Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran
Tehran, Jun 16: In a major escalation of hostilities, Iranian state media confirmed that Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) intelligence chief, along with his deputy Hassan Mohaqiq, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran. A third IRGC intelligence officer, Mohsen Bagheri, was also reported dead, The Times of Israel stated on Monday.
The precision strikes come as part of a widespread Israeli operation targeting Iran's military infrastructure. Following the attacks, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly evacuated to a high-security underground bunker in Tehran’s Lavizan area, along with his family. This is not the first time Khamenei has sought shelter there — similar precautions were taken during Iranian attacks on Israel in April and October 2024.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said it carried out an “extensive wave” of airstrikes aimed at dismantling Iran’s weapons manufacturing network, hitting multiple IRGC, Quds Force, and military facilities.
“Numerous weapons production sites across Iran were targeted,” said the IDF in an official statement, describing the operation as a direct response to Iranian aggression.
In the ongoing exchange, Iran launched over 100 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) toward Israel, all of which were intercepted, according to the IDF.
Meanwhile, Iran’s ballistic missile attack left eight injured in Israel — one person moderately in Haifa, six others lightly injured, and several treated for anxiety-related trauma. The national emergency service, Magen David Adom, said four people in Haifa and five in southern Israel were treated for acute anxiety.
In a surprising revelation, Iranian security forces also claimed to have located a three-story Israeli drone manufacturing unit operating clandestinely within Iran, as reported by the semi-official IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency.
While Israel refrained from targeting Supreme Leader Khamenei directly, reports suggest this was a strategic move to offer him a final chance to abandon Iran’s uranium enrichment programme.
Tensions remain high as the international community watches closely, concerned about a potential spiral into broader conflict in the region.