Jerusalem, Oct 14: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Wednesday that it had killed a Hamas commander in an airstrike in Gaza City.

The commander, identified as Momen Ahmad Salameh Ay, allegedly held Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity in Gaza City and served as an aide to commanders of Hamas’s Gaza Brigade.

According to the Israeli military, he had recently advanced attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians and attempted to restore Hamas’s capabilities.

The IDF said it had taken steps to minimize civilian casualties ahead of the airstrike, which was carried out Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a separate statement, the IDF said infantry soldiers operating in the village of Kfar Shouba in southern Lebanon had located a ready-to-detonate explosive device, a Hezbollah position, and additional weapons used by the group.

On Friday, the IDF said in a statement that it had killed three militants in Gaza City.

The IDF said two of the men were identified as Hassam Walid Hassan Abu Al-Ata, allegedly a commander in the rocket unit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, and Magdi Moein Yousef Al-Ayoubi, also a member of the group’s military wing.

The third was identified as Muhammad Aja, a company commander in Hamas’ military wing, it added.

According to the IDF, the militants, killed in aerial strikes on Thursday, had recently advanced attacks against Israeli soldiers and worked to restore the capabilities of the two groups.

In a separate statement, the IDF and the Shin Bet domestic security agency said they had dismantled four weapons storage facilities belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad across the Gaza Strip.

The facilities contained dozens of weapons and other military equipment, including rockets, explosive devices, mortars, and Kalashnikov rifles, the statement said.

Kathamandu, Oct 14: A massive landslide in the high Himalayas of Nepal Gorkha district on October 11, which triggered devastating floods in the Budhi Gandaki River, generated energy equivalent to that of a 3.5-magnitude earthquake, according to a preliminary assessment by the Department of Mines and Geology.

The landslide occurred in the upper reaches of the Ungdilung Khola, a tributary of the Budhi Gandaki River, triggering destructive flood surges after a large volume of debris blocked and subsequently released river flows, the technical report said.

The report provides an initial explanation of how the high-altitude landslide and the repeated blockage and release of river flows contributed to the flooding downstream.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) said in a social media post, citing the department’s report, that the Budhi Gandaki River experienced repeated flood surges in a single day following the massive landslide involving snow, water and glacial debris in the high Himalayas.

The latest disaster left at least five people missing and destroyed several hydropower projects, roads and bridges, according to the NDRRMA.

The October 11 flooding was the second major flooding disaster, which occurred around one and a half months after devastating floods struck the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers on August 26, which killed nearly 1,500 people and left more than 5,000 missing while devastating communities, houses, hydropower plants, roads and bridges along the affected rivers, the authority said.

Citing the department’s technical report, the NDRRMA said the largest of the repeated flood surges reached an estimated height of 20 to 25 metres.

The incident occurred at around 4:20 a.m. in the upper reaches of the Ungdilung Khola, between Chamar Himal and Syerangi Himal, in Chumnubri Rural Municipality, which borders China.

According to the report, an avalanche originated at an altitude of approximately 6,000 metres in the Tibetan Tethys Himalaya, an area characterised by relatively weak rock formations, and a landslide occurred at around 5,500 metres.

“The massive landslide, comprising a mixture of snow, water and debris, flowed southward along the Ungdilung Khola, depositing a large volume of debris at the narrow confluence of the Ungdilung Khola and Syar Khola, another tributary of the Budhi Gandaki River, at an altitude of around 2,000 metres,” the authority said in its social media post.

The debris repeatedly blocked and released the flow of the Syar Khola, potentially generating successive flood surges. A similar process may also have occurred at the confluence of the Syar Khola and the Budhi Gandaki River, contributing to repeated flooding downstream, it said.

However, the report suggests that the enormous volume of debris carried by the Ungdilung Khola played a more significant role in generating the largest flood surge than the water accumulated behind the blockage of the Syar Khola.

The first mud-laden flood reached the Salleri area at around 4:30 a.m., where a camp for the 341-MW Budhi Gandaki Hydroelectric Project was located.

“The largest surge arrived at the hydropower camp in Salleri at around 6:30 a.m., reaching an estimated height of 20 to 25 metres before sweeping away the camp,” the report said.

The powerful surge caused major damage downstream, particularly in the Jagat area along the Budhi Gandaki River, where several buildings were affected. Permanent bridges over the Soti Khola and the Budhi Gandaki River were also among the damaged structures, the report said.

Field observations further indicated that the flow of the Syar Khola had stopped following the landslide approximately one hour before the largest flood surge arrived.

“Water had accumulated over a stretch of around 1.5 kilometres in the upper reaches of the river. Smaller flood surges continued even after the largest surge had passed,” the report said.

Riyadh, Oct 13: Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia have been advised to remain calm, vigilant and stay indoors in case of an aerial attack, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Tuesday as it opened a 24×7 control room to assist the community.

“In view of the current situation, all Indian nationals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are advised to remain calm and vigilant, stay indoors in case of an aerial attack, and follow the instructions issued by local authorities through official channels,” the Embassy said in an advisory.

It also “strongly advised” Indian nationals to refrain from circulating or reposting any videos or news related to the ongoing events.

Indian nationals were advised to remain in regular contact with their airlines and verify the latest status of their flights. Those in an emergency who wish to leave Saudi Arabia may avail flights from airports in neighbouring Gulf countries, particularly Qatar and Bahrain, subject to obtaining visas as per their rules, the Embassy said.

“In view of the evolving situation, the Embassy has opened 24×7 Control Room to provide necessary assistance to Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia,” it said.

Giving an update on the Indian nationals injured in the October 10 attack on Riyadh airport, the Embassy mentioned that four people remain in the ICU, four are receiving medical care in the normal ward, and three have been discharged.

“The Embassy officials continue to visit the hospitals where the injured Indian nationals are receiving medical treatment, and are in constant touch with their family members and providing all possible support,” it added.

The funeral rites of Mohammed Yousuf Ali, the Indian national who lost his life in the attack, were completed in Riyadh on October 12 as per the wishes of his family, with the Ambassador and Embassy officials in attendance.

On October 11, India condemned the attack on Saudi Arabia’s King Khalid International Airport, saying that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure were “unacceptable” and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

“The repeated attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

“We stand in solidarity with the people and the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in defence of their sovereignty, and hope that peace and normalcy returns to the region at the earliest,” it added.

On October 10, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said that the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport on Saturday afternoon killed 12 people and injured 309 others.