TEHRAN – In a significant escalation of hostilities, Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi, the intelligence chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in an Israeli airstrike, according to Iranian state media. Several other high-ranking Iranian military commanders were also reportedly martyred in the same attack, marking a major blow to Tehran’s intelligence apparatus.
The strike was part of what Iranian officials have described as unprovoked aggression on Iranian soil, which also claimed the lives of several scientists and military personnel.
In immediate retaliation, Iran launched a powerful missile and drone offensive on Israel early Monday morning. The barrage, reportedly involving nearly 100 ballistic and cruise missiles, struck multiple Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa.
According to Israeli media, several missiles hit buildings in Tel Aviv, causing significant structural damage. A major fire was reported at the Haifa power plant, resulting in widespread power outages across central areas of the occupied territories.
The IRGC claimed responsibility for the retaliatory strike and highlighted the deployment of a new combat strategy, stating that Israel’s advanced multi-layered defense systems were forced to target one another, leading to critical vulnerabilities.
“The advanced methods and capabilities used in this operation, despite the full backing of the United States and other Western powers, successfully hit maximum targets within the occupied territories,” the IRGC statement read.
The ongoing conflict marks a sharp escalation between Iran and Israel, as regional tensions continue to rise and the risk of a broader confrontation looms.
