Who were the Top Iranian Generals Killed in Israeli Strikes?

Israel’s targeted attacks on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure early Friday took out at least 20 senior Iranian commanders, inflicting a significant blow to Tehran's governing theocracy.

The Israel Defense Forces strikes took out Gen. Hossein Salami, the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who had a history of threatening the U.S. and Israel.

Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, was also killed. His death further escalates the gravity of the strikes and their implications for Iran’s military structure.

Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the IRGC Aerospace Force, was also killed, as was Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid, who was the head of the IRGC's Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates joint Iranian military operations.

Their deaths came amid Israeli Defense Forces launched a sweeping strike on Iran , called "Operation Rising Lion." It followed months of attempted, and seemingly failed, nuclear negotiations between the Trump administration and Tehran. Israel said it launched the strikes to target Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.

Gen. Hossein Salami, Commander-in-chief of the IRGC

Salami was the commander-in-chief of the IRGC since his appointment in 2019 by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, overseeing Iran’s elite military force.

His appointment came shortly after President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Salami first joined the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, rising through the ranks to lead the IRGC’s air forces and later its entire command.

The IRGC is one of the country’s most powerful centers. It was created after its 1979 Islamic Revolution and has evolved from a paramilitary, domestic security force into a transnational force that has come to the aid of Tehran’s allies in the Middle East, from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq, per the Times of Israel .

It operates in parallel to the country’s existing armed forces. It controls Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles, which it has used to attack Israel twice during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Under Salami’s leadership, the IRGC evolved into a powerful transnational force, deeply involved in supporting Iran’s regional allies in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. The Guard also maintains control over Iran’s expansive ballistic missile arsenal, which has been deployed in strikes against Israel — most notably during the Israel-Hamas war — and serves as a central pillar of Iran’s deterrence strategy.

Salami was also known for his aggressive rhetoric toward both Israel and the United States, publicly calling for the destruction of Israel as early as 2016. After the U.S. killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, in a 2020 drone strike, Salami vowed retaliation. Just five days later, Iran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq and warned that American and Israeli commanders would be targeted in future reprisals.

In one of the most aggressive actions attributed to him, Salami ordered a massive retaliatory strike last year, launching more than 300 drones and missiles after Israel killed seven Iranian generals in an airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria.

Gen. Mohammed Bagheri, chief of staff of Iranian Armed Forces

Bagheri has served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces since 2016, coordinating operations across the army, IRGC, and air defenses.

He was a veteran of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and held multiple senior roles in intelligence and strategic command.

Bagheri was instrumental in shaping Iran’s military doctrine and led efforts to modernize its missile and air defense systems. He represented Iran in military coordination with allies like Russia and Syria, particularly during joint operations in the Syrian Civil War.

As the brain behind Iran’s strategic military posture, Bagheri was on Israel’s radar for years as a high-value target.

Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iranian Aerospace Force

Hajizadeh oversaw Iran's Aerospace Force, a powerful military branch responsible for its ballistic missile arsenal, drone programs and space-based military initiatives. He led the branch since 2009.

The IDF said that Hajizadeh had gathered in an underground command center overnight with other senior officials to prepare for an attack on Israel when IAF fighter jets struck the location.

The IDF said that the IRGC aerospace force was responsible for repeated attacks against Israeli civilians. Notably, Hajizadeh and his subordinates commanded Iran’s direct missile and UAV attacks against Israel in October 2024 and direct missile strike in April 2024.


After Soleimani’s killing, he helped coordinate Iran’s ballistic missile retaliation against U.S. bases in Iraq.

Additionally, when Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet in 2020, Hajizadeh publicly accepted blame, saying the mistake was made by a subordinate. All 176 people on board were killed.

Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central Headquarters

Rashid led the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, a key strategic command center within Iran's military, tasked with planning and coordinating joint military operations within the Iranian forces.

He was a veteran and influential decision-maker during the Iran–Iraq War and later became part of Iran’s senior military leadership network. He was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2019.

Several nuclear scientists were also killed in the strikes, representing a significant blow to Iran's nuclear development program.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Iran calls on Trump to seek ceasefire as Israel intensifies air war

Iran called on US President Donald Trump on Monday to force Israel to cease fire as the only way to end the four-day-old aerial war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was on the "path to victory"

Israeli forces stepped up their bombardment of Iranian cities, while Iran proved capable of piercing Israeli air defences with one of its most successful volleys yet of retaliatory missile strikes.

“If President Trump is genuine about diplomacy and interested in stopping this war, next steps are consequential,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X.

“Israel must halt its aggression, and absent a total cessation of military aggression against us, our responses will continue. It takes one phone call from Washington to muzzle someone like Netanyahu. That may pave the way for a return to diplomacy.”

Sources told Reuters that Tehran had asked Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman to press Trump to use his influence on Israel to agree to an immediate ceasefire. In return, Iran would show flexibility in nuclear negotiations, said the two Iranian and three regional sources.

Netanyahu told Israeli troops at an air base that Israel was on its way to achieving its two main aims: wiping out Iran’s nuclear programme and destroying its missiles.

“We are on the path to victory,” he said. “We are telling the citizens of Tehran: ‘Evacuate’ — and we are taking action.”

'Israel bombard Iran, 224 Iranians killed'


Israel launched its air war on Friday with a surprise attack that killed nearly the entire top echelon of Iran’s military commanders and its leading nuclear scientists. It has said it now has control of Iranian airspace and intends to escalate its campaign in coming days.

Tehran’s retaliation is the first time in decades of shadow war and proxy conflict that missiles fired from Iran have pierced Israeli defences in significant numbers and killed Israelis in their homes.

Iran says more than 224 Iranians have been killed, most of them civilians. Media published images of wounded children, women, and the elderly from cities across the country.

State TV broadcast scenes of collapsed presidential buildings, burned-out cars, and shattered streets in Tehran. Many residents were trying to flee the capital, describing queues for petrol and bank machines that were out of cash.

“I am desperate. My two children are scared and cannot sleep at night because of the sound of air defence and attacks, explosions. But we have nowhere to go. We hid under our dining table,” Gholamreza Mohammadi, 48, a civil servant, told Reuters by phone from Tehran.

In Israel, 24 people have been killed so far in Iran’s missile attacks, all of them civilians. Round the clock television images showed rescuers working in ruins of flattened homes.

“It’s terrifying because it’s so unknown,” said Guydo Tetelbaum, 31, a chef in Tel Aviv who was in his apartment when the alerts came in shortly after 4 a.m. (0100 GMT). He had tried to reach a shelter but his door was blown in.

“This could be the beginning of a long time like this. Or it could get worse, or hopefully better, but it’s the unknown that’s the scariest.”

Trump has consistently said that the Israeli assault could end quickly if Iran agrees to U.S. demands that it accept strict curbs to its nuclear programme.

Talks between the United States and Iran, hosted by Oman, had been scheduled for Sunday but were scrapped, with Tehran saying it could not negotiate while under attack.

On Monday, Iranian lawmakers floated the idea of quitting the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, a move bound to be seen as a setback for any negotiations.

Israel Takes "Full Control" Over Iranian Skies, Launches Fresh Attacks

Israel has declared that it now holds “full aerial operational control” over Tehran amid a wave of strikes against Iran.

Overnight, the Israeli Air Force carried out another round of airstrikes across Iran, including in the capital and western regions.

According to Iranian media reports, fresh strikes targeted the Ilam province near the Iraqi border.

Tasnim News Agency, which is aligned with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, reported that Israel “brutally attacked” a fire department facility in Musiyan.

Fars News Agency, also IRGC-linked, said a hospital was hit in the assault.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Effie Defrin of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced that more than 120 Iranian missile launchers, about one-third of Iran’s total, have been destroyed since the start of Israel’s campaign.

He said 20 of those were eliminated “minutes before” they could be used in Iran’s overnight missile barrage targeting Israeli cities.

Iran’s health ministry reports at least 224 people killed in Israeli strikes since Friday. The BBC has been unable to independently verify the toll due to restrictions on foreign journalists inside Iran.

In retaliation, Iran launched another wave of missiles overnight. While many were intercepted, some broke through Israel’s Iron Dome defence system.

The death toll in Israel has risen to 24, and the strikes have shaken public confidence in what many once believed to be an impenetrable air shield.

In central Iran, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said roughly 100 military targets around Isfahan were hit using 50 fighter jets. The operation focused on missile storage sites, launchers, and command centres.

Meanwhile, Iran’s aviation authorities have said flight cancellations will be extended to 2 am local time on Tuesday, BBC said, citing state-controlled media.

Iran’s airspace has been closed to commercial flights since last week.

BREAKING NEWS: Over 2027 Election, Fight Erupts At APC Meeting Over Alleged Plot To Drop Shettima From Tinubu's Tickets

A stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State descended into chaos on Sunday after Vice President Kashim Shettima was conspicuously excluded from a public endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid.

The North-East zonal meeting, attended by high-ranking party officials including APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, federal ministers, governors, and lawmakers, was expected to affirm the party’s cohesion in preparation for the 2027 general elections..

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It spikes your blood sugar, crashes your mood—

no nutritional prize.

Stripped of fiber, packed with carbs, it’s a sneaky disguise…

Gluten’s foe that supports tissue grief,

Sabotaging your size, resulting in a waistline demise!

Watch out!

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With semo, insulin screams, inflammation schemes— A metabolic crime.

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Who were the Top Iranian Generals Killed in Israeli Strikes?

Israel’s targeted attacks on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure early Friday took out at least 20 senior Iranian commanders, inflicting a significant blow to Tehran's governing theocracy.

The Israel Defense Forces strikes took out Gen. Hossein Salami, the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who had a history of threatening the U.S. and Israel.

Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, was also killed. His death further escalates the gravity of the strikes and their implications for Iran’s military structure.

Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the IRGC Aerospace Force, was also killed, as was Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid, who was the head of the IRGC's Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates joint Iranian military operations.

Their deaths came amid Israeli Defense Forces launched a sweeping strike on Iran , called "Operation Rising Lion." It followed months of attempted, and seemingly failed, nuclear negotiations between the Trump administration and Tehran. Israel said it launched the strikes to target Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure.

Gen. Hossein Salami, Commander-in-chief of the IRGC

Salami was the commander-in-chief of the IRGC since his appointment in 2019 by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, overseeing Iran’s elite military force.

His appointment came shortly after President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal and designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Salami first joined the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, rising through the ranks to lead the IRGC’s air forces and later its entire command.

The IRGC is one of the country’s most powerful centers. It was created after its 1979 Islamic Revolution and has evolved from a paramilitary, domestic security force into a transnational force that has come to the aid of Tehran’s allies in the Middle East, from Syria and Lebanon to Iraq, per the Times of Israel .

It operates in parallel to the country’s existing armed forces. It controls Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles, which it has used to attack Israel twice during the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Under Salami’s leadership, the IRGC evolved into a powerful transnational force, deeply involved in supporting Iran’s regional allies in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. The Guard also maintains control over Iran’s expansive ballistic missile arsenal, which has been deployed in strikes against Israel — most notably during the Israel-Hamas war — and serves as a central pillar of Iran’s deterrence strategy.

Salami was also known for his aggressive rhetoric toward both Israel and the United States, publicly calling for the destruction of Israel as early as 2016. After the U.S. killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, in a 2020 drone strike, Salami vowed retaliation. Just five days later, Iran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq and warned that American and Israeli commanders would be targeted in future reprisals.

In one of the most aggressive actions attributed to him, Salami ordered a massive retaliatory strike last year, launching more than 300 drones and missiles after Israel killed seven Iranian generals in an airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria.

Gen. Mohammed Bagheri, chief of staff of Iranian Armed Forces

Bagheri has served as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces since 2016, coordinating operations across the army, IRGC, and air defenses.

He was a veteran of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and held multiple senior roles in intelligence and strategic command.

Bagheri was instrumental in shaping Iran’s military doctrine and led efforts to modernize its missile and air defense systems. He represented Iran in military coordination with allies like Russia and Syria, particularly during joint operations in the Syrian Civil War.

As the brain behind Iran’s strategic military posture, Bagheri was on Israel’s radar for years as a high-value target.

Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iranian Aerospace Force

Hajizadeh oversaw Iran's Aerospace Force, a powerful military branch responsible for its ballistic missile arsenal, drone programs and space-based military initiatives. He led the branch since 2009.

The IDF said that Hajizadeh had gathered in an underground command center overnight with other senior officials to prepare for an attack on Israel when IAF fighter jets struck the location.

The IDF said that the IRGC aerospace force was responsible for repeated attacks against Israeli civilians. Notably, Hajizadeh and his subordinates commanded Iran’s direct missile and UAV attacks against Israel in October 2024 and direct missile strike in April 2024.


After Soleimani’s killing, he helped coordinate Iran’s ballistic missile retaliation against U.S. bases in Iraq.

Additionally, when Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet in 2020, Hajizadeh publicly accepted blame, saying the mistake was made by a subordinate. All 176 people on board were killed.

Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central Headquarters

Rashid led the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, a key strategic command center within Iran's military, tasked with planning and coordinating joint military operations within the Iranian forces.

He was a veteran and influential decision-maker during the Iran–Iraq War and later became part of Iran’s senior military leadership network. He was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2019.

Several nuclear scientists were also killed in the strikes, representing a significant blow to Iran's nuclear development program.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.