Tehran, Iran –The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the targeted killings of two of Iran’s most senior security officials overnight: Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force.
Katz stated that he had been briefed directly by the IDF Chief of Staff on the operation. “I have just been updated that Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and the head of the Basij, Iran’s central repression apparatus, Salimani, were eliminated last night and have joined Khamenei, the head of the annihilation program, along with all those eliminated from the axis of evil in the depths of hell,” Katz said, according to a translation provided to Fox News.
The strikes come more than two weeks after Israel launched military operations against Iran in coordination with U.S. President Donald Trump, marking one of the highest-profile escalations in the conflict so far.
Larijani: Iran’s De Facto Security Leader
Larijani, who has been viewed as one of Iran’s most senior and veteran leaders, was widely considered the operative head of the Iranian security establishment following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei earlier this year.
The IDF described him as “one of the oldest and most prominent figures at the top of the pyramid of the Iranian terrorism regime.” Larijani had reportedly overseen recent crackdowns on anti-government protests, personally directing operations that led to civilian casualties and widespread arrests.
“His elimination constitutes a further blow to the Iranian regime’s ability to manage and coordinate hostile activity against the State of Israel,” said IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee.
Basij Commander Targeted
The Basij paramilitary, a plain-clothes militia force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been a central instrument of internal repression in Iran. Soleimani, its commander for the past six years, led operations that used severe force against demonstrators and dissidents, according to Israeli sources.
A senior Israeli official confirmed that Soleimani and over a dozen other senior Basij officials were targeted across multiple locations in Tehran. “This was a joint U.S. and Israeli effort,” the official said. “The strike targeted the Basij commander and around a dozen others, including the most senior figures in the Basij forces — people with a lot of blood on their hands.”
U.S. Involvement and Rewards Program
Larijani had previously been listed on the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program, which offered up to $10 million for information leading to his capture or targeting. The program listed Larijani alongside other senior IRGC leaders, including Mojtaba Khamenei, as part of a broader intelligence effort to monitor Iran’s security apparatus.
This program illustrates the close collaboration between the United States and Israel in recent operations targeting Iran’s leadership.
Regional and Global Implications
The killings are expected to heighten tensions throughout the Middle East. Analysts warn that Iran may respond with retaliatory attacks against Israeli, American, or allied interests in the region, including shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, where previous confrontations have impacted global oil markets.
Israel has reportedly continued operations in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz, while Iran has conducted strikes on Gulf countries and maintained restrictions on commercial shipping routes.
Netanyahu Comments
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the strikes in a televised statement, calling Larijani “the boss of the Revolutionary Guards, which is the gang of gangsters that actually runs Iran.” Netanyahu said that Israel aims to destabilise Iran’s regime while providing its citizens with “the opportunity to remove it.”
Trump Administration Reaction
The operation also coincided with internal dissent in the Trump administration. Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Centre and a retired Green Beret, resigned in protest over the conduct of the Iran war, marking the highest-profile resignation related to the campaign so far.
Iran’s Silence
Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed the deaths of Larijani or Soleimani. Neither official has been seen in public since the alleged strikes, and Tehran has issued no statements or denials. Analysts note that the lack of official confirmation leaves room for uncertainty, though satellite imagery and intelligence reports reportedly support the Israeli account.
Larijani’s Recent Activity
Before the strikes, Larijani had maintained a visible public profile. He was last reported attending an Al Quds Day march in Tehran, and a note commemorating fallen Iranian sailors was posted on his X account shortly after the announcement of his death. It is unclear whether Larijani authored the note himself.
Basij and Internal Security Role
Soleimani’s Basij force is closely linked to Iran’s IRGC and has been key in enforcing regime control over civil society. Under his command, the Basij led violent crackdowns during protests and targeted dissidents with systemic arrests and intimidation.
Strategic Significance
The deaths of Larijani and Soleimani are likely to disrupt Iran’s internal security and military coordination, raising questions about the regime’s stability and succession in both the political and military hierarchy. Analysts suggest that the operation may temporarily weaken the IRGC’s command structure and morale.
Israel’s announcement marks a critical escalation in the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, demonstrating joint operational capability with the United States and signalling potential shifts in regional power dynamics. Larijani and Soleimani were key pillars of Iran’s security and repression apparatus, and their elimination represents a strategic blow to the regime.
