The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Tuesday that it killed Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in a recent strike in Tehran amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Larijani was seen as the regime’s effective leader and a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran on Feb. 28.
Israel did not disclose details of the strikes but said it targeted Larijani’s hideout.
“During the most recent wave of protests against the Iranian terror regime, Larijani personally oversaw the massacre that was carried out against Iranian protestors,” the IDF wrote on X.
🔴Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the regime’s effective leader, has been eliminated.
Throughout the years, Larijani was considered one of the most veteran and senior figures within the Iranian regime leadership, and was a close associate… pic.twitter.com/kBIgSSGBm0
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 17, 2026
The U.S. government had earlier announced that it would provide a reward for information on Larijani.
“Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information on the key leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its component branches,” rewardsforjustice.net notes. “Under this reward offer, RFJ is seeking information on the following individuals,” the webpage notes, listing Larijani and others.
In its report, The Guardian notes that Israel’s assassination of Larijani would be a devastating blow to the country, likely even more significant than the loss of Khamenei.
“In any attempt to decapitate the Iranian leadership, Larijani would always be the prime target, largely because of his ability to straddle so many levels of Iranian politics and his huge personal influence not just in Iran but with foreign states including China and Russia,” the report reads.
Meanwhile, the IDF said it also killed Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force, in recent strikes in Tehran. A senior Israeli official told Fox News that the strike, which also killed more than a dozen other Basij officials, was carried out in coordination with U.S. forces.
Soleimani commanded the Basij for six years and oversaw violent crackdowns on civilian protesters.
“Under Soleimani, the Basij unit led the main repression operations in Iran, employing severe violence, widespread arrests, and the use of force against civilian demonstrators,” the IDF said.
🔴 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
Iran has confirmed the deaths of both Larijani and Soleimani.
