Major Iranian Military Leaders Killed in Attack
A targeted strike has resulted in the deaths of key Iranian military figures, including Mohammad Baqeri, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, and Hossein Salam, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guard. Also killed in the assault were General Gholam Ali Rashid, head of the Khatam al-Anbiya base, and nuclear scientists Mohammad Mehdi Tahrani and Fereydoun Abbasi. Additionally, a senior advisor to the Iranian leader, Ali Shamkhani, sustained serious injuries.
In the aftermath of this attack, Iran has appointed Habibollah Sayari as the new Chief of Staff, replacing Mohammad Baqeri, and Ahmad Vahidi has been named the new Commander of the Revolutionary Guard, taking over from Hossein Salam.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the escalation of military actions by Israel in the Middle East. In a statement released through his spokesperson, he expressed his concern regarding Israel’s actions occurring during ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States about the Iranian nuclear program. The Israeli assault early this morning targeted Tehran and several other cities, affecting numerous military sites and nuclear facilities across the country.
Guterres urged both Iran and Israel to exercise maximum restraint and called for avoiding a deepening conflict that the region cannot afford.
The Israeli strike has been condemned by various countries in the region and worldwide, being regarded as a serious escalation that undermines the stability of the area and threatens to spark a broader conflict with severe implications for both regional and international peace.
Following the attack, Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Jordan announced the closure of their airspaces to commercial flights.