The funeral of Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is being held on Wednesday. Both officials were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Monday, according to Iranian and Israeli sources.

The IRGC confirmed the death of Soleimani, while Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Larijani was killed in the same attack on Tuesday night. The incident marks a significant escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran, following a series of cross-border hostilities.

Iranian media reported that the deaths of the two senior figures have drawn national attention, though Iranian officials have indicated that the killings will not destabilize the country’s political system.

Israel carried out an overnight attack in Tehran targeting Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmail Khatib, according to an Israeli official cited by international media. The strike came just one day after the killing of Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian security official. The Israeli source stated that it remains unclear whether Khatib was killed in the assault.

The report, based on information from CNN and Al Jazeera, indicates a rapid escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel following consecutive high-level attacks. The incident underscores the volatile security environment in Tehran and the broader regional strain between the two countries.

No confirmation has yet been provided by Iranian authorities, and the full extent of the damage or casualties remains uncertain.

At least 12 people were killed and 41 others injured early Wednesday when Israeli aircraft carried out an airstrike without prior warning in central Beirut, according to Lebanese authorities. The attack targeted a residential building in the densely populated Zukak al-Blat area, near government offices and several foreign embassies. The Israeli military also issued new threats of further strikes in another part of the city, heightening public fear.

The incident comes as Lebanon becomes increasingly entangled in the Iran–Israel conflict that intensified after March 2, when Hezbollah, backed by Tehran, launched rocket attacks on Israel following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response, Israel expanded its military operations across Lebanon, conducting both air and ground assaults, particularly in the south.

Israeli forces have repeatedly struck Beirut’s central districts in recent weeks, often without prior warning, as the conflict continues to widen across the region.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has convened an emergency two-day session in London to assess the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on global maritime transport. The meeting, which began on Wednesday, is focusing on the safety of thousands of stranded ships and seafarers. The IMO’s 40-member council is expected to vote on several proposals, including the creation of a ‘safe maritime corridor’ to evacuate vessels and crews trapped in the Persian Gulf. Any adopted resolutions, however, will not be legally binding.

According to the IMO, around 3,200 ships with some 20,000 crew members are stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, where at least 21 vessels have been attacked since the conflict began. The United Arab Emirates reported that over 18 commercial ships have been damaged by missiles, drones, naval craft, and sea mines, resulting in at least eight deaths and four missing sailors. The UK, France, and Germany have accused Iran of targeting commercial shipping and called for an end to such attacks, while Iran has blamed Israel and the United States for provoking the crisis.

Japan, Panama, Singapore, and the UAE have urged the IMO to establish a framework for the safe withdrawal of ships from high-risk zones, as industry groups call for coordinated international security measures and improved crew welfare.

Iran carried out fresh attacks across several Gulf countries on Tuesday night, following its pledge to avenge the killing of national security chief Ali Larijani. The strikes reportedly included missile attacks that killed two people in Tel Aviv, Israel. Explosions were also reported near the US Embassy area in Baghdad early Wednesday morning.

According to reports, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar all claimed to have intercepted incoming attacks. In response, the United States announced that it had launched strikes on Iranian missile positions along the Strait of Hormuz, using bunker-busting bombs. The developments mark a sharp escalation in regional hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

The situation underscores rising tensions across the Middle East, with multiple countries now directly engaged in defensive and retaliatory actions following Larijani’s assassination.

Iran has launched extensive attacks on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council. According to Israel’s Ministry of Health, 192 Israelis have been hospitalized in the past 24 hours due to injuries from the assaults. Among them, 177 sustained minor injuries, while the condition of 11 others remains unclear. Since the conflict began, a total of 3,727 people have been admitted to hospitals with injuries.

Iran has carried out repeated missile strikes across Israel, with explosions reported in the central Gush Dan area. Israeli television Channel 12 reported that at least one missile was intercepted, but debris from the interception exploded upon falling. In Holon city, several vehicles were damaged and caught fire, while sirens were heard in southern Israel.

The situation reflects a sharp escalation in hostilities between Iran and Israel, with continued missile activity and civilian injuries reported across multiple regions.

Foreign ministers from Arab and other Muslim-majority countries are set to meet in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen regional security and stability, according to a post by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on social media platform X. The ministry said the meeting aims to deepen dialogue and coordination among member states to maintain peace and stability across the region.

The talks come amid rising tensions throughout the Middle East following a joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28. In response, Tehran has launched a series of missile and drone strikes targeting Gulf states, Israel, and U.S. installations across the region, creating a growing security crisis. These attacks have frequently disrupted air traffic at major Gulf airports, including those in Dubai and Doha.

Ahead of the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held phone discussions with his counterparts from Syria, Algeria, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates to coordinate positions on the issue.

For more than two weeks, Israel and the United States have been carrying out attacks on Iran, yet no Muslim-majority country has stepped forward to assist Tehran. Many Muslim nations are instead viewing Iran as a threat, reflecting deep divisions driven by sectarian differences, national interests, and dependence on the United States. Experts note that Iran’s recent strikes on neighboring Arab states during Ramadan have further alienated potential allies and intensified distrust across the region.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has sought to position itself as a leading Islamic power and protector of Shia minorities, often clashing with Sunni-led Arab monarchies such as Saudi Arabia. Despite a brief diplomatic thaw in 2023, Iran’s actions following the latest US-Israel offensive have revived fears among Gulf states about Tehran’s ambitions and destabilizing influence. Analysts suggest that Iran’s regional image has suffered severe damage, and its isolation has become more pronounced.

The ongoing conflict has disrupted the fragile balance of power in the Middle East, with some experts predicting closer security cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Israel as Gulf nations seek advanced defense systems against potential Iranian threats.

U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed his much-anticipated visit to China due to the ongoing war with Iran, which Washington currently considers its top priority. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump said new dates for the meeting are being arranged in coordination with Beijing, adding that China has no objection. The visit, originally scheduled for March 31 to April 2 in Beijing, is now expected to take place about five or six weeks later.

The postponement comes as the Iran war enters its third week, with the Strait of Hormuz nearly closed to global maritime traffic. China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that communication between Washington and Beijing regarding the visit remains active.

The planned discussions between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were expected to cover a wide range of issues, including trade tariffs, China’s export controls on rare minerals and magnets, U.S. relations with Taiwan, and China’s fentanyl exports.

A new attack has struck the United States Embassy compound in Baghdad, Iraq, early Wednesday local time, according to AFP and Reuters. Explosions were heard in the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses numerous diplomatic missions and international organizations. The embassy’s air defense system intercepted a rocket aimed at the compound, while a nearby luxury hotel in the same area caught fire after being hit by a drone.

The US Embassy in Baghdad has faced multiple attacks since the start of the Iran war, reflecting persistent instability in the region. The Green Zone remains one of the most secure yet frequently targeted areas in Iraq, often visited by foreign diplomats. In a separate incident on Tuesday, four people were killed in an attack on a house in Baghdad’s Al-Jadiriyah neighborhood.

The renewed violence underscores the fragile security situation in Iraq’s capital as regional conflicts continue to spill over into the country’s diplomatic and civilian zones.

Iran carried out a missile strike near an Australian military base in the United Arab Emirates on the morning of March 18, 2026. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the missile hit near the Al Minhad base at around 9:15 a.m. local time. He stated that no Australian soldiers were injured and all personnel were safe.

According to Albanese, the missile struck a road leading to the base, causing a fire that resulted in minor damage to a residential block and a medical center. The incident did not lead to any reported casualties among Australian forces. The report cited the BBC as its source.

Authorities have not yet provided further details on the motive or broader implications of the strike, and no additional response from Iran or the UAE was mentioned in the report.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that the ongoing war in the Middle East could have global repercussions. In a post on social media platform X, he said the ripple effects of the conflict were only beginning and would impact everyone regardless of wealth, religion, or nationality. Araghchi urged Western governments to build stronger resistance against the war.

His post included a copy of the resignation letter of Joe Kent, director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center. In the letter, Kent stated that he could not support the ongoing war against Iran, arguing that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States and that the conflict was driven by pressure from Israel and its U.S. lobby. Araghchi added that an increasing number of European and American officials were calling the war against Iran unjust and encouraged others to follow their example.

The warning comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with reports of casualties following Iranian attacks on Israel and diplomatic efforts among Muslim nations to address the crisis.

Iran’s Deputy Chief of the Supreme National Security Council, Alireza Bayat, has been killed. According to Iranian state media, Bayat was with the country’s security chief, Ali Larijani, when Israel carried out an attack that also claimed Larijani’s life. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, as confirmed earlier by the security council, which reported that Larijani, his son, and an aide were killed in the Israeli strike.

Tasnim News Agency described Bayat as a skilled but publicity-shy administrator. Before joining the Supreme National Security Council, he served as the head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization and previously worked in several national security institutions.

The report did not provide further details about the location or circumstances of the attack, nor did it mention any official Iranian response to the incident.

Israel launched intense missile strikes across Lebanon on March 18, 2026, killing six people and injuring 24 in Beirut. The attacks targeted three apartment buildings in central Beirut. The Israeli military also began what it described as a series of continuous assaults in southern Lebanon, hours after ordering residents of Tyre city and its Palestinian refugee camp to evacuate to safer areas.

According to the Israeli military, the strikes were carried out in response to rockets fired from Hezbollah positions into Israeli territory. Al Jazeera Arabic reported that Israeli forces attacked the city of Al-Aqbiya in the Sidon district shortly after striking the nearby town of Kennari. The escalation marks a significant intensification of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah-linked areas in Lebanon.

The situation remains tense as Israel continues its operations in southern Lebanon, raising concerns of further civilian casualties and regional instability.

Iran has launched a series of missile attacks on Israel, with explosions reported in the central Gush Dan area, according to Israeli Channel 12 on March 18, 2026. At least one missile was intercepted, but debris caused damage on the ground. Reports indicated that vehicles were damaged and caught fire in Holon city, while sirens were heard across southern Israel. The Israeli military confirmed detecting missiles fired from Iran and urged residents in targeted areas to seek shelter.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the strikes were carried out to avenge the killing of Larijani and his companions. The IRGC claimed that over 100 military and security targets in central Israel were successfully hit using Khorramshahr-4, Qadr, Emad, and Kheibar Shekan missiles. In Tel Aviv’s Ramat Gan area, a man and a woman were reported killed by missile fragments.

Authorities in Israel have heightened alerts across multiple regions, while the situation remains tense following the retaliatory strikes.