Israeli military operations against senior Iranian officials and infrastructure

On March 17, 2026, the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced a series of targeted strikes in Tehran and other locations. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the death of Ali Larijani, Iran's head of National Security, along with the commander of the Basij paramilitary force, Gholam Reza Soleimani. Additional strikes reportedly targeted the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, the aircraft of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at Mehrabad Airport, and intelligence leaders of the Khatam al-Anbiya emergency command, including Abdallah Jalali Nasab and Amir Shariat. Israeli officials stated these actions are part of a broader strategy to neutralize Iran's missile capabilities and strategic infrastructure. While Israel has released statements and photographic evidence of the operations, there has been no immediate official confirmation from the Iranian government. Reports indicate that Larijani was targeted at a safe house rather than his primary residence. These strikes follow ongoing regional tensions and previous military engagements between the two nations.