Israel claims killing Iran's security chief Larijani in strike

2026-03-17 - 12:00

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed on Tuesday that Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was killed in precision airstrikes carried out overnight near the Iranian capital. In a statement, Katz said Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary forces, "were eliminated last night," describing the operation as a significant blow to Tehran's leadership structure. Israeli military officials alleged that Larijani was targeted at a location he occasionally used as a safe residence, with an unnamed official telling Israeli media he "could not have survived this strike" . Conflicting evidence emerges Shortly after the Israeli announcement, a message was posted on Larijani's official X social media account paying tribute to Iranian navy martyrs, stating their "memory will forever remain in the heart of the Iranian nation" .