The joint attack launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has dealt a severe blow to the Iranian leadership. Not only have the Supreme Leader Khamenei and several political officials perished, but the military leadership is also on the brink of collapse. The Israeli Defense Forces announced on Sunday (March 1st) that in the previous day’s joint strike, 40 senior Iranian commanders were killed.
The IDF described this strike as “historic,” attributing its success to military intelligence. Most of the Iranian commanders were killed in simultaneous airstrikes on two different locations.
The list of deceased individuals includes Abdoorahim Mousavi, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Iranian state media reported that Mousavi and other senior Iranian security officials lost their lives.
Several top Iranian officials, including Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Secretary of the Defense Committee Ali Shamkhani, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Mohammad Pakpour, were also killed in the attack.
Iran’s Defense Minister Nasirzadeh was accused of transferring long-range missile production facilities and weapon systems to Iranian proxy forces. The Israeli military spokesman also stated that he was responsible for overseeing the Iranian National Defense Research and Development Bureau (SPND), advancing projects in the realm of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Pakpour was considered one of the masterminds behind Iran’s “Destroy Israel Plan.”
According to reports from Iranian state media, senior Iranian intelligence official Mohammad Baseri perished in the joint US-Israeli strike. Baseri had previously been involved in the case of the disappearance of retired FBI agent Robert A. Levinson in 2007, leading to his inclusion on the FBI wanted list.
On Sunday, the Israeli military announced plans to launch another “large-scale” airstrike on the “heart of Tehran.” The military also stated that with the Israeli Air Force gaining air superiority over Tehran, Iran’s Western and Central air defense systems had been dismantled.
“The Israeli Air Force continues to conduct extensive operations in defense and offense, aiming to eliminate threats to the nation of Israel,” said the IDF.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz hailed the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei as a “turning point in the war.”
According to a statement from the Minister’s office, Katz remarked during a security assessment meeting with senior military and security officials, “He (Khamenei) led destructive actions against the nation of Israel, establishing an axis of evil around Israel, and within Iran, pursued an uncompromising approach towards Israel.”