![The Israeli army reinforces its air and ground forces in the Golan Heights in response to ongoing situation in Syria on December 06, 2024, in Israel. [Israel Defense Forces (IDF) - Anadolu Agency]](https://angelnetworknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AA-20241206-36407503-36407501-ISRAELI_ARMY_REINFORCES_TROOPS_IN_GOLAN_HEIGHTS_AMID_ESCALATING_DEVELOPMENTS_IN_SYRIA.jpg "Israeli army reinforces troops in Golan Heights amid escalating developments in Syria")
Israel’s defence minister has confirmed the death of Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an overnight airstrike on Tehran, describing it as a further blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
Israel Katz made the announcement on Tuesday, stating Larijani was eliminated alongside Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Basij force.
“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated last night,” Katz said, “and have joined Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the head of the annihilation program, along with all those eliminated from the axis of evil in the depths of hell.”
The strike occurred days after Larijani appeared at a pro-Palestinian rally in Tehran and warned US President Donald Trump in a television interview: “Watch out for yourself — lest you be eliminated!”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office separately confirmed it was “ordering the elimination of senior Iranian regime officials.”
Iranian state media has not confirmed the deaths, though it published a note attributed to Larijani commemorating sailors killed in a US attack. The 67-year-old Larijani had a $10 million US bounty on his head and was sanctioned for coordinating the violent suppression of protests.
The killings come amid the ongoing US-Israeli campaign launched after the February 28 assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
