Iran-Israel conflict: IDF claims it killed over 15 top Iranian officials — From Khamenei to IRGC commander, list here
Iran-Israel conflict: The Israel Defence Forces released the names of top Iranian officials and Khamenei's top advisers killed in Israel-US strikes.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was not the only one killed in the Israel-US strikes on 28 February. While Khamenei's death led to a leadership vacuum and mixed emotions among the people in the Islamic Republic, the Israeli Defence Forces claimed that it “eliminated” some of Iran’s most senior security and defence figures.
These include the Khamenei's top advisers, commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and officials linked to Tehran’s missile and nuclear programs.
On Sunday, 1 March, the IDF claimed that it “struck and eliminated 7 members of the top Iranian security leadership in Tehran and 40 senior commanders”.
Here's a list of senior officials who were reportedly killed in the Israel-US strikes since 28 February.
1. Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei
2. Abdol-Rahim Mosavi, Iranian Chief of Staff
3. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Past Iranian Chief of Staff
4. Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
5. Gholam Ali Rashid, Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (Emergency Command)
6. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force
Other top leaders killed:
According to reports, including Iranian media IRNA and Tasnim News Agency, and Al Jazeera, Israel claimed to have killed these leaders as well:
1. Ali Shamkhani, close advisor to Khamenei and Representative of the Leader in the Supreme Defence Council
2. Iranian Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh
3. Mohammad Raad, Hezbollah's parliamentary faction
4. Basij Major-General Shahid Mohammad Shirazi, head of the office of the supreme commander of the armed forces
5. General Shahid Saleh Asadi, deputy for intelligence of the general staff of the armed forces
Mint could not independently confirm the deaths of all these leaders.
US President Donald Trump reportedly told ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent that the US “had identified possible candidates to take over Iran, but they were killed in the initial attack.”
"The attack was so successful it knocked out most of the candidates," Trump told Jonathan Karl. "It's not going to be anybody that we were thinking of because they are all dead. Second or third place is dead," he added.
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Akriti Anand is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint. She is a digital journalist with more than six years in the news industry.<br><br> In her current role, she covers both national and international politics, and also keeps a close watch on the latest trends in science and space exploration. <br><br> Akriti joined the LiveMint team in October 2023. Before this, she built a strong career at other major media houses. She worked as a senior sub-editor at India Today. Later, she moved to CNBCTV-18. There, she covered high-pressure topics like breaking news and major elections. She spent much of her time analysing Parliament bills and complex political debates. She is also a skilled editor who knows how to polish a story for a digital audience. <br><br> One of her career highlights happened at CNBCTV-18. She made her first television debut during the Chandrayaan-3 mission. She also provided special on-air coverage for the Karnataka Elections. <br><br> When she is not busy with breaking news, Akriti loves to write explainers and interview experts on a wide range of issues. She also enjoys making complex space missions easy for everyone to understand. <br><br> Her education helps her tackle these diverse subjects. She holds a BA in English Literature, a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies. She is currently expanding her knowledge in climate journalism.