The ongoing joint US-Israeli military campaign “Operation Roaring Lion” has reached deep into the Iranian capital. Following a strict deadline from US President Donald Trump demanding Tehran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli airstrikes eliminated two high-ranking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders. The strikes killed Asghar Bagheri, the commander of the Quds Force’s Special Operations Unit 840, and Major General Majid Khademi, chief of the IRGC’s Intelligence Organization.
The targeted assassinations occurred on April 5 and April 6, 2026. The strikes caused extensive physical damage and triggered localized gas outages at the Sharif University of Technology complex in Tehran. Funerals for the commanders concluded by April 10.
Bagheri, operating under the alias Yazdan Mir, directed international operations. The Israeli military accused him of orchestrating attacks against US and Israeli targets globally. He managed weapons smuggling networks. His units directed Syrian operatives along the Israel-Syria border.
The decapitation strikes target the core of Iran’s security apparatus as political figures like Ali Larijani and the new Iran Supreme Leader attempt to consolidate power. Khademi’s death was verified by a report from Hindustan Times. He oversaw domestic intelligence operations. A separate dispatch by Economic Times confirmed the dual nature of the operation.
The broader military campaign continues to degrade Iranian civilian and energy infrastructure. Airstrikes hit the South Pars petrochemical complex in Assaluyeh. That attack disabled an estimated 85% of Iran’s petrochemical export capacity. The sudden drop in export capabilities caused a ripple in global energy markets. The US benchmark WTI crude oil price fell to $109.16, according to The Hindu.
What Khademi’s death means for IRGC Intelligence Organization
The assassination of Major General Majid Khademi reveals a critical vulnerability in Iranian counter-intelligence operations. Khademi only assumed his role as IRGC Intelligence Chief in June 2025. He was appointed specifically to replace his predecessor, Mohammad Kazemi. Kazemi was also killed by Israel during the Twelve-Day War.
This unprecedented turnover rate at the highest levels of Iranian intelligence indicates a severe compromise in operational security. The systematic decapitation of leadership forces the IRGC to constantly rebuild command structures during an active, multi-front war.