Tel Aviv, March 17 -- Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Tuesday confirmed Ali Larijani, Iranian Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in an overnight airstrike in Tehran as the conflict in West Asia escalates.

Confirming the development, Katz said, "Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated tonight and joined the head of the destruction plan, Khamenei, and all the thwarted members of the evil axis in the depths of hell," as quoted by TPS.

According to TPS, Katz stated that the strike took place following orders from him and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The Prime Minister and I have instructed the [Israel Defense Forces] to continue hunting do...