In a major escalation of Middle Eastern hostilities, Iranian state television confirmed that Gen. Hossein Salami, head of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in Israeli airstrikes early Friday. Salami’s death marks a severe blow to Iran’s military and political establishment, which has already been reeling from a series of setbacks over the past 20 months.
Salami, 65, was appointed commander of the IRGC in 2019 by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and was known for his hardline stance against Israel and the United States. He joined the Guard during the Iran-Iraq War and rose through the ranks, notably commanding the IRGC’s air force before becoming deputy and later, its chief.
Under his leadership, the IRGC expanded its influence across the region, operating in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon while also controlling Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal. Salami was behind several retaliatory strikes, including the April 2024 missile and drone assault against Israel after an Israeli strike killed IRGC officers in Damascus.
His fiery rhetoric made headlines, particularly after the U.S. assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020. Salami had then vowed severe retaliation, warning that American and Israeli commanders would “find no safe place.”
Following Friday’s Israeli airstrikes, Iran launched more than 100 drones in retaliation, prompting widespread regional concern. Israel claims it intercepted most of the threats and continues to strike Iranian targets with over 200 fighter jets.
The crisis has triggered airspace closures across Jordan and parts of the region, underscoring fears of a broader conflict. As tit-for-tat attacks intensify, the Middle East stands dangerously close to a new, open war.
OpinionExpress.In
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