Iran's newly appointed wartime chief of staff, Major General Ali Shadmani, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The attack is part of Israel's ongoing Operation Rising Lion, which targets Iran's military and nuclear capabilities. Shadmani, who led the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, was appointed just days before his death, following the killing of his predecessor, Major General Gholam Ali Rashid, in a previous Israeli strike on June 13.

"For the second time in 5 days— the IDF has eliminated Iran’s War-Time Chief of Staff, the regime’s top military commander," the IDF wrote on X. "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."

The IDF stated that the strike was based on precise intelligence and marked the second time in five days that they eliminated Iran's top military commander. Shadmani was a close military advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and played a key role in coordinating Iran's military operations. The attack also follows the deaths of several other high-ranking Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists.

The Israeli Air Force conducted the strike, asserting its aerial superiority over Tehran. The operation has heightened tensions in the Middle East, with President Donald Trump warning civilians to evacuate Tehran while denying any attempts to initiate peace talks with Iran.

The ongoing strikes aim to curb Iran's nuclear developments, a point of contention between the two nations. Israel's aggressive stance has drawn international attention as it continues to target key figures in Iran's military and nuclear programs.

Simon Conway