Majid Khademi, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ top intelligence official, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Monday, Iranian state media said. Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, confirmed the strike and said Israel is targeting “the leaders of the terrorists,” vowing to continue hunting senior figures linked to attacks on Israeli civilians.
Iran reported Khademi among roughly 25 people killed in a wave of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian soil that day. The attacks came amid heavy exchanges across the region: Iran launched drones and missiles at Gulf targets and at Israel in retaliation, and its central military command had warned of “devastating and widespread” operations if civilian sites in Iran were struck.
In Israel, one of Iran’s retaliatory strikes directly hit a seven-story apartment building in Haifa. Rescue teams initially recovered two bodies and later found two more, bringing the confirmed death toll to four; several others were wounded, including an infant. Search-and-rescue operations continued across the city amid significant damage.
Across the Gulf, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reported injuries from falling debris after their forces intercepted Iranian missiles and drones. Kuwait’s health ministry said six people were hurt by projectiles and debris in a residential area, while Abu Dhabi authorities reported one injury after debris struck an industrial site. Kuwait’s military said its air defenses were active during a barrage extending overnight and into Monday morning.
Lebanon’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, again came under Israeli strikes. Israeli officials said they were targeting Hezbollah militants; Lebanese state media showed smoke rising from the area. Clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified since the wider conflict expanded, and Lebanon has reported heavy casualties and mass displacement.
A separate strike reportedly struck the South Pars natural gas region. Iran’s Fars news agency described blasts near petrochemical and refinery facilities around Asaluyeh, the heart of Iran’s gas industry and part of the South Pars field that supplies a large share of the country’s gas and petrochemical output. Katz said the strike hit “the largest petrochemical facility in Iran,” which produces roughly half the nation’s petrochemicals. Damage to energy infrastructure has prompted concerns about broader economic and supply effects; export-dependent countries, including South Korea, are reported to be seeking alternative oil routes and supplies.
State media in Iran said populated areas suffered multiple strikes. An early morning strike near Eslamshahr, southwest of Tehran, reportedly killed at least 13 people. Tehran also experienced localized gas outages after a strike close to Sharif University, according to state broadcaster IRIB.
Political and diplomatic reactions were swift. European Council President Antonio Costa condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure as “illegal and unacceptable,” calling for negotiations and regional mediation rather than further escalation. US President Donald Trump, who last month said he had not been notified of previous Israeli strikes on South Pars, posted new threats against Iran, warning of attacks on energy infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by a deadline. His remarks drew criticism from US Democrats, who denounced threats against civilian infrastructure and questioned his judgment.
Reports also said Egyptian, Pakistani and Turkish mediators presented a draft ceasefire proposal to both the US and Iran, calling for a 45-day halt to fighting and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials were reported to have rejected reopening the strait as part of a temporary ceasefire and resisted deadline-driven terms; there was no immediate confirmation of acceptance by Washington or Tehran.
Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had discussed with Trump a US mission to rescue a downed US service member, praising the cooperation but offering no operational details.
Analysts note that, despite the deaths of several senior Iranian security figures since the conflict began, the IRGC’s decentralized command structure has allowed Tehran to continue coordinating responses. The ongoing strikes and counterstrikes have further destabilized the region, threatening civilian infrastructure, energy supplies and the prospects for a negotiated ceasefire.