Checkmate? Iran's 'de facto leader' and top oppressor killed

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. Military correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode. This morning, the IDF confirmed killing Basij paramilitary force commander Gholamreza Soleimani in a strike in Iran overnight. Soleimani was targeted while at a tent camp that was recently established by the Basij. And just after recording time, the IDF also confirmed that top Iranian official Ali Larijani was killed in an airstrike in Iran overnight. Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, was targeted by the Israeli Air Force in the capital Tehran. We learn from Fabian what else Israel is targeting in its current waves of strikes on Iran, including the entire chain of weapons manufacturing. We then turn to Lebanon, where the IDF is currently pushing even more forces deeper into southern Lebanon to create an expanded buffer zone, as Hezbollah attacked towns in northern Israel with rockets and drones. In the second half, Fabian relates a bizarre and disturbing saga that he was swept up into concerning menacing Polymarket gamblers who threatened ToI's military correspondent and his family over a report that did not work in their bet's favor. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. For further reading: Iran’s new supreme leader purportedly issues fresh statement as questions linger over his health IDF pushes deeper into south Lebanon as Hezbollah keeps up fire at northern Israel Gamblers trying to win a bet on Polymarket are vowing to kill me if I don’t rewrite an Iran missile story Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Gabriella Jacobs and edited by Ari Schlacht. IMAGE: Members of Iranian paramilitary forces (Basij) during an anti-Israeli rally in Tehran, January 10, 2025. (AFP)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.