Israeli forces killed Ali Larijani, Iran's de facto leader, in an airstrike Tuesday, marking the second major strike on Iranian leadership in weeks. The attack, combined with strikes on Basij militia commanders, represents Israel's most damaging blow to Iran's leadership since the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his top military commanders in early March. Prime Minister Netanyahu called it a step toward empowering Iranians to overthrow their regime.

Israeli officials argue that eliminating key figures weakens Iran's ability to wage war and suppress dissent. Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to keep "cutting off the head of the octopus" by hunting down Iranian leaders. The strikes follow years of Israeli targeted killings, including the 2024 assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and the 2006 killing of Hamas leaders in Gaza. Some analysts believe continued pressure could force Iran to compromise on nuclear ambitions.

However, critics warn that decapitation has limits. Former Mossad officer Sima Shine notes that killing pragmatic leaders like Larijani could strengthen hard-liners who favor continued resistance. Former Israeli intelligence chief Danny Citrinowicz points out that Hamas and Hezbollah continue functioning despite losing their leadership. Former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon warns that overreliance on targeted killings risks creating chaos across the Middle East without clear strategic objectives. The debate centers on whether killing Iranian leaders achieves military goals or simply demonstrates capability.