Welcome to our live coverage of day 19 of the war in Iran, where Tehran has fired retaliatory fresh barrages early on Wednesday at Israel and its neighbouring countries, as it looks to avenge the IDF’s killing of two of its top security officials the day prior.
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Israel announced on Tuesday that it has eliminated the powerful Iranian security chief, Ali Larijani, and Gholam Reza Soleimani, who heads the all-volunteer Basij paramilitary unit of the Revolutionary Guard Corps in overnight strikes on Tehran.
Iran deployed advanced multiple warhead missiles in its attacks on central Israel, killing two people in a strike on a building in the city of Ramat Gan, raising the death toll in the country to 14.
Tehran’s neighbours in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait have reported early interceptions of incoming Iranian drones and missiles on Wednesday, while an attack on Iraq saw the US embassy compound sustaining a direct hit.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has hinted at a potential exit from NATO after the defence alliance ruled out deploying naval assets in his bid to assemble a global coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to address soaring energy costs. Brent crude continued to trade over $100 a barrel on Wednesday.
Follow our live blog for the latest updates from our journalists in the region and worldwide.
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8:27 GMT+1
Iran executes man it accused of spying for Mossad
Iran’s judiciary said on Wednesday that it has executed a man it accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
The judiciary’s Mizan news agency identified the man as Kourosh Keyvani.
It alleged he “provided images and information on sensitive locations” to the Mossad. Keyvani was the first publicly announced execution for spying during the current war.
Iran, one of the world’s top executioners, has long killed people convicted of spying charges in closed-door hearings where they can’t fully contest the cases against them.
Activists and rights groups have warned since Iran’s nationwide protests in January that the Islamic Republic could begin conducting mass executions. Iran violently suppressed the protests through violence that killed thousands and saw tens of thousands detained.
In the aftermath of Iran’s eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s, international rights groups estimate as many as 5,000 people were executed.
8:25 GMT+1
No request from US to help keep Strait of Hormuz open, says Australian minister
A senior Australian government minister said he isn’t aware of any formal US request for military support to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open amid spiralling energy prices.
Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers was responding on Wednesday to US President Donald Trump’s complaint that Australia, Japan, South Korea and NATO had rejected his calls to help secure the strait from Iranian attack.
Asked if Australia had received any formal US request for extra military support to keep the strait open, Chalmers told Australian media outlets “Not that I’m aware of.”
“It’s not something that we’ve been considering, in terms of sending battleships to the Strait of Hormuz,” Chalmers insisted in another interview.
8:21 GMT+1
Two people killed in central Israel as Iran launches fresh attacks
Iran launched a barrage of what it said were multiple-warhead missiles aimed at central Israel on Wednesday to avenge the deaths of two of its top security officials, who were killed in overnight Israeli strikes the day prior, as the war enters day 19.
In a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership, Israel announced on Tuesday that its strikes in Tehran eliminated Gholam Reza Soleimani, the IRGC’s all-volunteer Basij paramilitary unit chief, and top security official Ali Larijani, who served as secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Iran’s attacks have also targeted its neighbours in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Attacks were also reported in Iraq, where an Iranian drone was seen directly hitting the US embassy compound in Baghdad.
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