Iranian IRGC Confirms Death of Seven Top Air Force Commanders in Israeli Strike
As the conflict escalated, Iranian state television cited a senior official advising citizens to seek shelter in mosques, schools, metro stations, and underground tunnels during Israeli airstrikes.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday the deaths of seven of its senior air force commanders following an Israeli airstrike, according to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency.
The IRGC stated that the officers were killed on Friday during an Israeli aerial bombardment targeting Iranian military infrastructure. The commanders were identified as Mahmoud Bagheri, Davoud Sheikhian, Mohammad Bagher Taherpour, Mansour Safarpour, Masoud Tayeb, Khosrow Hosseini, and Javad Jarsara, all of whom held brigade-level ranks. The strike also reportedly claimed the life of the IRGC Aerospace Force Commander Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh.
As the conflict escalated, Iranian state television cited a senior official advising citizens to seek shelter in mosques, schools, metro stations, and underground tunnels during Israeli airstrikes. The televised guidance emphasized public safety amid the ongoing conflict.
Since the outbreak of direct warfare between Iran and Israel on Friday, Iranian health authorities have confirmed that 78 civilians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes across the country, in addition to the military and nuclear personnel previously reported.
In response to Iran's missile attacks, Israel’s Health Ministry announced Sunday that 385 people had been injured and 15 killed. Of the wounded, seven were reported in critical condition.
The conflict began when over 100 Israeli fighter jets bombarded Tehran and several other cities, targeting nuclear facilities and military installations in a surprise pre-dawn assault. The operation reportedly killed multiple senior military figures and nuclear scientists.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz hailed the strikes as a “successful operation,” reaffirming that Israel's objectives were met. “Our attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, weapons production centers, and air defense systems was powerful and effective,” Katz stated during a press briefing from one of the missile-hit zones. He warned that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was “dragging Tehran toward a Beirut-like fate and turning his own people into collateral damage.”
On Sunday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cabinet ministers visited affected areas in Tel Aviv and other locations struck by Iranian missiles overnight. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai confirmed that at least six people were killed and 200 injured in the capital alone.
“The number of casualties from Iran’s missile attack is expected to rise,” Huldai cautioned, noting the damage from the two-day barrage remains under full assessment. Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks came in waves, hitting Tel Aviv and surrounding regions.
Kurdistan24 English will continue to provide instant coverage and up-to-date news on developments in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Keep an eye on Kurdistan24 English's website and social media platforms for the latest updates.
