Two Israeli strikes on residential apartments in central Beirut’s Basta and Zokak Al-Blat neighborhoods early Wednesday killed at least six people and wounded 24 others, Associated Press reported citing the Lebanese Health Ministry.

The strikes, which came without warning, hit areas far from Beirut’s southern suburbs, for which the Israeli army had issued evacuation notices.

3 others were killed in Qennarit.

4 people were killed and 7 wounded in Baalbek, according to NNA news agency.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it hit several Israeli military locations in border areas.

Lebanese health authorities earlier said that 886 people, including 67 women and 111 children, have been killed and another 2,141 injured since Israel began striking what it describes as Hezbollah strongholds amid the war in Iran.

Kuwait’s National Guard announced on Wednesday that its task force shot down seven drones at dawn within its areas of responsibility, Arab Times reported citing official spokesperson Brigadier General Dr. Jad’an Fadel.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posed a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.

Two people have been killed in an Iranian ballistic missile impact in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, The Times of Israel reported citing the local ambulance service.

Another person was hospitalized with shrapnel wounds.

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posed a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s top counterterrorism official has resigned over the war in Iran, urging the president to “reverse course”.

In a letter posted on X, National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent said that Iran posed “no imminent threat” to the US and claimed the administration “started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby”.

“After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today. I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. 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. It has been an honor serving under the President of the United States and Director of National Intelligence and leading the professionals at NCTC. May God bless America,” Kent said on X, posting his resignation letter.

Asked to comment at the White House, Trump said Kent was a “nice guy”, but “weak on security”.

He also said Kent’s resignation letter had made him realize “it was a good thing that he’s out,” the BBC reported.

The White House dismissed the letter, saying the president had “compelling evidence” that Iran was going to attack the US first.

CNN reported citing two White House officials and a person familiar with the matter that Kent met with Vice President JD Vance on Monday, laying out why he intended to step down over concerns about the war in Iran and presenting his resignation letter.

The person familiar with the meeting told CNN that Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard were in the room as Kent laid out his reasoning, and the White House officials said Vance encouraged Kent to speak with Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff, before formally submitting his resignation. One of the officials said he ultimately did so before making his public statement.

The U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, deployed in operations against Iran, is expected to temporarily pull into port after a fire on board, Reuters reported citing U.S. officials.

The carrier, America’s newest and the world’s largest, is currently located in the Red Sea. It is expected to temporarily go to Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete, according to the report.

The warship has been deployed for nine months, including taking part in operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean ⁠prior to arriving in the Middle East.

The officials, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, did not say how long the Ford was expected to remain in Crete.

One of the officials said nearly 200 sailors were treated for smoke-related injuries when the fire broke out in the ship’s main laundry area. The fire took hours to bring under control and had an impact on roughly 100 sleeping berths.

After the fire initially broke out, the U.S. military had said that there was no ⁠damage to the ship’s propulsion plant and the aircraft carrier was fully operational.

The Ford, ⁠with more than 5,000 sailors aboard, has more than 75 military aircraft, including fighter aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornets.

Saudi Arabia will host a foreign ministerial meeting involving a number of Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh on Wednesday, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

“On March 18, talks between the foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries will be held in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. The parties plan to discuss coordinating their actions to ensure security in the Middle East,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a press release.

Iran’s judiciary said Wednesday it executed a man it accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Associated Press reported.

AP reported citing a statement from the Iranian judiciary’s media outlet that the executed man was identified as Kourosh Keyvani, who is the first publicly announced execution for spying during the current war.

Iran said he “provided images and information on sensitive locations” to the Mossad.

According to Fars news agency, the man was arrested during the 2025 Iran-Israeli conflict near the western suburbs of Tehran.

Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said on ‌Wednesday that Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib was “eliminated” in a strike ⁠overnight, Reuters reports.

There has been no confirmation from Iran regarding Khatib’s reported death.

Katz said he and Israeli Prime Minister ‌Benjamin ⁠Netanyahu had authorized the military to kill any other senior ⁠Iranian official being targeted without the need ⁠for additional approval, according to Reuters.

The report comes after Iranian state media confirmed Tuesday that Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an airstrike.

A Swedish citizen was executed in Iran on Wednesday, Sweden’s foreign minister said in a statement, Reuters reported.

“The person, who was no named in the statement, was arrested in Iran in June of last year and Sweden has repeatedly raised the case with Iranian officials,” Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said.

“The death penalty is an inhumane, cruel and irreversible punishment. Sweden, together with the rest of the EU, condemns its application in all circumstances,” Stenergard said.

China will continue mediating to push for a ceasefire ‌and an end to fighting in the Middle East, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, adding ⁠the war should never have happened and had no reason to continue, Reuters reported citing a foreign ministry statement.

Wang Yi made the remarks ‌on ⁠Wednesday during a meeting in Beijing with the UAE presidential special envoy to ⁠China, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, in which he also voiced support ⁠for the UAE in safeguarding its sovereignty ⁠and security, according to Reuters. 

The U.S. and Israel launched what they described as a pre-emptive strike against Iran on February 28, claiming that Tehran was developing a nuclear weapon and posed a threat—an allegation Iran has denied. In response, Iran launched counterattacks, firing missiles and drones at Israel, as well as at U.S. assets and other targets across the Middle East.