13/11/2026

FRIDAY | NOV 13, 2026

9

Trump defends Iran war in Veterans Day address

Maldives reaffirms ban on Israelis visiting country ISTANBUL: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his country’s ban on Israeli passport holders, saying they would not be allowed to enter under any circumstances, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing a statement from his office. Speaking at a news conference at the President’s Office on Monday, Muizzu said proposed immigration legislation would establish an unconditional prohibition on entry for Israeli passport holders, regardless of circumstances. He explained that earlier proposals had sought to prohibit entry until Israel ended the genocide against Palestinians that began in October 2023, but the new Bill would make the restrictions unconditional. Muizzu described Israel’s actions against Palestinians as genocide and said allowing Israeli passport holders to enter the Maldives is unacceptable. He also reiterated the nation’s support for the Palestinian cause, saying the government has consistently defended its position on international platforms and through legal channels. He said the proposed Bill has been drafted to reflect the government’s position on the issue. The island nation initially banned Israeli passport holders from entering the country in April 2025, after Muizzu ratified changes to the Immigration Act passed by Parliament. – Bernama-Anadolu RUSSIA AND UKRAINE EXCHANGE ATTACKS KYIV: Russia and Ukraine exchanged attacks on each other’s capitals yesterday, a day after peace talks ended and as US envoys were set to travel to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin. Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv yesterday, a Reuters witness said. It was not immediately clear whether the city had incurred damage. Russia downed five drones that were heading for Moscow, said Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, without providing additional details. – Reuters RIYADH: Saudi’s civil defence responded on Wednesday to falling debris from two ballistic missiles launched towards the Mecca region by the Houthi group, Saudi Press Agency reported, quoting the civil defence general directorate. The missiles were intercepted and destroyed, with some debris falling on Sabuhah village. The general directorate stressed that the attack on civilian objects constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and underscores the danger posed by the Houthis’ hostile approach. It noted that relevant authorities responded immediately. – Bernama-SPA SAUDI RESPONDS TO MISSILE DEBRIS

Republican lawmaker – to impeach Hegseth for allegedly waging war without congressional authorisation as well as abusing his powers as Pentagon chief. Hegseth stirred even more controversy at the ceremony as an army sentinel watching over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier reprimanded a small group of people that included Hegseth, his wife and several aides, when some of them laughed after posing for a picture in front of the sacred site. “All visitors will maintain an atmosphere of silence and respect at all times,” the sentinel called out, halting his patrol to face the group as they walked up some stairs to leave. – AFP

started not by Washington but by Tehran, which “has been waging war on America since 1979”. He stressed that US forces are acting in order to halt Iran’s capacity to build a nuclear weapon. Trump, 80, attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a sacred symbol for America’s lost service members. During his speech before troops, veterans and top officials in his administration, Trump named Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was in attendance, saying he has “done a fantastic job”. Republicans in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday blocked an effort – launched by an outgoing

o Conflict, which began on Feb 28, has claimed lives of 23 US service members and wounded several hundred more

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump defended the war against Iran on Wednesday at a US Veterans Day commemoration that saw his Defence secretary publicly admonished for a lack of decorum. “The bravery and skill of our amazing American warriors has absolutely been incredible,” said Trump at Arlington National Cemetery just outside Washington. “When this conflict is over, and it US

will be soon, the entire world will be a much safer and better place, more peaceful place, and a place without the kind of danger that we had to suffer.” The war, which began on Feb 28 with US and Israeli strikes against Iran, has cost the lives of 23 US service members and wounded several hundred more, according to the latest Pentagon figures. Trump said the conflict was

Israeli strike kills six at Gaza hospital GAZA CITY: An Israeli strike killed six people and wounded about 20 at the Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, a civil defence official said yesterday. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying it targeted “a senior Hamas terrorist and additional terrorists from its military wing” operating from the hospital.

The Gaza Strip civil defence, a rescue agency operating under Hamas authority, said the bodies of those killed and “more than” 20 wounded in the strike have been recovered from a building at the medical complex. “The death toll from the Israeli strike inside Nasser Medical Complex, west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, has risen to six,“ said civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal. Nasser Hospital confirmed the six deaths in a statement. The Israeli army said it carried out an “aerial strike to eliminate the threat they posed, after the Hamas terrorist organisation had established a presence within the hospital complex and used it as a command centre”.

BR I E F S

A Palestinian man inspecting damage at Nasser Hospital following the Israeli airstrike. – REUTERSPIC Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating a ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025, after two years of war triggered by an attack carried out by the Palestinian Islamist movement against Israel on Oct 7, 2023. On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed ‘New EU envoy not needed for Ukraine-Russia talks’ seven people, including a 13-year-old boy, in the Gaza Strip, according to local emergency services, while the Israeli military said it had targeted “military operatives”. More than 1,590 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the ceasefire, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. – AFP

DUBLIN: Europe does not need to pick a new envoy for Ukraine-Russia talks, said Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal on Wednesday, after Kyiv and Washington called on the bloc to choose a representative. The topic has taken on greater urgency in Europe following two days of talks in Abu Dhabi on the Ukraine-Russia war, but the issue has divided European Union (EU) member states. This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Europe should this month choose its representative for talks aimed at ending the war, while US envoy Jared Kusher urged Europe to

involving France, Germany and Britain. Even Kushner appears to have understood the difficulty of the task. “If Europe could identify one person to speak on their behalf, that would be a bigger achievement than getting the Russians to include them in the negotiations.“ EU officials believe the focus should be on ending the nearly five-year war, rather than on its broader security arrangements. “The peace talks should be about peace and how to achieve just and lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia on Ukraine’s terms,“ said Michal. – AFP

be an envoy for Europe in the talks. But Michal dismissed the idea of considering Putin’s preferences. “Too bad! Because we should be represented by the people who are accountable to Europe, not by those who Putin likes.“ Europe has long sought a seat at the table in any potential peace talks, arguing that the security of the continent is also at stake. Among the names being floated to represent Europe are Finnish President Alexander Stubb – a golfing buddy of US President Donald Trump – and Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Others have suggested a format

“identify one person to speak on their behalf” in the negotiations. Michal insisted that the matter is settled and senior leaders in Brussels could participate in talks in line with their portfolios. “I would say that we already have agreed on the persons.“ He named them as European Council head Antonio Costa and top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas because “she has the role to represent us in the matters of foreign affairs”. They do not enjoy unanimous support. Some European capitals believe Kallas, a former Estonian prime minister, is too strong a critic of Russia and President Vladimir Putin to