Israel claims it killed Iranian war chief, no confirmation from Tehran

Maj. Gen. Ali Shadmani, head of Iran’s wartime command, allegedly killed in Israeli strike four days after his predecessor’s assassination

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — The Israeli army has claimed to have killed one of Iran’s top military commanders Major General Ali Shadmani in an airstrike.

Shadmani had been appointed as the head of Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s top military emergency command four days ago, following the assassination of his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Shadmani was the de facto chief of Iran’s military operations, with operational control over both the Revolutionary Guard Corps and the regular armed forces. 

The IDF also said he was the most senior commander with direct access to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

“Shadmani commanded both the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian Armed Forces,” the IDF said in a statement. “He was responsible for managing combat operations and approving Iran’s attack plans against the State of Israel.”

Shadmani previously served as deputy of the same command center and held the role of chief of operations within Iran’s armed forces, giving him intimate knowledge of the country’s strategic offensive planning. 

The Khatam-al Anbiya HQ functions as Iran’s central military coordination body in times of war.

Analysts say the strike is an attempt by Israel to paralyze Iran’s capacity to coordinate a regional response, especially amid rising tensions across Lebanon, Syria, and the Red Sea corridor.

Iran has not confirmed the strike.