As geo-political strains tighten between Iran and Israel, state media confirmed the killing of the Revolutionary Guards chief, Hossein Salami. Announced by Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he said that several military commanders and scientists were “martyred”.
Earlier today, June 13, Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear program and killed at least two top military officers, raising the potential for an all-out war between the two bitter Middle East adversaries. It appeared to be the most significant attack Iran has faced since its 1980s war with Iraq. The strikes came amid simmering tensions over Iran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program and appeared certain to trigger a reprisal, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that “severe punishment” would be directed at Israel. In response, Iran launched 100 drones in retaliation towards Israel.
Who was Hossein Salami?
Heading the secretive Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami was one of the most powerful men in Iran. Killed in Israel’s Operation Rising Lion, he reported directly to Iran’s Khamenei.
“Without a doubt, Major General Salami was one of the most distinguished commanders of the Islamic Revolution — present on all fronts of scientific, cultural, security, and military jihad,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement on Friday.
Born in 1960, he was heading the IRGC since 2019 an was one of Iran’s most powerful tool in crushing dissent and projecting Iran’s power globally. He headed the independent secret service, cyber operations unit, navy, and air force. He was also heading the IRGC when they shot down a passenger jet from Ukraine taking the lives of more than 175 people on board, which was later claimed as “unintentional”.
“Fire and Smoke” seen across Iran
Multiple sites around the country were hit, including Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility, where black smoke could be seen rising into the air. The leader of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, was confirmed dead, Iranian state television reported, a development that is a significant blow to Tehran’s governing theocracy and an immediate escalation of its long-standing conflict with Israel. As confirmed by PM Netanyahu, the Operation is set to “last many days”.