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US-Israel-Iran War News: Iran launches multiple-warhead missiles at Israel, calls it ‘revenge’ for Ali Larijani’s killing
US-Israel-Iran War Today News Updates: Iran acknowledged launching multiple-warhead missiles at Israel early Wednesday, with the Revolutionary Guard describing the attack as revenge for Israel killing top security official Ali Larijani. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Wednesday confirmed the killing of its secretary, along with his son Morteza Larijani and the head of his office, Alireza Bayat, as well as several guards, the Associated Press reported.
A top US counterterrorism official, nominated by President Donald Trump, resigned on Tuesday citing Washington’s war against Iran and said he “cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran”. Joe Kent was confirmed by the Senate in July last year.
Joe Kent served as head of the National Counterterrorism Center, the agency tasked with analyzing and detecting terrorist threats. He was confirmed to the post on a 52–44 vote. Before joining Trump’s administration, he ran two unsuccessful campaigns for Congress in Washington state.
11
Military deployments as a Green Beret
52–44
Senate confirmation vote
2
Failed Congress campaigns in Washington state
Controversies
PB
Paid a Proud Boys member for consulting
During his 2022 congressional campaign, Kent paid Graham Jorgensen — a member of the far-right Proud Boys — for consulting work, and worked closely with Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson.
J6
Refused to disavow Jan. 6 conspiracy
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Kent declined to distance himself from claims that federal agents instigated the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, or that Trump won the 2020 election.
Resignation
Kent says he “cannot in good conscience” back the war
Kent announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing deep concerns about the justification for U.S. military strikes in Iran. He stated publicly that Iran posed no imminent threat to the United States, and directly named Israeli pressure and its American lobby as the reason the war began.
“Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”
— Joe Kent, resignation statement
Speaker’s framing
Johnson: Israel was going to act alone
House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested the White House believed Israel was determined to strike Iran independently, leaving Trump with a “very difficult decision” — effectively cornering the U.S. into joining the strikes.
Then vs. Now
Gabbard once called an Iran war a catastrophe. Now she’s silent.
Tulsi Gabbard, now Director of National Intelligence under Trump, has not posted about Iran on social media since the strikes began last month. Her office declined to say whether she supports them.
“An all out war with Iran would make the wars that we’ve seen in Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic. It will be far more costly in lives, American lives, and American taxpayer dollars — and all towards accomplishing what goal?”
— Tulsi Gabbard, six years ago
What’s coming
▶
Testimony due this week
Gabbard is scheduled to testify before lawmakers alongside CIA Director Ratcliffe and FBI Director Patel at the annual threat hearing — now dominated by questions about the Iran war.
165+
School strike likely to dominate hearing
Outdated U.S. intelligence is believed to have led to a missile striking an Iranian elementary school, killing more than 165 people. Lawmakers are expected to press Gabbard on this directly.
Significance
Dissent is coming from Trump’s own flank
Kent’s resignation is not from a Democrat or a centrist — it is from a figure confirmed by a Republican Senate, with deep military-intelligence credentials and ties to the MAGA base. His public break signals that unease about the Iran war extends to the right of Trump’s coalition.
Unlikely alignment
Kent and Warner agree: no imminent threat existed
Sen. Mark Warner — the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and a longtime Kent critic — validated the core of Kent’s resignation, stating there was no credible evidence of an imminent Iranian threat to justify the strikes. The left and the far-right are on the same page.
Sources: Associated Press · US Senate confirmation records
Iran stepped up its attacks targeting US embassies and oil facilities in the Middle East, with Tehran, on Tuesday (Mar 17), launching rockets and at least five drones at the US embassy in Baghdad from areas around the city. According to news agency Reuters, the Iraqi security sources described the attack as the most intense since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that he’s “not happy” with the UK after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it would not be drawn into a “wider war” over Iran.
What is happening now: Israel carried out airstrikes on three Beirut neighbourhoods, striking a residential building. “A series of raids and artillery shelling targeted southern towns at dawn,” news agency AFP cited Lebanon’s national news agency reports. “Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes targeting the Kafaat and Haret Hreik areas. In another raid, the aircraft struck a residential apartment on the upper floors of a building located at the end of Venice Street in the Doha Aramoun area.”
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5 latest developments:
IDF launches attacks targeting Beirut and Tehran: The Israeli military announced that it has launched “extensive” strikes against various targets in Beirut and Tehran. IDF said that in Iran, it is launching attacks targeting “infrastructure of the terror regime,” while in Beirut, the army said that they were striking Hezbollah targets. Iran rejects ceasefire claims: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had not asked Washington for a ceasefire and does not see a reason to hold talks. Attacks reported across the Middle East: Rockets and drones targeted Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, where the US operates a diplomatic mission. Tanker hit near UAE’s Fujairah: A tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile whilst at anchor”, late on Monday (Mar 16), near the Emirati oil port of Fujairah, said the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre on Tuesday. Lebanon toll rises as border tensions grow: Israel launched new strikes in southern Lebanon and moved tanks and troops towards the border, with the reported death toll in Lebanon reaching about 886.
The Indian Express Global Desk remains committed to rigorous verification. Follow our live blog below for real-time tracking of Operation Epic Fury, regional airspace status, and diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation.
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The United States has indicated that it is close to achieving its strategic objectives of initiating a unilateral war on Iran, with Secretary of State […]
