Tel Aviv, June 18: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the “battle has begun” after Tehran launched a hypersonic missile at Israel. This escalation has intensified the already volatile conflict, as the military confrontation between Iran and Israel enters its sixth day on Wednesday.

Israel has carried out a series of devastating airstrikes on Iranian territory, reportedly killing at least 224 individuals. Among the casualties are senior military figures, nuclear scientists, and civilians. In retaliation, Iran launched several attacks on Israeli targets, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 people, including women and children, according to Israeli officials.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military confirmed the detection of additional missile launches originating from Iran.

The situation has drawn global concern, prompting US President Donald Trump to cut short his participation in the G7 summit in Canada. Before departing, he expressed firm support for Israel and issued a stark warning to residents of Tehran, advising them to evacuate in anticipation of potential escalation.

The conflict erupted last Friday when Israel initiated a large-scale offensive aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities. This action prompted swift and aggressive retaliation from Tehran, pushing the region closer to the brink of a broader war.

These developments come amid ongoing but fragile diplomatic efforts between Iran and the US to revive negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the media, stating that Israel’s actions have significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “I believe we have set them back a very, very long time,” he asserted.

Tel Aviv, June 18: The Israel Defence Force (IDF) on Wednesday announced that it had attacked a centrifuge production site and multiple weapon manufacturing facilities in Tehran, which were the “key elements of Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile programs”.

The escalating military confrontation between Israel and Iran entered its sixth consecutive day on Wednesday.

“More than 50 Air Force fighter jets, under precise intelligence guidance from the Intelligence Branch, have completed a series of attacks on military targets in the Tehran area in recent hours. As part of the extensive effort to damage Iran’s nuclear weapons development program, a centrifuge production site in Tehran was attacked, which was intended to allow the Iranian regime to expand the scope and rate of its uranium enrichment for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons,” said the IDF in a post on X.

“The Iranian regime is enriching uranium intended for the development of nuclear weapons. It should be emphasised that nuclear development for civilian use does not require enrichment at these levels,” the post added.

According to the Israeli military, throughout the wave of attacks, several weapons production sites were attacked. It asserted that among the weapons manufacturing plants that were attacked was a site for the production of raw materials and components for assembling the surface-to-surface missiles that the Iranian regime has used to launch towards the State of Israel.

“In addition, sites producing systems and components for surface-to-air missiles designed to hit aircraft were attacked. These targets were attacked as part of the IDF’s effort to damage the Iranian regime’s nuclear weapons program and missile manufacturing industry,” said the IDF.

Earlier on Tuesday the IDF stated that it had eliminated Ali Shadmani, Iran’s wartime chief of staff and close aide of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an overnight strike. This was the second time in recent weeks that Israel has targeted and killed a high-ranking military commander of the regime, to disrupt Iran’s military leadership.

“Following accurate intelligence received by the Intelligence Branch and a sudden opportunity during the night, Air Force fighter jets attacked a manned headquarters in the heart of Tehran and killed Ali Shadmani, the Chief of Staff of the War, the most senior military commander and the man closest to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei,” the IDF said in an X post.

According to the Israeli military, Shadmani served as Chief of War Staff and Commander of the Armed Forces Emergency Command and commanded the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian army.

The conflict erupted last Friday when Israel initiated a large-scale offensive aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities. This action prompted swift and aggressive retaliation from Tehran, pushing the region closer to the brink of a broader war.

Srinagar, June 18: Jammu and Kashmir cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is meeting on Wednesday evening to discuss the cabinet sub-committee (CSC) report on reservations in government jobs.

The CSC finalised its report on June 10, and the same will be tabled before the cabinet to take its call on the contentious issue that has constitutional and legal implications.

The report finalised on June 10 by the CSC will be discussed, and a view will be taken on how to proceed on the sensitive issue.

Of the five cabinet ministers in J&K, except the CM, three ministers are members of the CSC.

There has been unrest among the open merit candidates as the reservations under various categories in the UT have reached almost 70 per cent, leaving just 30 per cent of seats for the open merit candidates to compete among themselves when applying for a government job.

The cabinet will have to take the final call on the implementation of the CSC report and also the procedure to be adopted to implement the CSC recommendations.

The ruling National Conference (NC) election manifesto had promised to revisit the reservation policy to make it merit-friendly by providing open merit candidates the maximum share.

On December 10, 2024, the CSC was formed and asked to submit its report within six months.

For the Omar Abdullah-led government, taking the final call on reservations is going to be a tough call, as a cut in the reservation in any category will be a difficult task, but without that, there is no other way to give relief to open merit candidates.

As per the existing rules, 20 per cent reservation has been given to Scheduled Tribes (STs) including 10 per cent each to Gujjars and Bakerwals and Pahari Ethnic Tribes, 10 per cent to Resident of Backward Areas (RBAs), 10 per cent to Economically Weaker Sections, 8 per cent to Other Backward Classes, 8 per cent to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 4 per cent to the residents of areas adjoining Line of Actual Control (ALC)/International Border (IB).

There is a 10 per cent horizontal reservation, including 6 per cent to ex-servicemen and 4 per cent to Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Further, some candidates from the reserved category, who get selected in the general category, can also opt for jobs in the open category.

There was no reservation for OBCs till a year back, and only four per cent reservation was given under the category Other Social Castes (OSCs). The BJP-led Union government fulfilled the long-pending demand of the OBCs for reservation and passed a law in the Parliament, after which they got 8 per cent reservation.

Also, there was a 20 per cent reservation under the RBA category, which has been reduced to 10 per cent. There were allegations that influential persons got their villages included in the RBA category to avail the benefits of reservation for their kin.

The reservations in Jammu and Kashmir came into effect after the Reorganisation Act 2019 was passed by the Parliament. Even if the CSC recommendations are accepted by the cabinet and also passed by the UT’s Legislative Assembly, the question being asked is whether they can come into effect without the Parliament’s approval?

Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 includes provisions for reservations in jobs and admissions within the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. These provisions extend the existing reservation policies applicable to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other socially and educationally backward classes to J&K.