Escalating attacks across the Middle East raise fears of wider war and disruption to global energy supplies.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Israel said Tuesday that two senior Iranian officials were killed in overnight airstrikes, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, as hostilities spread across the region with continued missile and drone attacks.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, head of the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij force, were “eliminated last night.” Iranian state media did not immediately confirm the deaths.
Larijani, a prominent political figure and former parliamentary speaker, had been considered among the most influential leaders in Iran following the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an earlier strike at the outset of the war. He had also served as a senior adviser on nuclear negotiations and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury earlier this year for his role in coordinating the government’s response to nationwide protests.
Soleimani, who led the Basij, had also been sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, and other governments for his involvement in suppressing dissent over several years.
The reported killings come as Iran faces mounting pressure in a conflict that has widened beyond direct exchanges with Israel and U.S. forces. Tehran launched additional waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel and several Gulf Arab states, including strikes on energy infrastructure and transit hubs.
Dubai temporarily closed its airspace amid the attacks, marking the second disruption to flights in as many days. The United Arab Emirates later reopened its skies after intercepting incoming threats. Emirati authorities said their defenses responded to 10 ballistic missiles and 45 drones launched toward the country.
An Iranian drone strike hit an oil facility in Fujairah, though state media in the UAE reported no injuries. Separately, a tanker off the coast sustained minor damage from debris following an interception, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. In Abu Dhabi, officials said a man was killed by falling debris from an intercepted missile, bringing the death toll in the UAE to eight since the conflict began.
Iranian officials signaled they would maintain control over maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the waterway, and recent attacks have heightened concerns about supply disruptions. Roughly 20 vessels have reportedly been struck since the conflict began, although some commercial traffic continues to pass through.
“They are flying, launching missiles, should we just sit back and do nothing in response?” Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said in an interview on state television.
The escalating conflict has prompted international concern over energy markets and maritime security. U.S. President Donald Trump said he has called on multiple countries to deploy naval forces to help secure shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, though no immediate commitments were announced.
Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones, while air defense activity was observed over Doha, Qatar. In Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was struck by shrapnel from intercepted drones amid ongoing attacks by Iran-linked groups.
The Israeli military said it had initiated a “wide-scale wave of strikes” across Tehran, targeting command centers, missile launch systems, and air defenses. It also reported intensified operations against Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities, where communication has been limited due to widespread disruptions and restrictions on reporting.
Casualties continue to rise across multiple fronts. Iran’s Red Crescent reported more than 1,300 deaths since the start of the conflict. In Lebanon, government officials said Israeli strikes have killed approximately 850 people and displaced more than 1 million residents. The Lebanese army reported that two of its soldiers were seriously wounded in an airstrike on the village of Kfar Sir.
Israeli officials reported that Iranian missile attacks have killed 12 people in Israel. At least 13 U.S. service members have also been killed during the conflict.
Israeli forces have reportedly advanced into southern Lebanon, raising concerns about a potential broader ground operation. Multiple missile launches were reported toward Israeli territory throughout Tuesday, including strikes aimed at Tel Aviv and areas south of the Sea of Galilee, as cross-border exchanges with Hezbollah continued.
The conflict, now involving multiple countries and critical infrastructure, shows no immediate signs of de-escalation as military actions continue across land, air, and sea.
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