June 14, 2025 — Iranian Army Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri has reportedly been killed in a suspected Israeli airstrike near Syria’s capital, Damascus, according to regional media sources and military officials familiar with the development.
The airstrike, believed to have been carried out by Israeli fighter jets, targeted a military facility used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated groups. The facility was reportedly hosting a high-level meeting of senior Iranian military commanders when it was struck. General Bagheri was said to be present at the time of the attack.
While the Iranian government has not officially confirmed the death of General Bagheri, several regional intelligence sources and Arab media outlets have reported the incident, citing preliminary assessments from the scene. Iran’s state media has acknowledged an explosion but stopped short of confirming casualties.
General Bagheri was one of Iran’s most powerful military figures, known for overseeing the country’s regional military operations in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. Appointed in 2016, he played a key role in shaping Iran’s strategic military posture and was considered a close confidant of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The suspected Israeli strike comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, as conflicts in Gaza and along the Lebanon-Israel border intensify. Israeli officials have long accused Iran of using Syrian territory to funnel weapons to Hezbollah and other proxy groups. Although Israel has not officially commented on the latest strike, it has previously acknowledged carrying out hundreds of air raids in Syria to curb Iran’s military expansion.
Security analysts suggest the killing of General Bagheri—if confirmed—could be seen as a major provocation by Tehran and may trigger a direct or proxy-based retaliation. Experts also warn that the development risks further destabilizing an already volatile region.
The United Nations and European Union have called for restraint, urging both nations to avoid escalation. A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General stated, “We are deeply concerned about the reports and urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint.”
U.S. officials have declined to comment publicly but are reportedly in close communication with allies in the region. The Pentagon is said to be monitoring the situation closely, given the potential for rapid escalation.
If verified, the death of General Bagheri marks the most significant loss for Iran’s military command since the U.S. drone strike that killed Quds Force commander General Qassem Soleimani in 2020. The incident also signals a possible shift in Israeli strategy, targeting Iran’s top brass directly rather than focusing solely on military infrastructure.
As Iran prepares to issue an official statement, regional observers are bracing for a potential retaliatory response, either through direct military means or by activating proxy forces across the Middle East.
