How Israel assassinated Ali Larijani after a surprise visit to his apartment hideout

After US and Israeli strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, the Islamic regime was still very much alive due to one formidable politician.

That man was Ali Larijani, Iran’s feared national security chief, thought by many to have been the de facto leader of the country and the architect of its terror.

Hours after the ayatollah was declared dead, he posted a chilling message on social media, swearing revenge.

'Today we will hit them with a force that they have never experienced before,' the top official said.

On Tuesday, Israel claimed its military assassinated Larijani in a secretive operation, effectively eliminating a pivotal figure at the heart of the dictatorship who insiders claim was preparing to consolidate power amid the Middle East crisis.

According to Israeli media, the killing of Larijani was initially scheduled for Sunday night, but was postponed at the last minute.

It wasn't until Monday afternoon that authorities received the vital intelligence that he would travel to one of his hideout apartments near Tehran alongside his son, as opposed to his normal residence.

On Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's command, precise strikes were launched and the mission was soon complete, with one Israeli security source confidently telling Channel 12 in the aftermath: 'There is no way he survived this attack.'

The assassination of Larijani was facilitated due to valuable intelligence that Israeli officials received from residents of Tehran 'over the past 24 hours,' an Israeli official told Iran International.

'In recent days, Larijani had behaved arrogantly, appearing frequently in public (including at Quds Day rallies), engaging with both local and international media, and thereby exposing himself to public view, which ultimately led to his identification,' the official said.

The official added that the country's intelligence services continue to receive several reports that 'precisely guide them to the locations of Basij and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps checkpoints, significantly aiding their efforts'.

Following the announcement of Larijani's death, the Israeli Prime Minister's X account published a photograph of Netanyahu on the phone, 'ordering the elimination of senior Iranian regime officials'.

"The IDF announces that overnight, March 17, 2026, the Israeli Air Force, acting on IDF intelligence, and through the integration of unique operational capabilities, conducted a precise strike that eliminated Ali Larijani, the Secretary of Iranian Supreme National Security Council, who operated as the de facto leader of the Iranian terror regime,' an IDF statement said.

Iranian state media generated anticipation by suggesting the claims were false, and promised to publish a statement by Larijani, but all that emerged was a handwritten note commemorating Iranian 'martyrs', that was most likely penned before his assassination.

As well as eliminating Larijani - the highest profile figure killed since Ali Khamenei -Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said a separate strike killed the Basij paramilitary force commander, Gholamreza Soleimani.

'Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation programme, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell,' Katz announced on Tuesday.

'The regime's leaders are being killed and their capabilities are being neutralised,' he said in a televised statement.

'Our military is making every effort to continue to strike and neutralise Iran's missile capabilities, as well as its strategic infrastructure,' he added.

Culled From UK DailyMail