JERUSALEM (Azat TV) – Israeli officials believe that General Mohammad Pakpour, the current commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was likely killed during a series of coordinated US-Israeli strikes across Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026. This assessment, if confirmed, marks a significant escalation and comes amidst a broader operation aimed at dismantling key Iranian military and intelligence infrastructure. Iranian authorities, however, have vehemently denied these reports, stating that all commanders of Iran’s armed forces remain safe and sound, urging the public to disregard what they described as hostile media rumors.
The alleged elimination of General Pakpour follows his appointment to the IRGC leadership after his predecessor, Hossein Salami, was killed by Israel in the initial strike of a 12-day conflict last year. Israeli officials expressed cautious optimism regarding the results of what they termed the “opening blow” of the current operation, code-named “Roaring Lion” by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
“Roaring Lion” Operation Targets Key Iranian Assets
The joint US-Israeli operation, launched on Saturday, saw explosions reported across multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Qom, Isfahan, Kermanshah, and Karaj, according to Iranian state media. The IDF confirmed that “Roaring Lion” was designed to “thoroughly degrade the Iranian terrorist regime and to remove existential threats to the State of Israel over time.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement emphasizing that the operation’s aim was to remove the Ayatollah’s regime from power, creating conditions for the Iranian people to take control of their destiny. He thanked US President Trump for his “historic friendship” and reiterated that the “murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons.”
Targets reportedly included the IRGC’s intelligence headquarters and dozens of other military sites in western Iran. A US official confirmed American strikes were “underway” by air and sea, while a security source told Walla of direct US involvement. The IDF stated that meticulous joint planning with the US military had been conducted for months, ensuring full synchronization and coordination.
Uncertainty Surrounds Supreme Leader and President
Beyond the alleged death of General Pakpour, the status of other senior Iranian figures remains unclear. Israeli officials indicated that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were also targeted in the strikes. While Reuters reported that Khamenei had been moved to a “secure location” before or during the strikes, and satellite imagery showed an alleged Israeli strike on his bunker, Iranian state media has not confirmed any harm to him. An Iranian military official later declined to comment on whether Khamenei or Pezeshkian had been specifically targeted.
In response to the strikes, Iran closed its airspace, and its Security Council instructed residents of Tehran and other major cities to remain in safe, protected locations. Security forces blocked roads in the Tehran area housing the offices of the Supreme Leader, President, and parliament, as observed by witnesses.
Regional Repercussions and Retaliation Warnings
The coordinated assault immediately triggered widespread regional repercussions. Smoke was seen billowing above Bahrain’s Juffair area, which hosts a US Navy base, prompting the US Embassy in Bahrain to urge citizens to shelter in place. Similar shelter-in-place advisories were issued by the US Embassy in Qatar. Loud blasts were also reported in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. An Iraqi site associated with Iran-backed Shiite militias, specifically the headquarters of Kataib Hezbollah (KH) in Jurf al-Sakhr, was reportedly struck by an Israeli missile, resulting in two deaths and eight injuries, according to Iraqi outlet Shafaq News.
On Israel’s home front, a state of emergency was declared, and the IDF issued a national warning for all citizens to stay near protected spaces, anticipating potential retaliatory missile launches. Sirens sounded across northern and central Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as Iranian missile launches were detected. A rocket reportedly impacted northern Israel, though the IDF denied claims that some missiles were launched from Lebanon. Iran, for its part, vowed a “crushing” retaliatory attack, according to Iranian officials cited by Reuters.
The alleged elimination of the IRGC commander, General Mohammad Pakpour, if verified, represents a significant blow to Iran’s military leadership and a clear signal of the US-Israeli coalition’s intent to target the core of the Islamic Republic’s power structure. This development, coupled with the explicit aims of regime change articulated by Prime Minister Netanyahu, underscores a dramatic escalation in the long-standing shadow war, pushing the region closer to an open, large-scale conflict with potentially far-reaching implications for global stability.