Overview
Israel says overnight strikes killed two senior Iranian figures — including Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force — as Iran continues missile and drone attacks across the Gulf. European leaders have declined U.S. requests to provide military protection for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, warning they will not put personnel in harm’s way. The confrontation has driven oil prices sharply higher, disrupted shipping, and produced mounting casualties across the region.
Diplomatic response from Europe
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters that while Europe remains allied with the United States, it is unwilling to commit personnel to escort duties in the Strait of Hormuz amid the current unpredictability. She urged diplomatic efforts to keep the waterway open to prevent wider food, fertilizer and energy disruptions. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer likewise declined to send warships, saying the U.K. will coordinate with partners on a collective response; Britain already has de‑mining vessels operating in the region.
Israeli strikes and Iranian leadership losses
The Israel Defense Forces said its strikes targeted senior Iranian figures overnight, naming Gholamreza Soleimani and later announcing Ali Larijani was eliminated. Israeli officials accused those targeted of playing central roles in Iran’s security apparatus and in suppressing recent domestic protests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the military will continue to pursue Iranian leadership targets.
Continued regional attacks and casualties
Iran has maintained missile and drone attacks on Gulf states and commercial vessels. Debris from an intercepted missile killed one person in Abu Dhabi; the UAE’s reported death toll from the conflict stands at eight, including civilians and two military personnel who died in a helicopter accident. Fujairah’s oil industrial zone was struck again, sparking fires and temporarily halting some storage and loading operations. Explosions were also reported in Doha as Qatar and other Gulf states have faced strikes.
U.S., Iraq and security developments
U.S. officials report more than 200 service members injured and 13 killed in the conflict. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was struck by shrapnel after Iraqi forces intercepted four drones aimed at the compound; all four were shot down, officials said. A separate strike hit a residence inside Baghdad’s fortified Presidential Compound. Iraqi authorities are reportedly negotiating with Tehran to allow some oil tankers passage through the Strait of Hormuz and are working to resume exports via the Kirkuk‑Ceyhan pipeline to ease disruptions.
Arrests and humanitarian responses
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it arrested 10 alleged foreign spies, accusing some of collecting information on sensitive sites and others of links to a monarchist group. China announced plans to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq to help civilians affected by U.S. and Israeli strikes. Iran claims more than 1,300 people have been killed in the conflict; other counts attribute dozens of deaths in Gulf states and at least 12 fatalities in Israel from retaliatory strikes. Regional casualty figures and damage assessments continue to change as events unfold.
Economic impact
Attacks and the threat to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — which handles about a fifth of global crude flows — have pushed crude prices toward $100 a barrel and contributed to higher gasoline costs in the United States. Disruption to shipping routes and repeated strikes on oil facilities have heightened global market anxiety.
Political context and outlook
U.S. and Israeli officials have framed recent operations as responses to imminent threats from Iran. Some European leaders, who say they were largely excluded from planning discussions before the strikes, have resisted calls to place forces where they might be targeted. EU officials emphasize diplomatic channels as the preferred means to preserve safe passage through the strait. Israeli officials said they would brief the United States further on the killings when Washington’s leadership is available. The security situation remains fluid, with ongoing strikes, diplomatic maneuvering and evolving casualty reports across the region.