TEL AVIV: Israeli forces claimed to have killed Iran’s newly appointed Chief of Staff General Ali Shadmani in an airstrike on a command centre in central Tehran — four days after he assumed the role following the death of his predecessor in an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Israeli Air Force jets struck an active command centre in central Tehran, resulting in the death of General Shadmani.
Iran has neither confirmed nor denied the Israeli military’s claim.
Shadmani was regarded as a close adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and held significant operational authority within the Iranian armed forces.
Shadmani not only served as a military commander but also led the “Emergency Command Centre,” known as the “Khatam Al-Anbiya Headquarters,” responsible for approving operational strategies for Iranian forces.
He managed military strategies for both the Iranian Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Prior to this role, General Shadmani was the head of the Operations Directorate of the Iranian General Staff and the deputy commander of Khatam Al-Anbiya Headquarters.
He was appointed commander of the Iranian armed forces at the beginning of the recent military campaign, following the death of his predecessor, Alam Ali Rashid, in an Israeli air strike on Friday.
Shadmani’s death marks another significant setback for Iran’s military leadership, which has suffered a series of high-profile losses in recent months, severely affecting the military’s chain of command.
Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the armed forces, were killed in the first round of Israeli strikes on Friday.
Meanwhile, Iran launched another intense attack on Israel early this morning, marking the 10th major assault in recent weeks, Iran’s state media reported.
Sirens blared in Tel Aviv as several Israeli cities were placed on high alert.
Late last night, Iran fired multiple ballistic missiles and drones towards Haifa and Tel Aviv, resulting in the deaths of three Israeli citizens and injuring dozens more.
The explosions reverberated throughout the city, causing widespread fear among residents.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged citizens to seek shelter immediately and refrain from unnecessary outings.
The late-night attack was a response to an Israeli airstrike on the building of an Iranian state television channel in Tehran, which the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned as a sign of Israel’s desperation and moral failure.
One female employee injured in the strike later died, prompting outrage among the Iranian public.
The airstrike occurred during a live broadcast, with debris from the roof collapsing into the studio and filling it with smoke, forcing the anchor to evacuate.
In reaction, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council vowed that “tonight will be a day for Israel,” leading Iranian forces to launch dozens of missiles targeting Haifa and other locations.
The Israeli military defended its actions, asserting that the Iranian television building was being used by the military.
