The strike marks an unprecedented blow to Iran’s military command structure. | Photocredit: Lisi Niesner
After the murder of the top Iranian military leaders in the strike of Israel, the supreme commander of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamei announced important appointments to restructure the military leadership of the country.
According to the Iranian media-Irna run, Major General Amir Hatami has been appointed as the chief commander of the army of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Hatami previously served as Minister of Defense of Iran from 2013 to 2021. In his official Decree, Khamenei ‘dedication, competence and experience’ of Hatami praised and called for a “transforming and revolutionary approach” under his leadership, Irna said in its report.
According to the Iranian media, the supreme leader of Iran also expressed appreciation for Major General Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi for his “sincere and valuable efforts” during his term.
After the murder of the former staff chief of the armed forces of the armed forces (CSAF) general Mohammad Hossein Bagheri “by the malignant Zionist regime,” called the supreme leader of Iran Khamenei Mousavi as his successor.
In a post on X, Khamenei wrote: “In View of the Martyrdom of Lieutenant General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri at the Hands of the Evil Zionist Regime, & in Light of Major General Sayyid Abdolrahim Mousavi’s Meritor Services & Valuable experiment”
Likewise, Khamenei made new agreements in other branches of the army to replace the top generals killed in the Israeli air raid, called the Operation Rising Lion.
Khamenei appointed General General Mohammad Pakpour as supreme commander of the IRGC, after the murder of Lt Gen Hossein Salami by Israel.
“Given the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Hossein Salami, due to the mean Zionist regime, and in the light of Major-Major Mohammad Pakpour’s deserving services and valuable experience, I appointed him as supreme commander of the Islamic revolutionary guard corps,” announced Khamene.
“Gezien het martelaarschap van Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid door het vile zionistische regime, en in het licht van de verdienstelijke diensten en waardevolle ervaring van majoor Ali Shadmani, kondigde ik ook de rang van majoor Gen. en benoemde hem commandant van de Khatam Al-Anbiya (PBUH) Central HQ,” Hij kondigde ook in een post aan X.
According to a CNN report, the operation of Israel Rising Lion killed the highest military officers of Iran, including the heads of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the Air Force and a former leader of national security. The strike marks an unprecedented blow to Iran’s military command structure.
Among the dead was Major General Hossein Salami, one of the most powerful men in Iran, commander of the IRGC. Salami, born in 1960, had led the Iranian ‘Elite’ force since 2019. The IRGC is the most influential military institution of Iran, often responsible for suppressing and supporting allied groups such as the Houthis in the region.
Salami supervised the IRGC when Iran launched direct drone and rocket attacks on Israel in April and October 2024, according to CNN.
Furthermore, the CNN report added that Major General Mohammad Bagheri, the previous Chief of Staff of Iran’s forces, was another important victim. He had served in the position since 2016 and played a central role in military coordination and foreign policy, including efforts in Syria and conversations with Saudi Arabia.
Ali Shamkhani, former national security head and old assistant to Khamenei, also died in the strike. Shamkhani played an important role in Iran’s recent diplomatic outreach, including conversations with Saudi Arabia to restore the ties in a China-Belting Deal. Although he was replaced in mid-2023, he remained a trusted adviser to the Supreme Leader, said the CNN report.
Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Air Force of the IRGC, died too. He, according to the CNN report, was considered the brain behind Iran’s rocket attacks on Israel and the US Army in Iraq in 2020. The Israeli army said that Hajizadeh and his senior staff were killed in a strike in an underground command center.
On Friday, Israel launched “preventive” strikes at the nuclear facilities of Iran. In a clarification, the Israeli Defense Groups (IDF) said in a post on X: “Iran is closer than ever when obtaining a nuclear weapon. Weapons of mass destruction in the hands of the Iranian regime are an existential threat to the state of Israel and the wider world.
In response, Iran took revenge through drone and rocket attacks on Tel Aviv. Israel has since continued his counterstrikes.
Published on June 14, 2025
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