Iran’s Security Chief Larijani Dead? IDF’s Big Claim as Middle East Tensions Soar

The Israeli Defence Forces on Tuesday confirmed the killing of Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of Iran's Basij Unit, in a targeted operation, even as conflicting accounts emerged over the fate of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani following overnight strikes.

Israel’s Defence Minister Katz has said Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani has been killed. There has been no comment from Iran yet.

However, a handwritten note has been published on the X account of Iran’s top security official Larijani, though there has been no confirmation from Tehran.

The note, also shared by Iranian state-linked media, commemorates Iranian sailors killed in a recent US attack, whose funeral was expected to take place today.

According to a report by the Jerusalem Post, the IDF confirmed that Soleimani, who headed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Basij paramilitary militia, and his deputy Seyyed Karishi were killed in a makeshift tent area.

Was Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani killed or injured in the Israeli airstrike?

The location had reportedly been set up to make tracking them more difficult compared to a known headquarters.

Providing details in a post on X, the IDF said that under Soleimani, the Basij Unit employed severe violence against civilian demonstrators.

In another report, TPS news agency said Israel carried out an airstrike in Iran overnight targeting Larijani, secretary of Iran's National Security Council and a former top aide to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israeli defence sources said it remains unclear whether Larijani was killed or injured.

Why is Ali Larijani considered a key power broker in Iran’s leadership?

Larijani is widely regarded as a key power broker in Tehran and has been described as Iran's "de facto leader".

He recently delayed the formal declaration of Mojtaba Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader, underlining his influence within Iran’s political establishment.

Speaking on Tuesday morning, IDF Chief of Staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir referred to the broader scope of Israeli operations.

"The IDF continues to operate vigorously against a number of targets in Iran," Zamir said.

"Alongside ongoing damage to military and industrial capabilities, we are operating against elements of the Revolutionary Guards and the regime's repressive apparatus. Significant counter-terrorism achievements were also recorded last night, with the potential to affect the campaign's objectives and the IDF's missions,” he added.

What did the IDF say about strikes on PIJ leaders in Tehran?

Zamir added that recent operations targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad figures in Iran.

"Foreign elements connected to the Palestinian arena, including senior figures involved in terrorist activity from Gaza and Judea and Samaria who were hiding in a safe house, were eliminated in Tehran," he said.

Among those targeted were deputy chief Akram Ajouri and senior figure Muhammad al Hindi. Ajouri had previously survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Syria in 2019.

Larijani had emerged from hiding last Friday during Iran's Jerusalem Day marches in Tehran, where he appeared alongside President Masoud Pazakhian and other senior officials.

"Trump does not understand that the Iranian people are brave and strong, and he does not understand that our people are determined. The more the United States pressures us, the stronger our will becomes. The attacks by the United States and Israel against the Jerusalem Day marches demonstrate their desperation and helplessness," Larijani said on Friday.

Analysts have warned that the targeting of senior political and security figures could further escalate tensions across the Middle East, where Israel and Iran continue to maintain aggressive postures in regional conflicts.

Separately, Iraq’s oil minister said Baghdad is in contact with Iran to allow some oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the state news agency.

Iraq is also working to resume exports through the Kirkuk Ceyhan pipeline to Turkey as it seeks to offset disruptions caused by the Hormuz crisis after some vessels were attacked off the Iraqi coast during transfers.

(With inputs from ANI)