Iran confirms Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani killed in US-Israeli strike

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tuesday that the commander of the paramilitary Basij forces, Gholamreza Soleimani, was killed in a US-Israeli strike. The report was carried by the Fars News Agency, without giving further details. The Israeli army earlier said that Soleimani was "eliminated" in an overnight strike on Monday, claiming responsibility for the assassination.

Second senior official in two days

Soleimani's death marks the second high-ranking Iranian official confirmed killed within 24 hours. Earlier Tuesday, Iran confirmed that Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli strike along with his son, aide and several companions. The back-to-back assassinations represent a significant blow to Iran's leadership structure.

Soleimani's role

As commander of the Basij forces, Soleimani led a powerful paramilitary organization that serves as a volunteer-based arm of the IRGC, involved in internal security, moral policing and supporting military operations. The Basij played a key role in suppressing dissent and providing manpower during the Iran-Iraq war.

Conflict context

Israel and the US have continued joint attacks on Iran since Feb. 28, killing around 1,300 people according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolgirls. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.

Escalating targeted killings

The strikes on Larijani and Soleimani represent an escalation in Israel's campaign of targeted killings against Iranian officials, following the assassination of numerous military commanders and nuclear scientists over the years. The killing of such high-ranking figures may prompt a significant Iranian response as the conflict enters its third week.