Defence Minister Israel Katz said both Ali Larijani and General Gholam Reza Soleimani were “eliminated last night”. Iranian state media did not immediately confirm the reported deaths, but said a message from Larijani’s office would be released shortly. The announcement followed the Israeli military’s earlier statement that it had carried out a “wide scale wave of strikes” across Tehran and intensified attacks on Iran backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Israel also reported two incoming missile salvos from Iran before dawn targeting Tel Aviv and other areas, while saying Hezbollah had struck northern Israel. Missiles fired towards the United Arab Emirates prompted Dubai to briefly close its airspace, and a man was killed by debris from an intercepted missile over Abu Dhabi.

Source: Ethiopian News March 17, 2026 12:53 UTC