Israel Kills Ali Larijani and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani in Overnight Strikes

Israeli forces conducted overnight airstrikes that killed two senior Iranian officials: Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of Iran's Basij paramilitary force.

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The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the precise strikes, describing Larijani as the 'de facto leader' of the Iranian regime and Soleimani as the head of the Basij unit that led repression operations against civilian demonstrators.

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Both men were killed in separate attacks targeting their locations near Tehran, with Larijani reportedly struck at a safe house or his daughter's home in the Pardis area, while Soleimani was killed in a combat tent while meeting with commanders.

These killings represent a significant escalation in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran that began on February 28.

Ali Larijani was one of Iran's most prominent political figures, holding senior positions across state institutions over more than four decades.

Born in 1957 in Najaf, Iraq, to a prominent clerical family, Larijani served as head of Iran's state broadcasting organization from 1994 to 2004, as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council where he oversaw Iran's nuclear file, and as speaker of Parliament from 2008 to 2020.

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He was reappointed as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council in 2025 and was considered a key political figure who had been sanctioned by the U.S. in January for his role in coordinating Iran's violent suppression of nationwide protests that left thousands dead.

Larijani was described as the de facto transitional leader after the U.S.-Israeli strike killed former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, functioning as Iran's effective leader until his own assassination.

Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani was the commander of Iran's Basij paramilitary force, a plain-clothes militia unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps that serves as Iran's internal security apparatus.

“Iran launches barrage of missiles after Israel kills 2 of its top officials Iran launches barrage of missiles after Israel kills 2 of its top officials DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel killed two senior Iranian security officials in a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership as it faces its greatest test in decades, and Iran responded Wednesday with renewed missile and drone attacks on its Gulf Arab neighbors and Israel”

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Under Soleimani's leadership, the Basij unit led the main repression operations in Iran, employing severe violence, widespread arrests, and the use of force against civilian demonstrators.

The Basij has been instrumental in the regime's crackdown on dissent, particularly during the nationwide protests in January 2026 that resulted in thousands of deaths.

Soleimani was killed in a separate airstrike while meeting with commanders of the Revolutionary Guard's all-volunteer Basij force in a combat tent.

Both Larijani and Soleimani were considered key figures in Iran's violent crackdown on protests in January, with both having been sanctioned by the U.S. for their roles in suppressing dissent.

The Israeli government openly celebrated the assassinations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posting a photo of himself ordering the killing of Larijani and Soleimani.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the two officials 'were eliminated' and joined 'the head of the annihilation program, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell.'

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Netanyahu explained that the killings were aimed at 'undermining this regime to give the Iranian people the opportunity to remove it.'

However, there have been no signs of anti-government protests since the war began, as many Iranians are sheltering from the American and Israeli strikes.

Iranian authorities officially confirmed the deaths, with the Supreme National Security Council releasing a statement describing Larijani's death as martyrdom and expressing that 'the martyrdom of the naval heroes of the Islamic Republic Army in Dena is part of the sacrifices of the brave nation that has emerged in this era of struggle against international oppressors.'

The killings occurred amid a rapidly escalating regional conflict that has resulted in significant casualties across multiple countries.

“Iran confirms security chief Larijani killed as Israel hits more top leaders Both security official Ali Larijani and Gen”

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According to officials in those countries, the U.S.-Israeli war has killed at least 1,300 people in Iran, more than 900 in Lebanon and 12 in Israel.

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In Lebanon, Israeli strikes have killed 912 people including at least 111 children and 67 women, while in Israel, Iranian missile fire has killed 14 people.

The conflict has also displaced more than 1 million Lebanese people, roughly 20% of the population.

The strikes have disrupted daily life profoundly, with children not attending school, businesses temporarily closed, and families gathering for funerals instead of festivities as they prepare for Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has described civilians in Iran as paying a 'heavy price' for the war, with people fearing for their lives, the safety of their loved ones and their livelihoods.