Iran's IRGC Chief Commander Hossein Salami killed in Israeli airstrike on Tehran, says Iranian media

New Delhi, June 13: Major General Hossein Salami, the Chief Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been killed in an Israeli airstrike on Tehran, according to reports by Iranian state television citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency and reported by IRNA news agency.

The overnight strike, part of a wider Israeli offensive against Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, reportedly targeted multiple locations in and around the Iranian capital, as well as sites in other cities. Salami is believed to be the most senior Iranian military official killed in the Israeli operation so far.

Major General Salami, a key figure in Iran’s security establishment, joined the IRGC in 1980 at the onset of the Iran-Iraq War and quickly rose through the ranks. Known for his hardline stance and fiery rhetoric against the United States and Israel, Salami played a central role in shaping Iran’s military strategy over the past two decades.

He had been under international sanctions from both the United Nations and the United States for his involvement in Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. In 2024, during his tenure as IRGC commander, Iran launched its first-ever direct military assault on Israel, firing over 300 drones and missiles in a dramatic escalation of hostilities.

His death in the ongoing conflict, is likely to further inflame tensions between Iran and Israel, with observers warning of the potential for rapid regional escalation. Iranian authorities have not yet officially confirmed Salami’s death or provided details on potential retaliatory actions.