Hossein Salami’s death could mark the most critical blow to Iran’s military leadership in decades.

Hossein Salami, the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC since 2019, was a central figure in Iran’s military assertiveness across the region—from proxy wars in Syria and Lebanon to strategic partnerships with groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. His reported death signals a major turning point in the Iran-Israel shadow war that has long shaped West Asian geopolitics.

Israel Launches Operation Rising Lion to Neutralize Iranian Threat

In what Israeli officials have called a “pre-emptive and precision-focused mission”, Operation Rising Lion was launched to dismantle Iran’s covert and overt military buildup that poses a direct threat to Israeli national security.

Sources in Israeli intelligence claim that Salami was overseeing the development of long-range precision missiles, drone swarms, and strategic plans aimed at targeting Israeli cities and infrastructure. The operation is said to have struck command bunkers, weapons depots, and high-value personnel facilities—particularly those involved in Iran’s clandestine nuclear and missile programs.

Israel’s objective, according to regional analysts, is to degrade Iran’s asymmetric warfare capabilities before Tehran can achieve nuclear breakout status. The targeting of Hossein Salami—if confirmed—marks Israel’s boldest assassination of a senior Iranian official since the U.S. killed Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

Who Was Hossein Salami? Face of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Regional Warfare

Born in 1960, Hossein Salami rose through the ranks during the Iran-Iraq War, gaining notoriety for his hardline views and aggressive military strategies. As Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, he directed Iran’s external military operations via its Quds Force and oversaw missions in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Salami publicly advocated for the destruction of Israel, calling it a “cancerous tumor” that must be “removed from the region.” He was sanctioned by the U.S. and several Western nations for his role in state-sponsored terrorism, regional destabilization, and support for extremist proxy militias.

His leadership solidified the IRGC’s position not just as a military force but as an economic and political power bloc inside Iran. He was instrumental in weaponizing Iranian influence across West Asia, using proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen to project Iranian reach.

His reported killing by Israel sends a stern warning to Tehran, signaling that Israeli defense policy will not tolerate strategic threats—nuclear or otherwise—from across its borders.

While Iran has yet to officially confirm Salami’s death, the implications of his reported elimination are enormous. Operation Rising Lion may redefine military deterrence in the Middle East, reshaping alliances, intensifying proxy confrontations, and escalating fears of direct Iran-Israel warfare.

This incident is not just a military move—it is a signal that the covert war between Iran and Israel has entered a new, more dangerous phase.