Israel Katz, the Defence Minister of Israel, on Tuesday confirmed that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, died in an overnight airstrike in Tehran. The strike forms part of escalating hostilities across West Asia.
Katz stated that Israeli forces carried out the operation under directives issued jointly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He asserted that authorities would continue targeting Iran’s leadership, describing it as a campaign against what he termed a ‘regime of terror and oppression’.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also confirmed the killing of Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, during the same sequence of strikes.
Officials claimed Soleimani led internal suppression campaigns involving arrests and force against civilian demonstrators.
🔴 COMMANDER OF THE BASIJ UNIT ELIMINATED
Yesterday, the IDF targeted & eliminated Gholamreza Soleimani, who operated as commander of the Basij unit for the past 6 years.
Under Soleimani, the Basij unit led the main repression operations in Iran, employing severe violence,… pic.twitter.com/aJ0dNtCFz0
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 17, 2026
Larijani held significant influence within Iran’s political structure.
Reports, however, indicate he played a pivotal role in delaying the formal elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader, underlining his importance in shaping internal power alignments.
Separately, Israeli forces struck an underground weapons installation linked to Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, targeting stockpiles that reportedly included cruise missiles and hundreds of rockets.
Before the strike, Larijani had addressed the Arab world, asserting that Iran would not remain passive while United States bases operated in neighbouring states. He framed the conflict as a broader confrontation involving the US, Israel, and Iran’s allied resistance forces.
Larijani called for unity among Muslim nations, maintaining that Iran does not seek regional dominance.
The latest developments signal a sharp escalation, with both sides intensifying military and strategic actions across the region.
Also Read: IDF Claims Elimination Of Gholamreza Soleimani In Iran Operation
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
