Key Points:
- Israel launched “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure in a sweeping, coordinated strike
- The operation killed over 20 senior Iranian military officials, including IRGC chief Maj. Gen. Salami and armed forces head Maj. Gen. Bagheri
- Six top nuclear scientists were also assassinated, crippling Iran’s nuclear research and scientific leadership
- The attack leaves Iran’s command structure in disarray and heightens the risk of regional escalation and retaliation.
ISLAMABAD: Israel on Friday launched an operation across Iran under the codename “Operation Rising Lion,” delivering a devastating blow to Tehran’s military and scientific command structure.
The coordinated strikes—targeting nuclear facilities, missile factories, and high-level military headquarters—led to the deaths of over 20 senior military officials and six top nuclear scientists, in what experts are calling one of the most consequential attacks on Iranian leadership in modern history.
Among those killed were the nation’s two most powerful military figures: Major General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Their deaths, alongside other key generals and scientific minds, have left a vacuum at the heart of Iran’s defence and strategic institutions.
Iran’s command structure shattered
Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami — Head of the IRGC since 2019 — Salami was known for his combative stance towards Israel and the US. Just days before his death, he warned that Iran was “prepared for any scenario.”
Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri: A seasoned commander and strategist, Bagheri had led Iran’s armed forces since 2016 and was a pivotal figure in military operations and intelligence. His role earned him multiple Western sanctions.
Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid: The mastermind behind Iran’s defence doctrine and head of the Khatam al-Anbiya Base, Rashid was a revered strategist who played a vital role in Iran’s war planning.
Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh: The IRGC’s Aerospace Force commander, central to Iran’s missile and drone programmes, was reportedly killed while preparing an attack on Israel. Hajizadeh had previously accepted responsibility for the 2020 downing of a Ukrainian airliner.
Eliminating Iran’s nuclear intelligentsia
In an unprecedented move, the operation extended beyond generals to Iran’s nuclear elite, erasing decades of scientific progress in a single night.
Dr. Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani: Former head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and a key player in the country’s nuclear ambitions, he had previously survived an assassination attempt.
Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi: President of Islamic Azad University and a physics professor, instrumental in aligning academic work with Iran’s nuclear goals.
Dr. Abdolhamid Manouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feghi, and Motalibizadeh—all experts in nuclear engineering from Shahid Beheshti University—were also killed. Motalibizadeh’s wife reportedly died in the strike as well.
These scientists represented Iran’s core nuclear brain trust—many involved in advancing reactor efficiency, research, and safety protocols.
Surgical trikes across Iran
The Israeli assault reached deep into Iran’s territory, hitting sensitive military and nuclear locations in Tehran, Natanz, Isfahan, Arak, Shiraz, Tabriz, and more. Footage from Tehran revealed surgical strikes on buildings believed to be command centres, drawing parallels to Israel’s past operations against Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon.
Global stakes rise sharply
Analysts view Operation Rising Lion as a dual-pronged strike: a military decapitation and a disruption of Iran’s nuclear trajectory. Notably, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was not targeted, suggesting a calculated restraint aimed at destabilising the system without triggering immediate all-out war.
With Israel signalling that the operation may continue and Tehran’s leadership ranks in disarray, the world watches closely. A fierce Iranian response is expected—whether through direct confrontation, cyberattacks, or regional proxy warfare.
