Headlines
Commander of Iran's Paramilitary Basij Force Killed, Iranian State Media Says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 17, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 17, 2026
Quick Summary
Iran’s state media announced on March 17, 2026 that Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force, was killed in U.S.–Israel attacks, following a similar claim earlier by Israel’s defense minister.
Gholamreza Soleimani, Basij Commander, Killed in US-Israel Attacks: Iran State Media
Details of Gholamreza Soleimani's Death
Incident Overview
DUBAI, March 17 (Reuters) - Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of Iran's paramilitary Basij force was killed in U.S.-Israel attacks, Iran's state media said on Tuesday. Israel had earlier on Tuesday said it killed Soliemani.
Media Coverage and Statements
(Reporting by Elwely ElwellyEditing by Alexandra Hudson)
Key Takeaways
- •Gholamreza Soleimani, head of Iran’s all‑volunteer Basij force since 2019, was reportedly killed in a precision strike, according to both Israeli and Iranian state sources
- •Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the deaths of both Soleimani and national security chief Ali Larijani in coordinated strikes, aiming to weaken Iran’s leadership structure in the ongoing conflict
- •Soleimani had long been sanctioned by the U.S., EU and others for his role in enabling repression of mass protests; his death marks a major blow to Iran’s internal security machinery
Frequently Asked Questions about Commander of Iran's paramilitary Basij force killed, Iranian state media says
1Who was Gholamreza Soleimani?
Gholamreza Soleimani was the commander of Iran's paramilitary Basij force.
2How did Gholamreza Soleimani die?
He was killed in attacks by the US and Israel, according to Iran's state media.
3Who reported the death of the Basij commander?
Iran's state media announced the death, confirmed earlier by Israel.
4What is the Basij force?
The Basij is a paramilitary force in Iran, part of Iran's security and defense apparatus.
