13.06.2025 16:48
Major General Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, Ali Shamkhani, and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who played significant roles in Iran's military and political structure, lost their lives in an airstrike conducted by Israel as part of the "Rising Lion" operation on June 13, 2025. Here is the significance of these four individuals for Israel...
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The highest-ranking military official in Iran, Chief of General Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the leader of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami, the Commander of the Guards' Air Force and Khamenei's assistant Ali Shamkhani, and Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, who played a key role in the modernization of Iran's military power, were killed in the attack that Israel named the "Rising Lion Operation." The deaths of these figures are believed to have caused shock within the country's military institutions and it is claimed that Iran's ability to respond to Israeli attacks could be seriously hindered.
MAJOR GENERAL HOSSEIN SALAMI
Major General Hossein Salami was a significant figure who left deep impacts on Iran's military, political, and ideological structure as the Commander of the IRGC. His death in an airstrike conducted by Israel on June 13, 2025, was a great loss for Iran and a development that affected regional balances.
Salami was appointed as the IRGC's commander in 2019 and shaped Iran's regional military strategies in this role. He played an active role, particularly in the development of ballistic missile programs and increasing Iran's influence in the region.
Salami was known for his harsh rhetoric against the US and Israel. These statements had a significant impact on Iran's foreign policy and domestic public opinion.
Salami strengthened Iran's relations with its regional allies and coordinated the structure known as the "Axis of Resistance." This structure has become one of the cornerstones of Iran's regional strategy.
Under Salami's leadership, the IRGC also played an active role in internal security. The IRGC's role increased, particularly in suppressing protests and controlling opposition movements.
Major General Hossein Salami became a symbol of not only Iran's military power but also its ideological stance. His death could have significant effects on Iran's internal and foreign policies and reshape the power balances in the region.
CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF MOHAMMAD BAGHERI
Major General Mohammad Bagheri was the highest military authority in Iran as the Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces and played a key role in shaping Iran's defense strategies. His death in an airstrike conducted by Israel on June 13, 2025, as part of the "Rising Lion Operation," was a great loss for Iran and a development that affected regional balances.
Bagheri was the highest military authority responsible for coordinating between Iran's regular army (Artesh) and the IRGC. Appointed to this position in 2016, he led significant reforms in Iran's military structure.
Since the Iran-Iraq War, he has played an active role in intelligence and operational planning. He took on strategic roles, particularly in Kurdish uprisings and cross-border operations.
Bagheri placed great importance on the modernization of the Iranian army. By making significant investments in areas such as artificial intelligence, drones, and electronic warfare, he enhanced Iran's defense capacity.
He strengthened military relations with countries such as Pakistan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. These efforts were seen as part of Iran's regional security strategy.
Bagheri was not only a military figure but also a political and ideological one. He was influential in Iran's foreign policy and internal security strategies.
The death of Major General Mohammad Bagheri created a significant void in Iran's military structure. The strategies and alliances shaped under his leadership had been decisive in Iran's regional and global policies. This loss may signal the beginning of a new era in Iran's internal and foreign policies.
KHAMENEI'S CLOSE ASSISTANT ALI SHAMKHANI
Ali Shamkhani has played a key role as one of Iran's most influential security and foreign policy figures in the country's military, diplomatic, and strategic decision-making processes. His death during the "Rising Lion Operation" conducted by Israel on June 13, 2025, was a great loss for Iran and a development that affected regional balances.
Shamkhani has held senior positions within the IRGC and the regular army (Artesh) and is one of the rare figures capable of leading in both structures. He served as the commander of the IRGC's ground forces during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s and later held command positions in both the IRGC and Artesh navy. This experience has made him effective in shaping Iran's defense strategies.
In 2013, he was appointed as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and determined the country's security and foreign policy strategies for 10 years. During this period, he played significant roles in Iran's nuclear negotiations and regional policies.
Shamkhani played a key role in the diplomatic normalization process between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which took place under Chinese mediation in 2023. This agreement ended a seven-year diplomatic rupture between the two countries.
Shamkhani emphasized that Iran's nuclear program was conducted for peaceful purposes and defended the country's resilience against international pressures. He was also an important figure in Iran's nuclear negotiations and strategies against sanctions.
During Shamkhani's tenure, controversies arose, such as the execution of his former assistant Alireza Akbari on espionage charges and corruption allegations against his family. These developments led to his dismissal in 2023.
Ali Shamkhani left deep marks in Iran's military and diplomatic fields and played significant roles in shaping the country's security policies. His death may signal the beginning of a new era in Iran's internal and foreign policies.
AIR FORCE COMMANDER AMIR ALI HACIZADEH
Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh served as the Commander of the Aerospace Force of the IRGC from 2009 to 2025 and played a key role in the modernization of Iran's military power. He was killed in an airstrike conducted by Israel on June 13, 2025.
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Hacızade has played a pioneering role in the development of Iran's ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programs. These programs have formed the basis of Iran's regional deterrence strategy.
Hacızade has been effective in providing military support to Iran's allies in Palestine, Lebanon, and Yemen. This support has increased Iran's influence in the region.
Hacızade has played an important role in determining Iran's defense strategies. He has particularly worked on the development of ballistic missile defense systems and the protection of Tehran.
Hacızade accepted responsibility for the downing of a Ukrainian Airlines plane in 2020. This incident has resonated widely in the international arena and led to the imposition of sanctions against Hacızade.
Hacızade is a figure recognized for his military successes and ideological stance in Iran. He has been awarded the "Conquest Medal" for his success in the "Real Promise" operations.
The death of Brigadier General Amir Ali Hacızade has created a significant void in Iran's military structure. The strategies and defense projects shaped under his leadership have been decisive in Iran's regional and global policies. This loss may signal the beginning of a new era in Iran's domestic and foreign policies.
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