- Israel says the Tehran Airstrike killed Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.
- Iran has not confirmed the deaths of Soleimani or Ali Larijani over the alleged leadership loss.
- Larijani remains central to Iran’s response following reported strikes on top leadership figures.
Iran has not yet confirmed the deaths, a move that has left uncertainty as tensions rise following reported attacks.
Israeli Claims Target Senior Iranian Figures
Israel military reported killing Gholamreza Soleimani in Tehran. The statement said the strike followed precise intelligence from military sources.
According to the announcement shared on X, the air force carried out a targeted operation in the capital. The message described Soleimani as the Basij commander for six years.
Iran has not confirmed or commented on the reported strike. This silence has kept the situation unclear, especially given the scale of the claim involving a senior figure.
Israel’s Defence Minister stated that Ali Larijani was killed in a strike; despite this, Iran has not yet issued any official statement on these claims.
Israel was the first to report this. The head of the Basij force, Soleimani, was the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which actively manages protests and enforces state control and sanctions from Western governments.
Role of the Basij and Internal Security Operations
The Basij militia was established after the 1979 revolution as a nationwide volunteer force to be deployed during periods of unrest.
Over time, the group has remained a key part of Iran’s internal security strategy. It operates through local branches in cities and towns.
International bodies have imposed sanctions on its leadership. These measures relate to allegations of suppressing dissent within the country.
Israel and the United States have targeted such security structures during the current conflict. These operations appear focused on weakening internal enforcement mechanisms.
Iran has not yet reported the loss of its Basij commander and has not yet confirmed these claims.
The assassination is also claimed to have involved Ali Larijani, a long-time political figure in Iran who served as the speaker of parliament for over a decade.
Following reported strikes on top leadership, he has been positioned at the center of Iran’s response for his firm stance toward the United States and Israel.