The Israel Defence Forces said on Tuesday that Ali Larijani, the influential Iranian security official who had been a key representative of former Supreme Leader Ali Khomenei, was killed in a “precise” Israeli aerial strike.
The IDF statement followed the Israeli defence minister’s announcement of the death.
“Following the elimination of Khamenei, Larijani consolidated his status as the de facto leader of the Iranian regime and led the combat efforts against the State of Israel and countries across the region,” the IDF said in a statement.
Describing him as the “de facto leader” of the Iranian regime, the IDF said that Larijani was killed by an Israeli Air Force strike near Tehran.
Israel described Larijani’s death as a “further blow” to the Iranian leadership’s abilities to manage the war against the U.S. and Israel.
