In the midst of the third week of military actions targeting Iran by Israel and the United States, Israel’s Defense Minister confirmed on Tuesday (March 17th) that the Israeli military successfully carried out a precise airstrike in Tehran on Monday night, killing Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of the “Basij” militia organization. The Iranian leadership has once again suffered a devastating blow.
Larijani was seen as the “de facto leader” of the Iranian regime and a key figure in the country’s national security strategy. Following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, Larijani became a crucial pillar supporting the Iranian authorities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pointed out that Larijani not only led violent crackdowns on domestic protests but also served as the top coordinator for anti-US and anti-Israel actions.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz explicitly stated in a declaration, “Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani were eliminated last night. This operation successfully removed two major figures behind the Iranian regime’s violent repression and overseas expansion. We will continue to eliminate senior Iranian regime officials until the threat is eliminated.”
Gholamreza Soleimani, who also died in the same operation, was the head of the “Basij” quasi-military organization under the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. This organization plays a core role in maintaining regime stability during turbulent periods within Iran’s domestic security and intelligence network.
As Iran faces its greatest challenge in decades with military actions from the US and Israel, this targeted operation has dealt a significant blow by removing key leadership figures from Iran. The Prime Minister’s Office of Israel emphasized that Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the continuous execution of targeted assassinations against “senior Iranian regime officials.”
Facing a major setback, the Iranian response appears chaotic. According to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, although Iranian state media released a handwritten note mourning Larijani as a naval soldier, attempting to maintain the illusion of his continued existence, no recent visual evidence was provided.
Meanwhile, Iran conducted a new round of missile and drone attacks towards Israel and Gulf countries overnight. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a tanker near Fujairah in the UAE was hit and damaged by an unknown flying object.
Due to the threat of drone attacks, Dubai International Airport (DXB) briefly closed its airspace, leading to numerous flight delays or diversions. The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that a Pakistani citizen was killed by falling debris from an intercepted missile in the Baniyas area.