Head of Iran’s Basij militia Killed in Strike, Says Israel

DUBAI — Israel stated Tuesday it had killed the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ all-volunteer Basij militia, a crucial force used to control protesters in the Islamic Republic, as Iran renewed missile and drone attacks on Gulf Arab nations.

Dubai, a major international travel center, abruptly closed its airspace as the military stated that it was “responding to incoming missile and drone threats” surrounding the city, and a civilian was killed by missile debris intercepted above Abu Dhabi.

The Israeli military also announced early Tuesday that it had launched a “wide-scale wave of strikes” across Iran’s capital and was increasing strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. Israel reportedly reported two incoming Iranian salvos at Tel Aviv and other locations before dawn, as well as Hezbollah targeting Israel’s north.

Israel says it has killed the chief of the Iranian Basij militia .

The Israeli military said a hit on Monday killed Gholamreza Soleimani, but Iran did not immediately accept the paramilitary leader’s death.

“The Basij forces are part of the armed apparatus of the Iranian terror regime,” according to the Israeli military. “During internal protests in Iran, particularly in recent periods as demonstrations intensified, Basij forces under Soleimani’s command led the main repression operations, employing severe violence, widespread arrests and the use of force against civilian demonstrators.”

The United States Treasury says Soleimani was born in 1965. The United States, the European Union, and other governments have sanctioned him for his participation in suppressing opposition through the Basij throughout the years.

Killing Soleimani would certainly put more burden on the Basij’s command and control, which would be critical in suppressing any rebellion against the theocracy. So far, both the Americans and the Israelis have targeted the Basij and other internal security forces.

Iranian strikes put pressure on their neighbours and oil markets.

Iran increased pressure on its Gulf Arab neighbours’ energy infrastructure, striking an oil facility in Fujairah, a UAE emirate on the country’s east coast bordering the Gulf of Oman that has been routinely attacked. According to state-run WAM news, no one was hurt by the drone strike’s detonation.

Israel did not immediately provide information about its attacks on Lebanon, but the Lebanese army reported two of its soldiers were critically injured in an airstrike on the village of Kfar Sir.

More than 1,300 people have been killed in Iran since the crisis began, according to the Iranian Red Crescent.

According to the Lebanese government, Israel’s strikes have displaced more than 1 million Lebanese — or almost 20% of the population — and killed approximately 850 people.

Some Israeli troops have moved into southern Lebanon, raising fears of a large-scale invasion.