Israeli Airstrikes Kill Top Iranian Generals, Nuclear Scientists
News Desk
In massive Israeli strikes, Iran’s top IRGC generals and nuclear scientists were reportedly martyred, as multiple locations across Tehran came under air attack.
Tehran was rocked by a series of Israeli airstrikes early Friday, resulting in the martyrdom of several high-ranking Iranian officials, including key figures from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the country’s nuclear program.
Among those killed were IRGC Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami and Major General Gholamali Rashid, the commander of Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters. Their deaths mark a significant blow to Iran’s military leadership.
Also martyred in the strikes were two of Iran’s most prominent nuclear scientists: Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi, the president of Islamic Azad University, and Fereydoon Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. Both figures were central to Iran’s scientific and nuclear research community.
The Israeli airstrikes reportedly targeted multiple locations across Tehran, including residential buildings, leading to several civilian casualties. The attack has also led to the suspension of all flights at Imam Khomeini International Airport, underscoring the heightened security crisis.
The strikes come just two days ahead of a scheduled new round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States, raising concerns over escalating tensions in the region.
Iran Warns US Will Be Held Responsible for Israel’s ‘Adventurism’
In response to the deadly airstrikes, Iran on Friday issued a stern warning to the United States, asserting that Washington would bear responsibility for the consequences of the Israeli assault on Tehran.
In a strongly worded statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry declared that it had a “legal and legitimate” right under the United Nations Charter to respond to what it described as Israeli aggression. The ministry further claimed that the airstrikes were conducted with coordination and approval from the United States.
“The dangerous and far-reaching effects and consequences of the Zionist regime’s aggression against our beloved homeland of Iran will be the responsibility of this regime and its supporters,” the statement read.
The ministry went on to state: “The Zionist regime’s aggressive actions against Iran cannot have been carried out without the coordination and authorization of the United States. Accordingly, the United States government, as the main supporter of this regime, will also be responsible for the dangerous effects and consequences of the Zionist regime’s adventure.”
This response comes as Iran reels from the assassination of top military leaders, including General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and senior nuclear scientists. The Iranian leadership has declared national mourning, with funeral arrangements expected to be announced soon.
Iran’s Military Chief Bagheri Martyred
One of the most devastating outcomes of the Israeli operation was the killing of Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s highest-ranking military officer. Bagheri was martyred in a targeted strike that Iranian media have described as one of the deadliest attacks on Iran’s military command in recent history.
As Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Bagheri played a central role in overseeing Iran’s conventional military and its coordination with the IRGC. He was considered a chief architect of Iran’s regional military strategy, including support to proxy forces across the Middle East.
Alongside Bagheri, other high-ranking military leaders were also killed in the airstrikes, including Major General Hossein Salami and Major General Gholamali Rashid. Their deaths have not only created a leadership vacuum within Iran’s military but also sent shockwaves through the country’s defense establishment.
Analysts say the precision and scope of the Israeli strikes point to a calculated attempt to decapitate Iran’s military command and neutralize its nuclear expertise. The attack’s timing—just days before nuclear negotiations with the US—adds to the geopolitical volatility.
Natanz Enrichment Site Hit: IAEA Confirms
In a significant development, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Friday that Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility was among the locations targeted in the Israeli strikes. Natanz is Iran’s primary uranium enrichment site and a key component of its nuclear infrastructure.
“The Agency can confirm Natanz site among targets,” IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said in a statement. “We are in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country.”
While no abnormal radiation levels have been reported so far, the IAEA emphasized that assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage. Grossi said the agency is “closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran.”
The Natanz facility, located about 250 kilometers south of Tehran, houses thousands of centrifuges and has previously been the site of sabotage and cyberattacks. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a rare public acknowledgment, referred to the attack as “Operation Rising Lion,” claiming that it had struck the “heart of Iran’s ballistic missiles program” and its top nuclear scientists.
Iranian officials have not yet released a detailed account of the damage at Natanz, though state-run media have acknowledged that multiple strategic sites were hit by “hostile foreign action.”
Emergency Diplomatic Efforts
The dramatic escalation has alarmed international observers and triggered calls for restraint. Diplomatic sources indicate that the United Nations Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session in the coming days to address the situation.
Regional analysts warn that this assault may trigger a broader confrontation, not only between Israel and Iran but across proxy theaters in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The targeted killings of Iran’s senior military leaders and scientists are likely to provoke a retaliatory response, the scale and nature of which remain uncertain.
With nuclear negotiations now in doubt and regional tensions surging, the international community faces a critical test in managing the spiraling conflict and preventing it from evolving into a full-blown war.
