Israel says it killed aide to Iran’s ‘new leader’ in Tehran

Israel’s military said it killed Abolghasem Babaeian in an air strike in Tehran on Saturday, identifying him as the head of the military office of Iran’s new leader, who it said has not yet been chosen, and chief of staff of the Khatam al-Anbiya command.

“The Israeli Air Force, with precise guidance from military intelligence, targeted and eliminated Abolghasem Babaeian in Tehran yesterday," the Israeli military said on its Persian-language X page.

"Babaeian was responsible for coordinating between regime institutions to advance actions against the State of Israel and activating the regime’s emergency mechanisms," it added.

The military said Babaeian had been appointed head of the emergency command staff after Ali Shadmani, who previously held the role, was killed during the June war.