Another Hit To Iran Leadership: IRGC Intelligence Chief Killed In Strikes, Israel Says ‘Will Continue To Hunt Them Down’

In less than two months, Iran has lost several of its top leaders, from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei to IRGC chief Majid Khademi now. In a major escalation of the ongoing West Asia conflict, Khademi, the intelligence chief of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was on Monday (April 6, 2026) killed in US-Israeli strikes.

The Guards confirmed that Khademi was killed “at dawn” in what Iranian media described as a “terrorist attack by the American-Zionist (Israeli) enemy”. “Major General Majid Khademi, the powerful and educated head of the intelligence organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was martyred in the criminal terrorist attack by the American-Zionist (Israel) enemy… at dawn today,” the IRGC said in a Telegram post.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation, calling Khademi “one of the direct perpetrators” of attacks on Israeli civilians and adding, “We will continue to hunt them one by one.”

Majid Khademi killed: Why is his assassination significant?

Khademi’s death marks the latest assassination of a high-profile Iranian leader in the ongoing war, one that began with the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28. Since then, several top IRGC and security officials have been targeted, indicating a sustained campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s command and intelligence structure.

Khademi himself had only taken over as intelligence chief in 2025 after his predecessor was killed in Israeli strikes, underscoring the repeated targeting of Iran’s top security leadership.

What role did Khademi play in Iran’s security apparatus?

Majid Khademi was a veteran intelligence figure who spent decades in counter-espionage and internal security operations. Before becoming IRGC intelligence chief, he headed the Intelligence Protection Organisation, oversaw internal surveillance and counter-intelligence, along with holding senior roles in Iran’s defence ministry.

The IRGC’s intelligence arm is one of the most powerful security institutions in Iran, playing a central role in monitoring domestic threats and countering foreign influence—often operating parallel to the civilian intelligence ministry.

West Asia conflict continues to escalate

Khademi’s assassination comes amid intensifying hostilities between Iran and the US-Israel alliance, with strikes continuing across Tehran and other regions. The US-Israel-Iran war, which began on February 28, has since expanded into a wider regional conflict, impacting global energy markets, shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, security across Gulf nations.

Iran has continued to defy US pressure, including threats from President Donald Trump to devastate civilian infrastructure if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The conflict is increasingly spilling beyond Iran’s borders, with Gulf countries bearing the brunt. Kuwait reported six injuries after a residential attack while the UAE confirmed a missile and drone strike in Abu Dhabi that injured one person. Fresh strikes were also reported across multiple locations.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a stark warning, saying the region would “burn” if US support for Israel continues.

What’s happening within Iran’s leadership now?

Following the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, leadership has shifted to his son Mojtaba Khamenei, though reports suggest his whereabouts remain unknown and that he is recovering from war-related injuries. The continued elimination of senior figures like Khademi raises serious questions about command continuity within Iran’s military structure.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a final 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, warning the country could be “taken out” if it did not meet his Tuesday night (April 7, 2026) deadline to reach a deal.He vowed to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges, brushing off concerns that such actions would be a war crime or alienate Iran’s 93 million people.