Top Iranian official, commander killed in strike, Israel defense minister says

Iranian Supreme National Security Council caput Ali Larijani and Basij Commander Gholamreza Soleimani person some been killed, according to the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

"I person conscionable been updated by the Chief of Staff that Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and the caput of the Basij — Iran’s cardinal repression apparatus — Salimani, were eliminated past nighttime and person joined Khamenei, the caput of the annihilation program, on with each those eliminated from the axis of evil successful the depths of hell," Katz said, according to a translation provided to Fox News by his office.

The quality comes much than 2 weeks since Israel launched a warfare against the Islamic Republic of Iran successful conjunction with U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the regime’s effectual leader, has been eliminated," the Israel Defense Forces noted successful a station connected X.

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Left: Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, arrives successful Beirut, Lebanon, connected September 27, 2025, to be a memorial work for Hezbollah person Hassan Nasrallah; Right: Gholamreza Soleimani, a elder serviceman successful the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who commands Basij forces, is speaking astatine a ceremonial honoring Iranian-Sunni pistillate martyrs successful the seaport metropolis of Bandar Turkmen, situated connected the southeastern seashore of the Caspian Sea, 410 km (256 miles) northeast of Tehran, connected Nov. 30, 2023.  (Left: COURTNEY BONNEAU/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images; Right: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

"Throughout the years, Larijani was considered 1 of the astir seasoned and elder figures wrong the Iranian authorities leadership, and was a adjacent subordinate of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. During the astir caller question of protests against the Iranian panic regime, Larijani personally oversaw the massacre that was carried retired against Iranian protestors," the station added.

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Another IDF station noted, "Yesterday, the IDF targeted & eliminated Gholamreza Soleimani, who operated arsenic commandant of the Basij portion for the past 6 years. Under Soleimani, the Basij portion led the main repression operations successful Iran, employing terrible violence, wide arrests, and the usage of unit against civilian demonstrators."

Joint property statements by the Greek Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias, and the Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, astatine the Ministry of National Defense, Athens, January 20, 2026.  (Nick Paleologos / SOOC / AFP via Getty Images)

The U.S. authorities had antecedently indicated that it would connection a reward for accusation connected Larijani.

"Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $10 cardinal for accusation connected the cardinal leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its constituent branches," rewardsforjustice.net notes. "Under this reward offer, RFJ is seeking accusation connected the pursuing individuals," the webpage notes, listing Larijani and others.

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President Donald Trump holds a property league with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu astatine his Mar-a-Lago nine connected Dec. 29, 2025, successful Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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"Over a twelve Basij officials were targeted successful Iran past nighttime successful antithetic strikes, including the caput of the Basij forces Gholamreza Soleimani. This was a associated U.S. and Israeli effort," a elder Israeli authoritative noted. "A onslaught successful Tehran targeted the Basij commandant and astir a twelve others, including the astir elder figures successful the Basij forces—people with a batch of humor connected their hands."

Fox News' Trey Yingst and Yonat Friling contributed to this report.