Iranian defence chief who issued sinister warning to Trump is killed in airstrike
Iranian defence chief who issued sinister warning to Trump is killed in airstrike
Last week, an Iranian official who warned Donald Trump of potential retaliation against the United States was struck down in a targeted airstrike. The individual, Ali Larijani, held a key position within Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and was killed by Israeli forces, as confirmed by the country’s Defence Ministry.
The Israeli Defense Forces stated they had attacked Larijani, alongside a separate operation that resulted in the death of the Basji paramilitary group’s leader. This came shortly after Larijani issued a pointed message to Trump, declaring:
‘The nation of Iran is not afraid of your empty threats. Even those bigger than you could not eliminate the Iranian nation. Watch yourselves, or you might be eliminated!’
Larijani played a pivotal role in the interim leadership council, which managed Iran’s transition of power following Ali Khamenei’s leadership. The Basji forces, an all-volunteer unit under the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, have long been used to suppress dissent during internal protests in the Islamic Republic.
Soleimani’s Death and Sanctions
General Gholam Reza Soleimani is believed to have perished in an airstrike on Monday, though Iran has yet to officially confirm his demise. The US Treasury notes that Soleimani was born in 1965 and has faced sanctions from the US, European Union, and other nations for his involvement in crushing opposition through the Basji.
The Israeli military described the Basji as an essential component of Iran’s armed regime, highlighting their role in violently quelling demonstrations. During recent uprisings, forces under Soleimani’s command were responsible for leading crackdowns, employing harsh tactics such as mass arrests and physical confrontation with civilian protesters.
Khamenei’s Secret Evacuation
Mojtaba Khamenei, the eldest son of the former Ayatollah, was announced as Soleimani’s successor last week. However, he was reportedly gravely injured in a US airstrike and transported to Russia for urgent leg surgery. According to Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida, the newly elected Ayatollah was covertly extracted from a bunker during a strike that killed his wife, mother, father, and son. He was secretly flown to Moscow on a Russian military plane, where he allegedly underwent a successful operation in one of Vladimir Putin’s presidential palaces.
Al-Jarida cited unverified information from a high-ranking source near the new Iranian Supreme Leader, suggesting reports vary from minor injuries like a fractured foot and facial cuts to more severe conditions, including potential leg loss or a coma. Iran has since stated that the new Ayatollah is alive, countering US claims that he was killed in the strike.
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