Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, Basij commander killed in Israeli strikes
Iran has confirmed the death of a senior official, Ali Larijani in an Israeli airstrike.
Larijani was Iran’s security chief who had been a central figure in Iran’s politics for decades.
Following the death of the supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei in an Israeli strike, he became the de facto leader of the Iranian war regime, directing attacks towards the entire region.
His demise was confirmed by Iran’s security council after Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz announced the news of his death.
The council wrote on Tuesday evening: “The pure souls of the martyrs embraced the purified soul of God’s righteous servant, Martyr Dr Ali Larijani.
“After a lifetime of struggle for the advancement of Iran and of the Islamic Revolution, he ultimately attained his long-held aspiration, answered the divine call, and honourably achieved the sweet grace of martyrdom in the trench of service.”
His son and bodyguards according to the council also died with him.
The news of his death was first disclosed by Israel who said they had taken out Larijani, a notable figure of Iranian politics, in overnight strikes.
He is the most senior Iranian figure to die in the war since the death of the supreme leader in the opening strikes. He stood as the remaining pivotal figure at the heart of the regime’s political and security establishment. His death represents a devastating blow on what was left of the Iranian regime.
Israel’s defence minister said a separate strike had also killed the Basij paramilitary force commander, Gholamreza Soleimani, along with other senior Basij figures, which was later confirmed by Iranian state media.
Kats said on Tuesday: “Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation programme, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell.”
