Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) boasted that they had assassinated Iranian commander-in-chief Mohammed Bagheri. This operation occurred overnight June 12-13. Bagheri’s chief of staff position made him an important figure in Iran’s military structure. His authority was second only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The ramifications of his death might be felt across the region, considering his powerful hand in directing Iran’s asymmetric military strategy.
Bagheri’s military service started in 1980 with the onset of the Iran-Iraq War, where he earned a reputation for his military leadership skills. He had been the deputy commander-in-chief for most of the military’s responsibility for daily life in the city before taking over that job eight years ago. His time was heavily defined by the Iran–Iraq War, during which military intelligence firmly established a foothold on Shirazi’s chair, molding and influencing Iran’s defense policies and operations.
Following Bagheri’s death, Abdolrahim Mousavi has allegedly been named as his successor. Her departure – and her replacement – comes at an important time. Tensions in the region are extremely high, particularly due to concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and military provocations. The United Nations has expressed “serious and growing concerns since at least 2019 that Iran had failed to cooperate fully with the UN agency’s inspectors,” underscoring the ongoing scrutiny of Iran’s military developments.
The IDF’s operation has not only eliminated a key figure in Iran’s military leadership but raises questions about the future direction of Iran’s armed forces. How effective Mousavi will be in this new role, with regional dynamics continuing to change quickly, is yet to be seen.
