Tel Aviv (Web Desk/Agencies): Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday claimed it had killed Major General Ali Shadmani, Iran’s wartime Chief of Staff and one of the country’s most senior military commanders, in a targeted airstrike on central Tehran.
The IDF said the strike was based on precise intelligence and marked the second assassination of a top Iranian commander within five days, signaling a sharp escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran.
Major General Shadmani had only recently been appointed to the position of Chief of Staff, following the death of Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid in a previous Israeli strike.
Prior to his promotion, Shadmani served as Deputy Coordinator of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, where he played a key role in operational strategy and coordination across Iran’s military forces. He was considered one of the closest military advisors to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following the death of Lt. Gen. Rashid, Khamenei elevated Shadmani to the rank of Major General and assigned him to command the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters—Iran’s top military command center responsible for wartime coordination and strategy.
His appointment was seen as an effort to maintain command continuity amid mounting military pressure from Israel. Shadmani had previously made headlines in July 2024 after the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, vowing that Iran would seek severe revenge on Israel for what he described as repeated acts of aggression.
The airstrike on Shadmani is part of a broader campaign by Israel, which has recently eliminated several high-ranking Iranian military leaders.
Among those previously killed are Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of Iran’s missile program; Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the nation’s armed forces chief of staff; and Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid, who had led the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters before Shadmani. These successive strikes have significantly disrupted Iran’s senior military leadership.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump issued a controversial statement urging Tehran’s residents—numbering around 9 million—to evacuate the city, citing looming Israeli attacks. Trump also demanded that Iran abandon its nuclear program entirely.
On the other hand, Iran has yet to officially confirm Shadmani’s death.