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Tehran, June 13, 2025 – Israel conducted a series of targeted airstrikes in Iran early Friday, resulting in the deaths of several high-profile figures, including Iran's Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and two nuclear scientists, Mohammad Mehedi Tehranchi and Fereydoun Abbasi. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief, General Hossein Salami, was also killed in the attacks, according to Iranian state media.
The Islamic Republic News Agency reported that the Israeli strikes, launched around 3:00 AM local time, targeted military and nuclear facilities in a preemptive operation dubbed "Operation Rising Lion." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strikes as a "proactive defense" aimed at crippling Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities, and military infrastructure.
Israeli military spokesperson confirmed that the operation was based on high-quality intelligence and involved over two dozen jet fighters in a meticulously planned assault. The strikes were intended to neutralize Iran's strategic military assets, with a focus on its nuclear and missile programs.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri, a prominent military leader who joined the Revolutionary Guard in 1980, was among Iran's most influential figures. His death, alongside that of General Salami and the two nuclear scientists, marks a significant blow to Iran's military and scientific establishment.
Iran's Tasnim News Agency condemned the attacks, labeling them as a violation of sovereignty. No official response from Iranian authorities regarding retaliatory measures has been reported yet.
AI/MR
