TEHRAN: Iran state media has confirmed that security chief Ali Larijani has been martyred in an Israeli strike on Tuesday. In a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news, the country’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed the assassination of Larijani, after Israel earlier today claimed it killed him in targeted attacks. Earlier, Israel has claimed it has killed Ali Larijani, Iran’s powerful national security chief, in a strike on Tehran, as fresh bombardments hit cities across the Middle East following weeks of escalating conflict. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that Larijani was “eliminated last night”, though Iranian authorities have yet to confirm his death. Israel’s announcement came a day after a separate strike reportedly killed Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Basij force.

Source: The Patriot March 18, 2026 11:13 UTC