Israeli forces launched a series of targeted attacks overnight on Friday, resulting in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian officials. Among those killed was Hossein Salami, the head of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), according to Iranian state media.
The semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported that Salami was killed in Tehran, where he had been instrumental in managing Iran’s relationships with proxy groups such as Hezbollah, which has long been viewed by Israel as a direct threat. The strikes also reportedly claimed the lives of at least three other senior figures: Gholamali Rashid, deputy commander of the Iranian armed forces; Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, a prominent physicist; and Fereydoun Abbasi, a noted nuclear scientist.
While Israel has previously conducted targeted assassinations of Iranian military and nuclear personnel, these actions have typically been executed one at a time and often outside of Iranian territory, particularly in countries like Syria or Lebanon. This latest operation marks a notable shift in strategy, indicating a more aggressive approach by Israeli forces.
According to two Israeli defense officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the operation was designed not only to strike at Iran’s nuclear and air defense infrastructure but also to eliminate multiple high-ranking officials in a single, coordinated effort. Among the additional targets was Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces; however, his current condition remains unknown, and Iranian authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding him.
These coordinated strikes represent a sharp intensification of Israel’s long-standing campaign to weaken Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities, raising concerns about potential retaliation from Tehran and further escalation in the already volatile region. The implications of this operation could reverberate throughout the Middle East, as both nations brace for possible repercussions following this unprecedented attack.
