GOOD RIDDANCE: IDF Eliminated Over 20 Senior Iranian Commanders In Opening Strike

As part of the initial phase of Operation “Rising Lion,” Israeli Air Force fighter jets, acting on highly accurate intelligence gathered by the IDF Intelligence Directorate, carried out a strike that killed two of Iran’s top military leaders: the head of the Intelligence Directorate within the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff and the commander of the IRGC’s Surface-To-Surface Missile Array.

Since the launch of the operation, Israel has successfully eliminated more than 20 key figures within Iran’s security and military leadership.

Gholam-Reza Marhabi, who led the Intelligence Directorate of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, was one of the high-ranking officials killed in the strike. He was responsible for producing strategic intelligence assessments for the Iranian military and was widely regarded as the country’s most senior intelligence official.

Marhabi played a central role in shaping Iran’s strategic outlook, including operational planning and military readiness against Israel, both over the past year and prior to that. He held significant influence within Iran’s security establishment and maintained close ties with Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Bagheri was also killed during the same opening attack.

The IRGC’s top missile commander, Mohammad Bagheri, who directed Iran’s arsenal of long-range surface-to-surface and cruise missiles, was another central figure eliminated in the operation. These weapons systems are considered Iran’s main tools of offense against Israel.

Bagheri oversaw Iran’s strategic missile programs and was directly involved in authorizing Iran’s missile attacks on Israel in both April and October 2024. He was killed along with the IRGC’s Air Force Commander, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and other high-level officials while inside a fortified underground command center located in Tehran.

{Matzav.com Israel}