Double Blow to IRGC: Intelligence Chief and Quds Force Commander Eliminated in Precision Strike
JERUSALEM – The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the elimination of one of Iran’s most guarded military figures, Brigadier General Majid Khademi, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization.
In a significant expansion of the morning's operations, Israeli officials also report the death of Asghar Bagheri, a senior commander within the elite Quds Force.
The "Hunt" for Khademi
Khademi, described by Israeli officials as the "No. 2" figure within the IRGC hierarchy, was killed in a high-precision strike following what sources describe as a sophisticated "cat-and-mouse" surveillance operation.
"He was a ghost for a long time—constantly relocating and changing his security protocols," a senior Israeli official stated. "But ultimately, he was hunted down. His removal creates a massive vacuum in an intelligence apparatus already reeling from strategic failures."
Beyond his military role, the IDF accused Khademi of:
Domestic Suppression: Overseeing the surveillance and violent crackdown on Iranian civilians during recent anti-government protests.
Cyber Warfare: Directing attempts to breach high-level U.S. defense systems, including the Pentagon.
Foreign Coordination: Managing intelligence sharing and strategic planning with Russian counterparts.
Quds Force Commander Also Targeted
While the IDF has focused its official statements on Khademi, reports indicate that Asghar Bagheri was killed in the same engagement. Bagheri served as the Quds Force’s special operations commander, a role that put him at the center of Iran’s "proxy war" strategy.
Israeli intelligence alleges Bagheri was the primary architect behind the recruitment of regional agents and the orchestration of deadly attacks against American personnel stationed in Iraq and Syria.
A System in Collapse?
The dual assassination comes at a moment of extreme vulnerability for the Iranian regime. Khademi’s Intelligence Organization—which operates parallel to the country’s civilian intelligence ministry—has faced intense internal criticism for failing to prevent a string of high-profile Israeli and U.S. operations inside Iranian territory over the past year.
The loss of both an intelligence chief and a special operations commander significantly hampers Iran’s ability to coordinate both domestic security and external retaliatory strikes.
Context of the Conflict
The timing of these eliminations is critical. They occurred as:
U.S. Rescue Mission: President Donald Trump confirmed a daring Special Forces operation to rescue a downed F-15E officer from deep within Iran.
48-Hour Ultimatum: The White House has maintained a strict deadline for Iran to accept a deal or face the systematic destruction of its oil and energy infrastructure.
Internal Unrest: An ongoing internet blackout in Iran continues to mask the extent of strike damage while the regime attempts to stifle further domestic dissent.
As of Monday evening, Tehran has acknowledged the loss of Khademi, framing him as a "martyr," but has yet to provide a detailed response to the reported death of Bagheri.
