Two senior Iranian generals have been killed in Israeli strikes, state television reports, as Israel kept up its assault on Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
General Gholamreza Mehrabi, deputy head of intelligence of the armed forces general staff, and General Mehdi Rabbani, deputy head of operations, “were martyred,” the broadcaster says.
Iran’s envoy to the United Nations Sa’eed Iravani says 78 people, including senior military officials, have been killed and 320 injured so far in Israeli strikes. Iravani offered the casualty toll in a speech before an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the Israeli strikes on Iran.
Overnight on Friday, the Israeli regime began a series of military strikes in and near the Iranian capital, Tehran, as well as other Iranian cities. In a major escalation, the Tel Aviv regime also targeted residential buildings in and near Tehran, reports IRNA from New York.
The Israeli military also carried out targeted strikes against Iran’s top military brass. Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri and Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami were among the senior military officials assassinated in Tehran.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei appointed new top military brass on the same day.
Iran on Friday retaliated against Israel with an unprecedented missile barrage against the country. Israeli emergency services reported at least 17 people were injured in the strikes.
Israel’s defense systems were actively intercepting the threat, and authorities have issued an urgent directive: all civilians must enter a protected space immediately and remain there until further notice.
The Israel Defense Force has urged those in Israel to not leave shelter unless explicitly instructed by official sources, report agencies.
The wail of air raid sirens and the rumble of explosions could be heard throughout Israel on Friday, and journalists documented explosions as Iranian rockets hit Tel Aviv, the commercial hub of Israel. Paramedics said five people were wounded.