Iran also confirmed the death of the Basij militia commander Gholamreza Soleimani, after Israel earlier claimed its military assassinated him. 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. Donald Trump continued to lash out at Nato allies , claiming “we don’t need” their help in the Iran war after pressuring them to help the US secure the strait of Hormuz, but added that “they should’ve been there”. Trump’s former director of the national counterterrorism center Joe Kent quit, saying he “cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran”. In last week’s strike there, the Israeli military had released an evacuation warning in advance.

Source: The Guardian March 18, 2026 00:26 UTC