Death of Ali Larijani and Consequences for Iran
Official sources from Tehran have confirmed that Ali Larijani, along with the commander of the Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, were killed in a strike on the capital.In response, Iranian authorities have already announced a "harsh response," and the country's military structures have intensified their rhetoric and mobilization. This assassination is seen as a significant blow to the Iranian political system in recent times.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commenting on Larijani's death, stated that Israel aims to weaken the Iranian government to allow the Iranian people to change the situation. At the same time, Israeli military officials expressed their intention to pursue the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since his appointment.
Larijani was seen at public events last Friday during the Al-Quds Day celebrations. Photo Iranian President's Press Office/UPI/Shutterstock.
As the right-hand man of Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28, Larijani could not take his place as he was not a cleric, as noted by the Times of Israel.
According to CNN, one Israeli military official stated that after Khamenei's death, Larijani effectively became the leader of Iran, organizing attacks against Israel and Arab countries in the region.
Resignation of Joe Kent: Crisis in American Counterterrorism
Amid the conflict in Iran, the director of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, announced his resignation.He explained his decision by stating that he could not "in good conscience" support the current military campaign, emphasizing that he believed Iran did not pose an immediate threat.
According to the BBC Russian Service, Joe Kent was part of the Trump team and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for his position last July.
Kent wrote on social media that "Iran does not threaten our country," and noted that the war was unleashed under pressure from Israel and its lobby in the U.S. He also expressed dissatisfaction that American soldiers were losing their lives in conflicts that do not benefit the American people.
Trump reacted to the resignation, stating that it was a good thing since Kent claimed that Iran did not pose a threat, although this was not true.
New Attacks on Israel: Casualties and Tense Situation
Iran and its affiliated forces continue active attacks on Israeli territory.In Tel Aviv, instances of direct hits have been recorded, resulting in casualties and injuries among the civilian population.
In Jerusalem, debris from intercepted missiles fell in the Old City, including near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and close to the Temple Mount.
Tension remains high on the border with Lebanon, where shelling and gunfire involving armed groups are taking place.
The Israeli air defense system continues to successfully intercept many threats; however, it has not been able to completely avoid strikes.
Continuation of Attacks: Responses from Both Sides
In the last 24 hours, there have been numerous new attacks. The U.S. struck Iranian missile positions near the Strait of Hormuz, citing threats to shipping, while Israel continues to bomb targets within Iran.According to AFP, loud explosions occurred in the capital of Iraq on Tuesday, caused by an attack on the U.S. embassy using drones and missiles.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense reported the interception of two Iranian ballistic missiles and 13 drones in its airspace over the past day; two people sustained minor injuries.
