Multiple high-ranking Islamic commanders, regime officials killed in Operation Epic Fury: report
Reports have emerged that several powerful Iranian military commanders and senior government officials may have been killed during a large-scale military operation known as Operation Epic Fury. Among those believed to have died are Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander General Mohammad Pakpour and Iran’s Defense Minister, Amir Nasirzadeh.
General Pakpour had only recently taken over leadership of the IRGC after Israel’s earlier strikes in June reportedly killed his predecessor, Hossein Salami. His appointment was seen as part of Iran’s effort to quickly restore military leadership following heavy losses. Now, new reports suggest that Pakpour himself may have been killed during the latest coordinated attacks.
According to multiple international sources cited by Reuters, joint U.S. and Israeli missile strikes early Saturday morning targeted key Iranian leadership locations. Intelligence sources believe the strikes were carefully planned to hit senior commanders and decision-makers within Iran’s military structure. Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh was also reportedly among those killed, though Iranian authorities have not fully confirmed all casualties.
One of the main targets was believed to be a heavily fortified compound linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, located in Tehran. Reports indicate that at least seven missiles were launched toward the complex in an attempt to eliminate senior regime officials gathered there.
However, sources say Khamenei, who is 86 years old, was not present at the compound at the time of the attack, and his exact location immediately afterward remained unknown.
Images and eyewitness accounts from Tehran showed large explosions and thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky as the strikes unfolded. The attacks were not limited to the capital alone. Airstrikes were also reported in several other Iranian cities and strategic areas, including Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, and Kermanshah, suggesting a wide and coordinated military operation whose full impact is still being assessed.
Iranian state media also reported civilian casualties, claiming that around 40 people were killed when missiles struck a school during the attacks. Details surrounding that incident remain unclear, and independent verification has been limited due to the fast-moving situation.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation in an early morning address, stating that the strikes were aimed at Iran’s leadership and military command structure. He described Operation Epic Fury as a defensive action, saying the goal was to protect American citizens by removing what he called imminent threats coming from the Iranian regime.
As of now, the total number of casualties and the broader consequences of the strikes remain uncertain. Governments around the world are closely monitoring the situation, as tensions across the Middle East continue to rise following the dramatic escalation.
