Israel and the US on Shabbos morning struck in Iran, attacking hundreds of targets, including senior Iranian officials.
Among the officials targeted are Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
In addition to the heads of state, other senior figures were also targeted in the joint operation by the IDF and the US Army, including Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iranian Chief of Staff Abdulrahim Mousawi, and Military Intelligence Chief Salah Asadi. According to Israeli estimates, IRGC commander Mohammad Fokhapour, who took office after June 2025's Operation Rising Lion, was killed in the Israeli strike.
Ali Shamkhani, the close advisor to the Ayatollahs' leader who survived an assassination attempt during Operation Rising Lion, was one of the targets of the strikes in Iran. His condition is unknown.
Israeli sources told Reuters that they believe a large number of Iranian officials were killed in the attacks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with NBC that his country may have "lost a few commanders" in the Israeli strikes, but he claimed: "This is not a big problem." According to him, the number of senior casualties in Iran is "one or two," and "most officials are healthy and safe." Araghchi noted that "as far as he knows," Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was not killed, despite cautious optimism expressed by Israeli officials that the assassination was successful.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir spoke with the Air Force commander and pilots during the opening strike against Iran on Saturday morning, telling them: "At dawn on Saturday, Operation 'Lion's Roar' is underway. You are authorized to execute, hit your targets - you are making history. I trust you, and wish all of us success."
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