Tehran/Jerusalem: In a major escalation of hostilities, three of Iran’s top military officials were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes on Friday targeting military and nuclear facilities across Iran, as part of the covert operation codenamed “Operation Rising Lion.”
Among the casualties were:
- Major General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces
- Ali Shamkhani, former National Security Chief and a close aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
🇮🇷 Profiles of the Deceased Commanders
Major General Hossein Salami
Head of the IRGC since 2019, Salami was one of Iran’s most powerful figures, reporting directly to Khamenei and leading Iran’s most elite military force.
“With hearts filled with sorrow and grief, we mourn the unjust martyrdom of the loyal and steadfast commander, Major-General Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the IRGC said in a statement quoted by IRNA.
He has been succeeded by Ahmad Vahidi, a seasoned military figure.
Ali Shamkhani
A senior adviser and former head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Shamkhani played a key role in restoring diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia and was involved in Iran’s nuclear negotiations with the US.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri
Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces since 2016, Bagheri was a top military strategist and policymaker. He was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2019 for “oppressing the Iranian people, exporting terrorism, and advancing destabilizing policies.”
He will be replaced by Maj. Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, according to IRNA.
🔥 Iran’s Retaliation
Within hours of the targeted assassinations, Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Tel Aviv and parts of Jerusalem, firing ballistic missiles and UAVs overnight into early Saturday.
Air raid sirens echoed through Israeli cities, with residents rushing into bomb shelters. The Israeli military claimed its air defense systems intercepted several incoming threats.
According to Reuters, this attack marks one of the most dangerous escalations in the region, with the potential to draw in more countries and destabilize the Middle East further.