Top updates: Israel claims Iranian intelligence minister killed in airstrike

Israel on Wednesday claimed that it killed Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib in an airstrike in Tehran, The Times of Israel reported.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz was quoted as saying that “significant surprises are expected”.

Tehran has not yet commented on the matter.

The conflict in West Asia began on February 28. Iran has since then effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz for most international commercial vessels. About 20% of global petroleum supply passes through the maritime chokepoint.

Here are more top updates from the conflict in West Asia:

• Katz said on Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorised the country’s military to “[eliminate] any senior Iranian figure…without the need for additional approval”.
• Around 90 ships, including oil tankers, have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict in West Asia broke out, AP quoted maritime and trade data platforms as saying. Global oil prices have continued to rise after the disruption.
• At least 89 ships, including 16 oil tankers, crossed the Strait of Hormuz between March 1 and 15, AP quoted maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence as saying. More than one-fifth of the ships were said to be Iran-affiliated, while several others are said to be Chinese and Greek-affiliated vessels. Some of the ships were reported to be “dark” transits, operating without location trackers to...

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