In a shocking development, Salwan Momika, a former Iraqi militia leader turned atheist critic of Islam, was reportedly discovered deceased in Norway on Tuesday. Momika, known for his fervent advocacy of “free speech” and his highly controversial act of publicly burning the Quran, had recently relocated to Norway from Sweden.

Describing himself as “a liberal atheist critic and thinker”, Momika gained international attention in June 2023 when he made headlines by stomping on a copy of the Quran and subsequently setting it ablaze outside Stockholm’s largest mosque. The provocative act, captured on video by a friend, sparked widespread debate and condemnation.

Momika’s migration to Norway followed his acquisition of a Swedish residency permit in 2021. His departure from Iraq in 2018 was driven by his pursuit of asylum, amidst his outspoken criticism of Islam, despite his Christian background.

Despite being a professed atheist, Momika’s confrontational stance against Islam earned him the ire of Islamic countries, particularly during his residence in Sweden. He vehemently denounced the Quran as “the most dangerous book in the world.”

In a significant turn of events in the ongoing Middle East crisis, the consular annex of Iran embassy in Damascus was destroyed by Israeli air strikes on Monday. The attack resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, including a high-ranking Revolutionary Guard commander, further exacerbating regional tensions.

Following the attack, the Iranian officials vowed a strong retaliation, raising concerns about escalating violence amid the ongoing Gaza war.

Among those killed were Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and another senior officer from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps named Brigadier General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, described as a coordinator for the Quds Force, along with Hossein Aman Elahi, Mehdi Jalalati, Mohsen Sedaghat, Ali Aghababaee, and Ali Salehi Roozbahani. Reports indicate that the bombing was carried out by Israeli warplanes in Damascus’s Mezzeh district, prompting widespread condemnation.

Crime will not go unanswered: Hezbollah

Meanwhile, Iran-backed actors in the region have begun to react. Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon has issued a stern statement pledging retaliation. They warned that Israel would face consequences for the killing of high-ranking Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the strike on the country’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, the previous day.

In a statement, Hezbollah declared, “Certainly, this crime will not go unanswered, and the enemy will face punishment and revenge.” The attack on Iranian embassy and, more importantly, the killing of Zahedi has taken Hezbollah and Israel at loggerheads mounting further escalation in the conflict as the role of the slain Zahedi was deemed crucial to Hezbollah’s operations in Lebanon. He was the in charge of arming and coordinating with Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian militias in Lebanon and Syria, for a long time and for the same reason, Israel was tracking him for a long time. Reports suggest that Israel even notified the US, minutes before the attack but didn’t sought the green light.

Widespread condemnation of Iran embassy attack

According to reports the bombing was carried out by Israeli warplanes in the Mezzeh district of Damascus. The attack started a wave of criticism and condemnation. Syria’s foreign minister Faisal Mekdad condemned the bombing saying, “We strongly condemn this atrocious terrorist attack that targeted the Iranian consulate building in Damascus and killed a number of innocents.”

Saudi Arabia has also condemned the attack, labeling it a breach of international diplomatic laws and diplomatic immunity regulations. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi also expressed strong condemnation. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “The ministry vehemently rejects the targeting of diplomatic facilities under any pretext, as it violates international diplomatic laws and diplomatic immunity regulations.” Similar criticism has been voiced by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Russia, Iran, Jordan, and Oman in response to the attack.

However, Israel’s military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari asserted that the targeted building was not a consulate or embassy, but rather a military structure belonging to the Quds forces, disguised as a civilian facility. He highlighted a separate incident on Monday, where a drone attack on a naval base in southern Israel was directed by Iran, resulting in no injuries.

Iran’s reaction

Iran’s ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, confirmed that the strike targeted a consular building within the embassy compound, emphasizing that his residence occupied the top two floors and remained unharmed. Notably, while Israel has previously targeted Iran’s military installations in Syria, this marked the first instance of an attack on its embassy. Akbari remarked, “This is perhaps the first time that the Zionist regime allows itself to attack an official building of the Islamic Republic of Iran embassy, which had the flag of the Islamic Republic raised on top of it.” Akbari pledged retaliation for the strike “at the same magnitude and harshness”.

Furthermore, Iran’s UN mission denounced the attack as a “flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the foundational principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises.” It reiterated Tehran’s stance, asserting its right “to take a decisive response” in light of the situation.

US denied involvement in Iran embassy airstrike

Iran alleges that the attack was executed using F-35 warplanes. Considerably, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi is the most senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officer to be killed since the 2020 U.S. assassination of Qassen Soleimani in 2020. Having clear idea about the possible escalation and ramifications, the US has swiftly denied its involvement in the attack. Reportedly, a senior US official has said that US has conveyed it directly to Iran.

Nevertheless, the attack on embassy is a strategic blow and a self incriminating act by Israel. The embassies are diplomatically immune under the international law and being a state actor such an action is a direct attack on the sovereignty and integrity of another country. The possibility of an unprecedentedly heightening escalation is at the all time high in the ongoing crisis. Most importantly, the attack has given Iran an opportunity to enter the conflict directly and soon a third world war can be anticipated.

In a tragic turn of events, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been gripped by devastating rain-related incidents over the past two days, leaving a trail of destruction and loss. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), ten lives were lost, and twelve individuals sustained injuries as a result of these calamities.

PDMA spokesperson Anwar Shahzad confirmed the distressing statistics, revealing that among the deceased were eight children and two women, while the injured comprised nine children, two women and a man. The casualties occurred primarily due to various roof and house collapse incidents across multiple districts including Shangla, Bannu, Bajaur, Peshawar, Nowshera, and Mansehra.

The toll on infrastructure and property has also been significant, with reports indicating that 27 houses suffered damages as a consequence of the relentless rainfall and hailstorms. As per the PDMA’s brief report issued late on Saturday night, three houses were fully destroyed, while 24 others were partially damaged in areas spanning Mohmand, Mardan, North Waziristan, Swat, Upper Dir, among others.

Cattles perished in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

Reportedly, Harban Tehsil chairman Asadullah Quraishi has said that 19 cattle perished in flash flood incidents triggered by the heavy rains. The loss of livestock, including the destruction of 15 cattle pens, further exacerbated the already dire situation.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been grappling with incessant rainfall since Friday, with Saturday night witnessing severe downpours coupled with hailstorms, intensifying the impact on communities. Notably, Upper Kohistan’s Harban locality bore witness to the destruction of a cattle pen, underscoring the widespread nature of the calamity and its detrimental effects on both lives and livelihoods.

Relief efforts are currently underway in the affected areas, with authorities and emergency responders striving to provide assistance and support to those impacted by the unfolding crisis. As the region navigates through this challenging period, attention remains focused on mitigating further harm and aiding affected individuals and families in their recovery efforts.

Earlier the same picture of natural disaster exacerbated by the human actions was witnessed in Pakistan occupied Balochistan. About nine people lost their lives across from Quetta to Gwadar, while hundreds were forced to displace. Strikingly, the establishment failed to take any progressive measures to help people emerge from the crisis, in fact worse infrastructure harmed them more than the rains which could have inflicted bearable consequences otherwise.