Iran’s Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, has been killed alongside several senior military officials during coordinated United States and Israeli strikes, Iranian state television reported on Sunday.
State TV listed Mousavi among top officials said to have died during Saturday’s airstrikes. Others named include Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guards chief Mohammad Pakpour, and head of the Defence Council Ali Shamkhani.
According to the broadcast, the officials were killed “during a Defence Council meeting,” with additional names expected to be announced later.The reported killings come amid heightened tensions following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who Iranian state media confirmed was killed in a joint airstrike campaign carried out by the United States Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces targeting Iranian leadership and regime infrastructure.
Celebrations have been reported among some Iranians, both within the country and in diaspora communities abroad, following news of Khamenei’s death. Videos circulating online show scenes of cheering in parts of Tehran and other cities, though the broader national mood remains tense amid security concerns.On Saturday, Israel announced it had launched what it described as a pre-emptive operation against Iran, stating that the strikes were aimed at neutralising threats linked to Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes.
The operation reportedly involved coordination with U.S. forces and targeted multiple sites across Iranian territory. Explosions were widely reported in Tehran, with Iranian media confirming military activity.
Air raid sirens also sounded across parts of Israel amid fears of Iranian retaliation. The escalation has effectively derailed recent diplomatic efforts to revive talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear programme, raising fresh concerns about a prolonged regional conflict.
