Global News Podcast - Israel's third top-level assassination in two days

Episode Date: March 18, 2026

Iran's Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib has been killed in an overnight Israeli strike. It comes just a day after Israel assasinated Ali Larijani and another senior Iranian commander, and as thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran for their funerals. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the latest killing as ''cowardly". Also: an Iranian petrochemical complex on the world's largest natural gas field is hit by Israeli airstrikes - a significant escalation against Iran's energy infastructure. Retaliatory strikes by Iran and its allied militia groups continue across the region. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky tells the BBC he has a "very bad feeling" about the impact of the Middle East conflict on the situation in Ukraine. Elsewhere, the death toll in Monday's deadly Pakistani strike on Kabul is confirmed at more than 140. Also: Disney has a new chief executive - we find out what might be in his inbox. Our correspondent in Havana reports on how Cubans are continuing to struggle amid a three-month fuel blockade by the Trump administration. And how Venezuela defeated the US to win the World Baseball Classic in a thrilling final in Miami.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: [e-mail]

This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Antri Peach and we're recording this podcast at 16 hours GMT on Wednesday the 18th of March. Here are our main stories. The Iranian intelligence minister is assassinated a day after its powerful security chief was killed. Israel also strikes an Iranian petrochemical complex on the world's largest natural gas field. Tehran continues its retaliation against Gulf neighbors who are meeting in Saudi Arabia to discuss their response. Also in this podcast, Disney has a new chief executive.

We'll find out what's in his inbox and how Venezuela defeated the US to win the world baseball classic. All our fellow Venezuelans living abroad are celebrating this victory by the Venezuelan national team. Long live Venezuela, the best country in the world. Just as Iran was preparing to bury the country's security chief, Ali Larry Jani, who was killed by Israel on Tuesday. Israel announced it had assassinated another senior Iranian official.

Iran's president, Mazud Pazekian, confirmed the death of the intelligence minister, Esmar Khadib, calling it a cowardly assassination. The Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, said the military had been authorized to kill any senior figure of the Islamic Republic in its sights. The BBC's Persian service has been receiving messages from Iranians reacting to the death. Their words here spoken by our team. It seems like this killing of Khatib might help the people since he was among the leadership, though more so larijani.

It might be that when people come out after a call to protest, the likelihood of them being killed is lower now. Even though they all have replacement, these were the main figures. Perhaps the IRJC will see the situation and eventually back down. I've honestly never gone to a protest at all. My family wouldn't let me. They said it was dangerous. If I decide to go this time, I need to wait things up.

They could actually act much more harshly this time if they feel the end is near. I'd be happy for any of the leaders to be taken out. But at the same time, I'd rather, America and Israel didn't go after someone like Peseshkian, because I feel he's like someone you could ultimately negotiate with and get to concede. I don't know. It feels like his heart isn't really in it, and he's being forced. Having an official you can deal with, and who, who might eventually give in is a good thing. In Tehran, thousands of mourners gathered at a funeral possession for Ali Larijani,

as well as another senior Iranian commander who was killed in Tuesday's Israeli airstrike. Some Iranians kiss the coffins as they pass through the streets. There are also chance of death to America. Our security correspondent Frank Gardner, who's in Doha, told me more about the latest Iranian official to be killed by the Israelis. Ismail Khatib was one of the really early adopters, it were of the Islamic Revolution. He joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps back in 1980, so just one year after the Islamic Revolution. And he is very much kind of embodied in that.

He was very close to the previous Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khanenei. He looked after his security. He's been at various times, a minister of intelligence, very highly placed within the kind of security intelligence apparatus. He's close to the Revolutionary Guards as a to being close to the kind of conventional ministry of intelligence, that these are two almost rival organizations, and he belonged to the more hardcore one, an extraordinary degree of penetration that Israel's Morsad intelligence agency has in Iran.

I mean, there's no surprises there. They've been able to assassinate nuclear scientists and various people in the past. And, of course, on the very first day of this conflict, on February the 28th, when they were able to assassinate the supreme leader himself, Ayatollah al-Alechamanei. They hit him with deep penetration bunker-busting bombs. And that was in broad daylight.

So obviously they know where all these people are. I mean, all of these senior members in Iran, whether they be in the Revolutionary Guards Corps or in other branches of the military or the regime, nevertheless, there seems to be no hiding place for them. Still we hear claims that the regime hasn't been significantly. weakened despite these losses. Is that credible? I think it's only half true. I mean, look, the fact that it is still functioning and that it's still there is cocking a snook at America. That is a snub to America because by now President Trump, I'm quite certain, will have expected the Islamic Republic to have either capitulated to America's

demand saying, okay, all right, yep, let's discuss what you wanted to discuss in Geneva, which we refused back in February or collapsed altogether. But it hasn't. Now, it's possible that when the shooting stops, there could be mass protests, but I wouldn't hold your breath for that, because look who's got the guns. It's not the protesters. It's still the deep state. And there are an awful lot of people who've got a vested interest in maintaining that deep state. That's our security correspondent Frank Gardner with me from Qatar. Meanwhile, an Iranian petrochemical complex on the South Paz gas field has been hit by air strikes. It's the world's largest natural gas field, shared by Iran and Qatar, whose foreign ministry has condemned the attack as dangerous and irresponsible. The details from our Middle East

analyst Sebastian Usher. The attack on the South Paz gas field, which Israel has confirmed it carried out, is a significant new escalation by Israel and the US against Iran's energy infrastructure. Iranian media say there were a number of explosions in a refinery complex with emergency services trying to contain the fires. Iran immediately threatened a strong response, saying that it would target oil facilities in several Gulf countries. Qatar, which shares the gas field, has expressed its displeasure at the attack, saying it was a threat to global energy security, as well as to people in the region and their environment. In Lebanon, the government says more than a million people have been displaced since Israel renewed its military campaign against the Iran-backed

militia group Hezbollah. That's around one in seven people in Lebanon. Firas Abiyadh is a former Lebanese health minister and now a surgeon at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. You're seeing a lot of blast injuries. You're seeing, you know, burns. You're also seeing injuries that are resulting from the damaged buildings as people are trapped. We're seeing much more civilian casualties than, for example, the last war. They've reported up to now 111 children who have been killed and more than 350 were wounded. In Beirut alone, in the greater Beirut, there has been five hospitals that were part of this evacuation order by the IDF,

and we've had to transfer all of their patients to receive care to other hospitals. And now they're working 24-7. A lot of the healthcare personnel are displaced themselves, and that means that we have less nurses, sometimes doctors, available for work because at the moment they are trying to find shelters for their families. We've reported 38 healthcare workers or first responders who have been killed. We have reported more than 60 direct attacks on whether healthcare facilities or ambulances. Now, the situation in the people who have been displaced,

we're talking about more than a million people who have been displaced. This is almost a quarter of the population. A lot of them are in shelters. that are crowded with not proper access to water and sanitation. And from a public health perspective, this is a disaster waiting to happen. The Israeli army shows no sign of letting up its attacks in Lebanon, striking not only Hezbollah strongholds in the south, but also the centre of Beirut.

That was the moment a building crumpled to the ground in a neighbourhood near downtown Beirut. Local officials there say two is. Israeli strikes overnight, killed at least 10 people. Israel has confirmed the director of a Hezbollah-affiliated TV network was also killed. The BBC's Hugo Beshigar is in Beirut. So I live just 10 minutes from where this attack happened, and I was woken up by the sound of a huge blast, and you heard there,

you know, how powerful this explosion was, and the windows of my flat rattled. So this gives you an idea of the power of this attack, which happened at around 5.30 in the morning. So this happened about an hour after the Israeli military issued an evacuation order for this building on social media. So obviously this came in the middle of the night. A lot of people would have been sleeping when that happened. There's no early warning system here in Beirut, in Lebanon, no system to alert people that an attack is imminent.

And for listeners familiar with Beirut, this is not really far from Martyr Square, which is the main square in central Beirut. So, you know, in the central part of the city, and I think this is adding to this feeling that many Lebanese have, that no place is really safe. Because Israel is obviously targeting Hezbollah fighters and Hezbollah strongholds, but what we're seeing here is not that. I guess one justification might be about targeting the funders of Hezbollah.

Yeah, I think to be honest, what we're seeing here is that any building of facility or organization that is linked to Hezbollah is now being considered as a legitimate military target by Israel. So there was a statement from the Israeli military earlier today saying that they had targeted what they described as assets of the al-Qaeda al-Hassan, which is the financial institution run by Hezbollah. Israel says this is an institution that is used by Hezbollah to support its operations. Some people say that these are civilian facilities, not military targets,

but that hasn't really stopped these massive Israeli attacks. But I think, again, this is another example of Hezbollah's network of institutions here in Lebanon. Hezbollah is more than a militia. It is also a political party with representation in the government in parliament, also a social organization that runs hospitals, emergency services, schools, and also this financial institution that is now being targeted by Israel. Well, let's go to Israel now because it too has been targeted. by Iranian drones and Hezmalar rockets.

There for us, our correspondent Yolan Nel in Jerusalem. After Iran confirmed Israel's killing of its security chief, Ali Lharjani, it promised a retaliation. And that came swiftly in the form of these missile launches overnight, particularly targeting Tel Aviv. Footage shows that there were cluster munitions used on some of the warheads that were sent across. and this couple in their 70s in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv were killed in their apartment building and when it was hit by bomb fragments, a local official said that they were not in the protected room in their apartment

after warning sirens had gone off. And there were other impact sites, particularly in the centre of Israel with other people with injuries, not life-threatening. The sirens also went off in Jerusalem this morning to warn of incoming Iranian missile. that were then intercepted. We heard loud thuds overhead once again. And in the north of Israel, there have been something like 40 rockets fired by Hezbollah there overnight.

There was a senior military source telling Israel's army radio that every day Hezbollah is still firing about 150 rockets towards Israel, about half of which make it into Israeli territory. Our correspondent Yoland Nell, moving away from the military, Middle East for now and there's been a big change at the top of one of the world's most recognizable entertainment corporations. The chief executive of Walt Disney, Bob Iger, is stepping down after two decades leading the company. And the next boss, Josh DeMorrow, starts today. So what's in his inbox? Alice Enders is a media analyst for Enders Analysis.

Running a very, very large, mixed company in terms of both on the one hand, the media experiences, you know, the Disney Plus, the films, the TV experiences. And then on the other hand, the physical experiences, the parks, the cruises, and of course the merchandise, about 40, 60, really. So it's a very successful, very large conglomerate that stretches across these media and these physical experiences. and Eiger stepping down. It's a big change at the same time. He's staying on until the end of the year. So a transition mentorship situation for Josh DeMaro.

He has a very ambitious plan to build up the cruise ship side of things, launching new boats and launching more experiences, as it were, immersive experiences. And of course, also renewing the parks. So at this moment, you know, what you're seeing is, of course, continued investment in that side of the business, which has been more profitable for Disney. Media analyst, Alice Endos.

Still to come in this podcast, how Cubans are struggling without enough fuel. Sometimes the power comes on at 3 in the morning, and we just have to get up and start cooking rice and beans because food is the most important. Ukraine's president, Vladimir Zelensky, has told BBC news he has a very bad feeling about the influence. to the Middle East conflict on the situation in Ukraine. He said Washington's focus had now shifted and diplomatic meetings with him were being postponed as a result. On a trip to the UK,

President Zelensky referred to the Russians and the Iranians as brothers in hatred and said the Kremlin is benefiting from the war in Iran. He's been speaking to my colleague Laura Kuzberg. Putin will want a long war. For Putin, a long war in Iran is a plus. In addition to energy, prices. It means the depletion of US reserves and the depletion of air defense manufacturers. So we have a depletion of resources. So it is

beneficial for Putin that the resources do not go to Ukraine against whom he has directed his army and he's fighting with. He needs to weaken us and this is a long process. The release is one of the ways to do that. And indeed, as you say, there are only so many

resources in the world. There are only so many missiles in the world. There are only so many patriot missiles in the world that are being used by Gulf states. Are you worried that those vital patriot missiles could not be there for you when you need them? There will definitely be a deficit. I understand that, absolutely. And I absolutely deny that the question now is when will all the stockpiles in the Middle East be exhausted? And today, America produces 60, 65 missiles per month. Imagine. 65 missiles per month is about 700, 800 missiles per year, produced each year, yeah. And on the first day, in the Middle East War, 803 missiles were used.

So what will that mean for Ukraine if those missiles are all depleted? A challenge, another challenge. Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelenskyy. The head of the UN assistance mission in Afghanistan has told the BBC that more than 140 people were killed in Monday's Pakistani air strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul. Pakistan continues to deny that it targeted civilians and says the operation was aimed at military installations

and terrorist infrastructure. It's the deadliest attack in the recent violence between the two neighbors. At the time we record this podcast, rescue teams are still working at the scene. Georges-Gagnol from the UN is in Kabul. What we know at this point is that the situation is indeed very difficult on the ground. the facility itself was devastated. We've been able to verify at this point in time at least 143 people have been killed

and at least 120 wounded. Those are our numbers at this point in time, which, of course, we're continuing to verify and follow up on. But for families and communities, it's been a very, very tragic, difficult incident, and we certainly condemn it. The Afghan authorities have at least four different hospitals treating the injured. The situation is escalating.

And we've called for all parties to de-escalate, recommit to a ceasefire to prevent further civilian casualties and deaths to civilians in areas where there are airstrikes. We've also urged the parties, particularly those with military aircraft, to take all necessary measures to protect civilians. And we've urged also both parties to undertake dialogue and try and get a diplomatic resolution to the underlying political and security issues fueling the conflict. Your listeners may be aware that at this point in time, China has also, offered its good offices to provide mediation, which, you know, certainly the UN supports any effort on the part of countries to try and get a de-escalation. And we've also called on the parties themselves to accept mediation.

George Act Cagnon, both Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have said their temporarily suspending military operations ahead of the Muslim Festival of Edel Fitter. A Pakistani minister said that decision followed request. from the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey. We go to Cuba now, which continues to struggle with a three-month fuel blockade by the Trump administration. President Trump has said he could take Cuba soon, adding he could do anything he wants with the island.

The comments come soon after the Cuban government recognized it is holding talks with the US, and two days ago, the Cuban Deputy Prime Minister announced an apparent economic easing in Cuba, saying that US-based Cuban citizens could own businesses there. Ordinary Cubans, though, are becoming increasingly desperate, as our correspondent Will Grant reports from Havana.

After 26 hours without electricity, fraying tempers in the central Cuban town of Moron finally snapped. Residents took to the streets on Friday night and descended on the local headquarters of the Cuban Communist Party. To chance of Libertad, meaning freedom, some in the crowd began to smash windows before attempting to set the building on fire. After the protest died down, the authorities made numerous arrests.

Even amid the extreme economic and energy crisis, such public outbursts of anger are rare in Cuba. What stands out is the extent to which the frustration was directed at the Cuban authorities rather than the Trump administration, which, since January, has imposed a near total fuel blockade on the island. With Cuba experiencing its first nationwide blackout, since Washington began its fuel blockade, much of ordinary life is shut down.

All my life I've been hearing about the United States and Cuba. President Trump seems convinced the end is nigh for the Cuban Revolution and that it will happen on his watch. I do believe I'll be the honor of having the honor of taking Cuba. That's a big honor. Taking Cuba. Taking Cuba. In some form, yeah. Taking Cuba.

I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I can do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth? For its part, the government has blamed the island's problems on the US fuel blockade. Yet now Havana has confirmed it's in talks with the Trump administration with a view to finding a route out of the crisis. Clearly there are things that Cuba can do in terms of reducing tensions with the United States. And I would imagine that given the pressure that they're under, they will be willing to make considerable concessions.

Bulma Thomas is the former director of the Chatham House think tank and one of the world's leading experts on the economies of Latin America. But the Cubans have limits. Let us not forget that the Cubans have one way or another had to deal with a bullying United States since 1898. And they have become very adept at doing so. And this is not a people. I'm talking about a people now who would, I think, tolerate too many concessions to the United States. Now, Havana has made its first apparent concession.

Talking to NBC News, the deputy prime minister said foreign-based Cuban nationals, whether in Miami or Madrid, will be allowed to own private businesses on the island. Cuba is open to having a fluid commercial relationship with U.S. companies, as well as with Cubans residing in the United States and their descendants, he said. On the face of it, it sounds like a significant easing of the strict economic. economic rules. However, the measure still faces major restrictions inside the US. And in truth, it means little to impoverished Cubans, like retiree Grigoryo Madagir. Between his diabetes and related ill health, he is struggling with the new challenges of daily life,

which were already hard enough. Sometimes the power comes on at 3 in the morning, and we just have to get to up and start cooking rice and beans because food is the most important. Then we worry about charging our phones and so on. But often the electricity comes back for such a short period. It's not enough time to cook anything. And the prices, even simple foods, are so expensive. The food issue is very serious in this country.

While the demonstration in Moron was the most significant, there have been smaller protests, mainly via the banging of pots and pans, known as Casar Lasso's in the darkness of the power cuts. Given the public anger, there's widespread speculation about President Miguel Dias Cannell's future. The New York Times reports his removal is one of Washington's preconditions in the negotiations. That report from our correspondent, Will Grant, in Havana. It was a thrilling final that went way beyond sport.

Venezuela defeated a star-studied American team to win the World Baseball Classic in Miami and become the sports world champions. The victory against the backdrop of the US's invasion of the country at the start of the year sent Venezuelans pouring into the streets of the capital Caracas to celebrate as the game ended. Our global affairs reporter Mimi Swaby, tell me more. All eyes were on the match. It was a power-packed line-up.

The stadium was sold out. People at home of Venezuela and abroad, remember Venezuelans, there is a very large diaspora, nearly 8 million Venezuelans living abroad, were all united together, regardless of their political views, watching this match. And beating the U.S. to win the World Baseball Classic for the first time ever means everything to Venezuelans, the players and the fans.

From state media, the front page today was saying, from dream to legend, baseball is massive in Venezuela, much bigger than football, which is a little bit different to lots of its neighbors in South America. And just to give you an idea, here are some people who've been celebrating. This is a feeling shared by all Venezuelans, wherever we may be in the world. All our fellow Venezuelans living abroad are celebrating this victory by the Venezuelan national team. Long live Venezuela, the best country in the world. Trusting in God and believing that we would do better,

showing the world that what they did to us on January 3rd, we're proving to them today that we're more than victorious. In Venezuela, we don't want feuds. We've shown them on the field that we're more than just a sovereign people with character. Here, we're proving it on the playing field. So the last guy there mentioned the 3rd of January, and that provides an enormous context for this sporting outcome. Just talk us through the recent events.

So this was a moment of unity, celebration, kind of catharsis, for a nation which has been racked by political upheaval, economic uncertainty, in isolation on the world stage way before the 3rd of January. But that uncertainty has only increased since then. On the 3rd of January, Niklas Maduro, the former leader of Venezuela, was seized by the US in a very dramatic operation, which involved the US, is going into Venezuela, extracting him from his home in Caracas and taking him to New York,

where he's now going to face drug trafficking charges. Now, the interim president, which is backed by the US, is one of Nicolas Maduro's inner circle, the former vice president, Del Tio Rodriguez. She's now running the country, heavily influenced by the US, but life hasn't changed a huge amount for Venezuelans on the street. So this has come at a crucial time for Venezuela. It's been seen by many as reuniting a very fragmented country in a time of huge uncertainty. Nicholas Maduro's removal gave many, who were against the regime, a lot of hope. But that hope has quickly shifted into, again, uncertainty,

as then basically his vice president took his position not signifying the change made hoped for. Just to put some perspective, my phone this morning has been going absolutely crazy from people on all sides of political spectrum enjoying this victory, saying this is the best day in Venezuela since the 3rd of January when Nicholas Maduro was removed. People who are pro-Nix Maduro saying this is everything we stand for. Some on social media, even kind of from the US saying, we took out Nicholas Maduro for you, and this is how you repay us by beating us in our kind of own game. Remember, US is the founder of baseball and seen as the favourites, but Venezuela is a big, big day for them and a huge deal. Our global affairs reporter, Mimi Sueby.

And that's all from us for now. If you'd like to get in touch, drop us an email, Global Podcast at BBC.co.com. You'll find us on X2 at BBC World Service. Just use the hashtag Global NewsPod. and don't forget our sister podcast, The Global Story, which goes in-depth and beyond the headlines on one big story each day. This edition of Global News was mixed by Charlotte O'Hadroiter Himska. The producer was Vanessa Heaney.

The editor is Karen Martin. I'm Andrew Peach. Thanks for listening. And until next time, goodbye.