Israel has announced that it carried out a targeted airstrike in Tehran, claiming responsibility for the death of Iranian paramilitary commander Gholamreza Soleimani, a senior figure in Iran’s internal security structure.
According to a statement released by the Israeli military on Tuesday via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the operation was based on what it described as “precise intelligence” from its Military Intelligence unit. The military said the strike occurred in central Tehran and eliminated Soleimani, who had led the Basij force for the past six years.
Iranian authorities have yet to confirm or deny the claim.
In a related development, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz also stated that Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was killed in a separate strike. However, there has been no official response from Tehran regarding this claim either.
If verified, the reported deaths would mark some of the most significant losses within Iran’s security and political leadership since the escalation of hostilities between both nations.
The Basij force, which Soleimani commanded, operates under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has long been a key instrument of Iran’s internal security. Formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the group has been actively involved in managing protests and maintaining state control during periods of unrest.
Over the years, the Basij has faced accusations from Western governments and human rights organisations over alleged human rights violations, particularly during major protests such as the 2009 post-election unrest and more recent demonstrations.
Soleimani himself had been sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union over his alleged role in suppressing anti-government protests.
