Day 17 of Iran war: Israel targets senior regime officials amid heavy strikes in Tehran

2026-03-17 - 21:00

As the armed conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran’s regime enters its 17th day on March 17, 2026, military actions have significantly escalated across the region. Following yesterday’s events—where regime-linked drones targeted critical infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates—today brings reports of unprecedented strikes deep inside the Iranian capital. The Israeli military has claimed the elimination of key regime figures, including the regime’s security chief and the commander of the suppressive Basij forces, amidst a wave of bombings targeting government and military infrastructure in northern Tehran. Meanwhile, the regional fallout continues to intensify. The UAE was forced to completely close its airspace amid renewed missile threats, and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad came under a severe drone and rocket attack. On the international stage, divisions between Western allies remain stark, with the European Union urging a diplomatic end to the war while U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized NATO allies for refusing to join the coalition. Roundup of today’s key events Israel claims to have killed the Iranian regime’s security chief, Ali Larijani, and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in overnight airstrikes. Successive and heavy explosions rocked northern Tehran, with strikes reported near the Saadabad Palace complex and other government infrastructures. A precision drone strike destroyed a Special Unit (Yegan-e Vijeh) vehicle in Tehran’s Enghelab Square, killing the driver. The United Arab Emirates temporarily closed its airspace entirely due to security threats. One civilian was killed in Abu Dhabi by shrapnel from an intercepted missile. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was targeted by multiple drones and rockets in what Iraqi security sources described as the most severe attack since the war began. The regime’s Ministry of Intelligence claimed to have confiscated hundreds of Starlink terminals as the nationwide internet blackout reached its 18th day. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged the U.S. and Israel to end the war, while U.S. President Donald Trump lambasted NATO allies for their reluctance to join the conflict. Israel claims killing of senior regime officials Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Tuesday that the Iranian regime’s security chief, Ali Larijani, and the commander of the Basij forces, Gholamreza Soleimani, were killed in overnight airstrikes. Soleimani led the Basij, a paramilitary force heavily utilized by the regime to brutally quell domestic protests. Larijani was widely considered the right-hand man to the now-dead supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war on February 28. While the Iranian regime has not yet officially confirmed the deaths, a handwritten message attributed to Larijani commemorating killed navy sailors was published on his social media on Tuesday morning. Larijani was last seen in public on March 13 participating in a Quds Day march in Tehran. Heavy airstrikes target Tehran and regime infrastructure The Israeli army announced it has launched a wave of attacks against government infrastructure in Tehran. Multiple successive explosions were reported early Tuesday morning in the northern areas of the capital. Al Jazeera reported several massive blasts near the Saadabad Palace complex. Social media reports also pointed to strikes in the Ozgol, Farmanieh, Andarzgoo, and Kamranieh neighborhoods, though the ongoing internet blackout makes independent verification difficult. In addition to the capital, reports indicated airstrikes hitting Karaj, Shahriar, and areas along the route to Shiraz. Inside Tehran, visual evidence showed the bombing of the so-called “Martyrs Foundation” (Bonyad Shahid) building on Bahar and Taleghani streets. In a separate targeted attack, a precision drone strike completely destroyed a vehicle belonging to the regime’s suppressive Special Unit (Yegan-e Vijeh) at Enghelab Square, killing the driver. Regional fallout: UAE airspace closed and US embassy attacked The United Arab Emirates fully and temporarily closed its airspace early Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure due to rapid regional security developments. Following warnings of potential missile threats, explosions were heard in Dubai. The UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed it is engaging missile and drone threats. Overnight, an intercepted ballistic missile in Abu Dhabi resulted in the death of a Pakistani national who was struck by shrapnel. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, condemned the Iranian regime’s attacks, describing them as “brutal aggression.” He emphasized that the UAE would not be broken and remains committed to defending its homeland. In neighboring Iraq, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad was subjected to coordinated rocket and drone attacks early Tuesday morning (March 17). Iraqi security sources described it as the most severe attack on the facility since the war began. U.S. officials told Reuters that no casualties have been reported so far, with Iraqi officials stating that five drones were used in the assault. Western divisions: EU seeks ceasefire as Trump criticizes NATO Divisions among Western allies continue to widen. In Brussels, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged the U.S. and Israel to end the war, revealing that the EU is consulting with Middle Eastern governments—including Gulf nations, Jordan, and Egypt—to find a diplomatic exit that allows all sides to “save face.” Kallas noted that European nations were not consulted before the war started and are unwilling to put their forces in harm’s way for a conflict they opposed. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly slammed NATO allies during an Oval Office meeting on Tuesday. He criticized the 32-member alliance for making a “very foolish mistake” by hesitating to join the U.S. military effort or secure the Strait of Hormuz. Trump asserted that the U.S. does not actually need their assistance, calling the situation “a great test, because we don’t need them, but they should have been there.” Regime intensifies censorship amid 18th day of internet blackout As military strikes severely weaken the regime’s infrastructure, its security apparatus continues to target the Iranian public’s access to information. The nationwide internet blackout has now entered its 18th consecutive day. In an attempt to maintain its grip on the flow of news, the regime’s Ministry of Intelligence announced the “discovery and confiscation of hundreds of Starlink systems” across the country, claiming the equipment was smuggled in under the direction of the U.S. and Israel. Government officials have admitted that internet access remains heavily restricted and is only available to entities aligned with the regime.