TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has Appointed New Military Leaders Following Israeli Strikes
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has announced a reshuffle of the country’s military leadership after a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted nuclear sites, missile factories, and key military personnel, aiming to hinder Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.Reports from Iranian media and witnesses indicate explosions at multiple locations, including Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. In response, Israel has declared a state of emergency amid fears of retaliatory missile and drone attacks. According to two regional sources, at least 20 senior Iranian commanders, including Revolutionary Guards Chief Hossein Salami, Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and several prominent scientists, were killed in the strikes.
In the wake of these developments, Ayatollah Khamenei quickly appointed new leaders to fill the vacuum. Major General Mohammad Pakpour was named as the new IRGC commander, succeeding Salami, while Major General Abdulrahim Mousavi was appointed as the new chief of the Iranian armed forces general staff, replacing Mohammad Bagheri. Additionally, Major General Ali Shademani was designated as the commander of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters.
Key figures killed in the strikes include:
Mohammad Bagheri: Former IRGC commander and chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces since 2016.
Hossein Salami: Commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), appointed in 2019.
Gholamali Rashid: Head of the IRGC’s Khatam al-Anbia headquarters and former deputy chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces.
Amir Ali Hajizadeh: Head of the IRGC Aerospace Force, identified by Israel as the key figure directing aerial assaults against Israeli territory.
Ali Shamkhani: A prominent political figure and trusted advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei, who oversaw nuclear negotiations with the United States.
This series of targeted strikes has significantly impacted Iran’s military leadership and heightened tensions in the region, prompting swift governmental and military responses.
