Istanbul: Israel has announced the targeted killing of Behnam Shahriari, a senior commander of Iran's Quds Force, in a strike in western Iran. The Israeli army reported that Shahriari, who led the Combat Vehicle Transport Unit (Unit 190), was eliminated while inside his vehicle. This marks the third reported killing of a high-ranking Iranian commander by Israel in recent times.

According to Anadolu Agency, the incident has further escalated tensions in the region, as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers. Erdogan and Araghchi discussed the Israel-Iran conflict and broader regional issues. Erdogan reiterated Turkey's opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.

In a related development, officials in Syria reported the arrest of Wassim Badi al-Assad, a cousin of the ousted regime leader Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian Interior Ministry announced that Wassim, a top suspect in war crimes and drug trafficking, was captured during a security operation with the General Intelligence Directorate.

The situation in the region remains tense, with further developments expected as international and regional stakeholders engage in diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing conflicts.