U.S. President Donald Trump says the current armed conflict with Iran could run four weeks.
“From the outset, it was assumed that it would take about four weeks,” Trump said in a telephone interview with the British newspaper Daily Mail on Sunday.
“It’s a big country; it’ll take four weeks – or less,” the U.S. president explained.
Three U.S. soldiers have been killed and five others seriously injured in the U.S. military operation against Iran.
Iran’s counterattacks have hit U.S. military bases in the Gulf region and other targets.
Trump praised the soldiers who were killed as “great people.”
“And, you know, we expect that to happen, unfortunately. Could happen continuously – it could happen again,” he added.
Eyal Zamir, the chief of staff of the Israeli military, gave a similar assessment late on Sunday, saying that Israel recorded “significant achievements” in Iran over the first 48 hours, but “many more days of fighting lie ahead.”
(dpa/NAN)
Ebonyi governor orders immediate rescue of abducted traditional ruler
Gov. Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has directed security agencies to secure the immediate rescue of abducted traditional ruler, Francis Igwe.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Igwe, the traditional ruler of Ndufu-Alike in Ikwo Local Government Area, was seized by gunmen on Sunday morning while heading to church.
Igwe is the father of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Dr Kelechi Igwe.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, the governor described the abduction as “deeply troubling and totally unacceptable.”
He said all security agencies had been directed to work in synergy to track the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“The state government will deploy all available apparatus to unmask those behind this criminal act and prevent any recurrence,” he said.
He urged residents, particularly in Ikwo and neighbouring areas, to remain calm but vigilant.
“They should provide useful information that could assist security agencies in their ongoing operations,” he added.
Nwifuru reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that Ebonyi would not become a haven for criminals.
“The abductors should release the traditional ruler unconditionally, as the full weight of the law will be brought upon anyone found culpable,” he said.
He expressed confidence that, with public cooperation and security agencies’ dedication, the royal father would be safely reunited with his family.
“Acts of criminality against innocent citizens will not be tolerated,” the governor said, expressing solidarity with the traditional ruler’s family and the people of Ikwo. (NAN)
