Israeli forces carried out strikes that killed two senior Iranian figures within the past 24 hours: Ali Larijani, widely viewed as the key decision-maker running the country, and Brig. Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force.
Hal Kempfer called both deaths highly significant, likening them to classic Israeli “decapitation strikes” similar to the elimination of Hezbollah’s leadership in Lebanon. Larijani, long a central figure with strong ties to the Revolutionary Guard Corps, was seen as the actual operator directing the regime’s response rather than the newly named Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei or President Masoud Pezeshkian. Kempfer noted Larijani’s extensive experience and recognition made him difficult to replace, potentially eroding regime credibility and slowing operations over time.
Soleimani led the roughly 350,000-member Basij, a volunteer militia ideologically aligned with the regime and deeply involved in suppressing protests, including the deadly crackdowns in December and January. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the strikes eliminated “the boss of the Revolutionary Guards” and the “henchmen” responsible for terrorizing Iranian streets.
Kempfer explained that Pezeshkian appeared to function as a figurehead with limited influence, citing instances where the Revolutionary Guard Corps continued missile and drone attacks even as the president publicly apologized to Gulf states. Reports suggest Mojtaba Khamenei may have been wounded or incapacitated in earlier strikes, with no public appearances since assuming leadership—only a letter read by a news anchor.