Listen to this article:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP): Israel killed two senior Iranian security officials in a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership as it faces its greatest test in decades, and Iran responded Wednesday (March 18) with renewed missile and drone attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors and Israel.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was considered one of the most powerful figures in the country since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike on the first day of the war. Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani was the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij.

Iran confirmed the killings of the men, who were key to Iran’s violent crackdown on protests in January that challenged the theocracy’s 47-year rule.

In response, Iran launched a barrage of what it said were multiple-warhead missiles Wednesday at central Israel to avenge Larijani’s death. Israel’s medical service said two people were killed in Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other Arab states also faced barrages of Iranian-fired missiles and drones Wednesday that were intercepted by air defense systems.

With concerns growing about a global energy crisis, an Iranian official said Tehran had no intention of relinquishing its tight grip on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil.

U.S. Central Command said the U.S. military fired multiple 5,000-pound deep penetrator bombs Tuesday (March 17) on Iranian missile sites along Iran’s coastline near the Strait of Hormuz.

It announced the bombings hours after President Donald Trump said that NATO and most........

© The Wire