Israel claims killing of top Iranian security official Ali Larijani in airstrike

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed Tuesday that Iran's top security official Ali Larijani was killed in an airstrike. In a statement released by his office, Katz alleged that Larijani and the Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani were "eliminated" in overnight strikes. Israeli media earlier reported that Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was the target of overnight strikes carried out by Israel.

No Iranian confirmation

There was no immediate response from the Iranian authorities to the claim. If confirmed, Larijani would be among the highest-ranking Iranian officials killed since the US-Israeli campaign began, following former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous senior military commanders.

Larijani's role

Ali Larijani is a prominent Iranian conservative politician and former parliament speaker who has served as head of the Supreme National Security Council. He has been a key figure in Iran's nuclear negotiations and security policy for decades. His reported death would represent a significant blow to Iran's leadership structure.

Conflict context

The US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, killing over 1,300 people according to Iranian authorities, including former Supreme Leader Khamenei and more than 150 schoolgirls. Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting US assets. The war has expanded to include a ground offensive in Lebanon and ongoing exchanges with Hezbollah, with over one million Lebanese displaced.