Israel says it killed Iran's security chief Ali Larijani

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday that the military had eliminated Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, along with General Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij militia, in an overnight operation.

"The commander of the General Staff has just informed me that Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and General Gholamreza Soleimani, chief of the Basij, the central repressive apparatus of Iran, were eliminated during the night," Katz said in a video message.

Israeli military officials stated that forces had targeted members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards and the repressive apparatus of the regime. Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, the military's chief of staff, said the operation produced "important preventive results that may influence the continuation of operations and the objectives of the Israeli military."

Local Israeli media outlets initially reported an "attempted elimination" of Larijani. The public broadcaster Kan reported that "Ali Larijani was targeted in an elimination attempt," while the N12 channel stated that "the results of the attack are still being evaluated."

Larijani has been a central figure in Iran's government for decades. A mathematician and philosopher by training, he is a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988. His roles have included minister of culture, director of public radio and television, chief nuclear negotiator, parliament speaker, and presidential candidate. In recent years, he served as head of the Supreme National Security Council.

The announcement comes as part of broader Israeli military operations targeting Iranian leadership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that Netanyahu had ordered "the elimination of senior officials of the Iranian regime." According to Israeli media reports, Larijani was in an apartment with his son at the time of the strike.

If confirmed, Larijani would be the highest-ranking Iranian official killed since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was reported killed on February 28 during the first day of Israeli and American aerial attacks. Iran has not yet confirmed the death of Larijani or Soleimani.