Israel claims to have killed head of Iran’s security council

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared this Tuesday (17) that an air strike during the night killed the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (position equivalent to Minister of Defense), Ali Larijani. So far, the Iranian government has not confirmed the death.

According to Israeli media, Larijani was the target of an attack in an apartment he used as a refuge, where he was accompanied by his son. At the same time, Iranian state media published a note said to have been handwritten by Larijani, a tribute to Iranian sailors killed in a US attack, the agency reported. Reuters.

Larijani is one of the most influential figures in Iran and plays a strategic role in the Tehran regime, being considered the country’s “de facto” leader. Following the deaths of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other officials in US-backed Israeli offensives, he would be considered the highest regime official killed since Khamenei was killed. Earlier this week, the head of the Basij militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, was also killed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared this Tuesday that they simultaneously attacked Iranian “regime infrastructures” in the cities of Tehran, Shiraz (southern center) and Tabriz (northwest).

“Dozens of Air Force combat planes, guided by Military Intelligence, completed a large-scale air attack yesterday (…) Dozens of munitions were dropped on the headquarters of security organizations”, detailed the IDF in the note on the offensive in Tehran, informing that, among the affected installations, were the Ministry of Intelligence and headquarters of the Basij militia.

Facilities for “storage and launch of unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles and air defense systems” were also attacked, according to the Israeli Army.

In Shiraz, the forces assured that the attack hit the headquarters of the internal security command and a supposed ballistic missile depot and, in Tabriz, “additional regime defense systems were destroyed in order to expand its air superiority and eliminate threats against the State of Israel”, according to the EFE agency.

The joint US and Israeli offensive against Iran enters its third week, with a death toll of more than two thousand. The Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed by Iran. So far, US allies have not responded to US President Donald Trump’s request to collaborate in the reopening of the route, through which around 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas flows.

Trump on Saturday called on some countries to collaborate by sending “warships” to the Strait of Hormuz to keep it “open and safe” following the announcement by Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, that the strategic passage will remain closed.

Last statement

In what, if his death was confirmed, would be his last demonstration, the Iranian leader criticized and appealed to the Muslim nations of the Middle East. Larijani declared that, with rare exceptions, “almost no Islamic country” sided with the Iranian people after US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

He made demands on Muslim nations that host American bases, suggesting that their stance would be contrary to Islamic teachings, citing a saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad. “Whoever hears a man shouting ‘Oh, Muslims’ and does not respond is not a Muslim.”

He further stated that the US would not be “loyal to anyone” and that Israel is an enemy of Islamic nations. “Today the confrontation is between the US on one side and the resistance forces on the other. You know that the US is not loyal to anyone and that Israel is your enemy. Stop and reflect for a moment. Iran is sincere and does not seek to dominate you,” he said.