Seven senior Iranian officials killed in Israeli airstrikes, IDF says

The Israeli military said Saturday that it killed seven senior Iranian officials in coordinated airstrikes across Iran.

In a statement posted on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Israeli Air Force fighter jets “precisely struck military targets,” eliminating what it described as senior figures within Iran’s defense leadership.

Those named by the IDF are Ali Shamkhani, Mohammad Pakpour, Saleh Asadi, Mohammad Shirazi, Aziz Nasirzadeh, Hossein Jabal Amelian, and Reza Mozaffari-Nia.

The IDF described the targets as key members of Iran’s military and defense establishment, adding that “the world is a better place without them.”

Shamkhani was identified as a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. Pakpour served as commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Asadi was said to head intelligence at Iran’s military emergency headquarters and serve as a senior intelligence officer within the armed forces’ general staff.

Shirazi led Khamenei’s military bureau for decades, while Nasirzadeh held the position of defense minister. Jabal Amelian chaired the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), and Mozaffari-Nia previously led the same body.

The IDF statement did not provide details on the locations of the strikes or casualty figures beyond the named officials.

Reports circulating on Saturday also claimed that Khamenei was killed in airstrikes coordinated by U.S. and Israeli forces. There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities or independent sources.