In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Israel claimed responsibility for the elimination of key Iranian military figures, including the Chief of General Staff, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, and high-ranking members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), during a series of targeted strikes on Thursday night.
Reports indicate that in addition to targeting Major General Bagheri, Israel also struck at IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami and Aerospace Forces Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh in its recent operations against Iranian military assets. pic.twitter.com/4O3Eh5dAxD
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 13, 2025
Early Friday morning, reports emerged of Israeli bombings targeting Iran’s nuclear installations, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the initiation of an aerial campaign aimed at Iran’s nuclear program. A multitude of targets across Iran linked to nuclear development and military operations are currently under attack, according to Israeli officials. The operation is codenamed “Strength of a Lion.” pic.twitter.com/4O3Eh5dAxD
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 13, 2025
Witnesses reported intense explosions reverberating throughout Tehran.
BREAKING: INTENSE ISRAELI STRIKES ON IRANIAN CAPITAL OF TEHRAN pic.twitter.com/HlDFWcKNVD
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) June 13, 2025
In response to the situation, the United States distanced itself from the Israeli actions.
“We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our primary concern is the safety of American forces in the region,” a White House spokesperson stated.
Statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran, and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its… pic.twitter.com/5FFesh3dkF
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 13, 2025
The Times of Israel reported that Israeli defense officials are increasingly confident that the assaults resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking Iranian military figures, including General Mohammad Bagheri, as well as prominent nuclear scientists.
According to a defense official, Israel believes that the chief of Iran’s military and other senior military personnel, along with key nuclear scientists, were eliminated during the IDF’s initial strikes on Iran. The likelihood of their deaths is reportedly increasing.
Iranian state media corroborated the death of General Hussein Salami, head of the IRGC, in the strikes.
Confirmation has come from Iranian state media that General Hussein Salami, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, was killed in the Israeli strikes. https://t.co/Ba5Vn386gD
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) June 13, 2025
Further reports indicated that senior nuclear scientists were also casualties of the strikes.
BREAKING: An Israeli defense official has stated that the entirety of the Iranian military General Staff, including the Iranian Chief of Staff and senior nuclear scientists, were targeted in the Israeli strikes. “There is increasing likelihood that they were all eliminated,” the official said. https://t.co/Ba5Vn37yr5
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) June 13, 2025
Barak Ravid, Global Affairs Correspondent for Axios, provided insights on CNN regarding the implications of Israel’s military actions against Iran.
WATCH:
BREAKING: The ENTIRE Iranian general staff, including the head of the general staff of the military and several senior Iranian nuclear scientists “ALL eliminated” tonight, intel suggests. Whoa. pic.twitter.com/3vFRbaYeP8
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 13, 2025
BREAKING…
