Senior Iranian leaders Larijani, Soleimani, Khatib killed in strikes, Israel says

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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Wednesday it had struck numerous sites in Tehran.

The military said it hit command centers, ballistic missile sites and additional infrastructure connected to the Iranian regime.

As part of the strikes, the IDF said it also targeted the headquarters of the IRGC Security Unit, which it said was responsible for repressing protests and riots in Iran.

The military also said it struck a maintenance center of the General Logistics and Support Department of Internal Security Forces, as well as a command center belonging to the ballistic missile array.

Several Iranian air defense systems were also targeted, Israel said.

An Israeli airstrike flattened an apartment building in Bachoura, in central Beirut, early Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.

No injuries were immediately reported, the outlet said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier Wednesday it had initiated a series of strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon after urging residents to evacuate.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized media coverage leading up to and during the war with Iran and defended President Donald Trump’s leadership throughout the conflict.

Graham called the conflict a “nightmare” for the media, which he said is reluctant to praise Trump’s actions, specifically his efforts to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

“He saved the world from a nuclear-armed Ayatollah,” Graham said during an interview on "Hannity." “Nobody will say this in the mainstream media because it justifies what President Trump did.”

Graham then urged the president to stay the course, saying the war could soon be over.

“Mr. President: finish the job. We're very, very close, and if we do this right, peace breaks out. Saudi Arabia will recognize Israel when Iran is defanged. Our goal is to take this terrorist regime and defang it so we can have real peace in the Middle East. We're so close to that moment.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said early Wednesday that Iran had launched additional missiles toward Israel.

The IDF said its defense systems were working to intercept the threat.

No casualties were immediately reported, according to Magen David Adom (MDA).

EMTs and paramedics were searching the scene of a reported strike, the agency said.

The new round of missiles comes after strikes killed two people hours earlier in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, according to Israeli emergency responders.

The IDF also said it had launched a wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

The military said it initiated the strikes after residents of the city of Tyre were evacuated.

It said the strikes were in response to missiles fired toward Israeli territory.

As tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East for the third week, people are looking to evacuate the region — not only tourists, but also golden visa holders. 

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in an X post that the government has "implement[ed] evacuation plans and facilitate[d] the return of around 500 UAE golden visa holders and residents stranded abroad." 

The post said the actions are "part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of all who live in the UAE, at all times and wherever they may be." 

The UAE closed its airspace Tuesday after threats from incoming missile and drone ​threats from Iran opening operations shortly after, Reuters reported. 

Golden visas have been booming across the globe, attracting some of America’s wealthiest seeking tax havens, safety and warmer weather. 

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella.

A projectile struck the premises of Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant Tuesday evening, but no damage or injuries were reported, according to the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.

“The IAEA has been informed by Iran that a projectile hit the premises of the Bushehr NPP on Tuesday evening. No damage to the plant or injuries to staff reported,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a post on X.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi also “reiterates call for maximum restraint during the conflict to prevent risk of a nuclear accident,” the agency said.

U.S. forces have conducted more than 6,000 combat flights over Iran as part of ongoing operations targeting the country’s military capabilities, according to CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

In a video update posted by the Department of War, Cooper outlined the scope of Operation Epic Fury as video showed fighter jets and unclassified video of explosions.

“We continue to remain centered on our military objectives. These are well-defined and include eliminating Iran’s ballistic missiles, drones, and naval threats,” Cooper said.

“To date, our Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps aviators have collectively flown more than 6,000 combat flights, demonstrating the unmatched capability of America’s Joint Force as we maintain air superiority over Iranian skies.”

“And to the entire Operation Epic Fury team, keep pushing, remain steady, fight to win, Thanks so much and God speed.”

The Department of War said in the post that U.S. forces are “executing President Trump’s orders with speed and precision,” adding that “Operation Epic Fury has decimated Iran’s military.”

Global airlines warned Tuesday that soaring jet fuel prices tied to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran are driving up costs, threatening ticket price hikes and forcing some carriers to scale back flights.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the spike in fuel prices raised the airline’s costs by as much as $400 million in March alone and that airlines are moving quickly to pass those higher costs on through fare increases, according to Reuters.

American Airlines also said it expects fuel prices to add roughly $400 million to its first-quarter expenses.

For airlines, jet fuel is one of the biggest operating costs, so sustained increases could further squeeze margins, push up ticket prices and add fresh strain to a travel season already complicated by the DHS shutdown.

In the U.S., the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index — a daily benchmark averaging prices in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York — climbed to $3.93 a gallon on Tuesday, after hovering mostly in the low-to-mid $2 range for weeks.

Jet fuel can be especially vulnerable to disruptions because inventories are typically thinner and storage requires specialized tanks. Unlike gasoline or diesel, there is little spot buying in jet fuel markets, which can amplify price swings when supply tightens.

Former FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino pushed back on Joe Kent’s resignation and criticism of the Iran war, arguing his stance is not supported by intelligence.

Speaking on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle,” Bongino acknowledged Kent’s military service but sharply disputed his conclusions.

“Joe’s decorated history of service is beyond reproach, and a sacrifice with his family is just unspeakable,” Bongino said. “That doesn’t mean that this current opinion is any more fact-based, because it’s not.”

Kent, the former head of the National Counterterrorism Center, resigned and argued in a letter that Iran posed “no imminent threat” to the United States.

Bongino rejected that claim, citing intelligence and publicly known threats tied to Iran.

“I’ve had access to just about everything,” he said. “And how you could come to the conclusion that the Israelis did it, and there was no imminent threat here? Really?”

He pointed to Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities as evidence.

“What about the anti-ship ballistic missiles, the drone program, 440 kilograms of 60 percent enriched nuclear material, their constant death to America chants,” Bongino said. “That’s called evidence. In some limited circles, we call that, you know, a clue.”

The European Union's foreign policy chief said Tuesday that the bloc is consulting with Gulf countries to potentially "bring forward proposals for Iran, Israel and the U.S." to get out of their war in a situation where "everybody saves face." 

Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, made the remark to Reuters, adding that "it would be in the interest of everybody if this war stops." 

"We have been consulting with regional countries like ‌the Gulf ⁠countries, Jordan, Egypt, [about] whether we could also bring forward proposals for Iran, Israel and the U.S. to get out of this situation so that everybody saves face," Kallas was quoted as saying.  

"The problem with wars is that it's easier to start than to stop them, and it always gets out of hand," she also reportedly said, noting that the EU is willing to assist "diplomatically to bring the parties together to really stop this war." 

Kallas also pushed back after President Donald Trump said over the weekend that, "Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe." 

"Nobody is ready to put their people in harm's way ‌in ⁠the Strait of Hormuz," Kallas told Reuters on Tuesday. "We have to find diplomatic ways to keep this open ⁠so that we don't have a food crisis, fertilizers crisis, energy ⁠crisis as well." 

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel eliminated two senior figures tied to Iran’s leadership as strikes continue across the region.

The claim appears to align with earlier reports that Israeli strikes killed senior Iranian-linked operatives, though Netanyahu did not identify them in the video.

In a video message posted online, Netanyahu said Israeli forces are continuing to target operatives across Iran.

“I’m here with Israel’s Defense Minister, our Chief of Staff, the head of the Mossad, the Chief of Air Force, our senior commanders. In the past 24 hours, we knocked out two of the terrorist chieftains, the top terrorist chieftains of this tyranny,” Netanyahu said.

“Our aircraft are hitting the terror operatives on the grounds, in the crossroads, in the city squares. This is meant to enable the brave people of Iran to celebrate the Festival of Fire,” he continued.

“So celebrate and Happy Nowruz. We’re watching from above.”

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said U.S. forces struck Iranian missile sites along the country’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz using powerful deep-penetrating munitions.

“Hours ago, U.S. forces successfully employed multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator munitions on hardened Iranian missile sites,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.

The military said the targeted sites housed anti-ship cruise missiles that posed a threat to global shipping through the critical waterway.

“The Iranian anti-ship cruise missiles in these sites posed a risk to international shipping in the strait,” the command said.

Deep penetrator weapons, often referred to as “bunker busters," are designed to cut through hardened or underground targets before detonating.

The strikes come as the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of the conflict, with growing concerns over threats to oil tankers.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is calling for increased U.S. support for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), arguing the Gulf ally is bearing the brunt of Iran’s attacks while helping counter Tehran.

“You really learn a lot about the capabilities and will of your allies in difficult times like these,” Graham wrote on X.

Graham said efforts to confront Iran’s nuclear ambitions should be viewed as a shared global concern.

“To those who suggest that confronting the Iranian regime and denying them a nuclear weapon … is not their conflict — you’ve missed a lot since 1979,” he wrote.

The senator also backed the Trump administration’s military action, claiming Iran was close to developing nuclear weapons.

“Iran was weeks away from achieving this, not years away,” Graham wrote.

He added that “through Operation Midnight Hammer, President Trump stopped Iran from having enough weapons grade uranium to make at least 10 nuclear bombs.”

Graham stressed the UAE’s role in the conflict, noting it has faced sustained attacks while hosting U.S. forces.

“The brunt of the Iranian attack during this war has been on the UAE because they host American military bases and thousands of U.S. military personnel,” he wrote.

He urged the U.S. to prioritize the country’s defense needs.

“When it comes time to making sure that those in the crosshairs of Iran have what they need to defend themselves, I believe the UAE should be at the top of the list,” Graham wrote. “Give the UAE what they need to defend their skies and our military personnel."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it is better to operate “shoulder to shoulder with our American friends” as Israel continues strikes against Iran and its leadership.

“Crossing names off the list is good — doing it shoulder to shoulder with our American friends is even better,” Netanyahu wrote in a post on X.

The post included video of Netanyahu walking alongside U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, where the two discussed ongoing operations.

In the video, Huckabee said, “Mr. Prime Minister, I wanted you to know the President asked me to come and make sure you were okay.”

Netanyahu responded, “I’m alive,” adding that he had “raised two names on the punch card today.”

Later in the exchange, Netanyahu praised U.S. involvement in the conflict.

“What the president, the U.S. forces are doing is incredible,” Netanyahu said. “We’re very proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them.”

"[We are] getting rid of these lunatics who would like to develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to every American city after wiping out Israel." Netanyahu added, “They ain’t going to do that. We’re wiping them out.”

The remarks come as Israel and the United States continue coordinated military operations targeting Iran’s leadership and military capabilities.

President Donald Trump was already urging the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates. But his war with Iran may have made that much harder, pushing oil prices higher and fueling inflation concerns at the worst possible time.

That could affect not just this week’s Fed rate-cut decision, but the path ahead if the conflict drags on and energy prices remain high. When policymakers wrap up their two-day meeting Wednesday, they are widely expected to leave rates unchanged.

For Americans already squeezed by rising costs, that means borrowing could stay expensive.

Mortgage rates have moved higher since the conflict began, with the benchmark 30-year fixed rate climbing to 6.26% as of March 16 after dipping below 6% in late February, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data.

At the same time, the labor market is showing new cracks. Employers shed 92,000 jobs in February, defying expectations for growth and further complicating the Fed’s next move.

That leaves the central bank boxed in: inflation remains sticky even as the job market weakens. It also adds to the pressure on Trump, who made lowering costs for Americans a central campaign promise.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is backing President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran, saying he acted after determining the regime posed an “imminent threat” — as a top intelligence official resigned over that very claim.

“Donald Trump was overwhelmingly elected by the American people to be our President and Commander in Chief,” Gabbard wrote on X.

“As our Commander in Chief, he is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat, and whether or not to take action he deems necessary to protect the safety and security of our troops, the American people and our country,” she said.

Gabbard said her office’s role is to provide intelligence to inform those decisions.

“The Office of the Director of National Intelligence is responsible for helping coordinate and integrate all intelligence to provide the President and Commander in Chief with the best information available to inform his decisions,” she wrote.

“After carefully reviewing all the information before him, President Trump concluded that the terrorist Islamist regime in Iran posed an imminent threat and he took action based on that conclusion,” Gabbard added.

Her comments come after former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent resigned earlier on Tuesday, citing opposition to the war.

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” Kent wrote in his resignation letter. "Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation."

As the U.S.–Iran war enters a new phase, the range of options now being discussed stretches from hitting Iran’s economic and oil lifeline at Kharg Island to the far more dangerous prospect of a ground invasion, or a narrower operation focused on Iran’s nuclear material.

The urgency comes as recent U.S. strikes have degraded parts of Iran’s military infrastructure without collapsing the regime, raising pressure on the Trump administration to decide what comes next.

Each option carries significant risks: disrupting Kharg Island could shock global oil markets, a ground invasion could draw the U.S. into a prolonged regional war, and operations targeting nuclear material could trigger escalation while still failing to eliminate the threat. 

What happens next could determine not only the trajectory of the conflict with Iran, but also the stability of global energy supply and the future of Tehran’s nuclear program.

Recent U.S. strikes already hit military targets on Kharg Island, a small island in the Persian Gulf that serves as Iran’s main oil export terminal that has emerged as a central pressure point in the conflict, while sparing its oil infrastructure, underscoring just how consequential the next move could be.

Kharg Island is the centerpiece of Iran’s oil export system. The island handles about 90% of Iran’s oil exports, and Iran recently has been exporting roughly 1.1 million barrels to 1.5 million barrels of oil per day, mostly to China.

Recent U.S. strikes on Kharg targeted military installations while leaving key oil facilities intact — a sign that Washington is trying to preserve a major pressure point without immediately detonating global oil markets.

Abdullah Aljunaid, a Bahraini analyst, told Fox News Digital that after Iran’s military capabilities were weakened, the U.S. focus could shift to economic pressure on Iran.

"The Iranian military capacity and offensive abilities have been totally degraded, so we need to probably do something else," Aljunaid said.

Aljunaid pointed to key strategic sites, including Bushehr — a coastal city in southern Iran on the Persian Gulf that hosts the country’s only operational nuclear power plant and a key port — and Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub.

"We need to take certain strategic assets — geography — like Bushehr and Kharg, out of the equation," he said. "Those two, especially Kharg, represent the jewel of the crown, and without that, Iran’s economic ability to finance itself is going to be dead."

He added that control over key maritime choke points could further shift the balance.

"If the U.S. decided to take Bushehr at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, then I believe we can really see a different equation, forcing the Iranians to come to the negotiating table on our terms — the U.S. terms, and probably the rest of the world."

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Efrat Lachter.