Israeli strike kills IRGC intelligence chief Khademi

Israel has killed the head of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence organisation, Seyed Majid Khademi, in a targeted airstrike on the capital Tehran. The precision strike on Monday, April 6, 2026, also killed the commander of the elite Quds Force Unit 840, identified only as Bagheri. Iranian state media reported a total of 34 people were killed in the broader strikes, including six children.

The elimination of Khademi removes one of Iran's most senior and guarded military figures. A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the significance of the operation. "Khademi wasn't just any figure, he was effectively No. 2 within the IRGC, one of the few senior commanders who managed to survive multiple waves of Israeli and American targeting over the past year, until now," the official told Fox News on Monday.

This attack is a severe escalation in a conflict that has raged since February 28, 2026, following the expiry of a US deadline for Iran to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lane. The Monday strikes were widespread across the Iranian capital, with reports confirming a direct hit on the prestigious Sharif University of Technology, a site Iran's leadership considers a national treasure.

In a defiant address from Tel Aviv following the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning. "Whoever builds the Iranian axis of evil, their blood is on their head. We are acting with strength and determination. We will reach everyone who seeks to harm us," Netanyahu said. He affirmed Israel's aim to its military goals.

Details of the tehran assault

The coordinated assault took place late on Monday afternoon, April 6. Multiple explosions were reported across Tehran, sending shockwaves through a city already on high alert. The Iranian Health Ministry confirmed the final death toll of 34, which included the two senior IRGC commanders, several other IRGC personnel, and numerous civilians, among them six children under the age of 12.

Among the non-military targets hit was the main campus of Sharif University of Technology, often referred to as the 'MIT of Iran' for its elite science and engineering programs. The attack on the university is part of a wider pattern. Iranian officials report that over 30 universities and higher education facilities across the country have been targeted by Israeli strikes since the war began on February 28.

The strike on the university drew immediate condemnation from Iranian leadership. Iran's First Vice President, Mohammad Reza Aref, visited the damaged campus on Tuesday morning. He called the destruction "a symbol of Trump's madness and ignorance," linking the current conflict to policies initiated under the former US president.

High-profile targets eliminated

Seyed Majid Khademi was a veteran of the IRGC, having only been appointed to lead its vast intelligence apparatus in June 2025. His predecessor was also killed in an Israeli strike. Khademi's career spanned the entire history of the Islamic Republic.

An official eulogy published by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency on April 7 praised Khademi's long service. The statement commemorated his "nearly half a century of sincere and courageous guardianship of the Revolution," framing his death as a martyrdom for the nation. His long tenure made him a core pillar of the regime's security architecture.

IDF (IDF) offered its own justification for the high-level assassination. In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the IDF accused Khademi of "advancing terrorist attacks abroad and overseeing surveillance of Iranian civilians." This narrative portrays the strike not as an act of war, but as a counter-terrorism operation.

The killing of Commander Bagheri represents another blow to Iran's foreign operations. His unit, Quds Force Unit 840, is a highly secretive branch tasked with planning and executing attacks against Israeli and Western targets outside of Iran. Its operations are a major source of concern for intelligence agencies in Jerusalem and Washington.

Defiant responses from leadership

Israel's leadership has been unapologetic about its strategy of targeting senior Iranian figures. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz spoke to reporters in Jerusalem on Tuesday. "Iran's leaders live with a sense of persecution. We will continue to hunt them down one by one," Katz said, signalling that more such operations are planned.

Prime Minister Netanyahu elaborated on his government's position during his televised address on April 6. "We will continue with full force, on all fronts, until the threat is removed and all the war's objectives are achieved," he said. The statement leaves little room for de-escalation from the Israeli side.

Iran vows 'crushing revenge'

Iran's response was swift and furious. The IRGC issued an official statement hours after the attack, promising a powerful retaliation. "The malicious and desperate enemy should know that a major retaliatory strike by the IRGC Intelligence Organisation, under Operation Crushing Revenge, awaits the planners and perpetrators of this crime," the statement read.

The threat of 'Operation Crushing Revenge' has placed the entire Middle East on notice. Regional actors and international powers are now bracing for Iran's next move, which could range from direct missile strikes to asymmetric attacks via its network of proxy forces. The statement was broadcast across all Iranian state media on April 7.

Funeral services for Khademi, Bagheri, and the other 32 victims were held in Tehran on Tuesday. Large, state-organised crowds gathered to mourn the dead and chant slogans against Israel and the United States, in scenes broadcast live on national television.

The assassinations on April 6 have pushed an already volatile region closer to the brink of a much wider conflict. With the six-week war showing no signs of abating and both sides promising further violence, the path forward remains fraught with danger. The initial trigger, the February 28 deadline for the Strait of Hormuz, has now been eclipsed by a cycle of deadly retribution.