Tehran (TDI): Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed on Tuesday that Iran’s national security chief, Ali Larijani, and the commander of Tehran’s Basij paramilitary force, Gholamreza Soleimani, were “eliminated” in targeted strikes. Iran has not yet confirmed the report.
A handwritten note appeared on Larijani’s X account on Tuesday, commemorating Iranian sailors killed in a recent US attack. The message praised the martyrs and highlighted their role in strengthening the Iranian military, but made no reference to Larijani’s status.
Katz said the Israeli military acted on intelligence to remove both leaders, describing the move as part of broader efforts against Tehran’s senior figures. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also released a photo of himself on the phone, captioned, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders the elimination of senior figures in the Iranian regime.”
Israel previously reported that Soleimani had been killed in a precision strike on a makeshift Basij headquarters in Tehran.
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Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said “significant preventive achievements were recorded overnight,” signaling ongoing operations targeting Iranian leadership and infrastructure.
Moreover, a series of distant blasts were reported from Jerusalem on Tuesday after missile sirens sounded in northern Israel, prompting the Israeli military to deploy defensive systems. Iran has also continued its attacks on Gulf nations, including the UAE, where drones hit key oil facilities in Fujairah for a second consecutive day. Debris from an intercepted missile in Abu Dhabi killed a Pakistani national, while fires at Shah gas field were contained.
President Donald Trump expressed surprise at the strikes on Gulf allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait, although US intelligence sources said he had been briefed beforehand about the risk of regional retaliation and the potential closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Read More: US, Iran Officials Make First Contact Since War: Reports
Despite claims of weakening Iran’s military, Tehran continues to launch long-range missiles and deploy drones, demonstrating ongoing offensive capability. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, dismissed reports of diminished firepower, stating that “our offensive power, experience, and accuracy have increased” and calling for regional security to be established by local countries.
