TEL AVIV — The Israeli military announced on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, that it has killed General Ali Shadmani, Iran’s wartime chief of staff and one of the Islamic Republic’s most senior military figures, in an overnight airstrike on a command centre in central Tehran.
The targeted strike was carried out by the Israeli Air Force and was based on “precise intelligence and a sudden opportunity,” according to a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
It marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two regional adversaries, now entering its sixth day.
Shadmani, a close associate of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was described by the Israeli military as “the top operational commander of the Iranian armed forces.”
He previously held command roles in both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army, giving him strategic oversight across Iran’s military apparatus.
He was appointed wartime chief of staff after the killing of his predecessor, General Alaa Ali Rashid, in another Israeli strike earlier in the conflict.
Shadmani’s death, the IDF said, “adds to a series of eliminations targeting Iran’s most senior military leadership and disrupts the chain of command.”
There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding Shadmani’s death, and state media have not yet commented on the reported strike.
The assassination of such a high-ranking figure signals an intensifying Israeli campaign aimed at degrading Iran’s military leadership structure.
It comes amid continued aerial exchanges and growing fears of a broader regional war, as Western powers urge both sides to exercise restraint.
The latest developments follow a surprise Israeli offensive that began last week, involving coordinated strikes on Iranian military and infrastructure targets.
Iran has responded with missile attacks, and both countries have sustained casualties and damages, though precise figures remain unclear.
As of Tuesday evening, Israeli military officials have indicated that further operations may follow, depending on evolving intelligence and battlefield conditions.
