The IDF has reported that overnight strikes carried out by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) eliminated senior official and de facto leader of Iran, Ali Larijani, along with Basij Force commander Gholamreza Soleimani, in strikes targeting Tehran.
According to The Times of Israel, Larijani served as secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, where he led political-security coordination for terror operations, as well as the violent suppression and crackdowns during protests earlier this year.
Larijani hails from one of Iran’s most famous political families. A former parliamentary speaker and senior policy adviser, he was appointed to advise the senior Khamenei on strategy in nuclear talks with the Trump administration.
He was sanctioned by the US Treasury in January as Tehran violently suppressed nationwide protests. It identified him as being “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 US Treasury said at the time.
Basij Force commander Gholamreza Soleimani was reportedly killed alongside several other members of the paramilitary militia near Tehran. Like Larijani, they played a pivotal role in suppressing earlier anti-regime protests—resulting in the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of citizens and the arrest of many more.
Iran has neither confirmed nor denied the deaths and has only released an earlier statement from Larijani dated March 4.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated that these significant eliminations over the past week have shifted the balance in the IDF’s favor regarding ongoing campaigns against Iran and external terror elements.
The Fellowship and our supporters express gratitude for the vigilance of the IDF and IAF and pray for the brave individuals who protect the Holy Land.