Israel says Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, and the head of the paramilitary Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani, have been killed in Israeli air strikes.
“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated last night and have joined Khamenei, the head of the annihilation programme, along with all those eliminated from the Axis of Evil in the depths of hell,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said.
Iranian authorities have confirmed the deaths of both men, as well as Larijani’s son and bodyguards.
Larijani is the most senior Iranian official to have been assassinated since the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of Israeli and US strikes on 28 February.
