Israel Eliminates Ali Larijani, Basij Commander in Major Blow to Iran’s Leadership

Israel said that it killed senior Iranian figure Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholam Reza Soleimani in a dramatic wave of overnight strikes inside Iran, in what appears to be one of the most significant rounds of leadership targeting in the campaign so far. Israeli officials said the strikes also killed Akram al-Ajouri, a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader operating from Iran. 

Israeli officials say the broader campaign is designed to systematically target senior figures connected to Iran’s military leadership and the regional network of armed groups aligned with Tehran. According to Israeli assessments, disrupting those command structures could reduce the regime’s ability to coordinate attacks against Israel and its allies across the region.

Larijani served as secretary of the Iranian regime’s National Security Council and was considered one of the most powerful figures in the country, often described by Israeli officials as second only to Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In practice, his standing appeared even more significant as questions mounted over Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition and prolonged absence from public view.

Over the years he held several senior positions within the regime and was widely viewed as a key strategist and power broker involved in security coordination and nuclear negotiations with foreign powers. According to Israeli assessments, he also played a central role in directing the regime’s internal repression and maintaining coordination with Iran’s regional allies.

Larijani was seen publicly only days earlier during the regime’s Quds Day events in Tehran. During the war he also issued repeated threats against U.S. President Donald Trump, warning that the American leader could face personal consequences for the military pressure on Iran.

The IDF said it also killed Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force, in a targeted strike in Tehran.

The Basij is a militia that operates under Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and serves as one of the regime’s primary internal security forces. Under Soleimani’s command, the force played a central role in suppressing anti-government protests, carrying out arrests and violent crackdowns against civilian demonstrators.

Israeli officials said Soleimani was targeted while hiding in a temporary command compound set up in tents in Tehran. According to a source familiar with the details, the site was being used as an improvised headquarters where Basij regional and district commanders were meeting after avoiding permanent bases out of fear of Israeli strikes. Israeli officials believe additional senior Basij figures may have been killed in the attack.

Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the elimination and said the strikes were part of a broader effort to target the Iranian regime’s leadership.

“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the extermination plan, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil in the depths of hell. The prime minister and I instructed the IDF to continue hunting the leadership of the terror and repression regime in Iran.”

Earlier this morning, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir hinted at the operation during remarks about recent strikes.

“Over the past few days, significant targeted elimination achievements were also recorded, with the potential to affect the campaign’s achievements and the IDF’s missions.”

Israeli officials also confirmed the killing of Akram al-Ajouri, a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader responsible for directing attacks against Israel. According to Israeli assessments, Ajouri had previously survived assassination attempts and had relocated to Iran, where he continued coordinating attacks with Iranian backing.

Israeli officials are now assessing how much damage the strike caused to the Basij command structure and whether additional senior officers were killed. Officials say targeting figures responsible for suppressing protests could also affect the internal balance inside Iran, particularly if further leadership losses weaken the regime’s ability to control unrest.