Mathias Busekist
Israel’s covert Operation Rising Lion has claimed the lives of several of Iran’s most powerful men.
In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Israel’s covert Operation Rising Lion has claimed the lives of several of Iran’s most powerful military figures, dealing a major blow to the Islamic Republic’s defense and command infrastructure.
Among those killed were Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces; Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC’s Aerospace Force; and Ali Shamkhani, Iran’s former top national security official and close aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A Crippling Loss for the IRGC
Hossein Salami, who led the IRGC since 2019, was one of the most influential figures in Iran’s military hierarchy. As head of the IRGC, a powerful paramilitary force answerable only to the Supreme Leader, Salami oversaw operations both domestic and abroad—suppressing protests at home and directing proxy forces across the Middle East. He played a central role in Iran’s missile and drone attacks against Israel in 2023 and 2024, and was prominently featured in state media touring underground weapons facilities. His death marks a stunning loss of leadership for a force central to Iran’s regional ambitions.
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, another key casualty, was the architect of Iran’s ballistic missile program. Responsible for high-profile strikes, including a 2020 attack on a U.S. base in Iraq and the recent April assault on Israel, Hajizadeh’s expertise made him indispensable to Iran’s strategic military doctrine. According to the Israeli military, he was killed in a precision strike on an underground command center, along with several top air force officers.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the highest-ranking military officer in Iran, also lost his life during the attack.
He had served as the chief of staff of the armed forces since 2016. A longtime member of the regime’s elite military elite, Bagheri was responsible for overseeing more than half a million troops.
Also, in 2019 he was sanctioned by the U.S. for supporting terrorism and destabilizing activities across the region.
Lastly it has been confirmed that also Ali Shamkhani, a seasoned diplomat and former IRGC commander, has lost his life. He played a crucial role in Iran’s foreign relations, including the landmark 2023 rapprochement with Saudi Arabia brokered by China.
Despite being removed from his official post last year, he remained a key advisor to Khamenei, particularly during sensitive nuclear negotiations with the U.S.