Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, on Tuesday announced that the Israeli military had killed senior Iranian security figure Ali Larijani in an overnight strike, in what marks a significant escalation in tensions between the two countries.
Katz disclosed that Larijani was eliminated during a targeted operation, adding that Israeli forces also killed Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s Basij paramilitary force.
The latest strikes further deplete Iran’s top leadership ranks, following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a February 28 attack.
In a strongly worded statement, Katz said:
“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 prominent figure in Iran’s political establishment, came from one of the country’s most influential families. He previously served as Speaker of Parliament and Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the nation’s highest security body.
In recent years, he was appointed as a senior adviser to Khamenei, playing a key role in shaping Iran’s strategy during nuclear negotiations, including engagements linked to the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Despite the Israeli claims, Iranian state media had yet to officially confirm the deaths of Larijani or Soleimani at the time of filing this report. However, it indicated that a statement from Larijani’s office would be released shortly.
The developments underscore a deepening confrontation between Israel and Iran, raising concerns about further instability across the region.
Boluwatife Enome
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