The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Tuesday that it has killed Iran’s newly appointed Chief of Staff, General Ali Shadmani, in a precision overnight airstrike on a military command center in central Tehran. The operation marks the second assassination of a top Iranian commander in less than a week and a significant escalation in the shadow conflict between the two regional powers.
Shadmani, who headed Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country’s wartime command body, was described by Israeli officials as “Iran’s most senior military commander” and “the man closest to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.” The IDF confirmed the strike on its official X account, stating:
“For the second time in 5 days — the IDF has eliminated Iran’s War-Time Chief of Staff. Ali Shadmani, Iran’s senior-most military official and Khamenei’s closest military advisor, was killed in an IAF strike in central Tehran, following precise intelligence.”
According to Israeli military sources, the operation was based on “actionable intelligence” obtained by the IDF Intelligence Branch, which identified Shadmani’s location at a manned military headquarters. The airstrike, carried out by the Israeli Air Force (IAF), targeted the facility during the night, reportedly minimizing collateral damage.
Shadmani had only recently assumed the post of Chief of Staff and Commander of the Armed Forces’ Emergency Command following the assassination of his predecessor, General Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Friday during the opening phase of Operation “Am Kalavi.” As commander, Shadmani oversaw the planning and execution of combat operations, including the approval of missile and drone strikes against Israeli targets.
Before his promotion, Shadmani served as deputy commander of the Emergency Command and led the Operations Department of Iran’s General Staff, playing a central role in coordinating Iran’s regional military activities and supporting armed proxies across the Middle East.
The strike dealt a major blow to Iran’s military leadership at a time of heightened hostilities and follows a series of targeted assassinations aimed at crippling the Islamic Republic’s ability to project force across the region. Israeli officials say the operation is part of a broader strategy to “disrupt Iran’s ability to wage coordinated attacks” and to weaken the command structure that supports Tehran’s offensive capabilities.
There has been no official comment yet from Iranian authorities, and state media has not confirmed Shadmani’s death. Analysts suggest that Tehran may delay a response as it assesses the impact of losing two top military figures in under a week, a rare and deeply destabilizing development for the regime’s armed forces.
The international community has responded with concern, as tensions continue to rise between Israel and Iran, raising the risk of broader regional conflict. As the situation develops, both the strategic fallout and potential for retaliation remain key issues to watch in the coming days.
Written By Rodney Mbua
