Israel Strikes Deep Inside Iran, Kills Three Top IRGC Commanders

Air raids eliminate key figures linked to Hamas funding, weapons transfers, and drone strikes as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran

Jerusalem : In a dramatic escalation of covert warfare, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that it had killed three senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in overnight airstrikes deep inside Iranian territory.

Among the dead is Saeed Izadi, a top commander of the Quds Force’s Palestine Corps, who played a crucial role in coordinating operations between Iran and Hamas. According to the IDF, Izadi was killed in an airstrike in Iran’s Qom province. He was described as a key architect of the October 7 attacks and one of the few individuals with prior knowledge of the assault. The IDF also accused him of increasing Iran’s financial support to Hamas for attacks against Israel.

In a separate strike, the IDF confirmed the killing of Behnam Shahriyari, who led the IRGC’s weapons transfer division. He was reportedly targeted while travelling in western Iran, more than 1,000 km from Israel. The IDF said Shahriyari oversaw the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars annually to proxy groups via a complex network of shell companies and intermediaries. His elimination, the IDF claims, is a significant blow to the operational capacity of anti-Israel militias across the region.

The third target was Aminpour Joudaki, commander of the second UAV brigade in the IRGC Air Force. He was killed in southwestern Iran near Ahvaz. Joudaki had allegedly overseen hundreds of drone strikes against Israeli territory, the IDF said, citing his role in orchestrating aerial attacks from within Iran’s borders.

In addition to the high-profile killings, the Israeli Air Force also struck missile storage and launch sites in central Iran. These strikes followed a rocket barrage from Iran—five missiles reportedly aimed at central Israel. No casualties were reported from the missile attack.

As of Saturday evening, there has been no official confirmation from Iran’s IRGC regarding the death of these commanders.

The Israeli operations mark a significant expansion of the conflict zone, signaling a readiness to hit strategic targets within Iran in response to regional threats. The situation remains fluid and volatile, with concerns growing over the possibility of wider conflict.