Israel eliminated Iranian National Security Council head Ali Larijani and Basij militia commander Gholamreza Soleimani in a surgical strike on Tehran yesterday, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Tuesday.

“I have just been updated by the chief of staff that Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and the head of the Basij—Iran’s central repression apparatus—Gholamreza Soleimani, were eliminated last night,” Katz stated in a recorded message from Israel’s Defense Ministry headquarters.

Following the elimination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the opening minutes of Operation Roaring Lion/Epic Fury, Larijani had acted as Iran’s de facto wartime leader.

Larijani had long been one of Iran’s most powerful figures, and in recent days had taken to taunting both Israel and the United States on social media, even as American and Israeli forces pounded what remains of the Islamic Republic regime.

Trump says he is looking for a speedy victory. While starting a war is easy, it cannot be won with a few tweets. We will not relent until making you sorry for this grave miscalculation. #TrumpMustPay

— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 12, 2026

“President Trump spoke about the high turnover rate within Iran’s leadership,” Katz added. “When morning breaks in Washington, we will update him that the high rate of turnover is continuing and even accelerating following the elimination of two of the most senior remaining figures.”

Soleimani, who was killed along with his top deputy, was head of the Iranian regime’s main apparatus of repression, the Basij militia, which operates under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Basij forces were behind the massacre of over 30,000 Iranians during January’s anti-regime demonstrations.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates