Israeli Airstrikes in Tehran Kill Security Chief Ali Larijani and Basij Commander Gholamreza Soleimani

Israeli Defense Minister Katz confirms the deaths of Iran’s Ali Larijani and Basij chief Gholamreza Soleimani as IDF ground forces push into southern Lebanon.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 17, 2026, 6:08 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Times of Israel

High-Stakes Targeted Operations in Tehran

A series of overnight Israeli airstrikes in Tehran has significantly degraded Iran’s top-tier leadership following the confirmed deaths of two major figures in the Islamic Republic’s security apparatus. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Tuesday that Ali Larijani, a former parliamentary speaker and high-ranking security advisor, was killed in a precision raid. Larijani, who served as a central strategist for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was targeted alongside several other senior officials in what represents one of the most daring Israeli operations within Iranian borders to date.

Decapitating the Basij Command Structure

The Israeli military also confirmed the elimination of General Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the IRGC’s all-volunteer Basij force, in a separate strike on a tent camp where he had reportedly sought refuge. According to the Israel Defense Forces, Soleimani was located at a temporary site established after traditional Basij headquarters were neutralized in previous waves of bombardment. His deputy, identified as Karishi, and ten other senior unit officials were also reported killed in the same operation, dealing a substantial blow to the paramilitary force responsible for internal security and dissent suppression.

Rhetoric of Annihilation and Strategic Impact

Defense Minister Katz utilized particularly sharp language when confirming the results of the mission, stating that Larijani and Soleimani had joined their late leader "in the depths of hell." This refers to the February 28 strike that killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an event that triggered the current escalation of direct hostilities. The IDF maintains that removing these figures is essential for disrupting Iran’s command and control, particularly as Larijani was viewed as a primary coordinator for the regime's violent response to internal civilian protests and regional proxy strategy.