BREAKING: Iran holds funeral for top security chiefs killed in Israeli strikes

Europe-Asia, International, Middle East, North America, Politics

INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — March 18, 2026 — A funeral procession is underway at Revolution Square in Tehran for Iranian security chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, both killed in recent Israeli airstrikes.

On Tuesday, Israel’s Chief of Defence Staff confirmed that the two senior officials were deliberately targeted in an overnight strike on the Iranian capital.

The ongoing funerals followed another reported strike on the residence of Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Ismail Khatib. Khatib, who has led the Ministry of Intelligence since 2021, is considered a central figure in Iran’s leadership, with a career spanning the nation’s security and judicial institutions, including service under the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. His fate remains unclear.

Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, speaking to Al Jazeera, insisted that Israel’s campaign of targeted eliminations “will not weaken the regime,” vowing resilience despite mounting losses and sheer uncertainties among senior officials.

The back-to-back strikes have rattled Tehran’s leadership, raising fears of further escalations and leaving many officials questioning who might be next on Israel’s list.