War rages in the Middle East for the 19th day with mutual attacks and strikes with missiles and drones on Gulf countries, while the death toll continues to rise. As reported in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, the decision by American President Donald Trump and the United States regarding the Strait of Hormuz will determine the duration of the war.
Middle East becomes powder keg with mutual attacks and deaths in Israel and Lebanon: US strikes Iranian missile facilities
Specifically, in the early hours of Wednesday (18/3), US armed forces announced they “successfully” bombed Iranian surface-to-ship missile facilities near the Strait of Hormuz, using bunker-buster bombs. According to Israeli authorities in Tel Aviv, two people were killed by falling fragments of Iranian missiles that were shot down. Meanwhile, in Beirut, Israeli bombardments in the city center caused at least six deaths and 24 injuries.
MDA Spokesperson: Following the recent missile fire toward Israel:
MDA teams are searching a number of sites, at least 2 patients found in serious condition.
Updates to follow pic.twitter.com/NHLqqEaSnO— Magen David Adom (@Mdais) March 17, 2026
During the night, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles targeted areas of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, while sirens sounded in Doha and Bahrain. At the same time, the IAEA was informed that a projectile hit the nuclear power plant in Bushehr without causing damage to the facilities or injuries to personnel.
Revenge for Larijani’s death
Iranian army chief Amir Hatami threatened Wednesday to unleash “decisive and painful” retaliation for the assassination of security chief Ali Larijani in an Israeli air raid. “Iran’s response to the assassination of the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council will be decisive and painful,” Hatami said in his statement.
It should be noted that on Tuesday evening (17/03), Ali Larijani’s death was confirmed by Iranian state media. According to an announcement broadcast by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, the country’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed Larijani’s assassination.
علی لاریجانی، دبیر شورایعالی امنیت ملی به شهادت رسید pic.twitter.com/kXnNoAP0b3
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) March 17, 2026
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
ملت عزیز و سربلند ایران!
الشعوب المسلمة وأحرار العالم:
«بندهی خدا، به خدا پیوست.»
لقد لحق عبدٌ من عباد الله بربّه شهيدًا. pic.twitter.com/G1kZUqbg1L— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 17, 2026
The Revolutionary Guards, Iran’s powerful military force separate from the army, announced Wednesday that they launched missiles at central Israel “in revenge for the blood of martyr Dr. Ali Larijani and his companions.” For their part, the IDF says they don’t know the fate of Mojtaba Khamenei, but if he’s alive, “they will hunt him down, find him and eliminate him,” as well as anyone else who threatens Israel’s interests.
