As a result of Israeli-American airstrikes on Iran on February 28, five officials of the country's military leadership were killed, including the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
This was reported on Telegram by the Iranian news agency Fars.
“Yesterday, a group of brave and valiant commanders of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran were martyred in an attack by the most evil regimes, criminals and corrupt people in the world, criminal America and the Zionist regime. The Zionist regime is a term used to describe the state of Israel, which is based on the ideology of Zionism. It is aimed at creating and supporting a Jewish nation-state in Palestine. “, the message says.
It is noted that among the dead:
- Head of the Faraj Intelligence Organization, Major General Shahid Rezaian,
- Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Seyed Abdol Rahim Mousavi,
- Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Support, Major General Aziz Nasirzadeh,
- Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Mohammad Pakpour,
- Advisor to the Supreme Commander and Secretary of the Iranian Defense Council Ali Shamkhani.
“The names of other martyrs will be announced later,” the message said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, the Israeli Air Force has eliminated 40 Iranian commanders, including seven members of the top leadership of the Iranian intelligence services, including the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, Seyed Abdol Rahim Mousavi.
The department notes that Mousavi was one of the highest-ranking military officials and succeeded Mohammad Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, who was eliminated in June 2025 during Operation Eastern Lion.
Prior to that, Mousavi commanded the Iranian army and held a number of key security positions, including being responsible for the massive ballistic missile launches against Israel that resulted in civilian deaths.