Israel said Monday it killed the head of intelligence for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in a targeted airstrike in the capital, marking the latest high-level assassination in an escalating conflict that has spread across the region.
Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi was killed in the strike, according to Iranian state media, which blamed the United States and Israel for the attack. Israeli officials later confirmed responsibility, with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying the operation was part of a broader campaign against Iran’s leadership.
“The Revolutionary Guard are shooting at civilians and we are eliminating the leaders of the terrorists,” Katz said, adding that Israel would continue to pursue senior Iranian officials.
Iranian authorities did not immediately provide details on the exact location of Khademi’s death, but multiple airstrikes struck residential areas in and around Tehran early Monday.
Khademi had recently taken over the powerful intelligence arm of the Revolutionary Guard following the death of his predecessor in an earlier round of fighting. The organization plays a central role in Iran’s security apparatus and reports directly to the country’s top leadership. It has been linked to internal surveillance, detentions of foreign nationals and operations targeting opponents abroad.
The strike came as Israel and the United States carried out a new wave of attacks across Iran, reportedly killing more than 25 people. Iran responded with missile fire targeting Israel and neighboring Gulf countries, further intensifying the conflict.
President Donald Trump has also increased pressure on Iran, setting a deadline for Tehran to reopen a critical global shipping route. He warned that failure to comply could result in U.S. strikes on Iran’s energy and infrastructure facilities.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire are underway, with mediators proposing a temporary halt in fighting and the reopening of key shipping lanes to allow negotiations to continue. Neither Washington nor Tehran has publicly responded to the proposal.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll across the region. More than 1,900 people have been reported killed in Iran, while over 1,200 deaths have been recorded in Lebanon. Casualties have also been reported in Israel, Gulf countries and the West Bank, with U.S. military losses confirmed as well. Millions have been displaced as the fighting continues.
Israel has said its campaign will persist, targeting both military leadership and critical infrastructure, raising concerns about further escalation and the potential for a wider regional war.
NBC/AP/Reuters
