N. Prabhakaran DUBAI: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Ali Larijani, Sec...
N. Prabhakaran
DUBAI: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was killed in an overnight airstrike. While Iran has not yet officially confirmed the report, Israeli officials described the operation as the most significant assassination since the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The IDF labeled Larijani the "de facto leader of the Iranian terror regime."
Elimination of Basij Leadership
The IDF also confirmed the deaths of Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Basij paramilitary force, and his deputy, Sayyid Karishi. To evade detection, the leaders had been operating out of temporary tents located away from official headquarters. An Israeli official stated that a majority of the Basij leadership was eliminated in the strike. Additionally, the military reported the death of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force chief.
Larijani was slated to address a public gathering in Iran on Tuesday. Military sources indicated that the strike was executed successfully before he could deliver the speech. Following confirmation of the operation, Mossad’s Persian-language account on X (formerly Twitter) posted: "In the end, the merciless shall perish."
Characterizing Larijani as the "boss" of the regime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a video message that Israel is working to dismantle Iran’s "group of gangsters." He added that the objective is to provide the Iranian people an opportunity to liberate themselves from the current leadership.
Larijani’s Role Post-Khamenei
Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and 40 other top officials on February 28, Larijani was believed to be the primary figure steering the regime. While Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was named the successor, his reported injuries and withdrawal from public life solidified Larijani's influence. Larijani had recently been leading nuclear negotiations with Western powers and overseeing national security.
Analysts suggest Larijani’s death will severely disrupt Iran’s strategic operations. Although IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi remains a powerful figure, Larijani’s assassination is viewed as a major intelligence and military victory for Israel.
Israeli intelligence tracked Larijani to a secret location in Tehran, where he was reportedly killed alongside his son and other senior officials. Since March 1, Larijani had headed the interim committee governing Iran. Known for his previous moderate stance on nuclear issues, he had recently shifted to a hardline position. Reports suggest the IRGC may now move to take direct control of the government.
Career Highlights:
- Supreme National Security Council: Appointed head in August 2025 (previously served 2005–2007).
- Parliamentary Speaker: Served for 12 years (2008–2020).
- Media & Culture: Former Minister of Culture and head of IRIB (1994–2004).
After the February 28 assassination of Khamenei, Larijani became Israel’s top target. Despite his expertise in evading surveillance and his practice of changing secret locations every few hours, Israeli intelligence successfully breached his security protocols.
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