Iran: Israel behind assassination of senior commander

Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) are claiming Israel has assassinated an Iranian lieutenant colonel named Daoud Jaafari serving in the IRGC's Air and Space Force using an explosive device near Damascus​​​​​​, Syria.

According to the Iranians, Jaafari was killed last Monday. The IRGC threatened to retaliate for the attack.

A statement by the Revolutionary Guards said Jaafari was an "adviser of the Air Force", and named "agents of the Zionist entity" as responsible for the attack.

Chief of Staff Major General Aviv Kochavi held a series of professional meetings in Washington on Monday, during which he met with Israel's ambassador to the US, Michael Herzog, the American Chief of Staff, and National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan.

Kochavi noted that, "on one hand, Iran is under increased economic, military and internal pressures, while on the other, it continues to advance its nuclear project."

The Chief of Staff clarified that the IDF is vigorously moving along all operational plans against Iran. "During the discussions, it was agreed that we are at a critical point in time that requires the acceleration of operational plans and cooperation against Iran and its terrorist proxies in the region," said Kochavi, adding: "Our deep cooperation with our greatest ally was and continues to be a central pillar of our national security."