Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Tuesday the death of Basij Forces Commander Gholam Reza Soleimani, following reports that he was killed in an airstrike during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
In a statement published on its official outlet “Sepah News,” the IRGC said Soleimani was killed in what it described as a “terrorist attack carried out by the American-Zionist enemy.”
Soleimani had been appointed as head of the Basij Organization in July 2019 by Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. During his tenure, the Basij played a central role in suppressing anti-government protests, including demonstrations in 2019. He was later sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
The Basij is one of the five branches of the IRGC and functions as a paramilitary force with a strong internal security role. It maintains a visible presence across Iranian cities and focuses primarily on domestic enforcement. The name “Basij” translates from Persian as “mobilization.”
Meanwhile, Israeli sources had earlier claimed that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was also killed in the same wave of strikes targeting Tehran. However, Iranian media quickly denied those reports.
Iran’s Fars News Agency stated that a message from Larijani would be released shortly, rejecting claims of his assassination. Israeli public broadcaster Kan had reported that Larijani was among the targets of overnight strikes, but no confirmation has emerged to support that claim.
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