Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander General Mohammad Pakpour and Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes inside Iran on Saturday morning.
Israeli officials said Pakpour, Nasirzadeh, and Iran’s intelligence chief were likely among those targeted.
The full number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.
Several senior Iranian military and regime figures were reportedly targeted, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, though their status remains unverified.
If confirmed, Pakpour’s death would deal a major blow to Iran’s security establishment.
As IRGC commander, he coordinated internal security and regional military operations, including responses to joint US–Israeli strikes.
The IRGC is responsible for Iran’s missile and aerospace programs, elite overseas operations, domestic security, and major economic networks.
Targeting the IRGC chief signals a shift from attacking military infrastructure to directly hitting Iran’s leadership core.
Analysts warn that the strikes could disrupt command chains in the IRGC and Iran’s broader security apparatus.
Iran has already started retaliatory actions in the region, and further escalation is possible.
The situation remains fluid, and official confirmation from Iranian authorities is pending.
With inputs from Gulf News