Trump’s Last-Minute Plane Switch In Turkey Was Triggered By Missile Threat: Report

Germany Train Station Evacuated After Suspicious Object Found On Tracks, Later Cleared Of Explosives

Deutsche Welle — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:17:49 +0530

Buildings near a train station in the southern state of Bavaria were evacuated as a precaution on Thursday after police said that an object found on the tracks could contain explosives.

Investigators later determined that the object was not an explosive, although criminal police were continuing work at the scene.

A technician had discovered the suspicious item in the track bed at the entrance to the station in the town of Treuchtlingen.

Specialists X-rayed the object, which was also lifted using a robot to allow further investigations.

Road and rail closures remain in place while the investigation continues. Regional services are affected, with trains terminating early at suitable stations. Replacement buses and large-capacity taxis have been arranged.

Long-distance services are being diverted via the city of Ingolstadt. Police have urged people to avoid the area and take alternative routes.

Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

Colombia Earthquake: Death Toll Rises To 265 As Rescuers Race Against Time To Find Survivors

Deutsche Welle — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:17:18 +0530

Edited by: Rob Turner

Rescuers worked through a third straight night with time ticking towards the 72-hour mark since a powerful earthquake hit Colombia. That's the period aid agencies consider most critical for finding survivors alive, though it can stretch longer if trapped people have access to food and water.

"We're entering the final phase," Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said, adding that survivors could still be found afterward but that the odds grow steadily worse. He said crews were still detecting signs of life beneath the rubble and urged speed: "Every minute is vital."

The latest on the Colombia earthquake

The death toll from the quake has climbed to 265, President Abelardo de la Espriella said Wednesday.

De la Espriella said roughly 3,500 people have been injured and nearly 500 remain unaccounted for, though a crowdsourced tracking site used by families put the number of missing far higher, at more than 4,100. More than 25,800 families have been affected in total, he said.

The magnitude 7.4 quake — the strongest to hit Colombia in decades — struck on Monday morning near San Jose del Palmar in the northwestern Choco region. It tore through cities across western Colombia, with Cali and Pereira among the hardest hit, along with Manizales and Quibdo.

In Cali, volunteer rescuer Johana Sanchez described teams pausing every 30 minutes to listen for survivors. "So far, three people have been pulled out alive and three dead," she told AFP.

Officials say 140 buildings collapsed entirely and thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed.

Families grapple with human toll

In Palmira, Santiago Lloreda told Reuters the quake killed his mother and his 13-month-old daughter, Salma, who was too young to have fingerprints on file and would need to be identified through DNA testing. He described his mother as the family's caretaker, saying she "gave everything up to look after the baby."

A man who only gave the news agency his first name, Ricardo, traveled from Miami to recover his sister's body and said his niece was awaiting surgery for a fractured skull, jaw and leg, and a collapsed lung: "She's alive. We know she's going to get better."

Thousands have been left homeless, with many sleeping outdoors in parks or emergency shelters set up in schools and sports arenas, either because their homes were destroyed or out of fear of aftershocks.

Colombia's geological service has recorded 130 aftershocks since Monday's quake.

International aid set to pour in

Response efforts have been especially difficult in Choco, the quake's epicenter, a remote and impoverished region already strained by decades of conflict and displacement. Additionally, lost cell service has made it hard to assess damage in communities reachable only by river.

"This earthquake compounds an already severe humanitarian situation, and there is a need for increased support for the humanitarian response," said Giovanni Rizzo, Colombia director for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

And UN resident coordinator María Jose Torres said in a statement Tuesday that aid groups already working in the region on an earlier peace effort were able to pivot quickly to disaster relief.

The United States has pledged more than $15 million and sent response teams. Mexico has sent military aircraft carrying nearly 20 tons of food along with security personnel, with more aid and rescue specialists on standby. El Salvador's president offered two planes carrying 100 tons of supplies, and a search-and-rescue team from Mexico said it arrived directly from Venezuela, which faced its own major earthquakes in June.

Quake response provides test for new Colombian president

De la Espriella, inaugurated just three days before the earthquake struck, declared an economic emergency and three days of national mourning, and pledged to establish a fund to rebuild hospitals, schools, homes and infrastructure.

"This is undoubtedly a tragedy of immense proportions," he said. "Our efforts are focused on those who remain missing." He has not yet detailed what the economic emergency measures will involve.

Notably, de la Espriella won office on a platform of reduced public spending and a tougher security approach. Analyst Tiziano Breda, of the conflict-monitoring group ACLED, told Reuters that de la Espriella had campaigned in part on cutting funding to the country's disaster-response agency — the same unit now leading the emergency effort.

Experts have cautioned that more seismic activity is possible, if not imminent. "Let's remember that Colombia is full of active fault lines," Rodrigo Leon Loya, a seismologist at the University of the Andes, told AP. "The question isn't whether it can happen again. The question is rather when an earthquake of similar magnitude will occur at another of Colombia’s seismic sources," he warned.

Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

‘Fake Intelligence More Dangerous’: Iran Warns Trump Over ‘Full Control’ Of Hormuz

Vinita Bhat — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:11:42 +0530

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has hit back at US President Donald Trump’s claim that Washington has “full control” of the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US of repeatedly making wrong decisions because of intelligence failures. Warning that Washington could make an even bigger mistake over the strategic waterway, Araghchi urged caution and said “fake intelligence” could be more dangerous than fake news. His remarks came after Trump claimed US naval forces had created a “steel wall” around Hormuz and that Iran had no ability to challenge it.

Araghchi’s Warning

In a post on X on Thursday, Araghchi accused the US of a long history of intelligence failures leading to flawed decisions, citing the war with Iran as an example.

The U.S. has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures. Case in point: The war on Iran. Now, an even bigger miscalculation on the Strait of Hormuz.

Worse than fake news is fake intelligence. Be careful.

Allah is Great, Greater than ANY power on Earth. In Allah we trust.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) August 13, 2026

The Iranian foreign minister also invoked God at the end of his message, saying Allah was greater than any power on Earth and that Iran placed its trust in Him.

Araghchi’s remarks come amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways and a crucial route for global energy supplies.

Also Read: Karoline Leavitt To Step Down As White House Press Secretary

What Trump said

Trump had claimed on Wednesday that the US had “full control” of the Strait of Hormuz and would maintain it. He described the American naval deployment in the region as a “steel wall”, saying Iran had no capability to confront it.

Trump also claimed that Iran’s military infrastructure had been badly weakened and dismissed Tehran as a country that “just talks” and does not act.

In his post, Trump further referred to Iran’s inflation and accused the country of spreading fake news. He said Iran was no longer the “daddy” of the Middle East.

Also Read: ‘Praise Be To Allah!’: Trump Claims US Has ‘Total Control’ Of Strait Of Hormuz

Brazil Orders Discord To Halt Livestreams After 13 Year-Old Dies By Suicide

Deutsche Welle — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:32:38 +0530

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah

Brazil's data protection authority on Wednesday ordered the online messaging platform Discord to suspend its livestreaming feature in the country within three business days.

Officials cited failures to protect children and teenagers from content promoting violence, self-harm and suicide.

Why has Brazil ordered Discord to suspend livestreaming?

The National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) issued the measure after the death of a 13-year-old girl who investigators say was encouraged to harm herself and take her own life during a livestream on the platform.

"Live streams have been repeatedly used to facilitate violence, harassment, and the incitement of self-harm and suicide," said the ANPD.

It cited "robust evidence that the company failed to adopt reasonable measures" to protect children and teenagers from such content.

The regulator said Discord's "Go Live" feature would remain suspended until the company could demonstrate that effective technical, security and governance safeguards for minors were in place.

The ANPD said Discord lacked real-time access to livestream content, limiting its ability to automatically detect violations and leaving it reliant on user reports and other systems the regulator considers inadequate.

Discord has 10 business days to appeal the decision. It could face fines of up to 50 million reais ($9.7 million, €8.4 million) per violation if irregularities are confirmed.

What happened to the 13-year-old girl on Discord?

Police said the 13-year-old girl was encouraged during a roughly 45-minute livestream in July to harm herself and then die by suicide.

Authorities say members of an online group first encouraged her to carry out escalating violent "challenges," including harming an animal, before challenging her to broadcast her own suicide on Discord.

Police say the group deliberately sought out emotionally vulnerable children and teenagers.

Five teenagers and one adult were detained in connection with the case. Police said another girl who was allegedly preparing to take her own life during a livestream was also rescued during the investigation.

What has been the wider reaction in Brazil?

Brazil's Justice Ministry and police have criticized Discord's moderation and age-control systems. One official said one person involved in the case had been able to register an age of 148 using the platform's self-declaration system.

Brazilian first lady Rosangela "Janja" da Silva last week called for Discord to be completely blocked in the country following the teenager's death.

Discord representatives met Brazilian authorities on Friday and later submitted a plan aimed at strengthening protections for users under 18.

Brazil has tightened rules governing children's use of online platforms, including requirements on age verification and parental links for younger users.

Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Sparking Strong Protest From Japan

Deutsche Welle — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:32:17 +0530

Edited by: Rob Turner

Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the far-eastern Kuril Islands for the first time, state media reported on Thursday, drawing anger from Japan.

Japan has long claimed ownership of four of the Kuril Islands, including the one reportedly visited by Putin, which the Soviet Union seized toward the end of World War II.

What is the dispute over the Kuril Islands?

During his trip, Putin visited a fish-processing plant on the island, known as Iturup in Russian and Etorofu in Japanese, where he was given caviar, Russian media reported.

The island belongs to four that are known in Japan as the Northern Territories and that are now Russian-occupied following the Soviet Union's takeover in 1945.

At that time, Moscow deported their Japanese population of about 17,000 people, with the islands now inhabited by some 20,000 Russian citizens.

The unresolved dispute was one of the key reasons why Moscow and Tokyo never signed a formal World War II peace treaty.

Russian-Japanese relations have since suffered another major blow following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022.

The volcanic Kuril archipelago runs in an arc from Russia's Kamchatka peninsula down to Japan's main northern island of Hokkaido.

What has Japan said about Putin's visit?

In a statement on Thursday, Japan's foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, expressed Tokyo's great displeasure at Putin's visit.

"The Northern Territories ... are an inherent part of Japan's territory both historically and under international law, and the government of Japan strongly protests this visit," the statement said.

Strategically-located Kuril Islands

The islands have seldom been visited by Russian leaders, with then-President Dmitry Medvedev in 2010 becoming the first to travel to the disputed territory.

Medvedev also went there in 2015 as prime minister.

Putin's visit to the Kurils came after he visited the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, where Russia's navy was conducting drills.

The islands had considerable strategic importance for the Soviet Union, which kept a large military presence there during the Cold War amid tensions with the US and Japan.

Talks on the territorial issue that have been held since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 have so far borne no fruit.

Bangladesh Cuts Shop Hours To 8 PM, Billboards By 7 PM Amid Energy Crisis: India To Help?

Bharathi SP — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:45:28 +0530

Bangladesh has tightened restrictions on commercial activity as a worsening energy crunch puts pressure on electricity generation, coming days after the country's Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood sought additional diesel supplies from India. Under a new government directive issued on August 12, shopping malls, markets and shops across Bangladesh will have to close by 8 pm. The timing of the decision is significant. The restrictions were announced shortly after Mahmood raised the issue of additional diesel supplies with Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, as Dhaka looks to address fuel and gas shortages affecting power generation.

Bangladesh Puts Nationwide Curbs On Commercial Lighting

The latest directive fixes operating hours for commercial establishments between 11 am and 8 pm. The order, issued by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, applies beyond Dhaka and has been circulated to mayors and administrators of city corporations, as well as divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners.

The government has also ordered illuminated billboards to be switched off by 7 pm. Decorative lighting has been prohibited altogether under the new measures, as per reports.

The notification states that "all types of decorative or illuminated lighting will remain switched off."

The restrictions extend to public events as well. Fairs, trade fairs and cultural programmes taking place across the country have been instructed to finish by 8 pm.

ALSO READ: Activist Devendra Mahto Seeks Civil Surgeon's Nod To Return From Hospital To Ranchi Protest Site

Power Crisis Drives Government's 'Quick Fix'

A senior official in the BNP administration, speaking to Network18 on condition of anonymity, said the measures were intended to curb electricity consumption, particularly from artificial lighting.

The directive reflects the government's attempt to reduce demand at a time when prolonged power cuts have been reported in residential areas. Limiting commercial operating hours and non-essential lighting provides authorities with an immediate mechanism to reduce electricity consumption without imposing a complete shutdown of businesses.

India Connection: Dhaka Seeks Extra Diesel Supplies

The restrictions come against the backdrop of Bangladesh seeking greater energy assistance from India. Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood recently approached New Delhi for additional diesel supplies during discussions with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma. The request came amid shortages of fuel and gas that have affected electricity generation and contributed to longer power interruptions in parts of Bangladesh.

The sequence of events highlights the interconnected nature of Bangladesh's current energy challenges. While Dhaka is seeking additional fuel supplies from India, it is simultaneously attempting to reduce domestic electricity demand through restrictions on commercial establishments, lighting and public events.

ALSO READ: UN Report Links Al-Qaida In Indian Subcontinent To Nov 2025 Red Fort Blast That Killed 11

Fairs And Cultural Events Also Face New Deadline

The government's measures are not limited to shops and markets. Authorities have ordered fairs, trade fairs and cultural programmes currently taking place or scheduled to be held across Bangladesh to conclude by 8 pm.

The directive specifically says that "ongoing/upcoming fairs, trade fairs and cultural programmes across the country conclude by 8:00 pm."

The nationwide distribution of the order indicates that the government intends the restrictions to be implemented across administrative regions rather than treating the problem as one confined to Dhaka.

Restaurants, Hospitals And Pharmacies Exempt

The revised operating rules came into effect from Wednesday. Commercial establishments covered by the order can operate between 11 am and 8 pm, while illuminated billboards must be turned off by 7 pm.

However, the government has carved out exemptions for certain essential services. Restaurants, hospitals and pharmacies are not covered by the new restrictions.

‘I Am Hafiz Saeed’s Slave’: Former Pakistan Minister Draws Flak Over Remarks, Threatens India

ABP Live News — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 10:43:31 +0530

Former Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has come under fire after appearing at a public event alongside individuals identified as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) figures, praising the banned outfit’s chief Hafiz Saeed and making inflammatory remarks against India.

A video from the event shows Rasheed sharing the stage with Khalid Masood Sandhu, identified as a senior LeT commander and president of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), and Qari Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh, described as a member of the terror group’s central advisory committee.

During his address, Rasheed openly expressed his support for Saeed and made several remarks praising the jailed LeT chief.

ALSO READ | Is Imran Khan Dead? Senior Pakistan Journalist Makes Shocking Claim

Sheikh Rasheed Praises Hafiz Saeed At Public Event

In the video, Rasheed is heard saying, “Main Hafiz sahab ka ghulam hu,” which translates to “I am a slave of Hafiz Saeed.”

Rasheed also claimed that Saeed’s phone number had appeared on his phone while he was in the United States, after which he was expelled from the country.

He went on to reiterate his support for Saeed and the organisation, declaring, “We are with Pakistan, with Hafiz Saeed.”

Former Minister Makes Inflammatory Remarks Against India

Rasheed also made inflammatory statements targeting India during the gathering.

He claimed that Allah would destroy India if the country “even looks towards Pakistan”. He further said, “No birds will chirp in India, nor will bells ring in a temple,” while claiming that nothing would happen in India that went against Pakistan.

The remarks have drawn attention because of the former minister’s appearance alongside individuals identified as members or associates of LeT, a banned terrorist organisation.

ALSO READ | Pakistani Military’s Balochistan Massacre: 28 Civilians, Including 9 Children, Killed In Midnight Airstrike

Rasheed Served As Interior Minister Under Imran Khan

Rasheed served as Pakistan’s Interior Minister in the government led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan from 2020 to 2022.

He is also the founder and leader of the Awami Muslim League.

His appearance at the event and comments praising Hafiz Saeed come against the backdrop of longstanding international scrutiny of LeT and its leadership.

Karoline Leavitt To Step Down As White House Press Secretary

Deepika Bhatt — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:44:28 +0530

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her position at the end of August to focus on her family, US President Donald Trump has announced.

Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, praising Leavitt for her work in the White House and saying she would continue to advise him from outside the administration.

“Karoline has been a real leader in the White House,” Trump said, adding that she had done a “phenomenal job” advocating for justice, liberty and freedom since 2018.

Trump also described Leavitt as one of his “top outside advisors” and said she would remain an influential figure within the Republican Party.

Leavitt's Departure Follows Maternity Leave

Leavitt's decision to step down comes shortly after she returned from maternity leave. She and her husband, Nicholas Riccio, welcomed their second child, a daughter named Viviana, in early May.

The 27-year-old had temporarily stepped away from her duties in late April and returned to the White House podium in mid-July for her first formal press briefing since giving birth.

Trump called Leavitt one of the best White House press secretaries in the history of the office and said she would continue supporting his administration as Republicans work towards securing a decisive victory in the November midterm elections.

Leavitt's Rise In Trump's Political Circle

Leavitt has been associated with Trump since his first presidential term. She began her White House career as an intern in the Office of Presidential Correspondence before rising to become an assistant press secretary by the end of Trump's first term in January 2021.

After Trump left office following the 2020 election, Leavitt worked in communications for MAGA Inc, a pro-Trump super PAC. She later ran for the US House of Representatives from New Hampshire in 2022.

Although she won the Republican primary for New Hampshire's First Congressional District, she lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas.

Leavitt later became the principal spokesperson for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. After Trump returned to the White House in 2025, she took over as press secretary at the age of 27, becoming the youngest person to hold the position.

Known For Combative Exchanges With Reporters

During her tenure, Leavitt developed a reputation for her confrontational exchanges with journalists at White House briefings. She frequently defended Trump's policies while challenging questions from reporters.

She also oversaw a change in the White House briefing room, giving bloggers, podcasters and social media personalities greater access alongside traditional news organisations.

Leavitt often gave the first question at briefings to a representative of the so-called “new media”, an approach she linked to Trump's use of podcasts and other alternative media platforms during his presidential campaign.

At her first briefing as press secretary, she said the administration would engage with a broader range of media outlets and personalities rather than limiting access to established news organisations.

Trump Administration Faces Press Freedom Criticism

Leavitt has repeatedly backed Trump's criticism of mainstream media organisations, while press freedom groups have accused the administration of restricting journalists' access to government officials. The White House also faced criticism after seeking to restrict access for Associated Press journalists amid a dispute over the administration's preferred terminology for the Gulf of Mexico.

Critics argued that such measures could undermine government transparency and press freedom protections under the First Amendment. Leavitt has been the only person to serve as White House press secretary during Trump's second term so far. His first administration, by comparison, saw four people hold the position, including Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

Indian Teenager Charged With Murdering Mother, Brother In Massachusetts

PTI — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:19:36 +0530

New York: A 17-year-old Indian-origin boy has been charged with murdering his mother and younger brother in their suburban home in Massachusetts, officials said.

Arjun Aravind, a resident of Acton, has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of assault and battery on a household or family member, two counts of assault and battery, use of a vehicle without authority, and theft of a motor vehicle in connection with the deaths of his brother Siddharth Aravind, 14, and mother Sudha Venkatesan, 45.

It is alleged that Arjun fatally assaulted his mother and brother inside their home on Tuesday before fleeing the scene. Both victims were found with “obvious trauma”, but the Chief Medical Examiner has yet to release information on the exact cause and manner of death. The type of weapon used in the killings is also still under investigation.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo said the deaths occurred on Tuesday inside the family's Martha Lane home in Acton, about 48 km from Boston.

Authorities said on Wednesday that shortly after 6.37 pm on August 11, Acton Police received a call from Arjun’s father, who had been unable to reach his family members. A tutor who was expected at the home had also been unable to make contact with anyone inside.

Arjun’s father had last had contact with his wife Sudha early that morning before he left for work, while his younger son Siddharth was last seen around noon.

After arriving at the home, police found the two victims dead inside. Siddharth was found on the first floor and Sudha in the finished basement, authorities said.

Arjun was not in the home and had allegedly fled in his mother’s car, police said.

Investigators tried to locate Arjun but were initially unsuccessful and alerted law enforcement agencies and the public to be on the lookout for him. Early Wednesday morning, police in Wayland, Massachusetts, responding to an unrelated alarm at a parking lot, found the vehicle with Arjun inside. He was taken into custody without incident.

"The subsequent investigation indicates that Arjun had recently been demonstrating concerning behaviour, including using the internet and ChatGPT to make searches for theoretical ideas or fantasies regarding killing his family,” a statement by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office said.

Arjun was expected to be arraigned in Lowell Juvenile Court on Wednesday. Since the Juvenile Court does not have jurisdiction over a murder charge, he will be arraigned on that charge and the related assault charges in Concord District Court later.

(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

Trump’s Last-Minute Plane Switch In Turkey Was Triggered By Missile Threat: Report

Ayesha Fatima — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:18:47 +0530

A shoulder-fired missile threat targeting US President Donald Trump prompted the Secret Service to make a last-minute change to his travel arrangements during his visit to Turkey last month, according to a Reuters report.

The threat emerged on the final day of Trump’s trip to Ankara for the NATO summit, at a time when tensions with Iran were intensifying. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the Secret Service considered the threat “credible and imminent” and had little time to put an alternative plan in place.

“They were scrambling to head off what they thought was a credible, imminent threat,” the source said, while declining to disclose where the intelligence had originated.

ALSO READ | Iran Knew Trump’s Exact Ankara Location During NATO Summit: Report

Trump Secretly Switched To Smaller Government Jet

Officials decided it was in Trump’s best interest to keep the operation secret as tensions with Iran remained high, the source said. Iran borders Turkey, adding to concerns surrounding the president’s movements.

On July 8, Trump and a small group of aides quietly transferred from Air Force One to a smaller C-32A government jet before departing Turkey. The transfer was carried out using a catering truck, while Air Force One left separately carrying senior officials, White House staff and journalists.

A second source told Reuters there was no definite plan to launch an attack, but there appeared to be an intention to target Trump. That assessment allowed both aircraft to continue flying rather than grounding the presidential aircraft.

Trump Confirms Secret Service Ordered Plane Switch

Trump confirmed on Tuesday that the Secret Service had instructed him to change aircraft. He said he believed the plane he ultimately flew on was actually at greater risk.

“I think it was at greater risk because that would be the plane I think that they would be more likely to go for,” Trump said, without providing evidence for the assessment.

The president did not provide further details about the nature of the threat or the intelligence behind the decision.

ALSO READ | ‘Praise Be To Allah!’: Trump Claims US Has ‘Total Control’ Of Strait Of Hormuz

Heat-Seeking Missile May Have Been Considered

The reported threat may have involved a newer type of heat-seeking missile capable of locking on to an aircraft’s hot engines, Douglas Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, told Reuters.

Such weapons can be more difficult to detect because they do not emit radio signals, Birkey said. He cited the Iranian SA-67 and Russian-made 9K333 Verba as examples of shoulder-fired systems that use heat-seeking technology.