Israel claims Iran's security chief Larijani killed in strike; Tehran yet to confirm
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz further claimed that the overnight operation also killed senior security official and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.
Israel has claimed that its military killed Iran's security chief Ali Larijani in a recent strike, though Tehran has not confirmed the report.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the overnight operation also killed senior security official and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, reports BBC.
"The prime minister and I have instructed the IDF to continue hunting down the leadership of the regime of terror and oppression in Iran," Katz said, adding that Israeli forces would intensify operations targeting Iran's leadership.
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He also referenced Donald Trump, saying Israel would update him on what he described as an increasing "turnover" in Iran's leadership following the alleged killings.
Iranian authorities have yet to confirm whether Larijani or Soleimani were killed or injured, with state media saying an official update will be issued.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Iran launched another wave of missiles toward Israel, with its air defence systems working to intercept them. Iranian state media also reported fresh missile launches toward what it described as "occupied territories."
The conflict has continued to spill across the region. In Iraq, drones and rockets were launched at the US embassy in Baghdad for the second time since the war began.
The United Arab Emirates briefly shut its airspace due to missile and drone threats before reopening it later.
Amid rising tensions, British Airways announced it would suspend some Middle East flights until the end of May, citing ongoing uncertainty.
At the same time, Western leaders including those from the UK, Canada, France, Germany and Italy warned that a major Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon would have "devastating humanitarian consequences."
Who is Ali Larijani?
Ali Larijani is a senior Iranian political figure who has held several key roles within the country's power structure.
He currently serves as the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), a powerful body that shapes the country's defence and security policies. He was appointed to the post in August 2025 by President Masoud Pezeshkian and also represents Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the council.
Larijani is widely seen as an influential insider and has also been described in Iranian media as an adviser to Khamenei.
He previously served as speaker of Iran's parliament for 12 years, from 2008 to 2020, making him one of the longest-serving figures in that role. Earlier in his career, he was Iran's chief nuclear negotiator from 2005 to 2007.
Politically, Larijani was once a leading figure in the conservative Principlist faction, though in recent years he has often been described as a "moderate conservative."
He comes from a prominent political family. His brother, Sadegh Larijani, is also a key figure in the Islamic Republic and currently chairs the Expediency Council, an influential body that resolves disputes between major state institutions.
