Israel says it has killed head of Iran's National Security Council and chief of Basij militia

Two of Iran’s most senior leaders have been killed, Israel claims.

Ali Larijani, head of the Supreme National Security Council and Gholamreza Soleimani, chief of the feared Basij militia were both killed, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz says.

Larijani was widely viewed as setting Tehran’s strategy following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the conflict. Unlike Khamenei’s son, the new supreme leader, Larinjani had a significant public profile and was seen as someone who could lead international talks.

His removal makes a negotiated end to the conflict less likely.

After a career in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Soleimani took over the Basij in 2019. With 450,000 personnel, it was seen as a key element in maintaining internal discipline, helping to repress dissents and curb protests.

There has been no confirmation of the deaths from Iran