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 nan Israel Defense Forces and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.

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

The news comes much than 2 weeks since Israel launched a war against nan Islamic Republic of Iran successful conjunction pinch U.S. President Donald Trump.

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

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Ali Larijani, left, caput of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, who commands Basij forces.  (Courtney Bonneau/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images; Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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

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

Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz successful Athens, Jan. 20, 2026.  (Nick Paleologos/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images)

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

"Rewards for Justice is offering a reward of up to $10 cardinal for accusation connected nan 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 nan pursuing individuals," nan webpage notes, listing Larijani and others.

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President Donald Trump holds a property convention pinch 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 different strikes, including nan caput of nan Basij forces Gholamreza Soleimani. This was a associated U.S. and Israeli effort," a elder Israeli charismatic noted. "A onslaught successful Tehran targeted nan Basij commandant and astir a twelve others, including nan astir elder figures successful nan Basij forces—people pinch a batch of humor connected their hands."

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