Iran’s Top Commanders Killed in Israeli Airstrikes: A Deep Blow to Tehran’s Power Structure

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In one of the most significant escalations in the long-standing tensions between Israel and Iran, three of Iran’s most powerful men were killed in a series of Israeli airstrikes. These deadly attacks, which targeted key military and nuclear locations across Iran, have left the country reeling and marked a new chapter in the conflict.

The strikes were part of what Israel has called “Operation Rising Lion,” a large-scale military response to Iran’s growing threats and recent actions in the region. Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of Major General Hossein Salami, the head of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

All three leaders played critical roles in Iran’s military, strategic, and diplomatic spheres, and their sudden loss has created a significant power vacuum in Tehran.

Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s top military officer, had been serving as the chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces since 2016. Born in Tehran, Bagheri had a long history of military service. He joined the IRGC in 1980 and fought in the Iran-Iraq war, earning respect for his leadership and strategic intelligence. A scholar as well as a soldier, Bagheri held a PhD in political geography and had been a key figure in Iran’s military operations, defense policies, and regional strategies.

Hossein Salami, head of the IRGC since 2019, was perhaps the most influential military figure in Iran after the Supreme Leader. Under his leadership, the IRGC expanded its regional influence, supporting groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Salami was considered a hardliner and was directly involved in planning missile and drone attacks on Israel. He was also at the center of several controversies, including the tragic downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane in 2020 that killed 176 people.

Ali Shamkhani, a close aide to Khamenei, was once Iran’s top national security official. He had also served in several senior roles in the IRGC and the Ministry of Defense. Known for his diplomatic skills, Shamkhani was instrumental in the China-brokered deal that restored diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023. Though he was replaced soon after the agreement, his influence in shaping Iran’s foreign policy was undeniable.

The Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted not just military leaders, but also key nuclear facilities, including multiple hits on the underground Natanz nuclear site. Iranian state TV acknowledged the damage but claimed most of it occurred at surface level. Additional strikes in the northwest region near Tabriz killed at least eight people, according to Iranian news agency ISNA.

One of the most surprising confirmations came from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards themselves, who announced that Amirali Hajizadeh, commander of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force and the man in charge of Iran’s ballistic missile program, was also killed. This adds to the already devastating blow to Iran’s military leadership.

Iran has responded strongly, calling the attacks a “declaration of war” and launching retaliatory drone strikes towards Israel. The conflict has triggered alarm around the world, with fears that a broader war could break out in the region.

Iranian state media also reported that several of the country’s nuclear scientists were killed in the Israeli strikes, though no specific names were released. This further highlights the scale and intent of the operation — not only to weaken Iran’s military leadership but also to cripple its nuclear program.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has moved swiftly to fill the leadership void, naming replacements for the fallen commanders. However, the shock and symbolic loss are being deeply felt across the Iranian military and political landscape.

This is perhaps the most direct and deadly confrontation between Israel and Iran to date. While tensions between the two nations have simmered for decades, this operation signals a dangerous new phase — one that could ignite wider regional conflict if diplomatic efforts fail.

With global powers watching closely, and both nations preparing for possible further retaliation, the Middle East once again stands on the edge of a potentially catastrophic escalation.