In a dramatic escalation of regional conflict, over 70 high-ranking Iranian officials-including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei-were killed in coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes between June 2025 and March 2026.
The campaign began on June 13, 2025, with Israeli airstrikes targeting Tehran and IRGC command centers during the so-called “12-Day War.” Among the first casualties were IRGC Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami and Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri.
Strikes continued through late June, eliminating key figures in Iran’s intelligence, aerospace, and Quds Force apparatuses, including nuclear scientists.
On February 28, 2026, a joint U.S.-Israeli operation struck Khamenei’s residence, killing him alongside Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, IRGC chief Mohammad Pakpour, and other top security advisors in under one minute, according to Israeli military sources.
Further waves on March 2-20, 2026, decimated Iran’s remaining command structure, claiming figures such as Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib, Basij chief Gholamreza Soleimani, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani.
The attacks mark the most significant blow to Iran’s leadership in decades, fundamentally altering the balance of power in the Middle East.