The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) has been killed amid what Iranian officials describe as ongoing American-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, the SNSC Secretariat confirmed the death of Dr. Ali Larijani, along with his son, Mortaza Larijani; the council’s deputy for security, Alireza Bayat; and several of their bodyguards. The statement characterised Dr. Larijani’s death as martyrdom, describing it as his “long-held dream” following a lifetime dedicated to advancing the nation and its Islamic Revolution. The Secretariat added that his death would strengthen the resolve of both the Iranian people and state officials to continue elevating the country’s position.
Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly carried out the 58th wave of its military campaign, dubbed Operation True Promise 4, targeting multiple locations in northern Israel. According to Iranian sources, the strikes hit areas including Nahariya, Beit Shemesh, Tel Aviv, and West Al-Quds. Additional attacks were also directed at American military installations across the region, including bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. The operation was reportedly launched at dawn and involved a range of weaponry, including Khorramshahr missile systems equipped with two-ton warheads, multi-warhead Ghadr, Fattah, and Kheibar-Shekan missiles, as well as medium-range Fateh and Qiam systems and unmanned aerial drones.
In a significant development in Washington, the director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, Joe Kent, has resigned in protest against the war. In a letter shared publicly, Kent stated that he could not “in good conscience” support the conflict with Iran, arguing that Tehran posed no imminent threat to the United States and suggesting that the escalation was influenced by pressure from Israel and its lobbying networks in Washington. His resignation is the highest-profile departure since the conflict began on February 28. In his letter, he also reminded Donald Trump of previous commitments to end foreign wars, warning that past military engagements in West Asia had come at a significant cost to American lives and economic stability.
Separately, the hacker group Handala has claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack on Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. The group alleges that it infiltrated a highly sensitive database, releasing thousands of confidential documents. Among those reportedly targeted is Ilan Steiner, who currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Israel’s national security apparatus. According to the group, the breach includes approximately 50,000 emails and files related to covert operations. While the full extent of the leak remains unverified, reports suggest the incident has caused significant concern within Israeli intelligence circles, amid a broader rise in cyberattacks targeting Israeli organisations over the past two years.
