Tehran, June 13, 2025 – The Europe Today: In a major escalation of regional hostilities, several high-ranking Iranian military officials and prominent civilian figures were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting the Iranian capital and surrounding areas overnight on Friday.
Among the casualties were Major General Mohammad Baqeri, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, and Major General Hossein Salami, Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). Iranian sources confirmed that both generals were killed in separate precision strikes carried out by Israeli forces.
Also killed in the attacks was Major General Gholamali Rashid, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters, one of the key strategic command centers in Iran’s military structure.
In addition to military leadership, the strikes claimed the lives of two prominent nuclear scientists. Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi, President of Islamic Azad University and a noted figure in Iran’s nuclear research community, was killed alongside Fereydoun Abbasi, former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
The strikes reportedly targeted multiple locations in and around Tehran, as well as other cities across the country. Residential buildings were among those hit, according to eyewitness accounts and state media reports. Footage broadcast on Iranian state television showed extensive damage to civilian infrastructure and the presence of women and children among the victims.
No immediate official statement has been issued by Israeli authorities regarding the operations.
The Iranian government has condemned the attacks as a blatant act of aggression, warning of serious consequences. The unprecedented scale and high-profile nature of the casualties have significantly heightened tensions in the region, prompting calls for emergency consultations at both national and international levels.
Further details are expected as Iranian authorities continue investigations and recovery efforts in the affected areas.
