Israel Says It Assassinated Iran's Most Senior Military Commander
Israel said it had killed a newly installed senior Iranian military official on Tuesday, just days after his predecessor was slain, further destabilizing Iran's military chain of command as the war entered its fifth day.
Since Israel began bombing Iran on Friday, it has killed at least 11 senior generals while striking Iranian nuclear sites and missile launchers, in what it calls an effort to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said it had killed Maj. Gen. Ali Shadmani, describing him as the most senior military commander in Iran. He was appointed to his post four days ago, replacing a general who was killed by Israel on the first day of hostilities. Iran did not immediately comment on Israel's claim about General Shadmani. If confirmed, his death would deal yet another blow to Iran's beleaguered military leadership.
A senior Israeli defense official said that the killing of General Shadmani reflected Israel's decades-long effort to infiltrate Iran's intelligence services, as well as the careless mistakes senior Iranian officials have been making as they try to flee Israeli attacks.
Later on Tuesday, the Israeli military launched more airstrikes, with dozens of aircraft bombing the Isfahan area of central Iran, targeting missile launchers, according to Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, the Israeli military's chief spokesman. He said in a televised briefing that Iran still had 'significant capabilities that could cause serious damage.'
President Trump declared on Tuesday that 'we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran' and called for Iran's 'unconditional surrender' amid growing signs that the United States was considering joining Israel's bombing campaign.
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