Local Iranian media reported that Major General Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in an Israeli airstrike on IRGC headquarters in Tehran on June 13, 2025.
According to Tasnim News Agency, “Major General Hossein Salami, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was martyred in the Israeli regime’s attack on the IRGC headquarters.” Mehr News Agency and other local outlets published similar reports. The strike is part of Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, as confirmed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s military stated the operation aims to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, citing the existential threat posed by Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Explosions were reported across Tehran, with air defences on high alert.
إنا لله وانا اليه راجعون
عاجل | إستشهاد القائد العام لحرس الثورة الإسلامية اللواء حسين سلامي. pic.twitter.com/4VFdMS5KsY
— إيران بالعربية (@iraninarabic_ir) June 13, 2025Who Was Hossein Salami?
Hossein Salami, born in 1960 in Golpayegan, Iran, joined the IRGC during the Iran-Iraq War. Appointed commander-in-chief in 2019 by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he was known for his fiery rhetoric against the U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Salami played a key role in advancing Iran’s missile program and enforcing the regime’s regional policies. He was sanctioned by Canada in 2022 for his role in suppressing protests following Mahsa Amini’s death.
Read: US Evacuates Personnel Amid Iran, Israel Tensions in Middle East
While multiple reliable sources, including NDTV and Press TV, reported Salami’s death, no official statement from the Iranian government or the IRGC has confirmed the news. Social media posts on X @iraninarabic_ir also reflect the reports, with some citing Tasnim and Reuters.
إنا لله وانا اليه راجعون 🏴
عاجل | إستشهاد العالم النووي فريدون عباسي الرئيس السابق لمنظمة الطاقة الذرية. pic.twitter.com/Saw4Czd2jb
— إيران بالعربية (@iraninarabic_ir) June 13, 2025The killing of Salami, alongside other reported casualties like nuclear scientists Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, marks a significant escalation in Israel-Iran tensions. Iran has vowed a “harsh and decisive” response, raising concerns about retaliatory missile or drone strikes. The U.S. has expressed support for Israel’s actions while urging restraint to avoid a broader conflict.
