The US-Israeli war on Iran, aimed at regime decapitation through targeted strikes on top leadership, entered its fourth week on March 22, 2026, following its launch on February 28.
On Tuesday, Israeli forces killed Iran’s National Security Chief Ali Larijani and Basij paramilitary commander Gholamreza Soleimani in separate strikes, further damaging morale among Iranian forces battling US and Israeli forces.
Decapitation operations have eliminated dozens of senior military and political figures.
Here’s the list of the top ten Iranian leaders killed in the war so far —
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Supreme Leader (1989–2026) Killed on February 28 in an Israeli-US airstrike on his compound during the opening midnight assault. Aged 86 at death, he ruled the country with absolute authority for 36 years. Succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei on March 9, following an interim council.
Ali Shamkhani – the top security adviser and former Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) until 2023, was killed in an airstrike on his residence on the first day (February 28). Key mediator in past Iran-US nuclear talks.
Mohammad Pakpour – Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Long-time head of the Revolutionary Guards; eliminated in the initial wave of strikes on February 28.
Abdolrahim Mousavi – Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, was killed on February 28 in the opening decapitation campaign.
Aziz Nasirzadeh – Defence Minister — A recent appointee overseeing military procurement and a close confidant of Khamenei was struck down on the first day.
Mohammad Shirazi – Khamenei’s Chief Military Secretary — Killed on February 28.
Saleh Asadi – Head of Military Intelligence — Eliminated in the initial strikes on February 28.
Hossein JabalAmelian – Chair of SPND (Iran’s Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research, linked to nuclear weapons research) — Killed on February 28.
Reza Mozaffari-Nia – Former Chair of SPND was also targeted and killed in the opening assault on February 28.
Ali Larijani – National Security Chief — Killed on March 17 in fresh Israeli strikes on Tehran. He had been leading retaliatory operations against US and Israeli bases in the Middle East.
Most of the highest-profile killings occurred on the war’s first day (February 28), when Israeli and US warplanes breached Iranian airspace in a coordinated midnight operation targeting leadership compounds and residences.
Despite the near-total elimination of the original top command structure—including replacements killed in subsequent weeks—the Iranian regime has survived through decentralisation into smaller, provincial command units.
This shift has allowed continued resistance under the newly elected Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
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