Shadmani had assumed his role just four days prior, replacing Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed in the opening salvo of Operation Rising Lion on June 13.

By Eliana Fleming, JFeed

In a stunning display of intelligence prowess, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assassinated Maj. Gen. Ali Shadmani, Iran’s wartime Chief of Staff and a close aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a precision airstrike in central Tehran on June 17, 2025.

The operation, part of Operation Rising Lion, targeted a secret command facility where Shadmani was issuing orders to Iranian forces.

Israeli intelligence, leveraging years of covert operations, received actionable information early that morning about Shadmani’s relocation to a hidden building in Tehran’s heart.

After confirming his location with absolute certainty, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir authorized the strike, with Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar ordering the deployment of five precision munitions to maximize the likelihood of success.

The attack killed Shadmani alongside his senior intelligence officer and a close staff member, dealing a severe blow to Iran’s military command structure.

Shadmani had assumed his role just four days prior, replacing Maj. Gen. Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed in the opening salvo of Operation Rising Lion on June 13.

The IDF’s tactics, described by security officials as “similar to operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria,” rely on rapid intelligence collection and swift “fire cycle” strikes that target Iran’s security elite while exploiting their errors.

“The Air Force’s actions across Iran today mirror our approach elsewhere, hunting for any mistake by their leadership,” an official stated.

This strike, executed with intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate and Mossad, underscores Israel’s deep infiltration into Iran’s military apparatus.

Since Operation Rising Lion began, Israel has eliminated key figures like IRGC commander Hossein Salami and nuclear scientists, disrupting Tehran’s ability to coordinate retaliatory strikes.

Despite Iran’s launch of 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones, only 20 missiles hit Israeli targets, and no drones reached their marks, highlighting Israel’s aerial dominance.

The operation continues to target Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to persist “for as many days as it takes” to neutralize the threat.