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No Retreat On Attack On Iran In ‘Clear And Decisive’ Manner, Israeli War Cabinet Declares –
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Despite international pressure and calls for restraint amid fears of an escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the Israeli war cabinet and forces have vowed to respond to Iran’s aggression attack in what they tagged a “clear and decisive” manner.
The Israeli cabinet, according to Reuters’s report, said that they awaited word on how Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, would respond to Iran’s first-ever direct attack.
A government source reportedly said that Netanyahu on Monday summoned his war cabinet for the second time in less than 24 hours after Iran’s attack, to weigh a response to the massive weekend missile and drone attack.
It was gathered that while the attack caused no deaths and little damage, following the intervention of the air defences and countermeasures of Israel and its allies, the attack has increased concerns that violence rooted in the Gaza war in Palestine is spreading, and there is fear of open war between the two countries that have been long-time enemies.
Reuters reports that Israeli military chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, on Monday said that “This launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles and drones into Israeli territory will be met with a response” but gave no further details.
Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri Kani, told state TV on Monday night that Tehran’s response to any Israeli retaliation would come in “a matter of seconds, as Iran will not wait for another 12 days to respond”.
However, the prospect of Israeli retaliation has reportedly alarmed many Iranians already enduring economic pain and tighter social and political controls since protests in 2022-2023.
It was believed that Iran launched the attack on Israel in retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 attributed to Israel, and signalled that it did not seek further escalation.
Meanwhile, the U.S. President, Joe Biden, told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at the weekend that the United States, which helped Israel blunt the Iranian attack, would not participate in an Israeli counter-strike.
Recall that since the war in Gaza began in October, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iran-aligned groups based in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq.
Israel said that four of its soldiers were wounded hundreds of metres inside Lebanese territory overnight, the first known Israeli ground penetration into Lebanon since the Gaza war erupted, although it has traded fire with the Lebanese Hezbollah militia.
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, was quoted as telling Spanish radio station Onda Cero that, “We’re on the edge of the cliff and we have to move away from it.”
French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron made similar appeals. Washington and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also have called for restraint.
However, the White House national security spokesman, John Kirby, on Monday refused to say if Biden had urged Netanyahu in talks on Saturday night to exercise restraint in responding to Iran.
Kirby said, “We don’t want to see a war with Iran. We don’t want to see a regional conflict,” adding that it was for Israel to decide “whether and how they’ll respond
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See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
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