TEL AVIV/TEHRAN: The Israeli military has announced that seven senior Iranian defense officials were killed in joint air and missile strikes carried out with the United States. According to the statement, those named include Ali Shamkhani, described as secretary of Iran’s defense council, Mohammad Pakpour, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,Saleh Asadi, head of intelligence, Reza Mozaffari-Nia, former head of SPND; Mohammad Shirazi, military chief of staff to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Aziz Nasirzadeh, defense minister, and Hossein Jabal Amelian, head of SPND. In its statement, the Israeli military said, “The world is a better place without them.” Iran’s official news agency, Islamic Republic News Agency, confirmed the deaths of Shamkhani and Pakpour but did not comment on the other five officials. Reports also suggest that several members of Khamenei’s family were killed in the strikes. International media have reported that Khamenei himself and some family members were killed, and Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning. Following the news, tens of thousands of people reportedly gathered in several Iranian cities, particularly at Imam Khomeini Square in Isfahan, to mourn the Supreme Leader.
