Top Iranian Commanders Killed in Israeli Airstrikes; Khamenei Evacuated Amid Escalating Tensions
Israel’s airstrikes kill key IRGC intelligence figures; Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei evacuated to a Tehran bunker. Israel targets weapon facilities while intercepting over 100 Iranian UAVs in retaliatory strikes.
In a major escalation of hostilities, Iranian state media have confirmed the deaths of top intelligence officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi, the IRGC’s intelligence chief, and his deputy, Hassan Mohaqiq, were reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike, according to The Times of Israel. The same report added that a third officer, Mohsen Begheri, also lost his life during the assault in Tehran.
The repercussions were swift and grave. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was swiftly evacuated to a secure underground bunker in northeastern Tehran just hours after the Israeli strikes commenced on Friday. The fortified shelter, located in Lavizan, now houses Khamenei and his immediate family. This is not the first time Khamenei has taken refuge there, similar actions were taken during Iranian strikes on Israel in April and October 2024.
According to intelligence cited by The Times of israel, Israel intentionally refrained from targeting Khamenei on the first night of its military campaign. The reasoning was strategic, to offer him one final opportunity to abandon Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
Simultaneously, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced that they had concluded an “extensive” round of airstrikes aimed at crippling Iran’s weapon manufacturing network. The precision strikes targeted infrastructure associated with the IRGC, the elite Quds Force, and the broader Iranian armed forces.
“Numerous weapons production sites across Iran were targeted,” the IDF confirmed in a statement, emphasizing their resolve to diminish Iran’s strategic capabilities.
In the wake of the recent Iranian ballistic missile assault, Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency response service, updated the casualty figures. Eight individuals sustained injuries: one person in haifa was moderately wounded by a missile impact , while six others were lightly injured. In Kiryat Gat’s southern region, another person suffered light injuries.
In addition to physical injuries, psychological distress also surged. Four individuals in Haifa and five more in southern Israel were treated for acute anxiety caused by the ongoing attacks, underscoring the emotional toll of the conflict.
On the aerial defense front, the IDF stated that more than 100 UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) launched by Iran were successfully intercepted midair. “Iran sent more than 100 UAVs at Israel. We intercepted them,” the IDF posted on X.
Iran sent more than 100 UAVs at Israel. We intercepted them.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 15, 2025
Here’s some footage: pic.twitter.com/0OB7OI1wJq
In a surprising twist, Iranian forces reportedly discovered a clandestine three-story Israeli drone manufacturing facility hidden within Iran. This revelation came via IRGC-linked Tasnim news agency, as reported by The Times of Israel, adding another layer to the intensifying geopolitical skirmish.
