IDF Targets Iran's No. 2 Ali Larijani in Overnight Tehran Strikes
Israel may have attempted to assassinate senior Iranian regime figure Ali Larijani in overnight strikes inside Iran. Larijani is widely considered one of the most powerful figures in the Iranian leadership and is often described as effectively the number two figure in the regime.
Israel may have attempted to assassinate senior Iranian regime figure Ali Larijani in overnight strikes inside Iran, according to reports Tuesday, as the IDF continues its campaign against leadership figures linked to the regime.
Larijani, currently secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, is widely considered one of the most powerful figures in the Iranian leadership and is often described as effectively the number two figure in the regime.
Israeli officials are still assessing the results of the strike and it remains unclear whether Larijani was killed or wounded.
According to the reports, Israel also targeted Gholam Reza Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Basij militia. The Basij is a paramilitary force under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for internal security operations and the suppression of dissent inside Iran.
The strike reportedly took place overnight between Monday and Tuesday after what Israeli officials described as a sudden operational opportunity.
The IDF has not confirmed the identities of those targeted but has hinted that the operation achieved significant results.
Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said overnight strikes produced “significant counterterrorism achievements” that could influence the broader course of the war.
“The IDF continues to operate with force against a range of targets in Iran,” Zamir said following a situation assessment with senior commanders.
“In addition to the ongoing damage and erosion of military capabilities and industrial production capabilities, we are acting against elements of the Revolutionary Guards and regime repression forces,” he added.
Zamir also suggested that multiple senior figures may have been targeted during the latest wave of attacks.
“Tonight as well, significant counterterrorism achievements were recorded that have the potential to influence the achievements of the campaign and the IDF’s missions,” he said.
Israeli officials have increasingly focused on senior Iranian political and military figures during the war. Larijani, a longtime regime insider and influential strategist, has played a central role in Iran’s national security decision making.
The strikes come as Israel expands its operations across Iran while also continuing fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian backed groups elsewhere in the region.