Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Accused of Intentionally Downing Ukrainian Plane

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Accused of Intentionally Downing Ukrainian Plane
TT

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Accused of Intentionally Downing Ukrainian Plane

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Accused of Intentionally Downing Ukrainian Plane

The grieving father of two individuals who tragically lost their lives in the Ukrainian plane crash, a harrowing incident that occurred near Tehran two years ago and was attributed to the actions of the Revolutionary Guards, has come forward with a troubling assertion.

According to Mohsen Asadi-Lari, compelling evidence exists to support the claim that the intentional targeting of the aircraft took place.

Furthermore, he expressed his concern that the main suspect in this case might potentially be released without the knowledge or involvement of the grieving families who have suffered immeasurable loss.

Asadi-Lari, who lost both his children, Mohammad-Hossein and Zeinab, in the downing of the Ukrainian plane on January 8, 2020,told Didbaniran website Sunday that, according to the law, any prisoner can be released under certain conditions if they have served one-third of their sentence.

“Therefore, Mehdi Khosravi, who fired two missiles at a civilian aircraft resulting in the death of 176 passengers, including 27 children and one unborn child, could potentially be released under the law, but subject to conditions,” warned Asadi-Lari.

The military court in Tehran had sentenced the primary suspect in the downing of the Ukrainian plane to three years in prison for “semi-intentional homicide of passengers.”

This individual, identified by Iranian media as the commander of the “Tor-M1” air defense system, was also convicted of “failing to follow orders,” leading to a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The military court also sentenced several other military personnel to imprisonment for several years.

Asadi-Lari emphasized that Khosravi deliberately targeted the plane, stating that one flaw in the case is its classification as “unintentional killing.”

“We have presented evidence from the testimonies of the accused and other available documents, which the judges are aware of, stating that these documents prove the intentional nature of targeting the plane,” revealed Asadi-Lari.



South Korea, US to Hold High-level Defense Meeting on Wartime Command

The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. (US Army/Handout via Reuters)
The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. (US Army/Handout via Reuters)
TT

South Korea, US to Hold High-level Defense Meeting on Wartime Command

The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. (US Army/Handout via Reuters)
The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. (US Army/Handout via Reuters)

South Korea and the US will hold a high-level defense meeting in Washington on May 12-13 to discuss ‌the transfer ‌of wartime ‌operational ⁠control of their combined ⁠forces on the Korean peninsula, the South Korean defense ministry said ⁠on Thursday.

The ‌Korea-US ‌Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) ‌is normally held ‌ahead of the two countries' defense ministers' meeting, where ‌the allies discuss defense posture against ⁠North Korea. ⁠The two countries plan to transfer the command of the combined forces during wartime, now held by the US, to South Korea.


Australians Linked to ISIS Militants in Syria Arrive in Melbourne

FILE PHOTO: Members of Australian families believed to be linked to ISIS militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of Australian families believed to be linked to ISIS militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
TT

Australians Linked to ISIS Militants in Syria Arrive in Melbourne

FILE PHOTO: Members of Australian families believed to be linked to ISIS militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of Australian families believed to be linked to ISIS militants leave Roj camp near Derik, Syria February 16, 2026. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman/File Photo

A group of women linked to the ISIS extremist group landed in Melbourne on Thursday, years after allegedly sneaking into Syria to join the group's self-declared caliphate.

The Qatar Airways flight from Doha, reportedly carrying three women and eight children who have spent years living in a camp in Syria, landed in Melbourne in the evening, an AFP journalist at the airport said.

Minutes later, another Qatar Airways flight from Doha landed at Sydney airport, reportedly carrying one woman from the Syria camp and her son.


Taiwan Carries Out First Torpedo Test Fire for Domestically Made Submarine

FILE PHOTO: Members of the navy pose for pictures next to Narwhal, Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, after its launching ceremony in Kaohsiung, Taiwan September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the navy pose for pictures next to Narwhal, Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, after its launching ceremony in Kaohsiung, Taiwan September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo
TT

Taiwan Carries Out First Torpedo Test Fire for Domestically Made Submarine

FILE PHOTO: Members of the navy pose for pictures next to Narwhal, Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, after its launching ceremony in Kaohsiung, Taiwan September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the navy pose for pictures next to Narwhal, Taiwan's first domestically built submarine, after its launching ceremony in Kaohsiung, Taiwan September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File Photo

Taiwan has carried out the maiden torpedo test firing for its first domestically developed submarine, a major milestone in a project aimed at strengthening deterrence against the Chinese navy and protecting vital sea lanes in the event of war.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous submarine program a key part of an ambitious project to modernize its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty claims.

The submarine program has drawn on expertise and technology from ⁠several countries, including ⁠the United States and Britain, a breakthrough for diplomatically isolated Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's territorial claims.

Taiwan's CSBC Corp, which is leading construction of what is eventually planned to be eight submarines, said in a statement on Thursday that the first ship, named the ⁠Narwhal, had carried out its first torpedo test the day before.

The test verified the combat system's operational capabilities in terms of detection and tracking, fire control, launch, and torpedo guidance, Reuters quoted it as saying.

In January, the submarine carried out its first underwater sea trial.

Taiwan has said it hopes to deploy at least two such domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with missiles.

The first submarine, with a price tag of T$49.36 billion ($1.57 ⁠billion), ⁠will use a combat system by Lockheed Martin Corp and carry US-made Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes.

The CSBC statement did not say what kind of torpedoes were test-fired.

The Narwhal had been due to be delivered to the navy in 2024, joining two existing submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s, but the program has been hit with delays.

Taiwan's armed forces are dwarfed by those of China, which has three operational aircraft carriers and several nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and is developing stealth fighter jets.