Israel eliminates the "number two" of the Iranian regime and the head of the Basij in Tehran

In the context of Operation Epic Fury, Israel claimed to have killed two key figures of the Iranian regime's security apparatus in an airstrike in Tehran: Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij militia of the Revolutionary Guard. 

According to a statement from the Israeli army, the operation was carried out with precise military intelligence and aimed to weaken the internal control structure of the regime.

The attack took place in the center of the Iranian capital, where Soleimani was at a makeshift facility used by the Basij to protect its personnel from bombings.

If confirmed, this would be one of the most significant blows against the Iranian leadership since the death of the Supreme Leader Ali Jamenei on February 28, at the onset of the current military escalation.

The Basij represent one of the fundamental pillars of the internal control system in Iran.

This paramilitary force is known for its role in suppressing anti-government protests and monitoring adherence to religious norms in public spaces. Its deployment has been crucial during times of high social tension, acting as a shock force in response to demonstrations.

Human rights organizations have repeatedly condemned this militia for serious abuses, including torture, sexual assaults, and arbitrary detentions. In January, the Basij participated in the repression of massive protests sparked by the economic crisis, which left more than 7,000 dead according to official figures (non-governmental organizations raise the number to about 30,000) and around 50,000 detained.

Ali Larijani was considered one of the most influential figures within the political and security apparatus of the regime, playing a key role in strategic coordination amid the conflict.

So far, Iranian authorities have neither confirmed nor officially denied the deaths, amid increasing military pressure from Israel and the United States, which continue to undermine the operational capabilities of the bloodthirsty regime on various fronts.