Israel announced that it had killed Iranian security chief Ali Larijani in an attack on Tehran, demonstrating Israel’s continued determination to pursue senior figures in the Iranian regime, including those seen as pragmatists like Larijani.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has criticized US allies for not helping secure the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed off following US and Israeli attacks.
Here’s what you need to know on day 18.
What are the main headings?
Israel ‘eliminates’ Larijani: Israel says it killed Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani in an attack on Tehran on Monday night. Iran has not yet commented. Larijani has emerged as one of Iran’s most prominent figures in recent months, helping to quell the massive protests that swept the country in January. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said the military would “continue to hunt” the Iranian leadership, hinting at differences in the war objectives of the United States and Israel.
Killing of Basij leader: Immediately after Larijani’s death was announced, the Israeli military announced that it had killed Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian militia Basij. The Basij operates like a military police force for the regime and helped quell protests earlier this year. The Israeli military said his death was a “serious blow to the regime’s security command and control structure.”
Baghdad targeted: The U.S. embassy and hotel in Baghdad were targeted by drones early Tuesday, with video released showing air defense forces engaging the projectiles near the embassy. A spokesman for Iraq’s supreme commander said the Majnoon oil field in southern Iraq was also attacked.
UAE attacks: The United Arab Emirates has temporarily closed its airspace after drone strikes caused two separate fires in the Fujairah oil and Shah gas fields. A tanker near the port of Fujairah was also hit by an “unknown projectile” late Monday, the British Maritime Authority said. The British Maritime Authority said it was the 21st vessel to report an accident in the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman since the start of the war. One person was killed by falling debris from an intercepted missile in Abu Dhabi late Tuesday.
US Military: A US Navy warship believed to be carrying thousands of Marines and sailors to the Middle East is approaching the Strait of Malacca on its way to the region, maritime tracking data showed on Tuesday. Officials told CNN that the troops would be sent to the Middle East, but did not say specifically where they would be deployed or what they would be used for.
Diplomatic stalemate: Iranian officials have contacted President Trump’s Middle East envoy to try to reopen diplomatic channels, but Trump has said he does not want to negotiate right now, two senior White House officials told CNN. One reason for this is that the Trump administration is not confident that Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei is “actually in command,” one of the officials said. Iran’s foreign minister has denied in recent days any contact with the presidential envoy, as White House officials have claimed.
‘Not a NATO war’: EU foreign ministers have decided against expanding naval operations around the Strait of Hormuz, even as President Trump criticized allies for rejecting requests for help to reopen the vital waterway. He acknowledged that many countries had rejected his offer, but said he would announce countries that had agreed to help “soon.” “This is not a NATO war,” a spokesman for the German chancellor said on Monday.
Patience has its limits: Some American, European and Asian diplomats are growing frustrated with the Trump administration’s refusal to use traditional diplomatic channels. “If there was more diplomatic involvement on the U.S. side, we might be able to get a more positive outcome,” said one European diplomat.
Trade attacks: Israel, Iran and Hezbollah continued their attacks on Monday. In northern Israel, Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets and drones, injuring four people. Israel said it had launched a series of attacks on the Iranian capital, Tehran, while the Iranian Red Crescent said early Tuesday that rescue workers were working to rescue Tehran residents trapped under rubble. Israeli airstrikes then targeted Hezbollah’s stronghold on the southern outskirts of Beirut.
Alarm bells over Lebanon: The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have expressed “grave concern” about the escalation in violence in Lebanon, following Israel’s earlier announcement that it was expanding its “limited” ground operations in the country. Five governments have warned that a planned Israeli invasion “must be avoided.” More than 1 million people have been internally displaced in Lebanon and at least 850 have died since the latest conflict began, according to Lebanese authorities.
