JERUSALEM — Israel’s military said Monday it had killed a senior commander of Iran’s paramilitary forces, identifying him as the head of an undercover unit within the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Military spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani confirmed the death of Asghar Bakeri, alleging he was involved in planning attacks against Israeli and U.S. targets, as well as operations in Israel, Syria, and Lebanon.
The development came as Israel and the United States intensified a wave of coordinated strikes across Iran, further escalating a conflict now in its fifth week. Iranian authorities reported more than 25 fatalities following Monday’s attacks, which included strikes on key infrastructure such as the South Pars natural gas field—the world’s largest—shared with Qatar.
Explosions were reported across Tehran, with thick smoke seen rising near Azadi Square after an airstrike hit the grounds of Sharif University of Technology. Iranian media also confirmed the death of IRGC intelligence chief Majid Khademi in a separate strike.
Iran retaliated with missile attacks targeting Israel and Gulf Arab states. In the northern Israeli city of Haifa, at least four people were killed after a residential building was struck. Air defense systems were activated in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones.
The escalation comes as Donald Trump faces mounting pressure over a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route for oil and gas. Trump has warned of expanded U.S. strikes on Iran’s infrastructure if no agreement is reached, including threats to target power plants and bridges.
Efforts to de-escalate the conflict are ongoing. Mediators from Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey have proposed a 45-day ceasefire that would include reopening the Strait to allow time for broader negotiations. The proposal has been sent to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, though neither side has formally responded.
European Council President António Costa urged restraint, warning that attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly energy facilities, are “illegal and unacceptable” under international law.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Tehran has shown no indication of easing its control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply typically flows. The disruption has driven global oil prices sharply higher, with Brent crude reaching $109 per barrel in early Monday trading.
Iran’s parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf condemned U.S. threats as “reckless,” warning that escalation would not yield results and calling instead for respect for Iranian sovereignty.
Casualties continue to mount across the region. Iranian officials report at least 1,900 deaths since the conflict began, though updates have slowed. In Lebanon, more than 1,400 people have been killed amid Israeli operations targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah forces, with over one million displaced. Additional fatalities have been reported in Israel, Gulf states, and among U.S. military personnel.
As hostilities persist, the killing of senior IRGC figures signals a deepening campaign targeting Iran’s leadership, raising concerns over further escalation in an already volatile region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
