Tehran moves quickly to shore up its defenses. Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi steps in as the new chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iranian media confirms. The appointment follows Israel’s Operation Roaring Lion, a campaign that took out General Mohammad Pakpour and several top commanders.
Announced Sunday, Vahidi’s role caps six months as acting head. His background includes stints as Defense and Home Minister, marking him as a battle-tested leader for these precarious times.
Official word from Iranian officials remains pending, yet reports tie the shift to command disarray from fresh attacks on elite personnel. As Iran’s vanguard force, the IRGC secures the nation and fuels operations abroad, embodying Tehran’s assertive foreign policy.
Grim developments compound the crisis. In Minab, southern Iran, a US-Israel strike on a school killed 148, Al Jazeera notes, with numbers rising post-Saturday incident. Satellite data debunks base connections, highlighting the strike’s controversial nature.
The IRGC hits back hard, launching its sixth wave of vengeance strikes. Volleys of missiles and drones pounded 27 US installations, Israel’s Tel Nof base, Tel Aviv’s military nerve center at Kirya, and a sprawling defense complex.
Broadcasts from Iranian media echo IRGC pledges for ‘harsher measures’ against aggressors. With Vahidi now at the reins, Iran positions itself for prolonged strife, testing alliances and raising stakes in the region’s powder keg.