Who are the officials killed in the Israeli attack on Iran?
(NewsNation) — Israel launched an attack on Iran on Friday, which resulted in a major blow to Iran's military chain of command.
The strikes targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders to prevent Tehran from developing an atomic weapon, killing at least three top military leaders and six nuclear scientists.
At least 20 senior Iranian commanders, including Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, were killed in the strikes, two regional sources told Reuters.
Here's what we know about those killed:
Four other scientists killed in Friday's strikes are Abdolhamid Manouchehr, Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, Amirhossein Feghi and Motalibizadeh.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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The Hill
33 minutes ago
- The Hill
Israel issues warning to Iran amid tit-for-tat strikes: ‘Tehran will burn'
Israel issued a stark warning to Iran on Saturday as the two Middle Eastern nations continued to exchange fire: Stop the strikes or 'Tehran will burn.' 'If [Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei continue to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on social platform X following a closed-door meeting, according to a translation. 'The Iranian dictator is making the residents of Tehran hostage to his criminal policies for the survival of his regime,' he added. His comments come after Iran launched retaliatory drone and air strikes toward Israel Friday in response to the Israeli military's surprise attack a day earlier — which targeted Tehran's nuclear facilities and ballistic missile sites. In the initial strike, several prominent officials were killed, including a close adviser of Khamenei, two top Iranian nuclear scientists, the commander and deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the deputy commander in chief of Iran's armed forces. In tit-for-tat exchange continued into Saturday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military have vowed to cripple nuclear facilities under its Operation Rising Lion mission. Strikes overnight on Tehran killed about nine senior scientists tied to warfare developments in the Islamic republic, according to Israeli officials. '9 senior scientists and experts responsible for advancing the Iranian regime's nuclear weapons program. All of the eliminated scientists and experts, eliminated based on intelligence, were key factors in the development of Iranian nuclear weapons,' The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) wrote in a post online. 'Their elimination is a significant blow to the regime's ability to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Two other senior defense and intelligence officials were pronounced dead by the Iranian regime on Saturday, NBC News reported. Civilians have not been shielded from violence, either, as 320 people were wounded in the round of attacks on Iran and 78 more killed due to continued air strikes, per the AP. The IDF said it would continue to target East Azerbaijan and the Iranian cities of Kermanshah and Lorestan as Iran's counterattacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv persist. Explosions and sirens were blaring across the Jewish State overnight. Two rockets were also launched from Gaza toward Israel, although there were no corresponding injuries, officials said. Turbulence in the region has also put a damper on nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran. President Trump has sought to create a new agreement with Iran that would include dismantling its nuclear capabilities. On Friday, Trump responded to Israel's surprise strike by urging the Iranian regime to come back to the negotiating table and make a deal. 'There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end,' the president posted to Truth Social. 'Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire,' he added. 'No more death, no more destruction, JUST DO IT, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.' Trump also suggested in a separate post that the moment was a 'second chance.' Despite the pressure, Iran signaled that it could pull out of the upcoming nuclear talks, which are scheduled for Sunday in Oman. The administration said earlier Friday that they were not involved in Israel's attack on Iran. Later in the day, however, the U.S. did begin to military shift assets and assist with shooting down incoming ballistic missiles. Tehran has also warned that it will strike ships in the Red Sea if Britain, France or the U.S. engage in warfare. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee (R), who remains in Israel, reflected on the overnight sirens that signaled air raids as several voices among Trump's allies have urged Trump to make a move on Iran. 'Been rough nite in Israel. Had to head to shelter 5 times during the nite. It's now Shabbat here. Should be quiet. Probably won't be,' Huckabee wrote Saturday on X. 'Entire nation under orders to stay near shelter.' In another post, the former Arkansas governor issued a reminder to those who want the U.S. to stay out of the conflict. 'If you hear 'Israel is no concern to USA' remember 700,000 AMERICANS live in Israel. That is equivalent to a full House District,' he continued 'More Americans here than in any other country except Mexico! ' 'Iran isn't just attacking Israel but your fellow Americans who live here,' he added.
Time Magazine
41 minutes ago
- Time Magazine
Israel Warns ‘Tehran Will Burn' If Strikes Continue as Countries Trade Deadly Missiles
After striking back on Friday night, Iran launched a new wave of strikes toward Israel on Saturday morning, as the two countries continue to exchange deadly missiles. Iran followed through on its vow to retaliate after Israel carried out a 'precise and integrated preemptive strike' against Iranian nuclear facilities, targeting military personnel and scientists. Now, as the attacks escalate, and with fatalities and injuries reported on both sides, Israel has issued a stark warning to Iran. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz on Saturday morning threatened severe consequences if Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei doesn't retreat. 'If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn,' Katz said, after a meeting with leaders of the Israeli military. 'The Iranian dictator is turning Iran's citizens into hostages and creating a reality in which they, especially the residents of Tehran, will pay a heavy price for the criminal attacks on Israeli civilians.' The warning comes after Israel reported that at least three people had died and dozens have been injured after Iranian strikes rained down on Tel Aviv and nearby cities. Meanwhile, Iran's U.N. Ambassador reported that over 70 people have been killed and over 300 wounded as a result of the Israeli strikes. The escalation of traded strikes has raised concerns for civilians on both sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 'esteemed people of Iran' directly in a filmed statement on Friday night. 'We are in the midst of one of the largest military operations in history. The Islamic regime that has oppressed you for almost 50 years threatens to destroy our country, Israel,' Netanyahu said. 'The goal of Israel's operation is to prevent the Islamic regime's nuclear and ballistic missile threats.' 'While we achieve our goal, we also pave the way for you to achieve your freedom,' he continued. 'In the past 24 hours, we have destroyed senior military commanders, prominent nuclear scientists, the Islamic regime's most important enrichment facility, and a large part of its ballistic missile arsenal. Another operation is underway' Netanyahu went on to say that the regime in Iran has 'never been so weak' and urged Iranians to use the opportunity to 'stand up' and make their voices heard. Israel's initial strikes on Iran in the early hours of Friday morning, local time, came amid long-time concerns as to the progression of the country's nuclear capabilities. The United States has been engaged in ongoing talks with Iran, in an effort to make a nuclear deal. Another round of talks between the U.S. and Iran was set to take place in the Sultanate of Oman's capital of Muscat on Sunday, but it remains to be seen if those will go ahead. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei on Saturday called nuclear talks with the U.S. 'meaningless,' according to state television, amid the current situation with Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke out shortly after Israel launched its operative strikes against Iran, announcing that the U.S. were not participants in the military action. 'Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran… Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,' the statement read. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Friday issued a grave warning of his own to Iran, urging them to make a nuclear deal before the combat escalated further, which it since has. Detailing how he has long sought to make an agreement with Iran, Trump said: "I told them, in the strongest of words, to 'just do it,' but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn't get it done… Certain Iranian hardliners spoke bravely, but they didn't know what was about to happen. They are all DEAD now, and it will only get worse."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Iran tried to fire 1,000 missiles at Israel but could only muster 100
Credit: X As Israeli missiles rained down across the country, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, reportedly summoned his national security council for an emergency meeting. There was only item on the agenda: how strongly would – or could – the Islamic regime respond? Iran's military planning was already in disarray. Israel had killed its four most senior general in the meticulously executed opening salvoes of its campaign. Many of the country's first-line air defences and missile bases lay in smouldering ruins. The supreme leader was cautious. He wanted revenge, certainly, but warned that acting hastily could misfire. Others cautioned against provoking a wider war that might draw in the United States, especially now that Iran's ability to defend itself had been severely compromised. Doing too little risked the perception of meek capitulation. An order was given to launch a barrage of up to 1,000 ballistic missiles in a massive show of force intended to prove that Iran was far from a spent force. But in the end, Iran only managed to launch 100 missiles as Israeli strikes had disrupted efforts to move missiles from storage to launchpads quickly. Credit: emilyintelaviv/Instagram There is no question that Iran's opening barrage brought destruction. Israel's multi-layered air defences, backed by US firepower, intercepted many missiles in the skies above Israel's cities – but not all. At least three people were killed and 21 more injured, according to Israel's emergency services. Iran's used half as many ballistic missiles as it launched last October in retaliation for the assassination Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah leader, and Israel's incursion into southern Lebanon. But writing Iran off would be premature. Its long-range missile bases have reportedly been destroyed, but by no means all. It may be conserving ammunition in anticipation of a drawn-out campaign. Even with smaller salvos, it can clearly inflict significant casualties. Analysts suggested Iran's primary targets appear not to be Israel military sites but civilian population centres. Credit: Kan 11 Tehran has spent years preparing for an Israeli assault, but it is fighting from a far weaker position than it would have liked. Its 'long arm' – the far-flung network of proxy groups meant to encircle Israel in a 'ring of fire' – may not have been amputated but it has been fractured in multiple places. Hezbollah, once the most potent weapon in Iran's deterrence arsenal, has been so badly crippled that it cannot respond – and most likely does not wish to. Its surviving leaders are still seething over what they see as Iran's failure to aid them beyond October's missile strikes, widely viewed within the movement as performative. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the main conduit for Iranian weapons, has also severely hampered Hezbollah's efforts to rearm. Hamas, largely leaderless and fighting for its survival, is incapable of inflicting meaningful damage. Even a renewed Houthi campaign against international shipping in the Red Sea would do little to hurt Israel directly. Iran must therefore look to itself and it is unclear whether the mullahs can match their rhetorical bombast with meaningful military results. Credit: standwithus/Instagram Tehran certainly appears to have fared worse in the opening salvos. The loss of so many of many senior officers and scientists stemmed from a startling miscalculation. Convinced that Israel would not strike before Iranian nuclear negotiators had met their US counterparts in Oman on Sunday, Khamenei's generals chose to sleep in their own beds rather than in safe houses – a fatal decision. Likewise Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of Iran's aerospace forces, convened a meeting of his senior staff in defiance of a directive banning just such gatherings. All were killed. Those in the military and political hierarchy who remain alive will be looking at last year's Hezbollah precedent with considerable unease. Israel systematically eliminated almost ever single one of the group's top commanders, culminating in Nasrallah himself. Such is Israel's intelligence prowess that many analysts assume Iran's senior leadership has been penetrated and that even Khamenei himself may not be safe. These are hardly ideal conditions in which to plan a war. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
