A series of coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iran has reportedly killed several of the country’s most senior political and military figures, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict and dealing a significant blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership structure.
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Among the most consequential developments is the reported killing of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, who was said to have died in an airstrike on his compound on February 28. Khamenei, 86, had led Iran since 1989 and was the central figure shaping the country’s political, military, and ideological direction for over three decades.
Other senior officials were also reportedly targeted. Ali Larijani, a key adviser and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, was killed in a strike in the Pardis area on March 17, along with close associates. Esmail Khatib, Iran’s intelligence minister, was reportedly killed in a separate strike a day later, while Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser involved in nuclear and security policy, also died in earlier attacks on Tehran.
The strikes also appear to have decimated Iran’s military leadership. Mohammad Pakpour, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was reported killed in the February 28 strikes. Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran’s defence minister, was also among those killed, along with Abdolrahim Mousavi, the chief of staff responsible for coordinating the country’s military branches.
Further losses included Gholamreza Soleimani, head of the Basij paramilitary force, who was killed in a strike on March 17, and Behnam Rezaei, reportedly killed on March 26 in Bandar Abbas.
The reported deaths of these high-ranking figures come as the conflict continues to widen across the Middle East, disrupting global energy markets and key shipping routes, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts say the scale of the losses could significantly impact Iran’s command structure, though the long-term consequences remain uncertain as Tehran is expected to reorganise its leadership and continue its response.
