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Israel says striking Basij militia in Tehran after leader killed
Jerusalem, March 17 (AFP) Mar 17, 2026
Israel's military said it was striking positions of Iran's Basij paramilitary force around Tehran on Tuesday, after announcing it had killed the volunteer militia's top commander.

"The air force has attacked, in recent hours, soldiers and positions of the Basij unit that were deployed throughout Tehran," Israel's air force posted online along with a video of what it said was a strike in Iran's capital.

Israel earlier Tuesday announced it had killed Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani in an air strike, at the same time as it said it had assassinated Tehran's national security chief Ali Larijani.

Neither death has been confirmed by Iran so far.

The strikes against the Basij are part of Israeli efforts to loosen the control of the authorities and open the way for a popular uprising against the clerical establishment.

In recent days the Israeli military has said it was striking checkpoints set up by the force around Tehran.

The Basij are accused of playing a key role in the bloody crackdown on recent mass protests in Iran in which rights groups say thousands of people were killed.


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