Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has appointed new commanders after their predecessors were killed in an Israeli airstrike, Nournews reported.
General Ahmad Vahidi has been appointed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to replace the deceased Hossein Salami. Habibollah Sayyari will temporarily head the General Staff of the Republic's Armed Forces, replacing the deceased Mohammad Bagheri.
The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Mohammad Bagheri, was killed in an Israeli strike on the night of June 13. As reported by Iranian state television, this is the second high-ranking Iranian figure killed in an Israeli attack.
Earlier, Tasnim reported the death of the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami. Several Iranian nuclear physicists were also killed.
At least 50 people were injured in the Israeli attack on Tehran, about 35 of them women and children, RIA Novosti reported, citing Iranian state television.
The US military may join Israel in shelling Iran if the initial stage of the operation is successful, Ynet wrote in a commentary.
“According to security sources, the Americans are expected to join the strikes if the initial results of the Israeli operation are successful“, the publication said.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump declared that the country would defend Israel in the event of a retaliatory attack by Iran. The White House chief of staff knew in advance about Israel's plan to strike, but Washington was not involved militarily in any way.
Russian MP Konstantin Kosachev described Israel's strikes against Iran on his Telegram channel as "unjustified".
He stressed that Tehran's response was inevitable, and the escalation between the countries would continue to spiral upward.
"Israel's actions cannot be justified from a legal, political, military or moral point of view," Kosachev said.