Tehran: In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Iranian state television on Saturday confirmed that three more nuclear scientists have been killed in Israeli strikes, raising the total death toll of Iranian nuclear experts to nine within days. This wave of targeted killings marks one of the most significant assaults on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure in recent history.
The newly named victims — Ali Bekaei Karimi, Mansour Asgari, and Saeed Borji — were described by Iranian officials as “martyrs” of what they called “Zionist regime’s terrorist attacks.” Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency also verified their deaths and identities.
Key Figures Targeted
According to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) sources, though not officially claimed, the victims include:
- Ali Bekaei Karimi – Mechanical systems specialist
- Mansour Asgari – Nuclear physicist
- Saeed Borji – Materials engineering expert
All three were reportedly engaged in critical aspects of Iran’s nuclear weapons and defense programs.
Earlier in the week, six other scientists believed to be working in nuclear development were killed in similar airstrikes, alongside three high-ranking military officials from Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Top Iranian Generals Killed
Among the most high-profile casualties of the Israeli offensive were:
- Gen. Hossein Salami – Commander-in-chief of the IRGC, a close confidant of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
- Gen. Mohammad Bagheri – Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces.
- Ali Shamkhani – Senior national security strategist and longtime adviser to Khamenei.
The deaths of these figures have sent shockwaves through Iran’s military and political establishment, with analysts describing the strikes as “a decapitation-style attack on Iran’s strategic command and nuclear program.”
Rising Regional Tensions
While Israel has not formally claimed each operation, government sources have broadly indicated an ongoing effort to neutralize what it describes as “imminent threats to Israeli national security posed by Iran’s expanding military and nuclear capacity.”
The international community has responded with concern over rising tensions in the region, with fears of a broader military confrontation looming.
This latest wave of targeted killings, coupled with the elimination of Iran’s top military leadership, signals a sharp escalation in the shadow war between Israel and Iran — one with potentially global repercussions.
