Iran security chief Ali Larijani killed in Israeli airstrike, IDF says

Ali Larijani, one of the most powerful figures in Iran’s leadership and the secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, according to Israeli officials.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday that Larijani was targeted overnight by the Israeli Air Force in Tehran.

If confirmed, the killing would represent one of the most significant blows to Iran’s leadership since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran earlier this year.

The IDF said Larijani had emerged as a key decision maker in Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in February.

“For years, Larijani was considered one of the most senior and veteran figures in the leadership of the Iranian terror regime,” the Israeli military said.

According to the IDF, after Khamenei’s death Larijani “established his position as the de facto leader of the Iranian terror regime and led the fighting against the State of Israel and countries in the region.”

“As part of his role, Larijani led the political-security coordination of the Iranian terror regime and was involved in directing its international activity,” the military added.

Iranian authorities have neither confirmed nor denied Larijani’s reported death.

State media instead published an undated handwritten message attributed to him shortly after the Israeli announcement. The note did not address the Israeli claim.

“The martyrdom of the brave members of the Navy of the Army of the Islamic Republic in Dena is part of the sacrifices of the proud nation that has emerged in this time of struggle against international oppressors,” Larijani wrote.

“Their memory will always remain in the heart of the Iranian nation, and these martyrdoms will strengthen the foundations of the Army of the Islamic Republic for years to come within the structure of the armed forces.”

The IDF also said it killed Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Basij paramilitary force, in a separate strike near Tehran.

According to the IDF, Soleimani and several senior Basij officials were targeted while gathered at a temporary camp established after earlier Israeli strikes destroyed multiple Basij facilities.

“During internal protests in Iran, particularly in recent periods as demonstrations intensified, Basij forces under Soleimani’s command led the main repression operations, employing severe violence, widespread arrests and the use of force against civilian demonstrators,” the IDF said.

Israeli Defence Minister Katz welcomed the reported killings.

Larijani and Soleimani, he said, had “joined the head of the annihilation program, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes were part of a broader effort to weaken Iran’s ruling system.

He said Israel’s actions were intended to destabilise the regime and give the Iranian people “the opportunity to remove it.”

Larijani, a former parliamentary speaker and senior regime insider, came from one of Iran’s most influential political families.

He served as an adviser to Khamenei and played a role in shaping Tehran’s strategy in nuclear negotiations with the United States.

In January the US Treasury sanctioned Larijani over his alleged role in coordinating Iran’s response to nationwide protests.

The Treasury said he was “responsible for coordinating the response to the protests on behalf of the supreme leader of Iran.”

“Larijani was one of the first Iranian leaders to call for violence in response to the legitimate demands of the Iranian people,” the department added.

The protests and subsequent crackdown earlier this year left thousands dead and tens of thousands detained.

If confirmed, Larijani’s death would add to a growing list of senior Iranian officials killed since the conflict escalated earlier this year. Those losses include Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Mohammad Pakpour and senior security adviser Ali Shamkhani.

Israeli military estimates suggest that between 4,000 and 5,000 Iranian soldiers and commanders have been killed in Israeli strikes across Iran since the war began.

Iran launched missile attacks towards Israel overnight, triggering sirens in several cities and causing damage to residential areas.

Israel has also continued airstrikes in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah positions. Lebanese authorities say more than 880 people have been killed in Israeli strikes during the latest round of fighting.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said the overnight strikes could affect the course of the campaign.

“Significant elimination achievements were also recorded overnight, with the potential to impact the campaign’s achievements and the IDF’s mission,” Zamir said.