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Top Iranian Official Ali Larijani Killed in Israeli Airstrike, IDF Confirms

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that a targeted Israeli airstrike in Tehran killed Ali Larijani, Iran's Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. The same overnight operation also eliminated Gholamreza Soleiman, the commander of Iran's Basij paramilitary force. Katz stated the strikes were carried out under his and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's orders to target Iran's leadership. Separately, the IDF struck a major Hezbollah weapons depot in southern Lebanon.

Key Points: Iran's Ali Larijani Killed in Israeli Strike, Says Defence Minister

  • Key Iranian official killed
  • IDF confirms dual strike
  • Escalation in West Asia
  • Call for Muslim unity
  • Hezbollah facility targeted
3 min read

Top Iranian official Ali Larijani killed in overnight strike by IDF, confirms Israeli Defence Minister Katz

Israeli Defence Minister confirms airstrike killed Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and a Basij commander, escalating West Asia conflict.

"Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated tonight and joined the head of the destruction plan, Khamenei... - Israel Katz"

Tel Aviv, March 17

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday confirmed Ali Larijani, Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was killed by the Israel Defense Forces in an overnight airstrike in Tehran as the conflict in West Asia escalates.

Confirming the development, Katz said, "Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated tonight and joined the head of the destruction plan, Khamenei, and all the thwarted members of the evil axis in the depths of hell," as quoted by TPS.

According to TPS, Katz stated that the strike took place following orders from him and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The Prime Minister and I have instructed the [Israel Defense Forces] to continue hunting down the leadership of the regime of terror and oppression in Iran," he stated.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have instructed the IDF to continue hunting down the leadership of the regime of terror and oppression in Iran and to repeatedly cut off the head of the octopus and not let it grow," Katz added, as quoted by TPS.

Earlier, the IDF confirmed that Gholamreza Soleiman, the Commander of Iran's Basij paramilitary force, was also killed in the same series of attacks.

"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, widespread arrests, and the use of force against civilian demonstrators," the IDF said in a post on X.

Considered to be a key power broker in Tehran, Larijani held significant influence within the country's political establishment and recently delayed the formal announcement of Mojtaba Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader, highlighting his role in shaping internal power dynamics, as reported by TPS.

Separately, the Israel Defense Forces carried out a strike on a large underground Hezbollah weapons facility in southern Lebanon's Kfara area, targeting stockpiles that reportedly included cruise missiles and hundreds of rockets.

Earlier on Monday, Ali Larijani issued a message to the Arab world saying that Iran remains "steadfast" in its fight against the US and Israel.

He said Iran cannot be "expected to stand idly by with its hands tied" while US bases are located in neighbouring countries.

"The confrontation today is, in reality, between America and Israel on one side, and Muslim Iran and the forces of resistance on the other. Which side are you on, then?" he said.

Larijani also called for Muslim unity, stressing that Iran does not seek "hegemony" over the region.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
The language used by the Israeli minister is extremely inflammatory. "Joined... in the depths of hell"? This is not how responsible statesmen should communicate, even during conflict. It only fuels more hatred. The cycle of violence seems endless. 😔
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Aman W
Our primary concern should be the impact on oil prices and the safety of the Indian diaspora. Thousands of our people work in the Middle East. Any full-blown war will be a disaster for our economy. The government must have contingency plans ready.
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Sarah B
Reading between the lines, Larijani was a powerful figure who was apparently delaying the succession plan. This strike isn't just about external conflict; it's about shaping Iran's internal politics. A very calculated, high-risk move by Israel.
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Vikram M
Iran's call for Muslim unity sounds hollow when they themselves are involved in so many proxy wars. That said, a foreign power conducting a targeted killing in your capital is a massive breach of sovereignty. Retaliation seems almost certain. The coming days are critical.
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Kiran H
As an Indian, my worry is the spillover. We've seen how regional instability affects us, from terrorism to piracy. Our foreign policy must be balanced and pragmatic. We cannot afford to take sides in this conflict but must advocate strongly for de-escalation.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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