In a bold and unprecedented move, Israel has reportedly eliminated two senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) through targeted missile strikes within Iranian territory, significantly intensifying the covert hostilities between the two longtime adversaries.
According to reports, including from The New York Post, one of the key figures killed was Saeed Izadi, a prominent officer within the Quds Force the elite foreign operations wing of the IRGC. Israeli authorities identified Izadi as a central architect of Tehran’s military strategy against the Jewish state. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described him as “the mastermind behind the Iranian regime’s efforts to destroy Israel.”
The missile strike that claimed Izadi’s life reportedly hit a residential building in Qom province, deep within Iran’s borders. The precision of the attack has raised questions about Israel’s expanding intelligence reach and its ability to operate within Iran’s high-security zones.
Izadi, who was in charge of the Palestine Corps of the Quds Force, is believed to have played a crucial role in strengthening ties between Iran and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group based in Gaza. He allegedly coordinated large-scale financial and logistical support to Hamas, particularly in the buildup to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israeli soil that resulted in heavy civilian casualties.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz posted on X (formerly Twitter), asserting that Izadi was “personally involved in channeling Iranian funds to Hamas for terrorist purposes,” and that he was instrumental in arming and preparing the group for their assault on Israel.
While Iranian authorities have yet to officially confirm the identity of those killed, local sources in Iran have acknowledged that multiple explosions occurred in Qom, with at least one residential structure being targeted. No official death toll has been released.
This strike marks a dramatic shift in the long-running shadow conflict between Israel and Iran, which has largely played out through proxy warfare, cyberattacks, and limited military skirmishes in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. Direct attacks on Iranian soil are rare, and Saturday’s development underscores Israel’s growing willingness to take the battle directly to the heart of Iran.
Observers fear that the operation could trigger a broader confrontation in the region, especially as Iran continues to back militant groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various Shia militias in Iraq and Syria.
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