From the Liveblog of
Friday, March 20, 2026
Israel says strike targeting Basij leadership also killed intel chief
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
An Israeli airstrike in Tehran earlier this week that killed the commander of the Basij and his deputy, also killed the paramilitary force’s intelligence officer, the military says.
The IDF says it can now confirm that the strike late Monday also killed Ismail Ahmadi, the chief of intelligence in the Basij.
The top officials in the oppressive paramilitary had been targeted while at a tent camp that was recently established by the Basij. According to the IDF, the Basij set up the camp after the military struck many of the headquarters of the paramilitary force.
On Tuesday, the military said Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, his deputy, and several other top officers were killed in the strike.
יחד עם מפקד יחידת הבסיג': צה"ל חיסל את ראש אגף המודיעין של יחידת הבסיג' בטהרן
חיל האוויר בהכוונה מדויקת של אמ"ן, תקף מוקדם יותר השבוע את צמרת ההנהגה הבכירה של יחידת הבסיג' בלב טהרן, במסגרתה חוסל מפקד היחידה, ע'לאם רצ'א סליאמני ומספר מפקדים בכירים נוספים.
כעת צה"ל מאשר כי בתקיפה… pic.twitter.com/P19lMm7hgq
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 20, 2026
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