Israel says Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani has been killed in strike

Israel says it has killed Iran’s senior security figure Ali Larijani in a targeted strike, vowing to “continue hunting down” key leaders within the Iranian establishment.

The announcement comes amid a widening escalation between Israel, Iran, and allied forces. According to Israeli officials, the operation is part of a broader effort to dismantle Iran’s top command structure, which has already seen several high-ranking figures killed.

Among those previously reported dead is Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose death was announced on 28 February following the first day of coordinated US-Israeli strikes. Also killed in the initial wave were prominent figures including security adviser Ali Shamkhani, defence minister Amir Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour, and armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi.

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar said the deaths of Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani would make “Iranians safer,” arguing that the strikes are weakening what he described as Iran’s “repression mechanism.”

Speaking in Jerusalem, Saar added that while Israel’s actions are aimed at destabilising Iran’s leadership, any ultimate change in government would have to come from within the country. However, he suggested such a shift would likely require external support.

Saar also warned that Iran’s effective obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz has become a “global problem,” echoing comments from US President Donald Trump, who has called on other nations to help stabilise the critical shipping route.