ISTANBUL

The Israeli military said Tuesday that it had killed Ali Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an airstrike near Tehran.

A military statement claimed that Larijani was “eliminated” in a “precise strike,” describing him as “the de facto leader” of the Iranian regime.

There was no immediate response from Iran to the Israeli claim.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier claimed that Larijani was killed in an overnight strike.

Israel and the US have continued joint attacks on Iran since Feb. 28, killing so far around 1,300 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

⁠Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.