by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
JERUSALEM/TEHRAN (Worthy News) – Israel’s military said Tuesday it has killed Iran’s most senior military commander, in a sign that even the country’s supreme leader might be next.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Tuesday that they assassinated Major General Ali Shadmani, identified as Iran’s “wartime chief of staff.”
He became commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the unified combatant command of the Iranian Armed Forces, after Israel assassinated his predecessor, Gholam Ali Rashid, last Friday, officials said.
The IDF stated that Shademani’s position effectively made him Iran’s “wartime chief of staff,” the most senior military commander, and the closest figure to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Khatam al-Anbiya is “responsible for managing combat operations and approving Iran’s firepower plans. In his various roles, he directly influenced Iran’s operational plans targeting the State of Israel,” they added.
Before his promotion, Shadmani was deputy commander of Iran’s Emergency Command and headed the Operations Department of Iran’s General Staff, Worthy News learned.
SENDING MISSILES
During his military career, he played a crucial role in coordinating missile launches, drone attacks, and “other hostile” actions against Israeli targets, according to Israeli sources.
The targeted killing of Shadmani marked another blow to Iran’s military command structure after several assassinations by Israel aimed at dismantling the leadership of the Iranian armed forces.
Israeli officials have described the operation as part of a broader strategy to disrupt Iran’s ability to wage coordinated attacks in the region.
The latest killing put pressure on Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested he may also be targeted.
His assassination is “not going to escalate the conflict, it’s going to end the conflict,” the Israeli leader said.
In response to the killing of its leaders and attacks against nuclear and military sites, Tehran announced it would step up attacks against Israel.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Israel says it attacked Iran as it seeks to obtain nuclear weapons, though Tehran claims its nuclear program is entirely peaceful.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump says he is considering sending U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff or Vice President JD Vance to meet with officials in Iran to help end the Iran-Israel conflict.
However, Trump added he wants a “real end” to the nuclear problem with Iran, with Tehran “giving up entirely” on nuclear weapons.
He spoke to reporters on the presidential Air Force One aircraft on his return flight from Canada to the White House in Washington, D.C., where he convenes the U.S. National Security Council.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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