Israel Reports the Killing of Iran’s Security Chief Ali Larijani in a Nighttime Operation
Israel claims to have killed Ali Larijani and Basij commander Soleimani in a strike, while Iran has not yet confirmed their deaths.
On Tuesday, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced that the Israeli military had carried out an overnight strike resulting in the death of senior Iranian security figure Ali Larijani, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations.
Katz revealed that Larijani was taken out during a targeted operation, noting that Israeli forces also eliminated Gholam Reza Soleimani, the leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s Basij paramilitary force.
The recent strikes continue to diminish the ranks of Iran’s top leadership, following the reported death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an attack on February 28.
Katz issued a pointed statement, declaring, “Larijani and the Basij commander 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.”
Larijani, a significant figure in Iran’s political landscape, hailed from one of the nation’s most powerful families. He has held the positions of Speaker of Parliament and Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which is the highest security body in the nation.
In recent years, he has taken on the role of senior adviser to Khamenei, significantly influencing Iran’s strategy during nuclear negotiations, particularly those associated with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which included advocating for a more aggressive stance against US sanctions and promoting regional alliances to counteract American influence.
At the time of filing this report, Iranian state media had not officially confirmed the deaths of Larijani or Soleimani, despite the claims made by Israel. Nonetheless, it suggested that a statement from Larijani’s office would be forthcoming soon.
The recent developments highlight an escalating confrontation between Israel and Iran, prompting worries about increased instability throughout the region.
