Middle East war intensifies as Israel claims killing Iranian intelligence minister

Iran has lashed out with multiple attacks on its gulf neighbours and Israel, following the killing of one of its top leaders in an airstrike.

Day 19 of the U.S.-Israel war has shown no signs of slowing down as reports of an attack Wednesday morning included strikes on Iran, killing and wounding civilians and judicial staff.

Israel’s defense minister says that Israel has killed the Iranian Intelligence Minister Emsail Khatib, allegedly from an overnight strike. He said that there will be “significant surprises” expected throughout the day, but did not elaborate.

The Iranian strikes on Israel and its gulf neighbours killed two people near Tel Aviv, with reports of first responders attending the scenes of partially destroyed buildings and streets covered in debris.

It is unknown how many people have been hurt at this time.

Ali Larijani is the most senior Iranian figure to die in the war since the supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed on its first day.

Basij commander organization commander Gholamreza Soleimani was also killed.

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Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu released a video Tuesday claiming responsibility for their deaths, and that they are working with the U.S. to generate more pressure on the “Iranian regime.”

“Through stratagems, we will wage war. We will not reveal all the stratagems here, but I told you — they are many,” said Netanyahu translated through Reuters.

A funeral procession was held Wednesday for Larijani, Khamenei and other sailors who died on the Iranian navy vessel in Tehran’s Revolution (Enghelab) Square.

In response to the deaths, Iran used some of its latest missiles to evade air defenses.

Meanwhile, Israel kept up the intense pressure on Lebanon Wednesday, with strikes it said targeted Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

The airstrikes hit multiple apartment buildings in Beirut and killed at least six people.

Since the war started, at least 1,300 people have been killed in Iran, more than 900 in Lebanon and 14 in Israel, according to officials in those countries.

As the airstrikes ramp up, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Complex suffered no damage after being hit by a projectile.

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