Brigadier General Effie Defrin, a spokesperson for the Israeli army, remarked during a televised statement that since the operation commenced, “around fifty percent” of Iran’s missile reserves have been eliminated.
Defrin mentioned that the creation of at least 1,500 extra missiles had also been thwarted, claiming that Iran manufactures numerous ballistic missiles each month and had intended to boost that production to the hundreds.
40 high-ranking Iranian military personnel have been slain
Israel has reported that 40 high-ranking Iranian military officials have been killed since Saturday. The announcement indicated that “the overwhelming majority of senior leaders accountable for Iran’s security have been neutralized.” Additionally, the Israeli military asserted that most of Iran’s air defense systems in the western and central areas have been “dismantled,” facilitating air dominance over Tehran’s airspace.
High-ranking officials have been reported dead
In the wake of the assaults carried out by the United States and Israel, the Iranian officials whose fatalities have been verified are as follows:
Ali Khamenei: The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989, whose passing was confirmed by state television on Sunday morning.
Reports from Iranian sources indicate that Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandchild were also among those who perished in the assaults.
Ali Shamkhani: Counselor to Khamenei and Secretary of the Defense Council.
Abdolrahim Mousavi: Head of the Iranian Armed Forces’ Staff.
Mohammad Pakpour: Leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Aziz Nasirzadeh: Secretary of Defense.
Gholamreza Rezaiyan: Leader of the police intelligence divisions.
Warning in the Strait of Hormuz
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center has reported “heightened military activity” in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the northern Arabian Sea, and near the Strait of Hormuz. The organization indicated that maritime security in this area is extremely precarious, leading to an increased risk for commercial shipping.
UKMTO cautioned sailors specifically regarding the dangers of errors in calculation and identification stemming from the high concentration of military forces in the region.
Projectiles launched in the direction of Cyprus
UK Defence Secretary John Healey informed the BBC that, in response to Iran’s actions, “two ballistic missiles were launched towards Cyprus.” Healey mentioned that they do not think the missiles were aimed directly at the island.
The minister stated that British fighter jets were involved in “defensive operations” from the UK base in Cyprus and another facility in Qatar.
Transition of political power in Iran
In the wake of Ali Khamenei’s passing, the political transition in Iran has gained momentum. State media reported that Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, who leads Iran’s Islamic seminaries, has been selected to join a three-member council tasked with managing the transition phase.