Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps chief, General Hossein Salami, has been killed in the preemptive strikes Israel launched against Tehran during the early hours of Friday. Iranian state television confirmed Gen Salami's death.
According to Associated Press, an anchor on Iranian state television read a statement saying: "The news of assassination and martyrdom of Gen. Hossein Salami was confirmed." However, they did not elaborate. The Revolutionary Guard Corps oversees Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and is a major power centre within Iran's theocracy.
Israel launched 'Operation Rising Lion' on Friday, targeting nuclear facilities in Iran to deter the country from developing nuclear weapons. Israel launched the strikes amid diplomatic negotiations between the US and Iran. However, the US has distanced itself from the strikes and a senior US official said no US aircraft was involved in the strikes Israel launched against Tehran on Friday.
In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Israel launched Operation 'Rising Lion', a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival. This operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat." Netanyahu confirmed they targeted both nuclear and military sites, officials leading Iran's nuclear programme, and its ballistic missile arsenal.
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The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed Friday that an Israeli strike hit Iran's uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. Rafael Mariano Grossi, DG of the IAEA said, “The IAEA is closely monitoring the deeply concerning situation in Iran. Agency can confirm Natanz site among targets. The Agency is in contact with Iranian authorities regarding radiation levels. We are also in contact with our inspectors in the country.”
As per reports, Fereydoun Abbasi, a nuclear scientist and former head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, and Mohammad-Mehdi Tehranchi, a nuclear scientist were also assassinated.