Jerusalem: In another high-profile death in Israeli attack on several nuclear and military sites in Iran, Iran’s chief of staff of armed forces, general Mohammad Bagheri, was reportedly killed in overnight strikes by Israel under ‘Operation Rising Lion’. This has been reported by the Iranian state media.
Earlier, chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, major general Hossein Salami, was also confirmed dead. After Salami’s death, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed to take revenge against Israel, reports claimed.
The attacks “will not remain unanswered and (Israel) must await harsh and regrettable revenge,” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said, reported AFP.
‘Over 200 fighter jets to strike Iran’
Israel Defence Forces said the Commander of Iran’s Emergency Command has also been eliminated in Israeli strikes. It also confirmed the deaths of Mohammad Bagheri and Major General Hossein Salami.
Israel carried out “preemptive” strikes against Iran on Friday. Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear plant and military sites, after US President Donald Trump cautioned against a possible “massive conflict” in the region.
Explosions were heard in the Iranian capital, according to the state TV. Iran’s air defence were at “100 percent operational capacity.”
Israel declared a state of emergency. Its defence minister Israel Katz said retaliatory action from Tehran was possible following the operation.
“Following the State of Israel’s preemptive strike against Iran, a missile and drone attack against the State of Israel and its civilian population is expected in the immediate future,” Katz said.
Meanwhile, oil prices surged as much as 6% on the strikes.