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.



Strong Earthquake Kills at Least 126 People in Tibet

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescue workers search for survivors in the aftermath of an earthquake in Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze, southwestern China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescue workers search for survivors in the aftermath of an earthquake in Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze, southwestern China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
TT

Strong Earthquake Kills at Least 126 People in Tibet

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescue workers search for survivors in the aftermath of an earthquake in Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze, southwestern China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)
In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescue workers search for survivors in the aftermath of an earthquake in Changsuo Township of Dingri in Xigaze, southwestern China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)

 A strong earthquake shook a high-altitude region of western China and areas of Nepal on Tuesday, damaging hundreds of houses, littering streets with rubble and killing at least 126 people in Tibet. Many others were trapped as dozens of aftershocks shook the remote region.
Rescue workers climbed mounds of broken bricks, some using ladders in heavily damaged villages, as they searched for survivors. Videos posted by China's Ministry of Emergency Management showed two people being carried on stretchers by workers treading over the debris from collapsed homes.
At least 188 people were injured in Tibet on the Chinese side of the border, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
More than 1,000 homes were damaged in the barren and sparsely populated region, state broadcaster CCTV reported. In video posted by the broadcaster, building debris littered streets and crushed cars.
According to The AP, people in northeastern Nepal strongly felt the earthquake, but there were no initial reports of injuries or damage, according to the country's National Emergency Operation Center. The area around Mount Everest, about 75 kilometers (50 miles) southwest of the epicenter, was empty in the depth of winter when even some residents move away to escape the cold.
The quake woke up residents in Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu — about 230 kilometers (140 miles) from the epicenter — and sent them running into the streets.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake measured magnitude 7.1 and was relatively shallow at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles). China's Earthquake Networks Center recorded the magnitude as 6.8. Shallow earthquakes often cause more damage.
The epicenter was in Tibet's Tingri county, where the India and Eurasia plates grind against each other and can cause earthquakes strong enough to change the heights of some of the world’s tallest peaks in the Himalayan mountains.
There have been 10 earthquakes of at least magnitude 6 in the area where Tuesday’s quake hit over the past century, the USGS said.
About 150 aftershocks were recorded in the nine hours after the earthquake, and the Mount Everest scenic area on the Chinese side was closed.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for all-out efforts to rescue people, minimize casualties and resettle those whose homes were damaged. More than 3,000 rescuers were deployed, CCTV said.
Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to the area to guide the work, and the government announced the allocation of 100 million yuan ($13.6 million) for disaster relief.
About 6,900 people live in three townships and 27 villages within 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) of the epicenter on the Chinese side, state media said. The average altitude in the area is about 4,200 meters (13,800 feet), the Chinese earthquake center said in a social media post.
On the southwest edge of Kathmandu, a video showed water spilling out into the street from a pond in a courtyard with a small temple.
“It is a big earthquake," a woman can be heard saying. "People are all shaking.”