The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday claimed to have killed Ali Shadmani, Iran’s senior-most military official and close advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an airstrike carried out in central Tehran.
In a statement posted on X, the IDF said: “For the second time in five days, the IDF has eliminated Iran’s War-Time Chief of Staff, the regime’s top military commander. Ali Shadmani…was killed in an IAF strike in central Tehran, following precise intelligence.”
The IDF reiterated that Israel’s military campaign against Iranian proxies was ongoing across multiple fronts. It also revealed that its forces recently discovered and sealed a major underground Hamas tunnel near the European Hospital in Khan Yunis, where the body of Hamas commander Mohammed Sinwar was recovered.
“We poured approximately 250 cubic meters of concrete to seal the tunnel. The operation was executed carefully to avoid damage to the hospital,” the IDF stated.
The Israel-Iran conflict has now entered its fifth day, with both sides exchanging missile attacks. According to CNN, at least 224 people have died in Iran and 24 in Israel since the start of hostilities.
Speaking to ABC News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended targeting Iran’s top leadership, including Ayatollah Khamenei, saying it would not escalate the situation but rather “end the conflict.”
“This regime has terrorised the Middle East for half a century… it’s bringing us to the brink of nuclear war,” Netanyahu said, blaming Iran for fostering a “forever war.”
Asked about reports that US President Donald Trump had once rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei out of concern for escalation, Netanyahu responded: “It’s not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict.”
While declining to confirm if Israel would directly target Iran’s Supreme Leader, Netanyahu hinted at aggressive action: “We’ve targeted their top nuclear scientists… It’s basically Hitler’s nuclear team.”
The latest strike on Tehran follows Israel’s “Operation Rising Lion”, a large-scale air campaign targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, which triggered ballistic missile retaliation from Iran.
The situation continues to remain volatile, with the international community urging restraint as fears of a larger regional war grow.
