Iran Vows Retaliation After Israeli Strikes Kill Security Chief Larijani and Basij Commander on Day 19 of War
Israel confirmed targeted strikes killed Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani on Tuesday. Iran pledged revenge as the conflict widens across the Gulf.
Israel dealt what it described as a decisive blow to Iran's wartime leadership on Tuesday, killing Ali Larijani, the head of the Supreme National Security Council, and Brigadier General Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary forces, in targeted airstrikes near Tehran Israel says it has launched new strikes targeting Tehran and Beirut as war in Iran enters day 18euronews.com·SecondaryWelcome to our live coverage of day 18 of the war in Iran, where authorities in the United Arab Emirates have reported briefly closing the country’s airspace following a wave of Iranian attacks targeting the Emirates of Dubai and Fujairah early on Tuesday. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Fujairah where drones, according to officials, struck an oil tank farm, sparking a fire.. Iran confirmed both deaths and pledged revenge, as the conflict that began on February 28 entered its nineteenth day on Wednesday with no signs of abating Israel says it has launched new strikes targeting Tehran and Beirut as war in Iran enters day 18euronews.com·SecondaryWelcome to our live coverage of day 18 of the war in Iran, where authorities in the United Arab Emirates have reported briefly closing the country’s airspace following a wave of Iranian attacks targeting the Emirates of Dubai and Fujairah early on Tuesday. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Fujairah where drones, according to officials, struck an oil tank farm, sparking a fire..
Larijani is the most senior Iranian official to be killed since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was struck down on the first day of the US-Israeli military campaign. His death removes a figure who had consolidated significant power in the weeks since Khamenei's assassination, effectively functioning as a coordinator of Iran's war effort Israel says it has launched new strikes targeting Tehran and Beirut as war in Iran enters day 18euronews.com·SecondaryWelcome to our live coverage of day 18 of the war in Iran, where authorities in the United Arab Emirates have reported briefly closing the country’s airspace following a wave of Iranian attacks targeting the Emirates of Dubai and Fujairah early on Tuesday. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Fujairah where drones, according to officials, struck an oil tank farm, sparking a fire.. Soleimani led the Basij, a plainclothes militia aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps that has played a central role in domestic security operations Israel says it has launched new strikes targeting Tehran and Beirut as war in Iran enters day 18euronews.com·SecondaryWelcome to our live coverage of day 18 of the war in Iran, where authorities in the United Arab Emirates have reported briefly closing the country’s airspace following a wave of Iranian attacks targeting the Emirates of Dubai and Fujairah early on Tuesday. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Fujairah where drones, according to officials, struck an oil tank farm, sparking a fire..
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by insisting that Tehran's political system remained strong despite the losses Israel says it has launched new strikes targeting Tehran and Beirut as war in Iran enters day 18euronews.com·SecondaryWelcome to our live coverage of day 18 of the war in Iran, where authorities in the United Arab Emirates have reported briefly closing the country’s airspace following a wave of Iranian attacks targeting the Emirates of Dubai and Fujairah early on Tuesday. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Fujairah where drones, according to officials, struck an oil tank farm, sparking a fire.. The statement was widely interpreted as an effort to project stability at a moment of acute vulnerability for the Islamic Republic's command structure.
Iran Strikes Back at Israel and Gulf States
Hours after the assassinations were confirmed, Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks against Israel, causing extensive property damage and killing two people in Ramat Gan . The retaliatory strikes followed an earlier pattern of escalation that has seen Iranian forces target not only Israel but also Arab states hosting American military facilities Iran war: What is happening on day 19 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryIran has pledged “revenge” after Israeli strikes killed security chief Ali Larijani and commander of Basij paramilitary forces Gholamreza Soleimani, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran’s political system remains strong as the war entered its 19th day. Iran launched more attacks on Israel, causing extensive property damage, after an earlier strike killed two people in Ramat Gan..
The regional spillover intensified sharply on Tuesday. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported briefly closing the country's airspace after Iranian drones struck an oil tank farm in Fujairah, sending plumes of smoke rising over the emirate Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group.. In Abu Dhabi, shrapnel from an intercepted ballistic missile killed a Pakistani national in the Baniyas district, bringing the UAE's total death toll since the start of the war to eight, including two soldiers Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry reported intercepting a dozen drones fired from Iran over the kingdom's Eastern Province, home to critical oil infrastructure Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group.. In Qatar, a fire broke out in an industrial area after a missile was intercepted over the capital, Doha. Residents of Dubai received missile alerts and heard explosions as the military worked to shoot down incoming projectiles Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
Kuwait's interior ministry announced the arrest of 16 individuals — 14 Kuwaiti and two Lebanese nationals — suspected of links to Hezbollah, accusing them of seeking to create chaos during the conflict. Authorities reported seizing firearms, ammunition, encrypted communication devices and drones Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
The Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens
The war's economic toll continues to mount as the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and gas normally transits, remains effectively closed to commercial shipping Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group.. Brent crude has continued to trade above 100 dollars a barrel as the disruption squeezes global energy markets Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
South Korea disclosed on Tuesday that 26 of its vessels carrying 183 crew members remain stranded in waters around the strait. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il said officials were coordinating with port authorities in neighboring countries to arrange food and supply deliveries, with further measures planned if conditions deteriorate Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, declared in a state television interview on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz could not return to its previous status while Tehran's forces keep nearly all traffic out of the waterway. He characterized the situation as a high-risk opportunity created by what he called a strategic miscalculation by the Americans and Israel Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
Iran's ambassador to Turkmenistan, Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani, offered a counter-proposal: if Washington wants stability and passage through the strait, he said on Monday, it must first withdraw its military forces from the area Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
Washington Under Pressure at Home and Abroad
The conflict is generating growing friction within Washington itself. Senior counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigned on Tuesday, stating publicly that the United States started the war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby Israel says it has launched new strikes targeting Tehran and Beirut as war in Iran enters day 18euronews.com·SecondaryWelcome to our live coverage of day 18 of the war in Iran, where authorities in the United Arab Emirates have reported briefly closing the country’s airspace following a wave of Iranian attacks targeting the Emirates of Dubai and Fujairah early on Tuesday. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Fujairah where drones, according to officials, struck an oil tank farm, sparking a fire.. The resignation marked one of the most significant internal breaks within the administration since the campaign began and immediately fueled debate about the strategic rationale for the military operation.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, directed his frustration outward, criticizing NATO allies and partner nations for what he described as their failure to provide stronger military support for efforts to break Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz Israel says it has launched new strikes targeting Tehran and Beirut as war in Iran enters day 18euronews.com·SecondaryWelcome to our live coverage of day 18 of the war in Iran, where authorities in the United Arab Emirates have reported briefly closing the country’s airspace following a wave of Iranian attacks targeting the Emirates of Dubai and Fujairah early on Tuesday. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Fujairah where drones, according to officials, struck an oil tank farm, sparking a fire.. The administration has been working to assemble a multinational naval coalition to police the waterway, but progress has been slow.
South Korea exemplified the cautious approach taken by many US allies. While Seoul acknowledged ongoing consultations with Washington, spokesperson Park Il said the government would conduct a careful review of any military deployment, taking into account multiple factors and the evolving regional situation Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
Australia and New Zealand added their voices to the growing chorus calling for a diplomatic resolution. Meeting for annual defense talks in Canberra on Tuesday, the two countries' foreign and defense ministers issued a joint statement calling for the crisis to end as quickly as possible and for a move toward a negotiated solution Iran war: What is happening on day 18 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryThe United States-Israel war on Iran continues to intensify as attacks on multiple cities kill civilians, including a newborn baby and his two-year-old sister in Arak city. The conflict has spread as Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighbouring countries, while Israel has carried out bombing in southern Lebanon against the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group..
Humanitarian Concerns Mount
The human cost of the war has drawn increasing international scrutiny. An Amnesty International investigation found that the United States was responsible for an attack that killed at least 170 people, including more than 160 girls, at a primary school in the Iranian city of Minab Iran war: What is happening on day 19 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryIran has pledged “revenge” after Israeli strikes killed security chief Ali Larijani and commander of Basij paramilitary forces Gholamreza Soleimani, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran’s political system remains strong as the war entered its 19th day. Iran launched more attacks on Israel, causing extensive property damage, after an earlier strike killed two people in Ramat Gan.. The report has added to pressure on Washington from human rights organizations and some allied governments questioning the scope and targeting of the military campaign.
The broader conflict has displaced millions of civilians across the region and spread beyond Iran's borders as Israel has simultaneously carried out bombing campaigns in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions . Iran has retaliated against US assets in neighboring countries, creating a multi-front conflict that has drawn in states with no direct stake in the original confrontation Iran war: What is happening on day 19 of US-Israel attacks?aljazeera.com·SecondaryIran has pledged “revenge” after Israeli strikes killed security chief Ali Larijani and commander of Basij paramilitary forces Gholamreza Soleimani, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran’s political system remains strong as the war entered its 19th day. Iran launched more attacks on Israel, causing extensive property damage, after an earlier strike killed two people in Ramat Gan..
What Happens Next
The killing of Larijani and Soleimani represents a significant degradation of Iran's wartime command structure, but the immediate effect has been to harden Tehran's rhetoric rather than soften it. Iran's pledge of revenge suggests the cycle of escalation is unlikely to break in the near term.
The economic fallout — particularly the sustained disruption to the Strait of Hormuz — is creating pressure on all sides. Oil-importing nations face rising energy costs, Gulf states find themselves caught in the crossfire despite having no role in initiating the conflict, and the Trump administration must contend with a domestic debate over the war's purpose that is growing louder by the day.
For now, the question is not whether the war will intensify but how far the escalation will spread. With Iran's leadership decimated but defiant, and no diplomatic channel visibly active, the conflict appears set to grind deeper into a confrontation that has already reshaped the strategic landscape of the Middle East.
AI Transparency
Why this article was written and how editorial decisions were made.
Why This Topic
The killing of Ali Larijani, Iran's highest-ranking security official since the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, represents a major escalation in a war that is already reshaping Middle Eastern geopolitics and roiling global energy markets. This story sits at the intersection of multiple developing crises: the targeted assassination campaign against Iranian leadership, the widening of the conflict to Gulf states, the Strait of Hormuz closure pushing oil above $100/barrel, and growing domestic dissent in Washington exemplified by Joe Kent's resignation. The story has been covered by every major international outlet and directly affects global energy prices and security.
Source Selection
The article draws on three cluster signals from established international news outlets: Al Jazeera (two signals covering days 18 and 19 of the conflict with comprehensive live coverage from correspondents in the region), and Euronews (detailed live blog coverage of day 18 with extensive regional reporting on Gulf state attacks, Strait of Hormuz disruption, and international diplomatic responses). These sources provide complementary perspectives — Al Jazeera offers ground-level reporting from Iran and the broader Middle East, while Euronews provides European and international institutional perspectives. Additional web research from BBC, NYT, Washington Post, and CNBC confirmed key facts without introducing uncorroborated statistics.
Editorial Decisions
This article covers the killing of Iran's security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani by Israeli airstrikes on day 19 of the war. It draws on Al Jazeera's day-18 and day-19 live coverage and Euronews reporting. All statistics and factual claims are sourced to cluster signals. The article presents multiple perspectives: Israel's stated military objectives, Iran's vow of retaliation, Trump's criticism of NATO allies, Joe Kent's dissenting resignation, and calls for diplomacy from Australia and New Zealand. The Amnesty International report on civilian casualties in Minab is presented as the organization's findings, not established fact. German version is editorially expanded with native phrasing.
Reader Ratings
About the Author
Sources
- 1.aljazeera.comSecondary
- 2.aljazeera.comSecondary
- 3.euronews.comSecondary
Editorial Reviews
1 approved · 0 rejectedPrevious Draft Feedback (2)
• narrative_structure scored 4/3 minimum: The article generally follows a logical structure, with a clear lede and nut graf. However, the 'What Happens Next' section feels somewhat abrupt and could be integrated more seamlessly into the preceding analysis. • analytical_value scored 4/3 minimum: The article does offer some analysis, particularly regarding the economic impact and the internal political pressures within the US. However, it could delve deeper into the strategic implications of the leadership losses and the potential for miscalculation on either side. Warnings: • [article_quality] depth_and_context scored 3 (borderline): While the article mentions the deaths of key figures and the ongoing conflict, it lacks sufficient background on the underlying tensions and historical context that led to this point. Add a paragraph or two explaining the long-standing US-Iran relationship and the recent events that precipitated the current escalation. • [article_quality] perspective_diversity scored 3 (borderline): The article primarily presents perspectives from Iranian and US officials, with some inclusion of Gulf state reactions. However, it would benefit from incorporating voices from within Iran itself – perhaps through interviews or reporting from Iranian media – to provide a more nuanced understanding of the situation. • [article_quality] filler_and_redundancy scored 2 (borderline): The article suffers from noticeable redundancy, particularly in the repeated reporting of missile intercepts across multiple Gulf states. Consolidate these events into a single paragraph to avoid repetition and improve flow. Also, the constant citation of [2] for minor details feels excessive and clutters the text. • [article_quality] language_and_clarity scored 3 (borderline): The writing is generally clear, but the phrasing occasionally lacks precision. The mention of President Trump directing frustration 'outward' is vague and could be elaborated upon. Furthermore, the description of Joe Kent's resignation as a 'significant internal break' needs substantiation – what specific impact did this have?
2 gate errors: • [image_relevance] Image relevance scored 2/3 minimum: While the image depicts smoke and a potentially conflict-related scene, it lacks specificity to the article's subject. It doesn't show the individuals mentioned or directly relate to the strikes or Iranian retaliation. • [image_relevance] Image alt_accuracy scored 1/3 minimum: The alt text is highly inaccurate and misleading. It claims the image depicts events from March 2026, which is demonstrably false, and mischaracterizes the conflict as a 'US-Israeli military campaign against Iran' when the article focuses on Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation.
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