Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday the Israeli military had killed Iran's security chief and the head of its Basij militia in airstrikes overnight.
Katz said in a statement he had been informed by the military that Iran's security chief Ali Larijani had been killed.
Iranian media has released a handwritten message from Ali Larijani paying tribute to the martyrs of the Iranian Navy.
A handwritten note has been published on the X account of Iran’s top security official Larijani, whom Israel’s military says it has killed, though there has been no confirmation from Tehran.
به مناسبت مراسم تشییع سلحشوران نیروی دریایی ارتش جمهوری اسلامی ایران: یاد آنان همواره در قلب ملت ایران خواهد بود و این شهادتها بنیان ارتش جمهوری اسلامی را برای سالها در ساختار نیروهای مسلح استوار مینماید. ازخداوند متعال علو درجات برای این شهدای عزیز خواستارم. pic.twitter.com/dvTdhyDYbY
— Ali Larijani | علی لاریجانی (@alilarijani_ir) March 17, 2026
In his message, Larijani honored the sacrifices of naval personnel, stating that the martyrdom of brave fighters is part of the ongoing struggle against oppressive forces.
The note, also shared by Iranian state-linked media, commemorates Iranian sailors killed in a recent US attack, whose funeral was expected to take place today.
Larijani is the most senior Iranian official after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
