Israeli Airstrike Kills 20 Top Iranian Military Commanders, Including Chief of Staff

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Israel has delivered a significant blow to Iran’s military command structure. In a targeted pre-dawn airstrike on Friday, at least 20 senior military commanders from Iran’s regular army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed. Among the casualties are Iran’s Chief of Staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and IRGC Commander-in-Chief, Major General Hossein Salami.

The operation, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” targeted several Iranian military and nuclear facilities simultaneously. Key targets included IRGC airbases, missile research centers, and intelligence headquarters.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the strike was in retaliation for a series of rocket attacks launched from Iran earlier in the week. On the same day, Iran responded by launching missiles at various Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, some of which reportedly struck their targets while others were intercepted.

One missile explosion near the Israeli Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tel Aviv triggered widespread panic as a fire broke out in the vicinity. Eyewitnesses and international media confirmed that the explosion was audible from a considerable distance and smoke plumes were visible in the sky.

The dramatic escalation has heightened fears of a full-scale war between the two nations. International diplomatic circles have called for immediate de-escalation and peaceful resolution, but neither side appears willing to back down at this stage.