Israel Conducts Coordinated Strikes on Iran Nuclear, Military Sites Amid Leadership Replacements

Israel launched a series of strikes across Iran targeting nuclear facilities, military sites, and private residences, killing top Iranian military leaders including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Hossein Salami and armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attacks as a "declaration of war" and accused the United States of coordinating with Israel, warning that the U.S. would also be held accountable. In response, Iran swiftly appointed new commanders, with Ahmad Vahidi temporarily replacing Salami and Habibollah Sayyari filling in for Bagheri, while Abdolrahim Mousavi and Mohammad Pakpour were appointed to other key military positions. Iranian media reported that Iran retaliated with about 100 drones, all of which Israel claimed to have shot down. Tehran emphasized that Israel’s strikes violated the U.N. Charter and called on the U.N. Security Council to take immediate action against what it described as blatant aggression. The attacks also resulted in civilian casualties, including children, and wounded senior advisers to Iran’s leadership, escalating tensions significantly between the two nations.