TEL AVIV: Israel says it has killed Iran’s national security chief, Ali Larijani, as fresh Israeli strikes hit targets across the Middle East from Tehran to Baghdad, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday said that Ali Larijani was “eliminated last night,” although Iranian authorities have not confirmed the claim.
Commenting on the situation, Katz stated that “leaders of the regime are being killed and their capabilities eliminated.” He added that Israel’s military is continuing operations aimed at destroying Iran’s missile capabilities and strategic infrastructure.
Israel kills Basij force commander
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli military also said that Gholamreza Soleimani, who led the Basij paramilitary force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed on Monday in a strike targeting Tehran.
“Guided by precise intelligence from Military Intelligence, the Air Force conducted a targeted strike yesterday in the heart of Tehran, eliminating Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Basij unit over the past six years,” it said in a post on X.
Reports of the killings come less than three weeks after joint US–Israeli strikes on February 28 killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989. His death triggered a conflict that has since spread across the region.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media released a handwritten note attributed to Larijani. The note, which was also posted on Larijani’s social media accounts, commemorates 84 Iranian sailors who were killed in what Iran says was a US attack on their vessel in international waters. Their funeral is expected to take place on Tuesday.
Experts say if the reports of Larijani’s death are confirmed, he would be the most senior Iranian figure killed in the ongoing war since the deaths of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several members of his family. They were reportedly killed during United States–Israeli strikes on the first day of the conflict, which began on February 28.
Larijani was last seen publicly on Friday at the annual Quds Day rally in Tehran, where he appeared alongside Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, in support of Palestinians.
For many years, Larijani has been an influential figure in Iran’s political establishment. He previously led Iran’s nuclear negotiations with Western countries and also served as Speaker of the Iranian Parliament.
Trump urges allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump meanwhile urged allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which roughly a fifth of global crude oil shipments normally pass.
Trump criticised what he called a weak response from partners after Iran effectively shut the route in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes, demanding countries “get involved quickly and with great enthusiasm”.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog called on European nations to support Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah as Israeli forces continued ground operations in Lebanon.
