Israel assassinates IRGC members in Iran as missile strikes hit nuclear sites
Members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) navy participate in an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023. IRGC/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Listen to article
At least 10 members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were assassinated in Israeli air strikes on the central province of Yazd on Sunday, Iranian media stated.
Iran has not yet responded publicly to the reported deaths in Yazd.
The IRGC, a powerful branch of Iran's military reporting directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, plays a central role in the country's foreign operations and oversees its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. It comprises around 190,000 active personnel and was designated a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019.
An unspecified number of other IRGC personnel were also wounded in the strikes, which mark one of the deadliest Israeli attacks on Iranian territory since tensions escalated earlier this month, reported semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
Israel has not officially confirmed the strike in Yazd but claims it has assassinated around two dozen Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists since June 13.
Israeli air strikes have killed several top Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, including the commander of the IRGC Hossein Salami, in one of the most direct and deadly escalations between the two countries to date.
IRGC has begun using the Kheibar Shekan missile—also known as the Khorramshahr-4—which was unveiled in 2022 and is believed to carry the heaviest payload among Iran's ballistic missiles. IRGC said its latest missile strikes targeted Ben Gurion International Airport and several research sites in Israel.
Read: Timeline of Iran's nuclear programme
Meanwhile, Iranian state media has confirmed the deaths of at least four senior military officials in Israeli strikes, including Salami, Armed Forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC aerospace commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and General Gholamali Rashid.
The attacks also killed six prominent nuclear scientists and wounded hundreds, as Israel targeted key infrastructure sites across Iran, including the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz.
After the assasinations, Khamenei appointed Ahmad Vahidi as the new IRGC chief and Majid Mousavi as head of its aerospace division.
The initial wave of Israeli strikes, involving approximately 200 fighter jets, hit multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Arak, Tabriz, and Kermanshah. In Kermanshah, near the Iraqi border, an underground ballistic missile storage facility was reportedly destroyed.
Iranian authorities initially reported at least 80 people killed and over 320 wounded in the first round of attacks. However, updated figures from Human Rights Activists (HRA), a Washington-based monitoring group, indicate that Israeli strikes have killed at least 950 people and injured more than 3,450 across Iran to date.
Read more: Global turmoil If Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz — but Pakistan may get a pass
HRA reported that among the dead are 380 civilians and 253 members of Iran's security forces. The group, known for documenting the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, cross-checks local reports with an independent network inside the country.
Iran's government has not issued consistent nationwide casualty updates during the conflict. Its most recent count, released by the Health Ministry, reported 400 deaths and over 3,000 injuries—figures significantly lower than HRA's estimates.
Among the injured is senior Iranian diplomat Ali Shamkhani, who has been leading negotiations with the United States. He is reported to be in critical condition following the strikes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
23 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Putin slams US strikes on Iran as unjustified in meeting with Iranian FM
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, as Head of the Russian General Staff's Main Intelligence Directorate Igor Kostyukov, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov sit nearby, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia June 23, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the "unjustified" US attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities were pushing the world toward grave danger. He promised to try to help the Iranian people, though he offered no specific commitments. US President Donald Trump and Israeli leaders have publicly discussed regime change in Iran and the possibility of targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — steps Moscow fears could plunge the region into a wider war. Putin received Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi at the Kremlin alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, and GRU military intelligence chief Igor Kostyukov. "The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification," Putin told Araqchi. "We want to discuss ways to de-escalate the crisis. For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people." A senior Iranian source told Reuters that Araqchi delivered a letter from Supreme Leader Khamenei requesting increased support from Russia. While Moscow did not confirm the letter, Araqchi conveyed best wishes from both Iran's Supreme Leader and President. In a later meeting with military cadets, Putin referred to the growing Middle East conflict and the involvement of outside powers — without naming the US directly. "Extra-regional powers are being drawn into the conflict," Putin said. "All this brings the world to a very dangerous line." Iranian sources told Reuters they were dissatisfied with Russia's level of support so far and wanted Putin to take stronger action against the US and Israel. They did not specify what kind of support was being requested. Despite a 20-year strategic partnership agreement signed earlier this year, Russia has not pledged military defense of Iran. Moscow has also reiterated it opposes Iran developing nuclear weapons, fearing a nuclear arms race in the region. Privately, Iranian officials say they feel abandoned by both Russia and China. Although Russia intervened militarily in Syria in 2015 to aid Iran's ally Bashar al-Assad, it declined to provide troops or air support when Assad's enemies advanced on Damascus in late 2024, though it granted him asylum. Inside Russia, some voices have called for Moscow to match the US military support given to Ukraine — including supplying Iran with air defense systems, precision missiles, and satellite intelligence. At the UN Security Council on Sunday, Russia, China, and Pakistan submitted a draft resolution demanding an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Middle East following the US strikes. Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia referenced the 2003 US case against Iraq, accusing Washington of repeating history. "Again we're being asked to believe the US's fairytales — to once again inflict suffering on millions in the Middle East. This cements our conviction that history has taught our US colleagues nothing," he said.
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
NSC condemns Israeli aggression against Iran, warns of regional instability
The National Security Committee (NSC) on Monday strongly condemned Israel's recent attacks on Iran, warning that the aggression could trigger a broader regional conflict and derail ongoing diplomatic efforts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the high-level meeting, which reviewed the evolving regional situation in the wake of Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22. The NSC expressed regret that the attacks coincided with a constructive negotiation process between Iran and the United States, calling Israel's actions 'reckless' and 'escalatory.' 'These reckless actions have escalated tensions, threatening to ignite a wider conflict and diminishing the opportunities for dialogue and diplomacy,' the Committee said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. National Security Committee to meet today The NSC reaffirmed Iran's right to self-defence under the United Nations Charter and extended condolences to the Iranian government and people over the loss of innocent lives. It also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attacks. Calling the Israeli strikes a violation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolutions, international law, and the UN Charter, the NSC voiced deep concern over the potential for further escalation in the region. The Committee reiterated Pakistan's commitment to regional peace and stability, emphasising the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. It also reaffirmed Islamabad's readiness to engage with relevant parties and support initiatives aimed at de-escalation. 'The Committee underscored the need for strict adherence to international human rights and humanitarian laws,' the statement added. The National Security Council is Pakistan's top decision-making forum on matters of national security and foreign policy, comprising senior civilian and military leadership.
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Asian countries most vulnerable to Strait of Hormuz blockade
TOKYO: Around 84 percent of oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz is destined for Asia, leaving the economies of China, India, South Korea and others vulnerable should Iran blockade the crucial trading route over US strikes on its nuclear sites. Around 14.2 million barrels of crude oil and 5.9 million barrels of other petroleum products pass through the strait per day – representing around 20 percent of global production in the first quarter, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). And crude oil from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Iran almost exclusively passes through the corridor. Tankers U-turn, zig-zag, pause around Strait of Hormuz Here are the main Asian countries where oil exported via the strait is destined: China More than half of the oil imported by East Asia passes through the Strait of Hormuz, experts estimate. China is one of the largest buyers, importing 5.4 million barrels of crude oil a day through Hormuz in the first quarter this year, according to the EIA. Saudi Arabia is China's second-largest supplier of crude oil, accounting for 15 percent of its total oil imports – 1.6 million barrels a day. China also buys more than 90 percent of Iran's oil exports, according to the analysis firm Kpler. It imported 1.3 million barrels of Iranian crude oil a day in April, down from a five-month high in March. India India is highly dependent on the Strait of Hormuz, importing 2.1 million barrels of crude a day through the corridor in the first quarter, EIA data shows. Around 53 percent of India's imported oil in early 2025 came from Middle Eastern suppliers, particularly Iraq and Saudi Arabia, local media reported. Wary of an escalating conflict in the Middle East, New Delhi has increased its imports of Russian oil over the past three years. 'We have been closely monitoring the evolving geopolitical situation in the Middle East since the past two weeks,' India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said on Sunday. 'We have diversified our supplies in the past few years and a large volume of our supplies do not come through the Strait of Hormuz now,' he wrote on X, adding 'We will take all necessary steps to ensure stability of supplies of fuel to our citizens.' South Korea Around 68 percent of South Korea's crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz – 1.7 million barrels a day this year, according to the EIA. South Korea is particularly dependent on its main supplier Saudi Arabia, which last year accounted for a third of its oil imports. Seoul's trade and energy ministry said there have been 'no disruptions so far in South Korea's crude oil and LNG imports' but 'given the possibility of a supply crisis', officials were 'planning for potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz'. 'The government and industry stakeholders have prepared for emergencies by maintaining a strategic petroleum reserve equivalent to about 200 days of supply,' the ministry said in a statement. Japan Japan imports 1.6 million barrels of crude oil a day through the Strait of Hormuz, the EIA says. Japanese customs data showed 95 percent of crude oil imports last year came from the Middle East. The country's energy freight companies are readying for a potential blockade of the strait. 'We're currently taking measures to shorten as much as possible the time spent by our vessels in the Gulf,' shipping giant Mitsui OSK told AFP. Others Around 2 million barrels of crude oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz each day in the first quarter were destined for other parts of Asia – particularly Thailand and the Philippines – as well as Europe (0.5 million barrels) and the United States (0.4 million barrels). Limited alternatives Asian countries could diversify their oil suppliers, but it is difficult to replace the large volumes coming from the Middle East. In the short term, 'elevated global oil inventories, OPEC+'s available spare capacity, and US shale production all could provide some buffer', experts at MUFG Bank said. 'However, a full closure of the Hormuz Strait would still impact on the accessibility of a major part of this spare production capacity concentrated in the Persian Gulf,' they said. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have infrastructure to bypass the strait, potentially mitigating disruptions, but their transit capacity remains very limited – around 2.6 million barrels a day. And the Goreh-Jask pipeline built by Iran to export via the Gulf of Oman, which has been inactive since last year, has a maximum capacity of only 300,000 barrels per day, according to the EIA.
