Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s military chief, was killed early Friday morning in a targeted Israeli airstrike on Tehran, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency. The attack, described by analysts as the most extensive assault on the Iranian capital in years, also claimed the lives of several other high-ranking military and nuclear officials.

Among those killed were IRGC Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami and Major General Gholamali Rashid, head of the Khatam al-Anbia Headquarters. Two prominent Iranian nuclear scientists, Mohammad Mahdi Tehranchi and Fereydoon Abbasi, also perished in the strikes.

Iranian media reports indicate that the strikes targeted both military installations and residential areas, resulting in civilian casualties. Flights at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport were temporarily suspended following the attacks.

The timing of the airstrikes, just days before a new round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations, significantly increases regional tensions and threatens to derail diplomatic efforts. While the Israeli government has yet to issue an official statement, the precision and scale of the operation suggest a deliberate attempt to cripple Iran’s military leadership and nuclear program.

General Bagheri, a key figure in Iran’s military strategy and coordination with regional proxy forces, played a significant role in shaping the country’s defense posture in recent years. His assassination is expected to trigger strong retaliatory measures from Tehran and further destabilize the already volatile region. Funeral arrangements for General Bagheri and the other victims are expected to be announced soon, with Iran declaring a period of national mourning.