Israel Says Surprise Opening Tehran Strike Killed IRGC Chief, Defense Minister, Ali Shamkhani, and High-Ranking Officials • Jewish Breaking News

Israel’s initial strikes inside Iran this morning opened with what the military described as a coordinated surprise assault, launched after the Military Intelligence Directorate identified two sites in Tehran where senior members of Iran’s security leadership were gathered.

The IDF says it can confirm the deaths of the following officials:

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Ali Shamkhani, a former commander of the IRGC Navy and former Iranian army chief, who served as a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel previously targeted Shamkhani during last June’s war and at the time assessed he had been killed.

Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the IRGC. According to the IDF, Pakpour directed Iran’s “plan to destroy Israel,” oversaw missile and drone attacks against Israel, coordinated support for Iran-backed proxy groups, and effectively led the violent suppression of protesters during internal unrest last month.

Salah Asadi, head of intelligence at Iran’s military emergency headquarters and the senior intelligence officer within the armed forces’ general staff. The IDF states he was also involved in advancing Iran’s “plan to destroy Israel.”

Mohammad Shirazi, chief of Khamenei’s military bureau since 1989. The military says he managed liaison efforts between the Supreme Leader and top armed forces commanders and was a central figure within the upper ranks of what it describes as Iran’s “terror regime.”

Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defense minister and a former air force chief and deputy chief of staff. The IDF says he oversaw industries producing long-range missiles and weapons supplied to regime proxies, and was responsible for the SPND organization, which it says advanced nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons-related projects.

Hossein Jabal-Amelian, chairman of SPND. The IDF says he led efforts to develop advanced technologies and weapons for the regime and promoted long-running projects in the nuclear, biological, and chemical fields.

Reza Mozafari-Nia, a former SPND chairman, whom the IDF accuses of advancing efforts to develop nuclear weapons.