Israel says two senior Iranian officials killed in airstrikes in blow to Tehran’s leadership

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel killed two top Iranian security officials in a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership as it faces its biggest test in decades, and Iran responded Wednesday with new missile and drone attacks against its Arab Gulf neighbors and Israel.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was considered one of the country’s most powerful figures since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the war. General Gholam Reza Soleimani was the head of the all-volunteer Basij of the Revolutionary Guard.

Iran confirmed the killings of both men, which were key to the violent crackdown on January protests that challenged the theocracy’s 47-year rule.

Iran launched a barrage of missiles toward Israel on Wednesday as sirens sounded across central Israel and loud explosions were heard in Tel Aviv. Israel’s medical service, Magen David Adom, said two people died in Ramat Gan, a district east of Tel Aviv.

As concerns mount over a global energy crisis, an Iranian official said Tehran had no intention of giving up its tight control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.

AP Photo/Bilal Hussein

Israel says killings aim to undermine Iranian regime

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Larijani and Soleimani “were eliminated” in overnight strikes. The Israeli military said it also attacked more than 10 Basij posts across Tehran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the killings were aimed “to undermine this regime to give the Iranian people the opportunity to overthrow it.” There have been no signs of anti-government protests since the war began, as many Iranians are taking refuge from US and Israeli attacks.

The Iranian judiciary’s news agency, Mizan, cited the Revolutionary Guard confirming Soleimani’s killing. Other Iranian state media confirmed Larijani’s death.

Larijani, a former parliamentary speaker, was a senior political adviser to the late Khamenei on strategy in nuclear talks with the Trump administration. He was sanctioned by the US Treasury in January for his role in “coordinating” Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests.

Soleimani was also sanctioned by the United States, the European Union and other nations for his role in suppressing dissent for years through the Basij.

The murders of the senior officials took place on the eve of the “Chaharshanbe Souri”, or Fire Festival, shortly before the Persian New Year. Authorities have sent threatening text messages telling the public not to attend the festival, warning that the celebrations could be used by “troublemakers.”

State media on Tuesday broadcast images of pro-government demonstrations, including images of plainclothes men brandishing assault rifles and shotguns on the back of motorcycles.

State television showed crowds of black-clad women and older men waving flags and portraits of the late Khamenei.

AP Photo/Bilal Hussein

Iranian attacks put pressure on its neighbors and oil markets

In Iraq, two drones were shot down by the defense system of the US embassy in Baghdad, while a third drone crashed inside the compound, according to two Iraqi security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment.

An News reporter saw a massive fire that appeared to be engulfing a structure at the complex. There was no immediate comment from the embassy.

In the United Arab Emirates, explosions occurred in Dubai on Wednesday morning, followed by a missile alert. The Dubai government’s Media Office said “sounds heard in parts of the city” were successful interceptions of air defense operations.

Earlier, Dubai, a major transit hub for international travel, briefly closed its airspace, the second disruption to flights in the city in as many days. An oil facility in Fujairah was also hit and a man was killed in Abu Dhabi by debris from an intercepted missile – the eighth person to die in the United Arab Emirates since the start of the war, officials said.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones, while air defenses could be heard targeting incoming fire over the Qatari capital Doha.

Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is transported, is raising concerns about tightening energy supplies, making the global economy nervous.

A handful of ships have crossed the strait and Iran has said the waterway technically remains open, but not to the United States, Israel and their allies. About 20 ships have been hit.

With oil prices rising, Trump said he had demanded that about a half-dozen countries send warships to ensure ships could pass through the strait.

Trump fumed Tuesday that the United States is not getting support “even though almost every country is totally fine with what we’re doing and you can’t” allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon.

The European Union’s top diplomat says the 27-nation bloc does not want to be dragged into conflict with Iran. “This is not Europe’s war,” Kaja Kallas told EU lawmakers. “We were not consulted.”

French President Emmanuel Macron previously reaffirmed that France is ready to help secure the strait, but only after heavy bombing has stopped.

AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

Israel launches new attacks on Tehran and intensifies attacks on Beirut

The Israeli military said it attacked Iran’s command centers, missile launch sites and air defense systems. There was no immediate confirmation from Iran, where little information has emerged due to internet outages, 24-hour airstrikes and strict restrictions on journalists.

More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict began on February 28, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had launched a “wave of large-scale attacks” across Iran’s capital and was intensifying attacks on Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

An attack in the Nabatiyeh district killed three people and wounded another, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said on Wednesday. Rescuers continue to clear debris as they search for eight missing people, he said.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese army said three soldiers were killed in attacks on Tuesday. An airstrike near Beirut’s international airport also killed one person and injured nine, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Israel’s attacks have displaced more than 1 million Lebanese (about 20% of the population), according to the Lebanese government, which says 912 people have been killed. In Israel, 14 people were killed by Iranian missile fire. At least 13 US service members have died.

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Rising reported from Bangkok, Corder from The Hague, Netherlands, and Magdy from Cairo. News journalists Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; Koral Saeed in Herzliya, Israel; and Bassem Mroue and Sally Abou AIJoud in Beirut contributed.