Israel Confirms Killing of Iranian Security Chiefs Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani

Israel's military killed two of Iran's most senior security officials, Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, in targeted strikes on March 17, 2026, according to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and the IDF. Larijani, serving as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, had been described as Iran's de facto leader following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei earlier in the 2026 conflict. Gholamreza Soleimani served as commander of the Basij paramilitary force. Israeli media reported Katz's confirmation of Larijani's death, while the IDF separately announced the killing of Gholamreza Soleimani. The strikes represent a significant escalation in an ongoing conflict that has already claimed the life of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Written message attributed to Larijani surfaces on social media Shortly after reports of his death circulated, a written message attributed to Ali Larijani was published on social media, according to ANSA, creating initial uncertainty about the confirmed reports. Israeli officials maintained their account of the strike, with Israeli media citing Defense Minister Katz's confirmation of Larijani's killing. The IDF stated that the operation against Gholamreza Soleimani was based on precise intelligence and took place in central Tehran. Larijani, born on June 3, 1958, was a politician, retired military officer, and philosopher who had returned to the role of Supreme National Security Council secretary in 2025, having previously held the position from 2005 to 2007. Gholamreza Soleimani, born in 1964, was a senior officer in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and commander of the Basij forces. Despite sharing a surname, he was not related to Qasem Soleimani, according to the person registry.

Larijani described as pillar of Iranian regime after Khamenei's death Larijani had been characterized as a pillar of the Iranian regime and a de facto leader following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the broader 2026 conflict, according to reporting by Il Sole 24 Ore and Le Temps. His death, alongside that of Gholamreza Soleimani, represents what observers described as a decapitation of Iran's senior security leadership in a single night, according to the Greek outlet iefimerida.gr. Larijani had a long history of engagement with Western interlocutors and was known internationally; Le Temps noted that in 2006 he had given an interview to the publication in which he criticized American attitudes. The strikes come as Iran navigates a period of profound institutional disruption following the death of Ali Khamenei and the appointment of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the third Supreme Leader of Iran in March 2026. Mojtaba Khamenei, born on September 8, 1969, is an Iranian Shia cleric and the second child of the late Supreme Leader.

Strikes mark deepening Israeli campaign against Iranian leadership The 2026 conflict between Israel and Iran escalated sharply following a series of direct military exchanges that began in earlier phases of the broader regional war. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed during the conflict, prompting the appointment of his son Mojtaba Khamenei as the country's third Supreme Leader. Ali Larijani had previously served as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 2005 to 2007 and returned to the role in 2025, positioning him as one of the most senior figures in the Iranian security establishment. The killing of both Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani in a single operation marks a continuation of Israel's campaign targeting the upper echelons of Iranian military and political authority. Gholamreza Soleimani's role commanding the Basij placed him at the center of Iran's internal security architecture, making his elimination a significant operational blow. The IDF's claim of precise intelligence guiding the strike against Gholamreza Soleimani in central Tehran underscores the reach of Israeli operations deep inside Iranian territory. The appearance of a message attributed to Larijani on social media following the reports of his death, as noted by ANSA, added a layer of uncertainty that Israeli officials did not publicly address in detail in the immediate aftermath. No confirmed information is available on Iranian government statements in response to the strikes at the time of reporting.