Israel Strikes Iran
In a dramatic escalation, Iranian state media confirmed late Thursday that Israel conducted a series of powerful airstrikes across Iran, resulting in the death of IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami. The strikes reportedly targeted high-ranking military leaders, nuclear scientists, and key nuclear infrastructure, marking one of the most direct assaults on Iranian sovereignty in recent years.
Salami, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, had just hours earlier issued warnings to Israel, threatening “major retaliatory actions” should Israel move militarily against Iran. Those threats proved to be his final words before the fatal strike, according to Al Arabiya English and Reuters.
Mossad has released footage of its operations this morning on the ground in Iran, which involved the targeting of surface-to-air missile launchers and ballistic missiles aimed at Israel. Drones were launched and struck a ballistic missile site near Tehran, preventing Iran from… pic.twitter.com/dewxcEZjSW
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 13, 2025
In anticipation of potential Iranian counterstrikes, the Israeli government declared a state of emergency and has begun the mobilization of tens of thousands of reservists into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), according to CNN. The strikes, aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and neutralizing its military leadership, signal a major turning point in the long-simmering conflict between the two adversaries.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir issued a stark statement on Thursday night:
“Recent and past events of history have taught us that when the enemy is attempting to destroy us, we must not turn a blind eye. We need to fight for our existence, freedom was given to those willing to fight for it.”
Amid rapidly rising tensions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement clarifying the United States’ position. “Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region,” Rubio said.
He emphasized that Israel acted alone, citing its right to self-defense, and warned Iran against retaliating against U.S. personnel or interests. “President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners,” Rubio added.
The Israel Defense Force confirms the elimination of Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Aerospace Forces. pic.twitter.com/16s6m54m50
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 13, 2025
In a preemptive move, the U.S. State Department evacuated personnel from multiple military and diplomatic facilities across the Middle East on Wednesday, underlining the gravity of the situation.
While Israel has neither officially confirmed nor denied its role in the operation, international intelligence assessments cited by CNN report that critical nuclear facilities were among the targets. If confirmed, this would represent Israel’s most significant attempt to degrade Iran’s nuclear ambitions to date.
Over 20 senior commanders are believed to have been eliminated by this morning’s strike by the Israeli Air Force on an underground command bunker beneath the Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Aerospace Forces.
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 13, 2025
The death of Salami—one of Iran’s top military figures—alongside strikes on sensitive facilities, is expected to provoke a forceful response from Tehran. Regional capitals and military installations remain on high alert, with global markets and diplomatic channels bracing for rapid escalation.
As of Friday morning, no formal response has been issued by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. However, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon have reportedly been placed on high readiness alert.