The killing by Israel of Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and General Gholam Reza Soleimani , head of the Basij force, the volunteer paramilitary militia that is part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, is a heavy blow to the Iranian regime.

Larijani in particular had taken over much of the power after the death of Ali Khamenei
Late yesterday evening, Tehran confirmed his death, and retaliation was not long in coming: a cluster bomb killed two people on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, where the Savidor train station was also devastated by the latest rocket launch.

"The pure blood of Larijani and the other martyrs will be avenged," said General Amir Hatami, head of the Iranian army. The attacks that struck Tel Aviv last night, he added, were launched precisely "to avenge" Larijani and the other officials killed yesterday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the consequences of the war in the Middle East "will affect everyone" and welcomed Western criticism of the conflict. "The wave of global repercussions has just begun and will affect everyone, regardless of wealth, religion, or race," Araghchi wrote last night, attaching to his message a copy of the resignation letter of senior US counterterrorism official Joe Kent, who protested the war. "More and more voices, including European and American officials, are calling the war against Iran unjust. Other members of the international community should do the same," the minister added.

Meanwhile, US Central Command announced that it had struck sites along the Iranian coast, near the Strait of Hormuz . "A few hours ago, US forces launched multiple 5,000-pound armor-piercing projectiles at Iranian missile sites along the Iranian coast near the Strait of Hormuz," a command post read, explaining that "Iranian anti-ship missiles at these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait."

And the attacks in Lebanon continue: Israel struck without warning a central neighborhood of Beirut, an attack that according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health killed six people and wounded 24 .

Live news from March 18th

9:25 a.m. – Iran, media: Intelligence Minister Khatib killed in attack

Israel killed Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in an attack overnight, Ynet reported. The minister, commander of the Imam Hussein militia, was hit in Beirut, Lebanon.

9:20 AM – IDF orders evacuation south of Zahrani River in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army has ordered the evacuation of the entire area south of the Zahrani River in southern Lebanon. "Hezbollah's terrorist activities are forcing the IDF to act forcefully in that area, and it has no intention of harming you," the military spokesman warned on X, insisting that "anyone near Hezbollah members, facilities, or weapons is putting their lives at risk."

8:45 a.m. – Four strong explosions heard in Erbil

At least four loud explosions were heard in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq, according to AFP journalists. Pro-Iranian armed groups have carried out a series of drone attacks against US military personnel and interests in recent days. As air defense systems intercepted the projectiles over Erbil, AFP journalists saw a column of smoke rising from the outskirts of the city, where a US consulate and troops from the US-led anti-jihadist coalition stationed at the airport are located.

8:00 AM – IAEA: Bushehr nuclear power plant hit, no damage

The IAEA was informed by Iran that an attack hit the premises of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran on Tuesday evening. "No damage to the facility or injuries to personnel were reported. Director General Rafael Grossi reiterates his call for maximum restraint during the conflict to avert the risk of a nuclear accident," the IAEA wrote in X.

(Unioneonline)

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