Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian formally approved the resignation of one of his Vice-Presidents who served as Tehran's key negotiator in its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Mohammad Javad Zarif served as a key supporter of Pezeshkian in his election last year but attracted criticism from hard-liners within the Shia theocracy, who long have alleged Zarif gave away too much in negotiations.

"Pezeshkian emphasised that due to certain issues, his administration can no longer benefit from Zarif's valuable knowledge and expertise," a statement from the presidency said.

The President in a decree appointed Mohsen Ismaili, 59, to be his new Vice-President for strategic affairs. In Iran's political system, the President has multiple Vice-Presidents. Ismaili is known as a political moderate and a legal expert.

The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, arrived in Tehran for meetings with Pezeshkian and others, which likely will be held on Thursday as his previous visits saw engagements take place the morning after his arrival.

Since the landmark nuclear deal's collapse in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord, Iran has abandoned all limits on its program, and enriches uranium to up to 60 per cent purity — near weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in 2015 and saw Iran agree to limit its nuclear activities in return for international sanctions relief.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned the US about taking contradictory stances in the talks.

"Enrichment is a real and accepted issue and we are ready for trust-building about possible concerns," Araghchi said, but added that losing the right to enrich at all "is not negotiable".

Araghchi's warning likely refers to comments from US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who this week initially suggested a deal could see Iran go back to 3.67 per cent uranium enrichment, similar to the 2015 level when the deal was reached by the Obama administration.

Witkoff then followed up with saying "a deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal".

"Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponisation program," he wrote on the social media platform X.

"It is imperative for the world that we create a tough, fair deal that will endure, and that is what President Trump has asked me to do."

--IANS

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Tehran, April 18 (IANS) Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met here with visiting Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, calling for expanding cooperation between their two countries in all areas.

Pezeshkian said on Thursday that Iran is fully prepared to expand its relations with Saudi Arabia in all fields and extend bilateral cooperation to other Islamic countries, according to a statement published on the website of his office.

He also welcomed the establishment of joint working groups in various political, economic, and security areas, emphasising that Iran and Saudi Arabia could coordinate to resolve many of the problems in the region, without the need for foreign intervention, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Saudi Defence Minister, for his part, described his meetings with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri earlier on Thursday as "very useful, positive, and constructive".

He called Iran and Saudi Arabia "two main pillars of the region," stressing their strong relations could be an effective model for convergence and synergy in the Muslim world.

"We discussed our bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest," the Saudi Defence Minister wrote on X.

"Our belief is that the relationship between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia is beneficial for both countries," Iranian state media cited Khamenei as saying in the meeting on Thursday.

"Ties between the Saudi and Iranian armed forces have been improving since the Beijing agreement," Baqeri said after the meeting, according to Iranian state media.

Saudi Arabia has welcomed Iran's nuclear talks with the US, saying it supported efforts to resolve regional and international disputes.

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed in a 2023 deal brokered by China to re-establish relations after years of hostility that had threatened stability and security in the Gulf region and helped fuel conflicts in the Middle East from Yemen to Syria.

The Saudi Defence Minister's trip coincided with a visit to Iran by the UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, who warned that the US and Iran were running out of time to reach a deal.

Iranian and US delegations are set to gather in Rome on Saturday for a second round of Omani-mediated negotiations, a week after the longtime foes held their highest-level talks since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear accord during his first term in 2018.

Since re-entering the White House in January, Trump has revived his so-called "maximum pressure" policy, imposing punishing economic sanctions against Iran and threatening military action if Tehran does not agree to a deal.

Iran and Saudi Arabia formally declared in April 2023 the resumption of diplomatic relations with immediate effect.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.

The attacks followed Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shia cleric.

--IANS

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Jerusalem, April 18 (IANS) Israel has extended its missile warning time for long-range threats from Yemen by three to five minutes, the military's Home Front Command said.

The updated system, which took effect on Thursday, aims to give civilians more time to reach shelters and safe rooms amid renewed missile attacks by Houthi forces, following Israel's resumption of its air and ground assault on Gaza in March.

Until now, Israelis had about one minute to reach shelter upon receiving a siren warning for long-range missiles, Xinhua news agency reported.

For short-range rockets fired from Gaza, warning times vary by location, ranging from about 15 seconds in communities near the enclave to nearly one minute in the Tel Aviv area.

Under the new protocol, a preliminary alert will be issued via the Home Front Command's mobile app in areas at risk, using a notification sound instead of the standard rising and falling siren.

"In addition, an IDF (Israel Defense Forces) message will be distributed, stating that missile fire from Yemen toward Israel may occur in the coming minutes and that the public must follow the instructions of the Home Front Command," the military said in a statement.

The purpose of the advance warning is to "allow advance preparedness, enabling civilians to move to nearby shelters and receive updates from official sources," the statement added.

Starting on Thursday, in the event of missile fire from Yemen, the Home Front Command said it will send out an early warning on its app to those in areas under potential threat. This alert will give people three to five minutes to prepare to seek shelter before sirens sound.

The IDF said the early alert does not require people to seek shelter immediately, and it is intended to give them more time to prepare and feel safer.

The early alert will be distributed to a wide area under potential threat, but the sirens may only sound in certain specific areas. The military said there may be cases where people receive an early alert, but no sirens sound in their area.

The new update to the Home Front Command app comes after several weeks of trials, staff work, and feedback from the public, it said.

Since October 2023, Houthi forces in Yemen have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks toward Israel, citing solidarity with the Palestinians amid Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Iran has also carried out two retaliatory attacks, firing about 400 missiles and drones, according to Israeli figures.

--IANS

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