Israel Defense Forces claimed it killed two Iranian officials, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, Ali Larijani, and the commander of the IRGC’s Basij unit, Gholamreza Soleimani, in overnight airstrikes.
Their deaths mark the latest members of Iran’s leadership killed since the U.S.-Israel joint military operation began on Feb. 28. Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during the first day of the strikes. His son, Motjaba Khamenei, was named his successor, but he is suspected to have also been injured in military strikes, as he has not been seen since being named Iran’s supreme leader.
IRAN FACES FINANCIAL DEATH BLOW BECAUSE OF WAR
Larijani’s death was reported by the Times of Israel early Tuesday morning. The Iranian officials were targeted in separate airstrikes, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation program, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell,” Katz’s office told the Times of Israel.
Though Iranian media suggested an incoming message would disprove his death, Iranian officials released a statement from Larijani dated March 4 on Tuesday morning.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a photo of himself ordering the killing of Larijani and Soleimani.
Larijani held a prominent place in Iranian leadership and was considered former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s main confidant and “right-hand man.” He was appointed to advise Khamenei during nuclear negotiations with the United States prior to the Supreme Leader’s death. In January, Larijani was sanctioned for his role in the violent crackdown on protesters. The regime has been accused of killing thousands of protesters and detaining tens of thousands more during the uprising.
On Friday, the U.S. included him in a list of top Iranian officials with bounties on their heads.
The regime’s top national security officials had been indignant since the beginning of the joint U.S.-Israeli operation against the country. Last week, he issued a threat against President Donald Trump, warning him: “Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFERS $10 MILLION BOUNTY FOR IRAN REGIME LEADERS
The Israeli military regularly uses the term “eliminated” when announcing a successful targeted operation against regime officials. It did so when it announced Soleimani’s death on Tuesday morning.
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
“Yesterday, the IDF targeted & eliminated Gholamreza Soleimani, who operated as commander of the Basij unit for the past 6 years,” read the announcement. “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.”
He was the one in charge of the Iranian regime’s “primary instrument of repression,” according to the IDF, and played a significant role in the brutal treatment of Iranian demonstrators during the protests in Iran in December and January. He was killed in a strike on a Basij combat tent, where he was stationed with other Basij commanders.
WHERE THINGS STAND WITH IRAN WAR IN ITS THIRD WEEK
The Basij unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. is a volunteer paramilitary force that played a significant role in cracking down on protesters and maintaining civil and domestic control in Iran. Over the weekend, reports emerged about Israel targeting Basij checkpoints as targets for strikes, and members had to be encouraged to continue reporting for duty.
A Basij leader posted a message to Telegram, telling members there is “no reason” to be scared of Israeli strikes.
