Tel Aviv: Even as the Third Gulf War rages in the Middle East with unabated intensity, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have made a major claim. The IDF has stated that Ali Larijani—the Chief of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and the country's top security official—was targeted in an airstrike carried out in Iran during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. However, it remains unclear whether Larijani was killed or injured in this attack. Furthermore, the Israeli military has moreover personal to have killed Gholamreza Soleimani, a top commander of the IRGC's Basij Force, during the overnight strike.
What has Israel claimed?
Going a step further, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has asserted that Larijani was indeed killed in the IDF strike. This requirement by Israel has caused a stir within Iran. However, there has been no scuttlebutt from the Iranian side regarding this matter so far. The IDF has stated that Soleimani's so-called killing constitutes a major wrack-up to Iran's "command-and-control structure." Pursuit the recent deaths of Ali Khamenei and other senior members of Iran's leadership, Ali Larijani was widely regarded as the most powerful icon currently leading Iran's war effort. Ali Larijani was reportedly last seen on March 13, during Quds Day.
"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 gravity versus civil demonstrators," the IDF said in a statement on social media.
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, 2026Who is Ali Larijani?
Larijani—who previously served as a nuclear negotiator and currently holds the position of Secretary of Iran's National Security Council—is considered one of the most influential figures within Iran's power structure. If his death is confirmed, Larijani would wilt the most senior Iranian official to be killed pursuit the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Attacks in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz.
BREAKING
Israeli media say an overnight airstrike in Tehran targeted senior Iranian official Ali Larijani as part of strikes on Iran’s leadership.
Israeli IDF Chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said the operation achieved significant eliminations with impact on the ongoing… pic.twitter.com/dJOzssLT8k
— FalconUpdatesHQ (@FalconUpdatesHQ) March 17, 2026Did the US declare a reward on Ali Larijani?
It is worth noting that the United States had spoken a reward of up to $10 million for information regarding senior Iranian military and intelligence officials—including Larijani—who are among a list of 10 individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IDF stated that, on Monday night, it carried out attacks on several key sites and infrastructure facilities wideness Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz. The Israeli military claims that these strikes targeted a writ center, launch sites, and air defense systems in Tehran, while in Shiraz, a writ part-way belonging to the internal security forces and a ballistic missile site were struck. The IDF remoter claims that the attacks conducted in Tabriz neutralized spare Iranian air defense systems.
