BREAKING: Israel Kills De Facto Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, alongside the head of the Basij, a paramilitary force used by the regime to suppress protests and control civilians.

Larijani was the regime’s de facto ruler and is said to have overseen the crackdown on protesters in January. Soleimani ran its most feared instrument of civilian repression. Both are now dead.

The Israeli Defense Forces say they have killed Ali Larijani, the de facto leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, long one of the most powerful men in the regime, and Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij, the infamous paramilitary force that the regime uses to suppress protests and control civilians.

In January, Larijani was said to have overseen the crackdown on protesters that resulted in many thousands of Iranians being killed in the streets by the regime and many more being imprisoned.

Days ago, Larijani was walking the streets of Tehran during the Quds Day parade in a defiant show of force.

Larijani was very close with the now-deceased Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who unlike Larijani is a cleric, was named as his father’s replacement, but he is said to be more of a symbol of power rather than a day-to-day ruler, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps being the dominant power in the country.

Mojtaba Khamenei remains in hiding and is a top target of the Israeli military and intelligence services.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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