TEHRAN — Israel says it has killed the commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary militia, Gen. Gholamreza Soleimani, in a major overnight strike on the Iranian capital — a move that could escalate the already intense region wide conflict. The Israeli military described the operation as a “significant blow” to Iran’s security apparatus and part of broader efforts to dismantle key elements of Tehran’s military leadership.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Soleimani — who led the Basij Forces, the all-volunteer branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — was killed in a targeted strike near Tehran along with other senior Basij officials. The Basij have been a central force in both internal security and external paramilitary operations, including suppression of domestic protests.
The IDF says it identified and struck a newly established Basij camp where Soleimani was present, destroying command infrastructure and eliminating several top commanders. The military has framed the action as a strategic attack on Iran’s command and control capabilities.
Israeli forces may also have targeted senior Iranian official Ali Larijani in the same series of strikes, though officials say his fate remains unclear. Larijani, a former nuclear negotiator and close ally of Iran’s late leaders, has not been confirmed killed.
Tehran has not yet officially confirmed Soleimani’s death, and Iranian state media typically delay or deny such reports in ongoing hostilities. However, outlets close to the Iranian establishment have acknowledged heightened tensions and condemned what they described as Israeli aggression against Iranian soil.
The reported assassination of a senior Iranian commander in Tehran marks one of the most dramatic escalations in the conflict since it expanded earlier this year. Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and other Gulf capitals have already faced Iranian missile and drone retaliation, prompting concerns about regional spill over.
Global leaders and international organizations are urging restraint, warning that further high profile killings could draw the broader Middle East toward even wider warfare.