Israel Claims Elimination of Key Iranian Officials in Airstrike

Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian Leaders

Tel Aviv: On Tuesday, Israel announced the killing of prominent Iranian security figure Ali Larijani in a nighttime airstrike, alongside General Gholam Reza Soleimani, who led the Revolutionary Guard's Basij force. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) later confirmed that following Soleimani's death, they targeted Basij positions throughout Tehran. The IDF shared footage of the purported strikes, stating, "In the wake of the Basij unit commander's elimination, our forces have been actively engaging Basij positions across Tehran in recent hours."

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Larijani's death, stating that Israeli forces had also taken out Soleimani. He emphasized that Soleimani was under international sanctions from various countries, including the UK, Canada, and the EU. Netanyahu described Larijani as the leader of the Revolutionary Guards, labeling them as a group that controls Iran. He stated, "This morning we eliminated Ali Larijani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards, who are the gangsters running Iran. Alongside him, we also took out the Basij commander, who terrorizes the streets of Tehran and other cities."

Netanyahu called on the Iranian populace to rise against their current government, stating, "We are working to weaken this regime, hoping to empower the Iranian people to change it. This won't happen overnight or easily, but with persistence, we can help them take control of their future."

As of now, Iran has not confirmed Larijani's death. The last public appearance of Larijani was during the Quds rally in Tehran on March 13, where he characterized the bombing as a sign of desperation from Iran's adversaries.