Is Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani dead? Fresh reports from Israeli media claim he was the target of overnight strikes, but Ali Larijani’s fate remains unclear. Paramilitary commander Basij Gholamreza Soleimani was also reportedly targeted by the Israeli military in overnight attacks. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that Basij Soleimani was killed, according to The Times of Israel. It is not yet known whether Ali Larijani was even injured in the airstrikes.
Gholamreza Soleimani was targeted by Israel in the tent camp. The tent was recently erected by the Basij after the IDF hit their headquarters in several locations. The strikes also killed the deputy commander of the Basij and other top paramilitary figures, the IDF said.
The IDF or any Iranian official has not yet confirmed whether Ali Larijani is dead or alive.
Israel’s military said it was targeting “Iranian regime infrastructure” with a new wave of attacks across Tehran and Hezbollah positions in Beirut, a day after it said it had drawn up detailed plans for at least three more weeks of war with Iran.
The same strikes allegedly killed Basij leader Soleimani.
Who is Ali Larijani?
Ali Larijani is the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and was also the right-hand man of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Khamenei was killed in the initial joint strikes by the United States and Israel on February 28. Since the killing of Khamenei, Ali Larijani has been considered one of the leading figures in the country.
Larijani’s unified call to Muslim countries hours ago
Just hours before he was targeted, Ali Larijani reportedly issued a call for unity for all Muslim countries, asking: “Which side are you on?”
Since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East, Iran has targeted its neighboring countries, including the United Arab Emirates, accusing them of aiding the United States by allowing its territory to be used.
Iran claimed it was only attacking US interests in the Middle East.
Ali Larijani expressed disappointment at the ‘lack of support from Muslim-majority countries’ and said: “Iran was subjected to the treacherous US-Zionist aggression that took place during the negotiations and aimed at disintegrating Iran. This aggression led to the martyrdom of a great and self-sacrificing leader of the Islamic Revolution and a number of civilians and military commanders.”
“Some states have gone further and declared Iran an adversary simply because it has targeted US bases – as well as US and Israeli interests – located on their own territories,” Larijani added.
