Israeli army says killed over 20 Iranian commanders

JERUSALEM -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Saturday that it had killed more than 20 Iranian military commanders since it launched operations on Iran early Friday.

The IDF stated that in the opening strike of the operation, Israeli fighter jets, guided by intelligence, killed Gholam-Reza Marhabi, the head of the Iranian army's Intelligence Directorate, and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri.

"Marhabi played a key role in intelligence evaluations, operational planning, and combat preparations against Israel," the statement read.

According to the IDF, Bagheri oversaw most of Iran's long-range surface-to-surface and cruise missile capabilities that serve as Iran's primary offensive tools against Israel.

He managed Iran's firepower systems and played an active role in the decision-making processes behind Iran's attacks on Israel in April and October 2024, it added.

He was killed alongside the air force commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and several other senior commanders in an underground headquarters in Tehran.