Israel's deadliest blow yet: Top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists killed; Here's who died and who's replacing them

Time of India

a day ago

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Major General Gholamali Rashid, head of the Khatam al Anbia base.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader, who was critically injured.
Several high-ranking IRGC air defence and drone unit officers.
Six nuclear scientists dead
Abdolhamid Manouchehr
Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari
Amirhossein Feghi
Motalibizadeh
Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi
Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, former head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation and ex-MP
Khamenei responds with new military leadership
Iran retaliates, closes airspace
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Israel launched a sweeping military operation against Iran early Friday, killing key figures in Tehran's military and nuclear establishments in what has become the most significant strike against Iran since the 1980s. The campaign, dubbed Operation Rising Lion , saw Israeli warplanes hit multiple high-value targets across Iran, including underground nuclear enrichment facilities and command centres.Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, 'Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.'According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), around 200 fighter jets were deployed. Intelligence sources also told the Associated Press that Israeli spy agency Mossad had smuggled drones and precision weapons into Iranian territory ahead of the strikes. The damage, Iranian officials admitted, was extensive.Among the most prominent figures killed was General Hossein Salami , commander-in-chief of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Salami, who had been appointed in 2019 by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reportedly at the IRGC headquarters in Tehran when it was struck.General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's top military official and chief of staff of the armed forces, was also confirmed dead. Bagheri, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, had held his post since 2016.Israel claimed it had also killed General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's Aerospace Force. Hajizadeh had long been accused by Israel of orchestrating drone and missile attacks against its territory. In a statement quoted by the Times of Israel, the IDF said, 'Hajizadeh publicly pledged allegiance to the idea of destroying Israel on multiple occasions in recent years and played a central role in formulating the plan to destroy Israel.'CNN's Frederik Pleitgen reported that the command structures of both the IRGC and Iran's military branches were hit hard. According to regional sources cited by Reuters, at least 20 senior commanders were killed.The list also includes:The Israeli strikes were also aimed at weakening Iran's nuclear programme. Six senior nuclear scientists were killed:Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation acknowledged that the Natanz enrichment site suffered damage but insisted there was no radiation leak. The UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, confirmed that another key site, Fordo, remained unaffected. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi urged both parties to exercise 'maximum restraint' and said he was willing to travel to Tehran for talks.Hours after the strikes, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei named General Abdolrahim Mousavi as the new chief of staff of the armed forces and appointed Mohammad Pakpour as head of the Revolutionary Guard. Khamenei warned, 'Jerusalem will face severe punishment.'He added, 'Israel opened its wicked and blood-stained hand to commit a crime against our beloved country, revealing its malicious nature more than ever by striking residential centres.'Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the 'legitimate and powerful response' would make Israel regret its 'foolish act.'In immediate response, Iran launched more than 100 drones towards Jerusalem. The IDF confirmed that air defence systems intercepted several of them. Meanwhile, Israel declared a state of emergency, with sirens sounding across major cities.Flights were grounded and airspace closed over Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan. International carriers cancelled services, citing safety concerns. Internet restrictions were imposed in parts of Iran, with the Communications Ministry stating the move was temporary and would be lifted 'once normalcy returns.'India urged both nations to avoid further escalation. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi maintained 'close and friendly' ties with both countries and advised Indian nationals in the region to remain vigilant.World leaders from the US, UK, China, Japan, and Australia called for restraint. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified, 'The United States was not involved in Israel's unilateral military action.'Oil markets reacted sharply. US benchmark crude jumped by $4.97 to $72.91 a barrel, while Brent crude rose by $4.78 to $74.15. Richard Joswick of S&P Global said prices could rise further, depending on how the conflict unfolds.