Egypt Daily News – In a significant escalation in the shadow conflict between Iran and Israel, Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed four high-ranking Iranian military generals. The strikes, described by Israeli officials as “unprecedented,” targeted multiple sites across Iran, including nuclear facilities, ballistic missile production centers, and command headquarters.
According to Israeli intelligence sources, the goal of the operation was to disrupt Iran’s capability to develop nuclear weapons and to neutralize key figures in its military command structure, particularly those within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s elite military force.
The deaths, would mark one of the most substantial losses for Iran’s military leadership in decades. Here is a closer look at the four generals reportedly killed in the operation:
1. Major General Hossein Salami
Position: Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since 2019
Significance: Salami was one of the most powerful and ideologically driven leaders within Iran’s military establishment. Under his leadership, the IRGC expanded its regional activities, including support for proxy forces in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.
Sanctions: Salami had been under international sanctions since 2006 for his involvement in Iran’s ballistic missile program, as noted by the UN Security Council. He was also listed under sanctions by the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, and Japan.
2. Major General Mohammad Bagheri
Position: Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces since 2016
Significance: As the second-most powerful military figure in Iran—after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Bagheri oversaw all branches of Iran’s armed forces. He played a critical role in strategic planning, military doctrine, and coordination between the IRGC and the regular army.
Background: Bagheri’s rise through the IRGC ranks reflects the organization’s dominant role in Iran’s security and foreign policy. His death would represent a major disruption to Iran’s military command and coordination infrastructure.
3. Major General Gholam Ali Rashid
Position: Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Head of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters
Significance: A veteran of the Iran-Iraq War, Rashid was widely regarded as one of the most experienced and respected strategists in the Iranian military. Since 2015, he led the Khatam al-Anbiya central command, the highest operational headquarters in the country.
Role: Rashid was responsible for planning and executing Iran’s major military operations. His command was separated from the general staff in 2016 to allow for more direct control over battlefield decisions, a reflection of Iran’s emphasis on military modernization and operational autonomy.
4. Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh
Position: Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force since 2009
Significance: Hajizadeh was the architect of Iran’s advanced missile and drone programs, which have been pivotal in both Iran’s deterrence strategy and its offensive operations in the region.
Notable Incident: He came under international scrutiny in 2020 when he publicly admitted responsibility for the accidental downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, which was struck by an Iranian missile shortly after takeoff from Tehran.
Sanctions: The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Hajizadeh in 2019 for his involvement in missile development and regional military activities.
Implications of the Strike
If independently verified, the loss of these four senior commanders would be a severe blow to Iran’s military hierarchy and operational capabilities. The IRGC, in particular, would face a leadership vacuum that could disrupt command continuity, particularly at a time of heightened regional tensions.
The Israeli government has not released detailed footage or evidence of the strikes, and Iranian authorities have yet to officially confirm the deaths. However, observers note that the attack signals a new phase in Israel’s counter-proliferation strategy, one that involves direct strikes on Iranian territory rather than targeting proxies or regional assets.
With global attention focused on the aftermath, diplomatic and military repercussions are expected to unfold in the coming days, as both Iran and its regional allies weigh their responses.
