Iran launches barrage of missiles after Israel kills 2 of its top
officials
[March 18, 2026]
By JON GAMBRELL, JULIE WATSON and SAMY MAGDY
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel killed two senior Iranian
security officials in a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership
as it faces its greatest test in decades, and Iran responded Wednesday
with renewed missile and drone attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors and
Israel.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was
considered one of the most powerful figures in the country since Supreme
Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on the first
day of the war. Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani was the head of the
Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij.
Iran confirmed the killings of the men, who were key to Iran’s violent
crackdown on protests in January that challenged the theocracy’s 47-year
rule.
In response, Iran launched a barrage of what it said were
multiple-warhead missiles Wednesday at central Israel to avenge
Larijani's death. Israel’s medical service said two people were killed
in Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv.
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Arab states also faced barrages of
Iranian-fired missiles and drones Wednesday that were intercepted by air
defense systems.
With concerns growing about a global energy crisis, an Iranian official
said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping
through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.
U.S. Central Command said the U.S. military fired multiple 5,000-pound
deep penetrator bombs Tuesday on Iranian missile sites along Iran’s
coastline near the Strait of Hormuz.
It announced the bombings hours after President Donald Trump said that
NATO and most other allies had rejected Trump's calls to help secure the
strait.
Iran launches multiple-warhead missiles at Israel
Iran acknowledged launching multiple-warhead missiles at Israel early
Wednesday, the latest use of a weapon designed to spread maximum damage
and evade Israel’s multiple layers of air defenses.
Footage filmed by The Associated Press showed the release of the cluster
munition from at least one missile over Israel. A statement from the
paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said the force launched the
Khorramshahr-4 and Qadr multiple-warhead missiles to avenge Larijani’s
killing.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Larijani and
Soleimani “were eliminated” in strikes overnight. The Israeli military
said it also struck more than 10 Basij posts across Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the killings were aimed
at “undermining this regime to give the Iranian people the opportunity
to remove it.” But there have been no signs of anti-government protests
since the war began, as many Iranians shelter from the American and
Israeli strikes.
The Iranian judiciary’s news agency, Mizan, quoted the Revolutionary
Guard as confirming the killing of Soleimani. Other Iranian state media
confirmed Larijani’s death.
Larijani, a former parliamentary speaker, was a senior policy adviser to
the late Khamenei on strategy in nuclear talks with the Trump
administration. He was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in January for
his role “coordinating” Iran’s violent suppression of nationwide
protests.
Soleimani was also sanctioned by the U.S., the European Union and other
nations, over his role in suppressing dissent for years through the
Basij.
The killings of the top officials came on the eve of “Chaharshanbe Souri,"
or the Festival of Fire, shortly before the Persian new year.
Authorities have sent threatening text messages telling the public not
to turn out for the festival, warning the celebrations could be used by
“rioters.”
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Commander of Iran's Basij paramilitary force, Gen. Gholam Reza
Soleimani, gives a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 18, 2019.
(AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)
Iran continues strikes on neighboring countries
In Iraq, a strike hit inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad
early Wednesday, two Iraqi security officials said, speaking on
condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment.
No further details were immediately available. There was no
immediate statement from the State Department. A day earlier, a
drone crashed inside the compound.
Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry shot down a ballistic missile
targeting the area around Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts
American forces and aircraft.
In the United Arab Emirates, an Iranian projectile struck near an
Australian military base Wednesday, sparking a small fire but
causing no injuries, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
said. His comments appeared to correspond with explosions heard by
AP journalists in Dubai near Al Minhad Air Base, which is used by
Western nations as a transshipment point across the wider Mideast.
Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the
world’s oil is transported, is sparking concerns about tightening
energy supplies — unnerving the world economy.
A few ships have crossed through the strait, and Iran has said the
waterway technically remains open — just not for the United States,
Israel and their allies. About 20 vessels have been struck.
With oil prices rising, Trump has demanded that roughly a half-dozen
countries send warships to ensure ships can pass through the strait
but said he has not gotten any support.
The European Union’s top diplomat said the 27-nation bloc does not
want to be dragged into the conflict with Iran. “This is not
Europe’s war,” Kaja Kallas told EU lawmakers Tuesday. “We were not
consulted.”
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday it
received a report from Iran that its Bushehr nuclear power plant
complex had been hit by a projectile but there were no injuries and
the plant suffered no damage. It reiterated the call by IAEA’s
leader, Rafael Mariano Grossi, “for maximum restraint during the
conflict to prevent risk of a nuclear accident.”
Renewed Israeli strikes in Lebanon
The Israeli military continued its strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah
militants in Lebanon.
Israeli strikes hit apartment buildings in central Beirut early
Wednesday, killing at least 6 people and wounding 24 others, the
Lebanese health ministry said.
Another strike in the Nabatiyeh district killed three people and
wounded another, Lebanon’s health ministry said Wednesday. Rescue
teams were searching for eight missing people, it said.
Israel’s strikes have displaced more than 1 million Lebanese —
roughly 20% of the population — according to the Lebanese
government, which says more than 900 people have been killed. In
Israel, 14 people have been killed by Iranian missile fire. At least
13 U.S. military members have been killed.
More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict
started Feb. 28, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.
___
Watson reported from San Diego, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated
Press writers Mike Corder in The Hague, Netherlands; David Rising in
Bangkok; Aamer Madhani in Washington; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad;
Koral Saeed in Herzliya, Israel; and Bassem Mroue and Sally Abou
AIJoud in Beirut contributed.
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