Khamenei’s aide Shamkhani seriously injured, in critical condition - Nour News

Among those killed was Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami, prompting jubilation from many in the Iranian diaspora. Kaveh Shahrooz, a Canadian human rights lawyer and activist, posted on X:

“His hands dripped with the blood of 176 people aboard flight #PS752. May this be true. May there be a hell for him to burn in,” referring to an airliner shot down by the military unit in Tehran in 2020.

Actress and human rights activist Nazanin Boniadi warned that ordinary Iranians—already caught between an authoritatian government and years of economic pressure—now face the added threat of war.

"There was a 3rd path: strangle the regime, empower the people," Boniadi wrote, "Few committed to it. Now, innocent Iranians—who yearn for freedom—are caught b/w foreign firepower & domestic tyranny."

Former Obama adviser Ben Rhodes also weighed in, calling the strikes senseless and warning of a cycle of violence that could derail any remaining path to diplomacy.

Iran analyst and author Arash Azizi pointed out that a new round of nuclear talks was just days away, arguing that the decision to launch a strike now undermines diplomatic efforts and could plunge the region into broader conflict.

“Even if we take Netanyahu at face value here, Iran was months away from developing a nuclear weapon ... there was a round of diplomatic talks scheduled in THREE DAYS.... what justifies an attack before that?”, Azizi wrote on X.

Democratic Senator John Fetterman responded bluntly to reports of General Hossein Salami’s death, posting “thank u, next” on X after confirmation of the IRGC commander’s killing in the Israeli strikes.

"Homes of senior military and political officials were targeted in Israeli airstrikes in Tehran," a senior Israeli political official told Iran International, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Civilians are not the intended targets," the official added.

Iran International was the first media outlet to publish official confirmation of the Israeli attack on Iran and its targets.

State news outlet IRNA reported that Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with another top commander and two senior nuclear officials were killed.

Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, was seriously wounded during an attack on his residence and has been transferred to a hospital in Tehran in critical condition, Nour News, a media outlet close to the Supreme National Security Council reported.

Khamenei is alive and being briefed on the situation following Israel's attack on Iran, Reuters reported citing a security source.

State broadcaster Press TV is reporting that several nuclear sites have been targeted in Israel's airstrike, including in Khondab, Khoramabad and the controversial facilities at Natanz.

The state TV correspondent reported the strike on Natanz as smoke rose from the site behind him.

"Tonight, Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We are not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement issued by the White House.

"Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self-defense. President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners," he added.

"Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel."

"The IDF launched a preemptive, precise, combined offensive based on high-quality intelligence to strike Iran's nuclear program, and in response to the Iranian regime's ongoing aggression against Israel," the Israeli military said in a statement.

"A short while (ago), dozens of IAF jets completed the first stage that included strikes on dozens of military targets, including nuclear targets in different areas of Iran."