Jerusalem, March 20 – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesperson and head of the Public Relations Department of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been killed.
According to a statement released by the IDF, Naini had held various roles in propaganda and public relations.
"ELIMINATED: Ali Mohammad Naini, spokesperson and head of the Public Relations Department of the IRGC. Naini held various roles in propaganda and public relations. In his role as the IRGC's main propagandist for the past 2 years, he disseminated the regime's terrorist propaganda to its proxies across the Middle East in order to influence and advance terror attacks against Israel," the IDF posted on X.
The IRGC also announced the "martyrdom" of Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, its official spokesperson, in a "terror attack" by the US and Israel during the final hours of the holy month of Ramadan.
Quoting from an IRGC statement, Iranian media said that the attack was a "cowardly act of state-sponsored terror" and vowed retaliation.
On Wednesday, the IDF said that Iran's Intelligence Minister, Esmaeil Khatib, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran.
"Esmaeil Khatib, the Iranian Minister of Intelligence, in a targeted strike in Tehran. Khatib played a significant role during the recent protests throughout Iran, including the arrest and killing of protestors, and led terrorist activities against Israelis and Americans around the world. Similarly, he operated against Iranian citizens during the Mahsa Amini protests (2022–2023)," the IDF stated on X.
"The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence possesses advanced intelligence capabilities, overseeing surveillance, espionage, and the execution of covert operations worldwide, particularly against Israeli and Iranian citizens," it added.
On Tuesday, Israel claimed that it had killed Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani.
The IDF stated that Larijani was considered one of the most senior figures in the Iranian regime leadership and a close associate of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and the regime's effective leader, has been eliminated. Throughout the years, Larijani was considered one of the most veteran and senior figures within the Iranian regime leadership, and was a close associate of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei," the IDF posted on X.
Later, Iranian media also reported that Ali Larijani along with his son was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran on March 17.
"During the most recent wave of protests against the Iranian terror regime, Larijani personally oversaw the massacre that was carried out against Iranian protestors," it added.
According to a statement released by the IDF, Larijani functioned as the leader of the Iranian regime after Khamenei's death and led the combat against Israel and countries in the region.
The IDF also announced that Basij Unit commander Gholamreza Soleimani has been killed.
"COMMANDER OF THE BASIJ UNIT ELIMINATED. Yesterday, the IDF targeted and eliminated Gholamreza Soleimani, who operated as commander of the Basij unit for the past 6 years. Under Soleimani, the Basij unit led the main repression operations in Iran, employing severe violence, widespread arrests, and the use of force against civilian demonstrators," the IDF said.