Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has claimed that Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani has been killed. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Katz said the Israeli military was responsible for the attack. The Israeli army also claimed responsibility for killing Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij Force under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in an assault on Monday night.

According to the Israeli military, Soleimani’s death represents a major blow to Iran’s command-and-control structure. Israel further pledged to continue using force against Iranian commanders. As of now, Iranian authorities have not issued any official response or comment regarding these claims.

The report noted that since the war began on February 28, Israel and the United States have been targeting Iran’s senior leadership, resulting in the deaths of several top military commanders, including the country’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Analysts believe Soleimani’s killing could further weaken the Basij Force’s control system.