US Airstrike Hits India-bound Aircraft Scheduled For Humanitarian Mission, Iran Says

A plane owned by Iran’s privately owned Mahan Air scheduled to depart Mashhad for New Delhi has been damaged in US airstrikes. The aircraft at Mashhad International Airport in Iran was reportedly struck in a strike on Sunday, according to Iranian sources, as cited by ANI. It was scheduled to fly to New Delhi for a humanitarian aid mission on April 1, where it was to pick up supplies, including medicines, for people affected by the conflict.When it comes to the larger Middle East conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said eight Indian nationals have lost their lives while one remains missing in "various incidents" in the region.At an inter-ministerial briefing here on the West Asia situation, Additional Secretary (Gulf),

MEA, Aseem R Mahajan, also said, "Yesterday, an Indian national unfortunately lost his life in an attack in Kuwait." However, he did not elaborate upon the circumstances of this death."We express our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our Mission in Kuwait is in touch with the family of the deceased and is coordinating closely with the local authorities to render all support and for early return of his mortal remains to India," he said.Also Read: Iran's Nuclear Paradox: How Trump's War Is Making Nukes Great Again

The conflict in the Middle East entered day 30 on Sunday (March 29). More than 3,000 people have been killed in the war that began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Iranian attacks against Israel and US military assets and other sites in neighbouring Gulf Arab states.(This is a developing story)