As the joint U.S.-Israeli war against Iran entered its 18th day, a senior U.S. counterterrorism official resigned in protest of the conflict, Israel reported killing top Iranian security leaders in new airstrikes, and the United Nations warned the war could significantly worsen global hunger as fighting disrupts critical supply routes.
U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns, claims ‘Iran posed no imminent threat’ and Israel pressured admin into war
Joe Kent, President Donald Trump’s National Counterterrorism Center director, announced March 17 that he was resigning because he is opposed to the U.S. war in Iran.
In a statement addressed to Trump, Kent said he “cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran,” adding, “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.”
>> US counterterrorism chief Joe Kent resigns over Iran war <<
Israel strikes kill 2 top Iranian security officials
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israeli airstrikes on March 17 killed two of Iran’s top security officials, according to Reuters.
Katz said the strikes killed senior security figures, including Ali Larijani, Iran’s security chief and secretary of its Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij militia, a paramilitary force used for internal security.
Iran confirmed the deaths, according to Al Jazeera.
Iran has launched and threatened further missile and drone attacks throughout the day and has claimed strikes on Israel and on U.S. bases in the Gulf. Some projectiles have caused limited damage and injuries in Israel.
Afghanistan says Pakistani airstrike killed hundreds in Kabul
Afghanistan’s Taliban government said a Pakistani airstrike killed more than 400 people at a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, according to Reuters.
Taliban officials said the March 16 strike hit the Omid drug treatment hospital, killing at least 408 people and wounding about 250 others, including patients, staff, and civilians.
Pakistan rejected the claim, calling it “false and misleading” and arguing its military only carried out precise strikes against militant targets, not civilian facilities.
Humanitarian concerns
The World Food Programme reported March 17 that a prolonged Iran conflict could sharply worsen global hunger, warning that millions of people are at risk of falling into acute food insecurity in the coming months. The UN agency said fighting since late February has disrupted major aid routes and slowed deliveries to crisis zones.
The agency estimated that up to 45 million more people could face acute hunger by June due to supply chain disruptions, with a similar number affected by rising food, fuel, and shipping costs. Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau said the combined impact could push global hunger beyond the current record level.