Hundreds of strikes hit command centers as senior Iranian figures reportedly eliminated.
Israel and the United States launched large-scale coordinated strikes across Iran on Saturday morning, hitting hundreds of military and strategic targets in what officials described as one of the most consequential operations in recent history.
Among those reportedly targeted were Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. Senior defense and intelligence officials were also named as targets, including Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Chief of Staff Abdulrahim Mousawi, and Military Intelligence Chief Salah Asadi.
According to Israeli security assessments, Mohammad Fokhapour, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who assumed the role after the 2025 Operation Rising Lion, was killed during the strikes. Ali Shamkhani, a close adviser to Iran’s supreme leadership who previously survived an assassination attempt, was also reportedly targeted, though his condition remains unclear.
Israeli sources cited in international reporting indicated that a significant number of senior Iranian officials may have been killed. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC that while Iran may have lost “a few commanders,” the losses were limited and that most senior leadership figures remained safe. He stated that, to his knowledge, Supreme Leader Khamenei had not been killed.
The operation, described by Israeli officials as Operation Lion’s Roar, involved joint coordination between the IDF and US forces. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir addressed Air Force personnel during the opening phase, authorizing execution of the mission and emphasizing its historic nature.
The strikes mark a dramatic intensification of direct confrontation between Israel, the United States, and Iran. With senior leadership reportedly targeted and infrastructure struck nationwide, the regional security landscape has entered a volatile new phase, with international observers closely monitoring potential retaliation and further escalation.
