Iran has announced the death of Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri following five waves of Israeli airstrikes, while the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed retaliation after confirming the death of its commander, Hossein Salami, along with several of his guards in an airstrike that targeted the IRGC headquarters in central Tehran early Friday.
In an official statement, the IRGC confirmed that General Salami was killed while carrying out a “sensitive security mission,” without providing further details on the nature of the mission or the attack.
The statement described General Salami as one of Iran’s most prominent military leaders, highlighting his contributions to developing Iran’s defense and security capabilities and strengthening national deterrence strategies.
The IRGC emphasized that Salami’s legacy will continue through the determination of its leaders and personnel, adding that “an appropriate response to this attack will come at the right time and place.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei also vowed harsh retaliation against Israel for the unprecedented airstrikes targeting deep inside Iran.
The announcement of Salami’s death comes amid an unprecedented wave of Israeli airstrikes that struck nuclear and military sites across Iran early Friday, killing several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists.
Among the confirmed casualties are General Gholam Ali Rashid, deputy commander of the Iranian army, and two prominent nuclear scientists, Fereydoon Abbasi and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, who were killed in an attack on the Ahmadi Roshan site within the Natanz nuclear facility.
Iranian media also reported that Ali Shamkhani, a senior advisor to Khamenei, was critically injured in the attack and transferred to the hospital in serious condition.
The airstrikes extended to Tabriz and Kermanshah, signaling a widening scope of Israel’s military operation. Iran later closed its airspace “until further notice” while maintaining maximum emergency measures at vital facilities.
Meanwhile, Reuters quoted an Iranian security source stating that “Tehran is planning a painful retaliation” against Israel. On the Israeli side, a senior official told Fox News that “our attacks against Iran are just the beginning,” hinting at further escalation. Israel’s public broadcaster stated that the operation aims to “undermine Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities,” while Israeli sources revealed that Mossad has conducted covert sabotage missions against strategic missile systems inside Iran.