Iran confirms Larijani, Soleimani killed in air strike

This live blog follows updates for Day 19 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 18, go here.

• Iranian state media have confirmed the killings of security chief Ali Larijani and Basij force commander Gholamreza Soleimani
• Iran FM sees no reason for talks after Trump says it wants deal
• The IRGC carried out waves of strikes in Israel, Kuwait, and the UAE, while Israel hit Tehran and southern Lebanon, and neighbourhoods in Beirut.
• Trump accuses NATO of 'foolish mistake' as allies show reluctance to send warships over to Strait of Hormuz

Israel's military warns of imminent strike in central Beirut area

Published March 18, 2026 | 02:15 GMT

The Israeli military called on residents of a central Beirut neighbourhood to evacuate early Wednesday, warning of an imminent attack on the Lebanese capital targeting Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

In a statement on social media, the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee issued "an urgent warning to residents of... Bashoura neighbourhood", saying Israeli forces would operate against a Hezbollah facility there.

A map posted alongside the statement showed a building in Bashoura, telling residents to stay at least 300 metres (985 feet) from it "for your safety".

UN watchdog says projectile struck Iran nuclear power plant

Published March 18, 2026 | 01:59 GMT

The UN nuclear watchdog said Wednesday that Iranian authorities had reported projectile impact at the country's only operational nuclear power plant that caused no damage.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "has been informed by Iran that a projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr NPP on Tuesday evening", the Vienna-based agency posted on social media. "No damage to the plant or injuries to staff reported."

Agency head Rafael Grossi "reiterates his call for restraint during the conflict to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident", the statement said.

Iranian projectile hits near Australian military HQ in UAE: PM

Published March 18, 2026 | 01:36 GMT

An Iranian projectile hit near Australia's military headquarters for the Middle East in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, adding no-one was hurt.

"At 9:15 this morning at the Al Minhad base that Australia has in the United Arab Emirates, there was an Iranian projectile hit near that base," Albanese told reporters.

"I can confirm that no Australian personnel were injured, and everyone is absolutely safe," he added.

Lebanon says at least 6 dead, 24 wounded in Israeli strikes on central Beirut

Published March 18, 2026 | 01:13 GMT

Lebanon's health ministry said that two Israeli strikes on central Beirut early Wednesday killed at least six people and wounded 24 others, noting the toll was preliminary.

"Human remains were also recovered from the site and their identities will be determined after DNA testing," the ministry statement said.

Iran army vows revenge for security chief Larijani's killing

Published March 18, 2026 | 01:12 GMT

Iranian army chief Amir Hatami threatened on Wednesday to launch a "decisive and regrettable" retaliation for the killing of security chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli air strike.

"Iran's response to the assassination of the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council will be decisive and regrettable," Hatami said in a statement.

The Revolutionary Guards said in a statement Wednesday that it had launched missiles at central Israel "in revenge for the blood of martyr Dr Ali Larijani and his companions".

Iraqi security official says drone hits US embassy in Baghdad

Published March 18, 2026 | 01:05 GMT

An explosion was heard in Baghdad early Wednesday, an AFP journalist said, as Iraqi officials reported a drone and rocket attack targeting the US embassy.

The latest explosion came hours after multiple blasts were heard across the Iraqi capital, where a witness told AFP he saw detonations likely caused by air defences intercepting projectiles over the embassy.

"The embassy was the target of a drone and rocket attack," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Another drone, targeting a US diplomatic and logistics centre at Baghdad's airport, was shot down, according to another security official.

Saudi Arabia says intercepts ballistic missile near Prince Sultan Air Base

Published March 18, 2026 | 00:56 GMT

Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile near Prince Sultan Air Base, which houses US military personnel, the defence ministry said on Wednesday as Iran continues strikes on Gulf nations.

"A ballistic missile launched toward Alkharj Governorate was intercepted and destroyed, with interception debris falling around Prince Sultan Air Base, causing no damage," the defence ministry posted on X.

Israel strikes central Beirut: Lebanese media

Published March 18, 2026 | 00:22 GMT

Lebanese media said Israeli strikes hit central Beirut and the city's southern suburbs early Wednesday, in raids that came without warning.

Local media reported one strike hit an apartment in the central Zuqaq al-Blat neighbourhood, where the Israeli military last week hit a Beirut branch of the Hezbollah-linked financial firm Al-Qard Al-Hassan.

The area is close to the government's headquarters and several embassies.

Another strike hit the central Basta district, where Israel had struck during a 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah, according to media reports.

AFP correspondents in Beirut heard the sound of several explosions early Wednesday.

Lebanese media also reported two strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of pro-Iran militant group Hezbollah.

US military says hit Iran missile sites near strait with 'bunker buster' bombs

Published March 18, 2026 | 00:19 GMT

The US military said Tuesday it had hit Iranian missile sites near the strategic Strait of Hormuz with some of the most powerful bombs in the US arsenal.

"US forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites along Iran's coastline near the Strait of Hormuz," Central Command said in a statement on X.

"The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait."

Two killed near Tel Aviv after Iranian missile launches: Israeli medics

Published March 18, 2026 | 00:14 GMT

Two people were killed near Tel Aviv during an Iranian missile barrage, Israeli medics said on Wednesday, as security services reported that falling munitions had hit multiple sites.

The deaths brought the toll from missiles fired on Israel to 14 and came after another day of another day of heavy Israeli bombardments of targets in Iran and Lebanon.

The Magen David Adom emergency responders said the fatalities occurred in Ramat Gan, a city near the Israeli commercial hub of Tel Aviv.

"We saw smoke rising from a building with extensive damage and shattered glass," an MDA statement said.

Shortly after Israel's military had reported another round of Iranian launches, the MDA released images of destruction in multiple locations, including of cars on fire, destroyed vehicles and substantial amounts of rubble.

Israel's police said its bomb disposal experts were "operating at several impact sites involving munition debris within the (Tel Aviv) district."

In a separate statement, the military's Home Front Command said its search and rescue teams were "operating at several sites in central Israel where reports of impacts have been received."

Saudi Arabia says intercepts 6 drones, Kuwait reports rocket attack

Published March 18, 2026 | 00:07 GMT

Saudi Arabia intercepted several drones and Kuwait's air defences responded to a rocket and drone attack, authorities from both countries said on Wednesday.

The Saudi defence ministry said in two statements it had destroyed a total of six drones in the east of the country.

"Kuwaiti air defenses are currently intercepting hostile rocket and drone attacks," Kuwait's military also posted on X.

US embassy targeted in Baghdad: security source to AFP

Published March 18, 2026 | 00:03 GMT

A drone attack targeted the US embassy in Baghdad early Wednesday, a security source told AFP, and an AFP journalist reported hearing an explosion.

A security official told AFP that "a drone directly hit the embassy", but did not specify whether there was any damage. A second security official said the drone fell "near the embassy's security fence".

It comes hours after another drone and rocket attack targeted the US embassy in the Iraqi capital.

Iran confirms death of security chief Larijani, Basij commander Soleimani

Published March 18, 2026 | 00:00 GMT

Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirmed the death of its chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, after Israel said it had killed him in an air strike.

"The pure souls of the martyrs embraced the purified soul of God's righteous servant, Martyr Dr. Ali Larijani," the council said, adding that his son and his bodyguards had died with him.

"After a lifetime of struggle for the advancement of Iran and of the Islamic Revolution, he ultimately attained his long-held aspiration, answered the divine call, and honourably achieved the sweet grace of martyrdom in the trench of service," it added.