At Least 20 High-Level Commanders, Nuclear Scientists Killed in Israeli Strikes on Iran

Latest Developments

• IRGC Commanders Killed: The Israeli Air Force’s strikes against Iran in the early hours of June 13 pummeled Iran’s top brass, with at least 20 high-level Iranian commanders killed in the operation, dubbed by Israel as “Rising Lion.” Iranian media reported that four prominent generals were killed, including Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces and second-highest commander after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel also eliminated Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, the commander in chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, the deputy commander in chief of the armed forces, and Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the IRGC aerospace forces.
• Nuclear Scientists, Close Khamenei Confidant Targeted: Israel also targeted several top Iranian nuclear scientists working on the procurement of a nuclear weapon. Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, the former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranji, a physicist and the president of the Islamic Azad University in Tehran, were eliminated in the strikes. Additionally, Ali Shamkhani, a close advisor who was overseeing nuclear talks with the United States, was killed.
• Khamenei Appoints Replacements: Khamenei, who threatened Israel with “severe punishment” following the strikes, quickly replaced several of the eliminated Iranian commanders. Maj. Gen. Sayyid Abdolrahim Mousavi replaced Bagheri, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour filled the vacancy left by Salami, and Maj. Gen. Ali Shadmani superseded Rashid.

FDD Expert Response

“The deeper impact of high-profile eliminations lands where it matters most: among Iranians who increasingly see the regime not as a guardian of national interests but as a defender of the Islamic Republic. While degrading the regime’s ballistic missile capabilities helps deter retaliation, the broader effect hinges on effectively communicating this campaign to the Iranian public. Only by shaping the narrative can these actions translate into deeper internal weakening of the regime.” — Janatan Sayeh, Research Analyst

“It bears remembering the threats against America made by those who were eliminated. Hajizadeh, for example, threatened to kill President Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and others. He also led the 2020 ballistic missile attack on the Ayn al-Asad and Erbil bases in Iraq, targeting U.S. forces, which he described as the ‘start of big operations.’ He described U.S. forces as ‘pieces of meat before our teeth,’ and an opportunity for Iran to strike.” — Toby Dershowitz, Managing Director, FDD Action

“The elimination of senior Iranian military officials in a coordinated Israeli strike represents a deliberate and high-stakes attempt to incapacitate Iran’s strategic leadership at a moment of maximum vulnerability. By targeting figures such as Mohammad Bagheri, Hossein Salami, and other key military architects like Gholam Rashid, Israel struck at the nerve center of Iran’s military establishment. This decapitation strategy has likely disrupted Iran’s immediate ability to coordinate a coherent military response, creating a narrow but critical window in which Israel can degrade high-value targets with reduced risk of organized retaliation. However, Tehran will eventually regroup, recalibrate, and likely seek a multifront response against Israel.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal 

FDD Background and Analysis

“‘Rising Lion’: Israel Targets Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program, Prepares for Retaliation,” FDD Flash Brief

“IAEA Declares Iran in Breach of Nuclear Nonproliferation Obligations,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘Not Acceptable to Us’: Iran Rejects U.S. Nuclear Proposal; IAEA Prepares to Censure the Regime,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘They Cannot Do Anything About This’: Khamenei Belittles U.S. Nuclear Proposal,” FDD Flash Brief