June 13, 2025 — Tehran / Tel Aviv / London
Iranian state media has confirmed that Major General Hossein Salami, the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been killed in an Israeli airstrike — marking one of the most significant targeted killings in the history of Iran’s military leadership.
According to reports from IRIB and other state-run outlets, Salami was among several senior military figures, including the Chief of the Army, who died during precision strikes carried out by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) early Friday morning.
The strikes — part of a broader Israeli offensive aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and military infrastructure — have already sparked global alarm and warnings of imminent retaliation.
The BBC reported that the fatalities were confirmed through government and military sources. Read more here.
Salami, 64, had been the IRGC’s top commander since 2019 and played a central role in Iran’s regional military strategy, including support for proxy forces across the Middle East. His death is expected to send shockwaves through Iran’s political and military establishment.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is expected to address the nation shortly. Military units across the country have reportedly been placed on maximum alert, and a “major response” is anticipated.
Israeli officials have not commented on the reported assassination but have maintained that all strikes were “necessary for national security and regional stability.”
The killing of Salami — who was considered a symbol of Iran’s hardline military doctrine — could trigger unprecedented escalation, with analysts warning of potential missile strikes on Israeli or U.S. assets in the region.
This is a developing story. More updates will follow as confirmations and reactions emerge.