New York (The Thursday Times) — Israel has said a targeted strike has killed Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian security figure, in what would mark a significant escalation in the ongoing Israel–Iran confrontation.
🔴Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and the regime’s effective leader, has been eliminated.
Throughout the years, Larijani was considered one of the most veteran and senior figures within the Iranian regime leadership, and was a close associate… pic.twitter.com/kBIgSSGBm0
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 17, 2026
The claim has not been confirmed by Tehran, and reports remain mixed, with uncertainty surrounding Larijani’s status. Israeli officials described the operation as part of a broader effort to weaken Iran’s security leadership.
If verified, the strike would represent one of the most direct blows to Iran’s senior ranks in the current conflict, signalling a shift toward overt, high-level targeting between the two states.
