The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has confirmed the killing of several top Iranian military officials during its operation codenamed 'Rising Lion', marking a significant escalation in Middle East tensions.
According to the IDF announcement, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of Iran's armed forces and the country's highest-ranking military officer, was killed in the missile attacks carried out on Friday.
The operation also resulted in the death of General Hossein Salami, the Commander-in-Chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as reported by multiple Iranian state media outlets.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the IDF confirmed: "We can now confirm that the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Commander of the IRGC, and the Commander of Iran's Emergency Command were all eliminated in the Israeli strikes across Iran by more than 200 fighter jets."
The Israeli military described the eliminated officials as "mass murderers" with "blood on their hands" and suggested that "the world would be a better place" without them.
Immediate Retaliation from Iran
The situation has rapidly deteriorated, with the IDF warning Israeli citizens that Iran has already launched a retaliatory strike. According to Israeli military sources, more than 100 drones have been launched toward Israeli territory.
This military exchange represents one of the most direct confrontations between Israel and Iran in recent years, with both nuclear sites and military leadership being targeted in the Israeli operation.
The international community, including the United Nations, United States, Saudi Arabia, and China, has reportedly responded to the escalation, though specific details of their reactions were not immediately available.
As the situation continues to develop, concerns are mounting about the potential for a wider regional conflict that could draw in other nations and further destabilize the Middle East.
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