Iran’s Revolutionary Guard intelligence chief, Major General Majid Khademi, was killed in a targeted Israeli strike, signaling a further escalation in tensions between the two nations. The attack, reported by the Associated Press on Monday, marks one of the most high-profile assassinations in the ongoing conflict and has heightened fears of broader regional instability.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz defended the operation as part of efforts to neutralize threats against Israeli civilians. “The Revolutionary Guard are shooting at civilians and we are eliminating their leadership,” Katz said. He further warned that Iran’s leadership faces growing pressure and reiterated Israel’s policy of targeting key figures in the regime. “Iran’s leaders live with a sense of being targeted. We will continue to hunt them down one by one,” he stated.

In addition to targeted assassinations, Katz noted that Israel has struck critical sectors of Iran’s economy, including steel and petrochemical industries. “We will continue to crush Iran’s national infrastructure and erode the capabilities of the regime to promote and carry out attacks against the state of Israel,” he reportedly said. These strikes come amid rising tensions that have already led to thousands of casualties since joint US-Israeli operations began on February 28.

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Iranian officials reported that over 25 people were killed in a series of aerial bombardments starting Sunday and continuing into Monday. The strikes affected multiple major cities, causing significant damage to infrastructure and prompting urgent humanitarian concerns. International observers have warned that continued escalation could destabilize not only the region but also global markets, particularly in oil and shipping sectors.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict have emerged. A formal draft proposal calling for a 45-day ceasefire was reportedly delivered to both Iranian and US leadership on Sunday, according to Middle Eastern officials cited by AP. However, US President Donald Trump further intensified rhetoric, issuing a stark ultimatum demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday, warning that failure to comply could result in severe strikes on Iranian infrastructure.

The situation remains highly volatile, with both military actions and diplomatic maneuvers unfolding rapidly. Analysts warn that the combination of targeted killings, economic strikes, and heightened political rhetoric increases the risk of a larger regional confrontation, while the humanitarian and economic toll continues to rise.

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