Friday, June 13, 2025, Israel launched a sweeping and highly coordinated military campaign across Iran, striking key nuclear facilities, military installations, and even private residences. Codenamed “Operation Rising Lion,” the attack killed dozens of high-ranking Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists. This marked one of the most significant escalations in the long-standing shadow conflict between Israel and Iran.
According to reports from Israeli and Iranian sources, including Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency, senior members of Iran’s military and nuclear leadership were specifically targeted and eliminated. Casualties included leaders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s regular army, and nuclear science institutions. Civilian deaths, including children, were also reported, raising international concerns about the human toll of this offensive.
Below is a detailed look at the most prominent figures confirmed killed in the Israeli strikes:
1. Mohammad Bagheri – Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces
General Mohammad Bagheri held the highest military position in Iran, overseeing both the IRGC and the regular army. His career began during the Iran-Iraq War in 1980 when he joined the IRGC alongside his brother. He played a critical role in establishing the IRGC’s intelligence operations.
Bagheri was viewed by some analysts as a moderate voice within the regime, notably calling for peace and diplomacy in a speech at Persepolis in April 2025. However, his position at the apex of Iran’s military hierarchy made him a high-priority target. Following his death, General Abdolrahim Mousavi, from the Iranian Army rather than the IRGC, was appointed as his successor.
2. Hossein Salami – Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
A hardliner with decades of military service, General Hossein Salami was one of the most outspoken critics of Israel and the United States. He joined the IRGC in 1980, rose to the position of deputy commander in 2009, and became commander-in-chief in 2019.
Known for fiery rhetoric, Salami recently warned that Iran would “open the gates of hell” if attacked. His leadership style and public persona made him a central figure in Iran’s defense posture. Israeli forces confirmed his death during the initial wave of Operation Rising Lion. Iranian state media later reported that Mohammad Pakpour has been appointed as the new IRGC commander.
3. Gholamali Rashid – Head of Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters
General Gholamali Rashid led the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, a powerful command coordinating Iran’s joint military operations. Like others, Rashid was a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War and previously served as deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces.
Rashid’s death creates a critical gap in Iran’s strategic military planning. Following his assassination, Ali Shadmani was named as his replacement, according to Iranian state news outlets.
4. Amir Ali Hajizadeh – Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force
Amir Ali Hajizadeh was in charge of Iran’s missile program and a key architect behind Iran’s ballistic missile strategy. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Hajizadeh was located in an underground command center with top aerospace officers, planning a missile attack on Israel. That site was struck directly, resulting in his death along with several other commanders.
Hajizadeh had previously ordered Iran’s missile strikes on Israel in October 2024 and April 2025, making him a primary figure in recent confrontations. However, he also drew public anger for his role in the 2020 shootdown of a Ukrainian passenger plane, which killed 176 civilians. He later admitted responsibility.
5. Fereydoon Abbasi – Former Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)
Dr. Fereydoon Abbasi, a nuclear physicist and former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, was killed in the strikes. He led Iran’s civilian nuclear program from 2011 to 2013 and later served in parliament from 2020 to 2024.
Abbasi was known for his hardline pro-nuclear stance and had recently gone on record suggesting Iran should consider developing a nuclear weapon. His death highlights the targeted nature of Operation Rising Lion against figures directly involved in Iran’s controversial nuclear ambitions.
6. Other Nuclear Scientists Killed
Israeli strikes also eliminated several nuclear experts tied to Iran’s academic and research institutions. Iranian state media confirmed the deaths of the following individuals:
- Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi – President of Azad University, Tehran
- Abdulhamid Minouchehr – Head of Nuclear Engineering at Shahid Beheshti University
- Ahmad Reza Zolfaghari – Nuclear Engineering Professor at Shahid Beheshti University
- Amirhossein Feqhi – Nuclear Professor at Shahid Beheshti University
These scientists were reportedly involved in various civilian and military nuclear research efforts. Their deaths are seen as a major blow to Iran’s nuclear expertise infrastructure.
Strategic Implications of “Operation Rising Lion”
Israel’s operation signals a dramatic escalation in its approach to Iran’s military and nuclear threat. Unlike previous targeted strikes or cyberattacks (such as the Stuxnet virus), this operation delivered a broad and deadly physical blow to Iran’s command structure and nuclear brain trust.
Key implications include:
- Decapitation of leadership: The removal of top commanders may delay Iran’s ability to retaliate or coordinate major operations in the short term.
- Nuclear program setback: By eliminating core scientific personnel, Israel has disrupted potential nuclear development or weaponization efforts.
- Civilian casualties and international outcry: The reported deaths of civilians and children could draw condemnation from the global community and complicate diplomatic efforts.
Global Reaction and What Comes Next
While Iran has yet to publicly confirm the total number of casualties, the international response is expected to intensify in the coming days. Nations sympathetic to Iran may push for sanctions or UN condemnation of Israel, while Western allies may continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense.
Iranian leaders have vowed revenge, and observers fear that the next phase could involve retaliatory attacks, proxy warfare, or cyber operations.
For now, Operation Rising Lion stands as one of the most decisive strikes in the modern history of Middle Eastern conflict — potentially reshaping the balance of power and military strategy in the region.
