Image source, AFP/Getty
- Author, Writing
- Author's title, BBC News World
The Israeli air attack against Iran, which began in the early hours of Friday, reached dozens of objectives, including nuclear facilities, military barracks and private residences, killing several senior military commanders.
Israeli attacks, called Operation Lion Nascent, They also target other influential figures linked to Iranian nuclear programs, including six scientists, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.
The death of dozens of civilians, including children, has also been informed in the military offensive.
Among the deceased military leaders is the commander of the body of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (CGRI), Hossein Salami, Chief of the General Staff, Mohammad Bagheri and his number 2, Gholamali Rashid.
Mohammad Bagheri
Image source, Getty Images
Bagheri was the most rank military officer in Iran, being the chief of the General Staff of the Iranian armed forces, which include both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, and the Iranian Army.
Bagheri joined the CGRI in 1980, at age 20, and with his brother, helped establish his intelligence unit during the war between Iran and Iraq.
He was considered less uncompromising than other commanders. He was recently criticized for a speech that he pronounced in April against the ancient ruins of Persepolis, in which he called for peace and urged to avoid war.
Abdolrahim Mousavi has been appointed new Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, according to the Iraní Iraní news agency. It does not come from the ranks of the CGRI, since it is general of the army.
Hossein Salami
Image source, Getty Images
Hossein Salami was the commander in chief of the CGRI.
Salami joined the CGRI in 1980 during the war between Iran and Iraq and ascended to Subcomandante in 2009, before promoting commander in 2019.
Known for his speech capacity, he adopted a firm position towards Israel and, last month, said that Tehran “would open the doors of hell” if he was attacked by Israel or the United States.
Mohammad Pakpour has been appointed new CGRI commander, according to Iranian state media.
Gholamali rashid
Image source, AFP
Gholamali Rashid was the head of the Khatam-Al Anbiya of the CGRI general, which coordinates the Iranian joint military operations.
Rashid fought in the war of the 1980s against Iraq and was previously deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran.
After his death, Ali Shadmani has been appointed new leader of the emergency command, according to Iranian state media.
Ammi
Image source, Getty Images
The Commander of the CGRI Aerospace Force, Hajizadeh, was a prominent figure in charge of the country's missile program.
The Israel Defense Forces (FDI) said that Hajizadeh had met in an underground command center along with most CGRI's Air Force commanders to prepare an attack against Israel.
The IDF said that the group died later in an attack on the building.
They added that Hajizadeh commanded Iran's missile attacks against Israel in October and April last year.
Hajizadeh was seen with less good eyes for Iranian public opinion after taking responsibility for the demolition of a Ukrainian passenger plane that took off from Tehran in 2020, in which the 176 people died on board.
Nuclear scientists
Image source, Getty Images
Fereydoon Abbasi, a nuclear scientist, directed the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran between 2011 and 2013.
Subsequently, he was a member of Parliament between 2020 and 2024.
He promoted hard line positions in relation to Iran's nuclear activities.
In May, he spoke on the Iranian television channel Snn.IR about the possibility of building a nuclear weapon and said he would be willing to fulfill the orders if he received them.
Iranian state media also reported on the death of other nuclear scientists.
- Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, who was director of the Azad University of Tehran;
- Abdulhamid Minouchehr, director of nuclear engineering at Shahid Beheshti University of Iran;
- Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Shahid Beheshti University;
- Amirhossein Feqhi, another nuclear engineering professor at Shahid Beheshti University.
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