Two top Iranian officials have been killed, Israel reported Tuesday.
Ali Larijani, the secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, was pronounced dead by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This makes him the second most senior leader to be killed in Operation Epic Fury since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei died Feb. 28.
The IDF also reported Gholamreza Soleimani, who headed Iran’s Basij unit for six years, died after an attack early Tuesday.
The Basj unit was responsible for stopping civil protests and uprisings against the Iranian regime.
Both Larijani and Soleimani led violent efforts to end anti-government protests earlier this year, according to Israel.
Israel’s strikes have focused on weapons storage facilities in the region and attacks on Iran’s top leaders along with the U.S. military.
“We are continuing to concentrate forces and conduct precise and targeted ground operations. Cooperation between the IDF and [U.S. Central Command] continues to strengthen, with joint actions contributing to enhanced operational achievements,” Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir said Tuesday, according to the IDF.
“We will continue to act decisively to remove threats to the residents of Israel,” he added.
