Today in History (March 17^th,1527)

On this day – The battle of Khandwa war was fought. This was the second most important war in the attempt by the Mughals to establish the Mughal Dynasty in India. The war happened between Rana Sanga of Mewar and the armies of Babar.

Summary of Today’s News

U.S. Strikes on Yemen

• On Saturday, U.S. strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen killed 31 people.
• The strikes targeted areas in Sanaa, Saada, Al-Bayda, and Radaa, with at least 101 others wounded, including children and women.

Houthi Retaliation:

• The Houthis launched an attack on a U.S. carrier in the Red Sea, claiming to have fired 18 missiles and a drone at the USS Harry Truman and its warships.
• There was no immediate U.S. comment on the attack.

President Trump’s Response:

• Trump warned that “hell will rain down upon” the Houthis and Iran if the attacks on shipping do not cease.
• He vowed to use overwhelming force to end Houthi attacks, which the Houthis say are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war.
• Trump issued a direct warning to Iran, demanding an immediate end to its support for the Houthis.

Pentagon and U.S. National Security Responses:

• S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz said the U.S. would hold both the Houthis and Iran accountable.
• Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth pledged an “unrelenting” missile campaign until Houthi attacks on shipping stop.
• The campaign focuses on restoring freedom of navigation and deterrence in the region.

Iran’s Reaction:

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the airstrikes, asserting that the U.S. has “no authority” to dictate Iran’s foreign policy.
• Iran’s Revolutionary Guards head Hossein Salami warned that Iran would give “appropriate, decisive, and conclusive responses” if threatened.
• Iran denied involvement in the Houthis’ attacks, stating it does not dictate the policies of allied militant groups.

Houthi Defiance:

• The Houthis’ political bureau declared their forces are prepared for further escalation if necessary.
• They are part of the “axis of resistance,” a coalition of pro-Iran groups opposed to Israel and the U.S.
• The Houthis have launched numerous drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Impact on International Shipping:

• The attacks have heavily strained the Red Sea shipping route, which carries 12% of global shipping traffic.
• The attacks have led to costly detours for shipping companies around southern Africa.

Hamas’ Response:

• Hamas condemned the U.S. strikes, calling them a violation of international law and an assault on Yemen’s sovereignty.

About Houthis:

• The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah (Partisans of God), are an Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim military and political movement in Yemen.
• Its members, who subscribe to the minority Zaidi sect of Shiite Islam, advocate regional autonomy for Zaidis in northern Yemen. 
  • Shiite Muslims are the minority community in the Islamic world, and Zaidis are a minority of Shiites, significantly different in doctrine and beliefs from the Shiites who dominate in Iran, Iraq, and elsewhere.
  • They are a minority in Yemen, which is predominantly Sunni Muslim, but they are a significant one, numbering in the hundreds of thousands and making up as much as a third of the overall population.
• The group emerged in the 1990s and takes its name from the movement’s late founder, Hussein al-Houthi.
• The Houthi movement began as an effort to maintain tribal autonomy in northern Yemen and protest Western influence in the Middle East.
• They have been fighting Yemen’s Sunni-majority government since 2004. 

Modi’s Statement on Pakistan

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed that all of India’s attempts to foster peace with Pakistan have been met with hostility and betrayal.
• He hopes that wisdom will prevail in Pakistan’s leadership to improve bilateral relations.
• Modi recalled his 2014 swearing-in ceremony, where he invited Pakistan’s then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, hoping for a new beginning in relations.
• Despite India’s efforts for peace, the outcome was not as expected, and Modi emphasized that peace efforts were met with hostility from Pakistan.

Modi’s View on China:

• Modi cited the return to normalcy on the India-China border as proof that dialogue is more effective than discord.
• He called for cooperation between India and China for global stability and prosperity, highlighting the importance of managing differences to prevent disputes.
• Modi emphasized that differences are natural between neighboring countries but should not escalate into conflicts.
• He referred to the 21st century as Asia’s century, expressing a desire for healthy and natural competition between India and China, without turning into conflict.

Modi’s Comparison with Trump:

• During a conversation with American scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman, Modi noted similarities between himself and U.S. President Donald Trump.
• He observed that Trump has a clearer roadmap for his second term, highlighting their shared approach of prioritizing national interests.

Dialogue Over Discord:

• Modi emphasized the importance of dialogue over discord in international relations, both with Pakistan and China.

Global Intelligence and Security Chiefs Conference

• The fourth conference of global intelligence and security chiefs was hosted by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Sunday.
• Over 28 attendees participated, representing around 20 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Russia.
• The conference focused on global challenges, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, immigration, extradition, and transnational crimes.
• Key issues discussed included counterterrorism, Indo-Pacific cooperation, global security, narcotics, terror funding, and intelligence sharing on transnational crimes.

Conference Timing:

• The conference was held a day before the annual three-day Raisina Dialogue, scheduled from March 17 to 19.
• This year’s conference and the Dialogue are taking place amid global uncertainties arising from U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies and their global ripple effects.

Key Attendees:

• U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, attended the meeting and also held talks with Doval. She was also scheduled to speak at the Raisina Dialogue.
• The chiefs of the Five Eyes countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S.) were present at the conference.
• Canadian spy chief Daniel Rogers participated, as India seeks to reset its relationship with Ottawa following tensions over the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder case.

Conference Topics:

• The primary agenda included counterterrorism, Indo-Pacific cooperation, global security, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
• The key focus for India was intelligence sharing on transnational crimes and counterterrorism efforts.

Organizers:

• The conference was organized by India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), which reports to Ajit Doval.

Historical Context:

This conference was first held in April 2022, a day before the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy. The Raisina Dialogue is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation.