Jaishankar to Address Lok Sabha on West Asia Conflict

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to address India's Lok Sabha on Monday, March 9, 2026, outlining the government's stance on the escalating conflict in West Asia, as the second phase of the parliamentary Budget Session resumes in New Delhi.

The statement comes amid heightened global tensions following joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, which resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military and political figures. Iranian authorities reported heavy casualties from the attacks, which targeted military sites in cities including Tehran, where explosions caused buildings to shake and smoke to billow. In response, Iran launched retaliatory counterstrikes on American military bases in countries across the Gulf region, such as Bahrain and Kuwait, as well as Israeli assets. The conflict has since widened, with Israel conducting additional strikes on Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. Reports indicate more than 1,200 deaths in Iran since the fighting began, alongside casualties in Lebanon, Israel, and among U.S. troops. The violence has entered its...