TEL AVIV: Israel's military claimed to kill Ali Shadmani, who it identified as Iran’s wartime chief of staff and said was the most senior military commander.
The strike was carried out during a precise overnight air raid on a manned headquarters in central Tehran, following actionable intelligence gathered by the IDF’s intelligence branch. The operation marks a significant escalation in Israel’s efforts to target Iran’s military leadership.
Shadmani, who had recently been appointed as the chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, played a crucial role overseeing the military strategies of both the Iranian army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He also headed Iran’s Emergency Command Center, responsible for approving operations and strategic decisions.
Prior to this role, Shadmani served as the head of the Operations Directorate of the Iranian General Staff and as Deputy Commander at Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters. His appointment as the top military leader coincided with Iran's recent military campaigns in the region.
His death follows the assassination of his predecessor, Alam Ali Rashed, who was killed in an earlier Israeli airstrike.
The loss of Shadmani is seen as another blow to Iran’s high military command, which has experienced a series of high-profile fatalities in recent months, raising concerns over the stability and resilience of Iran’s military leadership amidst ongoing regional tensions.
