Major General Ali Shadmani, Top Commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Reportedly Killed in Israeli Airstrike
Iran: Commander of Revolutionary Guards reportedly assassinated by Israeli forces
Word on the street is that Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) have taken out Iranian heavyweight, Major General Ali Shadmani. Idle chatter suggests he met his demise in a precision airstrike on central Tehran on Monday following his recent appointment as head of Iran’s Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country’s military emergency command.[1][3][4]
But hold your horses, Iran's yet to officially spill the beans about Shadmani’s passing. In typical Tehrani fashion, they're staying tight-lipped about the deaths of several other elite military fellows since the heat kicked up, despite Israeli reports of multiple high-ranking casualties.[2][3]
The Current State of Play
The cat-and-mouse game between Israel and Iran is in full swing. Israel kickstarted this dance on Friday, June 14, setting its sights on Iranian brass and nuclear infrastructure, all in the name of nipping an "existential threat" in the bud from Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.[1][3]
According to rumors, the IDF claims to have knocked off several top Iranian military leaders, including the former and current heads of the military emergency command, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as liquidating a handful of nuclear scientists tied to weapons development.[1][3]
In response, Iran's been firing back with missile assaults, reportedly setting sights on the Israeli port city of Haifa, causing quite the ruckus.[4] Both sides have seen their air defenses go into overdrive, with blasts getting reported in Tehran and damage observed at major sites, like uranium enrichment facilities and missile bases.[3] This skirmish has now lasted for five days with no indication of things cooling down anytime soon.
A Bit of Background
You might be wondering, how did this tussle get so heated? Well, the scorecard dates back to 2018 when former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This move rekindled tensions between Israel and Iran, bringing us to today's clash.
A Matter of Perspective
On one hand, you have Iran, insisting that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. On the other, you have Israel, with its sights set on preventing Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
For his part, US President Trump declared on Truth Social that Iran should've taken his deal on the Iranian nuclear program dispute, suggesting it would've been a waste of lives. In dramatic capitals, he added, "Iran must not possess a nuclear weapon."
Source: ntv.de, spl/dpa/AFP
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The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive related to the escalating tension between Iran and Israel. In the realm of general news, the politics surrounding war-and-conflicts and international diplomacy continue to shape responses to this ongoing military conflict.
