BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Iranian authorities have confirmed that the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, was killed in US and Israeli strikes, the statement on Larijani's Telegram channel says, Trend reports.
His son Mortaza, head of security Alireza Bayat and a group of guards were also reportedly killed along with him.
Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the assassination of Iranian National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani.
Since no concrete agreement was reached in negotiations between the United States and Iran over the nuclear program, the U.S. and Israel began military airstrikes against Iran on February 28. In response, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. military facilities located in countries across the region, starting the same day.
On the first day of the air strikes against Iran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military officials were killed. On March 8, Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s third Supreme Leader by majority vote.
From March 1 through March 5, the confrontation expanded further, affecting several countries across the Middle East.
According to information, the U.S. side suffered losses of 13 dead and more than 140 wounded.
The ongoing conflict has significantly threatened the region’s energy infrastructure and maritime transport. Oil prices have surged on global markets due to heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, prompting several countries to advise their citizens to leave the region.
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