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 12 people and injured over 40 .

Live news from March 18th

10:15 a.m. – Crosetto: "We need a UN mission in Hormuz."

Italy is not participating in this war, no European nation is participating in this war, it is not our war. We have every interest, the entire world has an interest, in Hormuz not being involved in this war, because over 20% of the gas and oil that daily supply the rest of the world, all commercial activities, and life throughout the rest of the world passes through that Strait. An international agreement is needed for this to happen. We, as Italy, would be very happy if there were a mission that brought together the entire world to guarantee the passage of energy through Hormuz. However, sending ships that could be interpreted as participating in a war and not in a peace corridor is not feasible. The way to create one is perhaps to start with a nonpartisan organization like the United Nations." This was stated by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, who stated that "participation in a mission under the auspices of the UN, whose decision is up to Parliament, would mean operating within a framework of complete security."

10.40am – Türkiye deploys new Patriot system in the south

Turkey has announced that new Patriot missiles will be deployed at the Incirlik military base in the southeastern province of Adana, after NATO's defense system intercepted a third missile from Iran heading toward Turkish airspace last week. "In addition to the national measures taken to ensure the safety of our airspace and citizens, an additional Patriot system, assigned by Allied Air Command Ramstein/Germany, is being deployed to Adana, in addition to the Spanish Patriot system already present at the base," the Defense Ministry announced, TRT reports.

10:25 AM – Funerals for Larijani and Soleimani to be held today in Tehran

The funerals of Iranian Supreme Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force, will be held today in Tehran. The BBC reports this, citing the Tasnim news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The ceremony, which will begin at 1:30 PM local time (11 AM GMT) in Tehran's Enghelab Square, will also be held in memory of the 84 sailors killed in the sinking of the Iranian warship Iris Dena on March 4 by a US-launched torpedo.

10:20 a.m. – Larijani account posts photo of Shiite ring on the finger of leader killed in the rubble

The Telegram account of Ali Larijani, the leader of the Islamic Republic killed last night in an Israeli attack, posted an image of his distinctive Shiite ring on his hand amid the rubble at the scene of his assassination. The image is reminiscent of one circulated in Iran after the United States eliminated Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, a powerful figure in the regime, in 2020. Larijani's Telegram account also posted an image of his hand before and after the assassination.

10:00 AM – Lebanon: 12 dead in Israeli raids in central Beirut

The death toll from Israeli airstrikes on densely populated neighborhoods in central Beirut has risen to 12 and 41 wounded, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

9:50 a.m. – Tajani: "We are loyal to the US, but we are not at war."

"We have always been loyal to the United States, to any president, but this war does not involve an area of NATO interest or NATO competence," said Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, a guest on Agorà on Rai3. "We," Tajani added, "are not at war; no one asked us to go to war. The Americans attacked the Israelis without saying anything. We condemned Iran's reaction because Iran is attacking countries that have nothing to do with the American and Israeli attack—I'm thinking of the Emirates, Turkey, and Cyprus."

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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