Israel Says It Killed Senior Iranian Commander in Intensifying Conflict

JERUSALEM/TEHRAN: Israel announced it had killed Saeed Izadi, a senior commander of Iran’s Quds Force, in an airstrike in the Iranian city of Qom, as tit-for-tat attacks between the two rivals intensified.

Izadi, who headed the Quds Force’s Palestine Corps, was accused by Israel of supplying weapons and funds to Hamas prior to the October 7, 2023, assault on Israeli territory. Iran has not confirmed his death but reported multiple fatalities in Israeli strikes, including five Revolutionary Guards in Khorramabad.

Iranian authorities say Israeli attacks, which began on June 13, have killed over 430 people and injured thousands. Israel says 24 of its civilians have died in Iranian missile strikes. The conflict marks the worst escalation between the two nations in years.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi ruled out returning to nuclear talks under current conditions, accusing Israel—allegedly with U.S. backing—of trying to sabotage diplomacy. “We cannot negotiate while under bombardment,” he said at an OIC meeting in Istanbul.

President Donald Trump said he would decide within two weeks whether the U.S. would join the conflict, warning that Iran could be “weeks or months” away from developing a nuclear weapon.

While Israel says it struck missile infrastructure and nuclear-linked sites like Isfahan, Iran denies any nuclear leakage. Meanwhile, reports emerged of attacks on hospitals in both countries, raising concern over civilian casualties and potential war crimes.

With airstrikes ongoing and diplomacy faltering, pressure is mounting for de-escalation. Turkey, Russia, and China have all urged restraint, while Israel insists it will continue until Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities are dismantled.

By Agencies