Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Trinamool Congress clashed in central Kolkata on Saturday morning ahead of a rally scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day.

The confrontation took place near Girish Park, roughly five kilometres from the Brigade Parade Ground where the prime minister is expected to address supporters.

Eyewitnesses reported that members from both political groups raised slogans and threw stones at each other during the confrontation. The clash created tension in the area as supporters were moving towards the rally venue.

According to BJP supporters, stones were allegedly thrown at them without provocation while they were heading towards the rally. One party activist told a Bengali news channel that the group was targeted suddenly and also faced verbal abuse.

However, local TMC workers rejected the allegations. They claimed that BJP supporters initiated the confrontation by hurling abuses and throwing stones first.

TMC supporters also alleged that stones were thrown towards the residence of local party leaders during the incident.

Police personnel were quickly deployed to the spot to control the situation and prevent further escalation. A large contingent of security forces intervened to restore order in the area.

The clash occurred about half an hour before the prime minister’s scheduled address at the Brigade Parade Ground. The rally marks the conclusion of the BJP’s statewide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in West Bengal.

During his visit, the prime minister is also expected to unveil and lay foundation stones for development projects valued at more than Rs 18,000 crore in the state.

A building in the financial district of Dubai was struck by debris from an intercepted aerial attack on Friday, marking the second such incident reported in less than 24 hours as tensions continue during the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Authorities confirmed that debris from a successful interception hit the façade of a building in central Dubai. According to an official statement shared by the Dubai Media Office on social media platform X, the situation was quickly brought under control. Officials also said there was no fire and no injuries reported in the incident.

Witnesses described hearing a powerful blast in the area around the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the emirate’s busiest financial hubs. A resident living nearby told media that the sound was the loudest they had ever heard and initially feared something catastrophic had happened.

Another correspondent reported hearing a massive double explosion that shook surrounding buildings and left a cloud of black smoke hanging over the district for some time before the situation stabilised.

Drone hits US embassy complex in Baghdad

In a separate development, a drone struck the United States Embassy Baghdad in Baghdad, according to Iraqi security officials. Media present near the area reported seeing smoke rising from inside the diplomatic compound after the strike.

Security sources confirmed that the drone attack directly targeted the embassy complex. Details about damage or casualties were not immediately available.

The attack occurred shortly after two strikes targeted positions linked to the Iran-backed group Kataeb Hezbollah. Security officials said the strikes killed two members of the group, including what was described as a key figure.

According to one security source, a missile hit a house used by the group at around 2:15 am local time. The source added that the strike resulted in the death of a senior member, while two others were wounded.

The incidents in Dubai and Baghdad come as the wider regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues to escalate into its 15th day, raising concerns about the spread of hostilities across the Middle East.

The United States military has confirmed that one of its aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, marking the fourth American aircraft lost since the start of the current conflict involving Iran.

According to a statement issued by United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the incident involved a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. The military said one aircraft went down in western Iraq, while another aircraft linked to the situation was able to land safely.

CENTCOM clarified that the crash was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire, though details about the cause of the incident have not yet been disclosed.

Fourth US aircraft lost in the conflict

The crash makes the KC-135 the fourth American military aircraft lost since the beginning of the war in the Middle East, which started on February 28.

Earlier in the conflict, three McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by forces from Kuwait in what the US military described as friendly fire. Despite the loss of the aircraft, all six crew members from those jets managed to eject safely.

CENTCOM had earlier said the incident happened during intense combat operations that included attacks from Iranian aircraft as well as ballistic missiles and drones.

KC-135 aircraft and crew details

The KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft has been in service for more than six decades and plays a key role in extending the range and endurance of US military aircraft during operations.

Typically, the aircraft operates with a three-member crew, consisting of a pilot, a co-pilot and a boom operator responsible for refuelling other aircraft mid-air. However, certain missions may require a navigator, and the aircraft can carry up to 37 passengers, according to information provided by the US Air Force.

Authorities have not yet released information about the crew involved in the latest crash or whether there were casualties.