Israel’s Operation “Rising Lion” Kills Top Iranian Military Leaders
Notably, Salami was also in charge when an IRGC unit mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet in 2020, killing 176 people.
Hossein Salami, Ali Shamkhani and Mohammad Bagheri. Photo/Getty Images.
By Robert Assad
Three of Iran’s most influential military and security officials have been killed in an Israel strike dubbed Operation Rising Lion. The unprecedented action has left Iran’s military hierarchy reeling and raised fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
Killed in the operation were Major General Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s highest-ranking military officer; and Ali Shamkhani, a former national security chief and key foreign policy figure.
Major General Hossein Salami, 64, had led the IRGC since 2019. A key architect of Iran’s military outreach and domestic repression, Salami oversaw Iran’s direct missile and drone attacks on Israel last year and supported proxy forces such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Under his watch, Iran also supplied weapons for Red Sea strikes and regional militias targeting U.S. and allied forces. Notably, Salami was also in charge when an IRGC unit mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet in 2020, killing 176 people.
Salami’s death is a seismic loss for Iran’s military leadership. “Removing Salami is akin to taking out the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” noted CNN security analyst Beth Sanner.
Major General Mohammad Bagheri had served as chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces since 2016, commanding over 500,000 active personnel. Sanctioned by the U.S. in 2019 for supporting terrorism and regional destabilization, Bagheri coordinated Iran’s military strategy and operations across the region. He was also involved in diplomatic engagements, including a rare 2024 meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran.
Ali Shamkhani, a former IRGC commander and long-time adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was Iran’s national security chief from 2013 to 2023. He played a central role in restoring diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia in 2023 through China-brokered negotiations. Though seen as ambitious, Shamkhani remained a trusted aide, influencing nuclear policy and regional diplomacy until his death.
Iranian state media has confirmed the deaths but has not yet announced a formal response. Analysts warn that the strike could provoke retaliation and reshape Iran’s strategic posture at a critical moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
About Author
