Israel has announced that it killed two of Iran‘s most powerful officials overnight: Ali Larijani, the country’s security chief, and Gholam Reza Soleimani, who led the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force. These strikes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, directly targeting high-profile figures within the Iranian leadership.
The killing of Ali Larijani, if confirmed by Iran, would be one of the most prominent assassinations of Iranian leadership since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in a targeted strike. Larijani was a highly influential figure, serving as Iran’s security chief, a former nuclear negotiator, and a close ally of the late Khamenei. According to Newsweek, he was even considered a serious contender to lead the regime in the days following Khamenei’s assassination.
