Shadmani’s assassination came just four days after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had appointed him to replace Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid, who was also killed in an Israeli strike.
“Given Lt. Gen. Gholamali Rashid’s martyrdom at the hands of the vile Zionist regime, and in light of Major General Ali Shadmani’s meritorious services & valuable experience, I confer the rank of Major Gen. & appoint him Commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya (pbuh) Central HQ,” Khamenei had announced on X.
IDF: Shadmani Was Iran’s Senior-most Military Leader
The IDF identified Ali Shadmani as Iran’s most senior military commander, calling him the “war chief of staff” and the closest figure to the Iranian Supreme Leader. “He commanded both the Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian Armed Forces,” the Israeli military stated.
According to the IDF, Shadmani was in charge of Iran’s military command structure through the Khatam-al Anbiya HQ and played a key role in managing combat operations. “In his various roles, he had a direct influence on Iran’s offensive plans targeting the State of Israel,” the statement added.
G7 Backs Israel’s Right to Self-Defence
The strike came shortly after world leaders attending the 2025 G7 Summit issued a statement supporting Israel’s right to self-defence amid the escalating conflict. The joint declaration, published by host country Canada, read:
“We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself. We reiterate our support for the security of Israel.”
Key Iranian military leaders continue to fall as tensions mount, locking both nations in their most direct and deadly confrontation in decades.
