Latest news with #Hajizadeh
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Iran confirms Israeli strike killed head of missile prog
Dubai: Iran has confirmed that Israel killed Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's missile programme. Iranian state television made the acknowledgment Friday afternoon. Israel a short time earlier said it killed Hajizadeh. Hajizadeh was a major commander within the Guard, overseeing its ballistic missile arsenal.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iranian commander killed in Israeli airstrike oversaw Shahed drone supply to Russia
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed on June 13 that its aerospace commander, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, was killed in an Israeli air strike on a command facility, according to the Times of Israel. Hajizadeh was sanctioned by the European Union in 2022 for overseeing Tehran's supply of Shahed-type drones to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. He played a key role in advancing Iran's drone and missile capabilities, meeting with then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in 2023 to showcase Iranian weapons. The Israeli operation, described as "preemptive," involved 200 aircraft and the dropping of 330 munitions, targeting the country's nuclear program and killing top military officials. The full scale of the damage remains unclear. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on June 13 expressing concern over the fallout from the Israeli operation but underscored that "the Iranian regime supports Russia in its illegal war of aggression" and supplies Moscow with "weapons to kill Ukrainians." Along with North Korea, Iran has been a key ally to Russia during its full-scale war against Ukraine, providing thousands of Shahed strike drones and short-range ballistic missiles. The drones, cheap and packed with explosives, have become a central weapon in Russia's aerial assaults on Ukraine since their introduction in late 2022. Known for flying long distances before slamming into targets, they are now mass-produced by Russia and launched in near-nightly waves to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses. The Israeli strike took place amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, as well as U.S. negotiations with Tehran regarding its nuclear program. The Trump administration has acknowledged it knew about the operation in advance but denied any involvement. Kyiv warned of the potential global repercussions of the strike, noting that regional instability could severely impact international security and financial markets, particularly oil. Crude prices surged more than 10% following the attack, boosting revenues for Moscow, whose economy is heavily reliant on energy exports. Russia has condemned Israel's attacks as "unprovoked aggression" and a violation of the U.N. Charter. Read also: After Israel's strikes, Ukraine says Iran 'source of problems' but warns against destabilization We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who were the Iranian commanders killed in Israel's attack?
Israel struck dozens of targets, including nuclear facilities, military sites and private residences, across Iran on Friday, killing a number of senior military commanders in what it called "Operation Rising Lion". The Israeli attacks also targeted a number of other influential figures linked to Iran's nuclear programmes, including six nuclear scientists, IRGC-affiliated news agency Tasnim reported. Dozens of civilians, including children, have also been reported killed. Here's what we know so far about the high-profile individuals among the dead. Bagheri was the highest ranking military officer in Iran, being the chief of staff of Iran's armed forces - which includes both the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and the Iranian army. Bagheri joined the IRGC in 1980 aged 20 and, alongside his brother, helped establish the IRGC's intelligence unit during the Iran-Iraq war. He was considered less hardline than other commanders. He had come under criticism recently for a speech he made in April in front of the ancient ruins of Persepolis in which he called for peace and urged for the avoidance of war. Abdolrahim Mousavi has been appointed the new chief of staff of the armed forces, Iranian state news agency Irna said. He does not come from within the ranks of the IRGC, being an army general. Hossein Salami was the commander-in-chief of the IRGC. Salami joined the IRGC in 1980 during the Iran-Iraq war, and went on to become a deputy commander in 2009, before progressing to commander in 2019. Known for his ability as an orator, he took a hard-line stance towards Israel and as recently as last month said Tehran would "open the gates of hell" if attacked by either Israel or the US. Mohammad Pakpour has been appointed as the new commander of the IRGC, Iranian state media report. Gholamali Rashid was the head of the IRGC's Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates joint Iranian military operations. Rashid fought in the 1980s war with Iraq and was formerly the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Since Rashid's death, Ali Shadmani has been appointed the emergency command's new leader, according to Iranian state media. The commander of the IRGC's Aerospace Force, Hajizadeh was a prominent figure in charge of the country's missiles programme. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Hajizadeh had gathered in an underground command centre along with the majority of the IRGC's air force commanders to prepare for an attack on Israel. The IDF said the group was then killed in a strike targeting the building. It said Hajizadeh commanded Iran's missile attacks on Israel in October and April last year. Hajizadeh was regarded less favourably by members of Iran's general public after he took responsibility for downing a Ukrainian passenger plane flying out of Tehran in 2020, which killed all 176 people on board. Abbasi, a nuclear scientist, served as the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation between 2011 and 2013. He went on to be a member of parliament from 2020 to 2024. He promoted hardline positions to do with Iran's nuclear activities. In May, he spoke on Iranian TV channel about potentially building a nuclear weapon, and said he would willingly carry out orders to do so if he received them. A number of other nuclear scientists are also reported by Iranian state media to have been killed. They are: Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, who was also the head of Azad University in Tehran Abdulhamid Minouchehr, head of nuclear engineering at Iran's Shahid Beheshti University Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari, a nuclear engineering professor at Shahid Beheshti University Amirhossein Feqhi, another nuclear professor at Shahid Beheshti University Live: Latest updates as Israel targets Iran's nuclear sites Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief, killed by Israel Why Israel has decided to inflict damage on Iran's elite now What we know about Israel's attacks on Iran BBC Verify Live: Tracking Israel's strikes on Iran using verified video
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
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. What Trump knew about Israeli strikes on Iran Here's what we know about those killed: Maj. Gen. Gholamali Rashid was head of the IRGC's Khatam al Anbia headquarters. He previously served as deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and fought for Iran during the 1980s war with Iraq. Gen. Hossein Salami was commander-in-chief of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps, or IRGC. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointed Salami, who was born in 1960, as head of the IRGC in 2019. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri was a former IRGC commander. He was chief of staff of Iran's armed forces from 2016. Born in 1960, Bagheri joined the Guards during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh: Hajizadeh was the head of the Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force. Israel has identified him as the central figure responsible for directing aerial attacks against its territory. In 2020, Hajizadeh took responsibility for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane, which occurred shortly after Iran launched missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani. Rubio: US 'not involved' in Israel's strike inside Iran Fereydoun Abbaski-Davani served as head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization from 2011 to 2013. He was also a member of parliament from 2020 to 2024. Mohammad Medi Tehranchi was head of Iran's Islamic Azad University in Tehran. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Saba Yemen
a day ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
IRGC commander aerospace force martyred in Zionist aggression
Tehran – Saba: The Public Relations Office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the martyrdom of the IRGC Aerospace Force Commander, Major General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, as a result of the Zionist aggression on Friday. In a mourning statement published by the Iranian Fars News Agency, the office confirmed that Major General Hajizadeh was martyred along with a group of heroes during the Zionist terrorist attack on a IRGC center. The statement said: "This tireless, mujahid commander, who dedicated his blessed life, especially during the 16 years of his mujahid, wise, and powerful leadership of the IRGC Aerospace Force, to strengthening the deterrent power of the Islamic Republic and preserving the country's security and independence, was one of the most prominent and influential figures in the resistance front and a symbol of progress, innovation, and pride in the defense and missile fields of Islamic Iran." It added, "The martyr operated with a jihadi spirit, sincerity, sharp intelligence, and humility, and was able to transform these honorable forces into one of the country's main deterrent pillars and a thorn in the enemies' eyes." The statement continued, "There is no doubt that this criminal act will not deter the Iranian people and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from their steadfast path. Rather, it will strengthen their resolve to exact strong revenge and continue the honorable path of the Mujahideen in the path of God." It added, "While emphasizing the complete security and operational control of the great people's Revolutionary Guard Corps and other armed forces over the country's situation, the noble Iranian people are urged to maintain calm and ignore the psychological campaigns waged by external enemies and their domestic agents, and to continue supporting the Revolutionary Guard Corps, as always, in its path of unity, vigilance, and national patience." The statement emphasized, "Without a doubt, the Zionist regime and its regional and international allies will receive the appropriate and decisive response at the appropriate time and place, and the path of our beloved martyr Hajizadeh and his martyred companions, which history will immortalize in this land as historic anti-Zionist operations such as 'True Promise 1 and 2,' will continue more strongly than ever." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
