Iran’s security chief Larijani is killed, says Israel Defence Minister

 ‌Israel’s Defence Minister ​Israel ⁠Katz said ‌on ‌Tuesday ‌(March 17, 2026) that ⁠Iran’s ⁠security chief Ali Larijani ​had ‌been killed in ‌an ​Israeli strike.

Israel targeted Iran’s powerful national security chief Ali Larijani in an overnight strike, Israeli media reported.

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Mr. Israel Katz made the announcement.

The Israeli military also announced it killed Gholam Reza Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force.

The killings again strip away top leaders from the Iranian theocracy after the Feb. 28 strike that killed 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Public broadcaster Kan said that Mr. Larijani was the “target of an assassination attempt”, while television station N12 reported the results of the strike were “still being reviewed”.

Israel’s military chief Eyal Zamir said “significant preventive achievements were recorded overnight” in a statement released by the military.

There ⁠was no ‌confirmation from Iran.