New Delhi, June 13: Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which claimed 241 lives.

In an official statement, he extended condolences on behalf of the Government and people of Japan to the families of the deceased and wished a swift recovery for the injured.

“I am in deep sorrow by hearing the news of the loss of many precious lives in the airplane accident in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. On behalf of the Government of Japan and people, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and their bereaved families. I also pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured,” said Ishiba

In addition, Prime Minister Ishiba issued messages of condolences to the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Canada.

In what is being described as one of the worst aviation disasters in Indian history, the aircraft, operating as Flight AI-171 from Ahmedabad to London, Gatwick, plunged into a residential complex near BJ Medical College, killing 241 people on board.

The ill-fated flight had 230 passengers, 10 cabin crew, and two pilots. According to officials, only one person, a British national of Indian origin seated in 11A, survived the crash and is currently undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

The passenger manifest included 169 Indian nationals, 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese, and one Canadian.

The impact triggered a massive blaze, with thick plumes of smoke visible across the city. Emergency services, including fire brigades and National Disaster Response Force teams, rushed to the site of the crash. Many people on the ground who were in the residential complex near BJ Medical College, are also feared dead.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the Air India plane crash site. He arrived in the city to take stock of the situation, a day after the deadly plane crash.

PM Modi expressed profound grief and called the tragedy “heart-breaking beyond words.”

Earlier on Thursday, as the tragedy occurred, several world leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, expressed grief and offered condolences to the people affected by the tragic plane crash.

New Delhi, June 13: Amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, the Embassy of India in Tel Aviv has issued an urgent advisory to Indian nationals currently in the country, urging them to stay vigilant, avoid non-essential movement, and follow local safety instructions.

The advisory comes after Israel launched major airstrikes on Iran early Friday morning, sparking concerns of a broader regional conflict.

In its message on social media, the Indian mission stressed the importance of caution and preparedness for Indian citizens residing or travelling in Israel.

“In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to stay vigilant and adhere to the safety protocols as advised by the Israeli authorities and home front command (https://oref.org.il/eng). Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay close to safety shelters,” the Embassy of India in Israel wrote in a post on X.

The embassy also urged Indian citizens to stay updated through official channels and to remain in touch with the mission in case of any emergency.

The advisory follows Israel’s declaration of a special state of emergency, after it launched what it called a “preemptive strike” on Iran. The situation remains fluid, with explosions reported in Tehran and heightened security measures in place across Israel.

The attacks come amid mounting concerns over Tehran’s nuclear programme and its perceived threat to Israeli national security.

In a televised statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel had initiated a “targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.”

“This operation will take as long as is needed to complete the task of fending off the threat of annihilation against us,” Netanyahu declared, underscoring the gravity of the move.

The offensive was further confirmed by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who described it as a “preemptive strike” aimed at neutralising imminent threats. In response to the heightened risk, Katz also announced a special state of emergency across Israel to ensure national preparedness and civilian safety.

Washington, June 12: The United States has reportedly gone on high alert amid growing concerns of a potential Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, local media reported.

The Trump administration is fearing that Israel may act unilaterally without Washington’s consent if negotiations between the US and Iran collapse, according to the Washington Post.

President Donald Trump, addressing the situation on Wednesday, stated that US personnel are being moved out of certain Middle Eastern regions, particularly Iran, due to the escalating risk of conflict.

“They (US personnel) are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place, and we will see what happens… We have given notice to move out,” Trump told reporters.

The US State Department has also permitted some diplomatic staff to leave Iraq, while the Pentagon has authorised military families to voluntarily depart from American bases throughout the region.

This uptick in security measures comes as hopes for a nuclear agreement between Washington and Tehran continue to fade, raising the spectre of another military confrontation in the Middle East following the recent Israel-Hamas conflict.

Trump reiterated his uncompromising stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, asserting, “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simple. They can’t have a nuclear weapon. We’re not going to allow that,” when asked whether diplomatic solutions were still possible.

Last month, Axios reported that Israel was preparing for a rapid strike on Iran if the US-Iran talks failed.

Trump has previously threatened military action against Iran should nuclear negotiations stall, and in an interview with the New York Post earlier on Wednesday, admitted he was becoming “less confident” that Tehran would agree to halt uranium enrichment, one of the key conditions demanded by the US.

Recent months have seen rising concerns among US intelligence officials that Tel Aviv might move ahead with a strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure without notifying Washington.

In response, Iran has warned that any Israeli strike, given the US’ role as Israel’s key military and political backer, would have direct consequences for the United States.

In a post on X on Thursday, the Iranian government declared, “We are Ready.”

Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh issued a stern warning on Wednesday, stating that any attack on Iran would be met with retaliatory strikes on US bases stationed in the Middle East.

In anticipation of potential fallout, Washington has ordered US embassies located within Iran’s strike range — including those in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North Africa — to activate emergency action committees.

These missions have been instructed to report back on security measures to mitigate potential risks. The State Department has reportedly also authorised voluntary departures from missions in Bahrain and Kuwait.

This precautionary approach led Secretary of State Marco Rubio to update the global travel advisory on Wednesday, stating, “On June 11, the Department of State ordered the departure of non-emergency US government personnel due to heightened regional tensions.”